The following message is for current SVDP SK students only:

Reminder:  Sunday January 31^st is the last day for current SK students to sign-up for the Gr 1 French Immersion lottery! Students from our school are in the St Peter French Immersion boundary.

Visit https://www.wcdsb.ca/programs-and-services/fsl/ for more information and to register your child for this exciting opportunity.

Dear St. Vincent de Paul Families,

It is with mixed emotions that I announce that I will be leaving the St. Vincent de Paul community. I have been appointed as Principal of Student Services and Educational Community Partnership Programs.  I will be assuming this position on February 22, 2021.

At this time, I would also like to announce that Mrs. Tammy Sica will be joining the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School community as your Principal. Mrs. Sica comes from Christ the King Catholic Elementary School, where she has been the Principal for 5 years.

I can truly say that the Tiger Spirit is alive and strong within St. Vincent de Paul. I first began my teaching career at St. Vincent de Paul and loved it so much that I stayed for 11 years.  When I came back to St. Vincent, it truly felt like I was coming home. I would like to thank all of you for your support throughout the last couple of years and wish you continued success and health!

Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Sica to St. Vincent de Paul.

Sincerely,

Ms. Erin Lemak

Bell Let’s Talk Day

Bell Let’s Talk Day is Thursday, January 28 and we’re joining in to help drive progress in mental health.

COVID-19 has affected every aspect of our lives, including our mental health. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 38% of Canadians say their mental health has declined due to COVID-19, and people already struggling with their mental health were 2 times more likely to say their mental health has declined due to the pandemic.

This year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign shines a light on the actions that we can all take, because now more than ever, mental health matters. Whether you’re staying virtually connected with a family member, working directly with patients in recovery, investing in access to care or even just taking care of your own mental health, every Canadian can play a part in their communities, workplaces, schools and at home.

Please read the attached letter to learn more about Bell Let’s Talk 2021.

BLT-community-letter-2021

Mental Health and Well-Being

We encourage you to continue to access our board website for a wide variety of resources to support students, parents, and families during these challenging times. Below is a screenshot of our main Wellness page. Take a few minutes to check out a new resource.

Hi Tigers

Please read the attached letter regarding the continued school closures from our Director of Education.

School Building Closure Update to WCDSB Parents Jan 21st 21

Hi Tigers!

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Friday, January 22 is a PD Day.

Hello St. Vincent de Paul Families,

As we are navigating through our Virtual Learning Environments on a regular basis we want to take a moment to share the norms and expectations of students and parents/guardians.

Parents/Guardians are valuable partners in their child’s education. Outlined below are expectations of parents.  As we are navigating in a virtual learning environment, we recognize that although the expectations are similar, they may not be identical to those in a physical school setting.

• The microphone and the chat feature are tools your child will access to support their learning.
• When required, parents may act as a support. In order to honour the student  learning  journey, please allow your child to experience productive struggle by allowing them to do the thinking and complete their work independently.
• Generally speaking, parents/guardians should not appear on camera or speak directly to the teacher or class during the synchronous learning times. Please do not unmute the microphone during instruction to ask a question or access the chat feature.
• According to our Board Procedure Memo around Communication Guidelines, please connect with the classroom teacher first should you have a question or concern.
• Please note that when an email is sent to your child’s teacher, they will attempt to respond in a timely manner. Teachers will not respond during instructional time. Your patience is appreciated.

In any virtual learning environment described above, it is essential that students comply with the classroom expectations/norms that have been co-created to ensure the collective success of all. These expectations may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Treat others with dignity and respect in actions and words
• Participate, and actively engage, in the learning
• Respect the workspace of others during collaborative learning (e.g., not deleting, moving or making changes to the work of others)
• Always have the microphone muted, except when asked to have it turned on
• Have the camera turned on/off when directed by the classroom teacher
• Google Meet links are NOT to be shared with others outside of the class by students. The teacher will invite others, not students
• The use of Google Hangouts is not permitted during school hours unless directed by the teacher
• Appropriate use of the chat feature such as asking questions, responding to the teacher when prompted, etc.
• Any communication in the chat must consider using appropriate manners and appropriate language. The following are examples of unacceptable forms of communication as they negatively impact the moral tone of the school. Incidents involving any of the following will be immediately brought to the attention of administration. Parents will be notified and progressive discipline will be used.
  • Profanity
  • Comments, images or actions that are either violent, racist, degrading or sexual in nature
  • “Chat spamming” (the repetition of a word or line commonly used in gaming chats)
• Focus on the learning and avoid distractions such as going to other websites unrelated to the learning taking place or playing video games. Open tabs should be related to the learning and directed by the teacher
• When cameras are on:
  • the background setting should be considered (e.g., a neutral space). Consider using the “blur background” feature
  • appropriate clothing is required just as it is in a physical school
  • others in the household should be aware that synchronous learning is taking place and that at times, others may see or hear what is happening should the student need to turn on their microphone and/or camera
  • behaviour is expected to resemble that which would be deemed acceptable in school (e.g., sitting up, raising a hand when wanting to share).
• Synchronous learning shall not be recorded and/or shared by a student
• Follow and apply the T.H.I.N.K. model, referenced in the Responsible Use of Technology consent form

Online Pre-registration for Kindergarten is Open: It’s Time to Sign Up for School!!

Hi Tigers!

Please find attached a letter from our Director of Education.

School Building Closure Update to WCDSB Parents Jan 8th 21