Good morning, St. Dominic Savio Parents and Caregivers.

It is hard to believe we have just under two weeks left of school before we break for summer holidays. The school year has flown by, and the next two weeks have lots of events jam packed into them!  Keep in mind that these last few weeks, while exciting, can have a huge impact on many of our students. Continuing with routines, setting boundaries, maintaining a good sleep schedule, and staying healthy and active will help all of us to finish the year on a positive note.

We hope Father’s Day for all the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, big brothers and father figures had an amazing day yesterday! You are powerful, positive role models for the children in your lives. We expect you were able to rest, relax and spend quality time with the people you love yesterday.

Goodbye Mrs. Campbell

One of our Grade 6 teachers, Mrs. Campbell, officially went on maternity leave Friday.  We wish her good health and lots of rest while she awaits the birth of her first child.  Thanks for all you did to ensure our grade 6 students had a wonderful year of learning.

Year End Mass

On Tuesday, June 18th, students in Grades 4 – 8 will walk to St. Mark Church for our year end mass.  Students in Grades 3 and under will remain at the school and have a year-end liturgy with Deacon.  Both celebrations start around 10:00 am and all parents are welcome to attend and join us.

Senior Kindergarten Graduation

Congratulations to our Year 2 Kindergarten Students! On Tuesday, June 18th at 2:00 pm, we will celebrate our young and inspiring students who have successfully graduated from Kindergarten!  Wishing you a very Happy Graduation and no doubt you will all continue to shine bright!  God bless!

Family Fun Night

Come one, come all!  Our Catholic School Advisory Committee has planned a fun evening for families on Tuesday, June 18th from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

Event Highlights:

• Food Trucks
• Police and Fire Trucks
• Sports Games
• Basket Draw Prizes

This is an event you won’t want to miss. Bring your family, invite your friends, and let’s make this End of Year Family Night a memorable one!

Good Luck to our Junior 3-Pitch teams!

On Wednesday, June 19th, our junior boys’ and girls’ teams will participate in a 3-pitch tournament.  Thank you to our coaches Ms. Dietrich, Ms. Lizun, Mr. Coates and Ms. DiGravio for all their work with the teams!  Good luck Dragons!

Good Luck to our Ultimate Frisbee Team!

On Thursday, June 20th, in the afternoon, our Intermediate students will play in an Ultimate Frisbee Tournament.  Thank you Mr. Van Looyen for coaching and taking the team/students to this fun tournament.  Good luck Dragons!

Mission Day

Back by popular demand – Mission Day is happening at St. Dominic Savio School on Friday, June 21st, starting at 1:30 pm. This event is a great way to raise money for our local community. All of the proceeds from this event will be given to Nutrition for Learning and the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Mission Day will continue to be for the students only. Students will have the opportunity to “buy” items such as Freezies and play different games/activities on the schoolyard. Purchased tickets will be used to “buy” items as well as participate in the different games/activities. 

Lost and Found & Medication Pick Up!

A few reminders for parents and students as we head into the last weeks of the school year.  We have a number of Lost & Found items.  Please ask your child to check to see if they own anything displayed on the lost & found table. Any unclaimed items will be donated over the summer.

Medication: If your child has any medication at the office, we ask that a guardian come to the office to pick it up on their last day of school, June 27th   Thank you!

LAST CALL:  Calling ALL Library Books

Please help us by returning ANY library books you have at home to the school this week.  All books are due back by now! Thank you.

Please note that bus information for September 2024 will be available on August 19, 2024, via the Parent Portal on https://www.stswr.ca/ Due to high traffic that week, the website may experience slower performance.

National Indigenous Peoples Day

The month of June is an opportunity for all Canadians to learn about Indigenous history together. Specifically, June 21st, National Indigenous Peoples Day, is a moment for all Canadians to come together and celebrate with Indigenous Peoples.  On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day to celebrate and recognize the contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Canada. The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as Aboriginal peoples, also known as Indigenous peoples.  Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs.   In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day. For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.  We are proud of our rich Canadian Heritage and give thanks for the many contributions Indigenous Peoples have made to the fabric of our wonderful country!

Have a super week dragons!

Wishing all our St. Dominic Savio Dads an exciting day celebrating all the wonderful things you do!

Good Monday morning Dragons!

The energy is bursting throughout the school these days with the nice weather signaling to students that summer break is just around the corner.

