The 2019-20 school year is just around the corner – and registering to attend one of Waterloo Region’s 44 Catholic elementary schools and five Catholic secondary schools has never been easier. In fact, a quality, inclusive, faith-based education is now just a click away thanks to the Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s Online Registration system.

QUICKFacts

~~ Parents can access the Online Registration form by clicking on the Register for School link on the WCDSB Homepage and then choosing either Kindergarten Registration, Elementary Registration or Secondary Registration. The link to Online Registration can be found on each page under the “Registration Options”

~~ Children born in 2015 are eligible for Year 1 Kindergarten.

~~ Children born in 2014 are eligible for Year 2 Kindergarten.

~~ When registering your child to attend a Catholic elementary school you must be prepared to provide proof of the child’s date of birth and either the child’s Catholic baptismal certificate or the Catholic baptismal certificate of at least one parent or guardian.

~~ If you are non-Catholic, but wish to explore a Catholic education for your child(ren), please review the WCDSB Admissions to Catholic Elementary Schools policy. Our secondary schools are open to students of all faiths.

~~ For information about WCDSB’s Extended Day Program, please click here: Extended Day Program.

~~ For information about French Immersion programs in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, please click here: French Immersion Registration Information.

~~ And don’t forget about the wide variety of adult learning opportunities available via our St. Louis Adult Learning & Continuing Education Centre!

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 49 schools and five adult education facilities serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 183-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.

Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region’s Student Login Portal allows parents to retrieve their child’s busing information for the first day of school. It will be open to families beginning Monday, August 19th.

Parents can login and view their child’s transportation details by going to www.stswr.ca and following these easy steps:

• Click on “Student Login”
• Enter your child’s Ontario Education Number (OEN)
• The OEN can be found on your child’s report card
• Numbers only, no space, no dash
• Enter your child’s birth date (dd/mm/yyyy)
• Enter your child’s street number (house number only)
• Select the school your child is attending from the drop down menu

If you are having difficulty with the Student Login Portal, please CLICK HERE.

Waterloo Region, ON – The Waterloo Catholic District School Board proudly announces the launch of its innovative new Global Leadership in the 21st Century course.

Quick Facts

• Global Leadership in the 21st Century – which will be running at Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge in the 2019-20 school year — is a one semester five-credit course combining Economics, International Business, Political Science, World Issues and English.

• The course is a uniquely designed experience in which one class of students will remain together each day for the entire semester. This immersive style of learning will allow for more in-depth, challenging and engaging lessons, while also providing students the opportunity to focus on their futures in a more informed and creative environment.

• Global Leadership students will use the latest in professionally developed eLearning simulations and role-play, as well as real world challenges and case studies connecting students to leaders in their community, their nation and even the planet at large. Students will learn how to face the challenges that await them as global citizens, and how to develop real solutions for their world.

• The course is a university preparation course which will assist students in developing the competencies and skills necessary to succeed at the post-secondary destination of their choosing. Competencies of communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity will be core to the learning.  Skills related to effective case study writing, essay writing, various report styles, research and public speaking will be an asset.

Related Links

Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School

WCDSB International Education Program

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and five adult education facilities serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 183-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.

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For more information, please contact:

Dan Witt — Principal, International Education

(519) 578-3660 Ext. 2537 | Dan.Witt@wcdsb.ca

Waterloo Region, ON – Fourteen Waterloo Catholic District School Board schools have been awarded “Healthy Schools” certifications by the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) – including all five WCDSB secondary schools.

Nine WCDSB schools received Healthy Schools certifications in 2017-18.

Quick Facts

• Participating schools across Ontario completed the 6-Step Healthy Schools Process, which aligns with the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School resource document. This process guides a school community through planning and implementation of a range of activities for a selected priority health topic. The process is annual, repeating each school year, and flexible for all communities across Ontario to sustain year over year. School teams focus on one of the following six health topics:
  • Physical Activity
  • Healthy Eating
  • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
  • Growth and Development
  • Mental Health
  • Substance Use, Addictions and Related Behaviours

• While a healthy school community aims to promote health in all six of the interconnected health topics, selecting a priority health topic based on each school community’s needs and assets helps focus the work of the school team. By focusing on one health topic comprehensively across as many of the five Foundations for a Healthy School areas as possible, schools are better positioned to have a deeper impact on their broader school communities.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and five adult education facilities, serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 183-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.

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For more information, please contact:

John Shewchuk – Chief Managing Officer

(519) 578-3660 | john.shewchuk@wcdsb.ca

The Education Act requires school boards to develop multi-year plans that are three years or more in scope. The plans provide focus and direction to the board to achieve Ministry of Education goals and, equally as important, articulate the vision of the school board.

In June of 2018 the Board of Trustees accepted the final report card on the 2015-2018 Multi-Year Strategic Plan. Within that work was found stakeholder feedback regarding our previously identified Mission, Vision, Beliefs and three core Strategic Priorities.

There was a high affirmation rate for each, and thus it was identified at that time that those would remain constant and provide a foundational framework for a new strategic plan that was approved in December, 2018.

Informed by the MYSP survey completed in the spring of 2018, the June 2018 MYSP report card, and a number of conversations throughout of the fall of 2018, the Director and Senior Staff worked to identify both new Strategic Directions and corresponding goals for each of the three pre-identified strategic priorities.

There was an eye toward reducing the number of strategic directions and the number of goals. Nine strategic directions were reduced to six and 32 goals were reduced to 17.

Each of the six identified Strategic Directions of the MYSP have two to four goals which provide a focus to assist in the attainment of our Mission and Vision. For each of those goals, there are also a number of finite actions that were identified within the plan, that are seen as integral to the attainment of the articulated goals.

Each of the WCDSB staff departments responsible for the MYSP’s goals has completed a Strategic Direction Action Status Report in which they have reported back on the activities undertaken under the auspices of the strategic direction priority area.

As we navigate the early months of our 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, we find that four of six Strategic Directions and 15 of 17 goals are progressing at an optimal level, having been rated at “Green” or “Effectively Meeting Standard”.

Two of the six Strategic Directions have some combination of “Green” (Effectively Meeting Standard) and “Orange” (Approaching Criteria), with the majority still being “Green”, as only two of 17 goals have been deemed to be “Orange.

There are no goals that have been assessed at “Red” (Not Meeting Criteria).

To review the detailed Report Card, please CLICK HERE and proceed to page 32.

We will be working diligently to ensure the forward momentum currently being experienced is maintained in the coming year. This will require a strong culture of collaboration, collective efficacy, high expectations and innovation.

There are many points of celebration and there is clear direction in terms of the work for the year ahead. We can be most proud that our Vision and Mission – which are firmly rooted in our faith and gospel values – are recognized as our strongest or most clearly affirmed indicator.

Waterloo Region, ON – Trustees of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board have approved the Board’s $299.9 million 2019-20 school year budget.

Government policy changes involving class sizes, reduction in per-pupil funding, and cancellation of the Local Priorities Fund have led to an overall reduction across the school system of approximately $10 million, impacting staff as well as student programming and resources.

The government continues to consult with stakeholders on specific policy changes. As a result, further funding amendments may be introduced in the coming months.

Quick Facts

• The overall budget is as follows:
  • Total Operating: $278.9 M (+ $5.6 million)
  • Total Capital: $20.9 M (+ $2.2 million
  • Total Operating & Capital: $299.9 M (+ $7.8 million)

• Some of the strategies used to balance the budget include:
  • Reduction of support staff and academic staff throughout the system
  • Reduction of school budgets
  • Reduction of maintenance budgets
  • Deferral of equipment purchases including laptops, Chromebooks, vehicles, furniture, and custodial equipment
  • Reduction of departmental PD budgets and PD requiring release time

• Further, a spending freeze was implemented in 2018-19 to increase surpluses available for 2019-20 and future years, should they be needed.

• While the depth and breadth of the proposed reductions may seem daunting, WCDSB Senior Administration believes the school system is resourced in a way that provides students with opportunities, experiences, and instruction that are the envy of most jurisdictions in the world.

• The WCDSB continues to be proud of our strong graduation rates and EQAO scores, a diverse and supported student population whose families value faith-based education, and staff committed to student success and wellness.  Additionally, enrolment continues to grow at record rates, with a projected 3.3% increase over 2018-19 and a gain in student market share over 2017-18.

Related Links

WCDSB 2019-20 School Year Budget Package

WCDSB 2018-2021 Multi-year Strategic Plan

Ontario Grants for Student Needs

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and five adult education facilities serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 183-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.

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For more information, please contact:

Shesh Maharaj — Chief Financial Officer

(519) 578-3660 | Shesh.Maharaj@wcdsb.ca

Waterloo Region, ON – The Waterloo Catholic District School Board proudly announces that all 48 WCDSB elementary and secondary schools have been officially certified as Ontario EcoSchools.

The WCDSB is among just a handful of Ontario school boards to have reached the 100% certification milestone.

The board joined the program in 2011, with seven certified EcoSchools, and had set an ambitious target of having all schools certified by the end of the 2018-19 school year.

This year, five schools reached the prestigious Platinum level, 19 schools achieved Gold status, 19 schools achieved Silver status and five schools achieved Bronze status.

The results for each school follow below:

QuickFacts

>> 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”. The WCDSB supports this call to action via its Environmental Education, Stewardship and Sustainability Committee and a robust Environmental Education, Stewardship and Sustainability Policy which has been in place since 2009. “Promoting stewardship of the Earth and its resources” is a key Strategic Goal of the WCDSB’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan.

>> Ontario EcoSchools is an environmental education program for grades 1-12 that helps students develop ecological literacy while engaging in practices to become environmentally responsible citizens. This is a perfect fit with the philosophy in Waterloo Region’s Catholic Schools that sustainable development means “meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The program works with 58 Ontario school boards and more the 1,900 elementary and secondary schools.

>> Platinum certification allows high-achieving schools to deepen their existing program through rich opportunities that engage students in environmental learning and practice. In order to be eligible for Platinum certification schools must have:

• • Certified for at least five years with no more than a one-year gap
  • Certified at the Gold level for at least three of those five years
  • Certified Gold in the year prior to the Platinum application

Related Links

WCDSB EcoZone

WCDSB Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and five adult education facilities serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 183-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.

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For more information, please contact:

John Shewchuk – Chief Managing Officer

(519) 578-3660 | john.shewchuk@wcdsb.ca