25 Beckview Drive, Kitchener, ON, N2R 0N7
226-444-9774
https://stjosephine.wcdsb.ca
https://twitter.com/stjbbruins

February 12, 2024

“Seeing the sun, the moon, and the stars, the beauties of nature, I asked myself, ‘Who is the owner of all these beautiful things?’ and I felt a great desire to see him, know him, and pay him homage.” – St. Josephine Bakhita

Our Mission:

“As disciples of Christ, we educate and nurture hope in all learners to realize their full potential to transform God’s world.”

Our Vision:

“Our Catholic Schools: heart of the community – success for each, a place for all.”

Shrove Tuesday, Valentine’s Day, and Ash Wednesday

Our school community will celebrate Shrove Tuesday (also called Pancake Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras – the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent) this Tuesday, February 13th.  The St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic School Advisory Council will be providing two pancakes and syrup to all students – Clover Kitchens will be catering.

Since Valentine’s Day falls on the same day as Ash Wednesday this year, all schools in Waterloo Catholic will celebrate Valentine’s Day a day early – with Shrove Tuesday – on February 13th, this year.  Students are encouraged to wear Red, White, or Pink and are welcome to bring in Valentine’s Day cards & treats for their classmates.

Our school community will gather at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 14th for our Ash Wednesday Liturgy. Students will receive ashes on their foreheads in the sign of the cross with the message, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”  The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from last year’s Palm Sunday liturgies.  Parents are welcome to join us.

Family Math Night at St. JB – Thursday, February 29th

Mark your calendars!  Our Family Math Night is scheduled for Thursday, February 29th from 6:00-7:00 p.m.  A paper copy, with a tear-off ballot, will be sent home this week.  Please bring the ballot to our Math Night for your family’s chance to win one of two Chromebooks!

School Climate Surveys – Students and Parents

Before the March Break, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) will be conducting school climate surveys to collect information from students and families. While the Ministry of Education requires all school districts to conduct these surveys (Education Act s.169.1(1)(a), (a.1), (a.2) and PPM 145), we are committed to providing a safe, caring, and inclusive place for everyone in our schools. The purpose of the school climate surveys is to assess the perceptions of safety (e.g., from students, and families), make informed planning decisions about programs to help prevent bullying and promote safe and inclusive schools, determine the effectiveness of programs on an ongoing basis, and build and sustain a positive school climate.

Click Here for more information: MDI Family Letter  & School Climate Survey Info 

We will administer a school climate survey for Families between February 15th – March 8th. You will be provided with the link to participate on February 15th.

Any student may choose not to participate, to stop participating, or to skip a question at any time. Additionally, parents/guardians of students under 18 years of age can ask that their child be exempt from participating in the MDI survey by completing this opt-out form before February 8th, 2024.

 

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church – Little Blessings Program

Blessed Sacrament Parish is offering financial assistance to families to help cover the costs of school-related expenses such as field trips or excursions for up to $35 through their Little Blessings Program.  Should you wish to access support through this program, please email Mike Brennan (mike266@gmail.com) with your request.

Drop off and Pick up Policy at St. Josephine Bakhita CES

​***PARENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN EITHER OF OUR PARKING LOTS AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY – OUR PARKING LOTS WERE NOT DESIGNED FOR STUDENT PICK-UPS BY PARENTS – PARENTS WILL NEED TO PARK ON A SIDE STREET AND HAVE THEIR CHILD WALK SAFELY TO THEIR VEHICLE​​***​

***PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE DESIGNATED ACCESSIBLE (HANDICAPPED) PARKING SPOTS WHEN DROPPING OFF OR PICKING UP – EVEN IF IT’S FOR A SHORT TIME – UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE (HANDICAPPED) PARKING PASS***

***ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA PARENTS – PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE DESIGNATED YMCA DAYCARE PARKING SPOTS***

Please read the following information and follow our school’s drop off and pick up procedures that have been developed to keep your children safe.  We encourage students in Gr. 4 – 8 who live within 1.6 km of the school (0.8 km for JK – Gr. 3 students) to walk to school.  Those who live further than 1.6 km (0.8 km JK – Gr. 3) are eligible for bussing.  Parents who choose to drive their children to school may use our Drive to Five option or our designated ‘Kiss & Drop’ zone.

