Our Lady of Lourdes
Catholic Elementary School
25 Mount Royal Circle
Brampton, Ont. L6P 1W3
Phone (905) 913-1703
FAX (905) 913-2918
February 2016
Father,
Bless the love that brings people together and grows ever stronger in our hearts.
May all the messages that carry the name of your holy Bishop Valentine,
Be sent in good joy and received in delight.
We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
We would like to welcome Deb FineganDowney as the new Superintendent of the
Brampton North-East Family of Schools. Ms.
Finegan-Downey brings a wealth of
experience to the role, serving in the past as a
Principal and most recently, as the Assistant
Superintendent of Program the Board Office.
2015-2016 SACRAMENTAL DATES
 Grade 7 & 8 Confirmation candidates, Session






#4 Feb. 24 from 5-6 pm or Sat. Feb 27 from 1011 am at St. Patrick’s church
Grade 7 & 8 Confirmation candidates, Session
#5 Mar. 30 from 5-6 pm or Apr. 2 from 10-11
am at St. Patrick’s church
Meeting for First Communion, Sat., Apr. 2, 3:00
pm at St. Patrick’s church
Gathering of sponsors and grade 7 Confirmation
candidates, Apr. 10, 1:00 pm mass, followed by
meeting at 2:00 pm at St. Patrick’s church
Sacrament of Confirmation Grade 7 Costabile:
Wed., Apr. 27, 7:00 pm at St. Patrick’s church
Sacrament of Confirmation Grade 7 Trentin:
Wed., May 4, 7:00 pm at St. Patrick’s church
Sacrament of Communion: Sat., May 14 at St.
Patrick’s church
Sonia Rotino
Secretary
Mary Doria
~
Superintendent
Deb Finegan-Downey
Trustee
Dear Parents/Guardians/Students,
We would like to take this opportunity to thank
Denise Oude-Reimerink for her dedication to
the Schools of Brampton North-East. Ms. OudeReimerink has been our Superintendent for the
past year and has led with compassion and
experience. We wish her well as she retires
and embarks on the next chapter of her life.
Principal
Shawn Xaviour
Parish Priest
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 all different
ways of showing 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.
Fr. Vito Marziliano
Visit our School Website:
www.dpcdsb.org/lourd
DPCDSB is now on Twitter! For
the latest board news and
information, follow us
@DPCDSBSchools.
2015-2016 LITURGICAL
DATES
 Ash Wednesday Prayer Service:
Wed., Feb. 10, 1:00 pm
 Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day:
Thurs., Feb. 11, 9:30 am
 Stations of the Cross – Para
liturgy/Presentation: Thurs., Mar.
24, 1:30 pm
 Easter Liturgy: Fri., April 8, 9:30
am
 Crowning of Mary
Liturgy: Mon., May 2,
9:30 am
 Year End Liturgy:
Tues., June 28, 9:30
am
www.connect2ENDviolence.ca
Our Lady of Lourdes
Peace and blessings to all, on this beginning of a new month, February, in the Jubilee Year of Mercy. We have
celebrated this past week the First Confessions of many of our children. How beautiful it is to remember that God loves
us; that no matter what, we are truly, and will always remain, his beloved children. It is the joy and smile on the faces
and in the hearts of our little ones that remind us of this fact. May we always learn from them and do our best to let
them remember this great and magnificent truth.
Within a few days, on February 10, Ash Wednesday, we begin the Season of Lent. What a great gift we have been
given to examine the extent of God’s love and acknowledge that at times we have not been ready to welcome this gift.
Lent offers us an opportunity to re-examine our life, our journey of faith, our responses to events and situations that
surround us. All to be examined in the light of God’s Mercy.
