masthead2014
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 - Volume 13, Issue 12

A Message from Administration

Welcome back to Quad 3

It has been a busy week for the community and we are certainly experiencing the chill of the winter season, and the on-going anxieties of the pandemic, but we are very happy to welcome students back to Face to Face learning.

As more staff and students returned to the building this week, we continue to reflect on the gifts that everyone brings to the community. We have students who continue to demonstrate resilience, flexibility and hope as we continue to navigate the on-going changes to our year. We have a staff that continue to be find creative ways to engage students in their learning. And finally, we have a community that provides support, and understanding. Thank you all!

Enjoy the Family Day weekend, take time to spend with your loved ones and take time to relax and breathe.

Screening Reminders:
As communicated, all secondary students are required to confirm that they have completed their daily COVID Self-Assessment each morning to their teacher during Face to Face instruction. If a student is experiencing symptoms and does not ‘pass’ the Self-Assessment they must stay home and follow the guidance of the screening tool before returning to school. Please continue to provide the attendance office with information regarding student absences.

Ash Wednesday: February 17, 2021

St. Benedict Catholic SS will be celebrating Ash Wednesday on Wednesday February 17 (cohort B) and Thursday February 18 (cohort A). Much like the Liturgy of the Word that we viewed together in December, teachers will show a video to the Face to Face classes on those days. The video will be introduced by our Chaplain Bob Rempel at the start of the day and will then be shared within each classroom. This will allow us to gather as a community, to celebrate the beginning of Lent, and to share our Faith together.
Ash_Wednesday

Student information verification

Dear Parent/Guardian:
Please find attached the instructions to verify your child's information in the Aspen student portal.
If your information is incorrect, please email: benedict.attendance@wcdsb.ca with your child's name and proper information (mailing address along with the postal code). As well, please contact us if you do not have an email address on file.
Thank you for your time, and attention to this matter.
Instructions for Verifying Your Address Resend Nov 20 2.pdf

Did you miss our

Virtual Grade 8 Night?

Click the image below to be taken to our Future Saints page
futuresaintsjan18-2021

School Schedule and Calendar

Quick Link to Our Calendar - https://stbenedict.wcdsb.ca/parents/current-students/school-year-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
McCarthys

New Store Hours

Tuesday: 10am – 6pm
Thursday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 10am – 6pm
OR VISIT: www.mccarthyuniforms.ca
1-800-668-8261

Key Dates for Quad 3 & 4

Quad 3: February 4 to April 21, 2021
Feb 10
BENN Newsletter Release
Feb 15
Family Day Holiday
Feb 16
Shrove Tuesday
Feb 17
Quad 2 Report Card Distribution Day (Mailed) & Ash Wednesday
Feb 22 - Feb 26
Gathered to Become – Butterfly Week
Feb 24
BENN Newsletter Release
Mar 9
Turn Around Date for Careers/Civics
Mar 10
BENN Newsletter Release
Mar 11
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
Mar 14
Daylight Saving Time Begins
Mar 15 - 19
March Break
Mar 24
IEP Distribution & BENN Newsletter Release
Mar 28
Palm Sunday
Apr 1
Holy Thursday
Apr 2
Good Friday
Apr 3
Holy Saturday
Apr 4
Easter Sunday
Apr 5
Easter Monday
Apr 7
BENN Newsletter Release
Apr 19
Quad 3 Period 1 Evaluation Day
Apr 20
Quad 3 Period 2 Evaluation Day
Apr 21
BENN Newsletter Release
Quad 4: April 22 to June 25, 2021
Apr 22
Final Mark Deadline/Verification Due to Admin @ 9AM
Apr 28
Mandatory Special Education PD
May 5
Quad 3 Report Card Distribution Date & BENN Newsletter Release
May 9
Mother’s Day
May 19
BENN Newsletter Release
May 20
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
May 21
Turn Around Date for Careers/Civics
May 24
Victoria Day
June 2
BENN Newsletter Release
June 4
PA Day
June 9
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
June 16
BENN Newsletter Release
June 20
Father’s Day
June 24
Period 3 Evaluations
June 25
Period 4 Evaluations
June 28
Assessment and Evaluation/Credit Recovery
June 30
BENN Newsletter Release
July 12
Quad 4 Report Card Distribution Date (Mailed)

Quadmester 2 Report Cards

will be in the mail next week

checkmail

Mental Health Awareness

Have you had a moment to check out the Board’s update Mental Health and Wellbeing webpage? This is a “one stop shop” where you can find links to targeted resources to promote wellbeing during COVID, examples of meditations/calming strategies to share with students, resources specific to various roles (i.e. leadership, educators, students, families), links to services in our community, and general mental health information. Please help raise awareness about this resource! https://www.wcdsb.ca/programs-and-services/mental-health-and-well-being-at-wcdsb/ A short intro video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmJI_QXT8xk

Please talk with Guidance, Vice Principals and/or our Principal if you feel you need School Social Work support.
BEP2021-2

The Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region is excited to present

Explore Your Future 2021 for grade 7-12 students and their parents/guardians in Waterloo Region!


Interactive sessions will run every other week from 6:30 - 7:30 PM beginning February 10.
Thanks to our sponsors and partners, this learning experience is FREE to attend.


February 10: Post-secondary Pathways in a Pandemic

Wondering about your next steps? Learn how young people like you chose their direction after high school and how they've coped with this transition during the covid-19 pandemic. Q & A will be available with the students and post-secondary representatives from Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo.

Confirmed Panelists:

  • Marvi Shaikh (WLU)
  • Nathania Chan (UW)

February 24: Builders, Makers and Designers - Careers in Tech and Trades

Want to create? Learn how people like you use their head, hands and heart to create, fix and design the things we need and use everyday.Session Sponsor: Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
at the Waterloo Region and Waterloo Catholic District School Boards
.


March 10: Entrepreneurs - Careers Starting and Leading Companies

Want to lead? Learn how people like you use their talents to create, build and lead companies across a range of industries.

March 24: Helping Professionals - Careers Making a Difference for Others

Want to help others? Learn how people like you use their skills to support and heal people and communities.


1 ticket gets you access to all 4 sessions!

Click on the image above to register.
GRT2020promo

Frequently Asked Question

Is there a cohort-specific schedule?

YES THERE IS!

Cohort A Cohort B

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 School Screening

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.

Operational guidance: COVID-19 management in schools (Ontario.ca)

What to do when my child isn't feeling well?

Click here to view the memo for Parent/Guardians from the Region of Waterloo Public Health Unit. The document provides direction for parents and caregivers regarding the role of families, Public Health and schools.

Message from Guidance

Course Selection for 2021-2022

Course selection for next year has begun and as we move into Quad 3. Now is the time to begin, or continue to research your course choices for next year and beyond. Many students have started the process and we thank- you for that.
The decisions that students make now regarding their choices for next year are what drive the scheduling decisions that are made with regard to both the courses and the numbers of sections of each course that we offer at the school next year. The importance of making the right choices should not be underestimated as inappropriate course selections are not always easily corrected once the school year is underway.

As has been the practice for the past number of years, students will be choosing their courses on-line.
The site can be accessed as follows:
  1. Go to www.myBlueprint.ca/waterloocatholic
  2. Login using your school login or GAFE account login
New for this year is the online parent approval which must be indicated before course selection submission.

The following resources have been included in the links below to help support choosing courses for next year:

1- Course Calendar
of all the courses being offered at Bennie's
2- Course Selection slideshow - lots of important information here specifically catered to current grade 11 & 12 students. Please take time to review. This includes information about summer school and postsecondary planning.
3- Helpsheet to navigate getting parent approval electronically in myBlueprint - NEW this year!
*** Course selections must be approved online by a parent before submission – see the instruction guide within each grade link

Course Selection Parent Approval – video:
https://myblueprint.ca/support/videos/course-selection/3C35KN0sXrkAW1UCXDtto4
Course selection is due Friday, February 26th. If you have any questions, please reach out to your guidance counselor.

Grade 9 Course Selection
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DgcgpJ0N_TLQ5mEU6fKs0HUAXG1arxMr?usp=sharing

Grade 10 Course Selection
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13V9ikBpQCAeyDV1rbVMYs2HIR4zbhJjX

Grade 11 Course Selection
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Gd6jL8Ox464tE9YtHTOhCrew4vHUydtN

Grade 12’s Planning to Return for a 5th year
If you have applied to College and/or University you cannot choose courses at Bennie's for 2021/2022.
If you change your mind after applying to postsecondary and want to return to Bennie's in September instead, please contact your Guidance Counselor.

If you would like to return next year, please select courses in myBlueprint and submit by Friday, February 26th. Course selection must further your post-secondary pathway. The ability to return is dependent on your post-secondary plan and ultimately admin approval. Contact Guidance if you have questions.

For those Grade 12s that are not returning to St Benedict’s next year, please go into myBlueprint - high school plan- and click Not Returning Next Year? (top right-hand corner), please indicate your plans and submit them.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qqHWU3kZZ7VIPCINyxiQZScpLStnSrOG

Reg Ad - Social

Online Pre-registration for Kindergarten is Open: It’s Time to Sign Up for School!!

It’s time to sign up for the 2021-22 school year – and registering to attend one of Waterloo Region’s 43 Catholic elementary schools has never been easier.
  • Children born in 2017 are eligible for Year 1 Kindergarten (JK).
  • Children born in 2016 are eligible for Year 2 Kindergarten (SK).
Parents can access the Online Pre-Registration form by clicking on the Register for School link on the WCDSB Homepage and then choosing Kindergarten Registration.

To finalize your child's registration, please contact your local Catholic school directly, for individual registration dates and times.
ExtendedDay2021SocialMedia

Academics

Do you have textbooks from Quadmester 1 or 2 to return?

Please bring borrowed textbooks to the atrium before Friday, February 12, 2021. Tables and sign-in sheets will be available for textbook returns.
pileofbooks
homeworkclub

Every Wednesday, join Mrs. Borba (Literacy) or Mr. Chaves (Numeracy) ONLINE from 1:45-3:00pm!

JOIN the Google Classroom https://classroom.google.com/c/MjM2MzY1NjE0NDI5?cjc=ojocdyl
or simply CLICK on the Teams Links!!

Click here for: Borba Literacy Meet
Click here for: Chaves Numeracy Meet

Can't WAIT to see you SAINTS online!

Clubs

Student Activities

Other News

News from the Library

IdeaExchange-CM-logo
Welcome back to St. Bennies students! We miss you in the school Library Learning Commons!!

Don’t forget! Your school library has all the resources you need to complete your assignments and research.
Use the
Online Resources page to find the databases, eBooks and other online resources you need.
Use the library catalogue to find books for your own reading or for school. Idea Exchange has lots of great reads including a special Black History Month booklist.

The Bennies Bookshelf page has booklists to help you find books on a specific theme as well as links to downloadLibrary and the Sora app.

Currently, Clemens Mill library is offering contact-free pick-up service only. However, as the situation changes frequently, please check our Current Services webpage to see any updates.
feb11_ins
UWGrade10Night2021
LangsTolerance
OppKnocks
FoodBank2021
YouthForce February and March 2021 Workshops IG
CambridgePoppyProject

www.CambridgePoppyProject.ca

knitpoppy
The Cambridge Poppy Project is a community art project of Remembrance that will be created using hand-made poppies to honour our Veterans. In the fall of 2021, knitted and crocheted poppies will be displayed at our three Idea Exchanges: Hespeler, Preston and the Queen’s Square Branch in Galt.

If you and your family enjoy knitting or crocheting OR if you want to learn, please take a look at the website.

This is a great at-home learning opportunity and a chance to be part of something wonderful in our larger community.

Calendar of Events

Thursday, February 11
8:00am: Period 1 Cohort B Face to Face
11:15am: DECA meeting
12:25pm: Period 2 All students Distance learning

Friday, February 12
8:00am: Period 1 Cohort B Face to Face
12:25pm: Period 2 All students Distance learning

Sunday, February 14
Valentine's Day

Monday, February 15
Family Day

Tuesday, February 16
Shrove Tuesday
8:00am: Period 1 Cohort B Face to Face
12:25pm: Period 2 All students Distance learning

Wednesday, February 17
Civvies Day - Cohort B
Report Card Distribution
Ash Wednesday
8:00am: Period 1 Cohort B Face to Face
12:25pm: Period 2 All students Distance learning

Thursday, February 18
8:00am: Period 2 Cohort A Face to Face
12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning

Friday, February 19
8:00am: Period 2 Cohort A Face to Face
12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning
Monday, February 22
8:00am: Period 2 Cohort A Face to Face
12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning

Tuesday, February 23
8:00am: Period 2 Cohort A Face to Face
12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning

Wednesday, February 24
Civvies Day - Cohort A
BENN Newsletter release
8:00am: Period 2 Cohort A Face to Face
12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning

Thursday, February 25
8:00am: Period 2 Cohort B Face to Face
12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning

Friday, February 26
Pink Shirt Day (SAC)
8:00am: Period 2 Cohort B Face to Face
12:25pm: Period 1 All students Distance learning

Be sure to check out the calendar on the school website for updates and changes!

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