Together We Lead
Director's Corner
Welcome to our first blog of the 2023-24 school year! “Together We Lead” showcases the wonderful activities and events that took place throughout the Sudbury Catholic District School Board in September and October.
To begin, I want to take a moment to celebrate and express my gratitude to the students, teachers, staff, families, and community partners who lead by example, contributing to the vibrant and creative learning environments in our schools. Thank you for your ongoing dedication and support.
I invite you to explore the stories, achievements, and the strong spirit of togetherness that illustrates our educational journey in this edition of the Director’s Corner. Enjoy!
September Events
Honouring Terry Fox
In September, Sudbury Catholic Schools joined together in honouring the heroic legacy of Terry Fox. Activities in classrooms, dedicated Terry Fox School Runs, and participation in public events demonstrated how various school communities within our Board united to carry forward Terry’s mission. These efforts contributed to cancer research, with impressive results from various schools.
School Highlights:
- St. Paul showed their school spirit in their Toonies for Terry fundraiser that supported the Terry Fox Foundation. For every toonie a student donated to the foundation, they received a ballot to win 1 of 3 Terry Fox t-shirts. They set a goal of raising $1000. St. Paul surpassed their school fundraising goal and raised a total of $1434.15 for their fundraiser. Way to go Panthers!
- St. Francis School hosted a Terry Fox event, where students and staff were encouraged to walk, run, and dance. Moving together throughout the day enabled the school to raise $700 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Bravo Flames!
- At Pius XII, Mrs. Pastre organized a Terry Fox School Run event for staff and students on September 22nd, 2023. The event honoured the Canadian hero and supported students, staff, and families in joining the fight against cancer across the province. Well done, Penguins!
- Holy Trinity held a Toonies for Terry fundraiser in honour or Terry Fox. Red Birds demonstrated that by rallying together, a modest contribution can add up to something truly significant. Through their efforts, their event raised $1,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Great job Red Birds!
Marymount Academy Holds Fundraiser for NOFCC
In September, Marymount Academy organized a school-wide walk/fundraiser, which supported two important organizations: Northern Ontario Families with Cancer (NOFCC) and the Terry Fox Foundation. Their dedication to these causes was further inspired by their fellow student Lily, currently undergoing a battle against leukemia at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. Lily’s story, which was shared with the school community, added a deeply personal touch to the event and fostered a sense of unity and camaraderie among Marymount’s school community.
Donations were raised throughout the week of Sept. 25 – 29. On Thursday, October 26, the culmination of their efforts was marked with a cheque presentation. A sum of $1,250 was donated to Northern Ontario Families with Cancer (NOFCC), a testament to the school’s commitment to supporting families facing the challenges of cancer. In addition, a $100 contribution was made to the Terry Fox Foundation, underlining their commitment to the enduring legacy of Terry Fox’s courageous journey.
Franco-Ontarian Day
On September 25th, Franco-Ontarian pride was on display as schools such as St. Charles, St. James, and Immaculate Conception celebrated Franco-Ontarian Day with enthusiasm. Students learned about the history of the Franco-Ontarian flag and engaged in a variety of activities such as flag-making, dancing, and more.
School Highlights:
- At St. Charles, Students in Mrs. Daoust’s Grade 1 French Immersion class crafted ‘t-shirts’ to celebrate Franco-Ontarian Flag Day (la Fête du Drapeau Franco-Ontarien) and were given a flag to take home. To mark this special day, all students were encouraged to wear green and white.
- Excitement filled the halls of St. James as students and staff commemorated Franco-Ontarian culture on Sept. 25. The school’s primary French Immersion students had an unforgettable experience, from mastering the art of baking ‘Pouding au chomeur’ to crafting a Franco-Ontarian flag adorned with their colorful handprints. The celebration continued with a lively dance party set to the rhythm of French music. Meanwhile, other classes proudly displayed their support for French culture and language by donning green and white attire and participating in a variety of engaging French-themed activities. It was a day filled with appreciation and celebration of the Franco-Ontarian heritage.