May the weeks ahead, leading us to Easter, help us celebrate new beginnings. I remember you all in our celebrations
and pray that continued blessings may come upon you and all your loved ones. Please remember that every day of the
week and on weekends, during this Jubilee of Mercy, our church and the Holy Doors continue to be open from 7 a.m. To 9
p.m., welcoming you all in prayer, silence and celebrations. On Ash Wednesday, our parish masses will be celebrated at
8:30 a.m. In English, 1 p.m. In Italian, and 7:30 p.m. In English. I will be visiting our schools and blessing ashes on
Monday and Tuesday that same week, so that each school may hold a para-liturgy on the Wednesday, with the
distribution of ashes.
Please remember that our parish church is always ready to welcome you in prayer. Saturday evening at 5 p.m. (in
English, the first Sunday Mass of the weekend), Sunday at 8:30 a.m. (Eng), 10 a.m.
(Eng), 11:30 a.m. (Ital.), 1:00 p.m. (Eng), 7:30 p.m. (Eng). There is room for you and
your family, both in our pews, and above all, in the heart of God.
Blessings upon all,
Fr. Vito Marziliano,
Pastor.
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR - ADDITIONAL P.A. DAY
The 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.
OUR LENTEN PROMISES
Prayer During Black History Month
Lent 2016, a period of forty days during the church’s liturgical
year, begins on February 10 and ends on March 24, 2016. It is
time for Christians to turn away from sinfulness as they prepare for
the joyous feast of Easter. It is a time for prayer, penance, sacrifice
and works of charity for others. We will be distributing ashes to the
students after our 1:00 pm Ash Wednesday celebration at the
school. Parents are welcome to attend. On that day, the students
will receive their Lenten bracelets. We hope that students will wear
the bracelets for the forty days of Lent and remember to perform
an extra act of kindness every day.
Dear God,
You have done such a marvellous job of creating
us and the world around us. You have placed this
creation, including all the people we meet, in our
care. We come to you now asking for the grace
and strength to be accepting of others. We
admit that we can never fully know Your plan for
the people around us. Grant us the strength to
admit that our role is to invite others to
participate in Your saving plan and then to
accept the choices that they make in their own
lives!
We ask this in the name of Jesus, our brother.
Amen
Page 2
February 2016
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PARENT(S) OF STUDENTS IN SK
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
The French Immersion Online Application System will be open for submissions
from January 11, 2016 to 11:59 pm on February 14, 2016. To apply, go to
www.dpcdsb.org. The French Immersion program is open to all students who
are eligible to attend Grade 1 in Dufferin-Peel schools in September 2016.
Should the number of applications exceed the number of spaces available, a
centralized, computer-generated lottery will be held following the deadline.
If more details are required, please review the board website for up-to-date
information. You may also contact the board's Program Department at 905890-0708 ext. 24332.
As in the past, we ask that you call
the school on the days that your child
will be absent or late. This is a safety
precaution that can save precious
moments should there ever be an
emergency situation. Thank you for
your continued support in following
this procedure.
http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/Programs/Languages/French+Immersion.htm
LUNCH & TREAT DAYS
Pizza days are on Wednesdays.
Rainbow Lunches are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Lunchbox lunches are on Mondays, with the exception of Family Day,
Monday, February 15.
Treats will be offered on Thursdays and we will be selling popcorn, baked
chips and Terra Cotta cookies for $1.00 each.
REPORTING - INTERVIEWS
The Student-Parent-Teacher Interview is designed to complement the Ontario
Report Card by enabling parents to communicate with teachers, to offer useful
information, and to ask relevant questions about their child’s progress in order
to support their child’s learning.
A formal written report will be sent home on Tuesday, February
2, 2016. Interviews will be held during the evening on Thursday,
February 4 and during the day on Friday, February 5.
Student Council is hard at work arranging a Valentine’s Dance for all
the students. The dance will take place on Friday, February 12,
2016. Students are encouraged to wear red, white or pink for the
dance!
Students will have the opportunity to win jars of candy in the
“Valentine Candy” contest. Students can make their guesses on
Thursday, February 4 & 11. Guesses are $0.50 each or 3 for $1.00.
