St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School
2350 Hurontario Street South
Mississauga ON, L5B 1N1
Phone: 905.277.2448 Fax: 905.277.5910
www.dpcdsb.org/siena
December 2015
Principal
G. Pedroso
Vice-Principal
R. Scicluna
Head Secretary
S. Waugh
Assistant Secretary
S. Jones
Superintendent
D. Amaral
905–890–1221
Trustee
B. Iannicca
(905) 270-0536
Advent Prayer
Come, long‐expected Jesus. Excite in me a wonder at the wisdom and power of Your Father and ours. Receive my prayer as part of my service of the Lord who enlists me in God's own work for justice. Come, long‐expected Jesus. Excite in me a joy responsive to the Father's joy. I seek His will so I can serve with gladness, singing and love. Come, long‐expected Jesus. Excite in me the joy and love and peace it is right to bring to the manger of my Lord. Raise in me, too, sober reverence for the God who acted there, hearty gratitude for the life begun there, and spirited resolution to serve the Father and Son. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, whose advent I hail. Amen Administrator’s Message…
Parish
St. Catherine of Siena
2340 Hurontario St.
Mississauga, Ontario
L5B 1N1
905-272-1454
Advent is a season of hope and celebration. We strive to prepare our hearts and our lives as
we wait in great anticipation for the coming of Jesus. The birth of Jesus signifies a new
beginning that heralds new hopes and dreams that light up our lives and give it new meaning.
Advent provides us an opportunity to bring students to realize that the world is still waiting for
the teachings of Jesus to wash over the world and influence our lives. It is a reminder that on
each day of Advent, we can reflect on Christ, seeking ways to break into our lives.
Pastors
Fr. Camillo Lando,
C.S. Pastor
Fr. Santo Cigolini,
C.S. in Residence
Fr. Mario Lorenzana,
C.S. Associate Pastor
School Council
Chairs
Ms. Campinos
The month of December promises to be another busy and active month. Activities this month
include: two Virtue Assemblies on the virtue of Hope, ShareLife Christmas Breakfast for staff
and students, Santa Visit, a Family Crafts Night, a Spanish dance presentation to our grade 4-8
classes, Math Mission Possible, and to top it off our Nativity Play and annual Christmas sing-along. Working together with the church, we will celebrate School Reconciliation on Dec. 9 and
Advent Mass on Dec. 17.
The month of November was another busy and active month. Activities this month included our
Grades 1-3 classes going to the Living Arts Centre, our Grade 4s going to Silvercreek, two
Virtue Assemblies on Conscience, a Family Movie Night featuring Inside Out, an exciting
Intermediate Volleyball season, several Scientists in the School presentations, Intermediates
going to the Movies to watch Mocking Jay, a great week of Bullying Awareness activities, and a
Gr. 8 Retreat to Mount Alverno.
May the promise of Christmas help to show God’s boundless love for you and your family, and
may you be blessed with good health, prosperity and happiness throughout the New Year. We
take this opportunity to wish everyone a joyous Advent season, a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
G. Pedroso and R. Scicluna
Many Hands, Many Lands, One Heart, One God
1
December Virtue – Hope
God helps up to keep working on a more peaceful world
even when we feel discouraged.
Our Daily Prayer for December:
Let us pray for the grace and courage to be people of
hope, people who can see, participate in and contribute
to God's goodness emerging around us. AMEN
A hopeful person is....
†
inspired and inspires others
†
optimistic
†
one who seeks good things from life
†
one sees the good in the world
From the perspective of the Catholic Graduate
Expectations, a person of hope…
†
Sees more good than evil in the world
†
Acts legally and morally
May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace in
believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit. -- Romans: 15:13
Sometimes in life bad things happen to us that we
cannot explain. During these times we tend to get mad
at God for putting us through so much pain. We forget
God is always there for us and He does not want to hurt
us. When you feel sad and alone, remember to never
lose HOPE, pray to Jesus and things will get better.
Please note: All Virtue information is included in the front
pages of your child’s agenda.
Virtue Assemblies:


Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015
Gr. 4-8: Hosted by Mr. Devito’s grade 7 class @ 10 a.m.
Gr. K-3: Hosted by Mr. Brennan’s grade 2 class @ 1:40 p.m.
