Good afternoon Tornado Families:
This a gentle reminder that Friday, March 31st, is a P.A. Day, so there is no school for students. The extended day program is running for students who already attend extended day.
Have a nice long weekend!
Don’t forget the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival is this Saturday, April 1st!
Good morning Tornado Families:
Waterloo Catholic District School Board and St. Louis Adult Learning & Continuing Education are committed to supporting your child’s continued learning. In July and August this year, there are several FREE learning options available for elementary students that will ignite, support and challenge students toward success and preparation for the next grade.
Find the programs listed by date and grade that best suit your student’s needs.
Visit https://www.wcdsb.ca/summer-learning/ for program details, dates, and registration links.
Elementary – in-person
First Secondary Credit for Grade 8 students – in person
Because these programs are offered outside of the instructional school year, parents much complete a registration form for the summer program they are enrolling their child in. CHOOSE ONE to enrol your child in, except for HeadStart offered in August.
*All program offerings are subject to change and/or enrolment
As part of our Lenten Social Justice Fundraiser this year, St. Teresa of Avila School is running a fundraiser for the charity Sleeping Children Around the World until Tuesday, April 11, 2023, after the Easter weekend. Fais Dodo Fundraiser
Sleeping Children Around the World is a nonprofit organization that provides bed kits for children in need worldwide. Bedkits are manufactured or purchased overseas by their Overseas Volunteer Partners (OVPs) – local organizations and individuals – who use their knowledge and expertise to pick the best bed kit items for the children in that area. Producing bed kits locally provides additional benefits such as employment for dozens of workers, virtually no transportation costs, and strengthening communities.
The bed kits contain a mattress, a bedsheet, mosquito netting to cover several persons, a backpack, a T-shirt and shorts or skirt, a towel, school supplies and books. A complete kit costs $40. One hundred percent of the donations go towards providing the bed kits. We are asking for donations as small as $2 so that each classroom can pay for one whole kit. If families would like to donate a complete bed kit at $40, that is also available. For every $20 donated, a tax receipt will be issued to recipients from the charity. All donations need to be made through School Cash Online, as we cannot receive cash donations.
Sleeping Children Around the World has helped more than 1.7 million children in 36 countries experience healthy sleep through the gift of a bed kit.
“Sleep is like magical fuel for children. It has the power to make them feel better, think better and play better. Let’s give the magic of sleep to every child every night.” – Dr. Reut Gruber, Ph.D. Psychologist Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University Director, Attention Behavior and Sleep Lab, Douglas Mental Health University Institute.
Please check out this website for more information https://www.scaw.org/
This year St. Teresa of Avila C.E.S. is partnering up with the Knights of Columbus to run a mini fundraiser by selling bottles of locally-bottled pure maple syrup! Starting now until April 16th, you will have the opportunity to purchase a 500 ml bottle of Canada Grade A, Amber (Rich Taste) Maple Syrup for $15. This delicious bottle of goodness is made from sap from our local trees and bottled locally.
Once the bottles are dropped off to us around April 19th, we will send small orders home with students. Larger orders will be available for pickup anytime after April 19th between 9 am to 3 pm. If this timeframe does not work, we will be accommodating. Five dollars from each bottle sold will be donated towards different school initiatives. Please purchase your bottle through Schools Cash Online. It makes a great gift and goes well on pancakes, sausage, or spaghetti if your name is Buddy the Elf.
Order closes April 16th, with delivery on April 19th.
Link to information about the Kindergarten Program and how to register through ASPEN.
Please make note of these dates for the Sacramental preparation as there have been a couple of changes:
Confirmation Information:
Please have a look at this week’s Parish Bulletin here: March 26 2023
In the bulletin, you will also find some events for the adults in the community. Be sure to check them out!
Parents can make a big difference in their child’s learning by talking about what they are learning at school. In the 2020 curriculum, there are relevant, real-life examples that help connect math to everyday life, such as developing infographics, creating a budget, e-transfers, and learning to code. Families can support their child’s success by finding ways to make a connection between what is being learned at school and outside the classroom. We want to help and provide valuable information and ideas for supporting their learning at home. Here is the second issue of Math @ Home to help support your child: Issue 5 _ MATH@HOME MONTHLY
A full listing of events and registration can be found on the Events Calendar.
