St. James students, staff, and community partners literally formed a human circle around their school and gave it a hug. The human circle symbolizes friendships, inclusiveness, respect, faith, and community. We are all in this building together and we need to always show in our actions that we are a St. James family. To show that we care and that we are a Safe Catholic School community we literally gave our school a St. James Bear Hug!
St. James Students Winners in Community Writing Contest
Local newspaper Walden Today held a writing contest for their students about helping the environment. St. James Catholic Elementary School was recently notified that four of their students were winners in the contest. In Gr. 2 Lucas Mullaly took First Prize, Gr. 4 Jackson Drigo took Third Prize, Gr. 6 Claire Niemelainen took Second Prize and Patricia Deschenes took Third Prize. The students will attend a formal celebration at Tom Davies Arena to receive their prizes. Congratulations Bears!
Operation Christmas Child at St. James
Once again teachers Jesse Maloney and Craig Lusk’s classes at St. James Catholic Elementary School participate in a annual program called Operation Christmas Child. The goal, through Operation Christmas Child, is to bring joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes. Each gift is a special reminder to a child that he or she is loved. Operation Christmas Child focuses on the true meaning of Christmas – how it is greater to give than to receive.
“Our Dreams Matter Too” At St. James
For the second year in a row St. James Catholic School has been recognized for its participation in the ‘ Our Dreams Matter Too’ campaign. This campaign was originally created by Shannen Koostachin, youth education advocate from the Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario. Her dream was for safe and comfy schools and culturally based education for First Nations children and youth. First Nations schools receive less funding per student than Provincial and Territorial schools, and zero dollars for things like libraries, computers, languages or extracurricular activities. Shannen advocated to try to convince the Federal government to give First Nations children a proper education before tragically passing away at the age of 15 years old in 2010.
St. James Students Connecting Globally
The Grade 7 and 8 students at St. James Catholic Elementary School have prepared care packages for an orphanage in Kenya this past month. Mary Crowder from the Rehena In Step Ministry came to pick up the goods and thanked the students for their generosity. Students also wrote letters and are hoping to Skype with them later on this year.