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Wednesday, November 7, 2018 - Volume 11, Issue 7
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Farewell to a good friend
This Friday will see the "end of an era", as our Principal Mr. Dan Witt leaves the St. Benedict community. Mr. Witt has taken on a different position with our school board, becoming the new Principal of Don Bosco/Safe Schools and International Education program.
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In his place, we will be welcoming back Mrs. Lorrie Temple, a familiar face at St. Benedict's. Mrs. Temple was a teacher and a vice-principal in her previous two "appearances" at St. Benedict.
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Mr. Witt has been instrumental in many initiatives at the school, and he will be missed by both staff and students. We wish him the greatest of success, and all the best in his new position!
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Setting the tone for Remembrance Day
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Ms. Weiler and her students made and strung several hundred poppies in our atrium. Several students also created the beautiful Lest we forget poster above.
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Students were inspired by the Tower installation (where the poppies spill out from an upper window onto the surrounding lawns). The sprawl of over five hundred handmade poppies starts on the third floor and spill down onto the second floor balustrades.
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A Haunted Hallowe'en
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What happens when you get over 100 students to work together on a Haunted House project at Bennie's? You get one of the hauntingly best experiences--if you like to be scared out of your wits!
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A big thank you to Mr. Renner and his tech team; they worked together like a well oiled machine. In a blink of an eye there was an incredible maze on the stage with several audio stations and lighting. Without a House Cosmo Club had nothing to Haunt!
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Another huge thank you to Ms. Weiler who helped to manage a team of over 100 students.
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And finally a massive thank you to our entire Cosmo Crew, under the leadership of Ms. McKellar! You put in many weeks of hard work and dedication, and your creativity was inspiring! Bennies really has such an incredible group of talented students!
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Attention grade 9’s!
The Canada-wide event - Take Our Kids to Work Day takes place next Wednesday. Signed permission forms are due back to your home room teacher by this Friday!
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Grand River Transit: Cambridge high school students EasyGO fare card promotion
As part of the Region's Transit Supportive Strategy for the City of Cambridge*, all Grade 9-12 students attending a Cambridge high school in fall 2018 are eligible to receive GRT’s new EasyGO fare card pre-loaded with $24 in stored value (equivalent to 10 rides at the 2018 high school reduced fare rate).
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The cards are non-refundable, non-transferable, and are registered to each student. This promotion cannot be applied to the cost of a monthly pass. Cambridge high school students must request this promotion by December 31, 2018.
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Who is eligible?
- Any Grade 9-12 student with a valid student card for a high school in Cambridge
- Any Cambridge high school student who has a Term Pass provided by Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region.
Bring with you:
- A printed and signed consent form. All students 17 years old and younger must present a consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian to get the EasyGO fare card.
- A valid Cambridge high school student identification card or timetable with student name.
Where to get your EasyGO Fare Card:
- $24 stored value can only be used when a monthly pass or term pass is not active on the fare card.
- $24 value cannot be applied to the cost of a pass.
- One $24 promotion per student. If a students EasyGO fare card is lost or stolen, GRT will cancel the card and issue a new card with the remaining value on your account.
- The EasyGO fare card can be reloaded at GRT’s Ainslie or Charles terminal, and online in future.
*Transit Supportive Strategy for the City of Cambridge
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As part of the approval of ION light rail transit in 2011, Regional Council approved funding for special projects to improve transit ridership in the City of Cambridge. The Transit Supportive Strategy for the City of Cambridge is to accelerate the implementation of light rail transit in that City.
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Ever wondered what kinds of certifications you can get through the Specialist High Skills Major program?
Take a look at the list of what is coming up in November and December!
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News from Guidance
Who is your Guidance Counsellor?
Mrs. Lesley O’Toole: A-Di & International Students, ext. 5190
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Mrs. Karla Arkell: Dj - Ki, ext. 5636
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Mr. Nick Betik: Kl - Pl, ext. 5633
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Mrs. Laura O’Neill: Po - Z, ext. 5634
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Mrs. Christine O’Connor: Administrative Assistant, ext. 5631
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Are you thinking of Graduating this year?
Students who are considering graduating this year and their parents are invited to sign up for our Graduation information newsletter. Information that will help you as you move towards graduating will be sent to your email address: applying for scholarships, deadlines for college and university applications and more! You can easily unsubscribe at any time.
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Post-Secondary Timeline
1. College and University visits that have been held at our school this fall will be coming to a close in November; however, there are still a few opportunities for students to attend a presentation. See the guidance office for more information on how to sign up for, and attend one of these presentations.
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2. Grade 12 students should continue to do specific institution research at the E-info site (www.electronicinfo.com) for university and www.ontariocolleges.ca site.
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3. PIN numbers for student applying to university are in the guidance office. Students planning to apply to university must use this personal PIN number to set up their account. Students planning to apply to college do not need a PIN number in order to set up their application account.
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4. Now is a great time to arrange for a campus visit or tour at institutions that are of interest. The value of making a personal visit to a school should not be underestimated. Students who have visited campuses are finding this to be very beneficial in their decision making process. Most colleges and universities typically host these events in the fall, as well as in the spring. Specific dates can be found on the web sites of all university and colleges.
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5. Review your semester two timetable to make sure that you have all of the necessary pre-requisite courses for the programs that you are interested in applying for.
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6. Complete your Community Service Hours – AND – remember to hand them in!!
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7. Be prepared to wait for confirmation of acceptance from schools. Each institution has its own timeline with regard to admission offers. Try not to let anxiety about acceptance interfere with your progress at school.
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Cambridge Front Door Counselling
Walk–In Counselling Available at Cambridge “Front Door” Do you have concerns about your teenager’s behavior, emotional state, or mental health? Are you concerned about possible self-harm or drug use issues? Are these issues creating family conflict for you? The Walk-In Counselling at Front Door helps families with children up to 18 years of age to get started on the road to understanding. Through a single family counselling session, the experienced counsellors there help identify issues and equip families with tools and strategies to address their concerns. The focus of the session is determined by each family’s unique needs. The Cambridge office is located at 35 Dickson Street. Walk-In counselling hours are Tuesdays from 12 Noon to 7:30 PM (last appointment at 6:30 PM). Appointments are available on a first come basis and are free of charge. Family member directly involved in the concern are encouraged to attend.
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FIDDLESTICKS PROGRAMS
EAD Course (Ages 12 - 16)
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Develop your leadership skills during this 12 module certification program! LEAD (Leadership Excellence Asset Development) training is a great to have if you’re looking to land that perfect part-time job or a spot on student council! LEAD is a requirement for Fiddlesticks Summer Camp Volunteers. This program is run by Fiddlesticks staff.
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Volleyball [Recreational] (Ages 14+)
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Do you enjoy playing Volleyball? No need to be a professional, everyone is just here to have some fun! The program runs from October to May at Clemens Mill P.S. from 8-10pm for only $115 per person.
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Unplug from the stress of the world for a couple hours with our meditation program. Learn all about “Self Empowerment” and “Self Management”. From our 10 week course, you will achieve an understanding of yourself and your personality, the discovery of your innate qualities, a recognition of your path in life with the ability to focus your efforts, enhancing and enriching relationships in life, and much more! This program runs at the Homestead (71 Cowan Blvd) on Sunday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Only $25 for 10 sessions.
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Take Our Kids To Work Day
This year, Take Our Kids to Work Day falls on Wednesday, November 14th. This nation-wide program is an opportunity for all grade 9 students to experience the world of work by shadowing a family member for the day. Permission forms and further information were distributed last week. The permission form needs to be signed and returned to their homeroom teacher by November 9 in order for the student to have their absence from school approved. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Guidance department.
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Community Service Opportunities
In addition to fulfilling an important diploma requirement, volunteering provides students with a way to give back to their community. As opportunities become known to the guidance department, they will be announced on the announcement system, posted on the Guidance bulletin board and listed in the BENN.
