ST. BONAVENTURE
MARCH 2009
NEWSLETTER
Principal: Mrs. S. Wolfe
Vice-Principal: Mr. L. O’Neill
Head Secretary: Mrs. G. Whitten
Trustee: Mrs. L. Zanella
Superintendent of Brampton West Family of Schools: Mr. G. Prajza
School Council Co-Chairs: Mrs. N. Carasco
Parish Priest: Father Jan Gogolewski
IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE RECEPTION OF THE
SACRAMENTS
SACRAMENT OF FIRST EUCHARIST
First Holy Communion will be celebrated on Sunday
May 31 2009 at 2:00 at St. Leonard’s Parish Church.
REFLECTION
Good and Gracious God,
you call your people back to you this Lent.
May this sacred season renew our desire
to live fully the promises of our baptism
and to love you with a whole heart.
Through more frequent prayer,
acts of charity, and fasting,
may we remember that
loving you and one another
is the most important thing we can do.
In confidence, we ask these things through
Jesus Christ,
our Risen Lord
and Saviour.
Amen.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be held on Tuesday
May 5 2009 at 7:00 at St. Leonard’s Parish Church.
THE VIRTUE FOR MARCH IS: KINDNESS
People of Kindness:
• Are gentle and sensitive to others
• Always look for ways to be helpful
• Say nice things about others from the heart
• Stick up for people who are picked on
• Refuse to join in when others are being mean
• Are generous with their time and talents
• Cooperate and work well in a team
• Avoid being mean or bossy
APPLAUSE AND THANK YOU!
To parents for phoning the office when your child
will be absent or late.
• To parents for following the Kiss and Ride guidelines
and making the driveway a safe place for students.
• To parents for being patient and waiting for your
children at the appropriate outside door.
• To parents who are making sure that their children
arrive at school on time.
• To parents who volunteer on class trips.
LENTEN SEASON
This year the Liturgical Season of Lent began on
February 25 2009 with Ash Wednesday. We have weekly
liturgies that are prepared by the students and their
teachers. They help our students and staff to focus, reflect
and prepare for the celebration of Easter. During Lent,
the readings encourage the students to say “yes” to God
and “no” to our own selfishness.
On Thursday April 2nd at 1:15 Father Jan will celebrate
Mass in our school gym.
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CONGRATULATIONS
ARE YOU MOVING?
We are in the process of planning classes and staffing for
the 2009/2010 school year. If you are planning to move
anytime between now and September 2009, please inform
the school at your earliest possible convenience.
Congratulations to our grade two students who received
the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the school gym at 9:30
on Friday March 06 2009. Thank you to Mrs. Hayes, Mrs.
Lomasney and Mrs. Goursky for their work in preparing
our students for this important step in their faith journey.
Thank you to Father Jan for his ongoing spiritual
guidance and support.
REPORTING TO PARENTS - TERM TWO
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 report will be sent home on Tuesday
March 24 2009. Parent/Student/Teacher
Conferences will be held on the evening of
Thursday March 26 2009. You will receive
a form in the near future that will allow you to indicate
your preference for interview time.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Kindergarten registration took place during the week of
February 23rd; however, it is not too late to register
children for JK or SK. If you know of a neighbour, family
member or friend who is planning to register a child for
JK or SK at St. Bonaventure for the 2009/2010 school
year we urge you to encourage them to do so quickly. IT
IS NOT TOO LATE!
WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN
An informative and interactive night for children entering
JK in September and their parents will be held on
Wednesday May 20th 2009 in the school gym. Parents
will receive a Kindergarten bag filled with books and
other materials to help you prepare your child for school
in September. More information and details to follow.
EQAO TESTING - GRADE 3 AND GRADE 6
EQAO testing will take place for grade 3 and 6 students
between May 25 2009 and June 05 2009. Specific dates
will follow. Please do not book any appointments for your
child during this time. Attendance is extremely important
during the testing days. It is important for all these
students to be present for the EQAO assessments. It is
also imperative that students arrive to school on time.
