St. Joseph's Catholic High School News

Grade 8 Track and Field

2010-06-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

On Friday, twenty four grade 8 students represented St. Joseph’s at the Renfrew Elementary Track and Field Meet.

There were many strong performances by our athletes. Wyatt Zohr finished 2^nd in both the 200m and high jump events, while Skylar Kluke finished 3^rd in the high jump. Molly Helferty finished 1^st in the 1600m race, Sammi Gauthier 2^nd in high jump. Alison Kasaboski 3^rd in the 100m race, and Saralyn Deslaurier 2^nd in the standing long, and 3^rd in the running long jump.

Sonya Bergin claimed the Senior girls champion award, finishing 1^st in both the standing long and running long jump, and 2^nd in shot put.

Great work everyone.

Portal Program In High Gear

2010-05-20T06:31:00.000-07:00

The Grade 8 Portal Program is at the mid-way point, and by all accounts, it appears to be tracking as an overall success once again.

The program, intended as a means by which the school's Grade 8 students receive more of the "high school" experience, is a six-week rotation where 80 minutes a week are dedicated to attending secondary specialty classes. This year's roster of activities includes auto shop, woodworking, media, food services, art , fireball science and elite soccer training, and indications are that it was received quite favourably by the students involved.

"I like it," said SJCHS student Nolan Saumure. "It helps me think about what choices I need to make when it comes time to pick courses later on in high school." Saumure's not alone in that view.

"You get a taste of what high school is all about" says Cody Briscoe-Voldock. "You get a better idea of the courses that are out there, and the teachers who teach them. I think it's excellent."

The program, in it's second year, is built around the generosity of those secondary teachers who give up valuable preparation time to plan and implement these lessons, and their efforts, it would appear, have not gone unnoticed by the students who benefit from them.

Once again, a job well done!

Turn The Page, Goldilocks

2010-05-14T14:29:00.001-07:00

You know, there’s more to that Little Red Riding Hood than one is led to believe through simply reading bedtime stories. In fact, with her success rate, this planet, and the people on it, might just run a little more smoothly if all of us were to have access to her insights as an analyst.

But maybe that’s just the stuff of fairy tales, too.

But, it was, after all, just another ordinary day in Fairy Tale Land, and it was put on display for all to see as the St. Joseph’s Catholic High School performing arts community hosts an original musical entitled Turn The Page Goldilocks all this week. The musical is a collaboration of many, but started as the brainchild of Mary Ellen Vice, who wrote it, in concert with Kevin McSheffrey, who wrote the accompanying musical score with some help from his daughter Sarah, a former SJCHS student and performer in her own right.

Funny thing about those ordinary days in Fairy Tale Land, they have the look of being truly extra-ordinary when Little Red Riding Hood, and a joint of effort of goodwill to secure a library for Fairy Tale Land, combine to bring characters together in ways that could not be imagined at the story’s beginning.

Take the Evil Stepmother, played by Bailey Rogers. She’s got a bit of stereotype-thing going, and it doesn’t help that she’s got the personality of a chainsaw. But, you see, she wants to change, and she seeks help from the resident pseudo-psychiatrist, Little Red Riding Hood, who in math class passes as Natalie Walters. Riding Hood attempts to soften the acerbic Evil Stepmother, who, in her defence, has generations of experience being the Evil Stepmother working against her.

Then you’ve got the Big Bad Wolf, played by John Legris, who’s struggling himself with his own issues, and would like nothing better than to get the “Bad” out of his name, knowing that it serves as a barrier in his relations with others in Fairy Tale Land, as three little pigs would be able to attest. He, too, is a regular patient of Red Riding Hood.

And finally, we’ve got Christine Helferty as Goldilocks, who harbours some darkness of her own, a darkness that prevents her from realizing her true potential for love and happy days.

Well, you know what? A little advice and encouragement from the right people, the support of friends and the ever-present chorus of characters, and coffee served up by the Gingerbread Man (Kelly Slight) will go a long way towards solving a lot of problems, and the fact that everyone’s excited by the upcoming talent show doesn’t hurt either. To raise money for the library, everyone in Fairy Tale Land wants to perform, because, well, as we all know, everyone wants to be a star.

Now, folks, there’s no reason to give away the whole story here, so you’ll have to show up yourself to figure out how people like the Scarecrow (Colin Carnegie) and The Candlestick Maker (Nigel Grinstead) make a real difference in the great scheme of things in Fairy Tale Land.

Suffice to say, Turn The Page Goldilocks is an absolutely delightful way to spend a couple of hours, and congratulations is due to all those who had a hand in the production and performance of the show.

Well done, everyone!!!

A Tale Of The Tape

2010-05-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, the effort to get involved can land one in situations that can result in all manner of unexpected things happening.

And so it was with SJCHS math teacher and coach Mike McMahon, who thought it might be fun to allow himself to be duct-taped to a wall as part of the student council's spirit week shenanigans. With the wide-eyed innocence of the lamb on his way to you-know-where, McMahon surrendered himself to the clutches of the masses during Thursday's lunch hour, and, well, it got kinda ugly kinda quick.

Perhaps having never read Gulliver's Travels, McMahon may have been unaware that one of the school's spirit ministers is Lilly Freemark. That's Lilly, as in Lilliputions, Mike! And that rhymes with yikes where I come from.

And so it was, that on Thursday of this past week, a perfectly good math teacher found himself pasted to the cafeteria wall, bound there with scads of duct tape that must have left local hardware stores sending clerks deep into the storerooms to keep product on the shelves.

In fairness to the Lilliputions, there were some basic civilities granted to their victim. They did not tape closed any spots that might be used for breathing. Well, at least one, anyways. And they did not allow any of their number to throw things at the incapacitated victim, as doing so would violate a basic tenet of their code, whatever that might be, and such as it is. Bad enough the verbal abusing from casual bystanders, who, for reasons known only to them, found the whole thing amusing, perhaps even funny.

Luckily, a hastily assembled group of SJCHS staff were able to fight their way in and extricate the hapless teacher from his plight, restoring order to the scene.

And, oh yeah. It looked like a lot of fun.

SJCHS Spirit Week In Full Swing

2010-05-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

School spirit remains alive and well in the halls of St. Joseph's this week.

Monday saw the week start off with Character Day, and that was followed up Tuesday by Retro Day, with some of the retro action pictured above. These theme days will be followed up by others as the week progresses.

SJCHS Alumni Completes Teaching Stint

2010-04-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

I distinctly remember telling Alison that, if anyone was going to cry this time around, it would be her. And sure enough, I was right.

Maybe a little context would be helpful.

You see, five weeks ago, a student teacher was due to arrive in our classroom, and I was preparing the students for the experience, just to make sure everyone was, well, familiar with the playbook, so to speak. That’s when Alison told me that, the last time they had hosted a supply teacher, they made her cry.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Alison a lot. But that like doesn’t extend to serving up a free pass to making student teachers cry, so I issued my directive, that there would be no crying, particularly student-engineered crying on the part of my new student teacher.

I needn’t have worried.

Amanda Hoare is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, and her appearance in my classroom was a homecoming of sorts, in that she was familiar with the staff, and with most of the building. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s going to be effective in the classroom. Well, after five weeks of careful observation, coupled with extensive reflection, I’ve arrived at the only possible conclusion.

She is.

We, the students of 8C and myself, wish to thank Amanda for her hard work over these past five weeks, and to further thank her for her good humour, and the wonderful disposition that she brings to every activity that she’s a part of. The students thrived under her leadership, and quite frankly, were sorry to see her placement come to an end.

And so there was some crying at the end. And it was Alison, among others, doing it. But this time around, it was good crying. The kind you get when people care about stuff, or even better, other people.

Good luck Miss Hoare. You’ve made many friends here, and we wish you all the best.

SJCHS Holds Orientation

2010-04-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

St. Joseph’s was pleased this past week to welcome students from feeder schools who were guided through a morning of orientation in preparation for next year’s attendance at our school.

On Thursday, grade 7 students from St. Thomas the Apostle and Our Lady of Fatima made their way around the school under the guidance of student volunteers. They were able to get a good look at the school and the variety it has to offer through their participation in a scavenger hunt that had them here and there and everywhere in search of the little nuggets of stuff they had to gather to be the successful team. And so, they entered classes in progress, pushed their way into the office, scuttled about the gym, and generally made an appearance in just about every nook and cranny available here at SJCHS. And hopefully, enjoyed a full measure of fun along the way.

The next day, the grade 8 students from St. Joseph’s Arnprior, St. Michael’s in Douglas, and St. Joseph’s in Calabogie made a similar appearance, and, using a similar format, familiarized themselves with the school most hope to call home next September. On both days, the orientation concluded with lunch served in the cafeteria before students made their way back to their respective schools.

Any students or parents wishing futher information regarding St. Joseph’s Catholic High School or its programs are encouraged to contact the school in a manner most convenient to them. We welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about your becoming a valued member of our school family.

613-432-5846 or msearson@rccdsb.edu.on.ca

SJCHS Attends Options 2010

2010-04-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

Whether it was in the areas of aesthetics, hairstyling, the culinary arts, hammering together an outbuilding, or just plain changing a tire, St. Joseph's was well represented by a number of entries into the annual Options 2010 event, held this year, once again, in Pembroke.

The activities listed above were just a sampling of the many types of activities hosted by the skills and trades show, showcasing the wide variety of employment opportunities that present themselves for young people here in Renfrew County.

Also present were representatives from the Canadian Forces, government ministries, and relevant agencies who either hire directly or offer support for those seeking employment in one of the many fields on display. As well, a local support group was on hand to offer education on the topic of entrepreneurship, and the beginnings of starting and maintaining one's own business.

In addition to those students competing directly in event-sponsored competitions, four bus loads of grade 8 and grade 10 students from SJCHS were also on hand to take in the many interactive and static displays organized by Options 2010 participants and sponsors, joined by hundreds more students from other schools in the County.

Options 2010 is an extension of a movement to advertise and promote the need for skilled, and highly-paid, trades in the workforce, particularly here in the Upper Ottawa Valley. Simply put, it's intent is to present a variety of meaningful options, other than university or college, for students who approach graduation from high school.

Earth Day Sweeps Through St. Joe's

2010-04-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

April 23^rd marked the coming and going of another Earth Day here at St. Joe’s, and, thanks to the efforts of many, the day was nothing less than an unqualified success.

