Due to a flash freeze weather statement and widespread pooled water causing rapidly deteriorating 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, MASSEY AND MANITOULIN, (this includes all areas such as St-Charles, Noëlville, Monetville, Markstay, Hagar, Warren, Wahnapitae, Coniston, Killarney, Whitefish, Whitefish River First Nations, Manitoulin Island, 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.
Greater Sudbury — The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is proud to announce an overall improvement in student achievement as reflected in the latest Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results. These advancements highlight the dedication of the board’s students, educators, and families in supporting academic success.
Percentage of SCDSB Grade 3 Students at or above the provincial standard for the 2024/2025 school year:
Mathematics: 42 per cent, up from 36 per cent the previous year.
Reading: 65 per cent, compared to 62 per cent the previous year.
Writing: 54 per cent, up from 50 per cent the previous year.
Percentage of SCDSB Grade 6 Students at or above the provincial standard for the 2024/2025 school year:
Mathematics: 32 per cent, compared to 33 per cent the previous year.
Reading: 82 per cent, up from 76 per cent the previous year.
Writing: 79 per cent, a significant increase from 69 per cent the previous year.
Percentage of SCDSB Grade 9 Students at or above the provincial standard for the 2024/2025 school year:
Mathematics: 55 per cent of students achieved at or above the provincial standard, compared to 49 per cent the previous year.
Percentage of SCDSB Grade 10 students at or above the provincial standard for the 2024/2025 school year:
OSSLT: 83 per cent compared to 84 per cent the previous year.
Director of Education Morris Hucal praised Sudbury Catholic Schools for their overall improvements, while noting that continued focus on mathematics remains a priority.
“We are proud of the improvements being made across our schools. It is our goal to continue making students and their education our top priority, so their understanding deepens and their confidence grows,” he said. “While we recognize that there is still work to be done in mathematics, we remain fully committed to closing those gaps. This year, we have invested significant effort into our Math Action Plan, which is designed to strengthen foundational skills, build confidence, and equip students with the tools they need to succeed. We are encouraged by the progress so far and will continue to work alongside our educators to ensure every student can thrive in math and beyond.”
Among the schools that demonstrated overall improvement, Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School (BAC) stood out as a top performer. The percentage of Grade 9 students meeting or exceeding the provincial standard in mathematics rose significantly, from 39 per cent the previous year to 64 per cent the 2024/2025 school year.
Reflecting on this achievement, Principal of BAC, Karl Dreger, emphasized the collective effort behind the school’s success.
“The gains our students have made in mathematics are remarkable and a testament to the commitment of our staff and the hard work of our students,” he said.
“Our teachers developed and brought into our school a math action plan through a high-yield strategies framework. Their efforts have created a strong foundation for continued growth, and we are looking forward to building on this success as we support our learners across all subjects in this school year and in the years ahead.”
In a media release, Ontario’s Education Minister, Paul Calandra, recently announced the launch of an advisory body to review the province’s standardized testing and student outcomes. The two-member advisory panel, expected to be named in the new year, will focus on identifying the causes of achievement gaps in math, reading, and writing.
In response to the announcement, Chair of the Board Michael Bellmore expressed support for the review and highlighted the board’s ongoing commitment to student success.
“We understand that the Minister of Education intends to review the EQAO testing process, and we welcome this initiative,” he said. “I believe any opportunity to gain deeper insight into what our learners need is invaluable. We look forward to using the findings from this review to refine our strategies and continue building on the progress we’ve made. In the meantime, we are celebrating the success of our increased achievement results and remain committed to putting students at the forefront, ensuring they receive the best supports possible.”
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to share the latest blog from the Director’s Corner, Service That Speaks! 🫶🎄✝️
This month’s blog reflects on the importance of giving back. While the Christmas season invites us to place a special focus on generosity, true leadership is lived every day—through showing up, serving others, and caring deeply for our communities in every season. Giving is about more than dollars raised; it is about offering our time, compassion, love, and presence. When we give of ourselves in these ways, we not only uplift those around us—we allow the love of Christ to move through us, shaping hearts, strengthening community, and making God’s presence visible in the world.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is pleased to announce the election of Amanda Hall as Chair and Will St. Amant as Vice Chair of the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) for the 2025–2026 school year.
The PIC is composed of parent representatives from each elementary and secondary Catholic School Council, including council chairs and elected members. Together with school administrators, a trustee representative, and the Director of Education, the committee plays an essential role in strengthening communication and collaboration across the system. Its parent-led voice helps ensure that student well-being, academic achievement, and the diverse needs of all learners remain central to the Board’s work.
“I am looking forward to working closely with our new Director of Education and the rest of the Parent Involvement Committee to continue providing a positive link between the school and the school board,” said Hall. “I hope to bring better awareness and engagement opportunities to our parents and guardians so they can best support our students and their achievements.”
Director of Education Morris Hucal expressed his appreciation for the newly appointed Chair and Vice Chair, stating, “As a parent or caregiver, there are endless opportunities to be involved in your child’s learning. Parent involvement has a lasting impact on student success, and I am proud of the strong Parent Involvement Committee we have here at Sudbury Catholic. Under the leadership of Amanda Hall and Will St. Amant, I am confident the committee will continue to build on that success.”
