Your Best Year Yet

Welcome back to a brand new school year. I love this time of year! Fall is absolutely my favourite season because of its beauty and the cool, crisp rejuvenating air. There is something enchanting about Autumn. It is often a refreshing change.

This time of year is also a favourite for me because it is "back to school" time. For many teachers including myself, Fall brings with it a sense of renewal and the anticipation of a brand new start. "Back to school " is often a time to get back to routines, to set new goals and have high expectations for a successful year.

Students come to school the first day often dressed in their best clothes, with new school supplies and renewed hope for their best school year yet. Together students and teachers alike are happy to be with their friends and colleagues and look forward to the coming year. Best wishes for a successful start to your new school year and achieving your "best year yet".

Students Make A Difference In Honduras!

Brian and Heather Whitley, teachers with Algoma District School Board share their experience as part of a small group that travelled to Honduras and made a big difference. Their caring gifts of time and necessities continue to make a difference to families in need.

Hi ,
Just thought that I would touch base and let you know that we brought our 13 area teens home safely from Honduras. They will present at St. Joe Island, Echo Bay and CASS which are the three schools that took a direct role in partially sponsoring their project. The trip was a real eye opener for our kids as they visited many schools where poverty is rampant. They were able to "perform with their puppets" in every school and we were able to distribute supplies in many public schools as well as in an orphanage.

Echo Bay School, St. Joe Island School and CASS were able to raise enough funds to be able to support two mothers in Honduras who live on the former garbage dump, in setting up their own micro-businesses. Deana Phillips from the CASS social justice committee was able to go to interview one mom who is already a beneficiary of the program and when the mom was asked what difference the program made to her life her response was simple but immediate...."I can feed my children.".... It was a thrill to watch the CASS teens process what they saw and embrace the idea that things are certainly not what make you happy. I think too that they were able to see the importance of education in helping to break the cycle of poverty and they renewed their appreciation of the importance of responsible parenting.

Many lessons were learned . They are all ADSB students (actually one is a CASS grad now studying at Algoma) who are active in their schools and communities and exemplify "promoting character with pride" and making a difference in their world.

Brian and Heather Whitley

French Orals

Congratulations!

ADSB students will compete in French Orals in Toronto next month
Students from the Algoma District School Board had the opportunity to test their French speaking skills in the annual oratorical contest as part of the French as a Second Language program.

Students from the Core and Immersion programs participated in categories according to their grade level and the number of hours they have spent studying French as a Second Language.

What a great opportunity for young Canadians to learn and use the French Language. Preparing for and participating in « le concours » encourages students to develop and enhance skills such as : reading, writing, research, organization, listening and oral expression. Students and teachers worked very hard to make this event very special and a celebration of success.

Students demonstrated courage, responsibility and perseverance.

First place winners at the Board Level will now participate in the 25th annual Ontario Concours/Festival d'art oratoire 2009, sponsored by Canadian Parents for French and the Ontario Modern Language Teacher's Association. That event will be held on Saturday May 9th, 2009 at Glendon College of York University in Toronto.

This is the largest French public speaking event in Ontario for students in grades 4 to 12 taking French as a second language. Last year, more than 300 students from 31 different school boards participated at the provincial level. At the classroom level, estimates show that over 22 000 students across Ontario took part in FSL public speaking.
Here are this year's winners: (Only 1st place winners can proceed to the CPF/OMLTA Concours/festival d'art oratoire in Toronto)
Grades 4-6 Core French:
1st - Molly Swift, Grade 5 - H.M. Robbins Public School
2nd - Tammy Hill, Grade 5 - H.M. Robbins Public School
Grades 4-6 French Immersion:
1st - Kristopher Langevin, Grade 6 - Rosedale Public School
2nd - Maggie VanLith, Grade 6 - Rosedale Public School
3rd - Emily Gratton, Grade 5 - Rosedale Public School
Grades 7-8 Core French:
1st - Megan Burch, Grade 7 - HM Robbins Public School
2nd - Melissa Dane, Grade 8 - Hornepayne Public School
3rd - Kailyn Morrar, Grade 7 - HM Robbins Public School
Grades 7-8 French Immersion:
1st - Krista Reece, Grade 7 - Rosedale Public School
2nd - Kinsey Smith, Grade 8 - Rosedale Public School
3rd - Avery Cole, Grade 7 - Rosedale Public School
Grades 9-10 French Immersion:
1st - Rachel Graham, Grade 9 - Korah C. & V.S. (IB Program)
2nd - Colin Grim, Grade 9 - Sir James Dunn C. & V.S.
Grades 11-12 FSL Plus: ( Francophone students in FSL programs/or who have the equivalent language experience )
1st - Melissa Cutler, Grade 11 - Sir James Dunn C. & V.S.
2nd - Danielle Roy, Grade 11, Sir James Dunn C. & V.S.

ADSB students (1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners) will also participate in the French Oral Competition hosted by the Francophone Centre of Sault Ste Marie on May 1 st , at the Algoma University.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in the success of this event again this year. Thank you to parents and teachers :for their dedication and extra help with the students. Thank you also to our judges: Joanne Atkinson, Maurice Dugas and Donald Nadeau; to our timekeeper: Leslie McCauley and Rosedale PS for being our host school this year. Thank you also to all those involved in the French Oral Competition and that I may have miss.

Best regards,
Nancy Rancourt