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.
November 28 is Giving Tuesday and it is the world’s largest generosity movement. Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a stranger, or giving to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.
At Sudbury Catholic Schools, we foster a culture where both staff and students embrace the idea that Giving Tuesday is not merely a single day but a transformative movement that sparks positive change on a global scale. Let us reflect on some ways Sudbury Catholic Schools have come together as a community this month to make a lasting impact.
St. Charles College students lead the way with their annual Canned Food Drive, supporting the Sudbury Food Bank. They’ve gone above and beyond by collecting cans at grocery stores and organizing canvassing nights where students hit the streets, gathering non-perishable foods and donations. A hockey buyout at Garson Arena with St. Benedict CSS and a Dress Down Week have also contributed to their incredible efforts.
Holy Trinity and Pius XII schools are participating in the “All I Need for Christmas Campaign” for the Infant Food Bank. The annual campaign helps raise funds and supplies for Greater Sudbury’s most vulnerable: babies and toddlers. Together with the support of their school communities, they will fill a crib with baby necessities to support families throughout the winter and the holiday season.
On Thursday, Nov. 30th, St. Benedict is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser to support families in need during Christmas. Students, staff, and community members will raise their forks and funds to receive delicious spaghetti dinners. In return the donations raised from this event will support the Sudbury Food Bank.
The student council at St. John school organized a fantastic Moe-vember challenge to raise money for prostate cancer research. Mr. Martin, the school’s Gr. 2/3 French Immersion teacher, volunteered to grow a moustache for Movember, and St. John provided weekly updates on his progress by posting pictures on social media.
Together, students and families were encouraged to donate throughout November, and in return, students would receive a moustache to participate in the school’s first Moustache Day on Nov. 24th. According to St. John, the school raised 1,191.00 for prostate cancer research.
On Nov. 26, St. Albert Learning Centre students in the Peace Program were busy cooking up a storm for the Church of Christ the King bake sale. The parishioners throughly enjoyed the delicious treats prepared by all the students, and it was reported that all their confections quickly sold out. We are proud to see our students participating in fundraising activities supporting our strong partnership with parishes.
The above list of activities is only a small sample of the acts of giving that have taken place in our school system this month. We encourage you to check out our school’s social media profiles to stay current on what’s happening. As we wrap up November, let us plan to continue to demonstrate the power of our community on this Giving Tuesday and all year long. Together, we can make a difference!
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.
We invite you to read the full blog, where the incredible stories of leadership, collaboration, and community spirit come to life.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to join students from Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island for HEADSTRONG, an evidence-based anti-stigma initiative that inspires students to Be Brave, Reach Out and Speak Up about mental health. The summit will occur on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at Cambrian College.
This day-long conference will bring together approximately 140 Secondary students from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Rainbow District School Board, Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario, and Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario.
Spearheaded by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the HEADSTRONG movement educates youth ages 12 to 18 to recognize the signs of mental health problems and to help reduce the associated stigma.
“Mental health and well-being is a priority for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board,” says Director of Education, Joanne Bénard. “Working with our co-terminous boards to host HEADSTRONG further supports our ongoing commitment to nurture students by fostering their mental, physical, social, and emotional well-being. Through this experience, HEADSTRONG will provide summit attendees with the essential tools, knowledge, and confidence to confront mental health stigmas respectfully and promote mental health and wellness within their school and surrounding community. We want to thank the support of our sponsors, including Cambrian College, Lions Club, Future North, and the Greater Sudbury Police Services, who have charitably contributed to the success of this upcoming event.”
At the summit, students will have the unique opportunity to listen to speakers with lived experiences, engage in stigma-busting activities, gain insights into available community services, and devise action plans to implement positive change upon returning to their respective schools.
“The Board recognizes the importance of erasing stigmas and cultivating a culture of hope. Though this is a one-day conference, the learning it will provide is meaningful for years to come.” Say’s Tasha Breau, a registered Psychotherapist at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and lead organizer of this year’s HEADSTONG summit. “We are thrilled to see how this year’s summit will educate our students, strengthen our communities, and transform how we can further support mental health and wellness in our schools.”
