St. David Catholic Elementary School

St. David School Participates in March Madness Read Aloud Competition

Students stand in front of bulletin

Ms. Royer’ grade 3 and Ms. Visentin’s grade 1 classes are very exited to come to school to participate in their March Madness Read Aloud competition. Both teachers decided to make their students reading and learning experience a little more engaging this month by choosing a winner out of a battle between two books. Winners continue through tournament style, until the winner is revealed at the end of the month. Our students are excited by this new school initiative as it promotes student voice and enthusiasm to want to read and participate in the classroom, while completing literacy activities. Students will be completing a book review that debates why their book was the chosen one!

Black History Month Celebrated at St. David School

Group of students write on paper.

This year Black History month was extra special as we had so many students from Africa that were able to take part in activities in such a meaningful way. St. David was able to develop a Black History Leadership committee that was comprised of various students of culture. Their responsibility was to meet during lunch hours with Ms. Wemigwan’s to discuss school initiatives and activities that students can partake in to represent Black History month.

Our very first activity was to display Black History within the school, which included a mural painting of student pride and bulletin board decorating. Students discussed the meaning behind having Black History leaders like, Martin Luther King, a social activist and head of moving the civil rights in America. This committee provides morning announcements promoting equity (focus in Canadian black history), connecting school families with a better understanding of black culture and history. Other activities included, Family Bingo with significant questions in relation to the Black History movement and key leaders, student lead newsletter, cultural food fair, displaying traditional family clothes “Asoebi” and party clothes “Aso ijade”. Not only did our students come up with these activities, they were also able to share some of their personal experiences while living in Africa that was quite interesting for our school community to learn.

Opportunities like these demonstrates the power of student voice, inclusion and the value of empowering students to take on leadership roles within the school. Our students from Africa were every excited to celebrate such a significant part of their life, culture and traditions with everyone.

Save the date for this year’s PIC Carousel!

A women talks to a classroom full of parents.

Parent Involvement Committee proudly presents their annual Carousel Event for parents, educators and community partners!

  • When: April 7, 2020 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Where: St. Benedict School, 2993 Algonquin Road

Sessions will include: Vaping, Bullying, Cybercrime, Human Trafficking, Social Media, Secondary Programs and Pathways, Supporting Students at Home, Coding, and Helping Support Children and Youth who Experience Anxiety.

Save the date and stay tuned for more information coming soon!

Sudbury Catholic Students and Staff Participate in National Sweater Day to Combat Climate Change

Graphic

Each year on the first Thursday of February, Canadians are asked to turn down their heat and wear sweaters to raise awareness about climate change and energy conservation. Founded by WWF-Canada in 2010, more than a million Canadians have participated in National Sweater Day.

In an effort to combat climate change, Sudbury Catholic Schools participated in this initiative on February 6, 2020. Staff and students at Holy Cross School, St. David School, St. James School, St. Charles College, Marymount Academy, Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S and the Catholic Education Centre brought their warmest sweaters as schools turned down the heat by 1.5 degrees celsius throughout the school day. Though the change in temperature was nominal; collectively, we as a Board made a statement regarding climate change and its impact on our world.
“National Sweater Day gave our staff and students an opportunity to reflect on how rising global temperatures are impacting the planet and how together we can help to reduce climate change by making small changes in our daily live,” said Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “By making a commitment to the planet on National Sweater Day, students and educators better understand the powerful impact that they can have.”

Three SCDSB Schools Selected as Semi-Finalists in OCSTA Short Video Contest

SCDSB is proud to announce that three schools have been recognized as semi-finalists in this year’s OCSTA Short Video Contest!

Congratulations to St. David School, Marymount Academy and St. Charles College.

Voting is now open! Follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Go to the Together in Faith Website

Step 2: Follow the instructions to register online

Step 3: Once logged in, select the video and click ‘Vote for this video’

You can vote in both the elementary and secondary categories from now until December 23, 2019. Voting portal and full instructions can be found at the following link: https://bit.ly/2Z3GeIh

Sudbury Catholic Schools Help Make Winters a Little Warmer!

Members of student senate stand with their coats.

The Student Senate at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board has helped make winter a little warmer for our community! Throughout the month of October, the Student Senate spearheaded a campaign to collect gently used winter coats in all sizes. The Senate, which is comprised of 15 secondary students, also encouraged other schools to participate in this initiative.

