A Grand Slam Day! – PVNC Catholic schools team up for Jays All-Star Day in Campbellford

Child hits a baseball during a game.

June 20, 2025

On Wednesday (June 18, 2025), St. Mary Catholic Elementary School in Campbellford welcomed students and staff from St. Paul CES in Lakefield and St. Joseph CES in Douro for an exciting Jays All-Star Day celebration.

More than 70 students came together for a day filled with baseball, team-building, and community spirit. 

The event celebrated the Girls at Bat and RBI programs.

Child in a wheelchair is pushed by another child around the bases during a baseball game.

Throughout the day, students participated in friendly games of baseball, enjoyed a BBQ lunch, cooled off in a refreshing mist courtesy of the Trent Hills Fire Department, and engaged in activities focused on teamwork, friendship, and fun.

“A special thanks to Jennifer Angelo, Mental Health Lead, who supported our initiative, tied on her running shoes early in the morning, helped with set up, helped all day during the event – cooking, cleaning and celebrating; right to the very last minute with cleanup; she saw our whole day through,” said Emily Begg, Special Education Resource Teacher at St. Mary CES. “This day celebrated such a huge diversity of students from all schools, there were lots of smiles seen, laughs heard, and cheering on of others. Students really stepped up to support one another, cheer others on and help others learn the game of Baseball.”

Children keep cool in the mist during a baseball game.

The day was made possible thanks to the generous support of community partners, including Ames Bus Lines, Sharpe’s Food Market, The Municipality of Trent Hills, and the Trent Hills Fire Department.

A highlight of the day came when Begg was honoured with the Jays Care 2024–2025 Coach of the Year award, after being nominated by the school for her leadership and dedication to the program.

“It is such an honour and I am touched to have been recognized as “Coach of the Year” from Jays Care,” Begg said. “I feel soo passionately about this program and the value and inclusivity that it brings to our school and community.”

Teacher receives award.

 

Several staff members from St. Mary CES helped out with the event including Ashley Dorie, Amy-Jo Doherty, Jessica Glover, Cameron Morin, Lisa Stevens, Rachael Viera, and Principal Melissa Jolicoeur

Jays Care, run by the Toronto Blue Jays and Jays Care Foundation, provides all of the equipment to the school free of charge.

The program supplies gloves, balls, bats, helmets, T’s, bases, etc.

Students and coaches are all given a uniform as well that includes a Jays hat and t-shirt.

For more information on the Jays Care program, which is free for schools to join, go here: https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/community/jays-care/affiliate-school-program/en

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