St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School
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St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School
15 Bechtel Drive, Kitchener, Ontario N2P 1T4
Tel. (519) 748-1874 Fax (519) 748-2707
Extended Day Cell Phone: 226-750-7690
Our newsletter can be accessed at https://sttimothy.wcdsb.ca
Twitter@sttimothy3
St. Aloysius Parish (519) 893-1220 https://staloysius.on.ca/
Pastors: Father Melvin Pinto and Father Venil D’Souza
“Building Faith In Ourselves”
Safe Arrival Program: A reminder to please phone in your child’s absence or lateness (519) 748-1874.
Our Answering Machine is available 24 hours a day.
February 2021 Newsletter
Welcome to February, a month when we are encouraged to demonstrate our love for one another,
particularly around the celebration of Valentine’s Day. It is also a wonderful “look-ahead” month as we
encounter the mid-point, not only of the winter season, but of the school year. As the hours of
daylight become longer, we look forward to the promise of spring and seeing everyone back in our
building soon.
When I reflect on the first part of the school year, I can’t help but feel proud of the efforts of the entire school
community to make this year as positive as possible. We have been thrown curveball after curveball. Thank you to
all of our families and staff for the resilience you have shown this month as we grappled with technology, glitches and
the learning curve that this on-line platform presents. Together we will continue to work hard to provide the best
education as possible for our children.
Please continue to read our newswire messages for updates. This includes return to school information, any new
safety protocols, transfer window for St. Isidore and the return of school chromebooks. We also ask you that all
families continue to do the outstanding job of keeping sick children at home. This has been a huge success in terms
of staying healthy at the school and your help with that is so very much appreciated.
This month we begin to prepare for our Lenten journey which begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17th. Each day we
take the time to prepare and to reflect on the Gospel’s message and how we are living up to
God’s law of supporting those in need. At St. Timothy School we teach that each one of us
has something to give: time, talent, material resources or even a simple smile. As Lent
approaches, God invites us to open our hearts toward others and to be renewed in our
thoughts and in our actions.
February also marks the end of our first term. We look forward to an exciting second term
in which the students are encouraged to continue to strive to be the best that they can be. The students have been
reminded to reflect upon the goals and next steps that they have set themselves following their first term reports. As a
staff we encourage you to sit with your child(ren) and to discuss these goals with them.
On behalf of the staff, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued generosity, assistance,
and dedication in helping make our school a vibrant
and caring Catholic community of excellence.
Valentine Prayer
Yours in Catholic leadership, God bless you with the warmth and love. We celebrate
Mr. A. Simoes today, with personal fulfillment in your work, your rest and
play. God bless your close relationships with people you
hold dear and fill your life with gentle things to warm your
Happy Family Day
heart all year. Amen
Friday, February 15th (no school)
Enjoy your time together!
...There are in the end three things that last:
Faith, Hope and Love,
and the greatest of these is Love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
1
Nurturing a Catholic Community School Updates and News
Please bookmark the parish Listed below are highlights from the month of January
website for important dates and upcoming events for February.
and information: 1. Students and staff held special events
https://staloysius.on.ca/ during the month to promote school
spirit: Dress Like Your Teacher, St.
We continue to pray for all intentions in our school Timothy Feast Day, Bell Let’s Talk
community – for those who have died and all who need Day, Spirit Wednesdays and Umbrella
our prayers during time of sickness. Project Assembly.
2. Our Math Co-Teacher, Ms. Routhier continues to
Sacramental Registration at St. Aloysius Parish support our teachers in class-embedded work.
Parents – please register online through the St. Aloysius 3. The following communications were either sent
Parish website https://www.staloysius.on.ca/ if your home or sent electronically to each family: weekly
child is in Gr. 2 or Gr. 7 and you would like them to updates, bell time survey and February Newsletter.
receive the Sacrament of First Communion or 4. Our school council would like to thank you for your
Confirmation this year. participation in our fundraiser – FlipGive. Your
Shrove Tuesday February 16th contributions has helped cover things like document
Shrove Tuesday is the day preceding Ash cameras, teacher subsidies of $100.00 per
Wednesday. The word “shrove” derives classroom and speakers for our classrooms.
from the word ‘shrives” which means to Please see the last page of this newsletter for a
free yourself from sin. Typically, we more detailed information poster outlining everything
celebrate Shrove Tuesday by consuming you need to know about this easy and convenient
pancakes. The tradition is to get rid of any fundraising format and how everyday purchases in
indulgences or fatty type foods before beginning fasting the community can turn into funding to support our
and other religious obligations associated with Lent. students.
