March 2016 Newsletter
St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Catholic Elementary School
6930 Forest Park Drive, Mississauga, ON L5N 6X7
Ph. 905-785-0066 Fax: 905-785-0075
Board web site: www.dpcdsb.org
School web site: www.dpcdsb.org/TCHLD
Lent
God and Father or all,
In your infinite love you created us to reveal your glory.
Each time we have sinned and turned away from you, you have
called us back to the tender embrace of your love.
In the fullness of time, you sent Jesus to be our Redeemer, and
through his death and resurrection you have reconciled us to
yourself.
During this Season of Lent, give us courage to stand against evil and
to choose always the path of life. Teach us to forgive one another.
Inspire us to reach out with compassion to our brothers and sisters
in need. Review within us a deeper commitment to the works of
justice and peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Virtue of the Month- Kindness
Scripture reminds us that, without love, nothing we do matters. The Golden Rule,
‘Treat others as you would like to be treated,’ is at the heart of Jesus’ teachings.
We may come from different cultural backgrounds and speak different
languages, but a smile sends a message that everyone understands. All that we
have is a gift from God, but it is in giving that we receive, because we experience
God each day in the people around us.
Principal:
C. Jack
Vice-Principal:
C. Sforza
Administrative Assistants:
J. Lusk, J. Hube
Catholic School Council Chair:
Elizabeth Cardoso
Superintendent of
Mississauga North:
T. Cruz
905-890-1221
Trustee Ward 9 & 10
Esther O’Toole
905-812-5163
Parish Information
Website:
http://www.saintjohnofthecross.com/
Mass Times:
Saturday: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m./10:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m./4:00 p.m.
Parish Mission Statement
"As members of the St. John of the
Cross Parish Community, we
acknowledge that all we are and all we
have are gifts from God. We take
ownership of these gifts which are
time, talent and treasure. We will use
them in the service of our community
and encourage others in the
community to do the same”.
People of Kindness…
 Are gentle and sensitive to others
 Always look for ways to be helpful
 Say nice things about others from the heart
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Stick up for people who are picked on
Refuse to join in when others are being mean
Are generous with their time and talents
Cooperate and work well in a team
Avoid being mean or bossy
Together in Faith
Stations of the Cross
On March 24, 2016 we will be gathering in the gym for the re-enactment of the
Stations of the Cross. All parents are welcome to join us for this special
celebration. Thank you to Mrs. Firhoj and Mrs. Abbott for planning this special
event.
Youth Faith Ambassadors
The Youth Faith Ambassadors kicked off February with raising awareness for the
Heart and Stroke Foundation by collecting toonie donations. The “Hearts in
Motion Dance” on February 9, 2016 was a big success raising $700.00 that will go
to this worthwhile cause.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus staff and students recognized Pink Shirt Day on
February 26- a national celebration that centred around diversity and equity.
School Procedures
Inclement Weather and Transportation
With the winter season here there are occasions, due to inclement weather or
other emergency situations that buses may have to be cancelled. Information
regarding bus cancellation and other emergency information announcements
can be obtained by listening to the radio stations or by visiting
www.STOPR.com or the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board website:
www.dpcdsb.org
CKFM- 99.9 FM
CHIN- 100.7 FM. 1540 AM
CHUM- 1050 AM
CJCL- 590 AM
CFTR- 680 AM
CHFI- 9801 FM
JACKFM- 92.5
CBC- 740 AM
CIAO- 530AM
CFNY- 102.1
CFRB- 1010 AM
DC- 103 FM
CHAY-93FM
Q107- 10701 FM
CJMR- 1250 AM
TALK640- 640
CHEZ ZP7.3
CJBC (Fr.)- 86 AM
Season of Lent
Lent consists of two parts: the
first being the forty days between
Ash Wednesday and Passion
Sunday (Palm Sunday). The
second part of Lent is the time of
Passiontide or Holy week. This
year the Liturgical Season of Lent
begins on Wednesday, February
10, 2016 - Ash Wednesday.
What does the word “Lent” mean?
Why have we given this name to
the time of preparation before
Easter? Lent comes from an old
word meaning “springtime.”
During the spring of the year,
daylight increases, trees begin to
bud and flowers start to appear.
The new life that comes to the
world each spring is like the
renewal of life that comes when
we pray and try harder to follow
Jesus.
Let us embark on this faith journey
together.
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Flexible Boundary Procedure
Flex boundary is only given under special circumstances. If permission is
granted:
 Transportation is your responsibility. The Board will not provide either
transportation or additional supervision for students admitted under
this procedure for attendance and will be reviewed by the Principal no
later than the end of March.
 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 for the 2016/2017
school year, please put your request in writing by Tuesday March 29, 2016.
Confirmations for Flex Boundary will be sent out in May.
