We are very pleased to present the Director of Education’s Annual Report for the 2021-2022 school year.
We thank our Board of Trustees, Senior Administration, staff, students, families, volunteers, community partners, and our parishes for their continued support and commitment to Sudbury Catholic. Together we are providing a caring, progressive, high quality Catholic school system that is nurturing our students – mind, body, and spirit.
In elementary sports action, Bishop Alexander Carter hosted the Angels Elementary Basketball Tournament on March 3rd and 4th. For the second time in as many tournaments the St. Benedict Boys team came away with gold. Congratulations Bears and to all who participated in this great event.
On Wednesday, March 9, 2016, Olympic Athlete Angella Goran, visited MMA to introduce FitSpirit. FitSpirit is a specialized program solely for women and girls. It is a cardio-based program, alternating between running, calisthenics and fitness. SCDSB teacher Chantal Dagostino hosted the launch, and invited female students from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School, St Anne Catholic Elementary School, St. Paul Catholic Elementary School and St. John Catholic Elementary School who will be participating in Fitspirit to the event launch. Fitspirit is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help teenage girls discover the advantages and the enjoyment that come from taking part in physical activity. This knowledge will allow them to develop a healthy lifestyle based on realizing their own potential.
Since 2007, FitSpirit has travelled to the four corners of Ontario and Quebec to create awareness among teenage girls about the various ways they can take part in physical activity. Through the school based FitClub program, FitSpirit provides the opportunity for teenage girls to learn the basics of healthy nutrition and exposes them to activities that inspire physical activity with their friends. In Ontario and Quebec last year, over 10,000 girls participated in Fitspirit.
Last year the Sudbury Catholic District School Board had ten Catholic Elementary and Secondary schools involved with even more participating this year. In the final culminating run that was held at Laurentian University at the end of last year, there were over 286 girls who participated. This year looks very promising with a potential of over 500 girls gathering at Laurentian University on June 5th, 2016 to partake in their final task, completing either a 5 k or 10 k with over 20 schools from the Sudbury Region participating. As well, this 5k and 10 k will be open to all women and girls in Sudbury!
For more information on FitSpirit, please contact Chantal Dagostino at: Chantal.dagostino@fitspirit.ca
Students at St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer have recently started their Angels Running Crew. This running club is in its second year, and students were eager to hit the ground running.
St. Anne students in Grades 4 to 8 have signed up for this activity that will lead them to a healthy lifestyle that includes getting regular exercise. They are encouraged to set their own personal goals throughout the year and persevere to achieve them. Students will learn correct form of running, proper nutrition for health, and how to build endurance to run longer distances. “I really enjoy the running club because I like participating in all the teams and clubs that St. Anne has to offer,” said Abby Gladu, a Grade 6 student at St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer.
Students will have an opportunity to participate in various events around the city, such as the Sudbury Santa Shuffle and Sudbury Rocks Races.
With only their first practice under their belt, these Sudbury Catholic Schools students ran a combined distance of over 57 kilometres, all during a 40 minute lunch break. Some of these students even reached distances of 4 kilometres on their own at the first practice. Way to go Angels!
Recently, students at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School in Hanmer had the opportunity to participate in Rocks and Rings, a program that is delivered to elementary school students to develop an awareness of the Olympic sport curling. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board students were engaged in a variety of activities throughout their session and actively participated in a curling experience in the school’s gymnasium. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 enjoyed their new experience and asked a number of questions about the game of curling. “It was fun to interact with and learn the game of curling with our peers,” said Spencer Gagnon, a grade 8 student at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School. “It was fun having a friendly competition with our friends while we were learning the game,” said Seth Duguay, another student at the school. Overall, students were engaged with this new experience and enjoyed trying a new physical activity.
In like a lion, out like a lamb is the old saying to predict the unsettled weather that March can bring. With huge amounts of snow at the beginning of March, the students within teacher Lois Lambert’s Grade 1-2 classroom at St. Anne School wondered if there would be any snow left once they returned from their March Break. Deciding to take no chances, these students within the Sudbury Catholic System strapped on their snowshoes for their gym class. The children were able to walk the perimeter of the school yard which was quite a distance for these six and seven year olds. Some students fell and some students were wet, but in the end, a good time was had by all. Their classroom teacher, Mrs. Lois Lambert, stated, “I want the children to have a safe March Break and maybe inspire them to find other enjoyable activities to participate in while the weather is nice.” Spring may be just around the corner, but these children proved that winter fun can be very exciting!
