Principal:
Mrs. N. Resendes
Secretary:
V O L U M E
1
I S S U E
8
Mrs. D. OudeReimerink
905-890-1221
Trustee
Mr. S. Xaviour
416-659-5635
Mr. F. Di Cosola
905-951-8898
St. Patrick Parish
Pastor:
Fr. V. Marziliano
905-794-0486
School Council Chair:
Mrs.. C. Oppedisano
School Website:
www. dpcdsb.org/
2 0 1 5
April Newsletter
Mrs. T. Sunseri
Superintendent:
A P R I L
A Springtime Act of Faith
Principal’s message
O God, Creator of the seasons,
March has been a busy month
and we look forward to the many
exciting events happening at our
school in the coming weeks: the
We thank you that Spring is on its way.
Chocolate fundraiser organized
We thank you for the warm air that will
by School Council, the Catholic
awaken sleeping buds and fill our
School Council Retreat on April
world,
Once again, with colour.
14th and the Stations of the
We ask you to be with us as we cele- Cross Presentation on Holy
brate this season.
Thursday at 1:40pm, as always
We believe in Spring, the season of
parents are invited to attend this
seeds and flowers, of buds that burst
reflective and holy presentation.
into leaves,
Of bulbs that burst into tulips,
Of caterpillars that burst into butterflies
and of Jesus who burst from His Grave
and Put death to death!
We believe that life is worth living.
That we were born to sing the birds, to
dance in Spring rain,
To laugh when we are happy to weep
when we are sad,
To live as much as and as well as we
can and to love always.
We believe in Spring,
In seeds that die and are reborn.
We believe in growth.
We believe in life,
In ourselves,
In hope and in joy.
We believe in God.
Amen
As we continue to prepare for
the death and resurrection of Jesus, let us try to keep in our
hearts and minds how we continue to grow in the teachings of
Jesus. Parents are invited to attend our school Easter Mass on
April 8 at 9:30am at St. Patrick’s
Church.
On behalf of the staff of St. Patrick School, we wish you a
blessed and holy Easter Season.
N.Resendes
Principal
PAGE
2
Virtue of the Month– Love
Jesus made one lesson clear above all others– the lesson to Love. Be-
O coming a truly loving person is challenging. It takes prayer and concentra-
tion to get used to making little sacrifices for the good of others. Making
little sacrifices on purpose so that others will have a bit of foot a bit of shelter a bit of peace, a bit of quiet, a bit of fun, a bit of friendship.
Upcoming Changes to the Sacrament of Confirmation
Under Code 891 of the Code of Canon Law,
Confirmation is to be administrated at the
age of discretion unless the Bishops’ Conference has decided on a different age. The
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
have decreed that, in our rite, the sacrament
of Confirmation shall be conferred at an age
determined by the diocese. The Archdiocese
of Toronto has notified us that the elementary school grade for candidates for confirmation is to be moved from Grade 8 to
Grade 7, effective September 8, 2015, in
terms of sacramental preparation. Local pastors have been notified and will advise parishioners of local plans moving forward.
Next School Council
Meeting:
April 14th, 2015 at
6:00 pm
At St. Patrick’s
Church Hall
Followed by School
Council Meeting
(please see enclosed
flyer)
Growing Together in Faith: May 4th-8th, 2015
This year’s Catholic Education week is Exploring Paths of Joy:
The sub-themes for Catholic Education Week 2015 are as follows:
Monday: Walking Together and Sharing our Story
Tuesday: Opening the Scriptures
Wednesday: Welcoming Others to the Table
Thursday: Recognizing Jesus in the Breaking of the Bread
Friday: Proclaiming the Good News
Our Archdiocese is home to five English and one French Catholic school board,
made up of more than 500 schools and close to 300 000 students. We celebrate the tremendous gifts of each one of our students along with all those who
support them on the journey. Each one of us has a role to play. Our parishes
provide a solid foundation, the rock on which we build our faith with priests who
guide and shepherd us on the journey. The home is another critical component
of our faith formation, where parents ensure that the thread of faith is woven
through the family, allowing children to live a faith that acts in all that they do.
Our Catholic teachers provide leadership in our parish schools by following the
example of Jesus Christ, teacher and friend, as we form our young people to be
citizens who are inspired by their faith.
PAGE
3
The Online Reporting Tool
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School board has developed a new way to help nurture a safe, caring
and inclusive school environment. The Online Reporting Tool is intended for students in grades 3 – 8
who become aware of bullying incidents and negative behaviors. The student can simply ‘click’ on the
link found on our school’s website under the “Safe Schools”, tab to fill out the report. The report will then
be directly emailed to the principal and will be dealt with accordingly. Reports made online will not necessarily be kept anonymous. It is important to recognize that the Online Reporting Tool is an alternate reporting option. It is best practice to speak directly with
a responsible adult at home and/or in the school.
