Monthly Archives: June 2023

Good evening,

It is with mixed emotions that I am letting our Saint Timothy community know that our beloved Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Burgess, will be retiring at the end of this school year.  Mrs. Burgess has been an invaluable part of the Saint Timothy team for many years, touching the lives of many students and families.  She has earned everyone’s respect and admiration for what she does each and every day – making it all looks so easy!

We want to let her know that we are so thankful for the opportunity to teach with her, we wish her the best in her next chapter, and we will miss her greatly in the halls of Saint Timothy!

Thank you Tigers!

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can install in us.” – Hal Borland

We have made it to the last update for the school year and what a year this has been! There is so much to be grateful for as we wrap up this year. We have welcomed new families, we have said goodbye to old friends, we have laughed together, learned together, played together, and sometimes cried together and we have done all this with grace and patience. Thank you for being amazing!

We would like to thank all our parents and students for a wonderful year at Saint Timothy Catholic School. We wish you a relaxing and restful summer break. Take the time to spend with your families and rejuvenate, and we look forward to seeing you in the new school year.

Please refer to the information updates below and as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office:

Thank you …

• On Friday we celebrated our Grade 8 students with a beautiful graduation ceremony. We are very proud of our students for how much they have learned and grown during their time at Saint Timothy. It was wonderful celebrating all of their accomplishments with their families. We wish our graduates much success as they continue on their educational journey into High School! A big thank you to the Grade 8 teachers, parents, teachers, support staff, office staff, and custodians who helped plan, set up/take down, and organize the graduation ceremony.
• Father Sunil, Mr. Hutfluss, Ms. Bartlett, and students for a beautiful End of Year/Graduation Mass. We delight in our partnership with the Parish and being able to celebrate our faith as a community. Thank you to all the parents and families that were able to join us too.
• We would like to thank all the Parent Representatives on the Saint Timothy Advisory Catholic School Council for all of their efforts and support throughout the year. We encourage parents/guardians to consider being a part of the school council next school year. More information about School Council Nominations/Elections will come out in late August/September.
• To the staff of Saint Timothy. In the words of Tina Turner, “You are simply the best!”.  Every day you put the needs and the well-being of the students in your care above your own. You coached, you clubbed, you embraced field trips, playday and every other thing that made coming to school feel “normal” again and you still taught the curriculum. Gratitude abounds for your dedication!
• Father Melvin, Father Sunil, and the pastoral team of Saint Aloysius for their assistance in the Catholic education of our students. We appreciate your involvement in the support of Catholic education.
  We encourage our students and families to pray, repent, give to others, and reflect.  For confessions, masses, and other events happening at St. Aloysius Church, please visit:  https://staloysius.on.ca/
• Gratitude for our students showcasing their Spirit daily. Students, you are to be acknowledged for your determination, resilience, and hard work. Remember, each challenge you faced has made you stronger. Embrace the upcoming break, recharge, and return with renewed Spirit!
• To ALL our families, our parent council, and our parent volunteers for your support and for helping to make our school year a success.

School Highlights

• On Wednesday, June 28th at 9:30 a.m., we will have a year-end assembly with the students. This will be a time to celebrate numerous awards and say goodbye to some of our staff. We look forward to ending our year through the celebration of all the wonderful things we have experienced together!
• The school office will be open on Tuesday, August 29^th at 8:30 a.m. Office staff and administration will be available all that week. New registrations will be accepted that week as well. Please drop off epi-pens, other medications, and forms during this week. Parents are also invited to review the medical plans with the administration this week, if possible.
• If you already registered to our Newswire, you do not have to re-register for the 2023-2024 school year. However, if you are new to our school, please sign up at https://sttimothy.wcdsb.ca/newswire-subscribe/.  This is our main method of communication with our families.
• Grade 8s can begin their Community Service Hours, this summer as soon as they graduate. The form to register their hours is now housed within myBlueprint.
• Families are encouraged to access parent resources on the Strong Start website. There are FREE, downloadable activity resources that have been designed to be fun, engaging, and interactive. The games and activities promote early reading skills and provide simple ideas for families to support literacy development at home. These resources are a great way to continue learning over the summer months. The instructions are also translated into other languages using Google Translate.
• Please visit stswr.ca  for questions regarding bussing.
• Our school is certified gold with Ontario EcoSchools. Thanks to Mrs. Henhoeffer and our Eco student representatives, we were able to achieve 75% of available points in each of the six categories: teamwork and leadership, energy conservation, waste minimization, school ground greening, curriculum, and environmental stewardship.  We are so inspired by our school and commitment to environmental action and sustainability.

