On September 25, we proudly celebrate Franco-Ontarian Day! This special day recognizes the rich culture, heritage, and contributions of the Franco-Ontarian community in our province.
Let’s come together to honour the Francophone spirit that is an important part of our Board community. Ma Francophonie, j’y tiens! (We are proud of our francophone heritage!)
For more information on Franco-Ontarian Day and its significance, please visit the following resources below:
Sudbury Catholic Schools is proud to share the submissions from this year’s Ma Francophonie Video Contest, which invited French Immersion and Core French students to create 90-second videos showcasing why learning French is meaningful—both personally and within their school communities.
The contest gave students a creative platform to express their connection to the French language and celebrate Ma Francophonie, highlighting the role of French in their daily lives and school experiences.
Submissions are being shared in honour of Franco-Ontarian Day on September 25, 2025. This year is especially significant as it marks the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag raising at the University of Sudbury, first held in 1975. Half a century later, the pride and celebration of Franco-Ontarian culture continue to grow stronger each year.
“We are thrilled to see our students’ creativity and passion for French shine through in this year’s submissions,” said Camille Heaton, FSL Curriculum Consultant. “Their work reflects the importance of French language and culture in our schools and communities.”
Sudbury Catholic Schools invites the community to view the submissions and celebrate the achievements of our students as they showcase their pride in French language and culture leading up to Franco-Ontarian Day.
On September 22, we joyfully embrace the changing leaves and welcome the First Day of Autumn—a season that invites us to reflect on thankfulness and gratitude. We extend warm wishes to all our students and staff and look forward to a season rich in new experiences that celebrate growth, learning, and faith.
Autumn Blessing
O God of Creation, You have blessed us with the gift of the changing seasons.
As we welcome the autumn months, may the earlier setting of the sun remind us to pause, rest, and reflect.
May the brilliant colors of the leaves fill our hearts with awe at the beauty of Your creation.
May the steam of our breath in the crisp air remind us that every moment of life is a gift from You.
May the harvest from the fields teach us gratitude for Your abundance and inspire us to share generously with others.
And as summer’s warmth fades, may we remember Your promise that life is eternal, and death is but a doorway to Your everlasting love.
We praise You, O Lord, for Your goodness now and forever.
Yesterday marked an exciting start to the 2025–26 school year as the Sudbury Catholic District School Board held its first board meeting of the year.
During the meeting, we proudly commissioned our new Student Trustee, Lily Yeomans from Marymount Academy. We are excited to welcome Lily to the Board and look forward to the leadership, perspective, and student voice she will bring to the table alongside her Co-Student Trustee, David Akero from St. Benedict.
The meeting also marked the first official meeting for our new Director of Education, Morris Hucal, and our new Superintendent of Education, Paul Nalli.
We are inspired to begin this school year with such dedicated leadership, united in our mission to support student success and well-being across all Sudbury Catholic schools.
Today, we join together to celebrate International IT Professionals Day and to recognize the exceptional contributions of our Information Management Services (IMS) team.
In today’s digital age, reliable technology is at the heart of teaching, learning, and daily operations. Our IMS professionals help make it possible by ensuring our systems are secure, our networks run smoothly, and our students and staff have the tools and technology they need to succeed.
This year, we are especially proud to highlight the work of our IT team in launching and growing the Cyber Awareness Training Program. Since its introduction in 2024, they have guided staff through 12 modules, and expanded the program with 22 new sessions. Thanks to their efforts, staff are building the skills to spot and respond to threats.
Although much of their work happens quietly behind the scenes, their impact is felt everywhere. From troubleshooting technical challenges to managing the complex infrastructure that keeps our Board connected, their expertise and dedication are vital to our mission of providing a faith-based, student-centered learning experience.
On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, we extend our sincere gratitude to our IMS team and all technology professionals. Your skill, commitment, and support make a meaningful difference every day.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is pleased to announce that Dr. Paul Nalli has been appointed as the new Superintendent of Education, effective Aug. 18, 2025.
Paul brings over 23 years of experience in education, having served in a variety of roles across Halton, Dufferin-Peel, and Toronto Catholic District School Boards. His career includes positions as a high school teacher, department head, secondary vice principal and elementary vice principal, elementary principal, and Education Officer with the Ministry of Education, with a particular focus on Indigenous Education, student well-being, and anti-bullying. In addition, he has also been actively involved in advancing identity-based data collection and human rights-based approaches through his work with the Anti-Racism Directorate in the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, demonstrating a strong commitment to student achievement through capacity building and cultivating safe, caring, and inclusive school communities.
“As we welcome students, families, and staff for a new school year, I am honoured to welcome Paul Nalli to our senior administrative team,” said Morris Hucal, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Paul’s leadership, passion, and expertise, along with his steadfast commitment to Catholic education, are invaluable assets to our schools and community. Our senior administrative team looks forward to working with him to build on the strong legacy and exceptional learning experiences that Sudbury Catholic Schools provide.”
