Newsletter
St. Augustine Secondary School
Volume 25, Issue 2
Winter 2013
Principals Message
CO-OP Career Showcase, January 11, 2013
27 Drinkwater Road Brampton, ON, L6Y 4T6
Phone: (905) 450-9993, Fax: (905) 450-0955 www.dpcdsb.org/AUGST
@DPCDSBSchools
EV
E
CIENT EVE
R
AN
W
NE
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Principal
Tom Iwasiw
Vice Principal
Brian Bieth
Debbie Duke-Kelly
Chaplaincy Leader
Kathleen Ware
Head Secretary
Margaret Gormley
School Council Chair
Cheryl Brohart
Superintendent
Mississauga Brampton Central
Lucy Papaloni
Trustees
Anna da Silva
Brampton Wards 1,3,4
(416) 706-5679
Linda Zanella
Brampton Wards 2,5,6
(416) 579-0126
Parish
Fr. Jan Kolodynski
(905) 455-4260
Elementary Feeder Schools
Our Lady Of Peace,
Pauline Vanier, St.Brigid,
St.Joseph, St.Kevin, St. Monica,
Director of Education
John Kostoff
Board Chairperson
Mario Pascucci
Peel Police School Liaison
Const. Iqbal Lehal
Const. Markus Cissek
D.P.C.D.S.B Website
www.dpcdsb.org
Principal’s Comments
As this is the end of the first semester,
I would like to congratulate all of
our students who achieved their
academic goals to the best of their
ability, and earned all of their credits
in the first half of the school year.
Well done and keep up the good
work. I will continue to encourage
that all students take a few moments
to sit down with their parents/
guardians and reflect on how things
went in semester 1. There is always
the opportunity to improve, often by
simply changing or refining a small
practice or way of doing things.
Continue to aim high and achieve at
the highest levels.
It was just last week (as I type this)
that our grade 9 math students
wrote their EQAO math assessment.
While they will not get their results
until next fall, I know that they were
well prepared. At this time, our staff
continue to work with our grade
10 students on their literacy skills,
as they will be writing the Ontario
Secondary School Literacy Test next
month. I encourage the parents and
guardians of our grade 10 students to
work with their children on literacy
activities. There is a wealth of
information and resources available
for parents at the OSSLT website
www.eqao.com/
→ Ontario Secondary School
Literacy Test
→ Student Resource
→ Planning and Preparation Guide
→ Sample Test Materials
We have had a number of staff
changes in this first semester, and
into semester 2. Mr. David Ferreira
joined our staff in the English
department for semester 1.
I am sad to report that Ms. Margo
Samson, from our Social Sciences
department, retired at the end of
semester 1. However, I am happy
for her as she has plans for her
immediate future that include travel
and reaching to achieve new goals.
I would like to wish her well as she
pursues the next chapter in her story.
I would like to extend a welcome to
Ms. Nicole Vassallo who will now
join our staff.
This is another retirement that will
impact on the school in semester
2. Our Superintendent for the
Mississauga
Brampton
Central
Family of Schools, Liz Kazimowicz,
has retired after a long and impactful
career with our school board. I
will miss my interactions with Ms.
Kazimowicz as she has always been
a strong supporter of our school,
our students, and especially, the
transition activities that we carry
out with our elementary schools
staff to prepare grade 8 students
transitioning into St. Augustine. I
would like to extend a welcome
to our new Superintendent for our
Family, Lucy Papaloni.
I am pleased to report that extracurricular activities are alive and
well at St. Augustine, as they have
always been. I mentioned to parents
at our grade 8 information nights that
this building hums in the afternoons
with staff-sponsored activities in
sports and school clubs. And, it
is quite common to see practices
going on in our gyms at 6:30 am. I
would like to thank the staff for their
continued efforts to give their time to
these activities that serve to enrich
the experience of our students here
at St. Augustine. I always encourage
students to become involved in extracurricular activities as they serve as
skill development opportunities that
are useful for our young people in
their life journey beyond the walls
of St. Augustine SS. Below is a list of
the extra-curricular activities that we
offer.
God Bless
ST. AUGUSTINE EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Peel Water Festival
Boys Volleyball
Girls Volleyball
Student Council
Girls Fastpitch
Boys Baseball
Swimming
Junior Football
Senor Football
Girls Flag Football
Interact Sports Ball Hockey
Technological Skills Competition
PIP Bowling
Business Club
Worship Team
Mary’s Children Group
Chess Club
Math Help
Girls Night In
Hoops Night
PIP Bocce Ball
Youth for Christ
Black History Club
Dance Club
Nicaragua Excursion
Junior Boys Soccer Senior
Boys Soccer
Badminton Team
Green Team
Anime Club
Improv Club
Science Contests
Math Contests
Wrestling Team
Track and Field
PIP Track and Field
Drama Plays
Writing Contests
Chaplaincy Team
Asian History Group
Athletic Council
Ashton Reid 3 on 3
Indoor soccer tournament
Link Crew
Book Club
PIP Soccer
Computer Club
ESP
Student Grad Committee
Prom Committee
Student Voice
YES Program
Coffee House
Talent Show
March For Life
New York City Excursion
Terry Fox Walk
Wondergrad
Cross-Country Team
Fitness
PIP Basketball
PIP Track and Field
Clay Leadership Zonta Club
Girls Basketball
Tennis
AFX
PLANNING FOR INDEPENDENCE STUDENTS
SHOW THEIR FASHION STYLE
Dateline….Fashion, Grade 12…
The Planning for Independence
students have been busy and highly
successful this semester. All four
girls, April Baker, Veronica Habel,
Veronica Marinkiewicz and Trisha
Sequeira have worked on projects
geared to their abilities.
Using portable knitting looms,
the girls knitted hats and scarves
and accessorized them to suit
their fashion style. All four worked
diligently over two months to
complete these well knitted and
beautifully finished projects.
Other highly successful projects
involved the girls working with
teams of Fashion students to redesign
a T-shirt, create a Christmas stocking
of their choice of fabric and design,
a fabric Christmas wreath and an
art canvas created from buttons
and a fabric covered gift box with
coordinating ribbons.
The students were thrilled with
the results and brought out the
compassion and admiration of the
other Fashion Industry students in the
class. Great work! Congratulations
to all.
CO OPERATIVE EDUCATION NEWS
We would like to congratulate this
semester’s Co-op students on a job
well done and would like to wish
them all the best in their future
endeavors. Our Career Showcase,
held on January 11, 2013 was very
successful and highlighted the
diversity of career interests by our
students. We would like to thank
the following guests for taking the
time out of their busy schedules to
share their thoughts and experiences
with our students and employers;
Teresa Milazzo-Colle – Academic
Consultant, Experiential Learning;
Irene Mota – Pathways and Transitions
Consultant; Chris Pearson – Project
Manager, School, College Work
Initiative – Sheridan College; Tom
Iwasiw - Principal St. Augustine;
Kathleen Ware – Chaplain; and Paul
Donovan – Head of Guidance and
Cooperative Education. We would
also like to thank Annette Ryan OYAP Consultant and Technological
Education Consultant and Bruno
Sacco and Dom DeMarco – both
Dual Credit teachers, for their
attendance and interest in our
students. Thank you to the many
parents and employers who also
joined us over the course of the
morning. A special thank you to the
following Co-op students for sharing
their experiences with the audience;
Trisha Sequiera, Ashley Brohart,
Angelica Micciola, and Adrienne
Boothe.
All of our community partners,
parents, faculty and students
commented positively on this
event. We thank them for their
contributions.
We appreciate
the time and effort our employers
dedicate to training and mentoring
each student placed with them.
Without their continued support and
expertise our program would not
be the success that it is. We would
also like to compliment our students
on their outstanding achievements,
efforts and dedication to the coop program and to the strides they
have made in their own personal
growth. Our students are successful
in the workplace to a large degree
because of the combined efforts
of our Administration, Guidance
and Faculty, who all play a role
in preparing them for their future
endeavors.
This semester we were very pleased
to enroll 7 of our students into the
OYAP Program in the skilled trades.
We would like to congratulate these
students and those who choose to
pursue an apprenticeship signing.
This semester 15 students enrolled in
the various Dual Credit programs that
were available, and we congratulate
them on their hard work and success.
Co-operative
Education
is
experiential learning.
