Last month, we were honoured to welcome Dr. Patricia DeGuire, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and Executive Advisor Meena Deol to the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.
Their visit included meaningful discussions with our Vice-Principals about the Right to Read and Dreams Delayed reports, followed by an inspiring conversation with St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School’s Diversity Student Union. Together, they shared reflections on human rights, inclusion, and the power of student voice to inspire positive change in our communities.
As we move quickly through the school year, visits like these—sparking meaningful conversations on equity and inclusion—serve as powerful reminders of our shared commitment to creating safe and welcoming learning environments. These reflections are especially meaningful as we enter Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board joins school boards across Ontario in recognizing Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week, taking place November 17–21, 2025. This week provides an important opportunity to showcase kindness while reaffirming our shared commitment to creating safe, inclusive, and faith-filled learning environments where every student feels valued, supported, and respected.
Together, we are all invited to continue learning about bullying —exploring relevant resources and taking part in activities that help us identify, prevent, and ultimately eradicate it.
What to Expect?
Throughout the week, students, staff, and parents are encouraged to deepen their understanding of bullying and its impact on student learning and well-being. While bullying prevention is a year-round focus, this week serves as an important reminder of the work happening each day across K–12 schools.
Sudbury Catholic Schools use this time to highlight the different forms bullying can take and to promote kindness, gratitude, and acceptance through daily announcements, kindness clubs, classroom lessons, stories, and school-wide activities.
Our Role
Bullying prevention promotes the development of healthy relationships rooted in respect—both in person and online. As Catholic educators, parents/guardians, and caring adults, we all play a vital role in teaching and modelling relationships grounded in dignity, kindness, and empathy.
Throughout the week, Sudbury Catholic Schools will:
Share daily messages that promote kindness, inclusion, and respect;
Engage students in activities that build empathy and strengthen relationships;
Encourage student voice and leadership in promoting safe and welcoming environments;
Reinforce key expectations outlined in PPM 144: Bullying Prevention and Intervention.
We are delighted to share that Sudbury Catholic Students were recognized in OECTA’s 2024–25 Young Authors Awards/Prix jeunes écrivains provincial winners’ anthology, which features the creative works of students from across Ontario.
Congratulations to Immaculate Conception Catholic School students Caden Matz and Ivy Blouin, who were awarded for their outstanding poetry submissions! Both students received recognition plaques during their school’s virtue assembly.
Sponsored by OECTA – Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, these annual awards celebrate the creative writing talents of students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 in both English and French. We are so proud to see our Sudbury Catholic students’ voices and imaginations shine through their writing.
Our winners shared their reflections on the experience:
“It was a very nice experience for young students to showcase their French writing skills.” — Ivy Blouin
“It was a fun and surprising experience to win at the provincial level for my French writing piece.” — Caden Matz
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.
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.
All submissions (whether in hard copy or e-mailed) should have the following information included in addition to the artwork:
Student first and last name
Grade
School
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
CONTEST DEADLINE:
Artwork must be submitted no later than November 22, to be considered for the contest.
What Can I Win?
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:
November 3 – Marymount Academy
November 4 – St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School
November 5 – St. Charles College
November 6 – Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School
“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.”
About the Holodomor Mobile Classroom
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:
Learned about the Holodomor through digital storytelling and multimedia exhibits
Explored how historical events continue to shape today’s world
Were inspired by stories of resilience and survival
Left empowered to uphold Canadian values of freedom, justice, and democracy
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!
School Highlights:
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:
