34 Buick Boulevard, Brampton, ON L7A 3B9
PRINCIPAL ………………
SECRETARY …………….
SUPERINTENDENT …….
TRUSTEE ………………...
F. Bernard
C. Moore
S. Steer
D. B .D’Souza F. DiCosola
Tel: 905-840-3042
Fax: 905-840-0820
VICE PRINCIPAL ………..
PASTOR ………………….
PARISH …………………..
WEBSITE ………………...
M. Moncur
Fr. J. Gogolewski
Guardian Angels
www.dpcdsb.org/AIDAN
Enlightened by Knowledge. Enriched by Faith.
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2015
WE WISH YOU A:
Buon Natale
Feliz Navidad
Joyeux Noel
Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Weso ychs'wia
Maligayang Pasko
Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Eid Milad Majid (‫)مج يد م يالد ع يد‬
God Jul
Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Sheng Dan Kuai Le (圣诞快乐)
. . . Merry Christmas to all!
Principal’s Message
Christmas is Coming! It is hard to believe that December has arrived – the months have gone so quickly. As we prepare for the
wondrous glory of our Lord’s birth, we have a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the incredible gift that God has given us –
our children. As parents, guardians and educators, God has asked all of us to guide the way for our children. When we stop and
think of what to buy our children for Christmas, let us think of the gifts that come naturally – our undivided attention and love.
May our preparations for Jesus’ birth lead us to renew our love and involvement in each others’ lives. May we rediscover
the magic of Christmas that we felt so long ago when we were children ourselves. Let’s rediscover the magic of
the Lord’s peace and love that entered our hearts as children so as to be able to share that peace and love with
our children in our thoughts, words, and deeds. During this Advent Season, we pray that we may all bring the
peace, joy, and love of Christ that is present in each of us to all of our families.
On behalf of my staff and myself I would like to wish each and everyone in our St. Aidan School community a
Happy and Blessed Christmas. May Jesus hold you close to His heart during this Holy Christmas season and fill you with His joy,
love and peace. Enjoy this special time with your family and friends and God bless.
May the good Lord also bring you and your family a very healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year 2016!
Celebrate the Wonder
of Christmas
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Sharing Our Blessings and
Thanks…
Advent comes from a Latin word meaning
“the coming”. During the Advent season,
Christians everywhere prepare for the celebration of the
coming of the Lord. It is a time to celebrate light coming in
the midst of darkness as symbolized best by the Advent
wreath.
During Advent, the staff and students of St. Aidan are
taking time to get ready and prepare for Christmas and the
celebration of the coming of the Lord with a number of
events and opportunities. Some of the activities planned are
as follows:

Songs, prayers, poems, and stories relating to the
Advent/Christmas season and to our December virtue of
hope will be shared on the school’s P.A. system and within
classes;

Our students will participate in Advent celebrations
during each week of Advent as they “celebrate the
wonder of Christmas”;

Staff and students are invited to continue to build the
Christmas spirit by participating in the many special
events that have been prepared for Christmas spirit;

Advent Wreaths have been set up in classrooms. Each
grade level will be invited to do weekly Advent
celebrations. Staff will also hold weekly advent prayer
celebrations in the foyer. We hope you will also consider
placing a wreath in your home;

Christmas Giving Projects – It is through giving that
children gain a sense of responsibility towards others.
In an effort to reach out to others during this season
of giving, we have encouraged students to donate
through the Operation Christmas Child boxes. Thank you
to the Youth Faith Ambassadors, Mrs. Sousa and her
students who organized and carried out this project.
The boxes have been delivered.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION
December’s Virtue – Hope
People of hope . . .
 Keep up a positive attitude;
 Can bounce back from tough situations;
 Set and stick to their goals;
 See the good in others even when they make
mistakes;
 Work to include others; and
 Let others know that they are good people.
We pray for the grace and courage to be people of hope –
people who can see, participate in and contribute to God’s
goodness emerging around us.
