Last week, Director of Education Morris Hucal joined Student Trustees Lily and David, along with Secondary Consultant Brittany Goldsborough, for the first Student Senate meeting of the 2025-26 school year at the Catholic Education Centre.

Representing all four secondary schools across grades 9–12, this year’s Student Senate team continued to bring a wide range of interests and experiences. Guided by our theme “Together We Lead,” each member’s unique perspective is essential to ensuring all voices are heard as they champion student voice, shape initiatives, inspire their peers, and strengthen school communities throughout the year. The first meeting was a defining moment, providing these students with their first opportunity to come together, collaborate, and represent their school communities and peers.

Secondary Consultant Brittany Goldsborough shared:

“The Student Senate plays a vital role in ensuring that student voices are heard and that their perspectives help guide decisions across the Board. This partnership between students and the Board reflects our shared responsibility to foster inclusive, engaging, and supportive learning environments. We look forward to sharing more highlights of the Student Senate team as our activities get further underway this fall.”

Please join us in welcoming these students to our Board and supporting them as they carry the important responsibility of amplifying student voice!

Today is Rowan’s Law Day! On this day we honour the memory of Rowan Stringer and raise awareness about the importance of youth concussion safety.

To learn more about Rowan’s Law visit the resource below.

Together, we can ensure a safer and more informed future for our students.

Marymount Academy is proud to share that Behind the Screen, a student-created short film, has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious CTV Best in Shorts Contest and will be featured at Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival in Sudbury on Saturday, September 20, 2025.

In a world where online connections are only a click away, Behind the Screen examines what happens when digital interactions cross into real life. The story follows a girl who meets a boy online—kind, charming, and everything she’s been looking for. But when it comes time to meet face-to-face, the question arises: will she take the risk? At its core, the film explores themes of trust, identity, and the dangers of digital relationships.

The film was created as part of the school’s annual Regals Inspired Film Festival (RIFF) by five talented Grade 8 students—Annaka Kruk, Amaya Jefferson, MaKenzie Switzer, Allison Hearn, and Kayleigh Crew—along with a collaborator from the wider community, Nation North. 

Building on Marymount’s long-standing partnership with Cinéfest, which includes annual student film screenings, three student films were submitted to this year’s CTV Best in Shorts Contest. The recognition of Behind the Screen as a finalist marks a proud milestone for the school.

“I can’t put into words how proud I am that one of our student films has been chosen to be showcased at Cinéfest. As a lifelong film enthusiast and co-creator of our school’s festival, which is now entering its 15th year, this moment is incredibly meaningful – not just for me, but for our teachers, our school, and most importantly, our students. Filmmaking is a powerful medium, giving young people the chance to tell stories that matter and shine a light on issues that impact their world. Every year, I am amazed by the creativity, passion, and dedication our students bring to this project. To see Behind the Screen on the big screen will truly be one of the proudest highlights of my teaching career.” – Tammy Jutila, Grade 8 Teacher at Marymount Academy

As October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the film’s message is especially timely. The student filmmakers shared why they chose this story and why it matters for their generation:

“We wanted to spread an important message about online safety. Anything can happen, so it’s always important to be careful. A lot of people our age use social media, so we wanted the video to be something relatable, reminding everyone not to meet up with strangers, not to share locations, and to stay safe online.” – Amaya Jefferson, Student Filmmaker

“We are really proud of how it turned out. What started as something for our school’s film festival has grown into something so much bigger. It took us about a month, with countless after-school hours and reshoots, but all that time and effort paid off. We wanted to create something that makes people think—and we are excited that it’s reaching so many.” – Annaka Kruk, Student Filmmaker

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board congratulates Marymount Academy and its talented student filmmakers on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to celebrating their success at the live screening of Behind the Screen at SilverCity Cinemas on Saturday, September 20, 2025.