Back in Pagan time, making pancakes was a good way 5. Due to an increase in kindergarten enrolment, we
to use up flour, milk, and eggs. We continue this tradition are happy to announce Ms. Kelenc will be joining
to prepare ourselves for Lent. our team as a Designated Early Childhood Educator.
6. We continue safety protocols of COVID-19 in our
Lenten Almsgiving Ash Wednesday school such as Boomerang lunch in our support of
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on litter-less lunches.
February 17th and ends on Holy 7. Andrew D. and Hannah S. led a successful
Thursday, April 1st. It is time of campaign with support from staff, students in getting
preparation and introspection. It is a out the message on how to properly use recess
moment to draw closer to God through equipment outside.
prayer, fasting and almsgiving. For 40 days and 40 8. Our ECO club have been producing weekly eco
nights, we walk together with Jesus by giving back to our slides addressing different environmental themes
community. and offering tips, strategies which has brought
environmental awareness to our school.
Catholic Education Week – Nurturing Hope 9. Students were reminded of our winter agreement
May 2nd – 7th, 2021 like snow throwing and sliding. We continue to
2021 Hashtags: #CEW2021 #NurturingHope emphasize safe play on our school yard. Winter can
www.goodnewsforall.ca be a particularly dangerous time with icy and
hardened surfaces. Students are reminded each
morning that they are not allowed to climb icy
snowbanks, that snow stays on the ground and to
stay off patches of ice on the ground. We
appreciate your support and ask you to please
review these safety reminders with your child(ren)
regularly.
10. Our Intermediate teachers and Grade 8 students are
in the process with course selection. In March there
will be a meeting to make sure everyone’s
“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their information has been collected and received. Other
strength.” (Isaiah 40:31) information such as Head Start, uniforms and
transportation will all come through the classroom
teacher and newswire.
2
11. We will not cancel Valentine’s Day. It will however First Term Report Cards
be altered. Your child(ren)’s teacher can answer
any specifics to how their classroom will celebrate As per Growing Success, the provincial government
Valentine’s Day. policy on the assessment, evaluation
12. Survey results asking for your input regarding and reporting of student achievement,
changing bell times 10 minutes later showed most of Term 1 Report Cards will go home on
our families were not okay with this change. We will Friday, February 19th (new date). The
not be changing our bell times for the 2021-2022 report cards reflect student’s
school year. achievement of the curriculum expectations introduced
11. Add our calendar to your Smartphone, Tablet, or and developed from September of this school year, as
computer. Please use the following address to well as the student’s development of the learning skills
access our calendar from other applications. You and work habits during that period.
can click on or copy and paste this into any calendar
product that supports the iCal format. Students are aware that the assessment and evidence
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/wcdsb. of learning collected, documented during this remote
ca_u8rm2ir81rt387sobgijqbolms%40group.calen learning time will be reported on in this report card.
dar.google.com/public/basic.ics Students are encouraged to complete any outstanding
assignments, hand in their best work, and utilize the
Caring For All Children – Shared Responsibility asynchronous time that teachers are available every day
for review and help.
Anaphylaxis
We ask that you join our staff in taking care We are asking that you sign and return the bottom
to ensure the safety of all students in the portion of the third page of your report card in the report
school, as some of our students have card envelope. Please also note that interviews were
potentially life-threatening allergies. We ask held in November, however you may request a meeting
you to be extra careful in checking labels and avoid with your child(s) classroom teacher at any time.
sending any Valentine’s treats to school.
Space is provided on the report card for parent
Medication at School comments – you are asked to complete this and return
A reminder, for the safety of all students, that all this portion to the school.
medication to be taken by or given to your
child at school, requires an Administration Reporting in Kindergarten
Two Kindergarten Communication
of Oral Medication form to be completed
of Learning, which the first one will
by a parent/guardian. All medications
must be stored safely in the office and administered by be issued on February 19th and the
designated school staff. second on June 28th. The
Kindergarten Communication of
COVID-19 Update Learning is intended to provide
Please look for further newswire parents with descriptions, about
announcements about a return date. their child strengths and growth in relation to the overall
It will be at least February 11th. We expectations within each of the 4 frames of the
need to wait and hear from the Kindergarten program: Belonging and Contributing, Self-
government and public health to find out when schools Regulation and Well Being, Demonstrating Literacy and
will reopen. When we do go back, we want to assure Mathematics Behaviour and Problem Solving and
you that we will continue to diligently follow safety Innovating.
protocols.
