Catholic Education: Building a Caring Community
MARCH 2016
PRINCIPAL:
VICE PRINCIPAL:
HEAD SECRETARY:
ASSISTANT SECRETARY:
ASSISTANT SECRETARY:
A. D’Agostino
V. Viola
M. Villella
G. Odoardi
A. Cafagna
120 Harvest Moon Drive, Bolton, Ontario L7E 2W1 Phone: (905) 857-7582 Fax: (905) 857-9353
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS:
TRUSTEE:
HOLY FAMILY CHURCH
PASTOR:
ASSOCIATE PASTOR:
L. Storey
F. Di Cosola
1-800-387-9501
905-951-8898
Fr. L. Leger
905 857-1938
Fr. D. Gikonyo, IMC
ST. NICHOLAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
Co-CHAIRS: K. Foschia and L D’ Orazio
SCECRETARY: M. Pacek
Treasurer: L. Girimonte
Community rep- N. D’Emilio Parish Rep: J. Christie
SAFE ARRIVAL PROGRAM: Please remember to phone in your child’s absence: (905) 857-7582.
The answering machine is available 24 hours - Messages are picked up regularly.
For more information about school events, go to our school website: http://www.dpcdsb.org/NICHO
Student Faith Formation and Engagement: The Heart of All We Do
M
THE PATRON SAINT OF CANADA
ST. JOSEPH
The Lord has put his
faithful servant in charge
of his household. The
Solemnity of St. Joseph
(March 19) is a special
landmark this month in
which we will celebrate
the great honor bestowed
upon the foster father of
Jesus.
ARCH
Lent is a time to bring us closer to God. In our busy lives we
fill ourselves with candy, buy new toys, play video games and watch television
which makes us happy but that happiness is temporary. During Lent we stop
filling our lives with temporary happiness and make more room for God. The
church encourages prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Lent as ways we can
turn our hearts and minds to God. During this time we attempt to incorporate
activities in our daily lives which will strengthen us. Many people "give up"
something important to them for the 40 days of Lent. To learn how to sacrifice
or give up things is a way of learning unselfishness.
Holy Week March 21-24, 2016
Children should be encouraged to pray during Lent. One simple prayer
that you can add to your family routine this year is called,
"My Morning Offering"
God, our Father, I offer you today
All I think and do and say.
I offer it with what was done on
Earth by Jesus Christ, your son.
Amen
A Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph
Be mindful of us, O blessed Joseph,
and intercede for us with thy foster-Son by
the pleading of thy prayer:
do thou, in like manner, render the blessed
Virgin Mary thy Spouse, gracious onto us,
for she is the Mother of Him, who with the
Father and the Holy Ghost
liveth and reigneth world without end.
Amen.
The Holy Father’s Intentions for
March: “That those involved in scientific
research may serve the well-being of the
whole human person”.
March Break
Parents are reminded that the March Break is from
Monday, March 14th until Friday, March 18th (inclusive).
There will be no school for students during this week.
Classes for students will resume on
Monday, March 21, 2016
DURING LENT LET US PREPARE OURSELVES FOR EASTER
Catholic Education: Building a Caring Community
FDK REGISTRATION FOR 2016-2017
Registration for kindergarten students was held in January. If you have
missed that date, you can still register for next year. If you know of
neighbours who have school age children, it would be beneficial if you
could have them call the school if they are planning on attending
St. Nicholas in the fall.
FLEX BOUNDARIES ADMISSIONS
A reminder to parents/guardians of students currently in grades 1 to
grade 8 and are at St. Nicholas under Flexible Boundary.
This procedure is reviewed annually.
Permission is granted under the following conditions:
I) Transportation is your responsibility. The Board will not provide either
transportation or additional supervision for students admitted under this
procedure.
ii) This permission for attendance will be reviewed by the Principal,
annually, no later than the end of March.
iii) The student admitted under this procedure does not automatically
become eligible for the secondary school serving this school. If it is not
the secondary school he/she would normally attend, application for
Flexible Boundary consideration will have to be made to the secondary
school principal at the appropriate time.
If you would like to continue to be granted permission under this
procedure for the 2016-2017 school year, please put your written
request in writing to Mrs. D’Agostino by Thursday March 31, 2016.
ARE YOU MOVING?
We are beginning the process of planning classes
and staffing for the 2016-2017 school year. If
you are planning to move anytime between now
and September 2016, please inform the school at
your earliest convenience.
