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