Father Mathieu, Parish Priest of St. John the Evangelist in Garson accepted a cheque from Toni Kritz-Roque, the grade 2 teacher from St. John Catholic Elementary School last week. The school raised the money through gift donations from staff and students that were used to make baskets and then raffled off. As well, local business donated gift certificates for the school’s gift tree. Tickets were sold and a total of $1500 was raised to support the parish. The parish is using the money to purchase malaria nets for children in third world countries. Each net costs ten dollars and can potentially protect a small family or groups of children from malaria.
Category: Staff
Sudbury Regional Police Supports St. David’s
The Greater Sudbury Police Services Admin. Chief, Deputy Chief and Inspectors went to St. David’s recently to spread the gift of the Love of Reading with the students and staff of St. David Catholic Elementary School. Each school day for one week, a member of the Greater Sudbury Police Services senior team took time out in the classrooms and read Christmas tales of peace, joy an giving. Students were inspired and enthused after the police services visits and were looking forward to sharing a good book with their mentors in the new year!
Sudbury Catholic District School Board Staff Take Part in Teacher Learning And Leadership Program (TLLP)
The Teacher Learning and Leadership Program (TLLP)is an opportunity for experienced teachers to engage in self-directed action research with funding from the Ministry of Education. Teachers submit project proposals to their Principal, who then sends the proposal on to the Superintendent of Program. The Superintendent then selects one or two projects to send on to the Ministry for consideration. This project was initiated in 2007, with the first two cohorts of projects reaching completion in July 2009. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board has had a project in each of the three cohorts so far (two have been completed, and one in ongoing).
In November, all of the project leaders from the first two cohorts across the province came together in Toronto to celebrate and share their findings. This “Sharing the Learning Summit” was a powerful and positive experience. Marlene Lee, a teacher from St. Paul School, shared her project entitled Cameras, Camcorders and Computers: Intermediate Students Sharing their Visual Insights”. Krista Sarmatiuk, Kathy McDowell and Kevin Krystia, from St. Raphael School, shared their project entitled “Problem-Solving: Math, Literacy and Logic”.
Thanks to Ministry funding, both teams have developed valuable resources for teachers to use which will help to promote student success by creating engaging and differentiated learning opportunities.
All of the TLLP participants were sent an invitation to submit a proposal to present at the 5th Annual Ontario Education Research Symposium. Marlene Lee’s presentation was one of thirty-five proposals accepted to mount a display from February 17 -19, 2010. She will now have the opportunity to share what she has learned during her TLLP and also to see what other educational research is taking place in the province.
A Sharing of Culture and Support for St. Joseph and St. David
Students from St. Joseph and St. David’s Catholic Elementary Schools joined together for the day at St. David’s schools to build links between the two communities. The students’ teachers, Irene Dembek from St. Joseph and Christina Kilby from St. David’s brought their classes together as part of their multi-school project to build knowledge and understanding of the history and traditions found in Aboriginal culture. It is their hope that their project would begin building supportive relationships for Aboriginal students and illicit parent involvement in order to assist students in their embracing of their cultural background. Will Morin, a local artist and story teller was invited in to the school to share his stories and his expertise in Aboriginal culture with both the Aboriginal students as well as the general student population.
St. Mary’s Students Hit the Bigtime!
The music was blaring as the students practiced for the last time before their big performance at St. Mary Catholic Elementary School last week. Ms. O’Reilly, a teacher at the school organized a lip synch contest for those daring students who wanted to participate in the big show. With costumes covered in “bling” and musical instrument props at the ready, the kids rehearsed their choreography anxious to wow the audience. “It is a nice event for the students just before Christmas.” said Gen Waszczylo, principal of the school. “The kids really work hard to prepare and the rest of the students enjoy the different acts. It is fun for everybody!” As predicted, the performance went off without a hitch and was a huge hit for all of the students and staff!
Students of Corpus Christi Set a Joyous Tone for Christmas
The students and staff of Corpus Christi Catholic Elementary School have been working very hard and it showed as they performed their Christmas concert yesterday at Glad Tidings Tabernacle. Families and friends were invited to attend their concert and listen to the sounds of Christmas. There is a picture in today’s Sudbury Star (page 4) of the Senior Kindergarten class performing.
