St. Charles Catholic Elementary School is proud to celebrate the success of its Family Literacy Day Carousel, held last month in the school gymnasium. The event brought families together to enjoy interactive activities and foster a shared love of reading and storytelling.

Parents, guardians, and students engaged in a variety of literacy-themed stations, each designed to spark creativity and inspire a passion for reading:

• “Take a Crunch with Munsch”: Families shared apples while reading timeless Robert Munsch stories, making this station a crowd favorite.
• Chelmsford Library Read-Aloud: Attendees were captivated by engaging stories brought to life during a special read-aloud session.
• “Colour with Clifford”: Creativity was in full swing as students and families enjoyed colouring activities inspired by Clifford, the Big Red Dog.
• “Make Your Own Turtley (Franklin) Awesome Bookmark”: Families created personalized bookmarks, a keepsake to remind them of the importance of literacy.

“We are so pleased with the turnout and enthusiasm from both families and staff,” said principal Christine McCracken. “Family Literacy Day is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our community and celebrate the joy of reading together.”

“I love Family Literacy Day because it’s so much fun! Reading with my family is special, and I like that we get to spend time together and enjoy silly books. We read Fancy Nancy, and I even made a bookmark! I can’t wait to bring it home and read more with my family.” – Nora Hotson, St. Charles Student

“Family literacy is very important in our home, so attending this event together was a wonderful experience. It was great for our kids to see us excited about reading and to share that excitement with their teachers and peers in a family-oriented environment. Our favourite part was reading stories along the caterpillar wall and enjoying apples.” – Elyssia Demeter, Parent Council Chair for St. Charles Elementary School.

St. Charles Elementary is committed to fostering literacy and lifelong learning, and events like this are an important part of that mission. The school extends its heartfelt thanks to all participants and partners, including Chelmsford Library, for helping make the event such a success.

Thank you to everyone who joined our schools in celebrating the power of stories and the joy of learning together!

A heartfelt congratulations to the staff and students at St. Albert Adult Learning Centre for their outstanding leadership in mentoring junior students at St. David School for the Meaning of Home writing contest.

The St. Albert learners guided and inspired students to reflect on what “home” means to them, encouraging creativity and thoughtful expression. The resulting poems beautifully captured each student’s unique perspective, showcasing the power of words to convey emotion and connection. This collaboration between St. Albert and St. David School is a wonderful testament to the importance of mentorship, community, and shared learning.

We are also proud to recognize the students at St. Albert Adult Learning Centre as past recipients of the prestigious Michael Monk Award, which celebrates their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to academic and personal excellence. The impact of St. Albert’s programs extends beyond the classroom, providing individuals with opportunities to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and contribute meaningfully to the community.

We encourage all students in Grades 4 to 6 to participate in the annual Meaning of Home writing contest for the chance to win one of three $30,000 grants for their local Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, for every local student submission, $10 will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, helping families build strength, stability, and independence.

A sincere thank you to the students and staff at St. Albert for your unwavering commitment to education, mentorship, and community engagement. Your dedication continues to inspire, and we look forward to seeing the lasting impact of your leadership.

Miigwech to St. Albert for their continued investment in building a strong, supportive community!

On February 10th, St. Francis students and staff marked an exciting milestone—100 days of learning, growth, and fun!

Throughout the day, students engaged in a variety of creative and educational activities centered around the number 100. From counting exercises to hands-on projects, the celebrations highlighted the progress and accomplishments of our young learners.

“This special day would not be possible without the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and the support of our families. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey!” – Jennifer Connelly, St. Francis Principal.

Here’s to the next 100 days of learning, discovery, and success!

The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) called on Catholic schools across Ontario to participate in its Annual Short Video Contest by submitting student-created videos centered around the inspiring theme, “Pilgrims of Hope.” 

This year, St. Charles College (SCC) earned an impressive third place among nearly 100 school entries in the contest. Their video featured a warm message from Deacon Bruno Michel and highlighted how SCC’s passionate staff, talented and engaged students, wide range of classes and robust extracurricular offerings come together to foster a vibrant, faith-filled community. 

The video was the result of a collaborative class project led by Patricia Demore, a dedicated teacher at SCC and Grade 11 student Ravi Aguilar, who played a key role in production. 

St. Charles College has participated in the short video contest before, placing first in 2020. Demore credited this year’s success to her hardworking students and shared their excitement at being recognized as a top entrant. “What a fantastic way to kick off 2025. Earning third place this year is an achievement our students are truly proud of.” 