Black History Month
The transfer window between St. Isidore and St. Timothy
date will be shared once we are notified. This will be the Black History Month is an observance of
last transfer window opportunity for this school year. the history of African exodus in several
countries outside of Africa. Since 1976,
If your family has borrowed a device from our school, it is observed annually in the United
please ensure that it is sent with your child(ren) on the States and in Canada in February.
first day back to school.
During Black History month, Canadians can gain insight
into the experiences of black Canadians and the vital
role this community has played throughout our shared
history. For more information please visit
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage.html
3Spotlight On Student Activities memory, and empathy. It is an important skill in our
umbrella and supports development of the other skills in
St. Timothy Spirit Wednesdays our umbrella.
Each Wednesday we encourage staff and
It helps us pay attention to our feelings, thoughts, bodily
students to get decked out in our black,
sensations, and our environment, in the moment, without
orange, and red or wear their TIGERS
labeling them as good or bad (non-judgement). This
Spirit Wear.
means we aren’t feeling bad or trying to change our
Eco News Update feelings. Instead, we are just noticing them and
Our Eco Reps have been busy becoming more aware of them and the world around us.
promoting our February events with This may seem simple, but mindfulness takes practice.
their fellow students. On Thursday, On average, we spend half our time thinking about
February 4th, our school is going to something other than what we are doing in the present.
celebrate National Sweater Day. On this day, all This distracted mind has a big impact on our happiness
members of our school community are asked to wear a and well-being!
sweater (something long sleeve like a jersey, hoodie, or
Start with intention and your ‘Why’ to shift from
sweatshirt). This day will assist in teaching students
‘doing’ to ‘being’.
about some of the possibilities around energy
conservation and what simple actions can be done. For many of us, life has become an endless to-do list we
are constantly in the process of trying to complete.
Winter Walk Day 2021 February 10th Doing has taken over most aspects of our lives and it
In light of the extension of at home dominates the way we parent. In most cases, we have
learning, we will be moving to a 'virtual' drifted so far into the doing side of life that we have
event. Students are asked to walk at forgotten why we are “doing” in the first place. To
least 1 block at any point on the 10th. We reconnect to our wellbeing, we need to shift our focus to
encourage families to tweet out their walk another state and that is ‘being’. Being present, being
day photos and tag us at #winterwalkday. with the people we love, being in our experience.
Mindfulness is the practice of being, of connecting to and
The Umbrella Project staying present with our moment to moment experience.
During the month of January, each classroom teacher To begin the journey of shifting away from the constant
identified students in the class for showing tremendous parenting cycle of doing, start with why. Why are you
Resilience. Congratulations to: making dinner or helping with homework? What is the
JK/SK A: Yandel T., Katie C., Ibraheem R. and point of getting in a cold car at 6 pm to take your child to
Emmerich F. soccer lessons, ballet, or swimming? Is it for joy, a
JK/SK B: Josh M. and Sofia B. connection to your child, exercise, growth, and
Gr. 1: Colton G. and Aidan B. challenge? Or is it a task on your to-do list to check off,
Gr. 2: Whole Class an arbitrary achievement without purpose? It’s easy to
Gr. 2/3: Liam R. and Alejandro G.-L. become a task master, drilling our children to higher
Gr. 3/4: Alanna B. and Tyler T. levels of achievement just for the sake of achievement.
Gr. 4/5 A: Eli G., Valentina S, Maria-Rita V.H.C. In the process, we can undermine their well-being and
Gr. 4/5 B: Ethan B. and Abigail B. our own.
Gr. 6: Rohan M. and Fareedat R.
Gr. 7/8 A: Jacob S. and Walter K. Asking ‘Why?’ will help you connect to the experience of
Gr. 7/8 B: Ava B. and Alex B. the task instead of feeling like it is another chore to be
done. When you identify an item without an underlying
Welcome to February at the Umbrella Project! ‘Why’, spend some time thinking about whether that
This month at The Umbrella Project is all about
Mindfulness, the skill that helps us to stay present in our should really be taking up precious moments of your life.
experience instead of spending most of our time thinking Listen as Dr. Jen introduces this important Umbrella Skill
about the past or worrying about the future. of Mindfulness
What will mindfulness do for my child?
