ST. BRIGID CATHOLIC SCHOOL
“Live
Love
Learn
Light”
A BLESSING FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR
L.Kazimowicz…..Superintendent
905-890-1221
A. DaSilva…. ………..…Trustee
905-890-0708
ext. 20154
V. Pugliese ……………Principal
C. Bianchi ……….........Secretary
C. Dye…....School Council Chair
905-796-0037
PARISH
St. Jerome
8530 Chinguacousy Road
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 5G4
Tel: 905-455-4260
Fax: 905-450-6326
Pastor
Fr. J. Kolodynski
DEAR GOD,
AS A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS,
FILL THE HEARTS OF OUR CHILDREN
WITH AN EAGERNESS TO LEARN
ABOUT THE WORLD YOU HAVE CREATED,
BUT, MOST OF ALL,
ABOUT YOU.
BLESS OUR TEACHERS
WITH THE GIFTS OF WISDOM
AND PATIENCE,
THAT THEY MAY HELP THEIR STUDENTS
FIND TRUTH
AND GUIDE THEM
IN THEIR JOURNEY OF LEARNING.
GIVE OUR PARENTS GENEROUS HEARTS,
TO SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE
AND LOVE THEIR CHILDREN.
GUIDE US ALL TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS
AND TO PUT OUR BEST EFFORT
INTO ALL THAT WE DO.
HELP MAKE THIS
A HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
LET US SHARE WITH OUR FRIENDS
AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS FEEL WELCOME.
HELP US ALL
TO WORK TOGETHER
TO FORM A COMMUNITY OF LEARNING,
THAT TEACHES
NOT ONLY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE,
BUT ALL THAT WE NEED TO
LIVE OUR FAITH FULLY IN THIS WORLD.
AMEN
School Hours
Start:
Recess:
Lunch:
Recess :
Dismissal:
8:50
11:00 – 11:15
11:55 – 12:55
2:20 – 2:35
3:20
Open House/Curriculum Night
Thursday September 20th, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. has been set for Open
House/Curriculum Night, where parents will have the opportunity to tour the
school, talk to staff and learn about your child‟s curriculum for the school year.
We are looking forward to seeing you there.
Principal’s Message
Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year! I
hope that your summer holiday was a safe and enjoyable
one. This year promises to be a year full of great growth
and excitement. As the principal of St. Brigid School, I
look forward to being part of a school community where
students, staff, parents and our parish team work together
to create a safe, caring, and positive learning environment
that reflects our Catholic values and traditions. I wish to
extend a warm welcome to all of our new families and
students who have moved into our community over the
summer months. I am also very excited to have a brand
new group of kindergarten children who will be starting
their school for the first time. As we start our new school
year together, I look forward to meeting all of you, and
personally welcoming you back to our school.
Ongoing communication between the school and home is
essential to supporting your child‟s progress and success.
As parents/guardians, please feel free to contact the school
at any time if you have any questions or concerns.
Communication is essential in the teaching/learning
process. I, along with the staff at St. Brigid School, am
committed to developing and maintaining strong
community relationships. Please get involved in your
child‟s education by participating in our volunteer program
or perhaps by joining our School Council. Volunteers
enrich our school environment and contribute to the
growth of our students in many important ways. Your
involvement in your child‟s education is vital.
Our staff has been working hard these past few weeks
preparing for the beginning of the new school year. Thank
you to the teachers who have spent a great amount of time
preparing both their curriculum and their classrooms. Also,
a great big thanks to our secretary Mrs. C. Bianchi and our
custodial team, Mr. R. Ford, Mr. R. Smith and Mr. P.
Hendricks, for doing such a wonderful job in preparing our
school to welcome back our students.
V. Pugliese
Catholic School Council News
You are invited to become a member of the School
Council which is comprised of parents, school staff, as
well as community and parish representatives. The aim of
the School Council is to support school goals and our
students through community building, communication,
fund-raising and volunteer programs. It also provides a
forum for parents to meet and share information and ideas
concerning the school community. If you are interested in
becoming a member of our School Council, visit the
school office and pick up a nomination form. Nomination
forms can also be picked up at the Open House. Our first
meeting and elections will take place on Monday
September 24th at 7:00 p.m. in the school library.
Staffing Updates
We have had a few staffing changes to share with you,
since the students were last here in June. New staff
members at St. Brigid School include: Ms. Duliunas
(FDK), Ms. Italiano (DECE), Ms. Brandner (DECE), Ms.
DiVito (Gr. 1/2), Ms. Schirripa (Gr. 4/5). We welcome all
our new staff and wish them the greatest success. Their
enthusiasm and professionalism will be great additions to
St. Brigid School.
School Agendas
Again this year the students at St. Brigid will be
using school agendas/organizers to help develop
organizational skills and ensure completion of
assignments. The agendas are $5.00. The assigning and
completion of homework and/or assignments is a
cooperative endeavour of parents, students and teachers.
Therefore, parents should be aware of, assist with and
monitor student‟s homework. It is particularly important
to emphasize that the agenda is to be used daily to help
your child(ren) organize his/her time and to keep parents
informed on what is happening in class and in the school.
Virtue of the Month
Faith
To begin the new school year, we‟ll
focus our attention on the first of our
virtues – faith. Faith is the great
virtue of believing in God and
trusting that God is with us. A
faithful person believes that we are
created, guided by and destined to be
reunited with God.
A faithful
person believes that God‟s plan for
us includes the right to be safe,
especially at school.
A faithful person …
 Prays regularly and reverently
 Learns from Scripture stories
 Honours people‟s God given
names
 Assumes that there is good in
everyone
 Accepts the God-given worth of
themselves and others.
School Safety:
Student Attendance Verification
Daily attendance and punctuality are very
important. If your child is unable to attend school, please
inform the school. Messages can be left on the school
attendance line at any time. Your child‟s safe arrival to
school is imperative and must be verified by the office.
Our school‟s phone number is 905-454-0316
ATTENDANCE
VERIFICATION
905-454-0316 PRESS 1
Student Verification Sheets
During September, a “Student Verification Sheet” is sent
home with each child. Please review the information
contained on this form and return it to the school as soon
as possible, even if no corrections or additions are
required. Student Verification Sheets provide us with
vital information that we need in order to contact you in
the event of an emergency or as part of our student
attendance verification.
We appreciate parent co-operation in keeping us up to date
concerning changes such as addresses, phone numbers,
care givers and emergency contacts.
School Day and School Yard Supervision
Yard Supervision begins at 8:35 a.m. For safety reasons,
please do not send your child to school until then. Our
supervisors wear orange vests when they are out so that
they can be easily visible to a child in need. For reasons of
safety, students are expected to go home at the end of the
school day, unless supervised by a parent or staff member
for a scheduled school activity. If there are any changes
to dismissal arrangements, please contact us the evening
before or with a note to the teacher.
Dogs on School Property
Dogs are not allowed on school property. A dog‟s
behaviour and response around strangers can be
unpredictable; for example, dogs may jump on visitors or
children. Although dogs can be good pets for some, they
can be scary to some other people, and pose an allergic
response to others. Therefore, dogs must not be exercised
on school property or brought to school when dropping off
or picking up students.
Visitors To School and Sign In Procedures
For safety reasons, we are reminding the
school community that all visitors, including
parents and former students, must report to the office, signin and wear a visitor‟s badge while in the school or in the
school yard. The sign-in book is located on the counter
in the school office. Please do not go into the school yard
or to your child‟s classroom without coming to the office
first. Remember – to your child you are the parent … to
the other students you may be a stranger. So once again,
please report to the office first and sign-in.
If you bring a lunch or other items to school, we request
that you leave it on the counter in the office, with both
your child‟s name and teacher‟s on it.
When leaving early during the school day, all students
must be signed out at the office by a parent/guardian.
