Monthly Archives: May 2023

“Faith must lead us believers to see other persons as our brother & sisters that we need to support and love” – Pope Francis

Welcome to the month of June. It is hard to believe but we are in the final stretch of another year!  We are called to meet and accompany our students and families in their journey. We do this through the creation and promotion of a school environment that reflects the reality of the Church as a community that nurtures human dignity and is dedicated to both spiritual and human development for all. What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of every individual that we welcome into our community.

June is also National Indigenous History Month. As a community, we have worked throughout the year to deepen our understanding of the role we must take in recognizing our impact on our Indigenous brothers and sisters and our part in promoting truth and reconciliation. Our journey will continue throughout the month.

This Friday, WCDSB is proud to acknowledge Educational Assistants and Child Youth Care Workers Day.  This day is devoted to appreciating, celebrating, and honouring the daily impact they make on student success.  Please join us in celebrating EA/CYCW Appreciation Day by letting our team, here at Saint Timothy know how important they are to us.

Please refer to the information updates below:

Thank you …

• to our Grade 3, and 6 students and staff for all of your time and preparation for EQAO. Thank you, parents, that you ensure that your child is rested, ready and on time for school this week – allowing them ALL to SHINE!
• to our parents and families for sending your child prepared for the summer-like weather! Please ensure that your child has a reusable water bottle, a hat, and sunscreen.
• to our Cross-Country Team who will have the opportunity to participate in WCDSB’s Cross Country Meet on Wednesday, May 31^st at Bechtel Park in Waterloo.  A big shout out to Ms. Segato, Mrs. Bebenek, and Mrs. Ferraccioli for all their time and commitment to our students. Enjoy the run.
• to our school council who have organized another successful fundraiser. Big Bags of popcorn have been ordered and will be delivered by June 19^th.  We also thank you for your support!
• to our student-athletes as they prepare for our AA Track and Field Meet on June 6^th at Resurrection High School. Thank you to our coaches, Ms. Segato, Ms. Kolb, and Mrs. Barbosa for all your support and time.
• to all our students who are sharing their gifts, talents, and leadership skills to make our school a better environment for learning. We know you will continue this trend in June! Lastly, thank you to all of our parents and guardians for offering your support and appreciation for the good work we are doing at the school. It means so much to our staff, and most importantly, to our students. I am very much looking forward to the final month of the year and treasuring every moment of the privilege to serve the Saint Timothy Catholic School Community.

School Highlights

• June is designated as Pride Month in Canada, and on Thursday, June 1^st, we will join other schools across our district in raising the Pride (Rainbow) flag outside of our school building. The Rainbow flag will fly for the month of June as a visible symbol of our commitment to nurturing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment where every student and every member of the community is valued, and respected.
• Our Grade 6 students will begin writing the EQAO assessment this week (parents already received more detailed communication regarding the assessment). The types of questions included in the EQAO e-assessment will be familiar to our students as they are based on the work they have been doing throughout the year. Sample assessments are available on the EQAO website for Grade 3 students and for Grade 6 students. The EQAO assessment results help us to continue to improve upon the quality of Catholic education offered to your children. For more information please visit here. We wish our students all the best as they show what they know!
• Staffing Update – welcome to Ms. Taylor who will be our administrative assistant this week while Mrs. Kovar is on leave. We also welcome Mr. Grant, (full-time afternoon custodian) and Ms. Zielinsky (Educational Assistant) to our school.
• For students who will be in Grades 1 to Grade 8 next year – student agendas are an important tool for students, parents, and teachers. Students use agendas to record important information, due dates, homework, and upcoming events.   Agendas will be available for sale on School Cash Online prior to the beginning of school for $5.00.  Thank you to our school council who have agreed to pay for the additional costs, thus reducing the final cost of each agenda.
• Pentecost Sunday falls this year on May 28. Pentecost Sunday marks the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and occurs 50 days after Easter. It is also known as the ‘birthday of the church’.  https://www.christianpost.com/news/ten-things-to-know-about-pentecost-sunday-the-holy-spirit.html

Important Reminders

• Hot Lunch Program Updates
  Wednesday, June 7th will be our next pizza day.
  Thursday, June 1st will be our next Pita Lunch Day.  You can order your child(ren)’s pita right now by using this ordering link: https://www.ca203.pitapitlunchprogram.ca.
  Friday, June 9th will be our next popcorn day.
• Welcome To Kindergarten – we are very excited to meet both you and your child. You are invited to our Welcome to Kindergarten Night on Thursday, June 1^st from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.
• Friday, June 2nd is a PA Day. No school as teachers will be writing term 2 report cards.
• Parents we ask that you continue to check closets, trunks, under beds, etc. for any schoolbooks and Chromebooks that may be hiding and return them to us as soon as possible. The more we receive back, the fewer we have to replace.  By working together to locate missing textbooks and library books, we are able to responsibly minimize costs to the school.  All library books are due back Thursday, June 9th so that we can conduct an inventory.

WCDSB Updates

Please visit our School Board Website for updates and recent information.  Here is the link: http://www.wcdsb.ca .

Bike to School Week – May 29^th to June 2^nd
Bike to School Week ( B2SW) is a celebration of the journey to school by two wheels that takes place every year during the last week of May. We are encouraging our students to have a discussion with their parents to see if they are able to participate. If your child is participating, please review safety rules and ensure that they have a bike helmet and bike lock.  There are bike racks at the front of the school for students to lock up their bikes while in class.Bike-to-School-Week

CPIC Presents Vicki Olatundun – a thought-provoking, motivational speaker who shares her message on multiculturalism, equity, and social justice.   Parents/guardians, consider hearing her message on May 31st at the Catholic Education Centre. Register Here!

