The grade twelve law class at St. Charles College is celebrating victory after winning the City Mock Trial Championships January 14, 2013 at the Sudbury Courthouse. There were fourteen teams from all four Sudbury school boards competing for the coveted Justice Patricia Hennessy Trophy. Cardinal Miranda Goudreau won the Best Defense Advocate Award for her work on the drug possession and trafficking trial. Goudreau says “I have learned to live and breath Law all semester and it was nice to see all our hard work has paid off. I have never taken part in anything that has compared to this experience and this amount of work.” Teacher Jaime Sauve says “the team set itself above the rest because the oral presentation was excellent and the group came up with loopholes in the case that other groups had not considered.” This is the second time in three years that Sauve’s class at St. Charles College has taken the top prize. There will be no rest for the weary. The team must continue to work towards competing at the Provincial Championships in Toronto this April.
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Justin Trudeau Surprises St. Charles College Staff Despite Winter Storm
About one hundred staff and students attended an impromptu intimate and interactive discussion with Justin Trudeau on December 21, 2012 at St. Charles College in Sudbury.
Justin Trudeau, was supposed to address the full student population of one thousand students but a snow storm and school bus cancellations hampered the event.
Just after eight o’clock a.m., Trudeau arrived to meet the staff and students. He also expressed that he wanted to come and meet school president David DiBrina who has done a lot of work in the area of youth leadership in the city.
Justin agreed to continue his talk on youth empowerment and leadership in the school’s amphitheatre. The discussion was inspiring according to Kristen Wilcox, a grade eleven student at the school. “He made me really think about changing the way I live and the things I do, so that I am working towards creating a better world for my generation and future generations.”
Students Learn about Canadian History through a Metis Perspective
St. Charles College Grade 10 Native Studies students participated in Louis Riel Day on November 16, 2012 at Tom Davies Square. The day began with Metis dignitaries welcoming and speaking on the significance of Louis Riel, the father of the Metis Nation. A smudging ceremony and the raising of the Metis flag in Tom Davies Square took place to the sound of Metis fiddling. Students also enjoyed listening to Metis senators share stories and made moccasin key chains to take home. It was an excellent day of learning and making new friends. When asked if they would like to come back next year, the students voted unanimously in favour of returning. Miigwetch, merci and thank you to the Sudbury Metis Council for welcoming St. Charles College students to this day of commemoration and celebration of the life of Louis Riel and the Metis people.
St. Charles College and Laurentian University Partner for Forensic Science Programming
St. Charles College is pleased to announce that it has added yet another partnership to its learning community to better support its students. The Department of Forensic Science of Laurentian University – which delivers the only accredited forensic science programs in Canada, has formed a partnership with the school, in order to allow for new and outstanding learning opportunities for the students of St. Charles College. Senior students in both the school’s Specialist High Skills Major in Health and Wellness, as well as the senior law classes will now be taking part in regular workshops and labs with the Forensics Department at the university. The forensic professors – including Dr. Fairgrieve, Dr. Watterson and Dr. Donohue, have agreed to gear their presentations to meet the curriculum needs for both areas of learning, and will directly tie into their areas of study. The forensic courses will introduce the students to blood spatter, arson investigation, autopsy, hair and fibre analysis, facial sculpting, forensic botany and entomology, criminal profiling and DNA analysis.
“This linkage to our programming – both our law and health and wellness classes – is exceptional as it is giving limitless opportunities for our students to pursue a variety of careers they may not have considered before.” says Principal Mardero. “This hands on learning will allow them to really receive a deeper understanding of these sciences.
St. Charles College is a proud partner of Laurentian, and this new agreement reinforces the strength of our relationship with the University.”
Classes have already begun working with the university starting the end of October, 2012.
Provincial Take a Kid to Work Day
Grade nine students in the province of Ontario participated in Take a Kid to Work day on November 7, 2012. At St. Charles College, over one hundred students were on site at job locations around the city. A number of students took on positions in healthcare, education as well as the retail and industrial sectors.
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for grade nine students to learn about a career opportunity that interests them and illustrates the importance of education, skills development and training.
The day is organized by “The Learning Partnership”, a non-for-profit organization.
I know I am a small person, but why do you need to make me feel smaller?
A special pre-screening of a bullying documentary took place today at St. Charles College on November 21, 2012 for one thousand students.
The movie Bully was featured at Cinefest in September. It is not being released in American theatres until May 30th, 2013.
Teachers involved in student council and the school leadership class contacted the film company about showcasing the film to the student body before its release to the public and they agreed.
The director of the film, Lee Hirsch was bullied as a child and follows the stories of two families dealing with the deaths of their children who were victims of bullying and took their own lives.
Students at St. Charles College also heard a first hand account from a senior student who was a victim of ethnic bullying in the past.
