Please find below a video message from Minister of Education, Todd Smith.

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8W-P0yL5x0

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s 2024-25 School Year Budget was presented on Monday, June 24, 2024, and approved on Thursday, June 27, 2024. 

The Budget Book is available via this link: BUDGET BOOK 

Quick Facts 

 The overall budget is as follows: 

• Total Operating: $367.6 M — ($31.2 M change from 2023-24) 
• Total Capital: $29.2 M — ($4.3 M change from 2023-24) 
• Total Operating & Capital: $396.8 M — ($35.5 M change from 2023-24) 

As always, budget decisions are guided by the key priorities captured in the following plans: 

• Multi-Year Strategic Plan 
• Board Improvement and Equity Plan 
• Long-Term Accommodation Plan 
• Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan 
• Information Technology Strategic Plan 

Key funding areas of the operating budget include: 

• Classroom Staffing — $200.6 M 
• Learning Resources – $66.2 M 
• Special Education – $47.7 M 
• School Facilities — $29.7 M 
• Board Administration — $10.7M 
• Student Transportation — $12.8 M 

The proposed budget is aligned with the three pillars of the Board’s 2022-2025 Multi-Year Strategic Plan: 

• Awaken to Belong. 
• Strengthen to Become. 
• Ignite to Believe. 

The budget contains provisions for: 

• Enhancing math performance. 
• Identifying and assisting students with reading difficulties. 
• Investing in technology for grade 9 students to enhance their learning experience. 
• Expansion of Indigenous English courses to all secondary schools.  
• Continued mental health supports. 
• Outfitting the new St. Patrick school in Kitchener which is scheduled to open September 2025.  
• An increased number of portables and associated costs. 
• Salary and benefit increases associated with the province’s remedy payments related to Bill 124. 
• Increasing costs of sick leave. 

As we conclude another school year, it is a perfect opportunity to reflect on our journey as a Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) community. We are immensely proud of our current students and recent graduates. This year, much like previous ones, our students have shown exceptional talent in academics, the arts, clubs, and athletics. Our dedicated staff have been instrumental in providing these enriching opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. 

This is also a moment to celebrate and reflect on how we demonstrate faith in action. The community’s generosity was evident during our Tiny Home fundraiser in the winter, which highlighted the importance of shelter and togetherness, reflecting the Catholic social teaching of the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. More recently, the Nutrition for Learning campaign has enabled us to address food insecurity and raised money to help nourish young minds, embodying the principle of the Dignity of the Human Person. 

This year marks the halfway point of our Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP), as we continue to steadily work towards the goals set out in our indicators. Your continuous feedback through the annual MYSP survey has been invaluable, and we are grateful for it. 

Our Pastoral theme for this year was “Strengthen,” and we have strived to live by this theme, reminding ourselves that we are the People of God, listening and responding, strengthened to share the Gospel. Looking ahead, we are ready to embrace the third and final pillar of our Pastoral Plan, “Ignite.” This will be the culmination of our three-year journey, igniting the fire within us, and reminding us of our mission to serve as pilgrims of Hope. 

As we close this school year, let us remember the incredible achievements of our students, the unwavering dedication of our staff, and the profound impact of our collective faith in action. Through our community’s support and dedication of WCDSB staff, we have made significant strides in fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for our students.  

Have a safe, relaxing, and blessed summer, and we look forward to welcoming you back next year. 

Special Board of Trustee Board Meeting: Thursday, June 27, 2024 @ 6:00 pm – Agenda:  2024-06-27_Special-Board-of-Trustee_Agenda

Location: 1st floor Board Room, Catholic Education Centre, 35 Weber Street, Kitchener

General Information About WCDSB Board Meetings

Information About the Board of Trustees

(Note: Agenda files can be large. If you are experiencing issues downloading a file, right-click on the link and choose “Save Target As…”.)

Board of Trustee Board Meeting: Monday, June 24, 2024 @ 6:00 pm – Agenda: 2024-06-24_Board-of-Trustee Agenda

Location:  1st floor Board Room, Catholic Education Centre, 35 Weber Street, Kitchener

General Information About WCDSB Board Meetings

Information About the Board of Trustees

(Note: Agenda files can be large. If you are experiencing issues downloading a file, right-click on the link and choose “Save Target As…”.)

Our Extended Day registration is currently paused.  ONElist, the platform used by families and account holders to register, has encountered technical issues today during our program registration. ONElist is working to restore all functionalities as soon as possible.

If you have a OneList account you will be advised via email, once registration re-opens.

For families who started the registration process and experienced technical difficulties, OneList has recorded your completed registration steps.  You will receive a notification to log back in and complete the process in priority order, in accordance with our Waterloo Catholic District School Board Extended Day Waitlist Policy.

Thank you for your patience.

Board of Trustee Board Meeting: Tuesday, June 18, 2024 @ 6:00 pm – Agenda: 2024-06-18_Special-Board-of-Trustee_Agenda

Location:  1st floor Board Room, Catholic Education Centre, 35 Weber Street, Kitchener

General Information About WCDSB Board Meetings

Information About the Board of Trustees

(Note: Agenda files can be large. If you are experiencing issues downloading a file, right-click on the link and choose “Save Target As…”.)

We are thrilled to share some wonderful news with you. Michael Kearns, teacher of Business, Social Sciences, and Drama at Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School, has been honoured with the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence for 2024!

This prestigious award is a testament to Michael’s unwavering dedication to providing a nurturing and supportive learning environment that prioritizes student well-being. His innovative and energetic approach to teaching is truly inspirational. From starting classes with collaborative whiteboard activities to bringing lessons to life by playing different characters in costume, Michael’s creativity knows no bounds.

We are incredibly proud of Michael and feel so fortunate to have him as part of our school community. His commitment to excellence in education makes a profound impact on our students every day.

Please join us in congratulating Michael on this well-deserved recognition. We are so proud of you, Michael, and grateful for all that you do for our students and school.

Due to the risk of thunderstorms today, the KDM Cross Country Classic for KW schools is POSTPONED. The event will shift to the existing rain date: Thursday, June 6, 2024. All the details for the event, including time of day and location do not change.