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Wednesday, October 7, 2020 - Volume 13, Issue 4
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Message From the School Administration
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On behalf of the Administration team, our hope for you is that this Thanksgiving Weekend provides you time to delight in the riches of the fall season, enjoy your time with family. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
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Your admin Team
Mrs. M. Ingoldsby (Principal) - A to Bl
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Ms. E. Riley (Vice Principal) - Bo to G (and all International students)
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Mr. R. Stehlik (Vice Principal) - H to O
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Mr. D. Borba (Vice Principal) - P to Z
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Parent-teacher conferencing tomorrow
Parent-teacher conferences will be happening virtually on Thursday, October 8 between 2:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon and 5:00 and 7:00 in the evening. This will be an opportunity for you to speak with your son’s or daughter’s teachers about their progress thus far.
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Due to COVID restrictions, interviews will be conducted virtually. Parents can request a telephone call, email consultation, or a video meeting using Microsoft Teams.
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To book a meeting with teachers please go to the school website and click on Our Staff. All the teachers have an icon in front of their name. If you click on the icon it will take you to their personal page. In the right column you can select a time slot, fill in the important information, and then click the Book button. You will receive email confirmation of your booking.
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School Schedule and Calendar
Our calendar (with Cohort info and key dates) can be accessed through our school website - https://stbenedict.wcdsb.ca/. You can then access the calendar by going to ABOUT US > School Year Calendar
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Summer Locker Cleanout
Students who were unable to clean out their lockers this past June can pick up their belongings when their assigned cohort is at school attending face to face sessions. Please come to room 111 with some form of ID (health card, drivers licence, student timetable, etc.) after school to pick up belongings. Any items that are not collected by October 21 will be donated to Goodwill.
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Yearbook Collection
St. Isidore and recent graduates who pre-ordered a yearbook last year can collect their yearbook on Thursday, October 8 from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Pick up location is at the side entrance of the school (facing Green Vista Drive). Please adhere to safety precautions (masks and distancing) while waiting in line for pickup.
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Learning kits for St. Isidore students
This year the school board distributed learning kits to all students. If you have not already done so, please contact the main office to arrange to pick up your learning kit at the school.
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Awards Night
Each year we recognize the academic achievement of students across all disciplines. Given our current reality, we are working on a plan to recognize and celebrate these students in a different format. More information to come! Stay tuned!
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Change in Contact Information
To update contact information (address, phone number, etc.), please email jennifer.jackson@wcdsb.ca. Please remember to include:
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- The full name of your child, grade level, parent/guardian full name
- Old Address/Phone number information
- New Address/Phone number information
- Contact names these changes should be applied to
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Parent Email Address
Throughout the school year, important information will be distributed through email. We ask that all parent/guardians ensure the school has at least one primary email address on file for their child
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Student’s full name, grade level, parent/guardian full name and the email address to be attached to the specific parent/guardian
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Critical Medical Alert & Student Plan of Care
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It is very important that the school be informed of any medical condition or allergies a student may have. If your child has a medical condition that has not previously been reported to the school, please email jennifer.jackson@wcdsb.ca. Please remember to include:
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- The full name of your child, grade level, parent/guardian full name
- The name and details of the medical condition—note any medications or steps to be followed in the event of an emergency
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Does Your Child Require a Plan of Care?
Students who have been identified as having a Life-Threatening Critical Medical Condition require a current Plan of Care on file.
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Conditions that require a Plan of Care include: Asthma, Diabetes, Anaphylactic, Heart Condition, Epilepsy & Seizure, any other Life Threatening critical medical condition that requires immediate, emergency actions to treat the condition and ensure the health and wellbeing of the student.
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If you have not completed a Plan of Care for your child, please email jennifer.jackson@wcdsb.ca to obtain a copy of the appropriate package.
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Information on how to change learning environments
When we began the school year back in early September, the board announced that the first transition point for families to switch their children from virtual learning to face to face learning (or vice versa) would be the Thanksgiving weekend. In secondary schools, families/students may only transfer between learning modalities at the end of the quad (November is the next opportunity) – the window for switching will occur starting Monday, October 19th at 9am and will close at 6pm on Wednesday, October 21st.
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Please follow the link provided below to change your mode of learning through a parent survey. Scroll down to the information on Secondary schools. Please know that some courses will not be available at St. Isidore and schedules may change.
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You should not access the transition form at this time.
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- Consent forms and fees are accessible through School Cash Online.
- A detailed checklist, that outlines all required consent forms, fees, and information documents by grade level can be found on our school website under Parents > Current Students > Start Up Procedures and Information
- Instructions for creating a School Cash Online Account can be found on our school website under the “September Start Up” tab at the top of the screen; scroll down and click on “School Cash Online Creating An Account”
- If you encounter any difficulties, please contact the main office at 519-621-4050.
