Today, nearly 350 grade 5/6 students from schools across Sudbury Catholic came together at St. Charles College for the annual Anishinaabe Ball (Nish Ball) Tournament hosted by Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School.

This exciting Indigenous game has quickly become a favourite among our students — combining teamwork, athleticism, and fun. Players showed off their skills: throwing, catching, kicking the ball, and sprinting across the field in fast-paced matches as spectators cheered from the sidelines.

After a full day of friendly but fierce competition, it was Holy Trinity and St. James who made it to the championship game. In an exciting final match, Holy Trinity clinched the win and brought home the banner!

Chi-miigwetch to all who participated and supported this amazing event!

We are thrilled to announce that the SCDSB 2025 Walking Challenge has officially concluded, and what an adventure it has been.  

We would like to thank everyone who came together, stepped up, and got involved this year! It was a fantastic opportunity to embark on this journey together. We are proud of the special way we continue to build fitness into our day and have a little fun in the process. Thank you to all the members of the Wellness Committee for their continued support and leadership as well as all 160 participants who took part.

Walking Challenge Highlights: 

Record Breaking Year! 

We did it! This May, our community took a giant leap forward—smashing last year’s total of 46,242,807 steps with an incredible 57,781,304 steps! That’s the equivalent of 43,774 kilometres—enough to walk around the entire Earth once and still have 3,699 km to spare. Or, to bring it closer to home, that’s like walking from Sudbury to Vancouver and back—five times!

But among all 40 teams, we saw three stand out! Without further ado, I am excited to announce that the TOP 3 Teams of the 2025 Walking Challenge are:

• 1^st Place: Celtic Calzoni Cruiser
• 2^nd Place: Redbirds 2.0
• 3^rd Place: Holy Walkamolies 

     Congratulations! 

We also want to give a big shoutout to the TOP 15 Teams of the 2025 Walking Challenge! Congratulations to the following teams for their tremendous efforts this year: 

RANK	TEAM	MEMBERS	TOTAL STEPS
#1	Celtic Calzoni Cruiser	Stephanie Venturi David Fabiili David Ranger Kathleen Cameron	3,121,425
#2	Redbirds 2.0	Colin Lapalme Jennifer Skelly Nancy Bellemare-Perron Kevin Krystia	2,602,605
#3	Holy Walkamolies	Pat Shewring Andria Field Jen Geddes Andrea Jebreen	1,866,843
#4	Red Hot Chili Steppers	Faith Van De Kraats Robyn Thomson Sandra Burch Lynn Dubois	1,866,115
#5	The Penguin Preppers	Michelle Cousineau Beth Kromer Shannon Read-Pastre Adriano Simonato	1,735,843
#6	St. Francis Detention Dodgers	Rachelle Dearing Michela Rocca Jessica Pigozzo Jennifer Cormier	1,726,977
#7	Cirque du Sore Legs	Kelsey Franklin Megan Dubois Tina Hebert Megan Desormeaux	1,712,630
#8	SCC Admin Team	Aaron Barry Kathryn Kurt Blaire Rains Lori Holden	1,663,576
#9	SCC Stride Tribe	Jessica-Anne Sawyer Tara Beaudry Chancey Miron Morgan Melnek	1,613,981
#10	The WalkingIMSpiration	Pat Hauser Stacy Copland Dan Crepeault David Hempel	1,575,462
#11	Anne-credible Walkers	Jennifer Makela Eric Baillargeon Danika Teddy Melissa Faggioni	1,481,436
#12	Angels In Our Walking Era	Natalie Lafrance Serena Troscinski Nanette Shonwise Amanda Douglas	1,465,670
#13	Team Mediocre	Brad Pharand Jessie Jones Amanda Lanthier Melissa Mason	1,461,966
#14	Team Holy Soles	Melanie Morin Joanna Hammond Jennifer Benoit Carla Lacelle	1,452,949
#15	Gator Trotters	Kristen Bell Lisa Hunter Doug MacNeil Jennifer Ilg	1,445,247

Congratulations everyone! Together let’s keep focused on our health and continue our wellness journeys throughout June and beyond.

Support Doesn’t Take a Summer Break.

Supporting the mental health and well-being of our students remains a priority all year-round. To help our students stay connected and supported this summer, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Mental Health and Addiction Services team is offering free, brief one-on-one counselling sessions (up to three per person) for Sudbury Catholic students aged 8 to 17.