Under the overall supervision of Jeff Halk, the students and staff of SJCHS hit the dirt on Thursday, both figuratively and literally, in an effort to show solidarity with the Earth Day movement that was manifesting itself across Canada and around the world.

Students from a variety of period 1 classes were issued protective gear and given responsibility to go where, obviously, many had gone before. And once there, to pick up the garbage and general refuse that was left behind by those who trouble themselves little about the environmental health of the community they call home.

Later in the day, during an afternoon assembly, students were addressed by SJCHS alumni Taylor Popkie, who spends much of his time these days working towards accreditation in the field of forestry at Algonquin College. Taylor, along with his program leader, distributed a seedling to every student in attendance, and it’s hoped that each and every one of those seedlings find fertile ground, a tangible act on the part of those attending to further the environmental cause .

The assembly ended in an environmental fashion show, a brilliant idea and novel way to raise awareness. A parade of students walked the catwalk, each wearing garments festooned with the kind of everyday things and packaging that often finds its way into the heres and theres of a community, discarded by folks either too busy or too ambivalent to understand or care about the cumulative effects of their litter.

Taken as a whole, the effort accomplished all it set out to do, and then some. The greatest challenge, however, is for all of us to remember and carry out what was so obviously important to us today, this day of environmental awareness. To care, and to care enough to do something about it.

Thanks to Mr. Halk and his environment people throughout the school, we’re several steps closer to making that a reality.

Four Strong Winds Tour Elementary Schools

2010-04-18T08:26:00.001-07:00

Red Ensign Flies With Pride Over SJCHS

2010-04-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

I must admit to some early trepidation. Walking up the campus drive with Jenn Hall that morning, I looked ahead and saw the Red Ensign flying from the pole, instead of the national flag of Canada.

Yes, I understand that, prior to 1965, the Red Ensign was the national flag of Canada, all well and good. But at our school, I’m conditioned to the Red Ensign being flown for one reason, and that is to announce that William Keon, former history teacher and professor emeritus here at St. Joe’s, is in the building. Sort of like when the Queen is at Buckingham Palace, she’s got that queen flag that flaps about to announce she’s at home, but please, absolutely no solicitors.

No big deal, the Red Ensign on our pole, then. Except that it was at the half mast position. And that can’t be good.

I went through the options on the walk-up.

There’s gotta be something wrong with some mechanical aspect of the flag pole. That when Dave Rowat, the guy in charge of the Red Ensign, ran her up, something slipped, some grommet or some other flag thing, just simply slipped its anchorage and allowed the beloved Ensign to slide down the pole, friction and the presence of just enough tension in the rope being the primary reason it stopped where it did, and blessedly, not ending up on the ground. But that doesn’t sound like Dave. Dave’s the kind of guy who would run the Ensign up the pole, then run inside and watch it for 40 minutes from the staff room window, then check on it often throughout the day. So that didn’t fit.

I considered briefly an act of vandalism. But who would do such a thing? And why? And plus, Dave’s at the window, so again, that didn’t wash.

As much as I didn’t want to, I arrived at the inescapable, that something had happened to Bill Keon. Something bad. Something, you know, final. And I felt terrible. My mind went immediately to Bill and Eleanor, their kids. My goodness, Bill has a grandchild right in our building! It was all so very sad.

As a history guy of sorts, I have to admit to some measure of shame for not recognizing the fact that the day in question happened to be the anniversary of the great Canadian victory at the Battle of Vimy Ridge way back in 1917. I forgot. But Dave Rowat didn’t.

I mean, Vimy’s a big deal for me, no question. I even teach the battle myself as part of my history curriculum, and yes I remember the cost of that long-ago Easter Monday when Canadian arms carried the day against, to that date anyways, an impregnable position.

But Dave did something about it. He cared enough to make that special effort to get that Red Ensign, the very flag those men of long ago saluted, and run it up the pole to honour them. To run it up fully, as is proper, then to lower it to half mast, as the protocol demands.

On April 9, 1917, Canadian forces, fighting for the first time under total Canadian leadership and employing Canadian military doctrine, attacked an escarpment overlooking the Douai Plains, a high point overlooking tens of kilometres of enemy-occupied France. It had been attacked previously in the war by the French, and then the British, but to no avail, as the entreched German forces beat back each allied thrust, with great loss of life. And so, in early April 1917, the task of taking that ridge, known as Vimy, was given to the Canadians.

At 5:30 AM on April 9th, Canadian artillery opened fire on German positions, and the assault went in. By nightfall on April 12th, it was over, and Canada was in possession of Vimy Ridge.

Some historians say it was the day Canada truly became a nation, forged by the fire of the battlefield, against a determined and proven foe. And I’ll not argue with them.

The Canadian Corps suffered 10,602 casualties in that fight, including 3,598 dead. It was a great moment in our nation’s history, and a moment we ought to remember with pride. But it was gained at a terrible price in terms of human loss, and that’s what Rowat was all about when he flew the Red Ensign that day.

And I’m glad he did. And I am proud.

OSSLT Breakfast A Great Way To Start The Day

2010-04-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

Thursday marked the St. Joseph's sitting for the OSSLT, more commonly known as "The Literacy Test," and much preparation and effort was evident as one made their way through the halls of SJCHS.

Essentially a Grade 10 Literacy Test part of the battery of evaluations encased in the EQAO process, the test is treated as a serious measure of student achievement and and program accountability.

Understanding, as we all do, that good work is made more likely when done in the absence of hunger, an effort was made to provide all students taking this test with a robust breakfast intent on fortifying them prior to what lay ahead for them. Pictured above are Student Success Teacher Russ Connors, SJCHS Prime Minister Kelly Slight, and former teacher Pat Watters as they ensure that all students wishing a breakfast are attended to.

Europe Trip Returns Home

2010-04-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess one could say that they've been there, and done that. And no doubt, there's likely a t-shirt or two in the bargain.

Our staff and students who spent the March Break travelling to Europe have returned, safe and sound, and with a lifetime of memories in the bank. The trip, consisting of several venues throughout Switzerland and Italy, was a ten-day junket that ended upon their return last Tuesday. Included in the adventure was a stop at the Vatican and St. Peter's Cathedral, a rather poignant connection given our great fortune to be a Catholic secondary school.

Well done everyone, and welcome home!

8B Establishes A Link To Olympics

2010-03-24T08:55:00.001-07:00

St. Joe’s Catholic High School is well known for its tremendous spirit and the grade eights, of course, are no exception.

Leading up to and including the weeks of the Olympics, Ms. O’Gorman’s grade eight class corresponded with Leslie Wirth, Deputy Chief of Emergency Services for the County of Renfrew. Leslie worked as a volunteer in the Athletes Village located in Whistler, B.C.

From preparing for the Olympics to Alexandre Bilodeau’s gold medal, the grade eights e-mailed

Leslie great questions and in return she sent back very informative answers. To cheer on Team Canada, Ms. O’Gorman’s class also sent some fantastic pictures. They worked diligently to design and paint the signs and they were very pleased with the results of their efforts.

Leslie visited our class on Friday, March 12 to share her experiences. Along with her stories she also brought with her a slide show presentation showing pictures of the Athlete’s Village and memorabilia given to her by various athletes from around the world.

GO TEAM CANADA!

Written and Submitted by:

Holly O’Neill, Holly Shannon, Courtney Stafford and Mary McNulty

Reach For The Top Continues Excellence

2010-02-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

It’s hard to argue with the banner.

I mean, there it is, right there on the wall, with the school colours and insignia testifying to its authenticity. Plain as day. Incontestable.

We’re just going to have to, at some point, come to grips with the fact that our school, our very own St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, produces some of the top minds around, and on occasion, demonstrates this fact not only to the County in which it’s located, but also to provincial and national audiences as well.

The banner says it in a way much more effectively than I ever could. National Champions it says, emblazoned across the garnet background, official colours of the school, the honour accorded all winning schools.

This is the high school world of Reach For The Top, that contest of knowledge that’s been in existence since I was a child, which is almost the same thing as saying since the advent of television.

It’s a pretty familiar format. Two teams, from local high schools, usually squaring off on local cable television. Rapid-fire questions on a variety of topics, students buzzing in, almost Jeopardy-like in fashion, the scores rising and falling in accordance with their successful, or less than successful responses.

Granted, it’s not the Super Bowl, but then again, nothing is, and it never pretended to be. Reach For The Top is, rather, a celebration of those youth intent upon the pursuit of broadening their knowledge, both specifically and comprehensively, in the widest array of categories possible.

It’s not so much about intelligence, although certainly that can’t hurt. It’s more a contest of pure knowledge. You see, one can have intelligence, and not use it. Knowledge, on the other hand, can be intelligence applied, but also is indicative of one who pursues the desire to know. It demonstrates, in many respects, an effort to acquire information and retain it, for whatever purpose. And so, as such, hard work, time, and effort are all part of the lives of students wishing to participate in the Reach For The Top Program.

St. Joseph’s is a perennial powerhouse in this competition. That banner I referred to before was brought home by the 1993 Canadian Champions. Since that time, while there have been no national championships, there has been a litany of successes at the county, regional, and provincial levels. To emphasize that point, let me point out that St. Joe’s are the defending County Champions once again, recently brushing aside competition from other schools in the county wishing to strip them of that honour.

Dave Rowat is the coach of the current team, and that makes perfect sense, since Rowat is the pursuit of knowledge, in all its forms, personified. Mr. Rowat, often referred to as the “Professor,” not only loves to learn, but also loves the sharing of it. Anyone doubting that might wish to spend five minutes at the morning breakfast table in the SJCHS staff room, as Rowat, and other staff, grapple with the morning crosswords, accrostics, and various other fill-in-the-blankers that come with the morning paper.

Some people just eat their eggs. Dave does, too, only he likes to either get or provide an education while doing it. A better mentor to the Reach For The Top Team would be difficult to find.

As to the students, I dropped in on them during a session they were having during their lunch hour, and, well, I can understand how it is that they're favoured to repeat as champs. In on the session was Sun Lee, Thomas Prince, Michael Hagerman, Myles Rowat and Ian Connors, and, while I was snapping pics, these guys were firing off all manner of answers to all sorts of questions. Thinking I'm pretty intelligent myself, I'd listen to the questions and answer them in my head as I was clicking away. These dudes not only beat me to the punch every single time, but they also got the correct answer, something I obviously wasn't troubling myself with.

