Catholic Education Week (May 6-10)

Posted on April 30, 2024April 30, 2024 by Erin Kendall

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 entitled, “Catholic Education: We Are Called to Love” and will be celebrated during the week of May 5 – May 10.

The five sub-themes for Catholic Education: We Are Called to Love are:

As people of hope
As people of faith
As people of mercy
As people of justice
As people of joy

Catholic Education Week 2024

Activities & Events Planned for Sudbury Catholic Schools:

Catholic Education Week is a special opportunity for the Catholic community in Ontario to come together and celebrate the unique identity and contributions of Catholic Education. There are always a variety of activities and events that Sudbury Catholic Schools have planned for this special week.

Board-wide activities involving families and students include:

May 6: Toonies for Tuition Day

On May 6, schools are invited to come together to “fan the flame of hope” by dressing in bright colours like red, orange, and yellow to make Sudbury Catholic Schools shine bright for Catholic Education Week. Staff and students are encouraged to bring a toonie to support Toonies for Tuition, which will be donated to the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association Endowment Fund for distribution to Catholic families in need.

May 8: Catholic Education Week Mass

A Catholic Education Week Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. His Eminence, Gerard Bergie, Bishop of St. Catharines and President of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, will be celebrating the Mass. Schools across the province are invited to participate virtually in this celebration of the Eucharist.

Live Stream

May 8: OCSY Day Conference

Secondary Students from Sudbury Catholic will participate in the 2024 Ontario Catholic Student Youth (OCSY) Day Conference. This event will also take place on May 8^th and is being planned and coordinated by the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association’s Catholic Board Council, with support from OCSTA. The 2024 OCSY Day Conference will be hosted virtually.

More Information

Children’s Mental Health Week

May 6-12 is Children’s Mental Health Week. Members of the Mental Health team will be completing activities in schools to engage staff and students. This year’s Mental Health Week is cantered on the healing power of compassion. #BeKind

Learn More

CMHA Website

May 10: Wear Green for Children’s Mental Health Week

Schools are encouraged to wear green on Friday, May 10, to promote children’s mental health and show support for children with emotional disorders.

Skills Ontario Provincial Competitions

Secondary Students from Sudbury Catholic will participate in the 2024 Skills Ontario Competition. The Skills Ontario Competition will be held at the Toronto Congress Centre on May 6-7 followed by a closing ceremony on the 8th.

Love Rocks!

Classrooms will receive supplies to craft rocks adorned with inspiring messages to spread love, kindness, hope, and encouragement throughout the community for Catholic Education Week. Help us promote kindness and positivity within our community by sharing your Love Rocks with us on social media! Tag us @sudburycatholicschools #SCDSBLoveRocks

Hope Clouds Activity

On May 6th, the SCDSB Mental Health Team has organized an inspiring activity for schools centred around the theme of Hope. Students can craft their own “Hope Clouds,” reflecting on their aspirations and dreams. They will also consider actionable steps toward achieving these aspirations and identify sources of support.

Learn More

Hope Cloud Template

OCSTA Resources

The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) has developed and shared daily resources and lesson plans for classrooms to participate in. With the support of the OCSTA and the Catholic community, Catholic education in Ontario continues to thrive.

Note: Resources are available in both English and French.

Access CEW Resources Here

You can view the official Catholic Education Week song below:

Catholic Education Week: We are Many, We are One

Posted on April 28, 2023April 28, 2023 by Erin Kendall

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is gearing up for its annual week-long celebration of Catholic Education Week. This year’s theme is “Catholic Education: We are Many, We are One.” From May 1 to May 5, 2023, Sudbury Catholic Schools will join Catholic schools across the province to engage in a variety of activities and events that celebrate the unique identity and contributions of Catholic education.

The week will be divided into five sub-themes:

When we see
When we listen
When we reflect
When we learn
When we act

OCSTA Resources

Access CEW Resources Here

You can view the official Catholic Education Week song below:

Board-Wide Celebrations

Catholic Education Week is a special opportunity for the Catholic community in Sudbury to come together and celebrate the unique identity and contributions of Catholic education. From Toonies for Tuition Day to the Catholic Education Week Mass, there are a variety of activities and events that we have planned for this special week.