The end
of each semester brings with it a
final reflective moment from our
students. Without exception, each
student comments on the amount
of hard work they had to dedicate
to their placements. At the same
time, each student recognizes and
values how much they have gained
both personally and professionally.
They all firmly believe that co-op
is a tremendous opportunity and
recommend this experience for all
high school students.
We would like to encourage all
students interested in a co-op
experience to see their Guidance
counselor and fill out a co-op
application form as soon as possible.
Please include a current resume with
your application form and return
this to your counselor. Many types
of placements and the Dual Credit
programs have early application
deadlines for Semester 1, 2013, some
as soon as April 15, 2013. Students
interested in careers in: Police,
Media and Film, Fire Department
(Education only), Hospitals, City of
Brampton, Mississauga News and the
trades such as Electrician, Plumber,
Tool and Die, Construction Craft,
and HVAC, need to apply by April 1,
2013. Many Dual Credit offerings are
oversubscribed. Students interested
in Dual Credit opportunities should
visit the Dufferin-Peel CDSB
website and read through all the
current offerings. Upon receipt of
your application form, the Co-op
Department will contact you for
your co-op interview. Students are
reminded that they must be in either
Grade 11 or 12, and can choose a
4, 3, or 2 credit program. We look
forward to meeting and interviewing
all new co-op candidates.
CHAPLAINCY
Wow! First semester is over and
once again St. Augustine has
been very busy with retreats,
charities, social justice and faith
life. In terms of retreats the grade
9’s met with Heather and Joe
Jacobs and worked on developing
relationships with each other,
their friends, their families and
their God. These retreats were
done by homerooms and the
program is complete. Grades 10
to 12 retreats are run through the
religion classes and so run both
semesters. Grade 10 students
go to the Knight’s Table to learn
about making good choices and
avoiding a life of poverty and
homelessness. The grade 11’s
visited a Buddhist Temple and an
Islamic Mosque which reflected
two of the units studied in their
World Religions course. The
grade 12’s visit a charity called
Canadian Food for Children
and pack containers which are
shipped to the developing world.
In the afternoon they discuss the
difference between charity and
social justice as discover how to
choose carefully what charities to
contribute to.
We have been busy with
food drives, dress down days,
Christmas basket drives, liturgies
and creating the final 5 of our
10 virtues windows in stained
glass. Our Nicaragua Social
Justice Awareness Group will
be heading to Las Cruces in the
North of Nicaragua to help build
and finance a community centre.
Our Youth for Christ Group had
Amy McStephens-Omelebele
an excellent turn out at the fall
camp and hopes to get back to
their weekly meetings.
On a more somber note we had
to say good-bye to two very
special members of our school
community in first semester.
Kyle Miotto who lost his life in a
car accident in August and Amy
McStephens-Omelebele
who
passed away due to complications
from Sickle Cell Anemia. The
friends of these students worked
hard to honour the lives of Kyle
and Amy and continue to miss
them terribly each day. May God
hold them forever in the palm of
his hand. Rest in peace Kyle and
Amy.
Blessings,
K. Ware
Kyle Miotto
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Destination Pathways
Pathways are designed to help
students select the courses necessary
to reach their post-secondary destination – university, college, apprenticeship or workplace. They are based on
the most recent information available
from the Ministry of Education as well
as current practices of Ontario universities and colleges.
The term “program pathway”
refers not just to the combination of
courses and supports that make up a
students educational program but also
to the underlying purpose that motivates students in their choice of courses. A program pathway is designed to
lead a student to a particular destination.
St. Augustine traditionally has
a large population of students’ entering
the workplace after secondary school.
It is vital we help prepare them for this
by providing the essential skills necessary to be employable. Starting in September St. Augustine will offer a pathway in construction. Adding to our
existing pathways in Hairstyling and
Aesthetics and Transportation Technology.
Our three pathways align with
Ministry of Education expectations. The
School to work transition pathways will
offer our students both in-school and
work-based experiences. Our students
will earn relevant in-school credits that
can further enable them to develop the
range of skills required for direct entry
into the work force. Engaging students
in a pathway also helps them build a
better focus on their future career. Student success will be encouraged by
engaging students through practical
learning (hands-on), and workplace
connections.