Saint Timothy Family Carnival

St. Timothy Catholic Advisory School council is excited about our Family Carnival on Wednesday, June 14^th from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. You can look forward to;

• Games such as guessing jars, Big Jenga, Can Jam, Duck Hunt, and Big Jena
• Raffle prizes and class themed baskets
• Face painting
• Star Wars Character
• Presentations and interactive workshops such as Kitchener Fire Department and Reptile Guys
• Food truck treats such as Megacone, The Serial Griller, and Fo Cheesey

and a great opportunity to connect with neighbours and friends.

Please consider the following option … tickets can be pre-ordered through School-Cash-Online (open now and closing on June 9^th at midnight) to purchase tickets to the carnival to avoid lineups.  Tickets pre-ordered will be sent home with your child(ren) on Monday, June 12^th, and Tuesday, June 13^th.  If this is not possible, cash will be accepted to purchase tickets at the carnival.   Please note that our food trucks will not be accepting tickets.  This will be on-site sales.

Please order your tickets on School Cash On Line ….
Package 1 – 5 tickets for $5.00
Package 2 – 10 tickets for $10.00
Package 3 – 30 tickets for $20.00
Package 4 – 90 tickets for $50.00

Thank you for your donations thus far.  Keep them coming including the class themed baskets. We welcome all contributions (e.g. movie certificates, sporting event tickets, snacks, sidewalk chalk, etc.)  If you are able to volunteer to help or have older children seeking volunteer hours towards OSSD, please reach out to yvette.thorne@wcdsb.ca

We look forward to seeing you at our Family Carnival.

Umbrella Project 

Use a digital contract to teach and reinforce online integrity

As parents, we all feel the impact that the digital world is having on our children’s well-being. Far from innocuous, technology comes with a very complicated list of pros and cons that we are only beginning to understand. Parenting our children in this changing landscape is a challenge we are all navigating.

When it comes to integrity, technology is creating a huge playground for practicing this skill.  From apps that allow us to share whatever we want anonymously (and therefore without consequence) to the changing landscape of online academics that provide more opportunities for cheating, our children are facing these difficult questions of integrity more and more frequently.

So where can we start to make a difference in the choices our children are making online? Cat Coode, the founder of Binary Tattoo, recommends starting with a digital contract that you review every year. Digital contracts should open the conversation about integrity online and outline:

— The family rules about technology – both for parents and the technology used. I.e.: user privacy vs. parent access to the device, situations/locations where the device can/cannot be used,
— Clear “do’s” and “don’ts” for safety and well-being ie. bullying, talking to strangers online, photos, etc.
— Consequences for breaching the contract
— Costs and responsibilities for device

I recommend checking out Cat’s sample contract and blog here.

I hope it goes well!
Dr. Jen, The Umbrella Project

Additional Resources
Interested in learning more? Here are a few more short videos from me about Integrity.
Ask yourself if you’re acting with integrity
Self-efficacy is foundational to integrity
Identify integrity role models
List and reflect on important values
Overcommitting compromises our integrity
Reward your child for using integrity

Upcoming Dates To Note

https://sttimothy.wcdsb.ca/calendar/ (please use this address to access our school calendar)

Sunday, May 28^th                             Pentecost Sunday
Tuesday, May 30^th                           Grade 6 EQAO
Wednesday, May 31^st                     Cross Country Meet at Bechtel Park Waterloo    School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride
Thursday, June 1^st                           Welcome To Kindergarten Night – 6:00 p.m.               Pita School Lunch              Umbrella Assembly – Introduce Mastery
Friday, June 2^nd                               Professional Development Day – no school for students            Educational Assistants and Child Youth Care Workers Appreciation Day
Tuesday, June 6^th                            AA Track Meet at Resurrection High School      Grade 3 EQAO        CPIC: Virtual Paint Night
Wednesday, June 7^th                      Pizza School Lunch               Grade 3 EQAO          School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride
Thursday, June 8^th                           Grade 3 EQAO
Friday, June 9^th                                Popcorn Sales

Have a wonderful week! Stay safe and be well.  Please follow us on Twitter @sttimothy3 to see all the amazing happenings at Saint Timothy throughout the week.

Respectfully yours,
Albert Simoes, Principal

Pentecost – May 28th
Prayer of St. Bonaventure to the Holy Spirit Lord Jesus, as God’s Spirit
came down  and rested upon you, May the same Spirit rest on us, Bestowing
his sevenfold gifts. First, grant us the gift of understanding, By which your
precepts may enlighten our minds. Second, grant us counsel, by which we
may follow in your footsteps on the path of righteousness. Third, grant us courage,
by which we may ward off the  enemy’s attacks. Fourth, grant us knowledge,
by which we can distinguish good from evil. Fifth, grant us piety, by which
we may acquire compassionate hearts. Sixth, grant us fear, by which we may draw back from evil and
submit to what is good.
Seventh, grant us wisdom, that we may taste fully the life-giving sweetness of your love.
Amen

“Hope opens new horizons, making us capable of dreaming what is not even imaginable.”  ~ Pope Francis

We trust that everyone is enjoying the long weekend and we look forward to another week of learning together.  Please refer to the information updates below:

Thank you …

• to all parents and volunteers who came out to Saint Benedict Catholic Secondary School for our Track and Field event. The weather was perfect and our students enjoyed the competition and the spirit of the day! A huge shout-out for taking this tremendous event goes out to Mrs. Barbosa, Ms. Kolb, and Ms. Segato. Alongside them, the rest of our staff who all trained our students and facilitated the races/events, supervised, and cheered our students. Thank you all so much for giving this gift of Track and Field to our students once again.
• Mr. Carvalho and the Intermediate soccer team for representing us so well at the St. Mary Family of Schools Soccer Tournament. Our team played well and demonstrated wonderful teamwork. Thank you also to our parents who either drove and/or cheered on our Intermediate soccer team.
• to parents and guardians for doing your best to schedule appointments for your child(ren) outside of regular school day hours. We know this can be challenging at times and we recognize that special appointments or scheduling conflicts may occur from time to time, but we kindly request that you try to avoid scheduling appointments during the school day, so as to disrupt your child’s learning and classroom routines. We have seen an influx of student absences and students being signed out early in the last few weeks, so we want to thank you for your understanding and support of your child’s learning at school.

School Highlights

• Family Carnival – Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 14^th 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Please consider donating raffle prizes and guessing jars.  Any fundraising donation items ranging from gift cards to merchandise would be much appreciated. For guessing jars, bring into school a jar or container filled with whatever – candies, jelly beans, legos, etc. The only caveat is you have to count them.  Please put a small piece of paper or sticky inside the lid with the total number on it and bring it to school.   If you have any questions or need additional information about these fundraising requests, please contact Yvette Thorne at thorne@wcdsb.ca.  We hope to see our many families and friends here to enjoy another wonderful community event.We are also bringing back our very popular themed basket raffle!  Each classroom will be creating a themed basket that will be raffled off during the Carnival.  The themes for the baskets are listed below for each class.  Please send in items to your class by Friday, June 2^nd.   We want to sincerely thank you in advance for the donations provided to your child’s classroom basket.

  Mrs. Ferraccioli – Candy Crave
  Mrs. Taves and Ms. Kilgour – Craft Bucket
  Mr. Maley and Ms. Littman – Outdoor Beach
  Mr. Carvalho – Sports
  Ms. Bebenek – Summer Fun
  Mrs. Edgar – More Summer Fun
  Ms. Segato – Movie Night
  Ms. Kolb – Neon Fun
  Mrs. Matesa – Baking Fun
  Mr. Henderson – Fidget Toy Fun
  Ms. Bartlett – Puzzles and Games
  Mr. Hutfluss – Books and Board Games
  Ms. Hammar-Schmidt, Ms. Khiko, and Ms. Villeneuve – Arts and Crafts

• Congratulations to Ms. MacDonald who had a beautiful baby boy named Seth. Best wishes to her and her family.
• Mrs. Kovar will be moving on to St. Brigid Catholic Elementary School in Ayr on Monday, June 19^th. We have been enriched by her presence at our school for many years and will be greatly missed.  We wish Mrs. Kovar well and thank her for her service to our school community.  We also welcome Ms. Pressler as our new Administrative Assistant who is coming our way from St. David Catholic Secondary School in Waterloo.
• This a gentle reminder that students are discouraged from bringing toys and trading cards, especially if they are valuable or sentimental. Items that are traded, stolen, or broken are very hard for staff to keep track of and are the responsibility of the students themselves. If you have made the decision to allow toys to be brought with your child, please have the discussion that there is to be no trading. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
• Welcome five students from Colombia to our school. They are in Canada to participate in a short-term immersion program to meet Canadian students and engage in learning.  The students have been placed in Mr. Carvalho and Mr. Henderson’s classes.  We are excited to host them.  Welcome to Emilio, Antonio, Victoria, Maria, and Juanita.

Important Reminders

• Hot Lunch Program Updates …
  Wednesday, May 24th will be our next pizza day.
  Thursday, June 1st will be our next Pita Lunch Day.  You can order your child(ren)’s pita right now by using this ordering link: https://www.ca203.pitapitlunchprogram.ca.
  Friday, May 26^th will be our next popcorn day.
• It was shared last week, our school advisory council is selling large family-size bags of popcorn to be delivered on June 22^nd. Please refer to our School-Cash-Online for more information and ordering instructions.  You MUST order now as it will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 22nd.
• Welcome To Kindergarten – we are very excited to meet both you and your child. You are invited to our Welcome to Kindergarten Night on Thursday, June 1^st from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. This special event is for parents and their children entering JK or any new SK students for September 2023. Parents will have the opportunity to explore a kindergarten classroom, learn about the kindergarten program, and meet some of the Saint Timothy staff. Our evening will begin in the library with a meet and greet.
  For those who are unable to attend, all the information shared that night will be shared with you and can be found on our school website under About Us: “Getting Ready for Kindergarten.” Please monitor this site as it will be updated on a regular basis.  In addition, classroom teachers will reach out to all parents the last week of August with specific details for classroom information as well as details about staggered entry for Kindergarten students.
• This is a reminder that Monday, May 22nd is a holiday. Please enjoy this time with your families.
• Now that the warm weather has arrived, many more students are riding their bikes to school. Please remind your children that they need to walk their bikes while on school property (including the field). It is also important that you review bicycle safety rules with your children to ensure that they are safe while riding their bikes to school.
• Please remember to send your child to school with a hat and water bottle daily. We encourage applying sunscreen as part of your morning routine before your child comes to school. If you would like them to reapply while at school, please ensure that your child can do so independently. A stick or cream application is preferable.

