St. David’s Core French students are spreading joy with their language skills this December! During this holiday season, students are creating Joyeux Noël cards to be distributed to a local Long-Term Care home to bring smiles to seniors.
What an excellent way to spread holiday cheer and bring smiles to different folks in the community. Joyeux Noël to all!
Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School celebrated Moustache Day with an incredible show of support from students, families, and staff. Participants joined in the fun by purchasing moustache stickers, donating online, and embracing the spirit of giving back.
All proceeds from the event are going to Maison McCulloch Hospice, helping to support their essential work in our community.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed – your generosity and community spirit are truly appreciated.
Parents, Guardians, and Community Members are invited to register for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s upcoming Community Involvement event with renowned psychologist and bestselling author, Dr. Jody Carrington.
Date: November 28, 2024
Location: St. Benedict School, 2993 Algonquin Road
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Note: This event is free and is open to the public. Limited seats are available – Register now!
At this session, Dr. Carrington will explore the strength found in connection, addressing the effects of isolation and burnout while showing us how we can truly thrive together. Don’t miss this free opportunity to rediscover the importance of community and resilience and reserve your spot today!
Last week was Treaties Recognition Week! Throughout this week, our students and staff had the opportunity to learn and explore the history, significance, and ongoing impact of treaties in Canada. Thank you to everyone who participated in these important discussions.
Here are a few activities that happened last week in Sudbury Catholic Schools:
Mme. Lewis’s Grade 4/5 French Immersion class at St. Charles School explored the importance of treaties through hands-on learning. Students watched videos on wampum belts, participated in discussions, and listened to a story about wampum’s significance. Inspired by these teachings, they crafted their own wampum belts, using white beads for peace and friendship and purple to represent the treaty, honouring the powerful values behind these symbols.
St. David School was honoured to welcome George Couchie, a renowned Anishinabe cultural awareness presenter, for an engaging and insightful morning during Treaty Recognition Week. His sessions focused on finding one’s spark and embracing the Seven Grandfather Teachings.
For Treaty Week, students at Holy Trinity explored the meaning of treaties and created friendship bracelets, wampum belts, and chain links.
The Grade 2/3 class at Holy Cross explored the history and significance of Treaties between First Nations and settlers. Students learned about the promises within these agreements, the importance of honoring them, and our shared role as “treaty people.” To reflect on their learning, students created a Treaty Tree, with each leaf featuring a promise they wrote to uphold the Treaties in their lives. This activity deepened their understanding and commitment to justice, responsibility, and respect, reflecting our Catholic values.
November 4, 2024, was a sad day for First Nations, Canada, and the world. Justice Murray Sinclair, former Senator, Midewin Lodge Member, Father, Grandfather, Teacher, and Reconciliation Leader known to Spirit as Mazina Giizhik, passed away at age 73.
As an esteemed Anishinaabe leader, Justice Murray Sinclair leaves behind a remarkable legacy of advocacy for Indigenous rights, justice, and reconciliation in Canada. His dedication to truth and healing was exemplified through his role as Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where he worked tirelessly to expose the injustices of the residential school system and promote a path toward reconciliation.
Throughout his career, Mr. Sinclair’s commitment to reconciliation has left a lasting impact on our Nation’s legal system and Canadian society. His wisdom, resilience, humility, and determination will continue to inspire generations to come. Murray Sinclair not only helped the Anishinaabek, but also shared a vision of what justice could be for all peoples of the world.
As we remember Senator Murray Sinclair and his significant contributions, let us reflect on the importance of education and understanding in building a more equitable future for Indigenous peoples. In the spirit of reconciliation, we encourage our Sudbury Catholic District School Board community to learn more about Murray Sinclair’s contributions, the history and impact of his work in healthcare, law, and politics, and to engage in open dialogue about our shared journey and responsibility towards reconciliation.
In his words to educators, Mr. Sinclair said: “It’s very much about ensuring that the human beings you are educating are given the opportunity to be the best human beings they can be.”
Our thoughts are with Murray Sinclair’s family, friends, and all those who have been touched by his life and his work. May we honour his memory by continuing to work towards justice, healing, and reconciliation in Canada.
Baamaapii Kaawaabmin Murray Sinclair, Chi Miigwech, for your Service.
Treaties Recognition Week is observed annually during the first week of November to emphasize the importance of treaties and deepen the understanding of treaty rights and relationships across Ontario. It offers an opportunity for students, educators, and residents to explore the lasting significance of treaties and their relevance in today’s society.
This year, Treaties Recognition Week takes place from November 3-9, 2024.
In addition to the activities planned within our schools, the Sudbury Catholic Indigenous Education team has gathered a variety of resources to support students, staff, and community members in reflecting on and commemorating this significant week. Below is a summary of public resources available through Ontario.ca to help deepen Ontarian’s engagement and learning.
In 2016, Ontario passed legislation declaring the first week of November as Treaties Recognition Week. This annual event honours the importance of treaties and helps students and residents of Ontario learn more about treaty rights and relationships.
In Ontario, treaties are as much a part of today as when they were first created. They are living documents and legally binding agreements that set out the rights, responsibilities and relationships of First Nations and the federal and provincial governments. Furthermore, we also acknowledge that Indigenous Nations had Treaty Agreements with one another before Europeans arrived, and that treaty-making itself, precedes North American settlement.
Whether Indigenous or not, treaties matter to everyone in Canada; we are all Treaty People. They represent a mutual commitment to building a prosperous future for everybody and Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities are responsible for knowing and upholding Treaty obligations.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is committed to providing opportunities for innovation and learning for all in an inclusive and equitable community. During Treaties Recognition Week, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will engage in meaningful learning opportunities from November 4-8, 2024. These initiatives aim to deepen understanding and respect for treaty rights and relationships, benefiting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
The Government of Ontario has provided several teaching resources to help further explore this topic. Among these is a Treaties in Ontario infographic (PDF), which illustrates the number of treaties in Ontario, the regions they encompass, and the populations residing within these treaty areas.
To review the Scope and Sequence of Expectations Relating to Treaties and Land Claims, please refer to the following:
For additional teaching and learning resources, visit the Ontario.ca page on Treaty Teaching & Learning Resources.
Sudbury Catholic Schools have been provided with a wide range of video resources from Ontario.ca suitable for different grade levels to provide students with an opportunity to hear from Indigenous Elders or knowledge keepers.
In these activities, students will learn about treaties and their importance in an age-appropriate way that’s flexible for teachers’ lesson planning. This opportunity allows Indigenous speakers to share their knowledge about the importance of treaties, treaty relationships and rights in Ontario.
To view these videos, please go to: Ontario.ca - Indigenous Voices on Treaties
For comprehensive information on treaties in Ontario, visit the Ontario.ca Treaties page. This resource is curated by the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and provides valuable insights into the history, significance, and impact of treaties across the province.
Explore the following resources:
Did you know? Halloween originates from All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints’ Day, when Catholics honour those we acknowledge as Saints who have passed on to their heavenly home. Following this, on November 2, the Church observes All Souls Day to remember all the other faithful departed and offer prayers on their behalf for the Angels to lead them safely to their heavenly home.
St. David School recently hosted Joan Yawney-Matz, Religious Education and Faith Consultant for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, to discuss the Catholic significance of Halloween. Joan engaged students in a presentation, highlighting the connections between Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day.
Her presentation focused on the importance of saints in the Catholic Faith, paying particular attention to St. David, the school’s namesake. Overall, the session enriched the class’s understanding of the holiday and deepened their appreciation for the saints who have preceded us.
Thank you to Ms. Yawney-Matz for contributing to our student’s learning experience and holiday celebrations!
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board invites students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to participate in the Annual Christmas Artwork Contest. Create artwork in any medium (drawing, painting, etc.) that reflects our Catholic faith and the joy of Christmas.
Submissions can be emailed to webmaster@sudburycatholicschools.ca or sent to the Board office by November 22, 2024.
All submissions (whether in hard copy or e-mailed) should have the following information included in addition to the artwork:
Submissions can be e-mailed to webmaster@sudburycatholicschools.ca in a JPG/PNG or PDF format. Or mailed to the Board office at Attention: Christmas Card Contest 165A D’Youville street Sudbury, Ontario P3C 5E7
Artwork must be submitted no later than Friday, November 22, 2024, to be considered for the contest.
Two winning designs (one elementary and one secondary) will be featured on the annual Christmas cards sent to Board Trustees, school administration, and community partners. Winners will also receive a package of custom Christmas cards featuring their artwork!
You can submit multiple entries up until November 22, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. For more contest details, please refer to the attachments below. Join us in celebrating the spirit of the season through art!
Read! Read! Read! Write what you know! This morning, the Grade 5/6 class at Pius XII was treated to an educational and entertaining presentation with Canadian Author, Paul J. Toffanello. Students have been reading his book, Popchuck’s Ghost, and were thrilled to meet him! Many questions were answered, and students are motivated to keep reading and writing.
Mr. Toffanello grew up in Timmins, Ontario. He studied at Ottawa’s Carleton University and North Bay’s Nipissing University. He was a high school English teacher, a Vice Principal, a principal at two different high schools, a Superintendent of Education and finally a Director of Education. He was also a part of the original group of Directors of Education who helped to bring the Ontario Literacy & Numeracy Secretariat to life.
Mr. Toffanello has presented to over 400 schools in Canada and the U.S. and continues to look for opportunities to engage with kids and teachers.
Thank you, Mr. Toffanello, for coming to Pius XII!
