Monthly Archives: December 2023

Good afternoon TIGERS Community!

The entire staff at Saint Timothy would like to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!  It has been a wonderful first half of the year and we feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work in this community!  We hope that the Christmas Season brings you HOPE for the new year, PEACE of heart and mind, JOY with your families and friends, and the LOVE that God shares with us!

We look forward to hearing about our break on Monday, January 8th, 2024 when we return to school!  See you all in the new year!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” – Philippians 4:4-5

We welcome to the third week of Advent with a joyous heart, filled with love.  We also look forward to this last week of 2023 and celebrating the season together.  It will be an amazing week filled with joy, laughter, and the magic of Christmas.

We would like to extend our warmest wishes to our community for the Christmas Season. We wish you many blessings as you spend this time with your family. We will see you in the New Year on January 8th, 2024!

Please pay close attention to the information below:

Thank you …

• for your generous donations to our Angel Tree and Lutherwood Comfy Cozy Holiday Drive. With your support families in our community will be able to have a Merry Christmas with a little less worry!
• Father Melvin and Father Sunil will be presiding over our Christmas Mass on Tuesday, December 19th at 1:00 p.m. All parents are welcome to join us in our gymnasium. Thank you to Mme Piotrowski and Ms. Barbosa for their preparations involving the liturgy.
• everyone for a successful start to our year. Thank you to our families who have been committed to making this year smooth and successful. Thank you to our staff, who have gone above and beyond in re-engaging our students and families back into school life. It has been a busy few months with clubs, teams, field trips and new opportunities. We have prayed together, played together, and learned together. Cannot wait to see what the new year brings us!
• Catholic Community Foundation of Waterloo Region, St. Aloysius Parish, and our staff for their donations to help households in our school community deal with financial challenges.  Your contributions to these wonderful initiatives were much appreciated.
• Our Christmas Concert Committee, in particular Mme Piotrowski, Miss Garvey and Mrs. Coughlan for all the work and leadership as we prepare to present our Christmas talent on Thursday, December 21^st at 9:30 a.m. Also, to our dedicated staff who have been working tirelessly to organize this Christmas celebration.
• Mrs. Zach for planning our school movie day. Also thank you to our volunteers who were able to join us and help with supervision.  We all had a great morning!
• Mr. Hutfluss and Mrs. Phillips who took three days away from their lives to help facilitate Mount Mary with our Grade 8 students. It was a wonderful week for our school community.  A HUGE thank you to all of our students who took the chance, faced the challenges and experienced the moments of our Mount Mary retreat.

School Highlights  

• Grade 8 Fundraiser – On Tuesday, December 19^th, the Grade 8s will be having a bake sale to raise money for their residential retreat. If you would like to donate to our bake sale, please contact hutfuss@wcdsb.ca and/or Alyssa.phillips@wcdsb.ca Items that may contain peanuts or tree nuts are not to be brought into the school.  Tickets for the bake sale can be purchased on school cash on-line. St. Tim Bake Sale (003)
• We have been asking our students to check our lost and found bin on numerous occasions. However, if families would like to come and check what is left, you are welcome prior to Friday.  Remaining items will be donated to a local community centre for families in need.

Important Reminders

• Make sure you start choosing your snazzy Christmas outfits for our Christmas Spirit Daysduring the last week of school! Will you be an elf? Snowman? We can’t wait to see our halls decked out in Christmas Cheer From December 18th – 22nd.
• Second Session Term 2 Pizza Days begin Wednesday, January 10^th until March 27^th. Pepperoni and Cheese, or Cheese slices will again be available from Dominos.  Pizza orders are now available on Schoolcash Online and ordering will close one week before pizza is delivered.Payable through School Cash Online: www.schoolcashonline.com
• Just a reminder to parents/guardians to please notify the school in advance regarding personal appointments/early pick-ups.  Letting the school know (via email, child(ren)’s agenda or phone call) in advance of the appointment can assist us in getting the children prepared prior to your arrival. Students will be released from the classroom and are then asked to wait in the office, parents/guardians are to come into the school to sign them out.  We want to minimize the disruptions to the classrooms, therefore whenever possible it is best if parents/guardians can plan to pick up their children at the natural break times.  If you pick your children up before/after recess periods, your children will already be dressed for the weather, and are not pulled out in the middle of a lesson.

WCDSB Updates

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

Supporting the Walk to School and the Bus Stop – Teach Gradual Independence By Walking To School
The active commute to school presents the perfect opportunity to teach your child traffic awareness skills, active travel skills, and independence in a graduated manner.  Start by walking them to school and then work with neighbours and friends to create parent-led groups and then buddy systems where children can walk together without parents.  It’s safe it’s fun and it builds confidence and boosts self-esteem.

Kindergarten Registration Now Open at WCDSB! 
Kindergarten registration at the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) for the 2024-2025 school year is now open!  Parents and guardians who are interested in registering their child for Kindergarten are invited to visit the WCDSB website for more information: Entering Kindergarten (wcdsb.ca).  Please feel free to pass this information along to friends or neighbours with children entering Kindergarten next year.

Learning At Home –   TVO Learn Mathify provides FREE online math help for Ontario students in Grades 4-12. Students/families can use the link to access the math support.  https://homeworkhelp.ilc.org/.

KW Titans – Students in Grade 5 to 8 will be coming home soon with a KW Titans voucher for a FREE TICKET ($27 value) with the purchase of an equivalent full-price adult ticket. Valid for the game date on your ticket.  Home games take place at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.  Please redeem at least 48 hours before tip-off at Tickets – KW Titans using the code on your voucher. The KW Titans are Canada’s first not-for-profit professional basketball team to compete in the Basketball Super League (BSL) a premium North American League providing the best professional basketball entertainment outside the NBA.  The season run from Dec 30th to May 1st.  If you have any questions, please email angela.murdoch@gmail.com.
Flyer KW Titans Student Ticket.pdf

Spanish Exchange  – WCDSB grade 7 students: Do you want to have an incredible International Experience with other students from around the Region? Would you like to learn Spanish, travel to Spain, and make new friends?  We are once again offering students who are currently in grade 7 the opportunity to be a part of the 2024-25 Grade 8 Spanish Exchange. If you would like to learn more, plan to come to one of our VIRTUAL Information Session on January 23, 2024, at 6:00 pm.

Please see the attached letters for more information:CANADA Meets SPAIN_2024-2025    Gr 8 Spanish Exchange Parent Letter 2024-25
Please complete the following form to ensure you receive follow up information Gr 8 Spanish Exchange Information Meeting 2024-25

Christmas Concert Information

We are happy to welcome everyone to our Saint Timothy Christmas Concert which will take place in our school gymnasium.  Teachers and students have been working hard to prepare a fun and festive show.  Please join us in our gymnasium on Thursday, December 21^st at 9:30 a.m.

Due to the high level of interest and limited seating available, we kindly request that families consider attending with a limited number of family members.  This will help ensure that as many families as possible can enjoy the concert.   If there are not enough seats it will be standing room only, and if we are above the fire code capacity, we will have to turn some people away.  There are no prearranged seats, and we ask that audience members be respectful of others that would like to enjoy the show as well.

Please be prepared to stay until the end of the school.  It is approximately two hours and there is no intermission.  If you must leave, please wait and do so only between selections.  Our front door will open 30 minutes prior to show time.

In anticipation of the event, we also would like to gather information regarding any potential plans for early withdrawal after the concert.  If you anticipate the need to leave after the performance, we kindly request that you inform your child(ren)’s classroom teacher in advance.  This will assist us in a smooth transition for both your child and our staff.

Many families would like to take pictures or videos of their children or of performances. Please remember that not everyone is comfortable with having their child’s or adult’s image captured or shared on social media, so we would ask you to please do your best to focus on your child or ask the family or the adult if you would like to take or post an image. We appreciate your consideration and attention to this matter.

Parking will be an issue.  If you can walk to this event, that would be greatly appreciated.  We ask that you do not block or park in any of the neighbours driveways or in our school parking lot as this is reserved for staff only.

Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to bringing joy through music to our community!

Celebrating Advent As A Family   

The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. On this day we celebrate that our waiting for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day is almost over. Rose is a liturgical color that is used to signify Joy, so we light the single pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent. This candle is also known as the “Shepherd’s Candle” reminding us of the Joy the world experienced at the coming birth of Jesus. For more information on celebrating Advent as a Family, visit the Hamilton Diocese website.

