Monthly Archives: January 2024

Good morning, Dragons!

The past week was a wet one but boy did students have fun building in the snow. The school yard has a variety of snow sculptures, huge snowballs and trenches carefully designed to guide melted snow down the hills to less played in areas.  Parents probably needed to dry out snowpants, gloves and boots each night but note that your child had a great time playing outside with his/her friends.   It looks as though we have more of the same above freezing weather ahead this week so packing extra clothing each day is a good idea.

Although hard to believe, we are just about halfway through our 2023/2024 school year.  With report cards coming home mid-February, it is a great time for a midyear check-in and an opportunity to get your child more engaged in their learning. Keeping in mind that children (and adults, too) feel successful when they accomplish goals, it may be a good time to work with your child to set some small and attainable goals for both home and school!

February is Black History Month

“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.” – Maya Angelou

People in Canada are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities.   At St. Dominic Savio School, our students will continue to celebrate and learn more about the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous nation it is today. This is an opportunity to remember and learn from the contributions of Black people who have helped shape our past and future in Canada and around the world. The Canadian theme for Black History Month for 2024 is Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build.

The Holy Season of Lent, Shrove Tuesday, and Valentine’s Day

Ash Wednesday (February 14) – Ash Wednesday is a very special day on our liturgical calendar. It marks the start of Lent and is a chance for us to make good choices and sacrifices in order to be better citizens of our world and our Catholic Community. We will have an Ash Wednesday liturgy (including the distribution of Ashes) at 9:30 am in the school gym. Everyone is welcome!

Valentine’s Day Because Valentine’s Day falls on Ash Wednesday this year, we will celebrate Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, February 13th. Valentine’s Cards and/or treats are welcome and will be distributed on the 13th, Not on the 14th.  (No nut products please).  Please remember that Valentine’s Day is a fun, loving day! We are happy to celebrate our friendships and have the children expressing their care for and friendship with each other on this day.  We encourage the children to be inclusive if they are handing out valentine cards. We do not want to see any students feeling left out or excluded.

Parent Council is also organizing a Valentine’s Day Fundraiser Dance for February 13th.  Details regarding this will be sent home shortly.  There are lots of great prizes to win, like a Chromebook, Gift Cards and a pizza party for the top funds raised by a class.

Shrove Tuesday

On Tuesday, February 13th, we will celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a school-wide Pancake treat served before morning recess.  In an effort to reduce waste and to be environmentally responsible, students are asked to bring a reusable plate and fork in a Ziplock bag.  Parent council is looking to order 1 pancake for each student to enjoy!

Attention Kindergarten Parents

French Immersion Lottery Registration is NOW OPEN! All children born in 2018 are invited to apply for the French Immersion Lottery that is now open. This opportunity closes on February 4, 2024, at 9 pm. To apply for the lottery, look for the link on our website https://www.wcdsb.ca/programs-and-services/.

IT’S TIME TO REGISTER FOR KINDERGARTEN!

Parents and guardians who are interested in registering their child for Kindergarten in September 2024 at St. Dominic Savio are invited to review the following information: Kindergarten Registration

Want to know more about immunization vaccines?

The Region of Waterloo Public Health is resuming the annual enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act (RSO 1990) and its associated activities for the 2023-2024 school year. Enforcement has not taken place for the past four years due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Please click HERE to learn more about immunization vaccinations for your child(ren).

School Climate Survey at WCDSB:

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) is committed to providing safe, caring and inclusive places for everyone in our schools.  One way to find out how we are doing is to ask students about their health and well-being. To collect this information, we will administer the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) sometime between February 15th and March 8th.  This is an opportunity for us to learn more about the students we support and help us identify our school communities’ needs.  All students at St. Dominic Savio between grade 4 and grade 8 will be invited to participate. Any student may choose not to participate, to stop participating, or to skip a question at any time. Parents/guardians can also ask that their child be exempt from participating in the MDI survey.

You can more here: https://www.wcdsb.ca/school-climate-survey/

Winter Walk and Roll Day

The first Wednesday of February every year, is Winter Walk and Roll Day and it celebrates those students who walk during the winter months as Canadian weather is strong!  Students are encouraged to dress for the weather, understand special winter walking tips, and join their peers in the walk to and from school. #WinterWalkDay is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7th!:  WWD-Poster-2024.  Learn about the benefits of outdoor movement here: Home – Ontario Active School Travel

Term 1 Report Cards and Kindergarten Communication of Learning

Term 1 Report Cards and Kindergarten Communication of Learning will be sent home electronically to families on Thursday, February 15th, 2024.
Report Cards and Kindergarten Communication of Learning support student learning by providing opportunities to:

• establish a positive relationship between teachers, parents/guardians, and students;
• involve parents and guardians as partners in a conversation about learning and assessment, and what each can do to support a child’s learning;
• identify concerns about student progress and develop strategies to improve student learning.

