ST. URSULA SCHOOL
December 2015 Newsletter
“Where Wisdom Begins In Faith and Wonder”
The mission of St. Ursula school community is to ensure that home, Church and school are collaborative partners in
the building of an environment that reflects Catholic faith and values by celebrating each person as a member
of the Body of Christ and by challenging all to achieve excellence spiritually, socially and academically.
St. Ursula
11 Dwellers Road
Brampton, Ontario
L6X 5C1
Telephone:
905-454-5213
Fax:
905-454-7843
S.Wolfe
Principal
M. Miller
Vice-Principal
G. Galati
Head Secretary
C. Tavares
Assistant Secretary
S. Steer
Superintendent
905-890-1221
D. D’Souza
Trustee
905-840-2707
St. Anne Parish
905-453-1303
Pastor
Fr. J. Cherickal
Lord God
We come to you with excited and grateful hearts
Thank you for this Advent time.
It’s exciting as we get closer to Christmas!
And it’s good for us to slow down
And enjoy each other more.
Fill us with your peace.
Make us better people.
Teach us to appreciate each other more deeply.
Make us aware that you walk with us each day.
Help us to be grateful and joyful.
Make our hearts strong and brave and generous.
These blessings I ask of you Lord during this Advent season.
Amen.
HEADLINES
This month we celebrate the virtue of “HOPE”. We understand that both the world and
its people are from God, and essentially good. The Advent season allows us to focus our
minds and hearts on the good all around us. We are reminded that God chose to send his
Son to us because we are worth it. God knows how great we can be when we all come
together. People of Hope: Keep a positive attitude; Set and stick to their goals; Work to
include others; Can bounce back from tough situations; See the good in others even when
they make mistakes; Let others know that they are good people.
Throughout the four weeks of Advent, there is a focus on preparing for the birth of Christ.
The word “Advent” itself means, “Jesus is coming”. In this time of waiting, we hear the
story leading up to Jesus’ birth, and are reminded of the significance of this season within
the framework of our Catholic faith. As each of the four candles on the Advent wreath
are lit, we witness the growing circle of light revealing Jesus as the light of the world.
We light a candle of HOPE – God wants us to work for the good in the world.
We light a candle of PEACE – The “Prince of Peace” is present among us.
We light a candle of JOY – God fills us with His joy so we may share it with others.
We light a candle of LOVE – May God be our guide to love one another.
We would like to personally thank each of you for your continued support, co-operation
and commitment in working together. We look forward to our continued partnership in
the year ahead, and extend our faith-filled blessings to every family for a holy and
peaceful Christmas. S. Wolfe Principal
M. Miller- Vice Principal
SCHOOL OPERATIONS
FAITH DEVELOPMENT
Christmas Break
Reconciliation
Just a reminder that the last day of school
before the Christmas break is Friday
December 18tht. Classes will resume on
Monday January 4th.
Fr. Francisco and several other
Priests joined us at St. Ursula to provide the sacrament
of Reconciliation on November 27th.This is for all
students who have received the sacrament of the Holy
Eucharist.
APPLAUSE!
Wonderful partnerships have been built
through a sustainable home-school-parish
team approach. We are extremely grateful for all those
who go above and beyond in making St. Ursula School
a safe, caring and positive place to be!
Advent Mass
On Wednesday December 9th at 11:00 a.m. we will
focus on the season of Advent, through the celebration
of mass with Fr. Francisco in our school gym. All
parents/guardians are welcome to attend.
Operation Christmas Shoeboxes
* The commitment of the St. Ursula Staff, giving so
much time, care and support to your children!
* The faith leadership of Fr. Francisco, and the
pastoral team at St. Anne parish!
* For the dedication of the School Council, for
representing the best interests of your children!
* For our Faith Ambassador “Ursulights” who lead
and model our faith and social outreach projects!
* Our student helpers, Door Monitors, Recyclers,
Classroom assistants, ECO reps., Sound Crew, and
Choir!
