ST. BONAVENTURE
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
NEWSLETTER
Principal: A. Brown
Trustee: D. D’Souza
Vice-Principal: M. Miller
Superintendent of Brampton West Family of Schools: S. Steer
Head Secretary: L. Pietrantuono
Parish Priest: Father Jan Gogolewski
Assistant Secretary: K. Leonard
Guardian Angels Parish : 905-970-9175
School Address: 35 McCrimmon Drive, Brampton L7A 2Z5
School Phone # 905-970-9069 Fax # 905-970-0814
Saint Valentine
PARISH UPDATES
Dates for Reception of the Sacraments:
Saint Valentine was a bishop who
bravely died for his faith. The name Valentine means
“Valiant” or “Strong”. February 14th is connected with
love because of a legend that says birds pick their mates
on this date. Secret notes of love and friendship sent on
this day are called Saint Valentine’s notes or Valentines.
We wish all our St. Bonaventure families
a Happy Valentine’s Day!
First Reconciliation
Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 9:30 am at St. Bonaventure
School
First Holy Communion
Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 3:00 pm at Guardian Angels
Parish Hall
Confirmation
Saturday, April 27, 2016 at the 7:00 pm at Guardian Angels Parish Hall
FEBRUARY VIRTUE –RESPECT
ON SHROVE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, STUDENTS
WILL ENJOY PANCAKES AND A HEALTHY SNACK,
THANK YOU TO OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
AND COOKING REVOLUTION CLUB.
OUR ASH WEDNESDAY LITURGY ON FEBRUARY
10TH, WILL TAKE PLACE AT 10:30 AM IN THE GYM,
PLEASE JOIN US!
Black History Month
“The ultimate measure of people is not where they stand
in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where
they stand in times of challenge and controversy."
Dr. Martin Luther King, P&J #111
Quoted in Henry Oertelt's "An Unbroken Chain" Lerner
Publications, 2000.
“In facing the challenges and tribulations of today’s
society, Dr. Martin Luther King’s words call us to
demonstrate strength of character, morality and conviction. Let us use Dr. King as an inspiration to live
with conviction to our faith and to strive for a just society, where all are equal.”
February is Black History Month. During this month, St.
Bonaventure School is recognizing and celebrating the
many contributions of Black Canadians and famous black
people from around the world. Fascinating Black history
facts will be shared throughout the month .
ST. VALENTINE
Every February, gifts, kind words and
good deeds are shared between friends and loved ones, all
in the name of St. Valentine. The history of Valentine’s
Day, and its patron saint is shrouded in mystery. However,
we do know that February has long been a month of love
and friendship. One opinion is that he was a Roman priest,
martyred for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Other
historians believe Valentine was a priest who was jailed
for defiance during the reign of Claudius, for converting
people to Christianity and for marrying couples in secret.
Claudius had banned marriage, as he believed single men
made better soldiers, but Valentine continued even when
imprisoned. St. Valentine’s dedication to Christianity,
stand as a strong model of our Catholic faith.
CELEBRATING LENT
Lent is the time of preparation for Easter, the greatest
feast of the Church. During
Lent, we are asked to focus
on changing our lives through
prayer, penance, and love. In doing these, we try to become more like Christ in our love for God and others. The
Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on
Thursday of Holy Week (up to the beginning of the Mass
of the Lord's Supper). The term Lent comes from a Middle
English word that means springtime. Like the season of
spring, Lent is a time of renewal.
PRAYER, FASTING, ALMSGIVING
The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are
prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is important to see
how each of these link to the renewal of our baptism.
Prayer: Mor e time given to pr ayer dur ing Lent
Should draw us closer to the Lord. We might pray
Especially for the grace to live out our baptismal
promises more
fully.
Fasting: Fasting is one of the most ancient pr actices
linked to Lent. The early Church fasted intensely for two
days before the celebration of the Easter Vigil.
