Yesterday marked an exciting start to the 2025–26 school year as the Sudbury Catholic District School Board held its first board meeting of the year.
During the meeting, we proudly commissioned our new Student Trustee, Lily Yeomans from Marymount Academy. We are excited to welcome Lily to the Board and look forward to the leadership, perspective, and student voice she will bring to the table alongside her Co-Student Trustee, David Akero from St. Benedict.
The meeting also marked the first official meeting for our new Director of Education, Morris Hucal, and our new Superintendent of Education, Paul Nalli.
We are inspired to begin this school year with such dedicated leadership, united in our mission to support student success and well-being across all Sudbury Catholic schools.
Today, we join together to celebrate International IT Professionals Day and to recognize the exceptional contributions of our Information Management Services (IMS) team.
In today’s digital age, reliable technology is at the heart of teaching, learning, and daily operations. Our IMS professionals help make it possible by ensuring our systems are secure, our networks run smoothly, and our students and staff have the tools and technology they need to succeed.
This year, we are especially proud to highlight the work of our IT team in launching and growing the Cyber Awareness Training Program. Since its introduction in 2024, they have guided staff through 12 modules, and expanded the program with 22 new sessions. Thanks to their efforts, staff are building the skills to spot and respond to threats.
Although much of their work happens quietly behind the scenes, their impact is felt everywhere. From troubleshooting technical challenges to managing the complex infrastructure that keeps our Board connected, their expertise and dedication are vital to our mission of providing a faith-based, student-centered learning experience.
On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, we extend our sincere gratitude to our IMS team and all technology professionals. Your skill, commitment, and support make a meaningful difference every day.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is pleased to announce that Dr. Paul Nalli has been appointed as the new Superintendent of Education, effective Aug. 18, 2025.
Paul brings over 23 years of experience in education, having served in a variety of roles across Halton, Dufferin-Peel, and Toronto Catholic District School Boards. His career includes positions as a high school teacher, department head, secondary vice principal and elementary vice principal, elementary principal, and Education Officer with the Ministry of Education, with a particular focus on Indigenous Education, student well-being, and anti-bullying. In addition, he has also been actively involved in advancing identity-based data collection and human rights-based approaches through his work with the Anti-Racism Directorate in the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, demonstrating a strong commitment to student achievement through capacity building and cultivating safe, caring, and inclusive school communities.
“As we welcome students, families, and staff for a new school year, I am honoured to welcome Paul Nalli to our senior administrative team,” said Morris Hucal, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Paul’s leadership, passion, and expertise, along with his steadfast commitment to Catholic education, are invaluable assets to our schools and community. Our senior administrative team looks forward to working with him to build on the strong legacy and exceptional learning experiences that Sudbury Catholic Schools provide.”
“I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to Director Hucal, the Senior Administrative Team, and the Board of Trustees of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board for the privilege of serving as Superintendent of Education. I am truly honoured to accept this responsibility and excited to work in close partnership with students, families, staff, and the Greater Sudbury community. I remain committed to championing Catholic education, collaboratively advancing the Board’s strategic priorities, and fostering substantive access, opportunities, and outcomes in student achievement and well-being.”
– Paul Nalli, Superintendent of Education
Paul will replace retired Superintendent of Education, Louise Franklin, who has served the role since 2022 and whose transformative career in education spanned over 30 years. The Board extends its heartfelt thanks to Louise for her decades of devoted service.
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 about the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, please visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca.
This past July marked the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s fourth year running the Summer Learning On The Land course in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, in partnership with Great Lakes Cultural Camps.
SCDSB students took part in a variety of hands-on cultural and historical activities in Atikameksheng and the surrounding area — from preparing bulrush and hominy corn to learning about sustainable harvesting practices and preparing hides. Learning took place on the Sacred Grounds of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and extended to visits to Science North, Dynamic Earth, French River Provincial Park, the French River Trading Post, and Killarney Provincial Park.
Students also had the opportunity to connect with guests from Laurentian University, Cambrian College, Greater Sudbury Police Service, Atikameksheng Health, Lands, and Mino Bimaadziwin Departments, the Shawanaga Species at Risk Department, as well as staff from Killarney and French River Provincial Parks. Special thanks to our own Co-Op/OYAP Teacher, Dan Levecque, and local Elders and Knowledge Carriers, including ‘Papa Art’ Petahtegoose, Brian Nootchtai, Jennifer Petahtegoose, and Shannon Agowissa, for sharing their teachings.
The Great Lakes Cultural Camps facilitators — Maheengun, Cookz, and Noodin Shawanda — created a nurturing, welcoming environment where community members and families felt comfortable stopping by to visit. We even had past participants drop in to reconnect, a true testament to the strong relationships this program builds.
Chi Miigwetch to Atikameksheng Anishnawbek for your continued support, to Indigenous Education Consultant Ginette Toivenen and Retired Superintendent Louise Franklin for your dedication in planning and preparing the course, and to Teacher Jennifer Petahtegoose for continuing to lead the program with care and commitment.
The students who complete this program leave with powerful knowledge, experiences, and stories to share. We are incredibly proud of each one of you for dedicating part of your summer to this important work. While the program is full of fun, it also requires focus, perseverance, and hard work — especially in the summer heat. Congratulations to all for your achievements!
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to congratulate 2025 graduates Khimberly Williams from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School and Lucia Salmaso from Marymount Academy. Both have been awarded $1,000 bursaries from the Greater Sudbury Police Service in recognition of their outstanding efforts to promote diversity, inclusion, and cultural acceptance within their schools and communities.
These bursaries, made possible by the GSPS Diversity Advisory Committee and sponsored by the Greater Sudbury Police Service Board, will support their post-secondary education, trade school, or employment-related goals.
We celebrate these two remarkable graduates and look forward to seeing where their passion and dedication will take them next. Keep leading with heart and purpose!
Our French Immersion students are boosting their oral language skills with Smash Education—an engaging, interactive program proven to get results.
Through games, activities, and lots of speaking practice, students are gaining confidence in French while having fun. We’re lucky to have access to this amazing resource this summer.
Apprendre en s’amusant = Learning while having fun!
Sudbury Catholic Schools has officially launched its Summer Literacy and Numeracy Camp! Over the next three weeks, students from FDK Year 2 to Grade 6—including those in the French Immersion program—will participate in engaging, hands-on learning experiences designed to strengthen their literacy and numeracy skills.
In addition to targeted academic support, students will enjoy a wide range of enrichment activities, including Let’s Talk Science programming, Indigenous cultural learning, and outdoor exploration. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to learn, grow, and have fun during the summer months.
We’re excited to see our students thrive in this supportive and dynamic environment!
St. Charles Elementary School kicked off June with its 19th Annual Johnathan Hetu Walk, a cherished event supporting the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC). This walk honours Johnathan Hetu, a former student who bravely fought cancer and passed away in September 2004.
Although current students and staff at St. Charles Catholic Elementary School may not have known Johnathan Hetu personally, his legacy lives on through this annual walk. This year, the school raised $13,035.26 , bringing the grand total to $160,217.74 in nineteen years.
History of the Jonathan Hetu Walk
The first Johnathan Hetu Walk was organized in 2006 by one of Johnathan’s teachers, David Nicholls. The walk became an annual event, celebrating Johnathan’s bright spirit and fostering unity, strength, and collective action within the school and surrounding community. David Nicholls spearheaded the event for many years until his unexpected passing in 2019. Since then, school staff including Maria Peplinski, Brent Peplinski, and Ronald Belanger have continued organizing the fundraiser, honouring both Johnathan and David while supporting children and families in Northern Ontario.
“We are incredibly proud of our entire school community for continuing to support this walk that honours the legacy of kindness and compassion that Johnathan and David cultivated in the St. Charles community,” said Principal Christine McCracken. “Reflecting on what has been achieved by our community over the past 19 years is quite simply astounding. The achievement is a result of the collective effort of past and present students, staff, and families. We are so grateful that we have been able to help provide hope, support, education, and advocacy to families who have a child with cancer.”
In addition to the walk, the school honours Johnathan by presenting an annual award to a student who exhibit a positive attitude, participate in sports, and have a love for learning. This year, Rarity Sasseville received the Johnathan Hetu Award.
Students within St. Charles feel passionate about this annual fundraising event. “This walk is important for our school community to help students with cancer. My neighbour and my grandma had cancer so I feel close to the cause like many of my friends do. We want to help make life a little easier for families going through something so hard. Fundraising for NOFCC is our way of saying we care. It felt really nice to be able to help. Students donated and we sold popcorn and ice cream sandwiches to fundraise and make difference.” Student Nora Ceretti said about the event.
Johnathan and David’s memory continue to inspire the community at St. Charles Elementary School. The annual walk has become a vital tradition, bringing the community together and supporting a cause that remains close to their hearts.
We’re proud to share the final Director’s Corner blog of the 2024-2025 school year: Together in Service.
This special year-end entry is the final blog from our Director of Education, Joanne Bénard, as we celebrate leadership, honour graduates and retirees, and recognize those who make a difference across our system. Read our latest blog today and join us in reflecting on an incredible school year spent with incredible people.
Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and healthy summer!
Read the full blog here: 