Give The Gift of Caring This Holiday Season

Nicolle Schuurman shares a display created for the month of December

at Chapleau Highschool.

"Give the gift of caring this holiday season" display was a school wide project - everyone in our school from the teaching staff, non-teaching staff and every student is represented on the board.

Grade 9s - handprints for tree
Grade 10s - presents under the tree
Grade 11s - snowflakes
Grade 12s - light bulbs
Non-teaching - christmas balls on tree
Teachers - Snowmen

Each person wrote a special message on their contribution about how they are going to show they care this holiday season.

The second display ~ SNOW Secret is a display to highlight all the attributes

Thanks for sharing this great idea Nicolle.

Algoma's Got Talent

ALGOMA'S GOT TALENT!

Algoma's Got Talent! And on November 14th, 2008 we showed the community just how much. Algoma District School Board chose to support the United Way in a most creative and entertaining way, by presenting Algoma's Got Talent - the Ultimate Talent Show. Algoma's Got Talent was a great chance to showcase the talent and commitment of our students and staff throughout the ADSB. Students from elementary and secondary schools throughout the district juggles, sang, acted and danced – all part of this amazing night of entertainment. The evening also included performances by Korah Collegiate's Mustang Sally and the cast of Sweeney Todd from White Pines Collegiate.

A Time To Reflect

A Remembrance Day Ceremony to Remember


The mood was somber as GrandView students respectfully entered the auditorium focusing on the ceremony about to begin. Students and staff sat facing one another in an octagonal formation, much like a United Nations gathering. Community neighbours joined in as part of the school community to listen intently to poignant presentations given by each class.



Those involved in this moving ceremony pondered the significance of the day while reflecting on the important messages shared; respect and appreciation for our veterans, insurmountable courage, loyalty, pride in citizenship of such an amazing country as Canada and above all hope for a future of peace and unity.


Please press pause on the music player below before viewing this video.

Most Respectful School Award

Most Respectful School Award

I don't know if you heard but our little Manitou Park School recently won the "Most Respectful School Award" at the Race Against Drugs competition, run annually by the RCMP and other police services.
To show you the effect of a great teacher, Erin Parker, this year's grade 5/6 Teacher is the same teacher who won with students from Echo Bay for the last two years.
And to prove what effect a great team can have on a group of students, this class has students with many varying needs.
Maria, an Educational Assistant normally working with students in this room was away that day. Roberta Berg, another EA, accompanied the class to the competition and the consistency continued.
Corporal Heyden, the RCMP officer in the picture, said we won "hands down", over 1600 other students. We also came in second or third for the "Big Race". Great, huh?

Kelly Cudmore

Principal Manitou Park

Honouring Cpl. Scott Roberts & Courageous Canadians

Beyond Borders
A couple of weeks ago our school had a "Character Day", where all students were placed on teams and rotated through various classes. Each classroom featured an activity that emphasized a specific character attribute. My focus was courage. Students made cards recognizing the courage of Canadian soldiers. I am sending these cards to my late nephew's platoon in Edmonton, Alberta. Our family came to know these soldiers when they were here in June for his funeral. I thought you would like to hear that our students' character reaches beyond our city and provincial borders!
Thanks!
~Cindy

Here is the letter sent by Cindy and her Grade 1/2 Class.

October 23, 2008
Dear Lieutenant Colonel Kenneally,

My nephew, Scott Roberts, who was a member of the 3 PPCLI, died tragically in June as the result of a drunk driver. Our family has been devastated by this loss. Thankfully we found great comfort by the opportunity we had to share our loss with Scott’s military family when so many of them visited Sault Ste. Marie for the funeral. Scott, like the soldiers we met, embodied great strength of character. I am proud to say that I am a teacher in a school that values, teaches and celebrates the importance of developing strong character in our students. Recently, my entire school took part in a “Character Day”. Students that visited my classroom focused on the attribute of courage. When Canadians think of courage, our thoughts immediately turn to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces. I shared with the children the story of Scott’s untimely death and how I was blessed with the opportunity of meeting so many courageous men and women that worked alongside Scott.
My school and family would be honoured if you would kindly share the enclosed cards of encouragement to the men and women of 3 PPCLI for the courage they display both here in Canada and abroad.
While students from Kindergarten to grade eight worked cooperatively on the cards, I am enclosing a picture of my class. The children and I applaud your character and want you to see who some of your biggest fans are!

