Studies have shown that laughing not only lowers blood pressure and reduces stress hormone levels, it also improves cardiac health, boosts T cells, triggers endorphins, and is a fabulous ab workout! Best of all, laughter has been proven to increase our overall sense of well-being. So, the goal for the day at Marymount Academy on April 14, 2015 was to get people laughing!
The staff posted several hilarious visual jokes around the school, and told jokes between periods over the P.A. system.
At lunch, students who told the librarian a funny joke won a prize. Also, secondary students were invited to join the Improv Club for several “moments of improvised laughter” while elementary students were invited to vote for their funniest teacher.
The winner by a landslide was teacher Debra Michaud! She received a silly headband and a jar of candy along with the coveted Wand of Laughter. Teacher Colin Lapalme came in a distant 2nd and received a bag of leftover candy.
It was a “funderful” day at Marymount Academy. Laughter really is the best medicine.
Category: Staff Achievement
SCC Concert Choir Shining Bright like Diamonds Again
The concert choir at St. Charles College can safely say they are the top secondary school choir in the city. More than twenty-five SCC students performed at the 70th annual Kiwanis Festival in Sudbury this week to take home diamond standing yet again. Under the direction of teacher Ms. Shannon Coyle, this is the second year in a row that the choir has scored 90 or above – securing a diamond title for St. Charles College. The group performed All of Me by John Legend and the title song from Mama Mia. On Monday, April 13th at 7 p.m., the concert choir will be performing its rendition of Mamma Mia at the Kiwanis Festival final concert and awards ceremony at St.Andrews Place. There, they will receive the top secondary school choir award.
Sudbury Catholic Students Excel at Regional Science Fair
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is very proud of the many students who participated in the Regional Science Fair at Laurentian University on March 28-29. The projects were extremely well done and demonstrated creativity, innovation and quality work. The Board would thank the staff for their support and for inspiring students to become involved in this excellent learning opportunity. “Sudbury Catholic schools were well represented and we are very proud of our students,” stated Director of Education, Joanne Bénard. “Congratulations to all of our participants. Please extend our congrats to students and staff for these wonderful accomplishments.”
List of winners include:
Junior Division – Engineering (Génie junior) Divisional
Placing and Prize: Third/Troisième Place Medal & Certificate
Makaylah Kruk
Megan Ierino
Marymount Academy
Placing and Prize: First/Première Medal, Cash, Certificate
Sebastian Bisschops
Jordan Bisschops
St. Anne Elementary School
Placing and Prize: Third/Troisième Place Medal & Certificate
Emma Fraser-Ellott
Mackenzie Wickman
Marymount Academy
Cambrian College Award Special
Makaylah Kruk
Megan Ierino
Marymount Academy
Chemical Institute of Canada Award Special
Grace Woodliffe
Marymount Academy
Child Health Research Award Special
Julia Burns
Marymount Academy
Clean Air Sudbury Award Special
Makaylah Kruk
Megan Ierino
Marymount Academy
Collège Boréal Award Special
Adam Runciman
Sean Nickson
St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School
Jack Ceming Chemistry Award Special
Hannah Morningstar
St. James Elementary School
Laurentian University Earth Sciences Award Special
Hannah Morningstar
St. James Elementary School
Laurentian University Chemistry/biochemistry Award Special
Grace Woodliffe
Marymount Academy
Laurentian University Forensic Sciences Award Special
Grace Woodliffe
Marymount Academy
Laurentian University School of the Environment Award Special
Emma Fraser-Ellott
Mackenzie Wickman
Marymount Academy
Kai Nowak
Nathan Markic
St. James Elementary School
Ontario Power Generation Environmental Award Special
Emma Fraser-Ellott
Mackenzie Wickman
Marymount Academy
Grand Prizes
Prize Type: Trip to Canada Wide Science Fair in Charlottetown, Fredericton, New Brunswick, May 11th to 16th.
Sebastian Bisschops
Jordan Bisschops
St. Anne Elementary School
They’re coming to a door near you!
Students who attend St. Paul, St. John, St. David, St. Raphael, St. Andrew, Pius and St. Bernadette Catholic elementary schools are out in full force this week. Their mission is to collect cans for its food drive in collaboration with St. Charles College.
Students from the seven schools are going door-to-door to collect cans and other non-perishable food items to help the Sudbury Food Bank stock its shelves over the cold winter months.
