Nominations are still open for the annual WCDSB “Distinguished Graduate Award”, “Community Partner Award” and “Chair’s Award”. Information about the awards (including the Distinguished Graduate Award nomination form) is available HERE. There are no nomination forms for the Community Partner and Chair’s Awards.

If you wish to make a nomination in any of the categories, please submit your rationale in writing along with any supporting documentation you feel appropriate, to Alice Figueiredo by Monday, March 31, 2021. Hard copy or emailed nominations are equally acceptable. Alice can be reached via email at alice.figueiredo@wcdsb.ca.

Distinguished Graduate Award

The Distinguished Graduate Award was established in 2005 under the Board’s “Celebration of Excellence” policy. It is presented annually to a graduate of 10 or more years from Waterloo Region’s Catholic Schools who has provided an outstanding example of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations in action. The award is presented at the graduation exercises of the recipient’s Secondary School or another appropriate public venue.

Recipients

• 2020 – Michael Dopp
• 2019 – Richard Hepditch, Chief, Waterloo Fire Rescue
• 2018 – Paul Heinbecker, former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations
• 2017 – Most Reverend Bishop Daniel Meihm, Bishop of Peterborough
• 2016 – Michael Schmitt, Former WCDSB teacher, Principal, Superintendent & Director of Education
• 2015 – Douglas Letson, C.M., Former President & Vice-Chancellor, St. Jerome’s University
• 2014 – Katherine Bergman, President & Vice-Chancellor, St. Jerome’s University
• 2013 – Mary Jo Fedy, Managing Partner, KPMG — Waterloo
• 2012 – Toby Collins, C.R., Vocation Director for the Congregation of the Resurrection
• 2011 – Teacher / missionary Sister Barbara Paleczny, SSND
• 2010 – David Eby, Executive Director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association – and current Attorney General of British Columbia
• 2009 – Paul Voisin, C.R., Vicar General of the Diocese of Hamilton (Bermuda)
• 2008 – Former Ontario cabinet minister – and current Wilfrid Laurier University Professor —John Milloy
• 2007 – Lisa LaFlamme, Anchor – CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme
• 2006 – University of Waterloo professor Brian Orend
• 2005 – Ontario Superior Court Justice Patrick J. Flynn

Community Partner Award

The Community Partner Award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made to Waterloo Region’s Catholic Schools by a community partner or agency serving the students, staff and greater community of Waterloo Region.

Recipients

• 2020 – Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate
• 2019 – Langs Community Health & Wellness Centre
• 2018 – St. Vincent de Paul Store (Cambridge)
• 2017 – Settlement and Education Partnership of Waterloo Region
• 2016 – Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
• 2015 – Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council
• 2014 – Strong Start Charitable Organization
• 2013 – Barrday Inc.
• 2012 – Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region
• 2011 – Nutrition for Learning
• 2010 – Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
• 2009 – Rex Barger
• 2008 – Reid’s Heritage Homes
• 2007 – Congregation of the Resurrection in Waterloo Region
• 2006 – Region of Waterloo Public Health
• 2005 – Waterloo Region Catholic Schools Foundation
• 2004 – St. Jerome’s University
• 2003 – Waterloo Regional Police Service
• 2002 – Catholic Family Counselling
• 2001 – Waterloo Region Catholic Community Foundation

Chair’s Award

The Chair’s Award is presented to a person (or group of people) in the school system who has contributed significantly to Catholic Education. It is given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made in serving the students, staff and greater community of Waterloo Region and/or to the betterment of Catholic Education in Ontario in general.

Recipients

• 2020 – Paul Cox
• 2019 – Mary Jo O’Brien
• 2018 – Tom Denomme
• 2017 – Glenda Leusink
• 2016 – Nancy Sabo
• 2015 – Joni Grundy
• 2014 – Marianna Worth
• 2013 – Michelle Flood and Mary Stevens
• 2012 – Bruce Cameron
• 2011 – Gai Brown
• 2010 – Theresa Horan
• 2009 – Jeannie McCarroll
• 2008 – Angela Davis
• 2007 – Thomas Forestell, Mervyn J. Villemaire, Charles Van Alphen
• 2006 – Deb Zettel-Schmitt
• 2005 – Allan Hoch, Jennifer Rodrigues, Louise Ervin
• 2004 – Gary Leduc
• 2003 – Pat Brannigan, Michael Schmitt
• 2002 – School Sisters of Notre Dame / Sisters of St. Joseph
• 2001 – Dave Schnarr, Bill Brazeau, Pat Cannon, Warren Grafton, Horst Schweinbenz
• 2000 – Fr. Fred Scinto, C.R.
• 1999 – Ann O’Donnell-Beckwith
• 1998 – Bob Anderson

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. — Monday, February 22, 2021. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be streamed live on Youtube:

Agenda

General Information About WCDSB Board Meetings

Information About the Board of Trustees

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and five adult education facilities serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 185-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.

The postponement of March Break until April has made necessary an adjustment to previously planned Huron Brigadoon Boundary Review meeting dates.

The new list of dates is provided below.

For further information please visit the Huron Brigadoon web page or email HuronBrigadoon@wcdsb.ca

Boundary Review Committee Meetings

• March 4, 2021
• March 11, 2021
• March 24, 2021
• April 21, 2021
• April 28, 2021

 Public Meetings

• March 18, 2021
• April 6, 2021

On January 25, 2021, the Board of Trustees received a report entitled “Huron Brigadoon Boundary Review – Initial Staff Report and Initiation of Review”, which included a proposed timeline for the boundary review. The Board of Trustees approved the initiation of the boundary review and directed staff to return to the February 8, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting with alternative timelines for the execution of the review.

Board staff presented timeline options which would see the review extend from either March to June, 2021 or April to December, 2021 – with the board opting for the March to June, 2021 timeline.

The new school is anticipated to open in September 2022.

Applications are now open to become a parent representative on the Boundary Review Committee. Applications close on Friday, February 19, 2021.

Please click HERE for the parent representative job description.

Please click HERE for the parent representative application form.

For further information please visit the Huron Brigadoon web page or email HuronBrigadoon@wcdsb.ca

Dear Parents / Guardians of WCDSB Elementary School Children:

Please note that your final opportunity to state your preference for a transfer for your child’s elementary school learning mode begins at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, and ends at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2021.

A special online survey has been created for you to state your choice. The survey is not yet active. It will be activated at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 16^th.

The form will be available on our main webpage in the spotlight section – www.wcdsb.ca

You only need to complete the survey if you are looking for a transfer.

Please ensure you complete the survey during the stated February 16^th to 18^th time fame, as there will be no requests for changes granted after the survey closes. Additionally, as this is the final transition point for the 2020-21 school year, there will be no requests to change learning mode granted through to the end of June.

Again — the survey closes at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2021

Thank you for taking the time to state your choice and for assisting us in having the staffing, resources, and programming in place to assist the ongoing learning and success of your children.

Dear Waterloo Catholic Community –

We have made it through what felt like a long January.  We sincerely hope that this letter finds you and your family well, and that you and your families are finding ways to stay positive during this challenging time.  Today’s letter brings another update – one that has been eagerly awaited by many of our staff and students.

On Wednesday, February 3^rd the Minister of Education, informed by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, declared that schools in Waterloo Region could return to in person learning.   As I said, I know that our staff have been amazing in delivering learning remotely for the past several weeks, be we also know that the majority of staff and students are keen to return to their schools and in person learning.  Thank you to our staff and to all our students and families who have been so wonderful during this time.  We know it was not always easy.

The numbers for COVID-19 positive cases in the region have come down dramatically and this is a very good thing.  As I have said in previous communications, working remotely for a few weeks now ensures that as our staff and students return to the classroom, we will be doing so safely.  With that said – there are a few updates and reminders of which to be aware:

Masking:  Students in Grades K -12 require masks, and students from grades 1-12 will require a formal approved exemption form if they are unable to wear a mask. (The requirement for a formal exemption form in grades 1-3 if a child is unable to wear a mask is a new addition) Students in Grades 1 – 8 should bring a second mask daily that they can use for outdoor activities, such as recess.  Washing masks on a daily basis so that they remain clean and effective, is recommended.

Screening:  Staff and students continue to be required to Self Screen before arriving at school (or immediately upon arrival).  Staff and secondary students will now have to provide confirmation of having completed their self screening on a daily basis.  Secondary classroom teachers will complete that confirmation upon the student’s arrival in class.  The student self-screener is found here:  COVID-19 school and child care screening

Elementary Transition Survey:  I would also like to provide an update on the elementary school transition survey.  There was to be one final opportunity for parents to indicate if they wanted their children to return back to in person learning or if they wished to switch to remote learning for the remainder of the year.  This survey was originally to take place January 27^th to 29^th.  We will now administer the survey on February 16^th – 18^th, immediately after Family Day Weekend.  The official transition date for any student who chooses to change their learning method will be Monday March 8^th, 2021.

Once again, we encourage you to visit Ontario.ca/covidresponse to learn what public health measures are in place in our community – but also please be aware that these could change depending on the most current public health advice. We also suggest checking out the WCDSB website https://wcdsb.ca/living-learning-looking-forward/  and Region of Waterloo Public Health website https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/2019-novel-coronavirus.aspx as they contain helpful resources and supports.  If you have any questions about what your particular school is doing, please reach out to your local school principal.

I will continue to remind all community members that mental health resources are available to students and families through Kids Help Phone, which offers 24/7 counselling and referral services across the province. To use this free resource, children can call 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868.

If there are any further updates we will certainly share them as soon as possible.  Please know that we continue to be in this together and day by day we will make it through.  Thank you for all that you have done to walk with us through this time.  Let’s continue to remain people of hope, informed by our Faith.  Please reach out to us if you need help or guidance, and remain confident that we are here to support you, as we walk together as a hope-filled community.  #InThisTogether 

Sincerely,

Loretta Notten                                                                       

Director of Education 

ENHANCED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Mandatory Masking

Students in Grades 1 to 12 must wear masks or face coverings, unless an approved exemption form has been received:

• in schools, including in hallways and during classes
• on school transportation
• outdoors, where physical distance cannot be maintained

Students in kindergarten are also required to wear non-medical or cloth masks in indoor spaces, including school transportation.

Mandatory Self-Screening of Students & Staff

Students and staff need to check for symptoms of illness every day before going to school. You can screen your child or yourself by taking the COVID-19 school and child care screening

Enhanced On-site Screening

Schools will conduct daily on-site confirmation of self-screening for secondary students, staff and visitors – either before entering the school, or at the start of the school day.

Secondary students

As of February 10, all secondary students must confirm their COVID-19 self-screening result daily.

Teachers and staff

As of January 25, all school staff must confirm their COVID-19 self-screening result daily.

Visitors to Schools

Non-essential visitors, including parents, are not allowed in schools. Only essential visitors are allowed to enter schools. Essential visitors include people who:

• ensure school safety, such as through inspections by the fire marshal’s office or by public health
• provide school-based health services to students
• are parents (properly masked), dropping off extended day students

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. — Monday, February 8, 2021. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be streamed live on Youtube: