“We can support one another and face every kind of challenge with courage and hope when we draw our strength from Jesus.” – Pope Francis

Although February is a short month, many great things are happening in our school and community. We celebrated our 100th day of school, Valentine’s Day, Shrove Tuesday with our pancake event, we came together in the community to begin Lent, and report cards went home. We continue to learn about the contributions of Black excellence in our communities past and present.  

Please refer to events, information, and reminders below.

Thank you …

  • School Council and parent volunteers for leading our Shrove Tuesday celebration.  Our whole school community thank you for your early morning arrival, cooking pancakes, serving them to our students…and then the clean up!  Thank you very much.
  • Mrs. Sydoryshyn and students for leading our Ash Wednesday liturgy, celebrated by Father Sunil. It was a beautiful service to begin the Lenten season.
  • many parents who were able to join us for our Ash Wednesday liturgy – your presence is ALWAYS appreciated.
  • our teaching staff for all the time, energy, and love they placed into writing Term 1 report cards and communication of learning. A paper copy was sent home on Thursday, February 15th.  Please know that our teachers are here to support your child(ren) to reach their potential best.
  • all our families who were able to donate to support our Nutrition For Learning Program. We raised close to $800.00 by selling candy grams.  Thanks again to our school council for donating the candy.
  • our school council for the social networking safety presentation (Paul Davis) for our intermediate students.
  • for your support of our popcorn fundraiser led by our school council. We also appreciate your support with our hot lunch programs – pizza and Pita Pit.

School Highlights  

  • Are you someone who knows about applying for grants, enjoys leading/being part of a team, or would like to be involved in the Saint Timothy council but cannot commit to regular meetings?  Then please call the school with your interest at 519-748-1874.  Thank you for considering!
  • We have six weeks to focus on Lent – a time to turn to God in all we do. As a daily reflection, we ask ourselves what we need to stop doing or start doing to be the person God has created to us be. We are called to uphold 3 pillars – to pray, to fast, and to give to those in need. Fasting can also be fasting from habits – not just food. God bless you all this Lenten Season. Here is
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion –  With a large student community, we are blessed to have a rich cultural and ethnic diversity at our school.  With this comes the opportunity to be curious.  To learn and ask questions about our friends, classmates, and the people around us instead of judging them.
    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered an address at Cornell College in which he shared that people “fear each other because they don’t know each other because they don’t communicate with each other, and they don’t communicate with each other because they are separated from each other.”
    At Saint Timothy we are working towards making curiosity a normal and daily occurrence in our interactions with others instead of using judgment, so we can learn more about the people around us. It is important to reflect on how we connect with the people around us, in our classrooms, in our grades, and in the schoolyard. How can we get to know others better and be curious about them by asking questions?
    Through opportunities like extracurriculars, activities within the classroom, and large group gatherings, like assemblies and recess, students have the opportunity to learn more about each other and connect with others. We will continue to work towards building these bonds between students as we strive to gain a better understanding of those around us. We hope that you can continue this conversation at home with your child(ren) by asking them what they know about the people they sit near in class. Questions like:
    – Do they have siblings?
    – What are their likes and interests?
    – What foods do they like?
    Keep the conversations going at home!  A great way to work towards treating each other with kindness is simply: “Get to know your neighbour!”

Important Reminders

  • Pink Shirt Day – Wednesday, February 28th, 2024. We continue to promote diversity and inclusion at Saint Timothy. The mission of Pink Shirt Day is to create a more kind, inclusive world by raising awareness for anti-bullying initiatives.  Today our diversity is becoming more visible than ever as people continue to embrace their cultures, identities, and true selves in more open and direct ways. The 2024 slogan “ALL KINDS OF KINDESS” aims to spotlight that all forms of kindness contribute to building an inclusive and connected community.  Let’s have greater acceptance, respect, and inclusion for everyone!

WCDSB Updates

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

Please note that the Professional Activity (PA) Day, initially set for April 19, 2024, has been rescheduled to April 8, 2024. This adjustment is to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students and staff due to the Total Solar Eclipse expected on April 8th, 2024.
It is important to remember that directly observing the Sun can lead to severe eye injuries, particularly during a solar eclipse.
For safe observation of a solar eclipse, it’s essential to use eye protection specifically designed for this purpose (conforming to the ISO 12312-2 standard). Regular sunglasses do not offer adequate protection for your eyes. Moreover, attempting to view any phase of a solar eclipse through the camera of a smartphone, a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without attaching a special solar filter to the front of the device can result in significant eye damage.

Total Solar Eclipse Safety Tips

A total solar eclipse is a rare and exciting natural phenomenon. However, it is crucial to view it safely to prevent any damage to the eyes. Here are some tips for safely experiencing the solar eclipse:

  1. Use Proper Eclipse Glasses: Regular sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for viewing the sun. Special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or handheld solar viewers, must be used. Ensure they meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.
  2. Adult Supervision for Children: Ensure that children are supervised when using solar filters or eclipse glasses. Teach them the importance of not removing the glasses while looking at the sun.
  3. Alternative Methods: For those who do not have eclipse glasses, using a pinhole projector is a safe way to view a projection of the eclipse. This can be a fun and educational activity to do with children.
  4. Avoid Unsafe Methods: Do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays can damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.
  5. Check the Weather: If it is cloudy, you may not be able to see the eclipse. Use online resources to watch it live if the weather does not permit outdoor viewing.
  6. View it Safely via Livestream: The eclipse can be viewed via live stream broadcast through the NASA Exploratorium.

We hope these tips are helpful for you and your family to safely experience this spectacular event. For more safety tips and information, please visit https://opto.ca/eye-health-library/solar-eclipse-safety.

