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
APRIL 2016
Principal’s Corner
We hope everyone enjoyed a Happy and Blessed Easter. May all the celebrations of Easter encourage each of us to be givers of
new life, and to be filled with the Peace of the Lord, and the hope and joy of the new life promised through
His Resurrection. May we also continue to have faith in God in everything we do. Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
March has gone by so quickly and we now enter into the month of April. We had some very fun-filled events
to help warm the days of March and look forward to many more in the month of April.
Sharing Our Thanks and Blessings . . .
We would like to acknowledge and express our gratitude for all the events, and especially the following . . .

Our Parents, who support all the efforts of our school and school council;

Our Parents, who support all of the lunch programs we have made available for all students –
Mondays-bagels, Tuesdays & Fridays-Lunch Lady, Wednesdays-pitas and Thursdays-pizza;

Our Parents, Students, and Teachers who support our school efforts in curriculum, safety, following school procedures,
and speak positively about St. Aidan School;

Our Eco Team & Mrs. Cataldo who help us to take better care of our earth through the various activities which help
to preserve our world, such as The Great Gulp, recycling, litterless lunches, using reusable water bottles, Earth Hour,
saving electricity and many others.

Coaches Mr. Gill and Mr. Braga who generously give of their time to prepare students for Boys and Girls Intermediate
Basketball teams.

Coach Mr. Gill who prepared students for the Brampton West Family Chess Tournament held at Guardian Angels. Many
schools brought teams and St. Aidan placed fifth. Congratulations to all the Students on the Junior & Intermediate
Chess Teams – great games and sportsmanship.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Virtue for April - LOVE
During the month of April, we will celebrate the virtue of LOVE.
With the students we will reinforce that a person with love:
 Wants the best for everyone.
 Knows that we are all unique and special.
 Cares deeply about others.
 Is willing to make sacrifices for the good of others.
 Work for the happiness of others.
 Learns from the heroic lives of saints.
 Follows the example of holy people.
 Knows we are all loveable.
 Prays for others.
Our daily prayer for April will be . . .
Let us pray for the virtue of love so that we will never be
satisfied until all are satisfied. Amen.
Catholic Education Week Coming Soon
“Catholic Education: Exploring Paths of Joy”
May 1-6, 2016
Each year, the Catholic community of Ontario engages in a
week-long celebration of the unique identity and distinctive
contributions of Catholic education during Catholic Education
Week.
This year’s celebration entitled, “Catholic Education: Opening
Doors of Mercy” is scheduled for the week of May 1 – May 6,
2016. The scriptural passage that guides our theme will be
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”
(Matthew 5:7)
This year’s five sub-themes, one for each of the five days of
Catholic Education Week at school, help students to understand
the rich meaning of this year’s themes:
Mercy that Welcomes
Mercy that Loves
Mercy that Forgives
Mercy that Lives the Gospel
Mercy that Rejoices
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 2016 in our school. Further information will be
shared with you.
Putting Our Faith Into Action
Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Toronto are
participating in assisting the diocese to raise money to donate
to Share Life efforts . . . You can work WONDERS! St. Aidan
continues to support ShareLife – a huge thank you to everyone
who will help support our ShareLife donations.
Upcoming Sacraments
On April 17 at 3:00 p.m. at Guardian Angels Parish,
our Grade two students will receive the sacrament of First Holy
Communion.
On April 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Guardian Angels Parish, our Grade
Seven and Eight students will receive the sacrament of
Confirmation.
Please continue to pray for our Grade 2 and 8 students as they
continue to prepare their spiritual faith life to receive these
blessed sacraments. Just a reminder to parents that students
must be registered and enrolled with Guardian Angels Church in
order to receive these sacraments. Please contact the church
for further direction.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS
Catholic School Council Update
All Are Welcome!
