|
|
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 - Volume 13, Issue 1
|
|
|
|
Message From the School Administration
Hello Saints and Saint families!
|
On behalf of the administration team and school staff, we are looking forward to the school year with students in our building for the first time in quite a while! Things have obviously changed and our new normal will be something that we will all need to navigate together.
|
The most recent communication being the announcement to delay the start of the school year until Monday, September 14th. We will be starting on the Week 2 Schedule. The communication that was sent earlier this week, can be found with the following link: Letter From Director of Education Loretta Notten
|
There has been a lot of information shared over the past few months (at the Provincial, Board and school levels). We have included as much of the relevant points in this edition of the BENN. We hope that this helps simplify things for you. Please continue to access the WCDSB website and the contained links to address questions or concerns that arise.
|
The staff of St. Benedict value the connection between the home and school. We ask that parents/guardians discuss the information shared through various means with their children attending our school. We would appreciate these expectations to be discussed/reinforced in the home.
|
Please take some time and go through the following information to help relieve some of the stress and apprehension.
|
|
Operational Guidelines for the WCDSB
|
|
Plan for Re-Opening Schools
|
|
Our focus will always be to follow the direction of Waterloo Region’s Public Health and the Waterloo Catholic DSB. We want to ensure a safe environment for both staff and students to learn and work together…and to do this, we will all need to work together. We are stronger together.
|
|
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate the new year. We wish you a safe, successful and enjoyable school year.
|
|
|
|
|
Mrs. M. Ingoldsby (Principal) - A to Bl
|
|
Ms. E. Riley (Vice Principal) - Bo to G (and all International students)
|
|
Mr. R. Stehlik (Vice Principal) - H to O
|
|
Mr. D. Borba (Vice Principal) - P to Z
|
|
Welcome Back Message from the Director
|
Please visit the following link for a special message for WCDSB staff from our Director of Education, Loretta Notten: https://youtu.be/elBN33juJ2w
|
|
|
|
Parent Question and Answer Video
|
Please click here to view a Parent Question and Answer Video provided by our Director of Education.
|
|
|
|
Registration Information and Timetables
|
|
|
All 2020-2021 school start up consent forms are to be completed electronically through School Cash Online. Families are asked to complete and submit all forms by September 11th, 2020.
|
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no in person registration.
|
Student timetables will be emailed to students in the coming weeks.
|
|
|
|
All information relevant to cohorts and student schedules will be available as of Wednesday, September 9. At that time, students may log into their WCDSB student email cloud account, where you will find 2 emails with cohort and schedule information which will be available to you.
|
Due to planning and logistics required with cohorts, student timetable changes will only be made in rare instances to support student pathway. Elective changes cannot be made at this time. Students must remain in assigned classes and cohorts. Guidance appointments will be virtual and more information will be available on the school website once the process is finalized.
|
|
Mrs. L. O’Toole - A to Di
|
|
Mrs. K. Arkell - Dj to Ki
|
Mrs. L. O’Neill - Po to Z
|
|
Those that selected to participate in Full On-line Virtual learning for this Quadmester will be contacted shortly with your scheduling information for St. Isadore (the virtual high school established for Remote Learning for the 2020-2021 school year).
|
|
|
|
Bus seating plan
|
For those that are eligible for busing and have selected this as their mode for transportation during this COVID scenario, the following is in place. School buses will be confined to 1 student per seat, unless the additional student is a family member. This will lead to 24 students (plus any family members) being the maximum number on a bus. Cohorts have been developed by STSWR and they are based on geographic location to facilitate optimization of routes.
|
|
|
|
Return to School
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. Link for Self Assessment.
|
|
|
|
Entry Procedures
How to move around the building
Upon entering the school students are required to wear a mask and sanitize their hands, while maintaining a social distance.
|
Students are not to congregate in groups and are asked to promptly move to their morning class upon arrival.
|
Should a student need to use the washroom, they are to use the facility within their assigned zone.
|
When traveling within the school, all signage and directions must be observed and followed.
|
Wear a mask
Sanitize
Social distance
|
|
|
PPE Expectations
|
All students will be required to wear a mask at all times.
|
Students are to sanitize their hands upon entering and leaving the classroom.
|
No Lockers
Lockers will not be available for students. The expectation is that students will take everything they need for their one face to face class to that room and then take it all with them when they leave.
|
No Cafeteria
To avoid people (cohorts) meeting up and for minimizing potential cross contamination, the cafeteria is not to be used as a meeting place or a location to eat/gather. It will be off limits for the general student body.
|
Water Bottles
|
The school drinking fountains will not be in operation.
