We are sharing an important update on behalf of Region of Waterloo Public Health (“Public Health”) regarding a confirmed case of measles at St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School. The case has resulted in exposures at the school on May 8, 2025. 

Out of an abundance of caution and to allow time for Public Health to complete necessary vaccination verification and help prevent further spread of the virus, St. Mary’s will be closed on Friday, May 16. 

Next Steps for Students and Families 

Public Health is contacting individuals who may have been exposed and will advise them of the required next steps. We are working closely with Public Health to ensure infection prevention measures are in place and that the school community is supported. 

To learn more about measles, please visit the Region of Waterloo Public Health website. 

Questions? 

If you have any questions about this exposure, please contact Region of Waterloo Public Health directly:
• Website: Region of Waterloo Public Health 

Continuing Learning During the Closure 

While the school is closed, students are encouraged to stay engaged by reviewing recent lessons, catching up on assigned work, or exploring learning activities that reinforce key concepts. Educators will continue to support student learning as needed during this time. 

We appreciate your understanding and partnership as we work together to keep our school community safe. 

We are proud to share that Chris Demers, Chief Information Officer at WCDSB, has been awarded the McCordic Award. This award is the highest honour a school business official can receive in Ontario and was presented at this year’s Annual Conference of the Ontario Association of School Business Officials (OASBO).

The McCordic Award is presented in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the services of school business over a number of years. Chris’s leadership in promoting collaboration and innovation across the province is well known, and his work has had a lasting impact. Among his many achievements, Chris championed the adoption of a common student management system for school boards in Ontario—an initiative that has saved boards millions of dollars and streamlined Ministry of Education reporting.

Chris, we are incredibly proud of you and grateful to have had you on our team. Congratulations on this well-deserved honour!

This week, students at St. Daniel Catholic Elementary School rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty—literally—for a greener tomorrow. With the generous support of volunteers from the Grand Valley Construction Association and Sustainable Waterloo Region, the schoolyard is now home to a newly planted microforest.

Microforests are small plots of land restored to a natural state through the planting of native trees and shrubs. Though they can be as compact as a city lot, their ecological and social benefits are anything but small. These tiny forests are powerful tools for urban greening, biodiversity, and environmental education.

Thanks to Sustainable Waterloo Region’s contributions, including the trees themselves, students from every classroom had the opportunity to participate in this hands-on learning experience. Throughout the morning, they took turns planting seedlings, spreading mulch, watering, and tidying the area. Along the way, they learned about the role trees play in protecting the planet and the care required to help them thrive.

In total, 100 native trees and shrubs were planted as part of the project. This included 15 red maples, 20 sugar maples, 20 trembling aspens, 15 white birches, and 30 redbud shrubs—each chosen for their ability to thrive in our local environment and contribute to a healthy, diverse ecosystem.

Volunteers reminded students that, just like them, young trees need daily care and attention to grow strong. Inspired by this message, students have committed to watering the microforest on sunny days, playing a key role in helping it take root and grow strong.

We are deeply grateful to Sustainable Waterloo Region and the Grand Valley Construction Association for making this meaningful project possible.

Thanks to their partnership, St. Daniel’s students have planted more than trees—they’ve planted hope for a brighter, greener future.

Committee of the Whole Meeting: Monday, May 12, 2025 @ 6:00 p.m. – Agenda: 2025-05-12_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…”.)

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) is committed to being the Heart of the Community, providing Success for Each and A Place for All. As we reflect on the implementation of our current Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) (2022–2025), we are also beginning the important work of developing a new plan to guide our priorities in the years ahead.

We are inviting staff, parents, guardians, caregivers and community members to complete a single, combined survey that will support both reflection and renewal. This survey includes two parts:

• Part One assesses our progress on the current MYSP (2022–2025)
• Part Two gathers input to help shape our next MYSP for 2025 and beyond

Why Your Input Matters

Your feedback will help us:

• Evaluate the impact of our current MYSP
• Identify emerging priorities and shared values
• Develop a renewed strategic plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of the WCDSB community

Survey responses will be reviewed to identify key themes that will support recommendations and decision-making by the Board of Trustees and senior leadership.

Survey Details

• Open from: May 1 to May 23, 2025
• Estimated time to complete: 10–15 minutes
• Who may participate: Parents/guardians, caregivers, Trustees, Parish members, Faith-based partners, and community members (one response per person)
• Participation: Voluntary and anonymous

You may exit the survey at any time. Responses are not connected to your name or school, and you will not be asked to provide any identifying information. Please do not include the names of individuals in your responses. Once submitted, responses cannot be changed.

All responses will be compiled into a summary report. To protect privacy, results will be shared in aggregate only, and small groups (fewer than 10 participants) will not be identified in any reporting.

The survey is administered by WCDSB in alignment with the Education Act, Section 169.1, and in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA s.28(2)) to support the development of our MYSP. The results will be analyzed by facilitators at Maximum City and reported in summary form to the Board of Trustees and senior staff.

Access the survey here: WCDSB MYSP Feedback Survey

If you have any questions, require assistance completing the survey, or would like to request a translated version, please contact: research@wcdsb.ca.

Thank you for taking the time to contribute to this important process. Your voice will help guide the next chapter of Catholic education in Waterloo Region—one rooted in faith, equity, and excellence.

This Lent, the John Sweeney Catholic Elementary School community came together in a powerful show of generosity through their annual Cardinals Care project. Students were invited to support those facing food insecurity by donating unopened boxes of cereal for the Waterloo Region Food Bank — with each student challenged to bring in two boxes.

The response was overwhelming. Thanks to the enthusiastic participation of students, families, and staff, the Cardinals collected more than 1,100 donations, the majority of which were cereal boxes. To celebrate the success of the initiative, the entire school gathered for a special domino event, creating a joyful display that symbolized the collective impact of their efforts.

The Cardinals Care Lenten Project was made possible through the leadership of teachers Scott Gibson and Maggie Di Gravio, who helped organize and inspire the school community. Their efforts captured the true spirit of Lent — giving generously and caring for our neighbours in need.

Congratulations to the John Sweeney Cardinals for showing that when a community comes together, even small acts can create a powerful ripple of care!

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s first-ever STREAM Week brought energy and excitement to classrooms across the system, with 45 schools, 488 classes, and more than 8,100 students joining in hands-on activities. One school that truly stood out was St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School, showing how STREAM education can make learning fun, meaningful, and connected to the real world. 

At St. Kateri, students brought STREAM learning to life through hands-on projects. They studied plant life cycles and sustainable farming by growing microgreens, explored soil erosion through engineering challenges, and learned about structural design by building hurricane-resistant models with Makedo kits. The school’s robotics team also developed coding and programming skills with support from an experiential learning lead.  

Their passion for hands-on learning extended into Earth Week, where students organized a school-wide cleanup to make a real difference in their community. 

Throughout the week, the excitement at St. Kateri was unmistakable. “The students were so excited and engaged they didn’t even realize they were learning,” said administrator Richard Settler. “They kept asking for more activities!” 

Learning stretched beyond the classroom too. Grade 3 students launched a letter-writing campaign, sending handwritten letters to students in Seaforth (Ontario), Steinbach (Manitoba), and Abbotsford (British Columbia). It was a fun way to build literacy skills while connecting with other communities across Canada. 

The arts were also celebrated. The school choir advanced to the next level of the Kiwanis Music Festival, and the knitting club showed how math skills are used in traditional crafts through a special presentation. In Kindergarten, students witnessed life cycles up close by hatching chicks in their classrooms. Across the school, students joined in the Forest of Reading Club’s Blue Spruce voting. 

The enthusiasm continues with preparations for Pirates the Musical, where students will apply STREAM skills to create props, manage technical production, and perform on stage. 

St. Kateri’s success shows the power of experiential, project-based learning — and highlights how STREAM education is helping students across WCDSB schools connect what they learn in the classroom to the world around them. 

Kitchener, Ontario — April 28, 2025 — At its meeting on April 28, 2025, the Board of Trustees of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board elected Kitchener/Wilmot Trustee Tracey Weiler as Vice-Chair of the Board.

Vice-Chair Weiler brings extensive experience, strong leadership skills and a steadfast commitment to Catholic education. In her new role, she will work collaboratively with her fellow trustees to support the Board’s mission of serving students, families and school communities throughout Waterloo Region.

The Board extends its sincere thanks to outgoing Vice-Chair Linda Cuff for her dedicated leadership and service.