Happy Thanksgiving from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.
This Thanksgiving, we are filled with heartfelt gratitude for our incredible Sudbury Catholic community — our students, families staff, and parish partners who inspire us each day through their faith, kindness, and compassion. This Thanksgiving, may we continue to open our hearts in gratitude, show kindness to others, and share our blessings generously.
As we gather to celebrate this special holiday, we give thanks for the many blessings within our schools and communities. Prayer offers us a beautiful opportunity to express our Catholic faith and reflect on the gifts we’ve been given.
Please join us in a special Thanksgiving Prayer for our community as we wish you and your loved ones a holiday filled with joy, peace, and thankfulness.
Loving God,
As we gather in gratitude this Thanksgiving, we thank You for the many blessings You have placed in our lives and within our Sudbury Catholic School community.
We are grateful for our students and their bright spirits, for the dedication of our educators and staff, for the support of our families and parishes, and for the partnerships that strengthen our schools.
In this season of thankfulness, we remember those who are in need—those who may be facing challenges, loneliness, or hardship. May they feel Your love through the kindness and generosity of others.
Help us to carry a spirit of gratitude and service in all that we do, recognizing Your presence in our daily lives and in the people around us.
May this Thanksgiving fill our hearts with peace, joy, and a renewed sense of community and faith.
Just in time for Thanksgiving Weekend, students at St. Anne School took part in a hands-on learning experience with the school’s Indigenous Support Worker, Ms. Carissa. They explored traditional fall harvesting and celebrated the gifts of the land, giving thanks to Mother Earth. 🌽
Through this activity, students learned about gratitude, community, and caring for others. They even created beautiful beaded corn to honour the harvest, connect with Indigenous culture, and explore practices that respect the natural world. Miigwetch to Ms. Carissa for sharing your knowledge and guiding this special experience!
Across the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, our schools are embracing Thanksgiving with kindness, gratitude, and a spirit of community. Check out more stories from our schools celebrating this season of thanks on social media.
Students in the Hospitality and Tourism program at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School recently hosted their annual Friendsgiving event, where they prepared and served a full Thanksgiving meal for clients from the March of Dimes. We are pleased to share that once again, this event was a resounding success!
Thank you to all students and staff who took part in the event, and to Hospitality and Tourism teacher Mike Sipos for organizing this meaningful endeavour for another year.
March of Dimes Canada is a national charity dedicated to championing equity, empowering ability, and creating real change that helps people with disabilities in Sudbury and across the country unlock the richness of their lives.
This annual tradition provides St. Benedict students with a hands-on opportunity to showcase their culinary skills, foster community connections, and celebrate Thanksgiving with a spirit of gratitude. The event allowed students and guests to come together over a shared meal , strengthening relationships and spreading joy during the Thanksgiving season.
St. Benedict School Shared:
“We are thrilled to provide our students with real-world experiences in hospitality while connecting with members of our community. Friendsgiving is about more than food—it’s about gratitude, collaboration, and celebrating the bonds that make our community strong.”
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board would like to extend its thanks to the March of Dimes organization for partnering with our students and supporting meaningful opportunities that highlight both community service and student learning.
Today, on International Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the incredible role teachers play in our organization. Every day, our teachers help students explore new ideas, develop skills, and discover their passions; constantly shaping the young minds of tomorrow.
Being able to teach is a special gift. It takes a kindhearted and dedicated individual to not only share knowledge, but to inspire confidence, nurture curiosity, and encourage growth. Teachers light the spark that leads students to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals.
In the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, our teachers have an additional and very special calling. Catholic teachers are not only educators, but also faith leaders, community builders, and moral role models within our schools and the broader Catholic community. They are called to integrate faith into all aspects of learning, not just in religion class, but across every subject and every interaction. They serve as witnesses to Gospel values such as compassion, forgiveness, integrity, and service, helping students grow in both their knowledge and their personal relationship with God.
When you see an engineer, a nurse, a talented musician, a skilled electrician, or any professional who has found their calling, remember that a teacher was there at the beginning of that journey. Behind every success story, there is a teacher who believed, supported, and guided along the way.
On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, thank you to all of our teachers. Your passion, dedication, and care are shaping not just students, but the future.
