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Wednesday, March 2, 2022 - Volume 14, Issue 14
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Message from Administration
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There are signs that the season of spring is upon us, today we begin our journey though the Lenten season, let’s continue to remain people of hope, informed by our Faith.
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This year we are focusing on building bridges - making a difference through purposeful actions. Please encourage your child to engage in activities to build and rebuild. We can all identify situations in our personal lives, communities and globally where restoring unity, peace and justice is desired.
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Please join the community as Prayers are offered for all those affected by the crisis in Ukraine. I would encourage you to support the WCDSB campaign to raise funds to assist humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.
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March 14-19, we will have a week of relaxation as we enjoy the Spring Break. We pray that it is a happy, healthy, and safe time for students and staff.
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Lenten Liftoff!
The Catholic Parent Involvement Committee(CPIC), is pleased to present Lenten Liftoff, a series of faith formation activities to support parental engagement funded by the Ministry of Ontario Pro Grants.
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We are once again excited to present the series "Formed" which will be the foundation of activities supporting our deeper understanding of the season of Lent. The subscription will feature Friday Night Faith Flicks along with resources to support family discussion. Lenten booklets will also be available shortly and more information will follow soon. Please join us in sharing the message of these free resources and content to support our families over the winter months.
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Parents who are interested in receiving a free subscription to Formed and to receiving weekly Lenten Liftoff faith activities, can sign up by registering their name and email HERE.
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Ash Wednesday Liturgy
Thanks to Bob, our chaplain and Fr. Ed for the reflective Lenten liturgy today, we are hopeful that we will be able to gather in larger groups, but until that time we are grateful for our digital equipment to provide a virtual celebration.
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Shout out to our program council members and the Cambridge Gaming community for their work support in supporting our purchase of this equipment.
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Reflections with Bob
Today is Ash Wednesday and is the first day of Lent. Lent is a time to step aside from our frenetic activity and look inside ourselves. For over 1500 years the Church has set aside the 40 days before Easter (not counting Sundays) as a special time for Christians to pray, fast and do good deeds for others. Lent can become a sacred time to think about God and God’s goodness. That reflection can renew in us a desire to bring God’s goodness to the world in our attitudes and actions.
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Pope Francis has called for today, Ash Wednesday, to be a day of prayer and fasting for Ukraine.
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Today we celebrated a Lent Liturgy of the Word with Father Ed. It was streamed live into each classroom. It is a meaningful way to begin the season of Lent.
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Each Tuesday and Thursday we will observe a classroom Lenten prayer service as part of our morning prayer and announcements.
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A Lenten prayer for the Ukraine
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God, We pray for staff and students in our St Benedict school community who have family and friends in Ukraine. We stand by them with our concern and care; with our thoughts and prayers. We pray for safety for family and friends. We pray for peace. Amen!
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Ukraine Strong
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Bennies is all about community. And right now there are members in our community who are hurting deeply and are terrified as a result of what is currently happening in Ukraine. The people of Ukraine need our prayers - but they also need our financial support.
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The Waterloo Catholic District School Board is reaching out to all of its schools - almost 50 in total - and asking for assistance with humanitarian relief efforts. Staff, students and parents can donate through School Cash Online or privately through redcross.ca - and no amount is too small.
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Inclement weather reminder
Inclement Weather Protocol
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As you know, there are sometimes days in the winter when we have to cancel bussing due to the weather and unsafe driving conditions for our buses. In consultation with the public board, with whom we share bussing, when we cancel buses, we will close schools and have a remote learning day. Your teacher will communicate with you in advance so you know where to look for school work for the day and protocols on such days, but in broad terms, the teachers will post work in the morning, no later than 9:30 a.m. and students will work on their own timing in their home. This will allow all students to access learning and we will be continuing to keep one and all safe.
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We realize it may not be a perfect solution and learning day, but bus snow days rarely were. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience and hope that we are not in this situation too often.
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Significant Days & Dates
Click here to view the most up to date calendar information.
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March 14, 2022 to March 18, 2022
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Professional Activity Days:
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Stay Connected with St. Benedict's!
Twitter
Instagram
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Bus Delay Notifications
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While many families subscribe to Email Notifications for bus delays, the text notifications can actually be more reliable in terms of sharing timely information. Up to 5 numbers can be notified for each student using text notification. Please see below info and links to this "new" option. Given some current busing circumstances and the cold weather that is upon us, this potentially becomes a very helpful tool.
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The subscription service allows you to receive an e-mail or text for all bus delays over 10 minutes and all cancellations that effect your bus route or school. An e-mail will be sent to your address, or a text to your phone number, as the delay or cancellation is posted to our STSWR website. The wait time on the e-mail depends on your e-mail server’s speed (how fast it gets to Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc). Wait time on SMS text is determined by the volume of texts being sent. For the best results, text messaging provides the fastest response time. Please login to the STSWR website to adjust your notifications. Add your phone number under My Information, SMS.
