The staff and students of St. David Catholic School would like to publicly acknowledge Mr. Louis Belanger and the staff from Yallowega Belanger Salach Architecture for the donation of 50 evergreen trees for the new school site.
The staff at Yallowega Belanger Salach Architecture spent a morning preparing the soil for new trees and assisting the students in re-greening the new St. David School surroundings. The school would also like to thank school board trustees, Ray Desjardins and Nancy Deni for assisting the students in the tree planting activity.
Planting day started with heavy clouds and light rain. Once all trees were planted, a huge rainstorm ensued. The trees were naturally watered, the students, staff and community members were still dry and everyone felt wonderful about their contribution to the new school environment! The school’s next environmental project will be the creation of “Woodworking Club”, who will be building raised garden beds for the upcoming spring’s planting season — thank you Mr. Mailloux!
The sky is the limit for canned food collecting at St. Charles College
Since the mid eighties, St. Charles College student council has been organizing a fall food drive in support of the Sudbury Food Bank. Every year it just gets better and better.
The students were given the task of collecting sixty thousand cans this year. Teacher leaders Paola Gutscher and Bev Belanger were happy to report that the students smashed their goal with raising more than 126 thousand cans. Year after year, it has become the largest single donation to the Sudbury Food Bank warehouse.
The leadership students cannot do this alone. It is supported by all the 7-12 students at St. Charles College along with feeder schools — Holy Trinity, St. Paul, St. John, St. David and Pius.
The wrap-up event today highlighted the accomplishments of the students but also the staff had to hold up its end of the bargain complete with staff pie in the face showdowns, shaved heads, dyed heads and waxed legs.
Principal Patty Mardero says it is also important to recognize the citizens of Sudbury who graciously donated to the drive when the students knocked upon their doors. The food collected over the course of the last week was delivered to the Sudbury Food Bank warehouse today. Mardero says “This visit to the warehouse to unload is critical in helping students see the fruits of their labour as they lift each box of canned food and fill the shelves of the warehouse”.
St. David School celebrates the accomplishments of Terry Fox and raises money for cancer research
St. David Catholic School would like to thank all family members, staff members and community partners who supported St. David students in collecting funds to support the annual Terry Fox Walk at St. David School. Over the past 10 years St. David School students have raised over $5000.00 for cancer research.
The Terry Fox Walk is an annual school event where students raise money for cancer research in Terry Fox’s name. It is a day of celebrating Terry’s legacy, learning about the importance of helping to find a cure for cancer and working together as a community to support those in need.
St. David students learn about the gifts of indigenous plants
Local artist and educator, Will Morin and parent of St. David School grade 1 student, M’Komii-Nodin Morin, facilitated the transplanting of traditional First Nation medicines, sweetgrass and sage, at the new St. David School in the Donovan.
Mrs. Cimino’s grade 1 students received traditional teachings on the importance of water and our relationship with the plant world. These same students one year ago, participated in traditional teachings by Morin where they planted sweetgrass seeds and nurtured the seedlings while waiting for the new school to be built. These traditional plants, sweetgrass and sage, are sacred medicines to the Anishinabek, Ojibwe people.
“Planting the seeds of inclusively in the world of education calls upon educators, parents and community members to literally plant seeds. Schools must work together and invite community into the school to share the their gifts and knowledge”.
“To Indigenous peoples, all plants are medicine, but so is education. With St. David School having such a large Indigenous student population and the school incorporating traditional knowledge throughout the curriculum all students, both Indigenous and non Indigenous, get to learn in an environment that is culturally inclusive and rich for positive learning experiences.” stated Morin.
St. David School Students Enjoy Victory Park Splash Pad
Mira Lahoud, kindergarten student at St. David Catholic School beats the heat at the Victory Park Splashpad with her class to celebrate the beginning of summer.
The Arts are alive and well at St. David School
On Wednesday, June 22 2016 Jeff Stewart from the Spirit of World Drumming spent the day at St. David Catholic School, drumming with students ranging from kindergarten to grade 6. In the drum circles, students were introduced to a variety of drums and percussion instruments from around the world. Music concepts, verbal / non-verbal language and mathematical awareness were integrated into cultural awareness to create a fun learning experience for all students!
