Volume 5, Issue 9
May 2016
Inside this issue:
Blessed be all mothers
EcoSchools / Social Justice Projects / Book Fair
Summer Programs / Exciting News!
Who have come into our lives
Whose kindness, care and loving
Remain with us to guide.
Welcome to Kindergarten / New Registrations
Kiss & Ride / Ice Dawgs / Reporting Head Injuries
Valuables / EQAO Reminder
Criminal Reference Checks / Dress Code
Your inspiration in us
Made us strive in every way
Virtue for May—Acceptance
Especially to remember
Catholic Education Week
Helping others makes our day.
St. Valentine Catholic School
5610 Heatherleigh Avenue
Mississauga, Ontario
L5V 2V7
Mothers, this little tribute
Flows directly from my heart
You are so loved and cherished
Brenda LeClair,
Principal
Invaluable, one and all, you are.
Susan Kramer
Louise Hughes,
Vice-Principal
Principal’s Message
Franca Dodgson,
Secretary
David Amaral,
Superintendent of Schools
905 890 0708
Congratulations to our Grade 2 students will receive the Sacrament of First Communion on April 23rd and to
our Grade 8 students who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on May 12th. Thank you to the teachers
who have worked with the children throughout the school year to prepare them for these very important milestones
in their faith development and to you their parents for your modeling and support of our faith. Thank you to Msg.
Pan and his parish team for their ongoing support and guidance.
Thank you as well to our staff who have worked with your children to prepare for Catholic Education Week which
will be celebrated from May 2– May 6. This year’s theme, Catholic Education: Opening Doors of Mercy, is
Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 5:7 ) “Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.”
Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education’s presence and contribution in our Church, and in our society.
Living
Learning
Luz del Rosario,
Trustee - Ward 6
416 528 6447
K Canlas and N. Johnson,
School Council Co-Chairs
Msgr. Edgardo Pan
Pastor
St. Francis Xavier Church
905 890 5290
Praying
Volume 5, Issue 9
Page 2
EcoSchools Update
As you are aware, St. Valentine has been working hard this year to be “Green”. We have successfully continued several
“Green” initiatives including “Lights Out Lunch Hour”, “Litterless Lunch Mondays” and “Water Bottle Free Wednes-
days”. The students’ participation in these events is incredible! We are extremely proud of our students and their commitment to creating a better world through improving the community of St. Valentine School.
Our most recent environmental initiative is the sale of perennials. This initiative has many goals, including:


Provide an opportunities for families to green their own spaces.
Raise funds so that St. Valentine School can continue greening the school grounds.
We are also continuing to collect batteries and cell phones. If you have old batteries or cell phones you would like to dispose of safely, please send them to
school.
Your continued support with our school’s environmental initiatives is greatly appreciated. Our submission has been sent for evaluation this year as we “Go
for Gold”! Thank you for continuing to support our goal of being an Ontario EcoSchool.
Social Justice
St. Valentine students and
families continue to show
Braveheart spirit in helping
those in need. During Education Week, we will be supporting two initiatives—Jump Rope
for Heart and Hats off for Kidz. On Tuesday April
3 in the morning, our students will be jumping rope or
engaging in physical activity to promote heart health.
On Friday April 6 in the
Scholastic Book Fair
What better way to promote reading to our students than by supporting this literary event! We
invite your entire family to participate by purchasing the latest and greatest in children’s books.
Did you know that for every $10 you spend at the Fair up to $6 comes directly back to our
school? Your support of this vital literary event is key in helping us obtain new books and resources for our library.
During Catholic Education Week, your child will be bringing home a Book
Fair flyer that provides a preview of only a FEW of the many books available. Students will also fill out a Book Fair wish list early in the week. The
flyer will also contain a special Family Event Draw ballot that parents can
deposit during the Book Fair. We will be giving away $50 in books – $25 to
the winning family PLUS $25 to your child’s classroom!
We look forward to seeing you during our Scholastic Book Fair and thank you, in advance, for
morning, students will be
supporting this great literary fundraiser. Mostly, thank you for believing in books and the im-
walking in the community to
portance reading has on your child’s future.
show support for the won-
Hours:
derful work of the Hospital
for Sick Children. Parents
Monday April 2
12:00-3:00
Thursday April 5
Closed during the school day / OPEN 3:00-6:15
Friday April 6
8:30-2:00
Tues & Wed April 3 & 4
8:30-3:00
& during intermission of Spring Concert
are always welcome to join
and show their support of these worthy causes.
