St. Albert Learning Centre

Difference Makers: The Sudbury Catholic District School Board Recognizes This Year’s Winners for the Chairperson’s Award

Collage of three winners

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Chairperson’s Award. All three individuals have demonstrated a strong commitment to Catholic education and to providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment focused on ensuring the success of all students.

Nancy Bellemare-Perron is a teacher at Holy Trinity School who has made a true impact on her students. Through her teaching, she has provided students with opportunities to learn and engage in several community initiatives and understand the importance of supporting others in our community. Nancy provides a safe and caring environment for all who enter the classroom and goes out of her way to make students and parents/guardians feel included, engaged and motivated. She embraces innovation in her teaching, and tailors lessons and activities to match learning needs, providing support wherever it is needed for both students and parents/guardians alike.

Megan Murphy is the Principal of St. Albert Learning Centre and the current Remote Learning School. She provides a welcoming environment to all who enter the school and motivates her staff to continue to help students overcome obstacles to reach success – whatever that means for them. She continually promotes other teachers in their endeavors to obtain grants for experiential learning opportunities and supports and encourages teacher innovation that will enhance student learning. Through her recent role of Principal of the Remote Learning School, Megan has also helped facilitate a virtual learning environment that is engaging and focused on student success.

Jennifer Petahtegoose is an Indigenous Language Teacher at St. Charles College. Jennifer embodies the Board’s vision of being leaders in learning and faith completely and is seen as a leader in her school. Jennifer challenges her students to get involved in peaceful initiatives such as water walks and other social justice activities. Through her role, she facilitated the school’s first Indigenous studies student club and instituted the Red Bird drumming program. She provides rich programing through guest speakers with Elders such as Vince Pawis and Chief John Beaucage and is a founding member of the SCDSB Indigenous Education Advisory Committee. She has participated and assisted with the school’s Antioch Retreats and is a regular Extraordinary Minister of Holy Eucharist. Faithful and kind, Jennifer is well respected by the entire St. Charles College community and is selfless in her vocation.

“We are very proud to announce this year’s winners of the Chairperson’s Award. As in past years, we are privileged to be able to honour and recognize three individuals who truly embody our mission and vision as a Board and are seen as difference makers, innovators and trailblazers,” said Michael Bellmore, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Each year, our committee has the tough, but important job of choosing honourees from the numerous applications received. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are grateful to all who nominated individuals this year, and we thank our recipients for their continued service and commitment to Catholic education.”

This year’s award winners will be recognized alongside last year’s winners in a special virtual recognition event to be held later this Spring.

Students Create Peace Plants!

Collage of plants

“PEACE Plants” was developed by teacher Kathyrn Kurt as a response to a call out for experiential learning proposals.

The PEACE Plants Project started after Christmas once the grow lights and the planter box arrived. The students assembled wood pieces, connected cords and planned out the garden.The class purchased casters so they could move the gigantic garden box around the classroom. The dimensions of the garden box are 180 cm long, 80 cm wide and 80 cm high and it can hold a massive 390 litres of soil.

Students were engaged by watering, planting and tending to the veggies that have already surfaced. They’ve had to use their math skills when measuring out the bi-weekly dose of plant food. Students have been closely following the growth of each plant. This spring, they will be connecting virtually with a community gardener who will share their tricks of the trade and their garden inspirations.

The students are anxiously awaiting their order of more seeds like lettuce, beans, radishes, carrots, kale, cucumbers, peas, tomatoes, and various herbs. They are also experimenting with different colours of veggies and are excited to taste the difference between them. They will see whose seed grows the fastest and produces the most fruit.

Students are welcomed everyday by a plethora of plants, each with the promise of producing healthy food for their enjoyment. The PEACE classroom has been transformed into a place where students, staff and veggies alike are experiencing growth. Stay tuned for more PEACE Plants updates. They can’t wait to share them with you!

Sudbury Catholic Schools Gather Together Virtually to Honour Ash Wednesday

Ashes from Ash Wednesday.

Our Lenten journey begins with Ash Wednesday! We gathered as a system virtually and explored the theme of Nurturing Hope. Throughout the webinar, students participated by completing various readings and prayers and a reflection on Lent was provided by Father Larry Rymes.

We look forward to coming together through virtual services during each week of Lent.

We Welcome Submissions to Our Annual Christmas Card Artwork Contest

Nativity Scene

As the weather gets cooler we turn our attention to the Advent season. We are looking for submissions for our annual Christmas card artwork contest. All students Kindergarten to Grade 12 are eligible to participate! Artwork should encompass our Catholic faith and help us to share in the joy of Christmas.

