Dec.
2015
INSIDE
INSIDE
Chaplain
Religion Dept.
News
Outdoors Club
Co-op
Special Events
Basketball
Walk for
Hope
P.I.P. News
Special Dates
A S C E N S I O N
Principal’s Report
We have already arrived at Christmas and the large
part of our first semester is over. This year we have
849 young men and women who have taken the tradition of academic excellence to a new level. These
young people have embraced the curriculum with a
great enthusiasm which has made our launch of the
2015-2016 school year the best start ever.
I would like to take this opportunity to continue to
acknowledge the commitment of our 2015-2016
Catholic School Council. This year’s school council
members are: Ms. Anna Endrizzi our School Council
Chair, our Secretary Ms. Anna Pulicicchio and our
Treasurer Ms. Irene Lockrey. This group of dedicated
parents have embraced their role to promote the vision of excellence in Catholic Education. I invite you,
parents/guardians, to join our Catholic School Council meetings held throughout the school year, here at
Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Secondary School.
The opening of our school year has been an eventful
one. In the first three months, we had all of our Grade
9 and 10 students enjoy class retreats led by Chaplain
Ms. Albano. On September 30th, under the leadership of Mr. Carolan, Ms. Albano and a team of Ascension volunteers, we had a very successful ‘Terry Fox’/
Project Hope campaign for Cancer Research, and the
Archdiocesan fundraiser for Syrian refugees. Once
again, we raised an average of more than $10 from
each person in the school! This event heightened student awareness of what it truly means to share with
our brothers and sisters in need. “We raised $3,742
for Project Hope, and $5,130 for Terry Fox. I am so
very proud of the efforts of our school community.
November was the month that we remembered all
who have gone before us and in true Ascension reverence we had a moving Remembrance Day assembly.
Special thanks to Mr., Flaherty, Mr. Perri and Mr. Sra
for the amazing presentation that honoured our soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. A special
thanks to Mr. Tantalo, Mr. Vu and the entire committee who organized a beautiful evening Awards Ceremony, honouring the achievements, hard work and
dedication that our students have committed to their
studies.
N E W S
Our Grade 8 Information Night took place on Thursday, November 12th at 7pm in the cafeteria. This was
an evening where we invited all Grade 8 students to
come and visit our school. We showcased the wonderful things that happens at Ascension and encouraged them to join our school community by registering to be part of our 2015-2016 school year.
Our first formal report card will be sent home with
your son or daughter on November 20th. I would like
to emphasize the importance of open communication
between teachers and parents, so please stay in touch
with the teachers that teach your son or daughter.
Open communication and sharing of information is
the cornerstone of a successful student.
The birth of the Messiah is what we are anticipating as
we begin to prepare during Advent the great event of
Christmas. The birth of the One who inaugurates our
journey from darkness to light, from sadness to joy,
from conflict to peace. Advent is that time when once
again we renew our hope and our optimism, that we
strengthen the bonds of love in our families and in
our friendships. There are signs of hope all around us
if we but look and see. At Ascension we are blessed
with great signs of hope in our staff and students, as
we come together and help those in need through our
clothing drive, food drive and fundraisers. Thank you
to all the students and staff who make this community such a wonderful place.
In closing, I would like to thank you, the parents/
guardians, for your continued support. It is when we
work as a team and believe in our students, your sons
and/or daughters, that we are truly successful.
Wishing you and your family a very Blessed Christmas
God Bless
Ms. S. Gos
Principal
Ascension of our Lord Secondary School 7640 Anaka Drive Mississauga L4T 3H7 (905) 676-1287
F A I T H
From the Chaplain
Becoming part of an established and enthusiastic
school community is a daunting task. As the new kid in
the front corner office of the school, you are constantly
trying to remember everyone’s names, how everything
works, and where you are supposed to be on any given
day. Fortunately, with the grace of God, seen and felt in
the support and patience of both staff and students, I
am beginning to find my bearings and acknowledging
how God is calling me to be His new Chaplaincy Leader at Ascension of our Lord. From the team of students
who help with the daily opening prayer and announcements, to the Chaplaincy team and choir who work on
the school masses, and those who have participated in
the social and community projects of the Chaplaincy
office, I am truly enjoying being part of this diverse and
passionate community. I have enjoyed getting to know
the characters of the school, especially when I have
journeyed with more than half of them on their yearly
retreat and on the World Religion Church and Temple
tour. I can’t wait to see what the rest of year has in store
as well as seeing how many ways
I can continue to surprise them
with the many gifts and talents
that God has blessed me with to
explore and show the beauty of
Christ and His Church. As this
year continues, I pray that I may
inspire others to explore and
express their faith in Christ as
I continue to learn from those
of different cultures, faith traditions, and experiences so we
may all grow closer to God the
Father, the Son, and Holy
Spirit.