Join Sudbury Catholic Schools at our upcoming 7-12 School Open House Events!
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board invites students heading into Grades 7-12 and their families to attend our upcoming Open House Events. Participants will have the opportunity to meet teachers and staff, speak with current students, tour our modern school facilities, and explore the wide range of programs and opportunities available. Please contact the appropriate school for more information about open houses and for questions about registering for school.
Marymount Academy: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
St. Charles College: Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School: Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School: Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Pre-Register for School
Register now for the 2026/27 School Year on our easy online registration platform. Please contact the appropriate school for questions about registering for school.
Nov. 10 – Student Senate members drop off pop-tab donations with Deluxe owner Billy Zografopoulos
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) Student Senate continues to demonstrate leadership, stewardship, and service through its involvement in meaningful community initiatives—most recently through its support of the long-standing pop-tab collection led by local philanthropist and Deluxe Hamburgers owner, Billy Zografopoulos. This initiative works to support the Health Sciences North (HSN) Foundation and has brought lifesaving equipment to the Sudbury community.
Initiative Background & Senate Involvement:
While a single pop-tab, may seem small, after more than a decade, Billy’s pop-tab initiative has collected over 38,000 pounds of tabs, raising nearly $20,000 for the HSN Foundation. The funds have helped purchase two Clarius handheld ultrasound devices for the Intensive Care Unit at Health Sciences North—providing critical, lifesaving imaging for patients across Northeastern Ontario. While Sudbury Catholic Schools once collected tabs individually on and off for many years, the Student Senate proudly unified the effort as a Student Senate campaign in 2022 to increase the Board’s impact for collections at al four Secondary Schools. Since then, it has grown into a valued annual initiative thanks to the leadership of the Student Trustees and the entire Student Senate team.
Billy Zografopoulos
On Nov. 10 – Student Senate Dropped of Donations at Deluxe
“Leadership is rooted in service,” shared Secondary Consultant, Brittany Goldsborough. “By getting students involved in community initiatives such as the pop-tab campaign, we foster learning that reaches far beyond the classroom and becomes lifelong lessons in compassion, civic responsibility, and the power of helping others.”
“We are deeply grateful for all that Billy does to support others; his acts of stewardship and kindness do not go unnoticed. Thank you, Billy, for being a true light of change for Sudbury,” shared SCDSB Student Trustees David Akero and Lily Yeomans. “A heartfelt thank you as well to the Student Senate members, whose dedication and hard work make everything we do as Student Trustees possible. We could not do this without you.”
What’s on the Horizon for Student Senate?
Pop Tab Initiative Re-Launch
In December, the Student Senate will re-launch its Can Tab Campaign, encouraging donations at Sudbury Catholic Secondary Schools and continuing to support Billy Zografopoulos’ incredible efforts to give back to local healthcare. At this time, pop-tab collections at Sudbury Catholic secondary schools will only be open to students, staff, and families.
Members of the public can and are encouraged to support the overall initiative by dropping off pop tabs year-round at Deluxe Hamburgers on Regent Street.
Additional Senate-Led Initiatives:
According to the Student Trustees, the pop-tab campaign is just one example of the many community-focused initiatives the Student Senate will be championing this year.
“This year, the Student Senate is putting a big focus on community, the environment, and parish involvement, paving the way for many exciting campaigns,” shared David Akero and Lily Yeomans. “Looking ahead, the Senate is developing a new initiative focused on environmental awareness and environmentally focused volunteer opportunities for students. There is so much happening behind the scenes with the Senate, and we encourage students to follow along on Instagram at @scdsbsenate for updates and fun, engaging content.”
• Partnership with Red Oak Villa Senate members volunteer at Red Oak Villa, assisting with activities such as bingo, movie nights, decorating, carolling, and talent shows, creating meaningful intergenerational connections and spreading joy among senior residents.
• Winter Clothing Drive In collaboration with secondary schools, senate members help collect winter coats and warm clothing to support families in need ahead of the colder months.
• SAID Day (Students Against Impaired Driving) Senate members help coordinate SAID Day across secondary schools to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving and promote safe decision-making among youth.
Last year, around this time, the newly formed FIRST Robotics team at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School gathered around a box of parts and contemplated where to begin. With a group of students relatively new to robotics, and roughly a year ahead of them before their first competition, their first goal was simple: build a robot and get it to move, if only an inch.
Fast forward to November 2025, and the team has far exceeded that humble objective. Not only did they successfully design and build a fully functioning robot, they built two of them, and their hard work, creativity, and persistence paid off in a big way as they captured first place at the FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Competition.
Teams participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge work together to design, build, code, and operate robots that face off in alliance-style competitions. With support from coaches and mentors, participants strengthen their STEM abilities and apply real engineering practices, such as documenting their progress in an engineering notebook, to robotics challenges. Along the way, they gain an appreciation for collaboration, creativity, and the effort required to bring their big ideas to life.
