Two schools from The Ottawa Catholic School Board were recognized with BMO Financial Group National Student Innovation Awards at The Learning Partnership's 2013 Ottawa Entrepreneurial Adventure Showcase. 

The Grade 4 students from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School (pictured above) won the Enterprising Spirit Award for their project, S.E.A.S. Stars. This project involved researching, creating and selling The Essential Hiring Guide to senior high school students and local business people. The guide assists in understanding the skills required to be good employees and what to look for in such an employee. Profits were donated to Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Read more: Two OCSB Schools Win National Innovation Awards

Catherine Grant, a teacher at St. Paul High School's Senior Education for Community Living class, took her students on a lunch adventure to Ikea where they experienced a random act of generosity and kindness. After the students got their frozen yogourt cones, an elderly gentleman sitting at the table beside their group beckoned Catherine over to talk with him.

Read more: Heartwarming Kindness

Paul McDonough, a Tech Ed teacher from All Saints High School was recently recognized by the Ontario Council for Technology Education (OCTE) and Skills Canada with the Dick Hopkins Award. Dick was at technology teacher and instructor with the Technology Education Faculty at Queens University, and one of Paul's former instructors and mentors. This award is presented annually in memory of Dick’s active participation and promotion of skills competitions and events. In the photo, Paul receives his award from presenter Gail Smith, Executive Director of Skills Canada.

Paul has provided wonderful mentorship and learning opportunities to all of his students at All Saints High School from grades 7 through to 12. He is the lead teacher for the award-winning All Saints FIRST Robotics team, and also mentors robotics teams in other schools. Paul consistently demonstrates effective leadership, innovation in education, and commitment to excellence in teaching. Well done Paul!

A few weeks ago, Cristina Andronic, a grade 11 student from St. Paul High School claimed first prize for the third year in a row at the Ontario French Public Speaking competition held at York University in Toronto. In doing so, she was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to York University, as well as a spot in the National Concours d'art oratoire held at the University of Ottawa.

At Nationals, the pre-selection committee decided to bump Cristina up one level from 2 to 3, and she ended up claiming first place in the Level 3 category! By winning first place at the National Concours, she will recieve a $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 a year) to the University of Ottawa!

Her impressive speech "La quête moderne pour l'immortalité" was about the modern quest for immortality. Félicitations Cristina, nous sommes très fiers de toi!