Upcoming Agenda:

Special Board of Trustees Meeting: Monday, October 5, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m. – Agenda: 2026-10-05_Special-Board-of-Trustee_Agenda

Committee of the Whole Meeting: Monday, October 5, 2026 @ 6:15 p.m. (immediately following the Special Board meeting) – Agenda: 2026-10-05_COW_Agenda

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

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

Livestreaming of Board Meetings

Board meetings are open to the public. You may attend in person or watch live via our official YouTube channel: @WCDSBTube YouTube Channel

Today the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) and the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) celebrated the official opening of Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary School and Giinawind Public School, a new joint-use school facility in Cambridge.

Located on Wesley Blvd., the shared facility opened its doors to students in September 2026. Designed to grow with the community, it has capacity for 354 students at Guardian Angels and 519 students at Giinawind, along with an on-site child-care centre operated by YWCA Cambridge with space for 88 children.

Guardian Angels

The shared facility reflects the long-standing tradition of partnership between the two school boards in Waterloo Region. While Guardian Angels and Giinawind each maintain their own distinct identity, programming and school community, parents, families and caregivers in this growing neighbourhood now have access to both Catholic and public education, as well as child care, close to home.

Students, staff, parents, families and community members gathered for the ceremony, which included remarks, a photo opportunity and school tours. Annalisa Varano, Director of Education and CEO of the WCDSB, and Scott Miller, CEO of the WRDSB, Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett, Renée Kraft, Chair of the WCDSB, Maedith Radlein, Chair of the WRDSB, school administrators and other guests.

WCDSB Trustees and Staff

As part of the celebration, Mayor Liggett presented both schools with a time capsule, to be filled by students with items reflecting their first year in the new building.

Following the official opening ceremony, the Guardian Angels community celebrated Mass and a blessing of the school, presided by the Most Rev. Joseph Dabrowski, C.S.M.A., Bishop of Hamilton.

The name Giinawind (pronounced Gee-nah-win) was submitted by members of the Indigenous community and is derived from the Ojibwe word giinawind meaning “Us, including you.” The name will be woven into the day-to-day life of the school as students and staff build their shared identity, relationships and sense of belonging. Through learning, school activities and community experiences, Giinawind will serve as an ongoing reminder that every student, staff member and member of the school community has a place and a role in shaping the school.

The official opening of Guardian Angels and Giinawind marks an exciting milestone for families in Cambridge. Together, WCDSB, WRDSB and YWCA Cambridge look forward to welcoming students, staff, parents, families, caregivers and the wider community to this shared space for many years to come.

“Today we give thanks for Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary School and for the students, staff and families who are already bringing it to life. This shared facility reflects what we can accomplish when two boards put the needs of children first, and it offers families the gift of a Catholic education in their own neighbourhood. We are grateful to our partners at the WRDSB and YWCA Cambridge, and to the Ministry of Education, for walking this journey with us. Alongside our friends at Giinawind, we look forward to building a community where every child in this building knows they belong.”  said Annalisa Varano, WCDSB Chief Executive Officer.

Annalisa Varano, WCDSB Chief Executive Officer

“The opening of Giinawind is an important milestone for the students, staff, parents, families and caregivers who are now part of this school community. This new facility provides students with a welcoming place to learn, connect and grow, while bringing public education and child care closer to families in this growing community. We are proud of the partnership that helped bring this school to life and look forward to seeing the Giinawind community grow and thrive,” said Scott Miller, WRDSB Chief Executive Officer.

“What a joy it is to celebrate the opening of Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary School with this community. I am proud of the collaboration and innovation between our two boards that carried this vision from the drawing board to the classroom, with responsible stewardship of public resources at every step. This building is now ready to become a true home for students and staff, filled with prayer, curiosity and friendship. May Guardian Angels be a place of faith and learning for generations to come.”  said Renée Kraft, Chair of the WCDSB Board of Trustees.

Renée Kraft, Chair of the WCDSB Board of Trustees

“The official opening of Giinawind Public School is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the many people whose collaboration has made this school community a reality. This partnership with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board is new for the WRDSB and gives both boards the opportunity to demonstrate what is possible when we work together to serve students. Thank you to everyone whose hard work ensured that Giinawind was ready to welcome students, staff, parents, caregivers and families on the first day of school,” said Maedith Radlein, Chair of the WRDSB Board of Trustees.