We kindly ask families to submit all forms and fees no later than October 15th
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Rowan's Law day
In 2013 Rowan Stringer, a 17-year-old high school student from Ottawa, lost her life to Second Impact Syndrome; a brain injury caused by suffering a concussion before fully recovering from a previous concussion. In March 2018, the Ontario Government passed Rowan’s Law. As part of Rowan’s law, was the proclamation of Rowan’s Day to occur on the last Wednesday of September each year. Out of respect for Orange Shirt Day on September 30th, recognizing the legacy of Residential school system for First Nations, Metis & Inuit families and communities, Rowan's Law Day will be October 7th in the Waterloo Catholic District School Board.
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The goal for Rowan’s Law day is to:
- Educate staff and students about Rowan and her story
- Share key messages and education about concussions
- Create dialogue about concussions
- Share resources about concussions and concussion prevention
We will be sharing some information (using both announcements and videos) with students from both cohorts in the Face to Face classes (October 7th and 8th) here at St. Benedict CSS.
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Below are some key points that we will share that also pertain to our Bennies' families.
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Rowan’s Story: Rowan Stringer loved rugby. A competitive and keen athlete, she was captain of her high school’s team. Tragically, in May 2013, 17-year old Rowan died as the result of head injuries she sustained while playing rugby. In the week before her last game, Rowan was hit twice while playing, likely sustaining a concussion after each blow. Her concussions went unreported, and she continued to play. Rowan suspected something was not right—she texted a friend about her condition and used Google to search for information about concussions. When she was hit again in her final game, Rowan suffered what is known as Second Impact Syndrome— catastrophic swelling caused by a second injury to a brain still healing from previous trauma. Rowan collapsed on the field on May 8th, 2013 and died four days later.
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Frequently Asked Question
Is there a cohort-specific schedule?
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COVID Test/Screening and Outbreak Protocol
All students (or guardians on their behalf) will be asked to engage in a daily self-assessment before reporting to school and anyone feeling unwell or identifying a concern based on their self-assessment should not report to school. COVID-19 self-assessment (Ontario.ca)
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Once at the school, all students will be required to wear mask at all times. Students are to sanitize their hands upon entering and leaving the classroom.
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What to do when my child isn't feeling well?
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Message from Guidance
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Take our kids to work day
Attention all grade 9's! Take our Kids to Work Day is going Virtual this year! On Wednesday, November 4, you can choose to participate in live, interactive breakout sessions about careers in the following areas: Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Technology & Finance, Skilled Trades and Healthcare. Please visit the attached link for further details: https://www.thelearningpartnership.ca/take-our-kids-to-work/parents-and-students.
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Post-secondary info for Grade 11s & 12s
Are you looking for important post-secondary information and want to get it all quickly and in one place?
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Join the Grade 11 & 12 Guidance Information Updates Google Classroom. Click on this link or log into Google Classroom, select Join class, and enter code iftswz7. We will be using this website as a method of communicating important information.
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Your Guidance Team
Mrs. L. O’Toole - A to Di
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Mrs. K. Arkell - Dj to Ki
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Mrs. L. O’Neill - Po to Z
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Connect with the Guidance Department
Guidance has set up two Google Classrooms to help communicate information from our department. Please take a minute and join! This is especially important for our grade 12 students as we will be updating the site regularly with important postsecondary and graduation information. Grade 9 & 10 students - Class code: 6fkoqp3
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Grade 11 & 12 students - Class code: iftswz7
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Parents: Get involved!
Are you interested in being a part of the Catholic Schools Advisory Council (CSAC), this year's meeting dates have been posted on the school website. Visit the CSAC page for meeting information and details.
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Academics
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In striving to offer our Transportation Technology students more experiential learning opportunities, the Saints Garage now has a number of different vehicles. Our students continue to enjoy industry related exposure to various automobile, motorcycle, and marine technologies. Dayton Crawford is seen here preparing an engine to be installed into a Sea-doo.
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Welcome back to all students, but an especially warm welcome to new students to St. Bennies! The last six months have been different for all of us. However, your school librarian, Ms. Pilon and the staff at Clemens Mill Library are here to help you with finding good books, doing research and using online resources.
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Because St. Bennies Library Learning Commons is a shared facility with Clemens Mill Library, Idea Exchange, it might be helpful to know what services are being offered during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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First, a quick overview of our protocols in the library:
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- all returned library materials are quarantined for 96 hours
- an additional 7 days have been added to all loan periods to allow for personal quarantining of materials at home should members wish *a face mask is mandatory in the library as per the Region of Waterloo Face Covering By-law
- hand-sanitizer is available in the library
- regular sanitizing of high touch surfaces and equipment
- no food or spillable drinks are allowed in the library
- please observe physical distancing rules
Idea Exchange hours beginning October 5
Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm: in-person light browsing, hold pick-up, and limited readers advisory. No social seating is available at this time. Members are required to limit the length of their visit.
