Father Francis McSpiritt December Newsletter 2015
ADVENT PRAYER
Loving God, we seek you in both
The light and the darkness,
The silence and the sounds,
The fullness and the emptiness
Of this Advent season.
Principal:
G. Sideroff
Fill our hearts with hope for your coming,
Love for those who are most in need,
And faith in your promises.
May this time of preparation help us
Celebrate the birth of your Son
With deep gratitude and abundant joy.
Vice Principal:
J. MacSween
Secretary:
K. Walsh
V. Lombardi
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
The Light of the World.
Amen
Superintendent:
D. Oude-Reimerink
Brampton North -East
(905) 890-1221
Our Virtue for December…… HOPE
Trustee:
S. Xaviour
Parish:
St. Patrick’s Church
(905) 794-0486
Pastor:
Fr. V. Marziliano
Father Francis McSpiritt
Catholic School
55 Lexington Road
Brampton, Ontario
L6P 2B1
Telephone: (905) 794-5031
Fax- (905) 794-9542
School Website:
www.dpcdsb.org/mcspi
Twitter @McSpirittDPCDSB
This month, we will celebrate the virtue of “Hope”. We believe that God comes
to us as a real human who can show us the way of life. We understand that both
the world and its people are from God and so are essentially good. Furthermore,
God has given us the Advent season in order for us to focus our minds and our
hearts on the good all around us. Year after year, we are reminded that God chose
to send his Son to us because we are worth it.
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People of Hope…
keep up a positive attitude
can bounce back from tough situations
set and stick to their goals
see the good in others even when they make mistakes
work to include others
let others know that they are good people
You are kindly invited to join staff, students and Father Vito for our Advent Mass
on Thursday, December 17 @ 9:30 A.M. in the school gym.
Father Francis McSpiritt December Newsletter 2015
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
Christmas break is
December 21st to January 3rd .
The first day back to school in the new year will be
Monday, January 4th, 2016.
Merry Christmas
FROM THE STAFF OF
FATHER FRANCIS MCSPIRITT
CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Primary Christmas Concert
Here’s your chance to see the primary division shine at our Christmas concert.
The students of the primary division wish to invite their parents/guardians to a Christmas concert.
The presentations will be on Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16 at 9:30 AM.
An information flyer will be coming home soon.
You will receive an invitation to “one” of the concerts. We will be asking that only two people
per family attend as there is limited seating available. Please take note that for safety reasons, in
the event that we need to evacuate, strollers will not be able to enter the gym.
The concert is free. We are asking everyone to bring in a canned good item for our Christmas food
drive.
Father Francis McSpiritt December Newsletter 2015
A MESSAGE FROM FATHER VITO
During this Holy Year of Mercy, our parish you will welcoming pilgrims from all over the Archdiocese. Along
with a few other churches spread throughout the city of Toronto and its surroundings, St. Patrick’s has been
chosen as a Jubilee Church where people will walk through its Holy Doors to celebrate God’s Mercy and
receive the gift of Indulgences. Our Holy Doors will be officially opened on Sunday, December 13, beginning
with a procession from St. Patrick’s School at 3:30 p.m. It will be followed by a mass added to our Sunday
schedule, at 4 p.m.
Very shortly we will once again be celebrating Christmas. My prayers will be with all of you and with the
needs of your families over the next several weeks and especially at Christmas. For those who may not have
the opportunity of knowing our mass schedule for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, please note note:
CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24
4 p.m.
6 p.m.
10 p.m. (in Italian) 12 midnights.
CHRISTMAS DAY, DECEMBER 25
8:30 a.m.
10 a.m. 11:30 a.m. (in Italian)
1:00 p.m.
Normally we also have a mass at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, BUT NOT ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
I hope and pray that all that is taking place in your homes and in the lives of your family may truly be
embraced and blessed by the loving MERCY of our God.
With friendship and prayers,
School Dress Code – Blue and White
Thank you to all those families who have embraced the “blue and white”.
We have noticed, as a community, that our school dress code has made a huge difference and we are
proceeding “full steam ahead”.
Not only does it promote safety as we are able to spot strangers instantly, it most definitely contributes
to school spirit and builds a sense of community where everyone feels as though they are “part of the
TEAM”.
What we have noticed, as well, is an overall “calmness” to the school and a drastic reduction to the
number of behavioural issues. Students are better able to focus on academics and are including
everyone in their play. There is no competition when it comes to dress. We encourage everyone to
get on board and be part of the McSpiritt Team for the sake of having a safe school where
everyone is on the same playing field and no one is being judged on what they wear or don’t wear.
Father Francis McSpiritt December Newsletter 2015
If you are one of those parents who are struggling with their child who does not want to be part of the
TEAM, perhaps you can suggest they wear blue and white a couple of days a week as opposed to none.
Thank you for your continued support.
Christmas Food Drive
This year, once again, we will be collecting food for the needy families in our community.