St. Augustine Staff,
Students and Community
Partners
Please accept my heartfelt
thanks to you and your community
for opening your doors to us for the
Catholic Skills Competition again
this year. I know and appreciate
the logistics behind hosting a board
wide event of this nature and the
impact it has on the school day. To
that end please pass along my gratitude to your staff, students and community for making everyone feel so
welcome As well I would like to
recognize the critical role played by
your Link Crew team in providing
a welcoming and supportive atmosphere to all who entered St. Augustine. In so many ways days like this
are why we do what we do.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School Board’s Students’
Technological Skills Competition
will be held on Wednesday, April
10th, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00
p.m. at St. Augustine Secondary
School in Brampton. Dufferin-Peel
students will have the opportunity
to show off their skills in an Olympic-style, hands-on competition,
which serves as a qualification
round for the Skills Canada Provincial Competition.
Approximately 500 students
from approximately 20 schools
(both elementary and secondary)
will compete in over 40 trade and
technological areas, including 3D
character animation, baking, carpentry, hair styling, health care, and
robotics to name a few.
“Our students really look forward
to the skills competition,” said
Ralph Borrelli, Associate Director of
Instructional Services. “They work
either on their own, or in teams, to
create practical items that benefit
our community. We are pleased to
provide a forum where our students
can receive acknowledgement for
their talents in the skilled trades and
technological subjects.”
Annette Ryan
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program Consultant (OYAP)
Technological Education Consultant
Communications
Delroy Pitterson
Yearbook
Lee Erwin
Design Technology
Lee Erwin
Hairstyling and Aesthetics
Angela Cortese
Dance & Drama
Angela Lima &
John-Joe Kavanagh
Music
Charles Laforet &
Seamus Stamp
Computer Studies and
Computer Technology
The Computer Technology
and Engineering students will
be taking part in the 7th Annual
CETA Robotics Competition in
May. This robotics competition
is designed for students enrolled
in Computer Engineering, and/
or other technological disciplines,
who are involved in building a
line-following robot that functions
autonomously. The students that
participate in this challenge will be
drawing from several skill sets. The
robot requires both mechanical and
electrical design. As well, students
will be required to program the
robot to accept sensory information
and respond appropriately so that it
efficiently completes the challenges.
Math & Computer
Competition
Also, students must demonstrate
good communication skills.
Every year, the University of
Waterloo’s Centre for Education in
Mathematics and Computing holds
a computing competition. This year’s
competition will be on February
26, 2013. All students who are
interested are invited to participate
in this competition. All participants
will get a Certificate of Participation.
Anyone who scores in the top
25% will receive a Certificate of
Distinction. For more information
about this competition, please go
to the following link: http://cemc.
uwaterloo.ca/contests/computing.
html.
To see questions from previous
contests
go
to:
http://cemc.
uwaterloo.ca/contests/past_contests.
html
Programming students will also be
preparing for and participating in
the ECOO Board-level Computing
Competition on March 22
Transportation
Hairstyling & Aesthetics
The Hairstyling & Aesthetics
program at St. Augustine’s once
again opened its doors to the 6th
annual “Girls Night In”. Students
demonstrate the skills and knowledge
learned in Cosmetology class with
their peers. The girls participated
in many activities throughout the
school as well as hair, makeup and
nails. We are excited about and
looking forward to entering a couple
of our students in the Dufferin-Peel
Catholic Skills Competition.
Automotive students can
now work on a new SUV thanks to
the generosity of KIA Canada.
This latest addition enables
students to better understand the
intricate workings of the four-wheel
drive and anti-lock braking system
this vehicle has. Our students
continue to service customers’
vehicles. They are extremely busy
checking and installing brakes;
steering, coolants and winter tires to
better prepare customers’ for winter
driving.
Visual Arts
This year, St. Augustine’s
Visual Art Dept. is proud to
introduce to our students a new
course dealing with artisan craft.
This new class gives students the
chance to think, problem solve,
and be creative while learning
design elements and construction
techniques for a number of different
craft projects. Students will develop
a wide range of creative knowledge
that will encourage a lifelong love of
crafts. So far we have made our own
paper and have created some really
interesting items such as picture
frames, bowls and masks. In future
projects, the students will try their
hand at making jewellery, creating
beautiful projects with textiles and
even work with glass.