Justin Trac bravely shared his story of bullying and urged others to stand-up for what is right and just to make other people’s high school experiences that much better.
He said the powerful question that he used when he finally stood up this bully: “I know I am a small person, but why do you need to make me feel smaller?”
Each student in the audience also received a wristband with the slogan “delete” the drama.
If I can do it, why cant you?
Close to one thousand students were touched by the life story of Shayne Smith at St. Charles College this week.
Smith is a member of the Canadian National Wheelchair Basketball team. He competes with only half a hand for dribbling and passing the ball.
Shayne contracted a dangerous and deadly form of meningitis at four months of age. The blood poisoning forced doctors to amputate both his legs and a hand.
To make matters worse, Shayne also had to deal with a rough relationship with his father that led him down a path of drugs, and school suspensions.
His determination has allowed him to triumph and he brought his inspiring message to the students. The story tied in nicely with the school’s anti-bullying message. This month, St. Charles students are active in presentations and activities centred around Bullying Awareness and Prevention month.
Students were very receptive of the presentation and many wanted to take pictures or to exchange words personally with Shayne afterwards.
Students continued the conversation by tweeting and sending Facebook messages to Shayne.
Shayne lives in Toronto but his presentation was provided by an organization called the Tutor Doctor.
Stepping Into Grade 9 Night -St. Charles College – Nov. 7
St. Charles College will be hosting their Stepping into Grade 9.
This is an information session for parents and students focussed on the transition from elementary to secondary school.
Topics will include:
Course selection and pathways, graduation requirements and electives, academic services, resource and student success, athletics, extra-curricular and community.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
St. Charles College
1940 Hawthorne Drive
705-566-9605
www.scc.scdsb.edu.on.ca
S.C.C. Students Show Support for Student a World Away
Students in St. Charles College teacher Rick Emond’s Grade 12 French Immersion Canadian and World Politics class got very frustrated when the class’ discussion focused on Malāla Yūsafzay, the young Pakistani student who was recently shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school bus. Malālah is known for her education and women’s rights activism in the Swat Valley and most especially her outspoken views on promoting education for girls. When they began discussing this outrageous act of violence againstt a girl who was simply standing up for what she believed in for herself and others experiencing similar discrimination, the class felt compelled to do something. Cassandra Schlosser, a student in the class described her frustration. “What good would it do to just sit around in class and complain? We all felt that we needed to do more than just talk about it.” The rest of her classmates agreed. After discussing several ideas, the class landed on a letter. The decided to write a letter to the Pakistani High Commissioner expressing their concern and voicing their beliefs.
An excerpt from the letter reads:
“As proud Canadians, we understand the importance of a good education and we value equal rights. We decided to reach out to you because we want to express our concern for the young girl who took a stand for what she believed in.
Malala Yousafzai was simply defending her rights and the rights of females everywhere to an education. We admire her bravery and commitment, and commend her actions. Without education, we would not be able to move forward as a civilization. Equal access to that education should be easily accessible to anyone who desires it. Furthermore, one should not feel threatened or harmed, be it physically or emotionally while attending school.
We commend the Pakistani government for their efforts so far in dealing with the matter, and encourage them to continue their search in bringing those responsible to justice. We believe the message should be sent to those who try to curtail human rights, that their deed will not go unpunished and will not be tolerated by governments that value their children.”
The students then urge the High Commisioner to share this letter with all those who may be encouraged by it, most especially Malāla. It is their hope that this letter will reach her so that she knows she is not alone. The last line in their letter reads “Please pass on our message to Malala, her family and friends and relay that our thoughts and well wishes are with them during this difficult time. She is not alone in this battle.”
Knowing that the situation in their own community is very different, the students feel blessed to live in a country that believes in human rights and equality for all. “As a class, I am proud that my students have decided to use their voice,” teacher Rick Emond stated. “They have realized that they too can make a difference in their own way as well, and this letter voices their beliefs and shows support from across the globe for a girl who is very courageous and brave. They want her to know that they believe in her and are proud of her strength.” Emond hopes that they receive a response from the High Commissioner, and ultimately that their letter reaches Malāla.
Cardinals Share Their ‘Goodness’ with the Sudbury Food Bank
The line ‘Teach me goodness’ is an integral part of the St. Charles College motto. This week, the students at the school learned about goodness and shared the fruits of their labour.
The secondary school students, coupled with children in the feeder schools canvassed together for the largest school food drive in the city. The goal was to raise 60 000 cans for the Sudbury Food Bank and the Cardinals surpassed that goal with a new all-time total of 125 080 cans. This is the single biggest contribution in history to the Sudbury Food Bank.
The secondary school has hosted a food drive for twenty-seven years. It is supported by students at St. Bernadette, St. Raphael, Pius XII, St. Andrew, St. David and St Paul and St. John.