During last night’s board meeting, Patricia Demore received the third-place certificate from OCSTA President and SCDSB Chair, Michael Bellmore. 

Michael Bellmore, an alumnus of St. Charles College himself, expressed his enthusiasm, sharing, “It is a great honour to deliver this award to one of our schools here at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. There are some larger boards who enter the contest, and the competition is quite strong, so this accomplishment is a testament to the creativity and talent of our students here in the North. Congratulations to Patricia and her students on this well-deserved recognition.” 

The video can be watched at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23mmASYvxdc&t=1s 

School Bus Transportation Update

The School Bus Transportation Consortium would like to provide an important update regarding transportation services for today:
Morning transportation services are canceled for the following rural areas:
Estaire, Alban, French River, Hagar, Markstay, Warren, Noelville, St. Charles, Monetville, and Killarney. However, services for these areas will resume this afternoon.

Bus services are operating as usual in Manitoulin Island, Espanola, Massey, and the Greater Sudbury area.

Additionally, parents in the Greater Sudbury area who were provided an inclement weather stop yesterday are asked to bring their children to the same designated stops this morning.

This decision was made due to road conditions that are worse in some areas that are not maintained. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we prioritize the safety of our students and drivers.

Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) has announced her intention to retire on July 31, 2025. After 37 years of dedicated service in education, and 11 years served as the SCDSB’s Director of Education, she leaves behind a legacy of faith-forward leadership, a steadfast commitment to student success, and a lasting impact on the Sudbury Catholic community. 

Under Director Bénard’s leadership, the board has experienced substantial growth, reaching an enrolment of nearly 7000 students.  

During her tenure, she led transformative initiatives to promote leadership development, the enhancement of mental health supports, and the elevation of student achievement in numeracy and literacy, ensuring every learner has the tools to thrive both in the classroom and beyond. Her dedication to equity and excellence has profoundly impacted students and staff, cultivating a vibrant learning environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to realize their fullest potential. 

Michael Bellmore, President of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) and Chair of the SCDSB, praised Bénard for her exemplary leadership during her tenure as Director, stating, “Under Joanne’s leadership, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board has achieved historic enrollment levels, completed school renewal projects that support safe, healthy, and vibrant modern learning spaces, expanded Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs to provide students with enhanced learning opportunities, and demonstrated a strong commitment to technology renewal, ensuring our students and educators stay current with modern standards—to name a few.” 

“Joanne’s leadership at Sudbury Catholic, especially throughout the challenges of a global pandemic, has laid a strong foundation for the board’s future. She has built a dedicated team poised to carry forward the outstanding work that has been established, with a clear focus on student success and achievement. Her contributions are evident throughout the system, and we are deeply grateful for her unwavering dedication to Sudbury Catholic schools. We wish her continued health, happiness, and well-deserved rest as she embarks on this exciting new chapter in her life,” he continued.  

Reflecting on her career, Director Bénard acknowledged the many people who contribute to the success of Sudbury Catholic, stating, “I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our exceptional staff for their tireless devotion to bettering our school communities, our dedicated trustees, who have shown extraordinary commitment to our board’s vision and goals, our families and community partners who play a vital role in shaping our Sudbury Catholic community, and most importantly, our students who have been at the heart of every decision made.” 

“At Sudbury Catholic, our vision is to be leaders in learning and faith. Throughout my time at Sudbury Catholic, I have witnessed this vision come to life through the kindness, generosity, and dedication of our students and staff — both past and present — who lead initiatives that promote innovation, growth, and a strong sense of community. Their consistent demonstration of stewardship has instilled confidence in the lasting positive impact Catholic education will have on the many generations to come. I am certain that our board will continue to flourish, guided by its commitment to excellence, amazing staff and governance rooted in faith.”  

The recruitment process for Director of Education will begin shortly and more information will be provided as the details become available.  

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Happy Educational Assistant (EA) Appreciation Day!
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Today, we recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of our dedicated Educational Assistants (EAs).

EAs are essential members of our school communities, playing a vital role in supporting the success and well-being of our students. They go beyond assisting—they create meaningful opportunities for students and families to thrive on their educational journey. Through their compassionate care, steadfast support, and invaluable guidance, EAs help foster a nurturing, inclusive learning environment where every student feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential.

Join us in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to our Educational Assistants for their exceptional dedication and the profound impact they have on our schools.⁠