This Lent, the John Sweeney Catholic Elementary School community came together in a powerful show of generosity through their annual Cardinals Care project. Students were invited to support those facing food insecurity by donating unopened boxes of cereal for the Waterloo Region Food Bank — with each student challenged to bring in two boxes.

The response was overwhelming. Thanks to the enthusiastic participation of students, families, and staff, the Cardinals collected more than 1,100 donations, the majority of which were cereal boxes. To celebrate the success of the initiative, the entire school gathered for a special domino event, creating a joyful display that symbolized the collective impact of their efforts.

The Cardinals Care Lenten Project was made possible through the leadership of teachers Scott Gibson and Maggie Di Gravio, who helped organize and inspire the school community. Their efforts captured the true spirit of Lent — giving generously and caring for our neighbours in need.

Congratulations to the John Sweeney Cardinals for showing that when a community comes together, even small acts can create a powerful ripple of care!

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s first-ever STREAM Week brought energy and excitement to classrooms across the system, with 45 schools, 488 classes, and more than 8,100 students joining in hands-on activities. One school that truly stood out was St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School, showing how STREAM education can make learning fun, meaningful, and connected to the real world. 

At St. Kateri, students brought STREAM learning to life through hands-on projects. They studied plant life cycles and sustainable farming by growing microgreens, explored soil erosion through engineering challenges, and learned about structural design by building hurricane-resistant models with Makedo kits. The school’s robotics team also developed coding and programming skills with support from an experiential learning lead.  

Their passion for hands-on learning extended into Earth Week, where students organized a school-wide cleanup to make a real difference in their community. 

Throughout the week, the excitement at St. Kateri was unmistakable. “The students were so excited and engaged they didn’t even realize they were learning,” said administrator Richard Settler. “They kept asking for more activities!” 

Learning stretched beyond the classroom too. Grade 3 students launched a letter-writing campaign, sending handwritten letters to students in Seaforth (Ontario), Steinbach (Manitoba), and Abbotsford (British Columbia). It was a fun way to build literacy skills while connecting with other communities across Canada. 

The arts were also celebrated. The school choir advanced to the next level of the Kiwanis Music Festival, and the knitting club showed how math skills are used in traditional crafts through a special presentation. In Kindergarten, students witnessed life cycles up close by hatching chicks in their classrooms. Across the school, students joined in the Forest of Reading Club’s Blue Spruce voting. 

The enthusiasm continues with preparations for Pirates the Musical, where students will apply STREAM skills to create props, manage technical production, and perform on stage. 

St. Kateri’s success shows the power of experiential, project-based learning — and highlights how STREAM education is helping students across WCDSB schools connect what they learn in the classroom to the world around them. 

Kitchener, Ontario — April 28, 2025 — At its meeting on April 28, 2025, the Board of Trustees of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board elected Kitchener/Wilmot Trustee Tracey Weiler as Vice-Chair of the Board.

Vice-Chair Weiler brings extensive experience, strong leadership skills and a steadfast commitment to Catholic education. In her new role, she will work collaboratively with her fellow trustees to support the Board’s mission of serving students, families and school communities throughout Waterloo Region.

The Board extends its sincere thanks to outgoing Vice-Chair Linda Cuff for her dedicated leadership and service.

We extend our deepest sympathies following the tragedy that occurred at the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver this past weekend.

As a Catholic community, we mourn the devastating loss of eleven lives and pray for the many others who were injured while gathered to celebrate Filipino heritage. Our hearts are with all those affected — the victims, their families, first responders, and the broader community who are grieving this unimaginable loss.

We continue to pray for healing, comfort and peace during this time of sorrow.

Community Partner Award: Tiny Home Takeout (Amy Cyr)

Presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made by a community partner or agency to the Catholic school system serving the students, staff, and greater community of Waterloo Region. 

