For the second year in a row, students and staff of Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School invited parents and community partners to join them at the school’s morning breakfast club program on December 9th, 2010 to see how the program is growing in leaps and bounds. The school’s chaplain, Jennifer Geddes helps with the set up, cooking and clean-up for the program and is enthusiastic about its growth. “Compared to last year, the breakfast programs now feeds approximately 1/4 of the school each and every day.” Geddes stated. B.A.C.C.S.S. teacher Dennis Duchaine really feels it is making a different in the performance of many of the students. “I see big changes in a lot of the kids, “Duchaine said. “ They are more alert and are participating so much more because they are no longer tired and hungry – having the breakfast available to them makes it easy to fuel themselves in order for them to learn. Even teacher participation has grown and staff are often found in the breakfast club room, helping out and ‘breaking bread’ with students and fellow co-workers.” The school invited parents and community partners in to show them how positively the program impacts the students and allows them to see the difference it is making for the school.
Category: Staff
“God truly gives his gifts to the poor and always does right”
The spirit of altruism is alive and well at St. Charles Catholic School in Chelmsford. The yearly food drive for the needy was a huge success for the entire community. Students and staff collected 5 092 food items for La Maison d’Amitié/Friendship House. Mme Bouzane’s Gr. 5/6 French Immersion class co-ordinated this yearly endeavour from start to finish. Although they encouraged everyone to bring in canned goods, their class contributed over 1 000 cans to the food drive, making them the winners of this school-wide friendly competition. These champions are the recipients of the “Golden Can” Award. Way to go RAMS!
A Very Timely and Meaningful Holiday Message from St. Raphael Students
The students at St. Raphael School have been busy decorating brown bags to warn adults about the dangers of drinking and driving. The one thousand bags will then be distributed to LCBO customers in New Sudbury during the month of December.
Students in grades four to eight are involved in the project which ties into the substance abuse curriculum, as well as art and media literacy. The goal is to remind adults that drinking and driving don’t mix while teaching the adults of tomorrow this important life long lesson.
St. Charles Catholic Elementary School Students Take Part in Anti-Bullying Activities
The week of November 15-19 marked Bullying Awareness Prevention Week. Students at St. Charles Elementary in Chelmsford recognized this important week by participating in a variety of activities including creating skits, songs and posters, all focusing on bullying awareness and prevention. Students in Ms. Harasymowicz’s grade 8 class chose to recognize this important issue by creating and wearing t-shirts displaying a wide variety of anti bullying messages and slogans. This also tied in perfectly with the theme of Justice, which was the virtue of the month for November.
St. Bernadette Stands Up for Peace
Students at St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School took part in several creative activities in honour of Bullying Awareness week. Each class discussed how every single student has an important role to play in fostering a safe and caring school environment. Some of the week’s activities included a mass, taking the anti-bullying pledge and taking part in a live demonstration of peace by creating a student-body peace sign on the school’s front lawn.
Pyjama Day at St. Bernadette
It was a day of comfort and fun for the students and staff of St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School as Friday, November 12 was pyjama day. Students were encouraged to come to school in their comfiest pyjamas for the St. Bernadette spirit day as well as to promote bedtime reading. “What better way to celebrate and promote bedtime reading for the students with their parents than with a pyjama day?” asked Diana Salvador, Principal of the school. “We always encourage students to read with their parents and guardians at home and know that the students really benefit when this shared reading takes place.” When asked if they enjoyed the day, several students responded that they wished everyday was pyjama day!
MMA Bringing Music to the Community
Recently, the Senior Brass Ensemble performed a short set at the Knights of Columbus fundraiser for struggling families in Sudbury. Cindy Coleman, Emma Kyle, Jessica Pugliese and Cassie Apolloni did a great job with their performance. It was a great evening with dinner and beautiful music. Hooray for music in the community!
St. Mary Students Take Part in Health Awareness Workshop
Students at St. Mary Catholic Elementary School had the opportunity to attend a Health Awareness Workshop on Friday, November 12, 2010. With flu season here, Gen Waszczylo, Principal of the school felt that it was important for her students to be reminded of healthy hygiene practices. “We want to instill in the students proper hygiene habits and are very fortunate to have established community partnerships with experts in this field, willing to share with us their knowledge.” Waszczylo said. Ashley Laperriere, a Public Health Inspector with the Sudbury and District Health Unit spoke to the students about avoiding germs as well as the importance of proper handwashing. As well, Sheryl Sasseville, owner of Sudbury Dental Hygiene demonstrated the technique for correct tooth brushing. At the end of the presentation, all of the students receive a “goodie bag” of personal hygiene products promoting all that they had learned from the two demonstrations.
St. Benedict Teacher Honoured with Rotary Club of Sudbury Community Leadership Vocational Award
Libby Marinilli, a teacher librarian from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School was honoured on Monday, October 25 by the Rotary Club of Sudbury with a Communnity Leadership and Vocational Award. Libby exemplifies professionalism in the area of education as well as self-development and reflects her expectations of her students which is having them reach their full potential. Over the years Libby has continued to stay current in her profession by taking numerous additional Ministry of Education courses in Guidance, Mathematics, English, Special Education Specialist, Computer Specialist, Principal Qualifications & most recently Library Science just to name a few.
Her dedication to her students & profession included expanding their horizons in this global village by forming an Educational Travel Club. Over the past 20 years, thanks to Libby’s efforts, students have been exposed to the global classroom with trips to Egypt, Russia, Japan & Western Europe. Here, in our own country, she has organized Youth Exchange with students from Saskatchewan, Newfoundland & Labrador. Libby has given of her personal time over the years by providing athletic training of sports teams after school, organizing the annual winter carnival & working with student council as well as the Literacy Across the Curriculum Committee as the staff representative. In attempting to incorporate relevant experiences as a way of enhancing student learning, Libby’s Gifted Grade 10 English class had their full-sized newspaper published by the Sudbury Star. Her passion for literature & the understanding of the importance of literacy in our world has brought her to her latest position as teacher-librarian. In this position, she has introduced e-books (electronic) to the library & students. She has organized authors from the Writer’s Union to speak to students about the writing process which in turn could motivate them to become future authors.
By organizing Chapters book fairs, she not only brings the community into the school, but as a result, this action has lead to the formation of a school Book Club. Libby has also been involved in ESP- Empowering Student Participation in various anti-bullying activities & campaigns.
In addition, Libby has found time to contribute to her community by volunteering as an executive member for the Joe MacDonald Football League for the past 16 years. The league encourages young boys & girls from ages 8-15 to learn skills, develop self-confidence & move on to high school prepared with the skills of the game.