Catholic Parent Council Assists in branding Mission, Vision and Values at Marymount Academy

Parent engagement remains an important asset to the Marymount Academy community this school year.  The school believes that when students feel that their parents/guardians are included in conversations relating to academics, school life or emotional/social well-being, it fosters a stronger sense of belonging at the school.

Marymount strives to continually include parents in discussions about school improvement planning, activities occurring within the school, social media posts and possible changes to the uniform policy. This year, during Catholic School Council meetings, parents were asked to provide feedback on what we can do to improve the life of a student at Marymount Academy. In consultation with parents, students and staff, the school proudly unveils their new Mission, Vision and Values.

Co-Chairs at St. Charles Elementary School Encourage Others to Get Involved!

Amanda Hayward and Julie Brazier are the current Co-Chairs for the Catholic School Council at St. Charles in Chelmsford. Both parents feel that it is important to be a part of their child’s Catholic School Council in order to stay connected to the school and act as an advocate for children and for their fellow parents.

Amanda originally got involved with the Catholic School Council because she wanted to better understand the school, administration and processes and understand how to better support her three children. Julie has seen first hand how valuable volunteering at schools can be and the positive impact it can have on families and on the school community as a whole.

“Parent involvement has improved the overall environment at St. Charles,” Julie explains. “There is a real sense of collaboration where you are able to bring ideas to your school that other parents may have shared or from things learned outside of school.”

The Catholic School Council has helped organize events such as pancake breakfasts, welcome to Kindergarten nights and movie nights. The Council has also used funds to help purchase new sport uniforms, sound systems and even completed a bathroom stall makeover a couple of years ago. In addition, Amanda and Julie both sit on the Parent Involvement Committee and attend conventions organized by OAPCE (The Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education) where they are able to learn from other parents and administration and bring back even more ideas to their school. Amanda encourages other parents to get involved with their Catholic School Council and make a difference!

“What I have learned is how much the school and teachers value your input as a parent. When you’re part of a Catholic School Council, you learn so much about your child’s school and you learn how to better support them and their goals. Your school is what you make of it and I enjoy being part of this team of difference makers,” she said.

Get to know us!

Shannon Morin and Paola Stefanuto serve as Chair and Vice Chair of the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC).

PICs are an important advisory body to the school board.They support student achievement and well-being by getting parents more involved in their children’s learning by:

• providing information and advice to the district school board on parent engagement and ways to communicate with parents
• developing ways the board could use to help more parents support their children’s learning at home and at school
• sharing information with and supporting the work of school councils.
  School councils focus on an individual school;

Shannon and Paola believe that by getting involved they are also motivating students to do better at school, encourage them to help out with in school activities like charity fundraisers or running in school programs like the healthy snack programs. Sudbury Catholic has a very active PIC and this year they are once again planning to provide online parent involvement sessions. Based on a parent survey sent in November, these sessions respond to the areas identified as important by our parents and will include Cyber safety, mental health and how to help your child in future career choices.

“All children need to learn how to read, do math and be successful in school, some children may have an easier time than others. The more we get involved the easier it is for those kids who struggle to find confidence in themselves,” Paola explains.

“I am involved with PIC because I want my children to see that you can make a difference by volunteering within our school communities. It’s great to be part of a collaborative team of leaders who also share that common goal!” Shannon says.

As we come to the end of October, we extend our thanks to our students, staff, and families for their continued support and commitment to keeping each other safe during these unprecedented times.

We continue to be thankful to our school communities. Our staff for showing creativity, resilience and innovation and our students for their hard work and dedication. This month, we are excited to share with you the amazing work taking place in our secondary classrooms. There are many examples of effective, innovative and engaging practices taking place throughout each of our schools and this blog highlights a few of those.

The following video provides a brief demonstration of what a secondary classroom set up might look like in our schools. Here we have Bishop Alexander Carter Teacher, Mr. Steve Facchini teaching a Math class. An excellent example of effective practice.

https://vimeo.com/472330080/7fda460001

Bishop Alexander Carter Teacher Incorporates Meditation and Kahoot to Engage Students

Lori Roy is a teacher at Bishop Alexander Carter. She has tried various practices to help engage her students learning in-class and remotely. She meditates with her students everyday and shares the meditation video with the remote students. Many students have expressed that the meditation has been very beneficial to their well-being. Students have also enjoyed the use of Kahoot where students in class and remotely can eagerly participate.

Lori also tries to take her students outside for a few minutes each class so that they are able to get some fresh air. Periodic breaks during class are very important to re-energize and help students maintain their focus.

To help engage parents and guardians, Lori has added them to the Google Classroom where she is able to send updates and other important information.

“I was having trouble forming bonds in the first week but having a little informal chat time, a meditation or a fun engaging game has helped us become a closer community,” she said.

St. Benedict Teachers and Students Collaborate to Create an Inclusive Learning Environment

To properly adhere to the physical distancing requirements, teachers have had to rethink their pedagogy at a time when physical collaboration among students is not possible. In order to do this, many creative educators have worked to leverage digital collaboration tools to facilitate synchronous learning.