“I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to Director Hucal, the Senior Administrative Team, and the Board of Trustees of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board for the privilege of serving as Superintendent of Education. I am truly honoured to accept this responsibility and excited to work in close partnership with students, families, staff, and the Greater Sudbury community. I remain committed to championing Catholic education, collaboratively advancing the Board’s strategic priorities, and fostering substantive access, opportunities, and outcomes in student achievement and well-being.”
– Paul Nalli, Superintendent of Education
Paul will replace retired Superintendent of Education, Louise Franklin, who has served the role since 2022 and whose transformative career in education spanned over 30 years. The Board extends its heartfelt thanks to Louise for her decades of devoted service.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s mission is to realize each student’s potential within an inclusive Catholic learning community by nurturing and developing students through mind, body, and spirit. For more information about the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, please visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca.
There’s nothing more inspiring than watching students take bold steps toward their dreams. At Sudbury Catholic Schools, we are proud to celebrate the future leaders, innovators, and changemakers who walk our halls every day.
One of those students is Emily Watson, a Grade 12 student at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, who earlier this month had the honour of speaking to hundreds of young women from across Ontario at the Young Women’s Leadership Conference in Toronto during the 2025 Skills Ontario event. Emily was just one of only three students chosen to take the stage and share her story. In her powerful talk, she shared her journey into the skilled trades—highlighting her co-op placement at Weir-ESCO, her experience in tech and construction classes, and how she discovered her passion for welding.
Her message to other young women is powerful and heartfelt:
“Don’t be afraid to try something new. The trades need more women, and we are absolutely capable. Keep an open mind, take that chance—you never know what might ignite your spark.”
And that’s what she’s doing. This June, Emily will graduate from St. Benedict and begin the next chapter of her journey: a Dual Credit Welding Apprenticeship at Cambrian College. Reflecting on her journey so far, Emily shared how her love of learning through doing led her to the trades:
“I’ve always learned best by doing—and welding lets me work with my hands, be on my feet, and create something real. From Grade 9 construction class to my co-op placement at Weir-ESCO and now my dual credit at Cambrian, I’ve fallen in love with the trade. It’s like playing with fire and precision at the same time—and that spark told me I was on the right path.My dream is to become a welder, but more than that, I want to be a role model—to show other young women that we belong in the trades too. We’re just as capable, and the more of us who step in, the stronger the industry becomes. I’d like to thank my incredible teachers, Mr. Labrosse and Mr. Howard, as well as the skilled tradespeople at Weir-ESCO, for helping me explore my interests both in the classroom and during my co-op. I’m especially grateful to my family—and to my dad—for always encouraging me to follow the path that felt right. I am excited to begin this next chapter of my life—meet new people, explore new experiences, and continue to grow both personally and professionally.
We are incredibly proud of Emily for following her path with courage, confidence, and heart. Her message is one of empowerment, possibility, and leadership—and we can’t wait to see where her spark takes her next.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievement of four students from St. Charles College who placed third in Ontario at the 2025 Ontario Skills Competition, held on May 4-6 in Toronto.
Under the guidance of teacher Mr. Kohut, students Carter Barron, Josh Hayes, Brody Mabbott, and Hayden Walsh competed in the Construction – Home Building (Team of 4) category. Their exceptional teamwork, technical skill, and dedication earned them a provincial bronze medal, standing out among teams from across Ontario.
The Ontario Skills Competition is the largest skilled trades competition in Canada, bringing together top secondary and post-secondary students to demonstrate their talent in various trades and technology sectors.
“We are incredibly proud of our students from St. Charles College for this remarkable achievement,” said the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Their success reflects not only their hard work and craftsmanship, but also the strength of our technology and skilled trades programming.”
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board continues to foster excellence in skilled trades education, encouraging students to explore hands-on learning experiences that lead to meaningful pathways in construction, engineering, and beyond.
The Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) proudly hosted the 7th Annual Catholic School Council Evening at Marymount Academy on Tuesday, May 27, bringing together Catholic School Council Chairs, Principals, Trustees, parents, students, and members of our wider school communities. The event focused on strengthening home–school–parish partnerships to support enhanced student achievement and engagement.
Through a short presentation and meaningful small-group discussions, attendees had the opportunity to actively contribute to the Board’s Student Achievement Plan. The evening emphasized collaboration, reflection, and the exchange of ideas, ensuring that diverse voices across our school communities were heard and valued.
Building on the success of previous years, the event fostered thoughtful dialogue between parents, staff, students, trustees, and senior administration—reinforcing our shared commitment to student success and well-being. Every school in our Board was represented, highlighting the strong commitment of our communities to shaping a brighter future for all students.
We extend our sincere thanks to PIC Chair Paola Stefanuto and PIC Vice Chair Amanda Dittrich for their leadership and dedication in organizing this event. We are also grateful to Marymount Academy for graciously hosting this gathering each year.
Thank you to all who attended and participated. Your voices and continued involvement are key to helping Sudbury Catholic Schools grow together in service of every student’s success.
