The students at St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer recently received awards for displaying the Catholic Virtue of “Respect” in their daily interactions with others. Each month, the entire school community gathers to celebrate and honour the students who are living examples of the monthly virtues. The assemblies encourage students to always bring their best self forward and include inspiring videos, motivational discussions, as well as the distribution of awards to students from each classroom. Way to go Angels!
Cell the Idea of 3D Modeling at St. Anne
Student engagement is a primary focus for the staff at St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer. Recently, students in Grade 8 have been focusing on the components of plant and animal cells in science class. They have noticed that there are major similarities and differences between the two types of cells through the creation of 3D models. One of the similarities includes the nucleus, the brain of the cell. Students also noticed some differences, such as the cell wall of the plant. Students soon realized that cells function differently because they come in various different types. “Making plant and animal cells helped me understand what was actually in them, because I was physically creating a 3D model,” said Isaac Oliveira, a Grade 8 student at St. Anne Catholic School. Now, students use technology to describe their understanding of the 3D models. They use Screen Chomp to help with their descriptions and to demonstrate their understanding.
It Takes the St. Anne Community to Make Stone Soup
Students in Grades 7 and 8 at St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer experienced first hand what it was like to come together as a village. For the past four days, students have had the opportunity to listen to different variations of “The Stone Soup” story. They also brought donations of food forward to create their own stone soup. Students worked together preparing all of the necessary ingredients, and learned that working together as a community has its own rewards. “Even though we shed a few tears while cutting onions, it was still fun working my fellow classmates,” said Stephanie Fortier, a Grade 7 student at St. Anne Catholic School. Students enjoyed their delicious stone soup on Friday, October 5th, 2012. The general consensus was that working together to provide for one another was a rewarding experience that everyone will cherish for a long time.
St. Anne Angels Thankful for Their Many Blessings
Students, staff, parents, and the greater St. Anne Catholic School community joined together in a Thanksgiving prayer service. The school gymnasium was filled to capacity as Father Michael, parish priest of St. Kevin’s and Our Lady of Peace Parish, led everyone into prayer. Students listened attentively to the gospel’s message: let us be thankful for our many blessings. The walls of the gymnasium echoed the beautiful sound of children’s voices as the entire school joined together in prayer and song. The students willingly offered examples of things for which they are thankful: love, God, family, and food were at the top of the list. Father Michael reminded students that they should also be thankful for the gifts and talents each received from God.
St. Anne Leads the Way to Wireless Technology
Staff and students at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School in Hanmer are excited to showcase the new technology that recently rolled into their school. Last year, teachers in the Intermediate division submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Education to increase student achievement in writing. This proposal, with a focus on assessment for learning and the imbedded use of technology, was approved in February 2012. The $45,000 grant allows for the purchase of a 2 to 1 student iPad program.
The students at St. Anne Catholic School were fascinated when the new technology was finally incorporated into the classroom. Learners started the week with interactive math lessons delivered wireless through the magic of Apple TV. “It was so great to see our classroom go wireless! We were able to answer questions from our own group and our responses were projected on the large screen using our iPads. Everyone in the classroom was able to work together to solve group problems,” said Davey Meeks, Grade 8 student at the school.
Providing effective and timely feedback to students is a corner stone of the proposal. Each teacher received live scribe pens to help achieve this important goal. The pens allow for the delivery of interactive audio descriptive feedback. Students can now better understand how to improve their work and set next steps. “It was awesome to hear suggestions of how to improve my work. I can listen to suggestions over and over, and improve as I move along,” said Christopher Balaz, a student in Grade 8.
The Ministry of Education allotted a portion of the grant to be spent on the professional development of teachers and collaboration with community partner. St. Anne Catholic School is a dual track Kindergarten to grade 8 school, offering programs in both English and French Immersion, as well as the Full Day Kindergarten program.
Successful Open House for St. Anne Angels
St. Anne Angels celebrated another successful Open House on Wednesday, September 13, 2012. The halls of the Catholic elementary school in Hanmer were filled with smiling parents and students as they explored the classrooms and met the staff. Students, volunteers, and staff members worked as a team to organize what many are saying is the best Open House St. Anne hosted in years. Families were invited to a free barbeque, refreshments and desserts, along with students having the chance to have their face painted and get some physical fun on a bouncing inflatable pirate ship. “We had an extremely successful Open House this year. We have noticed an increase in enrolment, and we are happy that many of our new families had an opportunity to see how amazing St. Anne Catholic School truly is,” said Guy Mathieu, Principal.
St. Anne Catholic School Welcomes New Angels
The first day of school is often a day that has students filled with excitement as they begin a new chapter in their lives. On September 4, 2012, St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer welcomed its new students with brightly decorated halls, welcome messages on bulletin boards, prize displays for the upcoming fundraiser, and Catholic Virtue words that encourage all students to be leaders.
Three students from the Full Day Kindergarten program shared their excitement as they had time to interact with others and begin their inquiry-based learning. All of them were happy to share their feelings about the day. “I liked making new friends,” said Kaitlin Lacroix. “I liked going outside,” said Payton MacDonald. Caedene Troscinski, a student who is new to St. Anne Catholic School said, “I like meeting new friends because I’m new here.”
St. Anne Catholic School is a growing Catholic school community that strives to incorporate technology into student learning with MacBooks, iPads, and access to a school-wide wireless network.
Wild at Heart Animal Refuge Inspires Students to Make a Difference
Students in Cheryl MacRury’s Early Learning class and Kathy Belanger’s Grade 7 class at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School have been inspired. For the past year, these two classes have worked together to support the Wild at Heart Animal Refuge. What started out at as a proposal from the two teachers, resulted in a successful grant application from the Canadian Federation of Teachers to support the students learning about, and helping animals in the wild.