Summer Programs
Summer Literacy Camp—Grades SK to 6
Elementary Summer School—Grades 7 & 8
Monday July 11—Friday July 29, 2016
Monday July 4 to Friday July 22, 2016
(must attend all three weeks)
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily
Students recommended by the Principal
Fee for Service Program—$300 for 3 weeks
No transportation provided
Bussing provided at home school pick up points
Students recommended by the Principal
Deadline for applications:
Deadline for applications: May 27, 2016
May 27, 2016
Location closest to St. Valentine School:
Location for St. Valentine students:
St. Gregory School
Living
St. Gertrude School
Learning
Praying
Volume 5, Issue 9
Page 3
Exciting News!
St. Valentine School has been a hub of excitement over the last few weeks! We have seen the
completion of some exciting projects and the progression of others!
You may have noticed or heard about a change in our school yard… phase 2 and 3 of our outdoor
learning environment has been completed in the school yard. We added some trees, naturalized
seating areas and a sand area! Also, two “portable” vegetable gardens have been planted and are
being lovingly cared for in our kindergarten yard. We are also part of the “Bring Back the Bees” initiative and will be planting beefriendly wild flowers.
Our technology initiatives are continuing this year as we await the arrival to two carts with Chrome Books. These will
allow students to collaborate on projects and access a variety of educational Google apps. Thank you School Council
for cost sharing!
We have also continued work on two projects aimed at developing stronger peer relationships…
our buddy benches and Lion’s Den. These projects provide our students with space outside and
inside the school to talk about conflicts, make new friends or find a quiet place to recharge.
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN
Welcome to Kindergarten for New JK Parents
On Thursday May
packages and practical tips will be shared with
8:30 pm, we will be
areas.
26th from 7:00—
hosting a session for
parents with children registering for
junior kindergarten.
This evening will
provide important
information to prepare your child for
school.
you to help get your child ready in these three
are critical in preparing young children to
enter the classroom. These include literacy,
numeracy and readiness skills. Information
If you have a child who is
eligible to start Junior
Kindergarten this Sep-
Some of the information provided will be
tember and have not yet
classroom work, allergies in the classroom and
registered for school,
transportation infor-
please call the school’s
mation.
main office and let us know.
This meeting is inter-
Also, if you have new neighbours who have eligible
active and we ask that
children and are unsure of the procedures, please have
you bring your child to
this meeting as they
There are three areas of development that
Registrations for 2016—2017
them call the school’s main office.
Our school staff is beginning to plan and prepare for
will receive a special
package to help them
the next school year and it is important that we have the
get ready for Kinder-
most accurate projected pupil enrolment for Septem-
garten.
ber 2016 at this time.
Safety First When Dropping Students Off at School
rection, parking and pulling out of no parking zones,
The safety of all children and staff must be con-
parking in bus lanes, to name a few.
sidered as paramount at all times when dropping
It is imperative that all parents and guardians who drive
students off at school.
their children to school adhere to the traffic circulation
The number of serious incidents related to traffic
plan and comply with the traffic and parking signage on
circulation at the front of the school and in the
the site. It is equally imperative that all drivers follow the
Kiss and Ride area during morning arrival and
direction of staff managing the traffic circulation on the
afternoon dismissal has risen. These incidents
school site.
include vehicles entering the site in the wrong di-
Living
Learning
Praying
May 2016
Sun
Mon
1
Tue
2
Wed
3
CATHOLIC
Jump Rope for
Thu
4
6
6:30 pm—Spring
Hats off for Kidz
12
13
7:00 pm- Confirmation
PA Day
WEEK
Concert
Joe Sax Festival
Sat
5
EDUCATION
Heart
Fri
7
6:30 pm—Special
School Council
Community Meeting
8
9
Crowning of Mary
10
11
Celebrations (8:45—
Jr/Int; 10:25—Pr)
15
22
16
23
Victoria Day
(at church)
17
24
EQAO
18
25
EQAO
19
26
EQAO
20
21
27
28
EQAO
7:00 pm—Welcome to
Kindergarten
29
30
31
EQAO
EQAO
“Step with care and great tact. Remember that life’s a great balancing act.”
