September 19, 2016
On Friday, September 23, hundreds of elementary and secondary students from various Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) schools will celebrate Franco-Ontarian day by taking part in activities in their school or in the community. Wearing green and white clothing, students, parents and staff from a number of schools will take part in this celebration of Franco-Ontarian vitality. While some students will celebrate this day in events held in their school, others will march through the neighbouring streets and proudly wave Franco-Ontarian flags and school banners.
The following three cultural celebration activities involving CSCNO students are among those set for Greater Sudbury. Members of the media are cordially invited to attend.
As part of Franco-Ontarian Day, students from grades 4 to 8 and staff from École St-Étienne (Dowling) and École Ste-Marie (Azilda) will join École secondaire catholique Champlain students for the Festival Franco Requins event. Some 500 students and adults wearing green and white clothing will participate in this celebration of Franco-Ontarian vitality at ESC Champlain (61 Brookside Drive, Chelmsford). The day, which will begin at 9 a.m. with activities and games, will also include a flag-raising ceremony at 1 p.m.
École St-Pierre (70 Wilfred Street, Sudbury) students from grades 1 to 8 from will march from their school towards the intersection of Second Avenue and Bancroft Drive. At 11:45 a.m., proudly waving Franco-Ontarian flags and wearing green CSCNO bandanas, they will sing “Notre Place” and “Mon Beau Drapeau.”
Grades 4 to 8 students from École Ste-Thérèse (4617 Ste-Thérèse Street, Val Thérèse) will display their pride on a fun-filled day of activities. Starting at 11:15 a.m., students, parents and staff will take part in an animated march through the school’s neighbouring streets. Following the creation of Franco-Ontarian flags and green and white little men to decorate the entrance of the gymnasium, students will assemble at 1:50 p.m. in a rally that will include the singing of “Notre Place.”
The provincial Franco-Ontarian day, celebrated officially since 2010, will take place on September 25. The date marks the anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag, which was flown for the first time in Sudbury in 1975. CSCNO school students and staff take great pride in celebrating the flag’s 41st anniversary. The day of activities, while recognizing our Francophone and Catholic heritage, also promotes the excellence and dedication of our students and staff as they seek to widen their Francophone space and live their own culture to the full in the province of Ontario.
The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario offers a French Catholic education that is widely recognized for its excellence. The CSCNO provides a quality learning environment within an academic program that runs from early childhood to adult education, with some 7,000 students enrolled in 27 elementary and 10 secondary schools.
Source:
Paul de la Riva
Interim Assistant Director of Communications and Community Development Coordinator
Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario
(705) 673-5626, ext. 294
(705) 677-8195 – cell phone