Artwork can be landscape or portrait and can be created in any medium (such as a drawing, painting etc). Submissions can be addressed and sent to the Board office at:

Attention: Christmas Card Contest
165A D’Youville street
Sudbury, Ontario
P3C 5E7

OR e-mailed to info@sudburycatholicschools.ca in a JPG/PNG or PDF format.

All submissions (whether in hard copy or e-mailed) should have the following information included in addition to the artwork:

  • Student first and last name
  • Grade
  • School

Artwork must be submitted by November 20, 2020 at 4 p.m. to be considered for the contest. The Board will choose one elementary design and one secondary design to be featured on our annual Christmas cards which are mailed to our Board Trustees, school administration and community partners. The winning entries will also receive a package of Christmas cards featuring their artwork!

Honouring Reconciliation: Sudbury Catholic Schools Participate in Orange Shirt Day

A group of girls wear their orange shirts and stand in a line.

Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come. Orange Shirt Day recognizes the harm the residential school system did to children’s sense of self-esteem and well-being, and is an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that everyone around us matters.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board participated in Orange Shirt Day on September 30, 2019. Staff and students throughout the system participated by wearing these shirts or their favourite orange shirt as a reminder of the importance of this day.

Youth Mental Health Walk-in offered for secondary students

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board in partnership with the Child and Family Centre is offering a unique service to all our secondary students. We will have a Youth Walk-In Service available on Tuesdays from 10:30am to 6:00pm (last one hour session at 5pm). Starting tomorrow!

Where do you go to see a clinician? Go to the Guidance Area at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. This service is open to all secondary students, not just those from St. Benedict.

For more information please call 705-525-1008.

Remember: You don’t have to face your problems alone.

Need to Talk?

SCDSB Bringing Literacy to the Community

Christine McCracken, a teacher with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board does not teach out of your typical classroom. With the board since October, 2015, McCracken works with adult learners in two different locations. One of her locations is on the Atkikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation Reserve. The second is at the Sudbury jail. It is this second location that inspired a call-out to her fellow SCDSB staff. After meeting with the learners in jail, she realized that many were desperate for something to read. McCracken brought the newspaper in with her during her visits and they couldn’t get enough. After some inquiry, she realized that there weren’t very many books available to the inmates. Inspired by the enthusiasm of these learners, McCracken discussed some strategies with her principal at St. Albert, Aaron Barry. The two decided to do a call-out to all SCDSB staff to see if anyone wanted to donate any new or gently used books to the Sudbury jail. After only a two-week collection period, the staff had donated close to 500 books. “We currently have at least 50 inmates taking part in this programming at the Sudbury jail,” explain McCracken. “We even already have a few really close to getting their high school diplomas. Reaching out to them in this environment has inspired them to want to continue their education after as well, which is wonderful. These books will really help in their learning!”
The St. Albert principal explained that through the St. Albert Learning Centre, some of these individuals were able to gets some credits through PLAR which is the Prior Learning Assessment Recognition program. This assigns credits to individuals towards the secondary school diploma (OSSD) for knowledge and skills that they have acquired outside of secondary school. “McCracken has been a real inspiration with these particular learners as she really motivates learning and encourages them to continue working towards their OSSD,” Barry stated. “Through the support of the SCDSB, we are able to bring continuing education to a group that may otherwise not consider continuing on with their education. It is a great program, and we are thankful to all of our coworkers and SCDSB staff for their generous book donations –they will make a positive difference!”

For more information about continuing education, PLAR, or getting your OSSD, contact St. Albert Learning Centre at (705) 673-3031.

Indigenous Celebration Held

The Diocesan Centre is planning an inclusive day of celebration based on indigenous culture, and would love a big turn out at this event. All students, staff, families and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend! It looks to be a great day planned!

INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Fielding Park

5:30 am. Sunrise Ceremony ~

8:00 am. Pancake Breakfast ~

9:00 am. Teaching Carousel – Stations will be set up to be rotated through – 6 stations with 20 minute presentations at each~

a) Children drumming station~

b) Craft – decade of the rosary with four/six colour beads + leather OR~leather bookmark

c) 7 Grandfather teachings

d) Legends – Elders telling the stories~

e) Medicines and Wheel

f) Sacred Elements (fire keeper, tobacco, stones, feather, pipe, drums, smudge, animals) ~

11:00 am. Healing Circle – prayers, scripture (trilingual), blessing~

1:30 pm. Feast – “pot luck”

3:00 pm Travelling Song/Blessing~

For more information and access to resources, please consult:

http://arise-ssm.weebly.com

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