WCDSB Updates

Please visit our School Board Website for updates and recent information.  Here is the link: http://www.wcdsb.ca

Schools offer a variety of opportunities for parents to learn more about how to support their children.  The following brief survey will assist our school district in gathering data about how parents/families feel informed about what their children are learning in math, about how parents/families feel about supporting their children’s learning in math, and about parental access to math learning resources at home. Thank you in advance for your consideration and participation: Parent/Family Survey | Supporting Your Child’s Math Learning K to 8. This survey will remain open until June 14, 2023.

Reach Ahead program this summer – Bridge to Success which is our HIF101 course offered for the full 4 weeks in July for Grade 8 students.  Please see the registration information:
Bridge to Success – Gr. 9 Credit – St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education (wcdsb.ca)

Bike to School Week – May 29^th to June 2^nd
Active travel is where it is at!  Bike School Week inspires students to try riding a bike to school for the first time, to learn new skills, or to just have fun, and explore and connect with people, the community, and nature.  We are registered as a school for our chance to win a new bike rack and now it’s your turn!  Register for  #BikeToSchoolWeek for a chance to win amazing prizes! Share how many KM you pledge to bike and you’ll be entered into a draw for one of 10 prize packs OR one of 50 gift cards to Dairy Queen! https://bit.ly/42o3pMN
Bike-to-School-Week

Promoting Well-Being – Talking to Kids About Racism

Every family, no matter their background, should be having conversations about race and racism. If you are unsure how to start the conversation with your kids, use these resources to help guide you – from getting the conversation started to discussing more complicated topics as they grow up or seeing troubling images in the media. Read more athttps://www.onoursleeves.org/mental-health-resources/articles-support/mental-wellbeing/kids-race-racism

Umbrella Project 

Respond consistently to behaviour that lacks integrity

One of the first things I realized after becoming a parent was that it is impossible to control children’s behaviour with threats or anger but consistency goes a long way in creating boundaries for healthy and respectful actions. Once you have established the values that matter to your child and your family, respond with consistency when reinforcing them. Dishonest and disrespectful behaviour often fall into this category. Listen and respect your child as they explain their behaviour and provide information about why this isn’t acceptable behaviour in your family, with friends, or in their communities. The consequences of this type of behaviour should be clear, predictable, and reinforced. 

When your children are young, the consequences for not using integrity and honesty are smaller but as they get older the stakes get higher. Most children will test the boundaries of dishonesty, irresponsibility, and disrespect as a normal part of learning about the world and their role in it. When we teach integrity and consistently reinforce that there are consequences of not using this important skill from an early age, it helps our children make informed choices about how to identify positive values and live in a way that matches these values.

Learn how to be consistent with behaviour that lacks integrity.

Until next time,
Dr. Jen, The Umbrella Project

Upcoming Dates To Note
https://sttimothy.wcdsb.ca/calendar/ (please use this address to access our school calendar)

Monday, May 22^nd                           Victoria Day – School is closed         Large Bags of Popcorn Fundraiser – Orders due by 11:59 p.m. on School Cash Online
Wednesday, May 24^th                     Pizza Lunch Day               School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride
Thursday, May 25^th                          School Spirit Day – Tye Dye and Neon Day
Friday, May 26^th                               Popcorn Sales
Sunday, May 28^th                             Pentecost
Tuesday, May 30^th                           Grade 6 EQAO
Wednesday, May 31^st                     Cross Country Meet at Bechtel Park Waterloo     School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride
Thursday, June 1^st                           Welcome To Kindergarten Night      Grade 6 EQAO
Friday, June 2^nd                               Professional Development Day – no school for students             Educational Assistants and Child Youth Care Workers Appreciation Day

Have a wonderful week! Stay safe and be well.  Please follow us on Twitter @sttimothy3 to see all the amazing happenings at Saint Timothy throughout the week.

Respectfully yours,
Albert Simoes, Principal

POPCORN FUNDRAISER 

Saint Timothy School Advisory Council will be selling Large Family Size bags of popcorn to stock your pantry with for summer. Each 125 g bag of popcorn contains 10-12 cups of popcorn, and these will be sent home with your child(ren) on June 22^nd.  The popcorn is from the same local company, Farm to Table, as the small weekly popcorn bags.  Money raised will be used to fund different initiatives supported by the school council within your children’s classroom and school community.

There are 5 flavours available in the big bags:
Butter and Salt
Chipotle Cheddar
Dill Pickle
White Cheddar
Ancient Grains

Each bag will cost $5.00 for families to purchase.   We ask that you place your orders through School-Cash-Online by May 22nd at midnight.

Thank you for your continued support,
Saint Timothy School Advisory Council

Good morning,

This is a quick reminder to parents/guardians and students that our TIGERS track and field meet will be held at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School on Wednesday, May 17th from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Teachers and students (Grades 4 to 8) have been preparing for this event for weeks and we know that all students will participate to the best of his/her ability.

In order for this event to be a success, we are asking for volunteers for various events.  Even if you can help out for a half day it would be appreciated.  Please email jackie.barbosa@wcdsb.ca; please include your name, the teacher of your child, and when you can assist.

