A Message from Administration
St. Hedwig Catholic School is a vibrant learning community, where all children are supported in developing to their fullest potential in a safe and nurturing environment. It is a Catholic learning community built on the fundamental partnership between home, school and parish.
As parents/guardians you have chosen to provide your children with a Catholic education – an education which fosters and nurtures the search and acquisition of knowledge as a spiritual and academic journey; an education which views human life as the integrated parts of body, mind and spirit. At St. Hedwig Catholic School we celebrate spirituality through achieving, believing and striving to be the best we can in an inclusive Catholic environment reflective of our Catholic traditions.
The St. Hedwig Catholic School Community is committed to maintaining high academic standards throughout each grade, as well as promoting responsible and respectful behaviour. At all times we are expected to do our best to demonstrate our love for God by respecting each other and trying our best to achieve the expectations of our parents, teachers and our faith. We encourage students to get involved in all aspects of their school community – academics, extra-curricular and service. This helps to build self-confidence and a sense of value and purpose, as well as promoting positive relationships among all students. We manage student discipline in a Progressive and Restorative approach, giving the students the tools they need to make amends for mistakes, while at the same time serving appropriate consequences for their actions. We believe in honesty, responsibility and accountability for our actions.
This Catholic School Agenda provides our students and parents with important information about our school community. As well, it has been developed to help parents and educators work together to fully support the education and faith development of Catholic students. Consistent and daily use of the agenda will assist students in developing their organizational skills as well as support learning success. The agenda is an excellent communication tool between home and school – please support your child(ren) in their daily use of the agenda. We also encourage families to check the school website and twitter on a regular basis for updated monthly calendars, messages from the office and updates on what is happening at St. Hedwig Catholic School.
Best wishes for a very successful school year.
Sincerely,
Ms. Kate Remiz Ms. J. van Hezewyk
Principal Vice Principal
| Our Patron Saint, St. Hedwig |
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Saint Hedwig lived from 1174-1243 A.D. She was a duchess and widow, the patroness of Silesia, a region of Eastern Europe. She died in a Cistercian convent, having taken her vows to become a Sister. St. Hedwig was born in Andechs, Bavaria, Germany, the daughter of the Duke of Croatia and Dalmatia. At the age of 12, Hedwig was married to Duke Henry of Silesia, the head of the Polish Royal family. They had seven children, and they had a happy marriage. Henry & Hedwig founded a Cistercian convent at Trebnitz, as well as hospitals and monasteries. Henry died in 1238 and Hedwig became a Cistercian at Trebnitz. She died in the convent on October 15. Many miracles were reported after her death, and she was canonized in 1267. The feast day of Saint Hedwig is October 16. |
| Our School Prayer |
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God of wisdom, We praise You and we bless You. You teach us Your ways. May wisdom flow through our classrooms; May compassion walk gently in our hallways; May joy ring out in our playground and gymnasium; May words of integrity and justice be spoken in our office and our staffroom. By our joyful hope let all know that St. Hedwig is God’s School. |
| Catholic Graduate Expectations |
Our goal is to help students become proficient in the Catholic Graduate Expectations below:
Our student’s efforts will be recognized at our St. Hedwig Celebrates Assemblies. Learning and working together. |
| School and Parish Community |
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The staff at St. Hedwig Catholic School works closely with St. Hedwig Church as well as the general community to develop the faith life of our students. Daily prayer, religious lessons, Masses and liturgical celebrations and presentations are part of school life. St. Hedwig Church assists with special religious instruction such as sacramental preparation and supports faith-based activities at our school. We are also very fortunate to have the Rosary Apostolate be an active part of our school. Celebrations rooted in our faith are held throughout the school year. Family and community members are always invited and encouraged to attend. Over the course of the school year we participate in a variety of social justice projects in order to support our parish and community. Through these outreach initiatives we hope that our students will develop the ability to become collaborative contributors who find meaning, dignity, fulfillment and vocation in work that contributes to the common good. |
| St. Hedwig Catholic Church |
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Pastor: Father Marcin Dzilinski Office Secretary: Anna Luchowska Phone: (905) 576-0434 Mass Schedule: Saturday - 5:00 p.m. Sunday – 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. (English Mass), 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. |