Teacher and Team Coach Loretta Cuda praised her team’s ability to work together and think quickly under pressure. “Our goal was just to get the robot to move, so to see them come together, mentor new grade 9s in our club . . . and score the most points out of all the teams there, I am extremely proud. Was I expecting to be slated for second and then become the winning alliance? No. I am blown away. This team is good at taking criticism and knowing where they need to improve, and I think the whole community is proud of this team and what they’ve done,” she said.
Grade 12 student Michael Phillips shared how the experience brought the group closer than they ever expected. “Aside from learning more about robotics, I think we really came together and learned what it means to be a team,” he said. “It’s one thing to plan for what we’ll do if a problem comes up with the robot, but on the actual competition day, we learned to put everything aside and work toward a common goal. Each person thought about what they could contribute to help us win.”
For many students, the competition also opened their eyes to the broader scope of skills required in robotics. Grade 12 student David Akero said the event pushed the team beyond just mechanical and technical work. “The thing about this competition is that it’s not just about how well our robot performs,” he explained. “It’s also about how our business team performs, what our outreach was, how our presentation goes, and how we can share more about our story. There’s a lot of documenting too, that was something we lacked before, but this time it’s something we’re really going to focus on.”
Akero added that the structure of the challenge reflects real-world expectations. “The way they format the competition, it’s basically like running a business. Some people look for sponsors, others build specific parts. Some of us have to work on public speaking or take part in interviews or understand financial aspects. The organizers included all of that. There’s something for everyone here, and you come out of it better than when you started.”
Director of Education, Morris Hucal, praised the team on their success. “Congratulations to the St. Benedict FIRST Robotics team on their remarkable achievement at the FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Competition. This win reflects the dedication, creativity, and problem-solving skills that define our Sudbury Catholic students. STEM education continues to be a key focus for our board, and it’s inspiring to see how initiatives like robotics are preparing students for the future. The continued growth of robotics programs across our schools highlights our commitment to hands-on learning and innovation. Congratulations once again to the students, mentors, and educators who made this success possible.”
Journeying Through Advent at Sudbury Catholic Schools
As we approach the Christmas season, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board joyfully enters into the sacred season of Advent – a time of hope, peace, joy, and love. Beginning on Sunday, November 30, and continuing through December 7, December 14, and December 21, our school communities come together each week to reflect, pray, and prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s birth.
Advent invites us to slow down and notice God’s presence in our midst. Throughout these four weeks, students and staff across Sudbury Catholic Schools participate in classroom discussions, morning liturgies, community service projects, and faith-filled activities that highlight the true meaning of the season.
Each Sunday of Advent carries a special theme:
Week 1 (Nov. 30) – Hope: We light the first candle on the Advent wreath, reminding us of God’s promise and our trust in His guidance.
Week 2 (Dec. 7) – Peace: We reflect on the peace Christ brings to our world and how we can share that peace with others.
Week 3 (Dec. 14) – Joy: Marked by the rose-coloured candle, this week reminds us to celebrate the joy that comes from knowing Christ is near.
Week 4 (Dec. 21) – Love: As Christmas draws close, we focus on God’s unconditional love and how we can share that love in our families, schools, and communities.
Living Out Our Faith
Across the Board, classrooms and school chapels will be filled with readings, prayer services, Advent wreath lightings, acts of kindness, and charitable initiatives that embody the spirit of giving. Many of our schools will also host liturgies, food drives, and Advent-themed activities that bring our communities together in faith and service.
Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas
During these four meaningful weeks, we walk together-students, families, educators, and parish partners-in hopeful anticipation of Christmas. Advent reminds us that the greatest gifts we can share are compassion, kindness, and love.
As we journey through Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, may this season bring light to our communities and strengthen our connection as a Catholic school family.
At its Annual Inaugural Meeting on Tuesday, November 19, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) re-elected Trustees Micheal Bellmore as Chair and Ray Desjardins as Vice Chair, demonstrating continued confidence in their leadership and vision for the Board.
Michael Bellmore expressed his gratitude to his board colleagues for their support of his leadership and their dedication to good governance at Sudbury Catholic.
Following his re-election as chair, Bellmore praised his colleagues for their commitment to student success and highlighted the efforts of the entire community in creating a welcoming and effective learning environment.
“To the entire Sudbury Catholic community: thank you for everything you do. You truly set a gold standard by putting students first,” Bellmore said. He added, “Trustees on this board consistently show up, do the work, ask the important questions, and committed to good governance and student success. Thank you for answering the call and demonstrating true servant leadership.”
Director of Education, Morris Hucal, expressed his support for the re-elections, stating, “Chair Michael Bellmore and Vice Chair Raymond Desjardins are exceptional leaders who consistently place students at the forefront of their work and champion the strength of Catholic education. I am certain they will continue to move our Board forward in meaningful ways this year. I also want to recognize our trustees, whose commitment to excellence and dedicated service truly strengthens our entire school community.”
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board operates 17 schools across Greater Sudbury and Killarney and is committed to realizing each student’s potential by nurturing and developing their mind, body and spirit.
Board meetings for the SCDSB are held on the third Tuesday of each month during the school year and are open to the public. For more information, visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca/board-meetings/.