Thank you to all our families and staff for your cooperation and support in transitioning to the new SafeArrival reporting for attendance.  This new procedure is used across all WCDSB schools and should make it easier to report your child’s attendance.

Our grade 8 students had their end of year trip to Camp Brebuef this past week and enjoyed 3 days of outdoor adventure, campfires and lots of laughter with their classmates who they have shared many memories with over the past 10 years.

WCDSB Track and Field Championship Meet!

On Thursday, June 13th, many of our athletes will be traveling to Track and Field Championship at Resurrection University.  This is a full-day event where our athletes will be competing against other schools.   Many thanks to Ms. Shermeto who will be accompanying our students to this event. For those parents who will be attending, please note that only Resurrection Staff & students will be permitted to use the school’s parking lot. Everyone else will be directed to find street parking in the neighbourhood. Hired security will be at the lot entrance. 

Mission Fun Day!

St. Dominic Savio School is holding its annual Mission Day on Friday, June 21st.  This is the day when St. Dominic Savio School raises money to help various local charities in our community.  The staff members at St. Dominic are planning many great activities for our students to participate in during the afternoon on Friday, June 21st from 1 pm-3 pm.  Thanks so much to our families for all of your support and donations!  This day would not be possible without the support of your amazing families, and we truly do appreciate your help and generosity!

Early Pick-Ups

We have noticed an upward trend in the number of parents calling the office for last-minute pick-up requests or to pass along changes in routine. While we realize that sometimes emergencies happen, we are asking parents to try as much as possible to convey those messages ahead of time.  We have almost 600 students and the office can be a very busy place and last-minute messages are not always possible to convey.  Thank you for your understanding and patience.

WCDSB Parent/Family Survey: Supporting Your Child’s Math Learning K-8

Schools offer a variety of opportunities for parents to learn more about how to support their children: for example, events related to mathematics may be held at the school (e.g., family math nights); teachers may provide newsletters or communicate with parents through apps or social media; and school or board websites may provide helpful tips about how parents can engage in their child’s mathematics learning outside of school and may even provide links where they can learn more or enjoy math activities together.

The following brief survey will assist our school district in gathering data about how parents/families feel in terms of being informed about what their children are learning in math, how parents/families feel about supporting their children’s learning in math, and about parental access to math learning resources at home.

→ https://bit.ly/SupportingMathAtHomeSurvey2024 This survey will remain open until June 14, 2024.

Hats, Water Bottles, and Shoes

As we enjoy the warmer weather, this is just a reminder to please send your child with a hat and reusable water bottle.  For safety reasons, we also kindly request that students do not wear flip-flops/slides to school.  While they are convenient, flip-flops pose a risk of tripping and injury during recess.  We encourage students to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes or sandals with straps.  When students are using the creative play equipment outside, flip-flops/slides are not permitted.  Thank you for your understanding and help in ensuring student safety.

Message Regarding Extended Day Program

Preregistration for the 2024-2025 school year is happening now! 

Please see the information in the link below:

Extended Day

Grade 8 Graduation

For the last several weeks and extensive planning and work have already been undertaken to create a memorable celebration to honour our Grade 8 Graduates. Our Grade 8 Graduate Mass will take place on Tuesday, June 25th beginning at 6:00 pm. at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church.
The actual diploma ceremony will also take place on Tuesday, June 25th after mass.  Diplomas will be distributed, speeches will be read and awards will be presented. We are excited to have been part of their elementary school journey over the last 10 years.

St. Dominic Savio Talent Show

Our talent show will be held on Monday, June 24th, in the morning.  We look forward to our students sharing their gifts with their school community!

Save the Date: End of Year Family Night!

Join us for an unforgettable evening of fun, food, and festivities as we celebrate the end of another fantastic year!

Date: June 18
Time: 5:30-7:30 PM

Community News

Here’s a great deal om Bingemans Big Splash tickets for families!

PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
O most holy heart of Jesus, a fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you,
and with lively sorrow for my sins, I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death.
Amen.

Have an amazing week Dragons!

Good morning, Dragons,

We are a go for today.

IMPORTANT: It appears some questionable weather will arrive in the afternoon and as of now it does not look threatening, but as an added precaution, we may have to leave early if the officials share caution.

We are leaving for the University of Waterloo this morning and will return back to school in the afternoon. Regular classes will resume after. Be on time for school arrival. No lates today! We will have to leave without you.