Results of the 2025–2026 EQAO Assessments: WCDSB Students Show Strong Gains in Grade 3 and Grade 9

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released the 2025–2026 assessment results for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB). The results show strong gains in Grade 3 literacy and numeracy, a significant one-year gain in Grade 9 mathematics, and continued strength on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), where WCDSB students again outperformed the province.

Provincial results were largely steady this year, with most areas changing by about one percentage point. WCDSB’s gains were larger in several areas, including 5 percentage points in Grade 9 Mathematics, 3 in Grade 3 Writing and 2 in Grade 3 Reading.

These results reflect the dedication of our teachers, support staff and school leaders, working in partnership with parents, families and guardians. They also reflect the Board’s focused work through its Multi-Year Strategic Plan 2025–2030, its Literacy Support Action Plan and its Math Achievement Action Plan (MAAP).

“Behind every one of these results is a year of faithful teaching, careful planning and daily encouragement,” said Annalisa Varano, Director of Education and Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud of our students’ growth, particularly in Grade 3 and Grade 9. We also know there is more work to do, especially in junior mathematics. We will use these results as we always do: as a starting point for thoughtful, evidence-informed conversations about how we can continue to support every student entrusted to our care.”

Highlights

• Grade 3 Reading (77%), Writing (68%) and Mathematics (67%) reached their highest levels in five years, and all three Grade 3 results exceeded the provincial results.
• Grade 3 Mathematics improved for the third consecutive year.
• Grade 6 Writing rose 2 percentage points to 84%, and Reading held steady at 84%.
• Grade 9 Mathematics rose 5 percentage points to 58%, the Board’s largest one-year gain in five years.
• 88% of first-time eligible students were successful on the OSSLT, above the provincial result of 86%. WCDSB has exceeded the province in four of the past five years.

Percentage of Students Meeting or Exceeding the Provincial Standard

Next Steps

The 2025–2026 results affirm the strategies already in place and show us where to deepen them. In our elementary schools, WCDSB will continue to advance MAAP priorities, with particular attention to mathematics in the junior grades. Through the Literacy Support Action Plan, schools will continue to implement evidence-based literacy practices from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

In our secondary schools, the work is guided by the Multi-Year Strategic Plan priority to Accelerate Excellence and Innovation While Building Future-Ready Skills, and the Student Achievement Plan priority of Achievement of Learning Outcomes in Core Academic Skills. Schools will use achievement data to inform planning, strengthen instructional practice and provide targeted supports that respond to each student’s needs. We remain committed to helping every student build strong literacy and numeracy foundations and step confidently into their future.

Understanding EQAO Results

EQAO assessments provide one important indicator of student learning, measured against a common provincial standard. They do not assess the whole child or the whole curriculum, and WCDSB uses them alongside many other sources of information to plan instruction. As EQAO advises, ranking schools or comparing individual schools without considering a range of factors is inappropriate and misleading.

Board, school and provincial results, including new cohort-tracking reports, are available at www.eqao.com.

Upcoming Agenda:

Board of Trustees Meeting: Monday, September 28, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m. – Agenda: 2026-09-28_Board-of-Trustee Agenda

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

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

Livestreaming of Board Meetings

Board meetings are open to the public. You may attend in person or watch live via our official YouTube channel: @WCDSBTube YouTube Channel

What is a School Board Trustee?  

School board trustees are locally elected members of the public who serve as champions for public education in our community. As part of the board, a trustee helps fulfill the board’s responsibilities under Ontario’s Education Act. 

Trustees keep student achievement and well-being at the centre of every decision they make. They work to benefit the school board district, while also representing the interests and concerns of the families and communities who elected them. A key part of the role is two-way communication: trustees share the board’s decisions and priorities with their constituents, and they bring community perspectives back to the board table. 

What Does a Trustee Do? 

As elected representatives, Catholic School Trustees are accountable to Catholic school electors in the following areas: 

• Setting the system’s mission and multi-year strategic plan  
• Supporting student achievement across the school community  
• Establishing and monitoring the annual budget  
• Developing policies that ensure the board operates efficiently  
• Determining the type, size, and location of schools  
• Hiring the Chief Executive Officer 

Who Can Run to Become a Catholic School Board Trustee? 