Important Reminders

• If your child has any medication at the office, we ask that a guardian or your child come to the office to pick it up on their last day of school.  We want to ensure they have all the necessary medication they may need for the summer as well as have expiry dates checked.
• MOVING IN SEPTEMBER? – If any families are moving and their child(ren) will not be attending Saint Timothy next year, please inform Mrs. Presslee via email (presslee@wcdsb.ca) at the office as soon as possible.
• Thursday, June 29^th is the last day of school for the year! We will be doing lots of clean up and there will be lots coming home … bring an extra bag with you. Dismissal will be at 3:30 p.m. Please notify the school if you are keeping your child(ren) home from school during the last few days of the school year.
• Term 2 Report Cards for your child(ren) in Grades 1 to 8, and the second Communication of Learning for children in Kindergarten will be sent home on Tuesday, June 27th. Please sign and return the bottom portion to school on Wednesday, June 28th.  This form is a legal document that must be attached to the copy of the report and included in your child’s Ontario School Record file.  Please note this is an opportunity for you and your child to comment on goals, student achievement, and home support.

  Our teachers are certified by the Ontario College of Teachers, and thus highly trained; they are responsible for classroom assessments and evaluations. Our teachers have provided the grading and specific comments found on your child’s report card following Ministry Guidelines.  If you have any questions related to the grades or comments, please contact your child’s teachers directly.
  

September Start-Up    

• September Return: Grades 1 through 8 return to school on Tuesday, September 5^th beginning at 9:00 a.m. Our bell times remain the same. Grade 1 – 8 students are asked to proceed to the school playground where they will meet their teachers. Please note, all lists are ‘tentative’ until final numbers have been determined in September.
• Office Reopening: The school office reopens on Tuesday, August 29th. Information and reminders regarding first-day procedures at Saint Timothy will be shared via newswire or school messenger.  New families coming to Saint Timothy are encouraged to register online over the summer.
• 2023 – 2024 School Year Calendar: WCDSB 2022-2023 Elementary School Year Calendar
• Kindergarten Students will have a staggered entry and DO NOT begin on Tuesday, September 5^th, 2023, as the Teachers and DECEs will be taking part in interviews. Year Two (Senior Kindergarten) students begin on Wednesday, September 6^th, 2023. A phone call or email with all the information will be sent out with specific times for interviews and staggered entry dates during the week of August 28^th.  Monday, September 11^th, all JK and SK students attend school.
• The 2023-2024 School Start-Up forms are MANDATORY and will be accessible through School Cash Online. ALL families will be notified via School Messenger/Newswire when the forms are available.

WCDSB Updates

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

Please see the attached flyer with information about the Extended Day program offered through the WCDSB.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the main office:  Extended Day Program 2023-2024

Farewells and Good Luck!

Each June comes the sad time when we must say goodbye to people who we have cherished on staff as part of our Tigers family. Goodbye to the families that are moving over the summer! We wish you well in your new school community.

Our farewells begin with our Grade 8 graduates.  We wish them the best of luck as they begin their high school adventure.  May the Holy Spirit whose gifts you were sealed with at Confirmation, continue to guide you along the path of growth and changes that lie ahead.

There are a number of reasons why staff members leave a school at the end of the school year, including: ending a temporary position, career change, beginning a pregnancy or parental leave, moving on to pursue further education or training, or redundancy due to declining enrollment in the school.

For these reasons, we must say goodbye to the following staff members:
Ms. Villeneuve – Early Childhood Educator
Ms. Khiko – Kindergarten Teacher
Ms. Hammar-Schmidt – Kindergarten Teacher
Mr. Maley – Kindergarten Teacher
Mr. Henderson – Grade 3/4 Teacher
Ms. Segato – Grade 6 Teacher
Ms. Bartlett – Grade 7/8 Teacher
Ms. Schroeder – Multi-Lingual Teacher
Ms. Milton – Child Youth Care Worker
Ms. Ritchie – Educational Assistant
Ms. Warburton – Educational Assistant
Ms. Radisic – Junior Music Teacher
Ms. Kovar – Administrative Assistant
Ms. Downs – Intermediate Music Teacher

The many contributions of each of these staff members are appreciated and we wish them all the best in their future careers in Catholic education.

As we prepare for the next school year, we will also be excited to welcome many new families to our community! We will welcome all of our incoming Junior Kindergarten students as well as many other new students across the grades! There will also be new faces on staff next year and we will welcome them in September!

Mabel’s Label Fundraiser

The award-winning MABEL’S LABELS is the leading provider of personalized labels for children and adults.  Their custom labels include sticky labels for clothing, personalized stickers for tweens, school labels, name labels, iron-on clothing labels/name tags, bookplates, label stickers/adhesive labels for the home, and children’s labels for look-alike items sent to school daycare or camp.  Please visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and enter “St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener)” Shop now and support Saint Timothy Catholic School.

Promoting Well-Being

21 fun and active games for kids to play on the beach ~Susan Scandiffio

While beaches may not come to mind as Canadian tourist destinations, Canada is home to some of the world’s most stunning beaches, several of the most notable of which you can find in our list to the right. And that list represents only a smattering of the gorgeous beaches this country has to offer.

Beach holidays can be wonderful family getaways if you’re prepared. Of course, sand and water are a combination that invite free play and will trigger most kids’ imaginations to create fabulous, undirected games and activities.

But having a list of engaging ideas in your back pocket might mean the difference between them wanting to pack it in after only an hour at the beach and not being able to drag them home after several.

