A focus on ensuring that our students develop the global competencies that they require for success has remained our focus as we work toward the achievement of our strategic pathway: We are called to promote Innovation. Throughout the system there is evidence of innovation in practice that is helping our students develop key competencies, including effective citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking, while also attaining the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations. I am thrilled to provide you with a glimpse of the wonderful work happening in our Sudbury Catholic Schools and thank students and staff for all that we are achieving.

LIPP Projects Promote Coding and STEAM

Sudbury Catholic District School Board provides the opportunity for all employees to apply for funds to lead a LIPP project (Learning Innovation Project Proposal) which encourages innovation and creativity in order to either create a transformational practice within our system, or to facilitate the use of technology as a tool for learning within the classroom.

We were lucky enough to receive 32 applications for the 2019-2020 School Year, with seven of them being selected. As of October, three projects were already in place to enhance student learning!

St. David School Creates STEM Club!

Through the LIPP project, St. David School is implementing a Science-Technology-Engineering-Math (STEM) program with the objective of strengthening student engagement in science and math, with a focus on hands-on problem-solving skills. Particular STEM activities also work to develop visual memory, visual perception, and fine-motor skills. The school also wanted to provide extra programming to improve student attendance.

Cassandra Visentin, Intensive Support Facilitator, and Louis Mailloux, grade 4/5 teacher, created the St. David STEM Club during the 2018-2019 school year. It generated tremendous interest with about 100 students in grades 3-6 signed up. The club focused on grade appropriate STEM challenges and activities that supported the curriculum.

Through the LIPP project, the school planned to run weekly STEM club programming twice a week during lunch for students throughout different grade levels. The STEM program aims to offer students an opportunity to learn and engage interactively with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields and practices. Through the STEM club, the school has been able to deliver high-quality, hands-on opportunities in a welcoming environment for all of our students, independent of the barriers they may otherwise face.

St. James Features STEAM Kindergarten Class

In September 2018, Carolyn Hagen’s grade one French Immersion classroom at St. James School was transformed into a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) classroom. Carolyn initally applied for the LIPP grant in hopes of providing a more natural transition between the Kindergarten play-based learning approach and the traditional grade one classroom. The more natural transition was successful by incorporating interactive, as well as exploration-based STEAM activities.

STEAM learning happens naturally everyday as children explore, play and try new things. One of the main goals of STEAM is to prepare students to solve authentic problems “through innovation, creativity, critical thinking, effective communication, collaboration and ultimately new knowledge” (Quigley & Herro, 2016, p. 1).Having a STEAM classroom at St. James inspires all educators to incorporate STEAM related projects in their own classrooms and helps to provide an avenue to embrace the 21st Century Competencies.

“Since the implementation of my STEAM classroom, students work collaboratively with each other, develop their problem-solving skills and feel comfortable doing hands-on learning activities. They feel safe to express innovative and creative ideas, and enjoy taking ownership of their learning. I truly hope, that in the years to come, my students continue to be increasingly curious about the world around them and feel empowered to change it for the better,” said Carolyn.

St. Benedict Supports Students with Coding Room

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School set up a coding room to support their elementary students. Through the LIPP project, Staff were able to purchase iPads, laptops and other tools to enhance the technology within the coding room. This allowed the project to be more accessible to students and their growing needs!

Both staff and students worked collaboratively in deciding what equipment to include in the coding room enhancement. Teacher Sarah Belle believes that the Coding Room has allowed all students to experience coding and technology, regardless of their skill level.

“Students have been able to help build our small coding room into something larger that they are proud to call their own,” she explained. “The students are in the room discovering more about coding and also building various projects We are also able to accommodate more students that do not have their own devices due to the increase in both ipads and laptops.”

IT Devices Get a Refresh

Over the past year, our Information Management Services department has been deploying devices to ensure that our staff and students have access to the latest technology to encourage student learning and growth.

During the 2018-2019 School Year, the following devices were deployed to our schools:

• 37 Intermediate iPads
• 133 Intermediate Laptops – Dell Latitude Tablet
• 79 Dell Latitude Tablets for Learning Commons
• 192 Secondary Laptops – Dell Latitude Tablet
• 5 Secondary Bretford Laptop Charging Carts
• 200 SEA iPADs
• 72 School purchased iPads
• 58 LIPP assets (such as iPads, robots etc.)
• 13 L4ALL Pure Charge Stations
• 19 Printers
• 17 Projectors
• 6 SHSM laptops

As of October 2019, IT supports well over 4000 end-user devices, approximately 370 digital projectors and 390 printers. This would include:

For Staff

• 851 mobile devices
  • 279 Staff iPads
  • 572 Staff laptops

For Students

• 3197 Mobile devices
  • 2334 Student iPads (308 are SEA iPads)
• 863 Student laptops
  • 161 Mac student laptops (55 SEA laptops)
  • 702 Windows student laptops

We thank the IMS department for their work and dedication toward providing our staff and students with accessible and innovative technology!

Experiential Learning Team Continues to Create Opportunities for Students

As defined by the Ministry of Education, experiential learning “puts students at the centre of their own learning, vieiwing them as the architects of their own lives. Students are encouraged to discover who they are, explore opportunities, pursue their passions, and design personal pathways to success.” (Creating Pathways to Success, Page 7). Two Sudbury Catholic employees are leading the experiential learning portfolio, and both are new in their roles.

Peter Prochilo began his role as Superintendent of School Effectiveness in August 2019. He works with our Secondary Schools and is also the lead for the International Education program. New to the role and the Board, Peter originates from Thunder Bay where he served as Principal at the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.

“It is a pleasure and a privilege to serve as the new Superintendent of School Effectiveness with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. Each day provides an opportunity to improve outcomes for our students by focusing on our strategic pathways through collaboration with our dedicated staff , supportive community partners and our vibrant school communities. Experiential Learning fosters global thinking through local action. Our goal is to broaden horizons for students by illuminating pathways to post -secondary education and careers. This is achieved through supporting our teachers and providing real-life experiences and opportunities for our students that enhance global competencies.”

Christina Raso is new to the position of Experiential Lead, however she is no stranger to our Board. She previously served as the Special Education Consultant for the past 12 years and is now excited to venture into the world of experiential learning.

“I look forward to learning and sharing opportunities and pathways to success for our students,” she said.

The team, which is supported by various members from our Learning Support Services department hopes to continue to progress experiential learning opportunities for students. They hope to partner with industries, open doors to various pathways for our secondary students. For elementary students, the team hopes to bring the world of experiential learning to them directly, showing them what is possible in their future.

The overall goal of experiential learning at Sudbury Catholic is to expose students to diverse opportunities and support student success whether students are venturing off to college, university or heading straight to the work force. Our secondary schools in particular offer various specialized programs geared toward experiential learning. Full programming can be found at the following link.

To promote innovation and learning for all, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is currently calling for proposals from teachers that encourage schools to develop innovative, experiential learning opportunities that support student achievement, student engagement and well-being.