ST. BRIGID CATHOLIC SCHOOL
“Live
L.Papaloni…..Superintendent
905-890-1221
A. DaSilva…. ………..…Trustee
416 -709 -5679
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
Love
Learn
Light”
In the early morning hours, the day arises.
The first light glimmers.
There hasn’t been much time to sleep.
Yet already there is nothing to see in this tomb!
There is nothing to see in this tomb!
Like the earth in spring, it has broke open,
Given way to the first surges rising
Life has sprung forth, new, joyous, like a first-born!
There is nothing to see in this tomb.
Nothing to touch.
The Living One cannot be contained!
No living one can be contained!
Finally free, this life is now restored.
Free, it calls to us;
Free, it lifts us up out of fear!
There is nothing to see in this tomb!
Let the Good News spread like wildfire
Across the world!
School Hours
Start:
Recess:
Lunch:
Recess :
Dismissal:
8:50
11:00 – 11:15
11:55 – 12:55
2:20 – 2:35
3:20
Message from the Principal
Jesus is risen, Alleluia! We are now in the liturgical
season of Easter. While Lent consists of 40 days,
the Easter season is comprised of 50 days.
Virtue of the Month
This is a season for rejoicing. Easter is the most holy
season for Catholics as it is the core of our faith; Jesus rose
from the dead on Easter morning. This is the greatest of
days. It fills us with life and with love. Easter is not a
story of the past. Easter is a story for today. Easter is the
story for our reality! Catholics all over the world solemnly
recall the events that took place between Palm Sunday and
Easter. We believe that these are the most important
events in the whole of human history.
In His journey from being condemned to death outside the
Sanhedrin by Pontius Pilate, to His crucifixion on Calvary
Hill, Jesus suffered unbelievable pain and humiliation. We
celebrate the Way of the Cross with love, because Christ
took these steps out of obedience to his Father and of love
for each one of us. Paradoxically, we see in these awful
events an amazing beauty.
Our Easter, our passage through death, is accomplished
each time we overcome the death of lies to reach the truth,
each time we overcome the death of bitterness to reach
reconciliation and each time we overcome the death of
indifference to reach compassion.
Our Easter is
accomplished each time we go, no matter what the cost,
towards a life of Christ centeredness.
In our own quiet way we are called to experience the
resurrected Jesus and allow Him to enter into our hearts.
The empty tomb is a reminder to us that when it seems the
most impossible, God keeps His promises! And
just as the stone covering His tomb was pushed
away, we too are called to roll away the stone,
let Jesus into our lives and see the glory of God.
On behalf of the staff at St. Brigid, I wish you a peaceful
and joyous Easter, filled with the love that Jesus showed us
on the Cross.
SACRAMENTS
First Communion
First Communion for grade 2 students at St. Brigid School
will take place on Sunday, April 28th at 12:00 pm at St.
Jerome Church.
Confirmation
Confirmation for grade 8 students at St. Brigid School will
take place on Tuesday May 21st, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Jerome
Church.
If you have any questions regarding your child‟s
sacraments, please contact the church office at
(905) 455-4260.
Love
In April, we celebrate the virtue
of love. God has given us many
guidelines and examples of how
to live our lives. He sent his Son
Jesus to make sure that we could
see what life could be like. Jesus
made one lesson clear above all
other lessons – the lesson to
love. Love is not about us – it is
about forgetting ourselves and
looking out for the good of the
other. That‟s what Jesus did –
he forgot about himself on
purpose. He chose to give up his
life for the good of others – us!
It takes prayer and concentration
to get used to making little
sacrifices for the good of others.
Making little sacrifices on
purpose so that others will have
a bit of food, a bit of shelter, a
bit of peace, a bit of quiet, a bit
of fun, a bit of friendship.
Through
prayer
and
concentration, we can get better
at showing love to everyone we
meet
A Loving Person…
 Wants the best for others
 Is willing to make sacrifices
for the good of others
 Learns from the heroic lives
of saints & holy people
 Knows that we are all
lovable
 Prays for others
EASTER MASS
Father Jan will be celebrating our Easter Mass on Friday
April 5th in the school gymnasium, at 9:30 a.m. As always,
parents and family members are most welcome to join us
in this Eucharistic Celebration.
Each year, the Catholic community of Ontario engages in a
week-long celebration of the unique identity and
distinctive contributions of Catholic education during
Catholic Education Week. This year‟s celebration entitled
Catholic Education: Growing Together in Faith, is the
week of May 5-10. Pope Benedict XVI has declared June
2012 to June 2013, The Year of Faith. Ours is a faithbased school system. We are called to grow in faith, to
bloom where we are planted and to remember that we are
rooted in Christ.
The five sub-themes this year are:
 Faith that is … Rooted
 Faith that is … Nurtured
 Faith that is … Discerned
 Faith that is … Witnessed
 Faith that is … Celebrated.
During this week the Catholic community celebrates the
unique and distinctive contribution that Catholic schools
make to our students, our community and our Province.
Catholic Education Week is a welcome opportunity to
celebrate the mission of our Catholic schools as they strive
to integrate the Gospel values of Jesus in every aspect of
the school‟s life and curriculum.
Catholic Education Week begins on a Sunday to highlight
the partnership that remains the foundation of Catholic
education between our Catholic schools and local Catholic
parishes. Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask
you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education‟s
presence and contribution in our Church, and in our
society. We invite all members of our community, to
participate in the celebrations and activities that will mark
the celebration of Catholic Education Week 2013 in our
schools.
E.Q.A.O. Testing -- Grades Three and Six
A reminder that this year the EQAO assessment
for Grade 3 and Grade 6 students will run from
May 27th to June 6th. We ask that parents of students in
these grades ensure that their children are in attendance
during these weeks. Visit DPCDSB on the web for Board
and School profiles http://www.dpcdsb.org/EQAO
St. Brigid Catholic School Council News
Our next Catholic School Council meeting has been
scheduled for Monday April 15th. Please note that his
meeting will begin at 6:00 pm. All parents are welcome to
attend. Please come out to help make St. Brigid School the
very best it can be for all the children.
An Evening with Garth Buckley
Please join us on Monday April 15th, as Garth Buckley
presents to parents and staff, on the issue of mental health
and our children.
Mr. Buckley is Coordinator for
Disorders at Peel Children's Centre. Come out and learn
more about our children and depression, anxiety, drug
dependence and early detection. Mr. Buckley will also be
available to answer any questions that you may have.
Popcorn
Our Catholic School Council will continue to sell Popcorn
every Thursday. Bring your toonies and enjoy a bag of
Kernels popcorn.
St. Brigid Evening at Swiss Chalet
Please join us on Wednesday May 1st at the Swiss Chalet,
located at 6970 Financial Drive in Mississauga, for our
second annual St. Brigid Evening at Swiss Chalet. St.
Brigid staff will be serving the public between 6:00 and
8:00 pm. and 10% of all St. Brigid sales will be returned to
our School. Last year‟s event was a great success with
teachers, students and parents all having a wonderful time.
Customer Rebate Program
Don‟t forget to keep bringing in your Swiss Chalet receipts
from the Swiss Chalet on Financial Drive. Swiss Chalet
(Financial Drive location) will give us a cheque for 10% of
our school‟s total purchases before tax. All you have to do
is remember to send in your receipt!
SCHOOL WEBSITE
Check out our school web
site. Access the site through
the School Board‟s website
at
http://www.dpcdsb.org/cec
"Annuntio vobis gaudium
magnum... habemus papam!" With those words, French
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran announced to the world that
we have anew Pope. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the 76 year
old Cardinal of Buenos Aires, Argentina was announced as
the 266th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal
Tauran informed the crowd in St. Peter‟s Square that the
new pope would be known as Pope Francis.
The Catholic Church made an extraordinary break from
tradition with the election of the first non-European Pope
in 1,200 years, and the first Pope to come from the New
World. Pope Francis is also the first Jesuit to be elected
Pope.
Lenten Act of Faith by St. Brigid Staff
In answer to our call to take action and extend our Catholic
faith to the community this Lent, several St. Brigid staff
members left the comfort of our school and went to the
seniors residence, Burton Manor. On March 19th after a
day of educating the young, they went to provide
entertainment and fellowship to the elderly. Under the
musical direction of Mrs. Duke and her guitar, armed with
songbooks and good cheer, they spent their time to bring a
little sunshine to the elderly of the community. From the
applause and laughter and smiles on everyone's
face....God's love was passed on.
The staff of St. Brigid extend our wishes for the hope and
peace of Jesus' Resurrection as we all carry out acts of our
faith.
Pope Francis walked onto the balcony of St. Peter‟s
Basilica and addressed the thousands that had crowed into
the square with these words: “Brothers and sisters, good
evening. You all know that the duty of the Conclave was
to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother
Cardinals have come almost to the end of the Earth to get
him ... but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that
has come from the diocesan community of Rome.”
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained a priest in December
of 1969. In 1998 he was appointed Archbishop of Buenos
Aires by Pope John Paul II. Two years later, he was
appointed Cardinal. He decided on Francis in honour of
St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was an Italian who
identified himself with peace, poverty and a simple lifestyle. As a young man, St. Francis renounced his family‟s
wealth and in 1290 he founded the Franciscan order of
friars. St. Francis told his followers, “Preach the Gospel
always, and if necessary use words.”
Pope Francis faces many challenges in both the secular
world and within the Catholic Church. He is a man that
relies on faith and prayer. He is a champion of freedom,
tolerance, human dignity and peace. As a humble man, he
stated: “And now I would like to give the blessing, but first
I want to ask you a favour. Before the bishop blesses the
people, I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me.”
And so, as a faith community here at St. Brigid, we pray
for Pope Francis, that he be given the wisdom, strength
and courage that world leaders need. May he be a comfort
to the poor, the disenfranchised and suffering. May his
actions speak of social justice around the world. May the
Holy Spirit guide and direct him, as he leads the faithful.
May he inspire us to be a witness to Christ and to serve
Him. And may he be an inspiration to all humanity, so
that we accept the way of the cross and see the loving eyes
of
Jesus
in
everyone
that
we
meet.
Summer Literacy Camp - Grades SK to 6
 Monday July 8th to Friday July 26th, 2013
 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily
 Fee for Service Program
 No transportation provided
 Deadline for applications: June 3, 2013
Locations:
Mississauga
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Father Daniel Zanon
St. Alfred
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Gregory
St. Sebastian
St. Therese of the Child
Jesus
Brampton
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St. Anne
St. Bonaventure
St. John Fisher
Ven. Michael J.
McGivney
ATTENDANCE
VERIFICATION
905-454-0316 PRESS 1
Class List Formation for 2013 - 2014
We will soon begin the process of making up the class lists
for next fall. This is a complex procedure which takes into
consideration not only the needs of the individual child,
but frames those needs in the context of the larger
classroom group. In each class we strive for a balance of
learning styles, a balance of gender, a balance of learning
needs and a cross-section of abilities.
The current teachers of a grade, support staff and
administration all take part in the process. If you wish to
provide input into the process, please take into
consideration the following guidelines: Input must be
made in writing to the Principal no later than April 30 th,
2013. Requests should be made in terms of educational
contexts, e.g. your child‟s learning needs/strengths/style,
information not already known to the school, best learning
environment. Please do not make requests for specific
teachers as staffing is always tentative and changes can
take place between now and September.
Are You Moving?
We are in the process of planning classes and
staffing for the 2013/2014 school year. If you
are planning to move anytime between now
and September 2013, please inform the school at your
earliest possible convenience.
Flexible Boundary Policy
Many students attend St. Brigid School under the “Flexible
Boundary policy”. This offers convenience for many
parents who access daycare in the area. Parents who have
requested flexible boundary admittance for their children
must be aware that the policy will be considered on a
student-by-student, year-to-year basis taking into account
the class size of the students who are enrolling and the
resources available at the school. While we offer support
to all of our students, please understand that the
availability of the flexible boundary policy should never
negatively impact on the class size and school resources.
Parents requesting flex boundaries are asked to do so in
writing. Please feel free to call the school if you have any
questions regarding this policy.
Lunch Time Monitors
We are in need of Lunch Time Student
Monitors. If you are interested in becoming a
Lunch Time Student Monitor (either on a full
time or part time basis) at St. Brigid School and are
available during the lunch hour, please come into the
school office and fill out an application form.
You
may
go
to
www.stopr.ca for daily
bus cancellations or delays.
Parking Enforcement
City of Brampton Parking Enforcement officers
have been vigilant in enforcing city parking by-laws in the
area around the school. Please be aware of where you park
your vehicle. There are fire hydrants and other No Parking
/ No Stopping areas that need to be observed.
Please note that vehicles in the Kiss „N‟ Ride lane should
not be left unattended, as they could be ticketed. Please do
not park in the Kiss „N‟ Ride Lanes and walk your child to
their entry point. If you wish to walk your child, we
request that you park on the street and escort your child.
Cars parked in the Kiss „N‟ Ride create a very dangerous
situation and also impede the flow of traffic.
When in the Kiss „N‟ Ride lane, please have your child
exit your vehicle from the passenger side. It is very
dangerous to exit out into the “Drive Through Lane”.
Also, we ask that all vehicles move to the front of the Kiss
„N‟ Ride lane prior to letting out students.
Also, please be aware that only vehicles that have a
handicap sign displayed in their vehicle are allowed to
park in the handicap parking spots in the school parking
lot.
Under no conditions should vehicles without a
handicap sign park in these designated areas.
We respectfully request your co-operation when driving
and parking on school grounds.
End of the Day Dismissal
Please try to co-ordinate end of the day pick up
arrangements with your child(ren) prior to 3:20. The
office often receives calls just before the 3:20 bell rings,
asking us to notify students of changes in their normal
dismissal patterns. The end of the school day is often a
very busy time in the office. Please be aware that calls just
prior to the bell do not allow office staff much time to
contact classroom teachers. Where possible, a note in the
student‟s agenda would be of great assistance. While we
are aware that there are always special circumstances, preplanning pick-ups would be a great help to us.
Safety Notice
Please note that children playing in and around storm
sewers and watercourses, entering storm sewers through
the outfalls, and entering storm sewers through access
covers is dangerous and can lead to a fatality. Children
should be made aware that:
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Water flows in storm sewers and watercourses
are unpredictable and may change quickly
Tragic falls could take place
Access is restricted and therefore, rescue
attempts are dangerous.
Parents are asked to remind their children to avoid all
storm sewers and watercourses.
Public Speaking:
Here at St. Brigid School we have a long
tradition of excellence in public speaking. This
year, our annual Public Speaking Contests will
be held during Education Week. Our Intermediate contest
will be held on Tuesday May 7th, and our Junior contest on
Friday May l0th. Both presentations shall commence at
9:15 a.m. in the gymnasium. Please join us for both
competitions; you will undoubtedly be both entertained
and informed by our young speakers!
Chess Tournament
This year‟s Mississauga Brampton Central Family of
Schools Chess Tournament will be held on Tuesday April
23rd at St. Gregory School. St. Brigid is proudly sending 5
students from each division to this tournament. Good luck
to all!
Math Mania
Congratulations to our intermediate Math Mania team who
participated in the Mississauga Brampton Central Family
of Math completion on Thursday March 7 th. The students
displayed their skill and determination in the various
strands of math. Thank you to their coach, Mr. Fitzpatrick.
Pink Day @ St. Brigid
Wednesday, April 10th, 2013 is PINK DAY at St. Brigid!
We are asking once again this year that every student in
the school wear a pink top to show their support against
bullying. Pink Day is celebrated in schools all over
Canada and the United States and was started by students.
The idea began when a boy was teased and picked on for
wearing a pink shirt to school. That night, other students
who saw this happen, called all of their friends, and told
them to wear pink to school the next day. Those students
called all of their friends and the message continued to
spread. The next day, every person wore pink to school –
except the bullies from the day before. The message was
loud and clear – Bullying is not accepted or tolerated!!
We feel the same at St. Brigid and want to show our
support! Please send your child to school on Wednesday,
April 10th, 2013 with a pink top!
Pink Day is an opportunity for students to feel a sense of
empowerment, that their message can be heard and that
their actions can impact others. As Catholics, the St.
Brigid community believes we should show respect and
acceptance to all people, regardless of their differences.
More importantly, we need to recognize all the ways in
which we are the same; one in Christ.
Bullying Prevention Corner
April‟s anti-bullying theme is “If you’re
not part of the solution, you’re part of
the problem.”
Research shows that
bystanders make or break bullying
episodes – they hold the power to stop
bullying. They provide the audience for
students engaged in bullying behaviours.
We can all be part of the solution by using
the 3 R‟s of bullying: recognize that
someone is being bullied, refuse to let the
bully pick on the person, and report the
bullying to an adult.
Tips for parents:
 encourage your children to show
empathy for others who are bullied
(befriend them, include them)
 teach your children to intervene
appropriately or walk away and tell
an adult
 role model being “part of the
solution” when you encounter
difficult situations in your life
Bullying Prevention and Wellness Symposium 2013 for
Parents and Guardians
The Dufferin-Peel CDSB is pleased to announce we will
be hosting a system-wide Bullying Prevention and
Wellness symposium on June 1st, 2013 for parents and
guardians.
This event, open to parents and guardians in the system,
will enable our parents to hear from experts in the field on
ways to assist their children with these difficult challenges.
“Let it begin with me......Empowering Community,
Raising Awareness and Building Partnerships” will be the
focus for the day.
Our keynote address will be Dr. Debra Pepler – leading
expert in the field of Bullying. There will be breakout
sessions for parents through the partnership of our
community partners: Peel Regional Police, Peel Health,
AYSP, Social Work Dept., Psychology Dept., and Rising
Stars Organization. We look forward to a very informative
morning.
The event will take place at St. Francis Xavier S.S.
beginning at 9:00 a.m. (Liturgy and Keynote address),
workshops to follow and the event will be ending at
approximately 12:15 p.m.
Late Arrivals
We continue to have a number of students arriving
at school after the bell has rung. School begins
promptly at 8:50 am. Parents are encouraged to have their
children at school at least five minutes before the bell.
Children who are late must report to the office and sign in.
Students who arrive late for school are missing valuable
learning time. Your cooperation is appreciated.
School Day and School Yard Supervision
Please remember that school yard supervision does not
begin until 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 in the school yard, 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.
Visitors to the School
For safety reasons, we are reminding the school
community that it is Board Policy that all visitors,
including parents, volunteer and former students, must
come in the front door and report to the office and sign in.
Visitors that sign in will receive a St. Brigid Visitor
sticker. Staff and students look for these identification
stickers when they see someone in our halls who they do
not recognize. If someone does not have a visitor sticker,
the office will be notified. If you are picking up your
child, please report to the office and your child will be
brought to you. At no time should parents be roaming the
halls.
IMMUNIZE ON TIME.
REPORT EVERY TIME.
Report All Immunizations Your
Child Receives to Peel Public
Health.
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Online at
www.immunizepeel.ca
Call Peel Public Health
at 905-799-7700
Fax at 905-565-0426
Milk Bags for Haiti
St. Brigid‟s Green Team is continuing to collect Milk Bags
(outer big bag) to take part in a wonderful cause for less
fortunate individuals all over the world. By collecting milk
bags, we are recycling while providing a valuable resource
used to create beautiful sanitary and comfortable sleeping
mats for those in need, in places such as Haiti.
Please ask friends and family to save their bags for this
great cause. Also, please ensure that the bags are clean
and flattened. The Green Team looks forward to working
with everyone for this great cause!
Parents are also requested to remain outside the school
yard during school hours. Remember – to your child you
are the parent…to the other students you are a stranger.
We want our school to be a safe environment for all and
your support in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Safety Drills
Throughout the year, students and staff participate in fire
and lockdown practices. During these drills students are
instructed on specific procedures to follow. Fire and
Lockdown practices ensure that students are aware of
procedures should an actual emergency occur. These drills
help to ensure the safety of all students, staff, parents and
community members that may be visiting the school.
Twitter
DPCDSB is now on Twitter! For the latest
board news and information, follow us
@DPCDSBSchools.
Welcome to Kindergarten
All new junior kindergarten students that will be attending
St. Brigid School in September are invited to join us (along
with their parents) in our Welcome to Kindergarten
evening, on Thursday May 9th, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Welcome to Kindergarten is an orientation program, where
families participate in activities that will help junior
kindergarten students prepare for school.
Lost And Found
Our Lost and Found Box is filling up quickly.
Please have your child check the lost and found
box for any items that may have been
misplaced.
Please note that April 1st is
Easter Monday and that all
Direction of school support has long been an issue for
Catholic school boards in Ontario. The fact is that, unless
the municipality is notified, the school support designation,
for assessment purposes, automatically defaults to public
school support when an individual or family moves to a
new address. This may have an impact on students‟
eligibility to attend Catholic elementary schools, trustee
representation on school boards, and on government
perception of support for Catholic education.
If you would like more information on school support
designation or would like us to help you check or change
your school support designation to the Catholic system,
please call us at (905) 890-0708, ext. 24512.
DRESS CODE
With the warmer weather upon us, we
remind students that St. Brigid School is
committed to standards of neatness, modesty
and good taste. Students are encouraged to
dress modestly at school. We ask that
students not wear: tank tops, muscle shirts, halter-tops,
short tops or short shorts. Furthermore, we remind
students that pants are to be worn around the waist. These
requests are directed more towards our junior and
intermediate students. A little more latitude is given to
younger students. T-shirts with inappropriate or offensive
language or pictures are not allowed at school. Students
who wear unacceptable clothing to school may be asked to
telephone their parents to arrange to have a change of
clothing brought to school for them. We thank parents and
students for cooperation.
Safety First
With the nicer weather approaching, we want to remind
parents that pets are not allowed on school grounds during
the school day. We realize that children want to see their
pets after a long day at school, but it would be greatly
appreciated if you would leave your pets at home when
you come to pick up your child. Dismissal time is always
a busy time, with busses being loaded and parents picking
up their children. The presence of a pet could cause
students to surround it and this could lead to unnecessary
stress on the pet. Dogs especially could be aroused with
the extra attention that student provide and could bark,
jump and at times, even bite.
schools will be closed.
Dates to Remember:
Apr. 1
Apr. 3
Easter Monday
HPV & Hep. B. Vaccines
Lunch Moms
Apr. 5 Easter Mass
Apr. 10 Lunch Moms
Pink Day
Apr. 15 Catholic School Council Mtg. – 6:00 pm.
Apr. 16 Family Photo Day
Apr. 17 Lunch Moms
Junior Achievement – Gr. 7
Apr. 18 Junior Girls Basketball Tournament
St. Augustine S.S. visit Gr. 7‟s
Apr. 19 First Communion Retreat @ St. Jerome Church
Apr. 22 Peel Police Presentations
Apr. 23 Chess Competition @ St. Gregory
Apr. 24 Lunch Moms
Apr. 25 Junior Boys Basketball Tournament
Apr. 26 Pizza Day
Apr. 28 First Communion @ St. Jerome – 12:00
Apr. 30 Mr. Sub Day
May 1 Lunch Moms
St. Brigid Night at Swiss Chalet
May 2 Peel Police Presentations
May 5-10 Catholic Education Week
May 6 Catholic School Council Mtg. – 6:00 pm.
Garth Buckley of Peel Children‟s Centre
Presentation - 7:00 pm.
May 7 Intermediate Speech Competition
May 8 Lunch Moms
May 9 Welcome to Kindergarten – 6:30 pm.
May 10 Junior Speech Competition
May 12 Mother‟s Day
May 13 P.A. Day
May 15 Lunch Moms
May 20 Victoria Day
May 21 Confirmation – 7:00 pm. @ St. Jerome
May 22 Lunch Moms
May 24 Pizza Day
May 27 EQAO
to June 7
May 28 Mr. Sub Day
May 29 Lunch Moms