DECEMBER 2015
PRINCIPAL
M. Masucci
St. Mark School
SECRETARY
M. Dziedzic
SCHOOL COUNCIL CO- CHAIRS
C. Diab
F. Fadero
SUPERINTENDENT
D. Amaral
(905) 890-1221
PASTOR
Fr. T. Hanley
Associate: Fr. C. Egbulefu
(905) 820-1444
TRUSTEE WARDS 2 & 8
Sharon Hobin
(905) 301-1210
FAX (905) 569-9052
Sharon.hobin@dpcdsb.org
ST MARK SCHOOL
3675 Sawmill Valley Dr.
Mississauga, ON
L5L 2Z5
PHONE
(905) 820-9477
ATTENDANCE
(905) 820-9477 # 1
FAX: (905) 820-1229
School Website:
www.dpcdsb.org/schools/MARKE
Principal’s Message,
Advent is a time when we prepare spiritually in order
to fully understand and share in the joy of Christ’s
arrival. Jesus came into the world in a very simple and
humble manner. This should make us ponder on how
it is in the small and simple things of our lives that we
still find God.
At St. Mark School we emphasize the implications of
the birth of our Saviour through our Christian actions.
We ensure that Advent is a time where we embrace
reflection, prayer, charity and social justice. It is a time
to prepare the way, to make God real each and every
day through prayer, charity and good deeds.
Together, with the beautiful gift of your children in our
school community, we will strive to walk in the light
of Christ during this season and always.
On behalf of the staff of St. Mark School, I extend our
best wishes during this most blessed time, to you and
your family. We hope that 2016 will be a year where
we see peace growing throughout our local and global
world, and that love, hope and joy shines in everyone’s
heart. Enjoy this special time with family and friends.
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. . . .
mark your calendars and extend the invitation to
family and friends . . . December 16th at St. Mark
School . . . we are anticipating another magical
evening. Thank you to all for your donations, time and
ongoing support.
Pax et bonum,
M. Masucci
Advent Mass
Please join us at our Advent Mass on Thursday,
December 10th at 10:15 am in our school gym,
led by our Junior classes. Our school choir will
be singing under the direction of Mrs. Legere.
Virtue of the Month
This
month
we
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.
God helps us to keep
on working for a more
peaceful world even
when
we
feel
discouraged. People of
Hope...keep
up
a
positive attitude, can
bounce back from
tough situations, set and stick to their goals.
Furthermore, God has given us this Advent
season year after year in order to focus our
minds and our hearts on the good all around us.
Confirmation
Tues., Dec. 1, Wed., Dec. 2 or
Thurs., Dec. 3, 2015
(choose one date to attend)
Parent Meeting and registration for Grades 7 and 8
students at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish at 7:00 pm.
The Living Nativity –
Jesus is the Reason for the Season
On Wednesday, December 16th from
7 – 8 p.m., St. Mark School presents The
Living Nativity on our school grounds.
This is a time for families and staff to
gather as a school community and
celebrate the true reason for the season.
In the event we need to reschedule due
to inclement weather, The Living Nativity
will take place on Thurs., Dec. 17th. More
information is forthcoming. In the
meantime, Save the Date: Wednesday,
December 16, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00
p.m.
All Are Welcome!
EQAO Scores Achievement Levels:
We are very pleased with our
achievement levels scores for our Grade
3 and 6 students in 2014/2015. Below are
the results regarding the data. The Board
will be posting the St. Mark Catholic
School Learning Plan on our website
shortly, please feel free to review.
Grade 3
Reading
82%
Writing
82%
Mathematics
82%
Grade 6
Reading
88%
Writing
91%
Mathematics
76%
From Father Tim St. Ignatius Loyola
Parish:
Be reconciled to God and one another
through the healing Sacrament of
Reconciliation before Christmas – the
best gift that you can give yourself this
year. This sacrament is available as
follows:
Every Saturday between 4:00-4:30 pm or
anytime by appointment. On Thursday,
December 17 – Archdiocesan Day of
Confession from: 9:30 - 11:30 am,
4:00 - 6:00 pm and 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
On Tue., Dec. 22 and Wed., Dec. 23 from
7:00 - 8:30 pm Fr. Tim and Fr. Charles will
be available for individual confessions.
Christmas
Schedule
and
Christmas Eve:
New
Year’s
Mass
Thurs. Dec 24
4:00 pm, 6:00 pm
8:00 pm, 10:00 pm
12:00 midnight
Christmas Day:
Fri. Dec 25
9:00 am, 10:30 am
and 12:00 noon
New Year’s Eve:
Thurs. Dec. 31
5:00 pm
New Year’s Day:
Fri. Jan. 1
10:30 am
and 12:00 noon
Calling all young families…please
consider
having
your
children
participate in St. Ignatius Loyola’s
“Children’s Dramatization of the
Nativity at their Christmas Eve 4:00 pm
mass…one rehearsal only…Saturday,
December 19 at 1:30 pm.
On the weekend of December 26-27 we
celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family,
and our priests and deacons will be very
happy to offer individual Family
blessings following the final hymn of the
Mass, asking the blessing of the Holy
Family upon the lives of our families in
the coming year…please plan to take
part.
Kindergarten 2016-2017 Registration
If you child was born in 2011 or 2012, he
or she can start Kindergarten in
September 2016. Registration Dates:
January 25, 2016*
7:00-9:00 pm
January 27, 28, 29, 2016
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
*Snow Date Only: January 26, 2016 7:00-9:00 pm



Proof of age (Birth Certificate or
passport)
Original Roman Catholic baptismal
certificate for the child and/or
parent/guardian
or
baptismal
certificate from an Eastern Church in
full communion with the Holy See of
Rome. If the child has not been
baptized, and the parent/guardian is
baptized Roman Catholic or is
baptized from an Eastern Church in
full communion with the Holy See of
Rome, the parent/guardian must bring
their own baptismal certificate.
Updated
immunization
records
(Immunization Card, Peel Health
Form or Letter of Exemption)




Proof of Canadian citizenship (Birth
Certificate or Passport) or permanent
resident status
Proof of address (tax or utility bill)
Proof of English Separate School
Support (may be done at the time of
registration by completing an
Application For the Direction of
School support and/or a Separate
School Lease Agreement available at
the school)
Education records, if available.
*All documentation must be submitted in English
Kindergarten Entry Planning for
Parents of Children with Special Needs
On Tuesday, January 12, 2016 the
Dufferin-Peel CDSB Special Education
and Support Services Department will
host a Kindergarten entry planning
information session. This meeting is for
parents and guardians of children with
differing abilities which affect their
learning, such as vision, hearing, speech,
autism,
physical/medical
and/or
developmental delays in the cognitive
and/or motor areas, who are entering
Kindergarten in September 2016.
WHAT:
Parent Evening to Support the
Transition of Children with
Differing Abilities into
Kindergarten
WHEN:
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
7:00 pm. - 8:30 pm
WHERE:
Catholic Education Centre
Room 301 (Third Floor)
40 Matheson Blvd. West
Mississauga
Extended French Information Meeting
Grade 4 parents/guardians who wish to
enrol their child in a Grade 5 Extended
French class for September, 2016, are
invited to attend an information meeting
at:
School:
Address:
Phone:
Date:
Time:
St. Christopher School
1195 Clarkson Road North
Mississauga, On L5J 2W1
905-822-0721
Wed., January 13, 2016
7:00 pm
Dry Feet, Dry Clothing and
Staying in for Recess
Colder weather is upon us!
Please ensure that your child comes to
school prepared to participate in all
activities, including outdoor recess. All
children should have hats, scarves,
gloves, warm coats and boots. As the
rainy season gives way to slush and
snow, all students are reminded to bring
an extra pair of shoes to wear indoors
during the winter months.
Fire
regulations dictate that all students must
have footwear on at all times.
In anticipation of a cold and snowy
winter, we would also like to advise
parents of children in the primary grades
to send an extra set of clothes (track
pants, sweatshirts, socks and underwear)
to school. These clothes will be kept at
the school to be used when the child is
wet from playing in the snow.
In colder weather we often receive
requests to allow children to remain
indoors when they have a cold, flu, etc.
Please note that we cannot comply, as we
do not have the staff to supervise these
students. If you feel your child is not
well enough to go outside, it would be
best for you to keep your child at home.
REMEMBER: Health Officials indicate
that fresh air is beneficial as long as
students are dressed appropriately.
On extremely cold days, when the windchill factor exceeds minus 20C, we limit
the amount of time that students spend
outdoors.
We obtain our weather
information from the Environment
Canada Weather Information Line and
following School Board guidelines. With
the exception of these occasions, all
children will go out for recess and the
lunch breaks.