- Students at Immaculate Conception School commemorated Journée Franco-Ontarienne by delving into the history of the Franco-Ontarian flag and culture. Students in Mme. Martin’s grade 1/2 FI class played a Franco-Ontarian themed bingo game and listened to the songs “Notre Place” and “Mon Drapeau” to celebrate. Students also had the opportunity to create their own ‘le passeport provincial.’ To enhance their educational experience, students also wore green and white attire and took part in designing their own flags for Franco-Ontarian Day.
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
For National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, various schools took meaningful steps to commemorate the significance of this day throughout the week of Sept. 25-30. This included making orange shirts, participating in smudging ceremonies, reflection walks, and other educational activities.
St. Charles College Students Participate in Walk Hosted by N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre
A group of students from St. Charles College took part in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Walk, organized by the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre. This commemorative walk honoured the survivors of residential schools and paid tribute to those who could not return to their homes. Throughout the event, the students had the privilege of listening to the wisdom of Elder Nokomis Martina, who shared her invaluable insights. They were also joined by dignitaries from Sudbury, who added their voices to the cause. In addition, the event featured the presence of renowned local author Waub Rice and his family, who generously shared their life teachings and perspectives on the theme of reconciliation.
Shirts for Support
St. Albert Learning Centre Students Give Back for Orange Shirt Day
St. Albert Learning Centre participated in Truth and Reconciliation Week by organizing a fundraiser where students made Orange Shirts. During the week leading up to Orange Shirt Day, students worked on orders for these shirts. The money earned from selling the designs was donated to the Orange Shirt Society, an organization that raises awareness about the history of Indian Residential schools. They also received help from an attendance counsellor who visited and highlighted the importance of teamwork and support.
On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, students from St. Albert’s Learning Centre gathered at Christ the King Parish, where they distributed their handmade shirts to parishioners for Orange Shirt Day. The parishioners and Father Raymond were touched by this gesture and donated to the school. These donations were given to the Orange Shirt Society to support their ongoing efforts.
Every Child Matters
St. Anne Students Create Orange Hearts for Residential School Survivors
Students at St. Anne School in Nanette Shonwise’s class came together on Thursday, Sept. 28th for an engaging lesson that allowed them to pay tribute to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the Indigenous children who never made it home from Residential Schools.
The lesson, spearheaded by St. Anne’s Indigenous Support Worker, Carissa Bruyere, was inspired by the book “With Our Orange Hearts” written by Phyllis Webstad, founder of Orange Shirt Day.
The lesson was guided by the inspirational quote from Phyllis Webstad’s story, “With our orange hearts, we walk in harmony,” and focused on creating orange hearts as symbols of remembrance and support. These hearts were sewn with care by the students, representing their commitment to acknowledging the historical injustices faced by Indigenous communities and promoting healing and unity. Each orange heart was then filled with sage, a sacred medicine known for its healing properties.
"Once completed, these orange hearts will go to the community of Wahnapitae First Nation. We want to share these messages of hope with the community, particularly the residential school survivors and their families. These heart shaped messages are a symbol of community support, and our commitment as a school that truly believes “Every Child Matters.”
"The Board is fortunate to have a committed team of nine Indigenous Support Workers. These professionals play a pivotal role in guiding and facilitating meaningful educational encounters for both students and staff to learn about Indigenous peoples from a historical and contemporary perspective throughout the school year.”
October Events
Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
October is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. Throughout the month, various schools, including Holy Cross, St. Francis, and Holy Trinity, came together to raise awareness and support for those with a learning disability by wearing something blue.
In addition to holding a blue awareness day, two classes from Holy Cross had the honour of participating in the Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury’s special flag-raising ceremony at the James Jerome Sports Complex.
These students played a pivotal role in raising the flag alongside the City of Greater Sudbury’s Mayor, Paul Lefebvre, symbolizing the community’s commitment to raising awareness and supporting those with learning disabilities in Northern Ontario. Along with participating in the flag-raising ceremony, students also assisted the city in planting blue flags alongside the complex to help show added support to people passing by.
