ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL 2480 Thornlodge Drive Mississauga, ON L5K 1K5 Telephone: 905-822-3183 Fax: 905-822-7540 Web: http://w3.dpcdsb.org/ASSIS/Presentations.htm October 2015 Edition Principal ADMINISTRATOR’S MESSAGE VIRTUE OF THE MONTH September was an exciting month at St. Francis of Assisi School. Much appreciation is extended to all the parents and helpers who assisted us in making our first month of the school year such a positive experience. Thank you to all who were able to join us at our Open House / BBQ evening. It was a pleasure to see everyone again. This month we will celebrate the virtue of empathy. God has given us the ability to form connections with each other – to live together. Empathy helps us to connect and live together in safe, caring, inclusive communities. We understand empathy to mean the ability to identify with and feel other people’s concerns. We believe that in faith community we are nothing without relationships. Relationships that grow in a spirit of communion - an understanding that we share an identity based on being created in the image and likeness of God and being imbued with one Spirit. We are many parts of one body. An empathetic person listens attentively, watches people’s body language, notices and responds when someone is upset, can name her/his feelings, can see a situation from another person’s point of view and knows that different people may feel differently about the same thing. Mrs. S. Donaghue Vice- Principal Ms. L. Ragozzino Head Secretary Mrs. M. Franke Assistant Secretary Ms. D. McBeth Superintendent Mr. D. Amaral 905 890-1221 Trustee Mrs. S. Hobin Bus: (905)890-1221 Cell: (905)301-1210 Email: sharon.hobin@dpcdsb.org Parish St. Francis of Assisi Church 2473 Thornlodge Dr. Mississauga, ON L5K 1K5 905-822-8132 During the month of September, our school participated in the annual Terry Fox Run and School Council held its first meeting. Our Grades 7 & 8 students went to see “The Sound of Music” at Stratford, many students from grades 4-8 are practicing for Cross Country, and our volleyball teams are practicing for their upcoming season. Thank you to all families who supported our Book Fair, encouraging the love of reading in your children. All classes are busy implementing their academic programs and students are settled into their classes. During this time, let us thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us. Let us also be mindful of those less fortunate. Thank you for your generous contributions to our Thanksgiving Food Drive. Non-perishable food items will be gladly accepted until Wednesday October 7th. Pastor Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday! Father Bernard Vellozo Sincerely, School Council Chair Siena Perrotta S. Donaghue & L. Ragozzino DPCDSB is now on Twitter! For the latest board news and information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools. And follow our school on twitter @DpAssisi - we will be tweeting all the good things that are going on here at our school. . FROM THE OFFICE SCHOOL HOURS Our school hours are as follows: 8:30am Start Time 11:31-12:31pm Lunch 3:00pm End Time Staff are on duty for 15 minutes before the start of the school day and throughout the entire noon hour; therefore, you may safely leave your child at school upon arrival in the morning or upon returning to the school after lunch. VISITORS TO SCHOOL Please remember that to other children, you are a stranger. When you come to the school, please report to the office, sign in, and take a tag. Prior to leaving, sign out and return your visitor’s tag. Any individuals wandering the school without appropriate identification will be asked to go to the office. Please help us to monitor a safe and welcoming environment for your children. As well, parents are asked to bid your children farewell from beyond the playground. Only students and staff are to be in the schoolyard. Again, this is to ensure the safety of your children and your attention to this is most appreciated. Please be reminded that dogs are not permitted in the schoolyard area at any time. The excitement of the children or the bell ringing can frighten dogs. LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES We would appreciate the cooperation of the entire school community by NOT sending any lunches or snacks that contain peanuts/nut products. We want St. Francis to be a safe environment for all students. Thank you for your assistance with this initiative. WOWBUTTER The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board maintains the position that schools should discourage parents/guardians from sending peanut butter substitutes to school where students have peanut allergies for the following reasons: 1. If a child with a life-threatening peanut allergy sees it, they may experience anxiety and/or physical panic reaction as a result of visually seeing the WOWBUTTER; 2. It can create significant challenges for teachers, and especially students, to identify real peanut butter from the substitute; 3. If one student sees another with WOWBUTTER, they may believe it is peanut butter, and may take the message home that it is acceptable to bring peanut butter, and may bring their own peanut butter to school as a result; and, 4. The presence of this look-alike can create potential circumstances of bullying / threats toward students with lifethreatening peanut allergies. Since we have several students at St. Francis with life-threatening peanut allergies, we strongly discourage parents/guardians from sending WOWBUTTER or any peanut butter substitute to school. KISS N’ RIDE OCTOBER 7th IS PICTURE DAY! Please remember to send your children to school with appropriate clothing for Picture Day. A reminder will be sent home prior to this date. If your child is ill and misses the picture date, a retake day will be available on November 6th. PIZZA LUNCHES We are pleased to continue with Wednesday pizza lunches. This year, Gino’s will be providing us with our pizza. The pizza will continue to be sold at $1.50 per slice. FROM THE OFFICE $$$ CHANGE $$$ When sending money with your child for the drink machine or pizza slices on pizza day, PLEASE BE SURE TO SEND THE EXACT AMOUNT, AS THE OFFICE WILL NOT BE PROVIDING CHANGE. All drinks (milk, juice and water) are $1.25, and extra pizza slices are $1.50. Drink machines do not accept pennies, nickels or dimes. GUEST We would like to take this opportunity to thank the parents and caregivers at St. Francis of Assisi School who are using the Kiss N’ Ride program during drop-off and pick-up times. The Kiss N’ Ride works well when drivers pull up as far as they can and have their children ready to exit the vehicle as soon as they stop. Children should be exiting the car on the passenger side only. Problems with the Kiss N’ Ride program arise when drivers stop too soon and the cars behind them cannot enter the parking lot. During the lunch hour and afternoon dismissal time, CARS MUST KEEP THE BUS LANE OPEN AT ALL TIMES so our buses may depart. Parents should never park cars or leave them unattended in the drive-through lanes. If you must leave your car, please park in a parking spot. Teachers are on duty in the Kiss N’ Ride area from 8:15am – 8:30am, as well as 3:00pm-3:15pm. Please look to them for direction during busy times. We would also like to thank the parents who volunteer during the drop-off times. If you would like to volunteer in the Kiss N’ Ride program, please notify the office. We would truly appreciate any time you may have to help with the program. VOLUNTEERS IN THE SCHOOL GOING OUT FOR LUNCH 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! Please see the insert for volunteer opportunities in the school. 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. CRIMINAL REFERENCE DECLARATION Anyone who completed a Criminal Reference Check last year at this time is required to sign a Criminal Reference Declaration, annually. Please see office staff. Please inform your child’s teacher of regular lunch arrangements for your child. Also, for safety reasons please be advised that a note signed and dated to the classroom teacher must occur each time there is a change in the routine. This is especially important for a child who has permission to leave school property during the noon hour who normally stays for lunch. Students in grade 7 and 8 are allowed to go out for lunch only if a note is provided. Please use the student agendas for your lunch notes. Our Grade 6 students are welcome to go out for lunch following our Spring Break. As a school staff it is important for us to know each time a child leaves our care at noon hour that permission has been given and that parents know the exact whereabouts of their child (ren). ATTENDANCE VERIFICATION Please help us to save valuable time and ensure the safety of your child by calling in all absences. We thank all parents/guardians who continue to call the school when their children are absent. Your support ensures that our Safe Arrival Program works efficiently to ensure the safety of our students. Our Attendance Verification Phone number is (905)822-3183 press 1. When calling please state the child’s first and last name (spell the last name), grade, teacher and reason for absence. When we do not receive your call, we are concerned about your child. We then call home, your workplace or an emergency contact number. Please let us know if your telephone numbers change. Are You Getting The Answering Machine? We are requesting your assistance. This system, which allows parents to call in student absenteeism 24 hours a day, supports our Safe Arrival Program. If both lines into the school are busy, your call is automatically routed to the School Answering System. The office staff picks up the phone messages on a regular basis and will relay messages to staff members. Arriving Late For School We are happy to see that most of our students are arriving on time this year. It is vitally important for all students to arrive at school on time so that disruptions are kept to a minimum. Students who are late for school are required to report to the office to obtain an Admit Slip prior to going to class. Appointments Any students leaving or returning to the school due to appointments must be signed out and in at the office by a parent/guardian. E-MAIL POLICY Please be aware that parents and guardians are not to e-mail school staff. We encourage you to continue to contact your child’s teacher or office staff by telephone or in the school agenda and we will make every effort to respond to you promptly. SCHOOL WEBSITE Check out some of our amazing presentations on the school website. http://w3.dpcdsb.org/ASSIS/Presentations.htm NEWSLETTER GOES GREEN We are continuing our effort to enhance communication and ensure delivery of important school information. As you are aware, we created an UNATTENDED EMAIL MAILBOX for the electronic delivery of school newsletters, school information and School Council updates. This initiative will ensure that you receive school information without relying on the “backpack”. Environmentally, we will save paper, energy, and staff time. Our newsletters and school information will continue to be added regularly to our school website. Should you NOT be willing, or not be able to participate, we will make hard copies of school information available at the office. Please feel free to call the school, should you have questions or concerns. SCHOOL BUS COURTESY SEAT POLICY We may be able to grant courtesy seats to students who have requested a seat in writing. Thank you for your patience as Courtesy Seat requests are processed through our transportation department. Courtesy seats will be confirmed during the first week of October. . St. Francis of Assisi is on TWITTER!! Start following us @DpAssisi and get up to date accounts of all the happenings and the learning that is taking place in our classrooms and hallways. Some teachers will also be setting up their own twitter accounts and will share their information with your child’s class directly. PRIMARY CHOIR THANKGIVING FOOD DRIVE Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and there are many families in our community who would appreciate your contributions of canned/dry goods. Please help us make our Thanksgiving Drive a th success . by donating non-perishable food items until Wed. Oct. 7 . Primary Choir has started up again. We rehearse Tuesday and Thursday during morning recess in the library under the direction of Ms. Savoia, Ms. Siemons and Ms. Vasquez. All students in grades 1 and 2 are invited to join. No auditions necessary! We are currently practicing for our Remembrance Day liturgy and new members are always welcome. HOMEWORK CLUB LITURGICAL CHOIR 7th, Effective October on most Wednesdays we will be operating a Homework/Study Club in the Library from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. for students in grade 3 – 8. The purpose of this club is: To allow children time to complete regular classroom work To read in an environment conducive to reading To use computers for school work To complete projects or group work To get extra help from grade 8 or secondary school students It is important that children are well-behaved, have parents sign permission in their agenda, and that they have someone to pick them up, if transportation is required, at 4:00 p.m. sharp. One teacher, grade 8 and secondary students will be available if children require assistance. Our Liturgical Choir leads the music at most school Masses and celebrations. We rehearse Tuesdays at lunch recess in the library under the direction of Ms. Fitzgerald, Ms. Koma and Mr. Condotta. All students in grades 3 to 8 are encouraged share their gifts of music and join the choir...no auditions necessary and new members are always welcome. FESTIVAL CHOIR The Festival Choir is an auditioned choir (grades 3-8). We practice Thursdays at lunch. The Festival Choir will be performing in the Peel Music Festival, Carmel Heights retirement home, Virtues assemblies, the Talent Show and other events at the school. SPORTS DESK CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING TEAM Coaches: Ms. Rubini, Mrs. Ferens, Mrs. McQueen, Ms. Amoroso The 2015 - 2016 Cross Country season is well underway at St. Francis of Assisi. We are