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Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - Volume 13, Issue 10
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Message from our Board's Director
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Dear Waterloo Catholic Community –
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Happy New Year! We hope that you are well, and that you and your families are managing to stay positive during these challenging times.
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I want to begin by sincerely thanking all our staff for the exceptional effort since our return from the break. They continue to respond with dedication and care to the new requests, and to our evolving learning environments. Similarly, we want to congratulate our students and parents for their flexibility, as we have all adjusted to a new way of learning. Excellent learning continues to happen for our students and for that everyone should be very proud. It is genuinely inspiring to observe. We know it is not always easy.
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As you are likely aware, the Premier of the Province has indicated that the remote return to school will continue until January 25th, not only for our secondary students but also for our elementary students. That is, both our elementary and our secondary students will continue to learn virtually. The decision is being made out of an abundance of caution, as positivity rates have increased over the holiday period. We know our schools are safe and there is a desire to ensure they remain safe. The cases of COVID are not starting, nor are they spreading, in our schools, but we are a reflection of the community. Closing the schools to in person learning for January will help us contain the cases that come into schools and ensure that when we return to our buildings, we are doing so in the safest manner possible.
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The exception to this direction are our students with special education high needs in elementary, and our community active living and ELD students in secondary. Families who are affected by this option for learning will have been contacted directly.
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The announcement is a direct response to the increase in cases over the break and the social habits that students and others have engaged in during that time. It is clear that in order to meet with success, our staff, students and broader community need to STRICTLY adhere to all public health guidelines and our own personal family bubble.
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Once again, we encourage you to visit Ontario.ca/covidresponse to learn what public health measures are in place in our community – but also please be aware that these could change depending on the most current public health advice. We also suggest checking out the WCDSB website https://www.wcdsb.ca/living-learning-looking-forward/ and Region of Waterloo Public Health website https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/2019-novelcoronavirus.aspx as they contain helpful resources and supports. If you have any questions about what your particular school is doing, please reach out to your local school principal.
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I will also take this opportunity to remind that mental health resources are available to students and families through Kids Help Phone, which offers 24/7 counselling and referral services across the province. To use this free resource, children can call 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868.
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If there are any further updates we will certainly share them as soon as possible. Please know that we continue to be in this together and day by day we will make it through. Let’s continue to remain people of hope, informed by our Faith and a desire to do the best for the students in our care. Please reach out to us if you need help or guidance, and remain confident that we are here to support you, as we walk together as a hope-filled community. #InThisTogether
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Loretta Notten Director of Education
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Director’s Report
A highlight of every year for the WCDSB is the release of the Director’s Annual Report. Every school board in the province is required to produce such a report, and ours is always a comprehensive and wide-ranging look back at the previous year’s many accomplishments. More than perhaps anything else we produce, it provides a multi-faceted illustration of what we mean when we say our schools are “Heart of the Community”. View the report here: https://annual.wcdsb.ca/
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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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New Store Hours
Tuesday: 10am – 6pm Thursday: 10am – 6pm Saturday: 10am – 6pm
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St. Benedict looks to purchase live streaming equipment
Plans are in the works to purchase a system to allow us to record and live stream events in the school. We hope to purchase some of this equipment with funds made possible through the generous partnership with the Cambridge Bingo and Gaming Center. Thanks to CSAC for their support of this initiative! There will be more information about this exciting project in the New Year... stay tuned!
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Graduation requirement changes for the 2020-2021 school year
There are two recent updates regarding graduation requirements for the 2020-2021 school year:
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Community Service Hours: Graduates for 2020-2021 have a reduced requirement for 20 hours rather than the usual 40. This is in recognition that gathering CSH is a challenge for students during the ongoing pandemic. These hours can be generated in typical ways, also at the principal’s discretion students can use hours:
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- earned during the school day
- earned by performing household or community-based tasks
- no max hours for duties performed at home, but this is at the principal’s discretion
- 10 hours paid employment at principal’s discretion
- flexibility and principal’s discretion can be applied to international students
- co-op experience, either paid or unpaid, could also be considered at the principal’s discretion
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT): The requirement for the successful completion of the OSSLT has been removed for students graduating in 2020-2021. This mirrors what happened last year during the school closure period. Most of the current Gr. 12 cohort would have successfully written the OSSLT last time it was offered in Spring 2019; however, there are students who are currently registered in OSSLC this year that may no longer require it if they have their 4th English.
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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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Post-secondary application reminders
Grade 12's applying to College As a reminder, the deadline to apply is February 1st. We encourage you to get your applications in well before the deadline as well. Set up and complete your application at OntarioColleges.ca. You will need your OEN and Student Number, both of these are located on your report cards.
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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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Hello from Student Success!
We have had a few changes to Student Success and wanted to share an amazing ONE STOP shop for making an appointment with your IEP or SST monitor, ELL monitor, or Youth Care Worker!
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Other News
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Human Trafficking: It Happens Here
The Multidisciplinary Response to Combat Human Trafficking Committee, Waterloo Region, together with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board will be delivering a virtual presentation on Human Trafficking.
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The presentation will be on Monday, January 18 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.
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Thursday, January 14 8:00am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 9:52am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 11:10am: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 1:02pm: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 2:00pm: DECA meeting 6:30pm: Grade 8 Night
Friday, January 15 8:00am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 9:52am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 11:10am: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 1:02pm: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous
Monday, January 18 8:00am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 9:52am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 11:10am: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 1:02pm: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous
Tuesday, January 19 8:00am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 9:52am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 11:10am: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 1:02pm: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous
Wednesday, January 20 Civvies Day 8:00am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 9:52am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 11:10am: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 1:02pm: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous
Thursday, January 21 8:00am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 9:52am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 11:10am: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 1:02pm: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 2:00pm: DECA meeting
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Friday, January 22 8:00am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 9:52am: Period 3 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous 11:10am: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Synchronous 1:02pm: Period 4 Cohorts A & B Asynchronous
Monday, January 25 Return to Face-to-face Learning 8:00am: Period 3 Cohort A Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 4 All students Distance learning
Tuesday, January 26 8:00am: Period 3 Cohort A Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 4 All students Distance learning
Wednesday, January 27 BENN Newsletter release 8:00am: Period 3 Cohort A Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 4 All students Distance learning
Thursday, January 28 Bell Let's Talk Day 8:00am: Period 3 Cohort B Face to Face 11:15am: DECA meeting 12:25pm: Period 4 All students Distance learning
Friday, January 29 8:00am: Period 3 Cohort B Face to Face 12:25pm: Period 4 All students Distance learning
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Be sure to check out the calendar on the school website for updates and changes!
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