To be eligible for election to a four-year term as a Catholic School Trustee, you must be: 

• A Roman Catholic 
• A Catholic school supporter 
• A resident within the jurisdiction of the district Catholic school board 
• A Canadian citizen 
• At least 18 years of age 

Municipal Elections 

Municipal and school board elections take place every four years. The next municipal and school board election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026.  

Nine Trustees will be elected to the Waterloo Catholic District School Board in the 2026 municipal election, including: 

• Three from Cambridge / North Dumfries 
• Four from Kitchener / Wilmot 
• Two from Waterloo / Wellesley / Woolwich 

For information about elected municipal offices, please view the information for your municipality found in the links below: 

• City of Cambridge 
• City of Kitchener 
• City of Waterloo 
• Township of North Dumfries 
• Township of Wellesley 
• Township of Wilmot 
• Township of Woolwich 

Trustee Candidate Nomination 

Please note that the candidate nomination period runs from Friday, May 1, 2026 – Friday, August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.   

Learn More about Catholic School Trustees 

Visit the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association website to learn more about becoming a Catholic School Board Trustee.

WATERLOO REGION – July 7, 2026 – The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) is pleased to announce that the Ontario Ministry of Education has approved $91,240,874 in capital funding for four projects that will create new and renewed learning spaces for nearly 2,000 students across the region. 

The funding, approved through the Ministry’s Capital Priorities Program, supports the following projects: 

1. New Doon South Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener): A new 645-pupil-place elementary school, including a five-room childcare centre providing 88 new licensed childcare spaces. Approved funding: $32,420,130. 
2. Monsignor Haller Catholic Elementary School Addition (Kitchener): A 282-pupil-place addition, along with retrofits to existing instructional and operational spaces. Approved funding: $17,236,450. 
3. New St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener): A new 657-pupil-place replacement school. Approved funding: $28,818,332. 
4. Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School Addition (Cambridge): A 368-pupil-place addition, including new operational areas. Approved funding: $12,765,962. 

Together, the four projects will create 1,952 new or renewed student places and 88 new licensed childcare spaces for families in Waterloo Region. 

“This is wonderful news for our students, families and staff,” said Annalisa Varano, Director of Education and CEO of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. “These investments mean more children will learn, grow and be formed in faith in modern, welcoming spaces close to home, and more families will have access to the childcare they need. Catholic education has served this region for generations, grounding learning in faith and community, and these new and renewed spaces will allow us to carry that mission forward for the next generation of students. We are grateful to the Ministry of Education for recognizing the urgent accommodation needs in our growing communities, and we look forward to moving these projects forward.” 

The projects were approved in two stages: the New St. Bernadette and Monsignor Doyle projects through Phase 2 of the 2025-26 Capital Priorities Program, and the New Doon South and Monsignor Haller projects through Phase 1 of the 2026-27 Capital Priorities Program. Each will proceed through the Ministry’s Enhanced Capital Accountability Framework, with project milestones to be confirmed through a Project Commitment agreement between the board and the Ministry. 

Specific timelines for each project, including anticipated construction start and completion dates, have not yet been confirmed. These details will be finalized as planning advances, and updates will be provided along the way. 

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board serves more than 28,000 students across 52 schools in Waterloo Region, providing a Catholic education rooted in faith, academic excellence, and service to others. 

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Media Contact:  

Lema Salaymeh
Senior Manager of Communications
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Lema.Salaymeh@wcdsb.ca  

We are pleased to share that Angela McHardy and Jordan Figueiredo have been appointed as Superintendents of Learning with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, effective August 24, 2026.

Angela joins us from the London District Catholic School Board. She is recognized for her experience in special education, inclusive practices, and faith-centered leadership, and has led diverse school communities while advocating for equitable outcomes and high achievement for all learners. As Principal of Amethyst Demonstration School, Southwestern Ontario’s provincially designated Tier 3 intervention school, she led specialized programming for some of Ontario’s highest-needs learners, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on evidence-based intervention models that strengthened literacy and numeracy outcomes. She serves as the Elementary Principal Representative on SEAC and is an instructor for CPCO’s Special Education for Administrators program.

