Teacher Karen Healy and Early Childhood Educator Angela Ross’ class use forms of technology everyday, but how does that technology work? Through hands-on investigation, the full day kindergarten class at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School was able to dismantle a computer tower and a laptop to get a closer look at what is inside. Students Aiden Galloway took apart the CPU fan to get a closer look and Violet Smith tried to figure out where the memory chip goes on the motherboard. When Aiden was finished he said, “I can’t believe I took out a piece of the computer!”
Category: Topic
Around the World and Back to Share Her Story
An eighteen year-old student, world traveler and ambassador visited St. Charles College this week to share stories about her work and travels in Africa.
Laura Limarzi is a graduate of Assumption High School in Windsor, Ontario. During her years there, she was the student council president and got involved with many social justice issues and initiatives including HOBEY International and Craig Kielberger’s Me to We program. During her last year in high school she got the chance to travel to Africa with Me to We to learn about life in Kenya, and helped with the foundations projects, focusing on clean water and education.
Upon graduation, Limarzi was awarded the Morehead-Cain Scholarship, which is a full scholarship to attend University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Currently she is taking a ‘gap’ year, which has led her to work with the oraganization Determined to Develop. Through this organization, she travelled to Malawi where she lived for four months working with children. Upon her return, she was invited to Mozambique to work with The United States Military AIDS Research Program.
Limarzi was in town to visit family, and was invited by her aunt, a teacher, to SCC to share her experiences with our students. The goal of Limarzi’s visit was to inspire others to get involved in their school, their country and the world in which they live, always remembering that no matter where we live, our daily struggles are similar. We are united through the human experience.
Throughout the day spent at SCC, Limarzi made two presentations. One to Leadership students and the students who had just returned from Guatemala, and one to the Life Skills students. Her message in each presentation was simple. Get involved! Together we can make this world a better place, whether through local or global causes. Laura also visited Holy Cross Elementary School, and The Soup Kitchen while in Sudbury.
Marymount Academy Presents – Sleeping Beauty
Elementary students from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board were treated to Marymount Academy’s rendition of Sleeping Beauty – which ran from April 23 – 26. Under the direction of teacher Jolanta Tourville, with the assistance of teachers Anna White and Cathy Fairgrieve, and former student Jessica Pugliese, the students at Marymount Academy put on a stellar performance of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty for all audiences.
St. David School Hosts Healthy Food Summit
The students and staff at St. David Catholic Elementary School hosted a full day Healthy Foods Summit at the beginning of April. The day consisted of guest speakers from the community facilitating “hands-on healthy foods” workshops. All classes, JK – grade 8, had the opportunity to visit three healthy foods workshops during the day. The topics ranged from: healthy choices using culturally based foods, healthy choices with after school snacks, how to pack a healthy lunch, Eat Local, and healthy desert choices. The school also partnered with the Sudbury Health Unit and offered workshops in proper handwashing techniques and student led leadership workshops.
The St. David School student leadership team co-planned the sessions with the mentorship of Janet Spergel, Community Health Care Nurse for the Sudbury Health Unit. Students were engaged in all sessions. Staff, students and families from St. David Catholic Elementary School all walked away with a better understanding of the importance of healthy food choices, their availability in the community and how to prepare them as meals and snacks.
Pius Celebrates Secretary Day
Pius students and staff never take for granted the hard work, dedication and commitment that Mrs. Barbe, the school secretary puts in every day. Mrs. Barbe had a surprise when she entered the gym filled with staff and students who wished her a Happy Secretary Day and presented her with gifts, hand made letter of thanks and flowers. “I like Mrs. Barbe, everyday she is happy and nice to everyone in the school” says Grade 1 student Shaylisah Dixon. Pius staff and students are proud that she is part of the Penguin team!
RCMP Visits St. Francis FDK Class
Mme Lachance’s and Mme Lynne’s FDK French Immersion class had the pleasure of having a special guest visit their classroom. Sergeant Andre Lecoz shared his duties as an RCMP officer with the students. He explained all the features of his uniform and allowed the children to try on a smaller version of the coat and hat. Although many children thought he was a cowboy at first, at the end of the presentation they seemed to have a better understanding of what an RCMP actually does to help protect our society.
St. David School is now Idle Free
On Earth Day 2013, the students and staff of St. David Catholic School launched an “Idle-Free Campaign” in partnership with the Earth Care Sudbury. An idle free school is one where all non-moving vehicles on school property do not have their engines running. Parents waiting for their children will keep their engines off. Studies by Health Canada and community health departments show a direct, significant link between air pollution and respiratory health. When a vehicle is idling it releases more carbon dioxide than when it is moving.
St. David School, with support from Jennifer Babin-Fenske, Earth Care Sudbury, thought it appropriate to launch the Idle -Free Campaign on April 22 – Earth Day. The school’s student led Green Team discussed the importance of having an idle free area by their school as well as other earth day campaigns active in the school community. According to grade 3 student, Alyssa Gasper, “the pollution from cars affect the plants and animals and our health in negative ways”.
Megan Murphy, school vice principal assisted the students in posting Idle-Free signs and banners throughout the school. “Our students are genuinely concerned and active in caring for our environment not only on Earth Day, but throughout the year. Our students are passionate about educating their peers and family members about the importance of being environmentally conscious.”
St. Charles Elementary Celebrate Earth Day
Students at St. Charles Elementary engaged in literacy-based activities for Earth Day 2013, to increase awareness and share what they have learned about Stewardship with others. Mrs. Maxwell’s student council members chose the activities for the day based on submissions by students.
Primary students were treated to a read aloud by fellow student Connor Mackey, who read The Tree. To go with the story, students created the ‘Tree’s Song’ and discussed what they can do to help the Earth!
Older students read Imagine a Place, and created their own page of an e-book that will be shared with the school once complete.
Thank you to Mrs. Maxwell and her council for organizing such a rich day for our students!
Holy Cross Free the Children Club “We Are Silent” Campaign
Members of the Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School Free the Children Club joined thousands of students around the world in the ‘We Are Silent” Campaign on April 18th. Students took a “vow of silence” in order to experience what it is like for poverty stricken children to not have the right to speak out about their basic needs, including an education. The “Day of Silence” brought awareness to Free the Children Club members and the Holy Cross School Community.