DETERMINING CLASS PLACEMENT FOR SEPTEMBER 2016
The staff of St. Therese of the Child Jesus School will meet in the spring to begin
discussing appropriate placement for each student for September 2016. When
determining placement some of the criteria we consider are academic ability,
individual work habits and study skills, maturity, date of birth, social factors,
and placement history. We aim for classes that have a balance of gender, ability
and behavioral needs. As you know your child best, we appreciate your input
concerning special needs for your son or daughter. With this in mind, if you
have concerns about your child’s class placement for September 2016, we ask
that you put your concerns in writing. A ‘Parent Request for Class Placement
Form’ will be provided in the March newsletter for this purpose. A new form is
to be completed each year as we do not retain requests from one year to the
next. Parents/Guardians are asked to include in your request the strengths and
needs of your child along with a description of his/her learning style. You may
wish to include the type of learning environment in which your child has
experienced the most success. Please do not make specific requests for
teachers as staffing is always tentative and changes can and often do take place
between the time of tentative class placement and September.
ARE YOU MOVING?
To help us with our planning for next September, it would be appreciated if you
could let us know now, if you will be moving out of our school area over the
summer. If you know of any families moving into the area with children who
plan to attend St. Therese of the Child Jesus, it would be helpful if you could
alert us. The more information we have, the better we are able to organize staff
and students for September. In the absence of accurate information, schools
Cold and Flu Season
Please use discretion in keeping
your child home to recover if they
are ill. A child who is coughing,
wheezing, vomiting or with fever,
is not in a state to learn and risks
infecting others. As well, if your
child is well enough to attend
school, they should be well
enough to go outside at recess in
supervised areas.
Safe and Appropriate
Play in the Winter
Months
When the snow falls it is easy to
get caught up in the excitement of
winter, but it is often hard to
remember safe activity over the
temptation of snow throwing or
unsafe or unfair play. Some of our
safe and considerate play
expectations include not throwing
snow balls, showing respect for
other people’s snow forts, and
staying off of the snow hills. If
everyone follows these simple
rules, then everyone can play safe
during our winter months.
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often have to reorganize classes in September due to unexpected fluctuations
in population. All we need is a quick note or call. Thanks!
Safety First
Slippery Pathways
Please be reminded to be very cautious when using the city pathways that lead
into the back of the school property in the winter. These areas sometimes take
some time to clear of snow and ice. If these paths are not cleared please use
Summerheights Dr. sidewalks and enter the school property from the front of
the school property on Forest Park Dr.
Community Corner
Black History Month
The Youth Faith Ambassadors initiated a celebration of “Black History by
promoting diversity and inclusivity for all at St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The
focus centred around Martin Luther King’s Dream and students engaged in
classroom discussions about their dreams for the future. The Intermediate
students participated in shared reading activities with the primary students
focusing on themes around Black History. All students were also part of the
Black History presentation which was a combination of story telling and musical
accompaniment.
Stay Warm on your
Walk
As students make their way to the
school in the morning, please make
sure:
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Math Night for Parents
St. Therese of the Child Jesus hosted a Math Night for Parents, on February 18,
2016 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. This is an evening for all parents to better understand
the Mathematics curriculum, as well as see how your students’ math classes are
conducted. Funding for this presentation was provided through our School
Council PRO Grant. Thank you to all parents who joined us for this very
informative evening.
Extended French Speeches
On Friday February 12, 2016 we had the Extended French Speeches
In the gym at St. Therese of the Child Jesus. We had the Junior speeches
In the morning and the Intermediate speeches in the afternoon. They were all
well done and it was a very difficult decision for our judges.
The winners were:
Junior Extended French; Kyra D. from Madame Prifti
Junior Immersion: Amelia H. from Madame Parent
Junior Francophone: Kara P. from Madame Prifti
Intermediate Extended French: Maija T. from Mrs. Abbott
Intermediate Immersion: Brogan N. from Mrs. Abbott
Intermediate Francophone: Kendall P. from Mr. Knapp
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Keep hands and head
covered to prevent heat
loss
On really cold days wear a
scarf over your face and
mouth
Wear warm, waterproof
boots
Wear a warm coat that
deflects the wind
Woolen clothing helps to
retain heat
Wear clothing or carry
knapsacks with reflective
material- it’s important to
be seen.
Allergy Awareness
There are a number of students at our
school that have a severe life
threatening allergy. Due to the
severity of allergies within our school,
we ask that parents not send in food
items to share with classmates, not
even during special occasions such as
birthdays or Valentine’s Day
festivities. Please choose stickers,
pencils, etc. We will not be permitting
any food items to be brought into a
classroom to share in order to keep all
of our students safe!
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Clubs, Teams and Sport News.
Junior Boys Basketball Team
Congratulations to a great season for the Junior Boys Basketball Team. The boys
faced tough competition and handled all situations with determination and great
sportsmanship. A special thank you to parent volunteer, Coach Miller for your
dedication and especially your time in coaching our boys! Way to go Thunder!
Junior Girls Basketball Team
Congratulations to the Junior Girls Basketball Team on their dedication,
perseverance, and motivation which led them to the tournament at the Board
level. We are so proud of the progress each team member has made along with
their determination and sportsmanship! A very special thank-you to Mrs.
Mendoza our parent volunteer for her time, effort, and continuous dedication
to our team. Way to Go Thunder!
