Minister of Education Visits
Minister of Education Visits Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board and St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Catholic Secondary School
The Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board (NPSC) and St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Catholic Secondary School (SJSH) were blessed to welcome the Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Education of Ontario, along with members of his team, for a very special visit.
Minister Calandra was warmly greeted by NPSC Student Trustees Joy Akomah and Bronte McLeod before taking a tour of the NPSC Board Office and SJSH, led by Director of Education Paula Mann and Principal Micheline Pride. Joining the visit were Chair of the Board of Trustees, Shawn Fitzsimmons; members of NPSC’s Senior Administration team and the SJSH administration team; and representatives from the Ministry of Education, including Nick Bertrand, Director, Indigenous Education and Well-Being Division; and Shelley Duquette-Lafortune, Executive Lead — Special Projects, Indigenous Education and Well-Being Division.
The tour began with a look at some of NPSC's and SJSH’s key learning and communal spaces, including the historic Scollard site and current Board Administrative Office entrance and St. Lawrence Chapel, as well as the Learning Commons, Bishop Carter Auditorium, modernized mathematics classrooms and a view of Cundari Field. The focus then shifted to the visit’s main purpose: exploring two innovative programs at SJSH that are making a direct impact on students — the Indigenous Graduation Coach program and the Robotics course.
In the Indigenous Student Centre, Minister Calandra met with SJSH Indigenous Graduation Coach Ms. Ashley Windsor, students, and community partner and Knowledge Keeper George Couchie. In our time together, we shared how our program provides culturally rooted supports, guided by traditional Indigenous teachings, to eliminate barriers, celebrate students’ strengths, and ensure Indigenous youth feel a true sense of belonging within the school community. The program also helps guide students through academic planning, cultural learning opportunities, and important life transitions, instilling hope for a strong future.
In the Robotics lab, SJSH teacher Mr. Matt Brunton and his students offered the Minister an exciting glimpse into the school's new Robotics course, introduced in the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year to expand our course offerings for students in Technological Education. Students proudly demonstrated how they are programming robots to complete specific movements, reflecting the hands-on design, engineering, and problem-solving skills they are developing. Through strong partnerships — including with FIRST Robotics Canada — the course is already opening doors to pathways in skilled trades, technology, and beyond.
Throughout the visit, Minister Calandra showed great interest in hearing directly from students and staff about how these programs are shaping learning and building hope for the future.
“On behalf of the entire NPSC community, we extend our sincere gratitude to Minister Calandra and his team for their visit,” said Paula Mann, Director of Education. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to showcase the innovative, student-focused programs that are at the heart of Catholic education at NPSC.”