In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, St. Anne school community came together in a meaningful and heartfelt way to honour the children, families, and communities affected by residential schools.
Leading up to this important day, Ms. Carissa, the school’s Indigenous Support Worker, guided students and staff through learning and reflection rooted in the spirit of truth and reconciliation. Through the sharing of Phyllis’s books and videos, they learned about the significance of Orange Shirt Day and engaged in thoughtful conversations around how we can demonstrate reconciliation and move forward together in unity.
As part of our learning journey, students created promise/ prayer ties using the four sacred colours of the Medicine Wheel—each one carrying a message of hope and a promise for reconciliation: Yellow–We promise tolisten and learn, Red–We promise tobe kind and care for each other,Black– We promiseto showrespect to all people and cultures, White–We promise toremember the children in our hearts and share the truth.
On the day of our event, the school first gathered as a community to reflect on the 7 Grandfather Teachings—Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, and Truth. They focused especially on Respect, our monthly virtue, recognizing it as the root of truth and reconciliation. Together, they explored how respect is not only one of the teachings, but one that connects and supports all the others.
Together, they walked in reflection, carrying these promises and prayers in our hearts. At the end of their walk, we placed our prayer ties on a specially created banner that will be displayed in our school as a daily reminder of our ongoing commitment to reconciliation.
This banner serves as a symbol of hope, action, and remembrance—a daily visual reminder that Every Child Matters / Chaque Enfant Compte / Gichi-apiitendaagoziwag Akina Abinoonjiiyag and our schools’ commitment to truth and reconciliation. We also created reflective artwork for our school display for this day.
Today, we join together to celebrate National Custodial Appreciation Day and recognize the exceptional contributions of our dedicated Custodial Team. This includes staff members such as custodians, assistant custodians, cleaners, BSTs, and maintenance staff.
It is no secret that these skilled professionals tackle some of the biggest and most physically demanding jobs in our school and office buildings, all in all ensuring safe, welcoming, and healthy environments where students can learn and staff can work with confidence. From meticulously maintained classrooms and hallways to spotless gyms, parking areas, and school grounds, their work touches every corner of our community. As we move through our school year, we do so with confidence, knowing that the educational experiences taking place each day are happening in spaces shaped by their strength, commitment, and exceptional attention to detail.
On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, we extend our sincere gratitude to all members of our custodial team. Your ongoing care and dedication ensure the safety and well-being of our entire community and continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of everyone at Sudbury Catholic Schools. Thank you for all that you do.
On Thursday, September 25, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School and St. Charles College school communities came together to host the second annual “Every Child Matters” tribute during the Jr. Boys Football Game at James Jerome Athletic Field.
The tribute highlighted both schools’ commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, honouring the experiences of Residential School Survivors, their families, and communities, while emphasizing their ongoing dedication to acknowledging the past and walking together toward a reconciled future.
The evening began with a land acknowledgement and opening ceremony led by Beverley Belanger, Principal of St. Benedict School, underscoring the importance of reconciliation. This was followed by a smudging ceremony that included participation from crowd attendees. After warm-ups, both teams lined up on the field wearing orange armbands in recognition of Orange Shirt Day—symbolizing remembrance and hope for the future. Joining the players were members of the Indigenous Education team, Juno-nominated artist Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie, Lil Miss Atikameksheng 2025/26, Honor Nootchtai, currently a St. Benedict student and Miss Atikameksheng 2025/26 and St. Benedict alumna Destiny Nootchtai.
To conclude the ceremony, a drumming honour song was performed by Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie, followed by a coin toss by Destiny Nootchtai.
“This tribute provided an important opportunity for our students, staff, and community to reflect together,” said Skyeanne Trudeau, Indigenous Support Worker at St. Benedict School. “Through sport, song, and ceremony, we honoured the past and reinforced our commitment to a more understanding and compassionate future.”
St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School and St. Charles College remain deeply committed to ensuring the spirit of Every Child Matters is carried forward in their classrooms, on their sports fields, and throughout the broader community. Both schools are proud Legacy Schools with the Downie Wenjack Fund, where they have pledged to take meaningful Reconcili-Actions that honour the past and build a better future.
Discover more about Legacy Schools with the Downie Wenjack Fund by visiting: downiewenjack.ca
Today, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board was proud to join local organizations in demonstrating our ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation during the closing ceremony of this year’s Annual Truth & Reconciliation Relay hosted by the GSPS in Bell Park. On this occasion, we are thrilled to announce that St. Charles College – Team Cardinal earned the distinction of being the top secondary school in Sudbury for total distance covered in the 4th Annual Truth & Reconciliation Relay. At today’s ceremony, Indigenous Graduation Coach and Team Cardinal member Shannon Agowissa accepted the award on behalf of the school. Congratulations, Team Cardinal!
The Truth & Reconciliation Relay, hosted annually by the Greater Sudbury Police Services, is a community initiative that honours history, raises awareness, and promotes healing with Indigenous communities. Its purpose is to educate participants about the history of Residential Schools and highlight the 94 Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Participants watched an educational video, reviewed the Calls to Action, and selected one that resonated with them personally. The relay provided a meaningful moment of reflection, inviting participants to consider how they can bring their chosen Calls to Action to life in both personal and professional spheres.
Superintendent Paul Nalli shared: “We are incredibly proud of Team Cardinal for this achievement and for inspiring their St. Charles College school community through such a meaningful initiative. Miigwetch to all our schools for your heartfelt participation and to our community partners for your continued commitment to honouring the truths of the past and taking meaningful steps toward reconciliation.“
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board extends its gratitude to GSPS and community partners, including the Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, for providing this important opportunity. Since its inception in 2022, the relay has become a cherished tradition, and Sudbury Catholic Schools looks forward to participating each year with the help of our Indigenous Education Team.
From September 22 to 25, students across the Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) participated in a series of dynamic classroom presentations and interactive assemblies featuring retired NHL player and motivational speaker Jason Simon. This meaningful opportunity was organized by the SCDSB Indigenous Education team and explored essential topics, including self-esteem, goal setting, perseverance, mental and physical wellness, and standing against racism. By listening to his experiences of facing and overcoming adversity on and off the ice, this occasion encouraged students to reflect on the importance of inclusion, equity, and respect for others and oneself – key values at the heart of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Over the course of four days, Jason visited seven SCDSB schools, connecting with students from Grades 3–12. Visits included:
September 22: Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary School & St. Anne Catholic Elementary
September 23: St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School
September 24: St. Charles College & Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School
September 25: St. James Catholic Elementary School & St. Francis Catholic Elementary School
“If you don’t know where you’re going in life, it’s hard to get there. There’s always hope, but it doesn’t come on its own. You have to assert yourself, put in the work, and fight for the person you want to become.” Shared Jason Simon, when reflecting on what he hoped students would take away from the interactive sessions.
Sharing inspiring stories from his professional hockey career, as well as his personal journey confronting racism, concussions, and addiction, Jason Simon’s presentations emphasized the importance of setting both short-term and long-term goals, and of creating a clear vision and plan for the life you want. At its core, each presentation conveyed a powerful message of hope, inspiring students from diverse grade levels, interests, and backgrounds to develop resilience, self-awareness, and a strong sense of purpose—qualities essential for achieving their dreams and navigating life with confidence.
“Chi Miigwetch to Jason Simon for sharing his journey and inspiring our students to dream big, persevere, and rise strong,” said Indigenous Education Consultant Ginette Toivonen. “His presentation reminds us to care for ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually, ask for help when needed, and show strength and compassion to others. As a First Nations athlete and role model overcoming systemic barriers, Jason’s experiences spark meaningful reflection on equity, inclusion, and respect for others and oneself—important topics we really want to emphasize as we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th.”
Along with the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, these visits also corresponded with Rowan’s Law Awareness Day on September 24, highlighting concussion safety and prioritizing well-being for young athletes in contact sports.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to serve as a catalyst for student learning, inspiring reflection on these meaningful topics and empowering students to carry these lessons forward in their own lives. Guided by our mission to help every student reach their full potential within an inclusive Catholic learning community, we nurture growth of the mind, body, and spirit. To learn more about the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, please visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca.
