We’re Celebrating Originality.  

How large of a role do the arts play in a student’s development? In a world that increasingly values innovation, creativity, and critical thinking, the arts remain one of the most powerful tools for helping students discover who they are and how they express themselves. Whether through music, drama, dance, or visual arts, students are given opportunities to take risks, build confidence, solve problems, and share their unique perspectives with the world.

Originality is something to be celebrated. The arts encourage students to think differently, create boldly, and find their own voice. They remind us that there is often more than one way to see a problem, tell a story, or leave a lasting impression. In our schools, the arts are not simply extracurricular activities; they are an essential classroom tool used to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of every learner.

What it Takes to Rock Behind the Scenes

Have you ever been to a great school production? Our four secondary schools put on a fantastic show every year, but there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that make these performances the stellar productions they have become. This year, students and staff at St. Charles College have been working tirelessly all year on their Rock of Ages production, the tale of a city boy from South Detroit and a small-town girl chasing their dreams in L.A.

Led by teachers, Leanne Urso, Marty Wilson and Megan Pinkerton, the show’s production includes much more than just actors. There are a number of positions that are crucial to ensuring the show runs smoothly including, the Sound Designer, Lighting Director, On-Stage Musicians, and a Backstage Lead.

Grade 12 student, Ethan McIvor currently holds the position of Backstage Lead whose main responsibility is ensuring the sets are changed at the correct time, the props are in their arranged places, making sure the actors themselves are on the stage in time for their scenes, and ensuring the show runs smoothly overall.

“I like how I get my acknowledgement, but I’m not overly present on the stage. I don’t have to be a main character or singing on the stage to be acknowledged as an art student at this school. I’ve been involved in two previous productions, and I’ve slowly made my way up to being a lead hand rather than a quick changer in my first year,” said Ethan.

“. . . I like that I don’t have to be a main character or singing on the stage to be acknowledged as an art student at this school.”

– Ethan McIvor, Backstage Lead.

Another student who has found her place in the play’s production is Emma Hudder, a Grade 12 student who plays the role of Dennis Dupry. In her fourth year, as cast member of the school play, Emma shared that she was initially drawn to it as a means to come out of her shell. Drama is a fantastic tool to overcome shyness as it is a highly supportive environment of peers all working to build an atmosphere of trust, encouragement, and acceptance, where students feel comfortable taking risks and expressing themselves.

“I just wanted to put myself out there because I’ve always been quite a shy kid. So, my mom actually helped introduce me to theatre and from there I built some confidence knowing I could slip into a different character’s shoes. It has really helped me push myself out of my comfort zone. I absolutely adore everyone and being able to work together,” said Emma.

“. . . I built some confidence knowing I could slip into a different character’s shoes.”

– Emma Hudder, Actress.

St. Paul’s Mother’s Day Art Gallery

Is there ever a better time to dig out the paper and paint and find your inner artist than on Mother’s Day? At St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Elementary School, grade 1 students in Mrs. Power’s class invited their mother and mother figures for a paint along session with members of the Sudbury Art Gallery.

Inspired by the work of Canadian landscape artists, students put their painting skills to work creating a scenic landscape complete with a family of bears, resulting in a special Mother’s Day keepsake to take home.

“A mother’s love is like sunshine, warm and bright! It fills my heart with joy and light!”

Pottery and Emerging Artists!

At Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School, the art room serves as a sanctuary at the heart of the school. Bathed in natural light and surrounded by the artwork of students past and present, BAC art students have found a space for creativity and self-expression.

This semester, students channelled that creativity into pottery, learning the techniques of hand-building and glazing as they crafted their own unique ceramic mugs. The art of pottery has provided students with a hands-on opportunity to transform imagination into something both functional and artistic.

In other exciting news, Émergence 2026 was the Art Gallery of Sudbury’s 56th annual juried secondary school art exhibition, and April’s show featured the works from many talented Grades 9 to 12 students across Greater Sudbury. Among those artists were two students from Bishop Alexander Carter, Taigan Armstrong and Ella Kurtis!

“Cows are my favourite animals, so I drew inspiration from that, but a lot of my artwork is influenced by music; this one (the piece chosen for the show) was inspired by ‘Interstate Love Song’ by the Stone Temple Pilots,” said Taigan.

“. . . A lot of my artwork is influenced by music. . .”

– Taigan Armstrong, Artist.

Art doesn’t necessarily have to be created for the public eye. Sometimes artwork can reflect a person’s private thoughts and feelings, like a journal entry. “I don’t really like to share my art, it’s really personal, but sometimes I will gift it to someone I care about or hang it in my room and admire it,” said Ella.

“. . . I don’t really like to share my artwork with the public, it can be a really personal thing. . .”

– Ella Kurtis, Artist.

