Each year, Freelandt Caldwell Reilly LLP (FCR) hosts an accounting case competition for secondary students, challenging participants to apply their knowledge to real-world business scenarios. This year’s competition tasked students with analyzing a case study based on a Sudbury theatre organization and challenged them to develop practical, implementable business solutions. 

The competition provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate creativity, professionalism, and problem-solving skills while applying accounting concepts to real-life scenarios. Participants also benefit from feedback and evaluation by practicing accountants, offering valuable insight into industry expectations. 

Among the 13 teams that participated, two teams from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School achieved exceptional results, earning both first-place positions in the competition. Each team was awarded $1,000, for a total of $2,000, which was shared among the student participants. One of the first-place teams was led by student captains Zayle Boyuk and Wesley Wei. 

The outcome exceeded expectations for the St. Benedict teams, with both groups delivering strong presentations under the competition’s time constraints. While the students felt confident in their work, earning both first-place positions came as a proud and unexpected result that reinforced the school’s reputation for excellence in business studies. 

“I think honestly, for both our teams it was a little bit of a shock because we didn’t think we would both get first place, but then when we did it was a big moment of pride because I think St. Ben’s is known as more of an academically strong school especially in business. So, I think that reaffirms that we have that business excellence,” said Zayle. 

Both student captains have developed a strong interest in pursuing accounting at the post-secondary level, crediting their business education at St. Benedict as a key influence.  

“To be honest, this is all because of Mr. Politi. The first time I took a business class was in grade 10 and taught by Mr. Politi, and then it just kind of sparked an interest for me. So, I took grade 11 and grade 12 accounting classes and became interested in accounting,” said Wesley.  

Zayle agreed, and shared “For me, last year I had grade 10 business and it was the subject that clicked most. I like Mr. Politi a lot as a teacher as well. I learned that I have a business mindset, so I started pursuing things like marketing and accounting.”  

When reflecting on advice for future competitors, both students emphasized preparation and leadership. Zayle highlighted the importance of having a strong leader who can guide a team under pressure, while Wesley stressed the value of entering the competition with a solid foundation of knowledge. Preparation, they noted, was essential to success, with Zayle adding that reviewing past competitions and understanding what led to previous wins helped inform their approach this year. 

“Experiential learning opportunities like the FCR Accounting Case Competition allow students to explore career interests, develop practical, real-world skills, and gain valuable exposure to post-secondary and professional pathways,” said Morris Hucal, Director of Education. 

“We are proud of the work Mr. Politi and his students have done at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, and we welcome opportunities like this that help prepare students for success beyond secondary school.” 

For more information on programs at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, visit https://st-benedict.sudburycatholicschools.ca/.  

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) invites early learners and their families to attend its Kindergarten Registration Night on Thursday, January 15, 2025, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at any SCDSB Elementary school. To register for Junior Kindergarten, children must be turning four years old on or before December 31 of the current year.  

Kindergarten Registration Night offers families an opportunity to learn everything they need to know about preparing their child for school as a first-time student. Attendees will meet welcoming staff, explore the SCDSB’s modern facilities, discover the wide range of programs available in English and French Immersion, and see why the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is an ideal place for their child to grow and thrive.  

“The start of kindergarten is a meaningful milestone, not only for our young learners, but for their families as well,” said Director of Education, Morris Hucal.   

“Our Kindergarten Registration Night is designed to welcome families into our Sudbury Catholic community, ease any questions or concerns, and help parents feel confident and supported as they take this important first step. We look forward to welcoming our new and returning families as they begin what we hope will be a long, joyful, and enriching educational journey for their child.” 

To assist families, the SCDSB has created a Kindergarten Registration Guide, which can be found at https://www.sudburycatholicschools.ca/early-learning/kindergarten-program/.  

The SCDSB invites families to register for the 2026/2027 school year online. Staff will be onsite to assist families with the registration process. Tablets and screens will also be available for parents and guardians to use during the event. 

For more information, visit https://www.sudburycatholicschools.ca/register-for-kindergarten/.  

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Due to a flash freeze weather statement and widespread pooled water causing rapidly deteriorating 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.

