We are excited to be welcoming you and your family back for the start of the 2022-23 school year, and offer a special welcome to all our new families joining us. We hope that each of you had a great summer and are looking forward to the new opportunities this year will bring.
Wellington Catholic DSB starts with “We”. We look forward to partnering with you this year in the name of Catholic education to support the academic success and faith formation of all of our students. We are grateful for the opportunity to work together with you to provide the very best educational opportunity possible for your child and family.
Please see the following information to assist with your planning as we approach our first day of school next Tuesday, September 6.
COVID Health and Safety Protocols – On August 5, the Ministry of Education released the Health and Safety protocols for the start of the school year. The majority of protocols and guidelines remain unchanged to those that were in place at the end of June. We continue to work with our local public health officials to ensure we are aligned with the most up-to-date guidance and hope to minimize any potential disruptions to learning throughout this school year.
The following is a summary of what you can expect in September:
- Ventilation – Over the past several years, significant upgrades have been made in school ventilation systems to support a healthy learning environment. Our custodial and maintenance staff have been working throughout the summer to ensure our schools are safe, clean and that the ventilation systems have been inspected and properly maintained to welcome staff and students back. The HEPA filter units purchased for all classrooms and learning spaces will continue to be present throughout this school year.
- Daily Screening – Staff and students are asked to continue to screen each morning before school using the COVID-19 school screening (ontario.ca) and stay home when feeling unwell or exhibiting symptoms. We ask that screening his become part of your personal daily routines. The daily screening tool and related guidance may change throughout the year and notification of any changes will be communicated to our community.
- Masking – Continuing with the protocols in place in June and based on the advice of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, masks will remain optional for students, staff and visitors in schools, and on student transportation. We continue to support a mask-friendly environment in our schools and workplaces and recognize there are times when staff or students may need to wear masks in alignment with provincial or federal guidance or may choose to wear masks if there is a high incidence of illness in our community. Masks will continue to be available to staff and students in the 2022-23 school year.
- Rapid Antigen Test – Rapid Antigen Test kits will continue to be available to staff and students in schools as needed.
For more information about school start-up routines, please watch for updates from your school this week.
Home Stay Families Needed for International Students – Wellington Catholic Secondary Schools will be welcoming international students this fall. Through this international program, students stay with families in the area where they study to provide a fully immersive experience for the students involved. The Wellington Catholic DSB’s partner agency, MLI Homestay, is currently looking for host families for students while they are attending our schools. If you, or someone you know, may be interested in welcoming an international student from September 28 until November 16 please visit this webpage for more information https://www.wellingtoncdsb.ca/apps/news/article/830045.
20th Annual Bishop’s Dinner for Community Needs - This year we are proud to be hosting the 20th Annual Bishop’s Dinner for Community Needs on Thursday, October 13. This event has raised over $730,000 over the past 19 years, with all proceeds directly supporting students and families in our community through community organizations that help people experiencing issues of food security, seeking mental health supports, and accessing children’s programming. To learn more or to purchase tickets to this year’s event or to make a donation, please visit this webpage, https://www.wellingtoncdsb.ca/apps/pages/bishopsdinner.
We are Hiring! – We currently have a number of openings for various positions including custodians, school and classroom supervisors, educational assistants and more. If interested, please feel free to check out our Careers page: https://www.wellingtoncdsb.ca/apps/pages/jobopportunities
Thank you for your ongoing support of Catholic Education. We look forward with anticipation to the new opportunities this year will bring. I wish you all the best as we begin this school year in the coming week.
Together in Faith,
Mike Glazier
Director of Education