The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is thrilled to congratulate 2024 graduate Alexis Teixeria from St. Charles College, who has been awarded a $1,000 bursary by the Greater Sudbury Police Services Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC). Alexis has shown exceptional dedication to promoting diversity, inclusive practices, and cultural acceptance in her school and community.
Thank you, Alexis, for your inspiring efforts to make our world a more inclusive and welcoming place. Your commitment motivates us all!
Alexis Teixeria
“I would like to thank the Diversity Advisory Committee for choosing me as the winner of their Diversity Bursary; I feel honoured to have been selected as the Sudbury Catholic District Schoolboard recipient. I will continue prioritizing diversity and equity throughout post-secondary years, and even more so as a teacher someday.” – Alexis Teixeria
Thank you to Greater Sudbury Police Services and Gurpreet Singh Broca, Chair of the Diversity Advisory Committee, for recognizing and fostering leadership in our community.
St. Charles Elementary School kicked off June with its 18th Annual Jonathan Hetu Walk, an annual event supporting the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC). This walk honours Jonathan Hetu, a former student who bravely fought cancer and passed away in September 2004.
Although current students and staff at St. Charles Catholic Elementary School may not have known Jonathan Hetu personally, his legacy lives on through this annual walk. This year, the school raised over $11,000, bringing the grand total to over $147,000 in eighteen years.
History of the Jonathan Hetu Walk
The first Jonathan Hetu Walk was organized in 2005 by one of Jonathan’s teachers, David Nicholls. The walk became an annual event, celebrating Johnathan’s bright spirit and fostering unity, strength, and collective action within the school and surrounding community. David Nicholls spearheaded the event for many years until his unexpected passing in 2019. Since then, school staff including Maria Peplinski, Brent Peplinski, and Ronald Belanger have continued organizing the fundraiser, honouring both Jonathan and David while supporting children and families in Northern Ontario.
“We are incredibly proud of our entire school community for continuing to support this walk that honours the legacy of kindness and compassion that Jonathan and David cultivated in the St. Charles community,” said Principal Christine McCracken. “Reflecting on what has been achieved by our community over the past 18 years is quite simply astounding. The achievement is a result of the collective effort of past and present students, staff, and families. We are so grateful that we have been able to help provide hope, support, education, and advocacy to families who have a child with cancer.”
In addition to the walk, the school honours Jonathan by presenting an annual award to students who exhibit a positive attitude, participate in sports, and have a love for learning. This year, Chloe Durepeau and Ty Thibault received the Jonathan Hetu Award.
Chloe Durepeau said “I’m so honoured that I was chosen for the Jonathan Hetu Award. I wish that I could have met Jonathan because he sounded like a great guy.”
“I am grateful for being recognized as a student with a positive attitude. I truly enjoy coming to school and being with amazing teachers and all my friends. I am so proud to be a member of the St. Charles Ram family and to represent Jonathan Hetu. This wouldn’t be possible without the amazing School Staff,” stated Ty Thibeault.
Jonathan and David’s memory continue to inspire the community at St. Charles Elementary School. The annual walk has become a important tradition, bringing the community together and supporting a cause that remains close to their hearts.
Last week, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board bid farewell to our graduating Student Trustee, Catena Hayden at her last Board meeting! Since joining us in 2022, Catena has been an invaluable member at our Board table, bringing immense passion for student voice in everything she does.
Like all our graduates, we are excited to see Catena embark on her post-secondary journey this fall. Catena will be pursuing a Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology at the University of Ottawa. We have no doubt that she will excel and leave her mark in Canada’s capital.
Join us in extending our warmest wishes for success to Catena as she continues to pursue her path in life. Catena, thank you for your unwavering dedication and contribution to our Board. We will miss you dearly, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing things you will accomplish in the future!
Congratulations to Immaculate Conception School for the remarkable success of its recent Families Helping Families Spring Dance fundraiser!
Held last month at the school in Val Caron, the event brought together families and students for an evening of fun and community spirit. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the fundraising team, the school proudly raised an impressive $3,150 for the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer.
