November Newsletter
St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic
Elementary School
430 Van Kirk Drive Brampton, ON L7A 0J2
Ph.: 905-846-0078 Fax: 905-846-9044
Board web site: www.dpcdsb.org
School web site: www.dpcdsb.org/bakhi
Prayer of Remembrance
We remember those who stood for love and truth,
And thank you for the sacrifice they made for me and you.
Thank you that we can now enjoy peace and learn to love
not fight,
Thank you that we can now sing and play, and not be scared
or hide.
We pray for other countries where children live in fear,
And there is war and fighting and many are in tears.
Please help to make things better, and bring some peace to
them.
Protect all those who try and help to make friends again.
Principal
S. Boulanger
Vice-Principal
G. Johnstone
Head Secretary
M.Misasi
Assistant Secretaries
M. Jaques
C. Ruggiero
Superintendent
S.Steer
905–890–1221
Trustee
D. D’Souza
905–890-1221
Amen
Virtue of the Month- CONSCIENCE
A person of Conscience;
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Feel right and wrong and pay
attention
Listen to the voice of the Holy
Spirit inside
Choose to do what Jesus
would do
Know that followers of Jesus
will have to make difficult choices
Keep promises even when tempted to give up
Can see how his/her actions may help or hurt others
Admit their sins and feel badly about poor choices
Say sorry and try to make up for hurtful actions
Parish
St. Leonard’s Parish
187 Conestoga Drive
Brampton
Ontario, Canada
L6Z 3X8
(905) 846 – 5385
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Together in Faith
In some ways the Catholic education system in Ontario owes its existence to
the early work of the French and to the French Catholic Church in Canada for its
commitment to provide education and social welfare and to practice the faith
freely. From its earliest years, the French Church in Quebec had sent
missionaries to Ontario; although the Church did not become firmly established
in Ontario until the nineteenth century, those early ventures gave Ontario
Catholics a sense of roots. As well, the church and the French Canadian Culture
established themselves so well that even when the British gained control of
Canada, their influence remained strong and eventually helped ensure that
Catholics in Ontario had a right to a Catholic education.
Taken from Our Story. Our Tradition, Our Journey.
Sacramental Dates
Grade 2
First Reconciliation
Wednesday, January 13th @ 10 am
First Communion Celebration
Saturday April 16 at 10 am
Grade 7 and 8
Confirmation
Grade 8 Confirmation is on March 31st @ 7pm
Grade 7 Confirmation is on April 27th @ 7pm
If you have any questions, please see the parish office or your child’s teacher.
Youth Faith Ambassadors
Our Youth Faith Ambassadors were commissioned in a very special Celebration
and Commissioning Ceremony on October 23, 2015 by Father Joseph under the
leadership of Mr. Abbas and Ms. Hanna. The mission of the Youth Faith
Ambassadors is to give honor and glory to God through service. Students will
continue to better their own faith development by bettering their communities
through service and an active, living faith.
Remembrance Day
Celebration
We will be celebrating Remembrance
Day on November 11th at 9:30 for
FDK-Gr. 3 and at 10:00 for Gr. 4-8.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Advent Mass
St. Josephine Bakhita will be
celebrating our Advent Mass
on December 10th at 1:30 at
St. Leonard’s Parish. All
Parents are welcome to join
us in our celebration.
Students will be bussed to
and from the Parish for this
wonderful celebration.
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School Procedures
Allergy Awareness
There are a number of students at St. Josephine Bakhita School that have a
severe life threatening allergy to nuts. It is therefore
imperative that families refrain from sending to school
any foods that contains nut products, eg. Peanut
butter, Nutella, snacks with nuts or any product that
has “may contain traces of nuts” on the label.
Due to the severity of allergies within our school, we
ask that parents not send in any baked goods to share
with classmates, not even during special occasions such as birthdays or
Hallowe’en. Non-food items are encouraged, such as stickers, pencils, etc. We
will not be permitting any food items to be brought into a classroom to share.
Be Safe! Arrive on Time!
