Sudbury Catholic District School Board

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Longtime Teacher, Vice-Principal and Principal Recipient of Sudbury Catholic Schools 2008 Chairperson’s Award

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Each year the Sudbury Catholic District School Board presents its Chairperson’s Award to the individual that embraces Catholic values, demonstrates initiative and ingenuity and contributes positively to the lives of its students and staff. “Sharon Oliver, Principal of St. Paul The Apostle Catholic School is all of those things and more,” stated Sudbury Catholic Schools, Board Chair, George Middleton before presenting Mrs. Oliver with the Chair’s Award for 2008. The award was presented at the Board’s 25 Year Employee Recognition and Retirement Party held at Bryston’s on the Park during the last week of May.

Mrs. Oliver is well deserving of this award having been an exemplary teacher, vice-principal and principal for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board for more than thirty years. Her Catholicity is evident to all students, parents and staff that have had the good fortune and opportunity to meet or work with her. Her truly caring and compassionate nature is apparent daily, beginning with prayers during morning announcements to the spiritual way in which she leads liturgical celebrations of all kinds through her gift of song and words of praise.

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School is a recipient of the Childhood Enfance- Better Beginnings Better Futures Snack Program due to her efforts. The community is well informed of school events and frequently invited to join students and staff in the school gym for sit down Harvest Teas and Shrove Tuesday Pancake meals.

Mrs. Oliver has been involved in numerous committees and initiatives that champion the cause of Catholic Education over her many years as teacher, vice-principal and principal. As the chairperson of the NOCCC, (Northern Ontario Catholic Curriculum Cooperative) she continues to promote and encourage Catholic curriculum across Northern Ontario. She is a member of the CPCO (Catholic Principals Council of Ontario) Professional Development Committee and is also involved as the chairperson of the Liturgy Committee of her church.

Sudbury Catholic Board Balances Budget for 2008-09 School Year

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Trustees with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board proved successful in passing a balanced budget for the 2008-2009 school year at Tuesday night’s board meeting. The approved budget of $67,306,178 will sustain the positive momentum that has been achieved in the Board’s new initiatives and programs such as the “Learning with Laptops” program and complies with the objectives set by the Ministry of Education with respect to the reduction of class sizes in the primary classes.

The new budget allows the Board to move forward with a number of initiatives which will continue to re-enforce our Catholic identity and system priorities at all levels of the organization. Technological and academic support has also been maintained at the board and classroom level to ensure exemplary instruction and assessment for student success.

In order to arrive at a balanced budget for 2008-2009 the Sudbury Catholic District School Board projects a draw from the Reserve for Working Funds of $504,737. This draw would represent an amount equal to .8% of the Board’s Grant Revenue Allocation and falls within the Ministry of Education’s threshold criteria. The impact of the proposed draw from the Working Funds would be offset by the $608,409 that the Board identified in its 2007-2008 budget.

Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for Sudbury Catholic Schools is pleased with the budget. “I am very happy with the fact that the Board was able to bring in a balanced budget,” stated McCullough. “The new budget will allow us to meet Ministry of Education regulation and obligations and we will continue to deliver quality services and programs to our students in order that they may achieve their maximum potential.”

Board Chair, George Middleton is also pleased with the budget. “Over the past few months, Trustees and Senior Administration have worked extremely hard to bring in a balanced budget that addresses some of the key priorities of the Board and its stake holders. This new budget will allow us to move forward on present initiatives such maintaining our Special Education Program, our One to One Laptop Program and compliancy with Ministry objectives in our primary class sizes.”

B.A.C. To B. A.C. Wins

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It seems like just yesterday that Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School opened its doors to students of the Valley East Region. However, in five short years, the school’s reputation has quickly grown in the area and it is known by students as the place to be – next year’s projected enrolment boasts a student population of more than 440 students.

