January 5th, 2026
This Week at St. Kateri Tekakwitha C.E.S. ,
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Virtue of the Month: Unity
In January, our school community will be focusing on the virtue of Unity. As Catholics, we are reminded that Jesus calls us to live in harmony with one another. He prayed that His followers would “all be one,” working together in faith, love, and understanding. Unity invites us to support each other, celebrate our differences, and recognize that we are all part of one family in Christ. This month, we encourage our students to practice unity by being welcoming, inclusive, and kind in their words and actions. Together, we can continue to build a school community rooted in peace, cooperation, and Christian love.
Prayer for Unity
God of harmony and unity,
You want us all to work together to build your kingdom.
May our ears hear your voice clearly
May our eyes see your beauty in all
May our understanding break down walls of fear and prejudice.
May we make our school
a place of friendship
a place of belonging
a place of welcome.
where everyone feels safe.
where everyone has a place
where all are united in You, dear God.
We hope all our families enjoyed a restful and joy-filled Christmas Break. We’re excited to welcome everyone back to school tomorrow!
If your child brought home school supplies, textbooks, indoor shoes, or other items before the break, please remember to send them back—we’ll need them again starting tomorrow.
Kindergarten Registration for September 2026 is now open : Parents and guardians can start to register their child online at: www.ycdsb.ca/admissions. Starting Kindergarten is an exciting milestone, filled with new experiences and opportunities for children to learn and grow. Kindergarten registration for the 2026–27 school year at the York Catholic District School Board is now open for students beginning school in September. Our faith-filled Kindergarten classrooms nurture the whole child—spiritually, socially, emotionally, cognitively, and academically—helping to establish a strong foundation for future success. Parents/guardians can register their child online at www.ycdsb.ca/admissions or in person at the school. Please be prepared to upload or present the required documents listed on the website after submitting the online registration. If your child is currently in Junior Kindergarten at a York Catholic school, you do not need to re-register for Senior Kindergarten. Parents and/or guardians can look up the Kindergarten program in their area by using York Catholic’s online school locator at locator.ycdsb.ca, or by calling the Admissions Department at 905-713-2711 or 416-221-5050.
The following supporting documents are needed to register for Kindergarten: A baptismal certificate from a Roman Catholic Church or a Catholic Church in Communion with the Holy See of Rome (child or parent) / Proof of child’s age / Proof of status in Canada / Proof of residency / Proof of Separate School Support (e.g. MPAC Assessment Notice, or a completed Direction of School Support)
To learn more about York Catholic’s Kindergarten program, please visit: JK Registration flyer
Message from the YCDSB Active School Travel Committee: Welcome back! As we settle into January, we want to share some helpful tips to enjoy the outdoors—even on chilly days—whether your child is walking or wheeling to school or the bus stop. Being properly dressed makes winter activities much more enjoyable. Here are some simple ways to stay warm: Start with a warm base layer / Add an insulating layer (wool socks, shirts, and pants—avoid jeans and cotton) / Wear a windproof jacket with a hood and snow pants with snug cuffs / Choose insulated, waterproof boots / Wear a hat that covers the ears (pack an extra just in case!) / Use a neck warmer / Finish with waterproof mittens / Keep moving to stay warm / Eat healthy snacks for energy / Stay hydrated—cold air is dry, and bodies still need water!
Winter Walk Day: Winter Walk Day takes place on the first Wednesday of February and is celebrated by schools across Canada. Walking and wheeling are great ways to stay active all winter long, so we encourage families to enjoy outdoor journeys throughout the entire month of February!
Catholic School Council News : The Catholic School Council tab on our school website contains information regarding the council minutes, meeting agendas, and its members. The webpage can be accessed from the following link. (https://kta.ycdsb.ca/) / Our next Catholic School Council meetings will take place February 2, 2026 @ 7pm.
Digital Discipleship: Please find attached the YCDSB Digital Discipleship: Student Use of Technology policy. We kindly ask families to review this document with their child(ren) to help ensure we continue to model and promote respectful, responsible digital citizenship in our school community.Policy311-Digital Discipleship Student Use.pdf
School Bus Cancelation Update:
Student Transportation Services of York Region (STSYR), in partnership with YRDSB and YCDSB, regularly reviews transportation procedures to ensure safe and efficient service for students. Beginning January 2026, STSYR will pilot the use of Inclement Weather Service Areas for school bus cancellations. This approach allows cancellations to occur in specific areas when weather conditions vary across the region. Our school is located in the South Service Area, which includes:
Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Whitchurch-Stouffville.
What this means for families: If buses are cancelled in the South Service Area, all bus routes and stops within this area will not operate. / If a bus route serves stops in both service areas, only the stops within the cancelled area will be affected.
We appreciate your cooperation during this pilot and thank you for your continued support.
Student Profile: We are excited to share with you the following link of one of our talented Gr. 8 students on TVO. Please use the following link TVO to learn more.
Important dates to mark on your calendars:
January: 5 First Day of Class 14 Jr. Boys Volleyball Tournament @ St. Julia 15 Jr. Girls Volleyball Tournament @ SLR 16 PA Day 30 PA Day