Monthly Archives: September 2022

Hello Angels, 

As we continue to see growth in our student population at St. Michael, we are fortunate to add a teacher and class to our school enrollment. As a result, please note that we have been provided direction from the School Board to reconfigure class placements in our junior division to be compliant with the regulations set out by the Ministry of Education. With the addition of a new class, classroom teachers will be better able to support all learners due to a decrease in class sizes. We know that change can be difficult, but we are fortunate for this new addition to our school.

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Samantha Decan who will be teaching Grade 6 at St. Michael! Samantha was a teacher here at St. Michael last school year and we are delighted to welcome her back!

As always, our staff takes great care in every child’s class placement and in our classroom reorganization. If your child was part of these adjustments they would have come home with a letter from the school yesterday indicating their new classroom. We are not in a position to take requests about placements.

Thank you for your understanding and support throughout this process. We will welcome students who are entering a new class on Thursday and support them as we settle into classrooms for the school year.

-St. Michael School Staff

Good evening Angels,

A reminder that this Thursday, September 29th is our Open House from 5:00-6:30pm.

Today is the last day to pre-order pizza through SchoolCash Online. Pizza is available by the box for $11.00.

Open House Flyer

This evening is a chance to meet and greet.

Please come in to say “Hi” introduce yourselves and have your child show you around their room and the school!

Also be sure to check out our school council table for school information and happenings!

Thank you!

Good evening Angels,

A reminder that tomorrow (Tuesday, September 27th) is our school PHOTO DAY!
Please see poster for details on ordering:  PHOTO DAY INFORMATION
Bring your smiles!

Good morning Angels,

Due to a fairly significant amount of rain expected today and a lot of troubling weather on the radar, the Maroon Division 3-Pitch Tournament scheduled today is postponed to Wednesday September 28^th. All of the same paperwork will apply for this tournament on Wednesday.

Any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the main office.

Angel Community, 

The season of Autumn is upon us and with it comes gratitude and thanksgiving for all our many blessings. We are grateful for the learning, friendships, and fun happening at St. Michael School! We look forward to meeting many of our families during our Open House this Thursday from 5:00-6:30pm.

This week, we will also recognize Truth and Reconciliation Week, where schools across Canada will be engaging in age-appropriate educational activities to raise awareness of the residential school system and how its legacy affected Indigenous Peoples and shaped the country we live in today. Truth and Reconciliation Week was launched by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and will culminate in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) on September 30th.

This Week … 

Monday, Sept. 26: 
Intermediate 3-Pitch at Churchill Park. Go Angels Go!

Tuesday, Sept. 27: 
PHOTO DAY! Bring your smiles!
CSAC Meeting 6pm

Wednesday, Sept. 28:
Wear purple for Rowan’s Law Day

Thursday, Sept. 29:
St. Michael School Terry Fox Run
St. Michael Feast Day and Open House 5:00-6:30pm

Friday, Sept. 30:
Orange Shirt Day

PHOTO DAY
Our Photo Day is this Tuesday, September 27th.
Please see poster for details on ordering:  PHOTO DAY INFORMATION
Bring your smiles! 

Catholic School Advisory Council:
Our first meeting will be held this Tuesday, September 27th at 6pm at St. Michael School.
If you are interested in being a member of our Catholic School Advisory Council for the 2022-2023 school year, please read and complete the attached form and return as soon as possible.
School Council Letter 2022-2023 (2)

St. Michael Feast Day & Open House – September 29th from 5:00-6:30 pm
Did you know that September 29th is St. Michael’s Feast Day?
Join us for an Open House to celebrate together as a school community! We are welcoming parents and students to visit their classes and the school.
Pizza will be available by the box – $11.00. Please pre-order through SchoolCash Online by Tuesday, September 27th.
This evening is a chance to meet and greet. Please come in to say “Hi” introduce yourselves and have your child show you around their room and the school!

Terry Fox
St. Michael Catholic Elementary School is honoured to support the Terry Fox Run once again this year! Our date is Thursday, September 29th. We are proud of this amazing tradition at our school and we are thrilled to announce that, to date, we have raised more than $5000 for cancer research! Let’s keep it going! We are encouraging each student to donate a toonie for Terry and if you would like to donate additional funds, please also follow the link below!
Donate to our school run here: St. Michael Terry Fox Run  

Rowan’s Law Day
On Wednesday, September 28th we will wear purple to raise awareness about concussions. Have you ever bumped your head or body? We likely all have! In sports and active games, there can be risks involved. Rowan’s Law was passed in Ontario in honour of Rowan Stringer and also helps people who get concussions recover. All schools in Ontario must have rules in place to support awareness and help coaches, teachers, and parents know when a child has suffered a suspected concussion. It also lets the child know that they should immediately stop participating in physical activities and when they may safely return to play again. #HitStopSit

A Few Reminders: 

• Be sure to subscribe to our School Newswire. This is where our Angel Update is posted each week with important dates and school information. Link to subscribe: https://stmichael.wcdsb.ca/newswire-subscribe/
• Please be sure to return all start up forms to the school ASAP and complete the required forms on SchoolCash.  
• Please ensure you have returned the necessary medication and forms for any medical perils (anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, etc.) to the office. 
• We are a nut-free environment. We have students with life-threatening allergies to nuts and other allergens. Nut-alternative products are also not permitted.
• Parents/Guardians are required to notify the school as soon as possible if their child(ren) will be absent. An answering machine is available outside of school hours too.  Please phone the school at 519-653-3351 and leave a message providing: child’s name, teacher’s name, grade level, day(s) absent, and reason for absence.
• Please complete the COVID-19 School Screening each day before coming to school and closely follow the instructions. This will be the tool that is used until the Ministry of Education tells us otherwise, to determine if someone is healthy enough to attend school on any given day.  Please follow the school screener found at: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening
• Parents/guardians are not permitted on the school grounds during the school day, including for drop-off and pick-up. Please ensure you have a pre-arranged meeting spot for your child(ren). A reminder that the Kiss & Drop is available for our JK/SK families for morning drop-off only. 

Have a great week, Angels!

Good afternoon Angels, 

We had a fantastic second week together at St. Michael School. Students are learning, laughing, and enjoying time together in class and outside at recess. This past week our recess cart began and it was a hit! Our junior soccer and intermediate 3-pitch teams are in the swing of things, practicing new skills and having fun. A huge thanks to our coaches for providing these opportunities for our students.

We are excited to continue to welcome Angels to our school. Each and every new child adds their own unique gifts and talents to our school community. As enrollment fluctuates, classroom changes and movement may still happen. As previously communicated, class placements in September are always tentative to start the year. We will keep you updated and let you know of any movement as directed by the Board Office.

Thanks for your continued support!

This Week … 

• Monday, Sept. 19: Junior Soccer at Riverside Park (PM) Go Angels Go!
• Wednesday, Sept 21: Wear your Blue & Gold Angels! It’s Spirit Day!

Monday, September 19th is the Provincial Day of Mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Since the death of the Queen, there has been much discussion around the world, including here in Ontario, regarding fitting gestures in communities and schools to mark the passing of a Sovereign who has served the Commonwealth, and as Canada’s head of state, for seven decades. At the direction of the Ontario government, we will honour the Queen with a moment of silence at 1:00 pm after lunch recess. In our ongoing attempt to live our mission and be “a place for all” we hold space for both our continued action on Truth and Reconciliation, equity and inclusion, and a dignified recognition of the woman who so selflessly gave to our nation; our Queen.

Terry Fox
St. Michael Catholic Elementary School is honoured to support the Terry Fox Run once again this year! Our date is Thursday, September 29th. We are proud of this amazing tradition at our school and we are thrilled to announce that, to date, we have raised more than $5000 for cancer research! Let’s keep it going! We are encouraging each student to donate a toonie for Terry and if you would like to donate additional funds, please also follow the link below!

Donate to our school run here: St. Michael Terry Fox Run  

St. Michael Feast Day & Open House – September 29th from 5:00-6:30pm
Did you know that September 29th is St. Michael’s Feast Day?
Join us for an Open House to celebrate together as a school community! We are welcoming parents and students to visit their classes and the school.
Pizza will be available for purchase by the box or slice during this time.
This evening is a chance to meet and greet. Please come in to say “Hi” introduce yourselves and have your child show you around their room and the school!

PHOTO DAY
Our Photo Day is coming up on Tuesday, September 27th.
Please see poster for details on ordering: St. Michael PHOTO DAY
Bring your smiles! 

Catholic School Advisory Council
Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 27th at 6pm at St. Michael School. We will have a link available for those who would like to attend virtually. Thank you to everyone who has expressed an interest through SchoolCash. Invitations and the agenda will be sent out before the meeting. Everyone is welcome!

