Have you noticed the 2 000 blue flags along Paris Street in Sudbury? These little blue flags are in support of the citizens of Sudbury who have a learning disability. In recognition of Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, students and staff at St. Francis School wore blue on Friday, October 19, in support of fellow students with a learning disability who can learn differently.
St Francis Flames Raise the Flag for Autism Awareness!
Many of our schools brought awareness to autism by wearing blue. Staff and students at St. Francis also took part in a special assembly to mark this important day! The group watched videos, sang songs and raised the flag to stand up for each other.
We are all part of the puzzle! Thanks for the reminder Flames!
St. Francis Flames Wear Yellow for Daffodil Campaign
St. Francis students and staff wore yellow to kick off the start of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Campaign in April. The daffodil is a symbol of strength and courage in the fight againstt cancer. Since the 1950s, bright yellow daffodils have arrived in communities across Canada to mark the beginning of Daffodil Month in April. Yellow daffodil stickers were worn at the elementary school to show support for Canadians living with cancer. A cheque for $502.00 was presented to Ms. Burns and Ms. Crispo from the Canadian Cancer Society who graciously attended the school’s assembly to speak to students. The cheque was presented on behalf of the families, students and staff of St. Francis School who made the donation possible. Cancer has touched many of the St. Francis families, friends, staff and even students in some way. The school’s event organizer for the Daffodil Campaign, Ms. Graziella Visentin, was thrilled with the support shown by the school’s families, students and staff for this worthwhile cause. By sharing of ourselves and helping those around us, we are, in essence, practising Christian stewardship, which is the school’s virtue for the month of April. Each year the amount raised increases and the school hopes to continue with this beneficial fundraiser to help cancer patients in our community.
A “Purr”-fectly Great Day to Learn about Pet Responsibility at St. Francis
The students of FDKFI in teacher Mme Lachance and Mme Lynne’s (ECE) class at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School had a special guest recently. Charms the cat came by for a special visit as the students have been learning about the value of having a pet in the home. Although they are cute and cuddly, the children soon found out that owning a cat also requires care and responsibility. A pet is like a family member and it requires special care and love.
ST. FRANCIS CELEBRATES LITERACY DAY!
On January 27, the students from St. Francis Catholic Elementary School celebrated Literacy Day. Students in kindergarten to grade six were asked to donate gently used books from their home and trade them in for“new” books. The event was organized by Special Education Resource Teacher, Ms. Graziella Visentin who encourages the use of technology to assist with reading as well as the use of traditional hardcopy books to practice reading skills. The school cafeteria and gathering room had a wide variety of book titles on display for students to choose from. Students also donated English and French books. The book swap originally began between two primary classrooms and eventually grew to involve the whole school over the last few years due to its success. The book swap provided an excellent opportunity for students to exchange books within their school community, encourage the love of reading and recycle books. Students enjoyed selecting free books to take home for Literacy Day.
Technology Now Night at St. Francis
There was a line up to get into the building at 4:30 on Thursday, January 14 as students at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School eagerly led their parents into the gymnasium to show them all the ways that they use technology in their classrooms.
Approximately 180 people attended the Technology Now night, which was planned by the St. Francis Catholic School Council with support from a government Parents Reaching Out grant. The goal of the event was to show parents how technology is used to support student learning. There were 10 tables set up around the gymnasium where students could show their parents how much they knew about iPad apps like Book Creator, Music Tutor, Explain Everything and Minecraft as well as more subject specific apps that support math, fine motor skills and literacy. Primary Special Education teacher Meghan Dopson also had a Smartboard demonstration in her classroom.
Catholic School Council Chair Kimberley Swain-Bellmore was impressed with the evening, “The children enjoyed showing their parents and siblings some of the things they do in their classrooms, and having a chance to see some of the apps they will be using in years to come,” she said.
For more information, please visit the St. Francis school web site at http://st-francis.sudburycatholicschools.ca/
Social Skills for Student Success
Jarah Preston from the Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury was invited to St. Francis Catholic Elementary School on January 13, 2016 to deliver a presentation entitled, Social Skills for Student Success. The LDAS presentation is targeted to address students in grades 4 to 5. Topics such as emotional awareness and non-verbal awareness were discussed with the junior students. A number of appropriate social skill strategies were provided to students on how to handle various scenarios at school with their peers such as turn taking, sharing and respecting each other’s personal space. The students were engaged during the presentation as many audio- visuals were provided to students to demonstrate examples. The school’s Special Education Resource Teacher, Graziella Visentin, has also invited Jarah Preston to return to the school to present, Victors of Transition, in an upcoming week to all grade 6 students who will be transitioning onto grade 7 at either Marymount Academy, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School or St. Charles College in the fall.
Technology Now Night at St. Francis
There was a line up to get into the building at 4:30 on Thursday, January 14, 2016 as students at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School eagerly led their parents into the gymnasium to show them all the ways that they use technology in their classrooms.
Approximately 180 people attended the Technology Now night, which was planned by the St. Francis Catholic School Council with support from a government Parents Reaching Out grant. The goal of the event was to show parents how technology is used to support student learning. There were 10 tables set up around the gymnasium where students could show their parents how much they knew about iPad apps like Book Creator, Music Tutor, Explain Everything and Minecraft as well as more subject specific apps that support math, fine motor skills and literacy. Primary Special Education teacher Meghan Dopson also had a Smartboard demonstration in her classroom.
Catholic School Council Chair Kimberley Swain-Bellmore was impressed with the evening, “The children enjoyed showing their parents and siblings some of the things they do in their classrooms, and having a chance to see some of the apps they will be using in years to come,” she said.
For more information, please visit the St. Francis school web site at:
St. Francis Rocs Their Mocs
St. Francis Catholic Elementary School staff and community partners participated in ‘Roc your Mocs’ campaign. The campaign is helping a resurgence of pride in North American Tribes. In support of this campaign, even ‘Baby Riley’, Roots of Empathy baby in the FDK class wore her mocassins during her monthly visit to the classroom.
Flames and PumpkInferno
St. Francis Catholic Elementary School Flames students in teacher Christine Boudreau’s Grade 1/2 French Immersion class were very excited to decorate pumpkins for Dynamic Earth’s “PumpkInferno”. PumpkInferno is an enchanting outdoor award-winning exhibit created by Upper Canada Village, featuring thousands of hand-carved pumpkins set against a glowing Sudbury back drop on the grounds of Dynamic Earth. Their pumpkins will be displayed along the walkway leading to Dynamic Earth from October 9th-30th. Visit sciencenorth.ca for further details.