Can’t afford College? Not sure what you want to do yet? Have a passion for one of these three skills training pathways (after high school or to finish OSSD)?

St. Louis offers three 8-month long skills training options for people who have either completed their Ontario Secondary School Diploma or have a minimum 16 secondary school credits. Earn 6-8 elective secondary school credits that will appear on your transcript, while gaining valuable hands-on training toward a pre-apprenticeship, license or certificate.  St. Louis celebrates the achievements of over 300 people each year, who graduate from these programs and 85-98% claim employment in these fields right after completion. Whether this is the career path for you or you have your sights on doing many things in your lifetime, you will ALWAYS have these trade skills. Don’t know how to get started? Attend one of these intake/registration sessions to find out what it takes to be a chef, a hairstylist or barber or a PSW.

NOTE: Year-round Start Dates:

This Sunday is November 11^th, Remembrance Day. From all of us at St. Louis Adult Learning & Continuing Education Centres, please take a moment to observe this important day.

The Remembrance Day Ceremony has played a major role in Remembrance since 1931. Every year, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we gather in memorial parks, community halls, workplaces, schools and homes to stand in honour of all who have fallen. Together, Canadians observe a moment of silence to mark the sacrifice of the many who have fallen in the service of their country, and to acknowledge the courage of those who still serve.

This November 11th at the going down of the sun, communities across Canada will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War with the ringing of 100 bells. Churches throughout the cities all across the country will ring their bells simultaneously. The Bells of Peace marks the occasion 100 years ago, when church bells across Canada rang out to share the news: the First World War was over. As bells toll to remember the 650,000 who served, close to 66,000 killed, and more than 172,000 wounded, many communities will also commemorate the local people and events that link their community to the Great War. A soundwave of bells across the nation will help tell a historical journey: Canada’s service and sacrifice during the First World War.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
We will remember them.

From all of us at St. Louis, you are invited to remember our own history and our role for the future. From the words of a song written by Vince Gill, Let There Be Peace on Earth:

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth
The peace that was meant to be

With God as our Father
Brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.

With ev’ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me

On Friday, September 28, 2018, the provincial government launched a Public Consultation on various aspects of Ontario’s education system. The government’s announcement stated:

“We’re consulting with parents across the province to address concerns and get feedback in several areas of the education system.

Feedback from these consultations will help shape decisions in the following areas:

1. Improving student performance in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
2. Preparing students with needed job skills, such as skilled trades and coding
3. Improving provincial standardized testing
4. Ensuring students graduate with important life skills, including financial literacy
5. Managing the use of technology in classrooms, such as cell phones
6. Building a new age-appropriate Health and Physical Education curriculum that includes subjects like mental health, sexual health education and the legalization of cannabis
7. Developing the first-ever Parents’ Bill of Rights”

Consultation closing date: December 15, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

On Saturday, October 6^th, St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres will be closed.  The following classes will NOT be offered at any of our program locations:

• International Languages – Elementary
• International Languages – Secondary
• English as a Second Language
• Citizenship preparation

ALL St. Louis campuses, classes and programs will also be closed on Monday, October 8.

Count your Blessings, Share your Harvest, Enjoy the Parade with your Friends, Family and Community!

As we approach the Thanksgiving weekend, we reflect on those who have given to us.  Let us take a moment to extend an extra special thanks to the Catholic Community Foundation of Waterloo Region who has been a tremendous support to the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and a terrific funding partner with the Waterloo Region Catholic Schools Foundation.  The Catholic Community Foundation has supported high school graduations, chaplaincy programs and elementary school initiatives, as well as St. Louis program needs.

Among the 50 schools in the Waterloo Catholic system, St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres has been a humble recipient of a few grants from the Catholic Community Foundation over the years.

We have applied for and received funds from the Catholic Community Foundation mostly for educational resources; money we would not otherwise access to purchase because of Ministry of Education funding restrictions for use of funds toward adult education.

With the Catholic Community Foundation’s generous support, our students have benefitted from the use of:

• A full-body mannequin (150lbs to simulate the average person’s weight) for our personal support worker students to learn the proper lifting techniques, cleansing, teeth brushing, dealing with prosthetics and other medical needs in a lab setting — all before they go into field placement and onto employment.
• 2 Brightlinks projectors strategically placed in our adult secondary school credit classrooms for maximum use.
• Barbering kits to learn the trendiest cuts in the industry for our hairstyling and barber training program.
• Demonstration cameras and a Brightlinks projector for our culinary arts students to watch and learn professional cooking techniques before attempting themselves.

The Waterloo Region Catholic Schools Foundation has specifically supported the establishment of our Student Success Centre with a one-time gift toward Technology Assistive Devices for those adult students with learning challenges. And in the last few years, the Catholic Schools Foundation has shown appreciation to our Culinary Program for their main course preparation at the Bishop’s Banquet, a major Foundation fundraiser.

Just this past year, both Foundations have joined forces to fully support our purchase of a heavy-duty mobile floor lift for the PSW program. This lift would be used for those times when a client may fall out of bed or their chair and need to be lifted back from the floor. The mobile lift tool is expensive and very important to train on, before PSW’s have to use them regularly with patients in long-term care.

We feel the most blessed by the Catholic Community Foundation of Waterloo Region’s generosity and automatic annual bursary funds designated to every Catholic high school and St. Louis.  This significant support we receive each year is intended to help us help our most vulnerable students in financial need.  These funds generally help students by reducing the barriers to fully participate in school activities.  St. Louis has supported dozens of students over the past 5 years with course costs, transportation needs and even basic emergency necessities.

In the spirit of counting our blessings and expressing gratitude humbly, we are careful not to apply for community grants every year.  However, when we have asked, we have received.  Thank you to the Catholic Community Foundation for your generosity of just a little over $20,000 and to the Catholic Schools Foundation for almost $7500. We are truly blessed!

Catholic Community Foundation of Waterloo Region Grants

Waterloo Region Catholic School’s Foundation Grants

Always wanted to learn another language? International Languages Secondary classes have begun. Still accepting registrations for the following evening classes (5:30pm-8:30pm):

• Portuguese Monday or Wednesday (Kitchener and Cambridge)
• Polish Wednesday (Kitchener Main)
• Arabic Wednesday (Kitchener Main)

Ongoing registration for English Language classes.  We offer classes, morning and afternoon, evening and Saturdays. Multiple locations to choose from! Register Monday to Friday mornings.

Secondary School Day Classes are well underway! Struggling?  #dontgiveupupgrade with Core Essentials basic literacy and numeracy support to be better prepared for or get through your math or English credit course. Ask for Dina to find out how.

Upcoming Skills Training Intake Dates:

• Hairstyling & Barber Training – Tuesday, Oct 2 at 6:00 pm
• Culinary Arts Training– Thursday, Oct 18 at 9:00am
• Personal Support Worker (PSW) Training – Monday, Nov 26 at 9:00am

Visit our webpages for details!