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Note: St. Benedict students must enter by the community entrance. Check for ongoing service hours updates at Idea Exchange.
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Overdue fines on library materials have been waived until the end of 2020 but we ask that you please return items when they are due out of courtesy for other members.
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Idea Exchange Resources
Use Idea Exchange’s library catalogue, Encore to find good books, movies, music and other materials to borrow. You can place holds on materials and have them brought to the Clemens Mill library location for pick-up.
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St. Benedict Online Library Services
Use your school library website to discover the many types of resources available to you. Students can access online resources such as Gale databases and eBooks at the Online Resources page. Simply click on the blue Gale Online Resources button to access your school’s databases and eBooks.
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Remember if you do use these resources from home you will need the password. Please ask your teacher or contact your school librarian, Ms. Pilon at ppilon@ideaexchange.org.
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The Operation Smile Club to run virtually this year
The Operation Smile Club is a student run club at St. Benedict that looks to spread awareness for cleft conditions. The vision of this club is to create a world wherein people with cleft lip and palate are accepted, and where students can work together to create solutions towards these conditions.
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Every three minutes, a child is born with cleft lip or cleft palate. This is a common condition that develops during pregnancy; it is a gap in the mouth that does not close. These conditions can be both easy and difficult to see, depending on where the cleft was formed. Along with the struggles from this condition are the social implications and bullying that one could face with a cleft lip and palate.
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This club works to promote accurate educational awareness through students and youth in the Waterloo region through social media, volunteering activities, and networking. As well, it focuses on raising awareness on the stigma around cleft conditions and raising money to fund the surgeries for cleft lip and palate.
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This club is a great opportunity to get volunteer hours and help make a difference in our community and around the world. For more information about this club, join the Operation Smile Google Classroom with the code: 7y7aerq
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A friendly reminder from Bennie's Eco Club!
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Don't forget to cut the straps on your masks before you dispose of them properly in the garbage so that animals don't get caught in them! Thank you in advance!
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Time is running out! Don't miss out on a DECAdent year, Saints!
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DECA is back and ready for another year of networking, making new friends, and putting our business savvy to the test.
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Why join DECA?
- Connect with great people in your school and in your province
- Develop your business knowledge and employability skills
- Boost your resume. Employers participate in DECA and know its value.
- Enhance your college and university application. Post-secondary schools have DECA teams too and several schools sponsor DECA competitions. Admissions officers value DECA participation.
- Because we have heard from many students, "DECA was the best thing I did in high school"
DECA is for everyone. No previous knowledge is required. Everyone from grades 9 - 12 can join DECA. In fact, the earlier you join, the better.
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This is a limited-time offer! Registration in DECA ends October 14. To see if DECA is right for you, come to our virtual meeting on Thursday, October 8, from 11:15 - 12:00.
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For more information, visit deca.ca or email one of the St. Benedict DECA advisors:
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Saints to participate in Terry Fox run
Hey Saints! Did you know that Terry Fox once said, “I want to try the impossible to show that it can be done”? Regardless of Terry’s circumstances, he wanted to start a journey! So, regardless of OUR circumstances of everything that is going on, it is important to not put a pause on his journey. If you want to take part in this, next week Bennies is hosting their first ever virtual Terry Fox run! You can sign up through the links on our Saint Benedict’s media pages, where you can find other info including prizes, how to help raise funds and more of Terry’s vision! Hope to see you there, Saints!
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Thursday, October 8 8:00am: Period 1 Cohort B Face to Face 11:15am: DECA meeting 12:25pm: Period 2 All students Distance learning
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2:00pm: Parent-teacher conferencing (to 4:00)
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5:00pm: Parent-teacher conferencing (to 7:00)
Friday, October 9 Professional Activity Day
Monday, October 12 Thanksgiving Day
Tuesday, October 13 8:00am: Period 1 Cohort B Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 2 All students Distance learning
Wednesday, October 14 8:00am: Period 1 Cohort B Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 2 All students Distance learning
Thursday, October 15 8:00am: Period 2 Cohort A Face to Face 11:15am: DECA meeting 12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning
Friday, October 16 8:00am: Period 2 Cohort A Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning
Monday, October 19 8:00am: Period 2 Cohort A Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning
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Tuesday, October 20 8:00am: Period 2 Cohort A Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning
Wednesday, October 21 BENN Newsletter release 8:00am: Period 2 Cohort A Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning
Thursday, October 22 8:00am: Period 2 Cohort B Face to Face 11:15am: DECA meeting 12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning
Friday, October 23 8:00am: Period 2 Cohort B Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning
Monday, October 26 8:00am: Period 2 Cohort B Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning
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Be sure to check out the school website calendar for updates and changes!
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