Students at St. David Catholic Elementary School celebrated Family LIteracy Day on January 27 with visits from many different special guests. Local celebrities and community partners joined the different classes and read together to celebrate the joy of reading. Some of the guests included Tony Ryma from CTV News, Constables Grant Dokis and Ryan MacKay, three Sudbury Wolves players, as well as board staff including Joan Yawney the Religious Education, Family Life and Faith Formation Consultant and Maurizio Visentin, Guidance Program Leader at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. The students also enjoyed visits from their own family members and different staff family relatives. The St. David’s community was thrilled with their special guests and look forward to future visits!
St. David Catholic Elementary School Students Creating Cultural Crafts
Students in the Native Studies class as St. David Catholic Elementary School have been working very hard the last few days creating sage pouches with their teacher Mrs. Hardwick. The children worked meticulously as they knew the importance of what they were making. Annie Wemigwans, a grade 5 student explained why it was important to have this sage pouch. “The sage pouch is to remind you of everything you learned during your life and when you die and go to the spirit world it is a reminder of everything you learned when you were on earth” said Annie. Mrs. Hardwick also said that these pouches, or shkimod, were very important because when you smudge with sage, it is cleansing and this cleansing then allows you to have positive thoughts.
Sudbury Regional Police Supports St. David's
The Greater Sudbury Police Services Admin. Chief, Deputy Chief and Inspectors went to St. David’s recently to spread the gift of the Love of Reading with the students and staff of St. David Catholic Elementary School. Each school day for one week, a member of the Greater Sudbury Police Services senior team took time out in the classrooms and read Christmas tales of peace, joy an giving. Students were inspired and enthused after the police services visits and were looking forward to sharing a good book with their mentors in the new year!
A Sharing of Culture and Support for St. Joseph and St. David
Students from St. Joseph and St. David’s Catholic Elementary Schools joined together for the day at St. David’s schools to build links between the two communities. The students’ teachers, Irene Dembek from St. Joseph and Christina Kilby from St. David’s brought their classes together as part of their multi-school project to build knowledge and understanding of the history and traditions found in Aboriginal culture. It is their hope that their project would begin building supportive relationships for Aboriginal students and illicit parent involvement in order to assist students in their embracing of their cultural background. Will Morin, a local artist and story teller was invited in to the school to share his stories and his expertise in Aboriginal culture with both the Aboriginal students as well as the general student population.
Chapters & Coles and the Greater Sudbury Police Service “ADOPT” St. David Catholic School
Chapters, Coles and the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation along with the Greater Sudbury Police Service launched a two-week fundraising drive in October to help transform the library at St. David Catholic School.
The passionate commitment to learning through the love of reading a St. David Catholic School inspired the team at Chapters to select the local school as the recipient of the first Indigo Love of Reading Adopt-a-School Fundraising Drive in Sudbury. All funds raised at Chapters through in-store donations were directed to St. David Catholic School. The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation was established in 2004 to address Canada’s literacy crisis and help give Canadian Schools in severe need access to new books and education resources. Since its inception, the Foundation has made a total contribution of more than $7.5 million to more than 70 schools nationally.
Chapters and Cole’s staff raised $2,297 by asking the public to donate to the special campaign with the Greater Sudbury Police Services providing an additional $2,000 under the “Youth for Chiefs” program for a grand total of $4,297. “With these funds, we can purchase at least one book for every child at St. David Catholic School,” stated Kim Stephenson, ACEM, Chapters Book Store on the Kingsway. The JK to Grade 8 teachers at St. David Catholic School will visit Chapters Bookstore to purchase books for each of their grades. The books will be catalogued and housed in the St. David Catholic School Library.
St. David School Celebrates Safe Neighbourhoods
Verna Hardwick, Native Language Teacher and her Grade 5 to 8 Native Language students joined local Aboriginal Artist, Will Morin, Ward 5 Councillor, Jocelyne Landry-Altman and local community members for the grand unveiling of a 15-foot sculpture made of recycled playground rockets. The sculpture was entitled “Strong Woman” and is located at the top of the green stairs near Marymount Academy and the downtown area.
The students and their teacher proudly drummed for the celebration singing the song “Strong Woman”, a song that celebrates the beauty and life giving nature of all women. In Aboriginal culture, women are to be honoured and respected for their role in keeping our world healthy and strong. The students of St. David Catholic Elementary School are proud to have been invited to be a part of this celebration for safe neighbourhoods.
Awarding Winning Best Selling Canadian Métis Author David Bouchard to Address Students on the Importance of Reading
On Thursday, November 27, 2008 award winning best-selling Canadian Métis author David Bouchard will be speaking to Sudbury Catholic Schools’ students about the importance of literacy for life long success.
Mr. Bouchard will be at St. Raphael Catholic School and St. Andrew Catholic School for two speaking engagements. David Bouchard’s presentation, entitled “For the Love of Reading” will inspire students, parents, and teachers by addressing real literacy issues in our schools and promoting reading as a tool for success.
In addition, as part of Sudbury Catholic Schools Aboriginal Initiative, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will be hosting an inspirational evening for parents, students and community members with David Bouchard at the Community Centre (Reserve Road) Whitefish Lake First Nation starting at 6:00 p.m. David’s message is spelled out in his books, The Gift of Reading and For the Love of Reading. A former teacher and principal of 28 years,
Mr. Bouchard offers parents, teachers and administrators a concrete and realistic plan to promote reading and fight illiteracy.
Minister of Education Visits St. David Catholic School to Announce Increased Support for Aboriginal Students
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to have three Cabinet Ministers in the McGuinty government visit St. David Catholic School on September 9, 2008. Minister of Education, Kathleen Wynne along with Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Bryant and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Rick Bartolucci were in the City of Greater Sudbury to meet the students and teachers at St. David Catholic School and to make a very special funding announcement in support of the Board’s Aboriginal students.
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St. David Catholic School Celebrates Aboriginal Culture and Heritage by Forming a Human Medicine Wheel
Students and teachers at St. David Catholic School in the Flour Mill area, celebrated Earth Day by creating a human Medicine Wheel to recognize the interconnectedness of all life on this planet. Through the teachings of the Medicine Wheel the students learn to walk on the earth in a peaceful and good way, respecting Mother Nature and all the wonderful gifts she offers us.
Sudbury Wolves Visit St. David Catholic School
The grade four class was treated to a visit from Sudbury Wolves players Stevan Manojlovic and Brandon Greenside. The players spoke to the students about the importance of education and setting short-term and long term goals. The students were full of questions and excited to have some of our “local boys” come to St. David.