Family Literacy Day 2023

Posted on January 19, 2023 by admin

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

Posted on December 18, 2022 by admin

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

Posted on December 9, 2022 by admin

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.

Second Sunday of Advent: The Bethlehem Candle / Symbolizing Faith

Posted on December 2, 2022 by admin

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,

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, 2022 by admin

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,

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

2022 Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week

Posted on November 21, 2022 by admin

November 20th, 2022 is the beginning of Ontario’s 9th annual Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. This week allows school boards to focus the spotlight for one week on promoting safe schools and creating a positive learning environment.

Bullying prevention promotes the development of healthy relationships that involve respectful interactions between people, face-to-face and online. The goal is to help ensure that all students have healthy, safe, respectful and caring relationships with everyone in their lives.

Teachers, parents/guardians, and other adults support and act as role models for students by showing them how healthy relationships can work. Students’ positive relationships with other students depend on positive relationships with adults.

Students who have healthy relationships will be less likely to bully others, more likely to support students who are bullied and better able to reach their educational goals. Together, we are all invited to learn more about bullying by exploring reverent resources and participating in activities to identify and eradicate it.

Resources

Prev Net Tip Sheets

Prev Net – Bullying Info for Parents

Kids Help Phone

Bullying Canada

Ontario: Bullying – we can all help stop it

Level Up! Open House for Parents and Guardians

Posted on November 8, 2022 by admin

See what students experience at the Level Up! Skilled Trades Career Fair. Talk to experts about the skilled trades as a rewarding career path for your child.

You’re invited to the Level Up Open House:

November 14, 2022
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Steelworkers Hall
66 Brady Street

Check out the poster for more details!

LEVEL UP OPEN HOUSE

Sudbury Catholic School Board Organizes Professional Administration Day Devoted to STEAM

Posted on November 8, 2022 by admin

Sudbury Catholic Schools was proud to host a professional administration day for education staff devoted to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) on October 24, 2022. The Board partnered with several local organizations to create engaging and innovative learning sessions.

Sessions included:

Cambrian College STEM tour: Educators had the opportunity to learn more about various STEM-based programming at Cambrian College, and how they can support showcasing STEM in the community. This day included a walking tour of the trades/ technology departments on campus, examples of hands-on learning activities and a workshop with Larissa Hoffman, VP of Edge Factor, who will provide an overview of their updated online platform and how Edge Factor can promote STEM careers to students.

Game Design Program at Cambrian College: Educators explored Game Design at Cambrian College with Professor, Program Director, and CBC Radio Tech Talk Host Aaron Langille. Participants got a glimpse of designing and developing commercial-quality game applications for a broad range of industries such as entertainment, health, education, construction, marketing, and mining.

Science North: Participants completed several activities including: SHSM workshops, turtle crossing Demo, Planetarium show and a bit coding workshop.

Connections Between Land and Art: Jessica Somers, an Indigenous Artist, guided participants through a land-based teaching about the Birch Tree and medicines. Participants were also guided through a painting workshop as they learned about the power of the spirit bear.

Outdoor learning at St. David School: Participants learned on the land as they were guided through an outdoor professional development session. Educators spent the day learning outside, connecting with nature, and exploring the various benefits that land based teaching can offer.

STEM Activities with Logics Academy: Educators had the opportunity to learn about robotics and Dash and how to integrate it into their classrooms!

Skills Ontario- Walking Robots Challenge: Katie Cameron, program facilitator for Skills Ontario introduced teachers to Skills Ontario and their variety of programs and services. In addition, teachers learned about the Junk Drawer Races competition. This program promotes sustainability of re-using common items found at home or in a classroom.

Let’s Talk Science : Teachers heard valuable information from Lindsay Shaw. Lindsay is the Program Development Manager for the Professional Learning team at Let’s Talk Science. In her role, she manages the development of the Learning Pathways program. She introduced teachers to Live STEM broadcasts, learning pathways and live events.
STEM Storytime: Primary teachers met Ryan Kahue. Ryan is a Program Support Coordinator for the Youth and Volunteer Experience team at Let’s Talk Science. His program of focus is STEM Storytime. STEM Storytime is a weekly series offered on Tuesdays at 1pm! Each week a Let’s Talk Science Outreach student along with Ryan will read a storybook followed by a hands-on activity.

