IT STARTS in the Schools June 2011 UPCOMING EVENTS June 1 – 3 Toronto Catholic District School Track and Field, Elementary Regional Meets Board 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., various locations June 2 Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School St. Maurice Catholic School Spring Fling 2 St. Andrew Blvd., Etobicoke 7:00 p.m., Don Bosco auditorium 416-393-5525 June 2 St. Luigi Catholic School Spring Fun Fair 2 Ruskin Ave., Toronto 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 416-393-5370 June 4 Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic 25th Anniversary Secondary School 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., various events and activities 40 Sewells Rd., Scarborough 416-393-5538 June 4 Josyf Cardinal Slipyj Catholic School Spring Fun Fair 35 West Deane Park Dr., Etobicoke 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 416-393-5413 June 4 St. John Catholic School Spring Fling Fundraiser at Balmy Beach Club 780 Kingston Rd., Toronto cocktail & dance, $35 416-393-5220 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. June 6 Hangar at Downsview Park Health Action Teams Celebration 75 Carl Hall Road 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. June 7 Holiday Inn, Toronto Yorkdale TCPVA Annual Awards and Appreciation Dinner 3450 Dufferin St., Toronto 6:00 p.m. June 7 St. Anthony Catholic School Year-end BBQ 130 Shanly St., Toronto 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 416-393-5210 June 8 Transfiguration of Our Lord Catholic Community Barbeque School 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 55 Ludstone Dr., Etobicoke 416-393-5276 June 8 Varsity Stadium Track and Field City Championship University of Toronto 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 416-222-8282 Ext. 81739 June 9 Grand Baccus Banquet Hall TDCAA Coaches Appreciation Celebration 2155 McNicoll Ave., Toronto 6:30 p.m., $30 416-397-6536 June 9 Prince of Peace Catholic School Choir and Band Music Recital 255 Alton Towers Circle, Scarborough 7:00 p.m., atrium 416-393-5416 June 9 St. Anthony Catholic School Ballroom Dancing Showcase Event 130 Shanly St., Toronto 7:00 p.m. 416-393-5210 June 10 – 17 Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts TCDSB Staff Arts present The Drowsy Chaperone 36 Greenfield Ave., North York 7:30 p.m., $20 416-393-5556 June 10 St. Maurice Catholic School Snack Program Fun Fair 45 Kingsview Blvd., Etobicoke fundraiser event in support of Snack Program 416-393-5379 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., school gym and yard June 15 St. Francis Xavier Catholic School St. Francis Xavier Community Barbeque 53 Gracefield Ave., North York 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 416-393-5271 June 15 St. Anthony Catholic School Ballroom Dancing Finals 130 Shanly St., Toronto 416-393-5210 June 15, 16 St. Agnes Catholic School Theatre Production of A Venue of Virtues 280 Otonabee Ave., North York 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., auditorium 416-393-5345 June 16 St. Clement Catholic School Community BBQ 4319 Bloor St. W., Etobicoke 5:30 p.m., school yard 416-393-5307 June 20 St. Francis de Sales Catholic School Talent Show 333 Firgrove Cres., North York School gym 416-393-5366 June 21 St. Francis de Sales Catholic School CSAC Family BBQ 333 Firgrove Cres., North York 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., school gym 416-393-5366 June 24 Transfiguration of Our Lord Catholic School Spirit Day School Beach theme dress up day in support of Me to We 55 Ludstone Dr., Etobicoke 416-393-5276 RECENT HIGHLIGHTS First Annual Take Your Kids Outside Day The Toronto Catholic District School Board challenged all students and school Boards to participate in the first annual “Take Your Kids Outside Day” on May 6th. Students and staff were challenged to go outside for at least 30 minutes. Over 600 Toronto Catholic students from Ontario Certified EcoSchools took part in the event at Downsview Park where the entire day was set aside to celebrate their active, meaningful, and ongoing connection with nature. HOZA! at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School Students at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School continued their journey as “Canadian ambassadors” at HOZA! Day on April 20th. HOZA! Day wrapped up the first year of the three-year project called “Getting to Know You”, which gives students a chance to experience South African culture first-hand. Through this international, literacy-based program, students establish friendships with their counterparts in South Africa. Earlier this year, students began blogging a group of Grade Four peers from Ikhusi Elementary School of South Africa‟s Western Cape Department of Education. The project engages grade four students from the school through multi-media literacy experiences while they learn about another culture and people on the