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!
St. James Students Demonstrate the True Meaning of Christmas
The Fantastic Fours and Terrific 4/5’s at St. James Catholic Elementary School got into the Christmas spirit early by packing gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Families went out and purchased items such as: hygiene products, clothing, toys, and school supplies. When all was said and done, the two classes filled 47 boxes. Inside each box was a letter of hope to the child that will be receiving the gifts. The St. James staff is very thankful for the generosity and support of the students and their families. Together they showed the true meaning of Christmas – how it is better to give than to receive!
“Our Dreams Matter Too” to St. James Students
St. James Catholic Elementary School was recently recognized for its participation in “Our Dreams Matter Too” – a walk for culturally based equity for First Nation children. The walk is organized to say now is the time for First Nation and non- Aboriginal children to work together to ensure all children in Canada receive equitable, culturally based services that help them succeed and feel proud of who they are. The project began as a result of the school’s vice principal, Dan Stargratt introducing the Grade 7/8 FI class to “Shannen’s Dream” which is a student and youth focused campaign designed to raise awareness about inequitable funding for First Nations children, and encourages supporters to write letters to their Member of Parliament, to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and to the Prime Minister of Canada. The students then brainstormed and came up with the idea of getting involved with the “Our Dreams Matter Too” initiative by having all Grade 4- 8 students at St. James write letters to the Prime Minister to look at federal school funding. This past June, the St. James students presented their letters to Member of Parliament Glenn Thibeault to bring to Ottawa. This past October, the students were sent a certificate of appreciation from the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada for their participation in the initiative. The students are Chris White, Katrina Cayen and Enara Iturregui.
St. James Catholic School Selected Provincially as a School on the Move
St. James Catholic School joined an elite group of schools across Ontario recently that have been recognized by the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat as a School on the Move. The School on the Move initiative highlights schools that are making substantial progress in raising student achievement and have sustained this progress over several years. St. James was nominated by the Ministry of Education and after a visit to the school by Ministry officials, was one of only 33 schools selected provincially. With over 4900 schools in the province including Catholic, Public, English and French Boards, Cara Soehner, Principal of the school was thrilled that St. James was selected to be part of such a prestigious group. Only four Northern schools were named as Schools on the Move, and Soehner attributes this to the strength and support of the staff who set strong foundation skills for learning.
Selection for Schools on the Move includes the following criteria:
EQAO scores in reading, writing and mathematics have improved in both Grades 3 and 6 over a three year period
Staff being able to articulate what they did and how they implemented changes
Staff being able to provide evidence of growth in student achievement
Strategies the school identified are supported by research evidence
Collaborative culture, with teachers working together, constantly learning, challenging and supporting each other
Doors being open and parents being partners.
As well as being a School on the Move, an additional accolade for the school includes their receiving the Dr. Bette M. Stephenson award this past year which is an award given to a school that demonstrates leadership, proactive initiatives, positive attitude and sincere efforts to help every child succeed. As well, the school must also be making effective use of the EQAO data and show evidence from other sources to enhance and support student achievement. Again Soehner ascribes the school’s success to the continuous work of the staff. “Our staff works tirelessly to engage and support each and every student at St. James,” Soehner said. “Every single day we collectively focus on the belief that everything we do is for the success of all of our students and that every single child matters.”
St. James is the second school in two years from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board to be nominated and selected as a School on the Move as St. Christopher Catholic Elementary was a School on the Move in the 2008-2009 school year.
St. James Catholic School Receives Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Award
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is pleased to announce that St. James Catholic School has been presented with the Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Award in recognition of the school community’s dedication to student achievement and use of provincial assessment results to improve student learning. EQAO would also like to acknowledge and congratulate St. James Catholic School’s principal, staff and parents for their leadership, positive attitude and sincere efforts in helping every child to succeed. The award was presented to a contingent of St. James parents and staff in Toronto in early November.
St. James Catholic School Supports the United Way
During the school year the St. James Student Council and staff held various in-school fundraisers such as selling candy grams and special luncheons to help local “people in need” through the United Way.
Presenting the cheque are student council members (left to right); Angelica Gervais, Emma Campbell, Brandy Saikkonen, Emily Mackwood (United Way), Thalia Pisaric, and Zachary Laframboise.
St. James Catholic School Launches Annual Food Drive
St. James, St. David Students Make Appearance at MCTV Christmas Telethon
St. James Catholic School Care Bears Make a Difference
Walk into St. James Catholic School in Lively and you will quickly take notice of their slogan, “The Home of the Bears.” But on Thursday, March 9 more than 400 students at St. James became “The Home of the Care Bears” as they celebrated “Jordan Primeau” day as a tribute to Jordan, a Junior Kindergarten classmate who is battling leukemia at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
The one day campaign, spearheaded by Student Council met with an overwhelming outpouring of support from the students, staff and parent community of St. James as the Student Council collected $1,400 from the students. This collection will be forwarded to the Primeau family to help offset costs for Jordan’s recovery.
Student council members were equally thrilled at the response from their classmates who worked from the heart on special projects of get-well wishes for Jordan. These projects of cards, poems, stories, prayers, books, and puzzles will be delivered by Jordan’s teacher, Rosanna Battigelli directly to Jordan as she will visit him during the March Break at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Kids.
Although most students at the school have not met Jordan Primeau personally, the students keep Jordan in their thoughts and prayers daily. Mrs. Battigelli and her Junior Kindergarten class have been in regular contact with Jordan via the phone to ensure that Jordan is still part of their class. Mrs. Battigelli also organized a book fair where another $1,400 of proceeds will also be donated to the Primeau family.
The Student Council would like to take this opportunity to emphasize to the Sudbury community that donations to the Jordan Primeau Fund are still being accepted at St. James Catholic School at 280 Anderson Drive in Lively. For further information, please call 692-3974.
St. James Catholic School Celebrates Jordan Primeau Day
Jordan Primeau is a Junior Kindergarten student at the school who is bravely undergoing treatment at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto for leukemia. With that in mind the St. James School Community (students, staff and parents) are planning several activities to help the Primeau family both spiritually and financially.
This special day for Jordan will see the launch of several fundraising activities. The St. James Student Council has planned a Bear Day where all students are asked to join in the school spirit of generosity by bringing a teddy bear to school as a symbol of caring. The Student Council is asking for voluntary donations on this special theme day and all monies collected will be forwarded to the Primeau family. All classes will be writing cards, get well notes, poems, letters and other caring gestures that can be packaged and forwarded on to Jordan.
Any donations to the Jordan Primeau Fund are gladly accepted and can
be dropped off at St. James Catholic School, 280 Anderson Drive in Lively.