Thank you for your support.
Helpful Strategies for parents when their child is writing
these assessments are the following:
• Ensure that your son or daughter gets a good night’s
rest.
• Ensure that your child packs healthy snacks for
recess.
• Make this time period as positive and stress free as
possible.
• Encourage your son/daughter to do the best that they
can.
EARLY RELEASE DAY
Monday March 30th is an Early release Day. Students
will be dismisses at 11:45 a.m. There are no classes in the
afternoon.
WATER IN THE YARD
As we approach the season of melting snow and rain,
water is an inevitable feature of the schoolyard and
presents an occasion for younger students to get wet
socks and clothing. Our school approach is to contact
parents to bring dry clothing. This is often inconvenient
for parents. We suggest that you place an extra pair of
socks and track pants in your child’s backpack in the
event that a change of clothing is necessary.
TRAFFIC SAFETY
Our school driveway is a matter of great concern in
regards to the safety of our students. Therefore, we are
reminding you again to use the Kiss ‘n’ Ride lane to drop
off or pick up your child. You cannot park your vehicle
in the Kiss ‘n’ Ride lane before school or at dismissal
time during the day. When using the Kiss ‘n’ Ride
program to drop off or pick up students, please remember:
• We clear the Kiss ‘N Ride usually in 10 minutes.
Please be patient we are all BUSY but SAFETY
comes first.
• The inside lane (closest to the school) is the only lane
where cars can stop to drop off their children in the
morning and pick up their children in the afternoon.
Drivers should not be parking and leaving their
vehicle to walk to the school to pick up their child.
• The outside lane is a drive thru lane. This means
that there should be no stopping and/or loading or
unloading of students.
• If your child is not at the Kiss ‘N Ride area at
dismissal time, please park in one of the spaces
available in the parking lot or circle around once
more.
• Students are not permitted to cross the parking lot
unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Please do not walk your children through the two
Kiss ‘N Ride lanes. This is very unsafe and drivers
may not see you in time. Take the time to walk
around the Kiss ‘N Ride lanes.
• There is no parking in the driveway. This is a
fire zone and blocks the flow of traffic.
The front of the school is for buses only. There should
be no Kiss ‘N Ride drop off or pick up at the front of
the school. Please use the west side of the school for
Kiss ‘N Ride.
SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD
On March 06 2009 we received a report
from the Brampton Safety Council. A site
inspection was requested by a concerned
parent regarding the location of the Crossing
Guard at McCrimmon Drive and Leagate
Street. The inspection was carried out on January 07
2009. Based on the observations made during the site
inspection, it is the position of the Brampton Safety
Council that the Crossing Guard at McCrimmon Drive
and Leagate Street is placed in the appropriate location.
We continue to remind students and parents of the
following:
• To use the appropriate sidewalks and the Crossing
Guard when coming to and going home from school.
• Not to cross McCrimmon Drive at mid-block and to
use the entrance to the school driveway.
Thank you for your co-operation in looking out for the
safety of all our students.
REMINDER
Please continue to encourage punctuality in your
children. Supervision begins in the yard at 8:30 a.m.
and the bell rings at 8:45 a.m. Students who are late
must come to the office to sign in prior to going to
their classroom.
We appreciate your calls to the school when your child is
absent due to illness or will be late due to an appointment.
(905) 970-9069 then press 2 for the attendance
mailbox.
LUNCH HOUR
During the lunch hour, all students who stay for lunch are
expected to remain at school, and all students who go
home for lunch are expected to go home every day. If
there is a change in the regular lunch hour procedure for
your child, parent/guardians are asked to provide the
teacher with a note explaining the change.
LEAVING DURING SCHOOL DAY
When it is necessary for your child to leave school early,
please send a note to your child’s teacher advising him/
her of the time you will be picking your child up. Your
child will be asked to meet you in the office at the
indicated time. When dropping off or picking up students
during school hours, please go to the office to sign your
child in or out.