“Building community and getting remote students to participate when they are anxious or shy has certainly been a challenge,” says Amanda Barry, a secondary teacher currently teaching senior social science and English at St. Benedict. “My students and I are experimenting with a lot of tools and strategies. They don’t always work perfectly, but when they do, we get a glimpse of what hybrid learning has the potential to be,” she said.

Amanda has worked to get remote learners to collaborate with in-class learners through the use of shared Google platform features like Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Jamboard for both group work assignments and collaborative writing during lessons. Students have even worked together in their hybrid groups to present slides by taking turns sharing their screens through Google Meet and speaking to the class both from home and from within the classroom. According to Amanda, students have even shared their screens and phoned into the class on speakerphone to display and explain their slideshows when experiencing mic issues. “It sometimes amazes me to see how resourceful and flexible we’ve all become throughout this process and we’re definitely having some fun with it too!” she said.

At the start of each lesson, distance learning students are expected to join a class Google Meet posted by their teacher each day in their Google Classroom. Amanda says that she shares her screen to display her lesson while students ask questions and participate in class discussions using the chat. She also recommends having a willing in-class student join the meet to act as the chat moderator to read and alert her to incoming questions and discussion contributions she might miss while she is teaching.

“It’s far from perfect, but we’re all trying our best to make it work.”

Amanda has also invited virtual guests to speak to her classes. Last month, Dominic Beaudry, SCDSB’s FMNI Language Facilitator, joined the class Google Meet to provide some Indigenous perspective on human development and stages of life growth. In-class and remote learners joined the Meet to ask Mr. Beaudry questions while he presented from his classroom at St. James School in Lively.

Amanda has been known to quote (and have her English class write in response to) Winston Churchill’s words as he worked to form the United Nations after WWII: “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”

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Just Another Science Experiment for Science Lead at St. Charles College

Cara Whalen has been balancing remote learning simultaneously with in-class learning for more than a month and a half now with her grade 12 college and university Chemistry classes at St. Charles College.

The move hasn’t been an easy transition but she is making the best of it using her laptop to screenshare her SMART board and an iPad camera to share video, both over Google Meet.

While Cara agrees the transition took hard work and was time consuming, the learning has led to a number of positive outcomes such as a paperless classroom, and improved work submission. “I like that the online environment keeps track of all their assignments which has led to greater student organization,” she said.

Students in class and online receive the same instruction during lessons, and for the most part complete the same activities and assignments regardless of their learning modality. Cara says: “Chemistry is very much about doing, and while remote learners cannot access all of the lab equipment available at school, I try as much as I can to show them reaction demonstrations as they happen, or provide virtual simulations of labs to fill the gap.” To demonstrate their understanding of molecular bonding and shapes, students at home and in class both built 3D models out of foam balls to help them visualize the shapes the molecules take.

As far as the remote students specifically, Whalen says “The synchronous model allows remote learners to be a part of real-time teaching. They can ask and answer questions along with the rest of the class, watch reaction demonstrations as they happen, and feel a part of the in-person class experience as much as possible.”

Marymount Academy Students Get Creative with Virtual Classes

Mrs. Jolanta Tourville is getting creative with her parenting class at Marymount. She has created the baby shower assignment to engage both in-class and remote students. Students had to create a baby shower invitation, a decoration, and a COVID friendly game for the upcoming event. 

Jolanta believes it is incredibly important to create a sense of community even if some learners are not physically in the same classroom. During her lessons, she tries to develop a trusting relationship with each student. She takes the time to establish that trust regardless of whether they are studying in-class or remotely. Students need to know that their teachers really care about them as individuals and have their best academic and social interests at heart.

“I solicit feedback from students regularly to find out how they are experiencing their online learning. The remote students were so excited to participate in all the baby shower activities and were engaged throughout the whole process,” she said.

Trying to optimize social interaction and checking for understanding throughout the process is also very important. Jolanta ensures she allows opportunities for students to interact with one another, share ideas and work to solve a problem. Jolanta enjoys working alongside her fellow teachers to see what they are doing to assist their own learners.

“It is so nice to work alongside my colleagues where we bounce ideas off of each other. We talk about what is working with the remote platform and what is not working, especially when it comes to assessment” said Mrs. Tourville.  “Now, more then ever, it is important to share ideas as well as our success stories and even failures.”

Get to Know Us

Our Student Senate for the 2020-2021 school year consists of 15 students from our four secondary schools.

Overall, members of the Student Senate believe that their school communities are adapting to the new mode of learning. Through the hybrid -synchronous learning model, students feel they are benefiting from the flexibility and accessibility that the technology offers and enjoy viewing the curriculum at the touch of their fingers. Many students also feel that they are able to be more independent and build important skills needed to be successful in post-secondary studies and beyond. Members of the Student Senate are not only busy with their studies but they are also working together to build community within their schools.

The Student Council at St. Benedict has moved to a digital approach, allowing them to meet online through MS Teams. Rosaria Nero, Student Trustee and Student Council President for St. Benedict has enjoyed the more collaborative nature of these meetings and looks forward to watching her fellow students come together. The group is looking forward to planning future spirit days and sharing acts of kindness to help honour support staff and their hard working bus drivers. Students are also enjoying working with their guidance teachers who are ensuring crucial information such as university information and application dates are sent to students through the Remind App and Google Classroom.