Sincerely,

Cindy Zappacosta,
Grade 1/2 teacher

Chosen Soldier

Canadian troops in Afghanistan, with Cpl. Budd on the right.

VIKING FOCUS - Chosen Soldier Project at Michipicoten High School


Since 2006, students and staff at Michipicoten High School have supported Canadian Forces in Afghanistan by ‘sponsoring’ soldiers and sending them care packages. In the past two years, seven soldiers have been sponsored by our school and 21 boxes (approximately the size of beer cases) have been sent through the “Chosen Soldier” program. Staff and students were challenged to collect desired food and comfort items for the soldiers and Cindy Jozin, with the help of students, packaged up the items to be sent overseas.
The Chosen Soldier program was started by two sisters in Ontario. They collect the names of soldiers who are willing to receive care packages from people in Canada. (see http://www.trevlac.biz/Chosen_Soldier.htm). These soldiers sometimes do not have family that can send them care packages. Also, the soldiers agree to share the items that they receive, so not only do the individual soldiers who are sent the items benefit, but usually their whole squadron!
We have received many thank you letters, notes and emails from the soldiers. These have been posted in the school for all to read. Many of the soldiers are overwhelmed by the Canadian support that they receive, and especially from a small high school in Northern Ontario. All are grateful for the items that are sent to them because they are the little extras that make the days a little brighter for them, and remind them that Canadians back home have not forgotten about them.
Last spring, MHS sponsored two soldiers; Cpl. Gillian Peddie and Cpl. Gary Budd. Three boxes were sent to each of the soldiers, including many food items, but also floor hockey balls and a football that were well received and greatly appreciated! Mr. Hilderley’s Gr. 11 Chemistry class was the ‘winner’ of our collection challenge, bringing in the most items. John’s Valu-Mart was also a great contributor to this collection, donating many items for the cause.

Mr. Hilderley and his Chemistry class, our main Chosen Soldier donors.

We also received a donation of money from our Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 6290 in 2006 which has helped pay for small items and mailing costs. The parcels are first mailed to Belleville and then sent on to Afghanistan on Canadian Forces flights.
Cpl.’s Gillian Peddie and Gary Budd put together a big THANK YOU to MHS, sending us a wooden propeller which all of the soldiers in their squadron had signed. Their words of thanks and encouragement made the entire project very worthwhile. The inscribed propeller will be displayed at MHS in a place of honour.

The 'appreciation gift' for MHS, a TUAV propeller, inscribed by Cpl. Budd, Cpl. Peddie and members of their Squadron.

One of our students, who spent his whole paycheque in support of collecting items for the soldiers in 2006, Kris Biron, is currently training in the military and awaiting his turn to be sent to Afghanistan. Another graduate from MHS is now serving overseas and we hope to be able to add him as one of our ‘chosen soldiers’.
We will continue to send our moral and material support to our troops in Afghanistan, celebrating their perseverance and courage.

Cindy Jozin, MHS

VIKING FOCUS – CHOSEN SOLDIER ‘INSCRIPTIONS’

These are some of the inscriptions on the propeller presented to Michipicoten High School from Cpl. Gillian Peddie and Cpl. Gary Budd and members of their Squadron in appreciation of the ‘Chosen Soldier’ items received from our students.
Thanks for your support! Love the Canada Goose!
I love Wawa! Stopped there a few times!...Beautiful!
Thanks for all the great stuff! Cheers!
Thank you for your contributions!
Appreciate the thought.
Thanks for thinking of us!
Thanks for your support! Make sure you are doing your homework and finishing high school! Instruction is very important today.
Thank you for the fun stuff you sent! Definite morale booster!
Your thoughts mean a lot! Thank you! Take care of that Goose too!
Thank you for all that you do! Great support for the troops!
At the base of the propeller, "ROTO 5 – OP ATHENA TUAV" (TACTICAL UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE)

Mustang Sally Rides Again

Youth these days you say…check this out!

