Upcoming Agenda:

Board of Trustees Meeting: Monday, April 27, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m. – Agenda: 2026-04-27_Board-of-Trustee Agenda

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Board meetings are open to the public. You may attend in person or watch live here: https://www.wcdsb.ca/about-us/meeting-information/board-meeting-live-stream/

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Some of the most important history lessons never happen in a classroom. 

For a group of Grade 10 students, the past came alive not through a textbook, but through the voices of the people who actually lived it. Through a project called “History Lives Here,” students partnered with residents at Seasons Retirement Home to do something quietly remarkable: sit down, listen, and let the stories of a lifetime become the foundation for something new. 

Over three visits, students interviewed residents about the historical events they witnessed and experienced firsthand. Those conversations were then woven into written and digital artifacts, culminating in a locally rooted textbook unlike any other — one built entirely from living memory. 

The connection between students and residents was felt almost from the very first meeting. Maddie Slater, community liaison at Seasons, said it was among the most meaningful experiences residents had shared with visitors. On April 17, students returned one final time to present the completed textbook alongside 3D-printed gifts they had made for each resident. Many in the room were moved. 

The students handled the residents’ stories with a level of care and profound respect that left the seniors, and their teacher, beaming with pride. By using modern innovation and tech to preserve their memories, they showed what’s possible when we bridge the gap between high-tech tools and essential human-centered skills. It was a beautiful reminder that the best use of technology is to enhance the empathy, communication, and collaboration we use to form genuine human connections. 

For some students, that final visit was not really a farewell at all. Several have since expressed their intention to return as volunteers, staying connected with the residents who shared so much of themselves. 

It is the kind of outcome that reminds us what education, at its best, can look like: not just knowledge passed down, but human beings genuinely seeing one another. 

Upcoming Agenda:

Special Board of Trustees – Education Development Charge (EDC) Policy Review meeting @ 6:00 p.m. – Agenda: 2026-04-13_Special-Board-of-Trustee_Agenda_EDC_Meeting #1

Special Board of Trustees – Education Development Charge (EDC) Background Study meeting @ 6:15 p.m. – Agenda: 2026-04-13_Special-Board-of-Trustee_Agenda_EDC_Meeting #2

Committee of the Whole Meeting: Monday, April 13, 2026 @ 6:30 p.m. – Agenda: 2026-04-13_COW_Agenda

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

Livestreaming of Board Meetings

Board meetings are open to the public. You may attend in person or watch live here: https://www.wcdsb.ca/about-us/meeting-information/board-meeting-live-stream/

General Information About WCDSB Board Meetings

Information About the Board of Trustees

KITCHENER — The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) has received approval from the Ontario government to issue the tender for a new addition at St. Mark Catholic Elementary School in Kitchener. 

The project, supported by a total investment of nearly $13 million, including additional funding of nearly $4.6 million, will deliver 184 new elementary student spaces for local families. 

“The approval to tender for the new addition at St. Mark Catholic Elementary School is wonderful news for students and families in Kitchener,” said Annalisa Varano, Director of Education. “This investment reflects our shared commitment to providing welcoming, high-quality Catholic learning environments where every child can discover their gifts and reach their full potential. We are grateful to the Ontario government for this support and look forward to the opportunities this expanded space will create for our community.” 

The WCDSB thanks the Ministry of Education and Mike Harris, MPP for Kitchener–Conestoga, for their continued investment in Catholic education in the Waterloo Region. 

“The funding for a new addition at St. Mark Catholic Elementary School in Kitchener is great news for our community,” said Harris. “Through this investment, we’re creating opportunities for students to thrive today and well into the future.”

Dear Families and Caregivers,

On behalf of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful and blessed Easter season.

Easter is, at its heart, a story of hope. It reminds us that even in the face of struggle, loss, and uncertainty, there is the possibility of renewal, of rising again into something beautiful and new.

This past year has not been without its challenges. Like all communities, we have navigated difficulty together, and through it all, we have been inspired and renewed by the remarkable children who fill our schools with energy, curiosity, and joy. Ensuring every child feels known, safe, and loved is our greatest privilege, and one we are grateful to share with you.

But as we look toward Easter, we are also filled with hope, because of what we see happening in our schools every day.

We are in the first year of our Multi-Year Strategic Plan, a shared vision that puts your children at the centre of everything we do. We are focused on Learning, helping every student reach their full potential. On Serving, being truly present and responsive to the needs of your families. And on Belonging, ensuring that every child who walks through our doors knows they are welcome, cherished, and valued.

This is the promise of Catholic education. It is rooted in faith, animated by love, and renewed every day by the dedicated educators and staff who serve your children with joy.

As you gather with your families this Easter, whether at church, at the table, or simply together, we hope you feel the warmth of this season and the knowledge that our schools walk this journey with you.

From our family to yours: Happy Easter.

With hope and gratitude,

Annalisa Varano
Director of Education
Waterloo Catholic District School Board