Date Change for Hair, Culinary and PSW students

Hair and Culinary Students

ALL Hairstyling, Barbering and Culinary students will return to in-person learning starting Wednesday, February 10th . This delay will allow time to set up a few new safety measures we are implementing in these learning environments at St. Louis. Remote learning from home will continue on Monday February 8th and Tuesday February 9th and attendance will be taken.

Personal Support Worker Students

Effective February 8, ALL PSW students will be working remotely for theory components. Only lab and placement components will be in-person. Students will get specific direction from their instructors based on the stage of their training and their class specific schedule for the lab and placements. If you need to reach your instructor, please call 519-745-1201 x288.

Students from the following programs return to in-person learning on Monday, February 8th:

Core Essentials
ESL & LINC for CLB Literacy to Level 1 who attended class in December (Note: St. Francis Campus re-opens for Literacy and Level 1 students on Feb 16)
Pre-approved Childminding and Child Care Services at Main Campus and Highland Campus

The following programs will continue in a REMOTE LEARNING environment until further notice:

Secondary School Credit day classes and online learning
ESL & LINC for CLB Level 2 or higher
ALL International Languages Elementary and Secondary
Grades 7-10 Homework Clubs

IMPORTANT for ALL St. Louis students

A few reminders for everyone’s safety:

Students must complete the self-screening tool before arriving at the school. This self-screening can be found on the St. Louis website, at the top of the homepage. A QR code to complete the self-assessment on your device will also be available upon arrival at the school.
Teachers will confirm with students that they have completed the self-screening tool, when taking DAILY attendance.
Staff and students need to sanitize their hands when entering the school, as well as when entering and leaving the classroom.
Students must wear masks or face coverings properly at all times (unless an approved exemption form has been received):
- in schools, including in hallways, washrooms and during classes;
- outdoors, where physical distance cannot be maintained;
- eating and drink during class time is not permitted. Drinking with a straw under a mask is allowed.
- small group lunch rooms are being created for full day students. Eating lunch is the only time a mask may be down.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and caring for the health and well-being of all.

Some St. Louis students return to in-person learning on Monday

CoronavirusUpdateSlider

Effective Monday, February 8, 2021, St. Louis will be have all staff return to our campuses and students from the following programs return to in-person learning:

Core Essentials
ESL & LINC for CLB Literacy to Level 1 (St. Francis Campus return date to be determined)
Childminding and Child Care Services
Personal Support Worker
Hairstyling / Barber
Culinary Arts

The following programs will continue in a REMOTE LEARNING environment until further notice:

Secondary school credit day classes and online learning
ESL & LINC for CLB Level 2 or higher
ALL International Languages Elementary and Secondary
Grades 7-10 Homework Clubs

ENHANCED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Mandatory Masking

Students in Grades 1 to 12 and adults must wear masks or face coverings, unless an approved exemption form has been received:

in schools, including in hallways and during classes
on school transportation
outdoors, where physical distance cannot be maintained

Students in kindergarten are also required to wear non-medical or cloth masks in indoor spaces, including school transportation.

Mandatory Self-Screening of Students & Staff

Students and staff need to check for symptoms of illness every day before going to school. You can screen your child or yourself by taking the COVID-19 school and child care screening

Enhanced On-site Screening

Schools will conduct daily on-site confirmation of self-screening for secondary students, staff and visitors – either before entering the school, or at the start of the school day.

Secondary students

As of February 10, all secondary students must confirm their COVID-19 self-screening result daily.

Teachers and staff

As of January 25, all school staff must confirm their COVID-19 self-screening result daily.

Visitors to Schools

Non-essential visitors, including parents, are not allowed in schools. Only essential visitors are allowed to enter schools. Essential visitors include people who:

ensure school safety, such as through inspections by the fire marshal’s office or by public health
provide school-based health services to students
are parents (properly masked), dropping off extended day students

**If you are a parent of a child who attends a WCDSB Catholic elementary or secondary school, please read the following message from the WCDSB Director of Education:

Special Welcome Back to School Message from the Director of Education

Dear Waterloo Catholic Community –

We have made it through what felt like a long January. We sincerely hope that this letter finds you and your family well, and that you and your families are finding ways to stay positive during this challenging time. Today’s letter brings another update – one that has been eagerly awaited by many of our staff and students.

On Wednesday, February 3^rd the Minister of Education, informed by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, declared that schools in Waterloo Region could return to in person learning. As I said, I know that our staff have been amazing in delivering learning remotely for the past several weeks, be we also know that the majority of staff and students are keen to return to their schools and in person learning. Thank you to our staff and to all our students and families who have been so wonderful during this time. We know it was not always easy.

The numbers for COVID-19 positive cases in the region have come down dramatically and this is a very good thing. As I have said in previous communications, working remotely for a few weeks now ensures that as our staff and students return to the classroom, we will be doing so safely. With that said – there are a few updates and reminders of which to be aware:

Masking:

Students in Grades K -12 require masks, and students from grades 1-12 will require a formal approved exemption form if they are unable to wear a mask. (The requirement for a formal exemption form in grades 1-3 if a child is unable to wear a mask is a new addition) Students in Grades 1 – 8 should bring a second mask daily that they can use for outdoor activities, such as recess. Washing masks on a daily basis so that they remain clean and effective, is recommended.

Screening:

Staff and students continue to be required to Self Screen before arriving at school (or immediately upon arrival). Staff and secondary students will now have to provide confirmation of having completed their self screening on a daily basis. Secondary classroom teachers will complete that confirmation upon the student’s arrival in class. The student self-screener is found here: COVID-19 school and child care screening

Elementary Transition Survey:

I would also like to provide an update on the elementary school transition survey. There was to be one final opportunity for parents of WCDSB children to indicate if they wanted their children to return back to in person learning or if they wished to switch to remote learning for the remainder of the year. This survey was originally to take place January 27^th to 29^th. WCDSB will now administer the survey on February 16^th – 18^th, immediately after Family Day Weekend. The official transition date for any student who chooses to change their learning method will be Monday March 8^th, 2021.

Once again, we encourage you to visit Ontario.ca/covidresponse to learn what public health measures are in place in our community – but also please be aware that these could change depending on the most current public health advice. We also suggest checking out the WCDSB website https://www.wcdsb.ca/living-learning-looking-forward/ and Region of Waterloo Public Health website https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/2019-novel-coronavirus.aspx as they contain helpful resources and supports. If you have any questions about what your particular school is doing, please reach out to your local school principal.

I will continue to remind all community members that mental health resources are available to students and families through Kids Help Phone, which offers 24/7 counselling and referral services across the province. To use this free resource, children can call 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868.

If there are any further updates we will certainly share them as soon as possible. Please know that we continue to be in this together and day by day we will make it through. Thank you for all that you have done to walk with us through this time. Let’s continue to remain people of hope, informed by our Faith. Please reach out to us if you need help or guidance, and remain confident that we are here to support you, as we walk together as a hope-filled community. #InThisTogether

Sincerely,

Loretta Notten

Director of Education

St. Louis – School Closure Period EXTENDED

CoronavirusUpdateSlider

School continues to be closed to in-person learning

All St. Louis classes, including secondary school credit courses, school-to-work skills training (Hair, Culinary and PSW training), English and children’s language programs and other support services such as Guidance, Core Essentials and Child care services will ALL continue in remote learning environments until at least February 11, 2021.

If you are a current St. Louis student and have specific questions about your remote learning continuance, please contact your instructor directly.

This clarification notice stems from communication circulated within the Director of Education Update, published January 21st. The following excerpt applies to St. Louis students, however we invite all students and parents of the WCDSB to read the Director’s Update in its entirety.

Excerpt from Director of Education Update

“Dear Waterloo Catholic Community…

… The main purpose of this letter is to inform you that the government and Ministry of Education specifically, have communicated that Waterloo Region will continue learning remotely at this time. While a number of regions across the province have now returned to face-to-face learning, each region is being assessed based on the COVID positivity rates within that region. This approach will ensure that when our staff and students do return to the classroom, we will be doing so safely.

We know our schools are safe and there is a desire to ensure they remain safe. Closing the schools to in-person learning for the remainder January and early February will help us contain the cases that come into schools and ensure that when we return to our buildings, we are doing so in the safest manner possible. It is our understanding that the next window for return will occur on February 11^th. We would expect to hear approximately a week before then as to which regions will be permitted to return to face to face learning.