Please go to our school webpage by visiting stteresaelmira.wcdsb.ca and clicking on the School Council tab to check out the minutes of our last meeting and also to learn more about our Catholic School Advisory Council. Everyone is always welcome to join our next meeting (virtually or in-person) on Tuesday, April 4th at 6pm. Come and see what it’s all about! If you cannot commit to joining our CSAC but would like to offer to volunteer for events when required, please email paula.pizarro@wcdsb.ca.
Click here to go directly to the CSAC webpage
CSAC Parent Outreach Letter 2022
Please read the following document that shows you how to order: How-to-Order-Guide (St. Teresa Avila)
Woolwich Community Services provides many different programs and supports for our community. Have a look at the posters for upcoming programs at The Hub. Families can follow them on social media or join their E-Blast by visiting their website at https://www.woolwichcommunityservices.org for the most up-to-date information.
Offer constructive choices
Many times when our children are frustrated it is because they feel they have no choice or power in the current situation. We all thrive when we feel we have some control or choice in our lives and children will often try to seize this power back by making choices anyways. Responding to the situation with meltdowns, anger, yelling, ignoring us, refusing to eat the food they don’t want to and others are our children’s attempt to demonstrate autonomy.
By purposely offering choices to our children we can head off this reaction to feeling powerless and instead, help them practice their autonomy in a more healthy way.
Here are a few of the benefits of offering choices to your child whenever possible:
Remember, there is often a layer of non-negotiable that exists for children. It’s not an option to not go to school, for example. In our house, I consider healthy eating non-negotiable. It’s important to learn that not everything in life is within our control and we often have to work within the parameters of society, workplaces etc. There are, however, choices within these situations that can usually be identified and help us to practice our autonomy. At our house, I may add control by getting the kids to help with the family meal plan, or selecting the vegetables that they want in their school lunches. This choice can also be purposely using your Umbrella Skills like empathy or cognitive flexibility. These are always within our power to choose.
Listen in as I give some ideas for offering constructive choices.
Health & Happiness,
Dr. Jen, The Umbrella Project
Interested in learning more? Here are a few more short videos from me about Autonomy.
It is important that any student not feeling well should stay home and also follow the guidance of the screening tool found on our school website. The screener was last updated in February 2023.
Families who are interested in the program for next school year are encouraged to pre-register using this link: https://regionofwaterloo.onehsn.com/wcdsb/
If your child receives their vaccines, please ensure the information is being sent directly to Public Health; the school does not collect this information.
Information can be sent via:
This year St. Teresa of Avila C.E.S. is partnering up with the Knights of Columbus to run a mini fundraiser by selling bottles of locally-bottled pure maple syrup! Starting now until April 16th, you will have the opportunity to purchase a 500 ml bottle of Canada Grade A, Amber (Rich Taste) Maple Syrup for $15. This delicious bottle of goodness is made from sap from our local trees and bottled locally.
Once the bottles are dropped off to us around April 19th, we will send small orders home with students. Larger orders will be available for pickup anytime after April 19th between 9 am to 3 pm. If this timeframe does not work, we will be accommodating. Five dollars from each bottle sold will be donated towards different school initiatives. Please purchase your bottle through Schools Cash Online. It makes a great gift and goes well on pancakes, sausage, or spaghetti if your name is Buddy the Elf.
Order closes April 16th with delivery on April 19th.
To help us mark World Water Day tomorrow, we encourage our staff and students to use a reusable water bottle tomorrow (and every day)!
As part of our Lenten Social Justice Fundraiser this year, St. Teresa of Avila School is running a fundraiser for the charity Sleeping Children Around the World until Tuesday, April 11, 2023, after the Easter weekend. Fais Dodo Fundraiser
Sleeping Children Around the World is a nonprofit organization that provides bed kits for children in need worldwide. Bedkits are manufactured or purchased overseas by their Overseas Volunteer Partners (OVPs) – local organizations and individuals – who use their knowledge and expertise to pick the best bed kit items for the children in that area. Producing bed kits locally provides additional benefits such as employment for dozens of workers, virtually no transportation costs, and strengthening communities.
The bed kits contain a mattress, a bedsheet, mosquito netting to cover several persons, a backpack, a T-shirt and shorts or skirt, a towel, school supplies and books. A complete kit costs $40. One hundred percent of the donations go towards providing the bed kits. We are asking for donations as small as $2 so that each classroom can pay for one whole kit. If families would like to donate a complete bed kit at $40, that is also available. For every $20 donated, a tax receipt will be issued to recipients from the charity. All donations need to be made through School Cash Online, as we cannot receive cash donations.
