October 2010 Good News Archive

The following is a list of Good News that has happened in our schools throughout the month of October, 2011.

Bishops College "Newfoundland Garden" October 28, 2011 Bishops College officially opened its "Newfoundland Garden" on Tuesday, September 6th. An initiative of the Bishops College Youth Action Committee (YAC), the garden was established on school grounds for the learning and enjoyment of the school community. The garden features plants both native and naturalized to Newfoundland such as white spruce, larch trees, golden rod wildflowers, heather, and wild strawberries. The garden was dedicated to the memory of former student and YAC member, Leah Marie Walsh. In 2006, Leah Marie organized a team from Bishops College to participate in the Wishmakers Walk for Wishes. Leah Marie, a Level I student at the time, suffered from a serious heart condition and wanted to help fulfill the wishes of other children coping with a life-threatening illness. Leah Marie lost the battle with her illness in December, 2008. Leah Marie loved butterflies so YAC will include in the garden a butterfly house and butterfly attracting plants.

Cowan Heights Students Support Thanksgiving Food Drive October 26, 2011 The grade five classes of Cowan Heights Elementary recently challenged the students in their school to donate as many food items as they could to the Community Food Sharing Association. The students and staff gladly met this challenge. At the annual Thanksgiving Assembly, on behalf of the school community, the grade five classes proudly presented the Community Food Sharing Association with over 1600 food items! Afterwards, the grade fives excitedly loaded all the food into the Thanksgiving Food Drive Metrobus. At the same assembly, Cowan Heights Elementary was awarded a five-year banner from the Terry Fox Foundation in recognition of our school's ongoing participation and support of the Terry Fox Walk. In the past eight years, the school has raised over $25,000 for the Foundation. The students, families, and staff of Cowan Heights Elementary truly have BIG hearts!

Trustees Tour St. Anne's School October 25, 2011 On Thursday, September 8, 2011, a number of school board trustees and members of the senior management team made a special school visit to St. Anne's School in South East Bight. South East Bight is on the Burin Peninsula and is only accessible by ferry. St. Anne's School has a current enrolment of eight students ranging from Grade Two to Level One. The students and three staff members gave trustees a warm welcome. The older students prepared a history of South East Bight which they read to their guests. Following the school tour, a light lunch was served before the group headed back to the ferry. Despite the distance and isolation from other schools in the region, students at St. Anne's School do very well on achievement scores and participate fully in regional science and heritage fairs, drama festivals and other school-related regional events.

Mary Queen of the World Donates to Local Food Bank October 25, 2011 Students and staff of Mary Queen of the World feel they have a lot to be thankful for. In the spirit of responding to others in need during the Thanksgiving holiday, they decided to help replenish food items for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. Families responded with some much-needed donations. Volunteers from the food bank made a special visit to the school to receive the food items and to thank the children for their thoughtfulness and support.

Amalgamated Academy Teachers Win Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence October 17, 2011 On October 5, 2011, three teachers from Amalgamated Academy were awarded the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence. This award recognizes teachers from across the country who exemplify best practices in education. The following description was read during the ceremony in Ottawa. Three is definitely not a crowd when Corey Morgan, Catherine Downey and David Gill get together. When this superhero teaching trio teams up, magic happens and Amalgamated Academy turns into the Amalgamated Media Production Company. Those taking in the action are quick to see that teaching to these three isn't second nature ¿ it is their nature. Local artist-in-residence, blogs, wikis and moodles, film and drama festivals, math contests and skills challenges - these three show students how to make it happen and feel empowered to show it off. Congratulations Mr. Morgan, Ms. Downey and Mr. Gill.