Mustang Sally is back…bigger and better with an important message to share. They performed their very first gig of the year to a “rockin” crowd at River View Elementary. Mustang Sally is a popular musical group of “rock star status” to many of the students who look up to these incredible teens. First formed in 2004 after Music Director and Teacher Greg Ryckman discovered untapped talent in the Korah Collegiate Secondary School’s Christmas Variety Talent Show that year, after a staggering 56 vocal and instrumental auditions were held Mustang Sally was born.





These teens are not chosen solely on musical talent. Their responsibilities reach far beyond any normal school band. Mustang Sally is a band with a mission to share Character Education and the members are expected to embody the true spirit of good character. Using music as a vehicle, these student musicians engage in helping people of all ages find common ground. Through music they inspire, teach and model the importance of good character.


Mustang Sally are ambassadors of character education for the Algoma District School Board, educating students on positive attributes of good character, and impressing our community with their mature ,positive attitudes. All of the hours spent are volunteer hours and add up to a staggering 1500 hours yearly. Mustang Sally members are expected to maintain academic success and consistently live a life of good Character. The band consists of 18 students ranging from Grade 9 to 12. This year is a year of “breaking the boundaries” when a new band member from Queen Elizabeth, grade 8 joined the mix. Mustang Sally has had the privilege of performing across the Country to share their Character message. Amazingly, Korah teachers Jennifer Barbeau and Mary Attard-Frost along with Greg Ryckman volunteer their time to guide these teens in developing leadership skills and teamwork while working collaboratively to share their important message.




It only takes a moment to see the kind of impact these students have on others when Mustang Sally is performing. Mustang Sally is spreading the news one gig at a time that we are a community of character and the Youth of our city are making a difference one gig at a time!




Ride Sally ride….





I'm only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something;
and what I can do, I will do.
-Edward Everett Hale

Sir James Dunn Shares

Sharing wonderful happenings around Algoma District is a great way to connect and share best practices. Sir James Dunn in Wawa has these special activities to tell you about.
In October, Mrs. Bernath’s SK class at Sir James Dunn Public School in Wawa loaded sixty-six canned goods onto a wagon and walked over to the Wawa Food Bank to donate them. The class had been collecting non-perishable food items as part of their Thanks and Giving units.

Staff and students enjoyed the singing and drumming talents of Buffalo Pine Lodge who performed four traditional native songs, explained the songs and answered numerous students’ questions. Gr. 7 student, Brandon A. joined the group to drum a song with them at the end of the assembly.

If your school would like to share a special event please contact Kerry Grbich ~ Character Education Special Assignment Teacher with the special news and a couple of pictures.

www.grbichk@adsb.on.ca

The Perfect Day

The Perfect Day

It was a perfect day for the Fall Cross Country run. The leaves at Hiawatha Park shimmered with glints of red, orange and gold in the autumn sunlight. Fall colours lined the path to the race and I could feel the excitement and energy fill the cool crisp air as I walked nearer to the participants. I waited in anticipation of the race as the enthusiastic energy of both participants and onlookers seemed to build in waves.

The pistol fired signalling the start of the race. Excitement grew as people cheered for their friends, school mates and family. I ran to the finish line to cheer the racers on. As I found my spot near the end of the trail I could hear two young boys cheering each racer to the finish... "you are almost there !"..."the finish line is just around the corner! " ..."you can do it!". I watched each racer's face change from an expression of exasperation to hope in the moment they heard the kind words of encouragement just for them. In the spirit of excitement I jogged to meet the finishers at the end of their race.

Looking ahead to the racers coming around the last bend I noticed a young and determined little boy in a yellow jersey with unsteady legs jogging around the corner taking intermittent breaks to keep his balance and footing. Behind him were three other racers wearing the same yellow jersey and two passengers riding bicycles. I immediately realized that this boy was finishing the race that had ended almost 30 minutes before as the bikes follow the last racer in. At the same time the first place winners of the current race were sprinting to the finish line.

There was a instant roar of encouragement and applause as the spectators cheered on this little boy who was racing with the others to the finish line with determination. He was not only finishing but was also finishing with other first place winners! The little boy in yellow picked up his pace and stumbled. His three friends gently helped him up and encouraged him to continue racing, he "was almost there" . With great strength and perseverance the little boy picked himself up to finish his race with a smile as bright as the sun that shouted "I did it" beside his friends who all shared the same smile.

What a day !

By Kerry Grbich