Committee of the Whole Board Meeting: Monday, May 13 , 2024 @ 6:00 pm – Agenda: 2024-05-13_COW_Agenda
Location: 1st floor Board Room, Catholic Education Centre, 35 Weber Street, Kitchener
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Written by: Evy Ayers, Grade 11, Monsignor Doyle Secondary School
Monsignor Doyle’s upcoming production of “The Little Mermaid”
With a talented cast and dedicated crew, the students and staff at Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School bring “The Little Mermaid” to life, with an extraordinary display of creativity and passion. The members of this emerging production have spent countless hours creating a scene of which they could be proud, officially bringing the musical production to the masses on May 8-11; tickets are available to all. From the moment the curtains rise, viewers can expect a fantastical portrayal of this classic story.
The busy, bustling atmosphere backstage shows a real dedication to the show. Multiple students have even offered a hand in the making of this production, creating eye-catching set pieces to complement the talented actors’ performance. While this school is no stranger to theatre, they haven’t had the pleasure of indulging in many musical works.
Monsignor Doyle’s lead actor, Katie, has taken on the role of Ariel. Katie’s own experience provides viewers insight into the dedication of the actors and crew, casting a prominent light on the passion driving this production. “Doyle, when it comes to productions, is one of the smaller schools,” she states, adding, “We have a lot of talented people, but a lot of the time they don’t like coming out and showing these talents.” After working on so many previous Doyle productions, Katie has built a solid relationship with her fellow actors, comparing the connection to a sort of family-like dynamic on set.
The young actress goes on to explain how she’s noticed many of the cast members may not be used to working in musically explorative roles, but seeing her peers venture out of their comfort zones seems to have become a great source of inspiration for her. The willingness to embrace new challenges shows a push of personal boundaries, fostering a collaborative dynamic among the team. When asked what viewers can expect from this upcoming production, along with what the cast hopes to impart once the curtain falls, Katie states, “It’s a lot of new people acting for the first time. So, it’s a lot of bright, shiny faces on stage that people may not have seen before. They can get ready to see all these young folks up on stage, showing off their talents.”
The upcoming production of “The Little Mermaid” promises to be an attention-grabbing event, brought to life by the dedicated workers behind the scenes and on stage. Despite the school’s limited experience with musicals, they continue to apply passion to each individual role, all working together as a unit, opposed to focusing on the individual. With tickets now available, this cast urges audiences to come be part of their world, eager to share the efforts of their work with both new and old audiences.
This article is part of the WCDSB Jr. Journalist program, a new initiative designed to provide journalistically inclined secondary students with a platform to share stories from their school and showcase their impressive talents.
Are you a Secondary School student interested in joining the program? If so, please contact Lema.Salaymeh@wcdsb.ca
As we reach the midpoint of our Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP), we are committed to ensuring our strategies and actions align with our goals. By utilizing our MYSP indicators and implementing evidence-based practices, we are diligently monitoring our investments and efforts. Our accountability framework further positions us to meet our objectives effectively.
Your input is important to us. We are reaching out to parents and community members to gather your perspectives and insights. Please take a few moments to complete our spring survey. Your feedback will help shape the direction of our initiatives and ensure that we continue to progress in a manner that reflects our shared values and priorities.
Thank you for your participation and support.
COMPLETE SURVEY: https://wcdsb.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5hC7fij9iAmHrGC
May 5 marks Red Dress Day, a significant day of remembrance dedicated to raising awareness and honouring the memory of the Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit individuals who have been victims of violence. On this day, people around the community wear red dresses or red clothing on this day as a symbol of remembrance and solidarity. This gesture represents their commitment to recognizing the dignity of every person and aligns with our Catholic values of compassion, justice, and the sanctity of life. We join in prayer and reflection, seeking healing and justice for all affected families and communities, while reaffirming our commitment to building a more inclusive and respectful society.
Written by: Mikayla Perez, Grade 11, St. Mary’s High School
During St. Mary’s High School’s Culture & Diversity Week, which began on April 14, 2024, students showcased their traditional cultural attire in a dynamic Cultural Fashion Show held in the school’s cafeteria on April 19. The event featured students from various grades and cultural backgrounds, each bringing a piece of their heritage to the stage.
Grade 11 student Oluwademilade (Israel) Dosekun, representing Nigeria, wore an Agbada, a traditional Yoruba male attire. He expressed his motivations: “I wanted to showcase a little about myself and just be a little more confident; I wanted to showcase my culture, and I just thought my outfit was really cool.”
Paolo Manese, a Grade 12 student representing the Philippines, donned a Barong Tagalog. He said, “I want the people in this school to learn a little more about the Philippines by showing off our culture through this outfit. I think showcasing this traditional attire can help students develop a good impression of the Philippines.”
The show, which took place during the lunch periods, was well-received by the students. Grade 12 student Naomi Weldetensae remarked, “It was really nice seeing all the pretty cultural outfits on the stage. I enjoyed the show because I got to learn a little more about other cultures, and the performance itself was really entertaining.”
The week-long event was initiated by the school’s Student Activity Council, which also introduced other culturally inclusive activities, such as multilingual morning prayers and a culturally diverse menu in their Eagle Eats Meal Program.
Despite the positive feedback, Student Activity Council Director Mia O’Connor voiced concerns about student engagement. She stated, “Student engagement is actually something I’m struggling with. … I’d like there to be more opportunities, especially for newcomers. … It’s kinda hard to decide what’s gonna be the best route to make sure that all students are engaged because sometimes the [council] plans things that may be good for their group but maybe not for other groups, so I definitely think that’s something that our student council needs to work on.”
Looking ahead, O’Connor added, “It’s nice to have a week, but it’d be a lot nicer to have these things integrated throughout the year.”
This article is part of the WCDSB Jr. Journalist program, a new initiative designed to provide journalistically inclined secondary students with a platform to share stories from their school and showcase their impressive talents.
Are you a Secondary School student interested in joining the program? If so, please contact Lema.Salaymeh@wcdsb.ca
Team Dave teaches students that the core principles of S.T.E.A.M. can be fun while having a much larger impact on the community.
Dear parents,
For the first time in nearly a generation, our government successfully negotiated agreements with all teachers’ unions and averted strikes in schools. This allowed us to deliver on our promise to parents to bring stability to classrooms and keep kids in class.
As kids benefit from three more years of uninterrupted learning, I have heard from many of you, teachers and students alike, about concerns about the alarming rise of youth vaping in schools and the persistent use of cellphones as a distraction from learning in class.
That is why we are rolling out Canada’s most comprehensive plan to counter these threats.
To help reduce distractions in our schools, starting this September, we are denying cellphone usage during instructional time so that students can focus on getting back to basics and learning foundational skills like reading, writing and math.
Our youngest learners in kindergarten to Grade 6, who may have phones, will now be required to keep phones on silent and out of sight for the duration of the day.
For students in Grades 7 to 12, phones can be with the student. However, they will only be permitted during instructional time if explicitly allowed by the educator.
We will also commit to having report cards include comments on students’ distraction levels in class. We recognize that some parents want to communicate with their children during school, and the policies listed above will still permit that during non-instructional time or when an educator gives permission.
When it comes to cellphones, Ontario’s policy is: out of sight and out of mind.
We are also removing social media websites from all school networks and devices to help strengthen in-person relationships, communication and social-emotional skills.
We have also announced a strict anti-vaping policy in schools where parents are immediately informed, and the vapes in a student’s possession will be given up and disposed of. There are immediate consequences for students caught in possession of illegal substances, and Public Health Units can also be engaged to support education, prevention and enforcement, when necessary. We are also providing funding to schools to install vape detectors so they can better enforce these new rules.
We are also increasing wrap-around supports for students to support learning, addictive behaviours and implementation, as well as dedicated training for teachers and supports for parents on how best to manage this change. I encourage you to read the updated Provincial Code of Conduct that outlines these changes.
No matter how strong the policy is, we can’t do this alone.
To truly change behaviour, we are asking for your support and collaboration to hold conversations at home about the new expectations and the importance of respecting school staff and the rules as we head into September.
Change will come when we all work together and stand by teachers, principals, and education workers as they implement these new measures. Your co-operation will help ensure students can get back to basics, focus on their studies, and prepare for the jobs of tomorrow.
By doing so, we restore common sense, where the focus remains on academic achievement and the safety of your child.
Thank you,
The Honourable Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education
Nominate a staff member today!
Deadline: Monday, May 6, 2024
Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that the earth, our common home, “is like a sister with whom we share our lives and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.”
In his encyclical Laudato Si’ (On Care for our Common Home), Pope Francis reminds us that “Along with the importance of little everyday gestures, social love moves us to devise larger strategies to halt environmental degradation and to encourage a ‘culture of care’ which permeates all of society” (#231).
The Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations ask that all graduates be “responsible citizen[s] who respect the environment and use resources wisely.”
The Pope Francis Award for Ecological Leadership annually recognizes up to three school staff members who heed these calls and live out these values. Staff members who actively demonstrate a love for creation and care for the planet in all their interactions and staff who initiate or lead environmental projects of all kinds.
The award, which will be presented at the recipients’ schools in May, is open to all WCDSB school-based staff. Nominations may be made by any WCDSB staff or School Council member.
Re-nominations are permitted.
Nomination form: https://www.wcdsb.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2024/04/Pope-Francis-Award-for-Ecological-Leadership-Nomination-Form-2024.pdf
Board of Trustees’ Board Meeting: Monday, April 22, 2024 @ 6:00 pm – Agenda: 2024-04-22_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 homestay partner companies are actively seeking host families for international students attending school in the Waterloo Region for short and long-term programs (from 2 weeks to 1 year).
Host families provide students with:
Families are remunerated $1,050/4 weeks, plus bonuses.
Canada Linc
(226) 606-5943
info@canadalinc.com
Waterloo Region Student Placement (WRSP)
(226) 341-2092
hostingastudent@gmail.com
