Transitioning into high school can sometimes be a difficult process for young teens, but St. Anne Catholic School and Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School make that transition easier on their students. On Thursday, January 12th, 2012, grade 8 students from St. Anne School in Hanmer, visited Bishop Alexander Secondary School (BAC) to continue with their transition from elementary school into high school. This day was an exciting one for all students as they participated in different workshops featuring the arts and sciences that BAC has to offer. Students had the opportunity to explore the music program and listen to the BAC Band, drama and compete with the BAC Improv Team, and make button pins in the visual arts classroom. They were also fascinated with the various stations in the biology lab, and the explosive experiments in the chemistry lab during their visit. St.Anne Angels are always enthusiastic to visit BAC because it is always a fascinating and welcoming environment.
St. Anne English ABC’S Students Donation Cans Start “Paying Off”!
Earlier this fall, Olivia Dunbabin, an English Early Learning student at St. Anne School in Hanmer, and her classmates decided “you don’t have to be that old” to be able to make a difference in the world. She along with her four and five year old classmates think they are just the right age to stand up and be noticed. They have been making a difference to the animal world and as such, they don’t want people to call them the Kindergarten class anymore. They now want to be recognized as the “ABC’S”, All Because of Caring Students!
These young students within the Sudbury Catholic School Board have been on a mission. They have been raising money to help out Sudbury’s animal population. After discussing animals in the fall and enjoying a presentation from the Wild At Heart Animal Refuge, the young students told their teacher, Cheryl MacRury, that they wanted to do their part to help animals in the wild. With technological help from Mrs. Belanger’s Gr. 7 class in transferring the Kindergarten generated logo entitled the “ABC’S” onto the computer, the students have placed donation cans asking for one penny within Valley businesses. The donation cans, the Kindergarten logo, and brief explanation placards have been placed at Hanson’s Family Dentistry, Paula’s Canine Country Club, Evolve Active Therapy, and Nor-Ont Veterinary Hospital.
Thanks to the caring staffs at these businesses as well as family members from the students themselves, the “ABC’S” are on a mission that seems to be paying off. With the help of Mrs. Belanger’s Gr.7 class in counting out the donations, the young students have collected $40.00 and were able to present the Wild At Heart Refuge with some food and household items necessary for the animals from the Refuge’s wish list over the Christmas holidays. The “ABC’S” plan to keep giving to The Wild At Heart Refuge Center, but who knows? If their campaign is a successful one, they would like to even be able to donate to the local S.P.C.A. When asked if they are too little to make a difference in the world, these little people have only one thing to say. “We believe we can do it!” The staff and students at St. Anne School believe in you too. Way to go Angels!
St. Anne Students Discover “A World Of Learning”
Primary students from St. Anne School in Hanmer recently made a very interesting discovery. Learning can happen at any place, at any time! On a trip to Science North, the students participated in many workshops that helped them learn about the world around them while they were having fun. Watching a presentation within the cavern brought forest fires to life. Having a beaver swim right by you while you are simply centimetres away is a once in a lifetime experience. Both students and teachers from the Sudbury Catholic Board always enjoy the world of wonder presented at Science North. Each visit enhances the learning of the very youngest to the very oldest student.
St. Anne Animal Lovers Interact With Mother Nature’s Wildlife
The English Early Learning Kindergarten Students at St. Anne School have recently announced their love of animals to their community. Soft, furry animals, big-eyed animals, and cute huggable animals. On a recent trip to Science North, the youngest students within the Sudbury Catholic System discovered that not all of Mother Nature’s wildlife have the “cuddly” look about them. The student’s participated in a learning session called “How Animals Move”. During the learning experience, they were introduced to toads, turtles, and snakes.
While recounting some of their own life experiences with these creatures, the children learned that every animal is special, no matter what they look like. Even though some of the students started the program being a little afraid of the small creatures, by the end of the discussions with their “bluecoat”, they had a much better understanding of the bodily makeup and habitat information of all three animals. Practicing the wiggling movement of the snake, the hopping of the toad, and the withdrawal into their pretend turtle shell, the students came to have a greater appreciation for the animals. The St. Anne children finished off their visit by interacting with the creatures. How will this visit influence the young animal lovers? It just strengthens their determination to tell everyone that all animals need to be loved and respected for their roles in the world around us.
St. Charles Christmas Spirit with Canned Foods
Students at St. Charles Elementary Catholic School are already in the Christmas Spirit of Giving. Students collected a total of 3,694 cans and donated them to La Maison d'Amitie/ Friendship House Food Bank. Principal of the school, Sandra St. Denis stated, “I am very proud of all the students – this truly shows the true spirit of giving. I have to give credit to Mme Bouzane’s Gr. 5/6 French Immersion class who organized the event. The students made daily announcements, graphed and displayed the cans as they were brought into the school, boxed the cans and loaded the vehicles for distribution at the food bank”.
A Love of Animals Really “Pays Off” For St. Anne Kindergarten Students
The English Early Learning Students at St. Anne School in Hanmer are on a mission. They plan on helping out as much of Sudbury’s animal population as much as they can. Earlier in the fall, the young students from within the Sudbury Catholic School Board nicknamed themselves “The ABC’S”. (All Because of Caring Students). They brainstormed and came up with a fundraising idea to purchase items that could help out the communities injured or needy animals. Through the help of local businesses like Hanson Family Dentistry and Paula’s Canine Country Club, as well as contributions from family and friends, the students put their logo on small donation cans that ask for one penny. The cans were placed at the businesses by the student’s teacher, Cheryl MacRury. The students chose a penny because it was the only piece of money that most of them recognized. Although a penny doesn’t seem like much, the donations collected have really been “paying off”! Within the first two weeks and with the help of Mrs. Belanger’s English Grade 7 class, the older and younger students were able to count and roll out over 1300 pennies. If the fullness of the donation cans is any indication, the second round of collecting promises to be double that of the first. The students have chosen to make their first donation to the Wild At Heart Animal Refuge. Using counting charts, the penny values of items, and real life pictures of objects from the refuge’s list, the young Catholic students will choose which donations they can afford to purchase and present them to the Center as Christmas gifts for its injured wildlife. Who says little people can’t make a difference? Christmas for the English Kindergarten children at St. Anne School allows them to tell everyone that the “spirit of giving” feels great!
St. Anne Students “Author” Their Way Into Christmas
The English Early Learning Kindergarten students at St. Anne School in Hanmer welcomed parents and grandparents into their classroom to begin getting into the mood for the start of the Christmas season. The Kindergarten children had been working on creating and writing all kinds of “non-fiction” stories throughout the fall. They authored books on Garden Harvests, Baking Apple Pies, and Caring For a Classroom Pet. With a bare classroom Christmas tree sitting within the room, the children and their family members worked on creating, decorating, and hanging their ornaments. Junior Kindergarten student Celyna Anzil was overheard saying “I love working with sparkles.” What was the result for the students within the Sudbury Catholic System? One beautifully decorated tree and a step by step picture sequence for the class’ newest non-fiction story. When asked what title the story should have, their was only one choice of course. “A Christmas Tree Decorating Special Classroom Day!”
The Spirit of Christmas Alive at St. Anne
By 6:30 a.m. on December 2, St. Anne Catholic Elementary was a-buzz with excitement. The arrival of Q92’s Terry and Mel and the TD Toy Caravan had staff and students prepping the school’s foyer and library with decorations, breakfast items, and most importantly, Christmas cheer.
Guy Mathieu, Principal of St. Anne said the school was approached to be a possible location for the Q92 Toy Caravan live on location spot and without hesitation, accepted immediately. “We started sending out flyers to the community and encouraging as many people as possible to come out and donate this morning,” Mathieu stated. “This event is one that really encourages people to dig deep inside themselves and truly give from the heart. So many of the children in the Greater Sudbury community are in need of our support – we are just glad to be a part of something that helps us see what’s right with the world.”
From 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. both Terry and Mel encouraged listeners to come in and donate either a new toy or a monetary donation and people came out in droves. Students, both present and past, as well as parents, grandparents, friends and community members came through the school’s main doors and brought with them hundreds of toys as well as over $600 in money donations. Mathieu was overwhelmed by the support. “What has happened here this morning has really set the stage for us all to get in to the holiday spirit. That’s what I love about this community – everybody comes together and shows us that the true spirit of Christmas is alive and well at St. Anne’s – I couldn’t be more proud. Kids helping kids. Children giving to other children. I don’t know that I can think of anything that is more powerful than that.”
As well as getting to meet Terry and Mel – the students and staff got to see how the show worked and teacher Alice Desormeaux and custodian Dan Sauve even got to take part in the “Battle of the Sexes” of which Sauve came out as champion. By 9:15, the foyer was stuffed with hundreds of toys and the students were amazed at the piles of donations in front of them. Some teachers even walked their classes down to see just how generous the community and their school had been. “I am just so proud of our school-students, staff and parents alike,” Mathieu stated. “The Christmas spirit is alive and well at St. Anne!”
St. Anne English Kindergarten Students Become Known As The “ABC’S”
How old do you have to be to make a difference in the world? According to Olivia Dunbabin, an English Early Learning student at St. Anne School in Hanmer, “you don’t have to be that old.” She and her three, four, and five year old classmates think they are just the right age to stand up and be noticed. They plan on making a big difference to the animal world and as such, they don’t want people to call them the Kindergarten class anymore. They now want to be recognized as the “ABC’S”, All Because of Caring Students!
These young students within the Sudbury Catholic School Board are on a mission. They want to raise money to help out Sudbury’s animal population. Their teacher and animal lover, Cheryl MacRury, had seen a commercial presented by the Wild At Heart Animal Refuge asking for help in taking care of Sudbury’s wildlife population. Since her class had been discussing the changes fall would bring to animals in the wild, the Sudbury Catholic Board’s virtue of respect for all things God had created, and recognizing that her class was filled with other animal lovers, there was only one thing to do. Invite staff from the wildlife center into the Hanmer school to talk to her students! To say thank you for the presentation, the young students presented the center with such necessary items as apples, carrots, and jars of baby food.
The experience in giving to the wild creatures who needed help was such an exciting and meaningful one that during a large group discussion, the young students decided they wanted to keep right on giving. When the talked turned to trying to get money for more supplies, and after first asking their teacher to ask her daddy for money, student Ethan Kydd suggested “asking people for pennies”. After designing their own logo, the English “ABC’S” turned to Mrs. Belanger’s Grade 7 class for help. The intermediate group was able to transfer the outlines of the design onto the computer along with a basic message, “Donate 1 cent to help feed and care for Sudbury’s Animal Population”.
Thanks to the caring staffs at Hanson Family Dentistry and Paula’s Canine Country Club, the “ABC’S” are on a mission. They have placed donation cans, their logos, and brief explanation placards at both businesses in the hope of having the general public donate one penny. Each time the cans are returned to school, the students will continue their work with Mrs. Belanger’s Intermediate class to count the donations. From here, the young English crusaders will decide what they can purchase and how to spread their help. The “ABC’S” plan to keep giving to The Wild At Heart Refuge Center, but who knows? If their campaign is a successful one, they would like to even be able to donate to the local S.P.C.A. When asked if they are too little to make a difference in the world, these little people have only one thing to say. “We believe we can do it!” The staff and students at St. Anne School believe in you too. Way to go Angels!
St. Anne Angel’s “NET” Some Faith
On November 1st, 2011,students in the grade 8 classes at St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer participated in a “NET” retreat at St. Kevin’s Church. They were joined by the NET Team (National Evangelization Team) where they shared Jesus’ gospel message in a team format. The NET team was comprised of a group of young people who challenge young Catholics to embrace Christ and the life of the church, through song, skits, small group discussions, and prayer. Students from the Sudbury Catholic School board embraced the day, participating in every facet of the retreat. Lunch from Perkin’s Restaurant and the Caruso Club was also provided/donated to the NET team and students to allow further intimate discussions about the gospel of Christ and practicing faith. Both staff and students at St. Anne School were overheard describing the day as an “awesome” and “inspiring” one! Your faith shines through Angels!