| St. Hedwig Catholic School Council |
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The St. Hedwig Catholic School Council is active in developing the partnership between school and home. All parents/guardians are invited to attend council meetings and are encouraged to get involved. Your participation is valued and supports many activities and information sessions that enhance student learning. The Catholic School Council endeavors to:
Elections for positions on the Catholic School Council are held annually in the fall. Regular meetings are held throughout the year. All parents/guardians and guests are welcome to attend. Please check Edsby for meeting dates and times. |
| Volunteers |
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Volunteers are always welcome at St. Hedwig Catholic School. They provide assistance in a variety of ways. Our school community is very appreciative of the support and assistance we receive from our parents and community members. Please contact your child’s teacher or the school if you are interested in volunteering. Due to Covid safety protocols, we have limited opportunities throughout the year. As per the DCDSB’s Safe Schools Policy, all volunteers must have a police check with vulnerable sector on file at the school that is current within 12 months. If you plan on volunteering and have not yet provided us with this documentation, or if it is set to expire, we encourage you to get an updated check. We can provide you with a letter to take to the police station indicating that you are a volunteer that allows you to get the check at a reduced rate. If you require this letter, please contact the school office. We will also require proof of double vaccination for you to enter the school. |
| Daily School Schedule |
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Entry Bell - 8:45 a.m. Morning Yard Supervision is from 8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Students should not arrive before 8:30 a.m. |
| P.A. Days and Holidays for the 2022/2023 School Year |
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Holidays Labour Day - September 5th Thanksgiving - October 10th Christmas Vacation - December 26th – January 6th (return to school January 9th) Family Day - February 20th , 2023 March Break - March 10th-March 17th Good Friday - April 7th Easter Monday - April 10th Victoria Day - May 22nd Classes begin on the Tuesday following Labour Day. The last day of classes for Elementary Schools is June 29, 2022.
Professional Activity (PA) Days September 1st September 23rd October 24th January 20th February 17th June 9th June 29th |
| Anaphylaxis – Reactions to Allergies |
| An anaphylactic reaction is a severe, sudden, possible life-threatening allergy to such items as peanuts, nuts, bee stings, shellfish, latex, etc. When a student or adult is diagnosed with anaphylaxis, it is important for the school to take extra precautions to ensure the person’s well-being. It may become necessary to designate certain classrooms as “safe”, so that there is very little chance that the student will come into contact with the dangerous substance.
Every September we have classrooms which will be designated “allergy alert classrooms” due to students with severe allergies to these foods/materials. In the past, we have had great support from the parents in these classes to ensure that lunches, snacks, etc. are “safe”. If your child is in a classroom that has been so designated, you will be notified in writing about the particular allergen(s) to be aware of. If your son/daughter has an allergy/anaphylaxis, please advise the school as soon as possible. Parents of anaphylactic students are required to update annually the Board Form “Protection of Anaphylactic Students: Individual Student Plan.” Though the information in this form, we develop the plan and safeguards that are necessary to protect our students and staff as required. WE ARE CURRENTLY A PEANUT/NUT, LATEX, FISH, PET, & SCENT AWARE SCHOOL, AS WE HAVE STAFF AND STUDENTS WITH LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES. |
| Administration of Medication |
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The responsibility for the administration of medication for students is primarily the parents and/or guardians. There will be special cases and circumstances where a student must have medication during regular school hours. The office staff is authorized, if requested in writing on the appropriate Board form by the student’s parent or guardian, to administer medication. All prescribed medication to be administered must have the qualified medical doctor’s statement for documented use and the instructions clearly stated. The medication should be kept in its original container and will be securely stored in the office. No student is EVER to keep medication in his/her possession while at school. |
| Dress Code |