That banner is not out of place on that wall. And it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if it were to be joined by another in the near future.

St. Joseph's Celebrates The Flame

2010-02-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight, as all Canada is aware, the flame that presides over the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver will be ignited.

Here at St. Joe's, we're blessed to be a part of that, in that the very same flame passed through our community, and more so, passed through the very hands of one of our own, as St, Joseph's student Hayley Gayle took on the incredible honour of being an official torch bearer of the Olympic Flame.

And we, as all Canadians, look forward to the games with the great pride that comes from being who we are, the people of this great nation, the country blessed with the opportunity to host these games, to showcase them to the world.

And so, with our friends and neighbours, let us proudly proclaim that we are...

Canada!

SJCHS Students Capture Nine Interclub Medals

2010-02-11T15:37:00.000-08:00

Three students attending St. Joseph’s Catholic High School captured a total of nine medals last weekend during the 35th Region 6 Interclub Competition hosted by the Renfrew Skating Club.

The event represents the culmination of the skating season for all of the clubs situated in the Upper Ottawa Valley, and brings together skaters and their families for a weekend of of competitive skating, and in many cases, breathtaking drama combined with high-end athletic skill.

St. Joseph’s only male participant, Spencer Yakaback, is an experienced veteran of competitive skating, and has seen many of these Interclub meets over the years. True to form, Yakaback, a grade 12 student, took the gold medal for his part of the Open Similar Pairs event with co-winner Aaron Wallace, a skater out of the Petawawa club. Spencer also made an appearance as part of the award-winning synchronized skating team Platinum Edge, a performance that, as usual, didn’t fail to impress those on hand.

It was a pair of grade 8 girls that captured the lion’s share of the medal haul over the weekend, as students Amanda Cameron and Sonya Bergin combined for eight medals between them. Amanda took home two golds and a bronze for her efforts, while Sonya captured three golds and two silvers, including a jaw-dropping gold-medal performance in the Junior Bronze Improv that left the audience applauding their approval at the execution of every element.

From the entire St. Joseph’s community, congratulations goes out to Spencer, Amanda, and Sonya for their achievements, as well as best wishes for continued success and happiness in their skating careers.

SJCHS Welcomes The Future

2010-02-11T15:16:00.000-08:00

Wednesday evening marked Parent Information Night, part of St. Joseph’s orientation program intended for parents and students currently in grade 7. By all accounts, the event was a an unqualified success, as a wide array of portals into life here at SJCHS were on full display for the many visitors who attended.

Parents and students were introduced to the school by SJCHS principal Mark Searson, and were then encouraged to make their way through the building and stop in at various points of interest, experiencing what was on hand or to request more information related to attendance at St. Joseph’s next year.

Of course, in addition to the large numbers of student volunteers who helped make the evening a success, it didn’t hurt matters any for our visitors to see a number of our current grade eights involved in significant undertakings, and kudos to students Taylor Dubeau and Sonya Bergin for their opening numbers in the coffee house presentation that helped kick off the event, as well as Molly Helferty, who helped close the evening as part of the quartet group Four Strong Winds.

As well, a regularly scheduled practice for the grade eight girl’s basketball team was open to the public, and those attending were able to take in a spirited contest between Steve Jones’ grade 8's and a team of grade nines put together and coached by Mark Valliquette.

Thanks go out to all who volunteered their time, staff and students alike, to help make the evening exactly what it was intended to be; an informal opportunity through which future students of this school can begin the process of feeling a part of our SJCHS community, and be welcomed by those of us currently here.

Changes At SJCHS

2010-02-05T17:04:00.000-08:00

There's an old saying in some parts that, if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.

Now, before going any further, we have to qualify that introductory line by stating an obvious fact, that being that, no matter the status of school administration, there’s always going to be a situation well-liked, something’s that guaranteed by the sterling qualities of all those who accept the responsibility of leadership here at St. Joseph’s.

That being said, it’s with mixed emotions that we announce the leaving of Vice-Principal Brennan Trainor. Mr. Trainor, as you can well imagine, has had a bit of a whirlwind week, beginning it as he did as principal of SJCHS, then reverting back to his regular vice-principal duties with the return of Mark Searson as principal. And now, in a testament to his willingness to serve, Mr. Trainor is moving on to take over acting principal responsibilities at Our Lady of Lourdes in Pembroke, filling a need that’s developed at that school.

One never knows how these things may play out, but it can be safely said that Brennan will be missed here, for however long he may be gone. As an administrator, he displayed exemplary leadership in the vast array of areas for which he was responsible, and leaves a lasting impression, a footprint if you will, that represents the many positives that mark his contribution.

Mr. Trainor moving on to Lourdes unleashes a veritable domino effect of change rippling through the fabric of St. Joe’s, generating no small amount of excitement at the prospects.

First, our new acting vice-principal is Mrs. Patti Watters, someone very familiar to anyone involved with St. Joseph’s, and someone who brings a complete package of experience, outlook, and excellence to the position. Replacing Mrs.Watters in Student Success is Mr. Russ Connors, formerly of the Special Education department, and again, a person who encompasses all the right qualities that make one a perfect fit for the duties with which they find themselves. Finally, Mr. Tim O’Connor slides into Special Education, creating a buzz of excitement in that department.

As a school community, we congratulate all of these fine individuals on their postings and new responsibilities, and wish them all the best for every success, something guaranteed by virtue of the qualities they bring to every situation they find themselves a part of.

DR Mission Begins Today

2010-02-03T14:06:00.000-08:00

St. Joseph's said goodbye, for the short term anyway, to the members of the 2010 Dominican Republic Team, as they made their final preparations for their trip to that island nation Wednesday.

Teaming up with their peers, a similar team from Bishop Smith Catholic High School in Pembroke, our students will embark on a mission of solidarity with a small village of people who, over the years, have developed a meaningful and fulfilling relationship with students from our School District.

Bringing with them much-needed medicines, medical supplies, food, clothing, and the like, the team has also raised money that they contribute towards substantially impacting the quality of life for those less fortunate in this world than they. Their efforts will be combined with the efforts of others, making clinics available to the local population, and making doctors available to make use of those clinics.

And make no mistake, lives are not only bettered by the efforts of these people. In some cases, they're saved, and there can be no greater legacy than the effort to reach out and touch someone in need, to improve their life substantially, and to save it from the slow, inexorable approach of death in some cases.

A perfect example of solidarity with our fellow human beings, and a perfect example of holiness demonstrated by those who make the time and expend the effort to do so.

Our prayers and best wishes go out to this year's team for a safe and successful journey.

Pictured above, from left to right, are Sheena Plouffe, Katie Troutman, Audrey McMann, and Kerry Keyes.

A Semester Comes To An End

2010-01-29T16:40:00.000-08:00

Friday marked the final day for secondary panel examinations at St. Joseph's Catholic High School.

Although the original schedule was thrown off somewhat due to a snow day on Monday, the full complement of examinations was completed by noon Friday, meaning that students can look forward to a restful weekend, one made more so due to the professional development day on Monday, giving them a three day window to recover.

Second semester classes begin Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Grade 8 Skate

2010-01-28T13:40:00.000-08:00

While their high school counterparts were going through the rigours of preparing and writing exams, the three grade eight classes at St. Joseph's Catholic High School took the opportunity to clear out and make their way over to Ma-Te-Way for some winter-time physical education.

Hockey, ringette, and skating just for the enjoyment of it were on the roster of activities available to students, and all three activities were well-represented. And while the walk there served as uneventful, the return trip through a maelstrom of wind and snow was the perfect culmination to this little slice of Canadiana.

The only negative comment expressed centered on the regret many had that the afternoon nap, that great tradition of kindergarten, had been discontinued through the older grades. Other than that, a good time all around.

Mark Searson Returns As SJCHS Principal

2010-01-22T17:35:00.000-08:00

St. Joseph’s Catholic High School welcomes back Mark Searson as principal, effective February 1, 2010.

Mr. Searson, as many of you are aware, has spent the last several months attached to the office of the Director of Education, seconded there to, among other things, give due attention to important issues such as SAFE SCHOOLS and the H1N1 outbreak.

With the return of Mr. Searson, Acting Principal Brennan Trainor returns to duties as vice-principal of St. Joseph’s, while VP Heidi Robinson moves on to the vice-principal position at John XXIII in Arnprior, as well as system-VP responsibilities for the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board.

Office Changes At St. Joe's

2010-01-22T17:31:00.000-08:00

St. Joseph’s Catholic High School would like to recognize the efforts of two people who are, with the advent of a new semester, moving on to new opportunities.

Miss Heidi Robinson has been with us these past few months, serving as vice-principal, and in this short period of time, has made a significant and positive impact in all the many aspects of school life in which she’s been associated. Being a high school VP is not the easiest job in the world, but it must be said that Heidi’s approach to her duties, and the diligence with which they were carried out, serve as credit to both herself and to the system that she so faithfully represents. There can be no doubt that, wherever she goes, and whomever she may spend time with in the execution of her professional duties, both will be the better for it. As a school community, our very best wishes are extended to Heidi, along with our confidence that she will carry with her the excellence, diligence, and caring that characterized her time here at St. Joe’s.

At another level, we’d like to extend best wishes to Miss Jackie Watters, a student of ours who, for the past several months, has taken on a position of responsibility in our front office as part of a placement satisfying course requirements for graduation. Jackie has, by all accounts, provided exemplary service in the execution of her responsibilities, and her presence in the office has, fittingly, added to the friendly and positive atmosphere so readily apparent to all who have reason to go there. Best wishes Jackie Watters!

8B: Whatever Floats Your Boat

2010-01-08T19:34:00.000-08:00

Students in 8B recently participated in a culminating activity designed to draw out the properties of buoyancy, that upward-acting force that keeps stuff afloat after it's been dumped into a body of liquid.

This is the stuff of Mr. McGregor, science teacher to all three grade eight classes. Students were required to build a vessel that would, first of all, float, and secondly, accept weight and still float.

The weight came in the form of marbles added to the vessel as it sat in the liquid. The more successfully constructed the vessel, the more marbles it would be able to hold.

Pictured above are two teams in the heat of scientific competition. Natalie Doering and Brittany Smith watch as Kelly Boudreau and Molly Helferty plop marbles into their entrant vessel.

SJCHS Christmas Concert

2009-12-17T21:11:00.000-08:00

The very best of everything.

That’s what we were treated to last evening when we thought it might be a good idea to check out the St. Joseph’s Catholic High School Christmas Concert.

