Sudbury Catholic District School Board

SCDSB Partners With Akinoomoshin Inc and Great Lakes Cultural Camp for Earth-Based Learning Program!

A New Summer Program Running from July 11-29th for Indigenous Youth at Sudbury Catholic Focuses on Building Traditional Knowledge in the community of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. 

This summer, Indigenous students from Sudbury Catholic Schools will participate in an exciting program as they participate in a new Earth-Based Learning course. This course is a unique summer program involving an exciting partnership with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Great Lakes Cultural Camps, Akinoomoshin Inc and Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. 

The Board revealed the new program in the spring and were ecstatic to see the high level of interest. In only a matter of weeks, the program, which is the first of its kind for Sudbury Catholic District School Board, quickly filled up with eager participants.

Taking place in the community of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, the course was offered for Indigenous students moving from grade 8 to grade 9 and grade 9 moving to grade 10. Students will attend the sacred grounds every Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for an educational experience that provides special opportunities to explore and strengthen Anishinaabe identity through cultural place-based learning, allowing students to earn a high school credit while learning from the land. 

To help celebrate and honour the program’s official start last Monday, we provide a glimpse into the instructive, hands-on learning activities students have participated in during their first week!

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WEEK 1 ACTIVITIES

Monday & Tuesday

On days 1 and 2 of the Earth-Based Learning Program, students helped to build the teaching lodge, harvest and clean sweet grass, and also enjoyed taking time to connect to the Earth. Students were also taught a brief account of the community’s story and the area they are learning. This fantastic lesson was presented by anishinaabemwid, Lorney Bob. 

Wednesday

On day 3, Earth-Based Learning students took the water at Bell Park to complete their swim tests. All students completed their tests successfully and will be ready for the upcoming activities taking place over the next few weeks. 

Thursday

On day 4, students had fun learning about the sustainable harvesting of materials. Taking what they learned into practice, students then had the opportunity to make their own wiigwas basket. Wiigwaas is the anishinaabemowin word for birch bark, a textile traditionally used to make baskets, canoes, shelters, etc. 

Friday

On day 5, students took advantage of the beautiful weather and set off on a hike to Pigeon Mountain. The group was accompanied by Lornie Bob and Papa Art Petahtegoose, who shared stories along the way, making for an even richer learning experience. On their trek, students visited the spring water, spent time reflecting, and enjoyed lunch as they admired the breathtaking natural scenery. It was a great trip and the perfect end to the program’s first week!

Our goal is to help students build relationships with the land, the water and each other. We are ecstatic we can provide this meaningful opportunity as it supports earth-based learning and shares traditional knowledge and practices that each of these students will value and carry with them throughout their lives. We already see students’ developing connections and coming out of their shells. Chi miigwech to the community and all those supporting our young learners. We look forward to continuing to follow their journeys as they form meaningful bonds with their environment and discover and connect themselves to the Earth.” – Ginette Toivenen, Indigenous Education Lead for Sudbury Catholic District School Board 

The course is designed to spark curiosity and create awareness of stewardship initiatives in the Great Lakes, Anishinaabe Food Systems, practices and kendaasowin (learning) on the land. Students will have the opportunity to develop an understanding of the social, cultural, economic, and political developments of First Nations, Metis and Inuit individuals and communities. The learning will include history from precontact to the present day through a hands-on approach to learning. This will be a land-based opportunity that will encourage fun and laughter throughout the learning. 

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board aspires that this program will help students form greater connections to the land while nurturing spirituality and values in an environment where they can share traditional knowledge. We look forward to seeing this program in action over the following weeks and wish our students the best of luck and fun in their learning! 

To see what other activities are happening, check out our SCDSB Indigenous Education Facebook page!

An Education That Inspires: Register Now for the 2022-2023 School Year!

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board invites parents and students in all grades to register with Sudbury Catholic Schools for the 2022-2023 school year!

