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St. Louis Students Give Back to the Community Through Culinary Skills

St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education is more than just a place to learn—it’s a hub for community connection and support.  

As a meaningful conclusion to their fall semester on Friday, October 24, students in St. Louis’ culinary program showcased their skills by preparing nutritious soups for the Tiny Home Takeout initiative, supporting those in need within the Kitchener community. This opportunity allowed students to make a meaningful impact by applying what they’ve learned in a real-world setting, reflecting St. Louis’ commitment to fostering not only individual growth, but also a strong sense of social responsibility. 

St. Louis Students

Through their participation, St. Louis students gain valuable hands-on experience in the culinary arts, building the skills they need for future careers while making a difference in the lives of others. Guided by their educators and mentors, students take pride in every step of the process—from preparation to serving—knowing that their contributions provide warmth and nourishment to those facing food insecurity. For these students, the experience embodies St. Louis’ values of “Hope, Opportunity, and Success for All,” inspiring them to pursue their personal goals while giving back to their community.

As St. Louis looks to the future, its focus remains on empowering students to make a difference beyond the classroom. By blending education with service initiatives like Tiny Home Takeout, St. Louis ensures that students graduate with skills, experience, and a strong sense of community purpose.

October 28th, 2024|

Upcoming Board of Trustees’ Meeting: Monday, October 28, 2024

Board of Trustees Board Meeting: Monday, October 28, 2024 @ 6:00 pm – Agenda: 2024-10-28_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…”.)

October 24th, 2024|

WCDSB Breaks Ground on New School at 20 Woolner Trail

WATERLOO REGION, October 16, 2024—The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) is excited to announce the start of construction on a new school located at 20 Woolner Trail, Kitchener. This school, which will serve students in Grades 7-12, has been designed with a capacity of 1,400 pupil places and is set to open in September 2026. 

The three-story building will feature an artificial turf sports field and is designed to create a positive and engaging learning environment for students. This project will help meet the growing educational needs of the community. 

At today's groundbreaking ceremony, WCDSB leaders were joined by WCDSB Trustees, facilities staff, and City of Kitchener Councillors to celebrate this important milestone. 

Woolner Trail Groundbreaking
Councillor Dave Schnider, Trustee Conrad Stanley, Director Tyrone Dowling,  Trustee Kathy Doherty-Masters, Councillor Stephanie Stretch, Trustee David Guerin

"We are excited to break ground on a school that will not only meet the educational needs of our growing community but will also serve as a vibrant centre for student achievement and well-being," said Tyrone Dowling, Director of Education. "This new facility reflects our commitment to creating inclusive, innovative spaces where every student can thrive spiritually, academically, and socially." 

Woolner Trail - Director Dowling
Director Tyrone Dowling

The WCDSB is grateful to the Government of Ontario for its generous support in funding this project and thanks the City of Kitchener and Regional Municipality of Waterloo for their support in advancing approvals for the new school. 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Lema Salaymeh
Senior Manager of Communications
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Email: communications@wcdsb.ca 

October 17th, 2024|

Homes for Hope Fundraiser – Supporting A Better Tent City and The Bridges

Dear WCDSB Community,

We are excited to announce that, for the second year in a row, students across the Waterloo Catholic District School Board will be participating in a special fundraising campaign to support A Better Tent City in Kitchener-Waterloo and The Bridges in Cambridge. These organizations are dedicated to providing shelter and essential services to the most vulnerable members of our community.

The fundraiser will kick off just in time for Thanksgiving and run for five weeks, from October 11 to November 18, 2024. This initiative is not only about raising funds but also about raising awareness of the critical work these organizations do. By supporting A Better Tent City and The Bridges, we help shed light on the issue of homelessness in our community.

This year, we will have one full-sized tiny home spending one week at each of our secondary school properties. In addition, some of our talented students have constructed nine replicas of tiny homes, which will each spend one week at various elementary schools. This creative and hands-on approach helps our students connect with the cause while raising funds and awareness in a meaningful way.

This effort aligns closely with our Catholic Social Teachings, reminding us of our responsibility to help those in need and foster a community built on justice, compassion, and love. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for those in our community who are most in need.

We encourage everyone to participate and help make this initiative a success within our school communities. Please stay tuned for events at your school throughout the next five weeks and follow our social media accounts to find out which of our secondary schools the tiny home will be visiting each week.

To donate, please click here and support this vital cause.

Thank you for your participation and for helping to make this fundraiser a success!

Homes for Hope Poster

October 14th, 2024|

Wishing You a Blessed Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches, we are reminded of the importance of gratitude and reflection. With September behind us and Thanksgiving just ahead, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the exciting kickoff to the 2024 school year. The past month flew by, filled with energy, new initiatives, and community-building events, marking a busy and successful start across the Waterloo Catholic District School Board.

Grounded in our faith, Thanksgiving reminds us to reflect on the many blessings we’ve been given and to share them with others. It calls us to extend our hands and hearts to those in need. Many of our schools have embraced this spirit by organizing food drives in response to the growing issue of food scarcity affecting many in our region. These efforts beautifully reflect the spirit of charity that is at the heart of our Catholic community.

In that same spirit, we are once again teaming up with St. Mary, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows parish (Kitchener) and launching a system-wide fundraiser to support A Better Tent City and Bridges (Cambridge), focusing on helping those experiencing homelessness. As we gather with our loved ones to celebrate this season of gratitude, we also recommit ourselves to serving and uplifting the most vulnerable in our communities.

Wishing you and your family a joyful Thanksgiving, filled with peace, gratitude, and God’s blessings. May this season renew our commitment to faith and service, as we continue to foster a caring and compassionate community for all. We hope you spend your Thanksgiving weekend surrounded by those you love and take the opportunity to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for.

Tyrone Dowling
Director of Education

October 11th, 2024|

Upcoming Board of Trustees’ Meeting: Monday, October 7, 2024

Board of Trustee Board Meeting: Monday, October 7, 2024 @ 6:00 pm – Agenda: 2024-10-07_COW_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…”.)

October 3rd, 2024|

Celebrating Indigenous Excellence and Advancing Truth and Reconciliation at WCDSB

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) remains deeply committed to honouring Indigenous excellence and advancing the work towards Truth and Reconciliation. As part of this commitment, a variety of educational opportunities were offered to our students and staff during the week of September 23, 2024.

Beginning on September 23, Every Child Matters flags were raised at all schools and board sites, and remained in place until September 30, symbolizing our dedication to honouring survivors of residential schools. On September 30, all staff and students were encouraged to wear orange shirts as a visible reflection on the profound impact of the residential school system on Indigenous communities.

During the week of September 23, over 600 WCDSB students from 14 schools, in Grades 5 to 7, participated in the Celebrating Indigenous Diversity and Excellence event at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum. Through hands-on experiences, students engaged in activities such as drumming, dancing, and learning about Inuit and Métis traditions. These experiential learning opportunities directly supported our ongoing efforts towards Truth and Reconciliation.

Video: https://youtu.be/ipp-qZrKWSo

At the Catholic Education Centre, staff were invited to take part in a smudging and prayer service at St. Mary’s Church, followed by a walk alongside Indigenous community members to Victoria Park, as an act of solidarity and reconciliation.

Video: https://youtu.be/gzKhod5M9Rw

Together, we honoured the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities and reaffirmed our dedication to fostering a future grounded in justice, understanding, and healing.

October 1st, 2024|

St. Peter Community Enhances Safety with “Neighbours Helping Neighbours” Initiative

On September 19, 2024, the St. Peter Catholic Elementary School community and their neighbours gathered to celebrate the completion of a safer access route to the school, made possible through the generous support of a grant from the City of Cambridge.

The “Neighbours Helping Neighbours” initiative brought together students, parents, local residents, WCDSB staff, and municipal experts to collaborate on transforming Brooklyne Road, which leads to the back parking lot of the school. The result is a newly designed, pedestrian-friendly environment that prioritizes safety and encourages walking to school. The project includes traffic-calming measures, a dedicated pedestrian path for students, and the introduction of student safety foot patrollers, ensuring that families feel more confident in choosing active transportation options.

Safety Students

The celebration brought families and neighbours together to explore the newly improved road and share a community meal, highlighting their collective dedication to creating safer public spaces for everyone.

 

This initiative was made possible through the City of Cambridge’s “Keep Calm” grant, which encourages community-led efforts to enhance local neighbourhoods.

Before and After

Before the project, students had to navigate through vehicle traffic on Brooklyne Road to access the sidewalk.

Before Safer Route

Now, with the new safety measures in place, students can enjoy a safer and more engaging route to school.

Update Safe Route

September 25th, 2024|

WCDSB Celebrates 2024 KW Legacy Scholarship Recipients

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) is thrilled to announce that three of our outstanding students have been awarded scholarships through the KW Legacy Scholarship Fund. This year marked the 10th annual Golf for Scholarships event, which collected an impressive $125,000 at Conestoga Golf and Country Club. With this year’s tournament, KW Legacy has now raised over $1 million since the charity was founded a decade ago.

More than 220 golfers and volunteers participated in the event, which took place on September 7, 2024. The tournament was dedicated to raising funds to help local high school students pursue post-secondary education. Over the past 10 years, KW Legacy has awarded more than 100 scholarships of $5,000 or more to deserving students.

We deeply value our partnership with KW Legacy and are incredibly proud of our students who earned this year’s awards:

  • KW Legacy John Heffner Sr. Automotive Scholarship – $5,000 awarded to Luke De Sousa (Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School)
  • KW Legacy General Scholarship – $5,000 awarded to Aeva Rennie (Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School)
  • KW Legacy General Scholarship – $5,000 awarded to Jenna Haveman (St. Benedict’s Catholic Secondary School)

These scholarships will provide invaluable support to these talented students as they pursue their academic and career goals. We congratulate them on their achievements and sincerely thank KW Legacy for their ongoing partnership and generosity in supporting the future success of our students.

Legacy Scholarship Recipient

Aeva Rennie

Legacy Scholarship Recipient

Jenna Haveman

September 20th, 2024|

Upcoming Board of Trustees’ Meeting: Monday, September 23, 2024

Board of Trustee Board Meeting: Monday, September 23, 2024 @ 6:00 pm – Agenda: 2024-09-23_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…”.)

September 20th, 2024|
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