The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. — Monday, June 14, 2021. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be streamed live on Youtube:
General Information About WCDSB Board Meetings
Information About the Board of Trustees
(Agenda files can be large. If you are experiencing issues downloading a file, right click on the link and choose “Save Target As…”.)
As part of our ongoing efforts to support Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) students and families, our staff are offering two free interactive, fun information sessions about stress and anxiety and how they can be managed.
These one-hour workshops — scheduled over two weeks in the summer — will help students and their families to learn and develop more ways to manage stress and anxiety.
Where: Zoom meeting
Who: Three age groups will be available through registration
When:
To pre-register, complete the Google Form. Once registered, you will receive the Zoom meeting link via email.
Option 1: Week of July 9 (session one) and July 16 (session two)
Option 2: Week of August 9 (session one) and August 16 (session two)
We hope that this communication finds you well. It has been an eventful few weeks since last we communicated, and today’s letter will bring some important updates. As you well know at this point, it was announced by the Premier on Wednesday, June 2nd that in person schooling would not be returning this school year. We know that for many students and indeed for many staff this was a disappointing update and not the news for which we were hoping. It is difficult to be ending a second year in a row remotely, but we do know it will set us up for a safe and healthy summer, and hopefully a strong return to in person learning in the fall.
We are conscious that without a formal return to school, we once again have to contemplate bringing closure to our year and also complete some tasks associated with return of school materials and retrieval of personal belongings. It will also be an opportunity to return any learning devices students were loaned from their schools or any textbooks they may have. To facilitate this process, the last day of synchronous learning for all elementary schools, including St Isidore, will be Thursday June 24th. June 25th, June 28th, and June 29th will be asynchronous learning days, where work will be posted, and students will be invited to come into their schools to return materials and connect with teachers.
Keeping in mind all our obligations to our health and safety protocols, our elementary aged students will be invited to come to their schools at an appointed time to say a final in-person good-bye to their teacher and to allow for some personal connections with some classmates. Principals will develop a schedule for their school and communicate those details to students and families once they are finalized. We hope to not inconvenience parents more than once as they bring their children to the school for their good-bye.
Graduates will also receive communications from their schools with details about virtual graduation ceremonies, and about any drive-by / walk-by graduation ceremonies that are planned. This will allow for a celebration of this milestone, for photos and final in person good-byes.
The last day for synchronous learning in Secondary with be June 22nd, with June 23rd and 24th as final assessment days. The dates of June 24th and 25th will be used for device retrieval and textbook collection (June 28th and 29th will be available as need be as well). School Administration will communicate the schedule and process. June 24th is the last day for Community Active Living and ELL students.
As has been previously communicated, a great deal of preparation has been underway for our graduates. The secondary schools have been coordinating efforts and engaged in much planning to ensure our graduates are celebrated to the best of our ability. Comprehensive virtual graduation ceremonies are currently planned for the fall and in-person celebratory drive-by/walk by ceremonies are planned for this spring. We want to honour the considerable accomplishments of our many graduates. We are very proud of you! More details about these events will be provided by your local school.
Thank you to all parents and families for completing our Transition Survey for next school year. We have just under 600 students registered for St Isidore elementary school next year and approximately 200 students who desired online learning for secondary. As the 200 secondary students are spread over 5 schools, 4 grades and multiple courses, a decision has been made that delivery will occur through a hybrid model (online and in-person students are in the same class), so that students can learn online and still access most of the course offerings they might desire.
Finally, just a short word to say that once again we will be providing students and families from grades JK – 12 with WCDSB Learning Kits. Look here to see what to expect:
Student Kits – List of Items.pdf It is a small way to ensure heath and safety, while saying to you that you matter to us! We value your faith in WCDSB, and we cannot wait to welcome you back!
Thanks for your continued support and let’s have a great end to the school year, and an even better, healthier summer and school year ahead! It’s going to be #WCDSBAwesome !
Sincerely,
Loretta Notten
Director of Education
Flags at all Waterloo Catholic District School Board schools and administrative sites have been flying at half-mast since May 31st, as a sign of respect for the 215 children and youth whose graves were recently discovered on the grounds of a former residential school in British Columbia.
