ST. TERESA OF AVILA
,
6675 MONTEVIDEO ROAD
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO
L5N 4E8
PHONE: (905)858-3462
FAX: (905) 858-1673
Website: http://www.dpcdsb.org/AVILA
December 2015 Newsletter
Principal
M. Sturge
Vice Principal
P. Basran
Secretary
J. Sequeira
Superintendent
Mississauga North
Family of Schools
T. Cruz
(905) 890-1221
ADVENT OF HOPE
Gracious and merciful God of all creation,
During this season of hope, we remember how you sent your Son to be a beacon
of goodness and light in the world.
Give us eyes of hope to see the good in everything and everyone around us.
Give us the grace and strength to be beacons of hope and light for all who enter
this school.
Let all who visit share our hope that this school will remain a safe, caring,
inclusive community.
May your virtue of hope guide our decisions for the service of all your people.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son, who lived to show us your way.
Amen.
Pastor
St. John of the Cross
Fr. J. Kalluvila
Trustee Ward 9
E. O’Toole
(905) 812-5163
ST. JOHN OF THE
CROSS PARISH
6890 Glen Erin Drive
Miss., ON L5N 2E1
Tel: (905) 821-1331
Fax: (905) 858-8486
Email:
stjohnofx@rogers.com
Website:
www.saintjohnofthecross.com
MASS TIMES
Weekends:
Sat. : 5:00 p.m.
Sun. : 8:00 a.m., 10:00
a.m., 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m
Weekdays: 9:00a.m.
PASTORAL TEAM
Fr. Joseph Kalluvila, O.Carm
Pastor
Fr. Sebastian Joseph O. Carm
Assoc. Pastor
John Cannon, Deacon
Kate Watkiss, Pastoral Associate
Principal’s Message
It is December and the liturgical season of Advent is upon us. As a people of faith, this
is a time when we are filled with hope. It is the time in our faith when we are all waiting
for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we journey towards Christmas with our
families and friends, let our hearts also be open to those most in need of God’s love
during this season of giving.
Through the support of parents and staff, we hope to provide a special Christmas for
those in need through donations of gifts for our Angel Tree which will you will see in
our front foyer. This initiative is being led by our Faith in Action Team and many
angels have been taken off of the tree already. Thank you for your generosity and
thoughtfulness to this worthy cause.
On behalf of the St. Teresa of Avila School community, Mr. Basran, Mrs. Sequeira and
I would like to thank you for your continued support. The virtues of hope and kindness
are continuing to be demonstrated throughout the entire school and the spirit of giving
has been embraced by the entire school community.
May the joy and peace of Advent and Christmas be with you and your family today and
all through the year.
M.Sturge
Principal
FAITH COMMUNITY
Our Advent mass will be Thursday, December 10th at
7:00 p.m. at St John of the Cross church. Our Advent
mass is a reminder of the importance of partnership
between the church, home and school as we all move
along our faith journey. Please join us to help
celebrate the real meaning of the Christmas season!
December’s Virtue- HOPE
Let us pray for the grace and courage to be people of
hope-people who can see, participate and contribute
to God’s goodness emerging around us. Amen
Virtue Assembly
Our next Virtue assembly will be held on Friday
December 18th at 12:45 p.m. At this time we will be
presenting the certificates for “Hope”. All are
welcome!
CATHOLIC CODE OF CONDUCT
The Catholic Code of Conduct sets standards of
behaviour that promote, encourage and foster a
shared commitment to gospel values in daily life,
respect for the dignity of persons created in God’s
image, responsible participation in the civic life of
the school community, peaceful conflict resolution,
respect for diversity, and a commitment to exemplary
conduct, conscientious work, and service to others.
At St. Teresa of Avila we continue to work together
to provide a safe, caring, inclusive and healthy
Catholic school community for all.
Rough Play
Students have been given guidelines about
appropriate behaviour in the playground. At St.
Teresa of Avila we continue to enforce a hands off
policy for schoolyard activities. Aggressive play can
lead to unintended injuries and unnecessary
arguments. Teachers have been instructed to send
students to the office who continue to disobey these
rules. Please discuss this very important matter with
your child.
Student Information
It is important that we have up to date records of your
address, phone numbers, and emergency contacts in
the event that the school must contact you regarding
your child. Please inform the office or your child’s
teacher if any information changes throughout the
year.
Student Absence and Arrival Time
We ask that parents continue to call to notify the
school if their child will be absent and/or late. Your
phone call to the school saves us time trying to
ensure your child is safe. Remember that you can call
the school twenty-four hours a day to report your
child’s absence at 905-858-3462- option 1. Upon
reaching the school answering service please leave
the following information: a) Date of absence
b)Student’s full name c) Grade level and teacher d)
Reason for absence e) Date of return.
Students who are late must report to the office
and sign in. School staff is on duty at 8:15 a.m.
in the morning. There is no supervision for
students before 8:15 a.m. and students should not
be dropped off prior for safety reasons. Students
should arrive at 8:25 a.m. to line up and enter the
school with the rest of the class and avoid being
late. Please continue to call on each day that your
child is absent.
Parking Lot Safety/Kiss and Ride
As always, student safety is a priority at St. Teresa
of Avila School. Please continue to use the available
parking spaces or park in the designated areas on the
street when picking up or dropping off your child.
The Mississauga Parking Enforcement will issue
tickets for those who are illegally parked. The Kiss n
Ride should be constantly moving to prevent a back
log of traffic. Children should not be walking
across the parking lot unattended in front of cars
or buses and will be directed to use the walkway in
front of the school. Please do not leave your
vehicle unattended in the Kiss and Ride. Thank you
to everyone who are using the Kiss and Ride safely.
We are asking for everyone’s patience and
cooperation to ensure that all of our students arrive
and leave school safely.
Storage and Administration of Medication
Parents are responsible for ensuring that all
medication and forms are updated annually for any
student who requires medication to be administered
at school. If your child requires medication please
have the necessary forms completed and return
them, along with any medication, to the office as soon
as possible. Forms are available at the school office.
Medical Alert-Anaphylactic shock- Nut
Allergies
Please be aware that there are students in our school
with a severe life-threatening food allergy
(anaphylaxis) to NUTs and PEANUTs. This is a
medical condition that causes a severe reaction to
certain allergens and can result in death within
minutes. Although this may or may not affect your
child’s class directly, please send lunches and snacks
to school with your children that are free from
peanuts or nut products. We ask that you do not send
in food products for the whole class to celebrate
birthdays or social occasions. A donation of a book or
game to the classroom is a safe alternative to food
products and will be enjoyed so much longer by the
children. Please feel free to contact your child’s
teacher if you have any concerns or questions. We
thank you for your co-operation and attention to this
health watch.
Pediculosis
Although it is early in the school year, it is important
to bring your attention to a problem that occurs in
most schools. Head lice are parasites which have been
common among human beings for centuries. They are
not in any way connected to uncleanliness. If a case is
found in our school, we shall inform parents of the
students in that classroom. If your children do
become infested, we will be asking you to keep them
out of school until after they have been treated with
the correct shampoo and their hair is entirely clear
of both lice and nits(eggs). We ask that you check
your own children regularly. If we all cooperate in
these procedures, we may not entirely escape
outbreaks, but we will be able to bring them under
control quickly.
PED Policy
Personal Electronic Devices on Board Premises
and/or Board Sanctioned Events for Educational
Purposes:
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
acknowledges the value of the use of technology for
learning. Students are permitted to register and use
personal electronic devices (PEDs) on board premises
and/or board sanctioned events for educational
purposes, under the direction of staff and only with
parent/ guardian permission (GF 066- Network User
Application and Agreement, completed at initial
registration). Students may register their PED for
the purpose of connecting to the board wireless
network. Students are required to adhere to the
student “Personal Electronic Device Used with WI-FI
Network Student Agreement” and the “Network User
Application and Agreement.” The student agreement
GF 337 will need to be signed before students can
use the WiFi network.
Please be advised that the Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School Board will not be responsible for
any cost incurred through the use of personal data
plans.
PEDs are to be used responsibly and should not
interfere with learning; their use must comply with
the Catholic Code of Conduct, board policies and
procedures. Any personal communications (i.e.,
phone calls, text messages, etc.) will continue to
be directed through the main office. Failure to
comply with these guidelines may result in a loss of
PED privileges and/or any other consequences
deemed necessary by school administration.
The school principal may authorize limited acceptable uses of personal electronic devices during
school-sanctioned activities for a specific designated
purpose outside of instruction-al spaces and/or in
common areas.
Students are responsible for the safety and
security of PEDs at all times and the Board
assumes no responsibility for lost, damaged or
stolen devices. More information will be forthcoming
regarding Personal Electronic Devices and the
aforementioned process.
Picture Taking
Picture taking is not permitted by the public or media
without signed parental consent. Please be aware that
no pictures of students are to be posted on the internet. Parents are reminded that due to confidentiality
and privacy laws, pictures should NOT be taken at
school events such as concerts, sports games, or
liturgical celebrations. Your cooperation and support
is greatly appreciated.
Visitors to our School
All visitors and parents are asked to enter the building
through the front door and report the office. Please
sign in and obtain a visitor’s sticker if you plan to
remain in the building, as a volunteer or to watch a
performance, during school hours. If you wish to sign
your child out, he/she will be brought to the office.
