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

 As we journey through the first week of June, let us remember that God calls on us to love and to widen our tent, welcoming everyone to experience His boundless love. This past Friday, we raised the Progress Pride Flag, marking the beginning of a month where we honor both National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month. This is a time to celebrate and recognize the differences that make us stronger.  We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued and loved. Our celebrations and recognitions are not limited to a single day or month; they are a way of life that enriches our community every day.  Thank you for your continued support and participation in our community events. Together, we will continue to build a school where love, respect, and unity are at the forefront of everything we do.

Please refer to events, information, and reminders below. 

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.
  • Kowall family for bringing the baby calf to our school. It was an incredibly generous and thoughtful gesture that gave our students a unique and enriching learning experience.
  • Grade 6 educators and supporting staff for all of your work in supporting our Grade 6 students as they were completing their EQAO assessments.
  • We want to extend our good luck wishes to our Cross Country Team, who will participate in a meet on Wednesday. We are incredibly proud of how they set a goal and worked tirelessly to achieve it. Their dedication and hard work are truly inspiring.  Thank you to our coaches, Ms. Garvey, Mrs. Ferraccioli, Mrs. Coughlan and Mrs. Grebinski for supporting the students with training and attending this exciting event.
  • to all the parents and their child(ren) who joined us last week for the “Welcome to Kindergarten Night.” It is such a great opportunity to meet our graduation class of 2035!
  • to our Early Years team for leading and organizing our Welcome to Kindergarten Night.
  • Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Grebinski for hosting our friends from Colombia. We were so glad to have these students for the past month.  It was such a pleasure getting to know each of them and we wish them safe travels as they head home.
  • Ms. Barbosa will lead our student-athletes to the Regional Track and Field Meet at Resurrection Catholic Secondary School in Kitchener on Tuesday, June 11th.  The makeup date in case of severe weather will be Friday, June 14th.  Good luck to our athletes!  We are looking for adult volunteers to supervise at the meet for the day or in the afternoon only.  Please email Mrs. Barbosa (Jackie.barbosa@wcdsb.ca) if you can help with supervision.
  • School Council for organizing a BEAUTIFUL and heartfelt event for our staff. We all enjoyed the hot beverages.

School Highlights

  • Please click on the link for this week’s St. Aloysius Catholic Church bulletin – HERE
  • Our Grade 3 students will begin writing the EQAO assessment next week. 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!
    Tips to Help Your Child –
    Maintain a Positive Attitude: Encourage a positive outlook towards the tests. Avoid putting too much pressure on your child, as this can lead to anxiety.
    Ensure Rest and Nutrition: Ensure your child gets enough sleep and eats a healthy breakfast on the days of the test. Physical well-being can significantly impact performance
  • Celebration of Cultures: Thursday, June 13th – We look forward to celebrating the rich tapestry of the Saint Timothy community. The day will feature gallery walks where displays are prepared by students to learn about their cultures.  There will also be food from different cultures so we can taste the delights from many places across the globe. We are looking forward to hosting this event.
  • Please see the attached poster from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We will be teaming up with them to support those in need in other countries.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us to make a positive impact.  All items can be dropped off at school until June 14th.  Thank you for your generosity and kindness.  Pencil Case 2024
  • Bike to School Week June 3rd to 7th: During this week we invite our students, if they are able to do so safely, to bike to school in lieu of being driven to school in a parent/guardian vehicle. Active school travel helps students to lead healthier lifestyles and improve their school performance, while also reducing traffic and pollution. Students are reminded to always lock their bikes and/or scooters when arriving at school with them. Also walk your bike when on school property.  Cycling is a fun and healthy activity, it’s a low-cost way to get around, and it’s good for the planet. Cyclists have to share the road with cars, pedestrians and other cyclists. Some resources to support Bike to School Week include:
    Route Planning
    Safety Equipment for Riding
    Cycling with Children
    Child Carriers for Bicycles
    Getting a Child Their own Bike
    Teaching Safe Cycling
    STSWR Bike To School Week
    The Ministry of Transportation’s Young Cyclist Guide has additional information on riding tips to keep you safe while cycling.
    You can also register your child using the following link and win some cool prizes –  bit.ly/BTSW2024  Register today and keep biking to school!

Important Reminders

  • Please encourage your child to look through our Lost and Found table in the next couple of weeks to locate any missing items. Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of June.
  • WCDSB is offering Track and Field Championship Apparel that you can pre-purchase and pick up from the meet or purchase while at the meet. All proceeds support the Catholic Community Foundation of Waterloo Region.  The deadline for presales is Friday, June 6th.  Here is the link: https://wcdsbtrackjune11.itemorder.com/
  • Summer Weather: With the arrival of beautiful weather, we are reminded of the safety concerns that accompany outdoor play. Students must use footwear that is properly secured to their feet. Injuries often result from running/jumping/tripping while wearing Crocs, sandals, slip-ons etc.  While we certainly enjoy our sunny days, we also take precautions against the sun’s strong rays. Students are encouraged to use sun protection such as a hat, sunscreen, and/or protective clothing. Sunscreen is suggested to be applied before arrival at school – if sending it in with your child, the sticks or roll-on formats work best, as creams require handwashing after application and are more time-consuming to apply.
  • 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
  • School Messenger- Safe Arrival: Starting June 5th, we will use SchoolMessenger’s SafeArrival system to report absences! Families will be able to report daily absences and even plan absences using one of three methods: toll-free number, website, or mobile application.
    SafeArrival-Quick-Guide-1
    https://www.wcdsb.ca/parents/schoolmessenger-safearrival/
    Safe-Arrival-Letter-for-Parents
    SafeArrival for Families FAQ
  • School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week is a week-long event dedicated to recognizing and honouring the essential contributions of School Crossing Guards in our communities. This initiative goes beyond a simple “thank you” and strives to create a heightened awareness of these unsung heroes’ critical role in promoting safe and active travel to school. #CrossingGuardAppreciation Week starts on Monday.

WCDSB Updates

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

Sun Life Centre For Healthy Communities: we are offering a FREE ball hockey league for participants aged 9-12 that is designed for players of any skill level. We will place registrants on teams and each week there will be a skills session in addition to regular game play. Registration is completely free, and CHC will provide all necessary equipment (stick, jersey, helmet, shin pads, gloves, etc.). If you may be interested in this league, the link to register can be found here (https://forms.office.com/r/8yghStVVta). Registration is first come, first serve.

Progress Pride Flag: June is traditionally 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. June is also designated as PRIDE season in the Waterloo region and across Ontario. This month, and every month, our Catholic schools are committed to nurturing safe and inclusive learning environments where every student and every member of the community is welcomed, valued, and respected.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board celebrates diversity within our school communities and welcomes and values all children. We honour the inherent dignity in all of our 2SLGBTAQIA+ staff, students, parents and family members by treating one another with sensitivity, compassion, and respect. As Catholics, we believe that each of us is made in the image and likeness of God. We are called to see each other through God’s eyes – with sensitivity, compassion, and respect, and we see God in one another –wonderfully made, just as we are. As we live, learn, and work together, we encourage one another to celebrate the glorious discovery of how we are made and loved by a God who knows us intimately and invites us into a deeper relationship with Himself.

Together, we will build a strong community that is committed to lifting up others, repairing the harms of the past, and creating a better tomorrow for all. #Strengthen

National Indigenous Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day – June 21st, 2024

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. This month, and every day, the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) celebrates and honours the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous peoples in our country, and in our HCDSB community.
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.
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 from National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2017.

Indigenous History Resources

Additional Resources

Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations

June’s OCGE focus is on being a Learner for Life.  Students will join together in a faith celebration at the end of June to wrap up our schoolwide theme this year.  How fitting that our last focus is on being a learner for life and we hope it doesn’t stop on the last day of school!  Keep learning and exploring through the summer!

