Sudbury Catholic District School Board

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St. Benedict Science Teachers and Laurentian Students Represent Ontario at National Science Competition

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St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School students were treated to edge-of-their-seat action and suspense at the Ontario Iron Science Competition which was held at Science North on November 3, 2007. Bearing signs and banners, St. Benedict students cheered on two of their own science teachers, Mr. Aaron Barry and Mr. Michael Sipos, who were competing againstt another local and two Southern Ontario teams for the Ontario championship title.

The Iron Science Competition is held across Canada with the intention of increasing the appeal of science and scientific experiments to students and the general public. The goal was undoubtedly met as the crowd which consisted of both students and adults responded to the scientific displays with incredible enthusiasm. Each ten minute presentation was based on the “secret ingredient” in the human body. The teams were judged by a panel of scientists, teachers, and local media.

St. Benedict Catholic School teachers, Mr. Barry and Mr. Sipos, teamed up with two graduate students from the Laurentian University/Science North Science Communications program, Lisa Lambert and Brandi Chuchman. Together, they formed the “Ferral Nerds” and solved the baffling mysteries of the human body. The sinuses were explained through the use of a “Booger Cannon” and the steps of the Digestive System were demonstrated with a larger-than-life working model. Their presentation impressed the crowd and judges alike, and their supporters were delighted with their scientific antics. After lengthy deliberation, the “Ferral Nerds” were crowned the champions of the Ontario Iron Science Competition for their unparalleled originality, delivery, entertainment value, overall knowledge of scientific principals and general “nerdiness.” St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School received a Smart Board as the top prize which will benefit all students in the science classrooms.

The “Ferral Nerds” will represent the province at the National Iron Science Competition in Calgary, Alberta on November 22, 2007. The entire event will be webcasted live at 12:00 p.m. local time from www.ironscience.ca.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board would like to congratulate the “Ferral Nerds” on their excellent achievement in winning the Ontario Iron Science Competition and wish them the best of luck as they represent St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, Laurentian University, and Ontario on the national stage.

SCDSB Launches School Conservation Challenge for 2007-2008

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is hosting year two of its School Conservation Challenge and is inviting all SCDSB Dearness Schools, Classes and Clubs to participate. The “challenge” will run from October 30, 2007 to May 1, 2008.

The School Conservation Challenge was created by the Sudbury Catholic District School Board to increase the participation in the Dearness Conservation (DC) initiative that was introduced into all of the Board’s schools in 2001. Since the inception of the DC program, the Board has been able to achieve substantial utility savings by educating teachers, students and staff and providing them with the necessary resources through this program.

To help revitalize the program in 2006-2007, senior administration decided that a “Conservation Challenge” would be an excellent way to enhance the effectiveness of the program in addition to acknowledging the “Environmental Champions.” The selection of the School Conservation Champion involves a point system based on three categories; (i) an unannounced site visit by the SCDSB’s Facility Services Department during the school year (ii) an interview to be conducted with the principal from each participating school (iii) in late May, schools will be asked to submit reports dealing with Lifestyle Conservation Campaigns and other relevant materials such as videos/newsletters/announcements and presentations. Schools will be awarded points based on the above three categories.

The school that attains the most points will be deemed the winner of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s 2007-2008 School Conservation Challenge and will be awarded a Grand Prize of $500.00 (toward an approved greening/grounds improvement project) and the right to display the “SCDSB School Conservation Challenge Champions” banner for a year.

Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board supports the board’s new initiative with respect to the far reaching positive effects and implications this program will have on students and the environment. “The SCDSB School Conservation Challenge provides our students with an opportunity to integrate the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations into their lives in an authentic manner,” states McCullough. “This Conservation Challenge invites all students to become responsible citizens and stewards of creation by respecting the environment and using the earth’s resources wisely.”

For more information on the SCDSB School Conservation Challenge please contact, Mark Gervais, Energy Coordinator at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

St. Charles College Food Drive a Smashing Success

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St. Charles College wrapped up its “Can Dave Mayes” food drive on October 29 by smashing its target goal of 25,000 cans with an amazing total of 61,000 food items! After tireless campaigning by the St. Charles College students and a great deal of support from Big Daddy Radio 103.9, Bell and Sudbury Transit the food drive went over the top on the final days of the campaign by some 36,000 food items and donations combined.