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Cambrian College
| 8:30 am to 9:00 am | Registration |
| 9:00 am to 9:30 am | Introduction/Welcome |
| 9:30 am to 9:55 am | Keynote Address: Gabe Parent |
| 9:55 am to 10:10 am | Break |
| 10:10 am to 10:35 am | Keynote Address: Katlyn Kotila |
| 10:40 am to 11:10 am | Breakout Room Activities |
| 11:15 pm to 12:15 pmNote: Best time for media interviews | Lunch/Resource Fair |
| 12:15 pm to 12:45 pm | Prize Draw/Speaker Panel Introductions |
| 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm | Panel discussion with guest speakers |
| 2:00 pm to 2:25 pm | Action planning breakout activity |
| 2:30 pm to 2:45 pm | Youth Presentations |
| 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm | Wrap-up |
The first keynote address will be delivered by Gabe Parent. Gabe is a passionate mental health advocate with a bachelor’s degree in social work. Gabe’s career journey has included roles as a Youth net/Reseau Ado facilitator and as a healthcare worker, providing care to seniors and youth. Gabe identifies as part of the LGBTQ2S+ community and works to be proactively inclusive of all individuals. In addition to empowering youth to follow their dreams, Gabe believes in the value of well-being for all, from the youngest to the oldest members of the community.
Students will also hear from Katlyn Kotila, a passionate public speaker and community leader from Sudbury, Ontario. She is the Co-Founder of the Northern Ontario Pride Connection, a non-profit organization aimed at supporting and empowering the 2SLGBTQ+ community across northern Ontario. At the age of 14, she lost a close friend to death by suicide, a moment that would go on to change her life forever. Since then, she has spent her career advocating for improved mental health services and speaking to audiences across North America about her experiences as a suicide-loss survivor.
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.
Alessandro Constantini and Colton Gobbo, both respected alumni of St. Charles School and renowned figures in the world of theatre, recently joined forces with St. Charles College to create an inspiring workshop tailored for the school’s learning support students. This collaborative effort resulted in a truly unforgettable educational experience for students within the realm of drama.
This workshop offered students an exceptional, hands-on learning experience that immersed them in the enchanting world of theatre while also providing invaluable insights about the fundamental aspects of acting from two seasoned professionals in the field.
On this occasion, students actively participated in a series of theatre games designed to enhance their creative abilities and foster self-confidence. A standout moment during the workshop was the “sweater game,” a distinctive exercise that allowed students to practice their newly acquired skills.
The program reached its culmination with an enlightening Q&A session, providing students with the opportunity to delve deeper into the art of acting. Alessandro Constantini and Colton Gobbo generously shared their personal experiences and vast knowledge, leaving a lasting impression on students and inspiring them to explore the boundless opportunities that await them in the area of performing arts.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board extends its heartfelt appreciation to Ms. P. Demore and St. Charles College and Alessandro and Colton for their unwavering dedication to nurturing artistic talent and enriching the lives of our learning support students.
To further demonstrate support for the arts in Sudbury, check out the upcoming productions at the Sudbury Theatre Centre. “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” is poised to grace the Sudbury Theatre Centre stage on October 20th and will run until November 4th. This production promises to be a captivating journey into the world of theatre, showcasing Sudbury’s remarkable local talent. Keep an eye out, as you might even spot some Sudbury Catholic District School Board graduates among the cast!
October 2nd is National Custodial Appreciation Day! This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize and appreciate every member of our dedicated custodial team, including our custodians, assistant custodians, cleaners, BSTs, and maintenance staff. Their exceptional efforts and hard work are a vital part of our daily lives, ensuring that our schools and Board office buildings are clean and well-maintained throughout the entire year.
Their commitment goes beyond cleanliness; it extends to helping create an inviting environment for our community and contributes significantly to the health and safety of all students and staff.
On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board community, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering dedication and outstanding service. We are very fortunate to have you on the team.
Thank you for all that you do!
As the 2022-23 school year comes to close, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, has prepared messages to Ontario parents, students and graduates:
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.
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.
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.
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.