Thank you

“Like a good mother, Mother Mary is close to us, so that we may never lose courage before the adversities of life” –  Pope Francis

We wish the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, wives (and other motherly roles) in our parent community a wonderful Mother’s Day.  We hope you are enjoying the time with your families!
Please refer to the information updates below:

Thank you …

• to our parents and families for your support with our popcorn sales. Courtesy of our school council, many of our students are enjoying a healthy and delicious snack every Friday.
• to all parents who participated in the recent Thoughtexchange conversation. This check-in will help us create an Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity statement for our school.  We will also use input from staff and students in creating a statement showing what we stand for.
• to our incredible Education Assistant and Early Childhood Team for your support and love of our students.
• everyone who has donated to our Jump Rope For Heart fundraiser. We have surpassed our goal and have raised $1355.00.Congratulations!
• to our parents and families for sending your child prepared for the summer-like weather. Please ensure that your child has a reusable water bottle, a hat, and sunscreen.
• Holly Herteis and our grade 8 student leaders for the organization and delivery of popcorn every Friday. Our students are enjoying the Farm to Table popcorn products very much.

School Highlights

• On behalf of the school council, we look forward to reuniting once again for our famous Family Carnival. Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 14^th 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Please consider donating raffle prizes and guessing jars.  Any fundraising donation items ranging from gift cards to merchandise would be much appreciated. For guessing jars, bring into school a jar or container filled with whatever – candies, jelly beans, legos, etc. The only caveat is you have to count them.  Please put a small piece of paper or sticky inside the lid with the total number on it and bring it to school.   If you have any questions or need additional information about these fundraising requests, please contact Yvette Thorne at thorne@wcdsb.ca.  We hope to see our many families and friends here to enjoy another wonderful community event.
• We are also bringing back our very popular themed basket raffle! Each classroom will be creating a themed basket that will be raffled off during the Carnival.  The themes for the baskets are listed below for each class.  Please send in items to your class by Friday, June 2^nd.   We want to sincerely thank you in advance for the donations provided to your child’s classroom basket.
  Mrs. Ferraccioli – Candy Crave
  Mrs. Taves and Ms. Kilgour – Craft Bucket
  Mr. Maley and Ms. Littman – Outdoor Beach
  Mr. Carvalho – Sports
  Ms. Bebenek – Summer Fun
  Mrs. Edgar – More Summer Fun
  Ms. Segato – Movie Night
  Ms. Kolb – Neon Fun
  Mrs. Matesa – Baking Fun
  Mr. Henderson – Fidget Toy Fun
  Ms. Bartlett – Puzzles and Games
  Mr. Hutfluss – Books and Board Games
  Ms. Hammar-Schmidt, Ms. Khiko, and Ms. Villeneuve – Arts and Crafts
• Please join me and welcome Mr. Maley who will be working alongside Ms. Littman as the classroom teacher until further notice in JK/SK Room 121. We also welcome Ms. Gupta to our Educational Assistant team.
• Ms. Giesler (Early Childhood Educator) will be ending her time with us this Friday. Thank you for everything you have done for all our students this year.  We will miss you.  I am also happy to announce Mrs. Gagne will be returning to our school next week as an Early Childhood Educator.
• Please see the attached letter with information about our Strong Start Program: Volunteer Opportunity Strong Start.  There is also a video that you can watch: Volunteering with Strong Start’s Letters, Sounds, and Words Program – YouTube
• Following up on our successful three fire drills this past week, we will be conducting a second Lockdown Drill at school this week. Teachers have been spending time reviewing procedures with students and the importance of practice as part of learning.
• The EcoSchools team is looking to plant native plants in the front flower bed and will be adding milkweed shortly. If you have any native plants to donate, or knowledge about native species to share, please be in touch with Mrs. Henhoeffer henhoeffer@wcdsb.ca).  Our annual EcoSchools application has been submitted. We have 90 points from 16 different environmental actions, which is gold-level certification. Community involvement is an important part of the EcoSchools program. Please be in touch if you want to share ideas or lend a hand. Possible topics or projects include gardening, waste reduction, energy conservation, active transportation,  outdoor education, and many more.

Important Reminders

• Hot Lunch Program Updates … 
  Wednesday, May 24th will be our next pizza day.
  Thursday, May 18th will be our next Pita Lunch Day.  You can order your child(ren)’s pita right now by using this ordering link: https://www.ca203.pitapitlunchprogram.ca.
  Friday, May 19^th  will be our next popcorn day.
• Coming Soon – School Council will be selling BIG BAGS of popcorn. More information will be shared in an upcoming School Cash On-Line entry.
• Kindergarten Orientation night is set for Thursday, June 1^st at 6:00 p.m. If you have not registered your child for kindergarten, please contact the school office and we will help you with the registration process or please visit us online.
• Nutrition for Learning donations is continuing. For details click the link: Community Nutrition for Learning
• This is a reminder that Monday, May 22nd is a holiday. Please enjoy this time with your families.
• Celiac Awareness Day – May 16^th. In support of those with Celiac disease, students and staff at Saint Timothy are encouraged to wear a touch of green. Thank you to our Grade 4/5 students for raising awareness by sharing important facts and information about celiac disease.   Here are links with more information about what Celiac disease is and ways in which Celiac awareness is celebrated around the world and in Canada. https://shinealightonceliac.org/    CE5424-What_Is_Celiac_Pamphlet-English

WCDSB Updates

Please visit our School Board Website for updates and recent information.  Here is the link: http://www.wcdsb.ca

Schools offer a variety of opportunities for parents to learn more about how to support their children.  The following brief survey will assist our school district in gathering data about how parents/families feel informed about what their children are learning in math, about how parents/families feel about supporting their children’s learning in math, and about parental access to math learning resources at home. Thank you in advance for your consideration and participation: Parent/Family Survey | Supporting Your Child’s Math Learning K to 8 . This survey will remain open until June 14, 2023.