Diversity, humour and comedy, music and drama. And the rich and wonderful variety that’s the hallmark of the SJCHS performing arts community. All of it was on display as the school presented its annual Christmas Concert before an audience open to the public, but of course, heavy on parents and family.

And beautiful. Truly beautiful.

When students take that risk to perform in public, in front of peers and family alike, they put themselves “out there” so to speak, and the mere prospect of such can send most of us running for cover. But when you see them take that risk, by stepping in front of a microphone, either musically or dramatically, or even both, and share with us a part of themselves in a way that is so profoundly personal, well, the result can be breath-taking. And one can only come away from that thoroughly impressed with it all.

Impressed by the courage. And impressed by the talent that lay behind that courage.

The concert was a lovely mix of just about everything. And while everything put the proper emphasis on the celebration of the birth of Christ, it was done so in such a way to be as entertaining as it was in some parts reverent. As such, the audience was treated to choir renditions of traditional Christmas music, as they were to an absolutely delightful performance of a Grade 10 drama class enacting the story of a class readying itself for a Christmas play under the supervision of a slightly loopy teacher. Sorry, did I say slightly?

And the absolute beauty of the hymns chosen by some performers, including the performance finale by Mary Ellen Vice, is the stuff of goosebumps. Songs of hope and inspiration shared with us by people who attach great meaning to their message, and who, through their performances, convey to us the power of their spirit.

What a wonderful way to walk towards Christmas.

And so, a special thank you to all involved. It was truly time well spent.

Haley Gale Carries Olympic Torch

2009-12-17T15:13:00.000-08:00

There are many milestones along life’s journey, things that are looked back upon fondly as moments where, for whatever reason, we had cause to be proud of our involvement.

So it is for fifteen year-old Haley Gale, a Douglas resident and student at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, who this past Sunday had the honour of being an official torch bearer of the vaunted and historic Olympic Flame as it made its way westward on its own journey to preside over the XXI Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

A number of runners shared the honour of bringing the flame from Arnprior to Renfrew, through to Douglas, Eganville, and Pikwakanagan, over to Base Petawawa and Petawawa, and finally to Pembroke, where it was greeted by a crowd estimated to be 5000 strong.

A crowd, by the way, united in common cause with their pride in being Canadian, and in their desire to see this flame, and all that it represents, to us, and to the world.

It’s with great pride that SJCHS extends congratulations to Haley on her achievement in being selected for this great honour.

Order Makes A Visit To St. Joe's

2009-12-14T13:06:00.000-08:00

The Ontario Legislative Assembly made a visit of sorts to St. Joseph's on Monday, when Speaker of the House Steve Peters joined Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski in addressing students in the gym.

The two gentlemen have been visiting schools in the riding, and stopped in to speak to a gathering of Grade 10 and 12 students. Afterwards, an informal gathering of politicians took place, as the two legislative representatives took time to speak with members of the SJCHS student council.

Jazz Band Fruit Stand Open For Pick-Ups

2009-12-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

Christine Helferty and Victoria Slight are pictured above as they take a shift distributing fruit as part of the Jazz Band's annual fundraiser.

Oranges and grapefruit from Florida were the order of the day as Renfrew County braced for its first snow storm of the season overnight Tuesday. Money raised from the project goes toward funding activities attended or sponsored by the SJCHS Jazz Band.

Pen-Pal Program Introduced

2009-12-06T14:45:00.000-08:00

As part of an on-going effort to present the grade eights with a smooth transition to St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, a pen-pal program has been launched that strives to make connections between grade eights and senior students in the school.

Introduced by principal Brennan Trainor, the program had been well-received by students of Bishop Smith Catholic High School in Pembroke when Mr. Trainor served as that school’s vice-principal.

Grade twelve students have already completed the writing of their introductory letters, and those letters were delivered to the grade eights this past Friday. Some common themes found in this first piece of correspondence included words of welcome, offers of assistance, and the encouragement of the establishment of positive dialogue between the younger and older students.

Upon receiving their letters, the grade eights were encouraged to make a written response to the grade twelves, and in many cases already, students have made the effort to meet in person in the halls to get better acquainted.

“We want the grade eights to understand that they’re part of something special here, part of a family,” said Mr. Trainor. “And a good way to help them feel a part of it by making connections with people outside their own grade.”

Rotation Completes First Cycle In Grade 8

2009-12-03T15:49:00.000-08:00

The first round of the the three-part rotation cycle came to a close Thursday, with all students having completed their first rounds in science, geography, and history.

Grade 8 students, during the course of every term, rotate through three subjects, and experience intensive activity in a single subject for approximately 80 minutes/day for four days a week. After a month has passed, they then move on to the next subject, and finally, after about another month, on to the third.

That means students in the science stream see a lot of Mr. McGregor, while students in geography spend that time with Miss O'Gorman. Mr. Jones rounds out the teaching roster walking students through the history program. Students, therefore, have the opportunity to experience all three teachers, in a model that has some similarity to the full rotations they can look forward to next year in high school.

In addition to gaining some experience with high school-type timetables, our students also benefit from a wide array of exposure to various teaching/learning styles. Again, in addition to preparing them in a meaningful way for what lay ahead, it also allows for a certain degree of variety of approach, serving as a motivator to learning in its own right.

Pictured above is 8C student Justin Lacourse with his completed science project detailing cellular structure and growth. This project serves as a culminating activity for the first term science program.

A Night Out With Susan Love

2009-11-29T12:08:00.000-08:00

When you lose a loved one to violence, the enduring heartache is something you walk with wherever you go.

So it is with our very own Susan Love, who lost her son and only child Phillip to a senseless act of criminal aggression in January 2007. And while three years might seem like enough time to take some of the edge off that pain, those who feel it in the first-person will attest that no amount of passing time has any meaningful mitigating effect upon the damage done to a broken heart.

The victimization doesn’t really end, either. The sense of loss, of course, is incalculable. But now, after three years, comes the court case, where those accused of murdering Phillip Love have their day in court, and face the judgement of the criminal justice system. And all of that pain rises again to the surface, to be dealt with once more, only this time against a backdrop of adversarial argument to establish the guilt or innocence of the perpetrators and defendants.

To lose a loved one, then having to listen to those who had a hand in it make every attempt to evade responsibility. Life, at times, can be extremely challenging.

The trial is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the very place where Phillip’s life was ended. Murder trials, as you might well guess, can drag on for quite a while. And so, in addition to the pain caused by the trial itself, there comes the added financial burden of travel and accommodation.

Sheilagh Mackenzie, a co-worker of Susan’s at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, thought that maybe something might be done to help alleviate some of the costs associated with traveling back and forth to Halifax for the trial. Phillip Love, you see, just happened to be the best man at Sheilagh and Mark’s wedding.

And so a gathering was organized, at a local restaurant here in Renfrew, where family, friends, staff, and students could meet in solidarity with Susan, spend some time with her, listen to some great entertainment, and contribute to a good cause. We were also fortunate to meet Yvonne Harvey, and her partner Gary Lindfield. Yvonne’s daughter Chrissy was murdered in Newfoundland the same month as Susan lost Phillip, and she knows best how Susan feels, sharing a bond that only those similarly victimized could ever fully appreciate. The two of them, Susan and Yvonne, hope to breathe life into a Canadian chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, a support group for those who have suffered the loss of a child through homicide.

The music was flat-out fantastic. The foursome of Collin Carnegie, John Legris, Liam Melville and Riley Wedderburn rocked the place, giving a full value performance that enhanced the atmosphere, giving it the feel of a big-city club.

About $2400.00 was raised through the effort, with many thanks extended to all those who lent their time, effort, talent, and generosity towards making the evening a smash hit.

It was good to get out and experience the St. Joseph’s community in a way somewhat different from the norm. And consistent with all other times when this community gathers, in whole or in part, everyone leaves the better for it, knowing that they’ve spent time with people who care.

It’s times like these that one gets the most profound sense of being part of an extended family. And what a wonderful feeling that is.

Arnprior Knights Name Contest Winners

2009-11-16T13:26:00.001-08:00

Pictured in the photo above are left to right: Bob Coyne, Rebekka Borshevsky, Christine Helferty, Haley Gale, Joel Beimers, and Dan Nicholas.

Bob and Dan are from the Arnprior Knights of Columbus, and, in October, they invited St. Joseph's students to draw pictures that could be distributed to the elementary schools in Arnprior to colour. The goal of the project was to "Keep Christ in Christmas", so their drawings were to be reflective of this theme.

Cash prizes were awarded to each student for their participation: Rebekka - 1st place, Haley - 2nd place, Christine - 3rd place, and Joel - 4th place.

Coffee House A Smash Hit

2009-11-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

At some point, you find yourself asking yourself where it is that all these people come from.

Once again, the St. Joseph's Catholic High School Coffee House treated a full house to a cavalcade of musical talent, cranking out one quality performance after another, and leaving those assembled decidedly impressed with the level of talent that walks the halls of this place.

What's more, after graduating several top performers this past year, the cupboard has

seemingly been replenished, with several outstanding acts coming from students just entering into the school's performing arts community. This, of course, bodes well for the performing arts program as a whole, as it appears that there's a steady stream of emerging talent in the school to augment the impressive numbers of senior students who, through their own talent, provide the school with a very rich fabric that would be the envy of many.

Special thanks to people like Dave Rowat and Kevin McSheffrey, for taking the lead, and doing all the things that make evenings like this possible for the rest of us. And to all those who gave their time to throw the event together, and tear it apart afterwards.

And, of course, props to our performers, who through their courage and dedication, and through the love of what they do, provided the rest of us with a little slice of special.

Thank you St. Joseph's. And well done.

Remembrance Day

2009-11-12T06:17:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, November 11th, the entire St. Joseph’s school community paused to pay respect and accord honour to the many men and women who have served their nation, and worn its uniform, in defense of the democracy, freedom, and the moral ideals that it holds to be dear.

Past and present, Canadians have been called to stand up for the weak against the aggressive, the oppressed against their oppressors, and the defenseless against those who would wish to prey upon them.

And we stand proud, today and always, as a small token of thanks for the ultimate sacrifice made by so many, so that so many more may live, and be allowed to do so in an atmosphere of peace, security, and fellowship.

We are Canada, a ray of hope and promise for so many in the world. And today, we honour those who have served as the instruments of that hope.

St. Joseph’s remembers.