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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. If you have already registered for Hour Republic check out the guidelines on the website www.hourrepublic.com. This website can also be used to track your hours and see volunteer opportunities.
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Support Catholic Education
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COMMUNITY JUSTICE INITIATIVES
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5 Tips to Help Teens Navigate High School Conflict
By Shelley Schanzenbacher, Youth Services Coordinator, CJI
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Do you remember your transition to high school? The school was much bigger than your elementary school; you went from a student population of 450 to 1500. Just a few short months before you saw your best friend all the time. All of the sudden, you didn’t have any classes together and you hardly ever saw each other at school, except sometimes at lunch. Your best friend might have made a whole new group of friends that you didn’t know. And then one day at lunch, your friend was sitting with new friends. When you walked by with your lunch, your friend seemed to be ignoring you. Your relationship had changed from what it once was to something new.
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The transition from elementary school to high school is not a simple transition for most kids. One of the hardest challenges students have to navigate outside of their academics are the various relationships they encounter: new/old friends, teachers, vice principals, guidance counsellors and all the other people that become part of their life during the school year. Perceptions and assumptions can take the place of the reality in a situation for young a student and thus can cause a sense of uncertainty and conflict.
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Conflicts can take many forms in a high school student’s life. Friend groups are changing and romantic relationships are becoming increasingly important. Teaching young people how to manage conflict in their lives, especially during the crucial time of high school, is one of the most important things we can offer our youth today. The first thing to ask your teen is, “Is this actually a conflict or is this something that is a perception/assumption you have?”
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If it is a conflict, here are five tips on healthy ways to navigate conflict to share with your teens:
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- Recognize that a conflict is as a result of actions that a person chooses, not who they are. When navigating a conflict you are solving a problem, not finding the culprit.
- Consider what the conflict is really all about – where did it start, what is it rooted in?
- Ask: How have the actions of that person impacted you?
- Ask: What matters most to you about this conflict and how it gets resolved? How do you want to write the next chapter in the story?
- Remember that the silent treatment or ignoring the conflict doesn’t work in the long run. It causes more harm than good; choose to talk it out.
At its core, restorative practice honours the inherent worth of all human beings, regardless of who they are or what they do. It accepts that people are relational beings whose well-being is nurtured or diminished through our interconnectedness (Pranis, 2007; Vaandering, 2011). Thus, learning how to be in healthy relationships doesn’t mean there is an absence of conflict, instead it means that we are willing to lean into the conflict, repair the harm and transform the conflict from a relational perspective. We must always focus on maintaining the dignity of each person involved.
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Most importantly, when you experience conflict with your teen, take the time to help them practice these skills. Experience is the best teacher.
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Want more information? Here are some additional resources on becoming more relational savvy:
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- “Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions of Adulthood” by Lisa Damour
- “Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys” by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson
- https://www.relationshipsfirstnl.com
Shelley is the Youth Victim Offender Reconciliation Service Coordinator at Community Justice Initiatives. She works with organizations to provide conflict resolution and a chance for participants to restore and rebuild their relationships. Her work with the St. Benedict community was featured in a piece on CBC Radio in February of this year. We are excited to welcome her as a regular contributor of the BENN Newsletter!
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Enriching the Lives of Students
There many opportunities for students to enhance their learning experience: Enrichment courses, LEAP, OYAP, UCEP, Co-op, Home Build, SHSM, and Skills Canada. Visit the Enrichment blog for information on all these opportunities. The Blogroll contains a plethora of learning enhancements. To learn more about what we offer, click on Enrichment@St.Benedict.
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English Corner
To receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) each student must obtain four credits in English (one credit per grade). Visit the English blog to read the course offerings provided by the Saint Benedict English Department. The Blogroll has great resources for both students and parents. Enjoy! English@St.Benedict blog.
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Advanced Placement at St. Benedict
Advanced Placement (AP) is an internationally recognized program that allows students to enrich the Ontario Curriculum with the goal of achieving university accreditation.
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What does the research say about AP students?
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Research shows that the best predictor of whether or not a student completes a university degree is not their high school grades or standardized tests. Rather, the best predictor is how many challenging courses a student has taken in high school. Students who challenge themselves with AP courses and exams are much more likely to complete a university degree in four years or less.
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Trip to the Theatre – Man of La Mancha!
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All semester 1 Pre-AP and AP English students from grade 9-12 recently travelled to The Hamilton Family Theatre, located in beautiful downtown Cambridge, to see an amazing performance of Man of La Mancha. Although the play was originally written in the 17th century, many of the messages about hope and kindness are still relevant today. The musical performances were also outstanding. The students thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were thankful to have a “real world” experience of some the topics we discuss in English class.
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E-waste Collection coming to Bennie's
Did you know cell phones and other electronic items contain high amounts of precious metals like gold or silver? Americans dump phones containing over $60 million in gold/silver every year!
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Studies show that only 12.5% of e-waste is disposed of properly. When electronic items are improperly disposed of, they end up in landfills. As the electronics sit in landfills, they release toxic chemicals into the soil and also pollute the air. This is harmful to both the environment and the people exposed to the landfill. Exposure to these toxins can causes birth defects, heart, lung and kidney damage.
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The students at St. Benedict have decided to hold an e-waste collection to prevent electronic devices from ending up in landfills.
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On Wednesday, November 14, students will be collecting broken and unwanted electronics in the atrium at lunch. Some examples of electronics that will be accepted include:
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The electronics collected will be picked up by a local e-waste collection company who will properly process and dispose of the waste.
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Please help save the Earth and contribute to the St. Benedict e-waste drive. Our goal is to collect over 50 pieces of e-waste and keep them away from landfills. Proper disposal of these electronics will both benefit you and the planet! Your support is greatly appreciated!
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Sports
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Playoff action!!
Wednesday, November 7
Sr. Girls Basketball [sf] vs Pere-Rene, 2:30pm
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Jr. Girls Basketball [sf] vs St. David, 4:00pm
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Sr. Boys Volleyball [finals] vs Woodland, 8:00pm
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Thursday, November 8
Jr. Boys Football [finals] @ Resurrection, 4:30pm
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Senior Girls Volleyball meeting
There will be a quick meeting at the beginning of lunch this Friday in room 206 for any senior girls interested in trying out for the senior girls volleyball team. Please see Ms. Blackwell in portable 4 if you are interested in trying out, but unable to attend the meeting.
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Want to Curl?
All students who are interested in curling this year are invited to attend a short meeting at the beginning of lunch Thursday in room 208. Our season will start on November 12. If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Missio in room 208.
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Latest results
St. Benedict CSS 42, St. David CSS 41
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St. Benedict CSS 53, St. Mary's HS 30
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St. Mary's HS 33, St. Benedict CSS 30
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ES Pere-Rene-de-Galinee 3, St. Benedict CSS 1
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St. Mary's HS 3, St. Benedict CSS 0
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St. Benedict CSS 3, ES Pere-Rene-de-Galinee 0
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St. Benedict CSS 3, St. Mary's HS 2
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[sf] St. Benedict CSS 3, Rockway MC 1
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St. Benedict CSS 38, St. Mary's HS 7
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[sf] St. Benedict CSS 24, St. Mary's HS 6
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D8 CROSS COUNTRY: Overall title goes to the St. Benedict Saints
In one of the loudest celebrations heard at a District 8 cross country championship, St. Benedict’s was ecstatic with the overall team title returning to their trophy case in Hespeler.
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It was the Saint’s senior girls team of Nicole Soares, Faith Nieson, Charlotte Jones and Abrianna Gonzalez-Day that led the way help St. Benedict’s to the senior girls and overall girls team titles. The Saints junior girls team finished second in their team division while the midget girls finished third.
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It was Alyssa Pearce from Resurrection who was the individual gold medalist in the senior girls division followed by a pair of Rockway runners, Claudia Heeney and Tessa Hedrick who finished with only three second between them.
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The senior boys race was flooded by the team of St. Mary’s as they accounted for six of the top eight runners in the division. Foster Malleck was the top finisher collecting gold 25 seconds ahead of Kyle Bociort from Père-René-de-Galinée. St. Mary’s Jason Lowrie finished with the bronze.
