Today, students across Sudbury Catholic Schools celebrated World Down Syndrome Day by proudly rocking mismatched socks to show their support for individuals with Down syndrome. The day was filled with creativity and inclusivity as students created inspiring posters that promote acceptance, kindness, and the celebration of our unique differences.

Through this initiative, students are helping to build a community where every individual is valued, included, and embraced for who they are. This event is a testament to the dedication of Sudbury Catholic Schools and the Sudbury Down Syndrome Association in fostering an environment of inclusivity.

“We are so proud of our students for showing their support today. Celebrating our uniqueness is an important part of creating a strong, welcoming community,” said Erica Raymond, Superintendent of Education from Sudbury Catholic Schools.

The celebration is part of a continued effort to raise awareness and promote inclusion in schools and communities across the region. Sudbury Catholic Schools remains committed to creating spaces where all students are encouraged to express themselves and feel empowered.

On March 7, Staff and alumni from St. Charles College came together in support of YES Theatre’s latest musical production, Groundhog Day, a creative and dynamic show that is making its Canadian debut.

The production boasts strong storytelling, a talented vocal cast, and a special connection to the SCC community. Several current and former Cardinals are featured in the cast, including SCC teacher and actor Mr. Scruton, YES Creative Director alumni and actor Alessandro Costantini, alumni actor Max Cull, and retired SCC teacher and actor Mr. Sikora. (Mr. Sikora, Mr. Robeiro, and Max Cull were also recently featured in SCC’s Food Drive video!)

Also in attendance for the evening were SCC staff members Mr. Robeiro, Ms. Dagostino, Ms. Fraser, Ms. Boyd, Ms. Coyle, Mr. Kohut, and Mr. Van de Ligt, showing their support for the local arts community.

Moments like these exemplify the values embedded in the Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations, encouraging students and staff to be Collaborative Contributors and Self-Directed, Responsible, Life-Long Learners.

SCC encourages all theatre enthusiasts to explore opportunities with YES Theatre, which frequently casts local talent. Aspiring performers can keep an eye out for future auditions by visiting YES Theatre’s website.

Bravo, Cardinals! 🎭

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to announce the winners of its annual Board-Wide Science Fair. This year’s event showcased the ingenuity, dedication, and scientific curiosity of students across our schools.

The competition featured a diverse range of projects, with grade 7-8 students exploring topics from robotics and environmental science to chemistry and even engineering. Judges were impressed with the level of innovation and research displayed by all participants.

Top Science Fair Results:

• 1st Place: Simone Thompson (Marymount Academy) – Affordable Wheelchair Robotic Arm Prototype
• 2nd Place: Sophia Leigh (Marymount Academy) – Carbon Dioxide and Plants
• 3rd Place: Gabriela Gavidia & Mackenzie Gainer (St. James) – Quelle type de sol Est la Meilleur dans l’ensemble

Honorable Mentions:

Best Presentation:

• Mitchelle Alphonsus (Marymount Academy) – How does a Motor and Battery Power a Fan
• Sophia Leigh (Marymount Academy) – Carbon Dioxide and Plants

Most Creative:

• Simone Thompson (Marymount Academy) – Affordable Wheelchair Robotic Arm Prototype
• Braeden Farrow (Bishop Alexander Carter) – The Pucker Upper

In addition to the top winners, several outstanding students have earned the opportunity to represent the Sudbury Catholic District School Board at the upcoming regional science fair.

Students Advancing to Regionals:

• St. Benedict C.S.S.: Ethan Caetano, Braelyn Pigeon, Kendra Nebenionquit & Osaze Aibangbee, Autym Mrnka, Aeden Tumambing & Lochlan Maltby

• Marymount Academy: Merica Thompson, Isabel Heffer, Finley Boyles, Annakah Kruk & Kayleigh Crew, Vienna Smith & Adele Lamarche, Olivia Sawicz & Paisley Mahran, Norah Legrand-Podrucky, Vera Thompson & Kashvi Joshi, Simone Thompson, Sophia Leigh

• Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S.: Jacob Liddard & Calvin Marshall, Mia Jokhu & Elsa Rancourt, Kaitlyn Lewis & Makayla Rumley, Hailey Tousignant & Skylar Turgeon, Braeden Farrow

• St. James: Gabriela Gavidia & Mackenzie Gainer

“We are incredibly proud of all our students who participated in this year’s science fair,” said Natasha Folino, Superintendent of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Their passion for scientific exploration and innovation was truly inspiring, and we look forward to seeing our students shine at the regional level.”

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board congratulates all participants, teachers, and mentors for their hard work and dedication to fostering scientific curiosity and excellence. We wish our advancing students the best of luck at regionals!

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Attendance Awareness Month Poster Contest for both the Secondary and Elementary categories! A huge thank you to all students who participated this year, and we’re excited to celebrate your creativity and commitment to the theme Be Present, Be POWERFUL!

Secondary Category:

1st Place: Moira Escandor (St. Benedict’s Secondary School)
2nd Place: Rena Flarity (St. Charles College)
3rd Place: Emily LeFave (St. Benedict’s Secondary School)

Elementary Category:

1st Place: Kassidy Esguerra (St. Charles College Elementary)
2nd Place: Mata Taranun (St. Benedict’s Elementary)
3rd Place: Maxwell Hawke (St. Charles College Elementary)

Passing the Torch 
We’d also like to take a moment to recognize last year’s first place winners who are passing the torch to this year’s champions:

• Samuel Chirsky (St. Charles College) – First Place, Secondary
• Vera Thompson (Marymount Academy) – First Place, Elementary

Thank you to Samuel and Vera for setting the bar high with your incredible artwork last year. We are excited to see this year’s winners continue the tradition of excellence!

The artwork from this year’s winners will be displayed throughout our schools and will be a key part of our ongoing Attendance Awareness campaign. Let’s keep encouraging each other to Be Present, Be POWERFUL! 🌟

A big THANK YOU to our dedicated attendance counsellors, Brad Pharand and Amanda Lanthier, for their hard work and dedication to organizing this annual initiative for our schools.

2025 Winning Posters