The Season of Advent
On Sunday, November 29th, the Season of Advent began.
Advent is a period of simple living and extra prayer. It is a
time to prepare for a new coming of Jesus, our Saviour.
The first coming was at Bethlehem, and will not happen
again. At Christmas we will remember that first time, but
every time Jesus comes, it surprises us. It is never exactly
the way we expect it to be.
Some people want the Saviour to come with great power to
reward them and wipe out their enemies. But Jesus is a
loving and peaceful Saviour and calls his followers to follow
in this example. During Advent, we prepare our homes and
our lives for Jesus, the King of Glory and the Prince of
Peace.
Advent is a time to re-evaluate our priorities, to ‘wake up’
and to walk with God. It is a time to thank God for saving
us through Jesus.
Putting Our Faith Into Action
Sacramental Preparation – The grade 2
students continue to prepare to
receive the blessed sacrament of Reconciliation followed by
First Holy Communion.
They will receive this special
sacrament in April. We continue to pray for each student on
their special journeys. We also pray for our grade 7 & 8
students who are preparing for the sacrament of
Confirmation. Please keep all these students in your prayers,
that the Holy Spirit will guide them in their journeys.
This month we celebrate the virtue of hope. We believe that
God comes to us as a real human who can show us the way of
life.
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Our Advent Mass
Come join us to
celebrate our faith,
pray as a community
and have an opportunity to
wish one another
a blessed and
joyful Christmas
at St. Aidan School’s gymnasium
Friday, December 4, 2015
at 12:45 p.m.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS
Catholic School Council Update
Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 30,
2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the school library. We would like to
acknowledge our appreciation for all the members of the
Catholic School Council who have worked so hard at providing
valuable and positive enhancements that assist in the
education of the students – the students are the true
benefactors of all your great time and efforts. Thank you!
PROGRAM & CURRICULUM
Kindergarten Registration for 2016-2017
Registration for Junior and Senior Kindergarten for the
2015-2016 school year, will take place at St. Aidan School on
the following days:
Monday, January 25, 2016
7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
9:00 am-3:00 pm
Thursday, January 28, 2016
9:00 am-3:00 pm
Friday, January 29, 2016
9:00 am-3:00 pm
Tuesday, January 26, 2015 is the alternate snow date for
Monday, January 26th.
For more information about registration and the Full Day
Kindergarten program, call St. Aidan School at 905-8403042 or visit www.dpcdsb.org.
French Immersion
Information meetings regarding French Immersion programs
have already been held. Senior Kindergarten parents/
guardians who wish to enroll their child in a Grade 1 French
Immersion class for September, 2016 can review the Board
website for up-to-date information or contact Micheline
Goguen at 905-890-0708 ext. 24307.
Parent Evening to Support the Transition of
Children with Differing Abilities into
Kindergarten
There
will
be
an
information
session
for
parent(s)/guardian(s) of children with differing abiliites
including vision, speech, hearing, autism, physical/medical
and/or developmental delays who are transitioning to
Kindergarten in September 2016. The information session
will held at the
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
Catholic Education Centre, Room 301
On Tuesday, January 12, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Snow date Wed., Jan. 13, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are also reminded to register their
child at our school office. See official registration dates
under Kindergarten Registration 2016/2017
Extended French - Reminder
Grade 4 parents/guardians who wish to enrol their child in a
Grade 5 Extended French class for September 2016 are
invited to attend an information meeting:
St. Anne School
124 Vodden Street, Brampton
Tuesday, January 13, 2016 at 7:00pm
At the present time, the above mentioned school is the
designated centre for our area.
Applications will be
accepted at this centre until 3:00 pm Tuesday, February
16th, 2016.
Christmas Concert
Only
Grades 1-3
Thursday, December 17
10:00 a.m. Dress Rehearsal
6:00 p.m. Evening Performance
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Christmas Concert
Due to the large population of the school, the school
performances have been divided into sections throughout
the school year in order to accommodate for space in the
gym. For Christmas, the Grades 1-3 students will be put on
a Christmas Concert. The other grades will have other
events in the winter and spring – stay tuned.