Ontario Catholic School Graduate
Expectations
Distinctive expectations for graduates
of Catholic schools are determined
and shaped by the vision and destiny
of the human person emerging from
our faith tradition. Catholic education
views human life as an integration of
body, mind, and spirit. Rooted in this
vision, Catholic education fosters the
search for knowledge as a lifelong
spiritual and academic quest.
The Graduate is expected to be:
1. A discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith
community who celebrates the signs and sacred
mystery of God's presence through word, sacrament,
prayer, forgiveness, reflection and moral living.
2. An effective communicator who speaks, writes and
listens honestly and sensitively, responding critically in
light of gospel values.
3. A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who
solves problems and makes responsible decisions with
an informed moral conscience for the common good.
4. A self-directed, responsible, lifelong learner who
develops and demonstrates their God-given potential.
5. A collaborative contributor who finds meaning,
dignity and vocation in work which respects the rights of
all and contributes to the common good.
6. A caring family member who attends to family,
school, parish, and the wider community.
7. A responsible citizen who gives witness to Catholic
social teaching by promoting peace, justice and the
sacredness of human life.
Parish Information:
Liturgical and Sacramental Dates
St. Catherine of Siena
2340 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON L5B 1N1
T: 905-272-1454
E: office@stcatherine.ca
Gr. 8 Confirmation: Wed., Dec. 2 @ 6 p.m. (church)
Pastoral Staff
P Fr. Camillo Lando,
Fr. Santo Cigolini,
Fr. Mario Lorenzana,
C.S. Pastor
C.S. in Residence
C.S. Associate Pastor
St. Catherine of Siena Church Mass Times:
M-F
8:00am & 7:00pm
Saturday Vigil
6:00pm
Sunday
8:30am (English) 10:00am (Italian)
Sunday
11:30am and 1 p.m. (English)
First Communion Registration:
Monday, December 7 @ 7:30 p.m. (church)
Wed., December 9 @ 7:30 p.m. (church)
School Reconciliation (Gr. 3-8): Wed., December 9
Advent Mass: Thursday, Dec. 17 @ 9:30 a.m.
Gr. 7 Confirmation Registration:
Mon., Feb. 1 @ 7 30 p.m. (church)
Wed., Feb. 3 @ 7:30 p.m. (church)
First Communion: Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 3 p.m.
Gr. 7 Confirmation: Wednesday, June 1 at 6 p.m.
Many Hands, Many Lands, One Heart, One God
2
Siena Awards Award Winners!
EQAO Results
EQAO has published the results of
the annual Assessments of Reading,
Writing and Mathematics, Grades 3
and 6, for the school year 2014-2015.
Our results are indicated below:
When teachers notice a
student(s) living out the
virtues, here at school, they
will give out a SIENA Award
Slip to the student(s).
Name Maria A. Ethan M. Benedicta A. Rickey H. Paulo Q. Miguel M. Grade 1 FDK 4 6 8 7 Teacher Mrs. Sitas Ms. Davidson Mrs. Connolly Mrs. Tropea Ms. Torun Mr. Devito These students have been acknowledged school wide
through a P.A. announcement and have their picture
posted on our SIENA Award / Virtue board. Teachers
focused on, although not limited to, the virtue of the
month.
Kindergarten Registration (2016-17)
Kindergarten registration for the 201617 school year, will be held at all
Dufferin-Peel Catholic elementary
schools on:
Monday, January 25, 2015
Wednesday, January 27, 2015
Thursday, January 28, 2015
Friday, January 29, 2015
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Snow date:
Tuesday, January 26, 2015
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
For more information, parents/guardians should contact
the school, or visit the board website at
http://www.dpcdsb.org.
Parent Evening to Support the Transition
of Children with Differing Abilities into
Kindergarten 2016
There will be an information session for parents of
children with differing abilities including vision, hearing,
autism, physical/medical and/or developmental delays
who are transitioning to Kindergarten in September
2016. The information session will be held at the
DPCDSB Board Office (CEC) in Room 301 on Tuesday,
January 12, 2016, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. (Snow date:
Wednesday, January 13, 2016). Parents are also
reminded to register their child at their school on
Monday, January 25 from 7- 9 p.m. (Do mention to
staff your child’s needs).
We continue to work on developing strategies that will
improve student achievement!
Christmas Food Drive
Christmas season of goodwill is
upon us. As we pause to count
our many blessings, let us also
remember families who are in
need. This year our school will
provide Christmas Day Celebrations (Christmas meals
and gifts) to families within our Parish community. Each
grade will collect a specific food throughout the week of
Nov. 30 – Dec. 4. Please support this campaign,
together we will make a huge difference!