The Ministry of Education states that it is the responsibility of each parent to
ensure that his/her child “be in attendance at all classes and scheduled
activities on time and with the proper materials required for full participation.
At St. Josephine Bakhita School, we endeavor to teach children to be on time
for their scheduled classes.
The school bell rings at 9:15 am. Any student arriving after the bell is
considered late.
Your child’s lateness affects not only their academic program but also disrupts
the class. Regular attendance on the part of the student is vital to the process
of learning. Students who are late for class suffer in the evaluation process
because their participation and achievement are affected. Please help us to
work together and ensure that your child/ren are arriving to class on time each
day.
Visitors to the School
We would like to thank all of our
parents and other visitors to the
school
for
respecting
the
designated waiting areas outside
your child’s exit door. In the event
you have an appointment or are
volunteering, please be reminded
that all visitors to the school are to
report to the office, sign in and wear
a visitor’s sticker. This helps to
ensure the safety and security of all
students. Please also note that
during Morning Announcements
(10:25AM – 10:40AM) the doors will
not be opened/ unlocked for
visitors. Thanks again for your
patience.
Office staff remains at the school
until 4:30 p.m., after which the
school is closed to all students and
parents. Please do not send your
child to pick up any forgotten
items (homework, indoor shoes,
etc.) after this time.
Safe Dismissal Policy 502.16 (June 1999; Revised January 2014)
As part of the safe dismissal process, the school will maintain a log for signing
students out before the end of the instructional day. The log will identify the
person signing the student out as well as the date, time and the reason. Written
documentation, authenticated by the date and parent/guardian signature must
be provided if parent/guardian is not present to sign student out.
No verbal/over the phone permission to be taken in order to allow students to
leave the school grounds. Parents will need to fax a letter to the school in
order to grant permission. In an emergency situation, administration will liaise
with parents. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
Student Supervision
Student Supervision begins at 9:00
a.m., including on rainy days/
inclement weather. Please do not
drop off students or have students
arrive at school before 9:00 a.m., as
there is no supervision prior to 9:00
a.m.
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Communication
Open communication between home and school is very important. Although we
will be reporting to you formally during the year, please do not hesitate to
contact us at any time if you have questions or concerns. A phone call at the
onset of a concern usually resolves itself before it becomes a problem. On our
part, if we have any concerns about your child, we will also contact you at the
earliest opportunity. Please use your child’s agenda to maintain communication
with the teacher. If you wish to meet with a teacher please phone the school for
an appointment. Thank you!
Cold and Flu Season
Lunch Policy
Please be reminded that the lunch hour is from 12:16 p.m. – 1:16 p.m.
Where children stay for lunch, they will eat with their classmates and
Students eat lunch daily from 12:16 p.m. until 1:16 p.m.
Students in Grades 1 through 4 will eat lunch from 12:16 pm until
12:36 pm. Students in Grades 5 to 8 will eat lunch from 12:56 pm
until 1:16 pm. If you are delivering your child’s lunch to school, please
do so between 12:00 p.m. and 12:15 p.m. When lunches are delivered
late, it reduces the amount of time that students have to eat. Please also
write your child’s name on his/her lunch bag and place it on the table by
front entrance. Thank you for your support.
Lock Down & Fire Drills
During the month of September and October we have been rehearsing
and will continue to rehearse with students a number of emergency
response situations including lock down and fire drills. All schools are
required by Board policy to practice these procedures throughout the
year. We have these ‘rehearsals’ for precautionary purposes only so that
in the event of an actual emergency, students will be prepared to respond
in a safe and responsible manner. Our Lockdown drill date is November
26, 2015 (in the morning). The outer doors will be locked for the time of
the drill, not allowing anyone to enter, and an emergency protocol will be
Please use discretion in keeping
your child home to recover if they
are ill. A child who is coughing,
wheezing, vomitting or with fever
is not in a state to learn and risks
infecting others. As well, if your
child is well enough to attend
school, they should be well
enough to go outside at recess in
supervised areas. Please be sure
to continue to encourage your
children to wash their hands
frequently. Good hygiene is the
best preventative measure. Also
use a tissue when coughing or
sneezing, or your sleeve if without
a tissue. Refrain from sharing
pencils, erasers, scissors and
snacks. If your child is absent,
please let the school know by
calling 905-785-0066, and press 1
for the 24 hour access in calling
your child’s absence.
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followed. The day will continue as normal following the drill. Thank you
for your understanding.
Community Corner
Candy Drive for Dr. Simone
St. Josephine Bakhita is again collecting hard candy for the Dr. Simone’s Canadian
Food for Children. Please join us in our efforts by providing candy to those in
need. Hard candy is collected and sent to countries where children are suffering
from severe malnutrition. The candy is consumed to start their bodies to accept
solid food. If you would like to participate, please send candy with your child
from Monday, November 2 to Friday, November 6.
Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU)
Our NPU officers work with the area elementary schools to maintain a presence
with our youth population. They work directly with teachers and parents to
ensure our youth are on the right path to a great future. We welcome Constable
Chad and Constable Heather to our school.
Blue Jay Fan Day
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Blue Jay Fan Day! We collected
$400.00 for ShareLife! This adds to our total of $940.00 from the staff for Staff
Dress Down Days which takes place on Fridays.
Hat and Mitten Tree
During the month of December we will be collecting new hats and mittens to
decorate a Tree. As well we will be collecting new and gently used Winter Coats
for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. More information to follow.
Terry Fox
St. Josephine Bakhita collected
$2500.00 this year for Cancer
Research in the Terry Fox Walk.
Congratulations to all of the students
at St. Josephine Bakhita who
participated, and thank you for your
generosity to such an important
cause.
Thank You!!
We would like to thank all of our
families for your generosity during
our Thanksgiving Food Drive. All
goods were picked up by the Knights
Table to be shared with families in our
community.
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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 oC, students should not go outside for recess. Dufferin-Peel C.D.S.B.
policy uses a wind chill of –20 oC as the determining temperature for modified recesses. At St. Josephine Bakhita,
students will remain inside when the wind chill is reported at –25 oC or lower and we will modify the duration of lunch
recess when the temperature reaches –20 oC. As always, ensure your child is prepared for the extremes of Canadian
weather.
Inclement Weather and Transportation
With the winter season fast approaching, we would like to remind you of bus cancellation procedures. Occasionally,
because of inclement weather or other emergency situations, buses may have to be cancelled. Information regarding
bus cancellation and other emergency information announcements can be obtained by listening to the following radio
stations or by visiting www.STOPR or the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board website: www.dpcdsb.org
AM
NEWS
CHUM
CHFI
640AM
680 AM
104.5 FM
98.1 FM
CHIN
100.7 FM
CBC
740 AM
CKDX
88.5 FM
CISS
92.5 FM
SRC
90.3 FM
Q107
107.1 FM
Make sure the announcement is for the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, paying special attention to
cancellations in the region of Peel. If transportation is cancelled, the schools will remain open. If buses are cancelled
and parents or guardians choose to bring their child to school, it is also their responsibility to pick them up at the end
of the day. Under extraordinary circumstances an announcement may be made which indicates that all Dufferin-Peel
Catholic schools are closed.
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Clubs, Teams and Sports News
Cross Country Team
Our Cross Country team competed on October 14th, 2015 at Chincagousy Park. Thank you to Mrs. Bartucci and Mr.
Bartucci for their time and effort in coaching these runners. The following students made up the team: Kristen N.,
Amaria S., Nathan A., Dylan K., Brandon R., Theodore M., Elvis O., David D., Sahil B., and David O.
Junior Boys and Girls Volleyball Teams
Congratulations to the Junior boys and girls volleyball teams who competed at their tournaments on October 15th for
the boys and October 16th for the girls. The students represented St. Josephine Bakhita well, demonstrating great
resilience and sportsmanship. The girls team was made up of: Dominique E., Nicole F., Natavia F., Taijah F., Kierra S.,
Ariana K., Shantavia D., Natalie L., Ehinomen E., and Andrea A. The boys team was made up of: Giancarlo P., Malik B.,
Devon B., Joshua G., Dylan W., Danny M., Giacinto G., Brody M., Joel W., Thomas M., and Edward O.