A Love Letter to the Violin

Marymount Academy student, Yvonne Gao, made her debut performance with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra during March’s Revelry and Ritual concert. At 12-years-old, Yvonne is the youngest student to be accepted into the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra’s Student Apprenticeship Program, which provides young musicians with the opportunity to work alongside some of Sudbury’s finest performers and appear on stage under the direction of Maestro William Rowson.

Yvonne has played the violin since she was six years old and her technical precision reflects someone well beyond her years. Her skill, passion and love for the instrument contributed to her being recognized with the Royal Conservatory of Music’s award of Excellence in 2023 for achieving the highest mark in her grade 3 violin examination.

Yvonne has also been selected as a finalist in the Emerging Artists Competition, presented by the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra and the Sudbury Music Festival. The grand prize includes the opportunity to perform a concerto with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra during its 50th season.

For Yvonne, the violin’s appeal doesn’t always come from winning awards or beating others in competition, it’s more about sharing her talents to spark joy in the lives of others.

“When I was little I saw my mom playing the violin and I fell in love with it. I’ve been playing ever since. For me, it’s way to entertain, but it’s really something that I enjoy sharing. I like performing in places like nursing homes, where it’s not about beating other people in competition, it’s about sharing music and allowing people to fall in love with it,” said Yvonne.

“. . . it’s not about beating other people in competition, it’s about sharing music and allowing people to fall in love with it.”

– Yvonne Gao, Violinist.

St. Anne School’s Indigenous Art Showcase

Staff at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School have spent the year integrating Indigenous education into creative expression across all grade levels. As a result, students have been fortunate enough to learn from local indigenous artists and knowledge keepers, strengthening their understanding of truth, reconciliation and cultural respect for Indigenous history.

Some of the teachings they have learned along the way include, strawberry moon teachings, animal teachings, the seven grandfather teachings, the Medicine Wheel, Mother Earth and much more.

All of the student art pieces will be on display during St. Anne’s school-wide Indigenous Art Showcase on June 11 in honour of Indigenous History Month. Families and community members are welcome to come and celebrate the students’ work and creativity.

Practicing the Culinary Arts at St. James School

A number of classes at St. James Catholic Elementary School have been participating in Mrs. Gorman’s Culinary Arts programming, where students have had the opportunity to learn in the school kitchen while exploring Indigenous food traditions and history.

During these engaging sessions, students learned that Indigenous peoples were the original farmers of this land and discovered how traditional foods were prepared using the natural resources available to them. Students explored the history of bannock, learning how Indigenous peoples traditionally ground roots and plant materials into flour-like substances before modern flour was introduced through colonization and government-issued rations. Through resourcefulness, innovation, and resilience, Indigenous communities adapted these ingredients into many beloved dishes that continue to be enjoyed today.

Students participated in preparing and tasting foods while learning about the cultural significance of Indigenous cuisine. The program fostered an appreciation for Indigenous knowledge, history, and traditions, while also developing practical skills in the culinary arts and encouraging meaningful conversations about culture, community, and resilience.

The Little Mermaid at St. Benedict

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School’s production of The Little Mermaid was a tremendous success, bringing together the largest cast in the school’s history. With record-breaking audition numbers, students from Grades 7 through 12 contributed their talents both on stage and behind the scenes. From actors and technical crew members to construction technology students who built the set and visual arts students who brought it to life with paint, the production was truly a collaborative effort.

The excitement extended beyond the stage, with sold-out performances for elementary school audiences and highly successful evening shows that concluded with standing ovations.

The school community is incredibly proud of the dedication, creativity, and hard work demonstrated by every student involved. Their commitment helped create a memorable theatrical experience that showcased the very best of St. Benedict’s arts programs.

What Ontario Means to Me: Our First Postcard Contest

This year in celebration of Ontario Day on June 1, we invited students to submit artwork for our first ever Ontario Day Postcard contest. We received a ton of fantastic submissions, but ultimately we chose two winners of this contest who managed to show us the heart of Ontario through their artwork:

• Serena Otoakhia of Marymount Academy
• Jacob Leduc of Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School

The winners each received a stack of postcards featuring their artwork and a sleeve of stamps so they could send letters to friends and family. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all who participated. Please join us in admiring all the wonderful submissions received in the carousel below.

Art is Timeless!

As the years go on and we continue to make remarkable advances in technology, introducing innovations and learning opportunities we once never imagined possible, education at our Board will continue to evolve. Yet some things remain timeless: paint on paper, a well-rehearsed monologue performed on stage, or the strum of a guitar echoing through the music room.

While these art forms have been around since the dawn of time, each new generation of students finds a way to make them their own through creativity, imagination, and self-expression, because we are ALL unique! At Sudbury Catholic Schools, we believe there is something truly special about that. We will continue to create spaces where young artists can explore their passions, share their gifts, and show us all new ways of seeing the world. That is something worth celebrating, today and for generations to come!