Monthly Archives: December 2023

On behalf of the staff and the Catholic School Advisory Council, we would like to say thank you to our families who attended last night’s Christmas Family Fun Night!

It was so nice to see and visit with everyone and watch the children walk around from one activity to another with joyful smiles on their faces.

Congratulations to all our Basket Winners – what a nice treat before Christmas.

An EXTRA big THANK YOU to all the families who donated prizes to the baskets.  This night could not have happened without your support.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Good afternoon parents and caregivers!

Christmas Family Fun Night has finally arrived! 

The baskets are wrapped, and your tickets are ready at the front door to pick up for the basket draws.

Santa is on his way; the choir is warmed up; the craft tables are prepared, and the hot chocolate is sweet!

We look forward to a fun evening of socializing and crafting.

Doors open at 5:30 pm and the fun ends at 7:00 pm so littles ones can get home for a good night sleep.

See you soon.

The Second Sunday of Advent ~

Psalm 46:10-11 says:

…Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

The second Sunday of Advent gives us the opportunity to prepare our hearts in faithful waiting, to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and ready ourselves for his second coming.  We pause to remember who God is and what He has done for us.  The second purple candle, also called the Bethlehem candle, represents peace and preparation.  This week we are encouraged to become better-versions-of-ourselves in preparation for Jesus’ coming. We remember the journey Joseph and Mary took from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Family Christmas Evening – December 14th from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Staff are looking forward to spending some time with families this Thursday evening.  Families are invited to St. Dominic Savio School to enjoy some hot chocolate, Christmas craft making, gingerbread decorating, face painting, and a visit with good old Santa himself.  Our newly up and running choir will also be delighting us with their singing. If you have bought your Christmas raffle tickets through School Cash Online, you will receive them upon entering the school so you can enter them into the Christmas Basket draws which will be drawn near the end of the evening.  We are still looking to complete the baskets, please see the class lists of items you can send in with your child.  Thank you in advance for your donation.   Christmas Basket Class List.

Community News ~

Waterloo Public Library

Greentec launches Phones4Food in support of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region

As the need for emergency food assistance rises in Waterloo region, Greentec is launching Phones4Food, an innovative fundraiser in support of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.  Starting today, people can drop off their old or unwanted smartphones, laptops, and tablets to The Food Bank at 50 Alpine Court in Kitchener, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  Greentec will collect and recycle the devices and donate their end-of-life value back to The Food Bank—supporting its work of acquiring and distributing food to the Community Food Assistance Network, a system of 120+ community programs and agency partners that provide food, support, and services to people in need.

“When I heard that one in 10 households in our region is struggling to afford to put food on the table, I knew we can do more to make sure no one has to skip a meal. It’s that need that inspired Phones4Food,” says Tony Perrotta, CEO at Greentec, adding that he hopes to expand the program to other food banks across the province.  Kim Wilhelm, interim CEO with The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, explains that more than 58,000 people in Waterloo region are accessing food assistance each year, a number that continues to rise and isn’t expected to drop anytime soon.

“With high inflation and rising food costs, more people are turning to food banks and community programs and services for help. As a non-profit organization, we rely on our generous community, including businesses, to support the work we do to make sure no one goes hungry. Phones4Food is an exciting initiative and this partnership with Greentec gives the public another great opportunity to support The Food Bank,” she says.

For every dollar that people donate to The Food Bank, the organization can provide two healthy and nutritious meals to those who need it most in the community. A $5 donation generated through Phones4Food provides 10 meals.

For businesses with a large amount of e-waste to donate, call Greentec at 519-624-3300 for pickup solutions.   To learn more about Greentec and qualifying device donations, visit phones4food.com To learn more about The Food Bank of Waterloo Region and local food insecurity, visit thefoodbank.ca.