Spirit Week is coming during the week of March 7-11.
Wear your Our Lady of Lourdes Spirit Wear every
Friday during February!
If your child will be late or absent
from school, it is very important that
you notify the school before 9:00
a.m. by leaving a voice mail
message on the attendance line at
905-913-1703 and pressing 1, for
the attendance voice mail. Speak
clearly and leave the child’s FIRST
and LAST NAME, the teacher’s name,
and the reason for the absence or
lateness.
If you need to pick your child up
earlier than 3:15, we ask that you
please send a note to your child’s
teacher in the morning, advising them
of the time required for pick up and
the reason. We cannot interrupt
classes for unannounced departures.
School starts at 8:45am and at
12:55pm. Students should be at
school with enough time to line up with
their classes. Please note that if they
do not arrive on time to make it to
their line as the bell rings, they need
to enter through the front doors.
Spirit Week
Monday
Jersey Day
Tuesday
Superhero Day
Wednesday
Lourdes Spirit Wear Day
Thursday
St. Patrick’s Day Green
Friday
Pajama & Movie Day
Page 3
Our Lady of Lourdes
ECO TEAM
February is going to be an exciting month for the Eco-Team. On Wednesday, February 3, 2016 we are asking our
students to participate in Winter Walk Day. We encourage everyone to walk or wheel to school and enjoy the beautiful
winter weather.
In addition to our “Winter Walk Day” initiative, our school and many other schools in the board
will be participating in “National Sweater Day” on Thursday, February 4, 2016. We are
encouraging students to wear thick sweaters to show support for this initiative, and of course to
stay warm. National Sweater Day started in 2010 and it aims to bring awareness to energy
conservation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, it encourages people to lower their
thermostats in their home all winter and stay warm by
layering clothes. We hope everyone participates on
Thursday, February 4th, and at home throughout the
winter.
Our Eco-Team is also very excited to kick off a new initiative this month called, “Ban the Bead” to bring awareness to
microbeads and their harmful impacts on the environment. Microbeads are very small plastic particles that are found in
many household products, such as face cleaners, toothpastes, etc. The Eco-Team hopes to get our school community to stop
buying products that contain microbeads to help save our earth. For more information on microbeads, please check out
this website: http://storyofstuff.org/plastic-microbeads-ban-the-bead/
MORNING DROP OFF
The separate Bus & ‘Kiss and Ride’ Lane were developed
to increase safety for all students. Thank you in advance
for your support to ensure safety for all children.
When you drive your children to school, please remember
the following:
1. The Bus Lane is strictly for buses: No cars, vans or other
vehicles should ever be in the bus lane.
2. The Kiss & Ride Lane is designed for parents who drive or
pick up their children at school: Never, ever leave your car
parked in this lane! Drive to the front of the line.
3. The drive through lane is strictly for driving through: Do
not park in this lane. If you feel you must personally escort
your child, then please use the parking lot and accompany
your child to the fence line.
4. Please do not park in the driveway and wait for your
child(ren)!: Students are not to be entering the school by
the front door unless they are being dropped off after the
second bell has rung.
Community members are reminded that
parking on school property overnight is
not permitted.
During the winter
months, snow removal equipment must
be able to remove the snow. Vehicles
remaining on the property overnight or
during the day that do not belong to
staff or to parents volunteering during
the day will be towed away at the
owner’s expense.
Page 4
EXTENDED FRENCH PROGRAM
APPLICATIONS
Grade 4 parent(s)/guardian(s), who wish to enroll their
child in a Grade 5 Extended French class for September,
2016 are reminded to submit their
applications to St. Jean Brébeuf at 63
Glenforest Road, Brampton, by 3:00pm
on Tuesday, February 16, 2016.
