Teens at Catholic high school in Niagara Falls gain insight into their strengths and style of learning as part of preparation for job fair
by Paul Forsyth Niagara This Week - Niagara Falls - Nov. 26, 2019
Hannah Cukierski knew the path to becoming a veterinarian would be a long one with many years of study, but what threw her for a loop when she investigated it as a career choice were some of the requirements.
“I’d need a lot of math and science, and that’s not my strong area,” the Grade 10 student at Saint Michael Catholic High School in Niagara Falls said.
Hannah and other Saint Michael students studying French were taking part in a job fair exercise at the school on Nov. 22 where they created displays, cobbled together resumes (as best they could in their still-young lives) and wrote cover letters on specific careers they believe they’d be interested in pursuing.
The careers they explored ranged from doctors and paramedics to police officers, hair stylists, florists, meteorologists, musicians and radiograph technologists among others.
Along with creating their letters, resumes and displays in French, the students had to undergo job interviews in a language that isn’t their first language with school French teacher Antoinette Lambert.
Lambert said the exercise was designed in part to have the students undergo an authentic learning experience and take the French skills they’ve been honing on a test drive that’s close to real life.
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By Bernie Puchalski - November 1, 2019
After defeating the St. Francis Phoenix 14-7 in the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association semifinals Friday, it was a joyous bunch of Saint Michael Mustangs senior football players who boarded the bus in the Saint Paul parking lot.
“We’re going to the ship. We’re going to the ship,” they could be heard chanting on the bus.
The ship they were yelling about was next week’s NCAA championship game against the unbeaten Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Mustangs will be hoping to play the role of an iceberg against a Notre Dame ship that looks unsinkable.
“We are going to do our best and that’s all we ask our kids to do,” Saint Michael head coach Brian Carter said.
Saint Michael’s last won a championship it 2016 when it captured the AA league that was made up of public and Catholic high schools. It beat Holy Cross 28-8 in the championship game that year.
“We know they (the Irish) are a very tough opponent and a well-coached team and we will get them to enjoy this game, prepare them the best we can and then enjoy playing in a NCAA championship,” Carter said.
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By Bernie Puchalski - October 18, 2019
Chris Bianco couldn’t have asked for a better start to his season with the Saint Michael Mustangs senior football team.
On his first play of the season on defence Friday, the Grade 12 student intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown. The Mustangs would go on to record a 28-0 victory over the Holy Cross Raiders in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association action.
“That was remarkable,” Saint Michael coach Keith Bomberry said. “He has worked hard all year and he has run into some bad luck at practice with a couple of nagging injuries.
“He found himself not dressing for a game and when he stepped on the field, we were so elated he made that play.”
Saint Mike’s is hoping for more of the same from Bianco.
“Stepping up like that definitely bodes well for his playing time,” Bomberry said.
The 17-year-old was overjoyed with the pick.
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MUSTANGS 16 PHOENIX 12
The Saint Michael Mustangs senior football team (3-2) ran its NCAA winning streak to three games with a 16-12 victory over the St. Francis Phoenix (3-2).
“Our players continue to work hard to improve each week and are finding ways to win which is a sign of a good team,” Saint Michael head coach Brian Carter said. “We as coaches keep stressing the importance of doing the little things better moving forward heading towards the playoffs.
“Doing those little things right increase your chances of being successful and is a great life lesson.”
For Saint Michael: Jared Schleuter threw a 10-yard TD pass to Noah Wilson; Gabriel Hetherington had a two-yard TD run; Wilson had two converts and two singles on a kickoff and a punt; Evan Williamson and Simon Gonzalez each recovered fumbles; and strong tackling was contributed by Caleb Hetherington, Carson Gilbert and Matt Wedler
“Noah Wilson had an outstanding game receiving the ball, kicking and punting,” Carter said. “Definitely the player of the game for the Mustangs.”
For St. Francis, Favour Iranoula scored two touchdowns.
“An injury to Quentin Duemo created some difficulty for us,” St. Francis head coach Jim Whittard said. “Saint Michael was well prepared and patient and did well.”
The enduring charm of an eccentrically macabre family that’s had more lives than a cat for generations will be brought to life at Saint Michael Catholic High School in January, when the three-day run of the Addams Family — The Musical hits the Mustangs stage.