St. Francis students and staff wore yellow to kick off the start of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Campaign in April. The daffodil is a symbol of strength and courage in the fight againstt cancer. Since the 1950s, bright yellow daffodils have arrived in communities across Canada to mark the beginning of Daffodil Month in April. Yellow daffodil stickers were worn at the elementary school to show support for Canadians living with cancer. A cheque for $502.00 was presented to Ms. Burns and Ms. Crispo from the Canadian Cancer Society who graciously attended the school’s assembly to speak to students. The cheque was presented on behalf of the families, students and staff of St. Francis School who made the donation possible. Cancer has touched many of the St. Francis families, friends, staff and even students in some way. The school’s event organizer for the Daffodil Campaign, Ms. Graziella Visentin, was thrilled with the support shown by the school’s families, students and staff for this worthwhile cause. By sharing of ourselves and helping those around us, we are, in essence, practising Christian stewardship, which is the school’s virtue for the month of April. Each year the amount raised increases and the school hopes to continue with this beneficial fundraiser to help cancer patients in our community.
Category: Student
St. Charles College Junior Cards Celebrate the Art of Kandinsky
Ms. Royer’s grade 7 and 8 students have been learning about the life and times of artist Vasily Kandinsky in an effort to recreate his work.
The Moscow born artist was known for colour and abstract. The students then recreated his work by creating a ‘Kandinsky wall’ with patchwork from each student included in the overall effect.
Sudbury Catholic Schools Students represent at Sudbury Regional Science Fair
Sudbury Catholic Schools students were very successful at this past weekend’s Sudbury Regional Science Fair.
Please see the list below
SRSF Regular (Divisional) Awards
Junior Division – Engineering (Génie junior) Divisional
Placing and Prize: First/Première Medal, Cash, Certificate
No More Dehydration, Use the Solar Desalination
Kaylee Kruk
Marymount Academy
Junior Division – Life Sciences (Sciences de la vie junior) Divisional
Placing and Prize: Third/Troisième Place Medal & Certificate
Where have all the bugs gone?
Margaret Leigh
Marymount Academy
SRSF Special Awards
Bill and Olga Roman Award Special
Sponsor: The Roman Family
Pedal Power
Jordin Rancourt
Marymount Academy
Biotechnology Award Special
Sponsor: Sudbury Regional Science Fair Committee
GOT MILK?
Ryanna Proulx
Marymount Academy
Laurentian University Biology Award Special
Sponsor: Laurentian University Biology Department
Where have all the bugs gone?
Margaret Leigh
Marymount Academy
Laurentian University Neuroscience Award Special
Sponsor: Laurentian University Behavioural Neuroscience
Paw Patrol/Patrouilles des Pattes
Avery Morin
Brooke Palladino
Marymount Academy
Laurentian Architecture Laurentienne (LAL) Award Special
Sponsor: Laurentian University School of Architecture
Companion Tray
Kaleb Witty
Nicholas Moyle
St. Anne Elementary School
Laurentian University School of the Environment Award Special
No More Dehydration, Use the Solar Desalination
Kaylee Kruk
Marymount Academy
Grand Prizes
Canada Wide Science Fair Participant (Participant(e) à l’expo-sciences pan-canadienne) Grand
Prize Type: Trip to Canada Wide Science Fair in Montreal, May 15th to 20th.
No More Dehydration, Use the Solar Desalination
Kaylee Kruk
Marymount Academy
Congratulations to all!
SCC students dissect owl pellets
The grade ten enriched science students at St. Charles College dissected owl pellets as part of their scientific studies. Owl pellets are like giant hair balls that an owl spits up.
Science teacher Mr. Kingshott says “owls eat their prey whole and then regurgitate anything that it cannot digest”.
These owl pellets were supplied by owls from Washington state.
The students then took the animals pieces from the pellets to try and rebuild skeletons using diagrams of typical owl prey like moles, voles, mice and birds.
BACCSS Student Following His Passion to Success
A teenager’s life is filled with many decisions. Choosing courses and a career destination can cause stressful situations, but as Alex Laurin leant, it is important to choose a career that you love to do. Alex, a grade 12 student at Bishop Alexander Carter, started his grade 9 year in the pathways program. He often thought about architecture and tried to upgrade a few classes but struggled, especially in math he said. Deep down he knew that university and college would not be his destination. It simply was not for him. Alex’s destination was the workplace.