SAFETY/SECURITY COMES FIRST
Snow - Definitely on its Way
We have seen a very small dusting of snow this
November but winter is surely on its way bringing
us cold weather, freezing rain, and snow. Except
when the weather is extremely cold or wet, all
students will be expected to go outside during all recess
breaks for exercise and fresh air. We will follow our board’s
guidelines for considering when students should be kept
indoors or limit the amount of time that students spend
outdoors. Students who cannot play outside due to illness
should remain at home until they are feeling better.
It is imperative that students come dressed appropriately
to go outdoors, which includes hats, boots, scarves, and
mittens or gloves. We recommend that children may want to
bring an extra pair of socks and mittens/gloves in their
school bag. We also remind everyone of our school policy,
which encourages an extra pair of running shoes to be kept
at school or carried by students for indoor use. Not only
does this promote good health and comfort, it helps keep the
classroom floors dry and clean, for everyone’s benefit.
School Closures
During the winter months, inclement weather may cause
disruption to bus transportation and regular school
operations. A decision to cancel school transportation and/or
to close schools is usually made by 6:00 a.m. and will be
announced on various radio and television stations. Please
read the attached information on the transportation letter.
Please keep this information handy, and listen to your local
radio station on days when there is inclement winter weather
in order to be informed regarding decisions being made
about the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board.
experience has shown that serious accidents can and do
occur. Snow-jobs, sliding on any hills created by snow
ploughs, and sliding on ice are also prohibited.
Please discuss these safety procedures and reinforce them
with your children – it is imperative that everyone adhere to
these rules.
Driveway/Kiss & Ride Safety
CHANGES STARTED NOVEMBER 30TH
Thank you for helping us to ensure the safe arrival and
departure of ALL of students and staff, since safety is of
paramount importance. Last week, a letter with attached
information was sent home with your child. This information
outlined the new procedures for SAFETY on our school
property. Please ensure that you will follow through with
proper driveway procedures while on school.
Please do not park in the Kiss & Ride lane in the drop off or
the pick up times. If you need to get out of your car, you
must park in a parking space or on the street.
Crossing Guards
For additional safety, crossing guards have been placed at
both intersections at Brisdale & Buick and Brisdale &
Sugarhill. The crossing guards are there from 7:50 and then
again at 2:50 till 3:20. Please speak to your child (ren) about
crossing the street with the crossing guards and to always
be respectful.
SCHOOL OPERATIONS
Christmas Holidays
Our last day of classes before break for our Christmas
holidays is Friday, December 18th, 2015. Classes will begin
again on Monday, January 4, 2016. We hope that everyone
has a wonderful holiday.
Outdoor/Indoor Shoes
SNOW SAFETY For All Students
Reminders will be made in announcements and
teachers will review our policy stating that snow must stay
on the ground. For the safety of all of our students on
school property, there are to be no snowballs, kicking of snow
or any other activity involving snow or ice that could be
harmful. Although it may seem like a fun activity, our
We need your help
to keep our school
safe, clean and dust-free.
Please send an indoor pair of shoes.
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KEEPING HEALTHY
Healthy Snacking Made as Easy as 1-2-3
Use this 3-step snacking guide to help you snack in a healthy
way.
1. Choose nutritious snacks that are wholesome foods
good for the body e.g. milk, cheese, fruits, veggies,
etc.
2. Limit your number of snacks to three times a day.
3. Choose a variety of snacks. Enjoy different snacks
everyday.
Remember: for children, snacks are not just treats but are
important foods. Besides three meals a day, children need
snacks to give them energy and to help them grow.
Get Lunch Happy
Did you know you can join the Lunch Lady Program at any
time? Go to www.thelunchlady.ca > ORDER HERE to set up a
Lunch Lady Account and check out the Online Menus
available for our school. We’ve got lots of delicious options!