BASKETBALL
Congratulations to the St. Bonaventure
Intermediate Boys Basketball Team. The
boys demonstrated great sportsmanship
and skills.
Both your coaches,
Mr. Torres and Mr. Mowat, are extremely proud of your efforts this season. GO SHARKS!
Team members: Joey, Neil, Jermaine, Travon, Stephen,
Brandon, Gashi, Marshall, Jason and Peter.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Our Intermediate Speech Contest was held in the School
gym on Monday January 26th. The winners were:
1st Place - Ewalina Jeyanesan
2nd Place – Justyna Koziol
3rd Place – Peter Pomerleau
Ewalina went on to win first place at the Catholic
Women’s League competition which was held at
St. Leonard’s Church. She will be representing
St. Bonaventure School at the Dufferin-Peel Speech
Contest in April. We wish her continued good luck
The Junior Division also hosted a public Speaking
Contest on Monday February 09 2009. The winners were
as follows:
1st Place – Monica Tran
2nd Place – Audrey Ison
3rd Place – Vanessa Groves
Thank you to our Public Speaking Committee –
Mrs. D’Sousa, Mrs. Gallant and Mrs. Killman for
organizing these events!
ME TO WE
It’s March Madness here at St. Bonaventure, with ME to
WE promoting school spirit everywhere! In keeping with
our tradition, ‘Lucky Bingo’ is currently underway. The
first class to fill a full bingo card will be treated to a free
sundae party.
In addition to our past fundraising efforts to help build a
new school in a developing country, we have also taken
on a new initiative. ME to WE is proud to direct some of
its fundraising to Autism Awareness Day, which takes
place on April 2. Classes are encouraged to come up with
creative ways to raise money for ME to WE. The class
that raises the most money per student by April 2 will
be rewarded with a free class trip to the Mandarin
Restaurant where lunch will be complimentary! Good
luck to everyone.
Thank you in advance for your generous support of ME to
WE.
MAGAZINE FUNDRAISER
Our first magazine fundraiser will be ending on
Wednesday March 25. Thank you to everyone who has
participated in the magazine drive. Late orders will be
accepted until Friday March 27.
MARCH IS NUTRITION MONTH
March is Nutrition Month and this
year the Dieticians of Canada are
promoting Cook it Up Healthy! This
campaign encourages creative
healthy eating options and provides
lots of great resources to unleash
your inner chef!
Have a look at their website
www.nutrition2007.ca for practical eating information
and tips to support health eating for your family. Also,
check out the new Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide
at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide for additional interactive tools.
SUMMER PROGRAMS 2009
St. Bonaventure is one of the Board sites that will offer
Summer Literacy Camps. See the attached flyer for
additional information.
COMING SOON...
CANADIAN RED CROSS BABYSITTING COURSE
We have the opportunity for our students in grades 6, 7 &
8 to participate in a Canadian Red Cross Babysitting
Course. This is a 7 hour, fun filled workshop that
includes everything from first aid, safety tips, rights &
responsibilities of everyone involved, physical
capabilities of all ages of children, diapering, what makes
a good babysitter, tips for SAFELY finding babysitting
jobs and much more. The cost is $35.00 per student
(includes manual and wallet card).
PALS
St. Bonaventure will be starting the P.A.L.S program on
Monday April 30. P.A.L.S stands for playground
activity leaders and is a program that is run through the
Peel Health Department. The grade 5, 6 and 7 students
that have completed their training will be running
different ball, tag and skipping games at lunch hour recess
for the grades 1 to 3 students. The hope of this program
is to get children more active and to assist in preventing
bullying. I would like to thank all the students who are
leaders as well as Mrs. Killman and Mrs. Dunec who will
be over seeing the program. Let’s remember that the
motto of P.A.L.S is that there is always room for one
more so primary students come on out and have fun
playing some games Monday to Thursday at lunch hour
recess out on the school playground.