EQAO Update
The grade 3 and 6 assessments measure how well
students have met the expectations in the Ontario
Curriculum Grades 1-8. The assessments test what
students know and how well they apply their
knowledge and skills in reading, writing and mathematics in everyday situations by requiring students
to read and respond to passages, to write and to
solve mathematical problems. The results are reported in terms of achievement from levels 1-4 with
level 3, which represent a high level of achievement
as the standard.
The window for EQAO assessments of all grade 3
and 6 students of 2014/2015 has been established
for May 25 to June 5, 2015. Please keep this
important time from in mine when you are planning
family trips or appointments. It is important that all
Grade 3 and 6 students be in attendance for the
assessments.
For further details on our school results improvement plans or students achievement on the provincial assessments visit the Board website at: http://
wwww.dpcdsb.org/EQAO/.
EQAO website:
If parents would like to have their children practice
EQAO questions prior to the test at home, they may
go to www.eqao.ca, click English, then click parent
information. There are assessments available from
previous years as well as the exemplars for marking.
My Blueprint:
my blueprint is an online tool that allows students to build customized high school course plans
and instantly identify the post-secondary opportunities that pertain to their goals. My Blueprint, allows
students access to valuable information for every
post-secondary destination in Canada! - See more
at: www.myblueprint.ca
Chocolate Fundraiser
As you know planning
for our Chocolate
fundraiser is underway. Thank you for
supporting this school
fundraiser and special
thanks to the School
Council for organizing.
Welcome to Kindergarten Information
Evening
All parents who have registered their child
for Junior Kindergarten for September
2014 are invited to attend (with your child–
no siblings please) a “Welcome to Kindergarten” information evening at St. Patrick
on Tuesday, May 6, 2015 @ 6:30pm.
Teachers will be reviewing the Full Day
Kindergarten Program and children will
have an opportunity to experience some
worthwhile activities and to bring home a
bag of useful supplies to practice these activities. We look forward to meeting you!
Parking Lot Safety
Please do not park in the bus lane or anywhere that there are Unauthorized Parking
signs at any time. Buses must be able to
get through. Please park in a parking spot
while waiting for your child. You can also
pick up your children after the buses have
left at the end of the day. When picking up
your children or driving them to school,
never allow them to cross between parked
buses. We want to ensure everyone’s
safety in the parking lot.
At the St. Patrick Feast Day Mass
on March 24, 2015, 1 student
from each division was selected
as having written a noteworthy
prayer in honour of St. Patrick’s
Day. The winning entries are featured here.
Congratulations to the winners
and all of the grade 1-8 students
for their reflective and solemn
contributions.
Primary Division Winning Prayer: Written by Robert (Gr. 3)
St. Patrick Prayer
St. Patrick you are a Shepherd and we are your sheep. You have taught us about
God and the real way to be treated. You are our champion warrior. You showed
us the real God, the Creator of earth. You have showed us how light can come to
us. May you rest in peace o-mighty one. You will be in our heart and we will be in
yours. We will remember what you did for us. We love you and you love us. Teach
us how to be like you. St. Patrick pray for us.
Amen
Junior Division Winning Prayer: Written by Antonio (Gr. 6)
Dear St. Patrick may you pilot us to the palace of God and teach us the Word of
the Lord. Shepard us through life with wisdom and courage and show us the path
to our success. Show us the true power of our one God Jesus.
Amen
Intermediate Division Winning Prayer: Written by Ettore (Gr. 8)
As I grow stronger, I see the light from the Heavens shine down. I see the Sun
and its glory shower upon the people. I feel the power of God, which helps me
grow stronger in the ways of the one true God. Help me to understand the ways
of true faith and happiness and let that light shine upon everyone everywhere.
Amen
A letter from St. Patrick’s Church Pastor:
Fr. Vito Marziliano
Dear parents, students, and school staff:
Blessings of Easter to all of you and all who are dear to
you. It is with great joy that I celebrate with you for the first
time the gift of the Easter Season. I truly look forward to
benefit from the grace in store for all of us as we journey
with Jesus towards the fulfilment of God’s promise of new
beginnings.
One of the greatest blessings that we have all been given
are the children. Along with the challenges of family life, I know that each child is truly
such a gift. In their presence, their words, their actions and their spirit, they help us
focus on what is essential in life.