The following activities are fun and also help kids develop their basic movement skills. Read more at – https://activeforlife.com/21-active-beach-games/

Umbrella Project

Encourage learning over proving yourself

One of the biggest mistakes we make in learning is to imagine we need to impress people and prove ourselves instead of being able to accept that we don’t know everything. That’s why we are learning! It is distracting and tiring to feel that we need to be constantly proving how much we know and undermines the actual learning process. Kids who feel this way are likely to quit at the first sign of failure or when someone comes along who is more experienced as if that person or experience is a threat to their identity.

To help your children master skills with an open mind and humility, teach them “The Terrible 10 Rule”, which is as follows: expect the first 10 times you try something new to be terrible.

A simple but clear message about expectations for the learning process.

Why would we expect to be good at things we haven’t learned or practiced yet?

Setting our expectations of ourselves as absolute beginners, it allows our egos the space to relax through the first few attempts at anything new. It also allows us to learn from those around us with more experience instead of finding ourselves in a mental competition for who is better. Explain to your children that time and experience are the critical ingredients to mastery, not some natural talent we are simply born with and ready to display on the first attempt.

I explain more about mastery in this summary video.

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, June 26^th                      Kindergarten Picnic
Tuesday, June 27^th                      JK – Grade 8 Communication of Learning and Report Cards Go Home
Canadian Multi-culturalism Day
Wednesday, June 28^th              Pita Lunch (for those who ordered)
School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride
Year End Mini- Assembly at 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, June 29^th                   Last Day of School – dismissal at 3:30 p.m
Saturday, July 1^st                               Happy Canada Day

Wishing all a wonderful week, and incredible summer.  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

Dear Lord,

As we come to the end of this school year, we gather before you in gratitude and praise. We thank you for the time we have spent together, for the lessons we have learned, and for the friendships we have formed.  We thank you for our staff who have guided us with patience and wisdom. Bless them abundantly for their dedication and care. We also thank you for our families who have supported us throughout this journey. Lord, as we prepare for the break ahead, we ask for your blessing upon each student and their family at Saint Timothy Catholic Elementary School.  Grant us rest, joy, and safety during the summer days. May we find moments of adventure, relaxation, and laughter.
We give you thanks for all that has been and all that is to come.  In your loving name, we pray.  Amen

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” – Henri Nouwen

It is hard to believe that we are down to the final two weeks of school.  What an incredible year this has been. I want to thank every one of you for the support, the patience, the understanding, and the joy, you and your children, have continued to bring to each day. The staff and I are so appreciative!

Please keep in mind that these last few weeks, while exciting, can have a huge impact on many of our students. Continuing with routines, setting boundaries, maintaining a good sleep schedule, and staying healthy and active will help all of us get to the end of the year in tip-top condition. Thanking you in advance for your continued support, patience, and cooperation.

We wish the fathers, grandfathers, uncles, husbands, and other fatherly roles in our community a wonderful Father’s Day today.  We hope you enjoy the time with your families!

Please refer to the information updates below and as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office:

Thank you …

• Ms. Kolb, Mr. Henderson, Mrs. Matesa, and Mr. Carvalho for planning the trip for their students to Medieval Times in Toronto on June 23^rd.
• Ms. Segato for planning the trip to Camp Brebeuf on June 23^rd.
• Ms. Bartlett and Mr. Hutfluss for planning the trip to Bingemans on June 22^nd.
• everyone that came to our Family Carnival. We had over 200 people come to celebrate the end of the year and it was amazing. A huge thank you to our students, staff, and School Council members who ran our game stations and did the setup and clean up.
• Father Melvin, Father Sunil, and the parish staff of St. Aloysius Catholic Church for their pastoral care of our school and community this school year.
• Catholic School Advisory Council members who led us through another great year. Through meetings and fundraising events, your members were the voice of our community and advocated for your needs.  I strongly encourage parents that are interested in being a part of the decision-making process for the school to consider running when nominations are announced in September.
• Tracey Byrne for her commitment and dedication over many years as a member of our School Council. We will miss you at the council table.
• to all the staff at Saint Timothy. You have such wonderful compassion and dedication to every student that walks through the door. You make a difference daily, demonstrating that the hands of God work in each one of you!
• to all the Tigers Graduates of 2023. We extend our best wishes and prayers to you for continued success in your educational journey. We will miss you!
• to all our wonderful students! You are the reason we come to work every day. Your enthusiasm and joy of learning make it all worthwhile!
• Mrs. Kovar for her service and dedication to our school community during the past years. We will miss you!

