ST. BONAVENTURE
SEPTEMBER 2015
Principal: A. Brown
Vice-Principal: M. Miller
Head Secretary: L. Pietrantuono
Assistant Secretary: K. Leonard
Custodian: P. Lavieille
Trustee: D. D’Souza
Superintendent of Brampton West Family of Schools: S. Steer
Parish Priest: Father Jan Gogolewski
Parish: Guardian Angels Parish, 905-970-9175
OPENING PRAYER
Dear Lord, as we begin this new school year, we
gather once again as your community of believers.
We thank you for the energy and the spirit that you renewed in us through the summer months.
We thank you for the time to enjoy our family and friends
and to reflect on what is important
in our lives.
Let this year be marked by enthusiasm and love so that,
with the inspiration of your Spirit, we may continue to
grow in our faith.
Help us to fulfill Your hope for us with honest intentions
and works of faith.
Let us be gentle with ourselves and bring laughter, joy
and love to others.
We ask this in your name.
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE - Mrs. A. Brown
A Message for the New School Year! 2015 - 2016
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! We hope that
your summer holiday was a safe and enjoyable one. We
enjoy being part of a school community where students,
staff, parents and our parish team work together to create
a safe, caring, and positive learning environment that reflects our Catholic values and traditions. We wish to extend a warm welcome to all of our new families and students who have moved into our community over the summer months. We are also very excited to have a brand
new group of kindergarten children who will be starting
school for the first time and returning in our Full Day
Kindergarten Program. We look forward to meeting all of
you over the next few weeks as we start our new school
year together.
Ongoing communication between the school, home and
parish is essential to supporting your child’s progress and
success. As parents/guardians, please feel free to contact
the school at any time if you have any questions or concerns. Please get involved in your child’s education and
faith journey by participating in our volunteer program or
perhaps by joining our Catholic School Council. Your
involvement in your child’s education is vital. Communication is essential in the teaching/learning process. We
along with the staff at St. Bonaventure School, are committed to developing and maintaining strong community
relationships.
Our staff has been working hard these past few weeks
preparing for the beginning of the new school year.
Thank you to the teachers who have spent a great amount
of time preparing both their curriculum and their classrooms. Also, a great big thanks to our secretaries, Mrs.
Pietrantuono and Mrs. Leonard, and our custodial team,
Mr. Lavieille, Mr. Farren and Mr. Stafrace for doing such
a wonderful job of preparing our school to welcome back
our students.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our annual BBQ, Open House and meet the teacher night.
Wednesday September 23, 2015.
Sincerely,
A. Brown Principal
M. Miller Vice Principal
PA DAY/ CLASS REORGANIZATION
St. Bonaventure staffing for 2015/2016 is based on a
“projected” student enrolment that is calculated each
spring. This projected student enrolment number
attempts to take into account any new students who are
moving into our school as well as any students who may
be moving out of the area. Friday, September 18, 2015 is
a PA Day/Re-Organization/Faith Development. We
will keep all parents informed if any changes are to occur
with your child’s class or placement.
TERRY FOX RUN
The Terry Fox Run will take place on Friday, September
25th, 2015. Please br ing in a toonie for Ter r y as our
goal is to raise $1000. This money will be donated to the
Terry Fox Foundation. A permission form will follow.
Don’t forget to wear red for this event!
VIRTUES
STUDENT SUPERVISION TIMES
This year, we will again be focusing on a particular virtue Please note that teachers are on supervision duty 15
each month, making the presence of God visible in the minutes before the start of the school day.
world around us. The Virtue for the month of September is
Faith.
For safety reasons we ask that you not drop your child
off at the school prior to 8:30 am and to please pick
Faith believes the incr edible, sees the invisible and r e- them up ON TIME at 3:15 pm.
ceives the impossible. A faithful person believes that
God’s plan for us includes the right to be safe, cared for LUNCH HOUR
and included, especially at school.
