Monthly Archives: June 2024

*This is a long one, please read to the bottom*

Greetings Stars!

WOW!  Thank you to all the families for coming out to Wednesday night’s annual SEB Family Picnic! HUGE SHOUT OUT to SEB School Council members for the planning, setting up, working the event and the tear down last night.  This could not have happened without you!  Thank you to the families who helped out in the rain, making the clean up the quickest yet!

Thank you to the SEB staff who were able to make it last night to say hello, dance a little and grab a freezie. 

What’s a night without a little Dance Monkey?  Thank you to Craig as our DJ at CDJA Services for the music! 

Finally, this wouldn’t be an event without the KIDS!  So, thank you to the students who came came early and stayed late assisting wherever I bossed them around:) (and guess what – we still have work to do this morning!).   

What a way to close out the last full week of school.  

We have reached the end of another school year, and this newswire brings you your last Friday Flash for the 2023-2024 school year!  We hope you enjoyed the weekly updates. 

**IMPORTANT: The WCDSB is closing the NewsWire platform for school starting in September.  We will ONLY be using SchoolMessenger moving forward to communicate news.  The Friday Flashes will continue next year – only you will get them through the SchoolMessenger email.

Principal’s Message:

As we wind down the year, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the warm welcome I received since joining your community last year.  I have had the pleasure of getting to know your children and watching them get ready for the year ahead.  

I would also like to wish our grade 8 students a fond farewell and success as they move on to academic and extra-curricular opportunities in high school. May God bless you.  Please help us wish our graduates luck on Monday June 24th at their graduation.  Congratulations to our Class of 2024!

Sincere appreciation is extended to all of our committed staff for their dedicated efforts – each and everyday. Staffing challenges existed in many sectors, including education and at SEB, but we adapted daily working together and taking on various roles to ensure that students were supported and learning.

Thank you to all our Stars families, our school council and our school volunteers for your support and for helping make our school year a success. Thank you to CSAC for our Family Picnic, and for your year-long commitment to the school for 2023-2024!  We encourage parents to join our council next year – we need your voice and your help!

As we close this school year, we must also say some goodbyes.  I would also like to extend best wishes to all students and families who will be moving away and leaving our school community.  In addition, we have staff saying goodbye who have journeyed with us this year. We are thankful for their contributions and wish them all the very best as they finish their time within our Stars community.

Thank you and wishing the best on your next journey as you leaving the Stars Circle to: Mrs. Shaver (on maternity leave and moving to a school closer to home), Mlle Brown, Mrs. Mititelu, Ms. Struminski, Mr. Z, Mr. Raos, Mrs. Way who will be having her baby soon, and lastly Mme Kennedy who is retiring!  Congratulations on your career Madame!  Wishing you rest and happiness on your next journey!

Thank you all for being part of the Stars Circle school community.  You will be missed!

There will also be new faces on staff next year and we welcome:

Jen Hamilton – Special Education

Kathy Ortner – Grade 1/2

Alan Dicknoether (FSL)

Briana Norlock (FSL)

Lindsey Vaughan (PT)

James Hastings (EA)

Amanda Trudeau (EA)

Additional staffing changes will be announced in September.

Class placements will be sent to families via school messenger on Labour Day weekend.   Placement is a carefully thought out process with each child’s needs carefully considered.  We will not take requests for specific teachers, however we are confident your child will be pleased with their placement and will have a wonderful school year. 

*Please note, as enrolment fluctuates, lists could still change all the way up to Thanksgiving in the event the board requires a class readjustment. Which means students may be moved from one classroom to another if the number of students increases.  The board may direct us to split classes up to make smaller class sizes whereby students have more teacher attention. 

Please continue to check SchoolMessenger throughout the summer for any additional announcements as well.  

If you have questions regarding bussing please contact the transportation department, STSWR at 519-650-4934 Ext. 0, or go to the school board website at www.wcdsb.ca.

With that, I would like to wish students, parents & caregivers, and school staff a safe, restful and rewarding summer.  Enjoy the opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends and come back to school with a sense of rejuvenation in the fall.

Our hope is to move right into September and thrive together in 2024-2025!

May God bless us all and keep us safe from all harm until we meet again in September. 

Respectfully and with gratitude, 

Tanya Hunter

The WCDSB summer mental health team is pleased to offer Worry Busters, a 3-session in–person group on stress and coping for students entering grades 4-6 and students entering grades 7-8, including those transitioning to Grade 9.     The sessions will include education on mental health, specifically anxiety, and offer opportunities to practice coping skills in a group with similarly aged peers. 

The group for students in Grade 7-8 and transitioning to Grade 9 will run July 9, 10 and 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Sir Edgar Bauer Catholic Elementary School located at 660 Glen Forrest Blvd, Waterloo, ON N2L 4K2. 

The group for students in Grade 4-6 group will take place on July 16, 17 and 18 from 10 a.m.  to 11 am. at St. Peter Catholic Elementary School, located at 92 Avenue Rd, Cambridge, ON N1R 1C1. 