School Highlights

• National Indigenous Peoples Day ~ June 21, 2023, National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada. The day was first celebrated as National Aboriginal Day in 1996, after it was proclaimed that year by then Governor General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc, to be celebrated annually on June 21st. This date was chosen as the statutory holiday for many reasons, including its cultural significance as the Summer Solstice, and the fact that it is a day on which many Indigenous peoples and communities traditionally celebrate their heritage. It was renamed National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2017.
• Land acknowledgments are more than a symbolic gestures.  They have been a cultural practice of Indigenous peoples since time immemorial as they met on the lands and territories of other peoples. Acknowledging the land that we live on, work on, and benefit from recognizes Indigenous peoples continued relationship with the land and demonstrates a commitment to reconciliation by remembering our history. Land acknowledgments remind us that we are all treaty people and that treaties are still relevant today. View the WCDSB Land Acknowledgement Here
• Welcome, Ms. Warburton who will be supporting our students in Room 122 as an Educational Assistant. We also welcome our new administrative assistant, Ms. Presslee.

Important Reminders

• Hot Lunch Program Updates
  Wednesday, June 21st will be our last pizza day for this school year.
  Wednesday, June 28th will be our last 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 23rd will be our last next popcorn day.
  For those families who have ordered large bags of popcorn, they will be available for pick up this Thursday, June 23^rd at the office.
• For students with medical conditions and allergies, the Student Plan of Care was sent home last week. Please review, and verify, the information found on these forms and revise ANY pertinent information directly on the form. These forms MUST be completed and returned to the school during the week of August 28th,    Please DO NOT return the new forms package prior to the end of the current school year (June 30^th, 2023).
• If your child has any medication at the office, we ask that a guardian or your child come to the office to pick it up on their last day of school.  We want to ensure they have all the necessary mediation they may need for the summer as well as have expiry dates checked.
• Thursday, June 29^th is the last day of school for the year! We will be doing lots of clean up and there will be lots coming home … bring an extra bag with you.
• Graduation – We are very excited to celebrate our Grade 8s and ALL of their accomplishments during their Graduation Ceremony on Friday, June 23^rd at 6:30 p.m. We kindly remind parents to check emails and paper forms that have gone home to ensure you are aware of important details. Please note, that the Ceremony will be for Graduates and their immediate families only due to limited seating. If you require additional seating due to family circumstances, please contact your child’s teacher.  Thank you for your support and understanding!
  After the ceremony, students will remain at school for the dance. Please pick them up at 10:00 p.m. when the dance concludes.  We look forward to celebrating this momentous occasion with you!
• We are looking forward to welcoming Father Melvin to celebrate our Year End/Graduation Mass with us here at the school on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Mr. Hutfluss, Ms. Bartlett and our students will help Father lead the mass. THANK YOU!
• Report Cards for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 students will be sent home on Tuesday, June 27th. Please sign and return the bottom portion to school on Wednesday, June 28th.  This form is a legal document that must be attached to the copy of the report and included in your child’s Ontario School Record file.  Please note this is an opportunity for you and your child to comment on goals, student achievement, and home support.
• Students who were loaned a WCDSB Chromebook are to return their device and it’s charging cord to the office on Monday, June 19^th. This does not include SEA devices issued by Special Education Department.

WCDSB Updates

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

Please see the attached flyer with information about the Extended Day program offered through the WCDSB.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the main office: Extended Day Program 2023_24

Mabel’s Label Fundraiser

The award-winning MABEL’S LABELS is the leading provider of personalized labels for children and adults.  Their custom labels include sticky labels for clothing, personalized stickers for tweens, school labels, name labels, iron-on clothing labels/name tags, bookplates, label stickers/adhesive labels for the home, and children’s labels for look-alike items sent to school daycare or camp.  Please visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com  enter “St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener)” Shop now and support Saint Timothy Catholic School.

Promoting Well-Being – Positive Self-Talk Isn’t All Talk

When it comes to mental health, small changes can have a big impact. Did you know that repeating daily affirmations in the mirror has been shown to activate the brain’s reward centres and create new neural pathways? With practice, our evidence-based resources can help you practice positive thinking to combat stress and deal with difficult emotions. Read about more mental health tips HERE.

Umbrella Project

Use timed intervals of practice to improve mastery

In working towards mastering anything, deliberate, focused practice plays a critical role. Robert Greene, world renowned master in the subject of mastery, emphasizes this important idea:

“This process of hardwiring cannot occur if you are constantly distracted, moving from one task to another. In such a case, the neural pathways dedicated to this skill never get established; what you learn is too tenuous to remain rooted in the brain. It is better to dedicate two or three hours of intense focus to a skill than to spend eight hours of diffused concentration on it. You want to be as immediately present to what you are doing as possible.”

In a generation plagued with infinite distractions, how do we create space for focus and hard wiring of skills?

One great way to help children accomplish distraction-free work is to have them work in manageable blocks with intentional rest in between. Start with 20-minute intervals of practice/work with 10-minute rests and adjust according to your child’s current capacity (maximum 1 hour of work before a break). Instead of a long and distracted work session, this will allow for shorter focused bursts of work with anticipated breaks in between, a much better strategy for learning.

Here are a few tips for creating focus:

• Set a timer for the work and rest intervals
• Turn off notifications on computers, set phones to airplane mode, or put them in another room if your child has their own devices
• Encourage your child to get water, use the washroom or take care of any other distracting needs that may come up
• Use headphones if the environment is noisy
• Have your child get the work ready to go in advance so there is no set-up required
• Have your child plan what will happen in the rest intervals – ie. go outside, dance around the house, get a snack, etc.

