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 Students Use Technology To “Envision” More Than Sugarplums
Christmas is a time for sharing and giving. That was very evident when Mrs. Belanger’s Grade 7 English students at St. Anne school in Hanmer shared their laptops and their time with the Grade 3 English students in Mme. Lafrance’s class. In keeping with the holiday spirit, the Grade 7 students within the Sudbury Catholic Board helped their new friends in Grade 3 type out their letter to Santa Claus. The younger children were excited about their thoughts of what they should ask for. The Grade 7 students were not only able to assist in the typing out of the wishes of the Grade 3 children, but while both groups were typing, the Intermediate students were also showing the primary students some of the skills that were needed to use the laptops. Both groups of students really enjoyed working together. Jaida Sabzali worked with her older brother Hunter on her letter. She said, “It was fun to work with my big brother. It was fun using Hunter’s computer and I learned a lot.” Hunter was quoted as saying, “It was fun to help out my little sister. I helped her type out her letter to Santa and I was impressed to watch her type.” The Grade 3 students will be mailing their printed letters to Santa Claus. They will anxiously be awaiting for their return letters from the North Pole.
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.
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!”
St. Anne Student Finds Contest Has “Sweet” Benefits
Patrick Corbin, a Gr. 4 French Immersion student at St. Anne School in Hanmer, started his school year off joined by hundreds of other students within the school in a chocolate bar fund raising contest. Little did he know that when the fund raiser was over, he and his classmates within Mme Pickard’s Grade 3/4 French Immersion room would be the top selling class within the school. The Sudbury Catholic School students won a pizza and movie afternoon for their efforts. In addition, one student was to be chosen to take over the job of Principal Mr. Guy Mathieu for the day. That student was Patrick. Besides helping his class to win, Patrick was the student who actually sold the most chocolate bars in the entire fundraising campaign and as such, was voted by his classmates to change roles from student to principal.
Dressed in a white shirt and tie, Patrick, or Mr. Corbin as he preferred to be addressed, performed many tasks throughout the day. He walked throughout the school meeting with many children from within the student body. He became very popular with the entire student population when he extended the afternoon recess by an extra five minutes and declared a “no homework day”. When asked if all of his hard work selling the chocolate bars was worth the outcome, Mr. Corbin was quoted as saying,” I had a lot of organizing to do with the new balls for the gym and preparing paper work to ready for the announcements.” St. Anne School vice-principal, Joanne Commisso, said “It was a pleasure working with the new principal for the day,” and thanked him for his efforts. A taste of being charge has Patrick geared up for next fall when the school fund raising contest comes around again. The staff and students at St. Anne School are very proud of your efforts Patrick. Way to go Angel!
St. Anne Students “Hit The Big Screen”
Many people often dream of hitting the big stage. Students from St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer are no exception. Recently, they were able to experience the feel of being in the spotlight with a visit to Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School. This Catholic Secondary School is the only high school in Sudbury with a Specialist High Skills Major program in Information and Communications Technology. In this program, the students learn a large variety of media production skills such as: 2D Graphics Design and Digital Image Editing and Enhancement, 3D Graphics Modeling, Texturing, Rigging and Animation, Video and Sound Production, Integrating 2D and 3D Graphics into Film, Special Effects for Film, and Website Development. Students use Autodesk Maya to create 3D models and animations. This is the same software used by professionals to create most of the 3D movies out today. It’s also used to create most of the 3D special effects seen in most action movies.
St. Anne intermediate students, working with high school students currently enroled in the program, began to create their grade 8 graduation video with the use of some media software and a green screen that was built by Bishop’s own tech class. “It was a really good experience and exciting to learn about the about the effects that are used in most movies,” said Olivia Boudreau, a grade 8 student at St. Anne School. BAC also uses their green screen to digitally place student actors in any location, including those created in 3D. The actor/actress simply acts out the scene in front of the green screen and the green is then removed using editing software and replaced with the desired background or animation. BAC has a stationary green screen and two portable ones that can be used outside of the classroom. Who knows? With this taste of “the big screen” under their belts, we may someday actually be viewing some of the Catholic Board students on the larger than life screens around the city. The entertainment business may want to start a new slogan. “Lights, camera, 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!