Thanksgiving Food Drive A Success

2009-10-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

Once again, in an outpouring of generosity, the students and staff of SJCHS have responded to a call for canned goods and non-perishable food items for the local food bank. Ending Friday, the food drive resulted in a heap of the stuff piled up pretty deeply in the Town Square, where it rested briefly before being gathered in preparation for delivery to the folks who need it the most.

Lauren Schmidt and Katie Troutman took the student lead for this year's effort, and spent the final day photographing the final entries from each home room. The contest this year wasn't so much a quest for a prize, but rather a quest for bragging rights as owners of the most creatively-designed mountain of food, as judged of course by an august panel of students chosen at random as they made their way through the halls.

There were cartoon characters, faith-based presentations, some in French, and one featuring the Eiffel Tower. Pretty impressive stuff, and all running in conjunction with the school's Spirit Week, proving that substantial things can be accomplished when the spirits of happiness and generosity reside in the same heart at the same time

Jaguar Hunt For Football Glory Ends

2009-10-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

It was a heck of a day, but in the end, you can only play so many good teams before you begin to buckle a little bit, and then, alas, it's over.

But full marks to the St. Joseph's Jaguars Grade 8 Flag Football team, who made the playoffs Friday afternoon before bowing out to another powerhouse team from Queen Elizabeth 27-14. It was the second consecutive meeting, and loss, against the Elizabethans, who were full-value for both wins through excellent execution on both sides of the ball.

Nevertheless, many bright spots for St. Joseph's were obvious throughout the day. Sonya Bergin was one of the tournament's premier players, rushing for several touchdowns on the day. Mary McNulty gave everything she had in terms of effort, and remained one of the stronger defenders throughout tournament play. And Jesse Vaive emerged as a potent offensive threat, scoring a touchdown and converting another, to go along with several rushes from scrimmage.

In all, a good effort has led to a good day of play, ended only through defeat at the hands of a very good football team that also wears the mantle of tournament favourite every year.

Congratulations Grade Eights! Check out the sports page for team photo.

Cells Take Life In Grade 8 Unit

2009-10-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

Grade 8 teacher Stacey McGregor has obviously never read Mary Shelley's great work Frankenstein.

Os so it would seem, given his tendency to want to play around with the building blocks of life every year as part of his opening science unit with grade eights. And so, here he is, at it again, messing around with plant and animal life at the cellular level, even requiring his students to build cells of their own before putting them on public display in his classroom.

We can only hope, as fellow staff and students sharing the building with these people, that some morning Mr. McGregor doesn't find more than he bargains for when he opens his classroom door.

Dr. Eva Olsson Visits St. Joseph's

2009-09-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

Rare are the opportunities in life when you get the opportunity to meet someone who speaks with such heart-felt eloquence about the things that are so truly important in life. Particularly when these are things that touch all of us: life, love, family, and friendship. And most profoundly, when all of it can be lost at the sweep of a hand in a world consumed by the fires of organized hatred.

Dr. Eva Olsson knows of this first-hand, and although it happened some sixty-five years ago, the pain is still there, the emotion raw, the sense of loss in no way lessened with the passage of time. That’s because, way back in 1944, Eva Olsson was sent to a Nazi concentration camp.

St. Joseph’s was blessed with the opportunity to hear Dr. Olsson speak of her ordeal, in the name of remembrance, somewhat, but also as a clarion call to be wary of the darkness that hatred brings when it travels in the hearts of humans.

Dr. Olsson was a typical, albeit poor, 19 year-old girl on the day when the beating of drums in the town square of her Hungarian hometown summoned the citizenry out of their homes to be read a message from the Nazi-ruled authorities. And unknown to her at the time, that small scrap of paper the man read from would serve as a death sentence to her entire family; her parents, her three sisters, her two brothers, and an assortment of young nieces and nephews.

Mind you, that’s not exactly what was read out that day. Rather, it gave notice to all Jews that they had exactly two hours to pack their bags before making the seven kilometre trek to the numerous boxcars waiting on the railway tracks, boxcars that would take them to Germany to begin work at a brick factory. One can’t fully comprehend such a journey unless they’ve experienced such a thing for themselves, but Eva remembers it as if it happened yesterday, 150 or so people jammed in a rail car with two pails of water, only one for drinking, and standing for the entirety of the four day trip, the elderly and weak dying daily where they stood, often remaining that way among those still living.

After four days the train stopped, the doors flew open, and the passengers rejoiced at the prospect of getting off alive and breathing fresh air once again. But Eva recalls the darkness in the sky from the pall of smoke, and the sickly-sweet smell on the breeze.

Because this was not Germany. This was Auschwitz.

Perhaps the most notorious of all the Nazi death camps of the Second World War. This was no brick factory. As Eva Olsson put it, this was a “factory of death.”

And so it was that Dr. Olsson stepped off that train to become part of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, horror story ever perpetrated by human beings upon other human beings; the systematic round-up and extermination of Jews during World War 2.

We know of it as the Holocaust, and Dr. Olsson is a survivor, that is if that's what you want to call it. Make no mistake, this 19 year-old girl, now well into her eighties, is deeply scarred, and survival is a bit of a relative thing, notwithstanding the good fortune of a long life.

She never really did get the opportunity to say goodbye to her mother. She can only recall, with anguish, the look on her mom’s face as she was swept up in a line that Eva now knows led to the gas chamber, to be followed by burning in the crematorium. That was the line, you see, for women, children, and the elderly, the people for whom the Nazis had no immediate use. The men, on the other hand, were directed to a different line that led to death through forced labour, starvation, and soul-breaking abuse. And as for young, attractive women, like Eva, who were “blessed” with, as she says, “healthy bodies?” As difficult as it is sometimes to contemplate the depths to which humanity can sink, it would appear, sadly, that the Nazi guards did have a "use" for such women, although all decent and moral beings would rightly recognize it as "abuse'.

Towards the end of the war, many Auschwitz prisoners were transferred to other camps, and Eva was fortunate enough to get sent to a camp near Essen, in western Germany, near the border with Holland. And it was there, in the waning days of the war, that she was liberated with her fellow survivors, poignant to us in that it was British and Canadian troops that set her camp free. This was the point she referred to as the beginning of her “second life.” At war’s end, she was patriated to Sweden, where she met a young man who would become her husband. Together they would move to Canada, she a Jew, and he not, and neither of them caring about the distinction. And they would remain that way happily until his life was snuffed out by a drunk driver a few, painfully short years later.

Dr. Eva Olsson brings to us a message of respect, of having the common decency to treat one another with understanding, with the genuine belief that each human being has value, no matter the colour of skin, their belief in God, or any other thing that might make us different, one from the other. Eva has lived through a time when people were more pre-occupied by differences. So much so, that it led to mass murder on a scale that’s almost beyond comprehension to those of us born well after. To Eva, we should dwell less on what makes us different, and celebrate more the things that make us the same.

And, of course, cherish the things that are important: life, love, family, and friendship.

New Administration Team at St. Joe's

2009-09-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

The secondment of principal Mark Searson to the position of Assistant to the Director of Education has resulted in some changes to the administration team here at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School.

Mr. Brennan Trainor, formerly vice-principal, now moves into the principal position, and brings with him a wealth of diverse experience to draw upon as he undertakes his new responsibilities. Mr Trainor, prior to his arrival last year at St. Joseph’s, had served several years in the position of vice-principal at Bishop Smith Catholic High School in Pembroke, one of the largest schools, if not the largest, in Renfrew County.

Prior to that posting, Trainor had served as both a teacher and principal’s designate of St. Thomas the Apostle School, right over there on the other side of the fence. The St. Joseph’s school community welcomes Mr. Trainor to his new responsibilities

and wishes him the very best.

St. Joseph’s also welcomes a new addition to our administration team, vice-principal Heidi Robinson.

Ms. Robinson has spent many years next door as well, moving from several different teaching assignments over her career to the position of vice-principal of St. Thomas the Apostle. In addition, Ms. Robinson simultaneously served as vice-principal of John XXIII Catholic School in Arnprior, Ontario.

Active and enthusiastic in the undertaking of her responsibilities, Ms. Robinson is a welcomed and valuable addition to the school, and we look forward to working with her as the year progresses.

Senior Jags Receive Robust Send-Off

2009-06-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

When the clock's ticking down to those last few minutes before lunch, and you hear a mob approaching amidst the crash of symbols and the blare of trumpetry, it's hard for the mind not to fill in the understanding gaps with certain imagery.

After all, there's going to be a perfectly reasonable explanation for it. Maybe a U.S. Marine Corps band has lost its GPS. Perhaps, it being a Catholic school, that it's just some saints, come marching in. Or maybe, just maybe, it's Don MacLeod's period 2 music class grabbing the inside lane to the cafeteria.

But today, it was none of that. It was, rather, a celebration of achievement, and an expression of pride and best wishes for a soccer team that went out and earned the right to represent this part of the province in an All-Ontario Championship.

As you know, our Senior Boys make the trip to London, Ontario today to participate in the OFSAA 'A' Championships, to be held Thursday and Friday. And that clamour coming down the hall was, in fact, Mr. MacLeod, leading a cohort of instrument-packing musicians and the student body of the school as they escorted the Senior Jaguars through the building en route to the gym, before packing the team aboard the bus for the great trek south.

Sirens blaring, the throng marched along, receiving the spontaneous and heart-felt applause of the classess they went by, their numbers growing larger with each doorway passed, and each hallway travelled.

A very impressive display of school spirit was what it was, and it bodes well for a school that appears to be sending more and more of its athletic teams to regional, and now provincial, championships.

The Jaguars begin the OFSAA tournament Thursday morning with an opening tilt against St. Domninic of Bracebridge at 9:00 AM. They then go up against the Acton Bearcats for a 1:00 PM encounter, before finishing up the qualifying round with a game against Norwich on Friday morning.

Fans can follow the status of the team by accessing the special portal on the SJCHS main page, or by following the link posted below.

And so, as has been said before, let the games begin.

OFSAA

Senior Jaguars Capture EOSSAA Soccer Crown

2009-06-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Up against some stiff competition, and against a backdrop of some pretty dismal weather, the St. Joseph's Jaguars Senior Boys went undefeated through tournament play and emerged Eastern Ontario 'A' Division Champions at the EOSSAA Championship Series late last week.

The victory sends the Jaguars to the All-Ontario championship starting Wednesday.

