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Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Volume 16, Issue 11
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Message from Administration
Dear parents and students,
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As we approach the end of the semester, I want to take a moment to wish you all the best as you enter the final evaluations. This semester has been one of great growth for you, and I am proud of the progress you have made.
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I hope that you will continue to work hard and finish strong. You have all shown that you can achieve great things, and I have no doubt that you will continue to strive to reach your God given potential as we enter semester 2.
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Good luck on your semester 1 final evaluations!
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WCDSB MDI Notice of Collection (2024)
Before the March Break, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) will be conducting school climate surveys to collect information from students and families. While the Ministry of Education requires all school districts to conduct these surveys (Education Act s.169.1(1)(a), (a.1), (a.2) and PPM 145), we are committed to providing a safe, caring, and inclusive place for everyone in our schools. The purpose of the school climate surveys is to assess the perceptions of safety (e.g., from students, and families), make informed planning decisions about programs to help prevent bullying and promote safe and inclusive schools, determine the effectiveness of programs on an ongoing basis, and build and sustain a positive school climate. Below you will find details related to each survey.
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For Families:
We will administer a school climate survey for Families between February 15th and March 8th. You will be provided with the link to participate on February 15th.
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For Students:
We will invite students in grades 4 through grade 12 to participate in the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) between February 15th and March 8th. The MDI is an anonymous and voluntary online survey and will take place during class time on a board provided device with their classroom teacher. The MDI survey asks students about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in school and in the community related to five areas of development that are strongly linked to well-being, health, and academic achievement: Physical Health & Well-Being, Connectedness, Social & Emotional Development, School Experiences, and Use of After-School Time. Additionally, students will be asked demographic questions on the survey (e.g., Adults they live with, Number of siblings, Gender, School, Grade, Indigenous identity, Race, First language, and English proficiency) in accordance with the Anti-Racism Act (ARA s.6(5)).
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The MDI was developed by researchers at the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at the University of British Columbia (UBC), and the administration of the MDI will be facilitated by the WCDSB Research Department.
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Any student may choose not to participate, to stop participating, or to skip a question at any time. Additionally, parents/guardians of students under 18 years of age can ask that their child be exempt from participating in the MDI survey by completing this opt-out form before February 8th, 2024. For more information, please visit our Student School Climate webpage: https://www.wcdsb.ca/school-climate-survey/
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Jordan Figueiredo,
Principal
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Looking for a quick way to navigate all things WCDSB for parents?
Check out the Board website for information and information pertaining to Aspen Portal, Brightspace, School Cash Online, Transportation updates, and other resources
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Stay Connected with
St. Benedict's!
Twitter
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Who is your Guidance Counsellor?
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Counsellor’s Name
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Ext
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Last names
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Dh – Ho, International students
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Administrative Assistant: Ms. Aguilar, ext. 5631
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GUIDANCE D2L
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For additional information throughout the year, please visit the Guidance D2L page.
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Course Selections for 2024 - 2025
Happy New Year to all students and with a new year we are looking forward to a new semester and just beyond that a new school year in the fall of 2024.
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We need students to choose their courses by February 29, 2024. In early January, we met with all grade 9, 10 and 11 classes to discuss doing research and looking into courses they wish to take. In early February we will be emailing out the presentation and posting it on the Guidance D2L page. Students are encouraged to consult the course calendar on the website, have discussions with their families and subject specific teachers and guidance counsellors for help making the correct decisions. Guidance counsellors will also be available in room 111 during lunch on specific days in February leading up to the deadline date.
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Over the semester break is a great time to continue educational planning and start completing their course selection!
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Grade 12 students who are interested in returning to St. Benedict for a 5th year should choose courses and visit with a guidance counsellor if they have questions.
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The decisions that students make now regarding their choices for next year are what drive the scheduling decisions that are made with regard to both the courses and the numbers of sections of each course that we offer at the school next year. The importance of making the right choices should not be underestimated as course changes are not always easily corrected once the school year is underway.
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As has been the practice for the past number of years, students will be choosing their courses on-line using myBlueprint. Students are familiar with this program and have been using it for pathway planning.
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The site can be accessed through the students myApps page or:
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- Go to myBlueprint.ca/waterloocatholic
- Login using your school login or GAFE account login
Students will select courses, submit, and enter a parent email for parental approval of the courses. Course selections must be submitted by: Thursday February 29th.
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University of Waterloo Grade 10 Family Night
The University of Waterloo will be hosting an evening for Grade 10 students and their parents on Thursday February 22 from 5:30 – 8:30 PM. This is a great opportunity for grade 10 students who are thinking about attending any of Ontario’s universities. Information covered will include finding a program that is a good fit, navigating the application process, and financing post-secondary education. Register to attend www.uwaterloo.ca/future/grade-10
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Community Service Hours
It is a requirement of graduation that each student complete 40 hours of community service. There are many opportunities to fulfill this requirement. Please visit the school website for links to community opportunities and a fillable form to submit their hours.
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POST-SECONDARY APPLICATIONS
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ONTARIO COLLEGES deadline February 1, 2024
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Course Highlights for next year
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Thinking about a career in health care?
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Take grade 11 and grade 12 Health Care (TPJ3M and TPJ4M).
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NOTE: new course for 2024 - grade 10 Health Care (TPJ2O)! The grade 10 health care course satisfies the tech credit requirement for graduation. For more information, contact Mrs. Taylor in the Annex or your guidance counsellor.
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BEM 1O: Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Grade 9, Open
(Replaces BTT 1O/2O, Info and Comm Tech in Business)
In this course, students will learn what makes an entrepreneur thrive and the skills required to succeed in today’s business environment. Students will begin to develop their own entrepreneurial mindset, and learn why it’s important to take initiative, adapt to change, find creative solutions, and understand the financial considerations of entrepreneurship. This hands-on course will use business software and applications to help students plan and develop their entrepreneurial ideas and learn how to present them to a target audience. Throughout the course, students will enhance their communications skills as well as develop and refine their project management skills, including goal setting, time management, and networking.
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COURSE FOCUS: Business software and applications (ie. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
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BEP 2O: Launching and Leading a Business, Grade 10, Open
(Replaces BBI 1O/2O, Introduction to Business)
This course introduces students to the world of business and what is required to be successful, ethical, and responsible in today’s economy. Students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to be an entrepreneur who knows how to respond to local and global market opportunities. Throughout the course, students will explore and understand the responsibility of managing different functions of a business. This includes accounting, marketing, information and communication technology, financial management, human resources, and production.
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COURSE FOCUS: Business concepts (ie. Marketing, Advertising, Accounting)
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EMS3O: Media, Grade 11 , Open
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Yearbook is back! Want to leave your mark on the school community by helping to create our cherished Yearbook and earn a credit while doing it? Interested in media communications? Digital Literacy? Design? Photography? Then, this may be the right course for you! See Ms. Weiditch or your Guidance Counselor if you have any questions.
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Math Prep Course
Are you worried about being prepared for the Grade 9 Destreamed Math course, MTH1W? Did you miss some of grade 6, 7, or 8 math? Did you struggle with math in those years, but know you could do it with a little more time and in a smaller class? If you said yes to any of those questions, then GLE1OM might be a great course for you!
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Talk to your Grade 8 Classroom Teacher about adding GLE1OM with MTH1W in your grade 9 year, and it will prepare you for success in Grade 9 Destreamed! You’ll be with same-age peers in both math classes, and become confident in Grade 9 Destreamed Math!
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New course for semester 2
IDC4U - Interdisciplinary Course (University Credit)
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Yearbook is back! Any Gr. 12 students looking to leave their mark by creating the school's Yearbook in their graduating year, consider taking the IDC4U course! It is a University credit and a very hands-on opportunity to practice your digital literacy and build those skills that you will need in your post-secondary studies. See Ms. Weiditch or your Guidance Counselor if you have any questions.
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Wrestling Results
Last Friday our wrestlers competed at a wrestling tournament at Bluevale Collegiate. We had 6 competing, and brought home 3 medals.
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Alex Almeida earned bronze, Jake Murray earned silver, and Nour Beshr came home with gold. Way to go Saints!
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Senior Basketballers win in Windsor
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Congratulations to the senior boys' basketball team on winning the Mustangs Basketball Tournament in Windsor this weekend! They beat the home school in the semi-finals and then took down some giants of Crestwood prep school in the final. It was a stupendous championship effort. Damien Bajarias, Abdullah Hajjo, Rory Vrugteman and Luca Paquette all scored double digits in the finals and Bryan Bowman, Lucas Lai, and AJ Boyce locked it down on D.
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Sports Results
JUNIOR BOYS BASKETBALL
St. Benedict CSS 40, Monsignor Doyle CSS 34
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St. Benedict CSS 36, St. David CSS 29
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Resurrection CSS 60, St. Benedict CSS 41
SENIOR BOYS BASKETBALL
St. Benedict CSS 42, Monsignor Doyle CSS 30
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St. Mary's HS 61, St. Benedict CSS 53
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St. Benedict CSS 73, St. David CSS 36
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Resurrection CSS 63, St. Benedict CSS 54
JUNIOR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
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St. Mary's HS 3, St. Benedict CSS 2
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St. Benedict CSS 3, Woodland Christian HS 0
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St. Mary's HS 3, St. Benedict CSS 1
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Woodland Christian HS 3, St. Benedict CSS 2
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St. Benedict CSS 8, St. Mary's HS 1
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Monsignor Doyle CSS 5, St. Benedict CSS 1
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Monsignor Doyle CSS 4, St. Benedict CSS 1
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Novice Girls Volleyball take silver
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Give it up for our Novice Girls Volleyball team who placed second, winning SILVER last Thursday January 18th at their D8 finals. The team was able to take 4 wins in the tournament leading up to the finals. The championship game was a close one, only a two-point difference in the third and final set. An amazing effort by all athletes. Congratulations team!!
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Watch for start up in semester 2!
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Thursday, January 25
Exam Day - period 1 mandatory attendance
Friday, January 26
Exam Day - period 2 mandatory attendance
Sunday, January 28
Bell Let's Talk Day
Monday, January 29
Exam Day - period 3 mandatory attendance
Tuesday, January 30
Exam Day - period 4 mandatory attendance
Wednesday, January 31
Exam Day - Credit rescue
Thursday, February 1
PA Day
Friday, February 2
Semester 2 Begins
Groundhog Day
10:35am: Star Trek Club
2:15pm: Doctor Who club
Monday, February 5
10:35am: Coding Club
10:35am: SEEC Club
10:35am: Choir
Tuesday, February 6
10:35am: Arts Council
10:35am: Girls Garage club
10:35am: GSA Club
10:35am: DECA Business Club
10:35am: Chess Club
10:35am: MCU Club
11:00am: Rosary Club
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Wednesday, February 7
10:35am: Guitar Club
10:35am: Cosmo Club
2:15pm: E-car Club
Thursday, February 8
10:35am: Friendship Club
10:35am: HOSA Club
10:35am: GSA Club
10:35am: Seams Sew Easy Club
10:35am: Coding Club
10:35am: Model UN Club
10:35am: Percussion Ensemble
10:35am: Chess Club
10:35am: MCU Club
2:15pm: E-car Club
2:15pm: Concert Band
2:15pm: Math Club
2:15pm: Games Club
4:00pm: Jazz Band
Friday, February 9
10:35am: Star Trek Club
2:15pm: Doctor Who club
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Be sure to check out the calendar on the school website for updates!
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