Teach your children to value focus and practice this skill regularly.

Want to learn more? You can watch this short video I recorded for you.

Health and Happiness,
Dr. Jen, The Umbrella Project

Upcoming Dates To Note

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

Sunday, June 18^th                           Happy Father’s Day
Monday, June 19^th                           Extended Day Registration for 2023-2024 opens today
Tuesday, June 20^th                              Year End/Grade 8 Graduation School Mass at 10:30 a.m.                 World Refugee Day
Wednesday, June 21^st                    National Indigenous Peoples Day            Pizza Lunch               School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride       Junior Boys and Girls 3 Pitch Tournament
Thursday, June 22^nd                       Large Bags of Popcorn To Be Delivered For Those Who Ordered        Grades 7 and 8 Trip to Bingeman
Friday, June 23^rd                              Grades 3 to 5 Medieval Times Trip       Grade 6 Trip to Camp Brebeuf        Popcorn Sales     Grade 8 Graduation Ceremony – 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 27^th                          JK – Grade 8 Report Cards Go Home
Wednesday, June 28^th                    Pita Lunch           School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride            Year End Assembly at 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, June 29^th                        Last Day of School – dismissal at 3:30 p.m.

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 858 will be delayed 10 to 20 minutes late due to a driver issue.  Thank you

Good morning,

Just a reminder that our annual family fun night carnival is tomorrow.  Come hang out with games, presentations, food, and draws from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
For those who pre-ordered tickets using School Cash Online, you will be receiving your tickets today with your child(ren).  Please record a name, and phone number on the ticket  We will be accepting cash to purchase tickets tomorrow night in case you forgot or would like to buy more.  Food trucks will be on-site sales. 

We look forward to seeing you at our event!

“I know you have big dreams for yourself, but don’t forget to appreciate how far you’ve come already. Remember the days you prayed for the things you have now.”
– Ruben Chavez

It is hard to believe that we are down to the final weeks of school.  What an incredible year this has been. I have marveled at the wonder of the children in our care and their ability to persevere and stay strong. I want to thank every one of you for the support, the patience, the understanding, and the joy, you and your children, have continued to bring to each day. The staff and I are so appreciative!

As we approach these last few weeks, I continue to ask for your support in staying the course, reporting absences when necessary, and continuing to promote the positive attitude you have displayed all year. This week is our year-end Family Carnival and we look forward to seeing many families here.

Please refer to the information updates below and as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office:

Thank you …

• Ms. Segato, Ms. Kolb, Mrs. Barbosa and the team for an outstanding day at the Regional Track and Field meet last week. Our coaches noted our student athlete’s dedication, athleticism, and outstanding behaviour.  We also thank our parent community for being great fans and for the understanding, and support in dismissal.  
• Colleen Taylor and Tracey Byrne for attending our Welcome To Kindergarten Night as representatives from our school council. Both did a wonderful job explaining the council’s role and recruiting new members.  If you would like to join our council, please let us know now or in September.  There is always room for one more!
• Mrs. Edgar, Mrs. Bebenek, and Mrs. Ferraccioli for planning the Grades 1 and 2 trip to the African Lion Safari on June 13^th.
• Mrs. Taves, Ms. Kolb, and Ms. Barbosa for organizing the Junior 3 pitch baseball team this year. Good luck on June 21^st.
• Yvette Thorne and Mrs. Kovar helped make our pizza program run so smoothly this year. The last pizza day is Wednesday, June 21^st
• Holly Herteis for organizing and leading our successful Pita lunch program this year. The last Pita lunch day is June 28^th.
• to our School Council and in particular Yvette Thorne for organizing our Family Carnival.  It will be a great event with lots of activities, food, and prizes to be won.  Looking forward to letting everyone see what an amazing spirit this community has when we are all together!
• for returning library books and school Chromebooks back to school.  We are still missing items, so please take another look and return them back to school.

School Highlights

• June is Italian Heritage Month in Canada. This month we honour the rich history and diversity of Italian Canadians across the country and our school!
  https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2023/06/statement-by-minister-hussen-on-italian-heritage-month.html
• Students in Grades 3 and 6 have completed EQAO for this school year! We are proud of our Grade 3 and Grade 6 students! Special thank you to our teachers for preparing them for EQAO this year.
• Please keep the people affected by the fires in our thoughts and prayers. As it was communicated to your children this past week, if at any time their breathing becomes affected, or they are experiencing difficulty with being outdoors, they may come into the office.
• National Indigenous History Month is a time for learning about, appreciating, and acknowledging the contributions First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people have made in shaping Canada. It is also an opportunity to recognize the strength of present-day Indigenous communities. On June 21, we recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day.  This is a day recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada.
• June is Portuguese Heritage Month in Canada. This month, we celebrate the vibrant culture of Portuguese Canadians, and honour their contribution to the growth and development of our country and our community!
  https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2022/05/government-of-canada-marks-portuguese-heritage-month.html
• June is the month devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which for Catholics is a sign and symbol of God’s boundless and passionate love for all humanity. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is our recognition of the long-suffering love and compassion of Jesus towards humanity. It developed in the seventeenth century as the result of a series of apparitions to a Catholic nun, Mother (Saint) Margaret Mary Alacoque. Many families will enthrone a blessed picture of the Sacred Heart in their homes.

