This week, Ruthann talks about...
Being a Responsible Citizen

The final of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE) asks us to help our graduates be Responsible Citizens.

We ask a lot of our graduates and a lot of ourselves.  We are asked to respect, love and serve each other. 
As a senior I feel that I can still serve the community and offer my experience in a way that will help the youth of today, be responsible, caring, and giving individuals now and in the future.
 
As responsible trustees we have an obligation to model all of the graduate expectations and to do so in a manner which respects everyone at the table and everyone in the community.
 
With God’s help let the next term of WCDSB trustees take all of these expectations into account and really model good behaviour, service and caring for all people.
 
(Check out the WCDSB website www.wcdsb.ca under Our Schools, Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations for more information)

This week, Ruthann talks about...
​Being a Caring Family Member

The next of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE) asks us to help our graduates be a Caring Family Member.

It is important for us as trustees to understand the changing dynamic of the family.  In my time as a Lay Pastoral Minister many families came to us for the sacraments.  They came in all shapes and sizes.  Single moms and children,  single dads and children,  two parent families where one was not Catholic two parent families who came from other countries and did not have friends or family at hand to stand up as sponsors.  A child who asked to be confirmed but was a ward of the Children’s Services.
 
Each of our students and teachers and staff members and trustees has a different sense of family.  Our role is to try to understand this changing dynamic and to help nurture the people in these families so that they understand that they still all belong to the universal family of God.

Being respectful of all families will lead to compassion for the individuals navigating their own personal family situation.
 
(Check out the WCDSB website www.wcdsb.ca under Our Schools, Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations for more information)
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Next week I look at: “Responsible Citizens”

Coming up: 
It is Thanksgiving this coming Monday,  I am grateful for our Catholic School System here in Ontario.  It is a gem we should not take for granted.   God bless all those who work hard to keep this system thriving for our students and the wider community.

God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving day!

The next of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE) asks us to help our graduates be Reflective, Creative and Holistic Thinkers.
 
I learned an awful lot from the men of the Congregation of the Resurrection with whom I worked for over 35 years. The greatest gift they gave me, and there were many, was the gift of hope.
 
​In today’s  damaged world, hope is hard to see, hard to feel and some may say hard to believe in, but if we believe in Christ, we believe in hope.   With this hope a just, safe and peaceful society can happen.
It is my duty to help this process through the work on the WCDSB and hopefully through my role on it.
Our youth deserve to see, feel and believe in hope despite the negativity of social media and world events.
 
(Check out the WCDSB website www.wcdsb.ca under Our Schools, Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations for more information)
 
Next Week I look at:  “A Caring Family Member”

This week, Ruthann talks about...
A Collaborative Contributor

The fourth of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE) asks us to help our graduates be Collaborative Contributors.

The word which stands out for me in this graduate expectation is “collaborative”.

Collaboration means.  To listen, to reflect and then to act.  Always considering the other voices, the other comments at the table.  Collaboration means not trying to out shout the other, but to really look at an idea.  Think about it and reflect on it. 

I was on the citizens committee in 2023-2024 which looked at the strategic plan for the city of Kitchener.  About 40 of us were asked to look at the areas the city staff  felt were the most important for funding and decide what to spend money on in the coming 5 years.    The ideas were discussed in small groups with everyone having their say.  Not everyone agreed with everything.  But through conversation and listening to each other we were able to come to consensus on each area and do a report for the city which impressed the council, the staff and the mayor. 

Each of us felt that our feelings were heard, our ideas understood and it was so successful they are planning another similar event next year.

Coming up: 

• Join me on Oct 4th at the Victoria Hills Community Centre for a debate by all candidates for  the WCDSB Kitchener/Wilmot Trustee position.  2-4 pm  10 Chopin Drive in Kitchener
• And on Oct 4th think of St. Francis of Assisi the patron saint of animals and the environment.
• Oct 5th is World Teacher day,  take the time to thank your teacher today!
• Oct 5th  there is a Trustee Board Meeting beginning at 6pm on this day.  The public are welcome to attend.  At 6pm.

 
(Check out the WCDSB website www.wcdsb.ca under Our Schools, Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations for more information)
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Next week:  I look at “Reflective, Creative and Holistic Thinker."

The third of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE) asks us to help our graduates be Self-Directed, Responsible, Lifelong Learners.

As a life-long learner myself , when I am in a difficult situation, my first thought is something I have often told the youth in my youth group.  “What would Jesus do?” 

This came in handy when I was the chair of the World Youth Day Committee in 2001-02. 
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• There were five school sites that we, 6-8 Lay Pastoral Ministers from the region, hosted. 
• 29 churches and their congregations which helped and the Secondary School Chaplains that assisted us throughout the events.
• Oh and of course the Hamilton Diocese Youth Ministry team assisted and helped us plan throughout the entire two years.
• One of our busiest days was the Saturday we held a Mass in English/French and Polish due to our 200 students who came to us from Poland. 
• We followed this up with a Christian Rock concert at city Hall. 

All this was brand new territory for many of us planning the events, including me.  But it came off because we were learning on the fly and relying on each other. 

(Check out the WCDSB website www.wcdsb.ca under Our Schools, Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations for more information)
 
Next week:  I look at “A Collaborative Contributor”

This week, Ruthann talks about...

The second of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE) asks us to help our graduates be Effective Communicators.

When I worked as a Lay Pastoral Minister I realized that you had to meet the people where they were.  I asked the teachers at St. Paul School to send out the registration forms for the students who were interested in the sacraments.  I visited the classrooms encouraged the students to register for the sacraments and also publicized the dates for meetings in our parish bulletin and on the schools newsletter and video feed.  Connecting all partners ensured people knew when the meetings were to be held and ensured those who wanted the sacraments received them.
 
(Check out the WCDSB website www.wcdsb.ca under Our Schools, Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations for more information)
 
Next week I will look at: “A self-directed, responsible. life long learner."

Coming Up: 

• Sept 17-20th  I hope to have a table at the New Hamburg Fall Fair. I will also be roaming the fair to meet people.  Hope to see you there. 

Happy Labour Day!

Today we celebrate the hard work, dedication, and contributions of workers and their families who help make our community stronger every day.

I enjoyed spending part of the day at the Waterloo Regional Labour Council’s Labour Day picnic. It was wonderful to see so many families, neighbours, and community organizations coming together to celebrate.

Thank you to the Waterloo Regional Labour Council, OECTA Waterloo, and Waterloo Catholic Teachers for hosting such a great community event and for everything you do to support workers, families, and our community.

This week, Ruthann talks about...

Being a Discerning Believer is the first of the Ontario Catholic School Grade Expectations (OCSGE) for our students.

What does this mean?

I think it is important for everyone to take time to stop, reflect, pray and ask God is this what I should be doing? I do this often and visit with my spiritual director every few months to talk about where God is in my life and what He may be calling me to do. It was because of reflection that I decided to run to be a trustee again.

(Check out the WCDSB website www.wcdsb.ca under Our Schools, Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE) for more information)

Next week I look at the second expectation “Effective Communicator”

COMING UP:

• ​Come out and find me wandering around the Ed Weidinger Memorial Labour Day Picnic in Waterloo Park on Sept 7th between 12 - 4 PM.
• Welcome back to all the WCDSB community to a new year on Sept 8th.
• Special blessings to our board's two newest schools:
  • Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School at 20 Woolner Trail in Kitchener and
  • Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary School at 625 Wesley Blvd. in Cambridge.
• May God continue to bless all our school communities.

The first blog post launches on Thursday, September 3rd.