The first day of school always brings a special kind of energy – fresh, full of promise, and brimming with excitement. But today marked a truly historic moment for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB), as students, families and staff gathered to celebrate the opening of not one, but two brand-new elementary schools in the City of Kitchener: St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School and Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School.
Pictured from left: Dave Schnider, Erin Stevens, Annalisa Varano, Berry Vrbanovic, Ayo Owodunni.
The joyful buzz could be felt across the tarmacs and into the bright hallways of both schools, as community members were joined by local dignitaries, including WCDSB Chair Renée Kraft; Trustees Bob Sikora, David Geurin and Kathy Doherty-Masters; Director of Education Annalisa Varano; Regional Chair Karen Redman; and Members of Parliament and Provincial Parliament – including Tim Louis, MP for Kitchener-Conestoga; Jess Dixon, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education and MPP for Kitchener South-Hespeler; Mike Harris, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga; and Aislinn Clancy, MPP for Kitchener Centre. Also in attendance were City of Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Regional Councillor Colleen James, and Kitchener City Councillors Ayo Owodunni and Dave Schnider.
Pictured from left: Ayo Owodunni, Rosemary Kavanagh, Annalisa Varano, Berry Vrbanovic.
Together, these two schools reflect WCDSB’s ongoing commitment to building inclusive, faith-based learning environments, and to nurturing meaningful partnerships across the community.
Front row, from left: Front row, from left: Lauryn Vanrooy, The Ventin Group Ltd.; Lema Salaymeh, Senior Manager of Communications; Gerald Foran, Superintendent of Learning; Aislinn Clancy, MPP for Kitchener Centre; Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of Kitchener; Deacon Sean, St. Anthony Daniel Parish; Annalisa Varano, Director of Education; Jennifer Ritsma, Superintendent of Learning; Jess Dixon, Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education; Karen Redman, Chair of Region of Waterloo; Kathy Doherty-Masters, Trustee; Erin Stevens, Principal. Back row, from left: Dave Schnider, City of Kitchener Councillor; Jeremy Vandepas, PM Contracting; Ayo Owodunni, City of Kitchener Councillor; Scott Elliot, The Ventin Group Ltd.; Patrick Eby, Superintendent of Learning; Dave Guerin, Trustee.
Holy Trinity: A Shared Vision for School and Community
Located in the growing Rosenberg neighbourhood, Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School is the result of an innovative collaboration between WCDSB and the City of Kitchener. This two-storey, 53,000-square-foot school includes 23 classrooms, a Learning Commons, and a large, dividable gymnasium that will be shared with the adjoining 17,000-square-foot City of Kitchener Community Centre.
Pictured from left: Renée Kraft, Annalisa Varano, Rosemary Kavanagh, Judy Merkel, Lynn Garrioch, Jennifer Ritsma.
Construction on the site began in September 2024 and was completed in less than a year – a remarkable feat, made possible through strong partnership and shared purpose. The project was tendered at $25.5 million, and the school now opens its doors to more than 525 students for the 2025–26 school year.
St. Patrick: Child Care and Classrooms Under One Roof
Meanwhile, across town, St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School is also opening its doors to a new generation of learners. At approximately 60,000 square feet, the school features four kindergarten classrooms with dedicated outdoor play areas, a special education classroom, and a mix of flexible, modern learning spaces to serve more than 540 students.
Deacon Sean, St. Anthony Daniel Parish
A highlight of the St. Patrick site is the purpose-built RisingOaks Early Learning Child Care Centre, which will provide care for up to 88 children, helping to support local families and foster early learning alongside the school community.
The $20-million project was completed within Ministry benchmarks and was made possible in part thanks to a land swap with the City of Kitchener, which allowed for an optimized school layout and the development of a beautiful city-owned playground directly adjacent to school property.
A Joyful Beginning
With the opening of St. Patrick and Holy Trinity, WCDSB joyfully welcomes two new school communities into its growing family. These schools are more than brick and mortar, they are places of belonging, partnership and faith, built to serve the students of today and tomorrow.
The board extends heartfelt thanks to the many hands that made this moment possible: from teachers and early childhood educators to support staff, custodians, construction teams and community partners. Their hard work ensures that every first bell rings with promise, and every student walks into a space designed for their success.
