Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S.

Ash Wednesday 2023: The Start of the Lenten Season

Ash Wednesday is an important day for the Catholic community, and we are honoured to commemorate it annually at Sudbury Catholic Schools. This year, on February 22, 2023, our students, faculty, staff, and parish partners will come together for Mass to receive ashes on their foreheads, symbolizing the beginning of the Lenten season.

As we embark on this journey together, we encourage our community to concentrate on meaningful themes, such as the gift of life and showing kindness, generosity, and compassion towards others.

During Lent, we place a special focus on “almsgiving,” where we donate money or goods to those in need and perform other acts of charity. Though these acts of service are conducted year-round, we encourage everyone in our community to reflect deeply on how they can show more compassion and generosity towards others during the Lenten season leading up to Easter.

As a Catholic school board, we believe that faith is a fundamental aspect of our lives, and we are committed to nurturing the spiritual growth of our students. We strive to instil a deep respect for Christ’s teachings and inspire them to live according to his values. On this Ash Wednesday, let us renew our faith and commitment to God and unite in love, compassion, and kindness as a community.

Sudbury Catholic Students Advance to Championship Rounds in the Skills Ontario’s JUNK DRAWER RACES!

Grades 2-12 students across the province were invited to participate in the 2nd annual Skills Ontario’s Junk Drawer Races! In this program, students had fun while exploring various challenges to build their skills and explore different pathways for their future.

This past week the winners of the Regional round of the competition were announced on Skills Ontario’s YouTube Channel.

We are excited to report our results in the following competitions:

Grade 4/5 Cardboard Car Races

St. James placed 1st & 3rd

Grade 6/7Paper Glider Competition

Bishop Alexander Carter placed 1st & 3rd as well as St. Paul’s 2nd

Grade 8 Paper Hydraulic Crane Challenge

Bishop Alexander Carter placed 1st & 2nd

These teams will be competing in the Provincial Championship round and will have until March 3rd to review their existing blueprints, potentially modify their designs to meet the provincial challenge and construction requirements while explaining their modifications and submit their new submissions. Provincial Submissions will be evaluated by industry volunteers, and the top three teams will be awarded prizes by Skills Ontario. Winning teams will be notified by March 27th. We wish our students the best of luck and thank Skills Ontario, industry partners, the Government of Ontario and Bombardier for giving our students a unique experiential learning opportunity.

Junk Drawer Races 2022/23

Robot Walker Race
Cardboard Car Races

For grades 4-5

St James placed 1st(Team 1) and 3rd(Team 3)

Paper Glider Competition

For grades 6-7

BAC placed 1st (Team2) 3rd(Team 10)

St. Paul 2nd (Team 1)

Paper Hydraulic Crane Challenge

For grades 8

BAC placed 1st(Team 4) and 2nd (Team 7)

2021-22 Director’s Annual Report

We are very pleased to present the Director of Education’s Annual Report for the 2021-2022 school year

We thank our Board of Trustees, Senior Administration, staff, students, families, volunteers, community partners, and our parishes for their continued support and commitment to Sudbury Catholic. Together we are providing a caring, progressive, high quality Catholic school system that is nurturing our students – mind, body, and spirit.

Grade 7 & 8 Students at Bishop Alexander Carter Begin a Junior Concert Band 

Principal leads students in band

Grade 7 and 8 students at Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S are embracing the arts with their new junior concert band! The band was initiated by Principal Stephanie Venturi to provide students opportunities to develop in the arts. Having served as a music teacher at St. Charles College for many years, Ms. Venturi is also the band conductor. 

“There are currently 300 grade 7 and 8 students at Bishop Alexander Carter. Every student has interests that are unique to them, I wanted to find a way to appeal to their artistic side. We’re new, but we have a band full of eager students willing to learn and that’s what’s most important!” said Stephanie Venturi, Principal. 

Over 73 grade 7 and 8 students have joined the concert band – many of which have not played an instrument before. To assist them, secondary students are serving as senior mentors to support them in their musical journey. The band practices once a week for 2.5 hours and already has their end goal in sight; to play at the Festival of Music at Canada’s Wonderland this June. 

“I was really nervous at the beginning as I have never even played an instrument before. After just a couple hours in junior concert band, I was so impressed at how well I was doing. I am so thankful for this opportunity, and I am really excited!” said Sebastian Maka-Greening, Grade 8 student at Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S. 

Junior concert bands have been heavily integrated at the other three secondary schools in the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, and act as excellent steppingstone for students to explore music, gain confidence and develop their creativity! With the addition of Grade 7 & 8 students at Bishop Alexander Carter, we are pleased to have them join their classmates across the system by providing this enriching opportunity. The Junior Concert Band and Ms. Venturi are looking forward to the season ahead and improving their performance one note at a time. 

Sudbury Catholic Schools Welcome the Year of the Rabbit!

The Lunar New Year is a time for celebration and renewal, and it is an important cultural event for many around the world. This year, the Lunar New Year falls on January 22nd, 2023, and marks the start of the Year of the Rabbit.

In Chinese culture, the rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity, so it is regarded that 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.

Many of our schools find unique ways to celebrate this holiday, and we look forward to seeing how they will incorporate the celebration of Lunar New Year into the classroom by teaching students about the holiday and its history through activities.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity and diversity, and celebrating Lunar New Year is one way to accomplish this. By celebrating Lunar New Year, we promote understanding and acceptance of different cultures, and foster a sense of community within our learning environments.

