Student Voice Matters: We Want to Hear From You

Posted on November 1, 2022November 2, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

Reminder to all Sudbury Catholic families who have not yet submitted their responses to please help our Board make a difference by completing our online Student Voice Matters survey!

ABOUT THIS SURVEY?

Ontario school boards are required to conduct a census to identify and address systemic barriers and discrimination. Under the Anti-Racism Act, 2017 and Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan, school boards must collect data using a student census and report on the results. In support of the provincial requirement, as well as our commitment to providing, safe, equitable and inclusive environment SCDSB will be collecting voluntary, demographic and identity-based data through a voluntary student census survey, called Student Voice Matters.

We will be asking questions as identified in the Ontario Human Rights Code. These include: Indigenous identity, race, ethnic origin, religion, first language, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, status in Canada and socioeconomic status.

Student Voice Matters is being launched this year for Kindergarten to grade 12. For students in K-8 surveys will be sent to parents/guardians to be completed with their child. Students in grade 9-12 will complete the survey on their own.

If at any point parents or students feel uncomfortable with the question content, they will have the option of skipping and moving on.

What Will the Results Be Used For?

At Sudbury Catholic Schools, we are committed to identifying and removing barriers so all students can achieve excellence in faith-filled, loving, safe and inclusive schools.

The results of the survey will be used to:

continue to identify and eliminate systemic barriers to student success
create more equitable and inclusive school environments
improve student achievement and well being
better understand the needs of our students

How to Complete this Survey?

On November 2nd, 2022, families who have not yet completed this survey will receive a reminder email from our IMS team that contains the survey link! Please contact your school if you have any issues accessing the survey.

Thank you for your participation and for your ongoing support of Catholic Education.

SCDSB Launches Annual Christmas Card Artwork Contest

Posted on November 1, 2022November 1, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

Starting Nov. 1st, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will be looking for submissions for our annual Christmas card artwork contest.

Year after year, we have the pleasure of seeing the creativity and imagination of our students flourish through this annual tradition and we are excited to see what beautiful artwork 2022 will bring forward.

Submissions will be accepted until November 18, 2022 at 4:30 p.m.

Please see the attached poster for details.

Christmas Card Artwork Contest

Ma Francophonie, j’y tiens!

Posted on October 31, 2022October 31, 2022 by Erin Kendall

We are proud of our Francophone heritage.

On September 25th, 2022, Sudbury Catholic Schools celebrated Franco-Ontarian Day! This celebration is an annual opportunity to learn about Franco-Ontarian culture and history in real life and bring awareness to this wonderful community on an occasion that combines education, fun, language, and history. As the number of FSL students and families continues to grow, it is important for Sudbury Catholic to infuse French Culture into the classrooms.

In our video that highlights our Franco-Ontarian celebrations, we use the phrase, “Ma Francophonie, j’y tiens!”, which translated from French means, “We are proud of our Francophone heritage!”

In addition to annual celebrations, FSL teaching and learning is being further supported in our community through our FSL Plan. One of the most important goals of Sudbury Catholic School’s three-year FSL Plan is improving student confidence and proficiency. We’re committed to providing french language learners with the support they need, and to continue to offer programming that is evidence-based and engaging.

“With what we currently know about how kids learn to read, our Board has committed to shifting from a balanced to a structured literacy approach. Structured literacy provides explicit instruction of the key components of literacy so that students develop excellent pre-reading and reading skills. This approach also guarantees early identification of students at-risk through assessment. The best interventions can then be used to support and move students along. With purposeful reading instruction and interventions, students will demonstrate increased achievement in the FSL program. Literacy leads to proficiency, confidence, and an enthusiasm for life-long learning. And that’s the best gift of all” – Camille Heaton, FSL Consultant.

Sudbury Catholic Schools Give Back to the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee

Posted on October 31, 2022October 31, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

Staff and students at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board raised $1,923.10 to support the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee. Leaves of Change: Binaakwe Giizis is a fundraiser which took place on October 14, 2022, to promote environmental stewardship.

