Volume 4, Issue 2
October 2014
Inside this issue:
All Star Reading Coaches / Spiritwear
Principal’s Message
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of
our families a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!
We often take many of our blessings for grant-
Terry Fox—Anaphylaxis
School Safety/Fire / Lockdown Drills
Absences—Kiss N Ride
Snuggle Up & Read /Popcorn
ed and I feel truly grateful for the opportunity to
Health Alert / Pediculosis
be part of the St. Valentine community. It is the
Sacraments—Empathy
combined efforts of everyone—parish, staff,
students and parents—that make this such a
Food Drive—Head Injuries
Online Safety
vibrant and caring learning community. By working together we move forward as lifelong learnspiritual and academic growth.
St. Valentine Catholic School
5610 Heatherleigh Avenue
Mississauga, Ontario
L5V 2V7
During this time, let us thank God for the many
Brenda LeClair,
blessings He has bestowed upon us and ask
Principal
ers striving for excellence in our personal, social,
Thanksgiving Prayer
O Gracious God,
we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us.
Thank you for the blessings of the food we
eat and especially for this feast today.
Thank you for our home and family and
friends, especially for the presence of those
gathered here.
Thank you for our health, our work and our
play.
Please send help to those who are hungry,
alone, sick and suffering war and violence.
Open our hearts to your love.
We ask your blessing through Christ your
son.
Amen.
Him to continue to guide us on our journey. Let
us also be mindful of those less fortunate and
share to ease their plight. In previous years, our
community has been extremely generous during
food and Christmas basket drives. Once again
this year, we are asking families to bring in nonperishable food items that our Youth Ambassadors will collect and ensure are distributed to
Tom Prugo,
Vice-Principal
Franca Dodgson,
Secretary
David Amaral,
Superintendent of Schools
905 890 0708
our local food bank to share for Thanksgiving.
Peter Ferreira,
As the term continues, our student activities will
416 805 7110
swing into full gear as staff work with your children on cross country, volleyball and
various other clubs
and activities. We
look forward to an
exciting year!
Trustee - Ward 6
Karen Canlas,
School Council Chair
Msgr. Edgardo Pan
Pastor
St. Francis Xavier Church
905 890 5290
Page 2
Volume 4, Issue 2
Wanted: All Star Reading Coaches
Braveheart Spiritwear
The All Star Reading program provides primary students with a variety of reading strategies to increase
confidence and reading fluency. The next session will
be beginning soon.
Parent coaches are needed one morning or after-noon
per week to work with students on an individual basis.
No experience is required, training is provided, and
the benefits of volunteering are substantial.
Please contact Ms. Ruske at
We are pleased to announce that we will be providing students, parents and staff with an opportunity to purchase the following clothing
apparel: t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, hoodies, zippered hoodies,
baseball caps and toques. All clothing apparel will have the St.
Valentine Braveheart logo and are available in black or white (except
the track pants which are available in black only).
the school if you have further
Clothing samples are available in the office for viewing.
questions or would like to volun-
If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, please com-
teer as a coach.
plete the order form sent home and return it to the school by Friday
October 17th.
Terry Fox Walk—2014
Congratulations St Valentine Bravehearts! On Friday September 26th, we held our
annual Terry Fox Walk. Students once again regaled the neighbourhood with signs,
spirit and good cheer!
This year, staff and students participated in a variety of activities to honour Terry and
raise funds. There were soccer and hockey shoot-outs versus the quick reflexes of Mr.
Dutra, water balloon toss events with Mr. Huh braving the pitching arms of eager students and a staff—student basketball game. We are currently tabulating the funds raised
to determine if the amount exceeds our goal—we look forward to Mr. Huh shaving his
head and Mr. Chiola-Nakai sporting the Braveheart red hair dye!
Congratulations and thank you to everyone who contributed to cancer research.
Thank you as well to Mr. Huh , Mrs. Dimaapi, Mme. Choy, Mr. Dutra and Mr. ChiolaNakai for all their work in organizing this wonderful event.
Anaphylactic Shock—Classroom Snacks
We felt that all parents would like to be
aware that there are several students in
our school with a severe life-threatening
food allergy to peanuts and nuts. This
is a medical condition that can result in
death within minutes of exposure. Although this may or may not affect your
child’s
class directly, please send
foods with your child’s lunch
that are free from nuts /nut products.