Students must be signed in at the office when they return.
Also, when students arrive at school after the school day
has begun, students must come to the office and sign in.
We welcome you to meet with the teacher whenever you
have concerns or questions. Please call for an appointment
in advance as staff is very busy during the day with
classes, duties, calls to parents, extracurricular activities
and meetings. They are seldom able to meet with you on a
drop-in basis.
Cooperation in following these routines helps ensure our
student‟s safety.
Fire Evacuation and Lockdown Policy
We have a detailed fire/emergency evacuation policy at St.
Brigid School. If the fire alarm rings, it is important that
all students proceed to evacuate the building in a quiet and
orderly manner. If further instructions are to be given, it is
important that the students are able to hear and follow
them. We will be practicing evacuation procedures three
times during the fall and again three more times in the
spring. If the fire alarm goes off, students will not be
permitted to stop to put on shoes, coats, hats, etc. Student
safety is our first priority. Please ensure that your child
has an extra pair of shoes at school during the winter
months.
There may be situations where the school, under the
direction of the Peel Regional Police, may need to
“lockdown”. The School Board has mandated that
lockdown procedures attempt to secure students in their
own classrooms in the event that there is a high risk
incident about to unfold in the school or in dealing with the
presence of an individual in possession of a dangerous
article on school property. Lockdown procedures follow
Board policy. As with fire evacuations, we will be
practicing Lockdown drills at various points throughout
the school year.
Excursions & Field Trips
Educational trips, which extend learning opportunities, are
a wonderful means by which curriculum can be developed
and expanded. However, appropriate Board procedures
must be followed. The school must have on file
permission forms, which must be signed by the parents/
guardians.
If on the day of an excursion, your child did not return
his/her form, and the parents/guardians cannot come into
the school to sign the permission forms, the student will
remain at the school. Verbal Telephone Permission is
Never Acceptable. Students will be reminded by their
teachers about this policy prior to the trip taking place.
Physical Education
Please note: All students must return the signed Element
of Risk and Medical Information Form to participate in the
Physical Education Program. Students in Grades 5 to 8
will be required to bring a change of clothes for Physical
Education. Students from J.K to 4 are required to wear
comfortable clothing on Gym days as well as appropriate
running shoes (non marking shoes with ankle support).
Accident Insurance
As required by the Education Act and the Ministry of
Education, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School
Board annually provides parents with information about
cost-effective student accident insurance coverage via
student courier.
Although enrolment is voluntary, the Board encourages
parents to take advantage of the inexpensive insurance
coverage, especially if their child /children participate in
sports, excursions / field trips, or, if parents do not have
dental insurance coverage. Enrolment is required in
writing. There are two options for enrolment:
 Complete the traditional form and mail it.
 Apply on-line at www.insuremykids.com.
Parents are asked to please sign and return the Accident
Insurance Acknowledgement form and return it to their
child‟s teacher. Parents alone have the right to insure their
children.
Indoor Footwear
Students are expected to wear shoes in the
school building at all times. Please note that in
the event of an emergency evacuation, students
will not have the opportunity to put on shoes, boots,
clothing articles, etc. Please ensure that your child has an
extra pair of shoes at school, to keep their feet dry and
warm during wet and/or snowy weather. A change of
clothing stored in a child‟s backpack, may also be a good
idea for younger students.
Lunch Policy
We have a large number of students eating
lunch at school and at times children need to
be reminded of proper behaviour while eating.
We ask for parents‟ co-operation in reinforcing with your
child appropriate behaviour in their lunchroom. During
the lunch period, students are expected to:
 eat in their assigned class room
 remain seated while eating
 chat quietly to their neighbours
 dispose of all garbage in the proper receptacle before
they leave the lunchroom
 students who stay at school for lunch are not permitted
to leave the school property. If ever there is a need to
do so, a written request signed and dated, from a
parent is required for each occurrence.
Thank you for going over these expectations with your
child(ren) and for supporting us in our efforts to make
eating lunch at school an enjoyable experience for all.
DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD POLICY ON THE USE
OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES
(PEDs) BY STUDENTS ON SCHOOL
PROPERTY
To promote respect for the dignity of all
members of our school community and to
enhance student achievement and safety, the use
of a PED is strictly prohibited in the school
(including portables) or during school related
activities (such as retreats, field trips, sports
events, etc.).
Failure to comply with this policy may result in
the confiscation of the PED and/or disciplinary
action as outlined in the Catholic Code of
Conduct 2001. The school and the DufferinPeel Catholic District School Board assume no
responsibility for the loss, recovery, repair or
replacement for any PED brought onto school
property.
It is the policy of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School Board that PEDs are to be kept
out-of- sight, turned off and not used within
school premises or during school sanctioned
events. To prevent the loss or damage of PEDs,
the school encourages students to leave their
PEDs at home or in their lockers.
You may have noticed that many of our teachers are
dressing down on Friday‟s. St. Brigid staff members are
using this opportunity to wear jeans and have donated to
ShareLife, in an effort to raise money for the Catholic
charity.
Staff members will also be participating in a
number of other events throughout the school year, all in
support of ShareLife.
Swiss Chalet Customer Appreciation/Rebate Program
Once again this year, Swiss Chalet is extending St. Brigid
School a rebate offer. Each time you get a lunch or dinner
receipts, from the Swiss Chalet located at 6970 Financial
Drive, please save it and have your child bring the receipt
into the school office and place it in our Swiss Chalet box.
At the end of each month we will tally up the before tax
total on food purchases, bring the receipts to the Financial
Drive Swiss Chalet location and they will give us a cheque
for 10% of our school‟s purchases before tax. This rebate
applies to both dine-in and take-out orders. This is a winwin! All you have to do is remember to send in your
receipt! The money we raise will be used to help support
our school goals and needs.
Volunteers
Volunteers play an important part in the life of any school
community. At the school level, they help to enhance the
learning opportunities available to students. They can
make a difference in the academic life of a student. They
assist students with reading, writing, academic drills and
reinforcement, educational games and in other activities
that help to improve specific areas of need. Please contact
the school if you are interested in volunteering.
We always appreciate your assistance, support and the
sharing of your many gifts and talents with our staff and
students. Please consider volunteering at your child‟s
school.
Anyone working in our school as a new employee or
volunteer must have a criminal reference check
completed by Peel Police. Please pick up the appropriate
forms from the school office.
Valuables
The school cannot assume responsibility for valuables.
Students are requested not to bring any valuables to
school. Valuables may include any item of importance
such as Nintendo Games. Game Boys, cell phones, I
Phones,MP3 players, cameras, expensive sports
equipment, trading cards, etc.
Terry Fox Run
This year again, students and staff of St. Brigid
School will be participating in the annual Terry
Fox fundraising for cancer run. This year‟s event will take
place on Thursday September 27th in the afternoon.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
As we approach Thanksgiving, St. Brigid School is
holding its annual food drive. Thanksgiving is a very
special time of the year when we as a school community
collect non-perishable food items to help those who are in
need in our own local community. We will be collecting
these items beginning Wednesday September 19th, until
Wednesday October 3rd. Please be generous with your
donations. It is important for all of us to be grateful for all
we have and to show this by acknowledging those less
fortunate.
Back Again! Milk Bags for Haiti
St Brigid‟s Green Team will be collecting Milk Bags again
this year. We collected almost 2,000 bags last year in a
short period of time, so this year we are aiming for a
higher number of bags to be sent to Haiti. Our donation of
bags was very much appreciated. They will be woven into
beautiful sanitary and comfortable sleeping mats for those
in need, so they don‟t have to sleep on the ground.
Instead of throwing out your milk bags (outer big bag),
which take approximately 15 years to breakdown in
landfill sites, collect them and send them to St Brigid.
Please ensure that the bags are clean and flattened. Fold
the bags in half before sending them in. All the bags will
be collected by Mrs Mastragostino. You can check out the
following
web
site
for
more
information:
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/video/146530
St. Brigid Green Team
St. Brigid‟s Green Team will once
again be working towards reducing the
amount of waste we as a school
community produce. To achieve our
goal, we are encouraging students to
pack litterless lunches as a daily
routine. So dig out your reusable
containers and refillable water bottles
and together we can do our part in
helping the environment.
Storage & Administration of Prescription
Medication
If your child requires prescription medication,
signed request/authorization forms from the
parents/guardians and the supervising physician
must be provided to the school. These forms are
available through the school office.
The required
authorization forms and the medication must be delivered
to the office. All medication with the exception of Epipens will be housed in the office. Medication must not be
kept on the child‟s possession (ie. pocket, back pack, etc.)
or in the classroom. No child should bring any form of
medication to school without prior approval from the
office.
Please note, all students (except those in kindergarten)
who require Epi-pens will be required to wear them
during the school day.
Nut Allergies
St. Brigid Catholic Elementary School is an allergen aware
school.
We have a number of children in our school who have
severe life threatening allergic reactions to nuts, peanuts,
peanut butter, peanut oils and any peanut by-products. For
some children, even the smell of nuts can bring on a severe
attack. We need your cooperation! We do not want to put
any child at risk, therefore ask that NUTS, NUT
BUTTER, NUT OILS AND ANY NUT BY-PRODUCT
NOT BE BROUGHT INTO THE SCHOOL.
Please do not send any lunches or snacks that contain
nuts/peanuts or nut by-products. Parents are also reminded
not to bring food into the school for their child‟s birthday
or other celebrations.
Kiss ‘N Ride
Please note that it is extremely important that parents drive
slowly and cautiously while on school grounds. The lane
closest to the curb is for BUSSES ONLY. The Kiss „N
Ride lane is the middle lane. Please follow the procedures
outlined below when using the Kiss „N Ride lane:
Drive your vehicle in this lane and proceed to the
furthest point closest to the front doors.
STOP
Child(ren) must exit and enter your vehicle by the
right hand side door(s)
Drive to the end of the Kiss „N Ride lane and
cautiously proceed into the Drive-Thru lane
Do not park in the Kiss „N Ride lane. If you need to
enter the school, please park your vehicle in the
school parking lot.
You
may
go
to
www.stopr.ca for daily
bus cancellations or delays.
Transportation
All kindergarten and grade one students who
will be riding the school buses this year will
be required to have a coloured bus tag on
their back packs. Every effort must be made to maintain a
high standard of discipline and safety in the operation of
the school buses. Students are to follow the directives of
their bus driver.
Eligibility
Transportation is provided for students who reside more
than the following distances by road, path or walkway
from the school they are eligible to attend.
Kindergarten & Gr. 1
1.0 km
Grades 2 - 4
1.6 km
Grades 5 to 8
2.0 km
To check for transportation eligibility, please go to
http://businfo.stopr.ca/
Courtesy Rider Policy (Empty Seat Policy)
Every year we get numerous calls from parents who do not
live within the transportation areas as established by the
Board, requesting permission for their child(ren) to ride the
bus by accessing the Courtesy Rider Policy. In accordance
with Board Policy, we will not be granting permission for
students to ride the bus using the Courtesy Rider Policy
until mid October. Requests should be made in writing,
dated and addressed to the school.
Bus Safety
Parents are asked to review carefully the following rules
for student while riding the school bus. Students are
required to:
Be at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the pickup time.
Listen to the driver when getting on or off the bus,
especially when a road must be crossed.
Go directly to their seat and stay seated until they are
let off the bus.
Follow all instructions from the bus driver, especially
where they put their belongings.
Not open or close windows unless the driver permits
it.
Keep all belongings inside the bus.
Keep arms, hands, head, etc. inside the bus.