In Christ, Ms. Albano
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F A I T H
Gr. 11s Visit Places of Worship
On Tuesday, November 24th, students of Ms. Santos’ Grade 11 World Religions class had the privilege of visiting Our Lady of the Airways Church, Baps Shri Swaminaryan Mandir, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple &
Solel Synagogue in Mississauga.
Each place of worship included a guided tour of the grounds, an examination of sacred objects and artifacts
and a question and answer period where students were
able to learn more about the different faith traditions.
From the very informative guided tour of the features
of the Catholic Church by Ms. Albano, to learning
about how not one steel piece or hammer were used to
build the beautiful Baps Mandir, to learning about the
link between science and the Buddhist way of life, to a
tour of the kosher kitchen in the synagogue, students
were in awe and were left with a deeper appreciation
and understanding of these faith
traditions.
In a global world where interfaith
dialogue has become so important, students were able to gain an
invaluable opportunity that we
hope to continue in the future.
The Religion Department thanks
Ms. Albano, our new Chaplain,
for her hard work and dedication
in organizing and accompanying
students on the trip and for her
boundless theological knowledge.
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F A I T H
Religion Department
The religion department of Ascension of Our Lord
Catholic Secondary School is excited to begin the new
year in faith, hope and love. We encourage our diversified student body to build a worshipping community, provide service to their fellow human beings, and
to strive to fulfill the Gospel message to love God and
love our neighbor.
Goal:
The overall goal of the Religion Department is to foster a personal faith relationship with the Lord that will
be reflected in the Gospel values. Through instruction, experiences and witness we hope to encourage
students to embrace Christian values within a collaborative, tolerant and pluralistic school environment.
Objectives:
* The deepening and maturing of the students’ faith
through instruction and reflection.
* The development of attitudes and personal behaviors based on Gospel values.
* The development of sensitivity to Life issues with a focus on respect for self, others, and the planet that
sustains us.
* To build an awareness of
Social Justice on the local, national and global levels.
* To strengthen the students relationship with God
through prayer and sacrament; thus, leading them to
a more meaningful role in a
worshipping community.
* A deeper appreciation for
pluralistic and multicultural
richness inherent within our
diverse community.
* To encourage participation in school and community events.
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C O M M U N I T Y
Walk for Hope Campaign
Ascension’s Terry Fox – “Walk for Hope Campaign
2015”
The students and staff have done it again at
Ascension of Our Lord Secondary School, and
this year our fall fundraising campaign had a
new twist! While we usually raise money for
the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope, this year
we also raised money for Project Hope, our
Archdiocesan fundraiser for Syrian refugees.
The community had a challenge of each person raising “Ten for Hope” by participating in
our “Walk for Hope” in late September, and by
watching the teachers and students battle in the
8th annual Terry Fox Ball Hockey game. “Our
kids and staff are truly amazing” said co-organizer and chaplain at the school, Eliza Albano. “We have raised $3,742 for Project Hope,
and $5,130 for Terry Fox. And once again, we
raised an average of more than $10 from each
person in the school! Additionally, our school
has now raised more than $100,000 for Terry Fox since we
started participating.”
Ascension uses this event annually for the spiritual kick-start to
the school year and all students
and staff participate. This year,
students gained a deeper understanding of the effects of hardship
and tragedy on families and individuals – those affected by cancer
and those affected by persecution
in their homeland. The organizers would like to thank all students, their parents, and the staff
for their financial support. The
entire community hopes that the
tradition will continue next year –
with a new challenge!
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C O M M U N I T Y
Outdoors Club
In early October “The Outdoors Club” at
Ascension of Our Lord Secondary School
took 18 eager students camping amongst
the stunning fall scenery at Bon Echo Provincial Park. Students were given the opportunity to experience sleeping in a tent,
cooking over the campfire, back woods
hiking, and campfire fun. The students
found that “many hands make light work”,
as they were each given shifts for meal
prep, dish washing and garbage duties.
