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.
Congratulations to the St. James Catholic Elementary School Chess Team who won first place at the recent Sudbury Catholic District School Board Chess Tournament. Coach, Ms. Machum has been strategizing with this group of chess players in preparation for the tournament as well as a club at the school to just have some fun! Way to Go Bears!
Students in teacher Tammy Lanci’s grade 1/2 class at St. James Catholic Elementary School had a tasty opportunity recently. After reading the classic storybook “Stone Soup” together, the entire class got to enjoy their own bowl of stone soup prepared by resource teacher Sarah Pappin and student helpers Noah Wulff and Hope Nyabeze.
Staff and Students at St. James Catholic Elementary School wore their favorite sports jersey and pink to support good sportsmanship and anti-bullying. Daily announcements and prayers during Bully Awareness Week are centred around the message of being kind, patient, fair and just with one another.
Earth Rangers (Kids’ Conservation Organization) visited St. James Catholic Elementary School recently and delivered a dynamic, fun and interactive presentation featuring live Animal Ambassadors. The program uses science-based information to educate students about the importance of protecting biodiversity while highlighting different conservation initiatives across Canada. St. James students have been inspired to adopt sustainable behaviours and have been empowered to become directly involved in protecting animals and their habitats.
On Wednesday October 21st representatives from The Ontario Soccer Association and The Ontario Blind Sports Association visited both St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School and St. James Catholic Elementary School to deliver a clinic on 5-sided football. 5-sided football is actually 5-sided soccer. It is the game of soccer adapted for the blind and partially sighted. Sudbury Catholic Specialist Teacher of the blind & partially sighted Adriano Simonato made the arrangements for this interactive presentation as he want to provide an opportunity for the visually impaired students as well as the sighted students to learn this sport. “It is another opportunity to narrow that gap between the sighted and visually impaired, increase empathy, and again, focus attention on what a visually impaired person can do,” explained Simonato. “It also simply reinforces the fact that virtually all sports can be inclusive and an opportunity for the visually impaired and the sighted to play the same sport at the same time…together!” The event took place at two venues where there are visually impaired students – St. Benedict high school (morning session) and St. James elementary school (afternoon session).
St. James principal Cara Soehner was thrilled that this opportunity was provided to her students. “At Sudbury Catholic Schools, we have a real focus on equity and inclusivity for students and staff,” Soehner explained. “Having our students, as well as some of our secondary students learn about 5-sided soccer is a great example of this focus. Learning about adaptation of this sport enables our students to recognize the importance of equity in our communities.”
In lieu of gifts for her 12th Birthday, St. James Catholic Elementary School student, Alyssa Derro asked that family and friends give her a small donation for the Northern Cancer Foundation. The $410.00 that Alyssa received is going towards the purchase of a P.E.T scanner for Northern Ontario.
Ava Derro cut her hair and donated her braide that will be used to create wigs for cancer patients.
The Derro sisters are quite a team and their efforts towards cancer are an inspiration to all.
St. James Catholic Elementary School students recently wore yellow to show their support for “Daffodil Week” and the Canadian Cancer Society. Thank you to staff and students for your donations that help fund life-saving cancer research. Go Bears Go!!
Sudbury Catholic Schools are extremely proud of their history with the Terry Fox Foundation. Over the last eleven years, several of the board’s schools, including St. Andrew, St. James, St. John, St. Paul and St. Raphael Catholic Elementary Schools have taken part in the annual Terry Fox run collectively raising almost $60,000. The Sudbury Catholic schools are part of more than 4,000 schools across Canada taking part – raising $6.8 million dollars for cancer research. On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, SCDSB schools will again take part in the annual Terry Fox run with this year’s run commemorating the 35 anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope. “We are very fortunate to have extremely dedicated and engaging staff,” stated Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Board. “We recognize as a board the powerful and positive impact that the Terry Fox Foundation and the Marathon of Hope represent, and we are proud of the past efforts of our students and staff collectively supporting this important cause. We will continue to support this national school run with our school communities.”
On Friday June 6th, 2014 the grade 5/6 St. James Catholic Elementary School softball team participated in the Greater Sudbury Police Service annual slo-pitch tournament. The tournament serves to honour the memory of Sgt. Rick McDonald, who loved baseball and working with youth in our community. Sgt. McDonald was killed in the line of duty on July 28, 1999. The annual GSPS 5/6 Slo-Pitch tournament allows young students from across the Sudbury region to interact with police officers and have a great day playing ball.
The St. James team won their first two games to capture a spot in the championship final. The team was down a few runs early on but battled back with teamwork and lots of cheering from their fans to capture the championship! Way to go Bears!