The period of mourning (215 hours long) was to end tomorrow morning, Wednesday, June 9th.
However, to mark the tragic, anti-Muslim murders this week in London, Ontario — and to stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters — all WCDSB flags will remain at half-mast until the end of the school day on Friday, June 11th.
As a Catholic community we pray for the victims of this senseless act of terrorism, and join as one to condemn racism, bigotry and hate, in all its forms, anywhere.
Waterloo Region, ON – Trustees of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board have received the Board’s $322.4 million 2021-22 school year budget. The budget vote is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, June 14, 2021.
> The overall budget is as follows:
BUDGET BOOK
> As always, budget decisions have been guided by the key priorities captured in the following plans:
> Once again, budget decisions have also been guided by new and emerging considerations related to re-opening schools within the current COVID-19 reality – chief among them, health and safety considerations.
> Key funding areas of the operating budget include:
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 next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. — Monday, June 7, 2021. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be streamed live on YouTube:
(Agenda files can be large. If you are experiencing issues downloading a file, right click on the link and choose “Save Target As…”.)
Monday, May 10, 2021 – Meeting Agenda Package
Monday, May 31, 2021 — Meeting Agenda Package
As well as providing an update with respect to the following listed math priorities, the Math Update also provided detailed information regarding steps currently being taken by WCDSB to continue proactively responding to the changing landscape of education, including:
The report contains many very instructive charts and graphs, that clearly chart the accomplishments, opportunities and ongoing challenges facing the school board.
Going forward into the 2021-22 school year, the following initiatives will be undertaken and/or continued:
The report is available beginning on page 8 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
In January 2021, the Board of Trustees approved the initiation of the Huron Brigadoon Boundary Review and in February 2021, approved the boundary review’s timeline.
The Final Staff Report was presented to the Board of Trustees on Monday, May 10, 2021. The report was provided for consideration in advance of the June 14, 2021, Board Meeting when a decision regarding the affected school boundaries is scheduled. The draft recommendations are as follows:
The report is available beginning on page 20 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
In September 2020, the 7- 12 Program Review Initiation Report was presented to the Board of Trustees to begin the work to establish program recommendations related to the opening of a new Grade 7- 12 school in East Kitchener. The first and second phases of the review are now complete. The report presented on May 10, 2021, provided Trustees with key considerations resulting from research and consultation and provided recommendations for implementation of a Grade 7-12 school configuration.
Based on the public consultation on the draft key considerations – and the input received – the following reflect the final recommended elements which should form the operational and organizational principles for the establishment of a Grade 7-12 school. Trustees will make a final decision on May 31, 2021.
The report is available beginning on page 62 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
At the current time, the schools of Waterloo Catholic continue to learn in our evolving pandemic reality, which currently has us under a provincial “stay-at-home” order. Our staff, students and parents are yet again being asked to adapt, more so in our in-person learning environment than in the virtual environment of St Isidore. That said – it is a challenging landscape across our province as we try to combat the third wave. COVID-19 has changed the landscape of a traditional school experience and the staff of our board have planned, prepared, and now implemented in this new and continually evolving reality. As we continue the journey further into spring, we are also looking to next year and what the school year will look like. Vaccinations for 12-17 year olds are available throughout month of June.
We are now in the process of both working through the ever-evolving operational challenges of this year, as well as navigating our planning for the 2021-22 school year. We met our staffing and budget deadlines which we hit toward the end of March and early weeks of April. Given that we overstaffed this year to keep our class sizes smaller, we have 39 net teachers surplussed in bricks and mortar elementary schools.
Based on current information, St. Isidore elementary school will be reduced from 119 classes to 25. We are receiving direction from the Ministry that would seem to position us for movement toward a more traditional school year. Parents must finalize their decisions regarding next year this week.
In elementary schools, there is an expectation that itinerant teachers will move from class to class, and over the course of the year extra-curriculars could return. In secondary schools, the hope is with vaccination we may be able to offer students classes every day, as well as the hope that extra- curriculars will return to secondary schools over the course of the year.
We have been told at the secondary school level to plan to a 2-period day, with 300 minutes of instruction. This poses challenges, as it is effectively a quadmester model, where in one term a teacher carries 2 courses and in 1 term, a teacher carries 1 course. This imbalance is being worked on to ensure all teachers receive prep time.
With the release of the Grants for Student Needs (GSN) and other associated funding envelopes, we have been able to further refine what our staff and budget plans may look like. We have been providing with discretionary funding that can be used to support needs that have arisen because of the pandemic, its management, and its impact. We are looking at implications for early literacy, re-engagement, innovation, and class size. Details will be fully revealed as the school year budget is finalized.
The report is available beginning on page 131 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
The report presented to the Board of Trustees on June 7 highlighted the special education programs and services that are provided by the WCDSB in accordance with legislation and ministry policy on special education as well as to provide an update on the strategic goals of the MYSP as they relate to special education.
The 2020-21 school year brought several challenges with respect to COVID-19 and provincial lockdowns, with two significant pivots to remote learning after both the Christmas and the April Break. To provide equitable access to learning opportunities for students as per the goal in the MYSP, technological devices were distributed to students with special education needs to access their learning. The number of SEA devices (Chromebook, laptops, iPad) totaled approximately 2,400 devices, which consisted of both existing claims and new claims deployed this year. Training around the use of these devices consisted of 368 individual student training sessions and more than 600 staff that received training. All WCDSB students and teachers continue to have access to Google Read & Write with a total of 14,000 accounts currently in place.
The Special Education Update report is lengthy and highly detailed. Key elements addressed include:
Looking ahead to Summer 2021, the Ministry of Education has provided targeted summer funding in the areas of: Student Mental Health, Transition to School for Students with Special Education Needs and Reading Intervention for students affected by COVID-19.
As a result, this summer Student Services will be supporting a variety of programs. Both Summer Boost and Headstart will be supported by Student Services and special education staff to assist students with special needs who are registered in the programs. Additionally, the Summer Boost program will include a mental health component and will be supported by our Mental Health Lead.
Like last summer, Social Workers will continue to take referrals and will be proactive in reaching out to disengaged students. Special Education staff will work alongside Student Services staff to assist in transitioning targeted FDK students with high needs through a skill building program offered in August. Similarly, elementary school students with high needs will be offered the opportunity to participate in a transition to school program. Finally, we will be offering a virtual Reading Intervention Program to support students in Grade 1 and Grade 2 who would benefit from additional support in early literacy skills using evidence-based reading interventions. Registration for the Reading Intervention Program is focused on student need and acceptance is based on the learning profile of the student.
The full report is available beginning on page 114 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board has a long history of environmental protection and awareness, and of innovative action toward sustainable operations. The Board’s collective dedication for creating a better future for its students, staff, and community members stems from a deep appreciation of God’s world.
WCDSB conservation measures to date are a broad sweep of inspirational ideas. The way in which these initiatives have been adopted and supported across the Board is a direct result of the Board’s successful history and optimism for the future. While these strategies have provided excellent resources for staff, if we are to truly “live our mission” then green thinking must be woven throughout all future planning and day-today operations. An action-based, goal-oriented Energy and Environmental Plan is needed.
The WCDSB Energy Conservation and Demand Management Report is written to satisfy legislative requirements as they relate to energy conservation, local commitments made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), a need to address budget pressures and the current state of our environment, supporting the creation of a sustainable future for younger generations, and in the context of the requirements contained in the Multi-Year Strategic Plan.
WCDSB is actively addressing long-term sustainability in the following key areas: Energy & Water; Purchasing & Waste; Buildings & Grounds; Food & Drink; Inclusion & Participation; and Local Well-Being. This is in keeping with the guidance of Pope Francis in his historic encyclical, Laudato Si’ – On Care for our Common Home as well as WCDSB’s own mission and vision.
