Drama Club students from Pius XII Catholic Elementary School have earned second place in the 2025 Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) Short Video Contest for their video, It Just Takes One Holy Voice.

Students were awarded with second-place certificates at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s (SCDSB) February 17 Board Meeting by OCSTA President and SCDSB Chair, Michael Bellmore where they also had the opportunity to highlight the Drama Club and the welcoming, inclusive space it has fostered within their school community.

The OCSTA Short Video Contest is an annual, province-wide initiative open to students in Grades 4–12 at Catholic schools across Ontario. This year’s theme, “Pilgrims of Hope: On the Path to Holiness,” invited students to reflect on faith, hope, and the values of Catholic education through the creation of short videos. Pius XII’s winning submission resonated strongly with the online voting community for demonstrating how even one voice can inspire hope and bring a community together. Their creative efforts resulted in their submission not only getting votes from across Sudbury, but Canada and all around the world.

“It was truly an honour to present this award to the students and staff at Pius XII Catholic Elementary School. Competing with much larger schools from across Ontario, their submission stood out as a powerful example of how student voice brings Catholic education to life within our communities. We are incredibly proud of all our students and the work they put in to capture the theme.” 

– Michael Bellmore, SCDSB Chair

According to the school the success of It Just Takes One Holy Voice was made possible through the guidance and encouragement of staff members Ms. Jarrett and Ms. Cousineau, as well as the collaborative spirit of all the students involved.

“Our Drama Club is a space rooted in commitment, creativity, teamwork, hard work, dedication, and inclusion, and provides students with opportunities to express themselves, build confidence, and develop social and technical skills. As we celebrate this achievement, our school looks forward to continuing to expand opportunities for students to explore their faith, imagination, and artistic callings. Thank you to everyone who voted and helped Pius XII be recognized at a provincial level.” 

– Merrill Sanowar, Principal

During the meeting, student and Drama Club member Chimmuanya shared how students were empowered at every stage of the project – from developing the concept and writing the script to filming, editing, and promoting the video. Beyond the creative process, additional members also designed an outreach strategy to encourage voting and build community engagement at school, parish, and local events. This collaborative approach blended innovation and critical thinking, creating a space where students with a wide range of talents could contribute. 

“Drama Club is a place where you get to be creative and work as a team. We learn to commit, work hard, and include everyone. It’s helped me express myself, build confidence, and learn new skills, and it’s something I really look forward to.” 

– Chimmuanya, Student

While the provincial recognition is a significant achievement for a smaller elementary school with approximately 278 students, the true success lies in the inclusive space the school has created for students of all talents and grade levels to come together and showcase their creativity in meaningful ways. 

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.