Criminal Reference Checks
Anyone working in our school as a new employee or
volunteer must have a Criminal Reference Check
completed by the Peel Police. Criminal Reference
Checks are free of charge for volunteers. If you
are considering volunteering for a school trip during
the school year, please get a form in the school
office. Thank you to those who are able to share
their gift of time.
School Advisory Committee
All parents are invited to attend our next meeting
that will be held on February 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the
library.
Custody of Children
On rare occasions, we are faced with difficult
situations in which non-custodial parents arrive at
school asking to visit their child or to take their child
home after school. We are best able to serve and
protect students when we are made aware of legal
custody arrangements, visitation rights and other
special instructions. If legal custody matters affect
your family, please ensure that our office and
classroom teachers are aware of any custodial
arrangements that may affect your child during
school hours.
Student Insurance
As required by the Education Act and the Ministry of
Education, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School
Board annually provides parents with information
about cost-effective student accident insurance
coverage via student courier. Although enrolment is
voluntary, the Board encourages parents to take
advantage of the inexpensive insurance coverage
especially if your child participates in sports, excursions/field trips, or if parents do not have dental
and medical insurance cover-age. Enrolment in writing
is required. There are two options for enrolment: 1)
Complete the traditional form and mail it in or 2)
Photocopy the form and fax it to Reliable Life at 1905-522-7211 or 1-800-463 KIDS (5437). Parents
alone have the right to insure their children.
This information is also posted on the Boa website
under the “Student & Parents”,
http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/Students+and+Parents/.
rd’s
Pupil Accommodation Review Policy Public
Consultation
The Ministry of Education released the new Pupil
Accommodation Review Guideline (PARG) in March
2015. This guideline sets expectations for all school
boards on managing and reviewing underutilized
school space, including potential school closures, and
for the greater coordination and sharing of planning
related information between school boards and other
community partners.
The guideline requires all school boards in the
province to develop or revise Pupil Accommodation
Review Policies and to invite public input into the
policy before it is finalized.
A survey to collect feedback on the Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District School Board’s draft amended Policy
6.51 Pupil Accommodation Review will be available for
review and comment on the Board’s website at
www.dpcdsb.org until 4:30 pm on Friday, October 16,
2015. Supporting documents will also be available for
reference and review. Please consider reviewing and
providing input on this policy.
Front Door Monitor System
For visitors and parents to our school, in order to
assist you better:
 Please stand facing the camera and ring the
bell once.
 Please wait for a response….remember,
schools are busy places!

For the safety of our students, we ask that
you always state the reason for your visit.
We also ask for your patience and understanding if it
is during prayers and announcements and if our
secretary is away from her desk for photocopying
etc. For students arriving between 8:00 a.m. & 8:15
a.m. for the Breakfast Club, please ring the bell once
and wait for a response: Doors will not be open
when prayers and announcements are taking place
from 8:40 a.m.to 8:50 a.m Thank you for your
cooperation and support!
SCHOOL EVENTS & NEWS
EQAO RESULTS
Last May and June marked the annual administration
of the Primary and Junior Assessments of Reading,
Writing and Mathematics by the Education Quality
and Accountability Office (E.Q.A.O.). Parents of
children who wrote the 2014-2015 assessment
received their child’s Individual Student Report.
These results provide a “snapshot” of each student’s
achievement of the knowledge and skills in the areas
of reading, writing and mathematics. More general
information may be found on the EQAO website at
www.eqao.com. If you have any questions concerning
your child’s results, please feel free to contact the
school.
EQAO SCHOOL RESULTS
Grade 3 Reading: 56 % Grade 6 Reading 69 %
Grade 3 Writing 56 % Grade 6 Writing 64%
Grade 3 Mathematics 41 % Grade 6 Mathematics
33%
Peer Mediators
In an effort to support and guide our students in
developing effective conflict resolution skills Mr.
Grave, the school Child and Youth Worker, is
organizing a peer mediation program. Grade 7 and 8
students who are interested in being part of the
program will learn the step by step mediation
process. With these skills students will develop more
confidence when dealing with peer relationships, and
become better problem solvers while assisting
students in the primary grades with conflict out in
the school yard.
Pizza Days
Forms have gone home and money has been collected.
Pizza is available for $3.00 a slice on pizza day should
you wish to purchase it for your child. Thank you to
our parent volunteers for running this program.
Winter Weather
During the winter season, many parents are concerned
about school policy on outdoor recess. It is generally
accepted that when the wind chill factor drops below
-25°C, students should not go outside for recess.
Dufferin-Peel C.D.S.B. Policy uses a wind chill factor of
-20° C as a determining factor for modified recess.
We ask that students come dressed appropriately with
hats, gloves, mittens etc. Where possible, please put
identification on your child’s belongings. Please note
that all students should have indoor shoes during the
winter months so that the classrooms are kept as clean
and dry as possible. During the winter months,
inclement weather may cause disruption of bus
transportation and regular school operations. A
decision to cancel transportation and/or close schools
is usually made by 7:00 a.m. and will be announced on
the Board website and the following radio stations:
CKFM – 99.9 FM
CHIN – 100.7 FM, 1540 AM
CHUM – 1050 AM
CJCL – 590 AM
CFTR - 680 AM
CHFI – 98.1 FM
JACKFM – 92.5 FM
CBC – 740 AM
CIAO – 530 AM
CFNY – 102.1 FM
CFRB – 1010 AM
DC103FM
CHAY – 93 FM
Q107 – 107.1 FM
CJMR – 1250 AM
TALK640 – 640 AM
CHEZ ZP7.3
CJBC (Fr.) 86
Christmas Craft Club
Once again, to celebrate the season, we will be making
giving students the opportunity to make crafts. The
Craft Club will be meeting on Tuesday, December 8th
and Wednesday December 9th at lunch to any student
from grades 1 – 8 that are interested. We look
forward to the students creating
wonderful Christmas crafts together.
Volleyball
Congratulations to the Intermediate girls and boys
volleyball teams on a fun and exciting season. The
teams showed determination, hard work, good
sportsmanship, and they played their hearts out.
Their skills dramatically improved as the season
progressed and they made their coaches and St.
Teresa of Avila school proud!
Full Day Kindergarten Registration
Monday, January 25, 2016 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 p.m.
SNOW DATE: Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Full Day Kindergarten Registration
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thursday, January 28, 2016
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Friday, January 29, 2016
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Parent Evening to Support the Transition of
Students with Differing Abilities into
Kindergarten
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 – CEC Room 301, 7:00 pm –
8:30 p.m. (Snow Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2016)
The following documents must be brought to the
school when you register your child(ren):
-Proof of Age (Birth Certificate or Passport)
-Original Roman Catholic Baptismal Certificate (for
child and/or parent/guardian)
-Updated Immunization Records (Immunization Card,
Peel Health Form or Letter of Exemption)
-Proof of Canadian Citizenship (Birth
Certificate/Passport) or permanent resident status
-Proof of Home Address
Please be sure to bring complete documentation with
you when you register. Admissions are open to
Catholic children and children of Catholic parents.
Kindergarten students must be at least 4 years of
age by December 31, 2015.
For more information about registration and the
Full-Day Kindergarten program, call 905-8583462 or visit www.dpcdsb.org
Extended French Information Meeting
Grade 4 parent(s)/guardian(s), who wish to enroll their
child in a Grade 5 Extended French class for
September, 2016 are invited to attend an information
meeting at: St. Therese of the Child Jesus at 6930
Forest Park Drive, Mississauga, L5N 6X7. It will be
held on January 14, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
At the present time, the above mentioned school is the
designated centre for our area. Applications will be
accepted at that centre until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday,
February 16th, 2016.
STUDENT MONITOR
We are looking for a Student Monitor. A student
monitor is a paid position and you will need to have a
current Criminal reference check. Student monitors
work from 11:30-12:30. The first 40 minutes are
outside and the remaining 20 minutes are inside
unless it’s pizza day. Please contact the office if you
are interested.
Christmas Candy Cane Grams
Spread the Christmas spirit by sending a special
message to your friends, teachers, and siblings with a
CANDY CANE GRAM! The cost is $0.50 for one or
$1.00 for three. Candy Cane Grams will be available
to purchase Friday, December 11th through Thursday,
December 17th, 2015. Candy Cane Grams will be
delivered the morning of the last day of school
before Christmas – December 18, 2015. All proceeds
from this fundraiser will be going toward Grade 8
Graduation activities. Thank you for your support!
Dates to Remember
December 3
Gr. 8’s to visit Our Lady of Mount
Carmel
December 7
FDK Nativity at 1:30 p.m.
December 8
FDK Nativity at 10:00 a.m.
December 9
Pizza Day
December 10
ADVENT MASS- 7:00p.m.- St.
John of the Cross Church
December 16
Christmas Around the World DayWear something to celebrate your
culture!!
Dec. 11-17
Candy Cane Grams for sale
December 17
Christmas/Snowman Hat day
December 18
Virtue Assembly at 12:45 p.m.
Red & Green Day
Last day of school before
Christmas holidays!
January 1
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
January 4
Return to School
January 6
HPV & Hepatitis vaccinations- Gr.
7&8
VoilaLearning.com
This year, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB has
purchased a license with VoilaLearning.com which
provides an online-tutoring service. The license was
purchased based on the number of French Immersion
students in the board; however, the service is
extended to all FSL students, including Extended and
Core French students. For instructions on joining the
service, follow these instructions:
 Go to http://voilalearning.com/en/if-yourschool-board-has-registered/
 Parents register in order to gain access to an
online tutor.
DPCDSB is on Twitter! For the latest board news and
information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools.