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Wednesday, March 8, 2023 - Volume 15, Issue 14
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We hope you all have a safe and restful March Break next week!
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Looking for a quick way to navigate all things WCDSB for parents?
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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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Grad and Prom Information
Dear grade 12 students and guardians,
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The purpose of this communication is to provide some clarity regarding prom. Like last year, a group of students and parent volunteers are organizing a Prom for St. Benedict students. This is consistent with the practice of many of our local schools for the past several years. To ensure that all students in grade 12 have access to the information and the opportunity to attend the event, we are working with the organizers to provide further details on the event that is being planned. Please click on this link to access information about Prom 2023.
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The school will provide further details about the graduation liturgy, breakfast, and convocation ceremony at a later date.
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Bennies will be conducting a spring food drive to support the important work of The Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank. The food drive will take place from Wednesday, March 22 – Thursday April 6. The Food Bank is short of breakfast items and so the focus of our food drive will be breakfast cereal. Students are encouraged to bring in cereal items on more than one day. We know our current economic times are putting pressure on many people. We invite to as generous as you have been in the past. Together we can care for and support members of our Cambridge community.
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Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test information
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The administration of the Spring Session of The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test will be held on April 19th. All resources for the testing can be found on our website under Student Services, Literacy Test Preparation. There will also be support during Lunch beginning Wednesday, March 1st and every Wednesday to follow before the testing. We will also have tutoring available after school Mondays - Thursdays that will also support the Literacy Test. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Andreia Borba at andreia.borba@wcdsb.ca.
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Positive Parent-Teacher communication
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As always, parents/guardians are valuable partners in a 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, all public and interpersonal communications must recognize the dignity of the individual and be conducted fairly, honestly, and respectfully.
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When a parent, guardian or other board stakeholder has a concern or suggestion, it is expected that the matter will first be taken up with the staff member. The process outlined below should be followed.
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2022-2023
School Year
Bell Times
7:55 Warning Bell
8:00 - 9:15 Period 1
9:20 - 10:35 Period 2
10:40 Lunch
11:20 Warning Bell
11:25 - 12:40 Period 3
12:45 - 2:00 Period 4
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Stay Connected with
St. Benedict's!
Twitter
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Summer Elearning through St. Louis
Registration for Summer School Elearning courses is now available through the Waterloo Catholic District School board’s St. Louis Adult Learning & Continuing Education Centre. Please visit their website https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca/summer-programs/summer-credit/ for a list of courses and how to register. Registration begins end of February 2022.
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Students wishing to take a required course in summer school should include the required course in their myBlueprint planner and the SUMMER placeholder code. They should also include an alternate course. Once registration has been confirmed the Guidance Counsellor will update the planner.
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Community Service Hours – for 2023 Graduates
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It is a requirement of graduation that each student complete 40 hours of community service. There are many opportunities to fulfill this requirement. Potential graduates should submit their hours to the Guidance office as soon as possible, so it can be recorded for graduation.
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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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| Ms. Varriano Lane |
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Pe – Q, International students
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GUIDANCE GOOGLE CLASSROOMS
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Once again, the Guidance department will have google classrooms available to share information with our students.
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Please consider joining the classrooms:
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Financing Post-Secondary: Scholarships, Bursaries, and OSAP
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Got a ‘rich uncle’ with a bank full of cash waiting for you to cover your post-secondary costs? Well, I did not either. The reality is that post-secondary education is costly and takes planning, so we hope you’ve begun. Many students supplement their post-secondary savings through scholarships, bursaries, and loans. This article will get you pointed in the right direction to access the necessary resources for information.
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Most scholarships for first year students are ‘entrance’ scholarships and are automatically awarded based on marks. Some awards, called bursaries, are based on financial need, but may also include other components such as volunteer service, leadership, or being associated with a service group, employer, or union. These are very individual, and you can search these out using the resources set out below.
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The following sites are Canadian websites where you can register and search online for a variety of scholarships, bursaries, and contests to help fund post-secondary education.
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The Scholarship Report is a service Guidance subscribes to at Bennies. It is a wonderful resource that you can use to search for scholarship opportunities by the month. It also provides a great deal of post-secondary information for all pathway opportunities. As the Scholarship Report is a proprietary service, access to it must be for the St. Benedict Community. In order, to view the report, go to the Scholarship page on the website and hit the link to the report. You will need a PASSWORD that is for St. Benedict students only. The password can be obtained through guidance.
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What can you do now?
- Determine your post- secondary costs including tuition, books, room and board, travel, etc.
- Check parents’ places of employment/ your place of employment or service groups for scholarships or bursaries
- Check with the schools in which you are going to apply
- Check Bennies website, through the Students Services tab, AND the Guidance Google Classroom (code – MXMOHZX)
- Create a scholarship/bursary resume where you collect all of your accomplishments, achievements, involvements, and potential barriers overcame in chronological order; you should line up references from teachers, community members and coaches who can speak to your involvement and character
- Talk seriously, with your family about your plan to fund post-secondary which may include applying for OSAP
OSAP - The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a financial aid program that can help you pay for college or university. Applying, for OSAP is done individually and one may be eligible for grants (free money!) and/or loans. OSAP applications will open in April or May 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year. Check out the OSAP website OSAP for more information. In order to plan, you can use the OSAP Estimator tool for a quick guide to see if you eligible for loans or grants. This can be completed anytime.