FDK:
Grade 1:
Grade 2:
Grade 3:
Grade 4:
Grade 5:
Grade 6:
Grade 7:
Grade 8:
Crackers/Cookies
Pasta
Pasta Sauce
Canned Vegetables/Beans
Canned Fruit
Canned Fish / Canned Meat
Sugar / Coffee / Tea
Canned Soup / Dry Soup
Cereal / Breakfast Bars
Santa Visit for Primary Grades
Santa will be visiting our school on
Monday, December 14! Santa will be
sharing Christmas stories and the
true meaning of Christmas, as well
singing Christmas carols with all the
primary classes.
Many Hands, Many Lands, One Heart, One God
3
Family Literacy Program
> Talk. Read. Play. Sing!
Free workshops for families offered by the Region of
Peel at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Elementary
School.
The Family Literacy Program is for
families with children aged 0 – 6
years. Families come together for
stories, snack, and activities.
Research from the University of
Toronto has shown this program
makes an impact to a child’s Early
Literacy skills along with their family’s support.
The program will be held in Room113 on Wednesday
nights, beginning February 17 and ending April 27.
The program will run from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Please note
there will be no program on March 16 and 23. All
families with children under 6 years, as well as older
children in your family, are welcome.
Please register by calling 905 791-1585, ext. 7222 or
visit our website at www.peelregion.ca and click on Child
Care. We hope to see you there.
Extended French Information Meeting
Grade 4 parents/guardians who wish to enroll their child
in a Grade 5 Extended French class for September,
2016 are invited to attend an information meeting at:
Where: St. Philip School (905‐306‐8420)
345 Fairview Road West
When: Thursday, January 14, 2016
Time: 7:00 p.m.
At the present time, the above mentioned school is the
designated centre for our area. Applications will be
accepted at that centre until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday,
February 16, 2016.
Catholic School Council
Communication between
home and school is
greatly enhanced by
parental involvement
with the Catholic School
Council. The aim of the
Catholic School Council is to promote the vision, values,
sacramental life and Catholic practices of the DufferinPeel Catholic District School Board and the Catholic
community it serves and to advise the principal and the
Board. Future meetings are scheduled for:


March 2 (6 p.m.)
June 8 (6 p.m.)
Winter Weather
During the winter season, the school
receives calls from concerned parents
as to how we determine when children
will or will not be allowed outside for
recess. Dufferin‐Peel CDSB Policy uses
a Wind Chill factor of ‐25 C as the
determining temperature. Students will not be sent
outside for recess if it is colder than this.
In the colder weather we receive numerous requests to
allow children to remain indoors when students have a
cold, flu, etc. Please note that we cannot comply, as we
neither have the facilities nor the staff to supervise these
students. If your child is not feeling well we
encourage you to keep them home to avoid the
spread of illness. The expectation at St. Catherine of
Siena is that all children will go outdoors for recess
and the lunch break.
Outdoor Play
Snow season is here. Please
ensure that your child is properly
dressed for outdoor play in a
Canadian winter. It is a school
expectation that all students go
outside for recess for exercise
and fresh air. If your child is
unable to go outside for recess because of illness,
please consider keeping them home until they are
feeling better.
We also ask that your child have a pair of indoor
shoes for classroom use, labeled with their name for
easy identification (throughout the winter the lost and
found box fills up with unidentified clothing). Many
students forget to bring a separate pair of shoes, and
they track snow and mud from the field into the
classrooms, hallways and bathrooms.
Please note that in the event of an emergency
evacuation, students will not have the opportunity to put
boots on. Your help with this is appreciated.
We would appreciate your support in reinforcing the
school rule that all snow stays on the ground. For
everyone’s safety we do not allow snowballs, kicking
snow, or any other snow\ice activity that could lead to
potential harm or injury.
Breakfast for Kids
The Breakfast Club provides
meals/snacks for any students every
morning beginning at 8 a.m. in the
school’s Breakfast Room. All students
are welcome.
