Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Immaculate Conception School Raises Over $10,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society

On June 16, 2023, the Immaculate Conception Cougar Family participated in the Crush Cancer/Relay for Life Event. Their fundraising goal was $5000 and the school is ecstatic to announce that this amount was doubled!

Through the sale of Crush Cancer t-shirts and hoodies, collecting pledges and the sale of luminaries, our Cougars stepped up to the task we set out for them just a little over a month ago.

The day started off with a superhero-themed ‘Playday with a Purpose’. Students enjoyed the outdoor stations and the school spirit was amazing.

The Relay for Life took place in the afternoon as staff and students gathered for an important assembly. Student-decorated luminaries lined the front of the gym to pay tribute, honour lost loved ones and support those living with cancer. What a touching tribute!

After recognizing the efforts of all the organizers, student volunteers and everyone involved in planning this day, they acknowledged our important guests of honour, the Cancer Survivors, who are family members of our school community. They so courageously led the walk outdoors. The Immaculate school community followed, cheering on our Survivors and then joined in by walking big laps around the schoolyard. We topped off the day with Crush freezies for all to enjoy.

A final big THANK YOU goes out to the many volunteers, the Survivors, the students, parents & staff at Immaculate Conception!

Your Voice Matters: Help Improve our System for the Future!

Do you have an idea on how we can prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of the future? We want to hear from you! 

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to invite you to participate in our community-wide ThoughtExchange Consultation. This unique opportunity allows community members, including staff, students, parents/guardians, community partners, and more to share their thoughts about how we can improve our schools and our Board. We want to know what you value about Sudbury Catholic Schools and how we can better prepare our students for the future.

What will this info be used for?

The information we collect from this exchange will assist us as we review Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s multi-year strategic plan – an important tool which will guide and support our work over the next 3 to 5 years. 

How To Participate?

To participate, please click the link below. Reminder! After you share your thoughts, we encourage you to rate other people’s submissions as well. It is recommended to rate at least 20-30 thoughts, as this will provide the Board a more thorough analysis on how we can improve as a system. Come back often until July 14, 2023, to rate thoughts or add new ideas. 

Why ThoughtExchange?

ThoughtExchange is a group discussion tool designed to engage community participation and help inform decision-making. By using ThoughtExchange, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is providing an avenue for everyone to express their opinions and have a say in decisions that affect the future of our system.

Quick Tips:

  • This survey will be open until Friday, July 14, 2023
  • This Exchange is confidential. Your thoughts will be shared with other participants, but not your identity.
  • You will be able to see and rate thoughts that others have shared. 5 stars = strongly agree, 1 star = strongly disagree.
  • You do not need to rate all thoughts, though it’s recommended to rate at least 30 thoughts.
  • If a thought seems inappropriate, for example, if it identifies a person, you can flag it by ‘clicking’ on the three dots in the right-hand corner.

St. Paul Students Selected for School Bus Safety Awards

Leona Gervais from the Sudbury Consortium presented St. Paul students Myles Talbot, Hailey Ouellette and Dylan Helm with the School Bus Safety Patroller Awards. These students were selected by their bus drivers as being leaders in their role of bus patrollers.

Way to go Panthers!

Cards Crush Cancer in Annual Fundraiser!

Over 800 St Charles College staff, students and community members came out to enjoy the sunshine yesterday as the school hosted their annual Cards Crush Cancer event. The fundraising event aims to raise money for the Northern Cancer Foundation. All proceeds stay right here in Sudbury. 

The event was created by the SCC student council in 2019 and has been a huge success ever since. Year after year, the students come in droves to enjoy live entertainment like dancing, singing, trivia, Zumba and a live DJ.  SCC turns their school grounds into a carnival themed day with local food trucks on site, BBQ snacks, a huge stage, water balloons, bubble soccer, jumbo lawn games, intramurals, obstacle courses, teacher vs student games etc. 

This year was no different, except it got even better.  The event saw a new water gun zone with refill stations, a new inflatable riding bull, and even had cirque du soleil style performances on stage. It is safe to say there was a little something for everyone. 