Alex met with the guidance counsellor at the school, Heather Duguay, to explore career options. He loved the thought of being able to design things. With encouragement from Mrs. Duguay and his parents, he enroled in the Specialist High Skills Program (SHSM) in Manufacturing and Robotics in the school.
“I was surprised to find out I was really good at welding”, Alex explained. “I love to create and make things with my hands”.
Discovering his new talent, Alex set his own goals and discussed these with his parents. He felt that his parents were excited that he found his passion.
“My dad was really supportive of my career goals. They bought me my own welding mask and boots”.
Today, Alex is finishing his SHSM course and is completing his coop placement at Belanger construction. He is a registered OYAP (Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program) student through the MTCU (Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities) and a registered level 1 apprentice through the College of Trades. Alex has been a valuable asset to Belanger Construction and they encouraged him to write his Canadian Welding Bureau test (at the employer’s cost). Alex was successful in this test and has obtained his welding certificate in shielded metal arc welding. His advice for students, “Work hard and know what you are getting into and do your research into career option. But most of all, enjoy it!”.
St. David School Promotes Healthy Life Choices with “The Big Crunch”
The students and staff at St. David Catholic School participated in a special day of “good food education, ending in a massive, synchronized bite into a crunchy apple”. The school prepared for this special day playing student created public service announcements celebrating the benefits of choosing locally grown foods and eating healthy. St. David School works throughout the year to promote healthy eating habits, the benefits of daily physical activity and positive self esteem. “It was a fun activity to support positive lifestyle choices. The students enjoyed the fresh apple and especially enjoyed that this learning experience was done as a school community”, said Ms. Cimino, St. David School Grade 1 teacher.
St. Andrew students make and mail their own cards
Mrs.Healy’s FDK/Grade 1 class made some Christmas cards for special people in their lives. The class participated in a community walk to a mailbox, where students were able to mail their own cards.
Director Joanne Bénard in the hot seat at St. Bernadette
During her recent visit to St. Bernadette Catholic School, Director of Education Joanne Bénard sat in the “hot seat” with students in Grades 3 through 6.
The Director joined in as students used an application on their iPads called Puppet Pals to practise their French language oral communication skills. Students recorded themselves interviewing each other and they asked and answered questions “en français”. Once the interviews were over, students shared their creations with their classmates using the SmartBoard. Mme Perron (Gr. 3), Mme Chevrier (Gr. 4) and Mme Therrien (Gr. 5/6) have been team-teaching with a focus on increasing self-confidence, motivation and engagement for second language French Immersion students for the past school year. “Students are always enthusiastic to participate in authentic opportunities to use their oral communication skills. Using technology to enhance their performance is a very successful approach!”, stated Mme Perron. Mme Therrien said, “The students were thrilled when Mme Bénard partnered with Grade 5 student, Sabrina Crossthwaite! Interviewing the Director of Education, en français, a great opportunity to showcase how well our students are able to communicate in their second language!”
Secondary Student Leaders Participate in Equity Workshops
From October 21 to October 24, guest speakers from the Harmony Movement group held workshops for student leaders from all of our secondary schools to talk about diversity and equity in the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.
Biju Pappachan and Caitlin Wood led the 40 students through many activities and discussions about such topics as bullying, racism and sexism. The students were engaged as they examined issues surrounding stereotypes and prejudice and to hear about how many biased images bombard us regularly in the media.
“It’s changed my perspective on how to look at different people of different genders and races,” said St. Benedict student Laura Rinaldi.
The students gained a much deeper appreciation for the privileges that they enjoy in our society, whether it’s gender, socioeconomic status, culture or in other ways. It made them more empathetic toward those who don’t necessarily wake up with the same abilities. They were taught that with privilege comes the responsibility to make our world more equitable through examples of student leadership like the pink shirt day anti-bullying movement.
The students who attended the workshops now feel empowered to go back to their schools and work to make their peers more aware of some of the issues that were discussed.
St. Benedict student Breana Mastroianni said, “I really learned how to stand up and take a stand againstt discrimination.”
Superintendent of School Effectiveness, Rossella Bagnato, explained the importance of initiatives like this one. “We can’t predict the future but we can help shape it and a good place to start is with the students. The Harmony Movement and the equity workshop have provided us with a great starting point.”
Congratulations to these future leaders and we look forward to being a part of what you bring back to our schools.