Monthly Archives: June 2023

Good morning,

Environment Canada has issued a Special Air Quality Statement that covers all of Waterloo Region.

The forecast for Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) levels for June 28 are in the High Risk (7 to 10) range.  The government of Canada’s Air Quality Health Index Message is below as per a high-risk index.

We will be keeping students inside for all recesses when the index is in the HIGH range. 

Should you choose to keep your child home from school today, please make sure you call the main office at 519-579-0890 before 9:30am to report their absence.

To our St. John’s Thunder families,

Our 2022/2023 school year comes to a close this week as Thursday, June 29th marks the official last day of school and the beginning of the summer holidays! Together, we journeyed through an awesome school year. Let’s celebrate the growth, and achievements of another year sharing our gifts and talents within our school community. We have so much to be grateful for and to acknowledge! Here are a few of the highlights from a school year gone by so quickly…

• In person September startup AND June goodbyes!
• Terry Fox walk
• Orange shirt day: Every Child Matters (National Day for Truth & Reconciliation)
• Mental Health & Wellness focus: Bell Let’s Talk day
• Pink Shirt Day (Anti-bullying education)
• Healthy Schools Gold certification!
• Christmas collection for members of Tent City
• WWJD focus
• Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectation recognition
• Mindful Mondays in the parish
• Thunder Thursdays & special Spirit wear days
• Pizza days every Thursday
• Fall Open House & Meet the Teacher
• Intramurals
• Basketball/ Volleyball/ Flag Football/ Soccer/ 3 pitch/ Ultimate
• Jump Rope for Heart
• Folk Dance team & Festival
• Track & Field and Cross Country
• Games club, reading club, printing & cursive writing club, gardening club
• Primary bubble parties
• Intermediate Homework Club
• Shrove Tuesday pancakes for our entire school community!
• Ash Wednesday in the parish
• First Reconciliation
• First Communion
• Grade 4 Bible celebrations
• Confirmation
• Grade 8 Mount Mary religious retreat
• Tiny Home Takeout experience with St. Mary’s parish
• Honourable Bardish Chagger visit
• Dwayne Harriott, RCSS teacher motivational presentation for Grade 5-8 students
• MANY class excursions (e.g., Laurel Creek, Crawford Lake, Schneider House, the MUSEUM, Grade 8 trip to Toronto, High School Musical at RCSS, etc.)
• Blues in the Schools musical visit
• Mission to the Moon robotics
• Catholic Education Week
• Catholic Community Cafe & Open House
• Mental Health Week
• Equity 101 & Town Hall conversation with Director Tyrone Dowling
• Pride month
• Grade 8 Canoe Build
• UW STEM day
• Strawberry Social with Nutrition for Learning & AirBoss
• Grade 8 Graduation

A few notes of Gratitude: 

Our sincere appreciation is extended to all our committed staff for their dedicated efforts ~ each and every day. The above list of opportunities provided to students would not have been possible without them. Staffing challenges existed in many sectors, including education and at St. John’s, but we adapted daily working together and taking on various roles to ensure that students were supported in their learning AND having fun!

Thank you to our St. John’s Catholic School Advisory Council.  Your yearlong commitment to supporting our entire St. John’s community has been so important. Your plates were overflowing at home and work but you made a commitment to supporting the staff through your positive actions and encouraging words. You also provided financial support to the events and activities we were able to provide for our students. Finally, you continue to be the voice in the community encouraging families to stay connected. With your continued support, we look forward to resuming our social and fundraising events next year, and engaging our community in many new activities, as well.

Gratitude for our students who came to school ready to learn. Students, you are to be acknowledged for your determination, resilience, and hard work. Remember, each challenge you faced has made you stronger. Embrace the upcoming break, recharge, and return with renewed energy!

To our Graduates, we could not be more proud of each of you. You showed us your faithfulness during your time at St. John’s! Now, as you move onto high school, may you go through ALL your days with courage, authenticity, and a willingness to be the best version of yourself! Remember to do what is right not what is popular.  May God bless you on your journey. Congratulations to our Class of 2023!

To Mrs. Harris, our Vice Principal…we are so grateful for your leadership at St. John’s over the past few years. You will truly be missed in the community. We know you will be a wonderful addition to the St. Peter’s CES community as you begin your new role as Principal. We wish you all the very best! God Bless you, Mrs. Harris!

Finally, thank you to ALL our Thunder families, and our parent / community volunteers for your support and help to make our school year a success.

As we wrap up this school year, we bid farewell to a number of members in our St. John’s community. To the students who are moving on to new schools in 2023-24, we wish you all the best as you meet new friends and make great memories.

We have many staff members moving on to new adventures as well:

• Susie Sousa – Kindergarten Classroom EA
• Stacey-Ann Akoly -Kindergarten Classroom EA
• Abir Noureddine – Kindergarten Classroom EA
• Kim Scott – Kindergarten ECE
• Jennifer Ruston – Grade 1
• Vanessa Bailey – Grade 2
• Alyshea Knoop – Grade 4
• Danielle Green – Grade 5
• Daryl Pardy – Grade 5
• Chelsea Dawson – Grade 7
• Chris Kapron – Grade 7/8
• Jacob Murray – FSL
• Elsa Lemos – ESL
• Heather McKenzie – ESL
• Sharlene McNeil – Special Education
• Archi Chhabra – Educational Assistant
• Johnson Baby – Educational Assistant
• Lorraine Harris – Vice Principal

We wish all these staff members much health and happiness in their new adventures, and we thank them for their commitment and contributions to our school community. We know they will be a wonderful addition to the communities they join next year.