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The junior boys division was won by Resurrection who snuck by Rockway on team tie breaking points. Patrick Benest from Resurrection won the gold medal, followed by Rockway’s Aidan Morton Ninomiya and Markus Schroeder Kipser who finished with the silver and bronze respectively.
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The junior girls group from Monsignor Doyle who won last year in the midget division, repeated as champions this year led by a gold medal performance from Alex Hankins. Resurrection’s Emily Dodge finished second, and Woodland’s Carmen Duimering finished third.
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Ashley Blazek from Resurrection finished with the gold medal in the midget girls division and helped the Phoenix to the team title. Victoria Antolcic from St. Mary’s finished with the silver medal while Emma Kueneman finished with the bronze.
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The midget boys team of St. David’s won their team title with four runners finishing in the top ten. Alex Nicolescu won the midget boys gold for Resurrection while his teammate Carter Murphy won the bronze. Issay Tieu from St. Benedict’s won the silver medal.
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The overall boys title was awarded to Resurrection. For complete results please visit the District 8 Cross Country page.
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The CWOSSA Championships will be held October 25th at Bechtel Park in Waterloo followed by OFSAA Championships scheduled for November 3rd at Christie Lake in Dundas.
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DECA Regionals Success
Congratulations to the following students who were among the top performers at the DECA regional competition on Saturday:
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- Callan Stewart, Top 10 on the DECA exam
- Ijlaal Abdali, Top 10 on the DECA exam, Top 6 overall
- Natalie Davidson, Top 10 on the DECA exam, Top 6 overall
- Kyanna Vi and Samantha Kerry, Top 2 in their oral case
- Curtis Hall and Leanne Trepannier, Top 2 in their oral case
- Madeline Whiteside and Kathlyn Pimentel, Top 2 in their oral case
NEW CLUB! The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Club
Starting Nov 6th and running every Tuesday and Friday during lunch in room 227, the new Hobbit and Lord of the Rings club. Bring your lunch to room 227 and enjoy the entire series from Bilbo Baggins finding the ring in the Hobbit to Frodo's final battle with Gollum to destroy it. See Mr. Riso for details.
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News from St. Mary of the Visitation parish
St Mary of the Visitation Parish exists to be a light on the hill and offer every person in our community a life-changing encounter with Jesus so that we can grow as His intentional disciples and become an ever more credible witness to the difference that Jesus alone can make in each of our lives. We are here to be home for all - truly with something for everyone. Not only do we invite you to join us on Sunday, but our parish offers many opportunities and service opportunities for youth – check them out there is a spot for you.
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As Pastor, I would simply encourage you to take the next step, get connected and become involved. Know that there is a place for you here - in other words - “Welcome Home”. Check out our website – drop in and visit on Sunday. Know that no matter your age – we have something for you. May Our Lady of the Visitation continue to be our inspiration, model and guide.
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Together in the Lord’s Service,
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Father F. Freitas, Pastor
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Getting to Church Just Got So Much Easier! Every Sunday off-site parking is available at St. Gabriel School Parking Lot (Baldwin Drive & Guelph Avenue). It runs from 9:00a.m.-1:00 p.m., picks you right up at your car, and drops you off at the Church front doors.
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Welcome to Da Crew! Da Crew is the place for high-schoolers who are members of St. Mary of the Visitation Parish in H-Town, also known as (Hespeler), Cambridge. We are dedicated to having fun, sharing faith and giving back thru service to our community and parish. Come and be a part of Da Crew!
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Community Service opportunities at St. Mary of the Visitation
Our Parish has a program called “Special Friends”. It is for children and young people who have special needs. We seek to partner them with “Buddies” who would be with them in their programs (eg. Children’s Liturgy, Visitation Kids, Iwannago or Kids Klub) as one to one support. We have three trained EA’s who are overseeing the program but would like to invite teens to serve as the “Buddies”. You may want to consider this if you are looking for a challenging and rewarding experience!