I am always pleasantly surprised, encouraged and challenged by what they do and
say. Their little words at times have for me a greater meaning than long sermons.
One example: Yesterday, Palm Sunday, as the congregation knelt in one of the
masses, when the Gospel of the Passion was proclaimed and the part was reached
when Jesus died on the cross, a few moments of deep silence were observed. And
then, in the midst of that silence, the voice of a young child was heard loud and
clear: “And now what?”
Those words, that question, said everything to me. Yes, now what? After all is said
and done, after the celebrations have been observed, after First Confession, First
Communion and Confirmation have been celebrated, NOW WHAT? When the Easter
celebrations have been observed, NOW WHAT?
Where do we go from here? How can we translate our words into action? How can
we show our faith in daily life and commitments?
A BLESSED EASTER TO ALL, DEAR FRIENDS.
Fr. Vito Marziliano,
Pastor.
April 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
YFA’s Visit
Caledon
Food Bank
Sub day
5
Easter
12
6
7
8
Easter
Monday
No School
Chess Tournament at
Lester B.
Pearson
Easter Mass
9:30am
Sub Day
13
14
15
First Com- Gr. 8 Retreat Grad Photos
Mt. Alverno
munion
School Coun3pm
1:40pm
Good Friday
Passion Play No School
in the gym
9
10
11
Pizza Day
16
Sub Day
17
18
Pizza Day
cil Retreat
19
26
20
27
21
22
Intermediate
Dance Team
Competes at
Rose Theatre
Sub Day
28
29
9Am Junior
8:45am
Gr. 8 OverVirtues Para- Speech Compe- night Trip to
tition
Montreal
Liturgy
Int. Bball Tournament
23
24
Pizza Day
30
Gr. 8’s in
Montreal
25
St. Patrick’s Catholic
Elementary School Council
Invites all parents of students from the school to our Annual School
Council retreat to be held at:
St Patrick’s Church
11873 The Gore Road Brampton, Ontario L6P 0B2
Tuesday April 14th, 2015
6 to 7pm – light dinner
7 to 8pm – Spiritual Retreat
hosted by Father Vito
8 to 9pm – Council Meeting
RSVP by Friday April 10th, 2015
Return slip with your child by Friday April 10th, 2015
Name: ________________________________________________________
Number of people: ____________________
ONLINE REPORTING TOOL
WE ARE CALLED BY GOD
Help one another. This is what Jesus teaches us. This is what I do. And I do it with my heart.
Pope Francis
Attn: Parents,
In 2013-2014 the Online Reporting tool was developed and piloted in all secondary schools and 13
elementary schools in Dufferin-peel. In accordance with the Catholic Board Learning Plan’s call for
creating catholic conditions for well-being, we are ready to share this tool with all remaining elementary
schools within our board.
The Online Reporting Tool was designed to help promote a positive school climate and is intended for
students who become aware of bullying incidents and negative behaviours impacting the school
community. The Online Reporting Tool will provide an opportunity for students to fill out a report which
will be sent directly to the principals and vice principals on conditions that impact the well-being and
safety of the school environment. The principals and vice principals will be made aware of these
incidents and deal with them accordingly.
Students can simply ‘click’ on the “Online Reporting Tool” link found on their school’s website. They will
be prompted to answer 8 questions and the report will be directly emailed to the school’s principal and
vice principal, if applicable.
It is important to recognize that the Online Reporting Tool is an alternate option. It is best practice to
speak directly with a responsible adult in the school, however, this tool will ensure that the
administration are made aware of incidents including incidents from students who may not have an
opportunity to share.
Note: The Online Reporting Tool is designed for student use. The Online Reporting Tool does not
require the student to leave his/her name, however, anonymity is not guaranteed. The student may be
identifiable based on the nature of the report.
Thank you for your support on ensuring our school communities are safe, accepting and inclusive.
REGISTRATION
Conference Registrations
can be completed by using
Survey Monkey™
at the following link:
Saturday, April 11, 2015.
AGENDA
8:30 a.m.
Registration, Refreshments,
Vendor Market Place
9:00 a.m.
Liturgy and Opening Remarks
9:30 a.m.
Keynote Address: Anne Jamieson
PRESENTS
Catechesis Director, Diocese of Hamilton
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/H7R3PRR
10:30 a.m.
Choose one workshop session to attend.
Deadline for Registration:
Tuesday, April 7, 2015.
CENTRAL COMMITTEE
OF CATHOLIC
SCHOOL COUNCILS
Refreshment Break
Vendor Marketplace
MOVE TO WORKSHOP SESSIONS . . .
11:00 a.m.
Worksop Sessions [Attend one of eight sessions]
12:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks and Door Prizes
12:15 p.m.
