Despite the cold, the snow held off for staff and students of Marymount Academy as they wrapped up another successful Goals for Girls Ball Hockey tournament this past week. The Goals for Girls campaign is held to encourage young women to be physically active and to help them recognize and become involved in the many activities and opportunities available in their school and community. As well, this tournament is also a fundraiser in which monies raised are used to sponsor young women who cannot financially afford to play sports, to purchase fitness equipment and to provide financial support to other community schools and programs whose female programs are severely underfunded. This year, Marymount raised over $4200 to support this campaign which is almost a $1000 more than they collected last year.

Dan Bartolucci, program leader at Marymount Academy and organizer of the event felt very proud of the girls for their participation and show of school spirit. “It is great to see such student engagement and I am proud of their enthusiasm,” he said. “This tournament helps encourage the young women of this community to set their own personal goals and strive to achieve them.”

On November 2, 2010, Sudbury Catholic District School Board staff gathered together in the gym at Marymount Academy to take part in a new teacher and employee recognition celebration. New hirees were introduced and congratulated on their new positions and board employees that have reached yearly milestones were recognized for their dedication and service to the board. The evening began with a prayer service and ended with a social at which time the employees and administration had the opportunity to catch up with each other and congratulate one another on their commitment to the Sudbury Catholic community.

Years of service- 2010

Lucy Wardrop St. Charles Elementary 40
Angele Crepeau Education Centre 35
Patricia Condotta St. James School 35
Katherine Baldan St. Benedict Secondary 30
Angela Corelli St. James School 30
Linda Mackenzie St. Charles College 30
Michel Thibeault St. Benedict Secondary 30
Lise Anne Mc Elree St. Raphael School 20
Caroline Belanger St. James School 20
Cathy Boyer Bishop Carter Alexander 20
Ann Brisebois St. Albert Learning Centre 20
Francine Brouse Education Centre 20
Lise Callahan Marymount Academy 20
Daniel Charbonneau OECTA SECONDARY 20
Yves Cote Facilities Services 20
Alice Desormeaux St. Anne School 20
Richard Emond St. Charles College 20
Denise Fraser St. John School 20
Aline Gaulin St. Theresa School 20
Joseph Houle Facilities Services 20
Joyce Lachance-Charlebois St. Francis School 20
Lucie Lapalme-Cullen Marymount Academy 20
Paulette Melancon Bishop Carter Secondary 20
Jane Rodrigues St. Charles College 20
Lisa Samuels Education Centre 20
Paul Stevens St. Charles College 20
Brian Thompson St. Benedict Secondary 20
Cindy Watson St. Benedict Secondary 20
Michel Dubois Marymount Academy 15
Erin Duguay Immaculate Conception School 15
Victoria Lachapelle Education Centre 15
Lorraine Petryna St. Francis School 15
John Vautier Marymount Academy 15
Madeleine Albert St. Benedict Secondary 10
Beverley Belanger St. Charles College 10
Monique Blais St. Theresa 10
Dennica Burns Pius XII 10
Denise Filipovic St. Paul School 10
Rosemarie Hall St. Michael School 10
Tammy Jutila Marymount Academy 10
Ronald Leclair Education Centre 10
Christina Lucciantonio St. Raphael School 10
Guy Mathieu St. Anne School 10
Dario Pandolfo St. Anne School 10
Robert Pappin St. Benedict Secondary 10
Carlo Pastre St. Charles College 10
Laurie Peterson St. James School 10
Eva Scola-Lawryshyn Corpus Christi 10
Steven Villeneuve St. Benedict Secondary 10
Graziella Visentin St. Michael 10
Chad West St. Michael School 10
Brenda Barbe Pius XII School 5
Lisa-Anne Cameron St. Charles College 5
Melinda Charbonneau St. Raphael School 5
Jennifer Connelly Education Centre 5
Catherine Cormier St. Charles Elementary 5
Shannon Coyle St. Charles College 5
Liane Dutrisac St. Anne School 5
James Eaton St. Francis School 5
Steven Facchini Bishop Carter Secondary 5
Angela Fowke St. Raphael School 5
Jules Guenette St. Anne School 5
Camille Heaton Pius XII 5
Kristy Hebert St. Charles College 5
Timothy Kingshott St. Charles College 5
Kevin Krystia St. Raphael School 5
Lois Lambert St. Anne School 5
Shirle Landriault St. Charles College 5
Kelly-Anne Lavallee St. Benedict Secondary 5
Anne-Marie Machum St. James School 5
Caroline Mansourian St. David School 5
Jeannette Mazerolle St. Anne School 5
Jean McHarg Education Centre 5
Leo McLaughlin St. Francis School 5
Samantha Onuska St. Benedict Secondary 5
Ron Patterson St. Charles College 5
Gino Posteraro St. Benedict Secondary 5
Dyan Pyott St. Andrew School 5
Kaelne Ratushniak St. Michael School 5
Renee Read-Murray St. David School 5
Lissa Sanchioni St. Raphael School 5
Werner Scherzinger St. Charles College 5
Kristine Shewchuk St. Paul School 5
Patrizia Shewring Marymount Academy 5
Nanette Shonwise St. Anne School 5
Jennifer Swearengen St. James School 5
Harry Taskinen Marymount Academy 5
Gaston Theriault Education Centre 5
Tina Timpano St. David School 5
Serena Troscinski St. Paul School 5
Leanne Urso St. Francis School 5

