Friendship/ Bullying Awareness Week
Dear Bobcat Families:
This week is Friendship/ Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. Bullying is defined by the Ministry of Education as: “typically a form of repeated, persistent, and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem, or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.” Here is a link to Ministry resources on bullying and conflict: https://www.ontario.ca/page/bullying-we-can-all-help-stop-it
Our school responds to 100% of reports of bullying. Often, problems that surface among students are due to conflict. Whether it is bullying or conflict, it is our job as adults to support our students to build positive relationships with each other. Please encourage your child to report to an adult at school or at home if they need help.
As we begin our Board’s new three-year pastoral plan, our Year One Theme, AWAKEN, invites us all to open our eyes, hearts and minds to the world around us. Fueled by scripture, “It is now the moment for you to wake from sleep” (Romans 13:11), we are invited to recognize what work needs to be done in our communities. When we come to know and experience Christ, we feel compelled to be in the right relationship with our neighbour.
This week, in a special way, we are animated by the charge, “We are the People of God, diverse yet united, awakened to heal in Community!” Let us reach out and bring healing to whatever relationships need our attention. Our WCDSB Mission Statement calls upon us to “…transform God’s world.” Let our week be marked by a renewed effort to transform hearts and minds as we AWAKEN to bring awareness and healing to anti-bullying efforts across the WCDSB.
At Christ the King CES and throughout our School Board this week, students and staff will be participating in a variety of prayers and activities connected to the daily themes and positive ways to prevent bullying:
Monday – Awaken to Building New Friendships
Tuesday – Awaken our Capacity for Empathy
Wednesday – Awaken our Listening Ear
Thursday – Awaken our Ability to Engage in Conflict Resolution
Friday – Awaken Relationships through Acts of Kindness
School Open Monday/ Return Chrome Books
Earlier this evening, the Ontario government and education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees – Ontario – (CUPE) reached a tentative contract agreement.
As a result, all WCDSB sites and programs will be operating tomorrow on their regular schedules.
Please return ALL chrome books to the school tomorrow so that they may be cataloged and used in the classrooms…our staff thanks you for your diligence.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked through this time of uncertainty.
PD Day / Chromebook Reminder
| Good afternoon Bobcats, |
| A reminder that tomorrow is a Professional Development Day for all staff. There is no school or extended day for Friday, November 18th. |
| If your child previously registered for a device, they have been sent home with a Chromebook again today. There is no need for another form to be completed. This is a proactive measure in case schools are closed on Monday due to the CUPE labour disruption. |
| Please continue to check Newswire for school updates. |
| Thank you. |
Reminders for The Week November 15
Reminders for the Week
With the arrival of November, we notice changes in the weather. Yes, the fall season is upon us, and we are reminded about many things.
Prayer: God of all seasons, we thank you for Autumn. We thank you for the touch of coolness in the air that gives us a new burst of energy, for the colouring of trees that shows the creativity of the Divine Artist, for the falling leaves that reveal the strength of branches, for the hues of the fields that bring peace to our souls, for the smiles on our friends and families that we share this harvest with daily, for the fall harvest which bring us gratitude for the bounty of our land, for this change of seasons that reveals the circle of life. God of all seasons, as you transform the earth, transform us by your Spirit.
Amen
PA Day- Friday, November 18th
Friday, November 18th is a Professional Development Day for all staff. There will be no school or extended day for students on this day. Staff will be celebrating our new Pastoral theme: Awaken!
Winter Weather
Although we were blessed with warm fall weather, the temperature is beginning to drop and even flurries are expected this week! It can get very cold in the yard at recess times with the open field. Please be sure to have extra hats, mittens, and socks packed in your child’s backpack. Students are outside for two 15 minute breaks and a 40-minute recess. This can feel very long if not properly dressed. Please https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/weather/ontario/cambridge before school to be prepared.
In the colder winter months, depending on the weather, there are times that we shorten our time outside or do not go out at all.
- When the temperature is between -20°C and -27°C students will not be outside longer than 15 minutes.
- When temperatures are colder than -27°C, students remain inside.