Jordan is known to many as a dedicated and respected faith-filled leader, most recently serving as Principal of St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge, where he led the school through a period of significant growth and transformation. He is known for creating cultures of belonging, collaboration, and innovation, and has a long-standing commitment to coaching and mentorship, recently completing his term as President of District 8 Athletics. Through his leadership on board-level committees, including the current Multi-Year Strategic Plan, Jordan has helped lead system improvement and alignment.

Please congratulate Angela and Jordan on this well-deserved appointment. We look forward to the continued impact they will make in service of our students, staff, and school communities.

Dear Students and Families,

As this school year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank you for being such a meaningful part of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board community.

This year has been filled with learning, growth, achievement, friendship, faith, and service. As I reflect on my first year as Director of Education, I am struck most by the people I have had the privilege of meeting. I visited each of our 52 schools twice this year, and in every building, I was welcomed with warmth and generosity. I had the joy of reading to students, visiting classrooms, attending events, and witnessing firsthand the incredible things happening each day across our system. Our students inspired me at every turn.

To our students, congratulations on everything you have accomplished this year. Whether you learned something new, overcame a challenge, discovered a passion, helped a friend, served your community, or simply gave your best each day, you should be proud. Your curiosity, kindness, resilience, and talents make our schools vibrant communities of learning, faith, and belonging, and I am grateful I had the chance to see that up close.

To our families, thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your presence in the life of our schools. The success of our students is made possible through the strong connection between home, school, and parish. We do not take that trust lightly, and we are committed to honouring it every day.

This year, we also brought our new Multi-Year Strategic Plan to life. Learn, Serve, Belong, with faith at the centre, is the commitment that guides everything we do, and I saw it lived out beautifully in our schools and communities throughout the year. I am deeply proud of what we have built together, and I look forward with great hope to what lies ahead in 2026-2027.

To our graduates, congratulations as you celebrate this important milestone. We are proud of all you have accomplished and excited for the opportunities that await you. Wherever your next steps lead, know that you will always be part of the WCDSB family.

As we enter the summer months, I hope this season brings rest, joy, and treasured time with family and friends. I encourage our students to keep exploring, reading, creating, and playing. Some of life’s best learning happens beyond the classroom walls. As people of faith, we give thanks for the many blessings of this school year and look ahead with hope and excitement to the year to come. May God continue to watch over and bless each of you throughout the summer.

On behalf of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, thank you for a wonderful year. We look forward to welcoming you back in September.

Wishing you a safe, joyful, and blessed summer.

With gratitude,

Annalisa Varano
Director of Education/CEO

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s 2026-27 School Year Budget was approved by the Board of Trustees on Monday, June 22, 2026.  

The Budget Book can be accessed by visiting this link: 2026/2027 Budget Report.   

Quick Facts  

The overall budget is as follows:  

• Total Operating: $451.8M — ($5.6M change from 2025-26)  
• Total Capital: $90.4M — ($14.3M change from 2025-26)  
• Total Operating & Capital: $542.2M — ($19.9 M change from 2025-26)  

As always, budget decisions are guided by the key priorities captured in the following plans, which include:  

• Multi-Year Strategic Plan * 
• Board Improvement and Equity Plan  
• Long-Term Accommodation Plan  
• Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan  
• Information Technology Strategic Plan  

Key funding areas of the operating budget include:  

• Classroom Staffing — $223.7M  
• Learning Resources — $57.3M  
• Special Education — $53.7M  
• School Facilities — $56.4M  
• Student Transportation — $14.8M 
• Board Administration — $12.5M  
• Pupil Accommodation — $4.9M 
• Other — $28.4M 

The budget contains provisions for:  

• New Classroom Supplies for elementary teachers ($750/teacher) and new Consistent Curriculum resources 
• Increased costs for non-staffing areas such as utilities, portables, student transportation, texts and supplies 
• Continued support for math and mental health 
• Continued support for identifying and assisting students with reading difficulties and students with special needs 
• Outfitting two new schools scheduled to open September 2026 

* The proposed budget is informed by the Board’s 2025–2030 Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) and guided by its three pillars: Learning, Serving, and Belonging, with faith at the centre. The MYSP provides focus and direction for nurturing student achievement, wellbeing, equity, and public trust, while remaining grounded in our Catholic Graduate Expectations and Catholic Social Teachings.