Shaping Careers: Sector Partnership Enhances Skilled Trades Learning at St. Charles College

Posted on April 20, 2024April 19, 2024 by Erin Kendall

In partnership with Lopes Limited and Coniston Industrial Park Limited, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is excited to announce that St. Charles College has enhanced its learning facilities with cutting-edge resources and state-of-the-art equipment to help support student development in the skilled-trades.

In February, the school welcomed new equipment funded by Lopes Limited and Coniston Industrial Park Limited. The donation included three multiprocessor welders, two fume extractors, two pallets of welding consumables, safety gear, personal protective equipment (PPE), and four SMART TV monitors. In addition, the school also received six new garage bay doors for both automotive and construction shop areas that were recently installed over the March Break. These contributions will bolster the school’s learning programs and ensures students have access to state-of-the-art equipment that supports their engagement in areas such as welding, metal working, construction, automotive, and more.

Felix Lopes Jr., president of Lopes Limited, passionately encourages today’s youth to get into the trades, “As leaders in the trades industry, we believe it’s our social responsibility to remove barriers and create meaningful pathways for our youth to pursue a career in the trades.”

The newly added equipment aims to ignite an interest and passion amongst students in the skilled trades, potentially shaping the career paths of tomorrow’s workforce. The initiative, organized and generously funded by Lopes Limited and Coniston Industrial Park Limited, will help support students to engage in further hands-on learning opportunities that could potentially lead them to choosing a career in the skilled trades.

“St. Charles College is proud to work with such amazing local partners and is committed to providing its students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the skilled trades. The new resources installed at our school this year will make a massive difference in the learning experience for our students. We extend our deepest gratitude to Lopes Limited and Coniston Industrial Park Limited for their generous contributions.” Says Principal Aaron Barry.

Enhanced Promotion of Skilled Trades in Ontario schools:

The Ontario Government is taking proactive steps to boost awareness and engagement with skilled trades in schools, aiming to provide students with opportunities to cultivate interests and skills that pave the way for successful careers. Currently, there are more than 140 skilled trades in Ontario. They fall under four sectors: construction, industrial, transportation and service. The skilled trades present a compelling array of fulfilling and financially rewarding paths for students. Through specialized training and hands-on experience, these professions offer secure employment, excellent compensation, and personal satisfaction. Visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/skilled-trades-ontario-schools for more information about the promotion of skilled trades in Ontario schools.

“The ongoing promotion of the skilled trades within our schools is essential. By 2026, one in six job openings are projected to be in the skilled trades. This inevitable outcome means ensuring we have cutting-edge learning environments to promote the skilled trades within our secondary schools is now more important than ever.” Says Dan Levecque, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and Specialist High Skills Major Secondary Consultant with Sudbury Catholic. “The newly added resources will encourage students to cultivate a genuine passion and skills for the many thrilling opportunities awaiting them in the skilled trades sector.”

Peter Prochilo, Superintendent of Education adds, “Not only will these new resources enhance the facilities in one of our largest school communities, it will further support our students in reaching their full potential, which always remains a top priority.”

2022-23 Director’s Annual Report

Posted on February 1, 2024April 23, 2024 by Erin Kendall

We are very pleased to present the Director of Education’s Annual Report for the 2022-2023 school year.

We thank our Board of Trustees, Senior Administration, staff, students, families, volunteers, community partners, and our parishes for their continued support and commitment to Sudbury Catholic. Together we are providing a caring, progressive, high quality Catholic school system that is nurturing our students – mind, body, and spirit.

Click here to read our 2022-23 report!

St. Charles College Students Claim First Place in Skills Ontario Qualifying Competitions

Posted on April 24, 2023April 24, 2023 by Carlee Vendramin

St. Charles College students Parker Tilbury, Kyle Nyereyemhuka and Brady VanDruenen all placed first in the Skills Ontario Qualifying Competition held at Canadore College on April 1, 2023.

Parker took home gold in the Individual Carpentry competition while Kyle and Brady wrote, filmed, and produced an innovating short film on climate change which earned them the gold medal in the TV/Video Production category.

“There were some requirements before heading to Canadore. We had to do a storyboard, a production brief, and a script. We came prepared, were dead set to win and we really wanted to move onto Toronto. Overall, we’re really proud of our efforts” said Brady VanDruenen, St. Charles College Student.

“After two years of virtual competitions, it feels good to compete in person! We’re excited to meet the other students involved and excel at the Provincial level next month,” said Kyle Nyereyemhuka, St. Charles College Student.

Teacher mentors Chris Kohut (Construction SHSM Teacher) and Christina Thompson (Digital Media SHSM Teacher) are very proud and excited to see their students compete at the next stage.

“It was great watching Parker apply his skills and knowledge throughout the competition. Winning the gold in North Bay has made him even more focused on his goal to reach the podium in Toronto, and after that, maybe even the National competition. We’re very proud of his efforts so far and can’t wait to see what he accomplishes!” said Chris Kohut, Construction SHSM Teacher at St. Charles College.

The students will next compete against the best in Ontario at the upcoming Skills Ontario Provincial Competitions. A total of 13 secondary students from St. Charles College and 2 students from Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S will represent the Sudbury Catholic District School Board at the Toronto Congress Centre from May 1 –

3, 2023. Contests will include Carpentry, TV/Video Production, Graphic Design, Auto Service Technology and Photography. Participating students will have an opportunity to win medals, be awarded with scholarships and bursaries, and qualify for the National Skills Competition in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Kyle Nyereyemhuka (left) and
Brady VanDruenen (right) with SCC Teacher Mentor Christina Thompson (middle).