There are many factors that can be attributed to the success of Bishop Carter in such a short time period. One of the more prominent reasons being that the school specializes in many areas but it cannot be denied that its athletic programs have certainly grown in depth, breadth and spirit over the last few years. Bishop Carter Catholic Secondary School is particularly proud of its senior hockey team as they won the City Championship againstt Espanola in their division.

Coached by Mr. Dave Fabiilli and managed by Mr. Dan Grandbois, the team had very little time to play and build together, however the Gators proved that winning a championship requires more than just skill. To accomplish this amazing task the boys demonstrated a lot of heart, talent and above all a love for the game.

The boys’ hockey team also competed in the York University Senior Springfest Tournament in Toronto and once again the team was successful in claiming the championship, but this time at the provincial level. The Gators learned that when they become determined and put their minds and souls into their game anything is possible. Not to be outdone, on the hard court, the Bishop Carter Gators Junior Boys Basketball team won the Junior Boys NOSSA Championship division as well. The team was coached by Mr. Sean Gilroy. The boys had less than a year to develop and grow as a team but that was all that was needed to come home with the N.O.S.S.A. medal.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both the Bishop Carter hockey and basketball teams!

SCDSB Holds 25 Year Recognition and Retirement Party

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board held its 25 Year Recognition and Retirement Party at Bryston’s on the Park on Thursday, May 22, 2008. This annual event afforded Trustees, Senior Administration, Principals, Family and Friends the opportunity to congratulate those employees of the board who had attained a remarkable milestone of “25 years of service.” To those employees who are retiring, we wish them “the best of luck” and bonne chance in their new endeavours.

The Board would like to thank all participants, special guests and staff for making the evening such a tremendous success. Enclosed are some of the highlights of the evening.

View slide show.

Renowned Speaker, Author Visits Sudbury

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Motivational speaker and author, Betty Boult was in the City of Greater Sudbury to speak to students, parents, families and members of the educational sector regarding her most recent book 176 Ways to Involve Parents. Dr. Boult’s presentation focussed on the practical, doable activities and ideas that enhance student learning by involving parents in a respectful, meaningful, and productive way.

“In schools where teachers reported high levels of outreach to parents, test scores grew at a rate 40 percent higher that in schools where teachers reported low levels of outreach,” Boult told her audience who had gathered in the Science North Inco Cavern to hear her speak. Dr. Boult went on to state that what we know for sure is that adolescents want and need more independence. In fact, it did not matter what the students’ background or prior school achievement was, if the parents became involved there was a positive impact on achievement, attendance, behaviour, and course credits completed.

Students whose parents remained involved through high school were much more likely to complete college. These students were three times more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree than children of parents who were not involved in high school. (Parent involvement was defined by Boult as frequency of talking to teachers, parent interest in planning for post-high school activities, and parent monitoring of school work).

Boult concluded her presentation by quoting from the report of The Parent Voice which re-affirmed that parents do not want to run schools, but they do want to have a voice that they can be assured will be taken into account at the school, board, and provincial levels. When schools, families, and community organizations work together to support learning, children not only achieve better academically but also stay in school longer.

Sudbury Catholic Schools, Key Player in LU’s New Track and Field Complex

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board in conjunction with the three other school boards and the City of Greater Sudbury is proud to partner with Laurentian University to support upgrades to the Track and Field Complex on campus.

The City of Greater Sudbury and the four school boards, who operate the track in partnership with the university, will invest $600,000 and $225,000, respectively, in the project. 

“Each year our students look forward to taking part in the track and field events that are held here at Laurentian,” stated Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for Sudbury Catholic Schools at a media conference held this morning at Laurentian University. “This new state of the art facility will allow our young athletes to have fun as they take part in regular physical activity and enjoy a healthy lifestyle which translates into a healtheir community.”
 
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) also announced today a contribution of $865,000 to support upgrades to the Track and Field Complex, bringing total investments, as of today, to $2,190,000. 