Learning At Home –

Issue 3 | MATH@HOME MONTHLY 

Activities at St. Dominic Savio School

Last Week of December School Spirit Wear

Students and families are also invited to participate in the Knights of Columbus Toy Drive.  If you are able to donate a new, unwrapped toy, please send it in with your child by December 19th and staff will ensure it gets to the Knights of Columbus for distribution.  For your convenience during this busy time of year, cash donations can also be made instead through School Cash Online.  Thank you in advance for your support.

If Your Child is Sick or Unwell

The colder weather has returned; therefore, students must be dressed appropriately to go outside. If your child is sick, regardless of the symptoms, please do not send them to school. Seek medical advice or contact public health for further direction. We cannot safely supervise children during the day whose families would prefer that they not go outside. If your child is sick or injured and still recovering, but not able to go outside, they should remain at home until they are well enough to participate fully in all school activities, including recess. Please note that students may not enter the school grounds until 9:00 a.m., which is when supervision begins by our staff members.

Bus Delays and Cancellations

In the event of inclement weather, Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (stswr.ca) determines whether to cancel school transportation. Please note that when transportation is cancelled in the morning, it is cancelled for the entire day. As parents and guardians, you may choose to drive your children to school when transportation is cancelled because schools are open. If you decide to do so, please ensure you have made arrangements to pick up your children from school at the end of the school day. All transportation delays and cancellations are posted on the STSWR website. You can also subscribe to an email service to receive transportation notifications.  The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority.  Inclement weather decisions will be made in consultation with the WCDSB, based on information received through the latest reports on weather and road conditions.

HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEK ST. DOMINIC SAVIO DRAGONS!

The First Candle of Advent is the Candle of Hope.

Jeremiah 33:14-16
33:14 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

Advent is a time to joyfully prepare. The word itself means coming or arrival. We prepare our hearts and minds for celebrating Jesus’ birth at Christmas. You may want to pray more, participate in Sunday Mass, have an Advent wreath, or create family traditions. No matter what you do, remember the reason you are preparing.

Each week staff and students will engage in a virtual liturgy to celebrate the theme for that week and by lighting the Advent Candle in our classrooms and on our school altar. The first candle is the candle of HOPE. It reminds us that we are the light and can spread hope. We can shine a light in dark places by providing kind gestures or kind words to those in need.

Activities at St. Dominic Savio School

St. Dominic students are spreading hope and cheer to the Winston Park long-term care residents this season by making Christmas cards and virtually recording Christmas songs for the residents to sing along to. Ask your child(ren) what song their class is preparing and singing for the elderly at Winston Park Home.

Students and families are also invited to participate in the Knights of Columbus Toy Drive.  If you are able to donate a new, unwrapped toy, please send it in with your child by December 19th and staff will ensure it gets to the Knights of Columbus for distribution.  For your convenience during this busy time of year, cash donations can also be made instead through School Cash Online.  Thank you in advance for your support.

Lastly, CSAC is preparing for our Family Fun Christmas Evening on December 14th from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.  Families are welcome to pop in to make some Christmas crafts, drink some hot chocolate, get their faces painted, sing some Christmas Carols and maybe even see Santa!  As part of the fun, baskets will be on displayed and raffled off to families.  Please see your child’s D2L page for more details.

Catholic School Advisory Meeting

Parent council will be meeting in the library on Tuesday, December 5th from 6 pm – 7:30 pm.  All parents are welcome to attend.  This main focus of the December meeting is to prepare for the Family Christmas Night on December 14th and to discuss the needs of our community.

Catholic Graduate Expectation for December:  I Am a Believer

This is how I am a Discerning Believer:

• I have attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teachings and act to promote social responsibility and human solidarity.
• I respects the rights, responsibilities, and contributions of myself and others.

Deep Learning Transferable Skill: Learning Partnerships

Transferable skills are the skills and attributes that students need to thrive in the modern world. Based on international research, the Ontario Ministry of Education has defined seven important categories of transferable skills – sometimes referred to as “competencies” – that will help students navigate the world of work and meet with success in the future.