DRIVE TO FIVE & Drop Off (8:50-9:05 a.m.)

Parents who choose to drive their children to school are asked to either:

  1. “Drive to Five” (BEST OPTION for Junior & Intermediate students) – Drop your child off a block or two away from the school (5 min. walk). You will avoid contributing to the congestion in the Kiss & Drop zone and the walk will do your child good – they will be that much more alert to begin their day!
  2. Use the school’s Kiss & Drop area (SECOND BEST OPTION) – We are very fortunate to have a ‘Kiss & Drop Zone’ at our school – most schools do not have this option for parents.  Please follow the procedures we have put in place to make it as safe for our students as possible.

·       Pull into the school driveway and wait until you enter the clearly marked Kiss & Drop zone

·       To keep traffic moving, parents using the Kiss & Drop zone are not permitted to get out of their vehicles and children may only exit the vehicle from the passenger side

·       Please only have your child exit your vehicle in the designated Kiss & Drop zone

·       St. Josephine Bakhita parents are not eligible to park in the school parking lot 

·       If your child requires assistance getting out of your vehicle, please do not use the Kiss & Drop zone or school parking lot – you will need to park on a side street and walk your child to school safely

Pick Up

Parents choosing to drive their children home at the end of the school day cannot park in our school parking lots.  Schools are not designed or built for this.  The Kiss & Drop zone is for dropping students off before school only and the school parking lots are reserved for staff and daycare parking only.  Parents will need to park on a side street and have their children walk safely to their vehicle if they are providing their children with a ride home.

Important to Note:

  • Cold Weather, Snow, or Rain does not change this policy
  • This policy has been communicated weekly since the beginning of the school year in our Bruin Bulletin
  • Parents – please always be respectful when speaking with school staff who are enforcing our policy that has been developed to keep our students safe
  • Please follow this policy and help us to continue to build a strong, caring, and respectful Catholic school community here at St. Josephine Bakhita
  • Should you have any questions or concerns about our Pick Up & Drop Off Policy, please contact Mr. Dave Lynch, Principal (226-444-9774)

 

Important Safety Reminder – Crossing Beckview Drive

Students and parents crossing Beckview Drive are reminded to please walk to the designated pedestrian crossing at the Huron Road-Beckview Drive roundabout or Tartan Ave-Beckview Drive instead of the unsafe practice of crossing the road directly in front of the school.  Thank you.

St. Josephine Bakhita Learning Commons  Wall – Donations Welcome!

If your family has any LEGO you are willing to donate to the school for our Learning Commons (Library) portable LEGO wall, please drop it off at the main office, or send it in with your child, to the attention of Mrs. Bowdring.  Thank you in advance for your support.

St. Josephine Bakhita CES is on Twitter – Follow us!

Please follow all the #WCDSBawesome things taking place at our school!  You can find us at https://twitter.com/stjbbruins.

2023-2024 School Year Calendar – Some Important Dates

February 13       Shrove Tuesday – Students receive a pancake snack courtesy of our CSAC

Valentine’s Day @ St. JB – Wear Red, Pink, and/or White!

February 14       Ash Wednesday

February 15       Term 1 Report Card Distribution

February 19       Family Day (school is closed)

February 29       Family Math Night at St. JB (6:00-7:00 p.m.)

March 8-15        March Break

March 29            Good Friday (no school)

April 1                 Easter Monday (no school)

April 19               PA Day

May 6-10           Catholic Education Week

May 9                 St. Josephine Bakhita CES Grand Opening Ceremony (5:30 p.m.)

May 20               Victoria Day (no school)

May 31               PA Day

June 24              Term 2 Report Card Distribution

June 27               Last Day of School for Students

June 28               PA Day