Ms. Beggs
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday March 30 Early Release Day (No after
noon classes)
Thursday April 02 School Mass @ 1:15
Family of Schools Seder meal
for Staff @ 4:30
Thursday April 09 Holy Thursday
Friday April 10
GOOD FRIDAY (No Classes)
Saturday April 11 Holy Saturday
Sunday April 12
EASTER SUNDAY
Monday April 13
EASTER MONDAY (No Classes)
Tuesday April 21 Jump Rope for Heart kick-off
Assembly
Friday May 01
Grade 8 Confessions
Tuesday May 05
C o n f i r m a t i o n
@
St. Leonard’s Church (7:00
PM)
Monday May 11
Professional Activity Day (No
classes)
Monday May 18
Victoria Day ( No classes)
Wednesday May 20 Welcome to Kindergarten
Friday May 23
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
May 25 – June 05 EQAO Assessment (Grades 3 & 6)
May 31
First Holy Communion @
St. Leonard’s Church (2:00PM)
SCHOOL COUNCIL
The next School Council meting will be on Wednesday
April 15th at 7:00 in the library. All are welcome.
EASTER SERVICES - (ALL SERVICES TAKE PLACE AT
ST. EDMUND CAMPION SECONDARY SCHOOL)
STATIONS OF THE CROSS:
Every Friday night during Lent at 7:00 p.m. followed by
Holy Mass at 7:30 p.m.
RECONCILIATION:
Friday April 3rd at 6:00 p.m.
HOLY THURSDAY:
Thursday April 9th at 7:00 p.m.
GOOD FRIDAY:
Friday April 10th Veneration of the Cross at 3:00 p.m.
preceded by Stations of the Cross at 2:30 p.m.
HOLY SATURDAY:
Holy Mass at 7:00 p.m. (no 5:00 p.m. mass this week)
EASTER SUNDAY:
Regular Sunday Mass schedule of 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m.
& 12:00 p.m.
PRINCE OF EGYPT PLAY (THE STORY OF MOSES):
Saturday April 4th after the 5:00 p.m. mass in the
Cafeteria at St. Edmund Campion Secondary School.
Presented by Members of Couples for Christ group as
well as the family and members of the 10:30 Sunday
Choir.
Tickets can be purchased in advance after each mass or at
the door for $10.00 each. All proceeds to go to the
Guardian Angels building fund.
Parent Council Newsletter
What’s up at St. Bonaventure
with your Parent Council
Your Parent Council Members:
Chair - Nicole Carasco
Treasurer - Jennifer Ferreira
Secretary - Debbie Kicul
School/Parish Representative - Andrea De Vera
Community Representative - Candida Charles
What is a School Parent Council
Meeting?
It’s a chance to discuss what’s
happening at St. Bonaventure
with the Principal and staff.
Your opinions make a difference
and your input is encouraged. All
parents are welcome. Share your
ideas or simply sit back and be
informed.
What we’ve done so far!
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•
•
•
Movie night
Hot dog day
Financially supported Student Council
with the Christmas shoe boxes
Magazine subscriptions
Here’s your ticket to the inside scoop!
*Admit all St. Bonaventure
Parents*
St. Bonaventure School (Parent
Council) Meeting
April 15th @ 7pm St. Bonaventure
Library
St. Bonaventure online!!
Please visit http://www.dpcdsb.org/BONAV/
to view meeting dates and past meeting
minutes.
Parent Council Goals for remaining school
year of 2009!
• Increase school council
membership
• Continue to collect recipes for St.
Bonaventure’s very own Cookbook
• Support Junior Kindergarten students
registered for 2009/2010 school year
with NEW orientation night
• Parent Council continues to look for
activities that will engage parents and
students in fun and interactive
activities
• Family BBQ
• Parent Council Suggestion Box