“This is a new learning experience for everyone and the support from our school and the school board has been truly overwhelming. Together, we are working to be part of a change that will revolutionize the way students learn.” Said Rosaria Nero, Student Trustee.

Below shows an example of what Google Classroom looks like for a Grade 12 student at St. Benedict School.

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Bishop Alexander Carter students have been thoroughly impressed with their teachers’ approach to classroom learning. They feel that their teachers have done a great job at supporting both remote learning and in-class learners and ensuring that everyone gets the extra help they need.

An in-class grade 11 student Mikayla Riddle stated, “I like going to school every day because there is face to face interaction with other people and I feel more engaged in the conversation.”

Students participating in the BEST program have enjoyed the opportunities their school made possible including completing classes outside, introducing power yoga and inviting guest speakers. Students hope to work together to organize school initiatives during the year that abide by proper health and safety protocols.

Students at St. Charles College would normally be hosting their biggest fundraiser of the Fall, their Canned Food Drive in support of the Sudbury Food Bank. Students and staff were passionate about finding an alternative way to support the cause and started a mask campaign where students and staff can purchase their own Cards themed mask for $20. While the school adjusts to new routines, students and staff are hopeful that they will continue to find new ways to bring the school community together such as virtual pep rallies.

Students at Marymount Academy have not let the changes to their school and classrooms deter them from giving back to their community. Unable to support the Blue Door Kitchen in traditional ways, students are working together to plan safe fundraisers that all students can participate in such as their virtual movie night fundraiser and their Buy A Snack Give a Snack fundraiser. Vanessa Ferrucci, a student at Marymount Academy, says students are also excited about the launch of the school’s brand new app. This platform allows students and parents to get daily updates on things happening within the school along with reminders to pay for dress-down days and various other events. Vanessa says that it’s important to also include remote learning students in their plans.

“The app is a great example of how anyone can feel connected to the school, whether they are learning in-class or remotely. We are trying to come up with more ways we can involve the remote students as our fundraising campaigns continue throughout the year,” she said.

Below are some snap shots inside the new Marymount App!

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While this year has not been without its challenges, Student Senate members all agreed that they look forward to the remainder of the school year and to the new opportunities ahead.

We extend a warm welcome to all of our students, staff and parents/guardians as we begin the 2020-2021 school year. It is certainly a unique time for us all. Over the summer, our team has been hard at work planning for the safe and welcoming return of our students.  Whether our students have chosen face to face or remote learning, our staff continues to provide an engaging and innovative learning environment where our students can learn and grow.

The reopening of our schools, following the closure last March has required a team approach and it is important to recognize the amazing contributions of all our staff and our Board of Trustees in making this happen.  From our custodial staff that have had to respond to the new demands for cleaning and our secretaries that are very adeptly fielding questions and concerns, our school administrators for their leadership and positive outlook, our support staff for their continued focus on supporting our students, the IT Dept for doing their very best to ensure that our students and staff have what they need, working into the evenings to get devices into the hands of our students, to our education staff both face to face and online for welcoming students and prioritizing their mental health, well-being and their academic needs.  To all of you who are now involved in remote learning, thank you so very much  for embracing this new opportunity, to our central office staff for all of your ongoing support, to the Senior Team who always advocates for our staff and students and who show such care and concern for their work and for this system, to our Board of Trustees for their ongoing vision and support and to all of our students and parents/guardians for their patience and their commitment to Sudbury Catholic. Thank you EVERYONE!  You really have made this start up a success. 

It is important to celebrate all of the amazing practices taking place in our schools and we are pleased to highlight some of these practices in this month’s blog.

Welcoming Students Back to Our Classrooms!

Throughout the Board, our schools eagerly welcomed students and staff back into physical and remote classrooms this month. There is a true sense of community present in each of our schools as everyone works together to keep each other safe and healthy this school year.

Many schools showcased videos and photos in advance of the first day of school to show students the various health and safety protocols in place:

St. Anne School shared photos on their social media to show students, parents and staff how classrooms are set up and how hallways are divided to ensure proper physical distancing.

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Holy Cross School Welcome Back Video!

Julie Denomme, teacher at Bishop Alexander Carter, teaches her secondary class with students both in-class and remote. She says that Google Classroom allows the opportunity for students to be more independent as they watch the videos posted and can quickly review the provided feedback. Student engagement is high in this rich learning environment. We thank Ms. Denomme for her creativity and for embracing this new way teaching and learning.

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Sudbury Catholic’s Remote Learning School: Trailblazers in Education

The Remote Learning School operates as an online school where elementary students (Kindergarten to Grade 8) who have chosen the remote model join other classmates from across the system in a virtual classroom. Educators work out of a home school where they deliver synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities for students.