… I will also take this opportunity to remind that mental health resources are available to students and families through Kids Help Phone, which offers 24/7 counselling and referral services across the province. To use this free resource, children can call 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868 …”

~ Sincerely, Loretta Notten, Director of Education

Please Learn at Home for a Safe and Healthy 2021

Wishing you fresh new beginnings for 2021.

Let’s stay safe and hopeful as we continue our learning this year. If you are choosing “education” as part of your 2021 goals and plans, we would love to be a part of that journey. Visit our website https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca to begin your search or to share with someone you know. January 2021 just might look a little different.

If you are a current St. Louis student:

ALL St. Louis Campuses are CLOSED to in-person learning. This means ALL St. Louis CLASSES (including hands-on skills training classes and childcare services) will switch to remote learning until January 25 (or until further notice). Program start-up dates for 2021 remain the same and are posted on the St. Louis homepage: https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca .

NOTES:

We are still registering for Term 3 Secondary Credit Classes that begin Tuesday, January 5th.
Culinary Arts Training, Registration & Interviews will continue online on Wednesday, January 13th for class that starts February 1st.
English Language classes at all locations, regardless of language levels, will switch to remote learning and new ESL/ LINC student registrations continue to be accepted.

FOR UPDATES:

Please visit https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca
Contact your teacher during regularly scheduled class time, daily, for class work and assignments.
Follow St. Louis on Twitter @StLouisWCDSB or Facebook StLouisALC.
Subscribe to St. Louis Newswire with your email address for us to send direct notifications.

HELPFUL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT:

WCDSB website https://www.wcdsb.ca/living-learning-looking-forward/
Region of Waterloo Public Health website https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/2019-novel-coronavirus.aspx
Free Region of Waterloo Emergency Childcare program from January 4 to January 8, 2021 for school-age children. The program is being offered at no cost to parents who work in eligible health care and critical frontline services.
http://here247.ca/ (crisis services)
https://kidshelpphone.ca/ (24/7 online counselling service)
https://mindyourmind.ca/ (info & tools to help manage stress, crisis and mental health concerns)
https://anxietycanada.com/ (info & tools to help manage anxiety)
https://www.frontdoormentalhealth.com/ (mental health services for children and youth)

APPS to support Mental Wellness:

MindShift CBT
Calm
Be Safe
Always There

_________________________________________

If you are a parent of a child who attends a WCDSB school, Please Read message from December 22nd:

Important Information Regarding Extended Christmas Break

Dear Waterloo Catholic Community –

As you know we have commenced our well-deserved Christmas Break and we hope that for each of you, it is starting as well as it can under our current circumstances. No doubt you are likely also aware, the Premier of the Province has indicated that the return to school in January will be remote. That is, on January 4^th both our elementary and our secondary students will begin the new year learning virtually. The decision is being made out of an abundance of caution. We know our schools are safe. The cases of COVID are not starting, nor are they spreading, in our schools, but we are a reflection of the community. Closing the schools to in person learning for the early part of January will help us contain the cases that come into schools and ensure that when we return to our buildings, we are doing so in the safest manner possible.

Our elementary schools will return to face-to-face learning on Monday January 11^th, 2021 and our secondary schools will return to face to face learning on Monday January 25^th, 2021.

Just before we left for the break, we were given an indication that the government might choose a remote return in January. Given the short timelines, we made a “best efforts” attempt to send home Chromebooks with all those students for whom we had a prior request through our comprehensive survey. If there are outstanding orders that were missed, they will be deployed upon our return on January 4^th. Schools and Extended Day programs currently remain closed and unavailable to staff, students and parents. All school staff and teachers are on a well-deserved break and will be available for questions and updates as of January 4^th, 2021.

The move to remote learning will be different than last spring when the face-to-face hours with teachers was limited. The school day will follow the bell times of your individual school and if not already received, you/your student will be given a clear indication of the daily schedule your child is to follow through your local school. Again, we might expect that the first day or two back in January may not be perfectly smooth as we all adjust to the new reality. St Isidore students will continue as per the usual schedule.