Greater Sudbury — The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is proud to announce an overall improvement in student achievement as reflected in the latest Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results. These advancements highlight the dedication of the board’s students, educators, and families in supporting academic success. 

Percentage of SCDSB Grade 3 Students at or above the provincial standard for the 2024/2025 school year: 

• Mathematics: 42 per cent, up from 36 per cent the previous year.  

• Reading: 65 per cent, compared to 62 per cent the previous year.  

• Writing: 54 per cent, up from 50 per cent the previous year.  

Percentage of SCDSB Grade 6 Students at or above the provincial standard for the 2024/2025 school year: 

• Mathematics: 32 per cent, compared to 33 per cent the previous year.  

• Reading: 82 per cent, up from 76 per cent the previous year. 

• Writing: 79 per cent, a significant increase from 69 per cent the previous year.  

Percentage of SCDSB Grade 9 Students at or above the provincial standard for the 2024/2025 school year: 

• Mathematics: 55 per cent of students achieved at or above the provincial standard, compared to 49 per cent the previous year.  

Percentage of SCDSB Grade 10 students at or above the provincial standard for the 2024/2025 school year: 

• OSSLT: 83 per cent compared to 84 per cent the previous year.  

Director of Education Morris Hucal praised Sudbury Catholic Schools for their overall improvements, while noting that continued focus on mathematics remains a priority. 

“We are proud of the improvements being made across our schools. It is our goal to continue making students and their education our top priority, so their understanding deepens and their confidence grows,” he said. “While we recognize that there is still work to be done in mathematics, we remain fully committed to closing those gaps. This year, we have invested significant effort into our Math Action Plan, which is designed to strengthen foundational skills, build confidence, and equip students with the tools they need to succeed. We are encouraged by the progress so far and will continue to work alongside our educators to ensure every student can thrive in math and beyond.” 

Among the schools that demonstrated overall improvement, Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School (BAC) stood out as a top performer. The percentage of Grade 9 students meeting or exceeding the provincial standard in mathematics rose significantly, from 39 per cent the previous year to 64 per cent the 2024/2025 school year.  

Reflecting on this achievement, Principal of BAC, Karl Dreger, emphasized the collective effort behind the school’s success.  

“The gains our students have made in mathematics are remarkable and a testament to the commitment of our staff and the hard work of our students,” he said.

“Our teachers developed and brought into our school a math action plan through a high-yield strategies framework. Their efforts have created a strong foundation for continued growth, and we are looking forward to building on this success as we support our learners across all subjects in this school year and in the years ahead.” 

In a media release, Ontario’s Education Minister, Paul Calandra, recently announced the launch of an advisory body to review the province’s standardized testing and student outcomes. The two-member advisory panel, expected to be named in the new year, will focus on identifying the causes of achievement gaps in math, reading, and writing. 

In response to the announcement, Chair of the Board Michael Bellmore expressed support for the review and highlighted the board’s ongoing commitment to student success. 

“We understand that the Minister of Education intends to review the EQAO testing process, and we welcome this initiative,” he said. “I believe any opportunity to gain deeper insight into what our learners need is invaluable. We look forward to using the findings from this review to refine our strategies and continue building on the progress we’ve made. In the meantime, we are celebrating the success of our increased achievement results and remain committed to putting students at the forefront, ensuring they receive the best supports possible.” 

For more information on EQAO results, visit https://www.eqao.com/results/.  

For more information on the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, visit https://www.sudburycatholicschools.ca/.  

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is pleased to announce the election of Amanda Dittrich as Chair and Will St. Amant as Vice Chair of the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) for the 2025–2026 school year. 

The PIC is composed of parent representatives from each elementary and secondary Catholic School Council, including council chairs and elected members. Together with school administrators, a trustee representative, and the Director of Education, the committee plays an essential role in strengthening communication and collaboration across the system. Its parent-led voice helps ensure that student well-being, academic achievement, and the diverse needs of all learners remain central to the Board’s work. 

“I am looking forward to working closely with our new Director of Education and the rest of the Parent Involvement Committee to continue providing a positive link between the school and the school board,” said Dittrich. “I hope to bring better awareness and engagement opportunities to our parents and guardians so they can best support our students and their achievements.” 

