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Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - Volume 18, Issue 1
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Greetings St. Benedict Families!
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We hope you and your student(s) are enjoying a wonderful summer break. The following is a series of important information items to help you, and your student(s) get off to a great start this school year at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School.
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Opening Week Schedule
The first day of school is Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025. A full uniform is required.
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A Student Information Verification form will be given to students in their homeroom on the first day of school. Parent/Guardians are asked to review and make any necessary changes and return the form before Friday, September 12th, 2025.
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Important Re: Policies and Procedures
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Admin Team
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St. Benedict Instagram
@stbenedictwcdsb
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Cellphones are no longer permitted to be used in classrooms, unless for educational purposes as directed by the teachers. Students unable to comply with the new policy may have their device taken away for the day. In addition, a range of consequences may be utilized to enforce this policy, including suspension for repeated infractions. This policy serves to protect the intellectual and social development of our students and your support in re-enforcing this expectation is much appreciated.
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Smoking/vaping is prohibited by law (Smoke Free Ontario) on public property. Students can be asked to turn over any vaping/smoke product if caught with it, and a range of consequences may be utilized to enforce the “Smoke Free Ontario Act” mandate, including suspension.
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Student Verification Forms
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Student Verification Forms are being sent home with students on September 3. Please review all information on both sides, edit if necessary, sign and date to verify information is correct (even if no changes are needed). We require the most up-to-date contact information as this is crucial to the safety of our students.
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Completed forms must be sent back to the school with your student no later than Friday September 12, 2025.
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School Cash Online
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School Cash Online is available as of August 28 for Start Up Forms. Please complete all necessary forms for your student(s). A detailed list of forms required by grade can be found on the school website under the September Start Up tab. Forms must be completed by the end of September.
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Daily Schedule
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Plan of Care for Life-Threatening Medical Conditions
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St. Benedict’s has an Emergency Response Team that is qualified to deal with medical emergencies.
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If you child(ren) has a life-threatening medical condition, it is imperative to complete the Critical Medical Form found in School Cash Online ASAP.
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Plan of Care packages will be sent home early next week with students who have been identified as having a life-threatening medical condition. Please review, edit if applicable, sign and date to verify the information is up to date. Plans of Care should be returned to the school by Friday, September 19th.
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If you have any questions or require further information regarding the School Start Up forms, please visit the school website at www.stbenedict.wcdsb.ca or call the main office at 519-621-4050.
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Catholic School Advisory Council
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St. Benedict C.S.S. sees family involvement as one of its main priorities; our CSAC is a group of parents, teachers, and administrators that are dedicated to making St. Benedict a great place for all students to learn and grow. On behalf of our school community, we would like to thank the many members who contributed to the success of last school year! We look forward to welcoming all returning members, as well as individuals who are new to our school community and are interested in joining this dynamic group. Our first CSAC meeting for the 2025-2026 school year is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30th from 6:00PM-7:30PM. Meetings are held in room 111.
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If you wish to nominate yourself or another parent/guardian for Co-chair, please complete the nomination form on School Cash Online or visit our school website for further information and instructions.
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Stay Informed
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If you haven’t already, click here to subscribe to our school Newswire & BENN Newsletter. Also, please consider following us on Instagram @stbenedictwcdsb
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We wish you the best as we begin the new school year and look forward to having you as partners in Catholic education!
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Jordan Figueiredo
Principal
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First day of classes is
Wednesday, September 3
Full uniform is required.
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USED UNIFORM SALE
DATE: Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025
TIMES: GRADE 9: 8:00 am - 10:00 am
GRADE 10, 11, 12: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
LOCATION: School gym (back entrance of school)
COST: $10.00 per item. MAXIMUM of 4 items per student.
METHOD OF PAYMENT: Debit Machine
Please note: The new athleisure pants and hoodies are NOT a part of this sale.
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Bus Information for September 2025
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Bus information for September 2025 is available as of August 18, 2025, via the Parent Portal on www.stswr.ca. Due to high traffic this week, the website may experience slower performance. If you are unable to access your transportation information by August 25, please contact Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region.
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NEW STUDENTS!
Request for Joint-Custody Transportation
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Parents/Guardians are responsible for completing and submitting the “Annual Request for Joint-Custody Transportation” form if transportation is required from two separate home addresses. To request a copy of this form, please contact the main office.
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Opting Out of Transportation
If students reside in the bus zone, but require partial or no busing, parents must complete and submit the “Decline or Reinstate Transportation” form (previously our "Do Not Ride Form") located on the STSWR website. If a family previously filled out a DNR form, they do not need to submit a new DORT form. Families may opt out of busing altogether or for either morning or afternoon busing only.
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If a student qualifies for busing, families can opt in again at any time throughout the school year by using the same form.
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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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Who is your Guidance Counsellor?
Welcome back to all our students, we look forward to seeing you again or meeting you for the first time! We hope you had a safe and restful summer and are ready for a new school year.
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We are excited to welcome Mrs. Borba to our team. She will be joining us in Guidance and continuing to work in her role in student success. Mrs. O’Toole will be working with the International students this year.
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Guidance counselor assignments are based on the student’s last name. Please take some time to review guidance counsellors, as assignments have changed.
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Counsellor’s Name
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Ext
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Last names
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Administrative Assistant: Mrs. McAulay-Arruda, ext. 5631
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COURSE CHANGE REQUESTS
The last day to submit a course change request for Semester 1 is Wednesday, September 10 by 3:00pm. Students must follow their existing schedule until seen by their Guidance counsellor and the changes are made.