Further to this, as
part of “Sabrina’s
Law”, we are no
longer permitted to
allow treats for
sharing with other students. On special occasions (Halloween, Christmas)
teachers will advise students what foods
they can bring for their own consumption. To acknowledge your child’s birthday, if you would like to send something,
items such as pencils or “dollar store
treasures” that are not edible would be
appropriate. Thank you for your consideration and co-operation in making
our classrooms safer for students.
Volume 4, Issue 2
Page 3
School Safety—Reminder
Parents are welcomed to the school
student programming. Since the hall-
throughout the year, however, for the
ways are busy during pick up times,
safety of all children, parents and visi-
siblings and parents are asked to ar-
tors must use only the front door for
range with your child, a meeting place
entry and must sign in at the office
outside of the school. Messages and
and receive a visitor’s sticker each and
deliveries (keys, lunches, etc.) are han-
every time you visit the building. Visi-
dled through the office. Please re-
tors are not entitled to go to the
member: to most students in the
classrooms as this is a disruption to
school, you are a stranger.
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN
Fire Drills and Lockdown Drills
As a precautionary measure, we will practice fire drills and lock
desks. Classroom doors and windows are secured. Students remain
down procedures throughout the year. We are required to hold 6
this way until the alert is cancelled.
fire drills each year as well as 2 lock down drills.
Discussing these procedures with your child will help reassure the
During fire drills, students are asked to move safely and swiftly
importance of these safety procedures.
to the nearest exit and to report to their designated area outside
In the unforeseen event that we should
of the building. If an exit is blocked, students are reminded to use
have an emergency in our school, we will
their alternate exit. We will have three of the fire drills in the fall
evacuate to St. Francis Xavier Church.
and the remaining three in the spring.
Safety regulations require us to have
In a lock down, students are alerted over the P.A. that we are
this contingency plan in place. In such an
“initiating lock down”. Students are directed to move away from
event, your child will remain with school
all windows and doors and to lie on the floor, if possible under
staff until we contact you.
DPCDSB is now on Twitter! For the latest board news and information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools.
Student safe arrival at school is
Student Absences
your child is late for school, they
paramount. If your child is absent,
must check into to office before
please call the school attendance
proceeding to class.
line at 905 890 0909, Press 1.
This procedure helps to ensure
the safe arrival of all students. If
Children must be signed out at
the office by an adult.
Page 4
October 2014
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
1
Fri
2
Sat
3
4
10
11
17
18
25
Picture Day
5
6
7
8
9
7:00 pm—First
Communion Parent
Meeting at Church
12
13
Thanksgiving
Monday
14
AM—Rosary
Apostolates Visit
15
16
See/Hear Mr. Dutra: Class trip
Screening
Author Visit
19
20
21
22
23
24
CCAT—Gr 4
Cross Country
CCAT—Gr 4
CCAT—Gr 4
St. Martin SS visit
Gr 7 and 8 Vaccine
7:00 pm—First
Clinic
Confirmation Parent
with Gr 7 and 8s
Meeting at Church
26
27
28
29
30
“Gratitude is a flower that blooms in noble souls.”
Pope Francis
31
Page 5
On behalf of the School Council we would like to welcome everyone back and extend a heartfelt welcome to our new families and
faculty. Our main function as a council is to enhance your child’s educational experience by supporting activities and initiatives
that unfortunately are no longer supported by government and school board funding. One way that we do this is through various
fundraising initiatives. We thank you for your support as we launch our QSP magazine sales as well as later throughout the year.
Last year, your support of our fundraising initiatives supported the school in the following ways:
 Purchase of student agendas for grades 1 to 8
 Mementos to commemorate sacraments and graduation
 Pancake Tuesday - proceeds for Share Life
 Purchase VHS/DVD License yearly
 Limo/Mandarin Lunch
 Purchase of Virtues t-shirts for all students JK-Grade 8
 Purchase of classroom games for indoor recess
 Supporting Wellness Week initiative
 Organization and funding of year end community barbeque
That is just the beginning. We are hoping to have another successful school year, and we cannot do that without the help of all
our volunteers.
At St. Valentine School, the parents are our partners in education. Effective home-school communication can be a critical component in the ultimate success of a student. In fact, the purpose of this very newsletter is to keep parents informed about the
events and happenings at our school.
Even if you are not interested in being a council member, you are welcome to attend our monthly meetings and listen to some of
the initiatives we are pursuing and/or provide your ideas as to areas we should be pursing. We are always open to fresh ideas.
Our first meeting is on Wednesday October 8th at 7:00 pm in the library.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated support.
Volume 4, Issue 2
Page 6
Kiss N’ Ride
The success of this program is dependent
supervision begins at this time.
If you need to park to escort kindergarten
upon parents, guardians, members of our
children to their area, please park either in
community, staff and students becoming
the spots at the front of the school or in
knowledgeable about the program and
the side parking lot.
committed to following the basic princi-
For greater success of our Kiss N’ Ride
ples.
program, we are asking for your help. If
Please drive to the end of the Kiss’n Ride
you are able to volunteer your time before
and drop off your child. They will then
the school day begins, please contact the
walk on the sidewalk and walk across the
school building and into the school yard.
Drop off time begins at 8:15 a.m. as yard
office.
Parents should NOT be using the front
Thank you for your support and co-
of the school to drop off students—this
operation in this safety matter.
area is for school bus use only.
DPCDSB is now on Twitter! For the latest board news and information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools.
Snuggle Up and Read
St. Valentine primary students have received their Snuggle Up and Read program materials. Students will have
pouches and leveled books that they can take home to
read and track. Please watch for the pouches and books
in their backpacks.
Popcorn Sales
Fabulous Fridays are back!
In order to help fundraise for various initiatives throughout the school year, we will be selling popcorn every
Friday.
Students will have a choice of flavours—butter salt, white
cheddar, sweet kettle corn, dill pickle, salt and vinegar—
We ask that parents spend time reading the materials with their children,
either taking turns or having the child read the book in it’s entirety. This
program is meant to support literacy instruction in the classroom and is not
assigned homework but rather an additional support.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.
to choose from.
Each bag will sell for $2 and
students will be called down
before afternoon recess.
Preorders will not be taken.
Pediculosis
From time to time, there may be cases of pediculosis
hair. By the time that the nits or empty egg sacs
or head lice in our school. This should not be a cause
are noticed on the head of one child in a class or
for alarm. Lice are a nuisance, but are not hazardous
family, it is likely that other children also have head
to your child’s health, as they do not carry disease.
lice.
One of the most important steps to both their pre-
If a child has pediculosis, we will ask the parent to
vention and treatment is knowledge. Head lice do not
come to school and pick up the child. An alert
fly or jump. They can only hitch rides from one head
letter is sent home to parents of the infected class.
to another, and they prefer clean scalp and
Volume 4, Issue 2
Page 7
Parish Parent Meetings and Sacrament Dates
Reconciliation and First Holy Communion:
Parent Meeting at St. Francis Xavier
Church:
Thursday October 9 - 7:00 p.m.
Celebration of Sacrament of Reconciliation
Friday January 23—9:30 a.m.
Inscription Masses
Sunday November 2 @ 9:00 am
The following summarizes parent meetings
and sacrament celebrations that have
been planned for St. Valentine students.
All events take place at St. Francis
Xavier Church.
Confirmation:
Parent Meeting at St. Francis Xavier Church:
Tuesday November 4—7:00 p.m.
Inscription Masses
Sunday November 23—9:00 am
Confirmation Preparation Mass:
Thursday January 29—7:00 p.m.
Celebration of Sacrament:
Thursday April 23 —7:00 p.m.
Celebration of Sacrament of First Holy
Grade 8 Graduation Mass:
Tuesday June 23—9:30 am
Communion
Saturday May 2—10:00 a.m.
Virtue for October—Empathy
This month we will focus on the virtue of empathy. God has given us the ability to form connections with each
other - to live together. Empathy helps us to connect and live together in safe, caring, inclusive communities. We
understand empathy to mean the ability to identify with and feel other people’s concerns. We believe that in a
faith community we are nothing without relationships. Relationships that grow in a spirit of communion- an understanding that we share an identity based on being created in the image and likeness of God and being imbued
with one Spirit. We are many parts of one body. An empathetic person believes that we all share one Spirit;
that we are many parts of one body because we are all created in the image and likeness of God.
