ST. BONAVENTURE
MAY 2015
NEWSLETTER
Principal: S. Wolfe
Vice-Principal: M. Miller
Head Secretary: L. Pietrantuono
Assistant Secretary: K. Leonard
Trustee: D. D’Souza
Superintendent of Brampton West Family of Schools: S. Steer
Parish Priest: Father Jan Gogolewski
MARY, OUR MODEL IN PRAYER
All Praise and glory are Yours, almighty Father
You have given us Your Son Jesus to save us from sin.
We praise You for choosing Mary to be His mother,
For teaching her to believe Your Message,
For helping her to accept Your Holy will.
Strengthen us by Your Spirit to be like Mary: to ponder
your word in our hearts, to obey Your will, to love Your
Son, to sing Your praises everyday.
Father, we praise You through Jesus Christ Your Son in
the love of Your Spirit, forever and ever.
Amen
MAY IS THE MONTH OF MARY
May is the month we dedicate to Mary, the Mother of our
Savior, Jesus. We celebrate Mary, who humbly and gladly accepted God’s will when she said, “ Yes” to our Lord.
As we honor Mary and all mothers, we are reminded of
the many blessings mothers bestow upon their children
each and every day.
Let us keep Mary and all mothers in our thoughts and
prayers so that the honor and respect they deserve is not
limited to one day or month in the year.
VIRTUE OF THE MONTH
This month we celebrate the virtue of Acceptance.
One of the great wonders of the world we live in is that
no two people are exactly alike. We share many biological families, national identities, cultural and ethnic identities but we are all unique and distinct.
PARISH UPDATES THE SACRAMENTS
Our Grade 2 students received the Sacrament of First
Holy Communion on Saturday April 12th at our Lady of
Fatima Church. Our Grade 8 students received the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Edmund Campion School on
Saturday May 2. The gift of the Holy Spirit was certainly
present . Congratulations to our Grade 2 and Grade 8
students.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK
May 3rd to 8th 2015
Each year, the Catholic community of Ontario engages
in a week-long celebration of the unique identity and distinctive contributions of Catholic education during Catholic Education Week.
EXPLORING PATHS OF JOY
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was
talking to us on the road?” Luke 24:32
The sub themes for Catholic Education Week 2015 were:
Walking Together & Sharing our Story
Opening Scriptures
Welcoming Others to the Table
Recognizing Jesus in the Breaking of the Bread
Proclaiming the Good News.
Our Grade 3 and 6 students will be participating in the
Provincial EQAO assessments on the dates indicated below. It is very important that your child be present at this
time. The testing will start at 9:00 am promptly.
Grade 3 assessment schedule:
May 25, 26, 27, 28 and June 1, 2
Grade 6 assessment schedule:
May 25, 26, 27, 28 and June 1, 2
ARE YOU PLANNING ON MOVING?

We are in the process of planning
staffing and organization of classes for

the 2015 - 2016 school year. If you are
planning to move out of the St. Bonaventure School area,
please let the office know. This will be of great assistance
to us as we make plans for the coming school year. The
office staff will be able to provide you with student transfer 
forms upon request. Conversely, if you know of someone
who is moving into our area for the new school year, please
urge them to come in and register at

St. Bonaventure School as soon as possible.
REPORTING STUDENT ABSENCES
In the interest of student safety, a call or a
note to the office reporting student absences
is required. Please let us know if you know that your child
is going to be late or absent.
Attendance calls can be made after school hours, seven
days a week for your convenience. Our attendance
number is (905) 970-9069 then press 1.
STUDENT SUPERVISION TIMES
Please note that teachers are on supervision duty only
15 minutes before the start of the school day and
10 minutes at the end of the day.
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 FRONT OF THE SCHOOL IS FOR
BUSES ONLY.
PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF OR PICK UP
CHILDREN FROM HERE.
TRANSPORTATION 2015/2016
If your home address will be changing during the summer,
please notify the office and staff at the school prior to the
end of June, as this could affect your child’s ability to take
the bus to school in September. Below is the distance
criteria for transportation eligibility:
1.0 kilometer - Kindergarten & Grade 1
1.6 kilometer - Grades 2 - 4
2.0 kilometer - Grades 5 - 8
If your child is moving to grade 1, grade 5, or grade 7 in
the 2015-2016 school year , their eligibility status for transFor safety reasons we ask that you not drop your child portation may be changing.
Granting of courtesy seat riders will not take effect until
off at the school prior to 8:30 am, and
mid October.
please pick them up ON TIME at 3:15
Please check www.stopr.ca for all busing queries.
pm.
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 3:15-3:45 pm. Thank you for your cooperation in looking out for the safety of all our students.
TRAFFIC SAFETY
Our school driveway is a matter of great concern in
regards to the safety of our students. Therefore, we are
reminding you again 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:
DRESS CODE
School Board Policy states that all students are expected to
dress to meet standards of neatness, cleanliness, modesty
and good taste. Certain items such as shirts with inappropriate logos/wording, exposure of undergarments or midriffs, tight or torn clothing and short skirts are contrary to
both the philosophy of our Catholic School teachings and
to the standards we set as parents and educators.
With warmer weather on the way, we will remind all students of dress code expectations. Your assistance and support are greatly appreciated.
Primary students are encouraged to have an extra dry
shirt, pants and socks in their backpack in the event their
clothing gets wet or soiled.
GRADE 8 GRADUATION
EARTH RANGERS UPDATE
Grade 8 Graduation will take place on
Wednesday, June 24th at St. Bonaventure
School. A letter will be sent home shortly to
the parents of the Grade 8 students to explain the details
of the event.
The Earth Rangers organized a Earth Day
Animal Dance on April 22. It was a huge
success. Students all wore animal print outfits and a student in Grade 5, Isaiah, showed his skills by DJ’ing the
event. Truly impressive Isaiah! Students donated a toonie
and treats were sold in the lobby of the school. All proceeds were donated to Earth Rangers and the World
Wildlife Fund. Thanks to Ms. Beck , the Earth Rangers
and all those who helped volunteer to make the dance a
fun event!
FOOD DAYS
MR. SUB: Fir st Tuesday of each month
PIZZA: EVERY WEDNESDAY
BRAMPTON CLEAN CITY GREEN EDUCATION
FIELDTRIP REMINDER
If parents/guardians would like to volunteer for their
child(rens) field trip/excursions, please contact the office
as the rules have changed regarding a
Police Records Check.
Without a Volunteer Police Records Check you will
be unable to volunteer on field trips.
Mrs. Cheng-Hayward has arranged many eco-friendly
presentations in conjunction with the Brampton Clean
City Committee for the school in May. During Education
Week May 3rd to 8th grades 1 & 3 planting seeds in their
“ Seed Cup”. Mrs. Cheng-Hayward and students in the
school have also helped to build a bug habitat at the side
of the school. This is helping the environment.
Thanks to Mrs. Cheng-Hayward and the ECO Team for
all of their efforts.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL &
OUTDOOR FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
NEW YORK TRIP –APRIL 27 - APRL 30
School Council meetings are held on Monday evenings at
7:00 pm in the school library. All are welcome! Our next
meeting is May 27th. School Council is currently organizing an outdoor Movie Night “ Under the Stars”, for
St. Bonaventure families. This will take place sometime
in June. All are welcome to attend. More information will
follow.
BALLROOM DANCING
The Ballroom Dancing Program here at St.
Bonaventure continues to flourish with the
Grade 7 and 8 students. The students truly
love to dance and will continue to display
their talents at the next in competition on June 11 at
St.Roch Secondary. Good luck to all!
BRAMPTON WEST DIVERSITY CONFERENCE
The Brampton West Diversity Conference was held at
St. Roch Secondary on Friday, May 22, 2015. Ten of our
grade 6 and 7 students including a teacher attended. They
listened to the keynote speaker Canadian Singer/
Songwriter/Entertainer Sacha Visagie as well as attending
the interactive workshop facilitated by MTC Life in the
afternoon. Lunch and transportation was provided.
The students had a wonderful time at this informative
event.
From April 27th to April 30th the grade 7 and 8 students
from St. Bonaventure headed to New York City for their
overnight trip. With a packed itinerary, the students got a
chance to visit many places and explore all that New
York City had to offer. Some of the highlights included:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Top of the Rock, Staten
Island Ferry to view the statue of Liberty, a walk through
Central Park, 911 Memorial, Chinatown and Little Italy,
Shopping in Times Square. Students also had the opportunity to view the Broadway Show, Matilda, visit the
Intrepid Air, Sea and Space Museum and had dinners at
the Hard Rock and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurants.
It was a fun filled trip
with a lot of unforgettable memories.
Thank you to all the
staff members who
volunteered their time
to make this
trip possible.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Message from Trustee
Thank you for Choosing a Dufferin-Peel Catholic
Education
Dear Parents and Guardians:
It seems that, all of a sudden, summer weather is upon us
and so, incredibly, is the end of the 2014-15 school year.
As we reflect back over the year, we can see that it was,
in fact, a very successful year for Dufferin-Peel students
in terms of achievement, success and well-being. With
steadily rising EQAO scores, matching or surpassing the
provincial standard and averages in most assessment areas, and graduation rates that are among the highest in the
province, this board continues to be defined, in part, by
our high levels of success and achievement. Yet, we are
much more than that. Our commitment to helping each
student fulfil their potential, through the Ontario Catholic
School Graduate Expectations, means that our students
graduate with the tools to become good, solid contributing
members of the communities in which they will live.
As trustees, we see the contribution of dedicated teaching
and support staff, administrators and senior management
working together with trustees facilitate conditions that
we can to facilitate success. We also see, firsthand, the
important role of our parents/guardians, working in concert with the school and the parish in fostering conditions
for success and well-being.
So, as we complete the final leg of the journey that is the
2014-15 school year, we thank parents/guardians for
choosing a Dufferin-Peel Catholic education for your
child(ren) and for entrusting them into our care. It is a
responsibility for which we are grateful and one that we
cherish very much. To our students, thank you for all you
have done to contribute to the life of your school. For
those who are graduating and moving on to postsecondary education or the world of work, may God continue to go with you and bless you on your journey. To
our returning students and families, we look forward to
seeing you in September.
Blessings and best wishes for a peaceful
and restful summer.
Darryl D’Souza
May 25
EQAO starts for grade 3 & 6
May 27
School Roof Top Photo
June 8
PA Day – No School
June 10
Track & Field Day for
Junior/ Intermediates
June 11
Intermediate Ballroom
Competition at St. Roch Secondary
June 11
Outdoor Movie Night hosted by Parent Council
June 17
Variety Show
June 21
Father’s Day
June 24
Grade 8 Graduation
June 25
Kindergarten Celebration
June 26
Year End Mass - Last day of School
INFORMATION FOR DPCDSB PARENTS REGARDINGSCHOOL START UP
TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES FOR SEPTEMBER 2015
If your home address will be changing during the summer, please notify the office staff at your child’s school prior to
June 30. Address changes received after July 10 will not be reflected in the planned bus routes to commence in September and may result in transportation services not being available for your child during the first weeks of school. Parents will be responsible for their children getting to and from school until appropriate transportation service is arranged.
The distance criteria for transportation eligibility must be more than:
1.0 kilometer Kindergarten and Grade 1
1.6 kilometers for Grades 2 – 4
2.0 kilometers for Grades 5 – 8
3.8 kilometers for Grades 9 – 12
If your child is moving to grade 2, grade 5, grade 7 or grade 9 in
the 2015-2016 school year, their eligibility status for transportation may be changing. Eligibility information can be accessed at the website noted below.
Parents who received letters in May of this year indicating that
the transportation eligibility status for their children is being revised due to eligibility reassessment are reminded that
this change will occur effective September 3, 2015.
All transported kindergarten and grade 1 students are required to be met by a parent/caregiver when disembarking
from their bus on their return trip from school.
Courtesy transportation, which is assignment of ineligible students to available, empty seats on buses, will not be initiated prior to October 5. No exceptions.
Please be aware that during September and early October, STOPR priorities are eligible students requiring transportation service, bus overloads, and route timing adjustments.
Requests for additional or adjusted bus stop locations, route adjustments, and challenges to eligibility status will not be
addressed until late October.
Please be patient. STOPR provides transportation services for approximately 62,000 students to 350 schools on 1,300
buses. This is accomplished with an operations staff of 15. Every effort is made to complete required adjustments as
quickly as possible, but there are limitations to the volume of changes which can be appropriately communicated and
implemented each week.
All transportation operations issues are the responsibility of STOPR and not either Board or individual Trustees.
Contacting STOPR
Internet:
www.stopr.ca. This website provides up to date delay and inclement weather cancellation information in addition to policy, procedures and frequently asked questions
Businfo.stopr.ca. This website allows parents to access information specific to “what school do I attend” and “am I
eligible for transportation”. This site also provides parents access to specific bus stop location and pick up and drop
off times for their children if eligible for transportation
Telephone:
STOPR:
Phone: 905 890-6000
Toll free:
1-800 668-1140
STOPR Administration: Phone:
905 890-0708 ext. 23220