Director of Education Morris Hucal expressed his appreciation for the newly appointed Chair and Vice Chair, stating, “As a parent or caregiver, there are endless opportunities to be involved in your child’s learning. Parent involvement has a lasting impact on student success, and I am proud of the strong Parent Involvement Committee we have here at Sudbury Catholic. Under the leadership of Amanda Dittrich and Will St. Amant, I am confident the committee will continue to build on that success.” 

For more information about the Parent Involvement Committee, visit https://www.sudburycatholicschools.ca/PIC. 

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Last year, around this time, the newly formed FIRST Robotics team at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School gathered around a box of parts and contemplated where to begin. With a group of students relatively new to robotics, and roughly a year ahead of them before their first competition, their first goal was simple: build a robot and get it to move, if only an inch. 

Fast forward to November 2025, and the team has far exceeded that humble objective. Not only did they successfully design and build a fully functioning robot, they built two of them, and their hard work, creativity, and persistence paid off in a big way as they captured first place at the FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Competition. 

Teams participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge work together to design, build, code, and operate robots that face off in alliance-style competitions. With support from coaches and mentors, participants strengthen their STEM abilities and apply real engineering practices, such as documenting their progress in an engineering notebook, to robotics challenges. Along the way, they gain an appreciation for collaboration, creativity, and the effort required to bring their big ideas to life. 

Teacher and Team Coach Loretta Cuda praised her team’s ability to work together and think quickly under pressure. “Our goal was just to get the robot to move, so to see them come together, mentor new grade 9s in our club . . . and score the most points out of all the teams there, I am extremely proud. Was I expecting to be slated for second and then become the winning alliance? No. I am blown away. This team is good at taking criticism and knowing where they need to improve, and I think the whole community is proud of this team and what they’ve done,” she said.  

Grade 12 student Michael Phillips shared how the experience brought the group closer than they ever expected. “Aside from learning more about robotics, I think we really came together and learned what it means to be a team,” he said. “It’s one thing to plan for what we’ll do if a problem comes up with the robot, but on the actual competition day, we learned to put everything aside and work toward a common goal. Each person thought about what they could contribute to help us win.” 

For many students, the competition also opened their eyes to the broader scope of skills required in robotics. Grade 12 student David Akero said the event pushed the team beyond just mechanical and technical work. “The thing about this competition is that it’s not just about how well our robot performs,” he explained. “It’s also about how our business team performs, what our outreach was, how our presentation goes, and how we can share more about our story. There’s a lot of documenting too, that was something we lacked before, but this time it’s something we’re really going to focus on.” 

Akero added that the structure of the challenge reflects real-world expectations. “The way they format the competition, it’s basically like running a business. Some people look for sponsors, others build specific parts. Some of us have to work on public speaking or take part in interviews or understand financial aspects. The organizers included all of that. There’s something for everyone here, and you come out of it better than when you started.” 

Director of Education, Morris Hucal, praised the team on their success. “Congratulations to the St. Benedict FIRST Robotics team on their remarkable achievement at the FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Competition. This win reflects the dedication, creativity, and problem-solving skills that define our Sudbury Catholic students. STEM education continues to be a key focus for our board, and it’s inspiring to see how initiatives like robotics are preparing students for the future. The continued growth of robotics programs across our schools highlights our commitment to hands-on learning and innovation. Congratulations once again to the students, mentors, and educators who made this success possible.” 

For more information on programs and teams at St. Benedict Catholic secondary School, visit https://st-benedict.sudburycatholicschools.ca/.  

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At its Annual Inaugural Meeting on Tuesday, November 19, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) re-elected Trustees Micheal Bellmore as Chair and Ray Desjardins as Vice Chair, demonstrating continued confidence in their leadership and vision for the Board. 

Michael Bellmore expressed his gratitude to his board colleagues for their support of his leadership and their dedication to good governance at Sudbury Catholic.  

Following his re-election as chair, Bellmore praised his colleagues for their commitment to student success and highlighted the efforts of the entire community in creating a welcoming and effective learning environment. 

