Bulldog Bulletin – Week of April 19, 2021

Remote Learning – Return to School Monday, April 19^th

We hope our students enjoyed their time off school this past week.  They have all been working extremely hard since our return from Christmas Break and deserved some time off to re-charge as we head into the last two months of the school year.

As you all know, the provincial government announced earlier in the week we will move back to remote learning when we return to school on April 19^th.  Below, you will see some important information & reminders for parents and students as we pivot back into virtual learning.

Remote/Virtual Learning

• Monday, April 19^th – Asynchronous Learning Day.  Our first day back to school will be asynchronous (i.e., teachers will not be providing ‘live’ instruction).  Learning tasks will be posted by your child’s teachers by 9:30 a.m. and students will be expected to complete the assignments during the course of the day.
• Tuesday, April 20^th – Synchronous Learning Begins.  Regular St. Kateri school hours will be observed by teachers and students.  There will be a blend of synchronous (225 min. of live instruction or teacher availability to support students) and asynchronous learning (students working independently on assigned learning tasks) each day.
• Wednesday, April 21^st – First Day of In-Person Learning for Identified Students with Special Needs.  Parents of students who require a high level of support and cannot access learning remotely have been contacted.  These students have been invited to continue learning in-person at school with Special Education support.
• All students, JK-Gr. 8, are required to ‘attend’ school from 8:25a.m. to 2:55 p.m. (our regular school hours) – attendance will be taken each day at 8:25 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.
• Teachers will provide a daily schedule and each day will consist of both synchronous (live instruction or available to assist student learning) and asynchronous learning (students working independently on a task)
• Synchronous sessions will be with your child’s Classroom Teacher as well as their Planning Time Teacher (Arts, Music, Phys Ed) and/or French Teacher (Gr. 4-8)
• At times, some students may work in small groups with a teacher while other students work independently
• Our bell times, including recess and lunch, remain the same – where possible, students are encouraged to get outside and be active during breaks
• Students are reminded to keep their cameras on or off – as directed by their teachers – please be mindful of your background
• Students are reminded to keep their microphones muted unless they are speaking
• The School Dress Code and Behavior Codes still apply
• If parents would like to speak to their child’s teacher, they are asked to do so outside of instructional time
• If your child is still in need of a Chromebook to engage in virtual learning this week, a reminder to please email Principal Dave Lynch david.lynch@wcdsb.ca with your child’s full name, grade and classroom teacher’s name
• A reminder that The Ontario Government’s COVID-19 Child Benefit will be providing parents of children JK-Gr. 12 with $400 for each child.  Parents may wish to consider purchasing their children their own a Chromebook or other learning device with this funding. For more details, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-ontario-covid-19-child-benefit

Looking Ahead…

May 3-7 – Catholic Education Week – ‘Nurturing Hope’ … “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength”          40:31

May 24 – Victoria Day (schools are closed)

May 25 – Virtual Welcome to Kindergarten Night for parents of children starting JK in September

June 4 – PA Day (no school for students)

June 24 – Grade 8 Graduation Ceremony

June 28 – Term 2 Report Cards Go Home

June 29 – Last Day of the 2020-2021 School Year

The Ontario COVID-19covid 19 Child Benefit provides financial support to families with young learners to help with additional costs during the COVID-19covid 19 pandemic.

Starting on April 26, we will begin issuing payments of:

• $400 for each child or youth up to Grade 12
• $500 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs

If you received a payment through the Support for Learners program, you do not need to apply for this additional payment.

If you missed applying for the Support for Learners program, you will have the opportunity to apply. Applications will open from May 3, 2021 to May 17, 2021.

This new round of payment through the Ontario COVID-19covid 19 Child Benefit is in addition to payments provided by Support for Families and the Support for Learners programs.

Parents – a reminder that if you are still in need of borrowing a Chromebook from the school for your child to participate in remote learning beginning April 19^th, please email Mr. Lynch directly (david.lynch@wcdsb.ca) with your request.  Chromebook distribution will take place Thursday, April 15^th between 8:30-10:00 a.m. at the school.

Please read the following letter.

School Building Closure Update to WCDSB Parents April 12th 21

Dear Parents,

We made it!  Students and staff are ready for the long awaited, and well-deserved, break next week.  We would like to thank you once again for your support, understanding and flexibility this school year as our staff has endeavored to provide your children with the best possible educational experiences, given our circumstances.