“Mr. Stewart was a wonderful teacher, not only for our students, but also for our staff members. He re-inforced the importance of the arts in the curriculum and its positive impact on both literacy and mathematical achievement. He also spoke of music supporting students find their voice. It was a wonderfully positive and fun day.” stated Cindy Blinn, kindergarten teacher at St. David School.
St. David School celebrates National Aboriginal Day with a fun filled outdoor playday
St. David Catholic School celebrated National Aboriginal Day with a school wide Indigenous themed payday. The students learned about First Nation identity and culture while having fun outdoors. All students received a complimentary pizza lunch by local company, “Over the Atlantic” owned by former St. David School student, Joseph Mansourian. “Caring for each other, teamwork, and overcoming obstacles were the theme for the day. The students enjoyed the outdoor experience and opportunity to be leaders”, stated Lindsay Michel, FDK teacher and National Aboriginal Fun Day planner.
2016 Chairperson Award winners announced
Michael Fabiilli, Kacey Boulrice and John Jamieson are the 2016 Chairperson’s Award Winners.
Every year the Sudbury Catholic District School Board Trustees select recipients for the Board’s prestigious Chairperson’s Award. These individuals embrace our Catholic values, exemplify the Board’s vision and mission, demonstrate initiative and ingenuity and contribute positively to the lives of students and staff. This year’s three recipients certainly exemplify all of these qualities.
John Jamieson is described as a very caring person who takes great pride in his work. John presents himself as a positive role model to both staff and students, his work ethic is inspirational and he constantly shows his capacity to treat all with respect and compassion. Currently John is employed as a Building Services Technician at St. Charles College where his positive presence enhances school life for all.
Kacey Boulrice is an Educational Assistant working at St. David’s Catholic School. Kacey is described as a dynamic staff member who contributes meaningfully to the lives of the people at St. David each and every day. She contributes in many ways including making breakfast for over 220 students each day and facilitates a peer support system for girls at recess. She is a problem solver and a true gift to the students and staff at St. David School.
Michael Fabiilli is a distinguished educator and coach. Currently on staff at St. Charles College he is described as a man of integrity and character who embodies the school motto of goodness, discipline and knowledge. Among his many contributions to school life, Mike has coached the Senior Football Team for his entire teaching career of twenty-nine years. His coaching goes well beyond the field as he guides his young athletes on how to be people of sound character. He is also described as an outstanding Math Teacher who has a soft spot for the most vulnerable of our students. He is indeed a strong role model whose gifts have helped to nurture the mind, body and spirit of the students who have had the opportunity to learn from “Coach Fabs” for the past 29 years.
This year’s award winners pictured with Chair Michael Bellmore will be honoured on May 25, 2016 during the Board’s retirement dinner and celebration of 25 year employees.
Elders pass down quilting tradition to St. David students
For Catholic Education Week, Mrs. Gran’s Full Day Kindergarten class at St. David Catholic School, invited Elders into the classroom to teach youth the skill of quilting. Previous to the quilting lesson, students learned about shapes and transformations in their math inquiry. Pictured are student, Xavier Wesley and quilter, Katie Begley working together to plan out his quilt square.
Catholic Education Week ended in a culminating activity whereby the students worked with Elders to create a paper quilt that is now on display for the school to view. Classroom teacher Jennifer Gran said, “it is important for the children to interact with people of various ages as they share their ideas and learn from each other. This was a wonderful sharing of generational knowledge”.
St. David School Celebrates Catholic Education Week by Focusing on the Value of Empathy
Rossella Bagnato, Superintendent of Effectiveness for Sudbury Catholic Schools visited Mrs. Cimino’s grade 1 class during Catholic Education Week to teach the students about the importance of empathy. “Empathy helps to create a healthy, loving school community. As a classroom teacher, I see the importance of teaching students to be empathetic at a very young age. Mrs. Bagnato used humour and literacy to connect a Inuit story to my students’ everyday life. They discussed how to build trusting friendships and how to support others less fortunate than themselves. This was all done through the lens of humour and it was a wonderful life lesson.” stated Mrs. Cimino, grade 1 teacher.