Together, Sudbury Catholic Schools collected 436 coats and winter accessories, surpassing last year’s number of 200 coats and winter accessories. Working with Derek Cashmore of Cooper Equipment Rentals, the coats will be donated to those in need throughout the Greater Sudbury community.

“The Student Senate are seen as leaders and innovators not only in their schools but across the Sudbury Catholic District School Board,” said Amanda Barry, Teacher Facilitator of the Student Senate. “They are truly difference makers and I am honoured to work alongside them year after year.”

“It was amazing to see our schools all come together and support such a wonderful cause,” said Ryan Scarpellini, Student Trustee and member of the Student Senate. “We are excited to continue to grow the campaign year after year and continue to make a difference in our community.”

Creating Endless Possibilities: Board Wide Kindergarten Registration Night Taking Place January 15!

Two students practice writing words on a whiteboard.

Register with our schools during our Board wide kindergarten registration night occurring Wednesday, January 15 at 6 p.m.

These information sessions are available for parents wanting to register their child(ren) for school beginning September 2020 (For children turning 4 years of age on or before December 31, 2020). If you are unable to attend these sessions at your school, we encourage you to contact the school to register on an alternative date. Both regular (English) and French Immersion programming is available.

Learn more about how to register here!

For more information about our Kindergarten program, please click here!

For full list of schools, please click here.

Sudbury Catholic Students Cast their Vote!

A group of students stand in line by the election booth.

14 schools within the Sudbury Catholic District School Board have registered with the Student Vote Canada program running parallel with the Federal Election. Based on the percentage of schools registered, the Board is in the top 10% of all School Boards within Canada. Student Vote Canada is a program open to all elementary and secondary schools nationwide. Schools may offer Student Vote to a single class or to the entirety of the student body. Students engage in activities surrounding government and the electoral process and are provided necessary tools to stage a mock election in their school during the Federal Election process.

Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased with the enthusiasm that the schools have shown toward promoting student voice.

“Student voice is a top priority within our Board,” she explained. “Student Vote Canada is an excellent opportunity for our students to not only understand the electoral process, but to also practice research and analytical skills and participate in a formal election scenario. We are proud to partner with Student Vote Canada and offer these tools for our students.”
“St Charles College has been involved in Student Vote for many years. We have participated at the federal level as well as the provincial and municipal levels,” explained Rick Emond, teacher at S. Charles College. “The program has had a positive impact on students both academically and in their personal lives. I often receive many messages from former students telling me that because of the program they have voted.”

St. David School Receives Visit from Laurentian and the National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education

A group of students stand together.

St. David School received visits from Laurentian University this past week! The National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education (NCCIE) promotes Indigenous education they feel is innovative, exciting and worth celebrating. Their mission and vision is to connect parents, educators and students to their “grassroots”, which will advance the planning and success of Indigenous education. Laurentian professor and NCCIE regional lead, Kevin Fitzmaurice, was at St. David to interview staff, elders and students about their experiences in schooling and what they think of St. David from an academic, social and spiritual point of view. Videographer, Brandon Gray is filming a documentary on the school to highlight the integration of Indigenous culture and curriculum. According to Gray and Fitzmaurice, “St. David is an Indigenous Education success story”, which they would like to share in film to help support educators and academics across Canada.
One of our community Elder’s Vince was at the school erecting our very own Teepee with Mr. Mailloux’s grade 3/4 class. What a great experiential learning experience it was for them to embrace with their peers and teacher.

Learning Math in our Outdoor Classroom a St. David School

Two girls lay next to a stick used for measurement.

Ms. Lepage’s outdoor classroom at St. David’s learn how measuring is an important practical skill, that is frequently used to carry out real life activities such as creating their very own metre sticks in the forest!
Students created their metre sticks by estimating objects they found in the forest using various measurement benchmarks (e.g. their arm span, the width of their finger tip, the width of their hand, with their fingers stretched. Students learned that 1m is equivalent to 100 cm. They are looking forward to estimating, measuring and recording the measurements of various items the next time they take their learning outdoors.

Teaching students measurement skills doesn’t have to revolve around textbooks or solving problems on paper. Our students learn more by doing rather than listening or reading and making it apart of their daily routine. You can pique your child’s interest by engaging them with measuring real objects, making measurement a part of their adventure outdoors this winter!

E-mail Copied to Clipboard