NET Ministries, (National Evangelization Teams) is an international youth ministry that is committed to challenging young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church. The NET group is unique in that it uses drama, music, games, small group discussion and large group encounters to present basic Gospel messages in an exciting and dynamic way. The National Evangelists Teams train 125 young adult volunteers, serve in 90 dioceses and facilitate over 1,500 retreats annually reaching out to over 100,000 young people. The NET team has spent the first 12 days of their tour presenting to four elementary schools, all Catholic High schools as well as two parish based retreats. Appearing in the above photo, (front row) the NET team #2 which includes members from all across Canada and Australia interact with Marymount Academy’s Grade 8 students at a retreat held at the Diocesan Centre recently.

Students at Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School were recently honoured by The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 179, Capreol, for their efforts in the Legion’s Literary Contest. Mr. Gerry Sorel, President Branch 179, and Mr. Brian Way, Past President and Legion Life
Member, congratulated all students who participated in the contest. Finalists in the competition received a certificate of appreciation from the Legion. Abby Skirten placed first with her poem, “Untitled,” Shawn Marcoux took second place for his poem, “Remember the Soldier’s Cry,” and Phil Bolduc placed third with, “We Remember,” in the Poetry
competition. Bryan Bazinet was awarded an Honorable Mention for his poem, “9/11.” Pictured in the above photo (L-R) are; Jimmy Watters, Shawn Marcoux, Bryan Bazinet, Mrs Waszczylo, Phil Bolduc, and Abby
Skirten.

Marymount Academy Regals psyche themselves up for return of serve againstt Cardinal Newman from Stoney Creek in the opening game of the All Ontario Junior Catholic Girls’ Volley Tournament held in Sudbury this past weekend. Twenty-one teams from across various regions of Ontario participated in the two day event with games being played at both the Marymount Academy and St. Charles College gymnasiums. College Notre Dame were the eventual tournament winners defeating Cardinal Carter from Aurora in the championship round on Saturday. This is the third year the tournament has been played in Sudbury with the venue moving to Cathedral and Cardinal Newman in the Hamilton, Stoney Creek area next year. The senior version of the tournament has been around for nearly 30 years and it is the hope of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, who introduced the tournament, that they will experience similar success at the junior level.

Elementary students Stephanie Laplante (left), and Katrina Hickey representing the Rainbow District and Sudbury Catholic District School Boards celebrated National Heritage Day at the Greater Sudbury Public Library recently. The students accompanied by school staff and parents

from Ernie Checkeris Public School and Marymount Academy exchanged information on Canadian history and Canada’s cultural heritage. Shirley O’Neil, Chair of the Sudbury Regional Historica Heritage Fair stated that, “By gathering to celebrate National Heritage Day we hope to remind Sudburians to take pride in the city’s accomplishments with respect to its cultural mosaic, family heritage, and industrial history.” The National Heritage Day celebration also helped promote the Sudbury Regional Historica Heritage Fair which will take place this spring at Laurentian University, May 6 and 7, 2004. School boards participating in the fair are: Conseil scolaire du district du Grand Nord de l’Ontario; the Rainbow District School Board; and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

The Board of Directors of the Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury unveiled the Learning Disabilities Section for Resource Material during a “special partnership announcement” held at the Main Branch of the Greater Sudbury Public Library recently. Recognizing the importance of early identification of students with Learning Disabilities, trained and qualified educators provide strategies and programs to promote success and self esteem to students with Learning Disabilities in all Catholic and elementary and secondary schools.

The impetus for the creation of the new Learning Resource Section was spear-headed by the Lions Club of Sudbury who donated $1,029.00 towards this special initiative which will allow the library to house a variety of resource materials on learning disabilities, including books, videos, and audio cassettes. These materials will be catalogued, maintained and stored in the designated section for free accessibility to the community via the network of 13 library branches throughout the Greater Sudbury region. “This marks the first partnership of this type in Ontario,” stated Carole Paquette, President of the Learning Disabilities Association, (pictured at left) noting that in other parts of the province these resources are available to members only. Paquette also pointed out that one of the benefits of this partnership is that it provides parents with free access to resource materials in order that they can become informed knowledgeable advocates who can successfully partner with teachers and school boards.

In her address to the media, municipal officials, school board representatives and advocates of the Learning Disabilities Program, Paquette stated that, “It may be easy for some of us here today, to take the enjoyment of these many books and the process of reading for granted….For the 10% of the population with a learning disability, the highest percentage has a primary problem with reading and related language skills. It is said that when we develop partnerships we send the message that…We are all in this together…As a local Chapter, our mission is to support all individuals with learning disabilities in reaching their full potential, within a society that values their unique contributions and abilities. As partners here today…we are offering that support together.”