Mindfulness has been shown to have many benefits.
Paying attention to the present moment can boost our
mood, improve our self-confidence, and help us think
more clearly. It can also improve our immune system’s
ability to fight disease. Mindfulness can increase brain
size, specifically the parts responsible for learning,
4Pink T-Shirt Day The anxious thought cycle is overwhelming because it
causes feelings of helplessness. When anxiety spikes,
Pink T-shirt Day children get caught in a cycle of “what ifs” and “I can’t.”
On February 24th, students and staff will be Anxious kids tend to engage in a variety of cognitive
standing up and saying no to bullying by distortions such as black and white thinking and
wearing something PINK. Pink – a soft, overgeneralizing.
gentle colour, has gained a strength that Carving out regular time to work on positive reframing
deserves recognition by making a statement empowers your anxious child to take control over his
that we believe in no more bullying. This day started a anxious thoughts. It works like this:
few years ago because of a bullying incident at a Nova 1. Name a worry floating around in your brain right now.
Scotia school and has grown into an international 2. What is the worry telling you?
awareness campaign. 3. Let’s break it down and see if that worry is 100% right.
4. How can we take that worry thought and change it to
St. Timothy Advisory School Council a positive thought?
All are welcome to attend our monthly meetings.
For example, your child voices a fear that the kids in
The next School Council Meeting will be on;
their class don’t like them. Why do they think this?
Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Because a boy in class laughed when they didn’t know
Minutes of meeting posted on our the answer, and now they are scared that their
school website http://sttimothy.wcdsb.ca classmates think they are dumb. Help them break down
the reality of their situation: “I answer questions in class
All CSAC Meetings will be held virtually until further every day. A friend always sits with me at lunch. I play
notice: parents/guardians and citizens are all with my friends at recess.” Now reframe the situation: “It
welcome to attend as these are public meetings. hurt my feelings when the boy laughed, but I have other
good friends in my class.”
Resources for you!
Sign Up for Newswire Check out the valuable resources on the WCDSB
homepage! A simple search of “Mental Health and
Subscribe to our mailing list to receive our Wellness” will get you to this link:
newsletter containing school, school council, weekly https://www.wcdsb.ca/programs-and-
updates, and activities. services/mental-health-and-well-being-at-wcdsb/
To subscribe, click on the link below:
https://sttimothy.wcdsb.ca/newswire-
subscribe/
Supporting Student Mental Well Being
Taking Care Of Your Mental Health
Helping your kids deal with Anxiety:
No child ever stopped worrying because a parent said,
“Don’t worry!”, or “Relax!”. In fact, worry serves an
important function in our lives. When childhood anxiety is
heightened, it is natural for parents to go into protection
mode. Parents may attempt to solve problems for the
child, help their child avoid triggers of anxiety, and/or try
to engineer a worry-free lifestyle.
While there are certain accommodations that can help
anxious children in the classroom, and it’s a good idea to
slow the daily pace to decrease overall stress for
anxious children, parents cannot protect their kids from
experiencing anxiety. What they can do is help their
children learn to manage anxiety.
5Sign Up for School Cash Online
Here’s how to register online:
Step 1: Please go to:
https://wcdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Home/SignIn
Step 2: Register by selecting “Get Started Now”
and follow the online steps.
Step 3: After you receive the confirmation email,
please select the ‘click here’ option, sign in and add
each of your children to your household account.
If you have any questions during the registration
process or while shopping online, please contact
the Parent Helpdesk by calling 1-866-961-1803.
REMINDER
Junior Kindergarten Registration
For September 2021
IS COMING IN FEBRUARY
If you have children OR know of someone in our
area born in the year 2017 please call our school and
speak with
Mrs. Kovar - 748-1874
Dates: Feb 22nd to 26th
Visit our Waterloo
Catholic District School Board website at wcdsb.ca
to register
The following documents will be required:
Birth Certificate or other legal proof of your child’s
age
Proof of Address
Catholic Baptismal Certificate of either
parent or child
If you are a non-Catholic and wish to explore a
Catholic Education, please review the WCDSB
Admissions to Elementary Catholic School
For a complete list of WCDSB currently providing
Extended Day Program, please click her: Extended
Day Program.
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