Walking and being able to stand tall are activities the students at St. Anne School participate in everyday. A recent outing to Centennial Arena made doing so just a bit harder for some of the primary students within the Sudbury Catholic Board.
Armed with their skates, helmets, and a lot of padding from their winter snowsuits, classes from the Hanmer school took to the ice with their classmates and family members. During the next hour, some children practiced the basics of trying to stand and move on skates while a few more daring students moved from one end of the rink to the other. Who knew that trying to move on skates could be so tricky? All in all, the students enjoyed the physical activity and the pride that comes from knowing they were mastering the art of defying gravity. “Do we have to leave?” Those were the words that even the youngest children were asking. Their teacher’s responses, “We’ll be back!”
On January 28th and 29th, Daniel Caton, a grade 8 student from St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer, participated in a regional biathlon competition for the Royal Canadian Cadets. The competition took place in Sault Ste. Marie, with approximately 190 participants from Northern Ontario. The two day event invited many spectators and had both individual and relay events.
Caton’s relay team finished second overall and advanced to the provincial championship which will be help in Sault Ste. Marie on February 18th and 19th. Daniel held the best record for targets hit on his own team, hitting 8 out of 10 targets. “I was really excited and proud of my team. All of the training was well worth it. I think we have a good chance to place in the provincial championship,” said Caton. Daniel also participated in an individual event, where he placed 22nd overall.
Daniel is a part of the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron of the Sudbury Armouries. He has been involved with the Cadets for approximately two years, and has enjoyed the experience thus far. He is also an honour roll student in teacher Jody O’Daiskey’s class at St. Anne School, part of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “I am very happy for Daniel and his accomplishments. He has worked hard training for this event. It was wonderful to see him beaming with pride when he shared his accomplishments with our classroom,” O’Daiskey said.
Five students from St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer had an opportunity to see their future, and wear a Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary School Gator jersey at a recent feeder school event. BAC invited grade 8 students from St. Anne School to watch a spirit building hockey game at Centennial Arena, where their boys and girls hockey teams played againstt one another. It was an exciting and close game,finishing with a score of 3 – 2 for the boys hockey team.
Primary and Junior students at St. Anne School in Hanmer questioned teacher, Mrs. Desmarais. “What is a Heart Hero?” Mrs. Desmarais’ response was that a Heart Hero was anyone that wanted to help keep all kid’s hearts strong and healthy. She outlined to students how they could work together to make a difference not only to their own health, but to the future of healthy hearts everywhere. Those words were all that the Catholic Board students needed to hear. In association with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the elementary students participated in the “Jump Rope for Heart” fundraiser.
The students prepared for the event by raising pledges. Next, they began a campaign of improving their skipping skills and stamina during gym classes and recesses. A skipping “phenomena” took over the school. The school administration and teachers helped with the excitement by offering incentives for students with the most pledges. Goals of $1000.00 to $5000.00 or more would result in students being able to throw pies at staff members in front of the entire student body. Mr. Guy Mathieu, the school principal, stated, “The amount of enthusiasm that has been generated with this fundraiser is incredible! I am always amazed at the school spirit demonstrated by the students, not only with their efforts in bringing in pledges, but also at their enthusiasm within the gym at the actual pie throwing contest.” All money amounts raised are put to good use by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. A pledge of as little as $5.00 can be used to purchase test tubes for lifesaving research, while funds of up to $150.00 can be used to buy a blood pressure monitor to keep patients healthy.
The fundraising activity was a huge success! More than $5000.00 was raised. A school assembly will be held in June where staff members will keep their promises to the St. Anne “Heart Heroes.” Even though the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser is over, school skipping ropes are still in demand by students in all grade levels. The Sudbury Catholic Board students have learned, “They can make a difference in the lives of others!” Way to go Angels!