Promoting Health and Well-Being – Christmas and Mental Health

How to reduce stress at Christmas
Christmas should be a time of merriment and joyous celebrations. A time when families and friends come together and have the most wonderful time! Well, that is what we all aspire to and in reality, it is an idyllic vision of how we would like Christmas to be. We have an idealized perspective and expectation that sets us up to fall short of perfection… because if we don’t achieve the perfect Christmas Day, then we may feel we have failed!

Stress at Christmas
We believe that taking care of your mental wellbeing is just as important during the festive period as your physical wellbeing. Stress is a body’s natural reaction to change, whether physical, mental or emotional. However, if stress is not alleviated it will build on itself making us feel like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. And increased stress levels can lead to more serious physical and mental illnesses. So making sure our stress levels are kept in check is so important, particularly around this hectic and pressured festive period.

Read more at https://wellbeingpeople.com/christmas/how-to-reduce-stress-at-christmas/2023/

Mabel’s Label Fundraiser

Click HERE and enter “St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener)” from the drop down list to support our school when you buy labels through MABEL’S LABELS.

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

Monday, December 18^th                 Christmas Sweater/Shirt Day
Tuesday, December 19^th                Dress Like Christmas Day       Pita Lunch:  Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca   St. Timothy Christmas School Mass 1:00 p.m.
Grade 8 Bake Sale
Wednesday, December 20^th          Red, Green and White Day             Pizza Lunch                 Christmas Concert Rehearsal at 12:45 p.m.
Thursday, December 21^st               Santa/Christmas Hat Day                         Christmas Concert at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, December 22^nd                   Pajamas or Comfy Clothes Day                       Popcorn Sales (pre-ordered)                     Regular Dismissal at 3:30 p.m.
Monday, January 8^th                        Welcome Back to school – 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, January 9^th                       Pita Lunch:  Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca
Wednesday, January 10^th              School Spirit – wear our school colours or spirit wear.

Wishing you a blessed and wonderful week.  Please follow us on X formerly known as Twitter @sttimothy3 to see all the amazing happenings at Saint Timothy.

Respectfully yours,
Albert Simoes, Principal

Advent Prayer and Reflection
In this third week of Advent, we light three candles on our Advent wreath. The third candle is the pink candle signifying “Joy” as we await the coming of our Lord Jesus.

Lord, the good news of Jesus’ arrival brings such joy to our world!
Reach those who are lost and searching with the message of hope that we have through the Messiah.
God, allow your message of peace to bring comfort to our anxious world.
As we all go about the holiday season, let the message of great joy pierce through
all the noise and into people’s hearts.
Amen

“The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.” – Frederick Buechner

We enter our 2nd week of advent this week.  Advent is a time when we light candles to help us count down the days to Christmas and prepare for the birth of Jesus. With each passing day, we get closer and closer to the joy of Christmas. Each week, our Advent wreath has one more candle bringing light to our world. Jesus is the light of the world, and Jesus said, “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life”.

Please refer to the information updates below:

Thank you …

• to those families and staff members who have already generously supported our Angel Tree. This is a reminder that Friday, December 15th is the final day to submit gift cards and/or unwrapped gifts.  Thank you for your generosity and kindness.  Angel tree 2023
• to our families who can support those in need by contributing to the Lutherwood Comfy Cozy Holiday Drive sponsored by Mrs. Phillips’ class. The donation’s due date has been shortened to Monday, December 11th:  School Comfy Cozy Letter + Combined List 2023
• We extend our sincere congratulations to the boy’s volleyball team for their outstanding performance and we thank everyone for being a part of this memorable season.  A special thank you to Mr. Reyna, Mrs. Coughlan, and Mrs. Taves for their continued support and commitment to our students.
• as we enter the second week of Advent – a sincere thank you for celebrating our Advent Mass with us last week. Please join us for our Christmas Mass on Tuesday, December 19^th at 1:00 p.m. Parents, guardians, and friends are welcome to join us.
• to our amazing students who entered a Christmas card for our first annual St. Timothy Christmas Card contest. The creativity and talent shone through, making the decision-making process quite a delightful challenge.
• Strong Start volunteer coaches for engaging our young learners with literacy.
• staff who have donated to wear denim in December to support specific families in need in our community.

School Highlights  

• Mrs. Phillips, Mr. Hutfluss and the Grade 8s will be on a residential retreat at Mount Mary in Ancaster, Ontario from December 13^th to 15^th. Let us keep them in our thoughts, and prayers and wish them a joyful experience.
• Make sure you start choosing your snazzy Christmas outfits for our Christmas Spirt Days during the last week of school. We can’t wait to see our halls decked out in Christmas Cheer from December 18^th to 22^nd.
• Grade 8 Fundraiser – On Tuesday, December 19^th, the Grade 8s will be having a bake sale to raise money for their residential retreat. If you would like to donate to our bake sale, please contact hutfuss@wcdsb.ca and/or Alyssa.phillips@wcdsb.ca Items that may contain peanuts or tree nuts are not to be brought into the school.  Tickets for the bake sale can be purchased on school cash online.

Important Reminders

• Journey To Bethlehem Grades 1 to 8 – To ensure we have a great movie day this coming Tuesday, we would like to note some key reminders. First, students who have consent will attend the movie.  For students who do not have consent and will be attending school, an alternative location will be provided in the school.  Our school will be empty as most staff and students will be at the Cineplex Cinemas in Kitchener.  We will be leaving at 9:00 a.m. and should be back at our school by 12:30 p.m. If your child(ren) arrives late, please bring your child(ren) to the theatre.  If you will be keeping your child(ren) home that morning, please call the office so we can ensure our safe arrival attendance is completed.
• When school buses are canceled (but schools are open) for inclement weather, all pizza or Pita Pit orders are CANCELLED for that day. Please make sure to send a lunch with your student. We will keep you updated on the new date as soon as it is confirmed.
• Please Note: Saint Timothy is an allergen-reduced environment and even at Christmas, we must adhere to WCDSB protocol around foods coming into the school. Please monitor any foods coming in for snacks to ensure that they comply with the information: ‘Products that contain or ‘may contain’ peanuts and tree nuts are not to be brought onto the school site.’
• If Your Child is Sick or Unwell – The colder weather has returned, therefore, the students must be dressed appropriately to go outside. If your child is sick, regardless of the symptoms, please do not send them to school. Seek medical advice or contact public health for further direction. We cannot safely supervise children during the day whose families would prefer that they not go outside. If your child is sick or injured and still recovering, but not able to go outside, they should remain at home until they are well enough to participate fully in all school activities, including recess. Please note that students may not enter the school grounds until 8:45 a.m., which is when supervision begins by our staff members.

WCDSB Updates

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

Supporting the Walk to School and the Bus Stop – How Long Does It Take To Walk To School?
The average rate of walking for an elementary school student is 4.34 kilometers per hour.  That means the average student can walk our maximum walking distance – 1.6 kilometers – in 22 minutes at a comfortable pace.  It probably doesn’t take that much longer than driving, and it’s a great way to add up those recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

Learning At Home –   Issue 3 | MATH@HOME MONTHLY – Google Slides

Inclement Weather Information – With winter weather upon us, families are reminded to visit the Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s (WCDSB) website for important information about the Inclement Weather Process:  APH008-00_InclementWeather.pdf (wcdsb.ca)

How Will My Family Be Notified About Inclement Weather Cancellations or Closures?
The decision to cancel student transportation (buses) and/or close schools due to inclement weather will be communicated to parents and guardians in the following ways
WCDSB Board Website: Waterloo Region’s Catholic Schools – Welcome to WCDSB
WCDSB’s Social Media Channels:  NewsWire (wcdsb.ca)    Waterloo Catholic DSB (@WaterlooCDSB) / X (twitter.com)
Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region: Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (stswr.ca)
St. Timothy:  A newswire message will be posted on the newswire and an email will be sent to all parents and guardians on school messenger.

Bus Delays and Cancellations – In the event of inclement weather, Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (stswr.ca) determines whether to cancel school transportation. Please note that when transportation is cancelled in the morning, it is cancelled for the entire day. As parents and guardians, you may choose to drive your children to school when transportation is cancelled but schools are open. If you decide to do so, please ensure you have made arrangements to pick up your children from school at the end of the school day.All transportation delays and cancellations are posted on the STSWR website. You can also subscribe to an email service to receive transportation notifications.  The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority.  Inclement weather decisions will be made in consultation with the WCDSB, based on information received through the latest reports on weather and road conditions.

Winter Weather and Snow

The snow season has shown itself to be unpredictable these past weeks!  We have seen glimpses of students LOVING playing in the snow.  You can help them enjoy it more by making sure they have extra clothing to stay warm including boots, snow pants, mittens, and hats. It would be helpful for students to keep an extra pair of dry mittens and socks in their backpacks as well. As per our Board’s policy, when the temperature is between -20°C and -27°C students will not be outside longer than 15 minutes.  When temperatures are colder than -27°C, students remain inside.