Every year, the feeder schools team up with St. Charles College, Q92 and KISS 105.3 to Stuff a Bus full of food. The radio stations also broadcast live from the school parking lot during the week. The food is then transported to the Sudbury Food Bank warehouse.
Student can collect a combination of canned foods and cash. Last year, they surpassed their goal by collecting more than 112 thousand cans.
The food drive began more than 25 years ago and its founder, former student Jim Szilva still takes part in the drive with his former high school.
Totals will be tabulated, with a wrap-up set for October 23rd.
Staff “En Pointe” for BACCSS’s Rooney and Dechaine Memorial Walk
As a result of Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School’s successful Memorial Walk fundraiser in memory of former student Mackenzie Rooney (a student who died tragically in an ATV accident) and Dennis Dechaine, (a former teacher who lost his battle with cancer), both the principal and vice principal of the school had to honour their part of the challenge. Cassandra MacGregor and James Michaud, the school’s admin team showed up in their best ballerina wear as a result of the students fundraising exceeding their goal of $8000. To date, the school has raised over $9000 so far to go towards several different scholarship funds in both Rooney’s and Dechaine’s names, as well as to support several activities within the school that both Mackenzie’s parents and Dennis’s wife are involved with. To raise the money, the students canvassed the valley area over the past few weeks and the day of the walk involved a live broadcast from KICX radio, a prayer service, a Zumba warm up for the whole school, and an 8 km walk to celebrate the togetherness of the entire Bishop Carter school community. Joining them on the walk were members of both Mackenzie’s and Dennis’s families, as well as members of the Greater Sudbury Police Services. Principal Cassandra MacGregor was thrilled with the efforts of her students and staff. “We are a small school community with an enormous heart,” explained MacGregor. “We set our expectations really high when it comes to our students and staff, and they continually exceed these expectations! We are extremely proud of our students for surpassing our fundraising goal and it is wonderful that we can honour Mackenzie and Dennis, and their families with our outstanding efforts!”
SCDSB New Director Joanne Bénard Receives National Award
In the very first week of her new job, Sudbury Catholic Director Joanne Bénard attended the Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA) national conference in Calgary from July 5-10 to receive an award. Bénard was selected as this year’s Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officer’ Association’s (OCSOA) recipient of the CASSA EXL Award. This award was launched in 2002 to recognize excellence among Superintendents and is sponsored by Xerox Canada Ltd. as well as CASSA. According to the CASSA website, “the EXL Award Program is based on three premises:
• It is important that the dedication and enthusiasm of administrators who guide children’s educational experiences be acknowledged. Recognition is a powerful instrument for building pride in accomplishment and continued determination to pursue excellence.
• The scope and quality of children’s educational experiences are determined primarily by the system’s leaders, who establish, through the important work of teachers and the support of school boards and caring parents, the character of a particular school system’s programs.
• Children’s attitudes toward learning and their perceptions of themselves as lifelong learners are established in their school years. Effective leadership, mentoring and modelling determine whether the school jurisdiction effectively creates this environment”
According to the Sudbury Catholic Board Chair, Jody Cameron, Bénard really fits the bill with this award, and the board is quite fortunate to have her join the Sudbury Catholic community as its next Director. “ Joanne truly exemplifies excellence, as we have seen through her past experience,” Cameron explained. “Having her recognized nationally for her dedication and service to students really speaks to the exemplary quality of service that Joanne delivers, and we are quite excited to have her join our team!”
Bénard was pleased to receive the award, as she was joined by her husband and daughter for the presentation. “It is a blessing and an honour to be recognized by my peers for doing what I love to do and that is working with others to improve outcomes for our youth. This award is certainly a highlight in my career and a great way to begin my new role with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.”
SCDSB Staff Share their Knowledge in Calgary
Sudbury Catholic District School Board Superintendent Rossella Bagnato and Assistive Technology Teacher Jennifer Connelly visited Calgary from July 3-5 for the national Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA) conference. The two were asked to present at the conference with this year’s theme being student engagement
The pair showcased their presentation entitled, “If you give a student a voice” which is a play off the children’s books- “If You Give a Moose a Muffin”, and “If you Give a Mouse a Cookie.” Bagnato and Connelly shared data from Sudbury Catholic that was collected through a “Tell Them From Me” survey which allowed students in a variety of grades to have a voice and express their concerns and issues while dealing with school and home life.
Through this data, staff was able to create a focus for student engagement and prioritize the needs of the students. Over 250 school system administrators attended the conference and were impressed with the Sudbury Catholic presentation. “Sharing best practice with others across the country is a great way to showcase the incredible work we are doing at our school board,” Bagnato explained. “We really put our students first with everything that we do at Sudbury Catholic, and we were very honoured to be asked to share our experiences. This was a great opportunity for us to let everyone know just how great our staff and students really are!”
See the book created to showcase our Sudbury Catholic student voice.
Technology in the Classrooms at SCDSB
On Friday, June 13, SCDSB secondary teacher and educational assistants were provided with an ipad for the day and given the option to sign it out for the summer. The teachers and EA’s had pre-registered for several of the 8 different workshops focusing on the integration of ipads. These are the workshops that were offered:
• Foundations of Using an iPad as a Tool for Innovation and Instruction
• Traversing the Digital Realm: Recreation of Content in the 21st Century Classroom- This workshop will focus on a new way to offer content to students through the use of the vLE (Virtual Learning Environment) and NearPod
• Conquering the iPad Frontier: PionEAring iPads for Educational Assistants- This workshop will focus on universal access to: document and support learners, explore social stories to support Kelso and apps for behaviour management.Conquering the iPad Frontier: PionEAring iPads for Educational Assistants- This workshop will focus on universal access to: document and support learners, explore social stories to support Kelso and apps for behaviour management.
• You Really Can “Explain Everything”- This workshop will introduce the multi-talented design, screencasting, interactive whiteboard app. “Animation can explain whatever the mind of man can conceive”- Walt Disney
• Don’t Flip Out Over Flipping Your Classroom! – This workshop will introduce the concept of a flipped classroom. Why, when and how. Learn about Doceri and other apps that support this concept. Be prepared for hands-on activities.
• Let iPads lead the way for ALL – Let ALL students contribute and show their learning every day through the use of these tips, tools and tricks. (Special Education Focus)Let iPads Lead the Way for ALL – Let ALL students contribute and show their learning every day through the use of these tips, tools and tricks. (Special Education Focus)
• Go with the Flow!- Join this Apple Development Executive with hands-on navigation of the iOS App environment, focusing on multi-app use and tools that support collaboration, workflow, communication amongst and between teacher and student and student to student.
• Innovation in Instruction- The iPad is having a transformational impact on teaching and learning all over the planet. In this “Hands-on” session, come experience and learn about how the iPad, iTunes U and a few powerful apps can be used to differentiate, enhance and transform instruction and assessment practices in any classroom.
This session was lead an Apple Development Executive.
St. Charles College Educational Assistant Eileen Kennedy Wins SCDSB’s Annual Chairperson’s Award
Every year at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, nominations are sought for the Chairperson’s award. This award is given to a person or persons who makes outstanding contributions to the Catholic school system. The Board believes in the importance of recognizing employees who embrace Catholic values, demonstrates initiative and ingenuity, and contributes positively to the lives of students and staff. At the board’s annual retirement dinner, on June 11, 2014, Sudbury Catholic staff Eileen Kennedy was presented with this year’s award. Kennedy has been a deaf/blind intervenor for the board for the past 27 years working in both the elementary and secondary school level. Currently, Kennedy works with students at St. Charles College and was nominated by several of her school co-workers as well as board office staff. Jody Cameron, Chair of the Board, presented Kennedy with her award and spoke about Eileen’s contributions to the Sudbury Catholic community. “In her role as an intervenor, she constantly strives to find unique and fun ways to encourage these most challenged students to communicate. She researches best practices and activities that will help these students find success in the classroom,” Cameron stated. “She is dedicated to preserving and ensuring the dignity of her students, and her disposition and open-hearted kindness is admired by all who have had the pleasure of working with her.” Cameron cited many examples of how outstanding an educator Kennedy is, and thanked her for her selflessness, and dedication to the Sudbury Catholic students. A very humble person, upon receipt of the award, Kennedy was quick to explain that educating this group of students takes a real team effort. “Over the years, I have worked with some amazing Board administration and teachers,” Kennedy explained. “I would also like the trustees and administration of our board to know that our Intervenors and EAs have been envied all across the country. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking at conferences in Winnipeg and Vancouver and have come to know that we are valued here more than anywhere. You respect our knowledge and experience and we truly appreciate that.” Kennedy described many of her experiences where she was able to positively connect with and engage the students as “this helps their world seem a little less overwhelming and more meaningful.” Kennedy closed her speech by expressing that she was honoured to be the first educational assistant to be chosen by the board for this award, and that she is happy to have the privilege of having a career all these years doing what she really loves, and that the award is “icing on the cake!”