For our high needs special education students we would like to provide the following guidance. In elementary, students with high needs will learn remotely as with the rest of your class and per the class daily schedule, but there will be “break-out” rooms where additional support is possible. Your return to face-to-face learning will be January 11^th 2020. For secondary high need students, you will also leaning virtually for the first week back (again with breakout rooms) and by January 11^th we will provide more detail with an option for transportation and face to face learning in your local school setting.

As of today, we are still planning to proceed with our Secondary Transition Survey regarding quadmesters 3 and 4. The current decision to move to virtual is a short-term strategy and there will be a return to face to face learning on January 25^th (as we near the end of quadmester 2). Please keep in mind if you choose “face to face learning in the bricks and mortar schools” or if you choose “virtual” that is your choice through to the end of June.

Thank you for adhering to public health and safety measures that have ensured schools remain a safe place for our students and staff. This will be more important than ever now – both for our schools and for our community at large. During the upcoming Christmas Break we must adhere to the guidance to limit our contacts and social gatherings. You can check the government’s holiday web page for more direct and up-to-date guidance on how individuals and families can plan for a safe holiday season, including suggestions for safer holiday activities for children and families.

I will also take this opportunity to point out that mental health resources are available to students and families through Kids Help Phone, which offers 24/7 counselling and referral services across the province. To use this free resource, children can call 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868.

This is likely not the Christmas any of us envisioned or desired. These challenges are real and the hardships can be quite difficult for some. But we can see the light in the distance. We can also see the profound light of the manger. Let us continue to be people of hope who celebrate the birth of a tiny babe who shared a powerful message of love and salvation. Please reach out to us if you need help or guidance, and remain confident that we are here to support you, as we walk together as a hope-filled community. #InThisTogether #WeGotThis

Sincerely,

Loretta Notten

Director of Education

See you in 2021… From St. Louis

As the last student and teacher leaves the classroom today (on site or virtually).

As the last staff person flips the sign to “closed”.

And as we all prepare for a quiet Christmas season, know that St. Louis will be ready to ‘begin again’ on Monday, January 4th, 2021. Please stay healthy and safe this holiday.

When you refer to the St. Louis’ December and January Holiday Schedule , ask yourself “Who will YOU Become in 2021?”

St-Louis-December-2020-January-2021-Schedule

Who Will YOU Become in 2021?

As we approach the end of 2020, the new year brings a range of possibilities.

Have you always wanted to finish your high school diploma? Did life get in the way?
Are you at a point in your life that you want to switch careers? Upgrade to get into college or university?
Do you want to make a difference in this new world of ours – to your family, to your community?

Ask yourself the question: “Who Will You Become in 2021?”

Sign up now until Dec 17 for secondary school credit classes starting January 5th . Take St. Louis classes NOW for your college/university applications due soon, so you can start in September 2021 . Talk to our Guidance Services about the ways you can earn credits while working.

If you’ve been out of school for a while and still need your high school diploma, find out what you need to be successful — Book a Core Essentials Assessment.

Pursue a passion and gain employment readiness skills. All in-class portions are 6 months in length with excellent work placements after!

Culinary Arts Training to become a cook (SPACE AVAILABLE for February 1st start)
Pre-apprenticeship Hairstyling /Barber training or
become a Certified Personal Support Worker (PSW)

St. Louis culinary students working with chef teacher on a recipe

Will you learn a language? Take a college course? Improve your English language skills? Help your child become more confident and successful in school?

To pursue the armed forces, get your heavy equipment operator license, earn a supervisory role in your current place of employment — all require your high school diploma.

Whoever YOU Become in 2021 – know that St. Louis can help you get there!

https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca

stlouis@wcdsb.ca

St. Louis Evening Classes Move to Remote Learning – Dec 1

weather alert using a snowflake and caution sign

December 1, 2020 (as of 12:00pm)

Due to the current weather conditions, St. Louis Continuing Education and Adult and Learning Centre buildings are CLOSED to students and staff for afternoon and evening classes. When All St. Louis programs and services switch to or continue as remote learning on any weather affected day, this means that afternoon and evening classes become remote learning, as well.