We have reminded our students of the dangers of throwing snow/ice and sliding on any icy spots/hills outside. Serious injury can often result from what is often considered ‘just good fun’ or ‘joking around’ in the snow. At school, we enforce the rule of NO SNOWBALLS being thrown at people at any time (imagine 300 students throwing snowballs…). Please reinforce this important rule with your children at home. This helps us all remain safe while walking to and from school each day and playing at recess.

We share the responsibility of snow removal on and around our property. The city is responsible for our sidewalks by the road. School personnel and board contractors are responsible for pathways and the parking lot. This involves both snow clearance and salting in certain areas. Our head custodian checks the ground conditions early every morning, and salting in some areas may occur. It is always important to be careful during the winter months when walking on pathways and sidewalks.

Christmas Concert Information

Our Saint Timothy students are preparing for another year of Christmas Cheer by sharing their singing talents in our annual Christmas Concert. Please join us in our gymnasium on Thursday, December 21^st at 9:30 a.m.

Due to the high level of interest and limited seating available, we kindly request that families consider attending with a limited number of family members.  This will help ensure that as many families as possible can enjoy the concert.   If there are not enough seats it will be standing room only, and if we are above the fire code capacity, we will have to turn some people away.  There are no prearranged seats, and we ask that audience members be respectful of others who would like to enjoy the show as well.  Doors will not open until 30 minutes before show time.

In anticipation of the event, we also would like to gather information regarding any potential plans for early withdrawal after the concert.  If you anticipate the need to leave after the performance, we kindly request that you inform your child(ren)’s classroom teacher in advance.  This will assist us in a smooth transition for both your child and our staff.

Many families would like to take pictures or videos of their children or of performances. Please remember that not everyone is comfortable with having their child’s or adult’s image captured or shared on social media, so we would ask you to please do your best to focus on your child or ask the family or the adult if you would like to take or post an image. We appreciate your consideration and attention to this matter.

Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to bringing joy through music to our community!

Celebrating Advent As A Family    

The second candle on the Advent wreath represents Peace. Like the first candle, it is also purple. Often called the “Bethlehem Candle,” the second Advent candle reminds us of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem before Mary gave birth to Jesus. Building on the meaning of the Prophecy Candle, this second candle recalls that after all the division, destruction, and dispersion of the kingdom in the Old Testament, there might finally be peace on Earth – Jesus is coming, and so is his Kingdom of Peace. As we read in the quote from Pope Francis, this light of peace shone forth from Bethlehem for all the world. This Advent light the second candle on Sunday, December 10, 2023. For more information on celebrating Advent as a Family, visit the Hamilton Diocese website

Resources:
Advent Calendar 2023: Daily At-Home Advent Activities For Families – REL_DL_AdventCalendar_2023
Advent Video: Advent in 2 minutes – great video

Promoting Health and Well-Being

Christmas and Mental Health
How might Christmas affect my mental health? Christmas can affect our mental health in lots of different ways. This could be if Christmas is part of your life, or if it’s happening around you. It’s a time of year that often puts extra pressure on us.

Christmas could affect your mental health if you:

• Wish you didn’t have to deal with Christmas or find it stressful because of other events in your life
• Feel alone or left out because everyone else seems happy when you’re not
• Feel frustrated by other people’s views of a ‘perfect’ Christmas, if these feel different from your experiences
• Have ideas about what Christmas should be like, feel as if you need to enjoy it, or worry something will disrupt it
• Feel like Christmas gives you something to focus on and look forward to, and find it difficult when it’s over
• Look back at difficult memories, regret things about the past, or worry about the coming new year
• Feel overlooked, for example, if you celebrate other religious festivals or holidays that get less attention
• Want to celebrate with someone who’s struggling

Read more at https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/christmas-and-mental-health/christmas-and-mental-health/

Mabel’s Label Fundraiser

Click HERE and enter “St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener)” from the drop-down list to support our school when you buy labels through MABEL’S LABELS.

