St. Benedict hosted a Parent Wellness Evening, for parents of teens in the school board, on February 23rd. The evening consisted of presentations on teen stress, sleep, crisis intervention and online presence with Greater Sudbury Police, the Health Unit, Canadian Mental Health Association and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. After the presentations, parents enjoyed hor d’oeuvres prepared by Mike Sipos and the Foods Class. Following the break, there was a question and answer period with the presenters. The evening was a tremendous success. Thank you to the St. Benedict School Council for planning and organizing the event.
Author: admin
St. Benedict students chosen for exciting leadership programs
Forum for Young Canadians, a national youth program, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2016, has chosen Laura Rinaldi to participate in one of three week-long conferences in Ottawa, Ontario. Laura will be one of about 315 young Canadians chosen to attend the Forum this year. The program is an opportunity for young Canadian leaders to learn more about governmental processes, strengthen their leadership skills and to learn more about the diversity of thoughts, cultures and people which make Canada a great country.
Laura will participate in various activities, including an international trade simulation, a mock election, meetings with government leaders at a Parliamentarian Reception and Senate Breakfast, and a visit to the House of Commons’ during Question Period. As a representative for both St. Benedict C.S.S and for Sudbury/Nickelbelt, Laura will have an opportunity to network with other youth from throughout the country, discuss important issues facing communities across Canada, and come to a better understanding of the importance of Canadian government processes.
Alex Cimino, Student Council Vice-President at St. Benedict C.S.S, was recently accepted to represent the riding of Nickelbelt as a Liberal MPP at the annual Legislative Assembly’s Model Parliament Program. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario Model Parliament Program is an educational program taking place at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Ontario, designed for civic-minded high school students in grades 10 to 12, who are interested in current events and provincial issues. This unique educational experience will bring together 107 students from across Ontario, representing each of the province’s ridings, for a three-day program in Toronto. Alex will have the opportunity to meet key figures in Ontario’s parliament as well as learn about the history of the provincial legislature and the legislative process through workshops and presentations.
Through the Model Parliament Program experience, youth from across Ontario will gain a stronger knowledge of the province’s parliamentary practices and traditions while participating in an authentic experience that will teach them the value and importance of our democratic process.
Best wishes to both students!
Bears Classic Elementary Basketball
St. Benedict hosted the Bears Classic Elementary Basketball Tournament on Jan.19th-21st. We had a great turn out this year with a total of 27 teams (15 boys division/12 girls division) participating in 52 games from all four school boards. There was some good basketball being played and it was very well attended by fans. Congratulations goes out the St. Benedict Boys team for winning gold and to the Marymount Regal team for winning silver.
Sudbury Catholic Schools welcome new international students
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is pleased to welcome three international students to its school communities for the second semester. One student from Vietnam and one student from China are attending St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School while another student from Japan is attending St. Charles College.
The SCDSB has successfully hosted international students and exchange students in the past; however, these new students are a direct result of the school board’s recent international recruitment efforts. Recruitment initiatives aim to boost enrollment as well as enrich the educational experience of all students by affording them the opportunity to interact and learn with students from varied countries which will help them to become more global citizens. The SCDSB also hopes that its recruitment initiatives will attract newcomers to the Greater Sudbury community as students may decide to pursue a post-secondary education in the city and someday make Sudbury their home.
The majority of international students stay with local families and pay a monthly amount for room and board. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board utilizes the services of the Canada Homestay Network in order to find and assess suitable host families. The SCDSB currently has students who have applied to study for the 2017-18 school year and will need more families to host these students. For more information on how you can host an international student, please contact Michelle Kindt from the Canada Homestay Network at 1-705-479-2314 ext.2010 or by email at sudburyinfo@canadahomestaynetwork.ca. To learn more about Canada Homestay, and our International Education program, visit cometostudy.ca.
St. Benedict welcomes two new international students
St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School proudly welcomes two international students to its school community. ESL Teacher Monica Dailey joins her new students in the school’s learning commons on the first day of semester two.
Khoa (left) is from Da Nang, Vietnam while Yuliang (right) is from Taipei, Taiwan. Both students say that they are looking forward to improving their English and the opportunity to experience all that Sudbury has to offer.
Board visits Chongqing #37 Secondary School in China
On November 11th 2016, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board had the pleasure of visiting Chongqing #37 Secondary School in China. We visited a class, the grounds, the bridge of success and had the privilege of witnessing the morning daily physical activity.
This school offers a high quality education to over 4,000 students from grades 7 to 12. Hopefully, some of the staff from the school will come to Sudbury to visit our schools and to discuss the possibility of a “sister” school partnership in the future. The school celebrated it’s 60th anniversary in 2015 and we are convinced that it will continue to grow in the next 60 years thanks to its dedicated and competent staff, as well as its visionary leadership.
View the photo album of our visit.
Students try their hand at cooking
The grade 8 students at St. Benedict try their hand at cooking under the watchful eye of Mr. Sipos, Science and Foods Teacher. All the grade 8 students are shown how to work safely in the kitchen and prepare a delicious and authentic Mexican Quesadilla. Mr. Sipos was assisted in the kitchen with some of his Foods class students, who helped the Grade 8 students in preparing their dishes. One more delicious reason to try our Foods Class!
Connecting to the land
Recently our secondary schools students had an opportunity to attend a sweat lodge building and ceremony as part of the “Bundle Roots Program”. The event was hosted by Indigenous Education Secondary Support staff & teachers. At this event we had students from various cultures take part. The turnout was great and the weather was wonderful. There were three secondary schools that took part in this activity. The Sweat lodge was held on Atikameksheng Anishnawbek territory.
The sweat lodge is a structure, which is dome shaped made using natural materials given to us by the land. sweat lodges are used by Indigenous people on Turtle Island for ceremonial prayers. The ceremony and traditions associated with the sweat lodge vary from region to region but are similar in nature.
Students were able to partake in constructing the sweat lodge which was a rich learning experience for all staff and students. All the young men and women took part in constructing the sweat lodge. The Elders were both helpful and insightful for the youth and the staff, and shared their knowledge.
We completed our very full day with a very delicious feast, along with a spirit plate given back to our sacred helpers during this ceremony.
Dancing under the sun
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board hosted a secondary Powwow on June 1st 2016 at St. Benedict School. This was an opportunity for our Indigenous community to share their culture with non-Indigenous community members. Some of the dancers at the Powwow were secondary school students who attend our schools. It was exciting for our participants to see the dancers. Students were also able to share their culture and the style of dance. Those who partook in this event were able to celebrate Indigenous tradition and culture.
Through SCDSB we integrate First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures, history and perspectives in our curriculum. As an indigenous support worker we try to bridge gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Having a celebration like this brings people together.
The Pow wow celebration was our first this year for our Catholic secondary schools. Many of those who attended the Powwow have never experienced a cultural activity such as this. It is with hope that with the continued support of secondary staff we can strive for more exposure of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Culture. Our students and faculty were given the opportunity to see dancers in full regalia. The students shared songs and the drumming was breathtaking Miigwetch.
St. Benedict CSS Business Studies Visits the USA’s capital city – Washington DC
The St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School Business Program continued its annual international field trip this spring by visiting Washington DC from May 18-22. The business students visited various attractions including: the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the US Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, the Washington Monument, the J. F. Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts, and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (recently visited by Pope Francis). The Business Studies program has also visited New York City, Chicago, and Boston in recent years. 30 students attended the trip, led by business studies teacher Giuseppe Politi.