Taoi lieau naay quan troing, xin nhoo ngoooi chuyean doch. Esta informacion es importante. Por favor traducirla al espanol. Ta informacja jest wazna. Prosze zapoznaj sie z nia. St. Alfred Catholic School 3341 Havenwood Dr. Mississauga, Ontario L4X 2M2 905.625.0584 905.625.4490 (Fax) “Every Child, A Promise.” February 2016 Newsletter Principal: L. DeWitte Vice Principal T. Podobnik Secretary: D. Suchocki September School Council Chair: R. Didiano 2011 Superintendent of ME Schools: Newsletter T. Lariviere DPCDSB Trustee of Wards 1 & 3: M. Pascucci St. Martha & Mary Parish 1840 Burnhamthorpe Rd. East (905) 625-5670 Rev. Fr. D. Corkum http://stsmarthaandmary.org/ ST. ALFRED SCHOOL HOURS School Begins 8:45 a.m. Recess (a.m.) 10:45 - 11:00a.m. Lunch 11:45- 12:45p.m. Recess (p.m.) 2:15—2:30p.m. Dismissal 3:15 p.m. ST. ALFRED WEBSITE http://www.dpcdsb.org/ALFRD DPCDSB WEBSITE http://www.dpcdsb.org/cec TWITTER This Lent........... Give up complaining.....focus on gratitude. Give up pessimism...become an optimist. Give up harsh judgments...think kind thoughts. Give up worry......trust Divine Providence. Give up discouragement.....be full of hope. Give up bitterness......turn to forgiveness. Give up hatred.....return good for evil. Give up negativism.....be positive. Give up anger......be more patient. Give up pettiness.....become more mature. Give up gloom.....enjoy the beauty that is all around you. Give up jealousy....pray for trust. Give up gossiping.....control your tongue. Give up sin.....turn to virtue. Give up giving up....hang in there!!!!! Wishing you a prayerful and Reflective Lenten Season. @StAlfred_dpcdsb ADMINISTRATORS’ MESSAGE @DPCDSBSchool The days are getting longer, and the children are enjoying the snow, however, we must remind our children that with the sunshine there are still very cold days. Please remind your children to dress in layers and to have all of their winter attire (winter coat, scarf, hat, mittens, gloves, boots) with them at school, and to ensure that they wear them in order to enjoy the cooler weather. Students are also asked to ensure that they have a pair of indoor shoes at school. We would like to thank our custodial staff, for all their hard work in keeping our school clean. The winter weather is particularly hard to cope with as students drag in snow, water, ice, and mud inside the school. Our custodial team goes above and beyond in keeping things running smoothly. L. DeWitte Principal T. Podobnik Vice Principal STS. MARTHA AND MARY PARISH Weekend Masses: Satur day Mass at 4:30pm, Sunday Masses at 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am Weekday Masses: Monday to Satur day and Holidays at 9:00am, Fir st Fr iday at 7:00pm, and Wednesdays at 7:00pm Confessions: Satur days at 3:30pm to 4:15pm SACRAMENTS First Reconciliation and Holy Communion at Sts. Martha and Mary Parish: Reconciliation Liturgy: February 18 at 7pm Tour of the Church: TBD (possibly February 9, 11, 16) at 10:15am First Communion: April 3 at 2:00pm Confirmation at Sts. Martha and Mary Parish: Confessions: TBD Confirmation Mass: April 7 at 7:00pm THE VIRTUE OF THE MONTH During the month of February we will focus on the virtue of RESPECT. God has given us the virtues of friends and companions to keep us company and to help us along the way. Every person in our lives carries the Spirit of God – and so every person is our brother or sister through Jesus Christ. As brothers and sisters who share one Holy Spirit, we are all valuable to God. We all deserve to be shown courtesy, consideration, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness which are different ways of saying respect. Respect should come first and foremost from ourselves. We have to respect ourselves and then we will be able to respect others. We should also be able to expect to be treated with respect by everyone we meet – our brothers and sisters in Jesus. Through prayer and concentration, we can get better at respecting ourselves as well as respecting those around us. A respectful person … • treats himself/herself and everyone else with equal consideration and courtesy • uses a positive tone of voice and body language • avoids swearing, name-calling, put-downs, and inappropriate gestures • says “excuse me”, “please”, “pardon me” • avoids gossip Let us pray this month, for the grace and courage to be people of respect –so that everyone we meet will feel like we are their brother and sister in Christ. We want to thank you for supporting our efforts at home in reinforcing with our children the 10 virtues which can be found in your child’s agenda. ATTENDANCE Our attendance line is: 905-625-0584 (Press #1). Please call to r egister an absence. You can call 24hrs a day including weekends if you know your child will be absent from school. An answer ing machine is available to take infor mation. Please provide the following information: • Name(s) of student(s) • Name of student’s teacher(s) • Grade of student(s) • Reason for absence If an absence is not reported, our policy is to call home to verify student absenteeism. A parent or guardian must sign out students at the office who leave early. All students are expected to attend school regularly and punctually. All students who arrive after 8:45 a.m. or 12:45 p.m. must obtain a late slip from the office. This measure is to ensure the safety of your child. We thank you for your continued support in following this procedure. SCHOOL WEB SITE We have updated our school website. This site will be continually updated and has infor mation for par ents r egar ding school calendar information, newsletters and school updates. Visit www.dpcdsb.org and link onto the Elementary site at