Toonies for Tuition Day

On May 1st, schools are encouraged to dress up like a bee or wear yellow and black to participate in Toonies for Tuition Day. Staff and students are encouraged to bring a toonie to support Toonies for Tuition, which will be donated to the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association Endowment Fund for distribution to Catholic families in need.

Catholic Education Week Mass

A Catholic Education Week Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins, will be celebrating the Mass. Schools across the province are invited to participate virtually in this celebration of the Eucharist.

Live Stream

Children’s Mental Health Week

May 1-5th is also Children’s Mental Health Week. Members of the Mental Health team will be completing activities in schools to engage staff and students. Schools will also be encouraged to wear green on Thursday, May 4, to promote children’s mental health.

Skills Ontario Provincial Competitions

Thirteen secondary students from St. Charles College and two students from Bishop Alexander Carter will compete in the annual Skills Ontario Provincial Competitions at the Toronto Congress Centre from May 1-3.

St. James School Celebrates Holy Thursday with Mass

Posted on April 6, 2023April 28, 2023 by Carlee Vendramin

Staff and students at St. James school came together in celebration of Holy Thursday.

Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion. It also commemorates His institution of the priesthood. The holy day falls on the Thursday before Easter and is part of Holy Week.

International Students Build Community at Sudbury Five Game

Posted on March 3, 2023March 3, 2023 by Carlee Vendramin

Our International Students were treated to a Sudbury Five game! They were joined by members of their host families, school staff and School Board staff as they watched the game, had fun dancing and a few lucky students even won some pizza!

It was a great way for the students to continue to build community and connection – and they sure had fun! View some of the photos below.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent: The Angel’s Candle/ Symbolizing Peace

Posted on December 18, 2022December 16, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

December 18 marks the fourth Sunday of Advent for 2022. Together, we all await the birth of a baby boy, the light of the world, coming to transform us, so that we can transform the world. The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8th. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season of Advent and are represented by the colour purple. During Advent it is fitting that we celebrate the virtue of patience, for we recognize that we are patiently awaiting Jesus’ coming.

Advent Prayer

Dear Lord,

Send down Your Spirit to guide me during Advent this year. May the Holy Spirit help me journey closer to You and lift me up when I feel down and led me when I feel lost. I may stumble at times, but I know my ultimate journey is to draw closer to You and build Your kingdom here on earth–a kingdom that Jesus’s birth, life and death helped secure.

Amen.

Candle
The Fourth Sunday of Advent represents the Angel’s candle and symbolizes peace.

Advent Resources

The Jesse Tree

Best Advent Ever

Pray as you Go

Children’s Advent Calendar

Busted Halo

Second Sunday of Advent: The Bethlehem Candle / Symbolizing Faith

Posted on December 2, 2022December 2, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

December 4 marks the second Sunday of Advent for 2022. Together, we all await the birth of a baby boy, the light of the world, coming to transform us, so that we can transform the world. The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8th. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season of Advent and are represented by the colour purple. During Advent it is fitting that we celebrate the virtue of patience, for we recognize that we are patiently awaiting Jesus’ coming.

Advent Prayer

Dear Lord,

Send down Your Spirit to guide me during Advent this year. May the Holy Spirit help me journey closer to You and lift me up when I feel down and led me when I feel lost. I may stumble at times, but I know my ultimate journey is to draw closer to You and build Your kingdom here on earth–a kingdom that Jesus’s birth, life and death helped secure.

Amen.

Candle
The first Sunday of Advent represents the Candle of Bethlehem symbolizes Faith and Love.

Advent Resources

The Jesse Tree

Best Advent Ever

Pray as you Go

Children’s Advent Calendar

Busted Halo

First Sunday of Advent: The Candle of Prophecy / Symbolizing Hope

Posted on November 25, 2022November 25, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

November 27 marks the first Sunday of Advent for 2022. Together, we all await the birth of a baby boy, the light of the world, coming to transform us, so that we can transform the world. The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8th. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season of Advent and are represented by the colour purple. During Advent it is fitting that we celebrate the virtue of patience, for we recognize that we are patiently awaiting Jesus’ coming.

