Laura Booth
WR Record
Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Past articles by Laura:
Public high school students will return to a ‘modified semester’ model in September
WATERLOO REGION — Public high schools in the region are planning to run a modified semester model in September. This is a move away from the quadmester model — two classes taken in each of four terms — that was used in the current 2020/2021 school year. In a message to parents and students this week, the Waterloo Region District School Board said it had heard from students and families that the… → Read More
Economic recovery front of mind for Waterloo mayor in annual address
WATERLOO — At his annual address to the city, Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky said economic recovery will be a major focus in the year ahead. “While it is far too early to declare victory over the pandemic, we need to turn our minds to recovery,” he said during the virtual event hosted by the Rotary Waterloo on Wednesday. “Economic recovery for businesses and hard-hit industries dependent on… → Read More
Board to start consultations to rename Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School
WATERLOO — The public school board is looking to start a consultation process to rename Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School “as soon as possible.” A Waterloo Region District School Board trustee committee created late last year with the task of reviewing school names through an anti-racist lens, said Tuesday it will seek community input on a new school name. “We will be seeking to start a… → Read More
Waterloo Region public school principals push for equitable Grade 6 and 8 year-end celebrations
Principals agree to avoid spending money on items such as lawn signs, T-shirts and other merchandise to mark the occasion in an effort to keep the gra... → Read More
People gather for peaceful anti-racism rally in Wilmot
WATERLOO REGION — A peaceful anti-racism rally was held in Baden on Saturday morning in response to White Lives Matter posters that were found posted in Wilmot Township. “I’m here today to show support for our community and show that we won’t tolerate racism,” said Angela Skelton, who attended the event held on the grounds of Castle Kilbride National Historic Site. “As a queer cis-gendered white… → Read More
Kitchener girl leads virtual trivia night at long-term care home
KITCHENER — What landmark New York City skyscraper officially opened on May 1, 90 years ago? Trivia host Addy Braunig, 11, stumped some residents of a long-term care residence in Kitchener with that question last week. “The Empire State Building — she got us on that one,” laughed Joyce Schilling, an 85-year-old resident of Westmount Chartwell Long Term Care. On Thursday nights, Braunig prints… → Read More
Students told to prepare for possibility of online learning after April break
WATERLOO REGION — Students should prepare for a possible switch to online learning after the April break, says Waterloo Region’s medical officer of health. COVID-19 cases in the region have increased over the past couple of days and “we are at risk for the rapid acceleration seen in other communities,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang in a statement. Public health units in some parts of the province,… → Read More
Special education workers now eligible to get vaccine in Waterloo Region
WATERLOO REGION — Special education workers are now eligible to get vaccinated in Waterloo Region. The news was announced Wednesday in a joint press release from the Waterloo Region District School Board, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Region of Waterloo Public Health. Eligible staff are being contacted directly with registration instructions. “Ongoing conversations are taking… → Read More
Waterloo school closes because “significant” number of staff self-isolating
WATERLOO — Holy Rosary Catholic School in Waterloo is closed this week because a number of education workers are self-isolating after coming into contact with a case of COVID-19. “This closure reflects our priority to keep our students and staff safe, with a trending uptick in positive COVID-19 cases in the school, and a significant number of staff deemed high-risk contacts and therefore in… → Read More
Erratic driver with knife crashes nine times in Kitchener and Waterloo
WATERLOO REGION — A man driving a stolen SUV crashed nine times on Saturday, including six times with police vehicles. On Saturday around 3:30 p.m., police were alerted to a man driving erratically on sidewalks and through plazas in a stolen Toyota SUV. The driver was involved in nine separate collisions throughout the region and would randomly stop and threaten people while holding a knife,… → Read More
Provincial trend of more COVID-19 patients in ICU not reflected in Waterloo Region hospitals
WATERLOO REGION — The troubling trend of more people with COVID-19 in intensive care units across Ontario hospitals could happen locally in about two weeks, said St. Mary’s General Hospital spokesperson. Anne Kelly said the cardiovascular intensive care unit is full while the medical/surgical unit is at 77 per cent capacity. “In Waterloo Region, we tend to feel the impact of COVID trends in… → Read More
Teachers union, trustees call for special education workers to get vaccinated
Push also on to see all education workers vaccinated as early as April Break → Read More
Is virtual learning here to stay? Some parents hope so
KITCHENER — Henriette Palffy’s three children have done so well in virtual school, the Cambridge mother hopes they can continue with online learning post-pandemic. Her children, ages 9, 11, and 12, have been attending St. Isidore virtual school with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board since September, when it opened. Palffy says the experience has been “amazing.” “I hope that this stays… → Read More
Catholic school board asking families if they want virtual school in September
WATERLOO REGION — The Catholic school board is asking parents if they want their children in virtual learning next school year. A survey will open to parents from March 15 to 19 on the Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s website for parents who want to express their interest in having their children learn virtually during the 2021/2022 school year. “A choice for virtual will be a choice… → Read More
St. John Catholic Elementary School expected to open Thursday
KITCHENER — St. John Catholic Elementary School will open on Thursday after staffing challenges closed the school nearly two weeks ago. The Kitchener school closed on Feb. 25 as too many staff members were isolating due to COVID-19 cases in the school, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board said at the time. Region of Waterloo Public Health also declared an outbreak at the school on Feb. 25… → Read More
‘This is one time it’s good to be old’ says New Hamburg woman set to get vaccinated in Waterloo this morning
WATERLOO — Today marks a milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic in Waterloo Region. The first mass vaccination clinic will open this morning. It is located at The Boardwalk in Waterloo. Lynda and George Heath of New Hamburg arrived early for their 9:30 a.m. appointment. “It is the beginning of being able to get back to normal,” said Lynda, 80. “We have been tied down for so long.” “This is one time… → Read More
School boards, public health to discuss COVID-19 testing plan
WATERLOO REGION — School board and public health officials in Waterloo Region will meet Thursday afternoon to discuss a rollout plan for COVID-19 testing. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Education sent a memo to school boards ordering asymptomatic targeted testing be carried out in at least five per cent of schools per week, reaching at least two per cent of the student population a week. This is to… → Read More
Probable case of COVID-19 variant identified at Kitchener school
KITCHENER — A probable case of a COVID-19 variant has been identified in a student at W.T. Townshend Public School in Kitchener, the school board says. “Public health has been clear that this is not an unexpected occurrence as variants are known to be spreading across Ontario,” the Waterloo Region District School Board said in a statement on Friday. “Additionally, there has been a very… → Read More
Province postpones March break
WATERLOO REGION — March break has been postponed. The break start on April 12 rather than March 15, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said Thursday at a news conference. More to come. * SHARE: * * * * → Read More
Waterloo Region teacher creates Black curriculum to empower students
WATERLOO REGION — Waterloo Region teacher Lorraine Harris wants Black students to feel empowered when they learn about their heritage. The Waterloo Catholic District School Board teacher has created a curriculum that looks to connect students with pre-colonial Africa when kings and queens ruled. “I believe that Black heritage taught from this perspective, or in this context, will not only uplift… → Read More