Grade 2 students will bring home a backpack filled with items to create a prayer table and examples of different types of prayer (praying in colour, rote prayers, intentions and meditations). A journal will be included in the backpack that students will use to draw or write about their use of prayer centre, a favourite prayer or an intention. This project was given $800.
The school will continue to partner with Sylvan Lake’s seniors’ lodges and extended care centres to bridge the gap between generations. This project goal is to improve the well-being for all who participate by showing regardless of age; everyone can make a difference in the lives of others. This project has been given $500.
Testimonial
“Each grade level had the opportunity to visit seniors this year. The picture above is of Grade 2 students after teaching seniors how to make tissue paper butterflies using clothespins and pipe cleaners. The students also read to the seniors in French and in English and asked them questions all about their lives. Lots of stories were shared by both the kids and seniors.”
Grade 5 students will create literacy backpacks for elementary students. These backpacks will contain pictures and a variety of activities which will incorporate reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing to help the reader better understand the text. This allows students to foster an enjoyment of reading and help students become stronger in their literacy skills. This project has been given $600.
Testimonial:
This project enhances Catholic education through humanness, teaching younger children how to love, and understand what they read through games. Using rationality to take and expand on their knowledge of comprehension. The students used the money to buy books and materials to build their games and activities. The students had a budget to work with and they put that budget into use at the local dollar store, making sure they did not spend more than they had. They came back and made their activities and games, and then mentored Grade 3 students.
Grade 5 students learned valuable life skills throughout this project including how to budget, how to manage their time, and how to work with a group for a common goal. They have learned to work with younger students through mentoring and planning age-appropriate games.
Grade 5 students can participate in a servant leadership group, which serves the school community. Students will be able to take on leadership roles as faith, literacy, and active living mentors, as well as participating in literacy, spirit, art, games and technology groups. This initiative has been allocated $1000.
Testimonial
“Grade 5 Leadership is an important part of our school culture. Our Grade 5 Leaders learn about service and help make our school student-centred. These leaders share their God-given talents with our school community in a variety of ways to make our school an even better place to be. Some of the leadership roles include the following:
1). Faith – leading prayer at assemblies and the Living Rosary, leading a fundraising initiative with proceeds to go to our needy families at Christmas time
2). Leading Bucket Filling Assemblies
3). Leading activities at lunch recess for students
4). Planning and orchestrating special events such as Math Day, Spirit Days, Earth Days, etc.
5). Planning and orchestrating activities to promote the FNMI culture
6). Planning and orchestrating wellness activities
7.) Students design and have Leadership T-Shirts
8.) Develop and serve the Tasty Treat Healthy Snack
We anticipate that the leadership skills learned and practiced by these students will help them to become active members of society and our Catholic faith. In the past, part of the success of this program can be attributed to the funds received by the RDC Education Foundation. We sincerely thank this foundation for their financial commitment and hope that they will continue to support this worthy initiative.”
The school will use the allotted $3300 in funds towards self-regulation items and resources to help students strive for positive mental health. These tools allow students to focus on their needs, such as self-control, social skills, self-esteem, anxiety, etc.
Students in Grade 3 to 5 attend Our Lady of Victory Camp for a full-day of faith-based activities that are based on the faith theme “All are welcome. All belong.” This retreat offers students to encounter Jesus, the Bible and a prayer community. This initiative has been allocated $1240.
Testimonial
Teachers will select students in Grades 3 to 5 who excel in their studies and have leadership potential will be invited spend a day with community experts in an effort to discover, develop and deepen their passion for an area of study. Seminar topics include faith leaders, newspaper reporters, engineers, architects, city council/mayor, farmers, criminologists, scientists, bankers, etc. Students will also have the opportunity to choose a service group to work with, such as the Ronald McDonald House. This program has been allotted $1432.
Testimonial
A Kind Kids Club will be developed for Grade 3 to 5 students to create and enhance the school community. This group will organize school activities, promote positive mental health and implement initiatives to improve the well-being of students by using the medicine wheel as a guide. This project was given $600.
Testimonial
The Bucket Filling Brigade is a group of Grade 4 and 5 students who choose to be leaders in the school community. Students who are part of this group support mental, emotional and physical health initiatives. The program was allotted $900.
Testimonial
“A big thank you to the Education Foundation for supporting St. Teresa’s ‘Bucket Filling For Jesus Brigade’. A few of our highlights so far this year: Leadership Retreat at Sacred Heart Church, Halloween Candy Trade-In Program with donations to the Mustard Seed/Safe Harbour/Red Deer Hospital, classroom visits explaining our monthly virtue and helping at assemblies!”
