ST. BONAVENTURE
SEPTEMBER 2014
NEWSLETTER
Principal: Mrs. S. Wolfe
Vice-Principal: M. Miller
Head Secretary: Mrs. L. Pietrantuono
Assistant Secretary: Mrs. K. Leonard
Trustee: Mrs. L. Zanella
Superintendent of Brampton West Family of Schools: Mrs. S. Steer
Parish Priest: Father Jan Gogolewski
OPENING PRAYER
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Good and gracious God,
as our new school year begins,
fill the hearts of our students
with an eagerness to learn
about the world you have
created, about themselves,
and most of all about You.
Bless our teachers with gifts of wisdom
and patience that they may help students find the truth.
Give our parents generous hearts to
encourage and support their children.
Help us all work together to form a
community of learning that teaches,
not only the skills for success, but all that we need to live
our faith fully in the world.
Amen.
As the new school year begins, I see the
excitement in your children’s eyes and their
expectations for a rewarding year filled
with many rich school experiences. I ask for your support and co-operation, as we work, learn and grow together within our Catholic faith. I am very excited about
our upcoming school year and I look forward to continuing to build our partnership with the School
Council, Church and community, where together we can
provide academic excellence within a strong Catholic
context. Your involvement in your child’s learning is
vital. Please do not hesitate to contact the school whenever you have a question or require further information.
I look forward to seeing you at our Open House, liturgies
and masses, at school activities throughout the year and
during your informal visits to the school.
S. Wolfe
WELCOME
CLASS REORGANIZATION
We extend a very warm welcome to all new families in
our school community. Thank you to staff for all your
work in preparing to receive our students on the first day
of school. We regard ourselves as partners with parents
in the education of your children. Your support and input by contacting your child’s teacher, volunteering in
the school, or serving on our School Council is valued
and necessary to ensure the success of our students.
Your involvement has been shown by research to have a
major impact on student learning and success.
St. Bonaventure staffing for 2014/2015 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. This year St. Bonaventure
had an increase in enrolment which has affected our primary & junior class cap size. As a result this has caused
some reorganization of our grades 1-6 classes. Our student population continues to grow.
We are looking forward to a productive and rewarding
2014/2015 school year.
TERRY FOX RUN
The Terry Fox Run will take place on Friday, September
26th, 2014. This year we are encouraging every child to
bring in a toonie for Terry as our goal is to raise $1000.
This money will be donated to the Terry Fox Foundation.
A permission form will follow.
VIRTUES
LUNCH HOUR
This year, we will again be focusing on a particular virtue
each month, making the presence of God visible in the
world around us. The Virtue for the month of September is
Faith.
During the lunch hour, all students who stay for lunch are
expected to remain at school, and all students who go
home for lunch are expected to go home every day. If there
is a change in the regular lunch hour procedure for
your child, parent/guardians are asked to provide the
teacher with a note explaining the change. A letter has
gone home with your child in regard to your child’s
lunchtime arrangements. Please indicate your child’s regular lunchtime arrangements, sign the form and return it to
the school as soon as possible. There is also a section for
parents to sign authorizing lunchtime arrangements in the
student agenda. Parents are asked to ensure that both the
form and the section in the agenda are signed and returned
to school.
Faith believes the incr edible, sees the invisible and r eceives the impossible. A faithful person believes that
God’s plan for us includes the right to be safe, cared for
and included, especially at school.
FAITH is the gr eat vir tue of believing and tr usting in
God. Our faith helps us to remember the importance of
God in our lives, and calls us to deepen our relationship
with God, when things are going well and when they are
not.
Thank you, parents, for continuing to review all virtues:
DELIVERING LUNCHES
Faith, Empathy, Conscience, Hope, Self-Control,
Respect, Kindness, Love, Acceptance and Fairness with When delivering your child’s lunch to school
your children.
please advise your child in advance you will
be doing so, and write his/her name and teachTogether we can continue to make a difference and help to er’s name on the bag. Your child can come
make the world a better place for ourselves, our children
down to pick it up from the lunch table with minimal disand those generations which will follow.
ruption 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.
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
ATTENDANCE VERIFICATION
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.
Daily attendance and punctuality are very
important. If your child is going to be
VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL
absent from school, or late, please inform the office by
leaving a message on the school’s
All visitors and parents are requested to enter the
building through the front door, and to go directly to the
attendance line at (905) 970-9069 ext. 2.
office. Please understand that during instructional time,
teachers are not available to meet with you or to take
phone calls. Students are expected to enter and exit
STUDENT SUPERVISION TIMES
through their designated doors. These reminders are outPlease note that teachers are on supervision duty 15
lined for safety, security and protection of staff and
minutes before the start of the school day.
students in our school.
