You’re invited! Join us on May 24, 2023, during our online MLI Homestay information sessions. During this information session, you will:

• Learn about the benefits of hosting an international student.
• Learn about the application and approval process.
• Hear first-hand from current hosts and international students!

There will be two different time slots available. Please register for one of the following 45-minute Zoom sessions:

• May 24, 2023, 6pm EST: https://tinyurl.com/7hebckcm
• May 24, 2023 8pm EST: https://tinyurl.com/2t237kxz

Please see the attached poster for more information. 

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 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.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to announce that 28 students have entered the International Education program for the 2022-2023 year; 21 students have arrived for the Fall Semester and seven new students will also be arriving in February 2023. 

Countries of origin for current students include China, Hong Kong, Japan, Nigeria, Spain, and Vietnam. The Board will also be welcoming students in February from the countries of Bangladesh, China, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand. The goal of the International Education program is to provide students with an authentic Canadian experience while they improve their English proficiency and prepare for success in an inclusive, caring, and innovative Catholic learning environment.

To date, students are registered at the following schools:

• Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S: 1 Student
• St. Benedict C.S.S: 12 Students
• St. Charles College: 4 Students
• Marymount Academy: 4 Students

The students who have arrived and their host families were welcomed to Sudbury and the Board during a barbecue which took place on September 27, 2022, at Marymount Academy. 

“Each year, we are fortunate to welcome students from all over the world into our school communities. This year, we are welcoming 28 exceptional students throughout the year,” said Joanne Bénard, Director of Education at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Students will originate from 10 different countries! We look forward to connecting with these students throughout the year as they improve their English proficiency, make lifelong friends and experience everything our wonderful city has to offer! The success of our growing program is only possible through the caring and supportive approach offered by our amazing teachers and staff. We are very thankful for all that they do each day to make our program a success.” 

“We are delighted to welcome new and returning students to the International Education program,” said Michael Bellmore, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “This year, we will be welcoming students from two new countries; Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In addition, our program continues to grow as more schools across the Board are welcoming students to their communities. The Board of Trustees is honoured to support a program geared toward diversity, connectivity, and inclusion.”

The success of the program is also a result of the many generous and supportive host families we have available. The board is always looking to recruit to fill the ever-growing community of host families at MLI Homestay. Interested families can contact Devon Crossgrove at dcrossgrove@mlihomestay.com or 705.507.8052. Being a host family is an amazing opportunity for our students and our families. 

International Students and their host families from Sudbury Catholic Schools were invited to a fun evening of learning how to bake Gingerbread cookies led by Skills Ontario expert and Summer Camp Program Manager Kayla Bezarie.

Try out this delicious recipe; Learn To Bake Gingerbread Cookies while trying out the skills of a Patisserie or Pastry Chef during the Christmas holidays!

The Parent Involvement Committee is very pleased to once again to support virtual learning sessions throughout the winter and spring. 

Our next session is on March 10: MLI Homestay. Being a host family is a rewardingexperience! Join this session to understand how Homestay works herein Sudbury. This session will touch on the many benefits of becoming ahost family and the key requirements for hosting an internationalstudent. We will also discuss how things have been modified as we alllearn to live with Covid-19 in our midst.

All sessions will take place virtually through Zoom between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.  These are excellent opportunities to learn about topics that are relevant to you. 

Register HERE!

Saturday, January 25th marked the start of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, Vietnamese Tết, or Chinese New Year. Over the course of the two-week long Lunar New Year celebration, many classrooms from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board learned about the traditions that accompany this celebration and made hongbao (red envelopes) with blessings written in simplified Chinese to gift to family and friends. The students also included chocolate gold coins in their red envelopes as well as other new year wishes for their intended recipients.

In addition to sharing their own cultural traditions and celebrations, students learned about the Chinese zodiac and the significance of the Rat, 2020’s zodiac animal. While the full moon on Saturday, February 8th will mark the end of the 2020 Lunar New Year, many students and teachers look forward to continuing to bring the rich histories and traditions from around the world into their classrooms.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is
pleased to welcome four new international students to our Secondary Schools for
second semester.

St. Charles College has welcomed student Yuki from
Japan, and St. Benedict has welcomed three students, Huy from Vietnam, Tomo
from Japan and Zhou from China who will be completing a short-term shadow
experience during the month of February.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new students to the
international education program for the second semester, bringing the current
number of students in our International Education program to 32 students
throughout the 2019-2020 school year,” said Joanne Bénard, Director of
Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Each student has a
unique background and an exciting story to tell. The students are continually
seeing the benefits of learning from their Canadian classmates in an inclusive,
innovative and hands-on learning environment.”  

Education Trade Commissioner Peter Liao visited two Sudbury Catholic Schools during his visit to Sudbury on November 25, 2019. He spent the afternoon touring both Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School and St. Charles College, where he spoke with teachers and students about their experiences at the schools.

The visits provided an opportunity to visit with the Kindergarten students at Holy Trinity where he was able to observe their classroom and take part in classroom activities with the students. At St. Charles College, he was provided a tour of the school and spoke to staff and students about the many programs and opportunities made available to them through both the school and the Board.
“We were proud to welcome Peter Liao to our schools to see the many wonderful programs that Sudbury Catholic Schools have to offer,” said Director of Education Joanne Bénard. “Our staff and students eagerly welcomed him into their classrooms and were thrilled to speak with him about our schools and Board. We wish him well as he concludes his visit in Sudbury and look forward to continuing to work with Peter Liao in the future as we continue to build our International Education program.”

14 students aged 9-11 traveled from Hangzhou, Changyang Primary School in China to spend a week with students from Holy Trinity School. The students are also joined by four teachers and support staff member.

The students will stay with students from Holy Trinity School and their families throughout the week. The students will engage in a variety of activities geared toward education about the Canadian culture and Greater Sudbury. Examples of these activities include Master Chef Canada – Redbirds edition, celebrating National Chinese Day, day trip to Leisure Farms and nature hikes.

This will be the first short-term experience for Holy Trinity School.