“The Remote Learning School offers students, as well as staff, many unique opportunities during such an uncertain time,” said Megan Murphy, Principal of the Remote Learning School. “With students being able to learn remotely, they are learning from all over Greater Sudbury – offering a unique opportunity to meet and make friends with those they may not have been able to interact with otherwise. Teachers are creating engaging learning communities, as they learn to navigate and adapt to this new model of teaching and learning. Together, we will uncover new territory, try new things and adjust to student needs as the year progresses.”

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Get to Know Us!

Guy Mathieu, Principal at Immaculate Conception School said that it was ‘all hands on deck’ during the first week of school but that staff were certainly up to the challenge!

The school produced a warm ‘Welcome Back’ video which was shared widely on the school’s social media showing eager staff and educators welcoming students back. Communication with parents is key, Guy explains.

“We welcome and value feedback from parents; we use this data to inform our practice and improve the experience the students receive at our school. As we move forward, each parent will receive a weekly personalized e-mail called ‘5 Things You Need to Know this Week’. Information changes very quickly, parents are extremely busy, and we believe that a short message that highlights the 5 most important things to know each week will help promote key messages so parents can support their children at school!” he says.

Guy believes that students and staff have adjusted remarkably well to the changes and that students have shown great resiliency in the face of the ‘new normal.’

Here are some examples of parent feedback the school has received so far:

• “Thank you to you and your team of teachers for all your efforts/preparations to make today as warm and normal as possible.”
  
• “We are fully confident in your school and the boards efforts to adjust to the new Covid world. Thanks for all your work over the nice summer days to get the school set up for 2020/21.”
  
• “You are doing a fantastic job with the distancing and keeping our children safe with the rules set in place. I was a little worried about how everything was going to go this year, but my daughter is happy, and everything is going well. I just wanted to say thank you for a great return to school.”
  
• “Thank you for your hard work and dedication during these uncertain times. Our family would like to extend our appreciation to all of you!”

Laura Kuzenko Principal of St. Benedict School applauds her staff who have all worked hard to ensure that proper protocols and procedures are followed.

In lieu of grade level assemblies which normally take place at the beginning of the school year, Laura and her Vice Principals spoke to each class to welcome students back and ensure they were comfortable with the new health and safety measures. Through social media, the school has also communicated several reminders and changes to students and parents on a regular basis.

Recognizing the challenges of wearing masks all day, St. Benedict staff have initiated a “mask break” to give students a few minutes in the middle of each period to relax from wearing the mask and enjoy fresh air while maintaining physical distancing.

The school had an opportunity to complete a virtual September Liturgy through Zoom so that all students were able to participate (regardless if they were a face-to-face learner or a distance learner).

“I have to give credit to my staff for truly going above and beyond to promote health and safety while also ensuring that St.Benedict remains a welcoming and friendly learning environment for all,” she explains.

Emma Carpenter is a Grade 11 student at Bishop Alexander Carter and is participating in remote learning this year. Emma has truly enjoyed the online learning experiences so far and the unique opportunities it provides. While learning remotely, Emma is able to attend regular classes virtually while also completing assignments and projects at her own pace. Emma is thankful for her teachers and the guidance and support they have shown throughout the process.

“My teachers have been awesome! They have provided all of the necessary resources and supports and I know if I’m having trouble with something that I can always reach out to them,” she explains.

Emma’s mother, Jennifer, has also been very impressed with the remote learning and the support given to her daughter. She feels confident that Emma is receiving the education she needs and is happy to receive communication from teachers when needed. While not tech savvy herself, Jennifer is enjoying learning alongside Emma.

“I am grateful to the teachers and the school for the approach they have taken to remote learning. I also feel that I am learning alongside Emma as we navigate the new platforms and technology together. It’s been a really amazing opportunity for our whole family to get involved in!”

As the 2019-2020 School Year comes to a close, we take the time to reflect on the many accomplishments achieved by our staff and students. It was certainly a memorable school year as we continued to focus on our values of faith, respect, community, innovation and learning. Student voice continued to be a focus, as evidenced by our Student Senate which organized several events, including a coat drive and a fundraiser to support the Australian bushfire relief. In living out the value of innovation we saw our Grade 4 teachers and students participate in the CS First Coding Program by Google which provided tremendous learning opportunities and engagement for our students and staff.

During March, COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic which resulted in the closure of our schools. Our Board quickly responded by developing the Learn@Home program. Though not without its challenges, I am so proud of each and every staff member that was involved in deploying necessary technology to families, creating learning platforms and resources and continually finding ways to support our families and students during these difficult times. My gratitude also goes out to our Trustees, Senior Team, school administration and all of our staff and students for working together as we all navigated these challenging times. As I look back at all that was accomplished and at how quickly we were able to adapt we can all be very proud of our resilience, creativity and our openness to trying new things.

In preparing this blog, we asked our schools to share a highlight of this past year. Below is just a glimpse of the wonderful events and activities that took place at Sudbury Catholic Schools.

Highlights From Our Schools

Highlights From the Board

Each year, the Catholic community of Ontario engages in a week-long celebration of the unique identity and distinctive contributions of Catholic education. This year’s celebration is titled, “Catholic Education: Igniting Hope” and was celebrated the week of May 3 – May 8.

