“Through prayer, we can enter into a stable relationship with God, the source of true joy.” – Pope Francis
We are nearing the end of February – and it was a wonderful month filled with experiences and events that brought us together numerous times as a school community. From Shrove Tuesday, Valentine’s Day, the 100th Day of School to our Ash Wednesday Liturgy … and everything in between. We were delighted with the opportunity to come together in our learning, fellowship, and prayer. Thank you again, families of Saint Timothy, for your commitment to our community, and for coming together every day to learn, play, and pray.
Please refer to events, information, and reminders below.
Thank you … 
- everyone for your morning and afternoon smiles and hellos! Saint Timothy is such a warm and welcoming place to learn and grow!
- God bless our Grade 2 students who have or will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Aloysius Parish this coming Saturday from 9:00 to 12:00 p.m. by appointment only. Reconciliation (also known as Confession or Penance) is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in his love and mercy to offer sinners forgiveness. Through the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins, express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive forgiveness, make reparation for what we have done, and resolve to do better in the future. We thank Fr. Sunil, Fr. Melvin, the staff of St. Aloysius parish, our parents/guardians, and our grade 2 teachers for preparing our students to celebrate this special moment in their spiritual lives.
- our Grade 8 parents and teachers who were able to attend our graduation planning meeting. Your input is valuable to us.
- our Grade 3, and 6 students and their teachers for their involvement in the mock EQAO test this past week. The sample test allowed our students to become familiar with the online assessment and its platform.
- our junior and intermediate students who have already participated in the WCDSB School Climate Survey. The results of the survey will be used to enhance school engagement, positive learning experience, and academic success as it relates to our school improvement plan.
- to the staff and students for their dedication and learning throughout Black History Month. The passion, excitement, and understanding this month, as we explored influential Black Canadians and their impact on our history, has been exquisite.
School Highlights
- While we certainly recognize that families enjoy the opportunity to travel during non-peak times, it is important to remember that attendance tracking is mandated for schools and that students who are absent for 15 or more days will be flagged and notified of the time missed and offered the opportunity for support if needed. Letters will go out to coincide with the beginning of term 2. We look forward to working together to make sure that every day of learning counts and that students and families are supported in this important matter. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
- At Saint Timothy, we actively teach the students how to solve a problem – and it should never involve using our hands. We all want to learn and play in an environment that respects one another’s personal space and ensures the safety of all our students. No student should touch another student in an inappropriate manner, or in a way they think is “fun” or they feel is “joking”. We will continue to review these expectations within the school to support our students and encourage them to make responsible decisions. At Saint Timothy, we celebrate positive behaviour through our “Sunny Salute” program. As well as reminders that What We Say Matters, and What We Do Matters. We encourage parents to remind their children of the importance of playing safely and respecting everyone’s personal space and to talk to an adult for help if needed: Problem-Solving-Wheel
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!
- Parents who are requesting or would like a renewal regarding out-of-bounds status must submit their application to the school office. Please note that each request will be judged on its merit. To view the policy visit Out of Boundary AP Memo. The application form can be found at Application
- The next Catholic School Council Meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 9th at 6:30 p.m. in the school learning commons room. As always, all parents are welcome to attend and learn more about what we do, and how we support our students.
- With March Break coming soon we will celebrate the week before March Break week and share our Sunshine Spirit! We will have some Spirit days as well as school-wide community activities. More information to come ~ stay tuned!
- Kindergarten Registration Happening NOW! – This reminder to all families that if you have not yet, please use the online registration portal for Kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please call the main office.
https://www.wcdsb.ca/our-schools/register-for-school/entering-kindergarten/
Extended Day Pre-Reg Reminder
WCDSB Updates
Please visit our School Board Website for updates and recent information. Here is the link: http://www.wcdsb.ca
Learning At Home – 8 Practical Ways to Conquer Your Child’s Math Anxiety
Student Responsible Use of Technology
The WCDSB supports the benefits that technology can offer for students in their learning activities and student achievement. At the beginning of the year, all families were asked to read and sign our responsible use of technology guidelines to ensure information technology (IT) resources are being used safely and responsibly. Now that we are into Term 2, please take a moment to review the following links with your children.
Grade JK-3 Responsible Use of Technology
Grade 4-8 Responsible Use of Technology
It is also part of our Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations to be positive digital citizens.
Responsible Digital Citizenship Through the Lens of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectation
Celebrating Black History Month
As Black History Month draws to a close, we wish to extend our recognition, celebration, and appreciation for the remarkable achievements and invaluable contributions made by Black Canadians in shaping and enriching our country. Their efforts have played an important role in forging the diverse, inclusive, and resilient fabric of Canada today. Each week over our announcements we have showcased some of the learning in each of our classrooms. While we understand the importance of integrating and embedding black history teaching and learning throughout the whole year, February serves as a dedicated time for focused and intentional reflection on the lived experiences of Black people, past and present. Saint Timothy is committed to fostering equity and inclusion and we believe that embracing and sharing the cultural richness within our school and community is essential in dismantling harmful biases and deepening our mutual understanding. We encourage you to engage in these purposeful and intentional conversations in your home as well, further enriching our collective appreciation and awareness.
Lenten Initiative
The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Almsgiving is an outward sign of Christian love for others. This year, as part of our school’s almsgiving, Saint Timothy’s Lenten initiative will be supporting St. John’s Kitchen. For over 30 years, people have come to St. John’s Kitchen for daily meals. It is a place where people come together in the spirit of respect and mutual support. Students are invited to bring in donations to school throughout the Lenten season. We are collecting much-needed food items for the Working Centre including dried herbs, pudding and Jello cups, chocolate bars, instant oatmeal, Mr. Noodles, and more. These items will be distributed by the Working Centre to St. John’s Kitchen in Kitchener. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Promoting Health and Well-Being – 15 Coping Strategies For Kids
Kids experience a vast array of feelings, just as adults do. They can feel bored, anxious, sad, disappointed, embarrassed, and scared—to name a few. While most of us experience any number of emotions from day to day, we are not necessarily taught how to deal with them or how to cope.
Kids need to learn skills to manage their emotions healthily. It’s important to teach them coping skills that can help them face their fears, calm themselves down, and cheer themselves up. Read more at https://www.verywellfamily.com/coping-skills-for-kids-4586871
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)
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)
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) World Day of Prayer
Saturday, March 2nd Sacrament of First Reconciliation – by appointments from 9:00 to 12:00 p.m. at St. Aloysius Church
Tuesday, March 5th School Spirit Day – Toronto Raptors/Basketball Spirit Wear Pita Lunch: Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca
Wednesday, March 6th Pizza Lunch Day (pre-ordered) School Spirit Day – Wear a Hat to School
Thursday, March 7th International Women’s Day Popcorn (pre-ordered) School Spirit Day – Beach Day Spirit Wear
Friday, March 8th WCDSB Board Holiday – No school
March 8th to 15th is our WCDSB MARCH BREAK
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
