SM
TIMES
February 2013
Curling News!
The Mustang Curling Team had a fantastic
turn out for tryouts this year! The curlers started
practicing at the Dixie Curling Club in early November and have competed in an invitational
Bonspiel and 2 ROPSSAA league games (as of Dec.
12/12). The Junior Girls placed first overall in the
Mount Carmel Bonspiel and the seniors came in
second place. We have 11 first time curlers and 13
curlers from last year. January and February are big
curling months and we look forward to the annual
Invitational Bonspiel in Peterborough.
‘Hurry Hard Mustangs! Hit The Broom!’
2470 Rosemary Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5C 1X2 Phone: (905) 279-3171 Fax: (905) 279-3685
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Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s Catholic School Climate Survey
“Love one another as I have loved you”
John 15:12
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),
The Ontario Ministry of Education directive on Safe Schools, Positive School Climate and its Equity and
Inclusive Education Strategy require that all schools across the province implement a School Climate Survey
for students every two years. Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board finds its direction and educational
mission in the teachings of Christ as revealed through Scripture, Church Tradition, and Church Teaching. The
board and its school communities are comprised of a faith-centred Eucharistic people who strive to form
communities of learning that are Christ-centred, inclusive and reflective of a culture that respects and cherishes
life for all. As a Catholic school board, Dufferin-Peel has applied its distinctive Catholic lens to the Ministry of
Education’s pillar: Community, Culture and Caring. A key component of this pillar in our board is the Catholic
Community, Culture and Caring School Climate Survey.
Beginning in mid-January 2013, and in support of the board’s Safe, Caring, Inclusive and Healthy School
Communities’ initiative, Dufferin-Peel will be administering its Catholic Community Culture and Caring School
Climate Survey to students, as appropriate, in Grades 3 to 12. The data from this survey will allow our school
to understand the school climate from the students’ perspectives.
The survey will be confidential and anonymous in nature, and will take approximately 20 minutes. The survey
contains questions about students’ general information (i.e., school name, grade, gender, years at the school),
general safety and inclusion (i.e., feeling safe, concerns, feeling welcome and included, etc.), general school
climate (i.e., friendly, accessible, inclusive, etc.) and will provide opportunities to identify bullying concerns and/
or pro-active supports in bullying prevention.
In addition to the student survey, parents/guardians are also invited to participate in an on-line survey. The
parent/guardian survey is intended to allow parents/guardians to share their child’s/children’s school climate
experience at school. There are two versions of the survey: one for parents/ guardians of students in
elementary school (Kindergarten to Grade 8) and one for parents/guardians of students in secondary school
(Grades 9-12).
The parent/guardian surveys will be posted on the board’s website at www.dpcdsb.org between January 22
and February 28, 2013. The survey links are:
•
•
Elementary: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CCCCSurveyK8
Secondary: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CCCCSurvey9to12)
The surveys may provide opportunities for conversation with your son(s)/daughter(s) regarding inclusivity and
well-being at school. Please contact the school if you have any additional questions, concerns, or comments.
Thank you for your support of improved student achievement and well-being.
Sincerely,
Principal
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The Annual
Sherway Gardens
Christmas
Shopping
Trip
On Friday December 7th 2012, the St. Martin P.I.P
and Communications classes went on a transit training
and shopping day at Sherway Gardens in Etobicoke.
The students (accompanied by teachers and ERW’s)
independently boarded the Mississauga transit bus
and headed to Sherway Gardens for a day filled with
Christmas shopping, scavenger hunts and life skills
lessons, including gift purchasing and clothes sizing.
They chose one person they would want to buy for
and began the quest for finding the perfect Christmas
present. Once the shopping was completed, students
were able to enjoy each other’s company in the food
court, ate lunch and conversed with one another. The
Sherway Gardens trip was a successful day for all!
News from the
Visual Arts
Department
Andres Correa is a former graduate of
St Martin Secondary School. The North Wentworth Twin Pad Arena public art competition was open to all
artists in southern Ontario. Our graduate won the competition, so if you are
ever in the Flamborough area, please drop in to the arena and see his beautiful banners
and mural. Congratulations Andres!
