Merry Christmas!
Reminding you that school resumes on Monday, January 8, 2024. Thank you to everyone that donated to our 12 Day of Christmas Giving, it was a huge success! Have a safe and happy holiday!
Cookie Pickup
For the families that ordered Terra Cotta Cookies, they will be available to pick up in the Learning Commons tomorrow, Wednesday, December 13 from 3pm-5pm.
Dec 10th Update
Christmas Concert:
We will be hosting a Christmas Concert on December 15th and parents/guardians are invited.
- Maximum 2 persons attending per family.
- Please not park in the staff parking lot.
- If you need to use the washroom, please ask a staff member to direct you to the special parent/guardian washrooms that day.
Both the am and pm concerts are identical and we’re inviting parents to performances based on what class their child(ren) are in, in order to ensure we are in compliance with our fire code for gym capacity. Parents/guardians may arrive at 9:10 for the 9:30 concert and – 12:40 for the 1 pm start.
- Parent / guardian’s are invited to attend the AM performance is they have a child(ren) in the following classes:
- Mrs. Denison FDK
- Mrs. Guidolin’s FDK
- Mrs. Mikuljan’s Grade 2
- Mrs. Cotter’s Grade 3
- Mrs. Beska’s / LTO’s Grade 4
- Ms. Segato’s Grade 5/6
- Ms. Ko’s Grade 7
- Ms. Champoux 7/8
- Parent / guardian’s are invited to attend the PM performance is they have a child(ren) in the following classes:
- Mrs. Nicholson’s FDK
- Mr. Marshall/Mrs. Norman’s Grade 1
- Mrs. Love’s Grade 1
- Mr. DeRamos’ Grade 2
- Ms. Weltman’s Grade 3
- Ms. Brown’s Grade 4/5
- Mrs. Rocco’s Grade 6
- Mr. Sam’s 7 / 8
Lost and Found:
We have several lost and found items that have been picked up on the yard. Do any of the items in the pictures belong to you? Items will be donated to St. Vincent De Paul next week.
Greentec launches Phones4Food in support of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
Waterloo Region, Ont. | December 7, 2023 – As the need for emergency food assistance rises in Waterloo region, Greentec is launching Phones4Food, an innovative fundraiser in support of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
Starting today, people can drop off their old or unwanted smartphones, laptops, and tablets to The Food Bank at 50 Alpine Court in Kitchener, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Greentec will collect and recycle the devices and donate their end-of-life value back to The Food Bank—supporting its work of acquiring and distributing food to the Community Food Assistance Network, a system of 120+ community programs and agency partners that provide food, support, and services to people in need.
More than 58,000 people in Waterloo region are accessing food assistance each year, a number that continues to rise and isn’t expected to drop anytime soon.
To learn more about Greentec and qualifying device donations, visit phones4food.com To learn more about The Food Bank of Waterloo Region and local food insecurity, visit thefoodbank.ca.
About The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
Founded in 1984, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region (The Food Bank) was the first organization of its kind in Ontario dedicated to providing emergency food. Thirty-nine years after incorporation, The Food Bank continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community, ensuring no one goes hungry. The Food Bank acquires and distributes more than five million pounds of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food to 120+ community programs and agency partners throughout Waterloo region.
Christmas Spirit
This Advent season Monsignor Haller is participating in the “12 Days of Christmas Giving”. Each day between now and December 19th we will be collecting food and supplies to help support families in need. Your generosity and thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.
Hawks, are you ready for some Christmas fun? Christmas spirit week is almost here.
Dec 4-8
The First Candle of Advent is the Candle of Hope.
Jeremiah 33:14-16
33:14 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Advent is a time to joyfully prepare. The word itself means coming or arrival. We prepare our hearts and minds for celebrating Jesus’ birth at Christmas. You may want to pray more, participate in Sunday Mass, have an Advent wreath, or create family traditions. No matter what you do, remember the reason you are preparing.
Each week staff and students will engage in a virtual liturgy to celebrate the theme for that week and by lighting the Advent Candle in our classrooms and on our school altar. The first candle is the candle of HOPE. It reminds us that we are the light and can spread hope. We can shine a light in dark places by providing kind gestures or kind words to those in need.
Catholic Graduate Expectation for December: I Am a Believer
This is how I am a Discerning Believer:
- I have attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teachings and act to promote social responsibility and human solidarity.
- I respects the rights, responsibilities, and contributions of myself and others.
Deep Learning Transferable Skill: Learning Partnerships
Transferable skills are the skills and attributes that students need to thrive in the modern world. Based on international research, the Ontario Ministry of Education has defined seven important categories of transferable skills – sometimes referred to as “competencies” – that will help students navigate the world of work and meet with success in the future.
During December, as Catholics, we will show transferable skills through active collaboration, not just with our classmates and teachers but also with community organizations like our parish church, and even with individuals from the global community. It’s about tackling real-world challenges together, participating in engaging activities, and exchanging ideas.
Expectations with SNOW:
As the weather turns colder and the snow remains on the ground, student safety remains an important part of outdoor play. For this reason, there are snow safety tips we review with students so playing in the snow remains a fun activity.
- We CAN make snow angels!
- We CAN build snow people and snow forts!
- We CAN play on our own or with others safely!
- We CAN slide down the hills if wearing snow pants and sitting down.
- We CAN enjoy the snow as a beautiful gift from God!
- We WILL listen to the adults at school – they provide direction around being safe!
- We CANNOT throw snow or snowballs – snowballs hurt and can have dirt, rocks, or ice in the snowball which can cause serious injuries!
- No one owns the snow; it is for all to enjoy.
- The maker of a snow fort or a snow person is the breaker of their snow fort or snow person.
Have a great week Hawks!
Dec 1st Update
Christmas Eve Pageant @ Blessed Sacrament:
Breakfast Club @ Monsignor Haller:
Monsignor Haller Catholic Elementary School is seeking 2 to 4 volunteers to support their morning meal program. Volunteers would be welcomed to the school from 8:30 to 9:20 assist with preparing nutritious food items for students before class. This initiative hopes to bring community members into the school to promote supportive environment through connection and good will. Please consider donating your time to this initiative to engage with the school community and assist the nutritious program. For those interested please contact Jillian.Cotter@wcdsb.ca as soon as possible. Necessary training (Food Safety) will be provided and reimbursed for 2 applicants to assist with this initiative. Not all members need training.
Boomerang Lunch:
The Monsignor Haller Eco-team encourages every student to boomerang their lunch on the last Friday of the month. We will boomerang on December 22nd as we are not in school on the 29th. Thank you for being good stewards of the Earth and challenge yourself to boomerang your lunch more frequently.
Indoor shoes:
Snow is hear! Please check the forecast and ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather outside. The changing weather can be challenging to plan for – but students must come to school with boots and warm clothes in snowy/wet weather. This also means it is time to send extra mittens and socks. Indoor shoes that are appropriate for the gym are essential too. It’s not safe to wear outdoor shoes in the hallways and gym as they are wet and could cause someone to slip and fall. Thanks for your understanding the importance of indoor shoes!