The full plan is available beginning on page 33 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
As our buildings continue to age, major renovations and repairs are needed to ensure students and staff are safe and our buildings continue to be welcoming, operational and efficient spaces which support the communities in which they belong. Over the previous school years, the Ministry of Education has continued to provide two sources of funding to support major repairs and renovations – School Renewal Allocation (SRA) Funding and School Condition Improvement (SCI) Funding.
School Renewal Allocation (SRA) Funding is provided to allow school boards to revitalize and renew aged building systems and components. This includes replacing aged HVAC systems and roof replacement as well as installation of new building automation systems and air conditioning systems, improving accessibility and maintenance requirements such as painting, roof patching and asphalt repairs. There are no restrictions on its use except that the work performed must be capital in nature. For the 2020-2021 school year, School Renewal Allocation Funding totals $3,818,279. Annual funding for school renewal has supported HVAC improvements, roof repairs, upgrades to electrical and plumbing systems, etc.
School Condition Improvement (SCI) Funding is provided to address the needs at schools that are expected to remain open and operating for at least 5 years. The monies allow school boards to revitalize and renew aged building components that have exceeded or will exceed their useful life cycle. Items eligible for the SCI funding will be identified through the ministry’s School Facility Condition Assessment Program. School boards are required to direct 70% of their SCI funds to replace major building components and systems (roof, windows, HVAC plumbing, etc.). The remaining 30% can be used to address components and systems listed above or alternatively building interiors and surrounding site components. SCI Funding totals $8,561,730 for the 2020-2021 school year.
In addition to the school projects, the construction team has been working on the following projects:
The full report is available beginning on page 62 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
The 2020-21 French Immersion Review Committee (FI Review Committee) was established to provide guidance and advice to the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees related to French Immersion programming and future accommodation issues. Specifically, the following factors were to be re-confirmed or addressed in this review:
The following recommendations were provided for consideration of the Board on June 14, 2021:
The full report is available beginning on page 68 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
The 2021 Abridged Long-Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) provides an update on enrolment and demographic trends as they relate to future accommodation initiatives and provides a listing of strategic initiatives including potential boundary reviews, new schools, and additions/renovations.
While the current year impacted by COVID-19 has resulted in enrolment in both panels which did not meet previous projections, enrolment is projected to continue to increase in both the elementary and secondary panels over the next 10 years.
Plan Highlights:
The full plan is available beginning on page 102 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
School boards are required to prepare, adopt, and submit to the Minister the school year calendar(s) to be followed by the schools in their jurisdiction for the subsequent school year. School Boards are required to identify a minimum of 194 school days between September 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, of which a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 7 days may be identified as PD days. Three of these must be for Ministry priorities. The remaining school days shall be instructional days. Boards may designate up to ten instructional days as examination days. Each school year calendar must be accompanied by a general outline of the activities to be conducted on PA days. The minimum number of instructional days is 187.
The first day of the school year will be Tuesday, September 7th, 2021. The last day of the school year will be June 29th, 2022. The last day of school in December will be December 17th, 2021, and the first day of school in the new year is January 3rd, 2022. Note: Christmas Break takes place between December 20th and 31st 2021.
The calendar – including a list of all PD Days — is available beginning on page 125 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Each month, the Chair of the Board reports on the activities of the Board of Trustees. Chair Melanie Van Alphen’s report for April 2021 is available on page 137 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Student Trustees Abby Barbosa and Kate Morrison presented their monthly update – covering activities in WCDSB’s secondary schools. It is available beginning on page 135 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Monday, June 7, 2021
Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre
Monday, June 14, 2021
Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and four 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.
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During the weeks of April 22- May 7, 2021, a total of 7 WCDSB high school students competed at the Virtual Skills Ontario Competition.
Due to the challenges we have all faced throughout the 2020-21 school year, this group of students faced adversity head on and competed in the first ever Virtual Skills Ontario Competition. Students practiced and competed from their homes, with emails of advice flooding their inboxes and video calls with their Mentors.
