The Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) class at St. James Catholic Elementary School has enjoyed the “Roots of Empathy” program this past year, but has especially enjoyed the visits by Baby Kinsley. Kinsley was only 4 months old on her first visit and by her last visit she had turned 11 months! FDK students, staff and Baby Kinsley have loved watching and being part of her milestones throughout her first year. Last week, there was a classroom celebration to wish Baby Kinsley farewell for the year.
St. James Supports Daffodil Week
During the month of April, St. James Catholic Elementary School held a “Daffodil Week” to raise money for cancer research. Students and staff brought in over $700! Pictured are members of the student council (C3) with teacher and campaign organizer Tammy Lanci, as they present the cheque to Cathy Burns, a representative from the Canadian Cancer Society.
St. James Community, Care and Culture Club Supports Fellow Student
The students at St. James Catholic Elementary School demonstrated the Catholic virtue of compassion recently. Logan Lariviere, a low vision student, travelled to Ottawa to be fitted for his new technological glasses. The “Community, Care and Culture” club choose to sell candy grams for Valentine’s Day and have a coin collection to help Logan and his parents purchase his much needed and expensive glasses. The whole school gave generously and, during our Olympic spirit day, Logan was presented with a cheque by teacher Tammy Lanci.
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.
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.
St. James Students Shear Locks for Cancer
Mr. and Mrs. Derro are very proud of their two daughters. Alyssa, 10, and in Grade 5, and little sister Ava, 8, in Grade 3, had 10 inches cut from their long dark locks in front of their peers at St. James Catholic Elementary School. The girls decided together to go door-to-door raising money for the Sam Bruno PET Scan Fund in exchange for their promise to cut their hair. They also decided to donate their locks to a good cause. Congratulations Alyssa and Ava, St. James is proud of you too !
Perkins Family Restaurant Serves Up Pancakes At St. James School
Todd Connors, Director of Operations for Perkins Restaurants prepared and served St. James Catholic Elementary School with a pancake breakfast recently. He graciously donated breakfast to thank the school community for their penny donations that went directly to support Pennies for Pediatrics. St. James School raised over $560 in pennies for this worthwhile cause.
“Pennies for Pediatrics is a fundraising drive to benefit children’s care at Health Sciences North.”
St. James students and staff would like to thank Todd Connors from Perkins for personally visiting the school and serving pancakes!
St. James Celebrates Their 2nd Annual Family, Fun, Faith Night
St. James Catholic Elementary School students, staff and school council collaborated with Pius X Roman Catholic Church on February 27th to bring the community another fun filled faith-based evening. The evening offered several faith-based activities such as: pin the halo on the angel, virtue bowling and the very popular “inclusion Bingo”. Inclusion Bingo was created by the schools C3 council (Catholic, Community and Culture). Each space in the Bingo card contains a faith based word such as “family, God, helping, caring, compassion, etc…” Prizes were graciously donated by various community partners. Families were greeted by Father Terry Fournier and Deacon Pat Raymond.
St. James School Is Giving Away Their Pennies
Students from St. James Catholic Elementary School in Lively collected pennies over the month of February to save children’s lives in our community. In collaboration with Todd Connors from Perkins Restaurants Ontario and the St. James C3 council (Catholic, Community and Culture), students filled 2 large water jugs with pennies. Each jug weighed over 100 pounds. “Pennies for Pediatrics is a fundraising drive to benefit children’s care at Health Sciences North. The goal of the six-month campaign is to raise at least $100,000.”
St. James Students Help Grinch’s Heart Grow
St. James students are helping to make the Grinch’s heart grow when they are “Caught Doing Something Good”. The following is a poem that was created by teacher Sabrina Rocca and her students. Not only are students having fun watching the Grinch’s heart grow bigger through acts of kindness, but also having fun with Literacy!
At St. James School Christmas Spirit is understood,
as Students are Caught Being Good!
At St. James Catholic School,
Students are all very cool.
To enhance Christmas Spirit,
We need the entire school to feel it.
We are helping the Grinch’s heart grow,
because it used to be as cold as snow.
When students are caught being good
The Christmas spirit is well understood