Vendors open to Conference
participants until 12:45 p.m.
Recognizing Jesus
in the
Breaking of the Bread
Conference & Marketplace
Extraordinary Lives
Start with a Great
Catholic Education
For more information on the Central
Committee of Catholic School Councils
in Dufferin-Peel CDSB,
visit http://www.dpcdsb.org/CCCSC/
St. Joseph Catholic
Secondary School
for Dufferin-Peel CDSB
Catholic School Council
Chairs, Members, Volunteers,
and School Administrators
5555 Creditview Road, Mississauga, ON
Saturday, April 11, 2015.
Located on Creditview Road,
just north of Bristol Rd., south of Britannia
St. Joseph Secondary School
5555 Creditview Road, Mississauga
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Anne Jamieson
Family Matters: Exploring Paths of Joy
Anne Jamieson, Director of Catechesis, Diocese of Hamilton.
Anne has also worked in Toronto for the Ministry of Community
and Social Services and as an elementary school teacher with
Waterloo CDSB for 14 years. She holds a degree in teaching, her
Masters of Catholic Thought from St. Jerome’s in Waterloo, and
is now a doctoral candidate at University of Toronto School of
Theology. Author of several print and online resources, she is
also currently involved with Pearson Publishing as an advisor for
the new Religious Education provincial program. Anne, with her
husband, David, and their four children, aged 9 to 19, live and
work the Jamieson’ family farm, the 7th generation to do so.
Family matters … of course, it does! “Family matters” means “family
counts.” But “matters” also means “is the subject of”, “the material
of”, “the stuff it’s made of.” Exploring Paths of Joy means recognizing
Christ in the midst of what makes our lives - often small moments of
waking, of breaking of the bread, of work, of play, of failing and of
turning back to one another in love. Anne, a wife and mother of four
children, a former teacher and author, shares stories of her own
family’s joys and challenges of family living. Come to be refreshed
and encouraged that real families – including your own family - are
already on the path of joy in the midst of everyday living and Christ as
always, is also there to journey with us.
WORKHOP SESSIONS
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
A
Faith Based School Initiatives & Youth Ministry
Presenter: J. McLevey, Chaplaincy Leader, St. Joan of Arc S.S.
Involvement in faith-based school initiatives and Youth Ministry is really
coming alive in our schools and churches. More and more students are
choosing to explore their Catholic identities, what it means and what it looks
like. This interactive workshop equips parents with an understanding of what
youth ministry is, what makes it successful, and strategies to keep your
child(ren) connected to their faith. We continue to build the connection
between home, school and church by promoting the message of accepting
and serving others through outreach, mentoring, etc. Our youth are
encouraged and guided to develop select
and live their Catholic identities. Students
must be given opportunities to network and share their stories in order to
make valuable and lasting connections to their faith.
10
B
Tweet This! Blog That!
Presenter: D. Fendley, Elementary Teacher, St. Valentine School
Today’s 21st century learner is digitally connected. Discover how you can
be digitally connected to today’s 21st century learner. You will be
presented with evidence on how social media is being used within the
classroom as an educational tool and, as a result, how you can connect to
the 21st century child’s learning experience at any time and from
anywhere. Class Blogs, Twitter, Skype, Instagram, Padlet and Today’s
Meet are all ways to develop literacy, numeracy and media skills.
Curriculum is alive is all over the Twitterverse – come and be part of it.
C
Exploring How myBlueprint™ Helps the Transition into
Secondary School (Grades 7 – 8)
Presenters: E. Fijan, Elementary Teacher, St. Albert of Jerusalem
S. Murray, Elementary Teacher, St. Joseph School (Mississauga)
Helping your child select the right secondary courses, which will ultimately
prepare him or her for post-secondary education, can be a daunting task.
This workshop will demonstrate how the on-line “myBlueprint” program
helps Grade 7 and 8 students prepare for high school, choose the right
courses, and take all the right steps to become successful in their chosen
pathways. Please bring your Smart Phone or similar device to the session.
D
F
With direct access from home, parents can get more informed and
involved with their child’s education. myBlueprint, an Education Planner,
lets your child create an engaging and interactive Education Plan. They
can build customized high school course plans, instantly identify the postsecondary options that are available to them and explore valuable
information about apprenticeships, college programs, university programs
and workplace opportunities across Canada. Log in and learn about
courses, graduation requirements and the endless options available to
your child. From their Profile, your child will be able to set goals, save
unlimited plans, short-list programs and occupations of interest, record
extra-curricular activities and more. Please bring your Smart Phone or
similar device to the session.