Many Hands, Many Lands, One Heart, One God
4
Inclement Weather, School Closures and
Bus Cancellations
During the winter months inclement weather may cause
disruption to bus transportation and regular school
operations. A decision to cancel school transportation
and/or to close schools is usually made by 6:00 a.m. and
will be announced on the following radio stations:
VIRGIN RADIO FM 99.9
CFNY FM 102.1
FM Z 103.5
CHIN FM 100.7
EZ ROCK FM 97.3
FM 93.1
CBC 99.1
FM 98.1
FM Q107
AM 640
CFRB AM 1010
AM 1540
CHUM AM 1050
CJCL AM 590
CFTR AM 680
CJBC (FR) AM86CHFI
CITYTV
CTV and GLOBAL NEWS
The message usually takes the following form, “The
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and the
Peel District School Board buses are cancelled.” This
means that buses are cancelled for the entire day.
Or, to indicate school closures, “The schools and
offices of the Peel District School Board and the
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board have been
closed.” Should the announcement refer to cancellation
only in the COUNTY OF DUFFERIN, this does NOT
affect our school.
Personal Electronic Devices for
Educational Purposes
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
acknowledges the value of the use of technology for
learning. Students are permitted to register and use
personal electronic devices (PEDs) on board premises
and/or board sanctioned events for educational
purposes, under the direction of staff and only with
parent/guardian permission. Students may register their
PED for the purpose of connecting to the board wireless
network. Students are required to adhere to the student
“Personal Electronic Device Used with WI-FI Network
Student Agreement” (GF 337) and the “Network User
Application and Agreement.” (GF066) Please be
advised that the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District
School Board will not be responsible for any cost
incurred through the use of personal data plans.
PEDs are to be used responsibly and should not
interfere with learning; their use must comply with the
Catholic Code of Conduct, board policies and
procedures. Any personal communications (i.e., phone
calls, text messages, etc.) will continue to be directed
through the main office. Failure to comply with these
guidelines may result in a loss of PED privileges and/or
any other consequences deemed necessary by school
administration.
The school principal may authorize limited acceptable
uses of personal electronic devices during schoolsanctioned activities for a specific designated purpose
outside of instructional spaces and/or in common areas.
Students are responsible for the safety and security of
PEDs at all times and the Board assumes no
responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen devices.
More information on Wi-Fi and PEDs at St. Catherine of
Siena can be found on our school website at:
http://www.dpcdsb.org/SIENA/Learning/Personal+Electr
onic+Devices+and+Wi-Fi++Policy.htm
Attendance and Punctuality
All students are expected to attend school regularly and
punctually. In the event that your child
will be late or absent, please call the
school and follow the prompts to leave
a message. This can be done 24 hours
a day. For students who are absent
and for whom a call is not received, we
will attempt to contact you.
PLEASE CALL: 905-277-2448 Press # 1
Please leave the following information:




Date of the absence
Student’s full name
Grade level and teacher
Reason for absence
If the bell has rung, all students (Gr. 1-8) who may be
late, are to go to the back of the school and join a
line. If there are no students, and the doors are
closed you are to come to the front of the school
and obtain a Late Slip.
All students who arrive after 9:00 a.m. or 1:03 p.m.
must obtain a Late Slip.
Before School Hours Supervision
For your child’s safety, we request that children not be
on school property until supervision begins at 8:45
a.m.
Medical Concerns
If your son / daughter has any medical concerns, please
ensure that you inform the school. Information may be
shared directly with the classroom teacher / office. If
medication is required, forms will be sent for completion
by parents and the family doctor. All information is held
in confidence.
Many Hands, Many Lands, One Heart, One God
5
No Birthday Food Treats Please
The Online Reporting Tool
Please do not send birthday or
seasonal snacks/cakes/treats into
the school. There are many
alternatives such as stickers and
pencils.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School board has
developed a new way to
help nurture a safe, caring
and inclusive school
environment. The Online
Reporting Tool is intended for students in grades 3 – 8
who become aware of bullying incidents and negative
behaviours. The student can simply ‘click’ on the link
found on our school’s website to fill out the report. The
report will then be directly emailed to the principal and/or
vice principal and will be dealt with accordingly. It is
important to recognize that the Online Reporting Tool is
an alternate reporting option. It is best practice to speak
directly with a responsible adult at home and/or in the
school.
St. Catherine of Siena School is an allergen aware
school. There are pupils in attendance at our school who
suffer from severe and life threatening allergies to
certain foods, such as peanut and nut products. For that
reason we would appreciate parents NOT sending in any
food for other children to eat. We want St. Catherine of
Siena to be a safe environment for all students. Thank
you for your assistance with initiative this.
Volunteers - Criminal Reference Check
We are pleased to welcome our
volunteers for another year to
supporting learning in our school.
We appreciate their commitment &
support and look forward to a great
year! In accordance with the Safe
Schools Act, all volunteers, including those going on
one day school trips, must have a Criminal Reference
Check.
Criminal Reference Checks
Anyone working in our school as a new employee or
volunteer must have a Criminal Reference Check
completed by the Peel Police. CRC are free of charge
for volunteers. Forms will be available from the office
and at the Community Information Board.
End of the day pick-up, please keep the
Doorways clear
In support of our Safe School procedures here at Siena,
we are asking the doorways at the back be kept clear
and accessible for students to make their way out to the
school yard. It is imperative that teachers are able to see
a child’s parent before allowing them to
leave (Gr. 1-3). To help with this, we
ask parents/guardians to stay well
clear of the exit doors. This is a
safety concern for our students, we
want to make sure they are not walking
home alone. We ask for your continued
cooperation in this very important
safety procedure.
Concussion Policy and Protocol
Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School Board has
developed a Concussion
Policy and Guidelines for
students. Anytime a student
reports to the office with a
head injury, the
parent/guardian will be
contacted and the incident will be entered into the
school’s Head Injuries log. Your child will be given an
information pamphlet entitled “We want to give you a
heads up…Concussions are serious.” This pamphlet
outlines the signs and symptoms of concussions; it does
not mean your child does or does not have a
concussion. It includes information about what to do if
you suspect your child has a concussion and how a
concussion is treated. School staff cannot diagnose a
concussion. If your child has been diagnosed with a
concussion by either a medical doctor or nurse
practitioner there is a procedure we are to follow.
Guidelines have been developed by Dufferin-Peel CDSB
to support a 10-phase “Return to Activity” process
following a diagnosed concussion. These guidelines
include 5 phases for “Return to Learn” followed by 5
phases for “Return to Play”. With parental consent,
school administration will work collaboratively with
school psychology staff to monitor your child’s progress
through the 10 phases. For more information, please
contact the school.
Intermediate Boys and Girls Volleyball
Congratulations to both our Intermediate
Boys and Girls Volleyball Team for their
dedication and enthusiasm this year!
Both teams showed great
sportsmanship and made their coaches
and everyone here at St. Catherine of Siena very proud!
A special thank you to this year’s coaches: Mrs. Tropea,
Ms. Torun, and Mr. Tirilis.
Many Hands, Many Lands, One Heart, One God
6
3rd Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Thank you to all of the classes that submitted a
decorated pumpkin character. All of the entries were
amazing and made it very difficult to decide on one
favourite pumpkin. The pumpkin that received the most
votes in this year’s contest is... the Cheshire Cat from
the Alice in Wonderland story. Congratulations to Mrs.
LeBlanc and her grade 8 students for their entry!!! We
all look forward to the next year's entries at the 4th
Annual Siena Pumpkin Decorating Contest.
Caring for Library Books
Attention Siena Students and Parents: Please note that
Miss Leo, along with the library helpers and volunteers
have noticed many of the library books coming back
damaged. The books are returning to the library torn or
even scribbled or written on. It is encouraging to see our
students so excited and enthusiastic about reading and
borrowing books from the library, but please remind your
child(ren) to take care of them for other students to enjoy
as well. Students should remember to keep books away
from food and beverages, and from young children and
pets. Some damages can be repaired, others may not
and parents will have to cover the cost to replace the
damaged book. Thank you for your continued support
and remembering the importance of books and reading."
Grade Six Column
Siena Remembers (Mrs. Tropea’s Class)
Did you “remember” on “Remembrance” Day? On
Wednesday, November 11th, 2015, the students of Ms.
Hyacienth, Ms. Silva, Ms. Prince and Ms. Leo organized
a school wide assembly about Remembrance Day. All
students and staff arrived wearing red and they showed
respect throughout the assembly that was celebrated in
the school gym of St. Catherine of Siena beginning at
10:30 a.m. “Seeing the sea of red worn by the students
and staff reminded me of Flanders Fields,” said Kirsten
A. The assembly began with the FDK students
processing into the gym with grade 5 students and they
placed a poppy into a vase or a wreath onto a cross. The
National Anthem was sung led by Ms. Sluga, the choir
coordinator. Mr. Brennan spoke about his father, a war
veteran, who fought and survived WWII. He mentioned
that his father always kept a rosary in his right pocket
beginning with his time in the war. “Mr. Brennan’s
speech about his father was very heart-warming,”
commented Steffi V.