REFLECTION… How will I know that someone needs me to show empathy today?
OUR DAILY PRAYER FOR OCTOBER—Let us now pray… for the grace and strength to be people
of empathy – people who can really identify with and feel the concerns of those around us. AMEN
Thanksgiving Day Food Dr ive
But when you give to the poor,
do not let your left hand know
what your right hand is doing, so
that your giving will be in secret;
and your Father who sees what is
done in secret will reward you.
~ Matthew 6:3-4
The St. Valentine Youth Faith
Ambassadors will be collecting
non-perishable food items for the
St. Mary’s Food Bank during
the weeks of September 29—
October 10. Ambassadors will
be coming around to classes
collecting food donations.
Please be generous during this
time of thanksgiving. Thank
you for your continued support
in our efforts to give back to our
community.
Head Injuries
Even when it may appear
to be insignificant, we inform parents of all reported head injuries that happen at school. We do this
in recognition of the potential danger of any injury
involving the head area. Our intent is not to alarm you,
but to keep you in-formed.
Please remind your child to let a staff member know if
they bump their head or if they get hurt at school.
Your child’s safety is our number one priority.
Volume 4, Issue 2
Page 8
The Last Word
Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations
The image of the Catholic school graduate was developed by the Institute for Catholic Education (ICE) in consultation with representatives of the Catholic community across Ontario. The life roles, knowledge, skills and attitudes describe the distinctive expectations that the Catholic community has for graduates of Catholic secondary schools. These expectations are based on research which identified current and future educational goals and priorities across
the province and enhance the expectations of the Ontario Ministry of Education as outlined in provincial curriculum documents.
Catholic schools provide educational programs and services for students with a variety of learning needs and abilities. This framework document recognizes
the need for flexibility to accommodate individual student differences and will serve as a foundational understanding for the IEP process.
As growth to full Christian maturity is a lifelong journey, attainment of these expectations will continue beyond graduation from secondary school. Because
faith development is also an internal process, some expectations are beyond quantitative measurement. Because of our human condition, it is not expected to
achieve all of these guiding principles perfectly; yet we persevere courageously, grounded in our essential humanity and humble dependence on God.
The Christian vision regarding the value of the human person and his/her journey is passed on only through community. Therefore, it is imperative that everyone in the Catholic community shares the responsibility to educate our young people.
The Institute for Catholic Education along with students, teachers, parents, guardians, school councils, employees, business, labour community groups and
individuals use this shared understanding to guide the education and faith formation of students in Ontario Catholic schools.
Expectations of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate
Distinctive expectations for graduates of Catholic schools are determined and shaped by the vision and destiny of the human person emerging from our faith
tradition. This Christian anthropology or world view, reveals the dignity and value of the person. Our tradition tells us God creatively and lovingly calls each
of us into the wonder of life, sustaining us by the power of the Holy Spirit, throughout the human journey, into life eternal. We acknowledge that the journey
includes moments of brokenness and sin. We recognize in the person of Jesus, the risen Christ, the human face of God sharing our life in order to heal us of
our brokenness and liberate us from sin.
This Christian vision of the human journey is best understood within the context of relationship. It is accomplished in community, in solidarity with brothers
and sisters in the Church and beyond. Catholic education views human life as an integration of body, mind, and spirit. Rooted in this vision, Catholic educa-
tion fosters the search for knowledge as a lifelong spiritual and academic quest. The expectations of Catholic graduates, therefore, are described not only in
terms of knowledge and skills, but in terms of values, attitudes and actions.
The Graduate of the Catholic School Is Expected to Be:







A discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith community who celebrates the signs and sacred mystery of God's presence through word, sacrament, prayer, forgiveness, reflection and moral living.
An effective communicator who speaks, writes and listens honestly and sensitively, responding critically in light of gospel values.
A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who solves problems and makes responsible decisions with an informed moral conscience for the common good.
A self-directed, responsible, lifelong learner who develops and demonstrates their God-given potential.
A collaborative contributor who finds meaning, dignity and vocation in work which respects the rights of all and contributes to the common good.
A caring family member who attends to family, school, parish, and the wider community.
A responsible citizen who gives witness to Catholic social teaching by promoting peace, justice and the sacredness of human life
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN