We’re nearly two months into the school year and things are looking a little different in our Catholic schools. According to a release from the Renfrew County District Catholic School board, teachers spent time in class teaching the importance of social distancing, wearing masks and washing their hands. Students and staff at St. Francis of Assisi in Petawawa recognized the challenges as well as struggles with an artistic visual, a large rainbow in their front foyer made entirely of multicoloured raindrops. You can find more details on what Upper Ottawa Valley Catholic schools have been up to in the full release posted below.
Renfrew County District Catholic School Board’s complete Good News Release below;
RCCDSB students and staff transition smoothly back to school – Chalk River, Deep River and Petawawa Focus
Back to school is going very well for staff and students at RCCDSB’s Chalk River, Deep River and Petawawa schools during a unique fall.
In preparation for the new school year, students at Our Lady of Sorrows (OLS) Catholic School in Petawawa were taught the importance of and walked through mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. The cohorting of students during recess has led to some wonderful and creative games taking place within the class zones, shares Principal Tony Jacyno.
Changes have taken place in learning as well, notes Principal Jacyno. “Our staff have been striving to learn and create learning opportunities through SeeSaw and Google Classroom. Students are benefitting from learning about online and blended learning platforms to enrich face-to-face lessons, as well as continuing to prepare for a world where Google Meets, collaborative online assignments, and connection through the internet are becoming more commonplace.”
“We continue to work hard to maintain an academic focus while providing key social supports with face-to-face learning,” states Principal Jacyno while also sending out a huge thank you to the parent community for continuing to support Our Lady of Sorrows on this new journey.
Students and staff have endeavoured to animate the RCCDSB mission statement through the Board-wide theme to love unconditionally and celebrated the Feast Day of its Patroness with a school-wide Google Meet para-liturgy.
“We are a Catholic school community that continues to work together for the benefit of our children. The safety of our students and school community is our top priority. Our success to date can also be attributed to the hard work, commitment and dedication of our amazing staff. We look forward to new opportunities and feel blessed to be able to see our students’ smiles on a daily basis!”
Students and staff at St. Francis of Assisi (SFA) Catholic School in Petawawa continue exploring and celebrating the joys of success that come from various challenges and struggles they work through this fall.
“We are grateful for several teachers who led the school in creating raindrops to form our beautiful rainbow in the front foyer. This beautiful representation reminds us of the importance of working with Christ and one another when we are faced with challenges,” says Scott Nichol, Principal.
Students and staff celebrated Terry Fox Day on October 8 with a virtual presentation that reviewed why Terry Fox is a national treasure and how to continue his legacy. Classes chose different times throughout the day to participate in a walk around the school area, and a number of families generously donated to the Terry Fox Foundation.
Staff brought in a number of non-perishable items to support families in the community, and families generously brought food items to the Petawawa Food Bank during the Thanksgiving season.
When students and staff arrived at school on Monday October 19, they were surprised to see that School Council had prepared a beautiful and creative pumpkin greeting inspired by the recent Petawawa Pumpkin Ramble.
“We are grateful for having such a positive and dynamic School Council,” says Principal Nichol.
St. Francis of Assisi continues with weekly virtual prayer services. “We welcomed and celebrated the recent birth of our staff member’s child under the theme of Hope. We are reminded that our children are the hope for the future. We also used this prayer service to remind all of us that we are the hope for one another as children of God.”
SFA continues to answer the call to provide unconditional love for one another and ensure the school is equitable and inclusive for all. “Our school is developing an Equity and Inclusion team which will be grounded in the Bible and our Board’s Mission Statement to help all of us see the face of Jesus in one another,” shares Nichol.
Although COVID restrictions have also created many changes at St. Anthony’s Catholic School in Chalk River, team spirit remains the same or even better, reports Katie Edwards-Ethier, Acting Principal. “Our theme this year has been to re-set, re-adjust, re-start, re-focus as many times as needed.”
The school has already had many Spirit Dress Days including a New Team Colours, Fall Colours, Kahoot Colours, and Twin Day and coming up will have its Annual Orange and Black day. Staff and students also look forward to November for Tie Dye Day and Don’t Put Your Camo Away Yet Day. The traditional meeting at the crossroads to start the day has been relocated outside, notes Principal Edwards-Ethier. “With the new location we are still able to gather three days a week as a community for a Prayer Service (social distancing in place) including singing our praises to God.”
St. Anthony’s held its first school-wide Kahoot virtual trivia game this fall and can’t wait until the next one—hunting themed.
Staff and students are working hard to come together as a community with a focus on Social Emotional Learning as well as reading, writing and mathematics.
Monthly ‘Acts of Board’ have been centred around the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, explains Edwards-Ethier. “So far, we have discussed joy and kindness and in November we will turn our focus to peace.”
St. Anthony’s continues with a healthy snack program at a grab-and-go station this fall.
“There are many things we are thankful for this year!” states Principal Edwards-Ethier.
At St. Mary’s Catholic School in Deep River, staff and students have been taking advantage of learning outdoors this fall.
“Many classes have been exploring the trails on bicycles, while other classes are learning about science in the nearby woods. We are so fortunate to have access to outdoor natural space right at our doorstep,” notes Principal Ryan Kranz.
School-wide Bingo is always a fun way to show sch
ool spirit and help students with their numeracy skills.
Students also took part in an outdoor Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt. Working in individual cohorts, students searched the school yard using clues, technology, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to find the hidden treasures.
A Thanksgiving Food Drive blitz was an overwhelming success. More than one thousand non-perishable food items were collected and then distributed to the Deep River and Area food bank.
Principal Kranz praises staff and students for their transition back to school this fall. “Students and staff should be commended as they have adjusted nicely back to the face-to-face learning environment while following the new safety protocols.”