During the lunch hour, all students who stay for lunch are
FAITH is the gr eat vir tue of believing and tr usting in expected to remain at school, and all students who go
God. Our faith helps us to remember the importance of home for lunch are expected to go home every day. If there
God in our lives, and calls us to deepen our relationship is a change in the regular lunch hour procedure for
with God, when things are going well and when they are your child, parent/guardians are asked to provide the
not.
teacher with a note explaining the change. A letter has
gone home with your child in regard to your child’s
Thank you, parents, for continuing to review all virtues:
lunchtime arrangements. Please indicate your child’s regular lunchtime arrangements, sign the form and return it to
Faith, Empathy, Conscience, Hope, Self-Control,
Respect, Kindness, Love, Acceptance and Fairness with the school as soon as possible. There is also a section for
your children.
parents to sign authorizing lunchtime arrangements in the
Together we can continue to make a difference and help to student agenda. Parents are asked to ensure that both the
make the world a better place for ourselves, our children form and the section in the agenda are signed and returned
and those generations which will follow. Stay tuned for our to school.
first Virtue Assembly in September—parents/
guardians are welcome to join us!
DELIVERING LUNCHES
ST. BONAVENTURE HOURS
JUNIOR AND SENIOR KINDERGARTEN
Full Day
8:45 am - 3:15 pm
GRADES ONE TO EIGHT
8:45 am - 3:15 pm
Lunch 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
RECESS TIMES
10:10-10:25
10:25-10:40
1:55-2:10
2:10-2:25
Grade 7 & 8
Grade 1-6
Grade 7 & 8
Gr. 1-6
ATTENDANCE VERIFICATION
Daily attendance and punctuality are very important.
If your child is going to be absent from school, or late,
please inform the office by leaving a message on the
school’s attendance line at (905) 970-9069 ext. 1.
When delivering your child’s lunch to school
please advise your child in advance you will be doing so,
and write his/her name and teacher’s name on the bag.
Your child can come down to pick it up from the lunch
table with minimal disruption to the class. The lunch table
is located in the hallway, in front of the office. We would
greatly appreciate your co-operation in this matter.
LEAVING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
When it is necessary for your child to leave school early,
please send a note to your child’s teacher advising him/
her of the time that you will be picking your child up.
Your child will be asked to meet you in the office at the
indicated time. When dropping off or picking up students
during school hours, please go to the office to sign your
child in or out.
VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL
All visitors and parents are requested to enter the
building through the front door, and to go directly to the
office. Please under stand that dur ing instr uctional
time, teachers are not available to meet with you or to take
phone calls. Students are expected to enter and exit
through their designated doors. These reminders are outlined for safety, security and protection of staff and
students in our school.
PERMISSION TO RELEASE CHILDREN
BUSSING
Each School Year we send home verification forms in
terms of who has access to your child i.e., parents, guardians, grandparents and babysitters and we keep that on
file at the office. Children can be picked up by the people
listed on the (blue) Student Verification Form. If for some
other reason one of these people are not picking up your
child at the end of the day we cannot release your child
without a written note or a phone call to the office stating
this. We cannot release children to people whose name
that we do not have on the form for safety reasons.
Students who are eligible to take the school bus should be
waiting at their bus stop at least ten minutes prior to the
scheduled bus arrival time. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that kindergarten children are met at the bus
stop at their drop off times at the end of the day. Children
who do not see a parent or babysitter will remain on the
bus and will be returned to the school to be picked up
there by the parent/babysitter. Please visit ...
https://businfo.stopr.ca for detailed information.
CROSSING GUARD
SCHOOL BUS COURTESY SEAT POLICY
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 3:15 - 3:45pm. Thank you for your co-operation in
looking out for the safety of all our students.
At this time, transportation is only available
to students who are deemed eligible by the
Student Transportation of Peel Region
(STOPR). Those wishing to access the
Courtesy Bus Seat policy are asked to pick
up an application form at the school office
and return it to Ms. Miller. Depending on availability,
seats will be allocated no earlier than mid October as per
STOPR’s transportation policy. The Courtesy Bus Seat
policy requires parents/guardians to apply every year for a
seat on the bus if they live beyond the eligibility requirements. Please visit https://businfo.stopr.ca for detailed
information. Questions and/or concerns can be addressed
by calling Student Transportation of Peel Region
(STOPR) directly at 905-890-6000.
