With smiles and cheers, the staff and students of Marymount Academy wrapped up another successful Goals for Girls Ball Hockey tournament on November 19, 2009. This ninth annual event included over twenty teams involving nearly two hundred students and staff. The Goals for Girls campaign is held to encourage young women to be physically active and to help them recognize and become involved in the many activities and opportunities available in their school and community. As well, this tournament is also a fundraiser in which monies raised are used to sponsor young women who cannot financially afford to play sports, to purchase fitness equipment and to provide financial support to other community schools and programs whose female programs are severely underfunded. Money is also donated on behalf of the staff and students of Marymount to SportLink, a community based organization that promotes local athletics. Dan Bartolucci, program leader at Marymount Academy and organizer of the event feels it is very important that the focus of the day is understood by the students. “Ultimately the girls really understand that the day is a positive one for their school, their peers and also themselves.” he said. “This tournament helps encourage the young women of this community to set their own personal goals and strive to achieve them.” Alex Tsimiklis, Co-President of the school’s Girls Athletic Association says it’s a fantastic and fun day. “It is a great way for girls to get involved in their school, “ states Tsimiklis. “The money goes to a great cause and it ensures there are opportunities for everyone.” This year, Marymount raised over $3500 to support this campaign.
Category: Topic
Marymount Academy Brings Home Gold in Northern Ontario Business Plan Competition
Both Jennifer Roy and Carly Cummings had smiles from ear to ear as they showed off their gold medals. The two grade eleven girls competed in the Northern Ontario Secondary School Business Plan competition and walked away with first place. “Neither of us thought that anything would come from this.” stated Roy. “It just started off as a project for our class in the beginning and snowballed from there.” Both girls presented their business plan for their product called Rally Yer’ Spirits which are rally towels used to promote and enhance school spirit. Cummings said that their project was inspired by their school. “ At Marymount we focus not only on the academic side, but on our school spirit as well. The enthusiasm and energy that we have is huge and it is a really big part of what makes Marymount special.” After winning the local competition, the girls’ project was then sent to Thunder Bay to be judged for the Northern Ontario division of the competition. Both attended the ceremony and walked away with gold as well as a thousand dollars to split. “This whole experience was really amazing.” said Roy. “Our teacher was ecstatic with our results and was really proud we had done so well.”
St. Charles College, Stepping Into Grade 9 Information Night
St. Charles College will be hosting Stepping Into Grade 9 on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium. This informational evening will give Grade 8 parents/guardians an opportunity to learn about Catholic secondary pathways, as well as programs offered at St. Charles College. Teachers and Guidance Staff look forward to meeting you and answering your questions. Everyone is welcome to attend this event.
Chapters & Coles and the Greater Sudbury Police Service “ADOPT” St. David Catholic School
Chapters, Coles and the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation along with the Greater Sudbury Police Service launched a two-week fundraising drive in October to help transform the library at St. David Catholic School.
The passionate commitment to learning through the love of reading a St. David Catholic School inspired the team at Chapters to select the local school as the recipient of the first Indigo Love of Reading Adopt-a-School Fundraising Drive in Sudbury. All funds raised at Chapters through in-store donations were directed to St. David Catholic School. The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation was established in 2004 to address Canada’s literacy crisis and help give Canadian Schools in severe need access to new books and education resources. Since its inception, the Foundation has made a total contribution of more than $7.5 million to more than 70 schools nationally.
Chapters and Cole’s staff raised $2,297 by asking the public to donate to the special campaign with the Greater Sudbury Police Services providing an additional $2,000 under the “Youth for Chiefs” program for a grand total of $4,297. “With these funds, we can purchase at least one book for every child at St. David Catholic School,” stated Kim Stephenson, ACEM, Chapters Book Store on the Kingsway. The JK to Grade 8 teachers at St. David Catholic School will visit Chapters Bookstore to purchase books for each of their grades. The books will be catalogued and housed in the St. David Catholic School Library.
Sudbury Catholic Board Proud Partner in Autism of Ontario
Autism Ontario-Sudbury & District Chapter is thrilled to partner with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. Autism Ontario looks forward to sharing office space within St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School to hold weekly office hours, during which time they will be available to meet with members of the community, school staff, individuals and families of individuals on the autism spectrum for support and resource sharing.
Adjacent photo: (L-R): Judi Way, Vice-Principal of St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, Christina Raso, Special Education Consultant, Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Rick Grylls, Fundraising and Awareness Lead, Chanda Grylls-Mahaffy, Secretary, Dale Canapini, Treasurer, Heather McFarlane, President, Autism Ontario-Sudbury & District Chapter, (missing from photo, Kelly Joyce, Vice-President)
104,000 Cans of Food Collected by St. Charles College
St. Charles College wrapped up its food drive by not only surpassing its previous year’s record of 60,000 Cans Plus 2 but by completely “blowing it out of the water” by collecting an unbelievable 104,012 cans.
Patty Mardero, Principal of St. Charles College acknowledged that the success of the food drive was made possible only through the hard work and support from the Sudbury Community. “I would like to take this opportunity to publicly acknowledge the efforts of many fine people who contributed to the amazing outcome of our school’s food drive,” stated Mardero
Mardero went on to thank the St. Charles College Canned Food Drive Committee, the School’s Student Council, the students and staff of St. Charles College, the St. Charles College Alumni, the Sudbury Business Community and Kelly Toppazzini from Topper’s Pizza who supported the food drive with donations through pizza sales.
Principal Mardero also emphasized the key role played by the Board’s elementary schools and the Board’s partners in education in attaining this goal. “To our feeder schools- St. Paul, St. David, Pius XII, St. Raphael’s and St. John, as well as St. Francis Catholic Schools- for coming on board with us with over 30 000 cans and to helping us surpass our goal, I salute you. Kudos To Bell Alliant and Harris Movers- our community partners and sponsors of this amazing event. To Mayor John Rodriguez-it is good to know that when we need support at St. Charles College we can always count on you! You once again, made it possible to have a transit bus for a week. To Mr. Jerry Portelance and the folks over at Sudbury Transit, for all your help in providing transportation. Thanks to Big Daddy, the morning team- Jim, Carrie-Anne, and Rick Tompkins- for partnering with us for such an important event.
Chief Elsner, on behalf of the students and staff of St. Charles College, it is with great pleasure that I present to you these non-perishable food items, along with a cheque for $10. 000 for the Sudbury Food Bank.
Marymount Academy Introduces New OSAID Mascot to Community
Marymount Academy was the scene of a very special event on October 26, 2009 as “Barney” the Bear and new OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) Mascot was introduced to the Sudbury Community for the very first time.
Barney arrived by police escort accompanied by Ms. Nicole LaCroix, a member of the Provincial OSAID, Board of Directors.
Barney, an Issue Awareness Development Campaign Project, is starting his province-wide journey in Sudbury. Students at Marymount will be Barney’s first official ‘owners’-they will look after him, blog of his whereabouts on the OSAID website and post photos of Barney on his travels and pass him on the new ‘owners’ in other OSAID member schools.
Barney will travel from school to school, community to community and around the province. Where he goes is entirely for his ‘owners’ to decide.
Sudbury Catholic Schools Gets Big Boost from the Community of Killarney
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Outdoor Education Centre is one step closer to completion thanks to a huge financial boost from the municipality of Killarney.
The Killarney Shebanoning Outdoor Environmental Education Centre received a cheque from the municipality for the sum of $20,000. Dawn Wemigwans, Vice-Principal of the Centre was thrilled that the municipality was able to contribute to the Centre’s development. “The municipality of Killarney has given us its full support from the very beginning of this project,” stated Wemigwans. From our first original meeting with the town and its community members a year ago, Killarney has been a true partner.” Three staff members of the municipality office presented Wemigwans with the cheque. “This money is a significant sum, and will go toward our next steps in making this centre a truly unique adventure for all that come to experience it.”
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is once again very thankful to the town of Killarney for continuing to champion the Centre.
Marymount Academy hosts “Breakfast with Parents”
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s all-girl Grade seven to twelve school, Marymount Academy hosted a “Breakfast with Parents” on October 15, 2009. The school received Ministry funding to support parent involvement at the regional level. Marymount decided to host a breakfast to allow parents to come and meet their children’s teachers and also network with community partners such as the United Way, Cambrian College, the local Health Unit, and the Marymount Catholic School Council. Cassandra MacGregor, Vice-Principal of the school was pleased with the excellent turn out from the school community. “Breakfast with Parents provides parents with the opportunity to see their children in their school setting,” says MacGregor. “Not everyone can attend meetings and other school events in the evening and this is just another way to welcome parents into our school and engage them in their daughters’ education.”
Board staff: Jennifer Connelly Technology Integration Mentor, Dawn Wemigwans Aboriginal Lead, and Joan Yawney, Religious Education and Faith Consultant were on hand to highlight programs offered at Marymount such as the Grade seven and eight One to One Laptop program, Native Language and the Virtues program. Lucie Cullen, Principal of Marymount Academy was also very happy with the turnout. “It is inspiring and energizing to see hundreds of parents turn out for the breakfast. We are so pleased with the response from our parents and plan to continue to build on this positive relationship,” stated Cullen.
Many parents expressed their wishes for more of these opportunities to start the day off with their daughters’ educators. This event was so successful that the Marymount School Catholic School Council is planning another “Breakfast with Parents” in the spring. The staff at Marymount Academy would like to thank all those who helped make the event such a success as well as all the parents who took the time to attend this special school event.