During December, as Catholics, we will show transferable skills through active collaboration, not just with our classmates and teachers but also with community organizations like our parish church, and even with individuals from the global community. It’s about tackling real-world challenges together, participating in engaging activities, and exchanging ideas.  We encourage you to support your child’s learning partnerships at home by participating in our school Toy Drive and Spirit Wear initiatives this month. You may also wish to visit our parish website for Advent Mass, resources, and community faith-based activities.  Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Promoting Health and Well-Being: Positive Discipline For Young Children
The goal of discipline is to guide and teach, not to punish. The foundation of discipline is a warm and trusting relationship, where you help children learn to:

• behave appropriately for their age in different situations,
• recognize, express, and manage their emotions,
• communicate,
• get along with and trust others,
• solve problems,
• explore the world and learn appropriately.

Discipline should be fair and consistent. If you respond differently in similar situations or to similar behaviours, children will be confused. They won’t know what to expect.
Physical punishment—spanking, slapping, hitting, or shaming—can hurt children both physically and emotionally, and should never be used. There are much more effective ways to discipline children.
Using positive discipline techniques not only helps to guide children but also strengthens the connection you have with them.
~ Read more at https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/behavior-and-development/positive-discipline-for-young-children

Christmas Turkey Lunch on December 20th.

As part of the season festivities, a Christmas Turkey Lunch will be available to order through School Cash Online for December 20th.

Expectations with SNOW:

As the weather turns colder and the snow remains on the ground, student safety remains an important part of outdoor play.  For this reason, there are snow safety tips we review with students so playing in the snow remains a fun activity.

• We CAN make snow angels!
• We CAN build snow people and snow forts!
• We CAN play on our own or with others safely!
• We CAN slide down the hills if wearing snow pants and sitting down.
• We CAN enjoy the snow as a beautiful gift from God!
• We WILL listen to the adults at school – they provide direction around being safe!
• We CANNOT throw snow or snowballs – snowballs hurt and can have dirt, rocks, or ice in the snowball which can cause serious injuries!
• No one owns the snow; it is for all to enjoy.
• The maker of a snow fort or a snow person is the breaker of their snow fort or snow person.

Last Week of December School Spirit Wear

Have an exciting week, Dragons!

St. Dominic Savio Parent Council

The next CSAC meeting will be held on December 5th – all parents are welcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the parent council?
A: The Parent Council is an advisory body that functions within the parameters of Ministry of Education and Board policy. School councils provide an opportunity and the means to advise the principal and the Board on any matter on the improvement of pupil achievement and to enhance the accountability of the education system to parents/guardians.

Q: What are some things the St. Dominic Savio Parent Council does?
A: Some examples of what we do include:

• lead the planning and executing fundraisers for the school.

• Vote on how to spend the funds raised i.e., graduation support, sports equipment, classroom equipment, Family Fun Night, etc.

• Have the opportunity to voice school community concerns and provide suggestions.

• Plan events i.e., Family Fun Night, Christmas and holiday events, parent information nights, dances, etc.

Q: How much time do I need to commit to the parent council?

A: We meet once a month in the evening, typically from 6pm-7:30pm and understand that there may be times when someone cannot attend; we simply ask that when this occurs, you let us know by email. The meetings are scheduled well in advance.

Outside of the meetings, the time commitment is really dependent on what you would like to put into this. There are some optional roles you can volunteer for in which you would be committing to some duties for the school year, such as two Co- Chairs, Treasurer and Secretary.

Q: Where are meetings held?
A: Our monthly meetings are typically held at the school, however, if the majority of members would like to meet virtually, there is flexibility to host some meetings online.

Q: How do I join the parent council?
A: To join the 2023/2024 school year Parent Council, email the principal (angela.carroll@wcdsb.ca) or meet us at the next meeting in the learning commons (library) at the school. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 6pm.