EcoTeam News
The Eco team has been hard at work preparing for some very exciting and new initiatives this year to help us achieve
our goal of Silver. Last year we achieved Bronze and are looking forward to the challenge of moving forward. Some
of the initiatives that we will be participating in are:
Waste-Free Lunches from November 9-13th!
Lights out Tuesdays- We will be turning out the lights on Tuesdays at lunch time.
FRENCH IMMERSION INFORMATION MEETING
Year 2 Kindergarten parent(s)/guardian(s), who wish to enroll their child in a Grade 1 French Immersion class for
September, 2016 are invited to attend an information meeting at:
French Immersion centres
Session location
Date and time
St Gertrude
St Pio of Pietrelcina
St Pio of Pietrelcina
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Our Lady of Providence
St Angela Merici
St Joachim
St Angela Merici
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Divine Mercy
St Elizabeth Seton
St Margaret of Scotland
St Margaret of Scotland
Thursday, November 12, 2015
7:00 p.m.
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EXTENDED FRENCH INFORMATION MEETING
Grade 4 parents/guardians 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. Anne
124 Vodden Street, Brampton
January 13, 2016
7:00 pm
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 16, 2016.
Parent Corner
Here are some of the new initiatives your school council has started in the
past month:
Parent Prayers: A new program we are starting where parents and
guardians are welcome to sign up to read a prayer over morning
announcements. A selection of prayers will be provided so it is an easy way
to participate in our school's faith development. If you are interested you can
either email us at bakhitacouncil2011@gmail.com or leave your contact
information with the office to the attention of school council and we will contact
you to schedule your day.
PhotoWorks family photo sessions: Come in to have your family photo
session and support our school initiatives at the same time! More details will
be sent home very soon!
Catholic School
Council
Co-Chairs:
Crystal Gonzales
Lori Toon
Treasurer
Anna Rosa Risi
Secretary
David Corbett
OAPCE
Samantha Francis
Parents at Large:
Joyce DeSousa, Janet Amiel,
Erica Belloumini, Tanoon
Fraser
Staff Representative Ms. Hanna
Non-Teaching Rep. Ms. Bonifero
Popcorn Fridays: Popcorn Fridays will start again in November. Watch for
more details!
Our general meeting date has been changed to November 4th at 6:30pm at
the school. Everyone is welcome!
PhotoWorks Family Photo Sessions
School Council has arranged for PhotoWorks to come to our school on
November 17th for family photo sessions.
For a low sitting fee, families can reserve family photo sessions with these
experienced photographers. Included with each session is a complimentary
8x10 family photo and the option to purchase packages which will include
Christmas photo cards. Our school receives 100% of the sitting fee and 15%
of packages purchased!
Watch for more details to be sent home soon including information on how to
reserve your session time.
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November 1
November 2
November 4
November 5
November 6
November 11
November 17
November 18-22
November 19
November 19
November 23, 24
November 23-27
November 25
November 26
November 27
November 30-Dec. 4
November 30
December 9
December 10
December 20-January 3
All Saints Day
All Souls Day
Gr. 8’s visit St. Edmund Campion Secondary School
St. Roch Arts Program Presentation- Gr. 8’s
Argo Flag Football @ Rogers Centre
Freedom Day- Gr. 7 & 8
Remembrance Day Celebrations- FKD-Gr. 2 @ 9:30
- Gr. 3-6 @ 10:00
Progress Reports go home
Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
Grade 7- Hep. B; Grade 8 HPV
Parent/ Teacher interviews for Progress Reports
Rocks & Rings for Gr. 1-3
Intermediate Volleyball Mini Games
Boys Night In
Lockdown Drill in am
SilverCreek Trip (Wozniak/ Berthiaume)
Intermediate Volleyball Family Tournaments
SilverCreek Trip (Commisso/ Waters)
Girls Night In
Advent Mass @ 1:30 pm at St. Leonard’s Parish
Christmas Break
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