very excited to have over 70 students from grades 4 - 8 participating this year. Our team goals include: to increase endurance and strength, learn proper breathing techniques while running, have a lot of fun, and compete as best we can at the Mississauga South Family of Schools meet on Tuesday, October 20th at Erindale Park. The School Board Championships are being held at Centennial Park on Monday October 26th. JUNIOR GIRLS and BOYS VOLLEYBALL Girls Coaches: Mr. Nasato, Mrs. Petrilli, Mrs. Wittemund Boys Coaches: Mrs. Jaseliunas, Mr. DaSilva, Ms. DeJulio The Junior Volleyball Season has begun at SFA! Junior Girls Team: Lauren P., Tia R., Giada G, Julianna M., Lindsay D., Angelina C., Sadie F., Juliana R., Rachel B., and Danielle P. Junior Boys Team: Brennan M., T.J. H., Jake W., Luca M., Julien P., Zachary P., Jaiden P., David E., Matthew S. Our regular season games start Oct. 1 with our Family Tournament happening on Friday Oct. 16. Good luck on your season! SFA all the way! Pupil Accommodation Review Policy Public Consultation The Ministry of Education released the new Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline (PARG) in March 2015. This guideline sets expectations for all school boards on managing and reviewing underutilized school space, including potential school closures, and for the greater coordination and sharing of planning related information between school boards and other community partners. The guideline requires all school boards in the province to develop or revise Pupil Accommodation Review Policies and to invite public input into the policy before it is finalized. A survey to collect feedback on the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s draft amended Policy 6.51 Pupil Accommodation Review will be available for review and comment on the Board’s website at www.dpcdsb.org until 4:30 pm on Friday, October 16, 2015. Supporting documents will also be available for reference and review. Please consider reviewing and providing input on this policy. HALLOWEEN All students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 are encouraged to wear costumes to school on October 30th, but for safety reasons we ask that you follow these guidelines; 1. Do not bring weapon replicas such as swords, guns or other objects that could injury others. 2. Parents please be prepared, that sometimes costumes get torn or damaged while at school. 3. Remember students need to be somewhat comfortable and able to function at school so choose the costumes wisely. 4. We suggest that you may consider using makeup over masks for safety purposes as masks do obstruct a child’s vision when walking. 5. As an option if students do not wish to wear a costume we would encourage them to wear black and/or orange. 6. Let’s have fun. HALLOWE’EN DANCE-A-THON We will be having a Halloween Dance for our students on Friday October 30th, 2015. There is a lot of buzz in the school and students are excited to realize they have this to look forward to on Hallowe’en. DATES TO REMEMBER Oct. 5 Oct. 7 Oct. 7 Oct. 12 Oct. 14 World Teacher’s Day School Picture Day Homework Club begins (3:00-4:00) Thanksgiving (no school) Mississauga South Junior Volleyball Family Tournament @ St. Martin’s Oct. 20 Family Cross-Country Meet @ Erindale Park Oct. 26 Board Cross-Country Meet @ Centennial Park Nov. 4 Grade 8 Tour Iona Day Nov. 4 Iona Parent Information Night Nov 6 Picture Re-take Day Nov. 11 Remembrance Day Liturgy & Assembly Nov. 16-20 Bullying Awareness Week Nov. 17 Progress Reports sent home Nov. 19 Parent-Teacher interview evening Nov. 29 Advent begins Dec. 2 Grade 8 Confirmation @ 7:00pm Dec. 3 9:30am - Advent mass Dec. 3 Immunizations–Grade 7 Hep B. & Grade 8 girls HPV Dec. 21 Christmas Holidays begin ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL COUNCIL OPEN HOUSE BARBEQUE Thank you to all who attended our open house community barbeque. It was a great success! We would like to thank Mrs. Donaghue, Mrs. Ragozzino and all staff and teachers who assisted with this event. Your dedication and hard work made this community event run smoothly. HALLOWEEN SPOOK-A-THON Get those costumes ready! Halloween is just around the corner and we are getting ready for our annual Halloween Fundraiser. Friday October 30th will be the date for our Spook-a-thon. Information will be coming home shortly. We are in the process of collecting prizes. To make this event a great success we will be asking families if they have an unopened toy or gift they would like to donate as a prize for this event please drop if off at the office to the attention of School Council. Gift cards or event tickets are also acceptable. Your help and generosity is greatly appreciated. Volunteers Are Welcome at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School