HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC SCHOOL
25 Bloomsbury Avenue Brampton, Ontario L6P 1W9
Phone: 905-794-8039 Fax: 905-794-1285
Website: http://www.dpcdsb. org/SPRIT
Follow us on Twitter @dpHolySpirit
April 2016
Principal
N. Poerba
Vice Principal
A. Cassar
Head Secretary
P. Figliomeni
Superintendent
D. Finegan Downey
Trustee
Shawn Xaviour
(Ward 10)
St. Patrick Parish
11873 The Gore
Road
Brampton, Ontario
L6P 0B2
905-794-0486
Pastor
Father Vito
PRINCIPAL/VICE-PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
EASTER PRAYER
Lord,
the
resurrection of Your Son
Spring is in the air and the warmer weather rehas
given
us
new life and renewed hope.
minds us of new life and new beginnings. During
Help
us
to
live
as new people on pursuit
the month of April, we contemplate the Paschal
of
the
Christian ideal.
mystery of our salvation through the death and
Grant us the wisdom to know what we must do, the
Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We ask,
will to want to do it, the courage to undertake it, the
“What does Easter mean?” In our current eco- perseverance to continue to do it, and the strength to
nomic upheaval and times of uncertainty, we are
complete it.
New Saint Joseph People’s Prayer Book
also filled with the same doubt and fears as the
disciples after the death of Jesus. Three days
after his death on the cross, Jesus himself stood
among the disciples and said to them, “Peace be
VIRTUE OF THE MONTH
with you”.
This month we will celebrate the
virtue of love. God has given us many guideWe hope that everyone had an enjoyable, restful
lines and examples of how to live our lives. He
and Holy Easter Weekend. We are so fortunate
sent his Son Jesus to make sure that we could
to be able to come together to profess our faith.
see what life could be like.
We hope you can join us for our Easter mass on
Jesus made one lesson clear above all other
Monday April 4, 2016 @ 9:30.
lessons – the lesson to love. Love is not about
us. It is about forgetting ourselves and looking
During the week of April 10-16th, we also celeout for the good of the other. That is what Jebrate National Volunteer Week. We would like to
sus did. He forgot about himself on purpose.
take this opportunity to thank the parent volunHe chose to give up his life for the good of othteers who contribute their time, talents and enerers – us.
gy to enhance the academic, spiritual and social
Becoming a truly loving person is challenging.
aspects of our school. Your willingness to supIt takes prayer and concentration to get used to
port our staff and students has a powerful impact
making little sacrifices for the good of others.
on our school environment.
Wednesday April 27, 2016, is designated Administrative Professionals’ Day. We would like
to express our gratitude for everything that Mrs.
Patty Figliomeni does to make Holy Spirit an
amazing school! Thank you on behalf of our
students and the Holy Spirit Community.
May God bless you and your family!
N. Poerba and A. Cassar
A loving person…
 Wants the best for others
 Is willing to make sacrifices for the good of others
 Learns from the heroic lives of saints and holy
people
 Knows that we are all lovable
 Prays for others.
APRIL IS DAFFODIL MONTH
Join the fight against cancer!
To some the daffodil is just a flower. But, it is also
a symbol of strength and courage. It says we will
not give up. It says we will fight against cancer and
we will win. Daffodil pins will be sold at the school
and all donations will be given to the Canadian Cancer Society for people living with cancer.
Teaching for The Father Inspired by The Son Guided by The Holy Spirit
OFFICE REMINDERS
LATE STUDENTS
A number of students continue to arrive late daily.
Any student arriving after 9:15 a.m. is considered
late and should be accompanied by an adult.
Please make every effort to have your child/ren at
school on time. When a child is late he/she misses
valuable teaching time. Late arrivals cause disruption to the other
students and also to the teacher who has already started the lessons for the day. Developing good work habits and time management skills can maximize a child’s learning potential. Let’s work
together to develop these skills.
ARE YOU MOVING?
School organization for next year is in the
planning stages. Timelines for making decisions about the number of classes and teacher assignments will be tentatively determined
by the end of June. To help us with our planning for September 2014, it would be appreciated if you could let
us know now if you will be moving out of our school area over the
summer.
CREATING CLASSES FOR NEXT YEAR
In the next couple of months, we will be making up the
class lists for the 2016/2017 school year. This is a complex process, and is done in consultation with this years teachers,
support staff and administration. In each class we strive for a
balance of learning styles, a balance of gender,
a balance of learning needs, and a cross section of abilities.