Part of In Flanders Fields was read by Charlie Brown
and friends and the teachers recited the final stanza.
Prayers were included as well as a passage from the
Bible related to war.
At 11:00 a.m., the school had a moment of silence to
remember the veterans and fallen soldiers who have
fought for our peace and freedom. It is at this time
because WWI ended at 11:00 on the 11th day of the
11th month. At the end of the assembly, the school vice-
principal Mr. Scicluna, as always, gave a reflection for
the students and staff to think about. This was how this
particular school chose to remember.
Siena Honours the Fallen (Mrs. Cargioli’s Class)
On the eleventh month, the eleventh day and the
eleventh hour Siena had a moment of silence.
On Wednesday November 11, 2015 at 11:00 am, the
students of St. Catherine of Siena School went down to
the school gymnasium to watch a Remembrance Day
assembly. This assembly was put
together by Mrs. Silva’s JK class and
Mrs. Hyacienth’s grade 5 class, and what
a powerful assembly it was. This
assembly was dedicated to honour those
who have served and risked their lives for our safety.
During the assembly we took two minutes to grieve the
lost lives of our fallen heroes and those who are still with
us today but hold these memories of war in their heart.
Mr. Brennan, a grade 2 teacher at St. Catherine of Siena
school, shared his experience of having a father who
fought in World War 2. It was so touching to hear his
personal story and it helped us to have more empathy
for those who fought in the war.
It was a tradition for Mr. Brennan’s family to carry a
rosary in their right side pocket this showed us the
significance of having faith during difficult times.
In conclusion we all feel that “that their lives have
become their legacy and their legacy have become their
monument” said Benjamin D.
Green Team News
During the week of November 16 - 20, students were
encouraged to participate in our Walk to School
Campaign. Many of our students were caught walking to
Siena and were rewarded with a prize. By walking to
school, our students not only stay fit but they also
minimize harmful gas emissions by not being driven to
school! The Green Team representatives have been
busy implementing some new and exciting initiatives
here at Siena. Two new recycling programs have been
launched. Students have begun to collect old batteries
(ie. AA, AAA, C, and D) for recycling. When these
batteries are kept out of the landfill, soil, water, and air
pollution are minimized. The old batteries can be
deposited into the Battery Collection box located in our
Literacy room. Old markers and dry erase markers are
also being collected for a program called Colorcycle.
These old markers are sent to a facility where they are
transformed into clean-burning fuel.
This month we are also re-launching our successful
Radical Recyclers program. Green Team
representatives are being trained to monitor their
recycling and garbage bins weekly in order to ensure
items are being disposed of properly.
Thank you for all your continued support in making
Siena a GREEN place.
GO GREEN!
Many Hands, Many Lands, One Heart, One God
7
Many Hands, Many Lands, One Heart, One God
8
MONTH of DECEMBER
Sunday
Monday
Nov. 31
Tuesday
1
2015
Wednesday
2
Thursday
Friday
3
4
Saturday
5
10
11
12
Gr. Confirmation @ 6 p.m.
(Church)
6
7
1st Communion
Registration @
7:30 p.m. (Church)
8
Virtue
Assemblies
Gr4-8 @ 10 a.m.
FDK-3 @ 1:30 p.m
9
School Reconciliation
9:15 a.m.
FDK
Christmas
Assembly @ 2
p.m.
A.I.S. Gr. 4-8 (1:15 p.m.)
Family Craft Night @ 7 p.m.
1st Comm’ Reg’ @ 7:30 p.m.
13
14
15
16
17
18
Santa Visit
(Primary Classes)
Christmas
Breakfast @
8:15 a.m. (Staff
and Students
Welcome)
Nativity Play
Performances:
 Day
 Night (7 p.m.)
Advent Mass @
Church 9: 30 a.m.
S.A.C. Movie
Gr 6-8 (a.m.)
19
Christmas
Sing– a-long
S.A.C. Movie
Gr K-5 (p.m.)
20
21
22
23
Christmas break
begins
27
28
29
30
24
25
Christmas Eve
Christmas
31
New Year’s Eve
26
Monday, Jan. 4, 2016
FIRST DAY BACK
Volume 3
December
Geometry
Developing Mindsets that Promote Growth
The ability to identify and describe
shapes, sizes, positions, directions, and
movement is important in many work
situations, such as construction and
design, as well as in creating and
understanding art. Becoming familiar
with shapes and spatial relationships in
their environment will help children
grasp the principles of geometry in
later grades.
