May 2026 - Waterloo Catholic District School Board

Bell to Bell…And Beyond!

Nutrition for Learning and Food 4 Kids Waterloo Region are working arm-in-arm to provide nourishing meals for students across the region. Together, we are feeding children inside and outside the classroom, so they have what they need to thrive!

Bell to Bell at School

In partnership with youth and educators, Nutrition for Learning continually strives to elevate the experience of universal food access at schools in ways that promote optimal wellbeing, healthy relationships, and food literacy. They provide over 2-million in-school meals for 100,000 students in kindergarten to grade 12 each year, helping to promote a sense of connection, community and belonging for all students.

…And Beyond!

Food 4 Kids Waterloo Region believes every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive without the burden of hunger holding them back. Their mission, in collaboration with our compassionate community, is to provide nutritious food packages to children ages 1-14 living with chronic hunger in food-insecure homes throughout Waterloo Region. We focus on the critical times when children need it most — weekends, school breaks, and throughout the summer — 179 days of the year — when they cannot access in-classroom supports.

Nourishing the Future of our Community Together!

To help support food access for students in the WCDSB, click here!

May 11th, 2026|

Upcoming Board of Trustees’ Meeting: May 11, 2026

Upcoming Agenda:

Committee of the Whole Meeting: Monday, May 11, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m. – Agenda: 2026-05-11_COW_Agenda

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

Livestreaming of Board Meetings

Board meetings are open to the public. You may attend in person or watch live here: https://wcdsb.ca/about-us/meeting-information/board-meeting-live-stream/

General Information About WCDSB Board Meetings

Information About the Board of Trustees

May 9th, 2026|

Discovery Day Welcomes Students for a Warm First Look at Hospital Care

For many people, a first hospital visit happens during a stressful moment. For students with disabilities or members of the neurodiverse community, that experience can feel especially overwhelming.

A new initiative called Discovery Day is working to change that.

On April 30, 10 students from Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School took part in the pilot of Discovery Day, a hands-on visit to Cambridge Memorial Hospital designed to make health care settings feel familiar, welcoming and safe. The program is a partnership between the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, Cambridge Memorial Hospital and Project SEARCH.

Supported by their teacher and educational assistants, students rotated through four interactive stations during the 90-minute visit. Using a stuffed animal buddy, they practised common procedures: trying on an aerosol mask, administering medication, applying a cast and experiencing a saline lock. Each activity mirrored real hospital care in a gentle and accessible way.

Discovery Day was the vision of Cambridge Memorial Hospital oncology nurse Tara Farias, whose experience as a parent of a child with autism shaped the program.

“When a child’s first experience in a hospital happens during an emergency, it can be frightening and confusing,” Farias said. “But when we create opportunities for positive, supported exposure, that fear can turn into familiarity. Discovery Day is about helping young people feel safe, confident, and understood.”

Project SEARCH interns Anthony and Ryder also played a key role on the day, leading groups and offering peer support throughout the session.

“Partnership is at the heart of Discovery Day,” said teacher Stephanie Garibaldi-Alischer. “Together, we are working to foster inclusive, welcoming care and create more positive experiences for patients and families in our diverse community.”

For WCDSB, the day was a meaningful reminder that learning happens everywhere, and that when schools, hospitals and families work together, every student can feel seen, safe and welcomed.

May 1st, 2026|