Sessions will be available: July 7 to 25 and August 11 to 29, 2025.

Mental Health Doesn’t Take a Holiday. These confidential sessions provide Sudbury Catholic students with a safe, supportive space to talk and receive professional guidance. Whether you are facing challenges or simply need someone to talk to, our team is here to help throughout the summer months.

This free service provides flexible meeting options to best meet students’ needs and preferences, including in-person (face-to-face), telephone, and virtual (Zoom) sessions. In-person appointments are available at St. Francis School (691 Lilac Street) for students aged 8 to 17, while virtual and telephone sessions are only offered for students aged 12 and up.

How to Book A Session?

To request a session, please call 705-929-3970 and leave a message for Laurie Milling. A registered clinician will return your call to arrange an appointment. Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note: This is not a drop-in service. All counselling sessions must be booked in advance with a registered clinician.

Please note: This is not a crisis service. For immediate mental health support, contact HSN Crisis Intervention at 705-675-4760 or go in person to the HSN Emergency Department.

Congratulations to Grade 8 Marymount Academy student Mercia Thompson, who placed second in the Excellence Award category at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton this morning!

Mercia was recognized for her innovative project, “Anti-Pull Collar for Dogs“, in which she developed an electronic collar that helps train dogs not to pull on the leash during walks. The collar features a built-in sensor that automatically detects when a dog pulls and responds by emitting a sound and vibration that the dog finds unpleasant.

What sets Mercia’s collar apart is its automatic response—it requires no input from the person walking the dog, making the training process more consistent, reliable, and immediate. This not only helps synchronize the dog’s pace with the owner’s but also creates a safer and more enjoyable walking experience.

Unlike traditional training tools like shock collars or choke chains, Mercia’s design does not cause pain or fear, making it a humane and safe alternative for dog training.

Well done, Mercia!

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Morris Hucal as its new Director of Education, effective July 2025.  

Morris Hucal joins the SCDSB from the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB), where he served with unwavering dedication since 1991. His distinguished career includes roles as a teacher, Principal of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Elementary School, Principal of Programs-Elementary, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent of Education and Catholic School Effectiveness. 

During his tenure as Superintendent, Hucal oversaw a wide range of portfolios, including Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECE), Early Years, Experiential Learning, Robotics, Secondary Athletics, Arts, and Technological Education. He also received the HWCDSB’s highest honour—the Award of Merit for Distinguished Service to Catholic Education—for his commitment to growing STEM initiatives across the system.  

A proud Sudbury native, Hucal is a graduate of the very same Catholic school system he now returns to lead. His deep personal connection to the community and firsthand understanding of the Board’s values and traditions position him well to guide the system into the future. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Morris Hucal as the new Director of Education,” said Michael Bellmore, Chair of the SCDSB. “With deep roots in the Sudbury community and a longstanding connection to our Catholic education system, Morris brings a wealth of professional experience and a personal commitment to the success of our students. His acute understanding of educational leadership and faith-based learning, along with his commitment to innovation, will be a tremendous asset as we continue to support the spiritual and academic growth of all learners across our system. 

Hucal succeeds Joanne Bénard, who is retiring after 37 years of dedicated service in education, and 11 years served as the SCDSB’s Director of Education.  

“It is with profound gratitude and a deep sense of purpose that I accept the role of Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board,” said Hucal. 

“As someone who was born, raised, and educated within this very Catholic school system, this appointment is much more than a professional milestone — it is a homecoming. To return to Sudbury, to serve in this capacity, and to help shape the next generation of learners and leaders in faith, is truly a blessing. 

 “Our mission in Catholic education is sacred. It is rooted in the belief that each person is a unique creation of God, called to grow in wisdom, faith, and service. As I take on this role, I carry with me a deep commitment to honouring that mission — with integrity, compassion, and hope.” 

The Board looks forward to the next chapter of leadership under Morris Hucal and remains committed to providing a faith-based, student-centered learning environment that nurtures the mind, body and spirit.  

-30- 

The Bishop Alexander Carter staff softball team was in action this weekend at the SDSSAA Teacher Tournament!

A big thank you to those who attended and Ms. Troscinski and Ms. Dubois from St. Anne Catholic Elementary School for stepping in to support the team. With strong teamwork, great energy, and a lot of fun, the team wrapped up the day injury-free and full of school spirit.