For safety reasons we ask that you not drop your child
off at the school prior to 8:30 am and to please pick
them up ON TIME at 3:15 pm.
KINDERGARTEN ENTRY * NEW
We will be asking all parents to bring their kindergarten
children to their outside door of the kindergarten yard
before school and at that time they will be allowed direct
entry into their classrooms with supervision. We are trying this new method as we have transitioned to the Full
Day Kindergarten program and the number of children in
the classes have increased. We feel that this will help with
the traffic in the Kiss and Ride while maintaining the
safety of our smallest students.
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. We are sorry to say
that our agenda order was misplaced and there was a
delay in our order. Students will receive their agendas
at the end of September.
CROSSING GUARD
BUSSING
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.
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.
PED POLICY
As part of our efforts to promote and maintain a positive
Catholic climate in our schools, the Board maintains a
policy regarding Personal Electronic Devises (PEDS) on
school property. In this regard, all PEDS must be kept
out of sight, turned off and not used within school premises or during school-sanctioned activities. To prevent the
loss or damage of PEDS, we ask students to leave electronic devices and games at home as the school cannot be
responsible for their safe keeping. Parental support is
requested and greatly appreciated.
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
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 be on time as this
can be very upsetting for a young child.
SCHOOL BUS COURTESY SEAT POLICY
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 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 905-8906000.
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
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. Medication must not be kept in the child’s
possession (i.e. pocket, backpack, etc.) or in the
classroom.
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.
HEPATITIS AND HPV INNOCULATIONS
AN IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING
NUT ALLERGIES
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 and have been told by
their parents of the danger of sharing snacks.
Students are discouraged from sharing snacks.
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
even if there are no corrections needed. It is very
important that we have accurate phone numbers and
emergency contacts.
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 6, 2014
 HPV for Grade 8 girls - November 6, 2014
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 two
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
Reference 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 on literacy, numeracy and overall
student achievement and well being.
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
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
Our Open House will be held on
Wednesday, September 24th. The BBQ
will take place from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
Classroom visits will be from 6:00pm to 7:00 pm.
SCHOOL PICTURES
Picture day for all our students will be held
on Thursday, October 16th.
Retake day will be held on Thursday, November 11th.
PARISH NEWS
There will be a Parent Meeting after 12:00 Mass on
November 30 2014 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.
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 22 until September 26, 2014. 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 1, 2014 at 7:00 pm in the school library.
Van Schie, Miriam
Menzella, Tasha
Librarian
SERT
Lomasney, Carol
SERT & Planning
Araman, Karen
Cadamuro, Grace
SERC/SERT
French
Keeping, Susan
French
Day, Patti
Planning
Boardman, Julie
ERW
Rego, Justine
Lomglade-Kossel, Gail
Planning time Supply teacher
ERW
Miles, Angela
ERW
DECE
Eby, Andrea
JK/SK - A FDK
JK/SK - B FDK
Habarta, Jessica
Salvino, Carmelinda
DECE
Di Passio, Tricia
Cheng-Hayward, Sally
Dinunzio, Andrea
JK/SK - C FDK
1-A
1-B
LaMura, Patty
DECE
Morgielewicz, Margaret
LTO for Mrs. Arena
1/2 - A
Beck, Jocelyn
2-A
Walker, Joanna
Hayes, Josephine
2-B
3-A
Ryan, Jennifer
3-B
Villanueva, Vincent
4-A
Please join us in welcoming our new grade 1 teacher Mrs.
Andrea Dinunzio, our grade 8 teacher Mrs. Eva Edmonds
and our grade 4/5 teacher Mrs. Lydia Stehle. Also we
would like to welcome our DECE’s in our kindergarten
rooms, J. Habarta, P. Lamura, and C. Salvino and our new
ERW Angela Miles.
ST. BONAVENTURE STAFF FOR 2014
Sparkes, Danielle
LTO for Mrs. Killman
Trueman, Jennifer
4-B
Stehle, Lydia
4/5 - A
Shakes, Susan
5-A
Mowat, Will
5-B
Tuzi, Sandi
6-A
6-B
Dearling, Lisa
MacDonald, Karen
7-A
Gallant, Lynn
7-B
Edmonds, Eva
Poerba, Nila
8-A
8-B
DATES TO REMEMBER
SEPTEMBER
22
24
26
22 - 26
First Day of Autumn
Open House and BBQ
Terry Fox Run
School Council nomination
forms available
OCTOBER
1
8
13
16
31
School Council Meeting 7 pm
School Mass @ 9:15 am
Thanksgiving Day-no school
Picture Day
Halloween
NOVEMBER
6
Region of Peel Immunization
Grade 7 Hep./Grade 8 HPV
7
Picture Retake Day