Wishing everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! May the Year of the Rabbit bring good luck, prosperity, and hope to all.

Wearing Blue & White for Bell Let’s Talk Day 2023

To raise awareness of the importance of open dialogue surrounding mental health, Sudbury Catholic District School Board invites students, staff, and community members to wear blue and white on Wednesday, January 25th, 2023. By wearing blue and white (symbolic colours for the Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign), our hope is for our Board community to unite and visually and emotionally show our support for mental health initiatives.

Share With Us!

The Sudbury Catholic School community is encouraged to share their actions with our Board by tagging us on social media and sending pictures, captions, and highlights to info@sudburycatholicschools.ca

About Bell Let’s Talk Day

Bell Let’s Talk Day is an important event celebrated annually worldwide and is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and breaking the silence around mental illness.

Sudbury Catholic recognizes the importance of mental health and well-being for our students. Mental health is a critical component of overall health and well-being, and it plays a vital role in the success of our students both in and out of the classroom.

We also acknowledge the importance of reducing the stigma around mental illness and encouraging open and honest conversations about mental health. The more we talk about mental health, the more we can help those struggling and support them in getting the help they need.

That is why we encourage all of our students, staff, and families to participate in Bell Let’s Talk Day activities. Whether it’s through social media, in-school events, or one-on-one conversations, every action counts in the fight against mental health stigma.

This year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign highlights ways we can all create meaningful change and take action by doing one or more of the following:

  • Choose a mental health organization to learn about or support
  • Help a friend struggling with their mental health by learning how to support them
  • Ask about how your school, workplace or community is creating change for mental health
  • Nurture your own well-being by practicing and learning mental health strategies 
  • Get involved in a mental health initiative or organize an event to support mental health 
  • Engage in conversations about mental health to fight stigma

On January 25th, let’s continue to work together to create a safe and supportive environment for all our students. Let’s break the silence around mental health and support each other in promoting mental wellness.

To learn about the activities and events planned for Bell Let’s Talk Day, and view a variety of resources, check out our Bell Let’s Talk Day 2023 resource page.

Join Us For Our Employment Fair!

Do you want to work with a passionate team who is committed to providing a quality learning environment for our students?  Bring your resume and learn what Sudbury Catholic Schools has to offer during our Employment Fair!

Event Details

When: February 4, 2023
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
Where: Holy Trinity School, 1945 Hawthorne Drive

We are currently hiring for a variety of positions:

  • Teachers
  • Secretaries
  • Early Childhood Educators
  • Educational Assistants
  • Custodial Services
  • And more!

We can’t wait to see you there!

Family Literacy Day 2023

Family Literacy Day is an important event that is celebrated annually in Canada on January 27th. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of literacy and the role that families play in supporting the literacy development of their children.

Sudbury Catholic District School Board recognizes the crucial role that literacy plays in the success of our students. Literacy is not only the ability to read and write, but also the ability to understand and use information in a variety of contexts. It is essential for academic success and for personal growth and development.

We also acknowledge the important role that families play in promoting literacy at home. Research has shown that children who have parents and guardians who read to them, talk to them, and encourage them to read independently, have a stronger foundation in literacy which can help them succeed at school.

That is why we encourage all of our families to participate in Family Literacy Day activities. Reading together as a family, visiting the library, and participating in literacy-related events can all be fun and engaging ways to promote literacy and support the literacy development of our students.

On this Family Literacy Day, let’s celebrate the power of literacy and the importance of families working together to support the literacy development of their children. Let’s work together to create a literate and informed community, where every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Family Literacy Day 2023 Theme: Celebrate your Heritage

Canada is a diverse country full of different cultures. On Friday, January 27th, 2023, ABC Life Literacy has encouraged us all to take time to explore and learn more about our heritage with our families. To help celebrate this day, we encourage students, educators, and families to check out the following resources and activities from ABC Life Literacy Canada.

Resources

ABC Life Literacy Canada Website

Activity Sheet

Activity Book

Poster

Bookmark

PSA

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

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

Sudbury Catholic Schools Launches Italian Program for Students Kindergarten to Grade 8

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is excited to announce that we are planning free language programs for all elementary students.  These programs are designed for children in Kindergarten to Grade 8 and provide the opportunity to speak, listen, write and read any international language, while learning about the culture and heritage associated with the language. Families who choose to have their child study an international language enhance their child’s overall education. International language programs deepen student’s cultural awareness, foster pride in their heritage and strengthen their self-esteem and self-image. Heritage language programs serve to strengthen and honour the traditions present in the communities they serve, and student participants feel more included in their schools when they see their identity reflected in these programs (ILE Resource Guide 2012). 

At this time, we are pleased to offer our first international language and heritage program with community partner; Società Caruso. The Italian language and heritage program will run every Saturday from January 7th to June 10th 2023, (9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.) at St. Albert Adult Learning Centre. Parents can register their children at: Register online here Italian Language & Heritage Student Registration Form K-8 (google.com) or call 705 673-3031.

We are also seeking your input to determine interest in other language programs and possible community partnerships.  We are asking parents/guardians/caregivers to please complete the attached survey so we can begin to plan other language learning opportunities for students.  Please find the survey link HERE. We look forward to receiving your input. 

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