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Wednesday, April 7, 2021 - Volume 13, Issue 16
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O u r 3 0 0 t h i s s u e !
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A Message from Administration
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The next few weeks are packed with several notable events. We have final evaluations and the end of one quadmester, the postponed and much-awaited March/April Break, and the start of our final quadmester of the school year. We would like to wish our students much success in their assessments this week. Once those final evaluations are completed, our school community will enjoy a weeklong break unlike others in previous years.
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We would typically ask students to enjoy their break and to stay safe. This year, staying safe takes on additional meaning. Please do take every opportunity to relax and decompress, but please also do everything possible to minimize contacts and risks associated with the spread of the Covid-19 virus. We are seeing vaccination number increasing and that is giving us all hope that we are nearing the end of this very challenging time in our lives. We are not at a point where we can relax yet though. A little bit more patience and effort will make our families and community safer and healthier. We all need to do our part. Thank you for all the measures that you are taking and for all those sacrifices that you continue to make - all for the greater good.
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Upon our return from the Break, we will be starting the fourth quadmester on Wednesday, April 21. Students will be contacted by their quad 4 teachers via school email ahead of that date. April 21st will be a fully virtual day following the schedule listed later within this BENN newsletter.
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Much health and happiness to our students, families, and entire school community over the next two eventful weeks.
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School Schedule and Calendar
You can then access the calendar by going to ABOUT US > School Year Calendar
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Important Dates for End of Quad 3 and Start of Quad 4
Period 1 Final evaluation at 8:00 am (both Cohorts)
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Period 2 Final evaluation at 8:00 am (both Cohorts)
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Monday, April 12 to Friday, April 16
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Spring Break - No Classes
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Monday, April 19 and Tuesday, April 20
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Fully Virtual Day 1 of Quadmester 4 following below schedule
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Period 3: 8:00-9:52 synchronous, 9:52-10:30 asynchronous
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Period 4: 11:10-1:02 synchronous, 1:02-1:40 asynchronous
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Period 3 Cohort A in the morning following the regular Cohort Schedule (see School Calendar)
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Any changes to the Quad 4 startup information will be communicated through normal channels.
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Are you looking for something to do during the April Break?
Click on the image to the left to access the April Break Wellbeing Passport and find things to do to promote wellness together as a family next week!
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New Store Hours
Tuesday: 10am – 6pm Thursday: 10am – 6pm Saturday: 10am – 6pm
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Updating Contact Information
Please find attached the instructions to verify your child's mailing address in the Aspen student portal.
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If your address is incorrect, please email: benedict.attendance@wcdsb.ca with your child's name, proper mailing address along with the postal code. As well, please contact us if you do not have an email address on file or any additional information is incorrect in Aspen.
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Thank you for your time, and attention to this matter as we prepare to mail Quad 3 report cards..
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Family Winter Participation
Free April Activities
The WCDSB Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC) & Ministry of Ontario PRO Grants is offering Free activities for families. Sign up here or scan the QR code below.
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Key Dates for Quad 3 & 4
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Quad 3 Period 1 Final Evaluation, 8:00 am
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Quad 3 Period 2 Final Evaluation, 8:00 am
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Quad 4: April 21 to June 25, 2021
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Quad 4 begins virtually for all students
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Quad 3 Report Card Distribution Date & BENN Newsletter Release
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Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
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Turn Around Date for Careers/Civics
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Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
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Quad 4 Period 3 Final Evaluation, 8:00 am
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Quad 4 Period 4 Final Evaluation, 8:00 am
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Assessment and Evaluation/Credit Recovery
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Quad 4 Report Card Distribution Date (Mailed)
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Mental Health & Wellness
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April Mental Health Tip
With the upcoming breaks this month we may have a bit more time to explore new practices that can support wellbeing.
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Not quite sure where to start?
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This is your one-stop shop for a wide range of mental health information including links to services in our community that can provide support if you’re struggling, including the Kids Help Phone, Front Door, Ray of Hope, and Here 24/7.
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April Study Hacks
You may notice that during the pandemic it’s harder to concentrate, complete assignments, sleep, remember things, and stay organized, which may be connected to the ongoing stress we carry with us during a pandemic. Here are a few tips that can help things get back on track:
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The Counselling Collaborative of Waterloo Region (https://counsellingwr.ca) is a partnership of 6 local counselling agencies working together to make counselling services more accessible to individuals with a limited income. Fees may be fully or partially subsidized depending on individual circumstances and the service requested. Visit their website or call (519) 804-1097 to book a phone/video appt.
