Monthly Archives: January 2024

Our school will be taking part in National Sweater Day, on Thursday, February 1st! National Sweater Day is an annual event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada. On National Sweater Day, WWF asks Canadians from coast to coast to turn down thermostats by two degrees Celsius at home, at school and at work to highlight the role that energy conservation plays in preventing climate change. We will be turning down the heat for nature and invite you to join us from home by turning down your thermostat and putting on your favourite sweater!

Through participation, we hope to understand how everyday actions affect our planet’s future. We are looking forward to a cozy day of learning!

• Spend time doing something you enjoy. This activity can be done on your own or with a group of people.
• Take breaks. Give yourself permission to rest and relax. Doing “nothing” is actually doing something. It’s helping you build your strength for the next challenge.
• Help others. When you take time to be kind to others or get involved in something bigger than yourself, it can give your mental health a boost. Small things that don’t take a lot of your energy can sometimes make a huge difference to someone else. Say “hi” to someone new in the halls, invite someone to sit with you at lunch, hold the door open for someone, and see if it gives you a lift too.
• Be grateful and notice the good things. It’s easy to get caught up in the negatives that happen in life. Instead, look for the positives each day, even in situations that might seem bad. When negative things happen, ask yourself what lesson you can learn from it.
• Get sleep. We know school starts early and you may like staying up late, so you might not get enough sleep all the time. But aim to get 8 or more hours of sleep most nights.
• Try to increase your water intake – carry a water bottle with you so you can stay hydrated throughout the day. Consider decreasing or discontinuing your caffeine intake – caffeine has been shown to create a stress reaction in your body and might cause you to feel nervous, irritable or restless.
• Fuel yourself well.  Sometimes it helps to have a healthy snack nearby so you can refuel easily and avoid getting “hangry”.
• Try to limit screen time. Research has linked social media use with mental health issues – you’ve probably heard this before. Using social media can cause us to compare ourselves… we do this without noticing, so it can be hard to stop. Many cell phones let you set timers on apps to help you limit how much you use them.
• Move! Physical activity is good for our mental health. It can be as simple as taking a walk or joining an activity at school – it’s a great way to meet people who you can be active with.

Family Literacy Day

Register for a chance to win a $20 Indigo gift card!

Walk/ wheel from home or park and walk a few blocks to qualify.

https://forms.gle/x7uDBD5mfdFy49UA6

https://regionofwaterloo.onehsn.com/wcdsb/

Good morning, St. Gabriel Community!

It was wonderful to walk through the halls and hear children’s voices and laughter again.  Staff returned regenerated and excited as well.  The week ahead looks like a fridged one so please ensure your child has their warmest winter gear and an extra change of clothes. As per our Board’s policy, when the temperature is between -20°C and -27°C students will not be outside longer than 15 minutes.  When temperatures are colder than -27°C, students remain inside.  Please help make playing in the snow more enjoyable by ensuring your child has all the gear they need before they leave the house. It would be helpful for students to keep an extra pair of dry mittens and socks in their backpacks as well.

PA Day: Friday, January 19th

Just a reminder that on Friday, January 19th, there will be no school for students.  The Extended Day Program will be running for those students registered in the program.

This is a very special letter to all our families who have CHILDREN BORN IN 2020 and CHILDREN BORN IN 2019 who have not attended Kindergarten

Kindergarten Registration at St. Gabriel School for September 2024 will be held on the following days:

Monday, February 5^th, 10:00 am – 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm

Tuesday, February 6 from 4:30 – 7:30 pm

Once you have registered online, please contact the school to book an appointment.

We are very excited as we plan for kindergarten next year!  Check out our school website and look at “Getting Ready for Kindergarten” to meet our educators, see our school, and learn more about our kindergarten program and how you can help your child get ready for school!  https://stgabriel.wcdsb.ca

1. A parent or legal guardian of the child(ren) registering for Kindergarten is asked to click on this link: Waterloo Catholic District School Board website at wcdsb.ca to register their child(ren) for Kindergarten. Look for the tab at the top of your screen that says, “Register”.
2. Next, scroll down and select “Kindergarten Registration”. You will start by completing our online registration.
3. Then, you will call our school at 519-658-2008 to schedule a time to complete the registration process.

The following documents will be required:

1. 1. a birth certificate or other legal proof of your child’s age,
   2. proof of home address and a
   3. a Catholic Baptismal Certificate of either parent or child.

If you do not have internet access, we invite you to call our school and we will help.

Children with special needs, (e.g., speech and language, vision, hearing, intellectual), should register at the school in their home area. If you are a non-Catholic, but wish to explore a Catholic education for your child(ren), please review the WCDSB Admissions to Catholic Elementary Schools policy or give us a call to learn more.

The Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1982 states that the Region of Waterloo Public Health must have a record of your child’s immunization in order to attend school in Ontario and you can complete this report online at:  Region of Waterloo, Immunization Reporting.  If you choose not to list immunizations for your child, you must contact the Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-575-4400 x. 5003 for exemption information.

We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you into our St. Gabriel community.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Dear Families,

We are thrilled to announce that Saint Gabriel School Spirit Wear is now available! There are many great options to choose from such as t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, hoodies, shorts, track pants, toques and even ball caps! You can select your items in school colours and even choose the Saint Gabriel logo. Orders can be placed online at https://stgabrielsw2023.itemorder.com/shop/home/Order deadline is Sunday, January 14th.