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We encourage all parents/guardians to monitor how their children dress for school each day. Often, our young people have not had enough experience to determine how weather conditions may change during the day and, as a result, they may come to school ill-prepared. Only with constant guidance can our students learn to dress properly for the weather conditions and the learning environment. The Dress Code for St. Hedwig Catholic School reflects the understanding that school is a student’s place of work. Students are expected to be dressed and groomed appropriately. Attire is to be consistent with the expectations of an environment reflecting a Catholic School community. The standards of dress for students at St. Hedwig Catholic School are reviewed with the Catholic School Council as outlined by Board policy. Parents need to refer to these standards when unsure about what is acceptable dress at school in order to support their children in using good judgment in this regard. The guideline outlined applies to all in-school situations, on the school grounds and while attending all school-related activities and events. This dress code is based on the values of good health and hygiene, safety, modesty, and consideration for others. The following are the acceptable standards of dress for students at St. Hedwig Catholic School:
All Dress Code infractions will be addressed with discretion and respect. A phone call may be made to alert parents of a concern that persists. The final decision regarding the dress code will be at the discretion of the principal or designate. This dress code will be enforced by all staff members. If a student arrives to school inappropriately dressed or groomed, a staff member will meet with the student to discuss what changes must be made in order to have him/her remain at school. |
| DCDSB Safe, Caring, and Healthy Elementary Schools |
| The Durham Catholic District School Board recognizes that a school should be a place that promotes responsibility, respect, civility, and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment. A positive school climate exists when all members of the school community feel safe, comfortable, and accepted. It is the responsibility of all members of the school community to work together to create a positive learning environment where all members feel supported. |
| Access to Premises |
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Due to Covid-19 protocols we are limiting visitors to the school at this time. If you need to discuss an issue with teachers or administrators, please contact us through the office phone or on Edsby. In keeping with the Board’s Access to School Premises Policy, all doors will remain locked during school hours. Our Safe Welcome Program provides an intercom and camera at the main door of the school for all visitors to communicate with the office. This enhances the safety of students and staff. Please remember that anyone coming into the school must first sign in at the office and be symptom free. Parents/guardians are not allowed access to the school yard before school or during recesses and noon hour. At recess time, the school yard is well supervised and staff will question anyone whose presence is not expected. Each member of staff is identified on duty with a safety vest. If a parent/guardian needs to pick up his/her son/daughter during the school day, this must be facilitated at the office. Members of the office staff will call the student down to the office to be signed out. If parents send a friend/relative/designate to pick up their child, please advise the school in advance and ask the designate to provide photo identification at the office. If the student returns to school before dismissal, he/she must sign back in at the office so that his/her attendance can be monitored. |
| Make Every Day – Attendance Matters |
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Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Now is the time to start building this habit so your child learns right away that going to school on time every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college or university and in the world of work. Did You Know? Absences can add up quickly. A child is considered chronically absent if he/she misses just two days every month Research shows: Children chronically absent in Kindergarten and Grade 1 are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of Grade 3. By Grade 6, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school. By Grade 9, good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than Grade 8 test scores. Being late to school may lead to poor attendance. School success goes hand in hand with good attendance! What You Can Do:
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| Safe Arrival – Automated Attendance |
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We believe that safety begins with positive connections between the students, staff and parents. To foster these relationships, staff in the Durham Catholic District School Board use restorative practices, including classroom circles and small group conferences to build community within the classroom and the school. Restorative Practice is rooted in the same philosophical approach as Canada’s Native Aboriginal communities. It rests on the belief that it is best to do things with people, rather than to them. When conflict arises, using restorative practice engages students in a fair process that responds to behavior in ways that strengthen and repair the relationship. It is collaborative rather than adversarial in nature. The aim of restorative practice is to hold individuals accountable for their actions while restoring and repairing any relationships amongst each other and within the community that may have been harmed. Catholic Restorative Schools will:
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| School Code of Conduct |
| Please click here to read the Code of Conduct |