As we prepare for the next school year, we will also be excited to welcome many new families to our Thunder community! We will welcome all of our incoming Junior Kindergarten students as well as many other new students across the grades! There will also be new faces on staff next year and we will welcome them in September!

Term 2 Report Cards

Report Cards for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 students will be sent home on Tuesday, June 27^th. Please sign and return the bottom portion to school on Wednesday, June 28^th.  This form is a legal document that must be attached to the copy of the report and included in your child’s Ontario School Record file.  Please note this is an opportunity for you and your child to comment on goals, student achievement, and home support.

Next School Year: 2023/2024

As we bring this school year to a close, we begin to plan for the year to come.  Our school hours remain the same and our school day will begin at 9:15 am and end at 3:45 pm. When the summer beings to wind down you can start to look for NewsWires and school communications as information about the school start-up becomes available. Class placements for the 2023/2024 school year are not finalized until the end of summer and will be shared with families on Labour Day weekend. If you have questions regarding bussing please contact Student Transportation Services.

IMPORTANT DATES for NEXT School Year 2023/2024

Wishing all our Thunder families a wonderful summer filled with good health, laughter, smiles, and sunshine!

Good morning,

Unfortunately, Environment Canada continues to issue a Special Air Quality Statement that covers all of Ontario, including Waterloo Region.

In Waterloo Region the forecast for Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) levels for June 8, are forecast to be High Risk (7 to 8).  The government of Canada’s Air Quality Health Index Message is below as per a high-risk index.

As a precaution, to ensure student safety, the WCDSB Elementary Regional Track & Field event scheduled for today, Thursday, June 8^th, will be cancelled. 

Thank you for your continued support and flexibility to ensure the safety of our students.

The following message is from Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce:

June 1 marks the beginning of Pride month in Ontario and around the world. For many, Pride is a time to celebrate the things that make us unique and special, to look to community for acceptance and support and to demonstrate our commitment to making every single person feel welcome.

Recognizing that many 2SLGBTQ+ students face increasing levels of bullying, harassment, and mental health issues, it is my expectation that school boards will redouble their efforts to protect these students and ensure their inclusion within Ontario schools.

It is incumbent on all school boards to ensure all students – most especially 2SLGBTQ+ students – feel supported, reflected in their schools, and welcomed within our communities. That includes celebrating Pride in a constructive, positive and meaningful ways to affirm that 2SLGBTQ+ students know that their educators and staff, school board administrators, and government stand with them.

We firmly believe that all publicly funded schools must be safe spaces for all children, regardless of race, heritage, faith, sexuality, and gender.

My message to children in our schools, particularly 2SLGBTQ+ students is that Ontario’s government sees them, values them, and we are proud to stand with them.

Sincerely,

Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education

Reflections on the Rainbow Flag: We All Belong 

As Catholics, we believe that we are wonderfully made in the image and likeness of a  God who created us and loves us unconditionally – just as we are. We are called to  love and celebrate one another, just as God loves and celebrates each one of us. We honour the inherent dignity in each other by treating one another with care,  compassion, and respect.  

The month of June is designated as PRIDE month in the Waterloo region and in many communities across Ontario. This month, and each and every month, our Catholic  schools are committed to nurturing safe and inclusive learning environments where every student and every member of the community is welcomed, valued, and  respected.  

Throughout June across the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, the rainbow flag will fly at each school and board building where it will remain for the  month of June. This act of flying the Pride Flag in June affirms publicly our Catholic  faith and gospel values of love, inclusion and a belief in the dignity of each person.

Called to Belong prayer

Creating God, out of your great love you created all things. After the flood you crafted the rainbow  

and placed it in the sky as a reminder  

that you love everything and everyone you have created. 

Yes, each individual colour of the rainbow is beautiful  

but it’s true beauty is found in the way that the colours are beautiful together. We are all called to belong and we are most beautiful when we are together. 

As human-beings you crafted each of us in unique, 

distinctive and wonderful ways. 

No matter how you created us we are  

all made in your image and likeness. 

May all of your children come together  

and hold hands in peace and harmony.  

May we all work together  

for a world where acceptance, equity, justice and celebration  are possible for every person.  

As the love of Jesus on the Cross extended to all people, 

by the power of your Holy Spirit  

may we love and embrace everyone in the same way.

Amen.

Fr. Joseph de Viveiros C.R.

Please take a few minutes to look at the lost and found tables next week. We will bring the tables outside before and after school.

Thank you!

The staff and students at St. John’s would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all of our Educational Assistants and Child and Youth Care Workers on “EA and CYCW Appreciation Day!”  An Educational Assistant and Child & Youth Care Worker must be friendly in nature, patient, and sensitive towards the needs of children they support. It is with your support, your dedication to our students, and your commitment to the success of each child, that helps our students and school be successful.  The growth that we see in our students is not measured each day, but each year, and when we reflect on our students who need your support most, the growth we see across their school careers is amazing – and it is because of you!  THANK YOU for all that you do to make our schools safe places where our students have an opportunity to learn, grow, feel valued, achieve their full potential, and for always being that much needed support for all of us as a staff!  It truly takes a special person to do what you do and we all know that without you…….we just couldn’t do it!