Patty Mardero, Principal of St. Charles College is ecstatic with the efforts of her students and the overwhelming response of the Sudbury community with respect to the recent food drive. “This is the largest donation ever made by a single school in the 20-year history of the Banque d’aliments Sudbury Food Bank,” stated Mardero. “Hundreds of people in the Greater Sudbury community will be helped through the incredible endeavours of all the
St. Charles College students and our event partners.”

St. Charles College would like to thank Big Daddy Radio 103.9, Bell, Sudbury Transit and the citizens of Greater Sudbury for their support and dedication in helping to make this food drive such a tremendous success.

CEC Staff to Celebrate All Saints Day with Morning Prayer

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The staff at the Catholic Education Centre celebrate All Saints Day with Morning Prayer. Together with students from Marymount Academy, Morning Prayer, following the Liturgy of the Hours, will be recited to honour all people who are not recognized officially in the Calendar of the Saints.

This ancient feast has it roots in the 4th century and it became a celebration for the universal Church in the 9th century. The day before, Oct. 31, the vigil of All Saints, All Hallows Eve, was a time of prayer and fasting in preparation for the major feast of All Saints.

St. John Catholic School Launches Waste Reduction Pilot Project

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce that St. John Catholic School has been selected by the City of Greater Sudbury to participate in a school-based recycling project. Prior to the launch of the pilot project, only paper and cardboard products were being recycled at the school. As a result of this new initiative, students are now able to recycle the same waste products as they do at home in one convenient blue box without the need to sort! Some of the new products students can recycle include: plastic sandwich bags, milk cartons, and juice boxes-something schools have a lot of!

Madame Raymond’s Grade 3/4 French Immersion class has taken on a leadership role in helping to organize and support the project. Students are responsible for collecting waste reduction data and publically charting the results in the school’s front entrance on a weekly basis. St. John Catholic School is hoping to reduce the amount of waste sent to the local landfill site by at least 50 percent through this new initiative.

The Grade 3/4 French Immersion class is also working to integrate the project into all aspects of the curriculum from Mathematics to Social Studies. Further, a Waste Reduction Committee organized by teachers and run by students has been created with the purpose of raising awareness about the importance of recycling amongst students and staff alike.

St. John Catholic School is the third SCDSB school to participate in the City of Greater Sudbury’s recycling “pilot project” joining sister schools, St. Paul Catholic School and St. Charles College who embarked upon this project in June 2007.

Dr. Janna-Marie Doni Visits St. Mary Catholic School

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Dr. Janna-Marie Doni, a Chiropractor at the Capreol Chiropractic Clinic, recently visited St. Mary Catholic School to speak to the students on a variety of health issues. Dr. Doni’s presentation to the class focussed on how the body works and how the brain sends messages down the spinal cord and out through the nerves to all parts of the body.

Students actively participated in the presentation, answering questions and performing exercises to improve body posture. The students learned three ways in which to keep a spine healthy: good posture, carry a backpack properly (pack it light, wear it right), and regular chiropractic care.

Primary students were also provided with a colouring page highlighting the “do’s and don’ts” of carrying backpacks. Older students were given a sheet entitled “Lighten Your Load,” re-enforcing the fact that the weight of a backpack should be a maximum of 10 percent of a person’s body weight for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8.

Dr. Janna’s final thoughts for the students were: “I wish you a lifetime of happiness and great health.” For more information on these and other topics please visit http://www.chiropractic.on.ca.

St. Bernadette Students Celebrate Halloween with Falconbridge Extendicare

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Students from St. Bernadette Catholic School visited Falconbridge Extendicare to celebrate Halloween with the seniors. The students entertained the residents by hosting a costume parade, making arts and crafts, singing songs and sharing Halloween stories before returning to the school.

St. Charles College Annual Mistletoe Craft and Gift Show

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St. Charles College will be holding its annual Mistletoe Craft and Gift Show at St. Charles College, 1940 Hawthorne Drive, Sudbury on the following dates and times. Several of Northern Ontario’s finest artisans will exhibit a treasure trove of handcrafted and original gifts. Admission is $4.00 at the door or $3.50 with a coupon that is available in the Northern Life.

Saturday, November 3, 2007 (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
Sunday, November 4, 2007 (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

For more information, please contact Jane Rodrigues at
St. Charles College ph. 566-9605.

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