Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Hope of Spring
God, thank You for Spring and the hope of warmer, longer, brighter days. Thank You for the coming of growth and life and birth. Thank You that things are coming awake in the world.Â
This is what our calendar says, and we do see some signs that it is real. But we also still struggle with the residual layover of winter. Now we ask that You bring into reality all that belongs in this season.Â
Your word says that we will have provision, and hope, and joy, and health and loving relationships here and now in this life. We ask that what belongs in this season would become actual in our practical lives.Â
We hope in You and in Your promises. We hope in Your gift of spring.Â
Source: Unknown
Wishing You a Wonderful March Break!
As we approach March Break, we would like to take a moment to wish all of our students, families, and staff a restful and enjoyable week. This well-deserved break is a wonderful opportunity to recharge, spend time with loved ones, and enjoy some moments of relaxation and fun.
We encourage our students to take advantage of the time to explore their interests, get outdoors, and return refreshed and ready for the remainder of the school year.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back on March 23, 2026, when we will also be recognizing Mismatch Sock Day in support of World Down Syndrome Day (March 21).
Wishing all of our families a safe, happy, and relaxing March Break!
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 2026Â
Basketball News:
Congratulations to our Intermediate Boys’ and Girls’ teams, who played with great determination and represented our school with outstanding sportsmanship and teamwork on the court.
A special congratulations to our Girls’ team for capturing the local title this past Wednesday! We wish them the very best of luck as they move on to the YCDSB Area Tournament. Go Tigers Go!!
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.Â
Additional EQAO Parent/Guardian Presentations: EQAO Parent Sessions
Student Nutrition Program @ SKTA:
As we return from March Break, we are pleased to share that St. Kateri will be launching a Student Nutrition Program to support the well-being and success of our students.
This initiative is made possible through Student Nutrition Ontario – Central East, a program led by the Peterborough Child & Family Centres, which supports hundreds of schools across Central East Ontario. Their work helps ensure that students have access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food while at school so that they can eat, learn, and succeed.
Beginning after the break, healthy snacks will be available at school office for students who may arrive without one. There are many reasons students may come to school without eating, such as busy mornings, early activities, long commutes, or simply needing a little extra fuel during the day. This program helps ensure that every student has access to food that supports their ability to stay focused, engaged, and ready to learn.
The Student Nutrition Program is available to all students, and snacks will be provided in a supportive and respectful manner. We are grateful for the partnerships and volunteers who make programs like this possible and help us care for the well-being of every child in our St. Kateri community.
Big Crunch:
On March 26, St. Kateri will join schools across Ontario in the Great Big Crunch, a fun, province-wide initiative celebrating healthy eating and school nutrition programs. At a set time during the day, students will enjoy a crunchy fruit or vegetable together with their peers.
We encourage students to bring in carrots, apples, or any other crunchy fruit or vegetable they would like to enjoy for the event. This is a great way to highlight the importance of nutritious food, fuel our bodies for learning, and have some fun together as a school community!
Reminder: Kiss and Ride Drop-Off Procedures: To help ensure the safety of all students and maintain an efficient flow of traffic during morning arrival, we would like to provide a reminder about our Kiss and Ride drop-off procedures. Your cooperation helps us create a safe and organized start to the school day for everyone.
Parking and Escorting Your Child
If you wish to escort your child(ren) to the school gates (located on the west side of the Kindergarten Yard), please park your vehicle in the designated parking area at the front of the school and walk your child to the gate.
Using the Kiss and Ride
If you are using the Kiss and Ride for drop-off:
- Please drive past the pylons and pull up to the curb before allowing your child(ren) to exit the vehicle.
- For safety and to keep traffic moving, drivers are expected to remain in their vehicles while using the Kiss and Ride lane.
- Double parking is not permitted, as it creates a safety risk and prevents other vehicles from moving through the lane.
These routines are in place to ensure a safe and smooth arrival for all members of our school community. We appreciate your patience, cooperation, and continued support in helping us keep student safety a priority.
Thank you for working with us to maintain a safe environment for everyone.
World Autism Awareness Day:
is on April 2nd. The purpose of the day is to highlight the need to improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as integral parts of society. Autism Ontario is once again launching the Celebrate the Spectrum campaign as an opportunity for positive action, providing spaces for support and advocacy while learning about autism to make our communities better and more inclusive places for autistic people. Find out how to get involved and celebrate the Spectrum leading up to April 2, 2026, and throughout April.Â
|
|||
| 16Â | March Break (16 to 20) | 26 | Big Crunch Day |
| 23 | World Down Syndrome Day – Mismatch Sock Day
23 to April 1Â – Food Drive |
(April)
2 |
World Autism Awareness Day – Wear Blue! |
| 23 to 27 | ShareLife Week | 3 | Good Friday |
| 26 | Share Life Tuck Shop Sharelife Letter | 5 | Easter Sunday |
| 31 | Passion of Christ @ 1:15 School Gym (Gr. 6 Performance) | 6 | Easter Monday |