Land art means creating something artistic using the land around us. Our schoolyards are not typically a bountiful place for art materials however the junior students at St. Theresa Catholic Elementary School had no difficulty creating beautiful pieces of art depicting symbols of Remembrance Day. Ms. Tyna Raymond inspired students to create using only what we readily find in our schoolyard. Suddenly rocks, branches, berries, and leaves, take on a new beauty and meaning.

St. Benedict students were treated to interactive presentations by award winning author Eric Walters, thanks to the Writer’s Union of Canada and St. Benedict staff. Students were entertained, but also came away inspired with several important messages. For example, when his first manuscript had been rejected, he stated that this only motivated him to keep writing. Walters now has more than 70 books published, which often contain the recurring theme of overcoming obstacles. The characters in his novels also encourage young people to make positive changes in the world. Walters too, is a role model for making a difference. While doing research in Africa, he encountered one of 500 orphaned children, which resulted in the Creation of Hope in Kenya. As a result of his visit, students and staff at St. Ben’s are now proud sponsors of this project.

Parents, principals, vice-principals and other Sudbury Catholic staff gathered at the board office on October 18 to come together as a catholic community to take part in the annual Parent Council Commissioning celebration. After a short prayer service, parent council members each contributed a small school banner which served as a puzzle piece which, when connected, created a cross that represented all of the Sudbury Catholic Schools. “The cross really shows how our schools are a part of a bigger picture – a sign of our faith,” Catherine McCullough, Director of Education said. “By coming together, our school communities are represented and we are responding to God’s call to journey together.” After the presentation of banners, the parent council chairs were blessed and asked that they work together with the schools towards the common goal of creating Sudbury Catholic Schools…Schools to believe in.

Recently students and staff at St. Mary Catholic School in Capreol had class in their pyjamas – all for a great cause. October 5, 2010 was designated as “Toonies for Tuition” day by the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association (CCSTA). Their endowment fund assists students in Catholic schools in provinces with little or no public funding with the cost of tuition. According to Marli Kicz, Student Trustee, although October 5 had been selected as the main celebratory day, school and individual donations will gladly be accepted by CCSTA until October 31, 2010.

The grade 7/8 students at St. James Catholic school in Lively participated in a celebration of Thanksgiving, lighting candles in a symbolic gesture to thank God for providing them with what they need and sometimes granting wishes for things they don’t really need.