We
look
forward
to
sharing our efforts with the school
community at a craft show and sale.
Yearbook
Hey Augustine!
Ever wanted to be a part of the
yearbook class and have your pictures
published? Well now’s your chance!
The yearbook class and eDesign are
introducing eShare to the student body.
eShare is a website where students can
upload their photos of school events,
students or anything that represents
school spirit, to be placed in this years
yearbook. Don’t miss this chance to be a
part of the action! Visit: www.hjeshare.
com and enter augustine where the
school code is requested. Afterwards,
fill out the required information and
upload. It’s that simple! Students can
also check this out online or download
the application for your Android or
iPhone for easy photo upload.
The yearbook class is looking
forward to seeing your images and
adding them to the yearbook, so make
eShare a part of your regular routine to
keep your high school memories alive.
Construction & Custom
Woodworking
This has been a very hectic
and productive semester in the
construction shop.
It is always
rewarding to watch the learning
curve, as inexperienced students
come into the shop and quickly
achieve expected results.
Our construction sector now
offers a custom woodworking course
for grades eleven and twelve. This is
a traditional woodworking course
offering the students the opportunity
to develop knowledge and skills
that apply to cabinet and furniture
making.
Our grade 11-construction
students are currently making a scale
model of a bungalow. These models
are precise in every detail to that of
a full size home. Some of our grade
12 students are engaged in a full
size floor and wall-framing project.
Others are busy building Adirondack
chairs and benches.
Students continue to be given
the opportunity to work with their
hands and learn some of the basic
skills of construction. No doubt
some will realize that a construction
trade is a profession that will
bring them great satisfaction and
accomplishment.
Photography’s spreading at
Augustine:
Catch the Buzz!!!
This is St. Augustine’s
2nd semester offering Digital
Photography. A brand new Mac lab
(Room 111) and 24 new Canon
DSLR cameras were ordered.
Students are off to a great
start, learning how the camera works
and the effects they can create.
Students can be seen throughout
the school composing and shooting
their assignments. Technically and
artistically, the students are creating
some amazing images and stretching
their creativity to the max.
Photography is just getting
started and we hope to branch out
into more sections for Gr. 10’s, 11’s
and 12’s.
Anyone interested in taking
Digital Photography is asked to talk
to Mr. Chisholm or Mr. Pitterson or
go see his or her Guidance counselor
to register.
The Central Committee for Catholic School
Councils Invites YOU to our Mid Winter Event Kathy Lynn: Who’s in Charge Anyway? ©
Kathy Lynn is Canada’s
Leading Parenting Speaker
“Kathy brings invaluable wisdom, experience and down to earth
tips to all her parenting workshops, keynotes and books. All
parents will benefit from Kathy’s help and support.”
Says the esteemed Barbara Coloroso,
International Parenting Speaker and Author
www.Parentingtoday.ca
Join Us…
Date:
Thursday, February 28th, 2013
Place: Mississauga Convention Centre
75 Derry Road West
Presentation:
7:00 pm
Kathy Lynn will address the issue of maintaining a balance between hearing children and having
them listen.
It will help parents understand their role concerning family rules, routines, expectations
and limits.
Book
signing to follow presentation
Free Admission...............Donations of non–perishable food items are welcome!
A special thanks to our sponsors
RETURN TO YOUR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL – ASAP
Reservation Request form for Kathy Lynn Keynote
Name:
_________________________________________________________
School: _________________________________________________________
Number of Attendees: ____________
BUSINESS FAIR DECEMBER 2012
St. Augustine’s Introduction to
Business (BBI 201) students had
a wonderful experience this year
starting up their own business. We
had “Island Hair Care Products”,
“RCG Unit”, “NADS”, “RazeA-Brow”,
“Water
Buddies”,
“Jewel Cube”, “Frosty Igloo &
Ski Resort” and “Universal Pencil
Case”.
Everyone learned the
importance of certain business
concepts that they will be able to
transfer later on in their careers.
Congratulations everyone! Best
of luck semester 2. God bless
you all.