This fast was later extended and became a 40-day
period of fasting leading up to Easter. Vatican II called us
to renew the observance of the ancient
paschal fast: "...let the paschal fast be kept sacred. Let it
be celebrated everywhere on Good Friday and, where possible, prolonged throughout Holy Saturday, so that the joys
of the Sunday of the Resurrection may be attained with
uplifted and clear mind" (Liturgy, #110). Fasting is more
than a means of developing self-control. It is often an aid
to prayer, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger
for God. Fasting should be linked to our concern for those
who are forced to fast by their poverty, those who suffer
from the injustices of our economic and political structures, those who are in need for any reason. Thus fasting,
too, is linked to living out our baptismal promises. By our
Baptism, we are charged with the responsibility of showing Christ's love to the world, especially to those in need.
Fasting can help us realize the suffering that so many people in our world experience every day, and it should lead
us to greater efforts to alleviate that suffering. Abstaining
from meat traditionally also linked us to the poor, who
could seldom afford meat for their meals. It can do the
same today if we remember the purpose of abstinence and
embrace it as a spiritual link to those whose diets are
sparse and
simple. That should be the goal we set for ourselves—a
sparse and simple meal. Avoiding meat while eating lobster misses the whole point!
Almsgiving: It should be obvious at this point that
almsgiving, the third traditional pillar,
is linked to our baptismal commitment
in the same way. It is a sign of our
care for those in need and an expression of our gratitude for all that God
has given to us. Works of charity and
the promotion of justice are integral
elements of the Christian way of life
we began when we were baptized.
(from CyberFaith.com)
The key message for
February is…
“Telling an Adult about
Bullying is Not Tattling”.
Students are encouraged to use the strategy, ‘telling an
adult’. Although this sounds simple and logical, there are
many difficulties and roadblocks associated with this strategy. Younger children struggle to understand the difference between telling and tattling, while older children
struggle with their desire to deal with situations independently. The goal of telling an adult is to keep children
safe. Students need to identify the difference between telling and tattling (reporting and ratting), reasons students
don’t report bullying and understand how to effectively
and safely report to an adult.
TIPS FOR PARENTS
 use incidences where one child is telling you about
sibling behavior to help children identify whether they
are tattling or telling
 practice with your child how to ‘tell an adult’ about
bullying (what happened, how they feel, what help
they desire)
 develop awareness of the ‘reasons’ children state for
not reporting bullying to adults.
Primary Division and Junior Division
Assessments of Reading, Writing and
Mathematics
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Test Administration Dates: May 25th – June 8th,
2016 EQAO Assessments
The grade 3 and 6 EQAO assessments measure how well
students have met the expectations in the Ontario Curriculum. The assessments test what students know and how
well they apply their knowledge and skills in reading, writing and mathematics. Students are required to read and
respond to passages, to write and to solve mathematical
problems. The results are reported in terms of achievement
from levels 1– 4 with level 3 as the standard. The window
for EQAO assessments of all grade 3 and 6 students has
been established for May 25th to June 8th, 2016. Please
keep this important time frame in mind when you are planning family trips or appointments. It is important that all
grade 3 and 6 students be in attendance for the assessments. For further details on our
school results, visit the Board website at:
http://www.dpcdsb.org/EQAO
CROSSING GUARD
Kindly assist us in reminding children to cross with the
Crossing Guard at Leagate when coming to and going
home from school.
The Crossing Guard is on duty at 8:15-8:45 am and 3:153:45 pm. Thank you for your co-operation in looking out
for the safety of all our students.
FRONT DRIVEWAY
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We clear the Kiss ‘N Ride usually in 10 minutes.
Please be patient we are all BUSY but SAFETY
comes first.
The inside lane (closest to the school) is the only lane
where cars can stop to drop off their children in the
morning and pick up their children in the afternoon.
Drivers should not be parking and leaving their
vehicle to walk to the school to pick up their child.
The outside lane is a drive thru lane. This means that
there should be no stopping and/or loading or unloading of students. The safety of our students, staff and
families is our priority.
COLD WEATHER IS STILL HERE!
We ask parents to ensure that children wear hats, scarves,
gloves, winter outerwear and boots. Where possible, please
put identification on your child’s belongings. Students
are encouraged to have a “JUST IN CASE” bag containing
an extra pair of pants, shirt and socks, in the event their
clothing gets wet or soiled.
We remind students daily of playground expectations.
Please review the following rules with your child(ren:
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Keep your hands and feet to yourselves.
No verbal insults or inappropriate language.
Treat all people with kindness and respect.
Respect school property.
Play only no contact games outside.
Rocks, gravel and snow stay on the ground.
The front of the school is for BUSES ONLY.
Failure to follow these rules will result in immediate
consequences.
CARS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PARK, DROP
OFF or PICK UP students in the driveway or bus
lane located at the front of the school. This is a
fire lane and blocks the flow of traffic. Thank you
for your support.
ARE YOU MOVING?
VEHICLE TRAFFIC
We are reminding our school community to use the Kiss
‘n’ Ride lane to drop off or pick up your child. You cannot park your vehicle in the Kiss ‘n’ Ride lane before
school or at dismissal time during the day. When using
the Kiss ‘N Ride program to drop off or pick up students,
please remember:
If you are planning a move or have
already moved, please let us know.
You are required to complete assessment forms even if you move within our school boundaries. If you are moving to a new school we will give you a
Transfer Form to take with you to the new school. If you
are moving but would like your child to remain at St. Bonaventure, please submit your request in writing. This information will be helpful as we prepare the new classes for
September 2016.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
HEALTHY SCHOOL INITIATIVES
If parents/guardians would like to volunteer their time in
the school setting or on fieldtrips/excursions, please contact the office regarding a Criminal Background Check.
You must have a Criminal Background Check to volunteer in any capacity.
Our school will, again, be participating
in the fundraiser - Jump Rope for Heart.
Students have taken home an information package and pledge envelope to
raise money for the Heart and Stroke
Foundation. On February 29th all students will LEAP into a skipping celebration in the gym. Jump Rope for Heart gets our students
physically active while becoming socially responsible.
Let's wear red to get into the festive spirit! Prizes and rewards will
be given, and if we raise $5000
Thank you for your support .
ST. BONAVENTURE ENVIRO SHARKS &
OUR ECO-SCHOOL PLAN
The Region of Peel and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board have invited all students to celebrate
Peel tap water by taking part in The Great Gulp. Please
help support this initiative by sending your child to
school with a reusable water bottle. Students at St. Bonaventure will be participating in activities such as tap water drinking challenge, a tap water and bottled water taste
test, and finally a school wide synchronized drink of tap
water. Peel tap water is a safe, clean, convenient choice
that is good for your health and the environment.
The St. Bonaventure Enviro –Sharks are a group of students who work to keep our school environmentally
aware and friendly. Last year with their efforts we
achieved silver status and this year we are going for the
gold. Many initiatives are taking place within the school.
It started with our National Sweater Day on February
4th , where all students wore sweaters to school and the
heat was turned down to conserve energy.
St. Bonaventure Enviro -Sharks are committed to keeping
our school and environment eco friendly. Go sharks go!
BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF PEEL
The Power of An Hour! Be an In-School Mentor! Make a
difference in the life of a child in as little as one hour a
week by volunteering to be an In-School Mentor. Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Peel in partnership with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board matches elementary girls and boys with a caring adult mentor. Matches meet for one hour each week from September – June
during school hours and on school property to share in
fun activities such as playing board games, baking or
playing sports. The result – increased self esteem, better
grades and improved relationships with family and peers.
Children are in need of mentors in our schools and we
need your help. You can make a significant difference by
volunteering or encouraging your friends and family to
mentor a child in a school in their neighborhood.
