Directly 2 U

Once again our students are taking the lead in making contributions to our respective communities. The production of the Anti Bullying play titled WAR is playing at St James High School. It features First Light Theatre in another production in our schools .Call St James at 519 822 4290 for ticket information.

Congratulations to St James on their presence with Magic FM radio this morning in celebration of inclusivity and the importance of relationships in and beyond school.

This past week over 6000 students from Wellington & Waterloo participated in the annual We Day event. Sponsored by the Free the Children Foundation and its founders. Marc & Craig Kielburger, this was an inspirational day for all participants. As part of the program the students from Bishop Macdonell were recognized for their ongoing work in social justice. The Celtics Without Borders group continues to offer time and financial support to many projects that improve the human condition – both domestically & internationally. Some of our Central Office adminstrative staff were on hand to be caught up in the excitement.

Congratulations to all students who will continue to work in this area

We continue to support the United Way campaign and this year is no exception. Our District has consistently been ranked as one of the most supportive organizations in the public sector. Our students, staff & faculty see this initiative as social justice in action.Thanks to so many for your contributions and advocacy of this very important cause.

These past few weeks senior staff from the city and the administration of Bishop Macdonell High School have been working together to complete the demolition of the public washroom adjacent to the school. Three years ago, Isabel Warren, a student at the school died in a very tragic accident that occurred in this structure.

In sensitivity to the Warren family and Isabel’s classmates and friends, the decision to demolish the site has been made. It will be taken down during the month of August. I have been very impressed with the cooperation of everyone involved in this decision.

Some of our sites are currently closed for holidays. Should you have questions related to autumn registration or other matters of interest & importance please call our Central Office at 519 821 4600. We are in a position to take messages and to convey this information to the respective sites.

Central Office will only be closed from Tuesday August 7th to Friday August 10th inclusive.

We have just received information that our secondary students currently travelling & studying in Italy are thoroughly enjoying the experience and the culture. They have been in Pescara on the Adriatic coast and have just left Abruzzo on their way to the Milan area.
Instrutor Phil Di Nucci from Bishop Macdonell reports that this initiative in International Education has been an outstanding experience for these students. Their program began with Saturday sessions in the spring and leads each student to a full credit in our secondary school program.
Registrations for next year’s program will be out in the autumn.

Francis Olaer, one of our student trustees has been elected as Vice Chair of the Ontario Catholic Student Trustees Council this past month. This organization is a sub set of the Ontario Student Trustees Association and serves as an advocacy group for all secondary students in the province and on occasion as an advisory group to the Minister of Education.

Francis is from St James High School in Guelph.