They kept warm while huddling around
the campfire, drinking hot chocolate, and
eating S’mores. The club is gaining lots of
attention for the camping trip, and hopes
to continue the annual trip in the coming
years.
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C O M M U N I T Y
Special Events Basketball
On Monday, November 30, 2015, ASCENSION OF OUR LORD CSS, for
the third time in a row, proudly hosted
the THE ROPSSAA SPECIAL EVENTS
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. Some
savvy advertiser coined the phrase “Basketball is Life,” and if that person was in
our gym this wonderful day, they would
have experienced a ton of it, a veritable ad
campaign passionately and authentically
enacted by our students. And what exactly was on display? Wide-eyed excitement
and the sheer joy of play, glued together
by comprehensive teamwork on all sides.
Everyone made the score sheet on this excellent day, from our student volunteers
to our staff and supporters, but mainly
our student athletes, paragons for “The
Thrill of Victory and The Agony of Defeat.” Everyone has a mission, everyone
has inherent dignity, all of which shines
most brightly within and through the service of community in the Light of Christ! The Game is never over
– we just change uniforms and continue to work together!
Jaroslav Stepanenko,
PIP TEACHER and Tournament Convener,
ASCENSION OF OUR LORD CSS
Cross-Country Running
A big congratulations goes out to our 2015 Cross-Country Team. Each year our team is growing in size and
strength. Cross-country is a challenging sport requiring runners to be both physically and mentally tough. Students begin training in September and train on average of five to six times per week until ROPSSA at the end
of October. On October 30 the team travelled to Heart lake Conservation area where athletes from all over the
Region competed to earn a spot at OFSAA. Our runners set many personal bests and pushed themselves to run
strong races; their hard work and dedication paid off. We look forward to continuing to grow the program and
we invite any and all athletes who enjoy running to come out next year!
Coach Lowie and Coach Spitzig
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C O M M U N I T Y
Planning for Independence
This school year has been busy for our Planning
for Independence and Communication programs.
We are continuing to practice our conversation
skills every Friday in the library, joined by another class, while playing board games and enjoying a
small snack with our friends. Every Tuesday, we take
care of collecting all recycling in the whole school,
maintaining the good practice of being green and
eco-awareness. We are also involved in our community, taking regular transit training trips and community outings to develop our life skills. In September, we attended ROPSSAA Bocce Tournament and
had lots of fun at our Silvercreek Outdoor Education
Center, where we explored the nature and tried some
daring and adventurous high rope activities. In October, we were involved in garlic planting in Malton
Community Gardens, and In November some of us
visited the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.
As always, we are working hard in our in-school
work placement, supporting the school community
in attendance collection, making and selling popcorn, maintaining the uniforms’ closet in the main office and many other work experience related tasks. For
the 3rd time, we will be hosting our ROPSSA annual
basketball tournament, welcoming old friends from
other schools, and we hope we will win again. Our
students enjoy being here at Ascension, because it is a
true loving community that supports us.
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C O M M U N I T Y
Communication Students at Their Workplaces
Andrew Mota is currently
participating in a centralized
placement at Rogers TV. He
is learning a lot of job specific skills in the broadcasting
industry. He enjoys working
with different producers, coop students and volunteers.
Elijah Cruz is working at
work placement at a FreshCo
grocery store. As a grocery
clerk he takes on numerous
responsibilities
including
organizing and restocking
shelves in the grocery and
dairy departments. He is
proud to be a member of the
FreshCo team. He enjoys
helping customers.
Mark Carbone is a proud
team member at the Home
Outfitters store. He is very
valued for his energy and
hard work ethics. He supports the receiving department and the customer sales
on the floor. He loves interacting with all his co-workers
and customers.
Michael Botchway is a very
valued work experience student at The Next Level clothing store. Michael has been
recognized for his strong
work ethics, he is very dependable and consistent in
completing his assigned duties. His positive attitude and
outlook on his work transfers
into welcoming experience
for TNL customers.
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Stephen Siemens is getting hands
on experience at Precise Car Doctors automotive shop. He is learning essential mechanical skills from
a variety of licensed mechanics and
apprentices. He is enjoying this
learning opportunity and hopes it
will be the first stepping stone in future career in the auto industry.