EQAO Provincial Assessment
GRADE THREE AND GRADE SIX EQAO/ PROVINCIAL ASSESSMENT
Each year grade three and grade six students in Ontario are assessed in reading,
writing and mathematics. The Education Quality and Accountability Office
(EQAO) has developed the assessment that is used in all schools. This year at St.
Therese of the Child Jesus School the dates for the Primary and Junior Division
Assessments will take place between May 25 and June 8, 2016. Kindly avoid
booking dental, doctor and other appointments, vacation or activities during
the test period in order to support maximum participation by all students.
More information for grade 3 and 6 parents will follow with exact dates and
times.
After School Tutoring
The After School Tutoring Club provides students in grades three and six with
additional support that will help them feel comfortable and confident in their
knowledge and skills as they prepare for their EQAO test. Classroom teachers
will be sending out information very shortly.
Dates to Remember
March 4- Diversity Conference for Gr. 7/8 YFAs
March 7- Viola Gr. 5 class trip to Silvercreek
March 8- Board Level Extended French Speech Competition
March 10- Parent and Kasza Gr. 5 class trip to Silvercreek
March 13- Daylight Savings Time Begins
March 14-18-March Break
March Break
March Break runs from March 14
to March 18 inclusive. A reminder
that school is closed during this
week. We hope everyone has a
safe, restful, and joyful March
Break!
Extended French
Thank you to everyone who
applied for the Extended French
program, letters will be going
home to notify students of their
placement in the program and
asking for verification of
acceptance into the program. The
French Connection Francaise, a
mentoring program for the grade 5
EF students will again be taking
place. Students are being
nominated to be mentors at this
time, and will soon begin their
training.
Welcome to
Kindergarten…
Welcome to Kindergarten, and
evening where parents and children
entering JK can come and meet the
teachers and staff at St. Therese will
take place on May 10, 2016 from
6:30-8:00 pm.
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March 21-24-Holy Week
March 22-Virtues Assembly
March 24- Holy Thursday Stations of the Cross
March 25- Good Friday No school
March 27-Easter Sunday
March 28- Easter Monday No school
March 29- Gr. 7 Confirmation Retreat @ Camp Brebeuf
April 5- Gr. 8 Confirmation Retreat @ Camp Brebeuf
April 7-Easter Mass 9:30 a.m.
April 11- Professional Development Day –No school
Internet Safety
Internet has become part of our daily lives and students use internet at school
to support their learning. The following Internet Tips are being shared with you
to review with your children.
TIPS
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Get involved. Learn and follow what your children are doing online.
Use a filtering software to protect your child from potentially harmful
sites and programs.
Have computers in common areas where they can be easily supervised.
Ensure games your child is playing are appropriate for their age group.
Assist your child with creating usernames and passwords that aren’t
easily identifiable.
Limit the amount fo time your child spends online
Your child should NOT be communicating in online Chat Rooms. A
supervised and regulated MSN Messnger account is acceptable.
Explain to your child that pictures should not be taken and or received
online.
Inform your children about the negative effect an online profile (like
Facebook) can have on their life. Check out nsteens.org for a cool and
informative video regarding profile penalty.
For more information regarding internet safety, visit these websites:
www.kidsintheknow.com
www.cybertip.ca
www.mediaawareness.ca
The Trials of Alice In Wonderland
The Trials of Alice in Wonderland is well underway and the students are busy
learning lines and practicing. The performances will be on May 3rd and May 4th
2016. Ticket sales will be in April. If anyone has access to costumes for Alice in
Wonderland characters please contact the office.
Catholic School
Council
Upcoming Meeting
Dates
April 14, 2016 @ 7pm
May 12, 2016 @ 7pm
June 9, 2016 @ 7pm
ARE YOU MOVING?
Soon, we will be in 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 let the
school know by calling the Main
Office.
Marketplace Parent
Event
Central Committee of Catholic
School Councils will be hosting their
annual CCCSC Inservice and
Marketplace parent Event on
April 9, 2016 at St. Joseph
Secondary School.
Each year, as part of this event there
are a number of vendors and
exhibitors who are invited to share
their products and services with the
parents.
Please see flyer for more details!
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Parent Input for Class Placement Form: 2016-2017 School Year
March 2016
C. Jack
Principal
St. Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Elementary School
Re:
Consideration for Class Placement for my Son / Daughter
September 2016
Dear Ms. Jack:
I understand that the staff of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Elementary School will soon begin the
process of determining class placement for September 2016. Kindly take into account the following
information when making a decision about my child’s class placement.
Child’s Name:
____________________________
Child’s Present Teacher:
____________________________
My son / daughter has experienced the most success in the following learning environment: (please touch
upon the factors in a learning environment that are relevant to your child’s class placement, i.e.: teacher’s
instructional style, peer relationships, child’s learning style, etc.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I understand that it will not be possible to respond to all requests but that staff will take into account the
information provided above and that this information will form part of the decision.
____________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
____________________________
Date
Please submit this form to C. Jack by March 31, 2016.
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