As the 2022-23 school year comes to close, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, has prepared messages to Ontario parents, students and graduates:
Category: St. John School
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.
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:
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
Step into the Classroom with SCDSB’s Welcome to Kindergarten Nights
Sudbury Catholic Schools are holding in-person Welcome to Kindergarten Nights. We’re thrilled to offer an in-person experience where you and your child can explore our schools, meet our dedicated Kindergarten Team, and participate in fun classroom activities. This event is not only an opportunity for your child and family to become familiar with their new school, but also a chance for us to warmly welcome you and your family to our SCDSB family. No matter if you’ve already registered or not, we invite you to attend and look forward to seeing you soon!
Attend a Welcome to Kindergarten Night
Below is a list of all the dates and details available for upcoming Welcome to Kindergarten nights at Sudbury Catholic Schools. Please contact the appropriate school for more information and to register.
School | Date | Time |
---|---|---|
St. Anne | Wednesday, May 17, 2023 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. |
St. Charles School | Wednesday, May 3, 2023 | 5:00-6:30 p.m. |
St. David School | Monday, June 26, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. |
St. Francis | Thursday, June 8, 2023 | 5:00 – 6:00 PM |
Holy Cross | Wednesday, May 31, 2023 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM |
Holy Trinity | Wednesday, June 7, 2023 | 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. |
Immaculate Conception | Thursday, May 18, 2023 | 4:30-6:30 PM |
St. James | Friday, June 2, 2023 | |
St. John | Thursday, May 4, 2023 | 11:00-12:00 PM |
St. Joseph | N/A | N/A |
St. Mark | N/A | N/A |
St. Paul | Wednesday, May 3, 2023 | 4:30-5:30 PM |
Pius XII | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 | 4:00 – 6:00 PM |
View our Kindergarten Program Brochure
Catholic Education Week: We are Many, We are One
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is gearing up for its annual week-long celebration of Catholic Education Week. This year’s theme is “Catholic Education: We are Many, We are One.” From May 1 to May 5, 2023, Sudbury Catholic Schools will join Catholic schools across the province to engage in a variety of activities and events that celebrate the unique identity and contributions of Catholic education.
The week will be divided into five sub-themes:
- When we see
- When we listen
- When we reflect
- When we learn
- When we act
OCSTA Resources
The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) has developed and shared daily resources and lesson plans for classrooms to participate in. With the support of the OCSTA and the Catholic community, Catholic education in Ontario continues to thrive.
You can view the official Catholic Education Week song below:
Board-Wide Celebrations
Catholic Education Week is a special opportunity for the Catholic community in Sudbury to come together and celebrate the unique identity and contributions of Catholic education. From Toonies for Tuition Day to the Catholic Education Week Mass, there are a variety of activities and events that we have planned for this special week.

Toonies for Tuition Day
On May 1st, schools are encouraged to dress up like a bee or wear yellow and black to participate in Toonies for Tuition Day. Staff and students are encouraged to bring a toonie to support Toonies for Tuition, which will be donated to the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association Endowment Fund for distribution to Catholic families in need.

Catholic Education Week Mass
A Catholic Education Week Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins, will be celebrating the Mass. Schools across the province are invited to participate virtually in this celebration of the Eucharist.

Children’s Mental Health Week
May 1-5th is also Children’s Mental Health Week. Members of the Mental Health team will be completing activities in schools to engage staff and students. Schools will also be encouraged to wear green on Thursday, May 4, to promote children’s mental health.

Skills Ontario Provincial Competitions
Thirteen secondary students from St. Charles College and two students from Bishop Alexander Carter will compete in the annual Skills Ontario Provincial Competitions at the Toronto Congress Centre from May 1-3.
Register Now for SCDSB’s Annual Carousel Event!
Registration is now open for Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s (SCDSB) annual Carousel Event hosted by the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC)! Learn about different topics, network with others, and engage in great conversation.
When: Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School
Address: 2993 Algonquin Drive
Carousel topics will include:
Supporting Mental Health & Well Being, Cyber Safety, Building Resiliency, Homework Support, Special Education, Coding, Preparing Your Child for Post-Secondary, Literacy: Supporting Reading @ Home, and Learning About Secondary Programming. Click here to view our session descriptions!
*FREE CHILDCARE & LIGHT SUPPER WILL BE PROVIDED.
Save the Date for SCDSB’s Carousel Event – Free Childcare & Supper Provided!
Save the date for Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s (SCDSB) annual Carousel Event hosted by the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC)! Learn about different topics, network with others, and engage in great conversation.
When: Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School
Address: 2993 Algonquin | Sudbury, ON | P3E 6K2
Carousel topics will include:
Supporting Mental Health & Well Being, Cyber Safety, Building Resiliency, Homework Support, Special Education, Coding, Preparing Your Child for Post-Secondary, Literacy: Supporting Reading @ Home, and Learning About Secondary Programming.
*FREE CHILDCARE & LIGHT SUPPER WILL BE PROVIDED.
Registration information will be coming soon!
Kindergarten Students at St. John School Have a Sweet Visit to Maple Hill Farm
Kindergarten students at St. John School had a sweet field trip when they visited the Maple Hill Farm in Hanmer! Students had the opportunity to have a 90-minute guided tour of the facility where they learned how maple syrup is made and even got to taste some of the final product!
Field trips such as these provide students with real world knowledge in a fun and engaging environment. It’s safe to say, students certainly enjoyed their experience!
“I had so much fun today! I can’t wait to come back with my family,” said Ellie Borton-St.Louis Kindergarten student. “My favourite part was tasting the taffy – it’s so good!” said Grace Rinta.
Check out the highlight video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wciCBP5Ipis