Safety/Practice/Drills
Every year we practice a variety of drills, all of these are aimed at keeping the students and staff safe in the case of an emergency. The following is a list of drills including their purpose, frequency, and process:

• Fire drills – 6 per year; we practice safe evacuation of the school to be prepared should we ever experience a fire. The students walk quickly and quietly with staff out of the building through a designated path, out designated doors to a specific gathering spot. 
• Lockdown Drills – 2 per year; we practice getting students and staff into as safe a position as possible, to be prepared should there ever be a real or perceived risk to safety in our school or immediate areas. Students gather in a corner of the room with their teacher, in a way that no one is visible from the door. The door is locked. 
• Tornado drills – 2 per year; we practice getting into a safe position to be prepared in case we ever experience a Tornado in the area, students sit (protecting their heads) against strong interior walls away from windows.

A Few Reminders: 

• Please be sure to return all start up forms to the school ASAP and complete the required forms on SchoolCash.  
• Please ensure you have returned the necessary medication and forms for any medical perils (anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, etc.) to the office. 
• We are a nut-free environment. We have students with life-threatening allergies to nuts and other allergens. Nut-alternative products are also not permitted.
• Parents/Guardians are required to notify the school as soon as possible if their child(ren) will be absent. An answering machine is available outside of school hours too.  Please phone the school at 519-653-3351 and leave a message providing: child’s name, teacher’s name, grade level, day(s) absent, and reason for absence.
• Please continue to complete the COVID-19 School Screening each day for each child before coming to school and closely follow the instructions: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening
• Parents/guardians are not permitted on the school grounds during the school day, including for drop-off and pick-up. Please ensure you have a pre-arranged meeting spot for your child(ren). A reminder that the Kiss & Drop is available for our JK/SK families for morning drop-off only. 

Thank you for your continued support and have a great week!

Coming Soon:

September 27th ~ School PHOTO DAY!
September 27th ~ First School Council (CSAC) Meeting 6pm
September 29th ~ Terry Fox
September 29th ~ St. Michael Feast Day and Open House 5-6:30pm
September 30th ~ Every Child Matters ~ Orange Shirt Day
October 10th ~ Thanksgiving Monday
October 24th ~ P.A. Day

Good afternoon,

Please note that the bus has been delayed by 20 minutes this afternoon. Please wait at the stop for your child(ren).

Thanks for your understanding.

Dear Parents and Families,

We want to share an important update about school buses. Due to the ongoing bus driver shortage and lingering impacts of the public board’s cyber attack on our shared bus planning software, some routes will need to be temporarily cancelled.

Most bus routes are operating normally. However, some routes are experiencing more frequent and prolonged delays (30 minutes or greater).

This temporary measure will be effective Monday, September 19, 2022 and will continue until Christmas, at which time our need for cancellations will be reviewed.

We understand the significant impact this decision will have on our students and their families and caregivers. Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR) does this only as a last resort. We hope that this proactive message will allow families and caregivers to better prepare for and react to the cancellation of bus routes.

Please note that delays have not been caused by our current bus drivers.  When they are late, it is because they are trying to support students on bus routes that have no driver, with the best of intentions.  They do not have to do this.  They are trying to help.  Please be kind to them!

What Happens If A School Bus Route is Cancelled?

Effective September 19, 2022

A school bus route will be cancelled when the driver shortage causes a route to be late by more than 30 minutes consistently. Affected students and families will be informed immediately of the cancellation period.  Cancellations are done on a week to week basis.

Supporting Student Learning

If a school bus route is cancelled, families are responsible for transporting their children to and from school each day.

Where this is not possible, students should access asynchronous learning materials posted by their classroom teacher on their Learning Management System (LMS), either D2L or Google Classroom. Additional activities can be found here: .

Families should contact their school to let them know if they are unable to get to school.  The school can also help families to sign out a Chromebook if necessary.

Stay Informed

Families will be informed the day prior to any cancellation. Cancellations will be posted on the STSWR website with an expected return date.

Register for Notifications on the STSWR parent portal
Check the Bus Delays page on the STSWR website
The Bus Delays page will be updated with cancellation information each afternoon by 4:30 PM.

Questions?

Please contact Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR).

Good afternoon Angels,

Our PHOTO DAY is scheduled for September 27th! See flyer link below for important details.

PHOTO DAY FLYER

Bring your smiles 🙂