The grade 7 class at St. David Catholic School worked for weeks preparing a performance of the “Stations of the Cross” for the school student population. The students, with their teacher’s assistance and direction, played the parts, edited the script, built the set and made the costumes. Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus and the devotion commemorating the Passion. “I liked the performance because we actually felt like we were there. I liked that the grade 7’s used props and costumes and that they told us how we could be better friends to each other and make good choices. They taught us about how Jesus died and why he died for us. I really liked it and can’t wait until I am in grade 7 and I can put on this performance for the little kids in the school”, said grade 4 student Sequoia Wemigwans. Mrs. Mansourian, grade 7 teacher at St. David School, said that “the integration of the arts into the curriculum is an effective strategy to engage student learners, especially when they (students) feel empowered with the responsibility to teach younger students in the school”.
Category: Staff
St. Anne Kindergarten Students In Disbelief As Gingerbread Man Runs Away Again!
“Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!” This was the phrase the English Early Learning Kindergarten students at St. Anne School in Hanmer had being practicing as they used the story of the “Gingerbread Man” to practice story retelling. A culminating activity was to actually bake their own gingerbread cookies. Imagine their surprise when they discovered that their baked cookies had run away just like the cookie in the story!
An all points bulletin was aired over the school’s p.a. system by the Kindergarten children. They then proceeded to design and post lost and found posters. With the entire student body and staff eagerly searching for the fun away cookies, the children received a phone call from Mr. Thomson, an Intermediate teacher within the school. The run away cookies had fled to Mr. Thomson’s classroom. When asked why he thought the cookies would run to him, Mr. Thomson was quoted as saying, “Everyone knows I like cookies and I also like to say ‘Hello’ to the littlest people within our school, so I guess my classroom was the perfect place to go.” The Kindergarten children were ecstatic and relieved at the same time. Mr. Thomson received a gingerbread cookie as a reward for helping the students and providing a very happy and yummy ending to this tasty fairy tale mystery!
St. James Learns Traditional Art of Pysanky
During the Easter season, the grade 6,7and 8 French Immersion class from St. James Catholic School in Lively welcomed Jan Buley, a professor at Laurentian University who loves to teach the art of Pysanky–Ukrainian Easter eggs. These eggs are a traditional craft in Ukraine, with a history of thousands of years. Pysanky are decorated in many steps using a kistka, beeswax and several colours of dye. The students loved the experience and learned a very short but interesting lesson on the traditional craftof egg decorating and Ukrainian culture. The Ukrainian eggs that were created by the students were amazing and beautiful!
Canadian Pride at St. Mary
Federal Liberal Candidate for Nickel Belt, Joe Cormier, re-visited St. Mary in Capreol to bring a special book and a Canadian Flag to one lucky student. In February of this year, Mr. Cormier asked the students to create a poster where the Canadian Flag was prominently displayed as a special project to celebrate Flag Day. The results were so good that picking only one winning poster was a difficult task. Michael Renaud, a JK student, was fortunate in having his name picked as the winning entry. Mr. Cormier brought a Canadian Flag for Michael, along with a book autographed by Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Opposition.
Continuing to Message the Importance of the Gift of Life
The entire student body at St. Charles College had the opportunity on Tuesday, April 18 to listen to a very simple, but powerful message – give the gift of life. Back in December, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board launched their Trillium Gift of Life Challenge and the school’s presentation was a continuation of this message. The Board challenged the Greater City of Sudbury to have over 50% of its residence register as organ donors and have since had several different events at their schools supporting this message. The student senate students organized assemblies at all four of the Board’s secondary schools to reiterate this most important initiative. On hand were several members of the Irish Heritage Club who spoke about their own involvement both personally and as a club with organ donation. As well, the students watched videos which reinforced the importance of donor registration. Jessie St. Amour, a former student of St. Charles College was also in attendance to support the cause and as both he and his mother Anne are organ recipients. Jessie’s father, Richard, also addressed group and spoke of his own connection and to reinforce the day’s theme of giving the gift of life. Student Senate member David DiBrina (grade 10) explained to the student body how this one simple act of donor registration can positively affect many, many lives. “It is so important for students to know much hope the gift of life gives to others and that we all need to be educated about how imperative registering and then talking to your family about your decision really is.” Teacher and Student Senate moderator Paola Gutcher reiterated DiBrina’s message. “It is key that students are the ones speaking to students about this most important cause as it is an issue that can happen to anyone as age is not a factor,” Gutcher stated. “It really is a simple act that can literally change the lives of many and I am so proud of our students both at St. Charles College and board-wide for taking up this cause with such passion and determination.” Board Chair Barry MacDonald echoed Gutcher’s comment. “I speak on behalf of the Board of Trustees when I say that we are most proud of our students and staff for embracing this mementous initiative and I encourage them to continue to dialogue with their friends and family to spread the word of the importance of organ donation.”
The students were informed that t-shirts are now available for sale at all four secondary schools to help raise awareness and funds for the Gift of Life challenge.
As well, students were encouraged to fill out registration forms for organ donation as they were being passed out in homeroom.
The student senate has several other events planned around this initiative in the upcoming months.
A link has been added to the main page on the Board’s website for those who wish to register right on line – visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca to find the link.
Food Drive at St. Theresa
The St. Theresa Student Council (overseen by teacher Mrs. Heaphy) organized a food drive recently over a nine day period. Students gathered 320 items in that time and have given it to the Sudbury Food Bank. The students were very happy to share the bounty they have with those who are in need at this time of year and to continue the tradition started by Edgar Burton – founder of the Sudbury Food Bank. SK student Noah Jabreen and his mother (far left) Jennifer, as well as his grandmother Mrs. Edgar Burton were on hand to help with the collection of donated food items.
Bustin’ a Move and Finding Their Groove
Regardless of ability and age, every student at St. Raphael School is getting into the Zumba craze this month. All the students are participating in five Latin dance classes with two certified instructors.
Zumba will be part of the student daily physical activity at the school. The Ministry of Education states: “The goal of daily physical activity is to instill the habit of activity and enable all elementary students to be active on a daily basis in order to maintain or enhance their physical fitness, their overall health and wellness, and their ability and readiness to learn.”
It’s all a part of becoming a healthy school on the move. The school is being recognized by the Healthy Schools Recognition Program. It is a Ministry of Education initiative that awards schools going above the call of duty when it comes to the promotion of healthy living and eating.
Poisson d’Avril are swimming at St. Mary in Capreol
Core French students and Mme Aubin at St. Mary Catholic School in Capreol were walking around with paper fish stuck to their backs – on purpose – on April Fool’s Day. Mme Aubin ensured that students were familiar with the French tradition of Poisson d’Avril. In France, it’s called April FISH Day. French children make paper fish and try to tape them to the backs of unsuspecting friends.
Although the origins of April Fool’s Day vary, it is widely accepted that the French calendar reform of the sixteenth century (in 1564 King Charles XIV of France moved the start of the year from the end of March to January 1) played an important role. However, news didn’t travel very quickly at that time and the uneducated lower class in rural areas were the last to hear of the reform. Those who failed to keep up with the change had jokes played on them – paper fish were taped to their backs.
An Unlikely Sports Activity for Elementary Students at Lunch Hour
Recently CBC reporter Erik White did a story for Morning North about the intramural goalball program at St. James Catholic Elementary School.
If you are interested in listening to the story simply go online and go to:
www.cbc.ca/morningnorth – go to past episodes – You will see a link entitled: “An unlikely sports activity for elementary students at lunch hour”. Click on the “Listen” icon.