PARKING LOT SAFETY/KISS AND RIDE
Our school driveway is a matter of great concern in
regards to the safety of our students.
Please use the Kiss ‘n’ Ride lane at the SIDE of the
school to drop off or pick up your child.
For the safety of all of our children, CARS ARE ALSO
NOT PERMITTED TO DROP OFF or PICK UP
students in the driveway or bus lane located at the
FRONT of the school. Thank you for your continued
support!
STUDENT AGENDAS
We ask that you make a special note of your child’s
student agenda as it contains the school Code of
Behaviour, expectations, serves as an invaluable tool to
assist them with daily homework planning, develops
proper organizational skills and good study habits. The
agenda is also a daily means of communication
between teachers and parents and a way to assure that
homework is being completed each night. The cost of the
school agenda is complimentary, however, students will
be expected to submit a replacement fee of $5.00 if
their agenda is lost or damaged. Students in Junior
and Senior Kindergarten will also receive agendas towards the end of September!
DISTRIBUTION AND STORAGE OF
MEDICATION AND EPI-PENS
If a child is required to bring medication to school,
procedures relative to the administration of medication
shall only be adopted:
 when requested by the parents/guardians; and when
authorized by a physician; and
 when medication must be provided during school hours
If a designated staff member must administer
medication, signed request/authorization forms from the
parents/guardians and the supervising physician is
initiated and/or changed at the beginning of every school
year.
These forms are available through the school office. The
required authorization forms and the medication is to be
delivered to the principal or designated person by the parents/guardians or other responsible person.
All
medication will be stored in a safe location in the Health
room. If your child has an allergy requiring an EPI-PEN
please send two EPI-PEN’s to school, one for the Office and one for the student to wear in a fanny pack
around the waist. Fanny packs are available at the
Dollar Store.
even if there are no corrections needed. It is very
important that we have accurate phone numbers and
emergency contacts.
AN IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING
NUT ALLERGIES
HEPATITIS AND HPV INNOCULATIONS
Did you know that peanuts are the
leading cause of severe allergic reactions
followed by shellfish, fish, tree nuts and
eggs?
We have several students at St. Bonaventure who have
life threatening allergies to nuts, especially peanuts. We
are asking that you make St. Bonaventure a peanut safe
school by refraining from sending your children with
peanut butter or other products containing nuts or nut oils
(e.g., Nutella). If these students come into contact with
anything containing nuts, nut oils or derivatives, it could
be life threatening for him/her.
It is only necessary that physical contact with these
substances be made, even on a second hand basis. For
example, a severe reaction may occur should the child
touch a desk, toy or book previously handled by another
student who has touched peanut butter, peanuts or peanut
oil. Children with severe food allergies are advised to be
very much aware of his/her allergy are discouraged from
sharing snacks. Safety First!
In our Catholic School Community we have an
obligation to be responsible for one another. Thanking
you in advance for your continued support, co-operation
and understanding regarding this matter.
STUDENT EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Your child received a package of forms when school
started; containing a lunch letter, school excursion, media,
internet and their Student Verification form (blue form)
which contains your address, phone numbers, emergency
contacts and health information as it currently exists in
our computer. We ask that you take a few minutes and
check over this information to ensure that it is accurate.
Please add area codes for all phone numbers.
ALL SHEETS NEED TO BE SIGNED AND
RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL as soon as possible
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
INFORMATION FORM (GF 401 - Green form)
The “Health and Physical” Education form was sent home
with the optional insurance pamphlet. Please make sure
you read, sign and return only the “GREEN FORM” to
your child’s teacher.