Guest speaker from the NCF, Kris Cacciotti came to share some enlightening words with the students before the day began, he was in awe at the number of participants outside enjoying the day for a great cause. Kris says “I am always so amazed at how SCC gets their student body involved and plans these epic fundraising events; between the student turnout, the music and sound setup, and the on-site activities, it’s all pretty remarkable. I am always so amazed at how SCC gets their student body involved and plans these epic fundraising events; I wish I had this in high school” 

SCC is grateful for the generosity of their students and cannot wait to host again next year.

St. Albert Learning Centre Hosts Rick Osborne

The students at St. Albert Learning Centre had the privilege of hosting an extraordinary event featuring Mr. Rick Osborne, a living testament to the power of transformation! 

Growing up, Mr. Osborne faced a life consumed by darkness where addiction and criminal activities were his reality. However, he refused to let his past define him. “It’s not about where you start, but where you finish.” Mr. Osborne, against all odds, managed to rewrite the script of his life. Through sheer determination and the unwavering belief in his own potential, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery and transformation.

During his time in incarceration, a pivotal moment occurred, propelling Mr. Osborne to make a conscious decision to turn his life around. He discovered a passion for education and recognized the immense power of positive influences. This newfound purpose led him to establish Ozzy Garage—an organization dedicated to providing opportunities for those striving to break free from the cycles of crime and addiction.

Mr. Osborne stood before as a beacon of hope, a shining example of what is possible when we refuse to be defined by our pasts. His mission is to inspire our youth, empowering them to make informed choices and guiding them away from the perilous path of a criminal lifestyle.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Rick Osborne for sharing his remarkable story and inspiring us all with his journey of transformation. Thank you for reminding us that it’s never too late to change our path and embrace a future filled with hope and resilience.

Leading with Kindness: The Sudbury Catholic District School Board Recognizes This Year’s Winners for the Chairperson’s Award 

Each year, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board recognizes employees who embody the Board’s mission, vision and values. The Board is pleased to recognize Maurice Martin and Sheri Neuts as the two recipients of the 2023 Chairperson’s Award.  


Maurice Martin is a Grade 2 Teacher at St. John School. He is described as a positive, kind, and generous teacher and is well recognized by the students, staff, and families as a leader. Maurice fosters a sense of belonging and inclusivity – he ensures that all students feel welcomed and valued. As a teacher, he leads by example and teaches his students how to be collaborative contributors and a responsible and caring member of society. Maurice is also seen as an active member of the St. John School community – he is regularly involved in planning faith celebrations, assisting with school assemblies, and organizing special events such as Franco Fun days. He continually supports his colleagues and always makes time to listen, lend a hand, share a story, and have a laugh. Maurice makes learning fun for all and is well respected by all who work and learn alongside him. 

Sheri Neuts is an Educational Assistant at St. Charles Elementary School in Chelmsford. Sheri is seen as the ‘face of friendship’ at the school and her loyalty, kindness and sincerity have resulted in long lasting connections with students, staff, and families throughout the years. She is credited by her colleagues for creating a safe space for learning. Sheri works hard each day to showcase and celebrate the unique gifts and talents of all students. Whether helping to organize a collaborative school activity, or dedicating extra time to learning how she can support students – Sheri is aware of the needs of the students and her fellow colleagues. She is the first person to volunteer to organize an event or assembly and is always available to support staff members. Sheri’s positivity and generous spirit shines through, and she is an invaluable member of the St. Charles School community. 

“We are very honoured to celebrate this year’s Chairperson’s Award recipients. As Board Chair, it is such a privilege to take the time to recognize Maurice and Sheri – both of whom are well-respected by their school communities and by the Board as a whole,” said Michael Bellmore, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “They each embody our mission and vision effortlessly, and are proof that leading with kindness and generosity creates a more positive and nurturing learning environment for all. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we thank all those who nominated individuals this year, and we are especially grateful to our two recipients for their ongoing commitment and service to our school system and to Catholic education.” This year’s award winners will be recognized at the annual Employee Recognition Event happening on June 6, 2023.