St. Raphael Students’ Voices Ring Out on the Radio
As in years past, this Christmas many of our elementary school students were invited to sing Christmas carols on Easy Rock with Rich and Gary. It is an event that the students work very hard preparing for and are very excited knowing that their voices will be broadcast all around the City of Greater Sudbury. This morning the Grades 1 and 2 classes from St. Raphael Catholic Elementary School had the honour of singing two songs for the station. The boys and girls were on their best behaviour and sang clear as a bell when they performed their two songs. Rich and Gary took time to ask some of the kids what they wanted for Christmas and then after their performance were treated to a tour of the station as well as Timbits and hot chocolate courtesy of Tim Horton’s. Definitely a nice treat for the classes and a great start to their day! Thank you to Mrs. Low, their teacher and skilled Choir Director and congratulations to the Grade 1 and 2 students for a job well done!
Sudbury Catholic Board Decides to Build Holy Cross Catholic School, JK to Grade 6
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board unanimously voted to make its newest high-tech green school a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 elementary school. The Board’s Trustees made the decision at the December 15, 2009 Board meeting.
The trustees decided the new Holy Cross Catholic School in Sudbury’s south end would be a separate Dual Track JK to Grade 6 School, located near St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. The new school will also include an early-learning daycare facility and a 4,000 square foot gymnasium.
“Holy Cross is going to be a fantastic new school,” says Board Chair Jody Cameron, “It will be high-tech, offering the latest in educational technology – while being an intimate, safe and personable environment for children ranging from our new full-day junior kindergarten program to Grade 6. It’s an exciting time.”
Meantime, the Catholic Board also decided it will offer Grade 7 to 12 programming next door at the existing St. Benedict’s Catholic Secondary School. This will include the construction of new classrooms and a third gymnasium. The renovations will also include a new “cafetorium” (which is a combination of a cafeteria and auditorium) to serve both the elementary and secondary students. It could seat as many as 500 people for concerts, plays, presentations, guest speakers, and other special events.
“These two projects are exciting for students, parents, and teachers in our Catholic schools,” says Board Director, Catherine McCullough, “It’s a great decision which will continue to enhance our community partnerships. These students who already benefit from programs like our nationally-recognized laptop learning program will now have even more educational tools at their fingertips to help them have a balanced educational experience and go on to succeed in life.”
The Board Trustees made the decision after extensive consultation with the school communities impacted. The new Holy Cross Catholic School will open in September 2011. The new and improved St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School will also be ready for the fall of 2011. Both projects combined are projected to cost $16.2-million with $11.7-million coming from the provincial government – while the Board has agreed to contribute $4.5-million.
Marymount Academy Teacher Shows True Meaning of Christmas!
During the holidays, people often get caught up in the buying of presents and the more materialistic side of Christmas. Not so for Matthew Wiecha, teacher at Marymount Academy. For the past twenty years, Mr. Wiecha along with his students from Marymount Academy have helped their community by providing a bountiful Christmas lunch for the clients of the Sudbury Action Centre for Youth (S.A.C.Y.). For many homeless clients, dealing with addiction and mental health issues, the luncheon is often the only Christmas meal they have to look forward to. Jill Ospina, a St. Albert teacher who teaches out of S.A.C.Y. says that the clients had been talking about this luncheon for weeks and weeks. “A lot of the return clientele tell the new clients about the feast and the anticipation really builds.” says Ospina. Mr. Wiecha and his classes prepared weeks in advance for the day. They raised money, put in their own funds and organized the whole meal including the cooking of four turkeys! “Not only is it a great day for the people who come to eat, but for the Marymount girls as well.” states Wiecha. “It really builds a social conscious into the curriculum. The girls really look forward to it.” Mardi Taylor, Executive Director presented Mr. Wiecha with a plaque in honour of his twenty years of service to the centre. Mary Wiecha, Matthew’s wife was also on hand to surprise and support her husband for the presentation of the award. “I had never been here before to see this.” stated Mary. “It is amazing to see the amount of food and the number of people that are here to take part. I am really proud of my husband.” More than 200 people enjoyed the luncheon put on by Mr. Wiecha and his senior social science students. Cassandra MacGregor, Vice Principal of Marymount was also presented with a plaque to thank the students of Marymount for their participation. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud of Mr. Wiecha and his students and would like to thank them for really exemplifying the true spirit of Christmas!