It our sincere hope your family is able to spend some quality time together next week and our students return April 19^th fully recharged and ready to continue giving their best efforts the final two months of the school year.  Should we hear differently, and a decision is made for schools in our region to move to remote learning after spring break, we will communicate that decision, and how things will look, as soon as we hear..  If we do move to online learning and your child requires a learning device, we will ask you to email Mr. Lynch directly (david.lynch@wcdsb.ca) next week and a pick up time will be arranged the morning of April 19^th, or a time that best suits parents.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,

Ms. R. Kavanagh                              Mr. D. Lynch

Vice Principal                                   Principal

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Thank you for continuing to follow the public health and safety measures that have kept schools open and safe for students and staff. It is our collective effort that continues to ensure your children can learn in the classroom.

As per recent announcements, the province has implemented a provincewide shutdown for four weeks in response to worsening trends in key health indicators across the province.

The mental health and well-being of children continues to be a key government priority and schools will remain open for in-person learning through the Provincial Emergency and Stay at Home Order. The spring break will continue as planned, from April 12^th to 16^th, and schools will reopen for in-person learning on April 19th.

In light of the recently announced measures, it is more important than ever that we continue to follow health advice over the Spring Break to do our part to keep schools open, for in-person student learning.

At this critical point in the pandemic, the following  public health measures are crucial to help prevent and limit the spread of COVID-19:

• Socialize with your own household.
• Stay home and get tested if you feel ill.
• Participate in the targeted testing offered by your school board.
• Screen every day, including during spring break, for COVID-19 symptoms before attending child care (theCOVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool is available to assist families with symptom screening).
• Practice good hand hygiene habits, masking, and physical distancing.
• Refer to ca/covidresponseto learn what public health measures are in place in our community.
• Refrain from travelling.

During the spring break, students in Grades 1-8 can continue to engage in their own learning through supplemental, curriculum-linked activities available at TVO Learn and TFO IDÉLLO, apprendre à la maison. These rich, engaging opportunities allow students to keep up with their learning and interests. Secondary students can continue to access TVO’s Independent Learning Centre (ILC) Open House and Portes ouvertes pour les cours TVO ILC in French-language. Mathify (English) and Eureka! (French) are also available to provide one-on-one online tutoring services for elementary and secondary students. Mathify covers online math tutoring in English for Grades 6 to 10 and Eureka! supports all subjects for French-language students in Grades 1 to 12.

For the week of April 12-18, pharmacies that currently offer testing and assessment centres across the province will accept appointments from students and education staff for asymptomatic testing. The Ministry of Education will be working with school boards to offer school based clinics. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of this testing capacity to have their children tested to support a safe return to school on April 19. Children attending child care, and child care staff, will also be eligible to access this testing.

As a reminder, before coming back to school on April 19^th, you must screen for COVID-19 symptoms. If your child or anyone in your household is ill, stay home and follow the guidance in the school screener.

By following public health advice, we can all enjoy a safe spring break and continue to support in-person learning in our school.

Have a safe, fun and restful break.

Sincerely,

Dave Lynch                         Rosemary Kavanagh

Principal                              Vice Principal

 Please read the following message from the Director of Education;

April Break Messaging to WCDSB Parents April 8th 21

Please read the following regarding St. Kateri Bell Time Changes.

2021 bell time changes Notice WCDSB

Please read the following message.

Easter Community Ltr 2021-04-01

Public Consultation – Huron Brigadoon Boundary Review

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Start Time: 6:00 p.m.

Purpose:

APRIL WELLNESS CHALLENGE

Staff, students and families of St. Kateri

It’s time to SHAKE OFF THOSE WINTER BLUES Bulldogs!!!!  This Thursday, April 1 we are launching our APRIL Wellness Challenge.  If you commit to 16 of 20 challenges you will be entered into a weekly draw! At the end of each week there will be a draw for fabulous prizes.  Follow along with our April Calendar and register at the bottom of the calendar.  Challenge yourself each day!  We will be participating alongside our neighbouring schools of St. Timothy, Monsignor Haller and Blessed Sacrament.

Let’s “Shake it Off” together!