Advent Prayer

Dear Lord,

Send down Your Spirit to guide me during Advent this year. May the Holy Spirit help me journey closer to You and lift me up when I feel down and led me when I feel lost. I may stumble at times, but I know my ultimate journey is to draw closer to You and build Your kingdom here on earth–a kingdom that Jesus’s birth, life and death helped secure.

Amen.

Candle
The first Sunday of Advent represents the Candle of Prophecy and symbolizes Hope.

Advent Resources

The Jesse Tree

Best Advent Ever

Pray as you Go

Children’s Advent Calendar

Busted Halo

Sudbury Catholic District School Board Holds Inaugural Meeting

Posted on November 17, 2022November 17, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board held its Inaugural meeting on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.

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

“I am proud to serve as Board Chair,” said Michael Bellmore, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “I would like to thank my fellow Trustees for entrusting me with this role. I look forward to working with my fellow Trustees, the Director of Education, and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board community, as we fulfill our mission of nurturing and developing the minds, bodies, and spirits of all students within our Catholic community. I am delighted to continue to support the excellent work taking place in our schools and to continue to advance a strong and vibrant Catholic education system.”

“I thank my fellow Trustees for electing me as Vice Chair,” said Ray Desjardins, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Working with such talented and dedicated Trustees and staff over these past twelve years has made my role much easier. I was raised in a Catholic home and attended Catholic schools throughout my childhood. I’ve been in Catholic Education as educator and Trustee for over 50 years – Catholic Education is in my DNA. I will enjoy the next four years.”

The Inaugural Meeting also began the new term for Trustees Jody Cameron, Shirley McKnight, and Stefano Presenza. Both Shirley and Stefano are new to the Board of Trustees, having been elected to their positions as a result of the recent election.

The meeting began with a mass which was officiated by Father Rex Lumine. 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.

St. David School Joins the Canadian Playful Schools Network

Posted on November 7, 2022November 7, 2022 by Carlee Vendramin

St. David School will be joining 40 other schools across the country in the Canadian Playful Schools Network (CPSN) for the 2022-2023 school year.

Since play fosters curiosity, creativity, imagination, self-confidence, and physical, social, and cognitive skills, the CPSN is a hub for sharing experiences and for learning. As a member, St. David School will have the opportunity to learn with and from educators engaged in learning through play from seven provinces (BC, SK, ON, QC, NB, NS, NL). The secondary objective is to build human and virtual connections to support and sustain play-based practices in schools across Canada. All school teams will be supported by researchers at the University of Ottawa’s CPSN, as well as national and international experts in the field of education.

This innovative educational initiative is a national network of schools dedicated to deepening and broadening play-based pedagogies across four modes: green (outdoor-focused), screen (digital), machine (building and making for a purpose), and everything in between, which speaks to the fundamental importance of place, identity, language, and culture.

Together, the network will develop new understandings of what learning through play means in Canadian classrooms and champion the way play is integrated into the daily experience of schooling in the middle years to support the well-being, engagement, and learning of students and educators.

“St. David School believes in providing opportunities for our students to learn on the land. We engage in outdoor learning as a pedagogical approach to enrich learning, enhance school engagement, and improve student health and well-being. Through the CPSN, we intend to extend the learning environment beyond the desk and four walls and use the outdoor space as part of our regular teaching practice,” said Dawn Wemigwans, Principal at St. David School.

About the Network

Funded through a grant from the LEGO Foundation, and headed by University of Ottawa researchers, the CPSN is a newly established network of publicly-funded schools from across Canada that leverage learning through play in grades 4 to 8 to improve engagement and well-being for students traditionally marginalised by systems of schooling.

For more information, please contact Josée Lebel (playjouer@uottawa.ca) or visit www.playjouer.ca.

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