Important Reminders

• Hot Lunch Program Updates
  Wednesday, June 21st will be our next pizza day.
  Wednesday, June 14th 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 16th will be our next popcorn day.
• Please encourage your child to look through our Lost and Found bin in the next couple of weeks to locate any missing items. Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of June.
• For students with medical conditions and allergies, the Student Plan of Care will be sent home this upcoming week. Please review, and verify, the information found on these forms and revise ANY pertinent information directly on the form. These forms MUST be completed and returned to the school during the week of August 28th,   Please DO NOT return the new forms package prior to the end of the current school year (June 30^th, 2023).
• For those families that were not able to attend our Welcome To Kindergarten presentation, please contact kovar@wcdsb.ca at the office to arrange a time to pick up the Welcome to Kindergarten bag.  Our families are welcome to come back on Tuesday, June 13^th in the afternoon for a library visit.  Please consider visiting our school anytime between 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 for a library orientation from our librarian technician, Mr. White.
• We will host our Volunteer breakfast this Wednesday, June 14th from 8:00 to 9:00 am. We hope anyone who has volunteered their time this year may be able to accept our invitation to join our school Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast.
• Graduation Update – as previously communicated to families our school has been preparing for our graduation ceremony for the last several weeks and extensive planning and work have already been undertaken to create a memorable celebration to honour our Grade 8 Graduates. Our Grade 8 Graduate Mass and Saint Timothy Year End Mass will both take place on Tuesday, June 20^th beginning at 10:30 a.m. in our school gymnasium.  Please sign in at the office when you arrive.
  The actual ceremony will take place on Friday, June 23^rd beginning at 6:30 p.m. in our school gym.  Diplomas will be distributed, speeches will be read and awards will be presented.  Following the ceremony will be a dance for graduates only until 10:00 p.m. Please arrange a way home for your child.
  Information was sent out to parents earlier this month.  For more detail, questions, or if you would like to help, please reach out to Mr. Hutfluss, Mrs. Piotrowski, and/or Ms. Bartlett.
  We are so very proud of the young adults they have become and we wish them all the success the world can offer.  We are excited to have been part of their elementary school journey over the last 10 years.

WCDSB Updates

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

The Extended Day Program at our school for the 2023-2024 school year will be operating.  Registration will open June 19^th.   To confirm and manage the child’s registrations and schedules throughout the school year, simply log onto your account with OneList Waterloo Region.
For assistance with the OneList Waterloo Region site, please contact OneHSN Support at: 1-888-722-1540 or support@onehsn.com.

Please review the following letter from the Region of Waterloo Public Health regarding Catch Up Clinics: Memo_to_school_boards_May_2023

Saint Timothy Family Carnival

Our annual family carnival is only three days away.  It is Wednesday, June 14^th starting at 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. here at Saint Timothy! We hope to see our many families and friends here to enjoy another wonderful community event with us.  There will be tons of awesome activities and fantastic food.  Here is a list of items already booked: Pawley’s Reptile Show, Food Trucks, Conestoga Karate, Big Kahuna water bucket, carnival games, face painting, guessing jars and so much more!  If you would like more information or would like to donate goods or services, please contact yvette.thorne@wcdsb.ca  Thank you and we will see you there!

Pre-ordered tickets through Cash On-Line will be distributed this coming Tuesday.  Please note, cash will be accepted to purchase tickets at the carnival.  Food trucks will be on-site sales.

Mabel’s Label Fundraiser

The award-winning MABEL’S LABELS is the leading provider of personalized labels for children and adults.  Their custom labels include sticky labels for clothing, personalized stickers for tweens, school labels, name labels, iron-on clothing labels/name tags, book plates, lable stickers/adhesive labels for the home, and children’s labels for look-alike items sent to school daycare or camp.  Please visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com  enter “St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener)” Shop now and support Saint Timothy Catholic School.

Promoting Well–Being   Kids Who Read, Beat Summer Slide

Here are 9 ways to beat the summer slide by motivating students to read:

1. Create a summer book club.
2. Meet at the local library.
3. Meet at the school library.
4. Do a weekly read-aloud via Skype.
5. Create a school blog where students can share what they’re reading.
6. Hold family reading nights during the summer.
7. Do a summertime read and watch night (read a book, watch the movie).
8. Set Goals
9. Make summer reading a game.

Read more at https://teamtomeducation.com/read-beat-summer-slide/

Umbrella Project

Cultivating the capacity for uncertainty and resistance

We joke in our house that physical and mental discomfort is “iron body training”, strengthening and toughening our body and minds. While this is a funny frame we can put on difficulty, there is a lot of science behind this idea. We aren’t going to feel great all the time. Difficult situations and feelings are a normal part of the package of being human.