Parents can register their children for Kindergarten (for children turning 4 years of age on or before December 31, 2022). There are both regular and French Immersion programs available. For a full list of English Catholic elementary schools, please go to the following link

Parents and students are also invited to register for secondary schools. All of our secondary schools offer grade 7 to 12 programming in both Regular and French Immersion. For a full list of English Catholic secondary schools, please go to the following link

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board offers Catholic education to 6200 students in 18 schools across Greater Sudbury. With a strong foundation based on the Catholic faith and traditions, all schools offer a comprehensive range of programs and services with a commitment to excellence in learning for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Sudbury Catholic Schools provide inclusive, caring and innovative learning environments that promote student growth and well-being. The Board has a strong focus on the arts, athletics, academics and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math), established community partnerships, an active Parent Involvement Committee, and a growing International Education Program. 

For more information about the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, including how to register, please click the button below!

Sudbury Catholic Teacher Receives Prestigious Math Award

Julie Denomme, Secondary Teacher at Bishop Alexander Carter CSS

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to congratulate Bishop Alexander Carter CSS secondary teacher, Julie Denomme, who was formally recognized by the University of Waterloo and inducted into The Society of Descartes Medallists for her exceptional work in mathematics. 

The Society of Descartes Medallists was founded in 1968 by the Rene Descartes Foundation for the Advancement of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. Sine 1968, the Society meets annually to pay tribute to Ontario mathematics and computer science teachers identified as worthy of special recognition. Every year since it was established, the Foundation has admitted a small number of new members, chosen for their contribution to the noble cause of mathematics education. 

Denomme, was only one of two recipients recognized by the Rene Descartes Foundation in 2021. Denomme attended the 53rd Rene Descartes Medallist Dinner on June 11th, 2022, in Waterloo where she was able to officially be inducted into the Society. 

We are so proud of Mrs. Denomme for her exceptional dedication to student learning. Her fearless approach to embracing new teaching and evaluation strategies makes a real difference in our school. She consistently uses her passion to evolve her instruction on important subjects and improve the way students learn to make a real impact on their education. For instance, in 2015, her leadership and commitment were key support in improving EQAO scores, which resulted in Bishop Alexander Carter winning the Bette Stevenson Award.” – Stephanie Venturi, Bishop Alexander Carter Principal

“It is a great honour to be chosen as one of the 2021 Descartes Medallists. Teaching is a rewarding profession where I am provided the chance to motivate others on a daily basis. But honestly, it’s the smiles on the students’ faces that makes it all worth it. Thanks to everyone who has given me the opportunity to educate and, hopefully, inspire my students everyday.” – Julie Denomme, Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary Teacher

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s mission is to realize each student’s potential within an inclusive Catholic Learning Community by nurturing their mind, body, and spirit. Ms. Denomme embraces her teaching vocation and provides a dynamic, rich classroom environment where students are able to take risks, learn from their mistakes and grow in their understanding.  We are all so proud of her and are very fortunate that she has chosen to teach in our schools.  Bishop Alexander Carter and the entire School Board Community extend our congratulations to her for this well-deserved award.” – Joanne Bénard, Director of Education

For more info on Sudbury Catholic District School Board, please visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca  

Sudbury Catholic School Board Honours Recipients of the 2022 Chairperson’s Award

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Chairperson’s Award. All three individuals embody the Board’s mission, vision and values. They are passionate about Catholic education and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to student success. 

St. Charles College Secondary Teacher, Jillian Ospina and SCDSB Chair, Michael Bellmore.

Jillian Ospina is a Teacher at St. Charles College who always strives to put students at the center of her work. Her dedication to innovation and learning is evident, and she always ensures she contributes her positive energy to the classroom and the larger school community. She goes above and beyond for students and staff who want to engage in technology learning and will encourage them share ideas to enhance projects and pedagogy. She empowers students to collaborate, inquire and develop their communication skills through IT and take risks as they learn from one another. She consistently looks for ways to enhance student learning by building a sense of initiative and ingenuity through different coding projects and digital content. She has also been instrumental in developing diverse platforms to provide both educators, students and parents support which was particularly important during the pandemic.