OUTDOOR RECESS
Students should come to school ready to participate in all
activities, including outdoor recess. Please ensure that your
children are dressed warmly; wearing insulated boots,
winter weight coats, mittens, hats, scarves, etc.. Please
label all articles of clothing for easy identification.
Students will have recesses outdoors with the following
exceptions only. Outdoor recess time will be reduced when
the temperature is -20 degrees Celsius or colder, with or
without wind chill and children will
be kept indoors when the
temperature is -25 degrees Celsius
or colder, with or without wind chill.
As well, all students should have
indoor footwear at school. This is
very important in case of an
emergency evacuation. Students
will not have time to put on their
boots.
February 2016
LIBRARY UPDATE
CHESS CLUB
In February, our students are involved in
the Forest of Reading program which
brings an excellent selection of recent
Canadian children’s books to the attention
of Ontario children. The Forest of
Reading® is Canada’s largest recreational
reading program!
Children read a minimum of 5 out of the
10 nominated titles and then vote in the
spring for their favourite book. Students in
Kindergarten and grade 1 are reading the
Blue Spruce selections during their
scheduled library times. Grades 4 to 6
and grades 7 and 8 are independently
reading Silver Birch and Red Maple
selections, respectively. Junior and
Intermediate students will be given the
opportunity to join a recess book club.
Our chess club is in full swing!
Students are spending lunch
recesses practicing the game. We
will hold an in-school tournament
for all chess club members to
determine which students will
participate on the Our Lady of
Lourdes Chess Teams. These
students will then represent our
school at the Family level
competition. The Brampton North
East Chess Finals will be held at
Lester B Pearson Catholic School
on Friday, April 1, 2016. Thank
you to Mme. Mastrangelo and Ms.
Ignoto for running the club and
coaching the teams. Good luck to
all our players!
P.A.L.S. PLAYGROUND
ACTIVITY LEADERS IN
SCHOOLS
We continue to run the P.A.L.S.
program in our school. The main
goals of this program are to;
encourage students to be
physically active by playing
games at recess, prevent bullying
from happening at school and to
give older students the
opportunity to become leaders on
the playground. Sincere thanks
are extended to the Region of
Peel Public Health network, our
organizer Mrs. Guglielmi, and our
student leaders for volunteering to
help in this activity.
FREE WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS
COPING WITH STRESS—THE GOOD, THE
BAD, AND HOW TO AVOID THE UGLY
This 2-session workshop at Our Lady of Lourdes focuses
on what stress is, the impact of stress on the body and
functioning, signs of stress and early identification,
common stressors, healthy verses unhealthy coping, and
stress-reducing strategies for parents and their
children/teens *Takeaway Resources Included*
February 23, 2016 & March 1, 2016
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Parenting Groups are offered free of charge to
parents/ caregivers of DPCDSB students. Child care
and transportation assistance can be provided, as
needed. *Pre-registration required* Free light dinner
& refreshments provided. Groups are facilitated by
Mental Health Professionals.
For more information, contact:
 Sonia Rotino, Principal (905) 913-1703
 Mendee Hunt, School Social Worker (905) 890-1221
EXT 20635
 Cristina Fuller, AYSP Stress Group Facilitator and
PAC-P Family Worker at (905) 890-5222 EXT 1230
Page 5
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Junior Girls and Boys basketball teams started their
season in January and will compete in the tournament on
Wednesday, February 17 at St. Andre Bessette.
Thank you to Ms. Ignoto, Mrs. Malfara and parent
volunteer, Mr. Talamo, for coaching the teams.
As well, our Primary fitness club, involving students in
grades 1, 2 and 3 is in full swing!
THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAKFAST
1. Start the day right: Eating in the morning is the easiest
and tastiest way to energize your day and to reduce
your stress.
2. Change your family’s attitude: It’s a fact: eating
breakfast makes kids more positive, less irritable and
more fun to be around, all morning long.
3. Improve kids’ performance at school: Breakfast is the
quickest and tastiest way to help kids do better on
special tests and everyday classroom work.
4. Improve your performance at work: Breakfast works
for you, too. It can help you concentrate on your work,
boost your morale and do a better job.
5. Improve everyone’s physical performance: Breakfast
provides fuel for school sports, lunchtime basketball
games or neighbourhood power walks.
6. Help your family maintain a healthy weight: Breakfast
eaters have an easier time controlling their weight
than breakfast skippers.
7. Get the nutrients your body needs: Breakfast eaters
are more likely to get the nutrients they need to fight
infections and stay healthy.
8. Look great and feel better: Breakfast helps put a
sparkle in your eyes, a shine to your cheeks and a
smile on your face... what a way to start the day.
9. Set a super example for your kids: If you enjoy eating
a healthy breakfast in the morning, chances are your
kids will, too! Eat breakfast... your kids are watching.
10. Enjoy the great taste of eating well: Stick with old
favourites or be bold and try new tastes. Wake up
your taste buds with the delicious flavours of a healthy
breakfast.
Whatever you do... eat breakfast!
Nutrition Tools for Schools ©2007 CHSNE Health Unit Collaboration
Page 6
MARCH BREAK 2016
There will be no
school for students
during the week of
March 14-18, 2016
School will resume on Monday, March 21st, 2016.
P.A. DAY PROGRAM
On Friday, February 5th students aged 4-13 can spend
the day at Gore Meadows C.C. participating in fun
activities such as games, sports, and crafts led by our
enthusiastic and experienced staff. The program runs from
9:00am-4:00pm for the low cost of only $16.20/person,
with before and after care available for an additional
fee of $8.00 from 7:30am-6:00pm. Children should wear
comfortable clothes with clean indoor running shoes. Be
sure to pack a healthy lunch, water, and plenty of snacks.
To register please use barcode: 770888 (PA Day
Program) and 786139 (Before and After Care).
For more details please contact Gore Meadows
Community Centre at 905 874 3477.
TAKE ACTION AND MAKE ROOM FOR PLAY
Kids don’t play as much as they used to for a lot of
reasons. One very real barrier to play is the constant lure
of screens that has replaced time spent running, playing,
and being active.
The Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for
Children and Youth recommend limiting kids’ screen time to
two hours or less a day (and zero screen time for children
under the age of two). However, Canadian kids are
spending an average of 7 hours and 48 minutes a day
in front of television, video games and computer
screens.
Here are some tips to reduce your screen time:
 Avoid making television watching part of your regular
daily routine.
 Explain to your kids the importance of outdoor and
active play and establish active play as the norm at an
early age. This also helps reinforce that minimal screen
time is not a punishment.
 Eliminate background TV. If the TV is turned on, even if
it's just in the background, it's likely to draw your child's
attention. If you're not actively watching TV, turn it off.
 Register your child in active after-school programs in the
community, encourage them to participate in intramural
sports, and arrange active after-school playdates with
their friends.
Our Lady of Lourdes
Developing Mindsets that Promote Growth
Operations:
Numbers
What do we mean by “mindset”?
Mindsets are the assumptions and expectations we have for ourselves and others. These
attitudes guide our behavior and influence our responses to daily events. - Dr. Robert
Brooks
Tips for Fostering a Growth Mindset:
Tip # 5. Praise Effort, Practice and Process – Not Outcome
When your child succeeds, talk about the work that went into the success (e.g., “You worked
hard on the project and I’m so happy you did well.”)
Understanding
Numbers are used to describe
quantities, to count, and to
add, subtract, multiply, and
divide. Understanding
numbers and knowing how to
combine them to solve
problems helps us in all areas
of math.
Praise persistence and perseverance (e.g., “I’m so proud of you for not quitting.”)
Family Math Activities 4-6
Family Math Activities K-3
Big Idea: There are many situations to which an operation is
applied, and there are many procedures, (algorithms) for each
operation.