Call 905-457-7288 or visit www.bbbspeel.com for more
Information.
HEAD INJURIES - CONCUSSIONS
All head injuries can be difficult to diagnose, however, a
concussion is the most difficult head injury to diagnose.
Brain scans cannot determine if a concussion exists, however, ignoring a potential concussion has grave risks and
potential for serious and long-lasting symptoms.
Symptoms may vary, however, it is critical that educators report all head injuries to parents/guardians to ensure appropriate medical care. We are asking
for your support to inform school
administration in the event of any
serious injury to the head or concussion sustained outside of the
school.
Return To Play: Most experts suggest two days for each step.
Step1: No activity, complete r est. Once back to nor mal and cleared by a medical professional, go to step 2.
Step 2: Light exer cise such as walking or stationar y
cycling for 10 - 15 min.
Step 3: Spor t specific aer obic activity (skating in
Hockey, running in soccer) for 20 - 30 min., with no
contact.
Step 4: On field pr actice such as ball dr ills and other
activities with no contact
Step 5: On field pr actice with body contact, once
cleared by a medical professional.
Step 6: Game Play
The student must be seen by a doctor and the form
(Request to Resume Athletic Participation) must be
completed and brought to school upon return.
JUNIOR & SENIOR KINDERGARTEN
REGISTRATION FOR 2016/2017
We are still accepting registrations for our
Junior and Senior Kindergarten Classes for
2016/ 2017. You can pick up your application in
the office. Please register as soon as possible.
The following original documents are needed:
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Show Child’s Birth Certificate
Child’s Roman Catholic Baptismal Certificate
One Parent’s Roman Catholic Baptismal Certificate
Immunization record
2 pieces of proof of address to view
DATES TO REMEMBER
February 3
National Walk to
School Day
February 4
National Sweater Day
February 4
Parent/Teacher Interviews
(Evening)
February 5
PA Day & Parent/Teacher
Interviews (Day)
Shrove Tuesday
10:30 am Ash Wednesday
Liturgy
February 12
Valentine’s Dance
February 14
Happy Valentine’s Day
February 15
Family Day (Schools are
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
closed
February 18
9:30 am Black History Month
School Council meetings are held on Wednesday evenPresentation
ing at 7:00 pm in the school library on the following
March - Date to be determined soon!
dates.
Gr. 6, 7 & 8 Ballroom Dancing
All are welcome!
Showcase
 February 3rd
March 8
Gr. 7 Confirmation Retreat at
Camp Brebeuf
 March 2nd
March
10
9:30 am Lenten School Mass
 April 6th
March 11
Gr. 8 Confirmation Retreat at
 May 4th
Camp Brebeuf
 June 1st
March 14 – 18
March Break
NATIONAL SWEATER DAY
On Thursday, February 4, 2016, St. Bonaventure Catholic School, along with other
schools across the Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School Board, participated in National Sweater Day. This day was initiated
by the World Wildlife Fund as a way of
initiating participation and conversation
around energy conservation. Students wore their favourite
sweaters, and told interesting stories about them.
Research demonstrates that heating makes up 80% of all
energy used in homes and schools across Canada. If every
Canadian home and school turned down the temperature
of their home or school by 2 degrees during the winter for
four months, that would save enough energy to close an
entire coal-powered plant!
JUNIOR GIRLS AND BOYS BASKETBALL
POD TOURNAMENTS
Boys - Wednesday, February 16th at Guardian Angels
Girls - Thursday, February 18th at St. Maria Goretti
February 9
February 10
March 21
March 25
March 28
Back to School
Good Friday (no school)
Easter Monday (no school)
ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Thank you to all those families who pr ovided and wish
to receive the school newsletter via email.
If you did not provide your
email consent, and would like to
receive school information via
email, please pick up a form in
the Office. “PAPER” copies will
come to you if consent is not provided.
SATURDAY, MARCH 19 LET’S CELEBRATE
EARTH HOUR !