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Important Information re: Annual Public Health Student Vaccinations for Grade 7, 8, 9 & 10
If your child is in Grade 7, 8, 9 or 10 this school year (2021/2022), they are eligible to receive their school program vaccines (hepatitis B, HPV and meningococcal) or complete the series if they have already started them.
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These vaccines are normally provided in each school but, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, are now available at Public Health offices in Waterloo and Cambridge.
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Before booking an appointment, parents/students should update their immunization records using one of the following methods:
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- Online at the following link: https://bit.ly/3v9rwPT
- By calling 519-575-4400 ext. 5001 (Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm) or Fax 519-885-7260
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Online translation is available for those who require it.
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If you have questions about the School Vaccine Program catch-up process, please call 519-575-4400 ext. 5001.
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Daily Screening
A reminder that students must complete the daily screening: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/ before leaving home each day. This daily screening tool gives information on how to handle various personal/family symptoms scenarios. Should the guidance be to stay home from school, we ask that you contact the attendance office to report your student’s absence by calling the direct line 519-621-4001, or emailing SBEN.Attendance@wcdsb.ca
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Masks
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A reminder to all students to continue to arrive in full uniform and wearing masks that cover the mouth and nose. Students were provided with new masks on Tuesday will receive another later in the week. We encourage students to wear the new masks provided and to wash these masks frequently.
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Positive Parent-Teacher communication
As always parents/ guardians are valuable partners in their child’s education. We invite you to keep the lines of communication open as you can be an effective resource to support the learning your child. As per out WCDSB Administrative Procedures Memorandum #APC001, Communication Guidelines, we ask that all public and interpersonal communications must recognize the dignity of the individual and be conducted fairly, honestly, and with respect.
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When a parent, guardian or other board stakeholder has a concern or suggestion, it is expected that the concern/suggestion will first be taken up with the staff member with whom the parent / guardian / stakeholder has the concern/suggestion. Therefore, the process outlined below should be followed.
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Attention Students:
DON'T GET LOCKED OUT!
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It always happens at the worst moment: you just need to complete that essay, so you open your Chromebook or laptop, and try to connect to your school account, and.... nothing. You're locked out. And it's Friday evening, you're at home, so there is no way you can get someone to reset your password for you.
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Fortunately, you have the power in your hands. If you click on the graphic below, you will be taken to a PDF document which will allow you to set up your Self-Service Authentication. What this does is allow you to access a password reset function by linking your school account to your mobile phone or other email address, or by setting up security questions. Students are encouraged to complete this process so they can recover their accounts on their own should they find themselves locked out of their account.
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Chromebook Reminder for Students
Don't Just Close the Lid on your Chromebook
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Make sure you actually log out at the end of the day. Logging out and then logging back in will clear the memory/cache of the device and will run software updates. The reason that Chromebooks are so quick for their entire life cycle is because they automatically clear their working memory every time you log out and log back in. Chromebooks have a limited space on them, and if they aren't cleared regularly, they do slow down and won't allow Read and Write to install as an example (not enough working memory available). Keep your Chromebook fast and DON'T JUST CLOSE THE LID!!
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News from Guidance
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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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International Students/ICP
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Guidance Google Classrooms
Once again, the Guidance department will have google classrooms available to share information with our students. Please consider joining the classrooms:
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Scan the code below to book an appointment with your Guidance Counsellor
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Then click the plus sign beside your Guidance Counsellor to book an appointment.
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This year's University of Waterloo EUCLID MATH CONTEST is HERE!
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Grade 11 or 12 students are encouraged to sign up SOON for the Grade 12 Euclid Math contest BY FRIDAY, MARCH 11TH at the latest... this is the last Friday before March Break - so don't miss out, act now!
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Please come see Miss Stockie (in room 309) or Mrs. Brennan (in room 203) or come to the Math Office to sign up with your NON-REFUNDABLE $12.00 fee. (Unfortunately, due to increasing costs, we are unable to provide refunds for this fee.)
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Students will be writing in the Cafeteria on Tuesday, April 5th.
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In the meantime, why not come out to the Math Club - which is still meeting every Thursday after school in Room 309! Dr. C will guide you through skills that will help you when writing this contest!
Graduating students might wish to check their admission requirements for their programs of choice. Some programs require that students complete this contest to be considered for entrance.
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Can't wait to see you then!
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OSSLT Results are in!
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The results are in for our first round of the Ontario Secondary School testing. If you have not yet received your results, come and visit us in Seminar room 3.2 during your lunch to get them.