The students decided to call themselves the ABC’S – All Because of Caring Students, and decided that this project was about making a difference in the world, despite being a small group of young students. The project involved contacting and visiting community businesses to begin a fundraiser for the animal refuge. Knowing that ever cent makes a difference, they began a penny drive to help out the animals. Throughout the year, the classes had contact with Wild at Heart Animal Refuge veterinarian Dr. Jouppi and learned about what the centre does to support, protect and care for wild animals.
On June 20th, 2012, the students got on a bus, and visited each of the community business that helped them collect for one last collection, and the last stop on the road trip was at the Wild at Heart Animal Refuge where they got to see the facility and meet with Dr. Jouppi. Dr. Jouppi explained to the students that the centre should be ready within a year to be an educational facility – set up to educate groups about the animals – with an average of about 700 animals visiting the site each year, usually with 150 at the centre at any given time. Dr. Jouppi thanked the students for their donations and support and encouraged them to continue in their efforts to support the care of wild animals. “Living in Northern Ontario, it is our duty to treat animals with respect and to learn to live in harmony along side the animals as they were here first.” Jouppi said. The veterinarian also encouraged the students to tell others about the centre as they are in constant need for volunteers, not only to support the animals, but to help with the construction of the renovations to expand the centre, as well as with fundraising and education.
Both teachers have thoroughly enjoyed working on this year-long project with their students as it has positively affected the classes in numerous ways. “Not only did our students learn about protecting our environment and all the creatures that God has given us,” MacRury stated. “They have learned numeracy from counting the money, they have learned to be stewards of the earth, they have learned communication skills, technology skills in creating multi-media projects, and they have learned empathy in being more aware of what is happening in the world around them.” Kathy Belanger echoed MacRury’s comments and added that they two different classes working together has been a great experience for all the students as well. “Have students in different grades partner up and work together has given them both a different perspective and allowed for a really enriching mentoring opportunity. The younger students really look up to the older students and have been encouraged to be role-models. All of our students rose to the occasion and the whole experience was outstanding. I think this project will impact them for the rest of their lives as it was more than just a fundraiser, it allowed them to have more of a global perspective as it reinforced the importance of thinking of others before themselves.”
At the end of the penny drive, the students had raised over $200 for the centre as well as donated a newly built crate for the animals, a basket of fruit and other food items for the animals.
St. Anne Angels “Read Their Way To The Top”
For the past two years, junior students at St. Anne School in Hanmer have been participating in an event called “The Battle of the Books”. The competition is open to students from the different Sudbury Boards. The event helps encourage a love of reading by its participants. This year, the St. Anne Angels, under the direction of Sudbury Catholic Board teacher Denise Desmarais, took second place at “The Battle of the Books” competition that was held Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at the Radisson Hotel in Sudbury. The competition, which is an annual event organized by the Sudbury Public Library, requires students in grades four, five and six to read up to 30 books and then respond to questions about them. Throughout the school year, students read, meet, and discuss the selections that have been outlined to all students entered within the competition. This year, 15 schools from the Sudbury District entered the battle. The student team from St. Anne placed second in the event and were able to take home silver medals. Coach Denise Desmarais praised her team for their great effort and recognized that the final results between first and second place were very close. The staff and students at St. Anne are very proud of their “Battle of the Books” team and all of their hard work. Your enjoyment of reading has really opened up a world full of exciting stories and has sparked your interests for years to come. Way to go Angels!
Angel’s Help Feed Families
Recently, the grade 7 and 8 students at St Anne Catholic School in Hanmer had the opportunity to listen to guest speaker Tammy Durand, founder of ABC’s and Rice. Students were informed that education across the globe is not the same, especially in third world countries such as Cambodia. Throughout the presentation, Sudbury Catholic District School Board students learned that the needs of those in third world countries are much different than the needs of those in Canada. Education is not a right in Cambodia, but rather a privilege that not all children are lucky enough to obtain.
ABC’s and Rice is breaking the mould in Cambodia, through the selfless acts of Tammy Durand, and making education available to children in a special way. If families allow their children to attend school rather than work, the children will be given rice and other necessities to bring home to their families. ABC’s and Rice is hoping to break the cycle of poverty through education of Cambodia’s youth.
Approximately 130 students had the opportunity to hear Durand speak about the program that captured their attention throughout the one hour presentation. Tammy Durand explained to students that they can do anything that they set their minds too. What started as an adventure tour for her turned into a whole new chapter of charity work that has fulfilled her more than anything she has ever experienced.
In true Angel spirit, the St Anne students donated $175.00 to ABC’s and Rice. This money will go towards feeding approximately 9 families with rice for one month. “This was a great experience for our students at St.Anne school. Tammy and I went to elementary school together. She is a true inspiration. I wanted these students to understand that she was no different than them. She sat in similar classrooms that they are sitting in, although she decided to make a difference in the lives of others, ” said Jody O’Daiskey, grade 8 teacher at St Anne school.
Carli Meeks and Alyssa Menard are two of the students that had the opportunity to listen to Durand’s powerful presentation. “I though it was interesting that a girl from our area basically saved those children’s lives from the working conditions, lack of education and food deprivation,” said Carli Meeks, grade 8 student at St. Anne Catholic School. “If you put your mind to it, you can do anything,” said Alyssa Menard, another grade 8 student at St. Anne Catholic School. This was the message that echoed loud and clear throughout her discussions with St. Anne Students.
Tammy Durand is a former student of the Sudbury Catholic District school board. She now lives in Cambodia where she teaches, feeds, and organizes the programs for ABC’s and Rice.