Grade 7-12 students and their parents/guardians are invited to attend the “Explore Your Future” career expo being hosted on May 17th (the Aud in Kitchener) from 5 – 8 PM. This FREE drop-in style event is an excellent opportunity to learn about career options, volunteer opportunities, and educational programs from local businesses, post-secondary institutions, and community organizations:  2023 EYF graphic – Apr 13 and May 17 career expos (PDF)

Kitchener Waterloo Kodiaks Access Lacrosse:    KWMLA Access Lacrosse Flyer – Outdoor 2023 Session
Catholic Parent Involvement Committee: Virtual Paint Night         Vicki Olatundun

St. Timothy Catholic School Advisory Council

Our last Catholic School Council meeting was held this past week.  A very special thank you to the members who have worked so hard to keep families engaged and part of the community. It was a pleasure getting to serve with these members.
Holly Herteis – Co-Chair
Tracey Byrne – Co-Chair
Colleen Taylor – Minutes Recorder
Yvette Thorne –  Non-Teaching Representative
Amy Ryan Trimble  – Parent Representative
Ana Lagos Suazo – Parent Representative
Kavita Kore – Parent Representative
Bev Davis – Parent Representative
Bev Rodgers – St. Aloysius Parish Representative
Ms. MacDonald – Teaching Representative

School Council Minutes for this year can be found at: Catholic School Advisory Council – St. Timothy (wcdsb.ca)

School Track and Field: Wednesday, May 17^th

We are looking forward to another wonderful day for all students in grades 4-8. If it is raining, we will not be having the meeting.  Any other weather and the meet will still be on; please ensure your child(ren) is prepared for the weather on that day.  Any changes will be posted on Newswire on the morning of the event.

After regular morning attendance at 9:00 a.m., students will then take buses to Saint Benedict Secondary Catholic High School in Cambridge.  We will be returning to Saint Timothy around 2:00 p.m.  Please note your child(ren) is to return to school with their class unless you are present to sign them out.  They may not leave on their own from the track or with another family.  To ensure our success for the day, we have a few reminders for students and families to bring the following items:

1. A nutritional lunch and snacks in a cooler, if possible – please avoid sending any milk products (e.g., mayo as it may be sitting in the hot sun all day!)
2. Plenty of water in non-breakable containers.
3. Sunscreen is essential (kindly send tube/bottle sunscreen not aerosol).
4. Blanket or towel to sit on or to cover up with.
5. Track pants, sweatshirt, appropriate length shorts, t-shirt, wind pants and jacket, and suitable running shoes. (No spikes).
6. Umbrella and/or hat for the sun – there is very little shade – students need to protect themselves from the sun. Sunglasses are recommended.
7. There is no concession booth for the students. There is no need to send any money to your child.
8. Students are not permitted to leave the Track and Field meet at any time during the day or leave the designated area assigned to us.
9. There are washrooms that will be designated for our students only and a supervisor will assist students with washroom visits.
10. In between their events, students will be sitting in an assigned area with their class. We suggest bringing materials like books, cards, a sketch pad, or small travel games to entertain themselves. They are also encouraged to watch the events near their location and cheer on their peers.
11. NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES (cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, video games, etc.)
12. Cleaning up after themselves (we would like to be welcomed back in the future).

We are also kindly reminding everyone that we are guests of Saint Benedict.  We know that our Tiger students will show good sportsmanship, a positive mindset, and respectful behaviour. We are so excited about our annual Track and Field meet and look forward to a great day!

We are also asking for parent volunteers for Wednesday, May 17^th.  We need volunteers for timing, supervision, and running field events.  Even if you can help out for a half day, it would be appreciated.  Please email Jackie.barbosa@wcdsb.ca if you can help out.  Please include your name, the teacher of your child, and when you can assist. Thank you!

Umbrella Project 

Create a set of family values.

What are your family values? Can your child discuss and defend them? Having a set of family values has a huge impact on the well-being of our children. It helps them to feel part of something bigger than themselves and identify healthy ways to behave and build their self-esteem. It also creates a set of guidelines that we can align our actions with to build and sustain the integrity of thought and action, creating meaning and purpose in our lives. Living with purpose and feeling strong doesn’t have to be about achieving specific goals. How we show up every day for our friends, colleagues, and family can make us feel that we are living purposefully every day.

Start by brainstorming as a family all of the experiences and values that are most important to you. This exercise should be done as a family so that everyone has a say in creating and sharing what matters most to them. Discuss each point that comes up and why it is important to the person who suggested it and to the larger group. Select the values that define your family and display them somewhere you can see them often.

When your child displays these values, try to notice and point them out to your child.

Here are some of the ideas that came up in my family: generosity, honesty, sharing experiences and travel to broaden our minds, friendship, connecting with nature, giving back, and a family that supports each other.

Learn how to create your own set of family values.