St. Joseph's route to the final came courtesy of a couple of offensive efforts, an opening 4-2 victory over St. Francis, followed by a 5-2 win over Marie Riviere to guarantee the Renfrew club a spot in the final. Ryan Cuthill, Chris Ivory, Chris Jedrezczak, and Alec Vice provided the scoring against St. Francis, while in the second game, it was Ivory with a pair, and Jedrezczak, Vice, and Phil Carter chipping in with singles.

Against host club Notre Dame in the final, Alec Vice put the Jags up early with a key strike, but the squad found itself behind a goal early in the second half. Vice struck again later in the half, bending one just under the crossbar on a free kick from 30 yards out, sending the final in overtime.

A foul on Chris Ivory in the penalty area set up a penalty shot, and Vice once again stepped up, driving one home for the winner.

Jaguars coach Mark Valliquette described the club's effort as "amazing" throughout the day, and also singled out the team defense and efforts of goaltender Brandon Woertink as key contributors to the championship effort.

St. Joseph's now travels to London, Ontario to represent Eastern Ontario in the OFSAA playdowns.

SJCHS Celebrates Catholic Education Week

2009-05-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

As part of Catholic Education Week, the entire student body of St. Joseph's Catholic High School travelled to Arnprior Wednesday to celebrate Mass at St. John Chysostom. Joining together with students from St. Joseph's Arnprior and John XXIII, SJCHS students were encouraged by Father Pat Dobec to "reach for the top."

Father Dobec, himself a graduate of St. Joseph's, shared with students his profound sense of love for his chosen vocation, and held the priesthood up as one of many examples of people living out their Catholicity and making it a central tenet to their lives. Students were challenged to find and cultivate ways in which they too might bring the Good News to life in their own situations.

Reaching for the top of one's relationship with God in a world busy with the clutter and allure of contrary values is a difficult proposition. That said, Father Dobec was able to assure us that the effort to reach for the top was laden with rewards far greater than any satisfaction obtained through the pursuit of other things, such as wealth, power, greed, and influence.

St. Joseph's attends a Mass at St. John Chrysostom once a year in solidarity with the many students attending the school who live in the municipality of Arnprior.

Love and the Enduring Gift of Life

2009-04-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

Love is something that we’ve all experienced, and done so in a number of ways. It’s something that’s cherished, and so, when lost, it causes a hurt like no other.

Losing a loved one is the most difficult thing in life. When that loved one is a child, the loss is devastating, and if an only child, more so. There’s little chance that such loss can be articulated, that such a depth of despair can be truly captured by mere words. It’s a part of the human condition that is vocabulary-limiting.

Two years ago, St. Joseph’s Catholic High School secretary Susan Love experienced such a loss. Her son, Phillip, her only child, died tragically in Halifax, Nova Scotia. And as if it were possible to make such a thing worse, Phillip didn’t lose his life as much as he had it taken from him, snatched away through an act of senseless violence perpetrated by others.

But a hospital bed-side decision made by Susan two years ago is now taking on a life of its own, figuratively, but also quite literally as well.

Susan Love did something that any one of us can do, just by signing the back of our driver’s licence, but often not thinking to do so. She signed a release giving doctors permission to harvest Phillip’s organs for transplant in others, something so simple, yet so profoundly selfless.

You need go no farther than Ralph Poley to understand what this means. Poley’s an expert at this sort of stuff. He’s a high-end attorney from St. John, New Brunswick, and he knows the Phillip Love story probably as well as anyone. That’s because Ralph Poley carries the heart of Phillip Love inside of him every single day of his life. The recipient of a heart transplant, Ralph lives because of the generosity of Phillip. And so, in a sense, Phillip continues to live as well. Not as before, certainly, but there’s something there, and somehow, in some small way, his loss is not made total. It’s not final. A part of him is still here.

And it makes all the difference in the world.

On Saturday, May 9, 2009, Susan Love’s planning to throw a party of sorts. Right here at St. Joseph’s High School, she’s going to have some folks over, cut some cake, and talk to people about how important it is to make that same commitment she did on behalf of her son Phillip. She’ll tell you that the gift of an organ is perhaps the greatest gift one can bestow upon another, and that it can be the difference between life and death for that person, that total stranger lucky enough to receive it.

One such recipient is Ralph Poley, although he’s a stranger no longer. You see, Ralph Poley’s going to be there, too, with his wife. And you can just ask them.

They’d be happy to tell you all about it.

Earth Day: A Great Big Game of Pick-Up

2009-04-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, April 22nd was Earth Day here at St. Joe’s, as it was everywhere else, and, as it was everywhere else, there was a lot taking place that had the effect of putting an extra shine on the place.

Under the leadership of Mr. Halk, battle teams were marshaled, these being home room classes, and given orders to sweep designated areas in search of things that don’t belong there naturally. Or, if you prefer, they were sent out to pick up garbage.

And that they did. And boy, did they ever.

It would surprise most to discover just how much refuse exists in those little pockets of here and there, those places we don’t often get to. And over the course of time, a lot of stuff can be discarded in such places, to the detriment of the environment.

Ideally, people would exercise a higher degree of responsibility with their potential throwaways in the first place. But in the absence of that, the next best thing is a community that cares enough to make things right again. Such communities, in their way, make the

world, even if it’s just their small slice of it, a better place.

Coffee House Returns April 23

2009-04-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

St. Joeseph's will once again be hosting a Coffee House, this time on Thursday, April 23, 2009. for the admission price of $5.00, you get a bottomless cup of coffee or tea, and the priceless opportunity to sit back and enjoy some of the best amateur talent available, not only here at St. Joe's, but anywhere.

As always, it's shaping up to be a good line-up, and you can expect to see:

Nick and Natalie Walters
Collin Carnegie, Riley Wedderburn, Jon Legris, and Liam Melville
Marlee Vandewouw and Lindsay Vaive
Dustin Garron
Adam Cadieux and Curtis Chusroskie
Delaney and Caroline Holley
The Four Quarters
Eddie Kubiseskie
The Blues Guys
Mr. Retty, Dave Berndt, Miles Rowat, Brandon Woertink, Tom Prince, Olly Richards
Brendan Raymond and Riley Wedderburn
Jen Hall
Kelly Slight
The Helferty Family, featuring Stevo
Dueling Accordians (first time ever)
Bailey and Rick Rogers
Many appearances by Mr. McSheffrey, Catherine Helferty, Sarah McSheffrey, Mr. Helferty, and others!

The Coffee House starts at 6:30 PM. Food and snacks will be on sale.

Curriculum Righting Teams Yield Positive Result

2009-04-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

With the class average consistently coming in at 58%, you don’t have to be any type of wizard to figure out that the status quo might not be enough to cut it.

We live in an academic culture of accountability, where we are tested, then tested, then tested again to reference ourselves against thresholds identified by the ministry as being the “ideal” place for most students to be in any given area. For education, that’s most often associated with the Level 3 notch, and it applies universally to all subjects at the Grade 8 level. Level 3, of course, corresponds with the 70-79% range, and it’s the goal to bring as many students as possible to that place on the assessment continuum.

CONTINUED HERE

Salsa Brings Some Heat To Gym Class

2009-04-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of Canadians, who, when searching about for a mid-winter vacation destination, choose the Caribbean for their hot spot. And in the Caribbean, we all know that “hot” isn’t confined to being a word used merely for the description of temperature.

Part of that heat is cultural, where the Latin rhythms of the Spanish influence meld with the African heritage to produce a heat all it’s own, distinctive in style as much as sound.

Yes, many Canadians value this enough to go to great effort, both in time and money, to acquire a taste of the Caribbean, if only for a brief period of time. And then there are other Canadians who are fortunate enough to have the Caribbean come to them.

One such group would be the young ladies who comprise Linda Ainsworth’s grade 9 physical education class, who captured the mood quite nicely by learning that staple of Latin American dance, the Salsa, in gym class. Courtesy of a guest instructor, the girls were put through the paces of the music and dance that come together to provide a slice of the Caribbean, wherever you may happen to be.

The word “salsa” in Spanish means “sauce,” something familiar to most North American snackers. But as applied to the dance, there is that hint of “spicy,” which is the essence of Salsa. And from the photographic evidence that exists, it appears that our girls were laying on the spice pretty thick.

Well done, senoritas!

Children's Mental Health Week

2009-04-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families is sponsoring a Children's Mental Health Week Poster Contest and have asked that the attached posters be given to all of our students.

The poster can be viewed by visiting the following link:

http://www.scribd.com/full/14112074?access_key=key-1nne9xxqu0unhdox7gz4

RCCDSB Releases 2009-2010 School Year Calendar

2009-04-09T14:34:00.000-07:00

The Renfrew County Catholic District School Board has released its 2009-2010 School Year Calendar after giving the document approval on March 30, 2009.

This particular calendar is noteworthy given the fact that the school year starts September 1, 2009, a full week prior to Labour Day, the traditional end of the summer vacation.

For a closer look, please access the following link or visit the STUDENT SERVICES page.

http://www.scribd.com/full/14111836?access_key=key-a4z4eyqi82rvjrb9swx

Earth Hour Observed All Day At SJCHS

2009-03-27T14:10:00.000-07:00

It’s amazing, really, how much noise a light makes. And it’s not something you really tend to notice in the blur of a regular day at school. Rather, it seems to be something you notice more for it’s not being there.

The lights were off today at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School. Well, not really all of them, but aside from those lights needed to guarantee safety and a minimum level of acceptable service, all the lights were off today. And it made a difference.

The first noticeable thing was how much quieter the school was. Sure, we’re going to notice that it’s darker, but we expect that, given how it’s Earth Hour, or at least how we observe Earth Hour as a school when the actual event falls on a Saturday. So the fact that it was darker didn’t really come as a big surprise. But the fact that it was quieter, well that’s different.

It certainly gives one a sensory appreciation, other than light, of the amount of electricity that courses through a building during the course of a day. Everywhere one walked, lights were off or dimmed, computers were dark, white boards and overhead projectors down. And everyone, students, teachers, administrators, custodians, and support staff, carrying on with business as usual.

Darker, yes. Quieter, yes again. But every bit as functional, with not a beat skipped, or a single thing sacrificed in the effort of making a substantial gesture in defense of the planet.

Well done, St. Joe’s. It’s difficult to comment on the whole Earth, but it appears that the part of it that we occupy is in really good hands.