When we seek only pleasure in life, we spend much of our time looking for ways to short-cut through or distract ourselves from anything difficult. Living with this mentality is actually doing ourselves quite a disservice, as it is precisely the challenges we are avoiding that give us the “iron body” required to take on life challenges and mysteries on our path to mastery. These skills are critical for adapting to changes, learning from failure, tolerating boredom and pushing through to our goals and dreams. When we stay within the confines of easy and comfortable we quit easily and miss the chance to grow and expand.

Here are some common examples of iron body training to share with your children:

• Accepting boredom as part of the journey to mastery
• Feeling anxious about trying something new and doing it anyways
• Taking on a challenge when the outcome is uncertain
• Purposely facing small versions of your fears

There are so many ways we can encourage our children to face and adapt to the difficult and even see this as a strength. Start by helping them expect these challenges along the way and explain how iron body training works. Then, celebrate the power and strength that comes when they get through these tough spots. This will cultivate their capacity for overcoming uncertainty and set them on a trajectory toward mastery.

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)

Monday, June 12^th                           World Day Against Child Labour
Tuesday, June 13^th                          New Kindergarten Families School Library Visit 12:45 to 3:30 p.m.     African Lion Safari Grade 1 and 2 Trip
Wednesday, June 14^th                    School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride      Pita Lunch            Family Carnival 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.    Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast 8:00 a.m.
Friday, June 16^th                              Popcorn Sales       Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Day 
Sunday, June 18^th                           Happy Father’s Day
Monday, June 19^th                           Extended Day Registration for 2023-2024 opens today
Tuesday, June 20^th                          Year End and Grade 8 Graduation School Mass at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 21^st                    National Indigenous Peoples Day    School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride       Junior Boys and Girls 3 Pitch Tournament
Thursday, June 22^nd                       Large Bags of Popcorn To Be Delivered For Those Who Ordered
Friday, June 23^rd                              Grade 3 to 5 Medieval Times Trip      Grade 6 Trip to Camp Brebeuf       Popcorn Sales     Grade 8 Graduation Ceremony – 6:30 p.m.

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

Today, we begin the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a source of love and peace. Open yourselves to this love and take it to the ends of the earth, witnessing to the goodness and mercy that flow from the Heart of Jesus.” –  Pope Francis   

And just like that we are in June! While the days are getting longer, they are getting busier too. As we wind down the year, let us engage in the final month with the same joy and spirit as we started the year.

Please refer to the information updates below and as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office:

Thank you …

• everyone for your ongoing generous donations to our Themed Raffle Baskets and guessing jars. We are looking forward to our family carnival later this month.
• Ms. Segato, Mrs. Ferraccioli, and Mrs. Bebenek for their cross-country training and to our parent volunteers, and supporters for a great cross-country meet this past week. Congratulations to our students who not only represented our school very well but also finished with phenomenal results.
• to our families for your active engagement in our successful “Bike to School” week.
• Mrs. Henhoeffer has been supporting our school gardens. We have planted various plants for student learning, harvest, and enjoyment.  We are in need of a few families to volunteer their time and energy to support this initiative and help water our garden over the summer.  If you are interested in taking time this summer to water and weed our gardens, please contact the school for further information.
• to all the parents and their child(ren) who were able to join us last week for the “Welcome to Kindergarten Night.” Such a great opportunity to meet our graduating class of 2034! Hopefully, you were able to get the information you needed when you visited each station.  For those families that were not able to attend, please contact kovar@wcdsb.ca at the office to arrange a time to pick up the Welcome to Kindergarten bag.  Our families are welcome to come back on Tuesday, June 13^th in the afternoon for a library visit.  Please consider visiting our school anytime between 12:45 p.m. to 3:30 for a library orientation from our librarian technician, Mr. White.
• to our whole early years’ team for leading and organizing our Welcome to Kindergarten Night.
• to Ms. Segato and Ms. Kolb who will be leading our student-athletes to the Regional Track and Field Meet at Resurrection Catholic Secondary School in Kitchener this Tuesday.  The makeup date in case of severe weather will be Friday, June 9^th.  Good luck to our athletes!

School Highlights

• Our Grade 3 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. 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!
• June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. This month, and every day, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) celebrates and honours the history, heritage, and diversity of Indigenous peoples in our country, and in our WCDSB community. We recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st.

Important Reminders

• Hot Lunch Program Updates
  Wednesday, June 7th will be our next pizza day.
  Wednesday, June 14th 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.
• Please encourage your child to look through our Lost and Found bin in the next couple of weeks to locate any missing items. Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of June.
• The office will begin to update medical information.  Kindly check if your child has brought home any forms to be returned. If your child does have severe medical concerns, please notify the office so we can send home the correct paperwork.
• Each year in June we do a year-end library inventory. You can help us by returning ANY library books, that you have at home to the school this week. All books are due back by Friday, June 9th.
• Families are reminded that with the warm weather comes the need for sunscreen and hats. We encourage families to send students to school with a layer of sunscreen already applied, and if they wish to reapply throughout the day, creams and lotions are preferred. Please be sure to send students a water bottle so they can stay hydrated and comfortable while in class.