Supporting the Walk to School and the Bus Stop – Winter Traffic Safety (Time is Money)
The volume of cars traveling and parking near our school overwhelms our streets, blocks school buses, and creates dangers for students who walk – especially when snow banks are added to the mix. With the snow, our streets are narrowed and visibility is affected. We urge you to drive carefully, leave earlier, park legally, and allow your children to walk a little further.
We are in a neighbourhood that is safe for children to navigate and while it may take a little more effort, walking outside in cold weather can reduce stress, increase serotonin (the happiness hormone), lead to greater heart conditioning and increased endurance, and increase their focus in the classroom (and we’re all about that!)
Note that Police and Bylaw services will be ticketing those who do not obey traffic laws, signals, and signs to keep our students safe. So if you leave on time to walk a distance from a legal parking spot (or from home), you may just save some money, too!

GenAI Webinar for WCDSB Families – A webinar on Generative AI hosted by WCDSB Innovation consultants on Thursday, February 22, 2024, from 7:00-8:00 p.m.Registration: 
This presentation will introduce what Generative AI is, its implications for education, and how WCDSB intends to leverage the potential of GenAI to enhance learning experiences while upholding our vision of our Catholic Schools. To explore our WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, visit: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ai/

Five Great Reasons For Pursuing a Career in Skilled Trades –  Skilled trades are a great option for all students to seriously consider. There’s a high and growing demand for people to fill good-paying, satisfying careers in the skilled trades. This webinar will feature a keynote address from Jon Callegher, Executive Director of JobTalks, and information about the OYAP program, followed by Questions and answers.
Date and Time:  Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 6:30 PM
Registration Link:  Webinar Registration – Zoom
Please refer to this POSTER for event details.

Learning At Home – Math skills are important to a child’s success – both at school and in everyday life. Learning is enhanced when students are engaged in problem-solving with relevant and authentic connections that provide multiple entry points. In recognition of this, all students’ learning opportunities must be mathematically rich, and meaningful and serve to expand their understanding of the world around them.

  • Students will have access to authentic, relevant, and meaningful mathematics learning connected to students’ communities and lives;
  • Educators will create learning spaces that allow all students to see themselves as mathematicians and become capable math learners
  • Students will have opportunities to think critically and creatively; seeing connections to other disciplines beyond mathematics

Access the Ontario Mathematics Curriculum (2020) and the parent guide New Math Curriculum for Grades 1-8 | ontario.ca on the Curriculum and Resources site.

University of Waterloo Engineering Outreach Opportunities –
STEMpowered After School Clubs for Black Youth in Grades 7-8
Women in Engineering (WiE) for girls and non-binary youth in Grades 5-7 in one-off workshops, Grades 3-4 in After School Clubs, Grades 7-10 Go Code Girl event on Saturday, March 2nd, and Grade 11 on April 27-28th

Lent

Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It’s a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.
Did you know that Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ is the Religious Education program endorsed by the Catholic Bishops of Ontario and developed in collaboration with Catholic educators from across Canada that we use daily in our schools.  The program is based on the Catholic Elementary Curriculum Policy Document for Religious Education, Grades 1-8 and Catholic School Kindergarten Program.
Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ has a variety of Lent and Easter resources to help bring meaning to this faith-filled celebration of this holy season. Check it out to continue learning about Lent and Easter at home!
Student-Home Website: http://www.pearsoncanada.ca/school/growinginfaith/student-home/
user name: wcdsb99
password: Student99

Promoting Health and Well-Being –Tween Parenting Tips (10-, 11-, and 12-Year-Olds)  The best advice for raising happy, healthy tweens.

The tween years are a monumental time of transition. No longer little kids, but not quite teenagers either, tweens experience significant physical and emotional changes in a short period of time. All of these changes can be challenging for tweens and parents alike. But with plenty of love, support, and guidance, parents and caregivers can help their tweens navigate these years while preparing them for a bright future ahead. The tween years are an opportune time to teach your 10-, 11-, or 12-year-olds the life skills they’re going to need to be successful in their teenage years and beyond.
Read more at https://www.verywellfamily.com/parenting-advice-for-tweens-3288608

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, February 19th                    Family Day – school is closed             Wishing you and your family a wonderful day!
Tuesday, February 20th                   World Day of Social Justice                    Pita Lunch:  Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca
Mock EQAO continues until February 26th                            MDI Student Survey continues until March 7th
Grade 8 Graduation Planning Meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Learning Commons
Wednesday, February 21st             Pizza Lunch (pre-ordered)                          School Spirit – wear our school colours or spirit wear
Thursday, February 22nd                Human Trafficking Awareness Day                                School Spirit Day – Dress Like a Superhero
Friday, February 23rd                      Popcorn (pre-ordered)
Saturday, February 24th                  Sacrament of First Reconciliation (Grade 2)  – by appointments from 9:00 to 12:00 p.m. at St. Aloysius Church
Tuesday, February 27th                   Pita Lunch:  Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca
Wednesday, February 28th             Pink Shirt Day                        Dental Screening Day JK, SK, and Grade 2
Sun Life/WLU Healthy Communities Program (Grades  6-8)               Evening Registration For Kindergarten 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Grade 8 Course Selection Due Today – St. Mary High School
Friday, March 1st                              Popcorn (pre-ordered)

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

FAMILY DAY PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the gift of family.
Bless our family, Lord,
Guide us, protect us, and keep us united in your love.
Grant us the strength to face challenges together
And wisdom to grow in understanding and compassion.
Help us to forgive one another
And to always strive for reconciliation.
Bless our home with peace and joy,
And may we always seek to do your will
In our lives and our family.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.