Snowballs
Just a reminder...Please emphasize to
your children that School/Board policy
DOES NOT ALLOW THROWING
SNOWBALLS, KICKING SNOW, OR
“SNOWING” OTHERS ON SCHOOL
PROPERTY.
Please remind your
children of the seriousness of these
activities and the possible danger, for
those hit.
Bus Cancellations/School Closing
During the winter months inclement
weather may cause disruption of bus
transportation and regular school
operations. A decision to cancel school
transportation and/or to close schools is
usually made by 6:00 am and will be
announced on the local and TV and radio
stations.
Eco School
An ongoing initiative at St. Mark School
is to encourage a more eco-friendly
environment. Over the next several
months, there will be various activities
that focus on this message. We will
promote litterless lunches, use of reuseable water bottles, anti-idling, and
walking to school.
Parents are
encouraged to support this venture by
participating in the program to promote
a more eco-friendly school.
Lost and Found
Please encourage your
children to peruse the numerous articles
of clothing and other items that have
accumulated in our hallway. We will be
making a donation of unclaimed clothing
on the last day of school.
School Council
Thank you to all parents
who are supporting St.
Mark School Council. Our school council
meetings are open to all parents and
caregivers. It is a great opportunity to
get involved and/or learn about your
child’s school and community.
An
invitation is extended to everyone to
attend our next council meeting on:
Monday, January 11, 2016 at 6:00 pm.
We have some exciting events planned
for the coming year and we are in need
of parent volunteers. If you can share
your talents and time, please contact the
school.
Christmas Break
Monday, December 21, 2015
To
Friday, January 1, 2016
Fall Fundraising Update:
Thank you to all parents/guardians and
family friends for supporting our school
fundraiser.
Our school profit is
approximately $6,200.00 which will
support technology, literacy and
numeracy resources and initiatives,
physical education equipment, the arts
resources, school wide celebrations,
sacramental support and eco projects.
Congratulations to Jacob C., Grade 6
student for selling 14 boxes of chocolates.
He has won the iPad as the top seller.
Congratulations to Emma L., Grade 2
student for winning a luncheon at the
Mandarin Restaurant with three of her
friends.
Dates to Remember
Dec 1-3Confirmation Parent Mtg & Reg. 7pm
@ St. Ignatius Loyola Parish
Dec 2 Pita Lunch
Dec 3 Rosary Apostolate JK-8
Dec 4 Loretta Penny
Pizza Lunch
Dec 7 Lunch Lady
Dec 8 JK/SK Mrs. Lyon’s Class
Christmas Concert @ 1:45 pm-2:45 pm
Dec 9 Pantomime Theatre Trip
Johnson/Keddy
Gr 8 Visit to Loyola Catholic S.S.
Pita Lunch
Dec 10 Advent Mass @ 10:15 am
JK/SK Mrs. Pereira’s class Christmas
Concert @ 1:30 pm
Dec 11 Pizza Lunch
Dec 14 Lunch Lady
Dec 16 Living Nativity 7-8 pm
(snow date: Dec 17)
Pita Lunch
Dec 17 Fr. Charles class visit Grades 7 & 8
Dec 18 Pizza Lunch
Return to school
Monday, January 4, 2016
Jan 4
Jan 6
Jan 7
Jan 8
Return to School, Lunch Lady
Pita Lunch
Scientists in School – Kindergartens
Primary Dance Club Lunch Recess
New Pizza Orders Begin
Jan 11 Lunch Lady
Parent Council Mtg. @ 6:00 pm
Jan 12 Transition to Kindergarten Students
with Differing Abilities at CEC 7:00 pm
Jan 13 Extended French Parent Info. Mtg. @
St. Christopher School 7:00 pm
Pita Lunch
Jan 14 Rosary Apostolate JK-8
Jan 15 Primary Dance Club Lunch Recess
Pizza Lunch
Jan 18 PA Day – No School For Students
Jan 20 R.A.I.D. program Gr 6’s Office Moore
8:30-10:00 am, Pita Lunch
Jan 22 Primary Dance Club Lunch Recess
Pizza Lunch
Jan 25 Lunch Lady
Kindergarten Reg/ 7:00-9:00 pm
Jan 26 Kindergarten Reg. (Snow Date) 7-9 pm
Jan 27-29 Kindergarten Reg. 900 am-3:00 pm
Jan 27 Gr 6 R.A.I.D. Program
Pita Lunch
Jan 29 Pizza Lunch
Primary Dance Club Lunch Recess