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News from the
Science Department
St. Martin’s was again well-represented at the annual
Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario (STAO)
conference STAO2012: Recapture the Wonder, November 15th – 17th. The conference was attended by
over 1200 delegates (elementary and secondary science teachers from all parts of Ontario) and over 250
commercial and educational exhibitors. Patrick Busby
supervised thirteen senior science students who acted
as volunteer helpers. He also presented at two workshops as part of a writing team for a Forestry Product
resource, a joint project between STAO and Kruger
Inc. For a second year, Laima Stoncius conducted two
workshops entitled “Fun Fridays”, extremely popular
with the delegates. Racquel Carlow, STAO president
2012 – 2013, also presented a workshop entitled “An
Old Physics Teacher Looking for Relationships” – of
the proportionality kind.
The entire science department at St. Martin are STAO
members, indicative of the commitment of every science teacher to bring quality science education into
the classroom.
Our Students Did Us Proud
Thirteen of St. Martin’s senior science students acted
as volunteers/helpers at the annual Science Teachers’
Association of Ontario conference held in Toronto on
Fun at Laser Quest
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November 15th to 17th. The conference was attended by over 1200 Ontario elementary and secondary
science teachers. The students (Lora, Anthony, Bianca,
Anthony, Michelle, Hartej, George, Normil, Ariel, Norbert, Melvin, and Jonelle who’s missing in the photo)
helped at registration, at the Information desk, at the
coat check, with AV, and as all-around “go-fers”. However, there was free time to attend workshops, hear
guest speakers (like Henry Reich of Minute Physics),
visit the exhibit hall (where over 250 commercial and
educational exhibitors were located). Everyone who
had the opportunity to interact with these students
were impressed by their maturity and eagerness to
help. They certainly were very positive ambassadors.
for St. Martin S.S.
Who said science is boring? These pictures say it all the Grade 10 science students after their afternoon of
learning a lot about Optics.
A note from our Chaplain, Mitch Cairoli
Christmas Baskets
This one simple note says it all. On behalf of 45
families, and especially their children, all I can say
is THANK YOU to everybody who put so much
into this campaign. The spirit of giving has its
seeds here and it continues to grow. Every year
we get a few surprise donations from people
who were once on our list but for whom things
are now better. The good that we do today WILL
turn into more good that is done tomorrow
because of the gratitude of the recipients. As we
have touched their hear ts, they have touched
our hear ts in return. When one hear t touches
another, that second hear t always touches back.
“Thanks so much for all you’ve done for us ...
St. Martin’s school was unbelievable. They
ended up bringing 4 huge boxes of food to us
and another 2 boxes of presents for all from
Santa. They even gave ********* and I a $***
gift card for Square One so we can go get
new clothing this year. I haven’t bought hardly
any clothes for a long time either - usually my
wardrobe expands only from gifts I’ve received
from my mother-in-law every Christmas!
Your generosity has been a true blessing
to us and I’m forever grateful.
Many thanks,
*********** ”
St. Martin Annual
Mentorship
On Friday November 30th, 2012 the St. Martin Boys
Mentorship Program took a trip to the Canlan Sports
Complex. The boys were able to organize and
participate in sports such as volleyball, dodge ball, and
indoor soccer.
The boys had a great time and were glad to participate in an afternoon of physical activities. Once again,
the boys represented their school well and demonstrated excellent behavior. The group, consisting of 24
grade 9 boys, was enthusiastic and excited. Looking
forward to our next trip!
Ski and
Snowboard
Trip
St. Martin Annual Ski and Snowboard Trip to
Mount St. Louis/Moonstone is happening on
Friday February 15th, 2013. Students are invited to come out and enjoy the slopes with
their school friends. It is a great opportunity for beginners who have never tried to
ski, board or blade to get a lesson and give
it a whirl. Please see Mrs. Zaleski-Rees in
the library for further information and to
pick up forms.