“To the entire Sudbury Catholic community: thank you for everything you do. You truly set a gold standard by putting students first,” Bellmore said. He added, “Trustees on this board consistently show up, do the work, ask the important questions, and committed to good governance and student success. Thank you for answering the call and demonstrating true servant leadership.” 

Director of Education, Morris Hucal, expressed his support for the re-elections, stating, “Chair Michael Bellmore and Vice Chair Raymond Desjardins are exceptional leaders who consistently place students at the forefront of their work and champion the strength of Catholic education. I am certain they will continue to move our Board forward in meaningful ways this year. I also want to recognize our trustees, whose commitment to excellence and dedicated service truly strengthens our entire school community.”  

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board operates 17 schools across Greater Sudbury and Killarney and is committed to realizing each student’s potential by nurturing and developing their mind, body and spirit. 

Board meetings for the SCDSB are held on the third Tuesday of each month during the school year and are open to the public. For more information, visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca/board-meetings/. 

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Throughout October and November, students and staff across the Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) participated in a “Pilgrims of Hope” walk, joining Catholics around the world in recognition of the Jubilee Year 2025. 

A pilgrimage walk is a special journey taken by individuals and communities to grow closer to God. Rooted in centuries-old tradition, a pilgrimage walk invites participants to walk with intention, carrying Jesus in their hearts as they reflect, pray, and strengthen their spiritual connection. More than the distance travelled, it is a meaningful reminder that faith is a journey, and each step offers an opportunity for hope, peace, and renewal. 

The tradition of the Jubilee Year dates back to 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the first Jubilee, which is also known as a “Holy Year.” Its frequency has evolved over time. It was initially observed every 100 years, later every 50, and now typically every 25 years or as designated by the Holy Father. 

To honour the Holy Year, SCDSB students and staff proudly walked with banners and symbols of faith, pausing at seven prayer stations set up around their school grounds. At each stop, they reflected on themes of creation, service, peace, and God’s love. Students prayed together, performed small acts of kindness, and shared messages of hope. 

“We walked today to remember that Jesus is always by your side, and if you need help Jesus is always listening,” said Paisley, a Grade 5 student at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School. 

This year’s pilgrimage encouraged students to see their daily surroundings as sacred spaces and to recognize God’s presence in community and creation. 

Students shared some favourite moments from the experience: 

“I liked how we would pray while we were connected with nature. Our teacher told us to put our arms up in the air like a tree or baa like a sheep. That part was really fun,” said Paisley. 

“It was also fun to just be together and walk together as a school,” added Journey, a Grade 6 student. 

“The walk made me think of how grateful I am for the sun and nature and how everything is so beautiful. God created everything that we have, and we should enjoy it,” said Paisley. 

“Yes, it made me think of how grateful I am for God, the earth, the nature, the air,” shared Easton, Grade 6. 

Through prayer, reflection, and community connection, students across the board embraced the spirit of the Jubilee Year with gratitude and joy. As Joan Yawney-Matz, Religious Education and Faith Consultant, explained, “through our pilgrimage walks, students discovered that prayer is not just something we say, but something we live.” She emphasized how powerfully the event united the community, sharing that “our school, family, and parish communities came together to experience the joy of being part of a larger faith community walking together, on the road towards holiness.” 

“I am so proud of our students, staff, families, parish partners and everyone who helped make the Pilgrims of Hope Walk possible. This event is a wonderful example of how we live out our Catholic faith through both learning and action. Together, we have shown what it means to journey in faith and community,” said Morris Hucal, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. 

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Sudbury, ON – The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is currently seeking new representatives to serve a three-year term. SEAC is a standing committee that provides important recommendations to the Board on the establishment, development, and delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional students. 

The committee welcomes applicants who are affiliated with organizations or agencies that support children with special needs. Prospective members must be at least 18 years old, hold Canadian citizenship, and not be employed by the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. 

Applicants are asked to provide a letter of nomination from the director of the association they represent. Letters should be submitted to Erica Raymond, Superintendent of Special Education Services, via email at erica.raymond@sudburycatholicschools.ca. 

Interested individuals are encouraged to apply and help support inclusive education within our Catholic learning community. 

For more information on Special Education at Sudbury Catholic Schools, please visit https://www.sudburycatholicschools.ca/special-education/.  

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