Blessed Sacrament Parish ~ December 2022 Events
We invite all of you to our upcoming events (Attached) here at Blessed Sacrament Parish.
Terra Cotta Cookie Fundraiser~ Final Hours to Order
Our school is running a cookie dough fundraiser through Terra Cotta Cookies, until end of day tomorrow November 30, 2022. The money raised will be used to help keep cost of excursions down and support student needs throughout the school year.
Please do not delay and read the following on how to order online:
1. Visit our custom site: https://fundraising.terracottacookies.com/current-fundraisers/monsignorhallerces/ OR find Monsignor Haller in the Current Fundraisers section of the Terra Cotta website.
2. Shop online. Fill your cart up! Add or remove products as you need to. Dough drops are $15.00 and Baked Shortbread are $10.00, no sales tax. What is a dough drop? Dough that is pre-portioned and packed to go straight from your freezer to your oven. Bake as few or as many as you like at a time. You get 40 cookie dough drops in each 800g box.
3. All products are nut free and there is a selection of gluten-free products.
4. At checkout fill in the form. Must include: seller name (name of the student you are buying on behalf of) and name of the school, Monsignor Haller Catholic Elementary School.
5. Agree to website Terms and Conditions. Place order.
6. Delivery of the cookie dough will be organized by the school and the company.
Important pick-up information:
All orders will be ready for pick up on Wednesday, December 14 from 3:00-5:00pm. Please ensure your order is picked up ASAP and goes back into a freezer as quickly as possible. Due to the frozen nature of the product this is very important to ensure the quality of the products. We appreciate your help in this matter. Thank you!
Monsignor Haller School Council
12 Days of Christmas Giveaway
“For it is in giving that we receive.”
-St. Francis of Assisi
This school year, we are dedicating our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways to Anishnabeg Outreach.
Anishnabeg Outreach is a not for profit that is Indigenous-led and serves the Waterloo Region and Guelph area.
Starting on Thursday, December 1st, each school day for 12 days, will be dedicated to Haller Hawk families donating a particular item that will go to support some of the 50,000 Indigenous people living in the region.
To help our students get involved we are offering 2 Colour House points for each item that is donated.
Return to School / Progress Reports
| Last 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 today on their regular schedules. |
| Your child will be receiving their Progress Report Card today. Please note that a Parent/Teacher Interview time will also be included with their Progress Report or Initial Communication of Learning (Kindergarten). Please contact the classroom teacher if you have not received a time to discuss your child’s progress. |
| See you all today! |
News from the Nest
- Daily Screening – Staff and students are asked to continue to screen each morning before school using the COVID-19 school screening (ontario.ca) and stay home when feeling unwell or exhibiting symptoms.
- Masking Update ~ While masking is not mandated, our schools are now, and will remain, mask-friendly spaces, and we encourage students and staff to wear masks indoors during the rise in cases we are currently experiencing.
- It is imperative for safety that students have a pair of inside shoes for safety. Now that the colder/winter weather has arrived, the halls are often wet and boots, and socks will become wet quickly.
- Families are reminded to ensure students are dressed appropriately for the changing / colder weather conditions.
- Terra Cotta Cookie Fundraiser ~ Our school will be running a cookie dough fundraiser through Terra Cotta Cookies, from November 14 to November 30, 2022. Visit our custom site: https://fundraising.terracottacookies.com/current-fundraisers/monsignorhallerces/ OR find Monsignor Haller in the Current Fundraisers section of the Terra Cotta website.
- Lunchbox Order (Monday) ~ Due to the uncertainty of CUPE Labour action, Lunch box orders have been cancelled for tomorrow.
“Free” Career Discovery Expo for Young Women in grades 7-12
Please see attached for information regarding an amazing “Free” Career Discovery Expo for Young Women in grades 7-12 sponsored by the WCDSB.
2022 Haller Hawks ‘Jukebox Christmas Concert’
HallerHawk_ChristmasConcert2022_
Families are encouraged to review the poster invitation in the above link for our 2022 Haller Hawks ‘Jukebox Christmas Concert’.
Attendees are encouraged to please consider wearing a mask while inside the school in effort to keep students, staff and families safe as we approach the Christmas season.
Important Message from the Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Dear Parents & Guardians:
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 will be available to students who need them in advance of any school closure.
In the event of a strike, St. Louis Adult Learning classes will continue to run, but St. Louis site offices will be closed.
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 our website: https://www.wcdsb.ca/about-us/labour-updates/
Masking Update ~ Message from WCDSB Director of Education
Good morning,
As I am sure many of you are aware on Monday, November 14, 2022, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), Dr. Kieran Moore, shared information with Ontarians concerning the rise of cases of influenza, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 across the province.
Dr. Moore has strongly recommended that Ontarians use the protective strategies available to them, including wearing masks indoors.
There is no provincial mask mandate.
Even prior to the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020, it has been the practice of Waterloo Region’s Catholic schools to follow the guidance of the Chief Medical Officer — as well as that of our own Region of Waterloo Public Health officials — when it comes to dealing with communicable diseases in schools.
While masking is not mandated, our schools are now, and will remain, mask-friendly spaces, and we encourage students and staff to wear masks indoors during the rise in cases we are currently experiencing.
The decision to wear a mask remains a personal choice. However, as Dr. Moore notes, it is a way to support partners in our health care system as they respond to an increase in pressures caused by the current increase in respiratory illnesses in our communities.
As we move into the winter months, please keep in mind:
- Parents, students, and staff are reminded to stay home if feeling unwell and only return when symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (48 hours if you are experiencing nausea, vomiting, or have diarrhea). Those recovering from illness or with symptoms should continue to mask for ten days from onset of symptoms. Please review the daily Ontario School Screening Tool for common symptoms and specific guidance when responding to your individual circumstances. https://www.ontario.ca/school-screening/
- Students and staff are encouraged to wear a mask when indoors – particularly when in close contact with others — to reduce the opportunity to spread respiratory illness. The decision to mask remains a personal choice, and all individuals will be afforded the same respect in our classrooms and workspaces.
- Staff will continue to have access to personal protective equipment at school.
- Masks continue to be available to all students upon request.
- Students and staff are asked to continue practicing good hand hygiene (e.g., hand washing, sanitizing) and be sure to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing (e.g., cough/sneeze into your elbow).
- Dr. Moore has also suggested that Ontarians consider getting their flu shot and COVID vaccine / booster.
Thank you for your support and cooperation in keeping our schools and communities safe and healthy.
Tyrone Dowling (he/him)
Director of Education
Waterloo Catholic District School Board | www.wcdsb.ca