Not damage the bus seats (students will be held
responsible).
Respect private property while waiting for their
school bus.
Not talk to the bus driver while the bus is in
operation unless it is necessary.
Twitter
DPCDSB is now on Twitter! For the latest board news and
information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools.
Sacramental Preparation
Please be aware that sacraments are parish,
not school events. Preparation may be
initiated by the school through the Religious
Education program. However, the immediate preparation
is the responsibility of the parents and the Parish.
Registration for all Sacraments takes place at St. Jerome
Church.
Parents of children who are in grades 2 or 8 and wish to
have their child receive either the sacrament of Holy
Eucharist for the first time or the sacrament of
Confirmation, are reminded that students must be
registered at St. Jerome Church by Sunday November 25th.
Students may pick up a registration form at any regularly
scheduled weekend mass. Please note that parents must
attend an information session held at the church on a
date to be determined in the near future.
If you require any further information, please do not
hesitate to call the church at 905-455-4260.
School Masses
Our School Opening Mass will take place on Thursday
September 27th at 9:30 a.m. As with all special events at
school, parents are welcome to attend. The dates for our
school masses this year have been established. Please note
the following dates on your calendar:
Opening
Advent Mass
Easter Mass
End of Year Mass
September 27
December 7
April 5
June 19
As always, your attendance at these masses is welcomed
and appreciated.
Pediculosis
A problem, which seems to occur in most schools, is
pediculosis or head lice. Head lice are parasites and they
are not connected in any way with un-cleanliness. If a case
is found, we shall inform all parents of all children in that
class. We ask that you periodically check your own
children. If you find that your child has pediculosis, please
ensure that they get the proper treatment. Even if cases are
not reported from the school, it is a wise precaution to
check your children periodically. If your children are
infested, we will be asking you to keep them out of school
until after they have been treated with the correct shampoo
and their heads are entirely clear of both lice and nits
(eggs). If we all cooperate in these procedures, we may not
entirely escape outbreaks, but we will be able to bring
them under control quickly.
School Picture Day
Individual student and class pictures will be
taken on Friday September 28th.
Further
information will be forthcoming closer to picture day.
Medic Alert’s No Child Without Program is at Our
School
The No Child Without program offers a free Medic Alert
membership to students who attend our school and are
between the ages of 4 up to their 14th birthday. If your
child has a medical condition, allergy or is required to take
medication on a regular basis then you should consider a
Medic Alert membership through this program.
Medic Alert membership:
 Gives emergency first responders immediate access to
your child‟s medical information on their Medic Alert
bracelet or necklet.
 Enables first responders to quickly obtain up to date
medical information by means of the child‟s
Electronic Health Record through the 24 Hour
Emergency Hotline.
 Communicates with the parent or emergency contact
upon activation of the Hotline
 Allows free updates of the child‟s medical record as
needed
Medic Alert identification can alert school staff, friends,
coaches and others about your child‟s medical condition
should an emergency occur.
For further information visit www.nochildwithout.ca If
your child is already part of the No Child Without
program and there have been changes to their medical
condition, medications or emergency contact information,
call Medic Alert at 1-866-679-3220 Ext 1 to update your
child‟s file.
Dates to Remember:
Sept. 18
Sept. 19
Sept. 20
Sept. 24
Sept. 25
Sept. 26
Sept. 27
Sept. 28
Oct. 3
Oct. 8
Oct. 24
Oct. 30
Oct. 31
Virtue Assembly – 1:15
Thanksgiving Food Drive Begins
Open House @ 7:00 pm.
Intermediate Girls Soccer Tournament
Catholic School Council Elections and
Meeting @ 7:00
Fundraising Assembly – 1:15
Lunch Moms
Opening Mass – 9:30
Terry Fox Walk – 1:00
Picture Day
Thanksgiving Food Drive Ends
Thanksgiving
MBC Family of Schools Cross Country Meet
DPCDSB Cross Country Meet
Halloween