The Grade 4/5 class at Holy Cross was honoured and excited to have Sandra Herbst co-construct success criteria with us. What matters when we solve a math problem completely? Now we know!
Junction Creek Stewardship Presentation
The Grade 2 students at Holy Cross School had a wonderful opportunity to become “Bug Detectives” and learn about the types of water bugs which live in our local creek which spans 52 km. Sarah and Matty, representatives from the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee shared some history about our local Junction Creek and the many efforts which have been made by local Sudburians through the years to revitalize it back to its original state. Students were able to observe and identify real water bugs, such as water scorpions, dragonfly nymphs and many more. They were invited to be stewards of the Earth and join the many families that work together to keep the creek clean and viable for fish and other living creatures.
Holy Cross Students Energized by Class Visit from Energy Minister
The grade 5/6 class at Holy Cross had many questions for MPP and Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault when he visited their class on October 11 to talk to them. Keen students emailed Thibeault two weeks ago with questions they had after studying electricity and energy conservation in science class. They were hoping that they would get an email response but were surprised when he offered to answer in person.
The students wanted to know about how we get electricity in Sudbury and Mr. Thibeault showed them an app called Grid Watch that shows energy consumption across the province in real time. He further elaborated that we get our electricity from a variety of sources but largely from the hydro-electric dams here in the north.
He addressed the students concerns about the safety of nuclear energy by explaining the many safety features he had seen in person at the power plants in southern Ontario. Many of the students are Simpsons fans and were relieved to hear that the plants we have do not resemble where Homer Simpson works at all.
There were further questions about what Members of Provincial Parliament do and what the responsibilities of and Energy Minister entail, prompting graded 5 student Woodrow Crowder to ask Thibeault how he manages such a large workload. Thibeault explained that he has many hard-working employees on his staff and that it takes a team to accomplish great things.
Lake Laurentian Excursion
Cloudy skies cleared quickly and the sun appeared for the Grade 1 and 2 students at Holy Cross School so that they could spend a wonderful day at the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area. The children went out hiking, carried out a pond study and played various games outdoors to gain a better understanding of the needs and adaptations of animals in Northern Ontario, and how we can do our part to protect them.
Bears Teach Cubs About Electricity
On Tuesday, October 4, the grade 5/6 class at Holy Cross had the chance to visit Michael Sipos’ science lab at St. Benedict to learn more about circuits and energy. Mr. Sipos arranged stations with different types of circuits for the students to build to help them to better understand the Electricity unit for the grade 6’s and the Conservation of Energy unit for the grade 5’s. They enjoyed putting the theories they had been studying in class into action and they were all thrilled when they managed to to get their buzzers to sound or their lights to turn on to show that they had completed their work correctly.
The most hair-raising part of the lab was when Mr. Sipos brought out the static energy generator to show the students how electrons could be created through friction to run through their bodies.
Students enjoyed walking across the campus to learn in a different environment and to experience what daily life is like at St. Benedict in this engaging transition activity.
Professional Development Day
On Friday September 30, the staff at Holy Cross worked with David George, a consultant with Franklin Covey, who worked with us as we continue our journey with “The Leader In Me” using the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. David is a former principal and implemented the “7 Habits” at his school, leading them to become the first “Leader In Me” school in Canada. He took our staff through the process of working with and setting “Wildly Important Goals” for our school and with our students. Staff explored Academic and Leadership Goals for Holy Cross and learned a process for bringing the School Improvement Goals to the classroom and then to each child in the class. What a motivating, useful and thought-provoking day!
Meet Steve & Nona!
Mrs. Lucciantonio’s Grade 4/5 class went on a virtual field trip to South Africa on September 23, to meet Steve and Nona. These penguins were a pleasure to meet. The students were able to ask questions to the scientist, as the presentation was live through Exploring By The Seat of Your Pants.
Cubs participate in annual water festival
On Wednesday, September 21st, the Grade 3 and 4 students at Holy Cross school, had the opportunity to participate in the 12th Annual Children’s Water Festival at Anderson Farm in Lively. The students had a great time learning all about water through a variety of hands-on activities and demonstrations, such as, working together to complete a wetland puzzle, and reviewing boat safety while sitting in an OPP boat.
Cubs take the lead on a patterning adventure
Mme Blais-Callaway’s Grade 4/5 FI class leaped into patterning this week, hosting the board’s new Intensive Support Facilitators and Superintendent Nicole Bédard in their class for a hands-on math lesson. Using tiles and pattern blocks, they showed their guests how they used tools to help them to visualize how their patterns grew, extending patterns, and creating new ones of their own. The facilitators would like to thank the Holy Cross school community, especially Grade 4/5 FI, for the invitation and wonderful learning opportunity. We appreciate your leadership, Cubs!
Holy Cross Cubs challenge the Marymount Regals to raise funds for Fort McMurray
On Thursday May 19th the students from Holy Cross School challenged the students from Marymount Academy to show their school spirit by making donations to the victims of the Fort McMurray fires. Students made donations to be able to wear their pajamas to school. The fundraiser began with a conversation that Tania Fay initiated with her grade 2 French Immersion Class. “I had met a teacher from Thunder Bay and through twitter learned that his class was challenging others to help those devastated by the fire. So in my class it began with a conversation and I asked them, how could we make a difference and help this community. The rest was the children,” explained Tania.
The schools had each set goals to raise $500.00 or more and were excited to see which school would be victorious in the friendly battle. The Regals fell just shy of their goal raising $436.30. The Cubs were delighted to more than double the Regals efforts collecting a total of $1025.11. In this challenge however there were no losers as all staff and students from both schools should be commended on their efforts in raising a combined total of $1461.41 for a great cause.
One student in Mme Fay’s class was so moved by the stories of the victims that she wanted to do more. Maili Jutila asked her mom to contact a local new business run by two sisters who design their own jewellery to see if they would be interested in
co-designing a special necklace. Max and Mel of “Mwords” were instantly moved by Maili’s desire to help and jumped on board. Maili sent them her design ideas which included a sketch of her two hands with the words “helping hands” written inside.
The campaign is launching this week and all proceeds from the necklace sales will be donated to Fort McMurray relief efforts.