If you as a parent wish to provide input into the process, please
take into consideration the following guidelines:
 Input must be in written form to Ms. Poerba no later than
Thursday May 5, 2016.
 Frame your request in terms of educational contexts e.g. your
child’s learning needs/style; information not already known to
the school; tips on what has worked best for your child in the
past
 Please be advised that letters which cite the names of individual teachers, or names of children you wish to be placed
with your child WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
There is no guarantee that requests will be fulfilled, but all will be
considered.
FLEX BOUNDARY ADMISSIONS
If you currently live outside the school boundary, and are attending Holy Spirit on a flex boundary position, you will need to request flex boundaries for the next year. Please have your letter in
to the office by Thursday May 5, 2016. Flex boundary admissions must be requested in writing to the school principal each
year. Flex boundary forms are available in the school office.
MEDICAL REMINDERS IMPORTANT IMMUNIZATION MESSAGE
FROM PEEL PUBLIC HEALTH
Peel Public Health will be reviewing immunization records of all
students at our school. Peel Public Health must have proof that
your child has been fully vaccinated (immunized) according to
the Ontario immunization schedule. If you receive a letter
please ensure that your child has received the required vaccine(s), then give the date(s) your child received these vaccine
dose(s) to Peel Public Health immediately to update your child’s
record. For more information please call Peel Public Health at
905-799-7700 or visit www.ImmunizePeel.ca. Translation services are available.
LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES
We would appreciate the cooperation of the entire
school community by NOT sending any lunches or
snacks that contain peanuts/nut products. We want
to ensure a safe environment for all students.
Thank you for your assistance with this initiative.
When celebrating a special occasion, we continue to encourage
that only non-edible treats be sent to school if they are to be
shared with other students.
MEDICATION
A reminder that students are not allowed to bring medication to
school. This includes prescription and non-prescription medication. As per Board protocol, all medication must be stored in the
office, accompanied by appropriate paperwork and doctor signature. Please note that this includes Advil, cough medication,
puffers, etc. We thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
As always, we care about the safety of all our students.
BE SMART, GET A HEAD START
Head lice are always present in the community. By
checking your child’s head once a week for head lice,
you will catch it early and treat it before it has a chance
to spread. Should you suspect that your child (ren) has
head lice, please notify the school.
LET’S WASH OUR HANDS!
Hand washing when done correctly is the single most
effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as the flu. Please help us to reinforce the proper
techniques with your child.
1. Wet our hands
2. Soap our hands
3. Wash our hands
4. Rinse our hands
5. Dry our hands
6. Use paper towels to turn taps off….
WEATHER AND OTHER REMINDERS
SAFETY AWARENESS
As the warmer weather approaches, all students will
review safety awareness with respect to dangers, road
safety, and the dangers of creeks and rivers. Please
reinforce these safety concerns with your children.
SCHOOL DRESS CODE REMINDERS
We expect that warmer weather will soon be here, making classrooms somewhat warm and bringing about more casual dress.
With this in mind, we will be discussing with students, what is generally considered to be suitable clothing for school. Clothing
should be comfortable, tasteful and appropriate for a school environment. Please refer to the Dress Code Section of the Student’s
Agenda.
Shorts are permitted, as long as they are neither too tight nor too
short. Tank tops, tube tops, halter-tops, muscle shirts or anything
that exposes midriffs are not suitable for any student from Kindergarten to Grade 8. Slogans on shirts will also be carefully monitored. The intent of our school dress code policy is to continue to
provide a modest, yet comfortable work atmosphere for our students during the school day. We look forward to your continued
support as concerned parents.
SAFETY AWARENESS-PROTECTING THE SKIN
Over exposure to the sun can cause skin damage. We
remind students regularly to take precautions to protect
their skin during recess times. The following are some
suggestions to help protect skin:




Wear protective clothing to cover the skin
Wear a hat to protect both the eyes and the skin
When possible, stay out of direct sunlight
Know your skin type, for example fair skinned people are more
sensitive to ultraviolet radiation
 Wear sun block; the higher the protection factor number, the greater the protection
Parents are encouraged to reinforce these strategies with their
children regularly.
CLEAN CLOTHING REMINDER
At times, our play area behind the school can become
quite muddy. We ask that students keep an extra pair of
pants and socks in their backpacks or at school.
GODZILLA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Congratulations also goes out to the Holy Spirit Intermediate Boys Basketball Team that won the First
Place Trophy in the 20 Team Godzilla Tournament. The boys played with athleticism and endurance to make it to the finals, for a total of 7 games played. Holy
Spirit Basketball rocks!!
We wish our Intermediate Girls Basketball Team good luck at
their tournament. On Aril 1, 2016.
HOLY SPIRIT FLAMES HOCKEY
Also congratulations go out to our Hockey Team for winning the
Brampton North East Tier 2 tournament this past February!
The Holy Spirit Hockey Team will be participating in our final
event of the season, The Brampton Beast Tournament on April
1st, 2016. This is the inaugural edition of the tournament
and the Flames skaters will be competing against 12 other
teams, with the possibility of advancing to the finals on the following day. Highlights for the team will include the chance for
players to participate in an All-Star game and attending a
Brampton Beast hockey game. Go Flames Hockey Go!
UPCOMING EVENTS
CHESS TOURNAMENT
Our Junior and Intermediate Chess Team will participate in the
Brampton North East Tournament on Tuesday April 1, 2016.
Thank you to Mr. Howard and Mrs. Kamal who have been working with our Chess Team.
CONFIRMATION RETREAT
On Tuesday April 5, 2016, the Grade Seven students
will be participating in a Confirmation Retreat at
Mount Alverno. The students participated in a variety
of activities, indoor and outdoor, that revolved around
reflection and prayer. The retreat will be a personal and spiritual
experience to help our students make Confirmation a meaningful
sacrament in their lives.
SPRING PHOTOS
Spring Photos will be taking place on Thursday April 21, 2016.
SCHOOL EVENTS
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
The next Catholic School Council Meeting will be held on
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the conference
room. As always, ALL parents are welcome to attend the meeting.
HOLY SPIRIT SHARELIFE HOCKEY GAME
On Thursday March 22nd, 2016 Holy Spirit held its
annual ShareLife fundraiser. Special thanks go to all
the parent supervisors, players and staff . Thank you
to everyone who contributed.
FIRST COMMUNION RETREAT
On April 15 our Grade 2’s will participate in their First Communion
Retreat at the school. The day will prove to be a memorable experience and an important part of their spiritual journey.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
My prayers are with all of you as I thank you for whatever each
and everyone does to give witness to the faith. May the Risen
Lord continue to bless your families, your neighbourhood, and
everyone you love.
CONFIRMATION
With prayerful best wishes,
Our Grade 7 students will be celebrating their confirmation on Fr. Vito Marziliano,
Your pastor.
May 2, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Church at 7:00.
On April 16, 2016 the Grade 2 students will be celebrating their First
Holy Communion at St. Patrick’s Church at 12:00.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK – MAY 1-6, 2016
Theme: Catholic Education: Opening Doors
of Mercy
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive
mercy.” – Matthew 5:7. Catholic Education
Week begins on a Sunday to highlight the partnership that remains the
foundation of Catholic education between our Catholic schools and local
Catholic parishes. 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. We invite all members of our community, to participate in the celebrations and activities that will mark the
celebration
of
Catholic
Education
Week.
BULLYING PREVENTION CORNER
IF YOU’RE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION,
YOU’RE PART OF THE PROBLEM
In April, students will be focusing on the role of the
bystanders/witness in bullying situations. Research
shows that bystanders make or break bullying episodes—they
hold the power to stop bullying. They provide the audience for
students engaged in bullying behaviours. Students will discuss
what it means to be a bystander, explore why people let bullying
happen and learn safe and effective strategies to use if they witEDUCATION QUALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE ness bullying. The theme for this month is ‘If you’re not part of the
The EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) testing of our solution, you’re part of the problem’. Every child should feel they
Grade 3 and 6 students will take place from May 25th through to June have the power to prevent and safely help in bullying situations.
5th. Please avoid scheduling any doctor‘s appointments or anything else
that will take your child out of school during the testing dates.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
ST. PATRICK PARISH MESSAGE
April 1
Dear friends of our parish school communities.,
HAPPY EASTER. CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Easter is more than one day. Liturgically it is FIFTY days, culminating with the Feast of Pentecost. Practically, it is EVERY
DAY. Our journey as Christians is a journey with CHRIST. Day
by day, in our homes, our places of work, our schools, everywhere we go, with everyone we meet, in every circumstance of
life, THE RISEN LORD IS PRESENT. We are called to give witness to his life and his love in the simple actions of daily living. Let us remember that we are in his company especially in
moments and situations that make us feel alone, lost or misunderstood. The Lord is also sending us, each one of us, to help others
understand this truth as well. Not only when we are present at a
religious celebration, or opening the Scriptures or standing before
a Crucifix or a sacred image, but in the words and actions of daily
living. Christ is there and we are all ambassadors of his love.
Over the next few weeks young friends from our schools and parish community will be celebrating their First Holy Communion. Others, their Confirmation. Let us pray with them. Let us
pray for them and for their families. Let us welcome them to the
Table and to the mission of giving witness.
April 4
April 5
April 11
April 16
April 29
May 1-6
May 2
May 9-12
May 13
May 31
June 13
June 17
June 22
June 24
June 28
Chess Tournament
Godzilla Basketball Intermediate Girls
Brampton Beast Hockey Tournament
Easter Mass
Confirmation Retreat Grade 7
PA Day
First Communion
Virtue Assembly
Catholic Education Week
Confirmation Grade 7
Grade 8 Chicago Trip
PA Day
Virtues Liturgy
PA Day
Medieval Times (3/4, 4)
Grade 8 Graduation
Virtues Assembly
Report Card Sent Home
ATTACHMENTS
1.
2.
CSC Corner
QSP Fundraiser
Holy Spirit CSC Newsletter
April 2016
We are pleased to be offering a yearbook again this year for $30. We are excited to provide a new payment option as
well. Parents can order the yearbook online through http://jostensyearbooks.com, by pulling up Holy Spirit under
schools. Paper orders will still be accepted, please make any cheque payable to Holy Spirit Catholic School Council.
Father Vito and the Parish Council are beginning to plan the building of our new church. Our current building is a
historical building and cannot be torn down. The new church will be built on lands just west of The Gore and
Mayfield Roads, in the new housing development currently going up. A survey was given out to parishioners asking
what their visions of the new church should be. For those of you who did not receive this green survey form, you are
more than welcome to e-mail your ideas to Fr. Vito at church@stpatrickswildfield.com . What would you like to see
at the new church? Consider things inside, outside and around the building.
Parents and guardians are always welcome to attend our council meetings as guests. It is an opportunity to hear and
learn about what is going on in the school in terms of curriculum and events. I am personally inviting you to come
out to our next meeting April 13, 2016 at 7:00pm in the school conference room.
There are a few parent engagements that might be of interest to you. Please note that these presentations are free
to all parents, put on by parent councils, and are often great sources of information.
http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/News/Events/
On April 11, St. Dominic School and our Parent Advisory Catholic School Council is pleased to welcome Dr. Karyn
Gordon for her presentation on Raising Healthy Kids/Teens In An Age of Overindulgence. The goal of the
presentation is to provide parents with strategies to raise balanced kids/teens. Dr. Karyn Gordon is a well-known
speaker who empowers parents to bring balance back into their life by tackling the tough topic of overindulgence.
Many kids/teens are living in a “buy now, pay later’ culture which is impacting their decision making, priorities,
spending and eating habits. Dr. Gordon’s keynote is revealing, shocking and educational while introducing you to
practical ways to achieve balance and wellness in your family life. Presentation begins at 8:00 p.m. Location: St.
Dominic School, 515 Hartsdale Ave., Mississauga. Please call 905-278-9821 if you are able to attend.
The Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education (OAPCE) and OAPCE Toronto present “Living our Virtues in a
Virtual World”, OAPCE’s 77th Annual Conference on Saturday May 7th, 2016 at Madonna C.S.S. in Toronto. This is day
of informative parent workshops including presenters such as Sara Westbrook, Paul Davis, the Ministry of Education,
and the keynote speaker Michael Redfearn. More information can be found at http://www.oapcetoronto.ca/ This
conference is a great source for resources for parents.
Sincerely,
Karen Dancy, Chair, 2015-2016
ATTENTION --- HOLY SPIRIT FUNDRAISER BEGINS!!!!
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Sign up!!!!!
Here is your chance to take part in the Holy Spirit Fundraiser. This year we
are offering an Organic Edibles seed program. It’s a great way for the whole
family to participate in some fun planting experiences. In addition, it’s also a
great gift for mom or grandma.
Order forms have been sent home the past week with your child(ren).
Cost per pot is only $12.00, with no taxes or shipping costs.
For all interested participants please return your order forms by Friday
April 8th in order to ensure pots arrive on time for Mother’s Day.
MONEY RAISED WILL GO TOWARDS THE
PURCHASE OF:
Computer Chrome Books!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Ms. A. Cassar
Vice Principal