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Youth Force April Workshops
Join YouthForce over the April Break and earn some community service hours!
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We have two series happening over the break and students are welcome to sign up for each. The series are our Pre-Employment Webinar Series and Y.E.L.L. (Youth Engaged in Learning about Leadership).
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Students can earn up to 20 hours for attending both series (and 10 hours if they join a single series).
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Registration is now open and those who are interested can email YouthForce Coordinator Mallory Fennell at malloryf@kinbridge.ca for a welcome package and more information!
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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 School Screening
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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
Grade 12 Students
Completion of your Community Service Hours (minimum for this year - 20 hours) is required if you are planning to graduate this year. All Grade 12 students who have not yet completed and handed in their hours are reminded to do so as soon as possible. Grade 12 students are expected to submit their Community Service Hour forms by May 1, 2021. Please complete the form available on the school website: https://lf.wcdsb.ca/Forms/APO015-01F
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POST-SECONDARY APPLICATIONS
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Although some students who have applied to either college or university have started to receive admission offers, students need to be aware that many colleges and universities do not send out offers of admission until quadmester 3 final marks have been received and processed. (Check your marks in OUAC and OCAS after April 23).
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While it would be easier and far less stressful if all post-secondary institutions followed the same timelines with regard to admission offers, this is not the case. Students also need to be reminded that all offers of admission are conditional – meaning that the offer can be removed if graduation requirements are not completed by June. Pay close attention to all the details contained in emails and correspondence from the various universities and colleges so that deadlines do not get missed.
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Summer School
Is available this year as online learning courses through our board at St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education. More information can be found on their website: https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca/summer-programs/summer-credit/
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These courses will run from July 5 – July 29. (Half credit courses Careers and Civics Term 1 July 5-15. Term 2 July 16 – July 29).
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What is Online Learning?
Online Learning means courses are specifically designed to be taught in a fully online format (formerly referred to as “e-learning”). Online learning relies on communication between pupils and teachers through the internet or any other digital platform and does not require pupils and teachers to be face to-face with each other or with their teacher. Students must be online and working on their course for a minimum of 6 hours a day.
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Students may only take one online course or both Civics and Careers half courses.
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If you choose to register for summer school, please inform your Guidance counsellor.
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Getting into the swing.... of spring!
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Our Community and Active Living students wanted to brighten up their classroom with a punch of colour and to celebrate the return of spring...
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The room is enveloped in flowers of all shapes and sizes and many beautiful, colourful butterflies.
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Driving home STEM concepts
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Mr. Briere has been helping put together a new project for our Board's elementary schools STEM kits! The cardboard car can be assembled and customized by students, and it is run by a micro:bit computer which the students themselves will learn to program.
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See a demonstration of the car in this tweet by Mr. Leonard, Experiential Learning & Innovation Lead for the WCDSB
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Every Wednesday, join Mrs. Borba (Literacy) or Mr. Chaves (Numeracy) ONLINE from 1:45-3:00pm!
or simply CLICK on the Teams Links!!
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Can't WAIT to see you SAINTS online!
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Spring is here and so is our much-awaited spring break! Best of luck to all students as you finish off your assignments for the third quadmester.
As your school library is an important resource for success in high school the library remains accessible to individual teachers as well as teachers and their classes from 8am to 10am. Don't forget your school library has many excellent resources available on the Library Learning Commons website.
Students may access the library individually at 10am, using the Clemens Mill Library front doors. Clemens Mill library is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, for curbside pickup and for inside hold pickups as well as pickups for Take & Makes. In-person access of computers and photocopiers is limited to 45 minutes. At this time there is no browsing of library materials or study rooms/study tables available. However, if you are looking for a book or movie, we can help you at the front desk. For a full list of our services at this time, please check Idea Exchange's website.
Looking for something to do on the April school break? Here's a few suggestions:
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Do you fancy yourself a detective? Try our Interactive Murder Mystery: A Garden Party Murder. This event runs daily beginning March 19 to May 31. Simply open the link above and follow the instructions. You are a guest at a garden party and before the day is out, one of your fellow party guests will have been murdered! Can you guess the culprit?