Tylor Kavanagh is continuing
his work experience placement at
Sobeys in the meat department.
Under direct guidance of the meat
department manager, Tylor is working on his training towards the
butcher trade. His hard work has
been recognized very early on in the
placement and he has earned the
position of a part time employee in
that department. Congratulations
Tylor!
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C O M M U N I T Y
Career Fair Day
On Thursday, November 26, Ascension of
Our Lord Catholic Secondary School celebrated its annual Career Fair Day. It was a
great event where Rob Ellis and daughter
Jessica from MySafeWork engaged students
on the importance of Safety in the Workplace and where a variety of professions
- engineers, electrical trades, fire fighters,
trucking, pilots, banks, accountants, ambulance, construction, nursing, health and
fitness, and much more - engaged students
on the various Career Opportunities available to them. Moreover, it was an interfaith
event where Catholic Youth Ministries and
other faiths engaged students on the importance of acceptance and inclusiveness. Accordingly, the event was one which truly illustrated to students
and the school community the importance of a school and work environment that is safe, caring and inclusive
- a hallmark of Catholic based education.
Co-op
At Ascension of Our Lord Catholic
Secondary School, our Co-operative Education program is in full
swing as our students are engaged in
meaningful work placements where
they are able to integrate classroom
knowledge with work place experiences in the community to achieve
learning as per the curriculum expectations of their related course.
Additionally, we have students engaged in Dual Credit programs with
the various colleges across the province as well as students engaged in
the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship
Program (OYAP) where they are
able to commence apprenticeship
hours even during their Co-op work
placement. Congratulations, Ascension students, at being at the forefront of 21st Century Learning!
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C O M M U N I T Y
Business Breakfast
On November 18th, 200 students at Ascension of
Our Lord gathered in the cafeteria for Ascension’s
4th Annual Business Breakfast to learn about a successful dance studio in Toronto, City Dance Corps.
The owners of City Dance Corps, Jerome and Estelle,
came out to showcase their dance skills and to teach
the business students real world business lessons.
Sadly, the duo did not get a chance to dance as Estelle
had broken her toe, but our very own chaplain, Ms.
Albano filled in for Estelle and did an improvised
dance for the students. Ascension student, Zachary,
shared at how surprised he was at how much debt
business owners have to go into before they can have
a successful business. Ascension student Ashley
shared, “I learned that no matter how many people
doubt you, you need to go after your dreams.” At
the end of the day, it was a great breakfast and the
students got a taste of the real world.
Halloween
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Ascension of Our Lord, in Malton, had many events
for Halloween 2015. Our Twitter and Instagram accounts were busy during the week with the Finding
Bandit contest. Bandit is an owl that escaped Student
Council custody and ran amok in the school. The first
two students to find Bandit and post pictures to social
media received a prize. On Friday October 30, a costume contest and pumpkin painting occurred in the
cafeteria. Students were proud to display their festive
attire, and there were many impressive costumes, including gladiators, superheroes and even a Mad Hatter.
Students cheered for their favorite costumes, decorated
pumpkins, took pictures in the Halloween photo booth
and snacked on candy in the cafeteria at lunch. In fact,
Halloween was such a fun affair, that we can’t wait to do
it all again for Christmas!
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A R T
So you want to be an Artist?
This semester, two senior art students entered a competition to have their work shown in The National Gallery in
Ottawa.
Beatrice Garrovillas and Qudsia Hussain entered individual pieces in the competition So You Want to Be an Artist.
Their work, seen online at soyouwanttobeanartist.ca ,was voted on by people from across Canada for a chance to
exhibit in the National Gallery in Ottawa. The competition ran
for several months and provided great exposure for the young
artists at a national level. It was a fantastic opportunity for these
students to gain national exposure and to have their art judged
by a variety of people. Stay tuned for the results in the coming
weeks. Regardless of the outcome, we want to recognize Beatrice and Qudsia as examples of Ascension at its’ best. Way to
go girls!
Another creative semester is flying by in the Visual Art Department.
Much has been happening this semester and things have
changed quite a bit in some art areas.
Students have been busy creating a variety of work ranging
from pastel to graphite, multi-media to masks.
