ST. BRIGID CATHOLIC SCHOOL
“Live
November
2014
Newsletter
L.Papaloni…........Superintendent
905-890-1221
A. DaSilva…. ………..…Trustee
416 -709 -5679
V. Pugliese ……………Principal
C. Bianchi ……….........Secretary
L. Clark ... School Council Chair
PARISH
St. Jerome
8530 Chinguacousy Road
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 5G4
Tel: 905-455-4260
Fax: 905-450-6326
Pastor
Fr. J. Kolodynski
School Hours
Start:
Recess:
Lunch:
Recess :
Dismissal:
8:50
11:00 – 11:15
11:55 – 12:55
2:20 – 2:35
3:20
Love
Learn
Light”
A Prayer for Peace
Lord Jesus,
You said to your disciples,
“I leave you peace,
my peace I give to you.”
You know how much the world needs your peace.
Yet in so many places there is only conflict and war.
Bring peace into the world
by bringing Your peace
into the hearts of all.
Fill us with the fire of Your love
and the desire to ensure justice for all.
Teach us to love our enemies,
and to do good to those who hate,
to bless those who curse us,
and to pray for those who abuse us.
Lord, through the power of your Holy Spirit,
help us to turn away from sin
and to see You in the face of others.
As we remember the souls of those
who have passed from this earth
we pray for the victims of violence and war.
For those wounded in body
and for those wounded in spirit.
We pray in Your Holy name.
Amen
Professional Activity Day
Please note that Friday November 14th, 2014 is a Professional Activity Day. There
will be no school for the students on that day.
Principal’s Message
November is the month of Remembrance. For
Catholics this is a special time of year, as we are
reminded of the importance of the Solemnity of All
Saints Day and the Feast All Souls Day.
All Saints Day, celebrated on November 1st, reminds our
community of those men and women (both known and unknown)
who have lived faithful lives in the Church. On this day we
remember our saints in our prayers and ask for their prayers and
intercessions. The historical roots of this celebration dates back
to those martyrs who died in the early Church. Later in 837 A.D.,
Pope Gregory IV declared this day to be the date we remember
all who lived and died for their faith.
All Souls Day, November 2nd, is a Roman Catholic day of
remembrance for friends and loved ones who have passed away.
The day purposely follows All Saints Day in order to shift the
focus from those in heaven to those in purgatory. It is celebrated
with masses and prayers in honour of the dead. While the
Solemnity of All Saints is a day to remember the glories of
Heaven and those there, the Feast of All Souls reminds us of our
obligations to live holy lives and that there will be purification
of the souls of those destined for Heaven.
On November 11th, Canadians all across the country stop and
honour those who have served their country, at home or overseas,
in World War I, World War II, Korea and in all peace missions
all around the world. Memorial services pay tribute to the more
than 100,000 brave Canadians who were killed in the service of
their country. The World War I Armistice was signed on the
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. As such, we stop
and remember on the 11th hour of November 11th.
These three pivotal events help remind us as a Catholic school
system of the importance of the celebration of our faith, and
prepare us for the end of the liturgical year and the celebration
of Advent, the beginning of our new liturgical year.
V. Pugliese
Remembrance Day
November 11th is Remembrance Day:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
On November 11th, every year, we honour those who have paid
the ultimate price to secure our many rights and freedoms. This
year marks the hundredth anniversary of the start of the First
World War. The World War One Armistice was signed on the
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. We remember those
who gave up their lives and their innocence so that we could live
in peace. Please join us on November 11th, as we gather at l0:45
as a school community in our gymnasium, to pay tribute through
prayerful reflection, readings, and video submissions to those
who went to war and never came back. Lest We Forget. We will
remember them.
Advent Mass
We will be celebrating our Advent Mass on Thursday December
18th, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Jerome Church. All students will be
bussed to the church. Please join our students and staff, as Father
Jan Kolodynski celebrates the Eucharist and gives thanks to God
for his many blessings, in preparation for the Christmas season.
Elementary Progress Reports
Elementary Progress Reports will be sent home on Tuesday
November 11th. The Elementary Progress Report is designed to
show a student’s development of learning skills and work habits
during the fall of this school year, as well as a student’s general
progress in working towards the achievement of curriculum
expectations in all subjects.
Please be aware, the Progress Report is not a formal Report
Card. Students will not be receiving letter grades indicating
achievement of overall expectations. As a result, an interview
with parents is not mandatory during the Progress Report period.
Interviews will take place on the evening of Thursday November
13th.
First term report cards will be sent home on February 3rd and first
term interviews will take place on February 5th and 6th. It is
expected that all students will be participating in the interview
process at that point.
Operation Christmas Child
Once again as the Christmas season slowly approaches we are
getting into the spirit of giving. Last year we filled 70 Shoebox
Gifts for Operation Christmas Child. It is a fun and simple
hands-on project of Samaritan’s Purse that brings joy and hope
to children in desperate situations worldwide through gift-filled
shoeboxes. We hope that many underprivileged children will
have a gift to open and a smile on their face because we are once
again choosing to share God’s love. Each class will choose to
give their gift to a boy or a girl, the child’s age category and then
students can bring in small items (school supplies, hygiene items,
small toys) to fill a shoebox. The project will need to be
completed by November 18, 2014 in order for the gifts to be
delivered in time for Christmas to these needy children in
orphanages and war-torn countries in over 130 countries
worldwide. Your support in Operation Christmas Child will be
greatly appreciated, making an eternal impact in the lives of
these children. Thank You!!
Full-Day Kindergarten Registration for
2015-16
Registration for Full-Day Kindergarten for the
2015-16 school year, will take place at St. Brigid on the
following days:
Monday, January 26, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.*
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 29, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and
from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday, January 30, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and
from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
* Snow Date:
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
For more information about registration and the Full-Day
Kindergarten program, call St. Brigid School or visit
www.dpcdsb.org.
Catholic School Council News
Please join us at our next Catholic School Council meeting on
Monday November 17th, at 7:00 p.m. We encourage parents to
attend our School Council meetings and become actively
involved in the school community. Your input is greatly
welcomed and appreciated.
Chocolate Bar Fundraiser
We would like to thank our Catholic School Council
Fundraising Committee, for all their hard work in
organizing the chocolate bar fundraiser. Committee
members were at the school many hours, volunteering
to organize the fundraiser, distribute chocolates, and count
money. Their hard work is truly appreciated. We also want to
thank our students and their parents for supporting our
fundraiser.
Picture Retake Day
Pictures retakes will take place on Thursday, November 6th. If
your child was not at school on Picture Day, they will have their
individual pictures taken on November 6th. Also, if you
were not satisfied with the pictures taken on Picture
Day, you may have your child’s pictures retaken.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
On behalf of St. Brigid School, we would like to
extend a sincere thank you to the many families that
very generously donated non-perishable food items
for our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Through your
generosity many families in our community were able to enjoy a
Thanksgiving meal without worrying about how to put food on
the table. Your donations were truly appreciated by the St.
Louise Outreach Centre. We would also like to thank our
Diversity Team for organizing the food drive. St. Brigid School
is a very giving, caring community, of which we should all be
proud!
Staffing Updates
We want to welcome Mr. R. Meana to St. Brigid. Mr. Meana is
our new head custodian and will be replacing Mr. Ford, who
retired at the end of October. Mr. Meana comes to our school
with years of experience. His enthusiasm and professionalism
will be a wonderful addition to our school
St. Brigid Spirit Wear
In November, St. Brigid School will be offering parents and
students, school crested spirit wear for purchase. A variety of
items will be available, such as T-shirts, full zip hooded sweat
tops, shorts, sweat pants, baseball caps and toques. All items are
made of quality materials and are very reasonably priced. Some
of the items will be in the display case, by the school office.
2. AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR
WHO:
 Listens actively and critically to
understand and learn in light of
gospel values.
 Reads, understands and uses
written materials effectively.
 Presents information and ideas
clearly and honestly and with
sensitivity to others.
 Writes and speaks fluently one or
both of Canada's official languages.
 Uses and integrates the Catholic
faith tradition, in the critical
analysis of the arts, media,
technology and information
systems to enhance the quality of
life.
St. Jerome Refugee Program
We would like to thank the parents and students that supported
the St. Jerome Refugee Program by donating to our Halloween
Dance. All donations will be sent to Father Jan at St. Jerome’s
to help support the Nebra family, who are currently living in a
Refugee camp. We would also like to thank our
Catholic School Council, who is also supporting the
Refugee Program.
Twitter
DPCDSB is now on Twitter! For the latest board news and
information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools.
SCHOOL WEBSITE
Check out our school web
site. Access the site
through the School
Board’s website at
http://www.dpcdsb.org/ce
c
Athletic wear is a great way to show school pride and team spirit.
Extended French Information Meeting
Grade 4 parent(s)/guardian(s), who wish to enroll their child in a
Grade 5 Extended French class for September, 2015 are invited
to attend an information meeting at:
School: St. Monica School
Address: 60 Sterritt Dr.
Brampton, L6Y 5B6
Date:
Wednesday January 14, 2015
Time:
7:00 pm.
At the present time, the above mentioned school is the designated
centre for our area. Applications will be accepted at that centre
until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 17th, 2015.
French Immersion Information Meeting
Year 2 Kindergarten parent(s)/guardian(s), who wish to enroll
their child in a Grade 1 French Immersion class for September,
2015 are invited to attend an information meeting at:
French Immersion
Sites
Our Lady of
Providence
St. Angela Merici
St. Joachim
Meeting Location
Date and Time
Our Lady of
Providence
Tuesday
November 25th
7:00 p.m.
St. Gertrude
St. Pio of
Pietrelcina
St. Gertrude
Wednesday
November 26th
7:00 p.m.
St. Margaret of
Scotland
Divine Mercy
St. Elizabeth
Seton
St. Margaret of
Scotland
Thursday
November 27th
7:00 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
VERIFICATION
905-454-0316 & PRESS 1
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
On Tuesday December 16th, Santa Claus will be
visiting St. Brigid School.
Students from
Kindergarten to Grade 8 will be spending some
quality time with Santa. Santa will be telling stories, singing
songs and playing games with our students. Please note, there
will be photo opportunities for students in Junior and Senior
Kindergarten.
Winter Weather Reminders
Our winter season is fast approaching! Please assist us
in encouraging your children to dress appropriately for
the cold weather. We want our students to feel
comfortable outdoors and not get chilled because of
inappropriate winter dress. Except under unusual
conditions, students will go outside during recess and
lunch hour. The outdoor break allows for fresh air and
exercise. Health officials indicate that the fresh air is
good for children...not harmful, as long as students are
dressed properly. Please listen to weather reports and
ensure that children are dressed appropriately for
the weather.
Unfortunately, some of our children do come to school
feeling sick and with fevers. We do not have the facilities to care
for sick children and sick children are not capable of
concentrating on learning. Therefore, if your child complains of
a sore stomach, sore throat or aches and pains, please do not send
him/her to school. It is harmful to the health of your child and
the rest of the school population. All children who come to
school are expected to participate in outdoor recreation at
recesses. Generally speaking, if a child is well enough to come
to school he/she is well enough to go outside at recesses and
lunch hour.
For our younger students, it would be helpful if parents were to
label items of clothing with their child’s name, so that each
person can more easily locate his/her own clothing from the class
coat rack area. Each term many items make their way to the
“Lost and Found” bin and are never claimed. Labelled items can
be returned more easily and mixed up items sorted out more
readily. If your child brings home any clothing item by mistake,
please return it to the school so that this mix up
may be corrected.
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.
Cold and Flu Season
As cold and flu season approaches, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School Board continues to be vigilant in ensuring that
our schools are clean and that our school communities are
educated regarding good hand hygiene and cough
etiquette. These practices are promoted on an ongoing basis, but
as the prevalence of colds and flu increases, our board increases
the cleaning of contact surfaces, as well as reminds schools to
review cold and flu prevention with students and staff. Many
resources are utilized from our regional health units.
A reminder, as well, that communicable diseases can be
contracted in public places throughout the year. For example,
cold-related viruses, such as Enterovirus, are transferred from
person to person through hand contact. Cold and flu viruses
typically peak from December through February, but can start as
early as October. Please assist us by reviewing good hand
washing procedures, as well as other preventative measures, as
outlined in the various Peel Health resources available to you
through their websites. As always, children who are unwell,
should be kept at home. Also available on the Peel Health
websites are the schedules of local Flu Clinics.
For more information, visit the health unit websites: Peel Health
website: http://www.peelregion.ca/health. Direct links to the
above information can be found in the Parent Section of the
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board website at
www.dpcdsb.org.
Weather Cancellations
There may be days during the upcoming winter months when
inclement weather presents a potential safety hazard. It is
essential that parents discuss with their children the procedures
they wish them to take to get home safely. This discussion
should include: where should the child go, if parents are not
home.
Please be advised that during the winter months, inclement
weather may cause disruption of bus transportation and regular
school operations. A decision to cancel school transportation
and/or to close schools is usually made by 6:00 am. If buses are
cancelled in the morning, they will not operate in the afternoon.
Therefore students transported to school by parents require the
same transportation home. Parents/guardians are asked to
monitor the following radio/television to receive bus
cancellation/school closure information:
CHUM AM1050
CFRB AM1010
CFTR AM680
CBC FM99.1
VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9
CHIN FM100.7/AM1540
CFNY FM102.1/AM640
CTV
You
FM93.1
FM Z103.5
FM97.3
EZ ROCK
AM860
CJBC (FR)
CJCL AM590
CHFI FM98.1
CANADA AM
GLOBAL NEWS
CITYPULSE
may
go
to
www.stopr.ca for daily
bus
cancellations
delays.
or
ATTENTION PARENTS OF GRADE 8
STUDENTS!
Parents of current Grade 8 students are invited to
the St. Augustine Grade 9 Information Night, on
Wednesday November 19th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
This evening is planned for those students
interested in attending Grade 9 in the fall of 2015.
Parents of current grade 8 students will have the
opportunity to visit and tour St. Augustine, and
learn about their programs. In the forum, course
offerings, academic levels, athletics, academic
support, daily schedule, school bussing and
summer camp will be discussed.
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.
Junior Volleyball
Congratulations to both the junior girls and boys
volleyball teams. Both teams participated in the
Family mini tournament. With the girls finishing third and the
boys winning the tournament. The boy’s team then moved on to
the Family tournament, where they finished third. The teams
worked hard throughout the season and continued to develop
their skill levels. They represented St. Brigid School with pride
and dignity. Their coaches, Mrs. Serrentino, Mrs. Di Vito, Mrs.
Albi and Mrs. Murray were proud of their athleticism and their
dedication to the team.
Thank you to all our coaches for their hard work and their
willingness to give up so much of their time for the students of
the school.
Cross Country
Congratulations to the St. Brigid Cross Country
team, who participated in the Mississauga Brampton Central
Cross Country meet at Terry Fox Stadium on October 24 th. The
team consisted of 16 boys and girls from grades 5, 6, 7 and 8.
The team showed great determination and skill, which resulted
in 3 members advancing to the Board finals. The Board Cross
Country meet took place on October 30th at Centennial Park.
While the team did not place, they represented St. Brigid School
with great pride. Thank you to the entire team and to the
coaches, Ms. Serrentino, Ms. Middleton and Ms. van Stokkum.
End of the Day Parking
Dismissal time is a very busy time of day and the
safety of our students must be our number one
priority. As such, please be aware that at the end
of the school day pylons are placed at the entrance of the school
driveway. This is done to prevent vehicles from driving on
school grounds while students are exiting the school grounds.
The gates at the parking lot are also closed at this time, and will
not be opened until our students and busses have left school
grounds. If you are parked in the parking lot, we ask that you
respect our policy and wait until our gates are opened by a staff
supervisor. Also, please be aware that our drive way is one way,
with the entrance at the east end of the school. Please do not
enter the school grounds through the exit drive at the west end.
We thank you for your cooperation.
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.
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.
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 of the school.
STOP
Child(ren) must exit your vehicle by the right hand side
door(s) only
Drive to the end of the Kiss ‘N Ride lane and cautiously
proceed into the Drive-Thru lane once all children have
left your vehicle
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 or on the street.
Dates to Remember
Nov. 4
It’s Hearing and Vision Screening time!!!
School Screening Association will be visiting our school this
year on Thursday December 11th to conduct their clinic
Your child’s hearing and vision should be screened every year
Growing children are very susceptible to middle ear
problems and one of the best ways to prevent hearing
loss is early detection of middle ear function issues.
A visit to an audiologist costs upwards of $50.00 and is
not covered by O.H.I.P. However, if your child is
referred to a hospital clinic by your doctor, the cost is
covered by O.H.I.P.
Your child’s hearing is not being monitored unless they
are being seen by an Audiologist or and E.N.T.
A Free vision screeing is included with the Hearing
Clinic. Eye Examinations are covered by OHIP.
Nov. 5
Nov. 6
Nov. 7
Nov. 10
Nov. 11
Nov. 12
Nov. 13
Nov. 14
Nov. 17
Nov. 18
A fee of $15.00 is collected to help offset the cost of
bringing this clinic to our school
A permission form will be sent home with your child,
approximately 2 weeks before the clinic date. Please fill out the
form, include $15.00 fee and return to the school prior to the
clinic date.
Nov. 19
Nov. 20
Nov. 21
Good Grades start with Good Hearing and Vision
Nov. 23
ECO SCHOOL NEWS
Congratulations to the St Brigid EcoSchool Green
Team of 2013-2014, we received GOLD for our
Ontario EcoSchool certification. The staff and
students were committed to become a certified
Ontario EcoSchool and will continue this year to
reduce our ecological footprint by teaching and
practicing ecological responsibility.
As our
Director, John Kostoff wrote, "Stewardship of
God's Creation is an important tenet of our Faith."
Thank you for your continued support,
The Green Team.
Nov. 26
Nov. 27
Nov. 28
Nov. 30
Dec. 2
Dec. 3
Dec. 4
Dec. 7
Dec. 10
Dec. 11
Dec. 12
Dec. 16
Dec. 18
Dec. 19
Dec. 24
Dec. 25
Dec. 31
Mr. Sub Day
Golf – Gr. 7 & 8
Confirmation Mtg. for Parent @ St. Jerome
Church – 7:30 pm.
Lunch Moms
Picture Retake Day
Rosary Apostolates
Harvest Clean Up
Lunch Mom Orders Due
Harvest Clean Up – Rain Date
Remembrance Day Assembly
Virtue Assembly
Progress Reports sent home
Lunch Moms
St. Augustine visits Gr. 8’s
3R’s Workshop
PALS Training
Golf – Gr. 7 & 8
Interview Evening
P.A. Day
Catholic School Council Mtg. – 7:00 pm.
Spirit Wear Orders Due
Mr. Sub Day
Spirit Wear Sizing Day
Operation Christmas Child Ends
Water Conservation presentation – FDK to Gr. 8
Lunch Moms
St. Augustine Gr. 8 Information Night
Intermediate Boys Volleyball Mini Tournament
@ Our Lady of Peace
Pizza Day
Intermediate Girls Volleyball Mini Tournament
@ St. Monica
Deadline to Register for First Communion or
Confirmation
Lunch Moms
Intermediate Girls Volleyball Family Finals @
St. Gertrude
Intermediate Boys Volleyball Family Finals @
Pauline Vanier
First Sunday of Advent
Mr. Sub Day
Lunch Moms
Rosary Apostolates
Catholic School Council Mtg. – 7:00 pm.
Lunch Moms
Hearing and Vision Screening
Pizza Day
Santa Claus visits St. Brigid
Mr. Sub Day
Advent Mass @ St. Jerome Church – 10:00 am.
HPV & Hep. B vaccines
Last Day of Classes
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve