Primary students at St. John School celebrated World Literacy Day on Friday, January 27th with a Fairy Tale twist. Students enjoyed dressing as their favourite Fairy Tale character as they spent the morning engaged in literacy activities. At one station, students played Fairy Tale Trivia, answering questions about some of their beloved stories. Students also listened to and acted out Fairy Tales with their teachers.
St. John Students Stand Up Against Bullying and Wear Pink!
As a part of Bullying Awareness Week, and International STAND UP to Bullying Day, students at St. John wore pink! Pink day was a wrap up to a week of awareness activities, lessons and announcements all geared to help students advocate againstt bullying.
St. John Students Get Hooked On Voting
Grade 4-6 students at St. John School in Garson recently participated in a “Student Vote” program sponsored by Elections Canada which gave them the opportunity to experience the democratic process firsthand as well as practice the habits of informed and engaged citizenship. April 28th, 2011 was our designated “Student Vote” day and students took on the roles of Deputy Returning Officers, Poll Clerks and voters parallelling the adult electoral process. The exercise of a mock election proved to be a very empowering process and students are eagerly awaiting the election results both at the school and federal level.
Golden Visit at St. John
Tessa Bonhomme inspired students and staff today at St. John School in Garson to never take their eye off the goal. Through a personal account of her struggles and triumphs during her twenty year career in hockey, we learned that with commitment, perseverance and hard work anything can happen – even a dream!
St. John Catholic Elementary School Salute to the Olympics
Despite the frigid temperatures, the students at St. John Catholic Elementary had smiles from ear to ear as they took part in the school’s Olympic Day on Thursday, February 25, 2010. The school had many different events planned for the students including a wagon ride pulled by two horses from Wagon Wheel Ranch and the ever popular potato and spoon races. The smell of maple syrup filled the hallways as the staff and volunteers provided pancakes and hot chocolate for the students to keep them warm and fuelled their energy to keep the spirit level high throughout the day.
St. John Catholic Elementary School Supports St. John the Evangelist Parish
Father Mathieu, Parish Priest of St. John the Evangelist in Garson accepted a cheque from Toni Kritz-Roque, the grade 2 teacher from St. John Catholic Elementary School last week. The school raised the money through gift donations from staff and students that were used to make baskets and then raffled off. As well, local business donated gift certificates for the school’s gift tree. Tickets were sold and a total of $1500 was raised to support the parish. The parish is using the money to purchase malaria nets for children in third world countries. Each net costs ten dollars and can potentially protect a small family or groups of children from malaria.
Catholic Education Week’s ‘Johnathan Hetu Day’ Great Success
The Johnathan Hetu Day during Education Week was once again a success. Six schools: St. Michael, St. Mary’s, St. Francis, St. Raphael, St. Anne and St. Charles were able to Raise $1168.00 in support for the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer. The hat day is in memory of Johnathan Hetu who was a student at St. Charles school and passed away from cancer. So far St. Charles has organized two walks and two hat days since 2006 and have been able to help raise $13639.18 for the NOFCC. St. Charles will once again have their Johnathan Hetu walk on June 23 when they hope to break the $15000 mark. Thank you to all the students and teachers that participated.
St. John Catholic School Shows Their Support For Canadian Troops in Afghanistan
On Wednesday, December 19 St. John Catholic School students and staff will gather in the gymnasium to show their support for Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan. The school has been collecting gifts for the troops (mouthwash, candy, sun screen, shampoo etc.) and has solicited corporate sponsors to donate as well.
The managers of COSTO, WALMART and GIANT TIGER (retired warrant officer) will also be present at the assembly as well as the parents of Captain Christopher Duncan, a Coniston boy who is with the TANK TROOP TF AFGANISTAN ROTO 5 (Royal Canadian Dragoons). The school will present the parents of Captain Duncan with a banner signed by students, parents and grandparents wishing their son, his troop and all Canadian soldiers a very Merry Christmas
The St. John Catholic School students have also been writing letters and making Christmas cards for the Canadian Troops. The Falconbridge Post Office will ensure the speedy, safe FREE delivery of the school’s messages and supplies.
St. John Catholic School Launches Waste Reduction Pilot Project
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce that St. John Catholic School has been selected by the City of Greater Sudbury to participate in a school-based recycling project. Prior to the launch of the pilot project, only paper and cardboard products were being recycled at the school. As a result of this new initiative, students are now able to recycle the same waste products as they do at home in one convenient blue box without the need to sort! Some of the new products students can recycle include: plastic sandwich bags, milk cartons, and juice boxes-something schools have a lot of!
Madame Raymond’s Grade 3/4 French Immersion class has taken on a leadership role in helping to organize and support the project. Students are responsible for collecting waste reduction data and publically charting the results in the school’s front entrance on a weekly basis. St. John Catholic School is hoping to reduce the amount of waste sent to the local landfill site by at least 50 percent through this new initiative.
The Grade 3/4 French Immersion class is also working to integrate the project into all aspects of the curriculum from Mathematics to Social Studies. Further, a Waste Reduction Committee organized by teachers and run by students has been created with the purpose of raising awareness about the importance of recycling amongst students and staff alike.
St. John Catholic School is the third SCDSB school to participate in the City of Greater Sudbury’s recycling “pilot project” joining sister schools, St. Paul Catholic School and St. Charles College who embarked upon this project in June 2007.
St. John Catholic School Students Help Stock the Shelves of Local Food Bank
Six thousand, five hundred! That’s the number of food items that students at St. John Catholic School raised in support of the Garson Food Bank.
Tricia Dowdall-Cirelli, Principal of St. John Catholic School is very proud of the efforts of her students in helping the less fortunate. “St. John Catholic School students are learning through Christ’s example to be selfless, charitable and champions of social justice,” states Cirelli. “The students are also being empowered through example to make a difference by affecting change not only in their own backyards but in our city, country, and world.”