By Being a Self-Directed, Responsible, Lifelong Learner: I AM A LEARNER FOR LIFE! 

I use the gifts and talents given to me by God
I always do my best
I build on my strengths and weaknesses
I set goals
I accept change
I am proud of the good things I do
I am thankful for the gifts of others

Because I am a learner for life, I can reach for my dreams, by living my life like Jesus.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in cultivating a dynamic and enriching educational experience for your child.

Deep Learning: Transferable Skill

As June, the final month of the school year, approaches, we are focusing on the essential Transferable skill of self-directed learning. This involves students taking charge of their learning by setting goals, staying motivated, and reflecting on their progress.
Students will develop a growth mindset, learn to think about their thinking, and build resilience. They will also enhance their emotional intelligence, understand themselves and others better, and cultivate healthy relationships.
Encourage your child to discuss their learning goals and reflect on their progress. Your support is key in reinforcing these values. Thank you for your continued partnership.

Saint Timothy Family Carnival

St. Timothy Catholic Advisory School council is excited about our Family Carnival on Wednesday, June 19th 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
  • Inflatables
  • Food truck treats such as Megacone, The Serial Griller and Fo Cheesy
    and a great opportunity to connect with neighbours and friends.

Please order your tickets on School Cash On-Line… tickets pre-ordered will be sent home with your child(ren).  Food trucks will not be accepting tickets since this will be on-site sales.

Package 1 – 10 tickets for $10.00
Package 2 – 20 tickets for $15.00
Package 3– 50 tickets for $30.00
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 can volunteer to help or have older children seeking volunteer hours towards OSSD, please reach out to yvette.thorne@wcdsb.ca

Promoting Health/Well-Being:   The Anxious Generation – It’s time to protect children against social media

In his bestselling book The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt examines the decline of teenagers’ mental health over the last few decades. To understand teenagers, Haidt looks back at their childhood, especially at the effect of social media.    As Haidt puts it, children in early 2010s were the “canaries in the coal mine” of the digital age. His thesis is that childhood quickly and profoundly changed in the digital age. How he gets there is explained in this one-page summary.
This book might be a good read for you, but one fact remains: in 2024, all parents struggle with HOW to help kids manage the “social-media world.”   Read more at https://activeforlife.com/the-anxious-generation/

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, June 4th                Pita Lunch:  Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca                   Grade 8 Graduating Class Excursion: Canada’s Wonderland
Wednesday, June 5th          Cross Country Meet at the University of Waterloo      School Spirit – wear our school colours or spirit wear            Pizza (pre-ordered)
Friday, June 7th                    Popcorn (pre-ordered)     Library Books Are Due Today
Tuesday, June 11th              Pita Lunch:  Order at https://pitapitstanleypark.schoolfuel.ca                AA Track and Field Meet at Resurrection High School
Wednesday, June 12th        School Spirit – wear our school colours or spirit wear                      Pizza (pre-ordered)              Grade 3 EQAO
Thursday, June 13th            Celebration of Cultures      Grade 3 EQAO
Friday, June 14th                  Grade 8 Treat Cart             Popcorn (pre-ordered)                   St. Vincent DePaul Pencil Case Due Date

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

Called to Belong Prayer
Creating God, out of your great love you created all things.
After the flood you crafted the rainbow and placed it in the sky as a reminder that you love everything and everyone you have created.
Yes, each individual colour of the rainbow is beautiful but its true beauty is found in the way that the colours are beautiful together.
We are all called to belong, and we are most beautiful when we are together.
As human beings, you crafted each of us in unique, distinctive and wonderful ways.
Some of us identify as 2SLGBTQIA+
No matter how you created us, we are all made in your image and likeness.
May all of your children come together and hold hands in peace and harmony.