Peel Health will continue to offer free immunization against Hepatitis B for students in
grade 7. It is given as a series of two injections
over a period of six months. Grade 8 girls are
also given the opportunity to receive the HPV inoculation. If you have any questions, please call the Peel
Health Department at (905) 799-7700. The following date
has been assigned to St. Bonaventure School:
 Dose #1 Hep B for Grade 7’s - November 18, 2015
 HPV for Grade 8 girls - November 18, 2015
FIRE DRILLS AND LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES
We are required to conduct three fire drills in the fall and
three in the spring. We are also required to practice three
lock down drills during the year. Lock down drills involve students moving away from the classroom door to a
location within the classroom away from windows. Lights
are turned off and the doors are locked. These practices
are to ensure that students and staff are prepared in case
we should need to go into lock down. Lock down would
be initiated by police and Board security personnel.
CRIMINAL REFERENCE CHECKS
Parents are reminded of the Ministry and Board Policy
that requires all volunteers to provide the school with a
valid (dated within the last six months) Criminal
Background Check befor e they can begin wor king
with students or volunteer on school trips. These forms
are available in the school office.
GATEWAY CAMPUS
Catholic Education Centre Schools Program
Once again, we are delighted to welcome the Catholic
Education Centre Program to our school. This is a Ministry of Education funded program that provides an alternative learning opportunity for students who require specialized support. The focus is on literacy, numeracy and
This program responds to the educational needs of young
people for whom the regular pattern of school and/or family life is interrupted for a variety of reasons. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board continues to offer
support for these programs in collaboration with community agencies and the Ministry of Education. We look
forward to another successful year welcoming our CEC
School Program students, as well as their parents/
guardians.
OPEN HOUSE
Our Open House will be held on
Wednesday, September 23rd. The BBQ
will take place from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. Classroom visits
will be from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
SCHOOL PICTURES
Picture day for all our students will be held
on Thursday, October 15, 2015.
Retake day will be held on Thursday November 12th.
PARISH NEWS
Our School Masses have not been scheduled as of yet.
We will let you know the dates as soon as we get them.
They will also be highlighted in our Pastoral Plan for
2015-2016.
There will be a Parent Meeting after 12:00 pm Mass
on November 29th, 2015 for those children who will be
making their First Holy Communion and their First
Reconciliation.
FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN GRADE 3, 4, 5,
6 AND 7 WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AT SCHOOL.
Guardian Angels Parish is providing classes to prepare
your child for this Holy Sacrament.
Please contact Guardian Angels Parish at 905-970-9175.
DPCDSB is now on Twitter!
For the latest Board news and information, follow us at
DPCDSBSchools.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
There are two primary roles of the Catholic School
Council:
 to promote the vision, values, sacramental life and
Catholic practices of the School Board and the
Catholic community it serves
 to being an advisory body to the Principal and the
School Board
As well, the School Council’s role is to establish and
maintain good communication flow within and among the
school community, the parent community and the
community at large.
They also play a role in
improvement of students learning by:
 complimenting educational directives and programs
 working to support and promote Catholicity, both in
the school and in the parish
 building community through support of sports, school
spirit and community events
The School Councils are comprised of parents/guardians,
teaching and non-teaching representatives, a parish
representative and administrators. Parents and guardians
form the majority on Council.
 6-10 parents and/or guardians of students enrolled in
the school shall form a majority
 the Principal
 a member of the teaching staff
 a member of the non-teaching staff
 a parish representative (designated by the local
parish)
 one person appointed by the Ontario Association of
Parents in Catholic Education
We welcome your participation and encourage you to
consider being a member of the School Council. A nomination form for the St. Bonaventure School Council will
be available at the school office from September 26 during school hours. Nomination forms will be available on
September 21st until September 25th 2015. You can
pick up a nomination from the Parent Council table at
BBQ/Open House as well. Elections will take place at
the first School Council meeting on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the school library.
All are welcome to attend.
DATES TO REMEMBER
SEPTEMBER
18
22
23
25
21 - 25
No School for Student
First Day of Autumn
Open House and BBQ
Terry Fox Run
School Council nomination
forms available
AROUND THE SCHOOL AND IN THE HALLS!
Lost and Found
It is amazing how many personal items collect in
our Lost and Found bin. Please stop by the school
at anytime and have a look if your child has some items
missing. Please make sure to sign in at the Office first.
