15 Gatehouse Dr.
Cambridge, ON
HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC SCHOOL
N1P 1C7
519-621-8973
P AGE
SCHOOL WEBSITE
1
P R INC IP AL: M R . K. HE R OD
VI C E P R I NC IP AL: M R S. C. KU N TZ
APRIL NEWSLETTER
HTTP://
HOLYSP IRIT.WCDSB.
Administration’s Message
CA/P AGES/
It is hard to believe that we are close to entering the month of April. Spring is definitely in the air. We remind
our students to continue to work hard and to do their best. Now is the ideal time for our students to examine
areas they would like to improve and to identify the goals which can lead to success.
DEFAU LT. ASP X
We continue to have a prayerful Lent as we prepare for the death and resurrection of our Lord. The Easter
Triduum (i.e. the celebration of the Lord’s last supper Holy Thursday, His Passion and Death Good Friday and
His Resurrection Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday) is the most sacred liturgy of our Church year. This liturgy
celebrates the love our Saviour has offered to us and reminds us of our life in Christ. At our school we are
renewed by God’s unconditional love and forgiveness as we celebrate the Gospel message in all that we say
and do every day.
EQAO
Please note that
our school will be
writing the EQAO
assessments on
the following dates:
Gr. 3—May 25-29
Gr. 6—June 1-5
Please keep these
days open for your
child to participate
if they are in Gr. 3
or 6.
The staff and students would like to offer our prayers and warmest wishes to our Grade 2 and Grade 7
students who will be receiving Sacraments this month. The Grade 2’s
received First Reconciliation on March 9 in preparation for First Holy
Eucharist on Saturday, April 18th at 1:00 p.m. at St. Ambrose Catholic
Church. Our Gr. 7 students will receive Confirmation on Monday, April
27th @ 7:00 PM with Bishop Miehm. We would like to offer a special
thank you to our Gr. 7 & Gr. 2 teachers and Father Irek and Jacek for
helping prepare our students for these special occasions.
Next month we are celebrating Catholic Education Week. This includes
some special events. Please keep reading information sent home to find
out what we have planned.
Please accept our warmest wishes for a blessed Easter with friends and
family as we celebrate Christ’s passion on the cross and his rising from
the grave.
Sincerely,
Mr. K. Herod & Mrs. C. Kuntz
Mr. Sub Luncheon Days
We continue to work with
www.lunchboxorders.com for our hot
lunches. Please consider going online and look to order subs for the next
month. Below are the Hot Lunch
dates:
Wednesday, April 8
Wednesday, May 13
Wednesday, June 3
Easter Prayer
Lord, You have arisen forever in my Heart!
May the sunrise remind me to shine
in Your light.
May the caress of a gentle breeze remind me of
Your compassion.
May the fragrance of a flower remind me to
blossom in Your love.
May the singing of birds bring a song of joy to
my lips.
And in the closing of each day may I remember
to quietly pray.
Wherever I am, whatever I do may
my thoughts in joy return to You!
Amen
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HOLY SPIRIT NEWSLETTER—APRIL 2015
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Street Safety
Waterloo Regional Police are asking that you review the important street safety precautions with
your child(ren) discussed in school, in order to help support and reinforce school safety
program;
 Play safe and play together. Do not play in remote areas of parks or take short cuts through
the woods.
 Do not wander on the way to or from school.
 Do not go ANYWHERE with a stranger and do not accept rides for any reason. Do not be
afraid to say “NO” to any request and run away quickly.
 Advise an adult of any suspicious strangers right away.
 Do not accept any treats i.e. candies, toys or money from a stranger for any reason.
 Always notify your parent where you are and where you are going, especially if it is a
change in routine.
Earth Week 2013
Earth Week is the week of April 21 to 27 and Mother Nature is looking for a little bit of TLC. We will be
celebrating in a variety of ways. Daily announcements will encourage all of us to remember
environmental issues. We plan to run a few activities, including cleaning our school grounds, litter-less
lunches, Earth Day posters and recycling challenges in the classroom
Spring Reminders
With the warmer weather arriving soon, it is appropriate to remind our students about school policies related
to recreational equipment.
 Roller blades, wheelies, skateboards, and scooters are not allowed at school or on school busses. This
is a safety consideration for all our students.
 Students are recommended to bring only types of balls that are not hard construction. This again is a
safety consideration for all our students playing on the yard.
 Please have the students continue to wear boots during this weather. The children play outside and the
field is wet and muddy.
Safe and Secure Schools
To ensure the safety and well-being of all students these procedures MUST be followed by all who
visit our school.
1. Visitors, parents, high-school students, and others must report to the main office and obtain a
Visitor’s Identification badge if you wish to proceed beyond the main office area of our school. A
pass can be obtained by checking and signing in at the office.
2. During recess and lunch-break parents, visitors or any other adults are NOT permitted to be on
our school playground. Please report to the office.
3. Any parent who wishes to contact his/her child during the school day must proceed to the main
office and inform the Admin Assistant / Principal.
4. Any individuals who do not follow the above requests will be asked to leave school property
immediately.
HOLY
SPIRIT
CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
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HOLY SPIRIT NEWSLETTER—APRIL 2015
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NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES…
“GO FLAMES GO”
HOLY
…FOR PERSONAL USE, ARE TO BE
BROUGHT TO SCHOOL. THIS INCLUDES
ALL HAND HELD GAMES AND CELL
PHONES. PLEASE KEEP THEM FOR
USE AT HOME. APPROVED
COMPUTERS FOR CLASS USE ARE
ACCEPTABLE.
Paint a Bright Future with Us!
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board is pleased to offer a fee based
Extended Day Program for children from JK to grade 6.
We….
 Provide before and after-school learning for children in Grades JK to 6 with






a Full/Part-time recurring schedule
Are available from as early as 7:00 a.m. to as late as 6:00 p.m.
Incorporate the same play-based, inquiry and exploration approach taken in
the regular school day.
Offer parents a convenient school location and a safe and healthy
environment for young children with no wait lists
Are run by knowledgeable Early Childhood Educators
Allow for consistency and security for parents and children
Are available for an affordable fee offering a variety of payment methods
including most major credit cards
Are eligible for Region of Waterloo child care subsidy

To register visit www.wcdsb.ca
Extended Day Programs will operate only at sites with sufficient parent demand.
Program location will be announced by May 15, 2014.
2015-16 Transportation Eligibility
Please go online to www.stswr.ca and check your child’s transportation
eligibility for next year. There are step by step instructions on the
website. This is especially important for students moving from Grade 3
to Grade 4 as the walking distance changes from 0.8 km to 1.6 km.
Thank you!
SPIRIT
CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
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HOLY SPIRIT NEWSLETTER—APRIL 2015
Thank you Waterloo Catholic School Foundation
The Intermediate Staff and Students of Holy Spirit School are grateful to the Waterloo Catholic Schools Foundation for having
donated $1500.00 towards the 2014 Ballroom Dance Program. Their partnership and generosity are very much appreciated by all
staff and students and the money has helped to defer the cost of the lessons for each student. The students learned the ChaCha, Merengue and the Salsa. At the end of the sessions, the students performed in a friendly ballroom competition or as we say
here at Holy Spirit...Joy Day!. The winners of the competition are scheduled to compete at the Regional Competition this spring.
Administrative Professional Day
On April 22nd we will celebrate Administrative Professionals’ Day at Holy Spirit. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs.
Falsetto & Mrs. Lubaska’s for all they do to keep Holy Spirit’s School office in top notch working order. With changes again this year
it has been wonderful working with these competent ladies. We would not be able to manage without their continuous support
working so carefully with our staff, students and parents. Please be sure to stop by the office that day and thank them for all their
effort to keep our school running well!
Family Information—Changes for next year?
Please notify the school office of any changes in your work/home/cell telephone numbers, place of employment, change of sitter or
any such pertinent information. It is very distressing, as you can well imagine, to have to make contact in times of medical
emergency, illness or school closure.
Also if you are planning to move and your children will not be attending our school in September, please notify the office as we will
begin organizing for next year in May.
EQAO Primary and Junior Assessments
Our Grade 3 students will write the test from May 25th to the 29th. Our Grade 6 students will write their provincial test from June 1th
to the 5th. Consistent attendance during the testing period will help make it a positive experience. It is very important that students be
in full attendance during each of the days when the test is being written. We hope that advance notice of specific assessment dates
will help you to schedule medical appointments for your child(ren) outside of assessment dates.
WCDSB Intent to be Absent Form
If you are planning a vacation or absence for more than 5 consecutive days please request an Intent to be Absent Form Temporary
Student withdrawal from the office to be completed and returned to the office prior to your leaving.
Dropping off Lunches
If it is your intention to drop off your children’s lunch, or water bottles at the office, we have (outside of the office) a lunch table we
ask that all lunches/water bottles are placed on the table and ensure students are instructed before they come to school to pick it up
at 11:55am and that you will ensure your child’s name is marked on it. This will eliminate the necessity of having to call students to
the office individually during learning time.