Sleeping Children Around the World has helped more than 1.7 million children in 36 countries experience healthy sleep through the gift of a bed kit.
“Sleep is like magical fuel for children. It has the power to make them feel better, think better and play better. Let’s give the magic of sleep to every child every night.” – Dr. Reut Gruber, Ph.D. Psychologist Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University Director, Attention Behavior and Sleep Lab, Douglas Mental Health University Institute.
Please check out this website for more information https://www.scaw.org/
The Grade 1’s and 2’s in Mrs. Reinhart and Ms. Bauer’s class recently participated in the SchoolSkate program at RIM Park. We had lots of fun learning many new skating skills! We want to thank the coaches and volunteers (parents, aunts and grandparents) who made this trip happen. We would also like to express gratitude to the Sugar Kings and the Elmira Knights of Columbus, who contributed some money to help offset our transportation costs. Thank you for making this amazing trip possible!
Good evening Tornado Families:
We are looking forward to welcoming the students back tomorrow! We hope you all had a restful March Break!
Please know that the 2023-2024 Extended Day Pre-Registration is now open. Families who are interested in the program for next school year are encouraged to pre-register using this link:
https://regionofwaterloo.onehsn.com/wcdsb/
Link to information about the Kindergarten Program and how to register through ASPEN.
Please make note of these dates for the Sacramental preparation as there have been a couple of changes:
First Communion: Parent meeting – Tuesday, March 21st @ 7:30 pm
Sessions with children – March 28, April 4, 11, 18 and 25th @ 6:00 pm
First Communion Enrolment – Saturday, April 15 @ 5:00 pm Mass or Sunday, April 16 @ 9:00 am Mass
First Communion practice – Saturday, April 29, 10 – 11 am
First Communion – Sunday, April 30 @ 2 pm
Confirmation – Parent meeting Tuesday, March 28 @ 7:30 pm
Sessions April 11, 18, 25 May 2, 9, 16
Confirmation Enrolment – Saturday, April 29 @ 5 pm Mass
Confirmation Liturgy – Tuesday, May 30 @ 7:00 pm
Please have a look at this week’s Parish Bulletin here: March 19 2023
In the bulletin, you will also find some events for the adults in the community. Be sure to check them out!
Parents can make a big difference in their child’s learning by talking about what they are learning at school. In the 2020 curriculum, there are relevant, real-life examples that help connect math to everyday life, such as developing infographics, creating a budget, e-transfers, and learning to code. Families can support their child’s success by finding ways to make a connection between what is being learned at school and outside the classroom. We want to help and provide valuable information and ideas for supporting their learning at home. Here is the second issue of Math @ Home to help support your child: Issue 4 _ MATH@HOME MONTHLY
Public Health is ready to begin enforcement of all mandatory ISPA vaccines for the 2022/2023 school year for grades 7- to 12. Due to COVID-19, the enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act was put on hold and the ability for families to access vaccines decreased. Despite recent catch-up clinics, approximately 25,000 students in grades 7-12 are missing one or more vaccines. Notices will be sent home on a rolling basis for approximately 17-20 schools sent each week. Following that, suspension orders will be mailed directly to parents/students at least three weeks before the suspension date. Suspension day for elementary school students (Grades 7 and 8 only) will be March 29, 2023. If your child receives their vaccines, please ensure the information is being sent directly to Public Health; the school does not collect this information.
Information can be sent via:
A full listing of events and registration can be found on the Events Calendar.
Please go to our school webpage by visiting stteresaelmira.wcdsb.ca and clicking on the School Council tab to check out the minutes of our last meeting and also to learn more about our Catholic School Advisory Council. Everyone is always welcome to join our next meeting on Tuesday, April 4th at 6pm. Come and see what it’s all about! If you cannot commit to joining our CSAC but would like to offer to volunteer for events when required, please email paula.pizarro@wcdsb.ca. We do have a danceathon and Pancake Tuesday coming up and are always in need of volunteers.
Click here to go directly to the CSAC webpage
CSAC Parent Outreach Letter 2022
We are happy to share that Lunchbox by SchoolCash Online will be offered at our school for the 2022/2023 school year. Lunchbox is a convenient, online ordering platform featuring local vendors. An ordering calendar has been coordinated for the school community and can be found on our SchoolCash Online items page.