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Also, are you tech savvy? Do you like videography, powerpoint, and running the show? Consider joining our parish Tech Team. Talk to Father Freitas or visit www.stmaryhespeler.ca for more information. Training begins soon!
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News from St. Clement Parish
The Parish Council of St. Clement’s recently met and the decision was made to change the Sunday morning Masses effective November 4, 2018. One Mass has been eliminated. Our Lord’s Day Mass times will be: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. (unchanged), and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
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Calendar of Events
Be sure to visit our school website for an updated calendar with detailed information links for most calendar entries.
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Wednesday, November 7 BENN Newsletter release 2:00pm: Rock Orchestra practice 2:00pm: Games Club 2:15pm: Homework Club 2:30pm: Sr. Girls Basketball [SF] vs Pere-Rene-de-Galinee 4:00pm: Jr. Girls Basketball [SF] vs. St. David 8:00pm: Sr. Boys Volleyball [finals] vs Woodland CHS Thursday, November 8 8:00am: Civics/Careers Turnaround Day 10:35am: E-car meeting 10:35am: Mario Kart club 10:35am: DECA Business Club 10:35am: Praise Choir 10:35am: Curling information meeting 2:00pm: Math Club 2:15pm: Homework Club 4:30pm: Jr. Boys Football [finals] @ Resurrection CSS 6:30pm: Homecoming Dance Friday, November 9 10:35am: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Club 10:35am: Star Trek Club 10:35am: Sr. Girls Volleyball info meeting 11:30am: Univ/Coll visit: Fanshawe College 2:00pm: Doctor Who Club Sunday, November 11 Remembrance Day Monday, November 12 10:35am: E-car meeting 10:35am: Finance Club 1:00pm: Univ/Coll visit: University of Western Ontario Tuesday, November 13 10:35am: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Club 10:35am: Arts Council 10:35am: E-car meeting 10:35am: DECA Business Club 10:35am: Reach for the Top club 10:35am: Champions for Change club Wednesday, November 14 Grade 9 Take Our Kids to Work Day 10:35am: E-waste Collection in Atrium 10:35am: Guitar Club 10:35am: E-car meeting 10:35am: Model UN Club 10:35am: Anime Club 2:00pm: Rock Orchestra practice 2:00pm: Games Club 2:15pm: Homework Club
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Thursday, November 15 SHSM Event: Explore Law & Justice: Workshops & Career Fair SHSM Event: Concussion Awareness Training 10:35am: E-car meeting 10:35am: Giving Back Club 10:35am: Mario Kart club 10:35am: DECA Business Club 10:35am: Praise Choir 2:00pm: Doctor Who Club 2:00pm: Math Club 2:15pm: Homework Club Friday, November 16 Professional Activity Day 10:35am: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Club Monday, November 19 SHSM Event: Hairstyling - The Science of Colour 9:15am: Univ/Coll visit: Laurentian University 10:35am: E-car meeting 10:35am: Finance Club Tuesday, November 20 10:35am: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Club 10:35am: Arts Council 10:35am: E-car meeting 10:35am: DECA Business Club 10:35am: Reach for the Top club 10:35am: Champions for Change club Wednesday, November 21 BENN Newsletter release SHSM Event: CPR-C & Standard First Aid (DAY 1) SHSM Event: ICT Zoom Career Day 8:00am: Mid-Term Report Cards Distributed 8:00am: Math Contests—Senior & Intermediate 9:15am: Univ/Coll visit: Queen's University 10:35am: Guitar Club 10:35am: E-car meeting 10:35am: Model UN Club 10:35am: Anime Club 2:00pm: Rock Orchestra practice 2:00pm: Games Club 2:15pm: Homework Club Thursday, November 22 10:35am: E-car meeting 10:35am: Mario Kart club 10:35am: DECA Business Club 10:35am: Praise Choir 2:00pm: Math Club 2:15pm: Homework Club Friday, November 23 10:35am: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Club 10:35am: Star Trek Club 2:00pm: Doctor Who Club
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