Kindergarten Registration
Have you registered your child yet for Kindergarten?
Please call Holy Spirit School at 519-621-8973 to book an appointment.
This also applies to students going into Senior Kindergarten who have
not attended Junior Kindergarten. Students who are presently in JK do
not need to register for classes in September.
All classes in September are full day and every day for all students.
Junior Kindergarten: a child born before December 31, 2011.
Senior Kindergarten: a child born before December 31, 2010.
Please visit https://www.wcdsb.ca/ on the main webpage click
Kindergarten Registration for 2015-2016. Click view details.
What is required to register and all forms are listed for parents.
Parents/Visitors at the
School
All parents and visitors must
sign in at the office. Anyone in
the school without a pass will
be asked to report to the office
immediately.
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HOLY SPIRIT NEWSLETTER—APRIL 2015
April Math Bit: The evolution of math class (Pt. 2)
The way your child(ren) learn math has probably changed quite a bit since you were in school! Now,
students have opportunities to work with problems that are “open-ended.” This means that there is
more than one answer, thus an ‘open end’ result. These questions promote flexibility in thinking and
creative thinking skills.
Examples:
* The answer is 42. What might the question be?
* A shape has 4 sides. What might it be?
* I have $10.70. What coins and/or bills might I have?
* A fraction is between 1/8 and 3/6. What might the fraction be?
* When you add 3 numbers together, the result is close to 800. What might the numbers be?
* A tree is taller than 1 m, but less than 350 cm. How tall might the tree measure?
Consider being a partner in exploring open-ended questions together. Think about asking your own
open-ended questions and discussing possible answers together. You might ask, “What else could the
solution be? How did you figure that out?” Share ideas and be playful with the math!
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HOLY SPIRIT NEWSLETTER—APRIL 2015
Brought to you by Lunchbox Orders:
Fluid and Kids! – What you need to know
Amy Skeoch, MHSc, RD
Spring and summer are just around the corner, so it’s important to remind ourselves that with warmer weather comes an increased
risk of becoming dehydrated. Getting enough fluid is important for our bodies because it helps to: Move nutrients and waste through
the body; Maintain proper blood pressure and body temperature; Protect and cushion joints and organs.
How much fluid do kids need?
Age
/
Cups per day (approximate amount; 1 cup = 250 mL)*
0–12 months
/
3
1–3 years
/
3½
4–8 years
/
5
9–13 years (girls) /
6½
9–13 years (boys)/
7
*Dietary reference intakes for fluid
What counts as fluid?
Milk, 100% real juice and water. But remember to also count items your child may have as meals, such as soups, or milk on cereal –
these all count toward your child’s fluid intake.
Tips to meet fluid needs:
Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge at home so it’s cold and ready to go.
Ensure your child has one cup of fluid with each meal.
Freeze 100% juice in Popsicle forms for a cool treat between meals.
How do I know if they are getting enough?
One of the best indicators of fluid status is urine colour. If your child’s urine is dark yellow and has a strong smell, they may need
more fluid. Urine that is light yellow or clear in colour usually means they are well-hydrated. Thirst is, of course, another indicator –
encourage your children to listen to their bodies and drink when they are thirsty.
References:
http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Articles/Water/Facts-on-Fluids---How-to-stay-hydrated
American College of Sports Medicine, Sawka MN, Burke LM, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and fluid replacement. Med Sci
Sports Exerc. 2007
Naughton GA, Carlson JS. Reducing the risk of heat-related decrements to physical activity in young people. J Sci Med Sport. 2008 [cited 2008 11 Aug];11(1):5865.
http://www2.ca.uky.edu/enri/pubs/enri129.pdf
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HOLY SPIRIT NEWSLETTER—APRIL 2015
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HOLY SPIRIT NEWSLETTER—APRIL 2015
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HOLY SPIRIT NEWSLETTER—APRIL 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
Saturday
4
9 AM Gr. 8
Graduation
Photos
1:00 Stations of
the Cross
5
6
Easter
Monday
(No School)
7
8
9
Good Friday
(No School)
10
11
17
18
P.A. Day
1:00 pm
(No School)
First
Commu
nion
24
25
Gr. 2 First
Communion
retreat
6:00 PM Parent
Math Workshop
12
19
13
20
14
15
9:30 Easter Mass
at School
Gr. 8 Youth
Symposium
21
22
Earth Day
16
23
Walk to School
Day
26
27
Confirmation
With Bishop
Miehm
28
29
30
Gr. 3 Fire Safety
visit