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Post-secondary education is an investment in yourself. Planning, as best as possible, will help reduce stress and strain, and is certainly more reliable than finding a ‘rich uncle’.
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Coming Math Contests
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On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, the Gr. 11 and 12 students will be taking part in the University of Waterloo Euclid Math Contest. Cost per participant - $18. Please, register through SchoolCashOnline. This event is open to Gr.11 and 12 students!
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The deadline for the registration is Thursday, March 9. Don't miss it!
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On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, the Gr. 9, 10 and 11 students will be taking part in the University of Waterloo Fryer, Galois and Hypatia Math Contests. Cost per participant - $12. Please, register through SchoolCashOnline. This event is open to all students!
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The deadline for the registration is Thursday, March 9. Don't miss it!
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Saints Swimmer at OFSAA
Please congratulate Hailey Murdoch on an outstanding performance at OFSAA last week. Hailey raced the 100 meter backstroke and the 200 meter I.M, and made it to the B Finals for both events. In the B Finals she came in second place in her 100 meter backstroke, and fifth place in her 200 meter I.M.
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She was also the highest ranking grade 9 for her 200 meter I.M.
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Hailey demonstrated tremendous hard work and dedication throughout the season, and OFSAA was no exception. Great work Hailey!
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Sports Results
We are between seasons... watch for spring sport start-up soon!
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Check out the calendar on the bottom of the newsletter and on the school website for up-to-date information about game times for all your St. Benedict teams!
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Bennie's Brain Bee club
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Are you interested in learning about the brain? Join Bennies Brain Bee club and meet weekly to prepare for the University of Waterloo's Brain Bree Neuroscience competition! Our first meeting will be Thursday, March 9th at the start of lunch in room A2 in the Annex.
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With March Break next week, Idea Exchange will be offering the following TEEN programs:
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An afternoon of indoor climbing for teens!
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The Core team leads you through basic instruction, followed by some games and drills to get you moving and making friends. The day will include refreshments and a photo booth.
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Registration begins on Wednesday, March 1 at 10:00 am.
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Read aloud sections from Twelfth Night during this evening play-reading with pizza. All the fun of Shakespeare without the memorizing and rehearsing!
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Registration begins on Wednesday, March 1 at 10:00 am.
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Friday, March 17, 2023 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
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Registration required. Free.
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Between March 1 and March 31, 2023, complete music and sound challenges for a chance to win a gift card.
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No instruments or fancy tech required.
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For this program you will need access to a device with audio, a laptop or desktop computer will work best. Computers are available for use at all Idea Exchange locations with a valid membership.
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You will complete challenges at your own pace. For each challenge you complete, your name will be entered into a draw for a $50 Happy Teen gift card.
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Calendar of Events
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Thursday, March 9
9:30am: SHSM Workshop: Negotiation Training
10:45am: Brain Bee Club
10:45am: HOSA Club
10:45am: Seams Sew Easy
10:45am: Chess Club
10:45am: Writing Skills Society
10:45am: GSA Club
10:45am: MCU Movies club
2:00pm: Concert Band
2:00pm: Math Club
2:00pm: E-car Racing Saints
2:00pm: Weight Room Club
2:15pm: Games Club
2:15pm: BoulderDash Club
2:15pm: Student Equity and Engagement Council
Friday, March 10
10:45am: Star Trek Club
2:00pm: Weight Room Club
2:15pm: Doctor Who Club
Monday, March 13
March Break
Friday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day
Monday, March 20
Spring Equinox
10:45am: Lights Out! Club
10:45am: Coding Club
10:45am: EcoClub
2:00pm: Weight Room Club
Tuesday, March 21
10:45am: Model UN
10:45am: GSA Club
10:45am: MCU Movies club
2:00pm: Weight Room Club
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Wednesday, March 22
BENN Newsletter Release
10:45am: Guitar Club
10:45am: Writing Skills Society
10:45am: Coding Club
2:00pm: E-car Racing Saints
2:00pm: Weight Room Club
2:15pm: Graphic Novels Club
3:30pm: SHSM Workshop: Behaviour Management
Thursday, March 23
9:30am: SHSM Workshop: Plant-Based Eating for Disease Prevention
10:45am: Brain Bee Club
10:45am: HOSA Club
10:45am: Seams Sew Easy
10:45am: Chess Club
10:45am: Writing Skills Society
10:45am: GSA Club
10:45am: MCU Movies club
2:00pm: Concert Band
2:00pm: Math Club
2:00pm: E-car Racing Saints
2:00pm: Weight Room Club
2:15pm: Games Club
2:15pm: BoulderDash Club
2:15pm: Student Equity and Engagement Council
Friday, March 24
10:45am: Star Trek Club
2:00pm: Weight Room 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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