Immaculate Conception School
APRIL, 2015
1748 Pierre Street
Val Caron, ON P3N 1C5
Phone (705) 897-4483 Fax (705) 897-7512
PRINCIPAL: Ms. L. Bianchin
The Virtue of the Month for April was
STEWARDSHIP.
As Catholics, we are encouraged to share what
we have with others, respect our neighbours as
ourselves and assist those less fortunate. By
sharing of ourselves and helping those around
us, we are, in essence, practicing Christian
STEWARDSHIP.
In fact, “STEWARDSHIP” reaches far beyond
financial
contributions
and
encourages
Catholics to live their lives as disciples of
Jesus. Equipped with this knowledge, we have
the power to change how we understand and
live out our lives, beginning a life-long process
of sharing our gifts of time, talent and treasure
out of gratitude, not out of obligation. Living our
baptismal promises becomes the motivational
force behind our actions.
In our school community, we encounter many
examples of STEWARDSHIP as students, staff
and parent volunteers to help others achieve
their dreams. In April, we especially look
towards our role as stewards of the
environment.
Students
show
their
understanding and need to care for our fragile
planet and use our resources wisely through
lessons, projects and practical activities. We
will grow in our capacity to be responsible
citizens. We invite you to join us on this
journey.
HOLY WEEK
Liturgically, our Lenten journey started with
Ash Wednesday. Holy Week is the last week
of lent, including Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday,
Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The Easter
Triduum is Holy Thursday, Good Friday and
the Vigil of Easter on Saturday night.
On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus' return
into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by
http://immaculate.scdsb.edu.on.ca
crowds worshipping him and laying down palm
leaves before him.
On Holy Thursday, Jesus washes the feet of
his disciples and celebrates his Last Supper
with them.
On Good Friday, Jesus is crucified and dies on
the cross. His body is placed in a tomb.
On Holy Saturday, we remember the day when
Christ's body was placed in the tomb. This is
the last day of Lent.
On Easter Sunday, we celebrate
resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
the
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK
Exploring Paths of Joy
Catholic schools are Catholic communities.
Catholic schools are faith communities. Weparents, students, teachers, administrative and
support staff -walk and grow together in the
faith, which we received at our Baptism. And it
is the 'together' that we grow. Our growth is
primarily a relationship with God, who at our
Baptism, called us by name. But the response
of each of us to that growth is both personal
and communal. We grow in our faith in the
nurturing atmosphere of our Catholic
community be that of our local parish, our
home, or our Catholic school community.
Our school community celebrated Catholic
Education Week 2015 in ways that are
appropriate
to
our
students’
age.
Parents/Guardians were invited to participate
in one or other of these activities.
The five sub-themes for each day of Catholic
Education Week:
Monday – Walking Together and Sharing our
Story
Tuesday – Opening the Scriptures
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Wednesday – Welcoming Others to the Table
Thursday – Recognizing Jesus in the Breaking
of the Bread
Friday – Proclaiming the Good News
We “kicked off” Education Week at St. Kevin’s
Parish.
Every year, the Ontario Catholic School
Trustees Association (OCSTA) provides our
Catholic schools with a resource kit to help
schools prepare for Catholic Education Week.
Using these resources as well as our own
developed activities we have prepared a series
of activities, which will highlight how our school
is “ Exploring Paths of Joy”.
We hope to see many of you during our school
celebrations.
ABORIGINAL EDUCATION
Mr. Agowissa, the board's Aboriginal Support
Worker, has been visiting our school once a
week for a period of five weeks. This year, the
Aboriginal Binoojig Centre (ABC) program will
be offered to the FDK classes at our school.
Mr. Agowissa is also offering the Pichi Ngamo
program, which is a lunchtime program for any
students in grades 2-5 who are interested in
learning about Aboriginal culture. For the Pichi
Ngamo program, each student brings their
lunch to the gym and has lunch with Mr.
Agowissa; he usually brings a healthy snack to
share with students before they begin their
lesson.
For both programs, the students will learn
about Aboriginal culture and traditions,
medicine wheel teachings, the 3 groups of
Aboriginal people in Canada, the Seven
Sacred (Grandfather) Teachings and Pow
Wow Teachings.
I would like to thank Mr. Agowissa for coming
to our school and sharing the Aboriginal culture
with our student.
"Meegwetch" , Thank you.
STUDENT OF THE MONTH (March)
The virtue for the month of March was
“Honesty”. Congratulations to Cowen D.
(FDKR), Trista A. (FDKAF), Norah T. (FDKBF),
Olivia W. (1/2R), Declan K. (1/2F), Selina C.
(2/3R), Nate L. (2/3F), Tyler R. (3/4R), Carson
C. (3/4F), Emma V. (4/5R), Stacey K. (5/6F),
Madison M. and Emily L. (5/6R). Teacher’s
Choice awards were awarded to Reese D.,
Nicco S., Cooper M., Carson C., Talon D., Eric
K., Ethan F., Daxson S., Kenadie D., Nathan F.
and Fintan B. Congrats!
STUDENT OF THE MONTH (April)
The virtue for the month
of April was
“Stewardship”. Congratulations to Tucker R.
(FDKR), Ryleigh H. (FDKAF), Harmony D.
(FDKBF), Cordelia B. (1/2R), Tyler O. (1/2F),
Bradley C. and Reagen M. (2/3R), Hailey M.
(2/3F), Kayla W. (3/4R), Madison S. (3/4F),
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Joanne Benard, visited with students and staff
at Immaculate Conception School. The
Director and Principal visited all classrooms;
the Director took the time to speak to the
students about what they were learning in their
classes.
Brooke M. (4/5R), Andrew L. (5/6F), Julia G.
and Tristen D. (5/6R). Teacher’s Choice
awards were awarded to Jack K., Kiara F.,
Carter C., Isabella V., Owen M., Terra M.,
Hailey R., Hunter D. and
Emmaleigh L.
Congrats!
DIRECTOR VISIT
On Monday, May 4th the Director of the
Sudbury Catholic District School Board,
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The Director also spoke to a group of Grade 5
and 6 students about what is happening at our
school. It was a wonderful visit with our
Director, and we welcomed the opportunity to
meet and speak to her about Immaculate
Conception.
STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
PICKUP/DROPOFF OF STUDENTS
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
Parents and guardians are asked to please
park their vehicle in the designated parking
area and come into the school to pick up
their child(ren). For the safety of the children,
when dropping off your child(ren) in the
morning, please be sure to drop them off at the
entrance on the side of the fence so they will
NOT have to cross the street.
INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION
An Indigenous celebration will be held on
Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Fielding Memorial
Park. This event is a joint initiative between
Indigenous and non-indigenous people of our
Diocese.
The agenda for this event is found below this
Invitation. Everything is FREE and everyone is
welcome to attend. We hope that the efforts
which have gone into preparing this event will
allow a great number of people to enjoy an
enriching intercultural gathering/celebration.
I invite you to learn, through this event, the
contributions of our Indigenous peoples to life
in our diocese and to experience their unique
expressions of spirituality.
It will be a pleasure to meet together to
strengthen the ties which unite us!
+ Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe
The agenda for the day is as follows:
5:30 am. Sunrise Ceremony
6:00 am. Welcome by Bishop Plouffe
8:00 am. Pancake Breakfast
9:00 am. Teaching Carousel
-Drumming
-crafts (rosary, bookmark, talking stick)
-7 Grandfather teachings
-Legends
-Medicines and Wheel
-Sacred Elements
-Rainbow Warriors
11:00 am. Healing Circle
1:30 pm. Feast – Pot Luck (bring your
favourite dish to share)
3:00 pm. Travelling Song/Blessing
SUMMER LITERACY PROGRAMS
Sudbury Catholic District School is pleased to
be able to provide exciting summer learning
programs, at no charge for our students
through funding received from the LNS and
CODE.
These programs are designed for students who
are experiencing gaps in literacy and numeracy
at the end of SK to grade 5 (students must be
registered in these grades as of June 2015).
The programs will be located at St. Francis
School, 691 Lilac Street, Sudbury, from 8:30
a.m. until 12:30 p.m. from July 6th – 24th.
Bussing is not provided. For more information
please contact Christina Raso at 705-673-5620
ext. 204.
RISING STARS
The Rising Stars were at Immaculate
Conception School on April 15th to perform for
Grade 3 to 6 students. They are a group of
senior citizens who travel around to schools
and seniors homes, putting on funny, but
informational skits. One was about a lady who
had a very unsafe house where she could have
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hurt herself. This skit connected to me because
I have an aunt who works at a Senior Citizen
home, and I told her about the helpful things
(even though she probably already knew
them). Another skit they put on was about a
blind woman who was about to cross the street
and another woman was helping her. This skit
gave me some information about people that
are blind. Like, they may walk with a white
cane. The skit taught me the way you should
guide someone that’s blind. Another skit talked
about medication and how you shouldn’t take
someone’s prescription drugs. Near the end of
the presentation the lead Rising Star called up
a young girl named Madison; they called her
up because she had an “eighty seven” on her
shirt, and the oldest member of the Rising
Stars is 87. I found that very cool. In
conclusion, I love Immaculate and the amazing
assemblies!
By: Holly W. Grade 6
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