International Day of the Girl
For International Day of the Girl, grade 7 and 8 students from St. Benedict, Bishop Alexander Carter, Marymount Academy, and St. Charles College, attended a Women in Trades Conference on Oct. 11 at Science North, hosted by Skills Ontario.
Students had the opportunity to speak with women who work at local companies about their journey in the trades. At this event, they also listened to Keynote Speaker, Rokhaya Gueye, who hopes to inspire the next generation of women to join the skilled trades industry.
Students also heard from members of St. Charles College and St. Benedict CSS who held a panel discussion about their skilled pathway in high school and what they hope to accomplish as they move forward into post-secondary. In the afternoon, students attended STEM workshops and discussed how the activities related to jobs in the skilled trades.
Jill of All Trades
On October 26, secondary students from St. Benedict, Bishop Alexander Carter, St. Charles College, and Marymount Academy attended the Jill of All Trades event at Cambrian College. Jill of All Trades is an initiative to encourage girls from Grades 9-12 to consider a career in the skilled trades. This day-long event is packed with activities and hands-on learning, designed to foster in young women a better understanding and appreciation for skilled trades, and inspire them to consider a rewarding career in skilled trades. The event included:
- Hands-on workshops in labs showcasing a number of skilled trades offered at Cambrian.
- A tour of Cambrian College labs.
- Guest Panel featuring professionals in the trades, who shared their experiences, perspectives, and honest insights on how to encourage more women to pursue careers in the skilled trades and tackle the barriers that currently exist.
Guest panelists included:
- Joan Strawn, Health and Safety Coordinator at Damisona Roofing Ltd.
- Dustin Ceretti, P.Eng, MBA, Mine Director at Glencore
- Julie Zulich, President and CEO of TESC Contracting Company Ltd.
- Gord Gilpin, Director, Ontario Operations at Vale
- Dale Rakochy, Product Line Manager LHD/Trucks Region USC at Sandvik
Congratulations to the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s scholarship winners from this year’s event. These scholarship recipients will be using their funds to kickstart their journey in skilled trades programs at Cambrian College.
- Emma Belli from St. Charles College – $1000
- London Snow from St. Charles College – $500
- Lily Gies from Bishop Alexander Carter – $1000
- Julia Parenteau from Bishop Alexander Carter – $500
- Brooke Williams from Marymount Academy – $1000
- Brianna Schutt from Marymount Academy – $500
- Elizabeth Roy from St. Benedict – $1000
- Tianna Nebenianquit from St. Benedict – $1000
International Heritage and Language Classes Return to St. Albert
This fall, St. Albert Learning Centre was eager to open its doors to students participating in their International Heritage and Language classes. These engaging weekend programs, serving children from Kindergarten to Grade 8, offer a unique opportunity for young learners to delve into international languages and cultures. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to foster speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills in a variety of international languages while immersing students in the rich tapestry of the associated heritage.
This year, St. Albert has a captivating lineup of classes in Italian, Yoruba, and Igbo, which is scheduled to start in December. In addition to learning language through fun and engaging activities, students will also:
- Explore traditional foods and cooking/preparing dishes from their heritage.
- Engage in artistic activities, such as creating artwork inspired by their cultures.
- Experience and participate in the music and dance traditions of their respective cultures.
- Share and listen to folktales, myths, and legends from their cultures.
- Participate in cultural festivities and holidays specific to their heritage.
- Dress in traditional clothing to learn about the significance.
- And more!
Currently, registration for St. Albert’s International Heritage and Languages classes are still open. If you’re interested in registering for Italian, Yoruba, or Igbo, please contact St. Albert Learning Centre at 705-673-3031 or click here!
Conclusion
In the spirit of “Together We Lead,” our journey over the past two months has exemplified the power of collaboration and teamwork in leadership. This blog offers a glimpse into some of the incredible events that have unfolded at Sudbury Catholic Schools, showcasing the remarkable leadership activities that take place every day. As we move forward into the year, let us remember that each one of us holds a vital role and unique talents to contribute to our collective success. Looking ahead, I am filled with anticipation for the inspiring ways, we will continue to support and lead one another, fostering an environment where learning and faith can come to life through our shared commitment to Catholic education.