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.

Dear parents,

Over the past weeks, our government announced Ontario’s plan to restrict cellphones during instructional time, remove social media from all school networks and devices, and enforce bans on vaping and cannabis on school property. We also introduced legislation to strengthen safeguards that protect your child’s privacy and keep their data secure.

We know the work continues to ensure students are focused in class, graduating with a strong command of reading, writing and math, and increasingly needed life and job skills.

Yet, the global economy has radically changed around us since the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) was last overhauled in 1999 and our government is determined to ensure our students are equipped to handle these changes.

That is why we are taking another step in our back-to-basics plan in Ontario by introducing several new policies, including:

Ontario’s first financial literacy graduation requirement to help students learn practical financial literacy skills and apply them in life. These include being able to demonstrate understanding of how to create and manage a personal budget, save for a home or other asset, understand interest rate impacts on consumers and know how to protect themselves from financial fraud. Students will now have to demonstrate understanding of financial literacy concepts as a graduation requirement as part of their Grade 10 math course.

Reintroducing modernized “home economics” education that elevates life skills that many young people desperately need, from healthy cooking to first aid to responsible consumer habits.
Higher math standards for educators by requiring new educators to pass a math proficiency test that will ensure they have the necessary knowledge and understanding of the subject for the benefit of students.

Introducing career coaches through an up to $14 million investment as part of a major overhaul of guidance education, complementing the work of guidance teacher-counsellors and the existing Career Studies course. The investment in new career coaches will allow students in Grades 9 and 10 to meet with experts in STEM and the skilled trades in small group settings to discuss the benefits of these potential careers.

These reforms, along with the new cellphone and vaping policy will help restore academic focus, safety and personal responsibility in Ontario schools.

But we can’t do this alone. We hope we can count on your support at home over the coming months to ensure students understand the new expectations in September.

With thanks,

Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education

Dear Parents,

We are excited to announce a fundraising initiative in partnership with Nutrition for Learning, dedicated to ensuring all students in the Waterloo Region have access to nutritious meals at school.

Since 1997, Nutrition for Learning has been providing universally accessible nutrition programs in most schools across Waterloo Region, serving K-12 students. These programs support approximately 38,000 WCDSB students, with each meal costing $1.30. A $20 donation can provide 15 meals, and a $20 monthly donation can provide over 180 meals in a year.

From June 3 to 7, we are partnering with Nutrition for Learning to fundraise and support their mission of nourishing young minds. Your contributions will directly impact the health and learning of our students. We encourage you to join us in this effort to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference.

Thank you for your support!

DONATE TODAY: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/95443

Waterloo Catholic District School Board Community,

We are writing to provide an update on the recent incident which led to the two-day closure of St. Mary’s High School.

Over the last two days, the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) has been working diligently to investigate the threats of harm made to the St. Mary’s community. Following their investigation, they have determined that there is no longer a safety concern for the St. Mary’s High School community. For this reason, the school will reopen on Monday, June 3, 2024, for students and staff.

As an additional measure, there will be an increased police presence at St. Mary’s, and in the surrounding area, to ensure the continued safety of our community.

We are thankful for the assistance of WRPS during this challenging time. Their thorough investigative work allows us to resume classes on Monday. While the investigation is still ongoing, we are reminded that this matter is not to be taken lightly and the person responsible could be charged criminally with offences such as Public Mischief or Uttering Threats, both of which can carry a maximum sentence of five years.

We understand that this has been a difficult time for the students, staff, and community at large, and we are thankful for the outpouring of support that St. Mary’s administration and staff have received. We urge our students and staff to prioritize their well-being during this period and reach out for support if needed. Our social work department and school support staff are here to assist you.

We appreciate your patience and support as we navigated this situation.

Waterloo Catholic School Board Families,

We are writing to provide an important update regarding the closure of St. Mary’s High School on May 29, 2024.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) continues to investigate the threat of violence against the St. Mary’s community. We are working closely with WRPS and will continue to aid in the investigation in any way possible. The decision to close the school was made out of an abundance of caution, reflecting our unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of our staff and students.

Given that the investigation is ongoing and considering that May 31 is a scheduled Professional Development (PD) Day, we have decided, in collaboration with WRPS, that the school should remain closed through Thursday, May 30. This additional time could aid the investigation and allow us to explore and implement any potential safety measures that may be required. Please note, this will mean that the annual Relay for Life event, scheduled for tomorrow, will be postponed until further notice.

We understand that this can be a stressful time for students, parents, and staff alike. Please ensure you are prioritizing your well-being during this period and do not hesitate to reach out for support if needed. Our Guidance Counsellors, Social Workers, and school support staff are available to assist you.

As we continue to work collaboratively with WRPS, we are encouraging you to check in with your child around their wellbeing.  We recognize that this situation may cause stress and worry, and we encourage you to reach out to your child’s Administrator or Guidance Counsellor should you have any concerns regarding their wellbeing or any information that might assist our investigation.

We will keep you updated as we learn more information, thank you for your patience during this challenging time.