The Learning Disabilities Association would like to thank the members of the Lions Club of Sudbury and the Greater Sudbury Public Library, and recognize their efforts in the establishment of this “New Partnership.”

The Marymount Junior and Senior Volleyball teams went undefeated in Round Robin action finishing first overall at the Northern Ontario Secondary School Association (NOSSA) volleyball championships held in Sturgeon Falls this past weekend. The Junior girl’s team defeated team

Central Algoma Secondary School in the final, two games straight, to capture the NOSSA “A” championship while the Senior team established themselves as the team to beat, showing that the road to gold would go through them. In the finals, the Marymount Senior Regals defeated the Manitoulin Mustangs in straight sets to be crowned the 2004 NOSSA “A”champs.

Marymount Academy Junior Volley Ball Team:

(Front row, L-R); Colleen McHugh, Sam McLelland, Lyndsay Wandziak, Shawna Moore, Melaine Fenton, (Back row); Kristine Dost, Maelynn Deroy, Michelle Pelot, Teresa Parada, Rebecca Williams, Natasha Smith, Coach – Tammy Jutila, Assistant Coach – Kenzie Jermey, (absent).

Marymount Academy, Senior Volley Ball Team:

(Front row, L-R); Brittany Goldsborough, Tessa Skot, Marisa Talarico,(Back row, L-R); Alexandra Paventi, Krysten Scott, Meagan Jamieson, Mackenzie Golka, Christine Roy, Deidre Urso (absent), Head Coach: Michael Margarit, Assistant Coach: Nikki Cambridge, (absent)

Congratulations Regals!

Grade 4, 5 & 6 students at St. Theresa Catholic school enjoyed the opportunity to explore the many aspects of their Canadian Heritage and present their projects to fellow students and judges at the Heritage Fair held at the school recently. The classroom evaluation in the French Immersion Program includes “les science sociales, communication orale, and redaction.” Grade 4 students, Daniella Mardero (left) and Alanna Skot give a brief presentation on the history of Marymount Academy to Rossella Bagatto, Superintendent of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. The students selected this particular project because Alanna’s two sisters attend Marymount and as Daniella stated, “My mom is in charge of the school and my dad works there,” referring to the fact that Mrs. Patty Mardero is the Principal of Marymount Academy and Eric Mardero is the teacher for the Gifted Students Program at the school.

“La petite Italie,” by Scott Fleury and “Marymount” by Alanna Skot and Daniella Mardero were chosen to represent the Grade 4 class while Jennifer Donnelly’s project, “Ma famille,” and Peyton Pressaco’s project , “Sudbury Cherche et Sauver,” from Grade 5/6 were selected to represent their school at the Regional Heritage Fair to be held May 6th and 7th at Laurentian University. St. Theresa Catholic school would like to thank the following judges for taking time to help with the Heritage Fair; Councillor, Ron Dupuis, Mme. Annette Blais-Laforge, Mme. Denise Massimiliano, Mme. Maureen Lacroix, Mme. Marthe Poirier. Mme. Lorraine Sahadat and M. Gerry Robillard.

Marymount Academy students have undertaken a 25 hour fast to promote this year’s theme, “ THIRST FOR JUSTICE.” The fast started this morning at 7:00 a.m. with students having their last meal together at the school. The students will not eat again until Friday morning, April 2, 2004 at 7:30 a.m. The purpose of the 25 hour fast is raise awareness about issues of injustice in the world.

Participants will spend this time together focusing on issues facing people in other parts of the world such as Asia, Africa and Latin America. Students recognize that people in these countries are thirsting not only for the basic necessities in life such as clean water but also education, health care and even the right to vote in elections. THINKfast is designed for youth from 16 to 25 years in age.

Trustees of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board began their accommodation review process at the January 20, 2004 meeting of the Board. Consistent with the direction given by the Trustees at their October 7, 2003 meeting for the 2003-04 accommodation review, there will no new consolidation of the schools within the Sudbury Catholic Board. The consolidation of St. James School and Our Lady of Fatima as per the Board decision of December 17, 2002 will proceed as planned in September 2004. Expansion of the St. James school is almost complete.

Trustees decided to review the realignment of the busing boundaries that will affect schools in the south end of the city. A decision regarding the boundary reviews will be made in April 2004.