Dear St. Kateri Families,
I’m sure many of our families are putting the finishing touches on plans for the upcoming March Break. It’s always an exciting time of year as we look ahead to the arrival of spring and the warmer days to come. As always, St. Kateri remains a busy and vibrant place, filled with learning, faith, and many wonderful activities for our students. With that said we would like to inform you and your families of several recent updates to Board policies that support student health, safety, and well-being.
Revised Policy 210 Pediculosis (Head Lice) and Procedure 210 Pediculosis (Head Lice)
Policy 210 and its accompanying procedure have been updated to ensure continued alignment with current directives from York Region Public Health. These revisions reflect best practices in managing head lice in schools and support a consistent, evidence-based approach across the system.
Revised Policy 608 Volunteers in Schools
This policy has been updated to reflect new legislative requirements introduced through the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025. Amendments strengthen police record check requirements for school volunteers, helping to further safeguard students.
Revised Policy 611 Police Record Checks – Service Providers
Similarly, this policy has been revised to align with the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025. Changes enhance police record check requirements for service providers who work with students in our schools.
These updates reinforce our shared commitment to maintaining a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment for all students. If you have any questions about these policy changes, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
Other School Events:
Easter/lenten Food Drive: As we journey through the season of Lent, our school community will once again come together in support of those in need through our upcoming Easter/ Lenten Food Drive in support of the Markham Food Bank. This initiative is a meaningful way for our students to live out the values of compassion, generosity, and service to others. We invite families to review the attached letter for specific details, suggested items, and important dates. Thank you for your continued support in helping us make a difference in our local community.   Easter Food Drive – St. Kateri Food Drive Letter 2026
CSC Hot Lunch – Term 2 Offering: Families who wish to participate are asked to place their orders by Friday, March 13, 2026. The program will begin the first week after March Break (March 16–20, 2026). Please take a moment to review the letter below for additional details. Hot Lunch Order Form Letter for School Day 2nd Term March 2026
Free Parent/Guardian EQAO Webinar – Spring 2026: Join us for a free live webinar about how EQAO assesses students’ writing skills at key stages of their education. EQAO staff will discuss writing prompts and questions from the reading component of the primary- and junior-division assessments and from the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Participants will hear how these prompts and questions help assess the skills students are learning in class. Staff will also highlight valuable insights and resources that can help parents and guardians support their child’s learning.  Webinar date: March 25, 2026, starting at 12:00 pm / Click here for registration. Additional EQAO Parent/Guardian Presentations: EQAO Parent Sessions
YPIC Evening Event Please click here to register by April 2, 2026: Led by Curtis Carmichael and his team, this interactive training empowers parents and caregivers to navigate the world of Artificial Intelligence with confidence. Grounded in collaborations with Microsoft, Apple, and the University of Toronto, the session demystifies AI, data privacy, and digital safety while exploring how these tools are transforming today’s classrooms. Our goal is to increase digital literacy and build practical skills, ensuring all families—regardless of technical background—can advocate for their children and foster responsible, equitable technology use at home and in school. When: Wednesday April 8 from 7 to 9pm at the YCDSB CEC
Pause to play: In partnership with York Region Public Health, St. Kateri will once again take part in the Pause to PLAY Challenge from April 13–17, 2026. Our school has already registered, and we invite families to join us in encouraging students to press pause on TVs, gaming systems, tablets, and computers for the week and instead enjoy active, healthy play. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to spend time together and promote healthy habits at home.
Important dates to mark on your calendars: March:Â
10 INT Boys Basketball @ St. Benedict CES,  11 INT Girls Basketball @ St. Julia CES,  12 YCDSB Lenten Mass at 1:15pm LINK.
16 to 20 March Break,  21 World Down Syndrome Day (- Mismatched Sock day March 21),   23 to 27 Share Life Week (Sharelife Letter)
25  Sharelife Tuck Shop  31 Passion of Christ @ 1:15 pm  April 3 Good Friday  April 5 Easter Sunday
Yours In Catholic Education,
Marc Caruso
Principal