Ginny Long is a Teacher at St. David’s Elementary School. She has worked tirelessly to meet the needs of students and does this by modelling respect, compassion, empathy and humour every day. Her approach to student issues and situations is inspirational, and she forges relationships with all those around her through kindness and care, sprinkled with her contagious laughter. Ginny is a highly motivated educator known to support the development of the whole child. She ensures the importance of culture and identity, and Indigenous pedagogy are an integral part of her daily practice and achieves this by working with community partners. She is always ready to think outside of the box and provide opportunities for learning that meet the needs of her diverse classroom. 

SCDSB Chair, Michael Bellmore and St. Davids Elementary Teacher, Ginny Long.
St. James Elementary Teacher, Graham Kent MacNeil and SCDSB Chair, Michael Bellmore.

Graham Kent MacNeil is an Intermediate Teacher at St. James Elementary School. Kent is a true leader in faith and a compassionate, steady, and selfless person for students and staff in times of difficulty. He looks for solutions to expand strategies for any students who is struggling and ensures his students feel like they are part of a family. He is self-driven and self-taught in technology and pioneered the use of Google Classroom, in addition to obtaining formal accreditation as a Google Educator. Kent also developed internal digital reporting, illustrating his initiative and ingenuity to embrace technology and make positive changes. Kent always has a smile and kind words and recognizes the good in everyone.  

We are honored to recognize three exceptional individuals who can only be described as difference makers and leaders within our inclusive Catholic learning community,” said Michael Bellmore, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Jillian, Ginny, and Graham are inspirational individuals and positively impact our community by representing what it means to be a leader in learning and faith. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are proud to recognize our 2022 recipients and thank them for both their continued service and unwavering commitment to Catholic education.” 

This year’s award winners will be honoured formally during Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s 2022 Employee Recognition Night on May 26th, 2022. Help us celebrate our 2022 Chairperson Award Recipients as well as our Retirees and 25 Year employees by tuning into our celebration on YouTube!

To access the premiere of the event online please use the following link to go to our profile on YouTube.com, and click our video titled 2022 Virtual Employee Recognition Event. We encourage you to make this a special evening and to share this important event with your family and friends.

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School Hosts Water Walk!

The students and staff at St. Benedict will walk for water in their upcoming Water Walk on Thursday, May 5th. This event will run all day and will commence at the school and continue onto the water pump station near Countryside Sports Complex.  

As part of the day, students from every grade will take time to Walk for Water and elementary students from Holy Cross will be joining in on the walk in the afternoon.

In addition to the water walk, there will also be a WaterLution “Water Speaks” art exhibit in the school building all day to enhance student learning further. This event was organized on behalf of the Diversity Club of St. Benedict Catholic School with the help, guidance, and support from Indigenous Support Lead, Shannon Agowissa. 

“We are looking forward to bringing our student and staff together and shining a light on the continued need for clean water in our communities. We are truly proud of the efforts of our Diversity Club and Shannon Agowissa, as they work together to deepen their understanding of issues by planning events such as this Water Walk and put their learning in action.” – St. Benedict Principal, Laura Kuzenko

On May 5th, it is also an awareness day for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People. In the MMIWG2S Final Report we note the Call for Justice: 

“Calls for Educators: 

11.1 We call upon all elementary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions and education authorities to educate and provide awareness to the public about missing and murdered. Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people, and about the issues and root causes of violence they experience. All curriculum development and programming should be done in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, especially Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. Such education and awareness must include historical and current truths about the genocide against Indigenous Peoples through state laws,policies, and colonial practices. It should include, but not be limited to, teaching Indigenous history, law, and practices from Indigenous perspectives and the use of Their Voices Will Guide Us with children and youth.”

In honour of those Loved Ones Stolen, St. Benedict plans to play their part by joining Indigenous Women and their traditional roles of protecting the Water. On page 29 of Their Voices Will Guide Us, St. Benedict began foundational teaching of Indigenous Women’s roles, and specifically in protecting and speaking for the water and this event will allow them to continue this learning with action.

The Water Walk will shine a light on the continued need for clean water in our communities and to celebrate the unpolluted, fresh water left in our community while supporting the Indigenous Peoples of the area in the ceremony.

