Happy Advent Families!

We have many activities planned for this week and we wish to share them all with you:This week begins the season of Advent!  Today and every Monday we will have a virtual Advent Prayer Service.  Please join us in the prayer for this week:

Awake us from our slumber, O Lord, and prepare our hearts so that we might be ready to greet you when you come again.  Who live and reign with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

This week is also the last week of the first part of our Angel Tree Campaign where we are collecting WalMart Gift Cards for St. Vincent de Paul.  Please send this into the office if you can.

Our two-week online book fair wraps up this weekend! You can shop thousands of books across all categories for all ages on Spark Book Fairs at up to 90% off!  Plus, they offer free shipping on orders over $45.00! A great and economical way to get some Christmas Shopping done while supporting our school Learning commons.  You can place your order up to December 4th.  https://sparkbookfairs.ca/organization/BSS-4ZS5cdunbQkK

Tuesday is Hat n’ Stache day! Mr Petrella has been growing a mustache for the Movember Campaign.  To celebrate his efforts, everyone is encouraged to wear a mustache and a hat!  Staff and students may bring in a loonie or a twoonie and give it directly to Mr. Petrella to support him if they wish.

Thursday is Soccer Jersey Day! To support Team Canada’s effort to get a win in the World Cup, staff and students will be wearing Soccer Jersey’s or anything Team Canada on this day.

We hope you have a great week!  Look for the December Newsletter the beginning of next week with information about the many fun educational activities the school will have planned for the month of December.

• North

Dear Families

As noted in our November Newsletter – our Angel Tree Campaign has begun.  We are supporting two local neighbourhood charities: St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army.

The first phase of the Angel Tree is a collection of Walmart Gift Cards for St. Vincent de Paul. This way families can purchase items for Christmas Dinner and beyond.   This campaign will end next Friday December 2, 2022.  Please send in gift cards with your children to the main office.

The second campaign runs from December 5 – 16th.  We will be collecting unwrapped, new toys for the Salvation Army.

We thank you in advance for your generosity.

-North

Our two-week online book fair is officially underway! You can shop thousands of books across all categories on Spark Book Fairs at up to 90% off. Plus, they offer free shipping on orders over $45.00!

Great selection of books for all ages! You can place your order from November 21st to December 4^th.

https://sparkbookfairs.ca/organization/BSS-4ZS5cdunbQkK

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.

Dear Families

Please click on this link to access the November Newsletter: NOVEMBER 2022 SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

There is a lot of information about the many events and activities we have later this month – it’ll be a busy one…

• North

Dear Families

Like last year we are participating in Dominos Pizza Nights.

The Dominos Pizza Store on Fisher Hallman (across from McDonalds) is giving the school proceeds from the pizzas ordered on Tuesday November 8th from 10:30 am until 9:00 pm!

You must identify yourself as a supported of Blessed Sacrament School and use the code SGIVE.

This will be the only date for us this month.

We thank you for your support!

North

Dear Parents & Guardians:

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board will continue with independent/remote learning activities on Monday, November 7 and until further notice.

Schools will NOT be open to students and transportation will NOT be running. Before/after school programs will NOT be operating.

Teachers will begin synchronous learning activities on Monday, November 7, until further notice.

Should your child be absent/unable to attend remote learning please inform their teacher.

Please feel free to contact your school if you have any questions.

We will post updated information as it becomes available on our WCDSB Labour Updates page at: https://www.wcdsb.ca/about-us/labour-updates/

The City of Kitchener has begun reducing speed limits to 40 km/h in all residential neighbourhoods, including near our school.
Within these areas, school zones will be reduced to 30 km/h.

Signs indicating the new 40 km/h limit are being installed at the entrances to each neighbourhood, designating a network of local roadways within the entrance points that are all 40 km/h; an approach known as “gateway” signage.

All neighbourhoods within the city will be converted to the lower speed limit by end of 2023. Major city roads and all regional roads will remain at their current speed limit.

The City evaluated the effectiveness of lowering speed limits by running a pilot project in three residential neighbourhoods. The pilot showed that reducing speed limits, coupled with education and engagement efforts, reduced the average operating speeds by 3km/h (7%). Data collected in school zones showed a 4.8km/h (12%) reduction in average operating speeds.

After speeding was identified as a top concern among residents, the City conducted a study of all collisions in Kitchener over the past five years. Although 95 per cent of collisions were between vehicles, collisions between a vehicle and a pedestrian or cyclist were the cause of 70 per cent of collision-related serious and fatal injuries. In a collision between a vehicle travelling at 50 km/h and a pedestrian, the likelihood of survival of the pedestrian is only 15%. This survival rate increases to 70% if the vehicle speed is reduced to 40 km/h. The survival rate increases to 90% if the vehicle speed is reduced to 30 km/h.

More information about this project can be found at kitchener.ca/speedlimit.

For more information, please contact:

Faranak Hosseini

Transportation Planning Project Manager

City of Kitchener

519.741.2200 x7665

Faranak.hosseini@kitchener.ca