Students in Ms. Jennifer Petahtagoose’s Native Studies class at St. Charles College created beaded poppies in honour of Remembrance Day on November 11.
Through this hands-on learning activity, students explored the significance of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance, sacrifice, and respect. It was a meaningful way to learn, create, remember, and honour. Thank you to Indigenous Support Worker, Lina Dokis Gagnon for her support in facilitating this activity.
On November 10th, we were honoured to welcome a delegation from Wales, UK, to the Sudbury Catholic District School Board!
Our visitors joined us at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School and St. Albert Adult Learning Centre to learn more about our programs, student supports, and innovative approaches to well-being and success.
A heartfelt thank you to our guests for their engaging visit, and to our incredible team of presenters for sharing how Sudbury Catholic Schools continue to inspire students through innovative, inclusive, and faith-based learning.
St. Charles Catholic Elementary School in Chelmsford hosted its annual Remembrance Day Ceremony today, in partnership with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 553. This meaningful ceremony is a tradition that has been an important part of the school community for over 20 years, honouring the sacrifices of veterans and those who continue to serve. 
Each year, the ceremony not only pays tribute to all of Canada’s veterans, but also helps students deepen their understanding of the many roles and histories of service members in our community. The school continues to proudly display handmade poppies, artwork, and displays throughout the building as a visible reminder of remembrance.
This year’s ceremony was made extra special with coverage from CTV Northern Ontario‘s – Angela Gemmill. Watch the story below to witness how the St. Charles school community comes together in respect, reflection, and gratitude.
Thank you to Royal Canadian Legion Branch 553 for your ongoing commitment to our schools. Your stories and presence help our students understand why we remember, and the role we all play in building a future grounded in peace and freedom.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board invites students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to participate in the Annual Christmas Artwork Contest. Create artwork in any medium (drawing, painting, etc.) that reflects our Catholic faith and the joy of Christmas.
Submissions can be emailed to webmaster@sudburycatholicschools.ca or sent to the Board office by November 22, 2025.
All submissions (whether in hard copy or e-mailed) should have the following information included in addition to the artwork:
Submissions can be e-mailed to webmaster@sudburycatholicschools.ca in a JPG/PNG or PDF format. Or mailed to the Board office at Attention: Christmas Card Contest 165A D’Youville street Sudbury, Ontario P3C 5E7
Artwork must be submitted no later than November 22, to be considered for the contest.
Two winning designs (one elementary and one secondary) will be featured on the annual Christmas cards sent to Board Trustees, school administration, and community partners. Winners will also receive a package of custom Christmas cards featuring their artwork!
You can submit multiple entries up until November 22, 2025. For more contest details, please refer to the attachments below. Join us in celebrating the spirit of the season through art!
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) was honoured to host the Holodomor National Awareness Tour (HNAT) at Sudbury Catholic Secondary Schools from November 3-6, 2025. This impactful, cross-Canada tour brought its state-of-the-art Holodomor Mobile Classroom (HMC) to students, providing an immersive educational experience focused on the Holodomor — the genocide that occurred in Ukraine between 1932 and 1933 — and inspiring reflection on the universal values of human rights, freedom, and democracy.
Through film, storytelling, survivor testimony, and interactive digital learning, Sudbury Catholic students were challenged to think critically about propaganda, disinformation, and social responsibility, while deepening their understanding of how history continues to shape today’s global landscape. The program strongly aligned with Ontario curriculum expectations and supported the development of essential 21st-century skills including critical thinking, digital literacy, and empathy.
Holodomor Mobile Classroom School Visits:
“As a proud Ukrainian Canadian, I was deeply honoured to welcome the Holodomor National Awareness Tour Mobile Classroom to Sudbury Catholic Schools,” shared Morris Hucal, Director of Education for SCDSB. “This important educational initiative provided our students with a meaningful opportunity to learn about one of the most tragic and defining moments in Ukrainian history — the Holodomor — and to reflect on the enduring importance of human rights, justice, and compassion.”
The Holodomor Mobile Classroom (HMC) is a 42-foot interactive multimedia classroom on wheels, designed to bring this critical history to life for students across Canada. Inside the mobile classroom, students participated in facilitator-led sessions that included documentary films, survivor testimonies, and interactive learning activities exploring both the historical context and the modern-day relevance of the Holodomor.
Through this experience, students:
At Sudbury Catholic, we remain committed to ensuring students understand the lessons of history so that such injustices are never forgotten or repeated. The visit of the Holodomor Mobile Classroom served as a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people and the vital role education plays in building empathy, understanding, and global citizenship among future generations.
For more information about the Holodomor National Awareness Tour and the Holodomor Mobile Classroom, visit www.holodomortour.ca
Wishing all our students, staff, and families a spook-tacular Halloween! Stay safe, keep warm, and enjoy every fun moment tonight as you trick-or-treat. Have a fang-tastic time, everyone!
All week long our schools have been getting into the Halloween Spirit with hands-on activities, funky costumes, school-wide celebrations, pumpkin contests, and so much more. Check out some of the highlights below:
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is proud to announce that Chairperson Michael Bellmore has been appointed to the Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario (CEFO) Board of Directors.
The Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario supports and promotes Catholic education across the province through scholarships, awards, and charitable initiatives that benefit students in Catholic schools. Trustee Bellmore’s appointment is a reflection of his longstanding commitment to Catholic education, student success, and community service.
“Michael’s leadership, dedication, and deep understanding of Catholic values make him an outstanding addition to the CEFO Board,” said Morris Hucal, Director of Education. “His work has consistently demonstrated a strong belief in the power of Catholic education to inspire excellence and faith in our students.”
As a dedicated Trustee and Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and President of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA), Michael Bellmore has played an instrumental role in advancing initiatives that strengthen faith-based learning and student achievement throughout the district. His new role with CEFO will allow him to contribute his perspective and experience at the provincial level.