|
Water bottle filling stations will be operational and students can refill personal water bottles.
|
Parent/Visitor Access
Parents are valued members of school communities but given the many increased steps that are being taken to minimize contacts in our school buildings, parents should refrain from entering the school unless they have prior approval to do so. All parents/visitors must have approval from the Administrator prior to entering the site.
|
Visitors granted access are required to wear a face covering to enter the school and sanitize hands upon entry. If a visitor does not have access to a face covering, one will be provided by the Administrator/Office staff. Where possible visitors are asked to call the main office to notify them of their arrival and wait outside away from the entrance, or in their vehicle until the office is ready to receive them.
|
All visitors must sign in. Please ensure appropriate entry and exit protocols are followed. All visitors who enter a school building must have completed the self-assessment checklist before entering the school building.
|
CSAC, CPIC and SEAC meetings will continue to occur but in many cases those meetings will be virtual for the time being, unless otherwise stated. Details can be found at Parent Council Information.
|
|
Technology
Students can access their GAFE (Google Account for Education) email by going to gmail.com and logging in with their school login ID @wcdsb.ca (ie. 12345abc@wcdsb.ca) and their network password.
|
Please check your WCDSB student email account for schedule as that is where your key information will be sent. When classes begin teachers will email students to that email account.
|
Checking Google and D2L
Students are expected to engage and participate in instruction and learning every day. In doing so, students will need to login daily into their Google Class or D2L accounts to participate in and complete a variety of learning tasks (synchronous and asynchronous) assigned by the classroom teacher.
|
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program
Students are encouraged to bring their own personal technology (Chromebook, Laptop, Tablet) to support their virtual and distance learning. Please visit the WCDSB website to learn more about the BYOD Program.
|
Guardians who have indicated a need for a device in the WCDSB Return to Learning Survey will be contacted to pick up the device at the school as devices are ready for deployment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mental Health and Community Supports
If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call 911 or go to the Emergency Room at Cambridge Memorial Hospital
|
Crisis Supports
COVID-19 Coping Supports
|
COVID-19 has and will impact the mental well-being of people everywhere. School Mental Health Ontario has some tips and resources to help support student mental health– along with a youth-focused Mental Health hub.
|
Counselling Supports
|
Is your family struggling with conflict or parenting challenges? If so, the walk-in counselling
|
program at Front Door can help.
|
Family Counselling Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries (FCCCND) at (519) 621-5090. FCCCND offers a sliding scale for fee payment, can work with some EAP programs, OW and ODSP benefits.
|
Addiction/Substance Use
Are you concerned about your teen’s substance use or gaming but aren’t sure how to share your concerns or what to do to help? Call Ray of Hope at (519) 743-2311. https://www.rayofhope.net/
|
Family Outreach Program
|
Looking for resources and services for your family? Family Outreach Workers can connect you to the support your family needs!
|
|
The Family Outreach Program is a neighbourhood-based program funded by the Region of Waterloo that works with families with children aged 17 and under to prevent and reduce the effects of poverty.
|
|
Family Outreach Workers walk with families to help meet basic needs by problem-solving solutions together, connecting them with services in their community and providing direct support when necessary.
|
Believing that we are stronger together, Family Outreach Workers work with other community partners (faith communities, local food banks, social service agencies) to find innovative solutions to support families living on low income.
|
Grief/Loss
|
The Coping Centre offers a peaceful place for support, understanding, compassion and encouragement in the uniqueness of one’s grief journey. (519) 650- 0852. http://www.copingcentre.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Are you interested in Marketing, Finance, Sports, or running your own business?
DECA is an international organization focused on networking, career exploration, fun, competition and business. Through participation in DECA you will develop your business knowledge and presentation skills and meet students from across Ontario. You will also have the chance to connect with potential employers. DECA involvement stands out on a resume and university or college supplemental information form.
Now, is the time to start thinking DECA. We are looking for new and veteran members to join the St. Benedict team. DECA is open to all students from grades 9 - 12. The earlier you become involved in DECA, the more it will benefit you.
|
If you like working on your own and developing your own ideas, sign up for an individual event. If you prefer working with a friend, get your friend to join with you and sign up for a team event. DECA has something of interest to everyone with many categories and business sectors on which to focus.
Take a look at the link below to learn a little about the various competitions in DECA and to sign up for a category that interests you. There are some restrictions on the number of competitors that can be involved in the same category, so we are asking for your top three choices.
|
For more information, visit deca.ca or email one of the St. Benedict DECA advisors:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Be sure to check the WCDSB's
|
|
page for more information and updates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