Progress Reports and Conferences
Progress Reports will be going home on November 21st and followed up with a conference on November 24th. Conferences will be 10 minutes in duration and confirmation of interview times will be sent home with the reports.
Family Christmas Fun Night
Wednesday December 7th, 2022 5:30-7:30pm
Our annual ‘Christmas Family Fun Night’ is back! We invite you to join us on WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7th, 2022 from 5:30PM-7:30PM. This evening is an event held close to our hearts as we, the staff at CTK, once again get to host our students and families for Christmas fun! We will be providing various Christmas experiences to be enjoyed by all. Most rooms will have a dedicated activity/snack/game/craft/etc. Some activities to look forward to are:
- Cookie decorating
- Hot chocolate station
- Christmas ornament crafts
- Christmas games
- Christmas tuck shop (Raising money for grade 8 graduation. School cash online details to follow.)
…and much more!
We look forward to seeing all of our Bobcat families!
| WCDSB Updates Please visit our School Board Website for updates and recent information. Here is the link: https://www.wcdsb.ca/
Extended Day Programs This is a reminder that the Extended Day program’s will not be offered on the following non-instructional days or statutory/board holidays.
• Christmas School Board Closure (December 26, 2022-January 2, 2023) • Family Day • Good Friday • Easter Monday • April 21 PA Day • Victoria Day
Daily Screening: Parents/Guardians are to complete a daily COVID-19 screening on their children before sending them to school. We no longer require proof of the screening. If there are any symptoms your child must stay home. Here is the link: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/ |
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Dates to remember |
Nov. 18 – PA Day
Nov. 21 – Progress Report Card Distribution
Nov. 24 – Parent / Student / Teacher Conferences – see your child’s classroom teacher for your time
Dec. 1 – Grade 8 Parent Information Night at St. Benedict School 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Dec. 7 – Family Christmas Fun Night – 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Dec. 26, 2022- January 6, 2023 – Christmas Break – Board Holiday – no school for staff and students and Extended Day is closed
Jan. 9 – Back to School 2023
January 20 – PA Day – no school for students
Feb 17 – Term 1 Report Card Distribution
Feb 20 – Family Day – Board Holiday – no school for staff and students and the Extended Day Program is closed
Feb. 22 – Ash Wednesday
March 13– Week of March Break
March 31 – P.A. Day – no school for students
April 7 – Good Friday – the Extended Day Program is closed
April 10 – Easter Monday- the Extended Day Program is closed
April 21 – PA Day – the Extended Day Program is closed
May 1 – Catholic Education Week
May 22 – Victoria Day – Board Holiday – no school for staff and students the Extended Day Program is closed
June 2 – PA Day – no school for students
June 27 – Term 2 Report Card Distribution
June 29 – Last Day of School
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Respectfully yours, |
WCDSB Update on Potential CUPE Strike
| As you may be aware, the Ontario government and education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees – Ontario – (CUPE) continue to negotiate in hopes of reaching a deal that works for all. |
| On Wednesday, November 16th, CUPE served five days’ notice that if no contract is reached, their workers would be on strike effective Monday, November 21, 2022. |
| CUPE and the government have negotiation dates scheduled up to and including Sunday November 20, 2022. It is our hope that a deal will be reached before Monday’s strike date and kids can come to school as normal. |
| The WCDSB has more than 1,200 staff represented by CUPE, in multiple different roles in schools. |
| As before — given such a large number of potentially absent staff, should a strike occur, it will not be possible to safely open and operate our schools. |
| If a strike occurs, and schools are closed to in-person attendance, we will move directly to synchronous remote learning. |
| Chromebooks that were previously requested will be sent home again with students on Thursday, Nov 17th. |
| A reminder that Friday, Nov- 18th is a Professional Development Day for staff. The school is closed to students. |
| Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to ensure the learning of all students keeps moving forward. |
| We will keep you updated as further information becomes available.Please monitor the website: https://www.wcdsb.ca/about-us/labour-updates/ |
Christmas Poinsettia Fundraiser
*Available on School cash online starting tomorrow morning and the last day to order is November 24th.
Thank you
Have a wonderful day!
CTK is a mask-friendly space
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