Sudbury Catholic District School Board

St. Francis Student places Third in the Ontario #SkillsAtHome Challenge Series Challenge #14: Build a Fort

Owen Carpenter, Grade 6 student at St. Francis School, placed third in the #SkillsAtHome Challenge – Build a Fort.

Challenge #14 required students to build a blanket-covered structure in their home using household items such as blankets, broomsticks, pillows and couch cushions. Students were to collect and take inventory of the fort materials around their home. Using the materials they collected, the students created a design on paper and then built it. Challengers were marked on their ability to use creative items for their structures, the details within their blueprint designs as well as their overall structure. This challenge involved the following skills: planning, design, creativity, organization and fine motor and promoted the skilled trades of architectural design, ironworker, welder, and home renovations.
Owen and his brother had a fun time designing and creating their own unique forts. Owen created an army base equipped with sleeping quarters, kitchen, war zone and command base. Owen has been participating in several of Skills Ontario’s challenges.

“We congratulate Owen on his third-place finish in this #SkillsAtHome challenge. Sudbury Catholic students continue to achieve success through the series of challenges,” said Joanne Bénard, Director of Education. “We continue to invest in providing innovative and hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students Kindergarten to Grade 12 and we thank Skills Ontario for their continued partnership. The skills being developed support our focus on equipping all of our students with the skills they need for the future.”

We encourage our teachers and students to enter the excitement by joining in the last 2 competitions:

– Challenge #16 Build a Robot: November 30, 2020- December 14, 2020
– Challenge #17 Cake Decorating December 14, 2020 – January 4, 2021

The St. Francis School Community Comes Together Virtually in Prayer each Month

Students, staff and families continue to come together in prayer each month via Zoom and to celebrate those students who do an exceptional job of exhibiting our value of the month.  “We are truly blessed to have Father Larry who continues to build positive relationships with our school community by visiting our school each week to meet with our students and to lead us in prayer each month at our monthly prayer service,” said Meghan Dopson, Acting Vice Principal. 

Students Participate in Fort Building Challenge for Skills Ontario

Since March 2020, Skills Ontario has been encouraging students to participate in various competitions throughout the school year that promote the skilled trades. Sudbury Catholic students learning both in-class and remotely have been eagerly participating in the various challenges with remarkable results.

Challenge #14:  Build a Fort:

Students were challenged to build a blanket-covered structure in their home using household items such as blankets, broomsticks, pillows and couch cushions! Students were to collect and take inventory of the fort materials around their home. Then, using the materials they collected, create a building design on paper and then build it!  Challengers will be marked on their ability to use creative items for their structures, the details within their blueprint designs as well as on their overall structure. This challenge involves the following skills: planning, design, creativity, organization and fine-motor.

Pictured is St. Francis grade 4 student, Nolan Carpenter.  Nolan’s fort is designed to include a skylight for natural lightning, a “chill zone” to read books and a sleep area for not only himself but for his two brothers! We encourage students to participate in these fun challenges at home. The next challenge starts November 16th and the deadline to enter is noon on November 30th! For more information, please click HERE!

We Welcome Submissions to Our Annual Christmas Card Artwork Contest

As the weather gets cooler we turn our attention to the Advent season. We are looking for submissions for our annual Christmas card artwork contest. All students Kindergarten to Grade 12 are eligible to participate! Artwork should encompass our Catholic faith and help us to share in the joy of Christmas.

Artwork can be landscape or portrait and can be created in any medium (such as a drawing, painting etc). Submissions can be addressed and sent to the Board office at:

Attention: Christmas Card Contest
165A D’Youville street
Sudbury, Ontario
P3C 5E7

OR e-mailed to info@sudburycatholicschools.ca in a JPG/PNG or PDF format.

All submissions (whether in hard copy or e-mailed) should have the following information included in addition to the artwork:

  • Student first and last name
  • Grade
  • School

Artwork must be submitted by November 20, 2020 at 4 p.m. to be considered for the contest. The Board will choose one elementary design and one secondary design to be featured on our annual Christmas cards which are mailed to our Board Trustees, school administration and community partners. The winning entries will also receive a package of Christmas cards featuring their artwork!

#SkillsAtHome Live Series- 3D Printing

On Tuesday October 27th between 4:30pm-7:30Pm students across Ontario participated in the #SkillsAtHome Live Series. At each session, students are led virtually by Skills Ontario staff to develop their talents and explore various potential career paths.

Last night Owen Carpenter, grade 6 student at St. Francis participated in the 3D printing session. Students were taught how to use Tinkercad a free, online 3D modeling program that runs in a web browser and is known for its simplicity and ease of use.

At the end of the 3 hour session, Owen created his very own unique 3D model which will be shipped to him at no cost all thanks to Skills Ontario!

Students are encouraged to join the next sessions:

  • November 2. 6:00-7:30 pm Let’s Make Cupcakes
  • November 5 12:30 pm-TBA Ice Cream Making
  • November 12. 4:00 pm-5:30 PM Indigenous Dreamcatcher
  • November 18 6:30 pm-7:30 PM Nail Design

Share your experience and pictures with us! Send to info@sudburycatholicschools.ca.

We are Thankful for our ECEs and EAs Today and Everyday!

Today, we celebrate and honour our ECEs and EAs in a special way. We are very fortunate at Sudbury Catholic to have many wonderful, caring and supportive Early Childhood Educators and Educational Assistants in our schools. The support and care that they provide our students each and every day in helping them to grow in mind, body and spirit is foundational to their success.  We thank them for their support, their gentle guidance, for inspiring, for helping to create a growth mind set, for helping our students believe in themselves and for all of their contributions to our schools and to our system.  Their expertise and commitment inspires our students to grow and to reach their full potential. You truly are amazing!  

On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, we thank you for making a difference within the classroom and beyond! 

Celebrating World Teacher Day

On October 5th, we recognize and thank our dedicated and inspiring educators who work tirelessly to support our students in reaching their individual goals. During such unprecedented times our educators have stepped up to ensure that our students continue to receive a quality Catholic education and the supports they need to be successful both in the classroom and in our remote school. Thank you for nurturing their mind, body and spirit through the engaging opportunities that you provide. Last school year when our schools closed due the COVID19, you found ways to connect with them and to continue to support them through various actions such as care pkgs, food programs, social media, the modified graduation celebrations and of course through the various platforms that you were using. We were all so proud of how resilient and creative you were and continue to be. Our students are better because of who their teachers are. Thank you for always going the extra mile for them.

On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board community, we thank you for putting our students first and helping us to achieve our vision of being leaders in learning and faith. You truly are amazing!

Recognizing our Custodial Staff for National Custodial Worker Appreciation Day!

October 2, 2020 is National Custodial Appreciation Day! It is a day to thank and appreciate each and every member of our custodial team including custodians, assistant custodians, cleaners, BSTs and maintenance staff! We are especially grateful for their efforts in helping us to prepare for our school reopening, and for their ongoing diligence in keeping our schools and buildings clean. Your efforts are helping to keep us all safe.

On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board community, we are extremely thankful for all that you do. Let us take this opportunity to say thank you!

Every Child Matters: Sudbury Catholic Schools Honours Orange Shirt Day

Staff and students throughout the Sudbury Catholic District School Board joined hundreds of others across Canada by participating in Orange Shirt Day on Wednesday, September 30, 2020.

By wearing orange shirts, we recognize the harm the residential school system did to children’s sense of self-esteem and well-being and it serves as a symbol of our commitment to reconciliation. Since it began in 2013, the phrase “Every Child Matters” has been used as part of the movement to recognize the value of every child and for communities to come together.

“The Sudbury Catholic District School Board firmly believes that every child matters and as such we will continue to honour Orange Shirt Day year after year,” said Joanne Bénard, Director of Education. “We are committed to Truth and Reconciliation and we strive to find opportunities for our staff and students to come together in support of intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect.”

Register Now! E-mail Copied to Clipboard