Health & Happiness,
Dr. Jen, The Umbrella Project

Upcoming Dates To Note
https://sttimothy.wcdsb.ca/calendar/ (please use this address to access our school calendar)

Monday, May 15^th                       International Day of Families
Tuesday, May 16^th                       Intermediate Soccer Tournament at RIM Park  – GOOD LUCK Mr. Carvalho and student athletes!
International Celiac Disease Awareness Day – WEAR GREEN
Wednesday, May 17^th                Grades 4-8 Track and Field Meet at St. Benedict High School       School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride
Thursday, May 18^th                    Pita Lunch Day – due to track and field yesterday.
Friday, May 19^th                          Popcorn Sales Day
Monday, May 22^nd                     Victoria Day – School is closed
Wednesday, May 24^th                     Pizza Lunch Day             School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride
Thursday, May 25^th                          School Spirit Day – Tye Dye and Neon Day
Friday, May 26^th                               Popcorn Sales

Have a wonderful week! Stay safe and be well.  Please follow us on Twitter @sttimothy3 to see all the amazing happenings at Saint Timothy throughout the week.

Respectfully yours,
Albert Simoes, Principal

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

A Blessing for Mothers
Lord, thank you for the gift of our mothers.
Thank you for her love and care for us,
for her sacrifices for us, and for all she does for us.
I ask that you bless her abundantly.
May You grant her strength of mind and body,
peace of heart and mind,
and a faith that is strong and unyielding.
Please help her to grow in strength of body, mind, and spirit,
and to grow in wisdom and grace as the years go by.
May you protect and watch over her always and keep her safe from harm.
May she grow more in love with You each day that passes

Amen

“Let us learn from the strong & helpful faith of our Mother Mary in order to become living signs of God’s mercy.” – Pope Francis

Although Catholic Education and Mental Health Week has ended, we do not stop nurturing hope, nor do we stop thinking about our well-being.  Thank you to everyone for all the hope you nurtured in our classes, our school, your friends, and the community. It was amazing to see the rich and diverse ways we all celebrated being part of an education system that celebrates our faith, builds community, and demonstrates love, hope, and kindness on a daily basis. It was also great to see many supporting our students in their well-being and participating in the daily mental wellness focus during the week.

Please refer to the information updates below:

Thank you …

• to all the families, teachers, and students for another amazing Catholic Education week at Saint Timothy. We have loved opening our doors to you, to give you a glimpse at the faith-based learning that is happening in our classroom, hallways, and shared spaces.
• Mrs. Edgar and Mrs. Matesa for organizing our wonderful Catholic Education Week Activity and liturgy.
• to the many Saint Timothy families that joined the Saint Mary Family of Schools Parent Night last week. I heard many positive comments and great feedback from the parents that attended.  Thank you to our own school council for supporting this event.
• to all of our families who have already donated items to our classroom theme baskets for our Family Carnival event.  Each classroom has created a themed basket that will be raffled off during our event.  We want to sincerely thank you in advance for the donations provided to your child(ren)’s classroom basket.
• Mrs. Barbosa, Ms. Segato, and Ms. Kolb for spearheading the track and field season. We are looking forward to our school Track and Field Day for Grades 4 to 8 on Wednesday, May 17^th at St. Benedict Secondary School in Cambridge.
• To Mrs. Bebenek, Ms. Segato, and Mrs. Ferraccioli for beginning our cross-country practices. The meet is scheduled for Wednesday, May 31^st.
• Mrs. Thorne and the rest of our school council who are working hard to prepare for our Family Carnival. Please check with your child(ren) regarding class theme baskets.
• Everyone who has donated to our Jump Rope For Heart fundraiser. We are so close to our goal.  The Jump Rope For Heart fundraising page is still open: https://jumpropeforheart.crowdchange.ca/22728

School Highlights

• On behalf of the school council, we look forward to reuniting once again for our famous Family Carnival. Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 14^th 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Please consider donating raffle prizes.  Any fundraising donation items ranging from gift cards to merchandise would be much appreciated.  If you have any questions or need additional information about the fundraising request, please contact Yvette Thorne at thorne@wcdsb.ca.  We hope to see our many families and friends here to enjoy another wonderful community event.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement – we want to create a school equity statement. This statement can only occur with input from all in our school community.  Our parents and guardians are key voices and we value your thoughts and feedback.  We hope to hear from you through our school Thought Exchange.  Your participation is voluntary.  Please join the Thought Exchange at the link below to share your voice.  The link to join the conversation is https://tejoin.com/scroll/657315301  The exchange is open now until Sunday, May 7^th at 11:59 p.m.  Thank you for taking the time to share your voice.
• Volunteers For Upcoming 2023-2024 School Year – If you are interested in helping out at the school next year, please consider volunteering. Volunteers are required to have on file at the school a current Criminal Reference Check with a Vulnerable Sector Screening before they can volunteer at any school. If you have a Criminal Reference Check on file, you are required to fill out and sign a Declaration on an annual basis. If you are looking to volunteer for next year, consider getting your Criminal Reference Check with a Vulnerable Sector Screening over the summer to be prepared for an exciting September!
• The month of May is dedicated to Our Blessed Mother Mary. It is the occasion for a tribute of faith and loves that Catholics in every part of the world pay to the Queen of Heaven. During this month Christians offer up to Mary, the loving homage of prayer and veneration. 
• Asian Heritage Month – May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, a time to reflect on and celebrate the contributions that Canadians of Asian origin continue to make to Canadian life.
• Please join me and welcome Ms. Khiko who will be working alongside with Ms. Hammar Schmidt in our JK/SK classroom as a teacher. We look forward to Ms. Khiko working with our staff and student over the next couple of months.
• Track and Field is coming!  Our school track and field meet is on Wednesday, May 17^th, for all students in Grades 4-8.  We will be traveling to Saint Benedict Catholic Secondary School via bus that day and we will be back in time for regular dismissal.  Please make sure your child brings a towel to sit on, lots of water, and protection from the sun – hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.  Also, please make sure that they dress appropriately for running, jumping, and throwing.  Each student will be involved in up to four events that day.  It is very difficult to provide times as to when specific events will be held.

Important Reminders

• Hot Lunch Program Updates
  Wednesday, May 10th will be our next pizza day.
  Thursday, May 18th will be our next Pita Lunch Day.  You can order your child(ren)’s pita right now by using this ordering link: https://www.ca203.pitapitlunchprogram.ca.
  Friday, May 12^th  will be our next popcorn day.
• Kindergarten Orientation night is set for Thursday, June 1^st at 6:00 p.m. If you have not registered your child for kindergarten, please contact the school office and we will help you with the registration process or please visit us online.
• Our next school council meeting is Tuesday, May 9th at 6:30 PM. This meeting will take place in our library. This meeting is open to all parents who would like to attend.

WCDSB Updates

Please visit our School Board Website for updates and recent information.  Here is the link: http://www.wcdsb.ca

Kitchener Bike Helmet Giveaway Event
With the support of sponsors like McLeish Orlando and City of Kitchener, Brian Injury Association of Waterloo Region will provide free bicycle helmets to children in Kitchener who cannot otherwise afford them. Registration is required.  The event will be located in the parking lot of Laurentian Zehrs located at 750 Ottawa Street Kitchener between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  The event is free to attend and everyone is welcome.   The link for the registration form is: BIAWW Request for Free Children’s Helmet (google.com) and is also included in the flyer attached.R.I.D.E. Safe Flyer

Multi-Year Strategic Plan – Feedback From the Community
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board prides itself on being the Heart of the Community, providing Success for Each and A Place for All. With this Vision, we have developed our new WCDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan (2022-2025) (MYSP).  This short video from Director Tyrone Dowling summarizes the process, content and goals for our new Strategic Plan.  This plan was approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2022.

At this time, we are gathering feedback to assist with our ongoing monitoring of the implementation of the current MYSP. We are inviting all staff, parents/guardians, and community members to provide feedback on our new MYSP plan (one per family/staff). Your input is valued and appreciated.

The survey will take less than 8 minutes to complete and will be available until May 23rd @ 8am.  Survey link: https://wcdsb.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_didAwydaettroFw

Participation in this survey is anonymous and voluntary. You will not be asked to provide your name, contact information, or any information that can identify you. As well, no identifying information (e.g., email address, IP address) will be automatically collected through the online tool.  If you have any questions about this collection or need assistance completing it, please contact the Research Department at research@wcdsb.ca

Saint Timothy Beacon of Hope

Congratulations to Kingston Kaus for being awarded the Beacon of Hope Award for 2022-2023.  Thank you for embodying what it means to live a Christ-filled life. Your willingness to display a genuine concern for those around you, lend a helping hand to both staff, and students and your consistent effort to reach for the stars makes Saint. Timothy’s a better place for all.  Please see the link for the Saint Mary Family of Schools Beacons of Hope award winners:
(117) St. Mary’s Family of Schools – Beacons of Hope 2023 – YouTube

Umbrella Project

Ask, how did you add value to someone else’s life today?

One of the biggest contributors to low integrity is over-focusing on our own success at all costs. Students will often lie, cheat, put friends down, and behave in ways that don’t match their values because they feel the need to compete with peers and win no matter what. Unfortunately, when we look at the research we see that having integrity and strong relationships is actually a much better way to cultivate long-term success. If others don’t trust us, they are much less likely to support us and help us to be successful. One way to foster integrity in your child is to challenge them to add value to the lives of others on a daily basis. Talk about and celebrate these experiences as a family and add the intention to give back regularly.

By asking your children, “How did you add value to someone else’s life today?” you can remind them to keep perspective on the bigger picture of success and build their integrity.

Here is today’s short video about integrity.

You’ve got this!
Dr. Jen, The Umbrella Project

Upcoming Dates To Note

https://sttimothy.wcdsb.ca/calendar/ (please use this address to access our school calendar)

Tuesday, May 9^th                     School Advisory Council Meeting – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 10^th            Pizza Lunch Day     School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride
Thursday, May 11^th                  Moose Hide Campaign Day
Friday, May 12^th                        Popcorn Sales Day
Saturday, May 13^th                   Waterloo Regional Police Open House
Sunday, May 14^th                      Happy Mother’s Day
Monday, May 15^th                    International Day of Families
Tuesday, May 16^th                   Intermediate Soccer Tournament at RIM Park
Wednesday, May 17^th             Grades 4-8 Track and Field Meet at St. Benedict High School
School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride
Thursday, May 18^th                 Pita Lunch Day
Friday, May 19^th                           Popcorn Sales Day

Have a wonderful week! Stay safe and be well.  Please follow us on Twitter @sttimothy3 to see all the amazing happenings at Saint Timothy throughout the week.

Respectfully yours,
Albert Simoes, Principal

Good afternoon,

Bus 094 has left the school at 4:02 p.m.

Please know that Bus 094 will be running late 10 to 20 minutes late this afternoon due to driver’s absence.  School staff will continue to supervise and ensure students are safe while we wait for the bus to arrive.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.