This reporting system provides descriptive feedback that is clear, specific, meaningful, and timely to support improved learning and achievement. Communication between home and school about student achievement should be continuous outside of the formal reporting periods and throughout the year. We value the partnership between home and school and encourage all parents/guardians to contact your child’s teacher(s) should you have any questions about their academic, social, emotional, or spiritual development at school.

A Note About March Break

Looking a little further down the road, it is important to note that Friday, March 8 is a board holiday, meaning that all schools will be closed.

Our Extended Day program will still be open on March 8, and it will be open throughout the March Break for families who are currently registered in the program. Families who are currently in the program still need to register for March Break. Click here for information about the March Break Extended Day program, and click here for specific information about how to register. The registration deadline is February 2nd.

Wishing you a terrific week Dragons!

Good morning, St. Dominic Savio Caregivers.

We hope students enjoyed their long weekend and managed to enjoy the snow and tolerable weather!  It was nice to see a little sunshine on Sunday and a bit warmer temperature. It looks like the week ahead is going to warm up, and potential rain is in the long-range forecast. This will mean mud and wet snow gear.  Please be sure to send an extra change of clothing!

Extended Day

January 22 – 26 is Mental Health Anti-Stigma Week.  Various classes will be having discussions and lessons around mental health and mental health illnesses and encourage help-seeking amongst young people. On Wednesday, January 24th it is Bell Let’s Talk Day and students are encouraged to wear blue.  Please check out https://letstalk.bell.ca for additional information on facts and how you can help someone. You can also check out our School Board website for curriculum taught around the topic of Mental Health. Mental Health & Well-Being (wcdsb.ca)

Here are some tips to promote good mental health practices:

• Spend time doing something you enjoy. This activity can be on your own or with a group of people.
• Take breaks. Give yourself permission to rest and relax. Doing “nothing” is actually doing something. It’s helping you build your strength for the next challenge.
• Help others. When you take time to be kind to others, or get involved in something bigger than yourself, it can give your own mental health a boost. Small things that don’t take a lot of your own energy can sometimes make a huge difference to someone else. Say “hi” to someone new in the halls, invite someone to sit with you at lunch, hold the door open for someone, and see if it gives you a lift too.
• Be grateful and notice the good things. It’s easy to get caught up in the negatives that happen in life. Instead, look for the positives each day, even in situations that might seem bad. When negative things happen, ask yourself what lesson you can learn from it.
• Get sleep. We know school starts early and you may like staying up late, so you might not get enough sleep all the time. But aim to get 8 or more hours of sleep most nights.
• Try to increase your water intake – carry a water bottle with you so you can stay hydrated throughout the day. Consider decreasing or discontinuing your caffeine intake – caffeine has been shown to create a stress reaction in your body and might cause you to feel nervous, irritable or restless.
• Fuel yourself well.  Sometimes it helps to have a healthy snack nearby so you can refuel easily and avoid getting “hangry”.
• Try to limit screen time. Research has linked social media use with mental health issues – you’ve probably heard this before. Using social media can cause us to compare ourselves… we do this without noticing, so it can be hard to stop. Many cell phones let you set timers on apps to help you limit how much you use them.
• Move! Physical activity is good for our mental health. It can be as simple as taking a walk or join an activity at school – it’s a great way to meet people who you can be active with.

Family Literacy Day

January 27th – Are you familiar with Family Literacy Day? Since 1999, schools, libraries, literacy groups, and families have all celebrated this awareness initiative that aims to encourage reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. This year’s theme is “Let’s have a family party!” To learn more about Family Literacy Day, visit Family Literacy Day 2024 | abclifeliteracy.ca

Kindergarten is an exciting milestone for your child and for your family! Our school offers a full-day, 2-year Kindergarten program, designed to engage curious early learners through different kinds of play, that help children learn how to reason and problem-solve as they interact with one another.  The online registration portal for Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open!

• Children born in 2020 are eligible for Year 1 of The Kindergarten Program (Junior Kindergarten)
• Children born in 2019 are eligible for Year 2 of The Kindergarten Program (Senior Kindergarten). *Children currently enrolled in Year 1 (JK) do not need to register for Year 2 (SK)
• For more information on registering your child for kindergarten, please visit the WCDSB website: Entering Kindergarten – Waterloo Catholic District School Board (wcdsb.ca)

Winter Walk Day:  February 7th

Winter Walk Day is the first Wednesday of February every year, and it celebrates those students who walk during the winter months as Canadian weather strong!  Students are encouraged to dress for the weather, understand special winter walking tips, and join their peers in the walk to and from school.  Register for a chance to win a $20 Indigo gift card! Walk/wheel from home or park and walk a few blocks to qualify.  https://forms.gle/x7uDBD5mfdFy49UA6