In a heartwarming display celebrating their efforts, the school recently hosted Dayna Caruso from the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer at their Gratitude Assembly. During the assembly, members of the Cougar family were delighted to present Dayna with a cheque, symbolizing their community’s collective generosity and hard work toward supporting an important cause that helps families in Northern Ontario.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the fundraising team for their unwavering dedication and to Immaculate’s amazing families for their incredible support. Way to go, Cougars!
St. Francis School is thrilled to announce the outstanding success of its Jump Rope for Heart initiative, where students, families, and staff united in a display of community support and generosity.
The event, held on June 7, showcased the dedication and enthusiasm of the entire school community. Students jumped their hearts out to raise funds for a cause that impacts millions worldwide, while teachers and staff organized and motivated participants, ensuring the event’s success. Equally essential were the parents and families whose generous contributions made a significant difference.
Thanks to the support of its students, staff, and families, St. Francis School is proud to announce that it has successfully raised over $2,800 to aid heart health research and initiatives.
“We are incredibly proud of all the students at St. Francis School,” said Superintendent of Education Erica Raymond. “Your enthusiasm, effort, and generosity exemplify the spirit of giving back and community support. Bravo!”
The success of Jump Rope for Heart underscores St. Francis School’s commitment to fostering a sense of community and social responsibility among its students.
“As we celebrate this achievement, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated, cheered, and donated.” Said St. Francis Principal, Jennifer Connelly. “The success of Jump Rope for Heart underscores St. Francis School’s commitment to fostering a sense of community and social responsibility among its students. Every participant, supporter, and donor has contributed to making a tangible impact on heart health and research, demonstrating that collective efforts, no matter how small, can lead to substantial outcomes.”
Sudbury Catholic Schools hosted a Family Outdoor Play session at Holy Trinity Catholic School on June 13, 2024. New Kindergarten students (beginning school in September 2024) and their families had the opportunity to immerse themselves in hands-on, outdoor experiences that they can bring to their own back yard this summer. The evening was a fun way to foster curiosity and connection with the natural world. From exploring the flow of water to building ramps and runs, it was an evening of fun and learning in the great outdoors!
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Student Senate in collaboration with the City of Greater Sudbury initiated a GOVA bus awareness campaign to promote the use of public transportation and educate students about how to effectively and safely navigate the GOVA Transit system. Over the last few weeks, GOVA Transit ambassadors visited St. Benedict CSS, Marymount Academy, and Bishop Alexander Carter CSS with a bus to provide GOVA travel training to Grades 7 and 8 students. The training included information on routes and schedules, fares, and passes, bike rack usage, accessibility, safety and security, bus etiquette and more.
Additionally, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board applied for and received $1,000 from the Transportation Demand Management Community Grant Program. This grant will be used to purchase GOVA bus passes, which will be distributed to the secondary schools that participated in the GOVA bus presentations.
Bishop Alexander Carter students participated in the Bike to School Challenge. The goal was to promote active travel and eco-friendly transportation methods. Students who took their bikes to school every day last week were entered in a draw for random prize packs. The winners of this challenge are Treightyn Derry, Cole Lepine-Beddows, Landon Punkkinen, Cayden McHugh, and Nathaniel Berg (missing from photo).
Kindergarten students from Mme. Franklin and Mme. Faggioni’s class embarked on an enriching journey of exploration and learning alongside Indigenous Support Worker Ms. Carissa at Kivi Park.
The day was filled with excitement and discovery as our young learners engaged with nature using all their senses. The adventure began with a 3km hike along scenic trails leading up to the revered “Wishing Tree,” where they gathered to hear the traditional story “It’s a Mitgig” while enjoying a snack. On the return hike, students eagerly identified local flora and fauna, using the Anishinaabemowin language learned from the story.
Activities throughout the day included a nest-building challenge, exploration of natural shelters, discussions on seasonal changes, and playful moments splashing in the creek. The students delighted in a picnic lunch and playtime at the park facilities, culminating their day with reflections in their nature journals.
“We are immensely grateful to Ms. Carissa for sharing her knowledge and guidance with us,” said St. Anne Principal Megan Murphy. “Today truly was Mino-giizhigad (a good day) filled with learning and joy.”
This outdoor educational experience not only fostered a deeper connection with the local environment but also highlighted the importance of incorporating Indigenous perspectives into everyday learning.