School closures on weather impacted learning days affects:

Secondary School Credit Day classes – 12:30pm-3:30pm (students see details on D2L announcements)
Core Essentials (Literacy and Basic Skills) class – 12:30pm-3:30pm
English Language EVENING classes (ESL) – 6:30pm-9:30pm
Personal Support Worker (PSW) PART-TIME EVENING class – 4:30pm-9:30pm

For notifications on future Weather Impacted Learning Days:

Visit: https://wcdsb.ca

Subscribe to receive automatic notifications: Provide your email address to St. Louis Newswire at the bottom of our website https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca

Follow:

@StLouisWCDSB on Twitter (https://twitter.com/StLouisWCDSB) or @WCDSBNewswire

stlouisalc (https://www.facebook.com/stlouisalc)

Weather Impacted Learning Day, All Buses Cancelled, All Schools Closed

December 1, 2020

Due to the current weather conditions:

St. Louis Continuing Education and Adult and Learning Centre buildings are CLOSED to students and staff.
All St. Louis programs and services are NOT CANCELLED.
Learning in ALL St. Louis programs is switched to or continued as a Remote Learning Day.

If you have children, KEEP THEM HOME.

ALL SCHOOL BUSES, TAXIS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTES are cancelled.
All schools and sites are CLOSED and it will be a Remote Learning Day.
Students will be provided with asynchronous student work by 10 am, as each classroom teacher has a Google Classroom or D2L site.
Normal bell times will be followed to allow students to contact their teacher through the LMS or email.
All Extended Day Childcare Programs are CLOSED.

Cooks, Hairstylists and PSW’s of 2021

Have you really thought about the adaptations all industries have made during the pandemic?

Training for these industries has had to adapt as well. So what does your future hold? At St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres, there is Hope, Opportunity and Success for All. You can upgrade secondary school credits toward a pre-requisite for any college or university program, work toward finally finishing your high school diploma or improve your English with teacher support. Or you could consider hands-on, in-person, skills training programs.

Over the next two weeks, St. Louis is recruiting for our three skills training programs.

A few unknowns about St. Louis’ skills training or ‘school-to-work’ programs is that:

Tuition is paid for by the Ministry of Education,
Materials fees are low ($1,300)
and Secondary School Credits can be earned or upgraded.

Bring a fresh start to the new year and be work-ready by next Fall.

Pre-register and book an evening intake appointment NOW for:

Wednesday, November 18 Hairstyling / Barber training intake session – Start date: January 4, 2021
Wednesday, November 25 Culinary Arts training intake session – Start date: Feb 1, 2021

Covid-19 has shown the high demand for trained Personal Support Workers and St. Louis is accepting pre-registrations for 2021 Certified PSW Training classes. Although the February 2021 PSW class is already full, inquire now to be on the waiting list.

For more information about any of these affordable, skills training programs, please email: stlouis@wcdsb.ca

St. Louis Term 2 classes start on a Friday?

Who thinks about going back to school on a Friday at the end of October?

Adults who are determined to get their high school diploma – no matter how long it has been or how many credits you ‘think’ you still need!
Adults who have sights on post-secondary for 2021 (university, college, trades)
People looking for work and need to brush up on skills or pivot directions
Newcomers to Canada who have improved their English levels to Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 6+ and are ready to have their International Education recognized and high school equivalencies measured
Existing St. Louis students who just finished a rigorous 8 weeks of remote learning from home on the Desire to Learn (D2L) platform and are that much closer to reaching your goals.

Secondary School Credit (SSC) day classes are offered morning and afternoon. During Covid-19 restrictions, these day classes are still being taught remotely or through distance learning. St. Louis is a really great adult, school-board run institution that will be a safe landing space to prepare you for your future. Commit to the set times every morning and/or afternoon, Monday to Friday from October 30th to December 18th and earn one or two SSC’s toward your goal.

You’ve heard of Motivation Mondays? Let’s call this Fired-up Friday.

Don’t wait! It’s never to late to start or upgrade. Get motivated and let us help you reach your goals!

Term 2 Course Selection Form is available Oct 29, 30 and Nov 2 ONLY during Guidance Office Hours. A Guidance Counsellor will get back to you as quickly as possible, to get you started.

For more information visit: https://stlouis.wcdsb.ca/programsandcourses/ssc/day-classes/

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