The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) welcomed families, educators, and community members for an engaging and informative evening at the Carousel Event, held on Wednesday, April 9 at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. 

Designed to support the mental health and well-being of children and youth, the event featured a series of expert-led workshops and presentations focused on fostering resilience, building healthy habits, and strengthening relationships.  

A highlight of the evening was a keynote address from Dr. Stephanie Price, clinical and school psychologist at MNDFL Collective. Dr. Price shared insightful, evidence-based strategies to help families and educators navigate the challenges of parenting in a digital world, with a focus on developing healthy tech habits and nurturing emotional wellness. 

“Dr. Stephanie Price really connected with our audience—everyone was fully tuned in from start to finish. Digital concerns are so common among parents and guardians, and her insights felt timely and reassuring. I hope our attendees walked away feeling more confident about supporting their kids in today’s digital world,” said Paola Stefanuto, Chair of the Parent Involvement Committee. 

Following the keynote, participants took part in two rotating workshops delivered by local professionals. These interactive sessions offered practical tools and strategies families and educators can apply in their daily lives to better support children’s mental health journeys. 

“Our goal was to bring together parents, educators, and community partners to share knowledge and strengthen the support systems around our children and youth,” said Amanda Dittrich, Vice Chair of the Parent Involvement Committee. “Events like this empower families with practical tools and help build meaningful connections within our school communities. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event!” 

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board and the Parent Involvement Committee extend their sincere thanks to all presenters, volunteers, and attendees who helped make the evening a success. 

For more information on upcoming events and mental health resources, visit https://www.sudburycatholicschools.ca/inclusive-schools/mental-health-hub/. 

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Grade 8 student Mercia Thompson has earned a first place title at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair, securing her spot to represent Marymount Academy at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, set to take place on May 31 at the University of New Brunswick. 

Mercia’s winning project, an innovative anti-pull collar for dogs, offers a creative solution to a common challenge faced by dog owners. The collar features a custom-built device that includes a small pressure switch within a container. When the collar tightens due to the dog’s pulling, the pressure activates the switch, emitting a sound that encourages the dog to stop pulling. 

Inspired by her own family’s cocker spaniel, Zack, Mercia’s project aims to improve the safety and comfort of walks, especially with the ice and snow during winter months. 

“My oldest dog, Zack, is five years old, and we’ve been trying to get him to stop pulling for a while. He is a small dog, but pretty strong, and the pulling can be dangerous especially in the winter,” Mercia said.  

“The biggest surprise with Zack was he went from pulling for four minutes and 20 seconds to an average of just 51 seconds with the new collar, which was a massive drop.”  

Though she didn’t expect to win, Mercia was thrilled to receive a first-place title among so many impressive projects. 

“I was really surprised I won. There were a lot of great projects—like drones that help with forest fires—that I thought would win,” she said. 

Equally impressed with the level of dedication and hard work from students was Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Michael Bellmore.  

“I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the incredible student projects at this year’s Science Fair. The level of innovation, curiosity, and craftsmanship on display was truly impressive. Congratulations to all who participated—your passion and hard work were nothing short of inspiring,” said Bellmore.  

“I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you as well to our dedicated teachers, whose guidance and encouragement are key to our students’ success,” he added.

Joanne Bénard, Director of Education, commended Mercia’s accomplishment, noting the impact of her innovation on other students.

“Mercia’s success at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair is a testament to her creativity, dedication, and passion for problem-solving,” said Joanne Bénard. “As she prepares to showcase her innovative project at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in May, her achievement serves as an inspiration to students everywhere. We wish Mercia the best of luck as she continues to make strides in science and engineering and look forward to seeing her future accomplishments.” 

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TRANSPORTATION CANCELLED, SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN  – SUDBURY, ESPANOLA, MASSEY AND MANITOULIN DISTRICTS

Due to the significant winter storm forecast for today, including heavy snowfall, poor visibility, hazardous road conditions and in the interest of safety, all school related transportation services for English Catholic, English public, French Catholic and French public schools, operating in the districts of SUDBURY, ESPANOLA, MASSEY AND MANITOULIN, (this includes all areas such as St-Charles, Noëlville, Monetville, Markstay, Hagar, Warren, Wahnapitae, Coniston, Killarney, Whitefish, Whitefish River First Nations, Manitoulin Island, Onaping, Chelmsford, Capreol, Valley East, Garson, Chelmsford and Azilda) are cancelled today. All schools will remain open, however, NO transportation will be provided.

Parents who transport their children to school are reminded that they must pick their children up at the end of the school day.

All staff are expected to report to work.