All of the grade 7 and 8 St. Benedict students sat in the school’s new cafetorium to take part in the school’s grand opening for the 7 and 8 wing. On hand for the celebration were the Board’s Director, Catherine McCullough, members of Senior Administration, facility staff, building staff, members from the architectural firm of Yallowega and Belanger, teachers, trustees, parent council members and parents. Also included in the service were parish partners who took part in the ceremony – including Bishop Noel Simard who spoke to the students about living the life of St. Benedict who’s motto was pray and work. Simard asked the students to follow this motto in school and in life, and to recognize that being a part of this new St. Benedict community “is a source of joy.” Simard explained to the students that the board and the community have come together not only to build a physical building, but in a way to help ‘build’ the students, with learning, knowledge, and wisdom to live a fulfilled life and be happy.” Simard along with the school’s other parish partners, blessed the new space as well as individual crosses for each of the new classrooms.
The 22,000 square foot new space boasts a third gym for the school, eight new dedicated teaching classrooms with smartboards, as well as two new discovery rooms. To find out more details about what the new space includes, visit the board’s website at http://www.scdsb.edu.on.ca/schools/construction/info-ben.php.
Month: October 2011
Novel Approach
St. Benedict Book Club got the school year off to a good start by taking a field trip to Chapters Book Store for their first meeting. Each student hunted for a book that interested him or her to read for the next book club meeting. Rather than having every student read the same book, students were encouraged to talk about different titles, as it stimulates interest in the others to read the new novels discussed. Nicholas Ryma is keen about history and said, “I bought a book about WWII scientists”, while Matthew Poloni said, “I’m so happy to have something to read for the weekend”.