“Our community has hosted important provincial and national level sporting events at Laurentian over the years and we will now be able to continue to do so on an improved track,” said Rick Bartolucci, minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Sudbury MPP. “Renovations to the Laurentian Track and Field Complex will ensure Sudbury has a premier outdoor athletics event site in northern Ontario.” 

Planned improvements to the Complex include rebuilding the tartan track, relocating the running pits and upgrading the sports field, lighting and stands. There is an urgency to renovate the Track and Field Complex to support Sudbury’s bids to host the Ontario Summer Games in 2010 and the National Francophone Games in 2011, as well as future Paralympic activities and regional and provincial secondary school event competitions. 

Catholic Education Week’s ‘Johnathan Hetu Day’ Great Success

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The Johnathan Hetu Day during Education Week was once again a success. Six schools: St. Michael, St. Mary’s, St. Francis, St. Raphael, St. Anne and St. Charles were able to Raise $1168.00 in support for the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer. The hat day is in memory of Johnathan Hetu who was a student at St. Charles school and passed away from cancer. So far St. Charles has organized two walks and two hat days since 2006 and have been able to help raise $13639.18 for the NOFCC. St. Charles will once again have their Johnathan Hetu walk on June 23 when they hope to break the $15000 mark. Thank you to all the students and teachers that participated.

St. Raphael Catholic School Dedicates Play Structure to Joyce Zemke

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On Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 11:30 a.m., St. Raphael Catholic School will be dedicating its new play structure to Joyce Zemke (a previous teacher at the school from 1975 to 1985). Mrs. Zemke spent her entire teaching career at St. Raphael Catholic School under the leadership of then principal Mr. Bob Fera. Mrs. Zemke was a loving, dedicated teacher who gave of herself tirelessly and was especially gifted with the exceptional students. A plaque remains in St. Raphael’s Catholic School which is dedicated to her memory.

Mrs. Zemke and her husband Sherman, directed (through Mr. Fera) that a trust fund be set up at the school to assist the school and its students with equipment, upgrades, and supplies after their passing. This year, the school decided to direct some of the funds for what Joyce Zemke had intended and created a beautiful play structure in the primary yard with a dedication board depicting, The Joyce Zemke Play Structure. The play structure was completed in the fall and the school is now ready for the official dedication ceremony.

Sudbury Catholic Schools Celebrate Catholic Education Week 2008!

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board celebrated Catholic Education Week 2008, from April 27 to May 2. During this week the Catholic Community celebrated the unique and distinctive contribution that Catholic Schools make to our students, our community and our Province. Catholic Education Week is a welcome opportunity to celebrate the Mission of our Catholic Schools as they strive to integrate the Gospel values of Jesus Christ in every aspect of the school’s curriculum.

This year’s theme, “We are Called” celebrated the fact that each of us has been called by God, and not just called as a collective, but called by name. “I have called you and you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1) Amid life’s joy’s and sorrows, its challenges and doubts, these words can be a source of inspiration and a reaffirmation of faith.

Five sub-themes, (one for each of the five days of Catholic Education Week) help us to understand the rich meaning of this year’s theme.

Day one . . . to Act Justly
Day two . . . to Love Tenderly
Day three . . . to Walk Humbly
Day four . . . to Serve Generously
Day five . . . to Live Peacefully

Continuing with classroom celebrations and activities in the months preceding Catholic Education Week Sudbury Catholic Schools and Catholic School Councils prepared for this year’s theme. Prayer activities contained references to the counsel of the prophet Micah and that of Christ’s discipleship with each activity reflecting on one of the above five sub-themes of Catholic Education Week. In addition, schools celebrated Catholic Education Week by undertaking activities at all grade levels.

Sudbury Catholic Schools would like to thank all students, parents, teachers and staff for their excellent participation in the special activities and prayer celebrations that marked this year’s Catholic Education Week! Please enjoy the enclosed slide show!

View slide show.

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