One of the amazing programs that the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board offers to students is the Dual Credit program. Dual Credit is a course where students receive a college and high school credit at the same time and is taught by college faculty and supported by a high school teacher.

“Being at a Catholic school, this is definitely what we are all about — helping our community,” says Bridget Healy, a student at Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School in Orillia. That’s exactly what the Grade 11 and 12 specialist high skills major students did. After vandals destroyed the iconic cross outside of St. David’s Anglican Lutheran Church in early April, the school’s construction class reached out to help.

With another school year, comes another successful Terry Fox Run. Schools in the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board continue to support the Marathon of Hope that began 37 years ago. The 2016 Terry Fox Run at SMCDSB had 48 schools participate and raised an incredible total of $79,527.86 for cancer research.

God of All, as we witness senseless acts of terror in the Manchester arena, we join with people everywhere to pray for peace. We pray especially for the people of Manchester , for those who were killed and were injured in the violent act of terrorism in this concert venue.

Helmets on Kids is a community partnership started by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association in 2002 that strives to put a helmet on the head of every child who needs one and provide education and awareness about bicycle helmet safety. Since its launch, this initiative has distributed more than 30,000 helmets to students in Ontario.

The Ministry of Education recently announced that the province-wide graduation rate has increased to an all-time high of 86.5 per cent.The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board's (SMCDSB) graduation rates have exceeded the provincial average once again this year, with a 5-year graduation rate of 88.8 per cent.

One of the amazing programs that the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board offers to students is the Dual Credit program. Dual Credit is a course where students receive a college and high school credit at the same time and is taught by college faculty and supported by a high school teacher.

After much success of the 2016 Skilled Trades Expo, this year’s event is expected to be nothing less. The Simcoe Muskoka Skilled Trades Expo is an interactive, hands-on experience, of the various skilled trades opportunities that are available through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP).

This year, in support of the board’s Safe, Equitable and Inclusive School Communities initiative, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board will be administering School Climate Surveys to students in Grades 4 to 8, school staff, and parents and guardians.

April has been an amazing month for our students and staff. We celebrated Easter, had a once in a lifetime experience at Vimy Ridge and even welcomed Premier Kathleen Wynne to Jean Vanier C.H.S. We are very excited to see what adventures our schools will get up to next month!

Each year, the James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award program recognizes up to six Indigenous youth for their creative writing talent. Students may submit short stories, essays, poems, plays, songs or any other original writing piece for their chance at an award of $2,500.

After much success of the 2016 Skilled Trades Expo, this year’s event is expected to be nothing less. The Simcoe Muskoka Skilled Trades Expo is an interactive, hands-on experience, of the various skilled trades opportunities that are available through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP).

On Friday April 28, St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School in Barrie lit up the night as their “Semi Formal” dance started. So many Panthers were excited for the night ahead of them!

Last evening, the Ontario Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) awarded Glenn Clarke, Controller of Plant from the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB), with its most prestigious recognition.

This year’s theme for Catholic Education Week is Walking Forward Together. I can’t think of a more fitting theme during this time when we are called to work with our First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to the honour the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation report.

This year’s theme for Catholic Education Week is Walking Forward Together. I can’t think of a more fitting theme during this time when we are called to work with our First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to the honour the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation report. It is also a theme which connects with our board’s focus for this year of Celebrating God’s Family. We are all reminded to work together daily to promote the uniqueness and dignity of all.

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An artist, a hockey player, a RCMP officer and youth engagement officer are among those honoured this year as part of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board's Outstanding Graduate program. Each year during Catholic Education Week, the board recognizes one graduate from each of its nine high schools for their valuable and distinct contributions to society.

May 3rd is finally here. And what is so important about May 3rd you ask? It is the day when 15 students and three staff members from St. Dominic Catholic School in Bracebridge begin their adventure to change the world.

We arrived at the Bergen Op Zoom Cemetery. The white tombstones were evenly spaced in neat rows. I walked down the middle of the field, and was overwhelmed by all of the Canadian lives lost for our country.

This year’s theme for Catholic Education Week is Walking Forward Together. I can’t think of a more fitting theme during this time when we are called to work with our First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to the honour the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation report. It is also a theme which connects with our board’s focus for this year of Celebrating God’s Family. We are all reminded to work together daily to promote the uniqueness and dignity of all.

This year’s theme for Catholic Education Week is Walking Forward Together. I can’t think of a more fitting theme during this time when we are called to work with our First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to honour the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation report. It is also a theme which connects with our board’s focus for this year of Celebrating God’s Family. We are all reminded to work together daily to promote the uniqueness and dignity of all.

This year’s theme for Catholic Education Week is Walking Forward Together. I can’t think of a more fitting theme during this time when we are called to work with our First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to the honour the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation report. It is also a theme which connects with our board’s focus for this year of Celebrating God’s Family. We are all reminded to work together daily to promote the uniqueness and dignity of all.

May 1-5 is Catholic Education Week, and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School (STS) in Tottenham is celebrating with several exciting activities in order to rejoice in the gift of Catholic Education.