Donations will be accepted beginning November 30th and will continue until December 18.
Charity is the primary response to our call to live as Catholics and provides us an opportunity for
service to others. Your donations will be dropped off at the Knight’s Table. Thank you for all your
donations.
Intermediate Girls & Boys’ Volleyball
On Tuesday, November 24th, Father Francis McSpiritt School hosted the family of schools minitournament. Congratulations to our girls and boys for their performance. They both demonstrated
excellent sportsmanship, heart and determination and they both made it to the finals where they
came in 2nd. Thanks to their coaches, Ms. Anderson, Ms. Nicoletta, Ms. Janeiro & Mr. Macneil.
Youth Faith Ambassadors
The Youth Faith Ambassadors are working toward nurturing Catholic educational spirituality amongst
staff and students. The Youth Faith Ambassadors will be demonstrating our Catholic Faith in a variety
of ways. They will commit themselves to provide a caring inclusive and Christ-like school community.
They will demonstrate their commitment by being responsible for leading social justice projects for the
school, ushering at assemblies and other school gathering, and above all, being a positive Catholic role
model for our students at Father Francis McSpiritt School.
Among many other activities, our Youth Faith Ambassadors have organized the Candy Drive for Dr.
Simone and are presently planning our Christmas food drive.
“We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf
of Christ, be reconciled to God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20
Father Francis McSpiritt December Newsletter 2015
Appropriate Dress – Cold Weather
The days are getting colder as the winter season arrives. We ask that students dress
appropriately; i.e. coats, gloves, mitts, boots etc. If they are dressed warmly, they are
better prepared to participate in outdoor activities during recess and noon hour.
Please be advised that students are kept indoors at recess during the winter ONLY
when the weather conditions are extremely cold (when the wind chill equivalent
temperature is minus 25 degrees Celsius or lower, as per school Board policy).
Inclement Weather
Students dropped off by parents, when bussing is cancelled, must be picked up by parents or have other
arrangements in place for their return trip home. The school cannot give permission for children to be driven home
by someone other than the parent/guardian without parental consent. If the school is closed, you would hear about it on
your local radio station or by checking the board website. You may also go to the website www.stopr.ca for daily
cancellations or delays.
Indoor Footwear
Please ensure that students keep a pair of running shoes or other appropriate footwear at school so that their feet remain
dry and clean at all times. At certain times of the year areas of our schoolyard can be quite muddy. Having an
additional pair of shoes at school assists us in keeping mud and dirt out of the classroom.
LOST AND FOUND
Our lost and found bin is overflowing. If your child is missing any personal items, please encourage
them to come down to the main foyer and take a look through the bin. You are also more than
welcome to come by as well.
Parent Evening to Support the Transition of Students with Differing Abilities
into Kindergarten
There will be an information session for parents (s)/guardian (s) of children with differing abilities
including vision, speech, hearing, autism, physical / medical and / or developmental delays who are
transitioning to Kindergarten in September 2016. The sessions will be held at the Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District School Board – Room 301- on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 from 7:00 PM to 8:30
PM. The snow date is Wednesday, January 13, 2016.
Father Francis McSpiritt December Newsletter 2015
Kindergarten Registration
Parents are reminded to register their child at our school office. Registration dates are Monday,
January 25th, 2016 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, as well as January 28, 29 and 30 during the day.
Snow date for evening registration is Tuesday, January 26, 2016.
In order to avoid long delays, please pick up a registration package in the school office prior to
registration days.
Lates
Volunteers
Supervision begins at 8:30 am in the school
yard. Ensure your child(ren) are at school
on time. Please use the Kiss and Ride
drop-off on the west side of the school.
Students should go directly to their lines to
be met by their teachers. Students should
not be entering via the front door of the
school. Let your child know it is important
to be on time.
Volunteers play an important part in the life of any
school community. At the school level, they help to
enhance the learning opportunities available to students.
They can make a difference in the academic life of a
student. We always appreciate your assistance, support
and the sharing of your many gifts and talents with our
staff and students. Volunteer forms are available in the
office. Note: A current Criminal Reference Check must
be completed by Peel Regional Police. The application
may be picked up at the school office.
Dates to Remember
December 2
December 7
December 14
December 15
December 15 & 16
December 17
December 21 – January 3
January 4 - 2016
January 14
January 18
February 2
February 4
February 5
March 14 – March 18
School Council Meeting @ 6:30
Pizza Day
Cookie Day with Santa (provided by school council)
Pizza Day
Primary Christmas Concert – 9:30 AM
Advent Mass @ 9:30 AM with Father Vito
Christmas Break
Welcome Back
Extended French Meeting for Grade 4 students at St. John
Brebeuf @ 7 PM
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS – Assessment & Evaluation
Report Cards Sent Home
Reporting to parents - evening
Reporting to parents – NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
March Break