Dr. Seuss
Living
14
Learning
Praying
Page 5
ST. VALENTINE SCHOOL
CHOCOLATE CHALLENGE
2016!
St. Valentine School Council thanks you for
your support of our Lamontagne Chocolate
fundraiser. With the funds raised this year, we
plan to continue supporting various school
initiatives, including faith development and
sacramental support, the Arts and academic
programs. In past years we have purchased
School Id: 3738960
sports, gym, and playground equipment, computers, and subsidized various excursions.
Top selling families will be announced soon!
Thank you to all the families who sold chocolates to support our school!
Lunch Lady
PLEASE RETURN ALL MONEY
AND LEFTOVER CHOCO-
“HOT” Home style lunches
LATES—THE CHALLENGE
prepared fresh daily
HAS NOW ENDED.
Visit their website at www.lunchlady.ca
Our Lunch Ladies are Merri and Iis and can be
emailed at Merri@thelunchlady.ca or by phone
905 828 9919 or faxed at 905 828 6972
Living
Learning
Praying
Volume 5, Issue 9
Page 6
Reporting Head Injuries
Marvelous Mondays
& Fantastic Fridays
Even when it may appear to be
insignificant, we inform parents of
all reported head injuries at
school. As part of the revised
concussion protocol, we also will
be sending home a pamphlet with
information about concussions
each time a head injury is reported. 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 informed.
Beginning on Monday May 30th, we will continue a service begun last
spring for families interested in purchasing a “cool” treat for their child prior
to afternoon recess.
We will be offering Ice Dawgs (ice cream sandwiches) for a Toonie. These
ice cream sandwiches are peanut free, high in fibre and low in fat.
We will not be taking pre-orders for the Ice Dawgs—we will call down students interested in purchasing an Ice Dawg and they will pay their Toonie
the day of sale. There is no obligation to participate nor any minimum weekly
Please remind your child to let a staff member know if they
bump their head or if they get hurt at school.
orders. Students, however, will be limited to ONE Ice Dawg per purchase.
Proceeds for the sale of the Ice Dawgs will support various charities on behalf of the school.
September 2016
Valuables
Students are reminded that electronic games, iPods, MP3
players and other valuables are to be left at home. In this
way, we can be sure that these items are not lost or broken
by other students at school.
To help with our planning for next September, would you kindly advise the
school office if you are moving out of the St. Valentine area over the summer.
Just a reminder that school for students will begin on Tuesday September
8th.
If you would like to share information regarding your child’s placement for
2016—2017, please send a letter to Mrs. LeClair as soon as possible as
teachers will soon begin the process of allocating students to new classes.
EQAO Reminder
ensure that they have the following tools for the test:
A reminder to all of our parents for Grade 3 and
calculator, pencils, erasers, protractors and coloured
6 that EQAO testing will take place from May
pencil crayons.
25 to June 8 2016.
The following link will enable you to access a variety of
Please continue to assist your child to prepare
resources to assist your child in writing the test:
for the test by reinforcing their literacy and numeracy skills and by ensuring that any medical appointments are
not made during these particular weeks as the students prepare
for the Ministry tests.
Depending on his/her grade, your child should start to
Living
http://www.eqao.com/Parents/Elementary/036/036.aspx?
Lang=E&gr=036&Aud=Parents&App=Parents
Of particular interest are the sections on “Key Words” and samples
of assessments from previous years.
Learning
Praying
Page 7
Volume 5, Issue 9
Criminal Reference Checks
Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board continues
will assure the safety of all students at St. Valentine. If you already
to implement changes to their Criminal Reference Check/
have a Criminal Reference Check on file at the school, please com-
Declaration Form procedures. In keeping with the Safe
plete the Annual Offence Declaration form. Please have your check
Schools Act, all volunteers including those going on one
or declaration completed so you can continue to be an important and
day school trips must have a Criminal Reference Check. If
valued member at our school. To complete your criminal reference
you have the time or inclination to be a volunteer, assist with
check you will need to have a school form completed by the principal
school trips, drive for sports events, assist with our fundrais-
and then you will need to deliver these forms to Peel Regional Police. It
er(s), be an active member of school council-dealing with
is our hope that you can complete these forms and return them to the
children in any capacity, please contact the office for a crimi-
police prior to the end of August so that you can participate in school
nal reference check form, for the 2016-2017 school year.
activities beginning in September 2015. Thank you in advance for
The Criminal Reference check is free for volunteers, and it
your cooperation in this matter.