National AccessAbility Week & Red Shirt Day

May 28 to June 3, 2023, is National AccessAbility Week!

National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) is an annual initiative that celebrates, promotes, and showcases the diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in our country, and highlights some of the important initiatives aimed at creating an accessible Canada. Since 2019, Easter Seals Ontario has recognized the Wednesday of National AccessAbility week as the Red Shirt Day of Action for AccessAbility and Inclusion. Everyone is encouraged to wear a red shirt to raise awareness for accessibility and disability inclusion and make a pledge to help remove physical, attitudinal, and systematic barriers in their schools, workplaces, and communities.

The following educator resources are available: 

Elementary: English | French

Secondary: English | French

Red Shirt Day

Red Shirt Day is an Easter Seals initiative and was first celebrated in 2019. The 2023 Red Shirt Day takes place on Wednesday, May 31. Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) students and staff are encouraged to wear red on Red Shirt Day to promote messages of support for people and families living with disabilities.

About Red Shirt Day 

Red Shirt Day of Action for AccessAbility and Inclusion is a day when people across Canada come together and wear red in schools, workplaces and spaces everywhere in order to create a visible display of solidarity: to show their support for persons and families of those who are living with disabilities, celebrate the achievements of people living with disabilities, and to pledge their commitment to help create a fully accessible and inclusive society that honours and values the contributions of people of all abilities in all aspects of life in Canada. Learn more!

Resources 

Red Shirt Day Resources

Easter Seals Website

Rick Hansen Website

Poster

Handout

Pledge

Pledge Examples

Colouring Sheets

Books & Reading Materials for Kids

Books & Reading Materials for Kids

Films & Documentaries for Adults

Ted Talks

St. Benedict Teacher Chosen to Take Part in the Leader Training Program Presented by Let’s Talk Science 

 Erika Weber, Science Teacher at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School has been selected for the Teacher Leader Training Program offered by Let’s Talk Science for the 2023-2024 School Year. 

The Teacher Leader Training Program is a professional development opportunity for teachers looking to help other educators deliver enriching learning in the classroom through STEM. A Teacher Leader is responsible for the following: 

  • • Support educators in STEM-based learning and teaching. 
  • • Join other Teacher Leaders from across the country to form a community of best practices. 
  • • Facilitate professional learning experiences for fellow educators using curriculum-aligned, easy to use resources. 

Candidates participated in three levels of interviews for this unique position. Erika hopes to build confidence in her fellow educators who are not familiar with science education and assist them in feeling comfortable with completing hands-on experiments and modelling STEM in their own classrooms. 

“Through this experience, I will be a permanent member of a community of passionate STEM educators from across Canada. I am hoping to gain new strategies, best practices, and resources that I can share with my colleagues at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. When passion is put to practice, it inspires others; I look forward to learning from this program so that our students can put their best foot forward in a fast-paced and competitive industry,” said Erika Weber, Science Teacher at St. Benedict C.S.S. 

“Mrs. Weber’s passion for STEM education is contagious. She is continually looking for engaging and meaningful opportunities for her students, which in turn sparks a love for science. Her leadership in the areas of science, robotics, and coding has enriched St. Benedict, and I am excited to see what her next adventure brings!” said Beverly Belanger, Principal of St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. 

Let’s Talk Science is a national charitable organization committed to preparing youth for evolving career and citizenship demands in a rapidly changing world. Learn more about the Teacher Leader Training Program and the organization HERE

Staff and Students Bear Witness To Jordan’s Principle

On Wednesday, May 10th, staff and students honoured the memory of Jordan River Anderson and took the time to Bear Witness. Bear Witness Day serves as a reminder – and a day for us all to “bear witness” that First Nations children receive the services and supports they need, when they need them. Below are a few examples of activities that took place in our schools:

Holy Trinity Students brought in their favourite stuffed animals and learned about the importance of Bear Witness Day.

Kindergarten students at St. Anne School brought their teddy bears outside for Teddy Bear Picnic.

LSC203 staff and students at St. Benedict C.S.S learned about Jordan while having a tea party. Afterwards they coloured teddy bears in his honour.

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