Lunch Policy
We have a large number of students eating lunch at school
and often the children have to be reminded of proper behaviour while eating. We ask for the parents’ cooperation
in reinforcing with your children appropriate behaviour in
their lunchroom.
OCTOBER
7
12
15
31
School Council
Meeting @ 7:00 pm
Thanksgiving Day-no school
Picture Day
Halloween
NOVEMBER
9
11
18
Dental Screening JK, SK, Grade 2’s only
Remembrance Day
1st dose of Hep C - Grade 7
HPV vaccine for - Grade 8 girls
The students are expected to:
 eat in their assigned classroom
 remain seated while eating
 chat quietly to their neighbors
 dispose of all garbage in the proper receptacle
Students who stay at school for lunch are not permitted to
leave the school property. If ever there is a need to do so, a
written request signed and dated, from a parent is required
for each occurrence.
Thank you for going over these expectations with your
children and for supporting us in our efforts to make eating
lunch at school a pleasant experience for all.
There are many great opportunities to get involved in
school life! St. Bonaventure School staff will be offering
many teams, clubs and activities.
Excursions & Field Trips
Educational trips, which extend learning opportunities, are Stay tuned for what’s coming soon!
a wonderful means by which curriculum can be developed
and expanded. However, appropriate Board procedures Please encourage your child(ren) to be active school
must be followed. The school must have on file permission contributors and build St. Bonaventure School Spirit!
forms, which must be signed by the parents/ guardians.
If on the day of an excursion, your child did not return his/
her form, and the parents/guardians cannot come into the
school to sign the permission forms, the student will remain
at the school. Students will be reminded by their teachers
about this policy prior to the trip taking place.
WE WILL BE HAPPY TO UPDATE YOU ON OUR
SCHOOL STAFF AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE
2015 - 2016 SCHOOL YEAR IN THE
NEXT FEW WEEKS.
Brampton West Family of Schools
Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board
September, 2015
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The warm days of summer are leading into the even warmer days of fall as we welcome your family back to the
Brampton West Family of Schools and to Fr. C.W. Sullivan Catholic School. For those of you who have relocated
over the summer; those who have transitioned to secondary school; those who are excitedly watching their
child begin the Full Day Kindergarten experience; and of course, for those who are returning to a familiar school
setting…. Welcome back, and may peace be with you.
It is my privilege to welcome you to the Brampton West Family of Schools. We are a very active and vibrant
Family of Schools where the love of Christ is ever present within our hallways, our classrooms and, most
especially, within our daily endeavors. Jesus is indeed the reason for our schools; He is the unseen but ever
present teacher in our classrooms. He is the model to our faculty and the inspiration of our students. We will
continue to celebrate the gift of Catholic Education this year within the theme of Catholic Education Week:
“Opening Doors of Mercy” which combines both the theme of mercy and the act of opening doors of
reconciliation, mercy, and forgiveness to all around us. The Gospel passages associated with this theme allow us
to contemplate how Jesus’ entire life journey manifested the fulfillment of mercy through respect, kindness,
reconciliation and above all, loving sacrifice.
Within our schools we are fortunate to have dedicated staff who have worked diligently to prepare the school
and classrooms for learning. I know that your child is being greeted to a classroom that is supported not only by
devoted teachers, but also school administrators, administrative assistants, custodians, support staff, bus drivers
and crossing guards who have spent many hours preparing for the upcoming school year.
The Brampton West Family of Schools is constantly growing and welcoming new students and their families
within our schools. As of August 2015 our population includes 7658 elementary and 4453 secondary students,
with new arrivals every day. We consist of 16 elementary schools and 3 secondary schools, all of which are
served by extremely dedicated staff who put the needs of every child first and truly believe in the potential of
each and every child. Five parishes support our schools’ liturgical plans, working in partnership with teachers
and students to provide spiritual nourishment and development of our students and their teachers. Our school
communities are privileged to be served by three dedicated trustees: Anna da Silva, Darryl D’Souza and Frank Di
Cosola each of whom brings a wealth of experience and a relentless passion for Catholic Education and the
success of all students.