GRADES 3 & 6 EQAO ASSESSMENT
St. Nicholas School will participate in the Assessment of Reading,
Writing and Mathematics Primary Division (Grade 3) and Junior
Division (Grade 6) for a period of 3 days. Kindly avoid booking dental,
doctor or other appointments during this period. Testing will take place
from May 23 - June 3, 2016. It is critical that students are present each
day of the assessment and that they arrive on time. Parents will receive
specific communication and information regarding the Provincial
Assessment prior to the start of testing.
For more information please visit www.eqao.com.
IMPORTANT IMMUNIZATION MESSAGE FROM PEEL
PUBLIC HEALTH
Peel Public Health will be reviewing immunization records of all
students at our school from March to June 2016. Peel Public Health must
have proof that your child has been fully vaccinated (immunized)
according to the Ontario immunization schedule. During the record
review, you will receive a letter from Peel Public Health if your child’s
record is incomplete. It will tell you what vaccinations your child needs
to meet the requirements for Ontario.
Immunization records are considered
incomplete if:
- Peel Public Health has not received your
child’s vaccination record or
- Your child’s record does not show that
he/she has had all the required doses of
Vaccine (e.g. infant and booster doses) or
you do not have a valid exemption from
immunization for your child.
If you receive a letter, please be sure
your child has received the required
vaccination(s), then give the date(s) to
Peel Public Health immediately to update
your child’s record.
For more information please call Peel
Public Health at 905-799-7700 or visit
www.immunizepeel.ca
KISS AND RIDE and
PARKING at
ST. NICHOLAS
SAFETY BLITZ!
Parents we are kindly
asking you please;
* DO NOT park in the
KISS and RIDE.
* DO NOT exit your car in the KISS and
RIDE.
DO NOT idle your car, idling is now
against the law in Caledon.
* DO NOT park in the side parking lot as
it is reserved for STAFF PARKING
ONLY.
Your co-operation is greatly appreciated.
PUNCTUALITY IS
IMPORTANT
A reminder that school
begins at 9:15 am.
Supervision in the yard
begins at 9:00a.m.
Unfortunately a number of
students are arriving at
school late. This results in considerable
interruptions to our learning community.
Arriving at school on time, and being
prepared to learn helps students with the
formation of good word habits and
provides a positive beginning to the day.
Research has proven that increased time
on task and fewer disruptions to the
DURING LENT LET US PREPARE OURSELVES FOR EASTER
Catholic Education: Building a Caring Community
learning environment help to support improved academic outcomes.
Please review the importance of arriving to school on time with your
child(ren). Your cooperation in support of your child’s learning
experiences is much appreciated.
A reminder to call in your child’s attendance when your child is
absent from school.
LUNCH ROUTINE PROCEDURES FOR LEAVING SCHOOL
In September a form went home to all parents asking whether or not their
child(ren) would be staying for lunch or going home for lunch daily.
Students leaving the school at lunch must sign out when they leave,
and sign in upon their return. If your child stays for lunch, and would
like permission to leave over the lunch hour, written permission must
be given by the parent. These arrangements must be made prior to the
start of the school day. If your child does not have a note, they will
not be permitted to leave the school over the lunch hour. This note
must be shared with the teacher and brought down to the office when
they sign out.
AS SPRING ARRIVES
As spring arrives, we look forward to the
warmer weather and all the changes that brings
about new life and seasonal renewal.
Unfortunately, with warmer weather comes
thaw and mud. Especially for the younger
students, please consider sending your child
with a change of clothes should your
child become wet or muddy and
require a new pair of socks, pants, or
shoes. Please label their clothing. We make every effort to
ensure that your child does not find mud and puddles, but mud
and children are inseparable at times.
MARCH IS NUTRITION MONTH: JOIN OUR CHALLENGE!
Spring is in the air, why not kick it off with some healthy, energizing
new habits. This spring we want to challenge all St Nicholas students to
eat healthy and be healthy by bringing in a daily healthy snack which
contains fruits or vegetables. Fresh sweet and juicy fruits are nature’s
perfects desserts and a crunchy flavourful vegetable will give us both
nutrient and the energy power we need to get us going throughout the
day. So, starting March 7th, have your child bring in fruit or veggie for
their snack.
