St. Mary students Alison Stead, Tucker Brown, Catherine Brown and Jacqueline Brown designed and painted a monster on Hallowe’en. The students rotated from activity to activity on October 31st. They made cup-cakes, created mummies, listened to scary stories and created scary creatures.

Community partners gathered together at the Caruso Club on Friday, October 14, 2001 to share breakfast while learning more about the faces of learning disabilities in the community. The breakfast was organized by the Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury (L.D.A.S.) which is comprised of a team of parents, educators and professionals all working together for individuals with learning disabilities. The morning’s agenda included the honouring of teachers in the community that support students in reaching their full potential. St. Benedict teacher Kelly Orasi-Leach was one of these teachers. Receiving one of two Educators of the Year awards, presented by Liz Brett-Dickie, Orasi-Leach was overwhelmed as she was presented with her award. “I feel undeserving,” Kelly said. “I am so fortunate that I get to do a job every day that doesn’t even feel like a job.” Presenter Brett-Dickie said that “she knows first hand what a wonderful teacher Kelly is, and what a great job she does for her students.” The St. Benedict teacher runs the Student Success programming for the school and also runs several workshops that help people understand the learning disability profiles. As well, she works with several community partners and builds relationships in order to ensure there is tremendous support for the needs of her students. “We are so proud of Kelly and her commitment to our students,” stated Rossella Bagnato, Superintendent of School Effectiveness for the Sudbury Catholic Board. “Her dedication to our students is outstanding, and we are blessed to have her as part of the Sudbury Catholic staff.”

Fall was in the air, as the second Girls Flag Football and returning alumni players game took place on St. Benedict field on a sunny Friday afternoon.

Coaches Kim Labrosse and Katherine McNamara were excited that this game brought back alumni from all over, which really shows St. Ben’s school spirit. There were many star performers, but players agreed that the final score was not as important as the comradery displayed. Returning player and former coach Olivia Kirkwood said, “I miss playing and seeing everyone”. Alumni Zorisa Prosser stated, “It was fun to be back”, and Emma Meunier thought playing once again “was awesome”!

The St. Ben’s Girls Flag Football team enjoyed the experience of playing the alumni. It’s like family coming together, and the bond amongst the players is one that won’t soon be forgotten.

A group of Sudbury Catholic Administrators, principals, vice-principals, and staff, as well as school faith leads, trustees, parish partners and parental representatives joined together at the Diocesan Centre on St. Anne’s Road on Thursday, September 29 for a common goal – to celebrate and unite as a Catholic community. Leading the conversation was John Kostoff, Director of Education for the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and author of “Auditing our Catholic Schools – A Process of Discernment, Discussion and Action”. Kostoff spoke to the group about being the “most authentic, faithful, community that you can be.” The connection between school, home and parish, Kostoff explained, is the triad that allows for this authenticity that is the foundation of the Catholic School system.
To start off the day, the group celebrated mass with Bishop Noel Simard, and then began to dialogue by sharing best practice and positive experiences with each other. Breaking off into groups – which included school administration, teachers, and parish partners – the conversation inspired new ideas and a common focus. “ We are so fortunate to be able to come together as a Catholic community – school, parish and parental partners – and communicate with each other our hopes and ambitions,” Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board stated. “It is inspiring to be a part of something much larger – and have the opportunities to be able to contribute ideas and share our faith – we are truly strengthened as a Catholic community as a result.”

One of the Strategic Priorities at Sudbury Catholic Schools is “WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE A CULTURE OF CATHOLIC FAITH AND COMMUNITY”. To enhance the faith at Corpus Christi School, all teachers,students, support staff and parents met together outside at the flagpole at 9:00 a.m. for opening exercises. Together they sang O Canada and recited the Pledge of Citizenship. They prayed together as a faith filled school community. Each class recited prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude for God’s gifts. This was a special way to share their faith and continue to build school community. What a blessed way to begin the Thanksgiving weekend.

Every year, the students at Marymount Academy take part in a week long Spirit Week Celebration in September. With different themes each day, all the students and staff are encouraged to take part with a variety of costumes and scheduled events. This year, the students had the opportunity to be a part of Superhero Day, Tropical Day, Glamour Day, Rock Star and Pyjama Day. “It is a great way for the students to have some fun and feel a bit more comfortable in the school, “ stated Lucie Cullen, principal. “Especially for the students new to the school – the Grades 7, 8 and 9’s – it allows them to have a few laughs, and lose some of the “beginning of the school year” anxieties that they might have. Many of the staff dress up as well, and this helps the school build and strengthen school spirit – as a result we are a closer school community.”

On Monday, September 19, 2011, all of the Grade 9-12 students at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School gathered in the gym to listen to a presentation by MADD Canada. The Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization creates a new video each year to share with groups about the dangers of driving while intoxicated. This year’s video, entitled “Damages” has the main character living with the emotional, physical and legal ramifications of deciding to drink while intoxicated. It also shows three real-life accounts of families who have had to live with the consequences of loved ones killed by drunk drivers. This hard-hitting, extremely powerful presentation had the entire student body speechless.
Neil Cowan, the representative from MADD spoke to the students after the video, and had them do a few interactive exercises that allowed them to connect to the message, and recognize how devastating the wrong decisions can be. “This presentation for our students is crucial,” Laura Kuzenko, principal of the school stated. “The message is extremely powerful as we know that there are devastating effects when someone makes the wrong decision – at the expense of ourselves or others. Having MADD share with us this presentation is truly a gift – so that we can do everything we can to inform and support our students, and guide them to always make the right decision.”
The MADD organization also shared their presentation with the other secondary schools at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

To mark the 60th anniversary of St. Charles College, students at the school are aiming to collect 60 thousand cans for the Sudbury Food Bank this fall.
The school is collaborating with St. Andrew, St.Bernadette, Pius XII, St. Raphael, St. John, St. Paul and St. David schools. A kick-off is being held at each school to start the drive.

David DiBrina, the school’s Student Administrative Council president says, “The goal is to reach out into the community and get students, parents and teachers involved in feeding hungry families in our city this winter.”

The secondary school has been taking part in a community food drive since the mid eighties.

The food drive brings in upwards of 100-thousand cans for the local food bank each year.