L. Bettencourt
Island Hair Care Products
Universal Pencil Case
RCG Unit
NADS
Raze-A-Brow
Water Buddies
Frosty Igloo and Ski Resort
Jewel Cube
MARY’S CHILDREN
FAMILY OF JESUS CHRISTMAS DINNER
DECEMBER 2012
St. Augustine celebrated the
Family of Jesus Christmas Dinner
on December 5, 2012. Families
from the Knight’s Table were
invited to celebrate with us the
birth of baby Jesus. It was an
awesome birthday party filled
with lots of entertainment, a
beautiful blue and white birthday
cake, a fantastic dinner and a
special visit by Mary, Joseph,
baby Jesus and St. Nicholas
bearing gifts for all the children.
Families also went home with a
sweet Portuguese bread and a
nice warm blanket to help keep
out the cold this winter. Mary’s
Children are looking forward to
another beautiful birthday party
next Christmas!
Stay tuned for more fun filled
activities this Valentine’s, Easter
and Spring as Mary’s Children
share the news of how important
it is to be:
• loving, giving and prayerful
• silent, understanding and friendly
• trusting, patient and good
• kind, obedient and wise
• forgiving, peaceful, humble and gentle.
Only in this way can we imitate
Mary, our Mother in Heaven,
and become closer to Her Son,
Jesus Christ. Have a great second
semester. God bless you all!
L. Bettencourt
SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS
Dear Parents, Staff and Students,
By the time you read this, we will already be well
into the New Year, however, on behalf of the St.
Augustine School Council, I would still like to wish
everyone a Healthy and Happy New Year. All the
best to everyone in 2013!
Once again, our school has had their Parents
Reaching out Pro Grant approved by the Ministry of
Education. Our topic for the parent’s presentation
is on Bullying. Bullying prevention is a community
wide initiative and parents are a huge part of the
solution. Once the presentation date is confirmed
we will be informing the St. Augustine community.
We would encourage your participation and
urge you to come to our monthly School Council
meetings held the last Thursday of each month. The
dates are also posted on the billboard in front of the
school. Meetings start at 7pm in the library.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Brohart
School Council Chair
PARENTS - WHO CAN YOU CONTACT ?
St. Augustine Secondary School
Tel: (905) 450- 9993 [Attendance Extext. 71318]
Fax:(905) 450-0955
www.dpcdsb.org/augst
Principal .............................T. Iwasiw
Vice Principals....................B. Bieth
A-N
D. Duke-Kelly M - Z
Head Secretary................... M. Gormley
Attendance Secretary..........M. Giannone
Guidance Department:
Counsellors ........................B. Heffernan
A - GI
M. Cockburn
GL - PA
P. Donovan
PE - Z
Guidance Secretary.............A. McPherson-Ortega
Child & Youth Worker. ......P. Alexander
School Psychologist...........K. Page
Social Worker.....................Erika Rukin
WEATHER CANCELLATIONS
During the winter months, inclement weather and/
or poor road conditions may cause the disruption
of bus transportation and regular school operations.
In these cases, parents/guardians should develop
alternate care/transportation arrangements.
A decision to cancel bus transportation and/or to
close schools is made by 6:00 a.m. Decisions are
based on several factors including precipitation,
air temperature and road conditions. A decision
to cancel bus transportation may be system wide
(where all buses in Dufferin County and the Region
of Peel are cancelled) or municipality specific
(where buses in one or more municipalities are
cancelled).
If buses are cancelled in the morning, they will
not operate in the afternoon. Therefore students
transported to school by parents require the same
transportation home.
Parents/guardians, students and school staff are
asked to monitor the following radio/television
stations after 6:00 a.m. to receive bus cancellation/
school closure information.
Radio:Television:
CKFM 99.9Global
CHUM 1050CFTO
CJCL 590
The Weather Network
CJBC (FR) 860 AM
CP 24
CHFI 98.1CBC
CHIN 100.7 FM / 1540 AM
CJEZ EZ ROCK 97.3 CFTR 680
CFRB 1010
FOXY 88.5 FM
Z103.5
CFNY 102.1
93.1 FM
102.7 FM (Caledon)
CJMR/CHOW 1250
A bus cancellation and/or school closure message
will also be available online at www.dpcdsb.org or
by calling 905-890-1221.
Thank you for your support as we focus on
providing safe transportation for all our students.