The Board of Trustees of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board is pleased to share that Annalisa Varano is the successful candidate for the position of Interim Director of Education and Secretary of the Board. 

Varano brings over 27 years of distinguished experience in Catholic education to this leadership role. A practicing Catholic and active parishioner, she has demonstrated unwavering commitment to faith-centered educational leadership throughout her career—including 23 years of service with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board prior to joining Waterloo Catholic in 2021. 

Since joining WCDSB as Superintendent of Education, she has been a valued member of the senior team and a trusted leader within the system. In her current portfolio, she oversees K–12 Family of Schools, Student Success programs, Experiential Learning, Online Learning, Leadership Development, and Adult/Continuing Education. 

Her leadership extends beyond the board. Varano served as President of the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario, representing 2,100 educational leaders across the province and working closely with the Ministry of Education and provincial partners on matters impacting Catholic education. 

Varano also contributes her leadership to several provincial and local boards and committees including the Business and Education Partnership of Waterloo Region, and multiple advisory committees. 

She will officially assume her new role on Sept. 1, 2025, with a transition period beginning in early August. 

Please join us in congratulating Annalisa Varano on this well-deserved opportunity. We look forward to continuing our work alongside her as she helps lead the board into its next chapter—grounded in a renewed vision for Catholic education and shaped by our upcoming Multi-Year Strategic Plan and Pastoral Plan. 

Renée Kraft
Chair, Waterloo Catholic District School Board  

As the 2024–25 school year comes to a close, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our graduates and my gratitude to our families and community partners. 

This year marks the conclusion of our three-year Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) and our three-year Pastoral Plan, both of which have helped guide our shared academic and spiritual journeys. Through these plans, we’ve nurtured learning, strengthened belonging, and continued to grow as a faith-filled community. 

We are grateful to all who took the time to complete our recent community survey. Your feedback is being carefully reviewed as we collaborate with a consulting firm to shape the next MYSP. Your voices will help guide our direction for years to come. 

There is much to celebrate this year—academic achievements, community milestones, and countless examples of students living out the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations. We are filled with pride and hope for what lies ahead. 

To our graduates: May God guide your steps as you move into this next chapter. To our dedicated staff: thank you for walking alongside our students with faith, hope, and love. And to those joining us in the fall: welcome to WCDSB, where faith and learning grow hand in hand. 

Wishing all in our community a safe, joyful, and restorative summer. 

Tyrone Dowling
Director of Education

Waterloo Region District School Board, Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR) are pleased to announce the appointment of Keith Prudham as the new General Manager of STSWR, effective August 1, 2025.

A valued member of the STSWR team since 2009, Keith began his career as a Transportation Planner. Over the years, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to innovation, team building, and operational excellence—culminating in over a decade on the management team. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing safety and efficiency across the organization, benefitting thousands of students transported to and from school each day.

Keith brings a wealth of experience to the role, shaped by his long-standing tenure at STSWR and his close collaboration with staff. As a proud Kitchener native with deep ties to the region and a family background in education, Keith is well-positioned to serve the Waterloo Region school communities with insight and care.

He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and a specialized certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), bringing a data-informed and analytical approach to transportation planning.

We look forward to working with Keith as he transitions into this important role.

Board of Trustees Meeting: Monday, June 23, 2025 @ 6:00 p.m. – Agenda: 2025-06-23_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…”.)

Special Board of Trustees Meeting: Monday, June 16, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m. – Agenda: 2025-06-16_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…”.)

Last week, St. Mark Catholic Elementary School welcomed a week of meaningful learning as part of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s Indigenous Week of Learning. The experience offered students an opportunity to connect with Indigenous culture, history, and traditions in a hands-on, heartfelt way.

This special initiative was created through the leadership and vision of Superintendent Jenny Ritsma, who oversees the Indigenous Education portfolio, and Jen Staats, Indigenous Consultant K–12. Together, they imagined a week that would bring Indigenous learning to life in every elementary school—moving beyond textbooks and into classrooms, conversations, and community. Inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, the goal is to help students learn from, with, and about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.

Thanks to a team of dedicated Indigenous educators and Knowledge Keepers, that vision came to life at St. Mark. Classrooms and shared spaces were transformed. The library became an Indigenous Museum, filled with traditional clothing, instruments, furs, and sacred medicines—offering students a chance to see, touch, and learn. Outside, students picked up lacrosse sticks to play Canada’s national sport, first created by Indigenous Peoples.

Each grade experienced something unique.

Katie Croft, Indigenous Special Assignment Teacher, worked with students, guiding them through the Indigenous Peoples Map of Canada and teaching about how Indigenous communities lived off the land, the formation of Canada, and the diverse names and locations of First Nation communities. Additionally, her in class lessons for grade 4-8 students were closely tied to the Social Studies and History curriculum.

Darlene Schaffer, an Inuk Knowledge Keeper, spent time with Kindergarten to Grade 3 students, sharing stories, traditions, and lived experiences from Nunavut. Her additional Inuit presentation for the whole school really brought the Inuit culture to life for students.

Teresa Pitt, a Métis Knowledge Keeper, visited Grade 1 and 2 classrooms with stories and teachings that celebrates Métis identity, language, the arts and community.

Jen Staats offered a canoe presentation, highlighting its cultural and historical importance in Indigenous life—connecting students to traditions of travel, trade, and connection that continue today.

Creating space for Indigenous teachings helps students grow in knowledge and respect—and reminds us that reconciliation begins with listening and learning together.

Please be advised that the Special Board Meeting – Budget Presentation, originally scheduled for June 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., has been rescheduled to June 16, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

Thank you for your attention to this change.

At the May 26, 2025, Board of Trustees meeting, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) approved Option 3 of the Southeast Galt Boundary Review. This decision follows extensive consultation and careful consideration of enrolment trends, school capacities, and community feedback. 

What This Means: 

• Boundaries for Holy Spirit CES, St. Anne (C) CES, and St. Vincent de Paul CES will be adjusted September 2026. 

• A new boundary will be established for the new Southeast Galt Catholic elementary school, opening September 2026. 

• Out of Boundary caps will be implemented starting September 1, 2025, with exceptions for students already enrolled or pre-registered with out of boundary permissions prior to August 31, 2025. 

• Existing Out of Boundary students will be permitted to remain at their current schools, except those directed to attend the new Southeast Galt Catholic school. 

• Legacy exceptions will allow Grade 7 students in 2025–2026 to remain at their current school for Grade 8. 

• An Exceptional Circumstances Appeal process will be communicated in the Winter of 2026. 

• A Transition Planning Committee will be formed to support students and staff affected by the changes. 

We are committed to ensuring a smooth and supportive transition for all students and families. More information is available on the Southeast Galt Boundary Review webpage. 

Thank you for your continued partnership in Catholic education.