Mental Well-Being:
Support for Students Facing
Challenges with Anxiety (Session sponsored by Dufferin-Peel
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC))
Presenters: J. Golla – Principal, Bishop Scalabrini School, Mississauga;
Dr. S. Sweet – Clinical Child Psychologist & Mental Health Liaison for
DPCDSB; Dr. C. Jenning – Psychologist, DPCDSB; S. Wessler – Social
Worker, DPCDSB
Special Education: A Ministry of Education Perspective
on Supports for Students with Differing Abilities
(Session sponsored by Dufferin-Peel Special Education
Advisory Committee (SEAC))
Presenters: C. Anco - Education Officer, Toronto and Area Regional
Office, Field Services Branch, Ministry of Education
Z. Xu – Education Officer, Special Education Policy and
Programs Branch, Ministry of Education
This session is provided for parents/guardians of students with differing
abilities including special education learning needs. Staff from the
Ontario Ministry of Education's Regional Office and Special Education
Policy and Programs Branch, along with Dufferin-Peel Staff, will bring a
provincial context for special education and support services aligned
with Board programs and services.
Navigating Secondary School and Beyond with your Child
… an Introduction to myBlueprint™, Education Planner
(Grades 9 – 12)
Presenter: F. Littlejohn, Guidance Counsellor, Father Michael Goetz S.S.
E
In response to the Ministry of Education’s Mental Health and Addictions
Strategy aligned to the Catholic Board Learning Plan (CBLP), DufferinPeel is committed to creating safe, caring, inclusive and healthy school
communities. Through a team approach, a team including an
administrator and psychology and social work staff, will facilitate a
workshop on the needs of students presenting with anxiety. This
session will provide an overview of anxiety and the team process
educators/parents/guardians may use to support students facing
mental health challenges.
Understanding and Managing Asthma
G
Presenter: D. Feldman, Registered Respiratory Therapist &
Certified Respiratory and Tobacco Educator, The Lung
Association, Ontario
Respiratory Educators on The Lung Association’s Lung Health
Information Line often hear “My asthma or my child’s asthma is mild.”
While that may be true, all forms of asthma need to be taken seriously
whether it is mild, moderate or severe. The overall goal of managing
asthma is to learn how to control it. If asthma symptoms are getting in
the way of participating in activities, then asthma may not be well
managed. This session will focus on: what asthma is the symptoms
control guidelines triggers and avoidance strategies medications –
what they do and correct inhaler technique importance of a written
action plan.
H
Math Matters!
Presenters: P. Williams, Coordinator - Math K - 8, DPCDSB
K. Williams, Consultant, DBCDSB
Today's math class is a lot different than the one you might remember.
Come have some fun with us and explore some of the math your children
are learning and how they are learning it. We will explore the
mathematical processes and dispel some myths around the
mathematics curriculum, discuss how you can support your child at
home and, more importantly, do some math!
2015
y
a
d
s
Tue
Peel Regional Police
–
4
2
.
MAR . 14
APR
LIMITED SEATING
REGISTER TODAY
TUESDAY EVENINGS
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
FREE
EMIL V. KOLB CENTRE
FOR POLICE EXCELLENCE
COMMUNITY ROOM
180 Derry Road East
Mississauga
905-453-2121
ext .
4021
REGISTER
ON-LINE
peelpolice.ca/en/crimeprevention/cyberacademy.asp
www.peelpolice.ca
select
Crime Prevention • Academies & Seminars
Cyber Academy
* All 4 sessions MUST be attended
to receive certificate
P
CYBER Academy
eel Regional Police have developed a breakthrough concept in crime prevention, the CYBER Academy. The crime
prevention experts at Peel Regional Police have designed a certificate program* that will help keep you, your children
and families safe while using the Internet. During this course, you will learn the basics of:
MARCH 24
MARCH 31
P INTRODUCTION
P
P SOCIAL MEDIA
P CYBER–BULLYING
- social networking (facebook)
At The Click Of A Mouse
(bullying on digital mediums,
computer, cell phone, records,
evidence)
APRIL 07
P COMPUTER SECURITY
(passwords, firewalls, viruses,
spam)
INTERNET
CHILD EXPLOITATION
- child pornography
- on-line luring
- cyber-dating
P MEDIA ADDICTION
Are You Hooked?
APRIL 14
P CYBER–FRAUD
Unlocking The Secrets
(identity theft, phishing,
electronic banking, credit
checks, mail tampering)
P DISCUSSION &
FEEDBACK
P MEDIA DISTRACTION
DUE TO SUBJECT MATTER PARTICIPANTS MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE & OVER