This year’s theme, Catholic Education Week: Igniting Hope, is timely as the pandemic calls us to adjust to new routines and to adapt to changes in many aspects of our lives. Despite the school closure, our creative educators and staff organized activities to be completed virtually which allowed us to celebrate as a school board community. Schools focused on lesson plans and daily activities that reflected the five sub themes and engaged both students and families throughout the week. Please see below examples of how our schools chose to celebrate Catholic Education Week and ignited hope throughout the community!

Messages of Hope From Our Community

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ahKvnucK8&feature=youtu.be

https://vimeo.com/420285048

Our Hope in Christ

https://www.facebook.com/St.JosephKillarney/videos/250135756184355/

The Hope Within Us

The Hope Among Us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11ok_lAATrI&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1p8KPBarIoM5WjmpO6d5CjOHkzZ0Q1D0crP1tzFcstkvNJXjdlP3k918I

Hope For The World

A Future Full Of Hope

https://vimeo.com/419016367

For the past two months, we have all been adjusting to the realities of COVID-19, including the closure of our schools and the need for social distancing. These weeks have presented many challenges, but I have to say how proud I am to be part of the Sudbury Catholic team. I want to thank all of you for your patience, incredible support, creativity and perseverance during these very difficult times. The Learn@Home program began on Monday, April 6 and it is absolutely amazing what has been accomplished since that time. One need only look at our social media for the many examples of engaging activities our students are undertaking, under the guidance of their teachers and caregivers. I am touched by the comments I am receiving from staff and parents about how our teachers are reaching out and staying connected with their students via a variety of platforms. It is through these efforts and the support from our exceptional central office staff that our students are continuing to learn the key concepts that they need to advance to the next year or graduate. In addition, to all you are doing to support their well-being.  

This month’s blog is a glimpse into the amazing learning opportunities being initiated through the efforts of our staff and families. Thank you for all that you do!

SCDSB Learn@Home Site

The SCDSB Learn@Home site was developed by our talented Learning Support Services for students and their parents and guardians. The resources on this site are designed to help support and to further enhance the teaching and learning that is taking place in our virtual classrooms. On the website, you will find specific learning resources by grade, as well as wellness supports and information pertaining to the chosen learning platforms.

We hope that these resources are helpful to you. Parents and students who are experiencing difficulties are encouraged to reach out to their teacher or email us at studenthelp@sudburycatholicschools.ca for support.

SCDSB Learn@Home Site

Students and Educators Embrace Online Learning Platforms

Students and teachers alike have been learning and growing together through online distance learning. Teachers are using online learning platforms such as Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams and vLE (Virtual Learning Environment) to plan and deliver lessons to our students. While we know our staff and students would rather be in their physical classrooms, the platforms have allowed educators to be in regular contact with students and parents, and to extend the learning that was started in the classroom.

St. Mark School students Connor and Ben have embraced distance learning and have enjoyed the opportunity to continue their learning online.

“I like distance learning because I don’t get distracted. Whenever I just need a break I just go outside for 10 minutes and then return to the job.” Connor, Grade 6 student.

“My work at home has been fun online!” Ben, Grade 3 student.

Carole Remillard, teacher at St. Mark School has enjoyed seeing her students succeed from the safety of their homes.

“My students really enjoy seeing their reading skills improve in such a short time through the Lexia program. They love receiving their certificate and positive feedback from the teacher. Students at St. Mark are also learning math concepts through the online Mathletics program. Both programs provide direct lessons which help students learn more independently” she explained.

St. Francis School teacher Lyanne Dupuis had not previously used Google Classroom. However, after using it for her class for distance learning, she has thoroughly enjoyed the flexibility and creativity that the program offers. She finds the students have been very engaged with the assignments and has enjoyed keeping communication open with parents. She even plans to incorporate the platform into the classroom when it is safe to return.

“Since launching my Google Classroom, I have been able to create a community within my online community. Most of my students are actively participating, and parent communication is ongoing and positive. My students remain engaged in meaningful tasks, and are navigating Google Classroom like pros!”

Griffin Whorley is a Grade 9 student at St. Charles College. He is currently completing his semester from the comfort of his kitchen table. He works each day alongside his mom who is also working from home. Griffin has been completing assignments for Religion, Foods, English and Geography. While he would rather be in class with his classmates and teachers, he is making the best of it and enjoying both the work he has been able to accomplish and the opportunity to spend extra time with his family!

Marymount Academy staff and students participated in the National Online Development and Peace THINKfast. Students and staff used Zoom for a 20 hour fast (11 hours on Zoom online). The group also used YouTube videos, online discussions, Kahoots, and participated in the Stations of the Cross to connect with people across Canada and the world.

Supporting Our Community

Our Board continually strives to contribute meaningfully in our community. In partnership with Laurentian University, we have put our 3D printers to good use during this time to help create frames for face shields which will be used to help protect front-line workers. Staff and students have volunteered to bring home the 3D printers from their schools and assist in this project. Response has been extremely positive!

