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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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