The Grade 9’s and 10’s have been exploring a variety of
art techniques and cultures and their creative energy has
included a number of activities including an amazing exploration of the ROM, where their artistic styles and their
personal behavior and true Ascension spirit won them
praise from all that they encountered. As well, the 10’s
and 11’s have impressed students and parents alike during
the Grade 8 orientation night with their creative art and
photographic pieces.
The senior students have been busy creating a multitude
of thematic pieces that have filled display cabinets, the
library and the front foyer. They are well on their way to
creating well rounded portfolios.
For the first time ever, our photography classes are digital.
The Grade 11 digital photography class has been capturing a number of images and are busy producing innovative
photographs that showcase the talent and creativity of Ascension. It is an exciting time indeed.
All in all, the Visual Arts Department is always proud of
the work that our Ascension community has created and
we are certain that there are more awesome things in store
whether it be in the new digital photography classes or in
the traditional art classes. Peace and creativity to you all.
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W E A T H E R
During the winter months inclement weather may cause disruption of 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 and television stations:
VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9CHUM AM1050CFTR AM680
CFNY FM102.1/AM640CJCL AM590CHFI FM98.1
NEWSTALK1010 AM
EZ ROCK FM97.3
CJBC (FR) AM860
FM Z103.5FM93.1FM Q107
CHIN FM100.7/AM1540CBC99.1CITYPULSE
GLOBAL NEWSCTVCANADA AM
We will be communicating one of six standard messages to the radio stations. The six announcements and their effect on the
transportation system are as follows: (Please note that the highlighted text only will be communicated by the radio stations).
1.
“THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES SERVING
ST. ANDREW, ST. BENEDICT AND ST. PETER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND R.F. HALL SECONDARY SCHOOL ARE
CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”
2.
“THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES AND PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL
BOARD BUSES IN THE TOWN OF CALEDON ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY”.
•
This means that ALL buses which operate into, out of, and within the Town of Caledon are cancelled for the entire
day.
3.
“THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL
BOARD BUSES IN THE TOWN OF CALEDON AND THE COUNTY OF DUFFERIN ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY”.
•
This means that all runs listed under announcements #l and #2 are cancelled.
•
Individual schools will be notified if this cancellation affects their school.
4.
“THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL
BOARD BUSES IN THE CITY OF MISSISSAUGA ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”
•
This means that ALL buses which operate into, out of, and within the City of Mississauga are cancelled for the entire
day.
5.
“ALL DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
BUSES ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”
•
This means that ALL transportation services provided by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and the
Peel District School Board, including buses, vans and taxis have been cancelled for the entire day.
6.
“ALL BUSES ARE CANCELLED AND THE SCHOOLS AND OFFICES OF BOTH THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ARE CLOSED”.
•
This means that ALL Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and Peel District School board schools and offices are closed to all students and staff.
Note: For Secondary School students Riding Public Transit, cancellation of service will be communicated by the
respective transit property over the radio. Please be advised that Public Transit rarely cancels and that the level of service on
days with inclement weather is unpredictable.
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A S C E N S I O N
SPECIAL DATES
N E W S
DECEMBER
JANUARY
Monday, December 22nd to Friday January 1st
Christmas Break
Jan. 5th Course Selections for 2015-2016 school year begins
Jan. 14th Grade 9 Math Exam
Jan. 21st Grade 9 EQAO Test
Jan. 25th
Last Day of Classes Semester 1
Jan. 26th to Feb. 1st Exam Week
FEBRUARY
Feb. 2nd Feb. 3rd Feb. 4th Feb. 11th Feb. 12th Exam Review Day
PD Day
First Day of Semester 2
Grad Photo Day
Report Card Distribution
Whom to call
SCHOOL
(905) 676-1287
Principal
S. Gos
Vice Principals
M. Van der Vegt
F. Tantalo
Chaplain
E. Albano
Student Services
A. Petrozzi
J. Ropp
Academic Resource
F. Muia
Wishing you Joy this
Christmas and a Blessed
2016
Student Success
A. Rulli
Attendance
A. Adamson
School Council
C. Clarke
BOARD OFFICE
(905) 890-1221
Superintendent
L. Storey
Trustee
T. Thomas
Join us at Ascension! New Students Welcome.
Editor: S. Gos
Design: J. Flaherty ©2015