Brady, a Grade 9 student at St. Charles College took it upon himself to learn how to make the face shield headbands. He said it took some time to figure out the design, but once he figured out how to produce the first one, he was able to replicate it fairly easily. He has produced 20 headbands so far and has a goal of producing at least 25 in total.

“I had never used the 3D printer at school but I thought I would give it a shot and try to do something to benefit our community,” he explained. “Since we’re a smaller community compared to the bigger cities like Toronto or Vancouver, we don’t necessarily get the same level of supplies. It was really cool to be part of a project that I know will help people! I would encourage everyone to do their part by staying home and look for ways that they too can help. We’re in this together!”

Lisa Levecque, a teacher at St. Francis School has also volunteered to produce the faceshield headbands. “I am very grateful to be able to help with the efforts to protect the front line workers in our community from the spread of the COVID-19. I jumped at the chance to volunteer for this project because I have used the printers in the past and have really enjoyed working with them!”

We are Stewards of the Earth – How SCDSB Celebrated Earth Day

Congratulations to all of our students who entered our Earth Day contest, making it such a success! We extend our appreciation to our staff and to our parents for encouraging and supporting our students. We received over 90 entries! With so many outstanding submissions, it was difficult for us to select our winners.

Special congratulations goes out to the following winners:

Kindergarten – Grade 3 Division

• Earth Day Video by: Jake M- Grade 1 and Cade M- JK, Immaculate Conception School (View video HERE)

• Earth Day Donuts Baked by: Sebastian N- Grade 1 and future kindergarten student Mason, Holy Cross School

Grade 4 – 6 Division

• The Future of Our Forest Video: Maggie P- Grade 5, St. Francis School (View video HERE).

Grade 7-8 Division

• This is Our Planet Poem by: Emma B- Grade 7, St. Charles College (See poem HERE)

Grade 9 -12 Division

• Earth Day Poster by Janessa Smania- Grade 9, Marymount Academy
• Earth Day Rap Song Written by: Gabriel C, Jeremy H & Brady H-  Grade 11, St Benedict (View video HERE)

Keeping Wellness in Our Days – Body, Mind and Spirit

We know this is a stressful and uncertain time for our families. As a parent, there’s a good chance you’re juggling a lot right now, while dealing with your own thoughts and emotions. As a student, the change in routine might be scary, frustrating and challenging. Try to treat yourself with compassion and gentleness, as you would a dear friend.

Our SCDSB Learn@Home site has many resources and activities geared toward supporting your wellness. Click HERE to access those resources.

Our schools have also promoted wellness with their families through their learning platforms and on social media. The School Mental Health team produces Wellness Wednesday videos to provide support to students during this uncertain time. Indigenous Support worker Robyn Lafortune shares her thoughts about the benefits of bullet journals and staying organized. View her video HERE and view all Wellness Wednesday videos HERE.

Indigenous Education at Sudbury Catholic strives to establish an educational environment that honours the Indigenous culture and language in a meaningful and purposeful way. Together with our partners, we are committed to ensuring that all students and staff have knowledge and appreciation of contemporary and traditional First Nation, Métis and Inuit studies and culture. 

We continue to grow together through cultural activities and experiential learning and work with all partners towards equitable outcomes for all students. This month we are pleased to share a glimpse of the activities and programs in our schools.

Teaching Anishinaabemowin (Native Language) in our Schools

Many eager students across our Board have been excited to be given the opportunity to learn Anishinaabemowin. Schools such as St. James, St. David, Holy Trinity, Pius XII, Marymount Academy and St. Charles College have embraced this student learning opportunity.

“Language connects us to our culture, history and our belief systems. These areas are critical in ensuring best practices for student success,” said Dominic Beaudry teacher at St. James School and Anishnaabemowin Language Facilitator.

Through this learning initiative, students have been given countless opportunities to showcase their Native Language skills. Both St. James School and Pius XII have performed the National Anthem in Ojibwe to open Sudbury Wolves and Sudbury Five games.

At Sudbury Catholic, we are so fortunate for the many community partnerships that have been developed, allowing us to provide the best possible opportunities for our students. One such partnership is the Police Mkwa Opportunity Education Circle which creates learning opportunities for Indigenous students in greater Sudbury and surrounding area who may wish to pursue a potential career in law enforcement. The program works to develop meaningful relationships between students and law enforcement officers.  St. Benedict student, Ethan Soucy is grateful for the learning opportunity. “The Mkwa program provides a massive opportunity to build relationships with the regional police and to understand that they are regular people too.  I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity I have been given,” he explained.

Cultural Spaces and Teachings

Many of our schools have created cultural spaces where students and staff feel welcomed. Bishop Alexander Carter School has recently opened their Cultural Room. Robyn Lafortune, the school’s new Indigenous Support Worker was very pleased to join the school community to help open this unique space.

This room has been named the “Sacred Room” and the hope is to create a safe place for students to work, talk, learn and connect with one another. The students will have the opportunity to help design the space and support with future mural projects. Robyn looks forward to exploring the space with students and hopes students will learn from each other.

“It is important for students to understand the trauma inflicted on Indigenous people, the effects it has had on our communities and what we are doing now to start the healing process.”