Expectations:

• There are to be absolutely no balls, frisbees or active items brought to the University of Waterloo during this meet.
• Students are encouraged to bring games, books, playing cards, and other things they can do in your immediate space.
• Bring lots of water, snacks, large lunch, sunscreen, hat, umbrella, blanket or towel to sit on.
• Wear appropriate clothing, layer it up and NO CROCS!!!!

Cross Country Meet Day Tentative Schedule:
Things may run early or late depending on how the day is working. We will run races one after another. We are not providing estimated times.
10:15 Gr. 4 Girls (1 km)
Gr. 4 Boys (1 km)
Gr. 5 Girls (1.5 km)
Gr. 5 Boys (1.5 km)
Gr. 6 Girls (1.5 km)
Gr. 6 Boys (1.5 km)
Gr. 3 Girls (500 m)
Gr. 3 Boys (500 m)
Gr. 7 Girls (2 km)
Gr. 7 Boys (2 km)
Gr. 8 Girls (2 km)
Gr. 8 Boys (2 km)
1:30 Departure Time (at the latest!)

Go Dragons Go!

Good morning parents of cross-country runners.

KDM (Kitchener-Waterloo Schools) Elementary Cross-Country Classic – POSTPONED

Due to the risk of thunderstorms today, the KDM Cross Country Classic held at the University of Waterloo is postponed.

The event will shift to the existing rain date: Thursday JUNE 6, 2024. All the details for the event, including time of day and location do not change.

3-Ways to enter attendance with SafeArrival!!

Good morning, St. Dominic Parents and Caregivers.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Luke 6:35 

As we journey through the first week of June, let us remember that God calls on us to love and to widen our acceptance, welcoming everyone to experience His boundless love. This past Friday, we raised the Progress Pride Flag, marking the beginning of a month where we honor both National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month. This is a time to celebrate and recognize the differences that make us stronger.  We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued and loved. Our celebrations and recognitions are not limited to a single day or month; they are a way of life that enriches our community every day.  Thank you for your continued support and participation in our community events. Together, we will continue to build a school where love, respect, and unity are at the forefront of everything we do.

Progress Pride Flag will fly at all WCDSB sites for the entire month of June.

Confirmation

Many of our students received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday evening at St. Mark’s Church.  This is a significant step in their faith journey and marks their commitment to a deeper relationship with God and active participation in the Church community.  Many thanks to Ms. Murree, Mrs. Bauer, and Ms. Ruffle for their help in preparing the students and for their commitment to nurturing our students’ spiritual growth.  Thank you also to our parents for your guidance and for reinforcing the importance of this sacrament.  Let us continue to pray for their spiritual growth and openness to the Holy Spirit.

Mission Day

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUXQ8uH1oS9WmlW6O4K9W4MzT7cN3mKVDgVmQv6UXOvGkNTA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Dear Families,
Schools offer a variety of opportunities for parents to learn more about how to support their children: for example, events related to mathematics may be held at the school (e.g., family math nights); teachers may provide newsletters or communicate with parents through apps or social media; and school or board websites may provide helpful tips about how parents can engage in their child’s mathematics learning outside of school and may even provide links where they can learn more or enjoy math activities together. 
The following brief survey will assist our school district in gathering data about how parents/families feel in terms of being informed about what their children are learning in math, how parents/families feel about supporting their children’s learning in math, and about parental access to math learning resources at home.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and participation.

https://bit.ly/SupportingMathAtHomeSurvey2024 

This survey will remain open until June 14, 2024.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the collection of this information please contact K-12 Mathematics Coordinator, Board Math Lead, Petra LeDuc at petra.leduc@wcdsb.ca , 519-578-3660 extension 2415.

Safe Arrival: New Student School Messenger App!

The Safe Arrival App is our new attendance app! Please check out the attached information and make sure you sign up for the App. Thank you!

1a. SchoolMessenger App for WCDSB Parents Mobile Guide

Kiss and Drop Zone Reminders

**PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE KISS AND DROP ZONE IS FOR EARLY YEARS FAMILIES ONLY. INCLEMENT WEATHER DOES NOT CHANGE THIS POLICY! THANK YOU! **

Have a fantastic week, Dragons!

Hello parents and caregivers.

As the school year enters the final month, we would like to gather some feedback surrounding the monthly parent communications sent home through Newswire.

Please consider taking 30 seconds to complete this small survey ~  Survey