The ordering features the following options:
Please read the following document that shows you how to order: How-to-Order-Guide (St. Teresa Avila)
Woolwich Community Services provides many different programs and supports for our community. Have a look at the posters for upcoming programs at The Hub. Families can follow them on social media or join their E-Blast by visiting their website at https://www.woolwichcommunityservices.org for the most up-to-date information.
Who can help you with that goal?
Autonomy doesn’t mean that we do whatever we want, whenever we want without any help, support or regard for others. Healthy autonomy includes gathering information from those around us, weighing options and seeking out important relationships that eventually help us make self-directed decisions. When your child has something they are hoping to achieve, help them reflect on who could help them with that goal. Be careful to distinguish between “doing it for them” and “helping them learn to do it for themselves.”
Take the simple example of a child who really wants to start wearing their new shoes with laces to school but needs to be able to tie them at school by themselves.
Self-directed goal: Learn to tie my shoes.
Parent asks: Who can help you with that?
Child response: Mom or dad could show me on the weekend. My older sibling or teacher could help show me again if I forget the first few times at school.
Relationships are so important in being able to learn and build on our autonomy and should be identified when working on your child’s independence. As a bonus, research shows that this question can help us think of others more positively, deepen our relationships and approach others more easily.
In this video, I explain why this question is so important.
You’ve got this!
Dr. Jen, The Umbrella Project
Interested in learning more? Here are a few more short videos from me about Autonomy.
It is important that any student not feeling well should stay home and also follow the guidance of the screening tool found on our school website.
While it is not mandatory to wear a mask – the screener does indicate in what situations and for how long we should wear a mask. It is strongly recommended that all individuals age 2 or older wear a well-fitted mask in indoor public settings. This includes school and child care due to the additional risk of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and influenza. Children age 2 to 5 should only wear a mask if they are supervised, can safely tolerate masking, and can put their mask on and take it off.
Thanks for your support in following the screener guidance. The screener was last updated in February 2023.
The KW Titans are excited to announce the 2023 School Night Game — an opportunity for students, staff and their families to enjoy professional NBLC basketball at the Kitchener Aud!
KW Titans School Night Game
Date: March 22, 2023
Time: Tipoff at 7pm, doors open at 6
Location: The Aud, 400 East Ave., Kitchener
Tickets: visit kwtickets.ca; bowl tickets $15 with coupon code SCHOOL
For the March 22 game only, bowl tickets are $15 if using the code SCHOOL at checkout. Purchase before March 20 and you’ll receive an emailed a dinner coupon to use at the game: 4 hotdogs and 4 soft drinks for just $25!
Dear Tornado Families:
We wish all our students and their families a wonderful March Break. We appreciate this time for the rest it provides and helps to bring balance to our hectic lives.
Over the next week, take advantage of local events happening in our community or just enjoy the break from the hustle and bustle. Do not forget to change your clocks ahead this Saturday night.
Have a safe and restful March break!
See you back on Monday, March 20th!
Region of Waterloo Public Health has made the decision not to resume the annual enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupil’s Act (ISPA) for the 2022-2023 school year. This means that students who are overdue for required vaccines will not be suspended during the current school year.
Due to the COVID pandemic, many students have missed the opportunity to receive their immunizations. Public Health will continue to offer expanded catch-up clinics for students who are missing vaccines. It is expected that full ISPA enforcement activities, including suspensions, will resume in the 2023-24 school year.
Please use this time to ensure your child is up to date on their following mandatory immunizations. Immunization information, including how to book an appointment at Public Health catch-up clinics, can be found at .
All students attending school must either have a proof of up-to-date immunization or have a valid medical or non-medical exemption under the Immunization of School Pupils Act. Each school year Region of Waterloo Public Health reviews immunization records and notifies families about overdue mandatory vaccinations. Students are then provided with opportunities to catch-up on missed vaccinations through Public Health clinics or their health care provider. Typically, students who remain overdue after a period of time are suspended from school for up to 20 days.
Some vaccines are required under the Immunization of School Pupil’s Act (measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, varicella and meningococcal vaccines). If you choose not to immunize your child or your child is unable to be immunized for medical reasons, a legal exemption is required. Additional information about exemptions can be found at .
Parents/students should submit updated immunization records to Public Health via:
Online: www.regionofwaterloo.ca/updateimmunizations (anytime and preferred)
Parents with questions can call Public Health at 519-575-4400 or visit our website at .