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News From Guidance
GRADE EIGHT OPEN HOUSE
Guidance Counsellors presented course information
and registration packages to grade eight students
during the week of November 26th through
November 30, 2012. Our grade eight Parent
Information Night was held on December 6th, 2012
and was well attended by both parents and our newest Mustangs.
SEMESTER TWO NIGHT SCHOOL
Dufferin Peel and Peel night school will run from
February 6th to May 22rd, 2013. Evening classes at
both boards are held Monday and Wednesday nights.
Students must register by 12 noon on February 1st,
2013 for Dufferin Peel and Peel night school.
Registration packages and information are available in
Guidance and from our website http://www.dpcdsb.
org/MARTN/Guidance+General+Info.htm
COURSE SELECTION FOR 2013 - 2014
All secondary schools in Dufferin Peel have moved
to on-line course selection format. The St. Martin
Course Calendar for 2013-2014 is available on the
school website at http://www.dpcdsb.org/MARTN/
Guidance/Course+Calendar/
Grade level assemblies were held on January 9th and
10th to inform our students about the procedures
for on-line course selection. All students received; an
‘On-line Course Request Instruction Sheet’ with their
personal username and password, a course planning
chart, and an activity payment form. Students were
asked to return their Course Request Verification
Sheet and Activity Fee to their homeroom teacher by
January 21, 2013.
The Guidance Department offered two working
sessions on January 15th and 16th during both lunch
periods in the library for students who wanted help
with the course selection process. The Course Plan-
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ning Chart is also a valuable tool when selecting
courses. All students were given a copy of the Planning Chart along with their personalized username
and password. A copy of the planning chart can be
found on the St. Martin website under the Guidance
tab.
If students have any questions about their course
selections, they should make an appointment with
their counsellor. Students will receive course verification sheets in March where they have an opportunity
to make changes to the courses they selected.
OUAC
All students intending to apply to university should
have completed their on line applications as the
January 16th deadline has passed. Semester one final
marks will be transmitted to the Ontario Universities
Application
Centre by February 13th, 2013.
OCAS
All college bound students should have completed
their on line applications as the February 1st deadline
has passed. Semester one final marks will be transmitted to Ontario Colleges Application Centre by
February 12th, 2013.
OSAP
Any student who has accepted an offer of admission
from an Ontario University or College has the option
of applying for financial assistance through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Students will
have an opportunity to attend an OSAP presentation
in the early spring. More information to come.
SUMMER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
Information and applications for summer school
should be available in April.
Taste Test Challenge
On December 5th,
students in the Grade 10
Introduction to Business
class learned firsthand
the importance of
primary research when
they set up their very
own taste test challenges
this semester.
Students were responsible for designing, implementing and analyzing the
results of their taste test
and questionnaire. Some
of the topics included
whether the testers
could tell the difference
between Coke, Pepsi and
PC Cola and whether
more expensive granola
bars are actually tastier
than the cheaper brands.
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Early Christmas
at St. Martin!
CONTACTS
St. Martin Secondary School
(905) 279- 3171
Principal
F. Furgiuele
Vice- Principals
N. Currah
P. Petruccelli
Chaplain
M. Cairoli
On December 17-20, St. Martin held their annual Christmas Caroling
in the foyer every morning. It was a fantastic way to spread Christmas
joy throughout the school. The students sang traditional songs such
as ‘Frosty the Snowman,’ ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town,’ and many
more. Thank you to all the teachers, especially Mrs. Cela, Mrs. Georgis,
and Mrs. Arnold for organizing this amazing event, and all the student
volunteers. Hope to see all of you next year!!!
Attendance
S. Passmore
School Council
A. Gulbinski
Board Office
(905) 890- 1221
Superintendent
C. Saytar
Trustees
P. Ferreira
(416) 805-7110
B. Iannicca (905) 270-0536
http://www.dpcdsb.orgMARTN
DPCDSB is now on Twitter!
For the latest board news and information, follow us
@DPCDSBSchools.
Thanks to
the Media Arts Team for the
production of this newsletter:
Alister Lagman
Samantha Militante
Abel Moolakkattu
-Mr Konarzycki.
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