Sudbury Catholic District School Board

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.

St. Charles College Creates New Aboriginal Award in Honour of Grand Council Chief

A visit from Grand Council Chief John Beaucage has inspired St. Charles College to dedicate an award in his name at its most recent graduation ceremonies. The Chief John Beaucage Award is presented each year to an outstanding graduating student of Aboriginal ancestry who demonstrates leadership, a positive attitude, extra-curricular involvement, and pride in cultural identity. The student must also exemplify the St. Charles College motto of “Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge” and holds in high regard the Seven Grandfather Teachings- Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth.

St. Charles College is proud to announce that the 2009 Chief John Beaucage Award was presented to Brent Toulouse. Brent is both a football player and a basketball player at St. Charles College and demonstrated his dedication to extra curricular activity by coaching his little brother’s football team in the Joe MacDonald football league over the summer.

Brent is a graduate of the Mkwa Police Mentorship Program offered at St. Charles College, and aspires to be a police officer. He is also a strong advocate with respect to restoring and resurrecting his Native culture and heritage by stating very strongly and humbly that he would like his language, Anishinabemowin, taught in his school. He is a leader in his Native Studies and Outdoor Education classes. Brent Toulouse is truly deserving of the Chief John Beaucage Award.

Chief John Beaucage was deeply honoured to have the award presented in his name. The school is planning to set up a visit with John Beaucage and the students again in the fall.

Pius XII Students Try Out New Sports

Students at Pius XII Catholic School participated in the “Try-it” Parasport Clinic recently.

During the clinic students were provided with a specific sport and an equipment demonstration of different types of sports activities, such as basketball, hockey, bocce and curling. The importance on being “physically fit” was also emphasized throughout the clinic.

Susan Levesque with SportLink Greater Sudbury Sport Council lead a Parasport clinic with the Pius XII students. Numerus classes including the Special Education class participated in wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey, bocce and curling.

The Pius students were able to experience what it feels like to be in a wheel chair, and they quickly realized that it was possbile to participate in many sports activities through the use of a specially designed equipment.

Pius XII Catholic School would like to thank Susan Levesque with SportLink for providing the students with the equipment which allowed them to participate in this unique sports activity.

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary Parent Interview Night and Book Fair FUNdraiser

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School will be hosting a “Parent Interview Night and FUNdraiser,” on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, 2993 Algonquin Road, Sudbury.

The evening will be devoted to celebrating the achievements and activities of staff and students of the school. At the same time, the school will be encouraging and supporting the students in their love of reading through a Book Fair. With every purchase on this special evening, a percentage will be donated directly back to the school library.

There will be prizes, as well as a showcase of books and much more. Please join St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School in promoting this literacy and community event.

Summer Camp Helps Students Understand Aboriginal Culture

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board offered students from across the Sudbury Region the opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture over the summer months. For a two-week period students attended the St. David “Summer Camp” which offered them the opportunity to establish new friendships and to learn more about Aboriginal foods, language and culture.

The students also enjoyed the mentorship of Will Morin, a respected member of the Sudbury Aboriginal Community who engaged the students with his stories and his keen understanding of Aboriginal culture.

Donation is music to our ears, says Sudbury Catholic Board

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board enthusiastically welcomed a cheque presentation from Newcap Radio’s Director of Programming, Rick Tompkins, at its first regular board meeting of the 2009-2010 school year. The cheque in the amount of $4,665 was donated to the Board to purchase and/or repair musical equipment in the Board’s family of schools.

The presentation also honours Newcap’s part of the agreement wherein if the Sudbury Catholic District School Board wrote a letter to the CRTC supporting Newcap Radio’s application to launch a new FM Radio Station in Sudbury; if Newcap was successful in that bid it would in return donate monies to the Board’s music program. The CRTC did in fact sanction Newcap’s request for a new radio station which led to the subsequent launch of the company’s new “Top Forty” radio station “the new Hot 93.5” a couple of weeks ago.
Jody Cameron, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is very pleased with the donation. “We truly appreciate Newcap Radio’s support for our music program,” stated Cameron. “This money will allow us to enhance the compliment of instruments and the music program in our schools. Newcap Radio has established itself as community-based radio station that will go to great lengths to support many of the City of Greater Sudbury’s and our Board’s local initiatives and charitable events, such as our annual Big Daddy Food Drive with St. Charles College.”

According to Rick Tompkins, Director of Programming for Newcap Radio, there is a definite need for a TOP FORTY format focusing on new music here in Sudbury. The new music will also attract many new radio listeners including students of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board in both the elementary and secondary schools. Tompkins believes, “Before the launch of the new Hot 93.5 there really was no radio station in the City of Greater Sudbury that played a format that catered to an audience that wants new music. Sudbury deserves a radio station like the new Hot 93.5, we welcome our listeners to reach out to us by inviting us into their homes, cars and events.”

“If I Don’t Finish, We Need to Continue”

Terry Fox’s words “If I don’t finish, we need others to continue. It’s got to keep going without me,” have inspired St. James Catholic School to participate in the annual Terry Fox Marathon of Hope. More than 350 students will participate in the walk at St. James Catholic School in Lively with voluntary donations going to the Terry Fox Foundation. Whereas Terry Fox made a monumental impact on the world, St. James Catholic School students hope that they can, in their own small way, help with cancer research.

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