Virtue for May — Acceptance
This month we will celebrate the virtue of Acceptance. One of the great wonders of the world we live in is that no two
people are exactly alike. We may share biological families or national identity or cultural and ethnic identity but we are all
very unique and distinct creations. God breaks the mold every time! And that is a fantastic fact of life! It can also be a
challenging fact of life if it makes us afraid. Sometimes differences are scary – especially if we haven’t learned about or
don’t understand how people are different. The virtue of acceptance describes our ability to look at the attitudes and
actions of those around us and then just stop and consider without judging them. The virtue of acceptance means that we
look beyond what we see- a person’s skin colour, ethnic background, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, and see a
person created and loved by God. It’s especially important for us to stop and think if what we are made uncomfortable by
seeing or hearing others act differently then we might choose to act.
ON REFLECTION…
Why do I like to have people do things my way?
OUR DAILY PRAYER FOR MAY Let us now pray… for the virtue of Acceptance- the strength to trust that
God is at work in everyone’s life despite what we think.
AMEN
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN
Dress Code
As we prepare for the warmer
tion has the final decision regarding school attire. Special outfits
weather, we would like to remind
can be enjoyed after school and on weekends.
our students of the expectations
In keeping with the Board’s Mission Statement and Catholic
that are in place, especially our
teachings, each school is committed to standards of neatness,
older students, regarding appro-
cleanliness, modesty and good taste as specified in the appropri-
priate dress. Sleeveless tops are ate Dress Code Policy of the Board— “Students are required to
permitted but not halter, tank or
dress in a manner and attire suitable for the occasion and appropri-
short tops. Short shorts and
ate to the school environment. Failure to comply with this expecta-
skirts and clothing of a suggestive nature or displaying offensive
tion shall result in disciplinary action…” (Catholic Code of Con-
wording/images are not allowed. Also, headbands, sweatbands or
duct).
bandanas worn across the forehead are not permitted. Administra-
Living
Learning
Praying
Page 8
Volume 5, Issue 9
The Last Word
Catholic Education Week: Opening Doors of Mercy
Pope Francis has declared 2016 a “Holy Year of Mercy” as a way for the Catholic church to “make more evident, its mission to
be a witness of mercy”. The Holy Year began on December 8, 2015 and will be celebrated until November 20, 2016. Throughout the year, there will be a series of jubilee celebrations on the theme of mercy for teenagers, deacons, the sick and disabled,
prisoners, catechists and clergy.
As well, Pope Francis opened the Vatican’s Holy Door on December 8th. The Holy Door is opened to evoke the concept of
forgiveness which is the main focus of a Holy Year. The theme God’s mercy is illustrated in fifteen of the sixteen bronze panels
that make up the Vatican Door. There are seven such Holy Doors in the world, including one in Quebec City.
Catholic Education Week 2016 combines both the theme of mercy and the act of opening doors of reconciliation, mercy and forgiveness to all around us.
There are five sub-themes for each day of Catholic Education Week:
Monday:
Mercy that Welcomes /
La miséricorde qui accueille
Tuesday:
Mercy that Loves / La miséricorde qui aime
Wednesday:
Mercy that Forgives / La miséricorde qui pardonne
Thursday:
Mercy that Lives the Gospel / La miséricorde qui vit l’Évangile
Friday:
Mercy that Rejoices / La miséricorde qui rend grâce
Every year, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) provides our Catholic schools with a resource kit to
help schools prepare for Catholic Education Week. Using these resources as well as our own developed activities we have prepared a series of activities which will highlight how our school is ‘Opening Doors of Mercy’.
This year the following chart outlines the activities that will be taking place at our school:
May 9 – Crowning of Mary
May 19 – French Plays
We hope to see many of you during our school celebrations.
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN
Living
Learning
Praying