January Newsletter
St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic
Elementary School
430 Van Kirk Drive Brampton, ON L7A 0J2
Phone: 905-846-0078 Fax: 905-846-9044
Boa rd website: www.dpcdsb.org
School website: www.dpcdsb.org/bakhi
Principal
S. Boulanger
Acting Principal
G. Johnstone
Vice-Principal
TBA
Head Secretary
M.Misasi
Assistant Secretaries
M. Jaques
C. Ruggiero
It is hard to believe that the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season has
come to an end, and that we are back to a regular routine. We were
touched by the outpouring of generosity that the St. Josephine Bakhita
School community has shown the staff, but perhaps more importantly,
the generosity that our community showed those in need.
Superintendent
S.Steer
905–890–1221
At this time, I regret to inform you that Mr. Boulanger has taken a medical
leave, for an unspecified time. During his absence I have been appointed
as Acting Principal, and a Vice- Principal will be assigned to the school.
During this time, we ask that you keep him and his family in your prayers.
905–890-1221
As we look ahead to the new calendar year, we hope that together, we
will continue to develop our strong Catholic community and live out the
gospel messages through the examples of Jesus. Happy New Year and
continued blessings in 2016.
Gilda Johnstone (Acting Principal)
Trustee
D. D’Souza
Parish
St. Leonard’s Parish
187 Conestoga Drive
Brampton
Ontario, Canada
L6Z 3X8
(905) 846 – 5385
Virtue of the Month- Self-Control
God has given us the ability to choose. We are able to control how we react to
what happens around us. Self-control helps us to resist the temptation to do
something that we will regret. Self-control helps us to resist the temptation to
do something that will harm ourselves or others. Self-control is one of the signs
of a spiritually mature person.
When we all use self-control, we can be sure that our school is a safe, caring
community where everyone feels included and safe to learn and live.
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A person with self-control…
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Is patient and knows how to wait his/her turn
Can calm him/herself down and think before reacting to situations
Knows how to avoid physical aggression (hitting, kicking, pushing, etc)
Can think things through and do what is best for everyone
Together in Faith
Religion played an important role in the development of Ontario schools.
Religious groups founded a great many schools and had an accepted role in
education, and as the Royal Commission on Learning wrote, “When Ontario’s
school system was being established, few doubted that religion and schooling
belonged together”. Protestant ministers often urged that children be
educated so they could read the Bible. Eventually, differing views of
Christianity caused arguments over the use of the Scriptures and prayers in
schools. Anti-Catholicism influenced political decisions that discriminated
against Catholics in the 1850s.
Mitten Tree
Thank you to ev eryone w ho
contributed to the Mitten
Tree. We collected a large
amount of mittens that w ill
be distributed to the needy
w ithin our district, through the
St. Vincent de Paul society.
Ta ken from: Our Story. Our Tradition. Our Journey
Socks and Sandwiches
Our Youth Faith Ambassadors participated in the Socks and Sandwiches
initiative, which takes clothes and sandwiches to homeless people in Toronto.
The initiative took place on December 13, 2015. Thank you to Ms. Hanna and
Mr. Abbas for their guidance and support in this initiative.
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.
Thank you to ev eryone w ho
contributed food to our
Christmas Food Driv e. The
food w as deliv ered to the St.
Vincent de Paul society at St.
Leonard’s Parish.
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
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Valentine’s Day. 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.
Smoking on School Premises
This is a reminder that St. Josephine Bakhita is a smoke-free environment and
that no smoking is permitted on school property.
Winter Weather
Missed Work
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 that 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
640AM
NEWS
680 AM
CHUM
104.5 FM
CHFI
98.1 FM
CHIN
100.7 FM
CKDX
88.5 FM
We receive many requests for work when
s tudents a re absent due to illness or
commi tments outside of school. You may
ca l l the s chool 24 hours a day to l eave a
mes sage a bout absences.
If your chi ld’s a bsence is only for a period
of one day we recommend that he or she
col l ects the missed work on the day of
return. Pl ease note, regular a ttendance is
es sential for success i n school. Some
s chool a ctivities, s uch as working in
groups, a re rendered ineffective by the
a bs ence of one or more group members.
Your chi ld’s l earning can also be severely
di s rupted if they miss crucial learning
poi nts due to absences.
Tea chers are not expected to provide
deta iled homework assignments to
s tudents who a re away for extended
peri ods of ti me as a result family i nitiated
a bs ences, although a general overview
ma y be provided. For a bsences due to
extended illness, parents should contact
the s chool administration to discuss
a va ilable options.
If your chi ld(ren) is/are going to be a way
for a n extended period of ti me, a note to
the Ma i n Office to the attention of the
Pri nci pal would be a ppreciated.
Student Supervision
Q107 107.1 FM
SRC
90.3 FM
CBC
740 AM
CISS
92.5 FM
Student Supervision begins a t 9:00 a .m.,
tha t i s i ncluding ra i n da ys /or i nclement
wea ther. Pl ease do not drop off students
or ha ve s tudents a rri ve a t s chool before
9:00 a m.
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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.
Cold and Flu Season
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 their teacher. If you wish to meet with a teacher please phone the school
for an appointment. Thank you!
Lunch Policy
Please be reminded that the lunch hour is from 12:16 p.m. – 1:16 p.m.
When 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.
Please use discretion in keeping
your child home to recover if they
are ill. A child who is coughing,
wheezing, vomiting 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 905-846-0078, and press 1
for the 24 hour access in calling in
your child’s absence.