As the superintendent to Brampton West, I have the unique blessing to work with your Trustee, Anna da Silva,
the parish team from St. Anne Church and the administration and staff of Fr. C.W. Sullivan. I look forward to the
upcoming year, as I anticipate working with each school team to support your child in meeting their full
potential. As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build
our youth for the future.” You have instilled a sacred trust within the faculty that comprises the Brampton West
Welcome Wisdom Wonder Worship Witness
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board 40 Matheson Blvd. W., Mississauga, ON L5R 1C5 905-890-0708
Family of Schools. Together, we have a rich task before us as we support progress for all learners within each
aspect of their educational well-being: spiritual, academic, social, emotional and physical.
As we anticipate the successes of the year ahead, I encourage you to remember that each success will be the
result of the mutual support and respect that parents and educators show one another. Our students are
venturing into a 21st Century world that is, in many ways, unpredictable for the parents who encourage and
inspire these young individuals. As our students mature we are reminded that their beliefs, ideals and sense of
responsibility, friendship and family are constantly challenged and the common values and support we share as
role models in their lives will impact greatly on their decisions as they grow into Catholic leaders of the future.
We are happily committed to working with our partners to continue to support each child in their quest for
knowledge, happiness and, above all, spiritual development that will enable them to be successful citizens
within the community.
It is indeed my pleasure to welcome each of you to the Brampton West Family of Schools for the 2015/2016
school year and offer my sincerest prayer that the upcoming year will be one filled with new opportunities to
learn, to discover, foster relationships that promote self-respect and dignity and serve one another as we build
our Catholic School community together.
All my best for a wonderful school year.
May you know and be richly blessed by the love of God,
S. Steer
S. Steer
Superintendent,
Brampton West Family of Schools
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
SS/cc
I present, therefore, this Extraordinary Jubilee Year dedicated to living out in our daily lives the mercy which the
Father constantly extends to all of us. In this Jubilee Year, let us allow God to surprise us. He never tires of casting
open the doors of his heart and of repeating that he loves us and wants to share his love with us. From the heart of
the Trinity, from the depths of the mystery of God, the great river of mercy wells up and overflows unceasingly. It is a
spring that will never run dry, no matter how many people draw from it. Every time someone is in need, he or she can
approach it, because the mercy of God never ends. The profundity of the mystery surrounding it is as inexhaustible as
the richness which springs up from it.
Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on 11 April, the Vigil of the Second Sunday of Easter, or the Sunday of Divine
Mercy, in the year of our Lord 2015, the third of my Pontificate.
Pope Francis
Welcome Wisdom Wonder Worship Witness
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board 40 Matheson Blvd. W., Mississauga, ON L5R 1C5 905-890-0708
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
40 Matheson Boulevard West, Mississauga, ON, L5R 1C5, Tel: (905) 891221
September 8, 2015
Dear Parents/Guardians:
RE:
Elementary School Organization Plans for 2015-2016
As you know, the provincial government has imposed a cap on the maximum number of students
that may be enrolled in primary classes (Grade 1 to Grade 3). Primary classes are capped at 20
students. For many schools, this will mean smaller primary class sizes. In rare instances a small
number of classes may have a maximum of 23 students. The exception to this cap, of course, is
the Full Day Early Learning Kindergarten Program. The Board average in such classes is 26
students.
The provincial government also requires that the size of Grades 4 to 8 classes not exceed a boardwide average of 24.5 students. Because this is an average, not a cap, some classes in these grades
will have more than 25 students, and others will have less.
Parents/Guardians should know that grade/class reorganization for September will be necessary
in order to meet these government-mandated requirements. While lowering class size is
positive, this initiative can lead to a number of combined grade classes in many schools. Teachers
will be provided with the resources needed to ensure appropriate curriculum delivery for all
students assigned to their classes.
All school organization plans are subject to review in early September, based on actual
enrolment. Where a need to adjust class plans is identified due to unanticipated enrolment
fluctuations, reorganization will be implemented effective September 18, 2015. The effect of
school reorganization may result in your child moving from one class to another. Where such is
the case, your principal will keep you duly informed.
