Sudbury Catholic Schools Gather Together For A Virtual Ash Wednesday Service

Posted on March 4, 2022March 4, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

Our Lenten journey began on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022, with Ash Wednesday! Sudbury Catholic District School Board honoured the start of this season with a morning prayer service. Our church tradition shares that on Ash Wednesday, we are invited to be marked with the sign of the cross on our foreheads. This symbolizes our understanding that we make mistakes and that we will take this time of Lent to grow in holiness, so we are prepared to celebrate Easter with great joy. Bishop Thomas Dowd also joined us and reinforced this message, reminding us that Lent is a time to make our hearts a worthy place for the Holy Spirit to live.

The day was also one where we joined in prayer for the situation in Ukraine. Pope Francis sent out an invitation for the world to join together for a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace. He asked that we especially pray for those suffering, be aware that we are all brothers and sisters, and implore God for an end to the war.

For those members of our community who were unable to attend our service yesterday, you can still participate by watching a virtual recording of our Ash Wednesday service. We’ll also continue joining together for prayer on Monday mornings. We invite you to view the following poster to see a schedule of our future virtual prayer services taking place throughout Lent.

Lent Poster

Schedule of SCDSB Prayer Services For Lent

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Join the Spring Daily Discover Series for Grades 4-6 Students

Posted on March 3, 2022March 3, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

Still time to Register for the next Series!

This spring, SCDSB Grades 4-6 students are invited to spend time exploring their surroundings, out of their seats and discovering the amazing world of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) during the Spring Daily Discovery series.

Join Let’s Talk Science Experts for a week of daily hands-on activities using easy-to-find materials.

Each day, teachers and/or participants will receive an email with a video demonstration and description of a fun, hands-on STEM activity that can be done at school or at home. Material lists will also be shared with you by email one week in advance of your week.

Check out students in Ms. Cipressi’s Remote Learning Class who made “lava lamps” while learning about the concept of density and making something beautiful at the same time.

Watch Dahlia’s video as she does the experiments from home!

In this video she states that she likes science and that this experiment was fun! Dahlia just can’t wait to learn about tomorrow’s experiment!

Dahlia’s Lava Lamp Experiment

Please note that each week will have the same daily activities. Register for the time slot that works best for your schedule, or enjoy the content multiple times over the spring!

Activities will include exploring Density, Wind, Chemical reactions, Binary code and Non-Newtonian fluids!

There is still time to register for the next session! Please see the dates.

This activity series is available during the following weeks:

February 28 to March 4
March 7 to March 11
March 14 to March 18
March 21 to March 25
March 28 to April 1
April 4 to April 8
April 11 to April 15
April 18 to April 22
April 25 to April 29
May 2 to May 6

Daily Themes and Material

Activity 1: Density

Materials (per youth participant): Water, food colouring, vegetable oil, a clear cup or container, and Alka-Seltzer (or baking soda and vinegar)

Activity 2: Wind

Materials (per youth participant): Square piece of construction paper, pencil with an eraser on top, thumbtack, scissors, tape

Activity 3: Chemical Reactions

Materials (per youth participant):

• Experiment 1 (Mystery Substances): A clear container, sugar, baking soda, flour, water, vinegar

• Experiment 2 (Elephant Toothpaste): ½ cup hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup dish soap, 1 tablespoon (or 1 packet) of yeast, an empty bottle, a mixing cup, and warm water

Activity 4: Binary Code

Materials (per youth participant): Binary key worksheet, 3 colours of beads, string, pen or pencil, and scissors (Alternative supplies: 3 coloured pencils, binary key worksheet, and paper)

Activity 5: Non-Newtonian Fluid

Materials (per youth participant): Container or bowl, corn starch, cup of water, mixing spoon, measuring cup, food colouringFor more information or support contact christina.raso@sudburycatholicschools.ca

Sudbury Catholic Schools Celebrate Pink Shirt Day!

Posted on February 24, 2022February 24, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

February 23rd, 2022 was Pink Shirt Day, and we were pleased and excited to see our entire community eagerly participating!

Throughout the day, students, faculty, and staff at Sudbury Catholic Schools dressed in fabulous pink shirts, effectively showing their support and solidarity against the issue of bullying and the impact it has on our everyday lives. Below we provide a small a sample of some of the amazing pink shirts worn throughout the day!

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Pius XII

St. Francis

St. Joseph

Holy Cross

St. John

Holy Trinity

St. David

What is Pink Shirt Day?

Bullying is a major issue and affects everyone from schools to the workplace, to even home life. But no one has enough power to stop it by themselves. On Pink Shirt Day, Sudbury Catholic Schools from Kindergarten all the way to Grade 12 work together to put a stop to bullying by coming together and wearing pink shirts.

Every year, on the last Wednesday of February, schools around the world observe Pink Shirt Day – an anti-bullying campaign that began in 2007 when a boy in Nova Scotia was bullied for wearing his favourite pink shirt to school. When he returned home from being teased, in a show of solidarity, two older students purposely wore pink shirts the following day. This act not only demonstrated the power and choice each of us has to help others, but it was also a conscious decision that allowed them to make a stand against bullying and in the process ignited an important campaign that continues to grow support every year.

How to think pink?

Pink is a colour that symbolizes everything bullying stands against. It’s bright, cheery, and warm. However, on this day it has become more than a colour – it has become a stronger and brighter message. A message that say’s that we refuse to let this issue continue! And while simply wearing a pink shirt might seem insignificant, such an action has the power to spark up conversations and bring awareness for people to take control of their lives and recognize what’s happening around them. Whether you have a pink shirt or not is asides from the point. The message of the day is the most important to remember. By working to be friendly, responsible, compassionate individuals, we ensure we all continue to think pink and grow into strong leaders in learning and faith.

Sudbury Catholic Students Enjoy A Virtual Story-Time With Howard Binkow

Posted on February 23, 2022February 24, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

On January 27th, 2022, Sudbury Catholic Schools celebrated Family Literacy Day.

Family Literacy Day takes place annually to raise awareness about the importance of reading and participating in literacy-related activities as a family.

At the start of the day, Grades K-3 classes were invited to participate in a virtual story-time on Zoom with Howard Binkow, the author of the Howard B. Wigglebottom series. Ten classes and over 100 students joined virtually to read and answer questions about the book, “Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Mud and Rainbows.”

Together we learned that sometimes life gives us a rainbow, and sometimes it gives us mud.

The characters, Howard and Ally, taught students a practical lesson on making the best of things and making the best of any situation. In the book, Howard learned that he couldn’t change a problem, so to help his friend Ally, who has been experiencing a hard time, he learns to understand to be there for her by listening, being a good friend and being happy.

The story was an excellent opportunity for students to learn that though you may not be able to control a problem in life, you can still have control by how you feel about it.

After the story, students were given a mini test and were asked some of the lessons they learned. Sudbury Catholic students from all our elementary schools gave excellent answers.

One student said: “If you find something you can’t change, you can change your mind instead.”

Another student said: “When you can’t change the world, you can change your mind.”

Since 1999, thousands of schools, libraries, literacy organizations and other community groups have taken part in Family Literacy Day and for a good reason. Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to developing and improving a child’s literacy skills. Utilizing these essential skills helps a child reach their full potential, at school, at home, and in life. We’re happy and grateful to authors that help us create wonderful experiences for students to improve their literacy as well as their understanding of the world around them.

To learn more about the activities Sudbury Catholic Schools participated in for Family Literacy Day, click here.

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The Meaning of Home Contest Countdown

Posted on February 14, 2022February 14, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

Contest Ends Countdown

Only a short amount of time is left for Grades 4-6 students to submit their poems, essays, and stories about the meaning of home. We strongly urge applicable applicants to please take the time to get involved in this meaningful opportunity for writing!

WIN FREE ICE CREAM!

All participants at SCDSB will receive FREE ICE CREAM if we reach our goal to submit 1000 entries by Friday, Feb 18th!

With every entry $10 is donated from Chapman’s Ice Cream to the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Sudbury to help build safe and affordable homes for families in Sudbury. If we get 1000 entries, we can donate $10,000!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

TRANSPORTATION CANCELLED – SUDBURY, ESPANOLA & MASSEY DISTRICTS

Posted on February 7, 2022February 7, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

SCHOOL PURPOSE TRANSPORTATION IS CANCELLED, SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN In SUDBURY, MASSEY AND ESPANOLA DISTRICTS

BUSSES ARE RUNNING ON MANITOULIN ISLAND

Due to the poor road conditions and in the interest of safety, all school related transportation services for English Catholic, English public, French Catholic and French public schools, operating in the districts of SUDBURY, ESPANOLA AND MASSEY (this includes all areas such as St-Charles, Noëlville, Monetville, Markstay, Hagar, Warren, Wahnapitae, Coniston, Killarney, Whitefish, Whitefish River First Nations, Onaping, Chelmsford, Capreol, Valley East, Garson, Chelmsford and Azilda) are cancelled today. All schools will remain open, however, NO transportation will be provided.

Parents who transport their children to school are reminded that they must pick their children up at the end of the school day.

All staff are expected to report to work.

Write & Make A Difference! The Meaning of Home Contest

Posted on February 3, 2022February 4, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

Sudbury Catholic School Students in grades 4,5 & 6 can make a difference by getting involved in the Meaning of Home Contest sponsored by Chapman’s Ice Cream!

The VP of Chapman’s, Ashley Chapman along with the store manager of Sudbury’s local Habitat for Humanity Restore, Prince Borutski, have created a special virtual joint presentation to launch the “Meaning of Home” Contest for Sudbury Catholic students next Tuesday, Feb. 8th at 10am. The 45-minute presentation will introduce the organizations to students and indicate how their efforts in this contest can result in building affordable housing for families in need.

The contest will run until Feb. 18th, 2022.

About Contest

Deadline to Enter: February 18th, 2022

Contest Website

Contest Entry Details

Teacher Resource

The Meaning of Home Contest is a unique and meaningful way to get children involved in creative writing and giving back to their community. By participating in this contest, Sudbury Catholic students will use their creative abilities and submit either an essay, story or poem on the topic of what HOME means to them.

Each contest entry will result in a $10 donation from Chapman’s to Habitat for Humanity to help build safe and affordable homes for families in the Sudbury community. In addition, this contest will also challenge students to think creatively about an important topic (i.e. the meaning of home) that directly impacts their lives and ultimately improves their writing skills!

Teachers have access to a Teacher Resource designed to help incorporate the contest straight into lesson plans. These can serve as standalone lessons or be used to augment existing lesson plans in areas such as language, creative writing, and community service!

Help us track!

Sudbury Catholic Schools would like to track the total number of entries submitted by Sudbury Catholic students to see how a single action makes a collective difference, so please let us know if your class is participating by clicking the button below. Once the contest has ended, we’ll share the total donated amount so that students and families can celebrate with SCDSB!

CLICK HERE TO CONFIRM PARTICIPATION

Our Goal

Our hope is that the contest will be an activity that students will help them reflect on how they can live our Catholic Graduate Expectations. Together, their simple actions will provide funds to support our local community, as they contribute to building a just society. With over 1300 students enrolled at Sudbury Catholic Schools in grade 4, 5, and 6 our collective contributions could result in as much as $13,000 being donated to our local Habitat for Humanity organization.

In addition, the winner for each grade will be awarded a $30,000 grant for their local Habitat organization, with three runners-up per grade directing $10,000 to their local Habitat chapter. The contest has raised $1.7 million to date and, in 2021, it helped 46 local Habitats build more homes. Let’s work together to make a local difference!

If you would like more information about this initiative or have any questions, please reach out to christina.raso@sudburycatholicschools.ca or joan.yawneymatz@sudburycatholicschools.ca

Sudbury Catholic Schools Celebrate Family Literacy Day 2022

Posted on February 1, 2022February 24, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

On January 27th, 2022, Sudbury Catholic Schools celebrated Family Literacy Day.

Family Literacy Day takes place annually to raise awareness about the importance of reading and participating in literacy-related activities as a family.

Learning in the Great Outdoors

This year for Family Literacy Day, the theme focused on the blessings of spending time in nature and was titled – Learning in the Great Outdoors. This subject supplied a way for families to exercise their bodies and minds by participating in various outdoor literacy activities.

For instance, during the week, Grade 5 students from Pius XII celebrated Family Literacy Day by embarking on the natural beauty of Northern Ontario and completing a Nature Scavenger Hunt with their families. Together they discovered some amazing and unique parts of nature.

At St. Joseph, students took their time learning all about outdoor winter sports such as skating, skiing, hockey, and more. Following their learning, they then had the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with snowshoes. What a fun day!

In addition to spending time outside and learning about nature, other classes celebrated the day by participating in a range of activities. Some examples include:

Holy Cross students in Ms. Jewell and Ms. Abbott’s class settled down for storytime, nestling in and enjoying a good book.
Grades 1 and 2 students at Pius XII had the opportunity to read by the firelight during a cozy reading session with flashlights and a virtual fireplace.
St. Anne students and educators took time to dress up as each of their favourite book characters. Later students also spent time in the library reading some new books they received thanks to the community’s donations.

At the start of the day, Grades K-3 classes were invited to a virtual story-time with Howard Binkow, the author of the Howard B. Wigglebottom series. Ten classes and over 100 students joined virtually to read “Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Mud and Rainbows.” Later in the day, families and classes were invited to join ABC Life Literacy’s national celebration. Author and illustrator Barbara Reid demonstrated how to use clay to create a picture.

Overall, it truly was a fantastic day for our students, educators and families. Please scroll through our picture gallery to see a visual sample of the many activities enjoyed by our Sudbury Catholic family.

Picture Gallery

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Join Us! SCDSB Hosts Virtual Career Fair for Teacher Candidates

Posted on January 31, 2022February 1, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce we’re hosting an online virtual career fair on Feb. 17th, 2022 to help interested teacher candidates learn more about Sudbury Catholic Schools and gain insight into areas such as:

The Application Process
Resumes
Interview Preparation
How to Apply on Simplfication.com
AND MORE!

Join Sudbury Catholic Schools at our February Virtual Career Fair for Teacher Candidates!

Event Details

Date: Feb. 17th, 2022

Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Location: Zoom

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

More Info

Virtual Career Fair – Info Sheet