*Every fruit & veggie brought in daily will get a student one check
mark on a “frequent healthy snacker card”, a completed card will be
entered for a weekly draw.
*A draw for prizes will take place on each Friday of March.
Gulp of tap water to promote the use of
reusable containers and tap water. Go
Treehuggers!
EARTH HOUR / TREE HUGGERS
St. Nicholas students will be celebrating
Earth Hour at school on Friday March
11, 2016 from 1pm to 2pm.
With announcements and a
lights off campaign.
Please support our Tree
Hugger’s efforts to
make a difference in the
world by participating in
Earth Hour. Earth
Hour is at 8:30 PM- 9:30
PM on Saturday, March 19, 2016. Turn
off the lights for an hour and plan a family
activity. More information can be found at
http://earthhour.org/
BRING IN YOUR USED INK
CARTRIDGES!
Thank you St. Nicholas Community for
donating your used ink cartridges. Please
drop off your used ink cartridges in the
box located in the front foyer.
HYGIENE PACK
DRIVE
Our Youth Ambassadors are
asking the St. Nicholas
Community to once again
support our Hygiene Pack Drive. We are
collecting bars of soap, washcloths,
toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste as
well as Ziploc bags. The hygiene kits will
be sent to the needy in Malawi. These kits
are so appreciated by the poor as
personal hygiene is a precious luxury in
Malawi. Please give generously.
TREEHUGGERS
THE GREAT GULP
The great Gulp is Monday March 7, 2016. All
students are asked to bring in a filled reusable water
batter. At 10:45am all students in the school will take a big
DURING LENT LET US PREPARE OURSELVES FOR EASTER
YEARBOOKS!
Our
St.
Nicholas
Yearbooks are back!
The cost is $22. Please
submit payment by
April 22, 2016. Please
complete
the
Life
Touch order forms.
Catholic Education: Building a Caring Community
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FREE THROW COMPETITION
Congratulations Madeline White, in Mrs. Bernardi’s grade 8 class who
won the St. Nicholas free throw competition at St. Michaels’!
DATES AHEAD
ALL STAR A BIG THANK YOU!!
A big thank you to all parent volunteers who helped support our All
Star reading program for the grades 2’s and 3’s this term. Your
dedication and commitment to the students at St. Nicholas is greatly
appreciated. Our new session beginning after the March break will
support the grade 1 students. If you are interested in volunteering
and have a Criminal Reference Check please contact the school by
March 11, 2016.
HOLY FAMILY PARISH NEWS
A reminder to all parents of children in
grades 3, 4, and 5 to come out to Holy Family
Parish and join Holydays. Registration opens
April 9, 2016! The Rooted Program! The
Rooted Program runs on Saturdays from
March 7th to 28th Saturdays from 10:00am
to 11:30 am at Holy Family Church camp will
run from July 4th to August 12th, with 6-one
week sessions. There are two programs, a Kindergarten program
and a grade 1-6 program
MARCH VIRTUE IS KINDNESS
During the month of March, we celebrate the
virtue of “KINDNESS”. God has given us the
gifts of friends and companions to keep us
company and to help us get along.
BULLYING PREVENTION
This month we look at safe strategies students can
use when faced with a bullying situation. Students
can use the ‘3 R’s’ - Recognize bullying
behavior; Refuse to be bullied; Report bullying
behavior.
VIRTUE AWARDS
Congratulations to our January Virtue Catch the Spirit Award
Recipients!
Kindergarten – Olivia M.
Primary –. Alena M.
Junior – Katarina H.
Intermediate – Michael D.
March
3,4
Grade 4-6 Post Confessions Activity
7
Author in the school
David Carrol
grades 4-8
9-10
BECDM Hockey Tournament
9
Grade 5 classes to Silvercreek
11
Share Life Hockey Game
Grades 2/3 to Grade 8
11
ShareLife movie day
Grades Kindergarten – 2
11
Earth Hour at St. Nicholas
14 - 18
March Break No school
18
Feast of St. Joseph the
Patron Saint of Canada
20
Palm Sunday
22-24
Stations of the Cross
Sacred space in the
gym
22-23
Healthy Heart
presentations
25
The Annunciation of Our
Lord
27
Easter
28
Easter Monday
These students received a Virtue T - Shirt for demonstrating and living
the virtues at St. Nicholas school.
DURING LENT LET US PREPARE OURSELVES FOR EASTER