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Should your student wish to change a course for the 2025/26 school year, the process for course change requests is as follows:
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- Pick up a blue ‘Course Change Request Form’ from the glass case outside of guidance. This will be available starting August 27.
- Please make sure the form is filled out in its entirety (please indicate the course to be removed and the one to be added). Note: entire schedule may change as a result of change request.
- Parents must sign the request.
- Return the form to the guidance office by September 10. The form will be stamped with a received date.
- Guidance counsellors will start to process the requests the first week of school.
Course changes are not always possible due to full or conflicting classes.
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We also cannot accommodate teacher requests or requests to be in classes with friends.
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Please be aware that guidance is prioritizing essential changes:
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In grade 9, 10 or 11 and do not have 8 courses on their timetable.
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Failed a course last year (or in summer school) and no longer have the prerequisite for a course on their timetable.
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In grade 12 or year 5 and do not have enough courses on their schedule to reach 30 credits/graduate by the end of this year.
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Level changes (for example moving from academic to applied).
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Missing a prerequisite course for entry into a post-secondary institution.
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Have a course in their schedule in which a credit was already earned.
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As the startup is busy with new registrations and scheduling, to see your guidance counselor, please come at lunch. It will be first come first serve.
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We want to thank you for following the course request change process and for your understanding and patience while we work together to support students and families in a successful school year.
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Post-Secondary Institutions Disclosure of Information Consent Form
If you are planning to apply to College or University this year, you must complete the disclosure form. This will allow us to share your marks with post-secondary institutions. If you do not complete this form any applications, you submit will be incomplete.
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If you are unsure about your plans, please complete the form allowing us to share your marks. If you do apply it will make the application process easier.
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If you are not planning to apply to post-secondary this year, please complete the form and indicate that on the form.
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Information on how to set up an account can be found here
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After you complete the form and check out, you will receive a confirmation email.
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Tip: if you can see the form in your School Cash online account, then it has not been completed.
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SAVE THE DATE - ACADEMIC AWARDS NIGHT
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Thursday, October 9, 6:30pm
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Invitations to award recipients will be sent out by email to parents and students. Students will be required to complete the google form to RSVP to the event. Please RSVP by Wednesday, October 1.
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GUIDANCE D2L
For additional information throughout the year, please visit the Guidance D2L page.
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POST-SECONDARY PLANNING
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Ontario Universities Fair
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Ontario's universities are excited to host a collection of in-person and virtual events in the fall of 2025.
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This event is fair style with booths from Ontario universities; gather information and chat with representatives one on one.
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Can’t make the OUF? Ontario’s universities are coming to you this fall! The Regional Fairs offer fair-style events that allow you to gather information about Ontario’s universities. Learn about programs, campus life and anything else that may help you decide which Ontario university to choose.
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Regional Fairs are held at various locations and dates from September 15 to October 17.
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Locations, dates and times are available on the OUF website
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Waterloo: October 16, 10:00 am to 5:00pm at the University of Waterloo
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The one-stop event for all your college information needs!
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Thursday, October 16, 2025
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Friday, October 17, 20232
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
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This free event is being held at Exhibition Place, Toronto.
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The College Information Program (CIP) will make 30+ stops across Ontario.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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Guidance is looking for student volunteers to assist with Academic Awards night. We will have two shifts immediately after school and during the event 6pm – 8:30pm (approximately).
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Sign up sheets will be available in Guidance.
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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Varriano Lane or anyone in Guidance.
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Join the Bennies Helping Hands!
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This is a NEW club at St Benedict, started by current grade 12 student Samya Singh. Samya is featured above holding a certificate of appreciation from the Cambridge Humane Society, gifted to our school after the Bennies Helping Hands organized a drive to collect pet products to help furry friends in need! This initiative ran this past June, and it’s the first of many! Are you passionate about helping others? Are you looking for fun ways to get your community service hours? Are you hoping to make connections with other students who care about making a difference? Join us! Look out for information in the coming weeks about when and where we meet, or come chat with Ms Vorsteveld or Ms Currie if you have any questions!
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DOCTOR WHO CLUB is back!
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DOCTOR WHO CLUB returns on September 5th for another year of adventures in time & space. Join us every week for pizza, raffle prizes, and enjoying the world’s longest running SF/Fantasy series in the company of fellow enthusiasts. Just show up and enjoy.
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It all begins AFTER SCHOOL in ROOM 226 on FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5th.
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New members are always welcome!
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Welcome to a new school year! We have some exciting things on the go for the coming school year, keep your eye on this space in the coming weeks for some fun in the fall!
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For your virtual library needs, visit the St Benedict Library Learning Commons site here or the Idea Exchange site here.
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Monday, September 1
Labour Day
Tuesday, September 2
PA Day
8:30am: Previously Owned Uniform Sale - Grade 9s
10:30am: Previously Owned Uniform Sale - Grade 10, 11, 12
Wednesday, September 3
First day for students
BENN Newsletter release
Thursday, September 4
2:15pm: Girls Field Hockey registration meeting
2:30pm: Descendents the Musical Auditions
Friday, September 5
2:00pm: Jr Boys Volleyball meeting
2:15pm: Doctor Who club
2:30pm: Descendents the Musical Auditions
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Wednesday, September 10
BENN Newsletter release
3:00pm: Course change request deadline
Friday, September 12
Student Verification Forms due
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2:15pm: Doctor Who club
Thursday, September 18
5:00pm: Rowing Club workshop
Friday, September 19
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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