THINKfast: The Spirit Alive and Moving

2009-03-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

On March 12 and 13^th, twenty-eight St. Joseph’s High School students participated in a 25-hour THINKfast, to collect funds in support of Development and Peace.

The event was well represented by students from grades 8-12. Staff members Tim O’Connor and Katie Milosek supervised the fast, and were part of the sleepover that took place at the school on Thursday evening. Activities were organized by the Pastoral Team, and included tag, hide and seek, and a relay event that was similar to the popular “Amazing Race” on television, where awareness was raised about the issue of mining by Canadian companies in third world countries.

To complete the fast, Fr. McNamara, parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, celebrated Mass with the participants in the school Chapel, with participants joining together in the cafeteria afterwards for snacks and juice.

The THINKfast was a very successful event, raising a total of $1292.25 for Development and Peace.

Earth Hour: Lights Out For Planet Earth

2009-03-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

In a joint effort between the Ontario Ministry of Education and the World Wildlife Federation, Ontario Education Minister Kathleen Wynne has announced a challenge issued to schools across the province to reduce their ecological footprint through their participation in the WWF Earth Hour promotion.

While Earth Hour itself is scheduled for a Saturday evening, Wynne believes that the province's schools can make their mark on the preceding Friday, March 27, 2009.

The minister indicated the direction of her thinking in a letter to Ontario's directors of education. "Earth Hour is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to environmental education. Not just by turning off the lights, but by turning on young minds. Whether it’s a lesson on electricity, civics or mathematics, please encourage your schools to use Earth Hour as a learning opportunity."

Minister Wynne also pointed to Ontario's Environmental Education Policy Framework, launched under the banner Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow. The initiative makes environmental education a part of every child’s learning and fosters environmentally responsible practices across the province. In keeping with all of that, schools are encouraged to find ways in which a lighter electrical load might be achieved for that weekend prior to leaving the school on that Friday evening. As well, teachers and students are encouraged to engage in fruitful dialogue that raises awareness around the very real issue of climate change.

Last year, in Toronto alone, participating schools were able to achieve a 29% reduction in their use of electricity, a significant effort at reducing their impact on climate change, and one that resulted in the saving of considerable dollars in electricity costs.

The real savings, though, are those that, in some small way, make our planet a more viable future place for us, our children, and their children after that. Please consider what you might be able to do, either on Earth Day itself, or everyday, that might show this great big hunk of rock that we actually do care.

CPAN Hosts "Battle of Wits"

2009-03-05T16:23:00.000-08:00

The Renfrew County Child Poverty Action Network (CPAN) will be hosting what they refer to as a "Community Fued," March 28, 2009 at the Pembroke Catering Hall. The event, to raise money and awareness for activities in the County directed towards alleviating the effects of child poverty.

The event is styled as a "battle of wits," whose winners claim bragging rights as the "Smartest in the Land." Participating teams will be made up of eight members each, and will measure themselves against the competition through a series of questions that teams grapple with over a defined period of time. There are also incentives for teams to adopt a "thematic" approach to their presentation, including distinctive clothing that offsets them from the rest of the crowd, is consistent with their theme, and just plain adds to the fun.

The cost for teams is $120, and a tax receipt is provided for any who can make use of it. For the purposes of St. Joseph's High School, teachers and/or students can form teams, and challenges have been issued to other high schools in the County. Participants are asked to canvass for pledges in the community to raise the money that serves as the project's goal.

The event runs from 6:00 to 11:00 PM.

For more information, please access the links below:

REGISTRATION FORM

PLEDGE FORM

Algonquin College Chef Visits The Jaguar Kitchen

2009-02-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

Chef David Keindel of Algonquin College paid a visit to St. Joseph's Hospitality and Tourism program on Monday, February 9, 2009.

Chef Keindel dropped in to offer some of his expertise in the supervision of a large bakeshop operation involving the production of sugar cookies. The program, under the direction of Mrs. Linda Ainsworth, is one of several that is now located in the school's new instructional wing.

For additional photography, please access the link on the right side-bar.

ABSOLUTE Visits SJCHS

2009-02-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

Where do we find our heroes?

I guess it depends on where we look for them.

In our culture of mass media and entertainment, we often find them in the shows we watch on television, the movies we rent, the theatres we attend. They’re to be found in the books we read, the magazines we browse through, and the music we pipe in through our ear buds.

In short, they’re out there.

Some may be fictional and some may be real, but regardless, we want them to exist. In fact, there’s something in all of us that needs them to exist. I mean, really, what kind of world would it be without heroes? Who would save us from the villains? Who would make everything right in the end? Who would there be to cheer for? From whom would we derive the inspiration that lifts us out of our seats, wherever it is that we happen to be seated?

The speaking/performing/presentation group absolute visited St. Joseph’s Catholic High School on Friday, and they came to talk to us about heroes. And they came to talk about themselves.

Each, in their own way, has experienced hardship. Each has endured a unique burden of darkness, something they carried

with them, something they hid from the world, whether in shame, in hurt, or the loneliness of despair. Each told us of something, or rather someone, that arrived at a critical point. Someone who took the time to stop and notice. Someone who both looked at them and saw them, and bestowed a sense of value upon them. Someone who cared.

These were their heroes. Nobody came dressed in tights. There were no flowing capes. No buildings were vaulted in single or several bounds. Just people. Plain old regular, ordinary people types, who stopped, reached out of themselves, and touched somebody else in a way that continues to resonate in the lives of these young people.

These were not the only heroes spoken of today. The good works of others were pointed out as well, missions in the third world, hungry people being fed, homeless people being sheltered, and the like. The timing of the message was particularly poignant, as St. Joseph’s just launched their Dominican Republic Team on their mission only yesterday, a group of young people bent on making the world a better place by offering their love and assistance to a small, but grateful part of it.

Today, absolute tours the country offering a message of hope, and a challenge to the audiences in front of them. The message is to make a choice. That is, choose not to be small. Choose to place value on yourself, to appreciate your worth, indeed to love yourself. Not in arrogance or superiority, but to learn to love yourself comfortably. To be at ease with who you are, and not necessarily who you think others would have you be. And then, once comfortable with who you are, and your value to the world and the people in it, to further choose to not make others small. To show them respect, to assist them with the discovery of their value. To reach outside of yourself and touch another with the simplicity of your caring.

To be a hero.

So where do we find our heroes? I suppose the answer is all around us.

And in us.

NET Team Retreats Held This Week

2009-01-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

The Grade 9 and 10 students of SJCHS recently attended the NET Team Retreat this past Monday and Tuesday at St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall.

The NET Team is the National Evangelization Team, a group of nine youth who travel across Canada for a year to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Part of the group's mandate is to host retreats such as the ones here in Renfrew, and another held in Pembroke at St. Columbkille Cathedral for interested St. Joe's students, who attended in conjunction with students from Bishop Smith Catholic High School.

Students are presented with important and relevent messages through activities, games, and personal talks from Retreat Team members.

Pictured above are NET Team members with the SJCHS grade 9 class during the retreat this past Monday.

Operation Christmas Child

2008-11-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

The world's largest children's Christmas project, Operation Christmas Child found life here at St. Joseph's Catholic High School during the month of November. No fewer than 140 shoe boxes, filled with items intended to bring holiday cheer to those children less fortunate than most, were turned in by students at St. Joe's in an effort undertaken under the leadership of students Bohden Timchuck, Caroline Pilon, and SJCHS chaplain Katie Milosek.

For a school the size of St. Joe's, this represents a proportion of generosity of one box for approximately every three students, something noteworthy in terms of scale as it is in terms of the amount of effort necessary to assemble the contents for each box. But despite the demands of time and resources that everyday life places on people, our community has responded decisively, and has done so during a time of perceived economic uncertainty.

Things like these are done not because of reward, or to gain recognition. They are done by people who, faced with the reality that there are those less fortunate than we, respond with a beautiful simplicity, that being an understanding that it is, quite frankly, the right thing to do.

There was once a fellow named Jesus who operated under principles such as these. And through His works and words came the idea that "Whatsoever you do unto the least of these, you do also to me."

The students and staff at SJCHS have, in their own substantial way, reached out to the children of the world, and will substantially impact 140 of them with a most profound gift of love. And by doing so, they have firmly anchored the words of Jesus to our own lives by giving them life through action.

Good on you.

Bishop Mulhall Dedicates New Wing at SJCHS

2008-11-17T13:46:00.001-08:00

In a culmination of vision, and with an expression of pride, students and staff of St. Joseph's Catholic High School, along with special guests and dignitaries, officially "launched" the new expansion of SJCHS with a blessing offered by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Michael Mulhall in a Monday afternoon ceremony.

In his remarks, Principal Mark Searson alluded to the hard work by many stakeholders over the years who took a dream and, by virtue of their dedication and resolve to make a difference, fashioned it into a reality.

Among those on hand were Andy Bray, the current Chair of the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board, who Searson credited with being one of those on the ground floor of all the ideas that reached their fruition in the completion of the new wing and the various specialties contained therein. Bray, whose children began attending St. Joe's about, as he put it, " a quarter-century ago," was also part of the drive that resulted in Arnprior students being able to attend St. Joe's through an expansion in transportation capability.

Also present was Michelle Arbour, the Director of Education. An ardent advocate of SJCHS expansion since her arrival to the Board, Ms. Arbour was also credited for her role in the incorporation of the local grade 8 classes into the St. Joe's community, and the resultant effects of increased enrollment and retention of Catholic students within the system. Mr. Searson, referring to Ms. Arbour's role, used a compelling line from the movie "Field of Dreams" when he spoke of the former superintendant, and now director's belief, that if "you build it, they will come."

Mr. Searson was also effusive in his praise of all the stakeholder groups that banded together in common cause over the years, sharing the goal that is now concretized in bricks and mortar, and made alive by the people who bring it to life. Special mention was made of former SJCHS principal, and now Superintendant of Education Jaimie Perry, whose presence and guidance over the last few years has been, in Searson's view, instrumental to today's successful outcome.

Following the official blessing, participants were entertained by an impressive range of the St. Joesph's performing arts community, a fitting celebration to conclude the proceedings.

MADD Presents To St. Joe's

2008-11-17T13:13:00.000-08:00

No matter who you may speak to, anyone who has ever experienced the cascading emotions and effects of impaired driving will agree to one thing above all else. That is, that drunk driving, and the brutal toll it takes on people as victims, loved ones of victims, friends, first responders, and the wider community, is a tragedy.

And all the more tragic, a preventable one.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving stopped in to St. Joseph's Catholic High School Monday and delivered another heart-wrenching presentation, one heavily-laden with the still raw emotion of the survivors and those left to pick up and deal with the shattered pieces of their lives.

And really, how could it be anything other than this, emotional, hard-hitting, and devoid of anything that might take the sting out of it? Because that's how it is, and sometimes, well, we just forget a little bit. And maybe let down our guard. Or let circumstances cloud our good judgement. And therein lay the danger, and therefore the need for presentations such as today.

So that we do remember the tragedy of it all. So that we do take greater care with the most precious thing we have, our life, and for that other precious thing, that being the great love that others have for us.

It was pointed out that the number one threat to the life of a teenager in North America is a car crash, and that 40% of such crashes involve drivers legally impaired by alcohol or other drugs, either alone or in combination. Interestingly, the use of the word "crash" was stressed, and used pointedly in place of the all-too-familiar term of "accident." Because there are no accidents when it comes to this issue. Choices, to be sure, but no accidents.

Cars rarely crash on their own. When they do, it mostly involves some aspect of human failure. A failure of care and control and a failure of judgement. And this failure is unforgiving, and comes with a horrible price.

Imagine if someone identified an affliction that killed young people more than any other, and that all we had to do as a society was not drink and drive. Imagine if the cure to this affliction was simply good judgement, on the part of individuals primarily, but also on the part of friends of individuals.

This tragedy has already struck this community, too many times, resulting in too many victims, and far too many broken hearts. Periodically we need to be reminded of our responsiblities to ourselves, to those that we love, and to the greater community that we are part of.

Our thanks to MADD for playing their role in that endeavour.

SJCHS Remembers

2008-11-09T17:03:00.000-08:00

Hallowe'en At St. Joe's

2008-11-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

The spirit of Hallowe'en was in full display Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic High School with a full range of activities for students and staff.

Among them, of course, was the annual and hotly-contested pumpkin carving contest, won this year by a couple of grade 12 classes, taking advantage of their seasoned experience in the art of hollowing out the orange, gourd-like plant made famous for it's protection against whatever lurks in the night.

There was the haunted walk, an oddysey of darkness, a journey into the unknown. It was well-attended by many who chose to brave whatever may lay concealed in the gloom, and whatever bone-chilling delight that might leap from the shadows. We are happy to report that all who entered emerged safely on the other side, where the darkness was once again defeated by the light.

The building was awash in costumes, and several prizes were awarded to participants, including Joel Raycroft,pictured above at the Spirit Spot.

Congratulations to all who participated, and again to the Student Council, for their continued good efforts to promote spirit here at SJCHS.

Katie Milosek Named New SJCHS Chaplain

2008-10-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

The Renfrew County Catholic District School Board was pleased to announce Tuesday the appointment of Miss Katie Milosek as chaplain of St. Joseph's Catholic High School.

Miss Milosek has spent the early part of her career teaching at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School, and more recently at St. Michael's Catholic School in Douglas. She joined the St. Joseph's staff in September as a teacher of Religion.

"I am so very excited to be embarking on this new journey, another side path of the great road of life. My faith has always been an important part of who I am, and it is a real blessing to be given the opportunity to link my career as a teacher with this new role as Chaplain of St. Joseph’s Catholic High School.

I look forward to all that this position offers – to the successes and challenges alike. Many thanks for the encouraging welcome I have received from the St. Joe’s school community so far, and may God bless us and walk with us, all along the way."

Reaching For Rainbows

2008-10-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

St. Joseph's High School was represented Sunday at the annual Reach For the Rainbow telethon, held this year at Renfrew Collegiate Institute. The event marks the annual major fundraising initiative in support of the Sunshine coach program here in Renfrew.

Pictured above with a cheque for $100.00 are SJCHS spirit ministers Lindsay Dick and Kelly Slight.

Pink Day: Breast Cancer Awareness

2008-10-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 has been designated as Pink Day, where students and staff have been invited to wear pink in support of breast cancer research.

Pink ribbons will be available for all who wish to wear one, and will be distributed through home rooms on Wednesday morning. Donations in support of cancer research can be made in home room, while a table will be set up at lunch to provide students and staff with ribbons and/or literature pertaining to this important issue.

There is reason for great hope. Where once there was almost certain despair, cancer research and treatment is now saving lives. And this has been made possible through donations and efforts of people like you, who, through your caring, have made the fight against this disease a winnable one.

Fall Food Drive

2008-10-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

On Friday,October 17, 2008, students and staff of St. Joseph's contributed once again to what has become a bit of a tradition, that being a Fall Food Drive.

The drive, organized by the SJCHS Student council, was pronounced a success, and a profound thank you goes out to all those contributing food items and/or organizing effort to make this event the success it was.

Pictured above with some of this year's harvest are, from left to right, Lindsay Dick, Kelly Slight, Michael Mosco, and Catherine Helferty.

Spirit Day A Smash Success

2008-10-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

A quick search of the internet revealed thirty-one variations of the definition of spirit. Among them were:

• an attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervades thought, feeling, or action: the spirit of reform.

• excellent disposition or attitude in terms of vigor, courage, firmness of intent, etc.; mettle: That's the spirit!

• vigorous sense of membership in a group: college spirit.

• to encourage; urge on or stir up, as to action.

It would appear, then, that these are the most apt when one is looking to define the meaning of St. Joseph’s Spirit Day, held Friday, October 3, 2008. From start to finish, from the opening handshake to the final act of the talent show, all four of these definitions were on full display.

Not contrived, not for show, not just to put on an act, but real, genuine spirit. The kind that’s meant, made easy because it’s the kind that’s felt.

Spirit Day is a time for us to come together, to get to know one another, to welcome the new, and to deeper appreciate those whom we are becoming more familiar with. We play together, we sing together, we yell and scream together, we jump up and down together, and we cheer one another along. And we laugh. Boy, do we ever laugh.

Friday was the day in which the culmination of an entire week’s worth of events came together, as we came together, and it was, to borrow a term, a blast.

Special thanks must be extended to the student council, especially Lindsay Dick and Kelly Slight, for the incredible effort put forward to organize this event, and see it through to a successful conclusion. Thanks as well to the many staff members, who through the employment of their own special talents and personalities, make days like this so memorable. And to Mr. Searson, who, through his humble leadership, inspires us all to be genuine in our happiness, to be thankful for it, and to share it with all others we may cross paths with.

Taken as a whole, it’s clear that St. Joseph’s has what we can rightly call “spirit.” The kind that’s defined above, and, upon reflection, another kind. The kind that’s spelled with a capital S.

And that’s who we are at St. Joseph’s.

Proof of the Spirit.

The Spirit in motion, and alive in each and every one of us.

SPIRIT DAY PHOTOS

Peanut Butter

2008-09-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

As you are aware, there is an ever-increasing need for vigilance and understanding when it comes to the reality of anaphylactic allergies, primarily those allergies that are connected to bees, certain foods, and in particular, peanut butter.

We have several students in our school community who are at risk as a result of these allergies. Obviously, as a school community, we have a desire and obligation to create and maintain an environment in which all of our students are safe, whatever the threat, and from wherever it may emerge. Safety is the product of awareness of harm, identification of safe practices, implementation of these practices, and if necessary, enforcement. But the greatest single factor involved in the establishment of a safe environment is caring.

Caring about the issue. Caring about the solutions. Caring about each other.

As a school, we're never going to be able to absolutely guarantee that we are peanut-free. But guarantees aside, we would certainly like to create an environment in which our anaphylactic students can feel safe and secure. And to do that, we'd very much like to ask you for your help.

Of all the preventative measures we could adopt as a school family, perhaps the simplest would be our awareness around products containing nuts, and in particular, peanut or peanut-butter-based products or food items. By voluntarily refraining from bringing such products to school, we directly and substantially make a difference in the lives of some of our school family. We do this by choosing not to put their health, and indeed their lives, at risk.

We do this because we care. And we are all the better for it.

A Look Inside Cells

2008-09-20T11:06:00.001-07:00

In Grade 8, students continue to develop their knowledge of organisms by focusing on the structure and function of cells in plants and animals. In Stacey McGregor’s science class, students are to demonstrate an understanding of this by constructing a three-dimensional rendering showing the basic structure of a plant and animal cell.

Work on this culminating activity was completed this week, and the results were on display for anyone to have a look at. And the results were truly amazing.

As the grade 8's are part of a science rotation, other students will have this opportunity presented to them as well, and if the first wave of projects is any indication, it would appear that this unit will be a continued success in terms of student achievement.

Opening Day Prayer Service

2008-09-02T17:40:00.001-07:00

Today was opening day, and it was great to see everyone so ready to begin a new school year.

All members of the St. Joseph's community started the school day with an assembly in the gymnasium celebrating our identity as people of faith, and it was truly wonderful to witness the blessings we share in the context of our opening prayer service.

We are a community of faith, and we wear that distinction proudly. Taken as a whole, that faith is in good health, as we witnessed in the gymnasium today.

Parent-Teacher Interviews

2008-09-02T17:10:00.001-07:00

What???!!? Like, we just got here!

Nevertheless, time moves quickly, so please be aware of the approach of parent-teacher interviews, scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

Interviews will take place in the gymnasium from 3:30 to 7:30 PM. If this time is not convenient for you, please contact the school to arrange for an alternative date/time.

A Welcome To New Staff

2008-09-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

St. Joseph's welcomes several new staff members to begin the 2008-2009 school year. We encourage everyone in our school community to extend a friendly hello to:

Mr. Daniel St. Michael
Ms. Jessica Pender
Miss Katie Milosek
Mr. Matt O'Connor
Mrs. Sheilagh Mackenzie
Mr. Trent Skelhorn

As well, two guests entering the final year of their respective faculties of education are with us for the first semester. Miss Chrissy Cobus is assigned to Miss O'Gorman while Mr. Jordan deBryun will be spending time in Mr. Jones' class.

Again, a warm St. Joe's welcome to all.

Student Activity Fees

2008-09-02T16:59:00.000-07:00

Students and parents are reminded to pay their Student Activity Fees as soon as possible.

All students are expected to pay the Student Activity Fee as it provides the major source of funding for Student council to run extra-curricula events. Students who participate in major and minor teams and clubs must also pay a user fee to help defray costs. All fees may be paid at the Tuck Shop.