We are proud to present the Community Partner Award to Tiny Home Takeout, under the leadership of Chef Amy Cyr. Since its launch in January 2021, Tiny Home Takeout has served as a beacon of hope—feeding more than 120,000 individuals and distributing over 500,000 portions of food, even through the height of the pandemic. 

With the motto, “grab a bite, give if you can,” they embody Catholic social teachings in action. The initiative has recently expanded to two satellite locations to meet growing community needs, offering not only meals but also dignity, solidarity and welcome to all who come to their table. 

Their work is a powerful witness to Gospel values, reflecting the love, compassion and service that lie at the heart of Catholic social justice. For this unwavering commitment to the most vulnerable among us, Tiny Home Takeout is a most deserving recipient of this year’s Community Partner Award. 

Chair’s Award: Gavin Burns, St. Don Bosco

Presented to a person or persons in the school system who has contributed significantly to Catholic Education. It is given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made to the Catholic school system serving the students, staff, and greater community of Waterloo Region, or to the betterment of Catholic Education in Ontario in general. 

This year’s Chair’s Award is presented to Gavin Burns of St. Don Bosco, whose dedication to student success has made a lasting impact across the board. 

As a co-operative education teacher, Gavin plays a key role in supporting both current students and those re-engaging with their education. Through strong partnerships with employers and compassionate mentorship, he has helped many students reach graduation—offering not only credits, but confidence and purpose. 

Gavin’s presence is felt throughout the school and the wider community. His deep care for students and commitment to Catholic education make him a truly worthy recipient of the Chair’s Award. 

Distinguished Graduate Award: Robert Joseph Carli (St. Jerome’s Catholic Secondary School)

Presented to a graduate of more than 10 years from our school system who has demonstrated outstanding examples of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations. Awarded at the graduation exercises of the recipient’s Secondary School or other appropriate public venue. 

We are thrilled to honour Robert Joseph Carli, a graduate of the former St. Jerome’s Catholic Secondary School, with the Distinguished Graduate Award. 

Now an award-winning composer, Robert has left a lasting mark on Canada’s entertainment industry through his work in film and television. Best known for scoring the long-running series Murdoch Mysteries, Robert’s music sets the tone for each episode, enriching the storytelling with depth and emotion. He has also contributed to other acclaimed productions such as SkyMed and Ruby and the Well. 

A musician from his high school days—memorable for his role in My Fair Lady—Robert has since received four Canadian Screen Awards and five Gemini Awards, a testament to both his talent and dedication. 

Robert Carli exemplifies the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations in his creative excellence, integrity and enduring contributions to Canadian culture. 

Board of Trustees Meeting: Monday, April 28, 2025 @ 6:00 p.m. – Agenda: 2025-04-28_Board-of-Trustee Agenda

Location:  1st floor Board Room, Catholic Education Centre, 35 Weber Street, Kitchener

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Information About the Board of Trustees

(Note: Agenda files can be large. If you are experiencing issues downloading a file, right-click on the link and choose “Save Target As…”.)

Today, the halls of St. Aloysius were buzzing with excitement as kindergarten students and staff gathered for the event of the season—a joyous wedding celebration between the inseparable letters Q and U.

Decked out in their finest attire (including bow ties, veils, and plenty of sparkle), the young learners took their seats as Q and U walked down the aisle, ready to make their long-standing partnership official. The ceremony was both educational and adorable—a fun and memorable way to teach our kindergarteners that in writing (and in life!), Q and U are never far apart.

The celebration came to life with floral arrangements crafted during art time, a whimsically illustrated guest list featuring beloved alphabet friends, and the soft sound of violin music setting the tone as Q and U made their grand entrance.

With thoughtful touches at every turn, the gymnasium was transformed into a wedding venue fit for royalty—complete with aisle runners, balloon arches, and elegant signage, all lovingly created by the students themselves.

While there were a few whispered groans over the absence of Hors d’Oeuvres, the laughter and learning more than made up for it.

It was a QUte event that will be remembered for years to come—and a perfect example of how joyful learning can be.