We know how critical in-person learning is to the mental health, well-being, and academic success of Ontario students. As we meet the challenge presented by the Omicron variant, we are building upon Ontario’s cautious and leading plan to protect in-person learning.

Ontario students and children have benefitted from continuous efforts to keep schools and child care settings safer, including high quality masks, enhanced cleaning, and improvements in air ventilation in every school – with more than 70,000 HEPA filter units and other ventilation devices deployed. In December, Ontario sent a total of 11 million rapid antigen tests home with students to help protect against the spread of COVID-19 and to support the safe return to in-person learning following the winter break.

We are taking nothing for granted. Health and safety in our schools and child care settings remains a top priority and we continue to monitor to ensure that every precaution is taken to protect children, students, and staff and to support continued safe in-person learning.

The Children’s Health Coalition – representing Ontario’s children’s hospitals, mental health agencies and rehabilitation centres – has emphasized that in-person education is critical to the mental health, development and well-being of children and youth. Ontario students in publicly funded schools will return to in-person learning on January 5, 2022 for school boards previously scheduled to return January 3 to prepare for the public health measures announced on Dec. 30, 2021.

In response to the highly-transmissible Omicron variant, Ontario is putting in place additional health and safety measures to create more layers of protection to keep schools as safe as possible for in-person learning, which is critical to the positive mental health and academic success of students.

These include:

• Updating the COVID-19 school and child care screener ahead of the return to school on January 5 and asking students, parents and staff for rigorous screening and monitoring of symptoms.
• Providing non-fit-tested N95 masks for staff in schools and licensed child care settings as an optional alternative to medical/surgical masks, and additional supply of high-quality three-ply cloth masks that are strongly encouraged and free for students and children in January.
• Deploying an additional 3,000 standalone HEPA filter units to school boards, building on the existing 70,000 HEPA filter units and ventilation devices already in schools.
• Continuing PCR testing eligibility for symptomatic elementary and secondary students, education staff and participating private and First Nation operated schools who have received a PCR self-collection kit through their school.

Starting in January, temporarily permitting only low-contact indoor sports and safe extra-curricular activities.

• Updating COVID-19 reporting requirements for school boards and child care in January.
• Supporting the projected hiring of over 2,000 staff, funded by a $304 million allocation for second semester that includes additional teachers, custodians, and mental health workers.

Furthermore, to maintain operational safety given anticipated higher rates of absenteeism, school boards are directed to exhaust all efforts to fill staff vacancies, including through substitute and retired teachers, before shifting to online learning.

Ontario’s schools are also benefitting from high rates of vaccination. We thank students, parents, and staff for helping to keep our schools and child care settings safe by getting vaccinated. With 400 school-focused clinics underway, Ontario has one of the highest rates of vaccination in Canada. More than 85.9% per cent of youth aged 12 to 17 have received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 82.2% per cent have received a second dose and 43.1% percent of Ontario children between ages 5 and 11 have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

We encourage everyone who is eligible for a vaccination or booster to get vaccinated to further protect students as they return to school. It is natural to have questions about the vaccine. Parents or guardians with concerns can reach out to the SickKids COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service at www.sickkids.ca/vaccineconsult, or 1-888-304-6558 to book a consultation. The consultation service is available in multiple languages, using over-the-phone language interpretation. Parents and caregivers can also contact the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943- 3900 to receive more information from a health specialist.

By working together, we can help Ontario students achieve a successful continuation of in-person learning this winter.

Please take a moment to review a few key important reminders or visit Ontario’s website to learn more about COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Dr, Kieran Moore

Chief Medical Officer of Health

Stephen Lecce

Minister of Education

LIVE LINKS:

Rapid Antigen Testing Video

At Home PCR Testing Video

Booking a COVID-19 Vaccination

Dear Waterloo Catholic Community –

As I write this letter we sit on the cusp of our Christmas break and perhaps more than ever, we can all appreciate the need for a pause.  If I am to be honest, we are not heading into the break as optimistically as we were even just a week or two ago.  The situation has changed fairly rapidly and so we have a few things of which to take note.  I do want to acknowledge that it has been a remarkable fall and early winter, and it is indeed a true testament to everyone in the entire WCDSB community that we made it to Christmas with all our schools still open and truly thriving, despite the reality of the pandemic.  Thank you to everyone in our WCDSB family for your ongoing efforts which have made the school re-opening process so successful, and for adhering to public health and safety measures that have ensured schools remain a safe place for our students and staff.

A few points of update:

Vaccination:

Vaccination for children ages 5 – 11 is currently underway.  Booster shots for anyone over 18 years of age will be possible as of this Monday, December 20^th.  Vaccination remains the best defence against COVID-19, as endorsed by experts at the Ontario Science table, the Chief Medical Officer of Health and our own Waterloo Region Public Health.  The omicron variant is highly transmissible and so consideration for vaccination for yourself and your child is very important in stopping the disease spread.  Stopping its spread is important so that everyone can spend more time in school and so the most vulnerable amongst us are not negatively impacted.

Socializing:

The holidays are typically characterized as a time to gather.  Please consider if all public health guidelines are being observed and ensure you do not gather if you are not well.  Our children will rely on us to guide them and to make strong responsible decisions on their behalf.

Rapid Antigen Test Kits:

All students have received 5 rapid antigen test screening kits.  They are to be used in the 10 days proceeding the start of in person schooling.  The earliest date one should be used is December 23^rd.  Assuming the start of school remains January 3^rd, they should be used every other day starting on the 23^rd.  Instructions have been provided by your local school, along with instruction videos in multiple languages.

Potential for School Closure:

At the current time we have no indication from the province or Waterloo Region Public Health that we will not be returning in January.  Nonetheless we are sending children home with Chromebooks where needed, should anything change over the holidays.  If the date for the re-opening of school changes to a date later than January 3^rd, we will notify you of the date you should start using the Rapid Antigen Tests.  Otherwise please begin on December 23^rd, 2021.

Case and Contact Management:

When a student or staff member is a high-risk close contact of a positive case they must isolate.  You will receive a letter and/or text message from Public Health with these details.  It is important to note that at the current time if the positive case is the omicron variant, even if an individual is vaccinated, they have to quarantine.  This is a change in practice, but it is in response to the highly transmissible nature of the variant.

Sports:

Waterloo Region Public Health has asked us to pause all athletics and extra-curriculars in our schools.  We have had good success with our program and our health and safety support measures, however activity in the community – specifically a large hockey tournament has caused a sharp increase in our community.  It is important to note that if you participate in a large community event, public health measures should still be observed and that when we let down our guard, that is when COVID can take hold and spread.

Screening

As a reminder, anyone feeling ill should not attend school. All children, students, staff, and visitors must be screened for symptoms of illness every day before attending school or childcare. To help meet this requirement, you may use the provincial screening tool found here: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/.  Confirmation of Self-screening will still be a requirement when we return to school and we will continue to reinforce masking and hand hygiene, as well as cohorting and physical distancing with students and our staff.

Potential Travel

A reminder that students under 12, travelling with vaccinated parents do not have to quarantine per se, but they are not allowed to return to school until 14 days from return have passed.  This guidance is found on our webpage.  This is federal policy we are sharing.

https://www.wcdsb.ca/covid-19-student-screening-and-testing/

We sincerely thank you for journeying with us.   May each of you and your families enjoy a beautiful Christmas Season.   A simpler Christmas firmly focused on family certainly sounds like the ideal and perhaps it will be a simple reminder that the first Christmas was indeed a humble beginning that provided the greatest gift the world has ever known.  Let us continue to be people of hope who celebrate the birth of a tiny babe who shared a powerful message of love and salvation.

Sincerely,

Loretta Notten                                                                       

Director of Education 

Meetings

Inaugural Meeting of the Board

Monday, December 6, 2021 – Meeting Agenda Package

Public Board Meeting

Monday, December 13, 2021 — Meeting Agenda Package

Highlights

Election of Chair & Vice-Chair

On December 6, 2021, the Board of Trustees elected Waterloo / Woolwich / Wellesley Trustee Jeanne Gravelle as Chair of the Board, and Kitchener / Wilmot Trustee Brian Schmalz as Vice-Chair of the Board.

The Board of Trustees is comprised of the following representatives:

Bill Conway (Cambridge / North Dumfries)

Manuel da Silva (Cambridge / North Dumfries)

Jeanne Gravelle (Waterloo / Wellesley / Woolwich) — Chair

Shannon Nash (Kitchener / Wilmot)

Wendy Price (Cambridge / North Dumfries)

Hans Roach (Kitchener / Wilmot)

Brian Schmalz (Kitchener / Wilmot) — Vice Chair

Melanie Van Alphen (Waterloo / Wellesley / Woolwich) – Past Chair

Tracey Weiler (Kitchener / Wilmot)

Sarah Simoes and Sarah Wilson are the Student Trustees.

Detailed information about the Board of Trustees – including contact information, board agendas and minutes and board policies is available by clicking —–> HERE … Then click the “Our Governance” link.

Director’s Annual Report for 2020-21

The Multi-Year Strategic Plan provides the roadmap for the staff of Waterloo Catholic District School Board and proclaims to the broader community our goals and aspirations.

Per Section 283(3) of The Education Act, the Director of Education must submit an Annual Report at the first Board meeting of December of each year reporting on the progress of the Board against the stated goals.

As was reflected in the June 2021 Multi-Year Strategic Plan Report Card brought to Board, on the Multi-Year Strategic Plan 2018-2021, there has been strong progress within our three priority areas, against each of our six strategic directions — despite the real and considerable challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To view the Annual Report, please visit: https://annual.wcdsb.ca/

Equity Action Plan Update

As a Catholic learning community, we are inspired and guided by the Gospel in our pursuit of equity and justice as a value rooted in our faith. In our Catholic/Christian tradition, we have a moral imperative to act intentionally to ensure those we serve – staff, students, and communities – are treated with respect and dignity as brothers and sisters in Christ. To achieve this vision, we use the following as our guiding, spiritual principles: Collaboration, Equity, Excellence and Accountability, Holism, Life-Long Learning, Reflection, and Reconciliation.

Equity work is pervasive throughout the board with many staff engaging in equity initiatives. Our work is guided by the four priority areas outlined in the Ontario Education Equity Action Plan:

• School and Classroom Practices
• Leadership, Governance, and Human Resources Practices
• Data Collection, Integration, and Reporting
• Organizational Culture Change

The detailed report presented to the Board on December 13, 2021 addresses these key areas of focus:

• School and Classroom Practices
• Leadership, Governance, and Human Resources Practices
• Data Collection, Integration and Reporting
• Organizational Cultural Change

Key to the word of the WCDSB are the efforts of the Equity, Diversity, and Learning (EDL) Committee, an advisory committee to the Board’s senior staff leadership.

This committee reviewed the Ministry of Education’s mandate on anti-racism and made concrete recommendations to EC about ways to minimize the institutional barriers to equitable outcomes. This committee consists of staff throughout the board and across regions (i.e., Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and the Townships). Colleagues who identified as Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) and/or part of another equity-seeking group were encouraged to join this group.

The Equity, Diversity, and Learning Committee had four working subcommittees. These subcommittees are listed below:

• Census/Data Collection
• Culturally Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy: CRRP
• Human Resources
• Organizational Culture

The report is available beginning on page 21 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Update on WCDSB Pandemic Management

As we have journeyed through November and into December, as was the case last month there are a combination of signs to give us hope, as well as some to give us some opportunity for pause.

As reviewed previously, our models of delivery, our processes, our health and safety protocols and essentially all aspects of our operations are informed by direction through the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the province, as well as the Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Waterloo. We continue to receive direction through the Ministry of Education, as well as our local Public Health department. We are continuing meetings with Region of Waterloo Public Health and the Waterloo Region District School Board to attain a measure of understanding and alignment regarding the most prudent courses of action.

The progress report presented on December 13, 2021, includes information regarding the following key issues:

• Return to (In Person) Learning
• Vaccination for Staff & Students Aged 12-plus
• Vaccination for Students Ages 5 – 11
• Case and Contact Management
• Masking
• Daily Screening
• PCR & Rapid Antigen Tests
• Rapid Antigen Tests to Support High-Contact Sports
• Ventilation

The report is available beginning on page 41 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Student Trustees Update

Student Trustees Sarah Simoes and Sarah Wilson presented their monthly update – covering activities in WCDSB’s secondary schools. It is available beginning on page 47 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Upcoming Board Meetings

Committee of the Whole Board Meeting

Monday, January 10, 2022 — Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre

Regular Public Board Meeting

Monday, January 24, 2022 — Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and four adult education facilities, serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary, and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 185-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.

– 30 –

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. — Monday, December 13, 2021 at the Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre (35 Weber St. W., Unit A, Kitchener, ON – Boardroom (1st Floor) – Sitting room only due to COVID-19 restrictions).

Parents play a very important role in helping their children develop the skills they need to navigate life’s uncertainties.

The Umbrella Project is dedicated to helping you and your children learn these skills of emotional wellbeing in a fun, easy to implement way in order to help your family thrive in all of life’s weather.

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81458268816