St. Alfred Elementary School @ www.dpcdsb.org/ALFRD. SIGN UP TODAY! Parents and guardians of Dufferin-Peel Catholic students can stay up-to-date with the latest board news and information by joining the Dufferin-Peel eCommunity. Members will receive the latest news and information by email, including news releases, school activities and events, board meeting highlights, school and bus cancellations, plus useful tips for parents and students. Sign up online at www.dpcdsb.org. DPCDSB is on Twitter! For the latest board news and information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools. NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION Beginning in November, the school Newsletter will be sent out via email to parents/guardians and will also be posted on our website. Paper copies will also be distributed to students and a limited number of copies will be available in the office for pick-up. If you have not provided the office with your email address and would like to receive a variety of school information via email, please contact the main office to be added to the distribution list after completing a CASL (Canada’s Anti Spam Legislation) consent form. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER #StAlfred_dpcdsb This year St. Alfred school has joined twitter and we would love for you to follow us! It's a great way to receive instant updates of school events, reminders and photos of exciting happenings at our school. Follow us at: StAlfred_dpcdsb. Want more information about twitter? See Ms. Lupallier, Ms. Rotondi or Ms. Romano Catholic School Council 2015 – 2016 Catholic School Council Members of this year’s School Council are: Chair — Margaret Pakula Secretary – Hajdi Bountas Treasurer – Catherine Pudel Parish Rep.: Vy Obedencio OAPCE – Margaret Pakula, Tanya Escoffey, Mario Stojanac Upcoming School Council meetings are: All St. Alfred School Parents are invited to join us. Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Wednesday, April 27, 2016 Wednesday, June 15, 2016 Homework Help Homework Help is a free online Math help resource for students in Grades 7-10 in Ontario. ‘Homework Help’ provides free, live one-on-one tutoring from Ontario-certified teachers Sunday to Thursday, from 5:30 pm—9:30 pm ET. It is funded by the Ontario government and administered by TVOs Independent Learning Centre. Gr. 7 & 8 teachers will be registering their students online for this Math support. Please speak to your child’s teacher if you have any questions regarding this support. THE ONTARIO CATHOLIC SCHOOL GRADUATE EXPECTATIONS Catholic education views human life as an integration of body, mind, and spirit. Rooted in this vision, Catholic education 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. Vision of the Learner The Graduate is expected to be: 1. 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. 2. An effective communicator who speaks, writes and listens honestly and sensitively, responding critically in light of gospel values 3. A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who solves problems and makes responsible decisions with an informed moral conscience for the common good. 4. A self-directed, responsible, lifelong learner who develops and demonstrates their Godgiven potential. 5. A collaborative contributor who finds meaning, dignity and vocation in work which respects the rights of all and contributes to the common good. 6. A caring family member who attends to family, school, parish, and the wider community 7. A responsible citizen who gives witness to Catholic social teaching by promoting peace, justice and the sacredness of human life. Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations I HAVE A VOICE! (An Effective Communicator) I speak, write and listen as Jesus would want me to I care about others and speak up for them I am honest I think carefully before I react or speak I respect all people and their languages I listen to the Word of God Because I have a voice, I will use it lovingly, and I will live my life like Jesus. PEDS Personal Electronic Devices (PEDS) on Board Premises and/or Board Sanctioned Events for Educational Purposes: The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board acknowledges the value of the use of technology for learning. Students are permitted to register and use personal electronic devices (PEDs) on board premises and/or board sanctioned events for educational purposes, under the direction of staff and only with parent/guardian permission (GF 066, Network User Application and Agreement). Students may register their PED for the purpose of connecting to the board wireless network. Students are required to adhere to the student “Personal Electronic Device Used with WI-FI Network Student Agreement” and the “Network User Application and Agreement.” Please be advised that the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will not be responsible for any cost incurred through the use of personal data plans. PEDs are to be used responsibly and should not interfere with learning; their use must comply with the Catholic Code of Conduct, board policies and procedures. Any personal communications (i.e., phone calls, text messages, etc.) will continue to be directed through the main office. Failur e to comply with these guidelines may r esult in a loss of PED pr ivileges and/or any other consequences deemed necessary by school administration. The school principal may authorize limited acceptable uses of personal electronic devices during school-sanctioned activities for a specific designated purpose outside of instructional spaces and/or in common areas. Students are responsible for the safety and security