Students at BACCSS wore pink today to raise awareness againstt Bullying, Discrimination, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Transmisogyny across the world. GAB members set up an information booth at lunch to encourage students to enter their poster/video contest aimed at educating students about the different ways we can prevent bullying as a school. The contest runs until the end of April.
Category: Faith
Satisfying the BACCSS Sweet Tooth to Support Refugees
Bishop Alexander Carter CSS Grade 10 students held a food bank and awareness campaign recently to support the Syrian refugees staying in our community. Students took the opportunity to inform students about the harsh conditions faced by refugees staying in Syria. The campaign to support the refugee family started in December with the sale of water bottles. It continued with this bake sale which raised close to $300. Fundraising efforts will continue throughout the school year.
Celebrating Partnerships at BACCSS Breakfast
Thank you to Greater Sudbury Police Services who helped serve a delicious breakfast at Bishop Carter’s breakfast club. Students were treated to a hot breakfast with all the trimmings. Constable Duguay and Constable Hasanefendic served eggs, hashbrowns and a variety of other items to Bishop student Kiana James. Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2016 from the staff and students at Bishop Carter CSS.
Bishop Gives Back to the Community
Bishop Alexander Carter CSS held its annual Memorial Walk on September 30th. Partial proceeds from the walk is given back to the community. Once again this year, a cheque was presented to Chrissy and Scott from KICX radio to support their KICX for Kids Campaign. Presenting the cheque are two students, Kianna (Grade 12) and Jacob (Grade 9) and Cassandra MacGregor (Principal).
A Walk to Remember at Bishop ACCSS
On Wednesday, September 30th, Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary students participated in the third annual Memorial Walk in memory of Mackenzie Rooney and Denis Dechaine. Mackenzie was a Grade 11 student at Bishop whose life was cut short in a atv accident. Denis was a teacher at Bishop who lost his courageous fight with cancer. Students kicked off the day with a prayer service and zumba, led by Bishop’s mascot, The Golden Gator and KICX 91.7 Radio’s mascot, Moola.
After the 10km walk, students found themselves back at school enjoying a barbecue put on by the teachers, karaoke, and of course the famous teacher vs. girls flag football game! For the first time in Bishop history, the girl’s flag football team tied the teachers.
Mackenzie and Denis’ family and friends joined the students and teachers on the walk. “This day always touches my heart. I understand why Denis loved teaching at the school and why he considered it his extended family” said Anne Dechaine, Denis’ wife. Money raised from the walk supports KICX for Kids and Mackenzie and Denis’ Memorial Fund.
Larocque and Taylor-Horeck – 2015 Chairperson’s Award Winners
Every year, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board of Trustees selects a recipient for the Board’s prestigious Chairperson’s Award – someone who embraces Catholic values, demonstrates initiative and ingenuity, and contributes positively to the lives of students and staff. On May 28, at the Board’s Retirement Dinner and Celebration for 25 year employees, two Sudbury Catholic employees were presented with this year’s Chairperson’s Award -Jean-Gilles Larocque, a teacher at Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School, and Kim Taylor-Horeck, the Board’s Attendance Counsellor.
Jean-Gilles has been with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board for over 12 years, and has been a teacher at Bishop ACCSS beginning September, 2003. He was nominated by staff for being a leader within the school, and for his dedication and ambition in setting the school apart. Larocque is also an outstanding coach and mentor, and encourages students to become involved in sports and extra curricular activities in the school. According to the school’s principal, Cassandra MacGregor, “Jean-Gilles fosters the search for meaning as a lifelong spiritual and academic quest in our students – he consistently encourages students to think, reflect and fully evaluate situations when solving problems. He models being a lifelong learner and encourages students to set and reach their personal goals and beyond.”
Taylor-Horeck, began with the Sudbury Catholic Board as an educational assistant in 1986 and then took on the role of Attendance Counsellor in 1993. Marymount Academy principal, Lucie Lapalm-Cullen nominated Taylor-Horeck as “Kim always has a very positive and compassionate way of dealing with our most sensitive students. She never gives up on them and is very patient, positive and professional. She will drop everything she is doing to help a student get their life back on track…” According to staff, Taylor-Horeck is quick to help line up students with the services and supports they need and does not “close” their file when she is done. Kim stays in touch with the students, checks in on them and continues to advocate for them.
Jody Cameron, Chair of the Board of Trustees presented both Larocque and Taylor Horeck with their awards. “ Jean-Gilles and Kim are very deserving recipients of this year’s Chairperson’s Award,” Cameron stated. “These two employees truly exemplify staff who embraces Catholic values, demonstrate initiative and ingenuity, and contribute positively to the lives of students and staff. We thank them both for their outstanding contributions to the Sudbury Catholic Community, and congratulate them for receiving this year’s award.”
Bishop ACCSS Students and Staff Break Break Together
Once again this year, the boys from grade 9 participated in Bishop Alexander Carter’s Wolf Project. The Wolf Project is designed to help the boys transition into positive and productive young men. The boys participated in various activities throughout the school year, and each activity focused on one of the seven Aboriginal teachings of Respect, Courage, Humility, Honesty, Wisdom, Truth and Love. The boys in the program had the opportunity to practice Humility and Truth by preparing lunch, and then serving it to someone else. That someone else was mystery staff member. As our Saviour taught us to be humble and to serve others, so did the boys as they spent the entire morning in the kitchen preparing a delicious lunch for their mystery staff member. While they put together a succulent menu of vegetable soup, salad, sausage or chicken salad sandwiches, as well as chocolate chip cookies, the boys also learned some basic kitchen skills. Then they sat down and broke bread with their mystery staff member. Many of the boys came back pleasantly surprised to have learned that teachers have lives, interests and hobbies outside of school. Staff commented on the great food, but most of on how pleasant and polite the boys were while serving them lunch and during their lunch chat. This activity was beneficial for all as it allowed both the students and the staff to see each other in a different light.
Indigenous Celebration Held
The Diocesan Centre is planning an inclusive day of celebration based on indigenous culture, and would love a big turn out at this event. All students, staff, families and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend! It looks to be a great day planned!
INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Fielding Park
5:30 am. Sunrise Ceremony ~
8:00 am. Pancake Breakfast ~
9:00 am. Teaching Carousel – Stations will be set up to be rotated through – 6 stations with 20 minute presentations at each~
a) Children drumming station~
b) Craft – decade of the rosary with four/six colour beads + leather OR~leather bookmark
c) 7 Grandfather teachings
d) Legends – Elders telling the stories~
e) Medicines and Wheel
f) Sacred Elements (fire keeper, tobacco, stones, feather, pipe, drums, smudge, animals) ~
11:00 am. Healing Circle – prayers, scripture (trilingual), blessing~
1:30 pm. Feast – “pot luck”
3:00 pm Travelling Song/Blessing~
For more information and access to resources, please consult:
http://arise-ssm.weebly.com
Giving ‘BAC’ to the Community
The staff and students held their annual Memorial Walk in September. Part of the mandate is to give ‘BAC’ to the community. This year the school chose to donate parts of the proceeds from the walk to KICX for Kids charity.
Staff En Pointe for BACCSSs Rooney and Dechaine Memorial Walk
As a result of Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School’s successful Memorial Walk fundraiser in memory of former student Mackenzie Rooney (a student who died tragically in an ATV accident) and Dennis Dechaine, (a former teacher who lost his battle with cancer), both the principal and vice principal of the school had to honour their part of the challenge. Cassandra MacGregor and James Michaud, the school’s admin team showed up in their best ballerina wear as a result of the students fundraising exceeding their goal of $8000. To date, the school has raised over $9000 so far to go towards several different scholarship funds in both Rooney’s and Dechaine’s names, as well as to support several activities within the school that both Mackenzie’s parents and Dennis’s wife are involved with. To raise the money, the students canvassed the valley area over the past few weeks and the day of the walk involved a live broadcast from KICX radio, a prayer service, a Zumba warm up for the whole school, and an 8 km walk to celebrate the togetherness of the entire Bishop Carter school community. Joining them on the walk were members of both Mackenzie’s and Dennis’s families, as well as members of the Greater Sudbury Police Services. Principal Cassandra MacGregor was thrilled with the efforts of her students and staff. “We are a small school community with an enormous heart,” explained MacGregor. “We set our expectations really high when it comes to our students and staff, and they continually exceed these expectations! We are extremely proud of our students for surpassing our fundraising goal and it is wonderful that we can honour Mackenzie and Dennis, and their families with our outstanding efforts!”