We hope you will see something you like and give us a try!
Raji
905-495-8100
raji@thelunchlady.ca
Our Intermediate Boys and Girls have been practicing
diligently for the volleyball tournaments. They played
extremely well but most importantly they showed teamwork
and collegiality. Way to go Flames – BRAVO!!
Brampton St. Aidan YMCA
Do you need Before and After School Programs for you
child(ren)? The YMCA had quality care for 4-12 year olds
right in St. Aidan School
The YMCA provides:
 Safe environment where children contribute to
their daily plan.
 Research based YMCA Playing to Learn curriculum
is implemented in Extended Day programs for 4 &
5 year olds.
 Fun, friendships and learning are fostered and
guided by the new school age curriculum (6-12 year
olds)L YMCA A Place to Connect.
 Qualified staff provide physical activitiy, team
building and leadership opportunities.
 Open at 7:30 a.m. until school bell and after school
until 6:00 p.m.
 Offer P.A. Day, Winter and March Break Programs.
Register today!
For program details call;
647-448-9400 or
StAidanStaff@ymcagta.org
Eco School Green Committee
We continue to care for our environment by continuing to be
an Eco School. We have a group of students from grades 46 who are members of the Green Team lead by Ms. Pike and
Ms. Cassar. The committee’s goal is to work together to
inform teachers and students on how to better care for our
earth. Here are some tips about Christmas wrapping:
 Re-use gift bags each Christmas,
 Recycle all wrapping paper larger than your hand,
 Use re-useable wrapping like material or blankets or
cloth bags to save paper and save tree,
 Make your own Christmas cards using old cards and
found items,
 Consider the environment when purchasing items
that have a lot of packaging that cannot be recycled,
and
 Buy LED type Christmas lights to save energy.
The Green Team will be creating posters to put around the
school to encourage everyone to use these ideas. In the new
year, the Green Team will be starting a battery recycling
program. More details in the come in the new year.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
. . . AND FINALLY
Mark Your Calendars
December 2
December 4
December 8
December 11
December 17
December 18
December 21
December 25
December 26
December 31
January 1
January 6
January 13
January 19
School-wide confessions at school
Advent Mass in school gym
Immaculate Conception Feast Day
CSC Dance-a-thon
Christmas Concert (Grades 1-3 only)
at 6:00 pm in gym
Virtue of Hope Assembly
Last day before Christmas holidays
Christmas Holidays begin
Christmas Day-Happy Birthday, Jesus!
St. Stephen Feast Day
Holy Family Feast Day
Happy New Year 2016
Feast of the Epiphany
New Year’s Mass
Professional Activity Day – no school
for students
Please check your child’s agenda nightly
for important dates & information
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I Leave You With This Thought
From All the Staff
Of
St. Aidan School
P. Moore
J. Morrison
L. Andreatta
L. Tran
C. Rodgers
A. Murray
R. Pike
J. Evans
T Kong
D. Sousa
J. Cataldo
D. Navas
T. Frank
J. Gill
C. Draga
G. Stewart
A. Sturino
C. Moore
D. Tonon
K. Juricic
S. Braga
P. Pittman
D. Maheu
R. Toms
K. Morrison
D. Medeiros
L. Litster
T. Cassar
P. Novak
T. Goodridge
R. Harricharran
A. Fleming
G. Preston
P. Mota
G. Castellarin
M. Pereira
J. Carere
Attachments





Emergency Information - Inclement Weather
Catholic Global Learning Centre North – Parent/
Guardian Interest Survey – letter already sent home
Parent Evening to Support the Transition of Children
with Differing Abilities into Kindergarten flyer
Thank you note from St. Vincent de Paul Society
Math at Home for December
DPCDSB is on Twitter!
For the latest Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School
Board news and information on schools, programs,
in-services, follow:
St. Aidan is on Twitter!
For the latest news and information on our school please
follow us on twitter on
@StAidan_CES
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