The goal of the fundraiser is to engage in civic and environmental responsibility by bringing attention to climate change and better understand how we can protect the earth for future generations. Throughout the day and the month of October, students and staff are encouraged to make more sustainable efforts. This includes cleaning green spaces by picking up trash and litter, recycling, using a reusable water bottle and reducing day to day waste, where possible.

In addition, October is known as Binaakwe Giizis – Moon of Falling Leaves. The fundraiser also served as an educational opportunity to understand, acknowledge, and respect Indigenous perspectives on caring for Mother Earth (Shkagamik Kwe).

“As a school board, it is our responsibility to create opportunities that teach the importance of protecting the earth for future generations.Environmental degradation affects the health and well-being of all peoples of North America and the world in many ways. By participating in this fundraiser, and the many planned activities, we help our community engage in volunteerism and create hope through environmental restoration,” said Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

Bishop Alexander Carter Participates in School Wide Municipal Student Vote Event

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

16 schools within the Sudbury Catholic District School Board have registered with the Student Vote Ontario program which runs parallel with the Municipal Election. As part of the program, the entire student population at Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S participated in a school wide mock election on October 20, 2022.

Student Vote is a program created by CIVIX; a national charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic education. Schools may offer a Student Vote event to a single class or to the entirety of the student body. Students engage in activities surrounding government and the electoral process and are provided necessary tools to stage a mock election in their school.

Last year, Bishop Alexander Carter had the highest percentage of students registered during the Provincial Student Vote event and were awarded the CIVIX School Award. The school has continued to be an active member of the program during the 2022 Municipal Election.

“Student Vote is a program that our entire school community remains passionate about. As a direct result of the hands-on and realistic approach this program offers, many students have chosen to exercise their right to vote once eligible. We want to thank Student Vote Ontario for providing us with the necessary tools and materials to stage these mock events during election periods,” said Stephanie Venturi, Principal of Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S.

“This exercise provided us with the opportunity to research the candidates and make an informed decision. I really enjoyed the event. Participating in the mock election has given me the confidence to vote in a real election once I am eligible,” said Gracie Auger, Grade 12 Student at Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S.

Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased with the enthusiasm that the schools have shown toward promoting student voice during the election.

“One of our goals as a School Board is to continue to engage in activities that advocate for student voice,” she explained. “Student Vote programs afford students the opportunity to learn about the electoral process, research, and practice analytical skills in a hands-on scenario. We are proud to partner with Student Vote Ontario and provide our students with tools that promote citizenship and civic duty.”

For more information about Student Vote Ontario, please visit https://studentvote.ca/onmuni2022/.

Happy ECE and EA Appreciation Day!

Posted on October 18, 2022October 18, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

October 18, 2022 is ECE/EA Appreciation Day! Today we acknowledge how very fortunate we are to have many wonderful, caring, and supportive Early Childhood Educators and Educational Assistants in our schools. Early Childhood Educators and Educational Assistants in our schools. Your knowledge, dedication, caring approach, and incredible work ethic helps our students to grow and reach their full potential. On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, thank you for making a difference and for supporting Sudbury Catholic Schools, through your continued commitment to our students and their well-being.

To help celebrate this occasion, the Board has created a short video.

Click Here to watch our 2022-23 ECE/EA Appreciation Day video!

K-12 Cyber Awareness Month

Posted on October 13, 2022October 13, 2022 by Erin Kendall

To help Ontario school boards promote safer and more secure practices across their school communities when using digital technologies and the internet, The Educational Computing Network of Ontario (ECNO) has introduced a a campaign to promote cyber safety and encourage individuals to become better online cyber citizens.

The K-12 Cyber Awareness Month (CAM) campaign has been tailored for K-12 education and focuses on promoting cyber security, online safety and privacy in schools and the community. This campaign is an adaptation of October Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is often mentioned in the media.

Campaign Resources

Each week in October, CAM will focus on a different theme related to cyber awareness. Please visit the ECNO website to access their complete toolkit.

ECNO Website

K-12 Cyber Awareness Calendar 2022-2023

For Girls, By Girls: Marymount Students Participate in International Day of the Girl Conference

Posted on October 11, 2022October 11, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

In honour of International Day of the Girl, Marymount Students attended the ‘For Girls, by Girls’ conference on October 11 at Science North. The conference was designed for girls in Grade 6-8 and provided them with the opportunity to discuss the trades and technology and the various career options available to them.

Heather Walinga (left), Roselyn Urena-Tejada (middle) and Jade Goodson (right) participated on the panel discussion of the For Girls, By Girls Conference.

The conference included a blend of workshops and panel discussions. The keynote speaker was Kendra Liinamaa, a local welder who has completed various apprenticeships with Vale. The panel discussion was moderated by Danielle Robb, a millwright apprentice, and included Marymount students Roselyn Urena-Tejada, Jade Goodson and Heather Walinga. In addition, participants were allowed to participate in three different workshops. Workshop options included:

Boombox Kit Build, hosted by Skills Ontario (English)
Exploring the Skills Ontario Trade and Tech Truck (Bilingual)
Tools 101, hosted by Milwaukee Tool (English): Showcasing the latest Milwaukee innovation from hand tools to power tools including safety products.
VEX Code VR (bilingual), hosted by Michael Frankfort
Electrical Bugs (Francophone), hosted by College Boreal

Students left feeling inspired and motivated by the conference, and are eager to further explore their career options.

“I feel like I know more about jobs that I never would have considered before, “ Alana, Marymount Student

“I thought it was very hands on and interactive. I loved learning and being inspired by the women at the workshop“ Maddie, Marymount Student.

Fall Fundraiser for Junction Creek Stewardship Committee!

Posted on October 7, 2022October 7, 2022 by Erin Kendall

On Friday, October 14th, 2022, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is inviting students and staff from all sites to increase their civic responsibility by participating in a fall fundraiser that gives back to the local green space!

SCDSB Leaves of Change will recognize climate change during the changing season, as well as provide a teaching opportunity for Indigenous Education and caring for Shkagamik Kwe (mother earth). On this day, students/staff are encouraged to wear fall colours (red, yellow, orange, green, purple, and/or brown) and donate a toonie, where possible, to support the continued efforts of the Junction Creek Stewardship Community in Sudbury. The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee is an integral part of the Greater Sudbury community, working to improve the health of the unique urban waterway that connects us all and to promote the livability and value of our natural environment.

The goal of the fundraiser is to help our community engage in civic and environmental responsibility by bringing attention to climate change and how we can protect the earth for future generations. Throughout the day and the month of October, students and staff are encouraged to make more sustainable efforts. This includes cleaning green spaces by picking up trash and litter, recycling, using a water bottle, etc.

October is also where we honour Binaakwe Giizis – Moon of Falling Leaves. As this event is taking place during Binaakwe Giizis – it also serves as an educational opportunity to understand, acknowledge and respect Indigenous perspectives on caring for Mother Earth (Shkagamik Kwe).

Why Are We Doing This?

As a school board, it is our responsibility to create opportunities to teach the importance of protecting the earth for future generations. Environmental degradation affects the health and well-being of all peoples of North America and the world in many ways. For instance, industrial contamination and disruption of wildlife habitats combine to reduce the supply and purity of clean drinking water, traditional foods, and medicines. In addition, environmental degradation erodes the quality of life dependent on the purity of the land, water, flora and fauna. Further, this disruption greatly affects Indigenous peoples culture, languages, spiritual health, and well-being along with the life of all living things. By participating in this fundraiser, we help our community engage in volunteerism and create hope through environmental restoration.

Resources

Leaves of Change Poster

Infographic – 8 Ways to Be More Green at School

Infographic – 8 Ways to Be More Green at Work