STEM Club: Junior teachers met Nick Butt. Nick Butt is an Outreach Coordinator with Let’s Talk Science. He is manager, developer, and host of STEM Club. Each week, Let’s Talk Science, features a different hands-on activity using minimal, easy-to-find materials. Students will also have the chance to learn from and ask questions to inspire STEM role models.

We would like to thank all partners who helped create hands-on sessions and provided our educational staff with learning opportunities that can be recreated in our classrooms!

Treaties Recognition Week 2022

Posted on November 4, 2022 by admin

At Sudbury Catholic Schools, we are called to strengthen our faith-based, inclusive, and equitable community. In preparation for Treaties Recognition Week – an annual commemoration which will be honoured on November 6-12th, 2022, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board community is participating in learning opportunities that teach and uphold the importance of treaty rights and relationships to both indigenous and non indigenous communities.

What is Treaties Recognition Week?

In 2016, Ontario passed legislation declaring the first week of November as Treaties Recognition Week. This annual event honours the importance of treaties and helps students and residents of Ontario learn more about treaty rights and relationships.

We look forward to honouring Treaties Recognition Week at Sudbury Catholic Schools every year, and 2022 is no exception. In Ontario, treaties are as much a part of today as when they were first created. They are living documents and legally binding agreements that set out the rights, responsibilities and relationships of First Nations and the federal and provincial governments. Furthermore, we also acknowledge that Indigenous Nations had Treaty Agreements with one another before Europeans arrived, and that treaty-making itself, precedes North American settlement.

Whether Indigenous or not, treaties matter to everyone in Canada; we are all Treaty People. They represent a mutual commitment to building a prosperous future for everybody and Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities are responsible for knowing and upholding Treaty obligations. In between the personal activities being planned by our schools, we’re pleased to share that Sudbury Catholic’s Indigenous Education team has curated resources and materials to help students, staff, and community members commemorate this important week. A summary of these resources is provided below.

Resources for 2022 Treaties Education Week

Robinson Huron Waasiidamaagewin – Virtual Presentations

It is our pleasure to share that the Robinson Huron Waasiidamaagewin is offering virtual presentations during Treaty Week. Their website contains event agendas that identify the variety of virtual presentations that will be offered throughout each day. To access these resources, visit the Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin Treaty Week resource page.

Click Here

The Government of Ontario

In addition to online presentations, Sudbury Catholic Schools have been provided with a wide range of video resources suitable for different grade levels to provide students with an opportunity to hear from Indigenous Elders or knowledge keepers. In these activities, students will learn about treaties and their importance in an age-appropriate way that’s flexible for teachers’ lesson planning. This opportunity allows Indigenous speakers to share their knowledge about the importance of treaties, treaty relationships and rights in Ontario.

The Government of Ontario has also supplied a number of teaching resources that can expand upon this topic. This includes a Treaties in Ontario infographic (PDF), which shows the number of treaties in Ontario, the regions they cover and the populations within treaty areas.

Videos: Indigenous Voices on Treaties

Treaties in Ontario Infographic

Treaty Teaching & Learning Resources

Sudbury Catholic Announces Chair and Vice Chair of Parent Involvement Committee

Posted on November 4, 2022 by admin

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to announce the appointment of Will St. Amant as Chair and Sage Thorne as Vice Chair of the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) for the 2022-2023 school year. They were appointed to their positions during the first PIC meeting of the year, held on October 27, 2022.

Will St. Amant has two children who attend St. John School in Grade 3 and Grade 6 and a stepdaughter who attends St. Charles Chelmsford in Grade 3. In addition to his placement on PIC, he is also the Vice Chair of the School Council at St. John and is eager to learn more about the system. He looks forward to working alongside the Board to advocate for students.

“I am excited to increase my knowledge of the Board alongside the other members of the Parent Involvement Committee and help provide further support to students who need it most. Together, we will continue to advocate for students and families across the system,” he said.

Sage Thorne is a costume designer and is guardian to her nephew who attends St. David School. Both Sage and her nephew have enjoyed their time at St. David School; Sage also serves as Co-Chair for School Council. As Vice Chair of PIC, she looks forwarding to helping other parents get involved, and provide more supports for families.

“I am eager to find alternative ways to interact with families throughout the Board. Though PIC, I hope to provide resources and supports that make information more accessible to parents and families,” said Sage.