“Catholic education has always been about more than academics,” shared SCDSB Chair Michael Bellmore. “It’s about nurturing the heart and spirit of each student. I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent our community and help ensure that all students across Ontario continue to benefit from the faith-filled education that has shaped so many lives.”
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board congratulates Michael Bellmore on this significant achievement and wish him continued success as he helps champion Catholic education across Ontario.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s mission is to realize each student’s potential within an inclusive Catholic Learning Community by nurturing and developing students through mind, body, and spirit. For more information, please visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca
Treaties Recognition Week is observed annually during the first week of November to emphasize the importance of treaties and deepen the understanding of treaty rights and relationships across Ontario. It offers an opportunity for students, educators, and residents to explore the lasting significance of treaties and their relevance in today’s society.
This year, Treaties Recognition Week takes place from November 2-8, 2025.
In recognition of Treaties Recognition Week, students across the Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) will engage in a variety of meaningful learning experiences that honour Indigenous culture, history, and relationships—deepening their understanding of the importance of treaties in Canada. Some examples include:
The SCDSB is proud to partner with Indigenous artist Moses Lunham of the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation for a virtual painting workshop focused on the Huron Tract Treaty. The session, titled “Treaty Awareness through Art,” encourages students to connect with the Anishinaabe worldview through creativity and storytelling.
Students at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School had the opportunity to experience a workshop with Moses on October 29. Under the guidance of Mrs. Lawrence and supporting educator/Indigenous Support Worker Carissa Bruyere, the Grade 3/4 class painted drums while learning about the heartbeat of Mother Earth, the Thunderbird, and the deep connections between art, spirit, and land.
“Miigwetch, Moses, for inspiring our learners and helping them express their creativity in such a meaningful way,” shared St. Anne. “Your teachings remind us that learning through art builds understanding, respect, and connection.”
At Bishop Alexander Carter, Grade 7 and 8 students will participate in a treaty scavenger hunt, solving coded clues written in Anishinaabemowin to uncover answers hidden throughout the school. In addition, Indigenous Support Worker Page Chartrand will facilitate the Kairos Blanket Exercise, an experiential learning activity that helps students explore the evolving relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.
At Holy Trinity Catholic School, students are exploring the concept of treaties through an interdisciplinary project blending math, coding, beading, and weaving. After learning about the role of treaties and wampum belts, students will design and create their own symbolic belts—representing peace, friendship, and mutual respect
The examples above reflect only a portion of the engaging learning taking place. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board looks forward to highlighting Treaty-focused learning experiences from schools across the system throughout the week.
In addition to the activities planned within our schools, the Sudbury Catholic Indigenous Education team has gathered a variety of resources to support students, staff, and community members in reflecting on and commemorating this significant week. Below is a summary of public resources available through Ontario.ca to help deepen Ontarian’s engagement and learning.
In 2016, Ontario passed legislation declaring the first week of November as Treaties Recognition Week. This annual event honours the importance of treaties and helps students and residents of Ontario learn more about treaty rights and relationships.
In Ontario, treaties are as much a part of today as when they were first created. They are living documents and legally binding agreements that set out the rights, responsibilities and relationships of First Nations and the federal and provincial governments. Furthermore, we also acknowledge that Indigenous Nations had Treaty Agreements with one another before Europeans arrived, and that treaty-making itself, precedes North American settlement.
Whether Indigenous or not, treaties matter to everyone in Canada; we are all Treaty People. They represent a mutual commitment to building a prosperous future for everybody and Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities are responsible for knowing and upholding Treaty obligations.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is committed to providing opportunities for innovation and learning for all in an inclusive and equitable community. During Treaties Recognition Week, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will engage in meaningful learning opportunities from November 2-8, 2025. These initiatives aim to deepen understanding and respect for treaty rights and relationships, benefiting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
The Government of Ontario has provided several teaching resources to help further explore this topic. Among these is a Treaties in Ontario infographic (PDF), which illustrates the number of treaties in Ontario, the regions they encompass, and the populations residing within these treaty areas.
To review the Scope and Sequence of Expectations Relating to Treaties and Land Claims, please refer to the following:
For additional teaching and learning resources, visit the Ontario.ca page on Treaty Teaching & Learning Resources.
Sudbury Catholic Schools have been provided with a wide range of video resources from Ontario.ca suitable for different grade levels to provide students with an opportunity to hear from Indigenous Elders or knowledge keepers.
In these activities, students will learn about treaties and their importance in an age-appropriate way that’s flexible for teachers’ lesson planning. This opportunity allows Indigenous speakers to share their knowledge about the importance of treaties, treaty relationships and rights in Ontario.
To view these videos, please go to: Ontario.ca - Indigenous Voices on Treaties
For comprehensive information on treaties in Ontario, visit the Ontario.ca Treaties page. This resource is curated by the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and provides valuable insights into the history, significance, and impact of treaties across the province.
Explore the following resources:
Are you ready to join a team that is passionate about shaping the future? At Sudbury Catholic Schools, we are committed to providing an inspiring, supportive, learning environment for our students and we want you to be a part of it. Bring your resume, meet our dedicated team, and discover all the incredible opportunities we have to offer.
When: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
Where: Holy Trinity School | 1945 Hawthorne Drive
We are currently seeking qualified professionals to hire for a variety of positions:
Please feel free to contact our Human Resources department if you have any questions regarding our upcoming career fair or job opportunities at Sudbury Catholic Schools:
Human Resources Services
Sudbury Catholic District School Board
165A D’Youville Street
Sudbury, ON
P3C 5E7
Phone: 705.673.5620
Fax: 705.673.1070
Email: employment@sudburycatholicschools.ca
