November has been a month brimming with meaningful events, commemorations, and impactful engagements at Doyle. Here’s a recap of the enriching activities that have shaped our community spirit.
November 2nd was All Souls Day and a Dia de los Muertos display was beautifully curated by Ms. Frayne’s Spanish class, honoring the departed and celebrating their lives. Additionally, our chaplain, Ms. Cho, made available a book of remembrance for family and friends who have passed away, fostering a sense of unity and remembrance among us.
On November 10th our entire school came together for a poignant all-school liturgy commemorating Remembrance Day, honoring the sacrifices made by those who served. Thank you Ms. Cho for organizing a memorable service.
November 13 was a day of enlightenment and awareness as Peter Sweeney, Commissioner of Public Services for the Region of Waterloo, addressed our staff, shedding light on the housing and homelessness crisis gripping our region. His insights during our Spiritual Development Day were both thought-provoking and eye-opening.
November 20th to 24th was Bully Awareness week. Each day of the week had a different theme. The five themes were: Friendship, Empathy, Listening Ear, Conflict Resolution and Kindness. Thank you Ms. Cho and Mrs. Carlin, our VP, for organizing an important week that provided students with strategies to prevent and end bullying in our community.
November 22nd to 24th saw the school’s first drama production of the year. Applause and kudos to Mr. Kearns and the Drama club for their outstanding performance in “Doyle’s 1 Act PLAY.” The dedication and talent displayed on stage is truly commendable.
Also on November 24th, the Doyle wrestling team hosted their annual tournament. Fifty-three members of the team participated in the event. We want to extend our gratitude to Mr. Lowry for the seamless execution of yet another successful tournament. 300 students from 13 high schools from the Region (both D8 and WCSAA) participated in the event. Special thanks to Admin Assistants Ms. Rodriguez, Ms. Clifford, and Ms. Bubielo, Head Custodian, Ms. Crawford, Ms. Lastella and her Hospitality class for preparing the snacks, Mr. Rosario and his Leadership students for managing the scorer tables, Ms. Feddema, Mr. Bizony, and Mr. Cinti for managing the computers and software, as well as, Mr. Ward and alumnus Mr. Martins.
On November 28th we hosted a School Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC) mass and dinner event. The CSAC’s from our Family of Schools joined us in prayer and fellowship. A special thank you to our celebrant, Father Gary Schlack. After dinner, Sarah Kwiecinski, youth minister from St. Ambrose Parish, discussed her youth ministry and the many opportunities for our students to come together to discuss and celebrate our faith. Sarah Charlton, from the Board Office, also met with the CSACs to discuss the use of Student Generated Funds. Special thanks to Ms. Rodriguez, Ms. Lori Connelly, Ms. Carlin, Mr. Rich Stehlik and Ms. Cho for assisting with the evening.
We closed out the month with a standout event organized by the Social Justice Club, led by Ms. Denomme and Ms. Vorsteveld. On November 30th, Doyle hosted “Into the Cold, a Better Tent City Sleepout”. This event saw 120 students and staff from four of our high schools coming together, spending the night outside in tents. Their resilience raised awareness about the housing and homelessness crisis in our region, marking a remarkable start to the season of Advent. To further support the cause, Ms. DeSantis’ class organized a “Fill a Backpack” Drive. Classrooms were given an empty backpack and students were encouraged to bring in toiletries and warm clothing which would then be donated to individuals living on the streets. We are immensely proud of the active participation, dedication, and community spirit demonstrated by our students, staff, and supporters throughout these events. Thank you all for making these initiatives impactful and reflective of our values as a school community.
As we move into December, let us carry forward the spirit of unity, empathy, and engagement that defined our November activities.
With warm regards,
Lou Bellini – Principal