WCDSB Updates

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

See the attached link for FREE SUMMER LEARNING courses! https://www.wcdsb.ca/summer-learning/  All are highly engaging and supportive programs, taught by certified teachers, and intended to prepare students with more tools and learning for the next grade level.

Extended Day at Saint Timothy

The Extended Day Program at our school for the 2023-2024 school year will be operating.  Registration for the Extended Day program will open on June 19th, 2023. Please login or create an account with OneList Waterloo Region and follow the steps. Make sure you have indicated a start date of September 5, 2023 (or later if preferred) to ensure you are enrolling in the 2023-2024 school year.  All Extended Day Programs will begin on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, however, you may choose a later start date. Please be reminded that Kindergarten students will participate in the staggered entry process and the Extended Day Program will only be available to children in attendance on their scheduled school days.
To confirm and manage the child’s registrations and schedules throughout the school year, simply log onto your account with OneList Waterloo Region.
For assistance with the OneList Waterloo Region site, please contact OneHSN Support at 1-888-722-1540 or support@onehsn.com.

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 Cheesy

and a great opportunity to connect with neighbours and friends.

Please consider the following option … tickets can be pre-ordered through Cash-On-Line (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.\

Filipino Heritage Month

In October 2018, the Canadian House of Commons officially designated the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month across the country.​
The Philippines have become one of the largest population of newcomers to Canada, with Ontario being home to over 340,000 Filipinos! The Filipino Canadian community plays a significant part in fostering growth, prosperity, and innovation throughout our province.  This month, we are celebrating the unique history and contributions that Filipino Canadians have made and continue to make in the social, economic, political, and cultural fabric of Canada.  This is also an important month for the Filipino community as June 12 marks Philippine Independence Day. This is a day to celebrate democracy and culture for Filipino Canadians across the country. Join us in honouring the unique identity and rich history of Filipinos.

Mabel’s Label Fundraiser

The award-winning MABEL’S LABELS is the leading provider of personalized labels for children and adults.  Their custom labels include sticky labels for clothing, personalized stickers for tweens, school labels, name labels, iron-on clothing labels/name tags, bookplates, label stickers/adhesive labels for the home, and children’s labels for look-alike items sent to school daycare or camp.  Please visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and enter “St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener).” Shop now and support Saint Timothy Catholic School.

Umbrella Project

Welcome to Mastery Month in The Umbrella Project. Mastery is a great way to wrap up the year because it requires us to use many of the skills we have learned over the year. Mastery is our ability to work towards excelling at something – our craft, our relationships, our jobs, and many others. The early stages of mastery require many of our Umbrella Skills to push through the boredom, fear, impatience, and other difficult emotions of the learning journey. Over time, we build strength and confidence and are able to accomplish great things.

“Everyone holds his fortune in his own hands, like a sculptor the raw material he will fashion into a figure. But it’s the same with that type of artistic activity as with all others: We are merely born with the capability to do it. The skill to mold the material into what we want must be learned and attentively cultivated.” — Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Help your child discover their natural inclinations and curiosities

The best masters start with a deep interest and curiosity in the area they are working towards mastering. The journey to mastery requires time, patience, and overcoming obstacles so this interest (see intrinsic motivation skill tips) is paramount in persevering through the learning process. You may have a vision for your child but if this doesn’t align with their personal interests it is unlikely that they will go on to master this path while building their well-being.  Trying to master something you don’t care about is arduous, requires lots of willpower and depletes our energy and happiness.

When you start with your child’s natural interests, they are much more likely to engage in the process of learning and mastering their chosen activity. Start by helping your child notice the subjects they are most engaged in and the problems they most want to solve. Try to be specific when having these conversations ie. “What unit in science did you like the most?” and “Why instead of that subject do you like…?”  For example, this year my daughter noticed that she really loved learning about energy in science and is also concerned about the environment, which led her to think about the jobs that might exist in sustainable energy. She is far from having to make these types of life decisions but reflecting on things that peak her interest will help her engage and learn when opportunities present themselves.

Chat soon,
Dr. Jen, The Umbrella Project

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

Tuesday, June 6^th                        Regional Track Meet at Resurrection High School                    Grade 3 EQAO                  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                      Last Day for Library Circulation
Monday, June 12^th                      World Day Against Child Labour Day
Tuesday, June 13^th                          New Kindergarten Families School Library Visit 12:45 to 3:30 p.m.       African Lion Safari Grade 1 and 2 Trip
Wednesday, June 14^th                    School Spirit Wear Day – show your pride           Pita Lunch            Family Carnival 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 16^th                              Popcorn Dales

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

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Catholic Devotion in which the heart of Jesus is shown as a symbol of God’s infinite love and compassion for all of humankind – indeed for all of Creation. It recognizes Jesus’ sacred humanity and his love for all people. 

A Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O most holy heart of Jesus, the fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure, and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Amen.