Sudbury Catholic Schools Honours Three Exceptional Leaders with 2026 Chairperson Awards

Posted on June 26, 2026June 26, 2026 by Erin Kendall

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to recognize three outstanding members of its school community as recipients of the 2026 Chairperson Award: the Board’s highest honour recognizing individuals who exemplify the values, mission, and vision of Catholic education through exceptional service and leadership.

This year’s recipients are Dawn Wemigwans, Principal at St. David Catholic Elementary School; Mike Sipos, Hospitality and Tourism Teacher at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School; and Jennifer Larche, Educational Assistant at Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School.

Presented annually, the Chairperson Award recognizes employees who demonstrate outstanding commitment to faith, respect, community, innovation, and learning while making a lasting difference in the lives of students, staff, and families.

“These three individuals represent the very best of Sudbury Catholic Schools,” said Michael Bellmore, Chair of the Board. “Each recipient leads in their own unique way, but they all share a deep commitment to serving others, strengthening our Catholic learning communities, and helping every student reach their God-given potential. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication and proud to recognize their remarkable contributions.”

Dawn Wemigwans

As Principal of St. David Catholic Elementary School, Dawn Wemigwans has built an inclusive, faith-filled school community where every student, family, and staff member feels welcomed, respected, and supported. Throughout her career, she has championed Indigenous education, cultivated meaningful community partnerships, and inspired innovative learning experiences that celebrate culture, belonging, and student success. Her servant leadership and unwavering commitment to Catholic education have left a lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the broader Sudbury Catholic community.

Mike Sipos

For more than two decades, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School teacher Mike Sipos has inspired students through his passion for Hospitality and Tourism education and his commitment to serving others. Whether leading community fundraisers, preparing meals for charitable initiatives, or mentoring future culinary professionals, Mike teaches students that their talents can make a meaningful difference. His generosity, humility, and dedication have made him a respected leader within both the school and the community.

Jennifer Larche

Educational Assistant Jennifer Larche is known throughout Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School for her kindness, compassion, and unwavering dedication to student success. Through her patient, caring approach, she creates a safe and welcoming environment where every child feels valued and supported. Her creativity, advocacy, and genuine care for students, families, and colleagues have made a lasting impact on the entire school community.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board extends its sincere congratulations to Dawn Wemigwans, Mike Sipos, and Jennifer Larche on this well-deserved recognition. Their leadership, compassion, and commitment to Catholic education continue to inspire students, colleagues, and communities across the Board.

“What makes the Chairperson Award especially meaningful is that it comes from the people who know these individuals best. These nominations are submitted by colleagues, students, families, and community members who have experienced firsthand the positive difference these recipients make every day. Dawn, Mike, and Jennifer exemplify what it means to serve others with compassion, integrity, and faith, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate their outstanding contributions to our Catholic learning community.”

– Morris Hucal, CEO and CEdO of the Sudbury Catholic DSB

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 info about the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, please visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca

Family Literacy Day

Posted on January 26, 2026January 26, 2026 by Erin Kendall

Family Literacy Day is January 27.

This annual celebration highlights the importance of literacy and the essential role families play in supporting children’s learning and development. Research continues to show that reading together, engaging in regular conversation, and encouraging independent reading helps build strong literacy skills and supports long-term student success. That is why schools across the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will once again provide opportunities for families to come together in celebration of Family Literacy Day.

Family Literacy Day 2026 Theme:

Make mealtime family learning time

Preparing for mealtime is a fun (and tasty) way for families to learn together. Whether it’s following recipes, making shopping lists, or sharing stories at the dinner table, make your mealtime family learning time. In addition to school-based activities, families can explore additional Family Literacy resources through ABC Life Literacy Canada.

Resources

ABC Life Literacy Canada – Family Literacy Day

Activity Sheet

Activity Book

Poster

Bookmark

Growing Skills for Lifelong Learning

Literacy goes beyond reading and writing — it includes understanding, communicating, and using information in everyday life. These skills support academic achievement, build confidence, and foster lifelong learning.

Did you know?

Research shows that families with children who are read to, spoken with regularly, and encouraged to read on their own develop stronger literacy skills and are more likely to succeed in school.
Families play a vital role in nurturing literacy at home and in our communities. By working together, we continue to create a learning environment where every child feels supported, confident, and inspired to read, learn, and grow.
Simple activities like reading together, visiting the library, telling stories, or talking about books can make a big difference. These shared experiences help build vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of learning.

Visit ABC Life Literacy Canada for more information about Family Literacy.

SCDSB Learning at Home – Literacy Resources

Student Bus Patrollers Lead the Way in Promoting Safe Bus Habits at Immaculate Conception 🦺

Posted on October 21, 2025October 21, 2025 by Erin Kendall

Even a little rain couldn’t stop students at Immaculate Conception School from putting their knowledge into action for School Bus Safety Week! Thanks to the help from the school’s Student Bus Patrollers, students practiced important bus safety and evacuation procedures, learning how to stay safe while boarding, riding, and exiting the bus. A special thank you goes out to the dedicated student bus patrollers, who helped guide their younger peers and demonstrated leadership throughout the exercise.