other side of the planet. Throughout the day, Grade four students learned about drumming, dance such as the isiDiski (soccer dance) and the Gumboot Dance, food and beading. They also created a short video for their friendship school in South Africa. St. Patrick Student Captures First Prize in “Now Hear This” poetry contest Students studying English at St. Patrick Catholic Secondary School were given the unique opportunity of working with a professional writer in conjunction with their core curriculum. The program, NOW HEAR THIS, sponsored by the Toronto Catholic District School Board enabled the classroom teacher, Mrs. Werden, to collaborate with a professional writer, Mr. L. Frolick, to produce writing which would be considered for publication. Including St. Pat‟s, thirteen TCDSB secondary schools participated in this educational, productive, and very creative activity: Bishop Allen, Dante Alighieri, James Cardinal McGuigan, Jean Vanier, Loretto College, Madonna, Michael Power/St. Joseph, Neil McNeil, Notre Dame, St. Basil-the-Great, St. Joseph‟s College, and St. Mary‟s At the end of the eight weeks, NOW HEAR THIS, received 1,150 entries from which 65 were chosen to be published in the anthology, The Capybara. At the official presentation held at the Gardiner Museum, not only were 7 of the 65 published pieces written by St. Pat's students, but the overall first prize winner, Jordan Pereira, is also a grade 12 student at St. Pats. Theatre Brebeuf's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat A cast of very talented students from Brebeuf College, St. Joseph's Morrow Park, Cardinal Carter and Loretto Abbey, performed Andrew Lloyd's Weber's hit musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at Brebeuf College from May 12th to 15th, directed by Mr. Anthony Cavaiola. Dress rehearsal matinees on May 11th and 12th were also enjoyed by visiting elementary and secondary students. Starring roles were played by Jason Coelho (Joseph) and Mae Janelle Berte (Narrator). The ensemble cast of singers and dancers were excellent, as they impressed sold-out audiences with this lively and colourful musical. The Brebeuf Stage Band, which accompanied them so well, was conducted by Mr. Daniel Found. Many other Brebeuf teachers, notably the show's producer, Ms. Kristan Prescod, worked behind the scenes to help make the play such a success. Walk-a-Thon for Autism The St. Francis de Sales School Team, made up of staff and students, is the very first Toronto Catholic District School Board school to host a walk in support of Autism Speaks Canada. The Walk-a-thon was held on Thursday, May 5th raised a total of $1266.20 for Autism Speaks Canada. The money raised will help fund research and help connect families with the resources and services they so desperately need. The St. Francis de Sales School Team will continue to support Autism Speaks Canada and will be participating in the June 26th walk commencing at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. Celebrating the Spirit at Café Nativité Mimes, Cirque du Soleil acrobats, decadent croissants, and “Celine Dion” singing, “la vie est belle” were just some of the highlights at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School‟s French Café on Thursday, May 5th. Café Nativité was truly a “celebration of the spirit” through the Arts and the Core French / Extended French program at Nativity during Catholic Education Week. The school community enjoyed French culture and entertainment both in the day and in the evening. To the delight of many, students were dressed up as French painters, pastry chefs, and Parisian citizens. A variety of performances, including Cirque du Soleil acrobats, French Can Can dancers, French-Canadian Folk dancers, and Marcel Marceau mime impressionists provided the audience with a taste of French culture. More importantly, Café Nativité provided the school community a unique opportunity to come together to celebrate a culture that is important to Canada. Students in Grades 3 to 8 showcased their talents in French, drama, music, and visual arts. So you think you can dance Blessed Margherita? On April 15th, the Blessed Margherita Dance Troupe took part in a competition at Canada‟s Wonderland. This was the first time that an elementary school had participated in a dance competition consisting of only professional studios. Although the dancers were nervous, through their hard work, determination and enthusiasm, the Blessed Margherita Dance Troupe placed 1st in the Hip-Hop Category. St. Francis De Sales Elementary School Rewards the Winners of the 5th Annual Spanish Spelling Contest With a spectacular ceremony decorated by music, dance, lights and color, the St. Francis de Sales elementary school staff handed over the trophies, medals and prizes to the winners of the 5th Annual Spanish Spelling Contest; the event, part of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, took a place on May 5th.