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

Sunday, December 10^th                  Advent Week 2                       International World Human Rights Day
Monday, December 11^th 
Tuesday, December 12^th                Grades 1-8 School Wide Movie Trip – Cineplex AM               The Journey To Bethlehem            Pita Lunch:  Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca
Wednesday, December 13^th          Grade 8 Mount Mary Trip           School Spirit – wear our school colours or spirit wear
Thursday, December 14^th               Grade 8 Mount Mary Trip                 Kindergarten Doon Retirement Home Visit
Friday, December 15^th                    School Spirit – Grinch Day                     Popcorn Safes (pre-ordered)                       Angel Tree – last day to donate         Grade 8 Mount Mary Trip
Sunday, December 17^th                  Advent Week 3
Monday, December 18^th                 Christmas Sweater/Shirt Day
Tuesday, December 19^th                Dress Like Christmas Day                        Pita Lunch:  Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca              St. Timothy Christmas School Mass 1:00 p.m.                                                                     Grade 8 Bake Sale
Wednesday, December 20^th          Red, Green and White Day         Pizza Lunch
Thursday, December 21^st               Santa/Christmas Hat Day               Christmas Concert at 9:30 a.m.                     Polar Express Day
Friday, December 22^nd                   Pajamas or Comfy Clothes Day                         Popcorn Sales (pre-ordered)                            Regular Dismissal at 3:30 p.m.

Wishing you a blessed and wonderful week.  Please follow us on X formerly known as Twitter @sttimothy3 to see all the amazing happenings at Saint Timothy.

Respectfully yours,
Albert Simoes, Principal

PRAYER FOR ADVENT

As you light your candle(s) for each week of Advent invite all who gather to share in this prayer:
God, Send your light into our hearts and fill us with joy,
as we prepare for the birth of your Son.
Transform our lives into images of Jesus
so that your light will shine through us.
Lord, fill the world with your peace, hope and love this Advent.
Amen.

“The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.”
– Frederick Buechner

Amid our hurry, as we prepare for Christmas, the Holy Season of Advent calls to us. This call to God’s people reminds us to slow down and wait “in joyful hope” as we do what we can to prepare for Christ’s coming. The word itself, Advent means coming or arrival. Advent is a time of preparation, a time to get our spiritual houses ready for the coming of Christ, anticipating his second coming and actively remembering his first coming to earth as a baby. Advent is a time of desire, longing, and expectancy.

Throughout the Advent season, our school will be fostering a sense of community and kindness, embodying the spirit of giving and gratitude.  I encourage you to engage in conversations with your children about the true meaning of this season and share in the excitement of the upcoming holidays.

Please refer to the information updates below:

Thank you …

• to all of our families who have already picked an angel from our Angel Tree. Please consider selecting an angel and purchasing a gift or gift card (in a denomination of your choice). All gifts should be sent to school by December 15th and will go toward helping families in need during the holiday season: Angel Tree 2023. Thank you for your generosity!
• to our amazing staff and students for all the time work and energy that you are putting into preparing for our Christmas Concert!
• Mrs. Kolb, Mrs. Grebinski, and our students for organizing our upcoming Advent Mass, and Father Sunil for celebrating Mass with us. Parents/Guardians are welcome to attend our Advent Mass this Tuesday, December 5^th at 1:00 p.m.
• to our amazing students who have entered a Christmas card for our first annual St. Timothy Christmas Card contest. Students are asked to design a card and handed in by Monday, December 4^th.  We will choose one card for each division.
• Mrs. Zach for organizing our school-wide movie day set for Tuesday, December 12^th in the morning at Cineplex Theatres. We will be viewing the movie “The Journey To Bethlehem.”
• to all who have generously donated to the Lutherwood Comfy Cozy Holiday Drive. Mrs. Phillips and her students have decided to spread warmth, and joy to families in our community who are suffering from mental health issues and instability housing services.  It is not too late to donate: School Comfy Cozy Letter + Combined List 2023
• to our school choir for the incredible performance of O’Canada at the recent Kitchener Rangers hockey game. Your dedication, talent, and hard work truly shone through. Mrs. Phillips guidance and expertise undoubtedly contributed to the exceptional quality of the performance.
• to all students and staff who continue fostering a positive and spirited environment every Wednesday during our Spirit Wear Days. Congratulations to Mrs. Edgar and her class who had the most points. They will be receiving popcorn and a movie. 
  

School Highlights  

• Our Saint Timothy students are preparing for another year of Christmas Cheer by sharing their singing talents in our annual Christmas Concert. Please join us in our gymnasium on Thursday, December 21^st at 9:30 a.m. Due to the high level of interest and limited seating available, we kindly request that families consider attending with a limited number of family members. This will help ensure that as many families as possible can enjoy the concert. Doors will not open until 30 minutes before show time.
  In anticipation of the event, we also would like to gather information regarding any potential plans for early withdrawal after the concert.  If you anticipate the need to leave after the performance, we kindly request that you inform your child(ren)’s classroom teacher in advance.  This will assist us in a smooth transition for both your child and our staff. Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to bringing joy through music to our community!
• If your family requires any assistance during this upcoming Advent and Christmas season, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Presslee. Please join us in keeping our school community in our prayers this Advent Season.
• As we continue to gear up for the winter season, we greatly appreciate your help in donating gently used winter essentials like coats, hats, gloves, and scarves. Your contributions will spread warmth and kindness. If you have any items to donate, please stop by the school office to drop off your winter goodies. If you’re a family that would benefit from some gently used items, please email Ms. Presslee at presslee@wcdsb.ca and we’ll make arrangements with you to select from the donated items.
• We will be having Christmas Spirit Days during the last week of school so start looking for those items ……..
  
• Please join me in welcoming Ms. Ajenifuja to our school community. Ms. Ajenifuja will be joining our Child Youth Care Worker team here at our school.
• We recognize that the attendance profile for each child can be very unique.  However, when patterns or routines of non-attendance by a student are identified, we will proceed with interventions to support the student and their family. Notices including students identifying patterns of habitual tardiness that have reached a large threshold will be sent home. We ask you to please review the letter.
• Bus evacuation drills were conducted in collaboration with Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region. Parents/guardians can help ensure safe student transportation by reviewing and discussing safety rules and procedures with their children regularly. Our evacuation drills were preceded by a classroom discussion to discuss the basics of bus safety and to view a safety video. An actual drill with a bus onsite followed. For more transportation safety information, please visit:  https://www.stswr.ca/parents/safety-programs/
• Last week our Catholic School Advisory Council met to discuss items on our agenda. Please see the minutes found on our school website: Catholic School Advisory Council – St. Timothy (wcdsb.ca)  Our next meeting is on January 31^st and if you would like to join us, please contact the main office.

Important Reminders

• St. Aloysius Parish: For liturgy times and upcoming Confession, Advent/Christmas schedule, please visit St. Aloysius Parish/ Diocese of Hamilton, ON – Kitchener (staloysius.on.ca)
• Students in grades 3 to 8 will be participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday, December 7^th, and Friday, December 8^th here at our school. Our teachers have been working with students to prepare them for this sacrament.
• We will be celebrating Saint Nicholas on Tuesday. He was well known for his generosity to the poor children, and those in difficult situations.
• As magical as the Christmas season is, many families struggle as this can also be a financially trying time. To support families who may need assistance but are unsure where to go, we are providing a list of agencies for your consideration: Pocket-Card-July-2023 Foodbanks and meals

WCDSB Updates

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

Supporting the Walk to School and the Bus Stop – Walking In Cold Weather?
We often use the cold weather as an excuse not to walk.  In 2003, the American Journal of Public Health reported that only about 12% of Canadians’ home-based trips (such as trips to grocery stores, walking, or school) were made on foot or bicycle, compared with 46% in the Netherlands and 41% in Denmark, where it is just as cold!

D2L App For Parents and Guardians – Video tutorials in Arabic, English, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Tigrinyan have been created to guide our families in getting connected to their students’ D2L classrooms. Videos are housed on the WCDSB Parent and Guardian Page and (scroll to the bottom).  Please click on the link WCDSB Brightspace Parent & Guardian (d2l.com) to access the recording of the parent webinar that was held at the end of September.

Learning At Home –   Please open the following document to learn more about some literacy terms that you may have heard or seen our teachers use: Literacy Terms

Celebrating Advent As A Family    

One of the most popular ways to celebrate Advent is with an Advent wreath or Advent candle holders. Four candles (three purple and one pink), are used to count down the weeks until Christmas. Each Sunday of Advent one of the candles is lit and special prayers are said around a particular theme leading up to the birth of Christ. The first Sunday, December 3rd, of Advent, symbolizes Hope with the “Prophet’s Candle” reminding us that there is hope because Jesus is coming. We light a purple candle on the wreath. For more information on celebrating Advent as a Family, visit the Hamilton Diocese website. 

Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations and Deep Learning Transferable Skill

During the season of Advent, it is most fitting that we wish to celebrate Learning Partnerships.  And as Catholics, we will show it through celebrating that we should all strive to be Caring Family Members at school and home.
How will we be a shining star for those we love and those who care for us this month, and always?
How will we change our lives for the better this Advent season?

Students will join together in a faith celebration to kick off this month’s theme and will then engage in a range of classroom activities aimed at developing these skills throughout the month.

THIS IS HOW I AM A CARING FAMILY MEMBER!
I love God, myself and my family
I care about and respect my ‘family’ at school, at Church, in the community, and the world
I care about and respect God’s creation and everything in it
Because I care, I pray for all my family, and I will live my life like Jesus.

Deep Learning Transferable Skill: Learning Partnerships
Transferable skills are the skills and attributes that students need to thrive in the modern world. Based on international research, the Ontario Ministry of Education has defined seven important categories of transferable skills – sometimes referred to as “competencies” – that will help students navigate the world of work and meet with success in the future.

During December, as Catholics, we will show transferable skills through active collaboration, not just with our classmates and teachers but also with community organizations like our parish church, and even with individuals from the global community. It’s about tackling real-world challenges together, participating in engaging activities, and exchanging ideas.  We encourage you to support your child’s learning partnerships at home by participating in our school Angel Tree and Comfy Cozy initiatives this month. You may also wish to visit our parish website for Advent Mass, resources, and community faith-based activities.  Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Promoting Health and Well-Being: Positive Discipline For Young Children
The goal of discipline is to guide and teach, not to punish. The foundation of discipline is a warm and trusting relationship, where you help children learn to:

• behave appropriately for their age in different situations,
• recognize, express, and manage their emotions,
• communicate,
• get along with and trust others,
• solve problems,
• explore the world and learn appropriately.

Discipline should be fair and consistent. If you respond differently in similar situations or to similar behaviours, children will be confused. They won’t know what to expect.
Physical punishment—spanking, slapping, hitting, or shaming—can hurt children both physically and emotionally, and should never be used. There are much more effective ways to discipline children.
Using positive discipline techniques not only helps to guide children but also strengthens the connection you have with them.
~ Read more at https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/behavior-and-development/positive-discipline-for-young-children

Mabel’s Label Fundraiser

Click HERE and enter “St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener)” from the drop-down list to support our school when you buy labels through MABEL’S LABELS.

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

Sunday, December 3^rd                    Advent Week 1                 International Day of Persons With Disabilities
Monday, December 4^th                   Our Wilfrid Laurier Candidates will begin their teaching blocks until December 22^nd               Grade 8 Visit to St. Mary High School   Saint Timothy Christmas Cards Are Due
Tuesday, December 5^th                  Pita Lunch:  Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca         Advent Liturgy at 1:00 p.m. in our gym   Boys Volleyball Tournament at St. Mary High School
Wednesday, December 6^th             School Spirit – wear our school colours or spirit wear           Pizza Lunch (pre-ordered)      National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women             Feast of Saint Nicholas
Thursday, December 7^th                 Confessions Gr. 3 to 8               Mental Health Presentation Grade 7 and 8:  Sources of Strength
Friday, December 8^th                       Popcorn Sales (pre-ordered)             Grade 7/8 B Trip to KPL               Confessions Gr. 3 to 8
Sunday, December 10^th                  Advent Week 2             International World Human Rights Day
Monday, December 11^th                 Kindergarten Doon Retirement Home Visit
Tuesday, December 12^th                School Wide Movie Trip – Cineplex in the morning                         Pita Lunch:  Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca
Wednesday, December 13^th          Grade 8 Mount Mary Trip                                 School Spirit – wear our school colours or spirit wear
Thursday, December 14^th               Grade 8 Mount Mary Trip
Friday, December 15^th                    School Spirit – Grinch Day                       Popcorn Safes (pre-ordered)                    Angel Tree – last day to donate

Wishing you a blessed and wonderful week.  Please follow us on X formerly known as Twitter @sttimothy3 to see all the amazing happenings at Saint Timothy.

Respectfully yours,
Albert Simoes, Principal

Jesus, you came to us as a baby, helpless and small.
Help us to see a call to quiet and stillness in your smallness.
Stay close to our hearts today, as we go about our busy lives,
and give us the gift of your peace.