Over the past year, Immaculate Conception teacher Tania Lacroix has given her students the amazing opportunity to be penpals with a true Canadian Olympian. The grade 1/2 class has been following the training and athletic performances of Kristina Groves, a Canadian long track speedskater who won both a silver and bronze medal at the 2010 Olympic Games. Approximately eight years ago, Lacroix had a friend that worked at the Calgary Training Centre and she asked if there were any athletes who would be willing to be penpals with her class. Groves volunteered and has been communicating with her classes ever since. Groves has connected with this year’s class since September through letters, and the hope was that she would be able to visit the class. During the Winter Olympics, Groves even held up a sign that had the name of the school on it for all of Canada to see. Due to scheduling conflicts, Groves was unable to come to Sudbury to visit the students but they came up with the next best thing. On Friday, June 10, the entire school gathered in the gym to take part in a a Skype call with Kristina in Calgary. The students were able to see and hear Kristina describe her races as a digital projector projected the video on the wall of the gym. Groves answered questions asked by the students in all of the different grades and even showed the group both her bronze and silver medals. It was evident that Groves was having as much fun with the call as the students in the gym as she commented on the great questions the kids were asking and smiled and laughed as the entire group clapped and screamed for her. Lacroix was happy that Groves was able to communicate one on one with the school and was pleased that they were able to finally connect live.
Another SMART Opportunity at Immaculate
Some of our French Immersion students had the opportunity to learn some new things about our SMART Boards. On March 30th, Mr. Reg Fitchett, Shelby’s uncle (Gr. 5/6F) was in to do a one hour presentation. Mr. Fitchett showed the students many new features that now can be implemented into SMART Board lessons. Mme Larrivière (Gr. 3/4F) and Mme Rancourt (Gr. 5/6F) are looking forward to trying new things with their SMART Boards to increase student learning and achievement. The students expressed much excitement during the hands-on presentation. What another wonderful way to include our community partners at Immaculate, Home of the COUGARS!
Immaculate Conception Students and Staff Full of Olympic Spirit
The students and staff of Immaculate Conception showed up to school on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 dressed from head to toe in red and white and Olympic gear. The entire group was excited to show their Olympic spirit as they gathered together for a picture showcasing the school’s enthusiasm and love of the Olympics. The grade 1 / 2 class also took it one step further as they held their own “mini Olympics” including bobsledding, speedskating biathlon and curling. The class created their own bobsleds in groups with the help of some of the grade 6 students. Tania Lacroix, the grade
1 / 2 teacher explained her students’ involvement with the Olympics. “Our class has been penpals with Christina Groves, one of Canada’s speedskaters at the Oympics.” said Lacroix. “ She has been writing back and forth with the class and even has one of the school’s banners with her at the Olympics and showed it on T.V. last Thursday. This experience has definitely had a positive impact on my students.”
Lacroix’s class is also responsible every day for reporting on the Olympic results and upcoming events on the school’s morning announcements. As well, there is a big bulletin board outside the class that keeps track of all of the medals that have been won by Canada. “It really is a big deal for all of the students.” states Lacroix. “They are having a lot of fun with it and are really showing their tremendous Olympic spirit!”
Celebrating 100 Days of School at Immaculate Conception
What does 100 look like?
February 8th marked the 100th day of school and staff and students at Immaculate Conception had fun celebrating this day.
“Chewing Gum” for Haiti at Immaculate Conception
In an effort to raise money for our friends in Haiti, many schools from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board have been doing some fundraising. On Wednesday, January 27th, Mrs. Rychlo, a teacher from Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School coordinated a “Chewing for Charity” fundraiser at which students had the opportunity to purchase a bubblegum from an old fashioned bubble gum machine. A minimum of 25 cents per bubble gum was the cost requested. Children were encouraged to contribute any loose change towards the fundraising effort as every little act of kindness goes a long way to ensure that our brothers and sisters in Haiti can get through the devastation of the earthquake. The students managed to raise $400 to donate and enjoyed chewing the gum in the process!
Immaculate Conception Catholic School Wins SCDSB Fitness Challenge
Immaculate Conception School has won the Sudbury Catholic District School Board Fitness Challenge. The goal of the program is to lower the resting and exercise heart rates of the Board’s students over the course of the school year. Staff and students in the Junior Division participated in this program under the supervision of Mrs. Karole Lariviere (Fitness Challenge School Co-Ordinator)
The heart rates were measured three times during the 2004 – 2005 school year. Students from Immaculate Conception School received a plaque from Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Chairperson, Mrs. Paula Peroni during a recent board meeting. Thank you to Mr. John Tarini, Principal of Corpus Christi School, for co-ordinating this Board wide Fitness Challenge.