The WCDSB’s 7 students competed in the following categories:
| 2D Animation | Joree Da Silva & Perry Yenika | St. Mary’s |
| IT Office Software Applications | Manda Ilic | St. Mary’s |
| Job Interview | Melissa Valad | St. David |
| Job Skill Demonstration | Sabrina Bumbacco | St. Benedict |
| Prepared Speech | Tolu Akinyemi | St. Benedict |
| Prepared Speech | Alicia Tonleu Jemetio | Resurrection |
During the Virtual Closing Ceremonies, held on Thursday May 13, the WCDSB competitors eagerly sat at their computers and awaited their results. Three students brought home some hardware!
Please congratulate:
Tolu Akinyemi, St. Benedict C.S.S. – GOLD Medalist – Prepared Speech
Sabrina Bumbacco, St. Benedict C.S.S. – SILVER Medalist – Job Skill Demo
Manda Ilic, St. Mary’s High School – BRONZE Medalist – IT Office Software Applications
All competitors put in their best efforts and made the WCDSB community proud! For a full list of results visit: http://www.skillsontario.com/competitions/secondary
On Wednesday May 26, Tolu Akinyemi represented not only the WCDSB, but Ontario, as she competed in the Skills Canada National Virtual Competition. Tolu was tasked with delivering both an impromptu speech, and a prepared speech throughout the competition day. The 2021 Skills Canada Virtual Competition Showcase and closing ceremonies will take place on June 15, 2021. Registration is FREE and all are welcome to attend. Register here: https://scvnc.vfairs.ca/
Congratulations to all students who competed at the Skills Ontario Virtual Competition and thank you to all the teachers and mentors who supported them along the way!
Solange Saraiva – Experiential Learning Officer
Leonard Bumbacco– Experiential Learning Consultant/OYAP Coordinator
Dear parents and guardians of ELEMENTARY transported students,
Student Transportation Services Waterloo Region (STSWR) is eagerly preparing to transport students for the upcoming school year and we need families in bus zones to tell us their needs by Friday, July 1st, 2021 so we can provide smooth bus service for all in September. You can always let us know later if your plans change and you may opt out of busing altogether, or for either morning or afternoon busing only.
Parents/guardians can find out if they live in the bus zone by using the “Transportation Eligibility” portal on our website at www.stswr.ca.
Our “Do Not Ride” form is the right tool to communicate your transportation needs effectively now and any time your plan changes.
The “Do Not Ride” form lets your school, your bus driver, and STSWR know that your child will not be taking the bus in one, or both, directions. When STSWR receives this form from you, your child’s transportation arrangement will be changed accordingly within 2-3 business days.
For younger students, it is especially important to keep us informed of changes immediately to ensure your child is not assigned to a bus in error and inadvertently put on a bus at the end of the day if you are expecting them to walk or be picked up.
Both WRDSB and WCDSB schools support active travel as a preferred method of transportation to school and offer a variety of programs that may be available to you. They also support a “Drive to 5” program to encourage those who must drive, to park a safe distance away from schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I use the “Do Not Ride” form if my child is eligible for transportation, attended in-person during the 2020-2021 school year and is continuing in-person for September 2021?
Do I use the “Do Not Ride” form if my child is eligible for transportation, enrolled in distance learning during the 2020-2021 school year, but is switching to in-person for September 2021?
How do I opt back in to busing?
If your child qualifies for busing you can opt-in again at any time using the same “Do Not Ride” form.
What if my address changes?
All address changes must be completed at your child’s school before STSWR can add students to the bus to be picked up at that address. Call your school’s office to do so.
Does my child need to wear a mask on the bus during the 2020-21 school year?
Currently it is Public Health guidance that non-medical grade face masks are required on buses for all grades since physical distancing can be challenging on buses. STSWR will be taking direction from Region of Waterloo Public Health should this requirement change.
We encourage all parents to teach their children how to wear a face mask safely.
More details regarding busing for September 2021 will be posted when directives from the Ministry are announced. This will include any changes to Secondary busing. If you have any questions about your child’s school transportation, please contact Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region at 519-744-7575 ext. 221.
Benoit Bourgault, General Manager, STSWR, Inc.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. — Monday, May 31, 2021. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be streamed live on Youtube:
(Agenda files can be large. If you are experiencing issues downloading a file, right click on the link and choose “Save Target As…”.)