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Need some extra help with LITERACY or NUMERACY?
Homework Club
is back and running
Mondays beginning at 2pm
Wednesdays at LUNCH
Room 210
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Spring means... soccer!
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All grade 10-12 students interested in trying out for the senior boys soccer team need to come to an important meeting in the lecture hall on Thursday March 3rd after school. Waiver forms and information about tryouts will be distributed. If you cannot make the meeting you must let Mr. Dufresne, Mr. Jansen or Mrs. Borba know.
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Sports Results
JUNIOR BOYS BASKETBALL
St. Benedict CSS 74, St. David CSS 52
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St. Benedict CSS 84, Woodland Christian HS 40
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SENIOR BOYS BASKETBALL
St. Benedict CSS 70, St. David CSS 50
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Woodland Christian HS 57, St. Benedict CSS 51
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JUNIOR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
St. David CSS 3, St. Benedict CSS 0
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St. Benedict CSS 3, Woodland Christian HS 1
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SENIOR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
St. Benedict CSS 3, Woodland Christian HS 1
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SENIOR GIRLS ICE HOCKEY
St. Benedict CSS 1, St. Mary's HS 0
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St. David CSS 3, St. Benedict CSS 0
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Monsignor Doyle CSS 4, St. Benedict CSS 3
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SENIOR BOYS ICE HOCKEY
St. Benedict CSS 3, St. David CSS 0
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St. Benedict CSS 4, Monsignor Doyle CSS 3
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St. Benedict CSS 7, St. Mary's HS 3
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Clubs
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New club for BIPOC students
Hey SAINTS! Are you a BIPOC Student? Are you in search of a strong supportive community? Are you a person who wants to be educated of racial issues and provide strategies to make St. Benedict's a better place? LIGHT’S OUT: YOUTH is the place for you! Join us on Wednesday March 2nd in room 123 after school at 2:15 for some snacks, drinks, icebreakers and get to know your fellow BIPOC Students! See you then!
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Did you know...
...that we have a GSA Club at Bennies?
We meet Thursdays at lunch in 323 (new location).
New members are always welcome!
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Chess club is back!!
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Come join us in room 125 Tuesday and Thursday we are looking forward to welcoming you back starting today at lunch! See Mr. Mathé or Mr. Sanders for more details.
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Edit this to insert text.
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Hey Saints!
Have a great idea?
Want it to be run by SAC?
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Fill out the suggestion QR forms posted around the school and
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on the Bennies SAC instagram & maybe it will flourish into an event!
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Wednesday, March 2
Ash Wednesday
10:30am: MCU Club
10:30am: Literature Club
10:30am: Coding Club
12:30pm: [QF] Girls Hockey vs St. Mary's
2:00pm: Yearbook Club Meeting
2:00pm: Racing Saints E-car club
2:00pm: Homework club
3:00pm: [QF] Jr Boys Basketball vs ES Pere-Rene
3:00pm: [QF] Jr Girls Volleyball @ Msgr. Doyle
5:15pm: [QF] Sr Girls Volleyball @ Msgr. Doyle
Thursday, March 3
10:30am: MCU Club
10:30am: GSA Club
10:30am: Chess Club
2:00pm: Sr Boys Soccer info meeting
2:00pm: ACE Robotics Team
2:00pm: Math Club
2:00pm: Racing Saints E-car club
2:00pm: Games Club
Friday, March 4
10:30am: MCU Club
10:30am: Star Trek Club
2:00pm: Doctor Who Club
Monday, March 7
10:30am: MCU Club
10:30am: Literature Club
10:30am: Coding Club
2:00pm: Homework club
2:00pm: Debate Club
Tuesday, March 8
International Women's Day
Skills Ontario - International Women's Day Event
10:30am: MCU Club
10:30am: Chess Club
10:30am: Finance Club
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Wednesday, March 9
10:30am: MCU Club
10:30am: Literature Club
10:30am: Coding Club
2:00pm: Yearbook Club Meeting
2:00pm: Racing Saints E-car club
2:00pm: Homework club
3:30pm: Virtual Workshop: Negotiation Training
Thursday, March 10
10:30am: MCU Club
10:30am: GSA Club
10:30am: Chess Club
2:00pm: ACE Robotics Team
2:00pm: Math Club
2:00pm: Racing Saints E-car club
2:00pm: Games Club
3:30pm: Virtual Workshop: Graphic Design
Friday, March 11
10:30am: MCU Club
10:30am: Star Trek Club
2:00pm: Doctor Who Club
Sunday, March 13
Daylight Savings time starts
Monday, March 14
March Break
Sunday, March 20
Spring Equinox
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Be sure to check out the calendar on the school website for updates!
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