Did you know that Immaculate is not the only school to have student bus patrollers? Earlier this year, elementary students across several Sudbury Catholic Elementary Schools, took part in Bus Patroller Training hosted by the Consortium. The training helps older students develop leadership skills and a sense of responsibility as they learn how to support younger riders in following safety rules on the bus.

To learn more about this and other school safety initiatives, check out our latest Director’s Corner blog!

📖 Read School Safety Blog

Immaculate Conception Students Shine in Sudbury Young Authors Awards Writing Contest

Posted on April 12, 2024April 12, 2024 by Erin Kendall

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is thrilled to announce the outstanding achievement of several students from Immaculate Conception who have emerged victorious in the Young Authors Awards Writing Contest at the Sudbury level. This competition serves as a platform to recognize and celebrate the remarkable writing talents and accomplishments of students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Participants are invited to submit short stories, poems, and nonfiction articles in English or French.

The competition consists of three tiers: school, unit, and provincial. Winners at the school level progress to the unit level, and from there, first-place winners proceed to the provincial competition. Each year, a compilation of winning entries is published in book form, showcasing the creative prowess of young authors across the region.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the following Immaculate Conception students, who have demonstrated exceptional skill and creativity in their writing:

Olivia: First place in English short story
Ella: First place in English play
Neve: First place in French short story and English nonfiction
Rya: First place in French nonfiction
Andarielle: First place in English play and English poem
Arianna: First place in French poem

These talented students will now advance to the Provincial level, representing Immaculate Conception with their exemplary work. We commend them for their dedication and commendable achievements. Well done, and best wishes for the next stage of the competition!

Immaculate Conception Shines at CPF Concours Oratoire 2024

Posted on February 14, 2024March 8, 2024 by Erin Kendall

Grade 6 students studying Core French at Immaculate Conception school in Val Caron, recently participated in the “Canadian Parents for French Concours Oratoire” (public speaking contest) and they did great! Mme Merotto prepared them for the task with instructional materials provided by CPF, they practiced and then presented to the class.

Pictured are the winners from the 2024 contest!

Predicting Spring: Groundhog Day Festivities in Kindergarten Classes

Posted on February 2, 2024March 8, 2024 by Erin Kendall

February 2nd is Groundhog Day! Some of our schools participated in activities this week to forecast what would happen.

At Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School, Mrs. Yasko, Mr. Vicedomini, Ms. Julie, and Ms. Tamara’s Kindergarten class participated in an art activity where they constructed groundhogs while drafting their predictions on whether or not the groundhog would see his shadow.

Meanwhile, Miss Martel and Mrs. Meunier’s classes at Immaculate Conception School had a blast with a week full of Groundhog Day activities! Students enjoyed a Groundhog-themed pancake breakfast and crafted a prediction graph, “Will the Groundhog See His Shadow?” Most students predicted he would!

After much anticipation, the results are in – the groundhog did not see his shadow, which means spring is on its way early this year! Thank you to our schools for sharing their activities. We are excited to welcome spring with open arms!

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!

‘Together We Lead’ – First Blog of the 2023-24 School Year

Posted on November 10, 2023November 10, 2023 by Erin Kendall

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is delighted to share the first blog of the 2023-24 school year, “Together We Lead.”

This blog is a celebration of the remarkable stories and experiences that unfolded throughout our community during the past two months. In this edition, you’ll find inspiring accounts of collaboration, leadership, and dedication from students, teachers, staff, and community partners.

Highlights from September include:

Honouring Terry Fox – Features stories from St. Paul, Pius XII, St. Francis, and Holy Trinity.
Marymount Academy’s Fundraiser for NOFCC
Franco-Ontarian Day Celebrations – Features stories from St. Charles, St. James, and Immaculate Conception.
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Initiatives – Features stories from St. Charles College, St. Albert, and St. Anne.

Highlights from October include:

Learning Disabilities Awareness Month – Features Holy Cross Raising the Flag with the Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury at James Jerome Field.
International Day of the Girl – Features Grade 7 and 8 students at Skill’s Ontario’s Women in Trades Conference.
Jill of All Trades Event – Features Secondary Schools and SCDSB Scholarship Winners.
International Heritage and Language Classes at St. Albert

We invite you to read the full blog, where the incredible stories of leadership, collaboration, and community spirit come to life.

Click Here To Read Blog!

Director’s Corner – Together We Lead

International Teachers’ Day

Posted on October 5, 2023October 5, 2023 by Erin Kendall

Today is International Teachers’ Day, a day dedicated to honouring the valuable contributions of educators worldwide.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is very pleased to take this opportunity to recognize our teachers. Their unwavering dedication, passion, and commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and to inspiring our students is exemplary. Their daily actions, which display their hard work, passion and leadership, inspire and empower our students to achieve their full potential in mind, body and spirit.

To all our teachers, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering commitment to creating the conditions for student success. Happy International Teachers’ Day! May it be a day filled with well-deserved appreciation for the remarkable and important work that you do.