Grade 8 student Mercia Thompson has earned a first place title at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair, securing her spot to represent Marymount Academy at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, set to take place on May 31 at the University of New Brunswick. 

Mercia’s winning project, an innovative anti-pull collar for dogs, offers a creative solution to a common challenge faced by dog owners. The collar features a custom-built device that includes a small pressure switch within a container. When the collar tightens due to the dog’s pulling, the pressure activates the switch, emitting a sound that encourages the dog to stop pulling. 

Inspired by her own family’s cocker spaniel, Zack, Mercia’s project aims to improve the safety and comfort of walks, especially with the ice and snow during winter months. 

“My oldest dog, Zack, is five years old, and we’ve been trying to get him to stop pulling for a while. He is a small dog, but pretty strong, and the pulling can be dangerous especially in the winter,” Mercia said.  

“The biggest surprise with Zack was he went from pulling for four minutes and 20 seconds to an average of just 51 seconds with the new collar, which was a massive drop.”  

Though she didn’t expect to win, Mercia was thrilled to receive a first-place title among so many impressive projects. 

“I was really surprised I won. There were a lot of great projects—like drones that help with forest fires—that I thought would win,” she said. 

Equally impressed with the level of dedication and hard work from students was Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Michael Bellmore.  

“I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the incredible student projects at this year’s Science Fair. The level of innovation, curiosity, and craftsmanship on display was truly impressive. Congratulations to all who participated—your passion and hard work were nothing short of inspiring,” said Bellmore.  

“I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you as well to our dedicated teachers, whose guidance and encouragement are key to our students’ success,” he added.

Joanne Bénard, Director of Education, commended Mercia’s accomplishment, noting the impact of her innovation on other students.

“Mercia’s success at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair is a testament to her creativity, dedication, and passion for problem-solving,” said Joanne Bénard. “As she prepares to showcase her innovative project at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in May, her achievement serves as an inspiration to students everywhere. We wish Mercia the best of luck as she continues to make strides in science and engineering and look forward to seeing her future accomplishments.” 

-30- 

TRANSPORTATION CANCELLED, SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN  – SUDBURY, ESPANOLA, MASSEY AND MANITOULIN DISTRICTS

Due to the significant winter storm forecast for today, including heavy snowfall, poor visibility, hazardous 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.

All staff are expected to report to work.

MORNING TRANSPORTATION CANCELLED, SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN SUDBURY, ESPANOLA AND MASSEY – TRANSPORTATION WILL RESUME THIS AFTERNOON

MANITOULIN ISLAND IS RUNNING AS USUAL MORNING AND AFTERNOON

Due to the significant ice buildup on side roads and in the interest of safety, all morning school related transportation services for English Catholic, English public, French Catholic and French public schools, operating in the districts of SUDBURY, ESPANOLA AND MASSEY, (this includes all areas such as St-Charles, Noëlville, Monetville, Markstay, Hagar, Warren, Wahnapitae, Coniston, Killarney, Whitefish, Whitefish River First Nations, Onaping, Chelmsford, Capreol, Valley East, Garson, Chelmsford and Azilda) are cancelled this morning. All schools remain open.

Buses will run this afternoon.

All staff are expected to report to work.

On April 2nd, staff and students at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board proudly wore blue in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day. This event highlights the Board’s commitment to fostering inclusion, understanding, and acceptance for individuals with autism.

The Board recognizes the importance of embracing diversity and celebrating the unique strengths and abilities of individuals with autism. By wearing blue, staff and students stand united in support of the autism community, promoting awareness and encouraging ongoing conversations about inclusion in our schools and beyond.

Happy World Autism Awareness Day!

Kindergarten students from St. Anne School had a memorable field trip to Wahnapitae First Nation, where they enjoyed both fun and educational experiences.

The day began with a warm welcome from community members Tammy Chevrette, Jessica Baillargeon, Vinny Roque, Tammy Roque, and Nathan, who guided the students through a prayer and a smudging ceremony.

The students then headed outside to a cozy yurt, where they learned about maple syrup production and enjoyed fresh maple water and maple taffy. As part of Wahnapitae’s March curriculum, they explored the traditional methods of maple syrup harvesting in celebration of the Sugar Moon.

Inside, the students added their handprints to a beautiful dreamcatcher made from deer hide, representing the colors of the medicine wheel. This artwork now hangs in their classroom as a reminder of their visit.

The day concluded with a delicious brunch from Hiawatha’s Restaurant & Marina, followed by cultural arts and crafts, where the students decorated turkey feathers with colorful beadwork.

“Thank you to everyone at Wahnapitae First Nation for this incredible experience,” said principal, Meghan Murphy. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a welcoming and knowledgeable community.”

Today, students in Ms. Sarmatiuk’s Life Skills Science Integration class at St. Charles College enjoyed a sweet and surprising lesson in “Marshmallow Farming” to celebrate April Fools’ Day!

The class kicked off with a fun discussion and video presentation on how to plant a Marshmallow Bush, leading students to believe they would be growing their very own marshmallow crops. They even got hands-on by attempting to plant “marshmallow seeds” in class.

But, as you may have guessed, this was all part of an April Fools’ Day joke! The students quickly learned that sometimes things aren’t as they seem, and they couldn’t trust everything they read or see online. The lesson today? Always approach information with a little skepticism—especially on April Fools’ Day!

Happy April Fools! 

Due to the freezing rain, icy conditions and in the interest of safety, all schools in the Rainbow District School Board, Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord, Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board are closed today – Monday, March 31, 2025.

Childcare services in these schools are also closed.

There were no classes scheduled for students today as this is a professional learning day.

The school boards thank childcare partners and parents/guardians for their understanding, with safety first and foremost.

Schools will re-open for classes and childcare services on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

International students from Marymount Academy, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, and St. Charles College had a fun afternoon of bowling at Plaza Bowl this past week. The event gave students a chance to meet new friends, catch up with familiar faces, and enjoy some friendly competition.

The day ended with a delicious lunch, allowing students to relax and connect with their fellow international peers.

“It was great to see our international students having fun and connecting with each other,” said Brittany Goldsborough, Secondary Consultant. “Events like this help bring our school community closer.”