There are many situations to which an operation is
applied, and there are many procedures, (algorithms)
for each operation.
 There are two types of bread (white and brown) and 3 types
 Three people shared some grapes. They all had
of cheese (cheddar, swiss and mozzarella). How many ways
can you combine them to make different sandwiches? Discuss
the operations used with your child.
the same number of grapes. How many might there
have been? How many do you think there might not
have been? Discuss with your child.
Grades 7 & 8: Continuing the Conversation about Financial Literacy!
Let’s discuss how “Advertising” affects our money decisions…
Discuss with your child which of the following advertising techniques do you think is the most effective at influencing your opinion
about a product or service?
 Repetition – repeating their message over and over again in an ad or a series of ads over time. (eg: “I’m lovin’ it”, “Just do
it!”)
 Conformity – aims to have you “get on board”, be “in” and “get with
it”.
 Imitation – using a celebrity associated with the goods or service. The
advertiser hopes that those who like and respect the celebrity will
imitate the behaviour by using the product.
Web Resources:
Nelson Math has a home connect for grades 3-8
http://www.mathk8.nelson.com/companion.html
DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
INFORMATION NIGHT
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board in collaboration with the Canadian Education Exchange Foundation,
University of Toronto Mississauga and Newcomer Centre of Peel is pleased to invite students, parents and guardians to an
International Education information session on:
February 23, 2016 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Learning Centre, 3566 South Common Court, Mississauga
Information regarding the International Student Program, the new Summer ESL Credit Program for International Students,
our Student Exchange Program, and community supports available to newcomers, will be shared. Full details of the various
programs and opportunities will be provided by several guest speakers and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.
Our current International Students and their families are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Rita Borg at
905-412-3341 ext. 31460 or visit www.dpcdsb.org
Page 7
February 2016
February’s Virtue is
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
1
2
3
4
5
Term 2 begins
Report Cards sent
home
HOZA! student
presentation, 1:00
- all grades
Parent/Teacher
Interview Evening
P.A. Day Reporting - No
school for students
8
9
10
11
12
Tour For Humanity,
grades 3/4-8
Shrove Tuesday
Ash Wednesday
Prayer Service,
1:00pm
Our Lady of
Lourdes Feast Day,
9:30am liturgy
Police Presentation,
JK/SK, 9:00am
17
18
19
Educational
Resource Workers
Day
14
15
Family Lenten
Pancake dinner
16
Family Day No school
22 Dairy Milk
21
presentations,
grades K-4
28
Junior Basketball
Tournament @ St.
Andre Bessette,
Girls AM, Boys PM
23
SAT
6
National Sweater
Day
National Walk to
School Day
7
FRI
13
Valentine’s Dance
20
Thumbelina
Presentation,
grades K-4,
9:15am
24
25
26
Dairy Milk
presentations,
grades K-4
Grade 7 & 8
Confirmation
candidates, Session
29
#4, 5-6pm at St.
Parent Workshop Virtue
Patrick’s church
Assembly, Coping With
2:15pm
Stress, 6:308:30pm
27
Grade 7 & 8
Confirmation
candidates, Session
#4, 10-11am at
St. Patrick’s church
Upcoming Events
March
March
1
Parent Workshop - Coping With Stress, 6:30-8:30pm
28
Easter Monday
2
Poetry Slam, at Father Francis McSpiritt
29
Hepatitis B & Meningitis vaccinations
Easter Food Drive
31
Virtue Assembly, 2:15pm
2-23
4
The Money Tree Presentation, Grades K-4, 9:00am
April
10
St. Patrick’s Parish CWL Intermediate Speech
Competition
1
Brampton North-East Chess Tournament at Lester B.
Pearson
Spirit Week
20
School Council Meeting, 7:00pm
7-11
14-18 March Break
17
St. Patrick’s Day
24
Holy Thursday - Stations of the Cross Presentation
25
Good Friday