Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Category: St. Francis School

Family Literacy Day

Posted on 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

St. Francis Students Explore Canadian Identity Through Cereal Box Design Challenge

Posted on by Erin Kendall

Students in Ms. Langlois’ class at St. Francis School took a creative approach to exploring Canadian identity by designing their own unique cereal boxes. Each box highlights symbols, values, and fun facts that represent what makes Canada special.

From iconic landmarks to cultural traditions, the students thoughtfully incorporated elements that reflect Canada’s rich history and diverse heritage. This hands-on project encouraged creativity and critical thinking while deepening their understanding of national identity.

“We are so proud of our students for their creativity and effort in this project,” said Ms. Langlois. “It was wonderful to see them express their ideas and showcase what Canada means to them.”

Sudbury Catholic Schools celebrates the innovative ways students bring learning to life. Congratulations to these future designers and storytellers on a job well done!

Heartfelt Success: St. Francis School Raises Over $2,800 for Jump Rope for Heart

Posted on by Erin Kendall

St. Francis School is thrilled to announce the outstanding success of its Jump Rope for Heart initiative, where students, families, and staff united in a display of community support and generosity. 

The event, held on June 7, showcased the dedication and enthusiasm of the entire school community. Students jumped their hearts out to raise funds for a cause that impacts millions worldwide, while teachers and staff organized and motivated participants, ensuring the event’s success. Equally essential were the parents and families whose generous contributions made a significant difference.

Thanks to the support of its students, staff, and families, St. Francis School is proud to announce that it has successfully raised over $2,800 to aid heart health research and initiatives.

“We are incredibly proud of all the students at St. Francis School,” said Superintendent of Education Erica Raymond. “Your enthusiasm, effort, and generosity exemplify the spirit of giving back and community support. Bravo!”

The success of Jump Rope for Heart underscores St. Francis School’s commitment to fostering a sense of community and social responsibility among its students. 

“As we celebrate this achievement, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated, cheered, and donated.” Said St. Francis Principal, Jennifer Connelly. “The success of Jump Rope for Heart underscores St. Francis School’s commitment to fostering a sense of community and social responsibility among its students. Every participant, supporter, and donor has contributed to making a tangible impact on heart health and research, demonstrating that collective efforts, no matter how small, can lead to substantial outcomes.”  

For more information about St. Francis School, visit https://st-francis.sudburycatholicschools.ca

2022-23 Director’s Annual Report

Posted on 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!

Sudbury Catholic Announces Chair and Vice Chair of Parent Involvement Committee  

Posted on by Erin Kendall

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda Dittrich as Chair and Paola Stefanuto as Vice Chair of the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) for the 2023-2024 school year.  

2023 PIC Chair – Amanda Dittrich
2023 PIC Vice Chair – Paola Stefanuto

Amanda is a parent at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School where she serves as Vice-Chair of the Catholic School Council. She looks forward to working with parents, principals, and administration to enhance parent and guardian engagement at Sudbury Catholic Schools. 

“I am honoured to assume the role of Chair for the Parent Involvement Committee at Sudbury Catholic Schools. Working together with the Board and parent councils, I hope to strengthen the vital connection between school and home. I am eager to help families navigate the special needs program offered through the Board. In addition, I look forward to enhancing the level of support provided to families by working with our committee to advocate for the needs of families across Sudbury Catholic Schools. I am excited about the journey ahead and the positive changes we can collectively bring about.” Said Amanda. 

Paola Stefanuto has been a part of the Catholic School Council since her children began Kindergarten. She has two children who attend St. Benedict School in Grade 11 and 12 where she serves as Co-Chair of the Catholic School Council. As Vice Chair of PIC, she looks forward to helping other parents get involved, and provide more supports for families. 

“I have always believed that when parents are involved, it paves the way for students to be actively engaged in their education. By involving parents, we not only nurture their children’s academic growth, but we also contribute to their child’s social, emotional, and physical development. As Vice-Chair of the Parent Involvement Committee, I am thrilled about the opportunity to foster greater parent engagement in our school communities. By providing parents the support and information they need to get involved, we can help each child find their place and build the confidence they need to progress in life.” Said Paola

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

Posted on 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 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. 

National Custodial Appreciation Day!

Posted on by Erin Kendall

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! 

Message from the Ministry of Education: June 2023

Posted on by Carlee Vendramin

As the 2022-23 school year comes to close, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, has prepared messages to Ontario parents, students and graduates:

Letter to Parents from the Ministry of Education: June 2023

End of Year Message:

Special Message to 2022-2023 Graduates:

Register Now! E-mail Copied to Clipboard