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WELLINGTON CATHOLIC NEWS

NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD • ISSUE 5 • WINTER 2016

The Push for Change movement is
rolling through Wellington Catholic
The Push for Change
movement is coming to The Push for Change
Guelph and Wellington in is a growing national
conversation that is

December and Wellington creating awareness for

Catholic is very proud to be a youth homelessness.

supporting community partner. Starting in May of

The Push for Change movement this year, Joe began pushing a • Encouraging all our schools

is led by Joe Roberts. As a former shopping cart, a symbol of chronic to help fill a shopping cart by

homeless youth, Joe transformed his homelessness, across Canada on donating coats, boots, hats and

difficult life to become a successful a 517-day, 9,000-kilometer trek to toiletries that will be given to local

businessman. He has experienced raise awareness and funds to prevent charities including Wyndham

the power of possibility thinking youth homelessness. House.

in the face of some of life’s biggest Joe will be walking through Guelph • Having Joe meet students at

obstacles and he is dedicated to and Wellington in late December. Sacred Heart (Rockwood) the

sharing this possibility mindset with To support his walk and to help raise morning of December 20.

others who are going through their awareness, Wellington Catholic is • Having Joe speak to high school

own challenges. supporting Joe’s important walk in and elementary students at St.

many ways including: James Catholic High School

on December 20 and at Bishop

Macdonell Catholic High School

on December 21.

• Supporting a public talk with

Joe on December 20 at the Delta

Hotel.

• Supporting a Skate with Joe at

Market Square downtown on

December 22.

More information about The
Push for Change can be found
at thepushforchange.ca. A
summary of all local events can
be found at facebook.com/
pushforchangeguelph or follow
@PushForChangeGuelph and
#PushForChange.

L–R: Rachel Johnson, Kevin Tait, Josie Palermo, Sydney L–R: Maria Cordona, Kiana Stradiotto, Ana Garza
Griffiths, Julia Reginato, Jayne Gazzola. Kylie Barfoot.

Bishop’s Dinner raises over $50,000 for six
Guelph and Wellington community groupsherich traditionof

fundraising that makes a

Tsignificant difference in
and Senators did an amazing to the Planning Committee and
job representing their respective volunteers for all your efforts to
schools and highlighting the impact ensure the success of the evening

our community continues. of Catholic education for them and as well to our generous sponsors

The 14th Annual Bishop’s Dinner for personally and the opportunity for and participants. Your faithful

Community Needs is a gala event them to positively influence the local ongoing commitment is appreciated

that is supportive of many initiatives and global community. as it enables us to maintain and

that involve our students. This year Be sure to mark next year’s dinner increase essential programs in our

we committed to an investment of date Thursday, October 5, 2017 community.

over $50,000 for six recipients in in your calendars. Special thanks

Guelph and Wellington:

• The Sacred Ground Campaign at

the Ignatius Jesuit Centre

• The Guelph Wish Fund for

Children

• The Welcome In Drop-In Centre

• The Guelph Lake Interpretive

Centre

• Hospice Wellington

• KidsAbility

Student leaders from each of our

high schools welcomed guests to

the Italian Canadian Centre and

facilitated the events of the evening

including the raffle and silent Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., D.D.
auctions. Our Student Trustees

NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD • ISSUE 5 • WINTER 2016

# HERE I AM STUDENT STORY

Ali Abdul Ghani is jumping at every chance
to experience new things

IB STUDENT AT no time, she convinced me to register Being in IB is truly
BISHOP MACDONELL for IB! interesting but I didn’t
CATHOLIC HIGH always feel this way.
The first month of school was so Before I started, I had
FSCHOOLall 2016 has been an exciting exciting. I didn’t know what to expect. heard stories about how
time for me. Within a matter During the second week, we had our difficult IB was. People
of weeks, I moved to Canada, Opening School Mass. Knowing that said it would take up
enrolled at a new school I’m Muslim, Mrs. Belluz asked if I all of my time and I’d
and registered for the International wanted to go and experience Mass. Of have extra homework.
Baccalaureate Programme (IB). Soon course, I jumped at the opportunity! I I wondered what I had
I’ll experience a Canadian winter. And believe it’s better to attend and learn gotten myself into! I
as much as I am excited, I’m pretty than avoid the experience and live in quickly realized that
nervous, especially when you consider ignorance. And besides, I knew when wasn’t the case. IB
that before moving to Guelph, I’d I registered in a Catholic School I isn’t harder; it just
never felt temperatures below minus wanted to be all in. encourages you to work
one. I moved here from Qatar, a small smarter and to hold
country that borders Saudi Arabia and Mass was fascinating and completely yourself accountable. In fact, because
this fall I started grade 11 at Bishop new to me. Thankfully, Mrs. Belluz of IB I’ve become better at time
Macdonell Catholic High School. was able to answer my many, many management, I’m learning useful skills
questions. We talked about the for university and I have more time to
All my fears quickly different symbols and levels of clergy, try new things – like starting a Model
disappeared when I toured and she explained why I was being United Nations (MUN) club at school.
Bishop Macdonell. Everyone blessed. I couldn’t help but notice how Right now our MUN team is training
was so welcoming and I similar Catholicism is to Islam. It’s a for the Toronto conference in February.
instantly felt at home. shame we tend to focus only on the At the conference, we’ll receive a
differences. The entire experience was country and topic, and as a team, we’ll
Moving to Canada was exciting, enticing and exciting. As soon as I got debate the economic, ecological and
but there were also a lot of things I home, I called my parents to tell them political factors affecting that country.
was worried about. Would I fit in at all about it and they were both happy It’s a great way to learn about other
my new school? Would my classes for me. countries and because my friend and
be hard? Would I miss my parents I started the club, we can apply this
back in Qatar? All of those fears experience to a component of IB.
quickly disappeared when I toured These last few months have been
Bishop Macdonell. Everyone was so great! I’ve made amazing friends,
welcoming I instantly felt at home. learned so much and IB has opened
During this tour, I met Mrs. Belluz, the my eyes to new experiences. One thing
IB Coordinator. We starting talking I’m still excited to learn is how to ice
about IB and the skills you can learn skate and play hockey. I hope the
to prepare for university. And within winter isn’t too cold – but I hear there
are indoor rinks, so I think I’ll be okay!
#HereIAm jumping at every
opportunity, taking chances and
learning so much about myself, my
new home and the world around me.

# HERE I AM STUDENT STORY quiet and shy, except for a few who
welcomed me with open arms.
McKenna Hilpert is taking
control of her own learning Each student is unique and at St.
John Bosco, each student has a unique
TST. JOHN BOSCO SECONDARY SCHOOL schedule that meets their needs. Some
here are three basic rules at I became a student at St. John students come every day, while others
St. John Bosco: Show Up, Be Bosco in second semester last year. cannot attend daily because they work
Respectful, and Do Your Best Originally, I was at St. James, and full time, have a family to care for or
anxiety makes it hard to leave home.
Work. although it is an excellent school, the These students check in with their
teacher to ask questions and hand in
My name is McKenna Hilpert and large environment combined with work. I attend daily and work on four
courses at my own pace. If I am sick, I
I am a second year student at St. John my anxiety made it difficult for me don’t need to worry about the work I
have missed. I just pick up from where
Bosco Secondary School. Not your to learn and grow. I found it hard to I left off.

typical high school, St. John Bosco relate to my peers and I wasn’t able to Doing your best is another
expectation that is unique for each
is a small school with fewer than 100 ask for the help I needed. The pace student. My strengths might not be
the same as the person next to me and
students. With the support of their was so quick that if I missed a day, Bosco values each of us individually.
If I am having bad day, someone is
teachers, each student sets academic the thought of being behind was so always available to help me. Bosco is a
strength-based school and I have had
and personal goals based on their own overwhelming. So, I stopped attending. the opportunity to plan my coursework
around my abilities. Since I started
needs, strengths and barriers. It was too much. Thankfully, the at St. John Bosco, I have gained four
credits so far and I am very proud of
I was at St. James, staff at St. James offered me a new the work I have completed.
and although it is an opportunity – St. John Bosco.
We know the staff love and
To be honest, at first I was nervous respect us, because they do
so much to support us.
excellent school, the large and afraid. I had heard both good
environment combined with and bad things about St. John Bosco. The most important expectation
my anxiety made it difficult I didn’t know who or what to believe. at St. John Bosco is to be respectful.
for me to learn and grow. The first day I met with the principal Building relationships is important
and teachers. The staff was so nice and in any community, but at Bosco it is
essential. The staff at Bosco work hard
to show respect and build relationships
with the students and in turn students
respect them as well. We know the
staff love and respect us, because they
do so much to support us. St. John
Bosco is like a second home to most of
us and it is important for us to respect
and take care of it.

#HereIAm thriving in a learning
environment that provides me with the
opportunity to learn and grow and that
makes me feel comfortable, safe and
supported.