 Eligibility:  

• Students entering grades 4-6 and 7-8 including those transitioning to grade 9
• This group is for students experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, stress and/or worrying.  No formal diagnosis is required.  
• Student willingness to commit to attending all three sessions.
• Student willingness to learn about mental health & practice coping strategies including mindfulness in a group setting. 
• Parents/Guardians will need to arrange transportation for the student to and from the school. 

This group would not be suitable for students experiencing moderate to severe mental health symptoms including:  

• Acute suicidality
• Disruptive behaviours
• A significant cognitive or developmental disability
• Psychosis
• Active substance abuse

To register please use this link:  Worry Busters Summer Group Referral Form.  Students will be registered on a first come first serve basis to a maximum of 12 participants per group. 

Save the Date – we’re firing up the grill for the St. Michael Parish BBQ!

On Saturday, September 28th, St. Michael Parish is hosting a BBQ for folks of all ages at the Columbus Conference Centre (145 Dearborn Pl, Waterloo). Join us for a free lunch (burgers and hotdogs courtesy of Elmira Harveys), cotton candy, Bosco the Clown, multi-generational activities, music, exciting games & more! Online and in person registration for this free event is  available on the St.Michael Parish website.

Here is the link to register to attend the bbq – Parish and Community Outreach – St. Michael Roman Catholic Church – Waterloo, Ontario (stmichaelw.ca) and information for other parish community activities.

Birthday_Blast_Poster2

We hope to see you after the summer break!

Good morning Stars,

A few reminders for parents and students as we head into the last weeks of the school year.

The last day of school for students is Thursday, June 27th. Students are dismissed at our regular time of 3:10 pm

We still have a number of Lost & Found items.  Please ask your child to check to see if he/she owns anything on the lost & found table. Any unclaimed items will be donated over the summer.

Additionally, if your child has any medication at the office, we ask that a guardian or your child come to the office to pick it up on their last day of school.  We want to ensure they have all their necessary mediation they may need for the summer as well as have expiry dates checked.  

**Hope to see you all tomorrow night for our SEB Family Picnic!

Mark Your Calendars!

The first day of the school year for students will be Wednesday, September 4th, 2024.

The last day of the school year for students will be Thursday, June 26th, 2025.

The last day of school in December will be December 20, 2024, and the first day of school in the new year will be January 6, 2025.

Elementary PA Days

September 3, 2024

October 11, 2024

November 1, 2024

January 17, 2025

March 31, 2025

May 30, 2025

June 27, 2025

Thank you!

As you are aware, today marks the beginning of a heat wave in the Region of Waterloo. WCDSB Schools will be following the guidelines listed below:

 Extreme Heat: Temperature With or Without Humidex

• Cooler than 35 C: students may remain outside for all regular outside activities.
• Between 35 & 40 C: students may remain outside for no longer than 20 minute intervals at a time.
• Hotter than 40 C: students must remain inside.

Note that sporting events scheduled during these periods of time are subject to this and may be cancelled as a result.

Students are encouraged to bring a hat to school for shade; limit the amount of physical exertion; and sit in shade when possible.  The water fountain will be available for all students during recess times.

Good morning Stars,

We have received communication from the School Board that due to this week’s Extreme Heat Warnings, the boys and girls 3 pitch tournaments and the Frisbee tournament will be CANCELLED.

Unfortunately, due to the timeline of the end of the year approaching, there are no make-up dates.

Hope to see everyone at our year end SEB Picnic from 5:00-7:00pm on Wednesday June 19th at our FAMILY NIGHT!

Pizzas will be sold for $10 from Pizza 101!  We hope to see all our STARS 

This event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with old friends and meet new ones!

Parents that want to help out that would be welcomed! Please email Lanette if interested at lanette_todd@hotmail.com

Good morning Stars,

As we enter into the last couple weeks of school we have much to celebrate!  First of all, congratulations go to the SEB STARS who made it to regionals at Resurrection on Wednesday.  And huge shout outs to the students who took home ribbons.  What an accomplishment!  Thank you to all the staff who trained our students and cheered at the event including Mrs. Egan, Mrs. Kipfer, Mlle Kim and Mrs. Skanes.  

Today we have our annual World Cup soccer day and we will cheer on the many countries competing for gold!

Next week we look forward to the Talent Show on Tuesday June 18th.  The show will be enjoyed by the whole school with 2 rows reserved for parents/caregivers of students participating in the show. 

The following day we will celebrate our SKs at their graduation on afternoon of June 19th. And our girls and boys junior 3 pitch tournaments.  Thank you Ms. Powis and Mr. Tubbe for your endless practices! 

Lastly, don’t forget to join us at our year end SEB Picnic from 5:00-7:00pm.  Pizzas will be sold for $10 from Pizza 101!  We hope to see all our STARS on Wednesday at our FAMILY NIGHT! This event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with old friends and meet new ones!

Parents that want to help out that would be welcomed! Please email Lanette if interested at lanette_todd@hotmail.com

School News:

Students with Medical Plans of Care:  If your child has a Plan of Care, it will be coming home this week for you to review and add any changes.  Please send it back as soon as possible to the office so we can have the plan updated promptly for September.  As always, if any medical information change let the office know and we will make the adjustments needed to record the most current information.

Looking Ahead: We have secured Domino’s as our new Pizza Vendor for the 2024-2025 school year based on feedback from families this past year.  We have also added an extra day each week!  What?? That’s right!  I can’t be the only one who runs out of lunch food by Friday!  Pizza will be offered next year on Wednesdays and Fridays as an option for families.

Community Partner News:

Free Family Event: Check out this free event the neighborhood! LSCA Presents

Bring your spirit STARS!

Days to show STAR SPIRIT this month!

14 – Proud To Be An SEB Star *TODAY!

24 – St. Jean Bapiste Day

27 – Proud To Be A Canadian Day

WCDSB & School Dates

June 18 – Talent Show 2:00pm

June 19 – SK Graduation @ 2pm; Boys and Girls Junior 3-Pitch Tournament; Family Picnic 5-7pm

June 20 – Intermediate Ultimate Frisbee

June 21st – Grad Activities

June 24th – Grade 8 Graduation

June 25th- Term 2 Reports; Play Day

June 26 – SEB “Drive In Movie” & Popcorn (at school)

June 27th – Last Day of School

June 28th – PA Day

Stay Safe Stars!

The Staff at SEB

Good afternoon Stars,

We have noticed an uptick in the number of parents calling the office for last-minute pick-up requests or to pass along changes in routine. While we realize that sometimes emergencies happen, we are asking parents to try as much as possible to convey those messages ahead of time.

We have almost 430 students and the office can be a very busy place and last-minute messages are not always possible to convey.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Good morning Stars,

In addition to being Pride Month, June is National Indigenous History Month. It is an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. A time to honour the stories, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples who have lived on this land and whose presence continues to impact the evolving Canada. At SEB we are sharing these stories through the front foyer TV for students and staff to pause and pay attention throughout the month.

Our SEB Cross Country Team, consisting of nearly 100 students in grades 4-8, had the opportunity to participate in our WCDSB Cross Country Meet yesterday after playing touch and go with the weather this week!  Thank you to our coaches, Mrs. Kipfer and Mrs. Canto for supporting the students with training and attending this exciting event, along with Ms. Bortolussi, Mme Lanis and Ms Berg. We also extend our gratitude to all parents who were able to cheers our runners on. Go, Stars!

School News:

SchoolMessenger- SafeArrival:  ⭐✅Starting June 5th, the WCDSB implemented the SchoolMessenger’s SafeArrival system to report absences! Families must report daily absences and even plan absences using one of three methods: toll-free number, website, or mobile application.

SEB Family Picnic: Hope everyone can come out for some fun!  SEB Family Picnic.  

Need dinner on the 19th?  Don’t worry!  Pizza 101 will be at the picnic selling medium cheese and medium peperoni pizza for $10!

Holocaust Bus:  On Monday, our Grade 6 and 8 students will have the opportunity to learn more about racism, intolerance, diversity, democracy, and human rights.  The Tour for Humanity bus from the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies will be onsite at school for our students to participate in this workshop.  The bus tours schools in Ontario and Quebec, educating students by having them engage in activities and discussions about the Holocaust (part of the Grade 6 Social Studies curriculum). 

Bring your spirit STARS!

Days to show STAR SPIRIT this month!

14 – Proud To Be An SEB Star

24 – St. Jean Bapiste Day

27 – Proud To Be A Canadian Day

WCDSB & School Dates

June 10 – Holocaust Bus Visit  (here at SEB) grades 6-8

June 12 – Track Regionals

June 13 – Welcome to Kindergarten Night

June 18 – Talent Show 2:00pm

June 19 – SK Graduation @ 2pm; Boys and Girls Junior 3-Pitch Tournament; Family Picnic 5-7pm

June 20 – Intermediate Ultimate Frisbee

June 21st – Grad Activities

June 24th – Grade 8 Graduation

June 25th- Term 2 Reports; Play Day

June 26 – SEB “Drive In Movie” & Popcorn (at school)

June 27th – Last Day of School

June 28th – PA Day

Parish Updates:

Please contact St. Michael’s Parish.

WCDSB Updates:

Schools offer a variety of opportunities for parents to learn more about how to support their children: for example, events related to mathematics may be held at the school (e.g., family math nights); teachers may provide newsletters or communicate with parents through apps or social media; and school or board websites may provide helpful tips about how parents can engage in their child’s mathematics learning outside of school and may even provide links where they can learn more or enjoy math activities together. 

 The following brief survey will assist our school district in gathering data about how parents/families feel in terms of being informed about what their children are learning in math, how parents/families feel about supporting their children’s learning in math, and about parental access to math learning resources at home.

 Thank you in advance for your consideration and participation.

 → https://bit.ly/SupportingMathAtHomeSurvey2024  This survey will remain open until June 14, 2024.

 If you have any questions or concerns regarding the collection of this information please contact K-12 Mathematics Coordinator, Board Math Lead, Petra LeDuc at petra.leduc@wcdsb.ca , 519-578-3660 

Please refer to www.wcdsb.ca for the most up to date news.

 Stay Safe Stars!