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This is a text-based, interactive murder mystery. It will proceed like a “choose your own adventure” type of story. You will have the chance to interview guests and see evidence as you attempt to discover the criminal among you. It should take about 1-2 hours to complete. There are three rounds, with sections within each round. If you can’t complete the mystery within one sitting, finish a section first. When you return you will have a chance to continue from a specific section. You can work on your own or with a group. Taking notes is recommended! Good luck.
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Looking for something "crafty"? Try our DIY Kits. which are simple maker kits complete with materials and instructions, to take home. You can get your kit at the Clemens Mill Library - use the front doors please.
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If you need help finding a good book or resources for assignments, please contact your school library, Ms. Pilon at ppilon@ideaexchange.org.
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Cambridge Idea Exchange's School Liaison illustrated the new offerings they have that might be of interest to families in your school particularly hard hit economically by COVID--free Parks Ontario passes to sign out, podcast kits on loan, board games, puzzles, garden tools. Check out their unusual stuff to borrow page!
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News from the Social Justice Council
The social justice council got off to a bit of a late start this year, but we are doing some AMAZING things and wanted to share some of our accomplishments with the St. Benedict community!
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Our first group project was to spread a little cheer and show our appreciation for local front-line workers and the special residents they serve at the various locations for the Sunbeam Home. This amazing group of 74 students is currently sending virtual cards to residents and staff at a wide variety of Sunbeam satellite locations.
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Laurie, the volunteer coordinator at Sunbeam shared the following with us: “I want to tell you how happy I am about the messages pouring into Sunbeam. There are 32 so far. The messages are sweet and thoughtful and kind. They make a difference. Thank you soooo much for presenting this at your school.”
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We are now up to 164 letters sent to some very deserving people! Thanks to those who took the time to share their thoughts and kind words.... and keep up the amazing work.
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Earth Day is on April 22nd, and the Social Justice Council is asking for help cleaning up the school yard at Bennie's. Appropriate PPE will be provided and social distancing will be maintained – homerooms will need to sign up in advance. This is a long-standing tradition at our school, and the day after Earth day is always a proud moment for our staff and students, because our school grounds look FANTASTIC. Students will also be able to participate on their own time by picking up trash on their own and submitting pictures of them doing so to a google form on social media.
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The Social Justice Council will also be sharing a fun sustainable calendar through social media which shows people little changes they can make in their lives to live greener. The calendar will also feature DIY activities people can do to give old items a new life.
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Lastly, we recognize that climate change is one of the biggest threats facing the world today. This is why the Council will be writing letters to our local politicians to let them know how important it is to take action in order to protect the Earth for future generations.
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Be sure to keep up with, and participate in all the Earth Day initiatives we have planned for the week of April 19-23!
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Student Activities
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Thursday, April 8 8:00am: Quad 3 - Period 1 Evaluation Day
Friday, April 9 8:00am: Quad 3 - Period 2 Evaluation Day
Monday, April 12 to Friday, April 16 Spring Break
Saturday, April 17 10:00am: Free COVID Testing Available for Students and Staff
Monday, April 19 8:00am: Credit recovery/Credit rescue 10:00am: Grad Photos
Tuesday, April 20 8:00am: Credit recovery/Credit rescue 10:00am: Grad Photos
Wednesday, April 21 Quad 4 Begins - Fully Remote BENN Newsletter release 8:00am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 9:52am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 10:00am: Grad Photos 11:10am: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 1:02pm: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 2:00pm: Debate Club
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Thursday, April 22 8:00am: Period 3 Cohort A Face to Face 10:00am: Grad Photos 12:25pm: Period 4 All students Distance learning
Friday, April 23 8:00am: Period 3 Cohort A Face to Face 10:00am: Grad Photos 12:25pm: Period 4 All students Distance learning
Monday, April 26 8:00am: Period 3 Cohort A Face to Face 10:00am: Grad Photos 12:25pm: Period 4 All students Distance learning
Tuesday, April 27 8:00am: Period 3 Cohort A Face to Face 10:00am: Grad Photos 12:25pm: Period 4 All students Distance learning
Wednesday, April 28 8:00am: Period 3 Cohort A Face to Face 10:00am: Grad Photos 12:25pm: Period 4 All students Distance learning 2:00pm: Debate Club
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Be sure to check out the calendar on the school website for updates!
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