Join Us for an Inspiring Evening with Dr. Jody Carrington!

Parents, Guardians, and Community Members are invited to register for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s upcoming Community Involvement event with renowned psychologist and bestselling author, Dr. Jody Carrington. 

Date: November 28, 2024
Location: St. Benedict School, 2993 Algonquin Road
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Note: This event is free and is open to the public. Limited seats are available – Register now!

At this session, Dr. Carrington will explore the strength found in connection, addressing the effects of isolation and burnout while showing us how we can truly thrive together. Don’t miss this free opportunity to rediscover the importance of community and resilience and reserve your spot today!

Additional Resources

Nov 28: Event Registration Form

About Dr. Jody Carrington

Last week was Treaties Recognition Week! Throughout this week, our students and staff had the opportunity to learn and explore the history, significance, and ongoing impact of treaties in Canada. Thank you to everyone who participated in these important discussions. 

Here are a few activities that happened last week in Sudbury Catholic Schools: 

St. Charles School

Mme. Lewis’s Grade 4/5 French Immersion class at St. Charles School explored the importance of treaties through hands-on learning. Students watched videos on wampum belts, participated in discussions, and listened to a story about wampum’s significance. Inspired by these teachings, they crafted their own wampum belts, using white beads for peace and friendship and purple to represent the treaty, honouring the powerful values behind these symbols.

St. David School

St. David School was honoured to welcome George Couchie, a renowned Anishinabe cultural awareness presenter, for an engaging and insightful morning during Treaty Recognition Week.  His sessions focused on finding one’s spark and embracing the Seven Grandfather Teachings. 

Holy Trinity

For Treaty Week, students at Holy Trinity explored the meaning of treaties and created friendship bracelets, wampum belts, and chain links. 

Holy Cross

The Grade 2/3 class at Holy Cross explored the history and significance of Treaties between First Nations and settlers. Students learned about the promises within these agreements, the importance of honoring them, and our shared role as “treaty people.” To reflect on their learning, students created a Treaty Tree, with each leaf featuring a promise they wrote to uphold the Treaties in their lives. This activity deepened their understanding and commitment to justice, responsibility, and respect, reflecting our Catholic values.

November 4, 2024, was a sad day for First Nations, Canada, and the world. Justice Murray Sinclair, former Senator, Midewin Lodge Member, Father, Grandfather, Teacher, and Reconciliation Leader known to Spirit as Mazina Giizhik, passed away at age 73.

ABOUT JUSTICE MURRAY SINCLAIR

As an esteemed Anishinaabe leader, Justice Murray Sinclair leaves behind a remarkable legacy of advocacy for Indigenous rights, justice, and reconciliation in Canada. His dedication to truth and healing was exemplified through his role as Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where he worked tirelessly to expose the injustices of the residential school system and promote a path toward reconciliation.

Throughout his career, Mr. Sinclair’s commitment to reconciliation has left a lasting impact on our Nation’s legal system and Canadian society. His wisdom, resilience, humility, and determination will continue to inspire generations to come. Murray Sinclair not only helped the Anishinaabek, but also shared a vision of what justice could be for all peoples of the world.

As we remember Senator Murray Sinclair and his significant contributions, let us reflect on the importance of education and understanding in building a more equitable future for Indigenous peoples. In the spirit of reconciliation, we encourage our Sudbury Catholic District School Board community to learn more about Murray Sinclair’s contributions, the history and impact of his work in healthcare, law, and politics, and to engage in open dialogue about our shared journey and responsibility towards reconciliation.

In his words to educators, Mr. Sinclair said: “It’s very much about ensuring that the human beings you are educating are given the opportunity to be the best human beings they can be.”

Our thoughts are with Murray Sinclair’s family, friends, and all those who have been touched by his life and his work. May we honour his memory by continuing to work towards justice, healing, and reconciliation in Canada.

Baamaapii Kaawaabmin Murray Sinclair, Chi Miigwech, for your Service.

Read! Read! Read! Write what you know! This morning, the Grade 5/6 class at Pius XII was treated to an educational and entertaining presentation with Canadian Author, Paul J. Toffanello. Students have been reading his book, Popchuck’s Ghost, and were thrilled to meet him! Many questions were answered, and students are motivated to keep reading and writing.

Mr. Toffanello grew up in Timmins, Ontario. He studied at Ottawa’s Carleton University and North Bay’s Nipissing University. He was a high school English teacher, a Vice Principal, a principal at two different high schools, a Superintendent of Education and finally a Director of Education. He was also a part of the original group of Directors of Education who helped to bring the Ontario Literacy & Numeracy Secretariat to life.

Mr. Toffanello has presented to over 400 schools in Canada and the U.S. and continues to look for opportunities to engage with kids and teachers. 

Thank you, Mr. Toffanello, for coming to Pius XII!

On Friday, October 25th, students and staff at participating Sudbury Catholic Schools are invited to join Children’s Aid Societies across Ontario in supporting Dress Purple Day. This province-wide initiative highlights the importance of our collective responsibility to protect children and youth.

By wearing purple, students and staff at SCDSB schools will show solidarity with families facing challenges, demonstrating that we care and are here to help. Dress Purple Day, created by Ontario’s Children’s Aid Societies, raises awareness about the supports available to vulnerable families and encourages all Ontarians to take action within their communities.

In addition to wearing purple, we invite you to explore the resources below to learn more about the significance of this day and how you can get involved. Together, we can make a difference!

What is Dress Purple Day?

Led by Children’s Aid Societies across Ontario, Dress Purple Day is a day to advocate for the safety, well-being, and rights of children and youth. It’s a reminder that it takes a community to care for and protect our young people. To learn more, visit the OACAS Dress Purple Day website.

Getting Involved

What can you do? Help spread the message! Show that you are part of the community that cares for children, youth, and families. Here are some simple yet impactful ways staff & students can participate according to the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin:

Why This Campaign Matters

This year’s Dress Purple Day campaign advocates for stronger social services and more accessible community resources. The OACAS has published an open letter on behalf of various organizations, including municipalities, child welfare groups, and youth service providers, calling on the Ontario government to increase funding and staffing for community-based organizations that support children, youth, and families.

Be an Advocate! The Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin invites you to take action by using the below campaign template to write to your local MPP. Together, we can advocate for enhanced services that support children, youth, and families in our communities.

Campaign Template

Additional Resources

2024 Postcard

Dress Purple Day Poster

Resources & Supports for Ontario Families

Campaign Brochure – Child Welfare In Ontario: A Shared Responsibility              

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to announce that St. John School raised an impressive $4,174.20 in support of the Garson Food Bank. This initiative reflects the incredible generosity and community spirit of St. John students, families, and staff, along with the broader Garson community.

We would like to highlight the exceptional contributions from Mme Galipeau’s Grade 5/6 FI class, which collected an outstanding $1,183.35, and Mr. Martin’s Grade 2/3 FI class, raising $409.00. Both classes were rewarded with a pizza party in recognition of their efforts.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all those who contributed to this cause. Your generosity makes a lasting impact on the community.