Several Sudbury Catholic School students won during the Turning Points Essay contest. Winners were from St. Anne, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, Marymount Academy and St. Charles College. The winning students got to read their essays and stories to their friends and families. Congratulations to all of the winners, you should be very proud of your accomplishments!
Category: Marymount Academy
Sudbury Catholic Schools awarded as Stars of Excellence at 2017 Kiwanis Music Festival
Participant schools included Marymount Academy, St. Anne Catholic School, Holy Trinity Catholic School, Immaculate Conception, Holy Cross Catholic School, St.Benedict Catholic Secondary School, St. John Catholic School and St. Charles College.
The senior band and strings ensemble from Marymount Academy (pictured here) were recommended for the provincial competition.
Congratulations to all musicians who participated and thank you for sharing your gifts with us.
Victors of Transition!
Jarah Preston from the Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury was invited to St. Francis School on April 19, 2017 to deliver a presentation entitled Victors of Transition. The LDAS presentation is targeted to address all students in the grade 6 Regular, French Immersion and Special Education classes who will be transitioning onto grade 7 at either St. Benedict, Marymount Academy or St. Charles College in the fall. Special Education Resource Teacher, Ms. G. Visentin, annually welcomes the presentation to help prepare students and discuss how they may better prepare themselves for their transition to the next grade and new school setting in the fall.
Board visits Chongqing #37 Secondary School in China
On November 11th 2016, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board had the pleasure of visiting Chongqing #37 Secondary School in China. We visited a class, the grounds, the bridge of success and had the privilege of witnessing the morning daily physical activity.
This school offers a high quality education to over 4,000 students from grades 7 to 12. Hopefully, some of the staff from the school will come to Sudbury to visit our schools and to discuss the possibility of a “sister” school partnership in the future. The school celebrated it’s 60th anniversary in 2015 and we are convinced that it will continue to grow in the next 60 years thanks to its dedicated and competent staff, as well as its visionary leadership.
View the photo album of our visit.
Connecting to the land
Recently our secondary schools students had an opportunity to attend a sweat lodge building and ceremony as part of the “Bundle Roots Program”. The event was hosted by Indigenous Education Secondary Support staff & teachers. At this event we had students from various cultures take part. The turnout was great and the weather was wonderful. There were three secondary schools that took part in this activity. The Sweat lodge was held on Atikameksheng Anishnawbek territory.
The sweat lodge is a structure, which is dome shaped made using natural materials given to us by the land. sweat lodges are used by Indigenous people on Turtle Island for ceremonial prayers. The ceremony and traditions associated with the sweat lodge vary from region to region but are similar in nature.
Students were able to partake in constructing the sweat lodge which was a rich learning experience for all staff and students. All the young men and women took part in constructing the sweat lodge. The Elders were both helpful and insightful for the youth and the staff, and shared their knowledge.
We completed our very full day with a very delicious feast, along with a spirit plate given back to our sacred helpers during this ceremony.
Dancing under the sun
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board hosted a secondary Powwow on June 1st 2016 at St. Benedict School. This was an opportunity for our Indigenous community to share their culture with non-Indigenous community members. Some of the dancers at the Powwow were secondary school students who attend our schools. It was exciting for our participants to see the dancers. Students were also able to share their culture and the style of dance. Those who partook in this event were able to celebrate Indigenous tradition and culture.
Through SCDSB we integrate First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures, history and perspectives in our curriculum. As an indigenous support worker we try to bridge gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Having a celebration like this brings people together.
The Pow wow celebration was our first this year for our Catholic secondary schools. Many of those who attended the Powwow have never experienced a cultural activity such as this. It is with hope that with the continued support of secondary staff we can strive for more exposure of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Culture. Our students and faculty were given the opportunity to see dancers in full regalia. The students shared songs and the drumming was breathtaking Miigwetch.
Youth Mental Health Walk-in offered for secondary students
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board in partnership with the Child and Family Centre is offering a unique service to all our secondary students. We will have a Youth Walk-In Service available on Tuesdays from 10:30am to 6:00pm (last one hour session at 5pm). Starting tomorrow!
Where do you go to see a clinician? Go to the Guidance Area at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. This service is open to all secondary students, not just those from St. Benedict.
For more information please call 705-525-1008.
Remember: You don’t have to face your problems alone.
Apply To Become The SCDSB Trustee! Application Deadline – March 23, 2016
What is a student trustee?
Student trustees bring the student perspective to the board and help to ensure that the school board is acting in the best interest of the students. The Student trustee can influence school board and provincial education policy. Student trustees are responsible for representing students; adult trustees represent all taxpayers. Student trustees are also members of their Student Senate. Student trustees may suggest motions to advance issues and may cast a nonbinding vote.
What role does the Student Trustee play?
Student representation forms an important basis for Board decisions that affect students. The student representative participates at the Board table and/or committee meetings however their vote is not binding (under subsection 55(3) of the Education Act). A Student Trustee is elected by student peers to represent the student voice.
For more information and to apply now download the application form.
June 2015 OAPCE Newsletter
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting our Sudbury Catholic parents, the SCDSB would like to provide a link to the latest newsletter from The Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education (OAPCE).
This month’s newsletter comes in three parts:
SCDSB Celebrates Sixth Annual Turning Points Essay Contest Awards
Invited students, parents, teachers and invited guests gathered together on May 6, 2015 to take part in the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Sixth annual Turning Points Essay Contest Awards ceremony. This essay contest is an initiative that stems from the Learning Partnership, which is an organization that champions a strong public education system to deliver innovative programs, credible research, policy initiatives, executive leadership and public engagement across Canada. Turning Points is a character development and literacy program that allows students to reflect on their fundamental values and, through a process of self-reflection and dialogue, write a narrative essay about a significant event, or turning point in their lives. The Turning Points Essay Contest is a powerful character development and literacy program that all 4 of our secondary schools, as well as the intermediate students at St. Anne participated in this year. There are 3 divisions, Grade 7/8, Grade 9/10 and Grade 11/12. Cash prizes were awarded for secondary essays and all essays will also be published in an annual anthology that will be sent to students and participating schools next year. The students that took part in this contest and authored the winning essays were awarded plaques, a copy of the publication, as well as monetary awards at the celebration. Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Board was on hand for the celebration and awarded the students their prizes. After hearing the students read their essays, Bénard was visibly moved by their words and experiences. “I want to thank these students for sharing with us your strength and resiliency, and for being able to see the shining light in your experiences,” Bénard stated. “You have shown us that everyday is a blessing by sharing your emotional stories of strength and courage, accounts of laughter and tears, your deepest secrets, greatest fears, and biggest triumphs. What emerges as these essays take shape is just magic, and it reminds us all of the goodness and beauty in all of our students.”
Top Winners include:
Grade 11/12 Division
First Place – Mia Tullio
Second Place – Emily Brohart
Third Place – Taylor Emery
Grade 9/10 Division
First Place – Jenna Hoolans
Second Place – Julia Moore
Third Place – Alexis Gunther
Grade 7/8 Awards
First Place- Madison Penrose
Second Place – Amy Lucas
Third Place – Kaylee Kruk