What do we mean by “mindset”?
Mindsets are the assumptions and expectations we have for
ourselves and others. These attitudes guide our behavior
and influence our responses to daily events.
- Dr. Robert Brooks
Tips for Fostering a Growth Mindset:
Tip # 3. Set Appropriately High Expectations and Provide
Support
Web Resource: (Intermediate Level)
www.wiredmath.ca
 Expectations should focus on habits, effort, and
growth, not grades.
 Provide your child with other supports (extra help,
additional resources). Don’t assume that “you could
do it easily if you just tried harder.”
Family Math Activity K – 3:
There are many ways to
Big Ideas:
represent a given shape.
Use 20 toothpicks to make 3 shapes. None of the
shapes can use the same number of toothpicks. Talk
to your child about the shapes they made.
 What are the names of the shapes you made?

Why did you decide that those would be good
shapes to make?
Family Math Activity 4-6:
Big Idea: There are many ways to represent a given shape.
We invite you to explore these dynamic interactive
games with your child:
 http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/geometry/shapes.
html (geometric properties)
 http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/geometry/interac
tiveshapes.html (spatial awareness)
 http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/geometry.html
(variety of geometry games)
Grades 7 & 8: Continuing
the Conversation about
Financial Literacy!
Let’s discuss some factors affecting “Money
Decisions”…
 Ask your child to keep a log for one
week of all the times, instances, or
circumstances that he/she has an
encounter with money (e.g., a bus ride,
buying gum at a store, going to the bank
or ATM, buying an app or music).
 Ask your child to make a list of all the
ways in which money enters into
his/her daily life.
 Discuss with your child his/her money
encounters (e.g., what was the total
value of your money encounters?)
“God has also given each of us different gifts to use.” Romans 12: 6-8
St. Catherine of Siena
Holly Jolly Christmas
Spirit Week
Dec. 14 – 18, 2015
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
The Student Advisory Council (S.A.C.), is planning a “Holly Jolly Christmas Spirit Week” to help spread both Christmas Spirit and
Siena School Spirit. Siena students will have an opportunity to show their spirit by participating in various activities.
Students can begin showing their spirit by wearing different-colour clothing every day:
Monday is “Christmas Tree Day” – please wear green.
Tuesday is “Santa and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer Day” – please wear red.
Wednesday is “Winter Wonderland Day” – please wear white. (The Nativity Story Presentation).
Thursday is “Advent Day” – please wear purple and pink. (All are welcome to join in our Advent Mass in Church at 9:30 a.m.)
Friday is “Festive Friday Day” – please wear any festive Christmas clothing.
Siena-wide Advent Bingo will also commence on Monday, December 14th. All classes will prepare their Advent Bingo card.
Numbers will be called everyday over the P.A. The first class to call “ Advent Bingo” into the office, will receive a classroom prize as
well as individual prizes for each student.
Movie days: $2.00/student includes a popcorn. Additional treats and beverages can be purchased during the movie. Prices for
concessions range from 25 cents - $1.00.
The students will watching a movie in the gym.
The kindergarten to grade 2 classes will be watching“How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, rated G, on Thurs., Dec. 17, at 11:00 a.m.
The grade 6 – 8 classes will be watching “A Christmas Carol”, with Jim Carrey, rated PG, Thurs., Dec. 17, at 1:15 p.m. The 3 to 5
classes will be watching“How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, with Jim Carrey, rated G, on Fri. Dec. 18, at 9:15 a.m. Additional treats
i.e., chips, candy bars, candy, cookies, pop, juice and milk will also be available to purchase during the movie as well. Classroom
teachers will be collecting $2.00 from each student. Popcorn will be distributed in the gym upon entry to the movie. Please submit
$2.00 to the classroom teacher by Friday, December 11th.
Santa-grams are available for purchase for 25 cents each. A Peanut-Free chocolate Santa that students send to a friend along with
a Christmas message. Santa-grams are sold in front of the library from Wed. Dec. 2 – 16, during lunchtime until 12:15 p.m. Santagrams will be delivered on Friday, December 18th during the day. Chocolate Santa’s will also be available for purchase for 25 cents
during Holly Jolly Christmas Spirit Week.
S.A.C. thanks the St. Catherine of Siena community for encouraging and supporting Holly Jolly Christmas Spirit Week and wishes
everyone a Holly Jolly Christmas and a Happy New Year.