Our next Catholic School Council Meeting
will take place on
April 13, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
All parents and staff are invited
to attend this meeting
PROGRAM & CURRICULUM
Numeracy
All teachers continue to work with the Ministry of Education–
LNS, Program Department, and our Special Assignment Teacher
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on Ministry initiatives to further develop our student’s
numeracy skills. Through the process of collaborative inquiry,
teachers continue to develop the skills related to high yield
numeracy strategies, the 3 Part Math Lesson and the use of
mathematical manipulatives.
EQAO-Grades 3 & 6 Assessments-Coming Soon
Once again this year, Grades 3 and 6 students will participate
in Provincial Education Quality and Accountability Office
testing (EQAO). The testing will take place between May 25
and June 8.
Attendance is extremely important during the testing dates.
Looking ahead to these assessments, we ask that you refrain
from scheduling medical or other appointments that will mean
the student in these grades is required to be absent or late.
One of the factors which will contribute to student success is
consistent and uninterrupted attendance during the province’s
designated time for administering the tests. More specific
information will be coming home soon.
Upcoming Summer Learning Program Opportunities
Dufferin Peel CDSB will be offering summer programs for
elementary students.
1. Literacy Camp for students in Year 2 Kindergarten to
Grade 6
2. Summer School for Grades 7 & 8 students
3. Transition program “Get Ready” for all students
entering Grade 9.
More information about these programs will be shared by the
school to families of students whom the school is
recommending. If you would like further information at this
time, please refer to the DPCDSB Adult and Continuing
Education website at: http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/Programs/
Summer+Learning/
SAFETY/SECURITY COMES FIRST
Visitors to the School
Parents are requested to remain outside of the schoolyard
during school hours. We are requesting that parents drop off
their children into the schoolyard and the adults must stay
behind the painted boundary lines outside of the schoolyard.
Your child will be supervised by a teacher – please do not enter.
You are never to approach another child for any reason.
Remember – to your child you are familiar but to the other
students you are a stranger. We continue to be a safe
environment for everyone and your support in this matter is
greatly appreciated.
International Day of Pink
What is the Day of Pink? The Day of Pink is the International
Day against Bullying, Discrimination, Homophobia and
Transphobia across the world. Everyone is invited to celebrate
diversity by wearing a pink shirt and by organizing activities in
their workplaces, schools and communities. This day began
when two students saw a gay student wearing a pink shirt being
bullied. The two students intervened, but wanted to do more
to prevent homophobic bullying. They encouraged everyone at
their school to wear pink, as a symbol of solidarity.
Bicycles, Skateboards, Heelies (Shoes on Wheels),
Roller Blades, Scooters
Bicycle season is arriving. We remind
students of the importance of following
traffic safety rules. Students are
reminded that bicycles must be walked
anywhere on any school
grounds and parked at the side of the property at the
bicycle racks. All bicycles should be chained and locked
at the rack. Unfortunately even chained bicycles can be
quickly removed by determined thieves. It is suggested
that expensive/hard to replace bicycles remain at home
as the school cannot be responsible for stolen or
damaged bicycles. Also a reminder to all students that
the law requires that all children wear proper bicycle
helmets.
Scooters, skateboards, heelies, and roller blades are not
permitted on school property, therefore, students are not to
bring them to school. It is a liability issue and we are not set up
to supervise activities using these items.
No Pets Allowed on School Property
Yes, those pets can be cute and cuddly, but they
can also be unpredictable and scary to children.
We want to remind you that pets are not allowed
on school grounds.
IMPORTANT: SAFETY ON SCHOOL
PROPERTY Driveway, Walkways, Kiss N’ Ride
Student safety continues to remain a priority at
school. Many thanks to parents/guardians who
have been following the correct and safe
procedure for using the school driveway. Some
safe practices include:

Do not stop, park or get out of your vehicle
in the bus lane, Kiss N’ Ride lane or in the driveway at
the front of the school, at any time, even if you are
running late or picking up your child early.
3

If you need to get out of your vehicle to walk your child
to the Kindergarten play yard or come into the school,
park in a spare parking space or park legally on the
street and walk onto the school property.

ALWAYS DRIVE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY! Be
aware of your surroundings at all times whether
driving]
Just a reminder that children should not be dropped
off before 8:05 in the morning as there is no teacher
supervision until this time.





Please do not ask your child to cross through the front
driveway where busses come in or cars drive through.
We would appreciate parents walking their children to
either end of our sidewalks.
Please respect the Fire Route and No Parking signs
around the school, as well as the handicap parking
spaces. There is no parking in the fire routes at any
time, for any length of time, for any reason. It is
unsafe and against the law!
Everyone needs to be respectful towards the School
Staff and model appropriate behavior and language in
front of their children during all times when on school
property – actually at all times.
Outdoor Play – The staff of St. Aidan want children
to enjoy their recess and have fun while practicing
safe, active, and appropriate play. We would like to
share some of the major practices we reinforce during
announcements, within our classrooms, and while on
recess supervision. Your assistance in reinforcing
these rules will help in keeping all children safe while
at school . . .
o Respect each other with kind words and
helpful actions.
o Allow others to play in games.
o Play fairly and safely.
o Avoid rough and aggressive play.
o No contact – hands and feet to yourselves.
o Stay away from ball games in progress.
o Respect school property and the environment.
SCHOOL OPERATIONS
Pizza Lunch Re-scheduled
Due to the school closures on Thursday, March 31, the pizza
lunch scheduled on this day has been re-scheduled for
Wednesday, April 6th. A notice went home on the back of the
Pita Pit order form sent home March 30th or 31st.
Creating Classes for September 2016
Staff will soon begin the process of organizing and placing
students into classes for September, 2016. This is a very
complex process requiring a great deal of thought and careful
planning with many factors being considered. Each child is
discussed on the basis of academic and social/emotional needs.
The goal is to create balanced classrooms that allow the best
functional class groupings.
Parents who wish to provide input for consideration should do
so in writing to the Principal no later than May 6 , 2016
Frame your request in terms of the best educational learning
environment for your child. This is not intended to arrange for
a certain teacher or to have other friends in the same class, or
to avoid necessary combined classes.
Please keep in mind that combined grade classes are an
expected form of school organization, and all students will have
this experience from time to time. Today in Ontario, there are
few, if any, schools without combined classes.
Class lists are always tentative and will not be finalized until
sometime in early September 2016 due to changes that may
occur.
Moving? Let us Know!
If you are moving to a new residence
between now and September 2016, please
inform the school as soon as possible. This
information assists with our planning, organization of classes,
ordering materials, etc. for the 2016 – 2017 school year.
If you have changed address, it is a legal requirement to inform
the school and to complete a new tax assessment form, available
from the school. Thanking you in advance for your cooperation.
KEEPING HEALTHY
Immunization Message from Peel Public Health
Peel Public Health continues to review immunization records of
all students at St. Aidan. Peel Public Health must have proof
that your child has been fully vaccinated (immunized) according
to the Ontario immunization schedule.
During the records review, you will receive a letter from Peel
Public Health if your child’s record is incomplete. It will tell you
what vaccinations your child needs to meet the requirements
for Ontario.
If you receive a letter, please be sure your child has received
the required vaccination(s), then give the date(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.
4
Parents
can
also
update
connecttopeel@peelregion.ca.
information
on-line
Eco School Initiatives – Thanks Green Team
RECYLE
ANY TYPE OF OLD BATTERIES AND CELLPHONES
Don’t throw away any of your old batteries and cellphones – RECYCLE
them. There is now a campaign in our school to collect old batteries
and cellphones and we will submit them for recycling.
Spring Thaw – Yes It Has Finally Arrived!
Now that the warmer weather is approaching, melting ground
frost and rain make the yard and adjoining streets and
sidewalks very muddy and dirty. The school yard takes some
time to dry up completely. It is important that the field dries
up properly so that the grass is able to return strong and fresh.
Similar to at home, we encourage our students to take off
muddy shoes and boots, and change into clean shoes for indoor
wear. In this way, we hope to keep children’s work and play
areas as clean and as safe as possible. Please ensure that your
child has a pair of indoor shoes at school every day. They must
have footwear in the school at all times.
In addition, fresh April showers bring gorgeous May flowers
but also wet clothes. You may want to send an extra pair of
socks and pants for your child for those wet moments.
Region of Peel - Active Transportation
St. Aidan has been selected to take part in Peel Health and
Dufferin-Peel CDSB’s travel traffic count data collection. The
Region of Peel will be conducting school travel traffic counts to
determine how Peel Region elementary school students travel
to and from school in 2016 (April-June or September-early
November 2016). This will help to reduce school congestion and
promote overall school safetyo by encouraging our students to
walk/bike/roll to school. Please see the attached information
parent/guardian letter.
Mark Your Calendars
April 1
Brampton West Family Chess
Tournament at Guardian Angels
School
April 4
First Reconciliation 9:30 a.m. at
St. Aidan School
April 11
NEW P.A. Day – no school for students
April 13
Catholic School Council Meeting @6:30 p.m.
April 13
International Day of Pink
April 14
Hep. B/Meningitis Clinic
April 17
First Holy Communion for grade 2 at Guardian
Angel Church @ 3:00 p.m.
April 20
Confirmation for grades 7 & 8 at Guardian
Angels Church @ 7:00 p.m.
April 25
FDK Spring Concert @ 9:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
April 22
Earth Day
April 29
Virtue of Love Assembly
May 1-8
Catholic Education Week
May 4
Crowning of Mary Celebration
May 4
Welcome to Kindergarten Event @6:00 p.m.
May 8
Mother’s Day
May 13
PA Day – no school for students
May 18
Catholic School Council Meeting @6:30 p.m.
May 23
Victoria Day Holiday
May 25-June 8 EQAO Assessment Days
May 30
Virtue Assembly
June 1-2
Dental Screening for grades FDK, 2, 8
June 8
Catholic School Council Meeting @ 6:30 pm
June 13
PA Day – no school for students
June 16
Brampton West Family Track Meet
June 20
First Day of Summer
June 22
FDK Celebration @ 9:00 a.m. in school gym
June 27
End of the Year Mass @ 9:00 a.m. in the gym
June 27
Grade 8 Grad Trip to Niagara Falls
June 28
Reports sent home
June 29
Virtue assembly in school gym
June 29
Grade 8 Grad Luncheon/Dance
June 29
Grad Ceremony @ 6:30 p.m. in school gym
June 30
Last day of school
Please check your child’s agenda nightly
for important dates & information
. . . AND FINALLY
I Leave You With This Thought . . .
St. Therese de Lisieux’s message on love . . .
Attachments Included with this Newsletter




April Volume 8 Math @ Home Parent Communication
Share Life Letter to St. Aidan
Pope Francis’s Message on Love
Parent Letter on Student Travel Traffic Count Data
Collection Project Information
For the latest information on St. Aidan
follow St. Aidan Twitter - @StAidan_CES
OR St. Aidan Website – www.dpcdsb.org/AIDAN
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:
Pope Francis’ Message on LOVE
Pope Francis reminded the faithful that Christian love is to be
expressed with concrete acts, and he pointed out that words
are not enough.
Speaking during his homily on Holy Thursday morning during
Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope said that God leads
the way with love, and that it is through love that we get to
know God.
Reflecting on what he called the “key word” in the liturgy during
this time of the year, Pope Francis said Jesus ‘manifests’
himself at the Epiphany, at the Baptism, at the Wedding of
Cana, but he asked: “how can we know God?” Francis explained
that this truth is explained less by the intellect than by the
heart.
WE GET TO KNOW GOD ON THE PATH OF LOVE
“God is love! It is only on the path of love that you can know
God. ‘Reasonable love’, ‘love accompanied by reason’. But love!
And how can we love what we do not know? Love your neighbors”.
This, the Pope said, is the doctrine of two Commandments: the
most important is ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the
greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You
shall love your neighbor as yourself’. And he pointed out that
“to get to the first we must ascend the steps of the second:
that means that through our love for our neighbor we can get
to know God, who is love. Only through loving can we reach love”.
GOD’S LOVE IS LIKE AN
ALMOND
BLOSSOM
Pointing out that God sent us his only Son to free us from sin,
Pope Francis said that in the person of Jesus we can
contemplate the love of God, and following His example, we can
climb the steps, one by one, to God’s love, to the knowledge of
God who is love. Recalling the words of the prophet Jeremiah,
the Pope said that God's love precedes everything … He
precedes us. “The prophet Jeremiah said that God was like the
flower of the almond-tree, as it is the first tree that flowers
in spring, meaning that God always flowers before us. When we
arrive, He is already there waiting for us. … He is always there
before us”.
GOD’S
LOVE
ALWAYS
WAITS
FOR
US
Turning his attention to the Gospel reading of the day that tells
of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, The Pope said the
Lord had compassion for the many people who had flocked to
listen to Jesus “because they were like sheep without a
shepherd, they had no orientation”, today – Francis said – so
many people have no orientation, but God precedes just as he
preceded the disciples who hadn’t understood what was going
on.
“God’s love always awaits us; it always takes us by surprise.
Our Father who loves us so much is always ready to forgive us.
Always! Not once, always!”
Pope Francis concluded asking the Lord to give us the grace to
be acquainted and to get to know God on the path of love.
That’s why, Pope Francis said, we have to love each other,
because love comes from God and whoever loves has been
generated by God:
GOD’S
LOVE
IS
NOT
A
SOAP
OPERA
“He who loves knows God; he who does not love has no knowledge
of God because God is love”. But, Francis stressed: “it’s not the
love of a ‘soap opera’. No, it is solid, strong and eternal. “It
‘manifests’ itself in the Son, in the Son of God who has come to
save us. It is a concrete love made of works and not of words.
To know God we must walk through life in love, love for our
neighbor, love for those who hate us, love for all”.
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When we entrust ourselves to the Lord,
we can overcome all obstacles that we encounter along the way.
Pope Francis @Pontifex
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
The Region of Peel and your school would like to reduce school congestion and promote overall school safety by encouraging
more of our students to walk and/or roll to and from school.
When our students walk and/or roll to and from school, we can:





Increase the number of those who are physically active to improve overall health and well-being
Reduce traffic congestion around the school
Improve air quality
Create safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists
Increase school and community engagement
Between April to June 2016 and mid-September to early-November 2016, we will be conducting traffic counts for two days
near your school to gather baseline data on the amount of traffic, including motorized passenger vehicles, cyclists, and
pedestrians, coming onto and dropping off/ picking up at the school grounds.
Should you have any further questions, please contact your child/children’s Principal or:
Catherine Sim
Health Promoter
Public Health, Region of Peel
7120 Hurontario Street
Mississauga, ON
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