Students at Marymount Academy have been working on ribbon skirts alongside their Indigenous Support Worker Tina Trudeau. Students are given the opportunity to learn about the significance of the ribbon skirt in the Anishinaabe culture and then fulfill the process of making their skirt.

“We acknowledge the land we are on everyday, but we also need to learn about it, the history of it, and its Indigenous people to close the gap in the education system,” said Tina Trudeau.

 Students at St. Albert Learning Centre have been learning about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls of Canada. Students discussed the effects of the Indian Act and policies that were developed around the act such as Residential Schools and the Sixties Scoop. They also discussed awareness campaigns that open the discussion into MMIWG, focusing on the Red Dress Project and the Walking With Our Sisters Campaign.

Following the presentation students were given the chance to participate in designing a red dress or a pair of vamps (Moccasin Tops). The artwork has been posted on the walls of St. Albert to show their dedication to raising awareness of the initiative.

Elementary students across the Board are given the opportunity to learn and understand the Indigenous culture through the White Buffalo Circles program. The White Buffalo Circles program addresses the belief that young people who have self- respect and self- confidence are better prepared to cope with negative influences and peer pressure. Joel Agowissa, Indigenous Support Worker, works with students at the Kindergarten level as well as with students for the lunch time program. He also assists with Grade 8 students as they transition into secondary programming. Joel is one of four (4) Indigenous Support Workers sharing their teachings and helping us to grow in understanding. They are an amazing team, filled with passion and heart.

The “Elders in the School” program provides opportunities for teachers and students to work with traditional First Nation Elder Vince Pawis. For students and staff, the “Elders in the School Program” actively promotes an increased awareness, understanding and appreciation of the rich histories, cultures and perspectives of First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples to staff and students in the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. Vince Pawis visits classrooms to share traditional Anishinabe knowledge and world views.

Teachers were given the opportunity to complete professional development on land based cultural teachings. Teachers were shown the positive impact that land based learning has on students and themselves as educators. Participants thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to experience land based learning first hand and understand how to integrate it into their own classrooms!

Get to know us!

The Indigenous Education Advisory Committee (IEAC) is made up of nearly 25 members that includes our elder Vince Pawis as well as representatives from the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation, Wahnapitae First Nation, Métis Nation, community agency partners such as Cambrian College, Laurentian University, Better Beginnings Better Futures, Greater Sudbury Police and the Liaison program Coordinator for the Sudbury Family Information Liaison Unit, as well members of the Sudbury Catholic staff. IEAC meets throughout the school year to discuss the needs of the Indigenous community and how to address those needs within our schools.

“The Indigenous Education Advisory Committee plays a crucial role in connecting us with our community stakeholders. Through this consultation, the voice of the community helps set priorities for student well-being, academic achievement and increased learning opportunities.” said Ginette Toivonen, Indigenous Education Facilitator.

To continue to encourage the growth of critical and computational thinking skills, all Grade 4 students across the Sudbury Catholic District School Board have the opportunity to participate in the CS First Coding Program by Google. The Program is aligned with the Ontario Elementary curriculum. For example, one of the coding activities is called “Adventure on the High Seas”, where students animate an ocean wave and then tell a story that takes place on the high seas. This lesson addresses grade 4 curriculum expectations in Mathematics, Language and the Arts in a hands-on, interactive and engaging manner.

I asked our TELT-C, Jillian Ospina why implement Google’s CS First Program in our classrooms?

Coding teaches students to use computational thinking, an approach to problem-solving that involves breaking down large, complex problems into smaller more manageable parts.  It teaches students to find patterns, or trends in problems to identify the general principles that create these patterns.  When students can identify the trends they can develop a step by step way to solve the problem.  This translates into problem-solving with different kinds of problems in different settings. This way of thinking/problem solving is the basis of computer science and can be applied to all areas of the curriculum. 

Students are often consumers of digital information. It is imperative that they learn the skills in order to be active contributors within our digital age.  They need to know the basics of computer science in order to understand the digital world they are growing up in, the same way that they need to understand basic mathematical, scientific and humanitarian concepts/theories.

Coding is FUN!  It’s engaging, relevant and hands-on. It also provides an opportunity for students to learn a number of skills that are essential to their long-term success. Every student deserves the opportunity to explore and succeed in computer science.

We are very excited to offer this unique program to our Grade 4 students. The CS First Coding program is an excellent way to promote innovation to both our students as well as our dedicated staff. The implementation of this program is the result of the hard work completed by our IT department, Learning Support Services team and the many educators who help bring the program to life! Teachers at SCDSB understand how important it is to provide a variety of learning opportunities for our students. Their ongoing hard work and dedication to this program is evident, based on the excitement and enthusiasm generated by the students participating.

We appreciate everyone for their openness to learning and for providing these essential opportunities for our students.

Teachers Receive Training Provided by Google

To help prepare teachers for the launch of the program, a full day of professional learning was provided by Google. Teachers were shown how to access, use and implement the program. Teachers were also provided time to plan the integration of the CS First Coding Program into their current classroom programming.

Grade 4 students excelling in Coding Program!

The program launched in November 2019 in Grade 4 classrooms across the Board. The students have learned about the benefits of coding, how coding is used and have begun completing coding assignments. Students began with a one-hour introductory lesson which was followed by a series of hands-on lessons. Below are student testimonials from various classrooms as students work on building their own superhero using Scratch.

St. David School

St. John School

St. James School

Get to know us!

Michelle Thiessen is the Intensive Support Facilitator at St. James School. She has helped teachers initiate the Google CS program. Together, the team has not only implemented the curriculum for students, but they have also integrated coding into other lessons within the classrooms.

Michelle believes that the coding program has benefited students by teaching them to self regulate, problem solve and become more creative.

“It’s really interesting to see the dynamic of the students as they learn with each other. They have learned to lean on each other to problem solve. There is also an opportunity for them to showcase what they are working on to younger students which allows them to be more confident in not only coding but also in their oral presentation skills. I think it will be quite fascinating to watch them become the next innovators of the world,” she explained.

Michelle also believes that the coding program will help better prepare students for the future – perhaps even for jobs that do not yet exist.

In December, we celebrate the virtue of patience as we wait for the arrival of Jesus. We light our advent candles with anticipation, recalling the journey that Mary and Joseph experienced as they reached Bethlehem to fulfill God’s plan.

December is also a time of giving back to those in our community that are in need. It is a time to be grateful for what we do have, and to strengthen the community around us.

We are called to strengthen our faith-based, inclusive and equitable community. Our staff and students live out this pathway year after year through their various community projects and fundraisers. During this past month, there were numerous examples of this pathway in action.

Celebrating the Advent Season

Staff and students across the system celebrated the Christmas season by taking part in various advent celebrations!

Students at Holy Trinity School visually demonstrated the themes of hope, peace, joy and love.

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St. Paul School gathered as a school community to celebrate the advent season in a mass led by Father Celestine.

For their Christmas campaign, staff and students at Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S are collecting “wellness items” for the CMHA Off the Street Emergency Shelter campaign. Father Ken Gauthier helped celebrate mass and delivered a beautiful message about joy and the importance of knowing Jesus.

Father Dennis presided over a mass at St. Charles College where staff and students came together to celebrate and reflect.

St. Benedict Students Complete Another Successful TD Toy Drive

St. Benedict students have once again demonstrated the Catholic School Graduate Expectations by giving back through their annual TD Toy Drive. The Bears brought in over 600 toys throughout the Advent season which will be given to families who are in need of extra holiday cheer!

The toys will be delivered to the Salvation Army who will distribute the toys. St. Benedict school has participated in the Toy drive initiative for many years. Staff and students always look forward to contributing to the cause and continuing to grow the numbers.

Way to go Bears!

Marymount Students Prove They Have Warm Hearts!

Students at Marymount Academy braved the cold temperatures to participate in the Warm Hearts for Warm Soup initiative this month. The students and staff covered Elgin Street and formed a human chain to pass over 200 containers of soup to the Samartian Centre to help feed those in need.

“What a fantastic experience for Marymount Academy to come together with members of the downtown businesses to serve the most vulnerable members of our community. It was great to see all staff and students living out the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations!” said Principal Lori Holden.

“I am so happy that I was able to participate in this special event. I feel so good about helping others!” said Anna Weiler Grade 12 student.

Parent Council representative Shannon Morin was also thrilled to participate! “ I was honored to be part of the Warm Soup for Warm Hearts campaign. I am looking forward to participating again next year.”

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The Student Senate Makes the Community of Sudbury a Little Warmer this Winter!

The Student Senate at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board has helped make winter a little warmer for our community! Throughout the month of October, the Student Senate spearheaded a campaign to collect gently used winter coats in all sizes. The Senate, which is comprised of 15 secondary students, encouraged all schools to participate in this initiative.

Together, Sudbury Catholic Schools collected over 574 coats and winter accessories, surpassing last year’s number of 200 coats and winter accessories. Working with Derek Cashmore of Cooper Equipment Rentals, the coats will be donated to those in need throughout the Greater Sudbury community.

“The Student Senate are seen as leaders and innovators not only in their schools but across the Sudbury Catholic District School Board,” said Amanda Barry, Teacher Facilitator of the Student Senate. “They are truly difference makers and I am honoured to work alongside them year after year.”

“It was amazing to see our schools all come together and support such a wonderful cause,” said Ryan Scarpellini, Student Trustee and member of the Student Senate. “We are excited to continue to grow the campaign year after year and continue to make a difference in our community.”

Inaugural Meeting Held

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board held its annual Inaugural meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

At the meeting Michael Bellmore was re-elected Board Chair and Ray Desjardins was re-elected Vice-Chair of the Board.

“I am thrilled to be re-elected as Board Chair,” said Michael Bellmore, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “It is inspiring to sit on a Board that encourages diversity, collaboration and leadership. I thank our Trustees for their continued work and guidance and look forward to continuing to work alongside them during this term.”

The meeting began with a mass which was officiated by Father Samuel D’Angelo. Board meetings take place on the third Tuesday of each month during the school year at 6 p.m. and are open to the public.