Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Author: Erin Kendall

Sudbury Catholic Schools Welcome Skilled Trades Leader Jamie McMillan for Multi-School Presentations

Posted on by Erin Kendall

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is proud to welcome celebrated skilled trades advocate Jamie McMillan, founder of Made in the Trades, for a series of inspiring presentations to students at four SCDSB schools this November.

McMillan, an ironworker and nationally recognized speaker, will share her journey in the skilled trades while encouraging students to explore apprenticeship pathways, dismantle stereotypes, and discover the rewarding career opportunities available in today’s labour market. Her presentations highlight hands-on learning, strong earning potential, and the importance of essential skills – messages that directly support Ontario’s Grade 7-10 career education curriculum.

McMillan will visit the following Sudbury Catholic Schools from Nov. 24-27:

  • Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School – Grades 8 and 10 
  • Holy Trinity Catholic School – Grades 4-6 
  • Marymount Academy – Grade 9 
  • St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School – Grades 7-10 

Across all presentations, McMillan will share stories from her career, offer real-world insights into apprenticeship opportunities, and speak to the growing demand for skilled professionals in Ontario. Her message empowers young people to recognize their strengths, explore diverse pathways, and consider futures rooted in hands-on, meaningful work.

“These sessions support the Board’s ongoing commitment to enriching student learning, expanding pathway awareness, and connecting classroom learning with real-life opportunities in the skilled trades.” – Daniel Levecque, SHSM/OYAP/College Link/CO-OP Secondary Consultant

“Sudbury Catholic DSB is dedicated to empowering students to pursue apprenticeship pathways that offer invaluable hands-on experience, strong earning potential, and lasting career opportunities in today’s labour market.” – Morris Hucal, SCDSB Director of Education

On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, we sincerely thank Jamie for sharing her insight and personal journey with our learning community. The opportunities within the skilled trades are vast, and presentations such as this play an important role in encouraging students to explore their future pathways and the many possibilities available to them before and beyond graduation.

About Jamie McMillan

Jamie McMillan is a Red Seal Ironworker and founder of Made in the Trades, an outreach initiative dedicated to promoting skilled trades and apprenticeship pathways to youth across Canada. Learn more: https://madeinthetrade.com/

About the Sudbury Catholic District School Board

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board delivers quality faith-based education to over 7000 students across Greater Sudbury and Killarney. Through inclusive school environments, innovative programming, and strong community partnerships, the Board is committed to supporting each learner’s spiritual, academic, and personal growth. For more information, please visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca

Advent Season

Posted on by Erin Kendall

Journeying Through Advent at Sudbury Catholic Schools

As we approach the Christmas season, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board joyfully enters into the sacred season of Advent – a time of hope, peace, joy, and love. Beginning on Sunday, November 30, and continuing through December 7, December 14, and December 21, our school communities come together each week to reflect, pray, and prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s birth.

Letter from SCDSB Director Morris Hucal & Chair Michael Bellmore

A Season of Reflection and Anticipation

Advent invites us to slow down and notice God’s presence in our midst. Throughout these four weeks, students and staff across Sudbury Catholic Schools participate in classroom discussions, morning liturgies, community service projects, and faith-filled activities that highlight the true meaning of the season.

Each Sunday of Advent carries a special theme:

  • Week 1 (Nov. 30) – Hope:
    We light the first candle on the Advent wreath, reminding us of God’s promise and our trust in His guidance.
  • Week 2 (Dec. 7) – Peace:
    We reflect on the peace Christ brings to our world and how we can share that peace with others.
  • Week 3 (Dec. 14) – Joy:
    Marked by the rose-coloured candle, this week reminds us to celebrate the joy that comes from knowing Christ is near.
  • Week 4 (Dec. 21) – Love:
    As Christmas draws close, we focus on God’s unconditional love and how we can share that love in our families, schools, and communities.

Living Out Our Faith

Across the Board, classrooms and school chapels will be filled with readings, prayer services, Advent wreath lightings, acts of kindness, and charitable initiatives that embody the spirit of giving. Many of our schools will also host liturgies, food drives, and Advent-themed activities that bring our communities together in faith and service.

Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas

During these four meaningful weeks, we walk together-students, families, educators, and parish partners-in hopeful anticipation of Christmas. Advent reminds us that the greatest gifts we can share are compassion, kindness, and love.

As we journey through Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, may this season bring light to our communities and strengthen our connection as a Catholic school family.

Sudbury Catholic Students Focus on Caring for Creation at Annual Leadership Retreat

Posted on by Erin Kendall

On November 20, students from all four Sudbury Catholic Secondary Schools came together for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s annual Leadership Retreat at Our Lady of Hope Church, uniting young leaders from across the Board for a day of meaningful connection.

This year’s retreat focused on sustainability and caring for God’s creation. Guided by our Faith Animators and dedicated Sudbury Catholic staff, students participated in hands-on activities that explored environmental stewardship and how we can continue to protect and honour the earth. They also heard from an inspiring guest speaker who shared powerful insights on living sustainably through faith and action.

Our students embraced every moment, offering thoughtful reflections on how they can champion environmental responsibility within their schools and communities.

Check out our photo gallery on Facebook for highlights from this uplifting day of learning, leadership, and faith in action!

Director of Education Visits St. Albert Learning Centre to Celebrate Student Learning

Posted on by Erin Kendall

This month, Sudbury Catholic District School Board Director of Education, Morris Hucal, visited St. Albert Adult Learning Centre to experience firsthand the innovative programs and unique learning opportunities that make this school community one of a kind. It was a memorable visit — and one of many Mr. Hucal has made across our system as part of his personal commitment to celebrating and understanding what makes each of our schools so special. The answer, of course, lies in the programs, the people, and the genuine care that shine through every community.

During his visit at St. Albert, Mr. Hucal toured classrooms, met with students and staff, and explored the school’s successful Peace Pens & Beyond Program. This student-led initiative blends creativity, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship as learners design and produce their own handcrafted items. With guidance from Educational Assistant Lynn Dubois and St. Albert PEACE student Trent, Mr. Hucal even rolled up his sleeves to craft his very own Peace Pen!

The visit also included time with students in the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program, who are developing both the practical skills and the compassion needed to build meaningful careers in care and service. Graduates from this program go on to provide essential support to members of our community who require daily living assistance due to age, illness, or disability.

These visits reflect the Board’s ongoing commitment to being present in our schools – listening to student voices, celebrating creativity, and witnessing the hands-on, faith-filled learning happening each day across our system.

To learn more about St. Albert Learning Centre and its programs, visit: https://st-albert.sudburycatholicschools.ca/programs/

Sudbury Catholic District School Board Welcomes the Ontario Human Rights Commission

Posted on by Erin Kendall

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.

Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week

Posted on by Erin Kendall

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.

SS11 – (REVISED) Bullying Prevention & Intervention

Resources

The following resources can be used by families and the community to support Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week:

Mental Health Hub

Prev Net – Bullying Info for Parents

Random Acts of Kindness

Kids Help Phone

Ontario: Bullying – we can all help stop it

Kindness Book List

Kindness at Home Lesson Plans – Parents/Guardians

Bullying Canada

Media Smarts – Canada’s Centre for Digital Media Literacy

Canadian Centre for Child Protection

Immaculate Conception School Students Make Their Mark in Provincial Writing Competition

Posted on by Erin Kendall

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

SCC Native Studies Students Create Beaded Poppies to Honour Remembrance Day

Posted on by Erin Kendall

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.

Global Connections: Welsh Delegation Visits Sudbury Catholic Schools

Posted on by Erin Kendall

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.

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