We are always in need of volunteers at St. Francis of Assisi School. A few hours of your time will go a long way in helping to enrich the learning environment of the students within our school. Here are some examples of how you can help out: School Council initiatives: Join a group of dedicated parent volunteers who offer to assist with sub-committee activities, i.e., Annual BBQ, Dance-a-thon fundraiser. Parent volunteer does not have to be elected member of School Council. *Your information will be passed along directly to the School Council. All Star Reading: Read one-on-one with Grade 1-3 students. Classroom Helper: Assist teachers with classroom activities (classrooms other than that of your respective child); work with small groups of children or individual children in the classroom. Library/Literacy Room: Assist in organization and maintenance of the Library Resource Centre and Literacy Room. Coaching: Parents particularly skilled in an area of athletics are a welcome support for our school teams as needed. Please indicate what you are interested in assisting with: _____ School Council initiatives _____ All Star Reading _____ Classroom Helper _____ Library Resource Centre/Literacy Room _____ Coaching (identify skill) _____ Other _________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Please indicate when you are available to volunteer: ____ Monday a.m. ____ Monday p.m. ____ Tuesday a.m. ____ Tuesday p.m. ____ Wednesday a.m. ____ Wednesday p.m. ____ Thursday a.m. ____ Thursday p.m. ____ Friday a.m. ____ Friday p.m. Name: _______________________________________________ (Please print) Phone no.: __________________________________ Child(ren): __________________________________________________ Teacher(s): _________________________________________________ Please note that current Ontario regulations require Criminal Reference checks (CRC) for all school volunteers. Parents wishing to volunteer may pick up a CRC form from the Main Office. Forms are processed by Peel Regional Police free of charge for volunteers. Criminal Offence Declaration forms need to be completed annually for those volunteers who have a recent CRC on file . Please return this form to Mrs. Timpson by November 2nd, 2015. Thank you for your consideration. From Your Catholic School Trustee Sharon Hobin Dear Lord, please bless us as we begin this new school year and guide us to be your beacons of light on earth. Welcome to everyone including our new students and their families. To our Full Day Kindergarten parents who are joining us for the first time we thank you for choosing a Catholic education for your child or children. We endeavor to give all our students the desire to learn so as to understand better God's world in a respectful, non-threatening environment. This is fundamental to our philosophy of Catholic education. A special welcome to our grade nine students who are now on a new adventure. Your four years will fly by. Take advantage of all the great opportunities that are offered to you. We are very proud of our Link Crew and Get Ready for Secondary School programs. Never be afraid to ask questions. I hope that you have a Link Crew Leader to help you along the way. To our grade twelve students - I wish you all the best in your last year of Catholic secondary school. You will be thinking about college, university, apprenticeships or the world of work. This is the time you have been waiting for –senior students! I hope you make the best of this exciting year. Your Board of Trustees has approved a balanced operating budget of $922, 901,010 with 89.7 % of this budget going to salaries and benefits. We have 149 schools, 84,000 students and 10,000 employees. We are the second largest Catholic school board in the province. We have very strong links to our parishes so we will see our priests visit our schools as well as many of our students who will visit our parishes for Mass and the sacraments. We are blessed that our priests make a special effort to visit with our students. If you have transportation questions please remember you can call STOPR at 905-890-6000 or 1800-668-1140 or check our web site at www.dpcdsb.org. Click on schools and then student transportation. Transportation was removed from the trustees’ purview under Bill 177 several years ago. Parents, please support and join your Catholic School Council. It is a great opportunity for input and better understanding of what is happening in education both locally and provincially. You will be amazed at how much you will learn and how much you can contribute to your child’s school. Please do not hesitate to contact me. I wish you the very best for this school year and always. May the good Lord always hold you in the palm of His hand. MESSAGE FROM DAVID AMARAL SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, MISSISSAUGA SOUTH FAMILY OF SCHOOLS September 8, 2015 Dear Families: Welcome back to another year of learning! A special welcome to all of our students who may be joining our Mississauga South Family of Schools, and, in particular, to our new Full Day Kindergarten students who are beginning their journey in learning in their Catholic School. The Mississauga South Family of Schools is a very active and vibrant Family of Schools where the love of Christ can be found in our hallways, our classrooms and in our daily endeavors. The Family of Schools consists of 22 elementary schools and 4 secondary schools, all of which are served by extremely dedicated Administrators, teachers and support staff who put the needs of every child first and truly believe in the potential of each and every child. 8 parishes and pastoral teams support our schools’ liturgical plans, working in partnership with teachers and students to provide spiritual nourishment and development of our students and their teachers. Furthermore, our school communities are privileged to be served by 4 dedicated trustees: Mario Pascucci (chair of the board, Wards 1 and 3), Sharon Hobin (Wards 2 and 8), Luz del Rosario (Wards 6 and 11) and Bruno Iannicca (Ward 7), each of whom brings with them a wealth of experience and a relentless passion for Catholic Education and the success of all students. Pope Francis states, “The mission of schools is to develop a sense of truth, of what is good and beautiful. True education enables us to love life and opens us to the fullness of life.” Therein lies the transformative power of Catholic education; a treasure that has been forming quality young men and women… young men and women who are not only solid academically but well-rounded citizens who have contributed positively to our society, both locally and on a global scale, for over 170 years. You have chosen a Catholic education for your child. I encourage you to remain steadfast in your efforts to ensuring that the enduring gift of Catholic education is protected and promoted. Jesus is indeed at the very center of our mission in Catholic education. We will continue to celebrate the story of Jesus, and of Catholic Education this year within the theme of Catholic Education Week, “Opening Doors of Mercy”. All schools will continue their focus on responding to the Board’s Strategic Plan, as set out by our trustees, namely the tenets of: Catholicity, Catholic Learning Environment, Catholic Community Engagement, Parish-Home-School Relationships, Stewardship of our Physical Environment, Technology, and Sacredness of our Environment. The education of any child is indeed a co-operative endeavor. As parents, you are requested to be part of your child’s education. You are encouraged to ask questions about your child’s learning and to work collaboratively with your child’s teacher and school to ensure that your child is receiving the highest quality Catholic education. We look forward to continue working with you, your child’s “first teacher”, as we endeavor to provide a high quality, Catholic education that supports the spiritual, intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, social, and physical capabilities of each individual to live fully today and to meet the challenges of the future, thus enriching the community. I wish you, the families within the Mississauga South Family of Schools, a very successful and productive year full of wonder and learning and witnessing the love our Lord has for us. Our vocation in providing your child with the highest quality Catholic Education is a privilege and one we hold very dear; it is indeed a sacred trust. God Bless, David Amaral Superintendent of Education INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES PROGRAM-ELEMENTARY ARAMAIC ARABIC CANTONESE CROATIAN GERMAN GREEK HEBREW HINDI HUNGARIAN IGBO ITALIAN MALAYALAM MANDARIN POLISH PORTUGUESE PUNJABI RUSSIAN SLOVAK SPANISH TAGALOG TAMIL THELUNGA TURKISH UKRAINIAN URDU VIETNAMESE Elementary International Language Classes are available to students in grades JK to 8. Please register at the IL sites (listed below) on Saturdays. Day schools do not accept registrations. Call 905-891-9263. There is continuous enrolment. Classes run Sept. 19, 2015 – June 04, 2016 (9:00 am – 11:30 am) For more information please visit www.dpcdsb.org/programs & services/languages/international languages BOLTON St. John the Baptist BRAMPTON St. Kevin Pauline Vanier St. Francis Xavier St. Isaac Jogues MISSISSAUGA Bishop Scalabrini Blessed Teresa of Calcutta MISSISSAUGA Divine Mercy Father Daniel Zanon Mary Fix Metropolitan Andrei St. Bernadette St. Clare St. Herbert (Sunday classes) St. Jude Sts. Peter & Paul Sts. Martha & Mary St. Sebastian