St. Benedict & Holy Cross Are Reminded That Water is Life!

Hannah Morningstar, a guest speaker and third year biology student speaks to more than 800 St. Benedict and Holy Cross students on Earth Day.  

Last Friday, April 22nd, was Earth Day. On this occasion, the entire SCDSB community took time to appreciate the natural beauty surrounding us reflect on the way our planet provides for us. While we celebrate and honour the environment all year long, Earth Day was a special opportunity for students and staff to reflect on their actions and strengthen their commitment as stewards of the Earth. 

More than 7 hundred St. Benedict’s students and another 100 Holy Cross students joined forces on Earth day to recognize the importance of water in their world.

Together, they wore blue and green to prepare for an upcoming water walk happening on Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Guest Speaker Hannah Morningstar, a third year Biology student spoke about the significance of Nibi or water and the shortage of clean water in our world. She also spoke of the commitment of women to protect Nibi.  

Elder Frank Ozawagosh led a water song on a water drum with 15 year old student Tiaraoluwa Esan. 

The event was organized by Indigenous Support Worker Shannon Agowissa.  

Pictured below is Elder Frank Ozawagosh and 15 year old student Tiaraoluwa Esan complete an honouring water song together on flute and water drum.

Become a Host Family to International Students!

MLI Homestay is eager to meet new, enthusiastic families to host international high school students in September 2022. Get insight on the benefits of being a host family and how to become one by joining MLI Homestay and Sudbury Catholic Schools on Tuesday, April 12 at 7:00 PM for a live info night on Zoom. At this virtual event, Peter Prochilo from SCDSB and Cheryl Lee from MLI Homestay will come together to host a live chat that will allow you to ask questions and learn more about the benefits of being a host family from the comfort of your own home! 

If you have a spare room, it may be the perfect opportunity to experience a different culture right in your own home. Sign up now! 

When: April 12, 2022, 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/27TrA6wi8

Attend Our Virtual Event and Learn How to Support (K-6) Numeracy at Home!

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board Parent Involvement Committee is excited to announce the next session for our Virtual Engagement Series for Parents & Educators. Please see the attached poster to learn more about our upcoming sessions. 

Upcoming Session: Focus On Numeracy (Kindergarten to Grade 6)

Join us next week on Wednesday, April 13th, from 6-7 pm on Zoom for our next session, “Focus on Numeracy!” During this session, Dr. David Costello will explain how you can support numeracy at home and help your children recognize and understand the role of mathematics in the world around them.

Dr. Costello is a professional learning facilitator who focuses on mathematics instruction and learning. Working in various roles centred on numeracy education, he has the expertise, charisma, and advice you can count on to support numeracy learning in your household! Attend his session and discover new tips, tricks, and strategies to help students dynamically learn and build their critical thinking skills. Sign up and see how problem-solving can be as easy as 1, 2, and 3! Registration is required to attend this event. Register now to reserve your spot and receive the zoom link! 

Join us and Pearson Canada to Learn How to Teach Literacy Where It Starts… AT HOME!

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board Parent Involvement Committee is excited to announce the next session for our Virtual Engagement Series for Parents & Educators. Please see the attached poster to learn more about our upcoming sessions. 

Next Session: Focus On Literacy – Kindergarten To Grade 3

Join us on Wednesday, April 6th, from 6-7 pm on Zoom for an interactive session on literacy! In this engaging virtual event, each attendee will uncover today’s best practices for teaching fundamental literacy skills where they start…AT HOME! This presentation is designed to supply parents and educators with helpful advice that will better support them in empowering today’s youth to achieve lifelong success by developing strong literacy skills early. 

Expert Literacy Consultant Moyra Bartlett from Pearson Canada will present how reading and writing skills are developed over time and provide you with the top strategies and tools you need to help build reading, writing, comprehension, and more in children in Grades K-3! Sign up today and get ready to light up literacy in your household. Registration is required to attend this event. Register now to reserve your spot and receive the zoom link! 

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