The Ministry of Education publication “An Introduction to Combined Grades” provides
information for parents/guardians regarding combined grade classes and is attached for your
additional information and reference.
Kindly be assured that the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will continue, as always,
to provide quality education for all students entrusted in its care.
Yours sincerely,
Sheila McWatters
Associate Director, Instructional Services
HOW CAN I HELP MY
CHILD SUCCEED?
1
2
3
Get involved in your child’s school life
Ask about their day – school work, friends,
their teacher. Let them tell you about the best
part of their day, and about what was not so
good. This will help you share their successes
and uncover any problems.
Stay connected with the school
Talk to your child’s teacher. Ask questions. This
can be as simple as sending a note to school
with your child. Or check with the school to
see if you can volunteer to help.
Make learning fun
Learning is not limited to the classroom.
Simple activities can build your child’s skills
and confidence. Talk about prices on a trip to
the grocery store to help older kids with
math. Make reading fun for younger ones by
pointing out the words all around you – on
street signs, posters, even cereal boxes!
The Ministry of Education has many tools
to help both teachers and parents.
Visit www.edu.gov.on.ca and discover
how you can help your child succeed in school.
Printed on recycled paper
06-377
ISBN 978-1-4249-3388-4 (Print)
ISBN 978-1-4249-3390-7 (PDF)
© Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2007
Cette publication est disponible en français.
This publication is available on the Ministry of Education’s
website at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca
AN INTRODUCTION TO
COMBINED
GRADES
WHAT IS A COMBINED
CLASSROOM?
Combined classes group children from two or
more consecutive grades in one classroom. Schools
combine classes for a variety of reasons. This
includes organizing classes to meet student learning
needs and combining grades to balance class size.
All classrooms include students with a range of
skills and abilities. Combined classes are neither
better nor worse than single-grade classes. They
are simply one of the many ways schools meet
students’ academic and social development needs.
HOW ARE STUDENTS
CHOSEN FOR COMBINED
CLASSES?
Principals and staff consider a variety of factors
when grouping children into classes, including:
> Learning styles
> Social skills
> Academic needs
> And many other factors
All classrooms, whether single-grade or combined,
include students performing at a range of achievement levels. In every case, schools strive to create
a classroom environment that will support the
needs of all students.
HOW WILL A COMBINED
CLASS AFFECT MY CHILD?
WILL MY CHILD GET
ENOUGH INDIVIDUAL
ATTENTION?
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Several studies have found that students in
combined classes do just as well as students
in single-grade classes. In fact, some students
actually do better in language and reading.
IMPROVED SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Canadian studies show that children in combined
classes have more opportunities for emotional
and social growth. The rich social environment
helps students:
> Learn how to work on their own and as part
of a team
> Build leadership abilities as they work
together and help each other
> Develop decision-making skills, and become
more self-motivated and responsible
> Learn in an environment that reflects the
real world. The diverse ideas and opinions of
classmates help expand students’ perspectives.
Every day, in both single-grade classes and
combined grades, teachers work with large
groups, small groups, and individual students.
But students in combined classrooms also benefit
from a broader support structure.
Younger children can ask students from the higher
grade for help. Older students learn by explaining
problems to their younger peers. In fact, peer
tutoring can help higher achieving and older
students reinforce their knowledge and positive
social behaviours.
HOW CAN THE TEACHER
TEACH MORE THAN ONE
GRADE AT A TIME?
Teachers use many different strategies to teach
students in combined grades. They may:
> Introduce a common topic then give each
grade a different task or problem.
> Break students into groups to study different
problems and report back to the class. These
groups can be flexible, including students with
varied interests and skills.
> Bring students together for activities like
health, physical education, and the arts.
The Ministry of Education has developed strategies
that help teachers reach a range of learners. For
example, teams from every school in Ontario have
been trained in differentiating instruction. This is a
strategy that looks at the individual learning needs
and progress of each student. The teacher can
then identify the range of needs in the classroom
and plan a program that meets the needs of all
the students.