of PEDs at all times and the Board assumes no responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen devices. BUSING STOPR (Student Transportation of Peel Region) Stopr is providing bus transportation services for the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. The STOPR website ad- dress is www.stopr.ca. This website provides access to up to date information regarding delayed buses and bus cancellations due to inclement weather. To check for eligibility for transportation, please access the following website: businfo.stopr.ca. STOPR Telephone Contact Information: 905-890-6000 COLD WEATHER DRESS In anticipation of the weather getting progressively colder, we ask that students begin preparing for outdoor play. This includes proper gloves, hats, scarves, jackets, coats and boots. Board Guidelines indicate that students will generally be outside for lunch and recess when temperatures do not fall below –20 degrees Celsius, with the wind chill. As such, appropriate clothing is essential. Please note that students should have indoor shoes during the winter months. We also suggest sending spare clothes for younger students. Thank you in advance for your continued support and cooperation. PEDICULOSIS Head Lice is a common problem which occurs at some time in most schools at least once every year. Head lice are parasites which have been common among human beings for centuries. They are not connected in any way with dirt or neglect. If a case is found in our schools, we shall inform parents of the students in that classroom in a letter. We have had a number of cases so we ask that you also check your own children regularly. If you find them to be infested, please notify the office. For more information go to the following link: http://www.peelregion.ca/health/topics/headlice/. INDOOR FOOTWEAR REQUESTED Please ensure that students keep a pair of running shoes or other appropriate footwear at school so that their feet remain dry and clean at all times. As well, because so many areas of our schoolyard can be quite muddy at certain times of the year, this would really help in keeping mud and dirt out of the classroom. REPORT CARDS First term report cards for students in Grades 1 to 8 will be sent home on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Along with the report card, you will receive a confirmation time for your report card conference. This conference will include the student, the teacher and the parents/guardians. Conference request forms were sent home on Friday, January 22, 2016. Junior and Senior Kindergarten students will receive their report cards in June. During this first conference, the teachers would like to see and speak with all parents and students in JK-Grade 8, in order to discuss the first term and also to make plans and set goals for the second term. Interviews will take place the evening of Thursday, February 4, 2016 and the day of Friday, February 5, 2016 (which is a PA Day). BLACK HISTORY MONTH Every year, Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of black Canadians, past and present. Canadians take this time to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation it is today. During Black History Month, Canadians can gain insight into the experiences of black Canadians and their vital role in the community. SCHOOL SPORTS / CLUBS CHESS The Chess Clubs are meeting during lunch hours to learn and share their expertise in chess. We would like to thank our coaches, Ms. Defrancesco and Mrs. Romano. The clubs are preparing for the upcoming Mississauga East Chess Tournament in April, 2016 at St. James. Teams of 5 juniors and 5 intermediates will represent St. Alfred at the family tournament. TRANSPORTATION A decision to cancel school transportation and/or close schools, due to inclement weather is usually made by 6:00am. Only the Director of Education has the authority to cancel transportation and/or close schools. A bus cancellation and/or school closure message will also be available online at www.dpcdsb.org or by calling 905890-1221. Please be advised that during the winter months inclement weather may cause disruption of bus transportation and regular school operations. A decision to cancel school transportation and/or to close schools is usually made by 6:00 am and will be announced on the radio and television stations identified below. VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CJCL AM590 CJBC (FR) AM860 CHFI FM98.1 EZ ROCK FM97.3 CFTR AM 680 CFRB AM1010 FM Z103.5 FM93.1 CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC FM99.1 CBC99.1 CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS CTV We will be communicating one of four standard messages to the radio stations. The two announcements that pertain to our school and their effect on the transportation system are as follows: (Please note that the highlighted text only will be communicated by the radio stations). “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES ARE CANCELLED.” This means that: ALL Transportation services provided by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and The Peel District School Board, including buses, vans and taxis have been cancelled for the entire day. “THE SCHOOLS AND OFFICES OF BOTH THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ARE CLOSED.” This means that: ALL Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board ad Peel District School Board schools and offices are closed to all students and staff. STORAGE/ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication and forms are updated annually. If your child requires medication, please have all pertinent forms completed and returned with the medication to