2021-22 Director’s Annual Report

Posted on February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 by Erin Kendall

We are very pleased to present the Director of Education’s Annual Report for the 2021-2022 school year.

Click here to read our 2021-22 report!

St. Benedict SHSM Students Visit Hatch Engineering!

Posted on January 20, 2023January 20, 2023 by Carlee Vendramin

Students from St Benedict Computer Science class and the SHSM Business students attended a fieldtrip to Hatch Engineering accompanied by our teachers Maurizio Depoli and Giuseppe Politi.

Our students had the opportunity to tour the new Hatch facility on Regent St to spark their interest in the many future careers that exist at Hatch and other engineering fields. The engineers at Hatch facilitated sessions for the students to introduce them to the world of electrical and mechanical engineering, while feeding them a delicious lunch too!

“The building was designed by their own architects; this is very cool thinking the employees got to create their own workspace.” – Anthony Gutscher

The students were also shown how machinery and engineering are used in mining. The presentation gave the students a glimpse of how technology is used in the workplace and how new technology is being developed to create a safer environment for all workers.

“This visit to Hatch showed me the ins and outs of engineering and I was inspired by this field of work.”– Katelyn Colasimone

Mr. Depoli along with our students will partner with Hatch to start our First Robotics Canada program. This exciting new venture will be great learning opportunity for our Bears!

Katie Martel, a St Benedict Alumnus, organized the day for our students to learn about how science can work in so many different ways!

Level Up! Open House for Parents and Guardians

Posted on November 8, 2022November 8, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

See what students experience at the Level Up! Skilled Trades Career Fair. Talk to experts about the skilled trades as a rewarding career path for your child.

You’re invited to the Level Up Open House:

November 14, 2022
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Steelworkers Hall
66 Brady Street

Check out the poster for more details!

LEVEL UP OPEN HOUSE

Marymount Students Take First Place in Skills Ontario Challenge

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

Grade 7 Marymount students Annabelle Richardson, Isabella Palladino and Mila Kidd placed first in the Popsicle Stick House Challenge; an event hosted by Skills Ontario as part of the International Day of the Girl Virtual Challenge Series.

To celebrate International Day of the Girl (which was held on October 11, 2022), Skills Ontario hosted several events including the For Girls, By Girls conference, a virtual celebration, and the virtual challenge series.

Students were assigned the task of building a house entirely out of popsicle sticks. Along with the structure, students were required to list and describe the various trades required to complete a project such as this. They then submitted a video of their project.

“We really wanted to win! It was a lot of fun to work together and build our popsicle house. We worked hard all week on our submission,” said Annabelle.

“The theme of this year’s event was girls can do anything – and I think we proved that! We really like completing these challenges because we’re given the opportunity to work on technical skills and collaborate as a team!” said Isabella.

The three students also agree that partnering with Skills Ontario and participating in experiential learning opportunities helps prepare them for the future!

“I want to be an architect – coming to Marymount has been awesome because there are so many opportunities and programs that focus on trades and technology. I really enjoy completing Skills Ontario Challenges and look forward to completing more in the future,” said Mila.

For more information about International Day of the Girl events, please go to https://www.skillsontario.com/idg.

Secondary Students Explore Trades and Technology Through Unique Mobile Truck Experience

Posted on October 18, 2022October 18, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

During the week of October 11-14, 2022, Sudbury Catholic Secondary students participated in the Trades & Tech events presented by Skills Ontario. The Trades & Tech Truck is a mobile unit equipped with 10 different activities and simulators, allowing youth to explore skilled trades and technologies in an engaging and hands-on experience.

Sudbury Catholic Schools continues to provide innovative experiential learning experiences throughout the year. Experiential learning encourages students of all ages to participate in activities to develop transferable skills and help prepare them for the future. Partnering with Skills Ontario allows the Board to bring unique opportunities such as the Trades & Tech Truck directly to students and schools.

“The Trades & Tech Truck provides students with a safe and hands-on experience. The truck is equipped with a welder simulator, heavy equipment simulator, painting simulator, electrical trainer, and several other interactive stations. Through this experience, we can help properly demonstrate the skilled trades and technologies, along with the message that they are viable, first choice career options,” said Hayley Mackay, Trades & Tech Truck Driver with Skills Ontario.

“I think these skills are important to know not only for academic purposes, but also in our day-to-day lives. Participating in Skills Ontario events is beneficial to show students what career options are out there, as well provide life skills that will be used outside of school,” said Finlee, Grade 10 student at Marymount Academy.

“The experience was very cool and realistic. It’s awesome to learn about the various career options and have an opportunity to try them out first- hand. I feel like I learned a lot at the Trades & Tech Truck,” said Santino, Grade 10 student at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School.

Storwell Foster Children Bursary Program

Posted on November 25, 2021November 25, 2021 by Carlee Vendramin

Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to introduce students to Storwell, in support of their Foster Children Bursary Program.

Storewell offers an annual bursary of $2,000 in support of foster children to help them attend post-secondary schools and to offer a hand up as they make their way forward in life.

For details about the program and to complete an application, please visit the StorWell Bursary Application Webpage.

*Please Note: Applications for the 2021 program year are due on or before December 31, 2021.

StorWell Foster Children Bursary Program

Poster download