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.
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Community Corner
FDK Christmas Extravaganza
Thank you to all the parents and grandparents that came out to join us in the
FDK Christmas Extravaganza. It was wonderful to see all of the students
enjoying the season with their families.
Christmas Sing-a-Long Concert
Thank you to all parents who joined us for the grade 1, 3, 4/5, 5, 7 and 8
Christmas Sing-a-long Concert that took place on December 16, 2015. What a
wonderful way to put us in the Christmas Spirit! We would like to thank the
Classroom Teachers, Educational Resource Workers and in particular Ms.
Boudreau- Gigante for her hard work and support. A special thank you to all
the students!!!
Goodbye and Well Wishes
At this time, we anxiously await the arrival of Baby Bartucci and wish Mr. and
Mrs. Bartucci and their family well. Mrs. Bartucci’s maternity leave has begun
and we welcome Ms. Lucic to our staff.
Safe and Appropriate
Play in the Winter
Months
When the snow falls it is easy to
get caught up in the excitement of
winter, but it is often hard to
remember safe activity over the
temptation of snow throwing or
unsafe or unfair play. Some of our
safe and considerate play
expectations include not throwing
snow balls, showing respect for
other people’s snow forts, and
staying off of the snow hills. If
everyone follows these simple
rules than everyone can play safe
during our winter months.
Congratulations to Mrs. Bonifini on the birth of her baby girl born in
December! We welcome Mrs. Foulger to our staff.
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Boys and Girls Night In 2015
The Intermediate Boys and Girls both had the opportunity to experience a wonderful evening filled with fun activities
that promoted comradery and a sense of belonging and community. They worked through various activities that
included boot camp, yoga, healthy living workshops and spiritual development. Students and their supporting role
models were involved in a meaningful dinner and presentation from both Sarah Westbrook, Q-Mack and J-Box. Each
delivering powerful messages of their own including empowerment, self -confidence, respect, decision making and
following your dreams. The evenings were a success and we hope that the messages delivered and the connections
made will last forever. We would like to thank Mr. Protomanni and the large committee for organizing such a
wonderful event for our Grade 7 and 8 students.
Clubs, Teams and Sports News
Dance Team
Congratulations to the members of the Bakhita Dance Team! Practices have begun and we are looking forward to the
competition in April. The team consists of the following students: Julia S., Dominique, Mikaela, Hailey, Taijah, Nicole,
Ciarah, McKenna, Monika, Julie H., Tabitha, Taeja and Shante. Thank you to Ms. Rodrigues for coaching this team.
Chess Club News
The Chess Club has begun with some very exciting games. It has been amazing to watch the strategies being used by
the students. Thank you to Mr. Basciano and Mr. Mintz for spearheading this club.
Junior Girls Basketball
The Junior Girls Basketball season has begun. The girls practice every Tuesday, Thursday morning and Wednesdays at
lunch time. The team is made up of the following students: Andrea, Janae, Dominique, Taijah, Ashley, Dayanara,
Shantavia, Natavia, Ehinomen and Geri. Thank you to Ms. Rodrigues and Ms. Ramirez for coaching this team.
National Sweater Day
On February 4th, St. Josephine Bakhita School will be participating in the National
Sweater Day Challenge. On this day, the thermostat in the school will be turned
down 2 degrees in an attempt to save energy, and minimize our global footprint.
This is an Eco School initiative and students at the school will be making
announcements and passing out flyers to remind everyone of the date.
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IT'S WINTER! DON'T HIBERNATE — WALK TO SCHOOL AND
CELEBRATE
On Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016 St. Josephine Bakhita will be
participating in the Winter Walk Day with other schools across Canada.
Catholic School
Council
Parent Corner
Our Lunch Box Orders program is up and running and ready to take your orders
as of December 17th!!
For the month of January, we will be offering Swiss Chalet school lunches on
Mondays and Boston Pizza school lunches on Thursdays. Simply visit
http://www.lunchboxorders.com/ to place your order and submit payment
online!
All orders are submitted on the website and payment is processed on-line by
Visa, MasterCard, Discover or Visa Debit. Visa and MasterCard gift cards are
also accepted on the site.
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
Next Catholic School Council
meeting is on January 13, 2016 @
6:30pm.
Lunchbox Orders is paperless and cashless. Ordering online i s fast and easy!
How to Order:
1. Go online at www.lunchboxorders.com and click on "ORDER LUNCH".
2. Click on the green "sign up" button to register your family account.
3. Add your child to your account by clicking on "add a student".
4. Click "Order Now" (beside your child’s name) to access the school’s ordering
calendar.
5. Proceed with ordering your child’s lunch by clicking on the blue order date.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2016!
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January 4
January 12
January 13
January 18
January 25
January 27-29
February 2
February 3
February 4
February 5
February 8
February 9
February 10
February 15
First Day Back
Parent Ev ening to Support the Transition of Children
w ith Differing Abilities into Kindergarten 2016
First Reconciliation @ 10am for Gr. 2 students
Catholic School Council Meeting @ 6:30 pm
PA Day- No School
FDK Registration 7-9pm
FDK Registration 9:45am-3pm
First Term Report Cards Sent home
Winter Walk Day
National Sw eater Day
Parent/ Teacher I nterview Night
PA Day- Parent/Teacher I nterviews- No School
Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita
Mardi Gras (Junior Presentation for Gr. 4-6)
Ash Wednesday
Family Day- No School
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