November 8, 2017

The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) was once again pleased to benefit from the visit of Québec cultural leader Isabelle Garceau, who created and led a series of personal development workshops based on Aboriginal cultural practices. Her “Au rythme de nos cœurs” workshop made it possible for participating CSCNO students to dig deeper into their self-understanding and their relationships both with others and with the environment.

The workshop, facilitated by Ms. Garceau, was offered to over 90 grade 8 students from several CSCNO schools as part of the November 4 and 5, 2017 Leadership Camp at Collège Notre-Dame (Sudbury). École St-Denis (Sudbury) students from grades 4 through 6 and Kindergarten through grade 8 students from École St-Joseph (Sudbury) also benefited from the workshop offered in their schools on November 6 and 7, respectively.

“Au rythme de nos cœurs” introduces students to song and music as a means for strengthening self-knowledge and relationships with the environment and other people. During the workshop, songs are shared orally and learned through repetition, as is the tradition in aboriginal culture. The drum is also an integral part of the workshop because, as Ms. Garceau explains, it is truly the pulse of the nation and the universe. The drum is also an integral part of traditional celebrations whose purpose is to communicate with the divine.

The CSCNO values the importance of Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis and Inuits) teachings in its schools and ensures that aboriginal students receive the support they need to reach their full potential. The Board’s program includes initiatives for indigenous students that support awareness, learning and academic success and seek to instill pride and a sense of belonging to aboriginal cultures.

The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario offers a French Catholic Educational Program that is widely recognized for its excellence. The CSCNO provides a quality learning environment and academic program that runs from early childhood to adult education, with some 7,000 students enrolled in 27 elementary and 10 secondary schools.

Source:
Brigitte Morin
External Relations Coordinator
Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario
705-673-5626, ext. 389
705-690-9740 (cell)