* To our PLASP supervisors, Ms. Sahai and Ms.
Rashid and to our bus drivers and crossing guard!
* To our lunchroom supervisors Mrs.Konings, Mrs.
D’Sa, and Mrs. Bell. Thanks for all you do!
* For the continued support of Sue Steer, our
superintendent of Brampton West and our Trustee
Darryl D’Souza.
Primary Christmas Concert FDK-Gr.3
On December 16th we will be having a
Primary Christmas Concert for our FDK to 33. Our 3/
Grade 3 classes organized by Mrs.Cheaney and Mrs.
Fairclough. Parents/guardians are invited to join us that
attend from 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m.in the gym. Popcorn
sales will begin at 6:30 and we are asking all to donate
a non- perishable food item for our Food Drive. We
will be cramming the cruiser the next day,
December17th. We will also have a school presentation
from 10:00a.m.-11:00a.m. that same day. All are
welcome 
Last year’s success with Operation Christmas was such
a great success that we once again participated in this
Social Outreach initiative. We congratulate everyone
who contributed to filling the shoeboxes or helping
with postage as we delivered 55 shoeboxes to be sent
to Third World countries. We can be assured that there
will be many happy children on Christmas Day, as a
result of the generosity of St. Ursula School.
Holiday Sing –a-long December 18th
On the last day of school before we break, the tradition
at St. Ursula is our annual Christmas sing-a-long. The
Girls Club, Mrs. Policelli and Mr. Atkinson will
organize this event which will take place at 1:15 p.m.
Parents are welcome to join!
Year of Faith
Pope Benedict XV1 proclaimed a Year of
Faith, beginning on October 11, 2012. We are called
to give ourselves more fully to God by professing our
faith in Jesus Christ. By following the 7 Faith Habits,
we can be assured that we are bearing witness to the
light of Christ.
Habit 1: Offer a prayer at mealtime.
Habit 2: Reach out to help a neighbor in need.
Habit 3: Savor a few minutes of daily silence.
Habit 4: Call upon the saints.
Habit 5: Ask for God’s blessing each morning.
Habit 6: Give thanks to God each night.
Habit 7: Receive the Holy Eucharist for strength and
Nourishment.
PROGRAM & CURRICULUM
AROUND THE HALLS
Reporting to Parents
Intermediate Girls and Boys Volleyball
First term reports will be sent home on
February 2nd. Parent/Teacher interviews will be
arranged for every student, which will take place on the
evening of February 4th and in the daytime of February
5th.Please know that you are encouraged to contact
your child’s teacher if you have any questions or
concerns at any time.
P.A. Day
As a result of the new timelines for reporting, there
will be a P.A. Day on Monday January 18th. This day
is allocated for staff to work on assessment and
evaluation.
Congratulations to the Volleyball teams, for
their fine efforts this season. Both teams are to be
commended for their dedication and skill development.
Thank you for your fine display of sportsmanship and for
representing St. Ursula School. Thanks to all the coaches,
Mrs. Basiukiewicz, Mrs. McCallen, Mrs. Fairclough and
Mr. Merino. Thank you also to Mr. Atkinson for
convening tournaments.
Full-Day Kindergarten Registration for 2016-2017
Registration for Full-Day Kindergarten will take place
at St. Ursula on the following days:
Monday January 25th 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Snow Date: Tuesday January 26th
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, January 27th,
28th and 29th. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
To register your child, please bring the following:
• proof of child’s birth and age
• Catholic baptismal certificate for child/parent
• immunization records for your child
• Landed immigrant papers if not a Canadian citizen
• proof of home address
• proof of English Separate School Support (may be
done at time of registration)
Please note: There will be an information session for
parents of children with special needs such as vision,
hearing, physical, and developmental or autism, who
are entering into JK or SK in September 2016. The
information session will be held at the Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District School Board – Catholic Education
Centre (40 Matheson Blvd. West) on January 12th,
2016 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 301. Parents are reminded
to register their child here at the school in order to plan
for a successful entry into school.
Extended French Information Meeting
Grade 4 parent(s)/guardian(s) who wish to enroll their
child in a Grade 5 Extended French class for
September 2016 are invited to attend an information
meeting at:
St. Anne School
124 Godden Street, Brampton
Tuesday January 13, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Transportation is provided for eligible students in the
program if they attend the school for their region.
Winter Lights @ Cassie Campbell
Students from out choir will be performing at “Winter
Lights” celebration on Friday December 4th at 10:30
p.m. You are invited to come out to Cassie Campbell to
support our choir. Various acts from Brampton
Northwest will take place throughout the day! This is a
great way to join in the Christmas cheer. Thanks to Mrs.
Fairclough, Mrs. Cheaney, Mrs. Workman and Mr.
Briganti and Mrs. Basiukiewicz for organizing and
supervising this event. Thanks to our joyous Choir as
well!
St. Ursula Choir &The CBC Challenge
The St. Ursula choir has been busy
practicing their songs for their upcoming contest. This
year the junior/intermediate choir will be participating in
“CBC’s Greatest Music Class” competition. The choir
will be singing a preselected song and submitting it on
CBC’s YouTube page. The choir will also be submitting
band photo. Good luck to the Choir during this exciting
opportunity. Thanks to Mrs. Workman, Mrs.Cheany and
Mrs. Fairclough for all of the work with the choir.
School Play- You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown
This year the St. Ursula is proud to announce that they
will be performing “You’re a Good Man Charlie
Brown.” The auditions have just been complete and a
cast has been chosen. The play will be performed at the
end of February. Stay tuned for more information.
Christmas Sweater Day
On Thursday December 10th all staff and students are
welcome to wear their most creative/funky or craziest
Christmas sweater to school. All students and staff are
asked to donate a $ 1.00 and with the proceeds we will
help needy families in the area during this Christmas
season. Prizes will be awarded to the most outrageous
sweater. Be a part of the Christmas cheer and wear your
best Christmas sweater!
HEALTH & SAFETY
TRAFFIC SAFETY
To ensure the safety of everyone and prevent the risk
of accidents, please follow the appropriate signs and
road markings to maintain a smooth flow of traffic
through the school parking lot and the Kiss & Ride
lane. This will also alleviate anyone entering the
parking area from the exit driveway and coming upon a
car traveling in the opposite direction. Please note:
Cars cannot be left parked in the Kiss & Ride lane
or al the front of the school.
Peanuts and Nut Allergies
Thank you for your cooperation in helping to
keep our school “allergen aware”. Due to the stringent
anaphylaxis policies based on Sabrina’s Law, we
continue to ask that you not send any food to school
containing nuts and peanuts i.e. peanut butter,
peanut/nut byproducts etc. Board policy now prohibits
any food or beverages being consumed outside in the
schoolyard. Students are permitted to eat their lunch
and snacks in the classroom, and are encouraged not to
share food items.
Indoor Shoes
Winter is fast approaching! To keep students
warm and comfortable, and our workplace clean,
please ensure your child has a pair of “indoor shoes”.
This is also a safety request. In the event of a fire
alarm, all occupants must vacate the building
regardless of the weather (without time to put on boots
or outdoor shoes).
Flu Season
To reduce or prevent the spread of the flu, it is
important to use certain measures such as washing
hands, cough and sneeze etiquette, eating nutritiously,
getting plenty of sleep and staying home when ill.
Custodial staff help prevent the spread of disease
through protocols such as: cleaning hard surfaces,
washrooms being cleaned and disinfected, paper is
stocked, and soap dispensers are checked/and filled.
Hand sanitizers are also placed in the office and
library.
We do not allow children to stay inside at recess if they
are feeling sick. Only under extreme circumstances
may a child stay inside when a doctor’s note has been
provided.
LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS AT LUNCH
Your children may be asking you permission to leave the
school at lunch to go to local fast food restaurants that
have opened up in the area.
Please note that we do not encourage
students to leave school at lunch as your child is not
supervised when they leave school property.
There is not a teacher with them as some students may
have indicated. Also, students are walking on Bovaird (a
highway) where there is heavy traffic that travels at a
high speed, and there is an ongoing construction in the
area. In the event you do allow your child to leave
school at lunch, a parent note, dated and signed must be
submitted, which indicates that you are taking
responsibility for your child at lunch.
COUNCIL’S CORNER
Next School Council Meeting
The next scheduled School Council meeting will take
place on Wednesday January 6th. Meetings take place in
the school library and begin at 7:00 p.m. Come and learn
about the great work of our School Council!
SCHOOL COUNCIL FOOD DAYS
Mondays are Sub Days
Wednesdays are Pita Days
Fridays are Pizza Day.
Please refer to the handout for all exact dates.
Shortly you will receive lunch order forms for Sub and
Pizza days for 2016. This order form will cover from
January to March. Order forms are due back before
Christmas holidays so that the lunch programs can begin
as school returns in January.
MacMillan’s Fundraiser
School Council has organized a cookie & muffin dough
fundraiser through MacMillan’s. The orders will arrive
on December 11th and can be picked up in the day and
the evening until 7:00 p.m. Please make arrangements to
pick up your order that day or evening.
COMMUNITY
Campion Community Christmas
You are invited to attend St. Edmund
Campion School for their community Christmas event
being held on Saturday Dec. 5th from 11:00 a.m.–
2:00 p.m. Join in the festivities of singing, cookie and
ornament decorating, games, crafts and pictures with
Santa! Donations of non-perishable food items are
requested.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Dec. 4
Dec. 9
Dec. 10
Dec. 11
Dec. 16
Dec. 18
Catholic Register Drawing Contest
The Catholic Register is conducting a Christmas
drawing contest. The top entry in each category:
Gr. 1-3, Gr. 4-6 and Gr. 7-8 will receive a $50 gift
certificate for a day at the movies. The winning
pictures will appear in The Register’s Christmas
edition, December 20th
Entries must be original, in color, drawn, or painted on
an 8.5 x 11 inch page, and illustrate some aspect of the
Nativity of Jesus at the first Christmas in Bethlehem.
An entry form can be obtained at the office that parents
must complete and sign before sending in to The
Catholic Register. (Attached)
Dec. 21-Jan.3
Jan. 4
Jan. 18
Choir @ Cassie Campbell Winter
Lights Time 10:30
Advent Mass 11:00
Christmas Sweater Day
MacMillan’s Orders delivered to
School
Primary to 3/4 Christmas Concert
Last Day of School and Christmas
Sing a long
Christmas Break
Back to School
PA Day- Report Card Writing Day
Jan. 25
FDK Registration Night
Jan. 26
*Snow date for FDK Registration
Jan.27, 28, 29 FDK Registration 9:00-3:00 pm
Feb. 2
Report Cards go Home
Feb. 4
Interview Night
Feb. 5
Interview Day
A Christmas Wish
Deadline for submissions is December 11th at noon.
A special blessing to you and your family for a
Christmas filled with the light of Christ! May
Jesus’ love be shared among each other and
May His example be modeled by all of us!
Parenting Session at St. Anne School
St. Anne School is offering a parenting information
session titled Building Relationships with Our
Children, which looks at how to foster meaningful
relationships with our children throughout their stages
of development and stay connected with them as they
grow up. We hope you will join us on Wednesday,
December 16 at 5:30 pm in our Library. Our presenter
is Michelle Lowry, Social Worker with Dufferin-Peel
CDSB.
Please RSVP by phone if you wish to attend: 905 4597621.
Wishing you a peaceful and holy
Christmas!
Staff of St. Ursula School