welcoming. The students were pretty

NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD • ISSUE 5 • WINTER 2016

# HERE I AM STAFF STORY I love to help and I’m always so
excited to meet new people; I bet
Welly is a dog with a job my wagging tail gives that away.
While I seem like a regular dog, there
FACILITY DOG AT BISHOP MACDONELL are a few things you should know
about interacting with me. When
LCATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL health and wellness.
et’s face it, sometimes life can When students at I’m wearing my jacket I am
be ruff. And we can all use Bishop Macdonell on the job so ask my
a little extra support when handler if it is okay to
approach me. I have
dealing with the day-to-day are dealing with an specific rules I’m
supposed to follow
challenges life throws our way; issue or are stressed and I need to
keep up with
especially when those challenges are out, it’s my job to my

bigger than usual and are difficult to sit with them and be training.
But it’s
manage. a calm and centered not all work
and no play for me.
That’s where I come in. I’m presence. When I’m home Jodi
takes my vest off and
Welly. I’m a two-year-old Labrador Facility Dogs like I’m officially off the clock. I
Retriever and I have a very important me are highly trained do pretty typical things in my spare
job. I’m a Facility Dog and I work as and certified by National time. Unwind with a bone and a bowl
an extension of two Social Workers of water, take a nap and of course
play! My favourite game is soccer. If
at Bishop Macdonell Catholic High Service Dogs — education I’m being completely honest, when
School. I was hired in October as a is so important! I get home I look forward to going
part of Wellington Catholic’s Social back to work the next day. I love
helping people and I’m happy to
Work Team to support the board’s Sometimes people will pat know I can help Jodi guide students
through a difficult time.
mental health strategy. me, hug me or they’ll lay #HereIAm, a dog with a very
important job and happy to do it!!
While two-years-old might seem on the floor with me. And

a little young to have a job, I can sometimes I just put my head

assure you I’ve been properly vetted. on their lap. When I do this, I can

You see Facility Dogs, like myself, feel that person start to relax and feel

are highly trained and certified by better. Then if they need to, they can

National Service Dogs – education is talk to Jodi about whatever they’re

so important! I was bred specifically dealing with.

for this job and my training has Did you know a lot of research has

given me the skills to do it well. My been done around Facility Dogs and

primary handler is Jodi. I stay with the pawsitive impact we have? I’m

her all day and I go home with her not sure what research is, but I hear

too – she’s kind of like my boss and Jodi and other humans talk about

my parent. As my handler, part of it, so I know it’s important. In fact,

Jodi’s job is to make sure I keep up research says 1 in 5 humans will face

with my training, and she does a mental health challenges at some

wonderful job of this! Sony is my point in their life. So if Jodi and I can

secondary handler and I can go there help other humans navigate those

for sleep-overs and vacations. social and emotional challenges,

Working with Jodi is great and we’re more than happy to do it!

together we support positive mental

TAMARA NUGENT, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

FAITH TO FACE
The Advent and
The Wellington Catholic District Christmas season is learners and staff engage in
School Board is committed to upon us. It is one of each and every day across
supporting student success in all our schools and Catholic
of our 22 schools. Our academic
and extracurricular programs the most loving moments Education Centre. We are
give our 7,800 students the
opportunity to learn, lead of God’s encounter with proud to celebrate how
and serve. Grounded in faith
based teaching, our schools humankind: His desire our district responds to the
are preparing students with
the values and academic skills for our well-being shown in cry of the poor, and those
they need to be successful 21st
century citizens. Jesus, Emmanuel – God with us. in need globally and locally.

wellingtoncdsb.ca During this Advent season we Your generosity is a testament to our
@wellingtoncath
#HereIAm #whatWCDSBdoes listen attentively to the prophetic values and foundations.

75 Woolwich Street voices of the poor, refugees, the As we move through Advent to
Guelph, ON N1H 6N6
519-821-4600 children served by Friends of the Christmas, help us to keep it simple.

generalinquiries@ Orphans Canada in Peru, Guatemala Let the Christmas story of a baby
wellingtoncdsb.ca
[email protected] and Nicaragua, United Way, Push born two thousand years ago, whose

Tell us what For Change, Toonies for Tuition life and death gave rise to faith, hope,
YOU love about
your school and others as they wait for food, mercy and love, settle deep in our
and Wellington
Catholic clothing and shelter, programs and hearts.

Visit wellingtoncdsb.ca/ supports. We celebrate Christ’s Joy to you this Christmas!
hereIam and share your
story. coming among us today reflected — Tamara Nugent
Follow us @WellingtonCath
and use #HereIAm and in the many acts of social justice, • Please follow me on Twitter:
#WhatWCDSBdoes charity, and compassion that our @TamaraLNugent

Sharon’s Christmas Prayer

She was five, sure of the facts, and recited them with slow solemnity,
Convinced every word was revelation.

She said;
They were so poor they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat
and they went a long way from home without getting lost.
The lady rode a donkey, the man walked, and the baby was inside the lady.
They had to stay in a stable with an ox and an ass
but the Three Rich Men found them because a star lighted the roof.
Shepherds came and you could pet the sheep but not feed them.
Then the baby was borned. And do you know who he was?
Her quarter eyes inflated to silver dollars.

The baby was God.
And she jumped in the air, whirled round, dove into a sofa,
and buried her head under the cushion
which is the only proper response to
the Good News of the Incarnation.

— John Shea, The Hour of the Unexpected

NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD • ISSUE 5 • WINTER 2016