WCDSB School Climate Survey

Before the March Break, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) will be conducting school climate surveys to collect information from students and families. While the Ministry of Education requires all school districts to conduct these surveys (Education Act s.169.1(1)(a), (a.1), (a.2) and PPM 145), we are committed to providing a safe, caring, and inclusive place for everyone in our schools. The purpose of the school climate surveys is to assess the perceptions of safety (e.g., from students, and families), make informed planning decisions about programs to help prevent bullying and promote safe and inclusive schools, determine the effectiveness of programs on an ongoing basis, and build and sustain a positive school climate. Below you will find details related to each survey in the link below:

WCDSB MDI Notice of Collection (2024) – Family Letter.docx (sharepoint.com)

Staffing

Due to current pressures on staffing, your child(ren)’s class may be without an Itinerant Planning Time Teacher in JK to Grade 3 and an Itinerant Music Teacher for Grades 4 to 8.  The school board is actively strategizing and working to address the concern, but in fairness to all, we wish to proactively communicate this concern to you.  Please reach out to your child(ren)’s teacher if you have any questions.

Skilled Trades

What Parents Need to Know About Careers in the Skilled Trades – Skilled trades are a great option for all high school students to seriously consider. There’s a high and growing demand for people to fill good-paying, satisfying careers in the skilled trades. This webinar will feature a keynote address from Jon Callegher, Executive Director of Job Talks, and information about the OYAP program, followed by questions and answers.

You can click here for registration

Have a super week Dragons!

Good morning, St. Dominic Community!

It was wonderful to walk through the halls and hear children’s voices and laughter again.  Staff returned back regenerated and excited to God blessed us with some snow this past week which students had a great time building and playing with it. Our small hills are just perfect for sliding down as well and students of course took advantage of this!

The week ahead looks like a fridged one so please ensure your child has their warmest winter gear and an extra change of clothes. As per our Board’s policy, when the temperature is between -20°C and -27°C students will not be outside longer than 15 minutes.  When temperatures are colder than -27°C, students remain inside.  Please help make playing in the snow more enjoyable by insuring your child has all the gear they need before they leave the house. It would be helpful for students to keep an extra pair of dry mittens and socks in their backpacks as well.

PA Day: Friday, January 19th

Just a reminder that on Friday, January 19th, there will be no school for students.  The Extended Day Program will be running for those students registered in the program.

Popcorn On Sale Soon!!

‘Pop’ on to School cash online to order some delicious and nutritious popcorn!  Indulge in a variety of mouth-watering popcorn flavors, including classic butter, dill pickle, white cheddar, and sweet and salty.  Our popcorn comes from ‘From Farm to Table Canada’ and meets our Board’s nutritional policy.  Their popcorn is freshly popped and irresistibly delicious, making it the perfect snack at school! Popcorn will be available for purchase and delivered to your child’s classroom on Fridays.

Sports 

Our boys’ basketball and girls’ volleyball teams have been busy practicing, and their regular seasons officially kicks off the week of January 22nd!  Go Dragons Go!

Kindergarten Registration is OPEN!

It’s time to sign up for the 2024-25 school year – and registering to attend one of Waterloo Region’s 44 Catholic elementary schools has never been easier.

• Children born in 2020 are eligible for Year 1 Kindergarten (JK).
• Children born in 2019 are eligible for Year 2 Kindergarten (SK).

REGISTER HERE: Kindergarten Registration

To finalize your child’s registration, please contact your local Catholic school directly.

When registering your child to attend a Catholic elementary school you must be prepared to provide proof of the child’s date of birth and either the child’s Catholic baptismal certificate or the Catholic baptismal certificate of at least one parent or guardian.

If you are non-Catholic (including a non-Catholic newcomer to Canada) but wish to explore a Catholic education for your child(ren), please review the WCDSB Admissions to Catholic Elementary Schools policy. Our secondary schools are open to students of all faiths.

A complete list of WCDSB schools that will offer the Extended Day Program in 2024-25 will be web-posted before the end of this current (2023-24) school year. Please call your school directly for information about the Extended Day Program. A complete list of WCDSB schools currently providing the program is available via this link: Extended Day Program.

Community News

Free Workshop via Zoom Understanding and Parenting ADHD – Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services (keystonebrucegrey.org)

Free printable Winter Scavenger Hunt (or make your own!)  Winter Scavenger Hunt {Free Printable} – The Printables Fairy

Fundraiser in February – Mark Your Calendars!

Have a fantastic week dragons!

Welcome back St. Dominic Dragons!

We hope you had a joyful Christmas Break and are rejuvenated and ready to learn!  It is back to making lunches and packing extra clothing for the weather.

We have a great week of learning planned and look forward to hearing our student’s highlights of their break.  Please remind your children to bring back indoor shoes and extra clothing that they may have taken home over the break.

Have a super week back dragons!