the office as soon as possible. CONCUSSIONS Concussions are brain injuries caused by excessive, rapid movement of the brain inside the skull. This movement causes damage that changes how brain cells function, leading to symptoms that can be physical (headaches, dizziness), cognitive (problems remembering or concentrating), or emotional (feeling depressed). A concussion can result from a blow to the head or body in any number of activities including receiving a check in hockey, falling from a jungle gym, or slipping on an icy sidewalk. All head injuries can be difficult to diagnose, however, a concussion is the most difficult head injury to diagnose. Brain scans cannot determine if a concussion exists. The school calls parents whenever a child has hit their head. It is important that parents also keep the school informed if their child has had a head injury during an extracurricular activity. The school will work with the family to set up a plan (in line with the Board’s protocol) to assist the student in returning to normal physical activity. NO CHILD WITHOUT MEDIC ALERT PROGRAM The No Child Without program offers a free MedicAlert membership to students who attend our school and are between the ages of 4 to 14. If your child has a medical condition, allergy, or is required to take medication on a regular basis, then you should consider a MedicAlert membership through this program. For further information pick up a brochure at the school office, or visit www.nochildwithout.ca. If your child is already part of the program but his/her medical condition or contact information has changed, call 1-877-282-5378. SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS - Annual Criminal Declaration / Criminal Reference Check A valid Criminal Background Check must be provided by all new volunteers. Once a CBC is provided to the school, an Annual Offence Declaration can be completed in subsequent years. The volunteer CBC/AODs must be housed in a secure location in the school. Forms are available from the main office. EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN In the unforeseen event that we should have an emergency at our school, we will evacuate to: St Sofia Catholic Elementary School 3540 Havenwood Dr. (905) 625.0823 Safety regulations and Board Policy require us to have this contingency plan in place. In the event of an evacuation to our alternate site, your child will remain at St. Sofia School until we are able to contact you and make arrangements for pick up. IMMUNIZE ON TIME REPORT EVERY TIME Report all immunizations your child receives to Peel Public Health. **online at www.immunizepeel/.ca ** call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7000. Student records are reviewed annually. Over an eleven week period, students with incomplete records receive three letters mailed directly to them to request immunization information. If parents/students DO NOT provide the required immunization information, the student will be suspended from school. THE ONLINE REPORTING TOOL The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board has developed a new way to help nurture a safe, caring and inclusive school environment. The Online Reporting Tool is intended for students in grades 3 – 8 who become aware of bullying incidents and negative behaviours. The student can simply ‘click’ on the link found on our school’s website to fill out the report. The report will then be directly emailed to the principal and/or vice princi- pal and will be dealt with accordingly. It is important to recognize that the Online Reporting Tool is an alternate reporting option. It is best practice to speak directly with a responsible adult at home and/or in the school. HEALTHY EATING AND ECOSCHOOLS We promote Healthy Eating throughout the school year by encouraging our students to bring in healthy snacks and lunches. Students will be able to participate in activities in their classrooms and projects that encourage healthy eating. 2015-16 School Year Calendar Additional Professional Activity Day: Monday, April 11, 2016 Terms of the recent contract settlement between the teacher federations and the Ministry of Education included the provision of an additional Professional Activity Day for the 2015-2016 school year for both elementary and secondary schools. Recently, boards were directed to schedule this additional Professional Development Day on or before April 15, 2016. In the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, the designated additional Professional Activity Day has been scheduled for Monday, April 11, 2016. Therefore, there will be no classes for either elementary or secondary students on Monday, April 11, 2016. Thank you for your attention to this addition to the 2015-16 School Year Calendar. The Light Guards are excited to announce the return of Sunsational Semaine January 25tht to January 29th! Light Guards are encouraging our school community to use our natural sunlight instead of electricity. If the sun is out, the blinds are up! Please remember to put the blinds down when not in use to conserve the energy and heat in our rooms. During the week of February 1st, we’ll also be kicking off the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge! Each class will take part in energy-themed challenges, earning points towards great prizes! More details about Sunsational Semaine and the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge will be given closer to the event. Our team will also be making special announcements and checks all week long. Will your class shine? Take part in our Classroom Energy Diet Challenge and be Sunsational! NATIONAL SWEATER DAY National Sweater Day is a fun way to lear n about the impor tance of saving ener gy and to inspir e people to use less heat all winter. Heating accounts for 80% of residential energy used in Canda, and is a significant source of emissions. If all Canadians lowered their thermostats by just 2 degrees Celsius this winter, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 4 megatons – equivalent to shutting down a 600-megawatt coal-fired power station. Since 2010, over a million Canadians have participated in National Sweater Day. (Source: WWF.ca) Again this year, St. Alfred School will be participating in this exciting event. On Thursday, February 4 students and staff are encouraged to wear their “Wacky Woollies” to help raise awareness about the importance of saving energy. We’ve decided to include woollies of all descriptions: hats, mittens, leg warmers, scarves, socks and of course sweaters (even hockey sweaters)! Remember the wackier the better! Thank you for your continued support, The Eco-Eagles Committee. HEALTH AND WELLNESS The 10 week Fitness Frenzy Challenge has begun! Some of our grade 6 to 8 students and St. Alfred Staff are enjoying the benefits of a midday workout. An instructor from the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre is leading this event which features different genres of fitness. February is Mental Health Month. As a result, The Wellness Warriors along with the Health and Wellness Team will focus on “Mindfulness Mondays” for the month of February. Every Monday, St. Alfred’s staff and students will be invited on a quiet journey with God through meditation. We would like to encourage mindfulness at home with quiet time and space so that your child can reconnect with themselves and God. This practice is important in reducing stress and improving selfregulation and learning. The Health and Wellness Team is hosting its third annual Boys’ and Girls’ Night In. Boys’ Night in will take place on February 18 from 3:15-7:15 pm. Girls’ Night In will take place on February 25 from 3:15-7:15 pm. Students from grades 6-8 will participate in an evening that will focus on self-awareness, self-esteem and self-fulfillment. There will be motivational speakers, a photo booth, a liturgy, and of course the Night In would not be complete without good food and lots of time for students to connect with each other through team building and mindfulness activities. WINTER WALK DAY is Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016. We are going to keep up the momentum of Walking Wednesdays/mercredis de marche by participating in Winter Walk Day on February 3rd, 2016. Walking is good for your health and it is good for the environment because it reduces pollution. All you have to do is walk for at least 15 minutes. The Eco Eagles / Wellness War r ior s’ Winter Walk Student Leaders will be going to classrooms to find out how many students walked for at least 15 minutes. We would also like to know how many minutes in total St. Alfred students and staff walked on February 3rd, 2016. OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOL HERITAGE How was the corporation tax issue solved? In 1962, the Ontario Separate School Trustees’ Association presented Premier John Robarts a brief which outlined the probable bankruptcy of some separate school boards and the inferior salaries, teacher qualifications, school accommodation and programs compared with those of the public schools. The government began providing to the separate school boards grants which compensated for their lack of corporate assessment. Separate school boards were able to erect new schools and additions with gymnasiums, libraries, kindergarten rooms, and special education facilities. CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK 2016 Theme: Opening the Doors of Mercy / Ouvrir des portes de miséricorde JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY officially proclaimed by Pope Francis, began on December 8, 2015 when the Holy Doors were opened at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. “The Motto, ‘Merciful Like the Father’ serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure.” (Pope Francis) Sub themes: Advent: “Mercy that Welcomes” January: “Mercy that Loves” February: “Mercy that Forgives” March: “Mercy that Lives the Gospel” April: “Mercy that Rejoices” “La miséricorde qui accueille” “La miséricorde qui aime” “La miséricorde qui pardonne” “La miséricorde qui vit l’Évangile” “La miséricorde qui rend grâce” FAMILY DAY Monday, February 15, 2016 is Family Day and ther e will be no school for students and staff. We hope that you enjoy the day with your family and loved ones. MARCH BREAK The March Break will be Monday, March 14, 2016 to Friday, March 18, 2016. Students and staff will return to school on Monday, March 21, 2016. IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER: February 1 February 2 February 4 February 5 February 9 February 10 February 11 February 15 February 18 February 18 February 19 February 25 February 26 March 7—11 March 14-18 March 20 March 25 March 28 First Day of Term 2 Report Cards go home Interview Evening PA DAY for Interviews Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Tuesday) Ash Wednesday Grade 2 Visit to the St.s. Martha and Mary Church at 10:15am Family Day—No School Grade 2 Reconciliation at Sts. Martha and Mary Church at 7pm Grades 6, 7, 8 BOYS NIGHT IN from 3:30pm to 6:30pm School Council DANCE-A-THON Grades 6, 7, 8 GIRLS NIGHT IN from 3:30pm to 6:30pm 2nd Round of HEP B and HPV For Intermediate Students ShareLife Week March Break—School is Closed Palm Sunday Good Friday—School is Closed Easter Monday—School is Closed ATTACHED: Math Insert for February