ST. BRIGID CATHOLIC SCHOOL
“Live
May
2015
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”
Immaculate Mary,
Mother of Jesus and our Mother,
we believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven
where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen.
We join them in praising you
and bless the Lord
who raised you above all creatures.
With them we offer you our devotion and love.
O most loving Virgin Mary,
never was it known
that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help,
or sought your intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
we turn to you, O Mother of mothers,
our Mother.
To you we come,
before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
do not despise our petitions,
but in your mercy hear us and answer us.
Amen.
Message from the Principal
We are now well into the spring season. The long winter
is over and the days are growing warmer. Birds have
returned from the south and there is a sense of awakening
all around us. We have entered into May. May, the month we
celebrate all mothers.
Since the 13th century, the Catholic Church has dedicated the
month of May to the honour of Mary. It is a time of special
prayer and devotion to the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of Jesus.
In Mary, we are provided with a model of grace, modesty and
devotion to God. She is an example of the complete acceptance
of God’s will. Her faith never wavered throughout Jesus' life,
even while watching Him die on the cross when most of the
Apostles ran away.
May provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the importance
of Mary in the life of the Church and in how we are called to give
God a response of faithfulness and stewardship in our own daily
lives. We do not worship Mary, we worship God. When we
honour Mary we are honouring God, by remembering the role of
Mary in the beginning of our salvation. Devotion to Mary
always leads to Jesus Christ! In the hustle and bustle of our busy
lives, we take time this month to pray the rosary, to
pray some of the beautiful Marian prayers, to ask
Mary to intercede on our behalf and to spend a little
time in her company.
Sacraments
First Communion
We wish to congratulate our students who received the
Sacrament of First Communion. This is an important step in the
lives of our children and should be celebrated. As a Faith
Community we rejoice. We celebrate and we acknowledge them
and those who have devoted their time and efforts in supporting
our students along the way. The list includes teachers, parents,
volunteers and the parish team who worked hard in
preparing our students for this sacrament. We wish
to extend a special thank you to Father Jan.
Confirmation
Confirmation for grade 8 students at St. Brigid School will take
place on Thursday May 21st, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Jerome Church.
We ask that you keep them in your prayers. If you have any
questions regarding your child’s sacraments, please
contact the church office at (905) 455-4260.
Baptism for Children in School
Baptism is the first Sacrament of Initiation and it is the sacrament
that prepares us to celebrate First Communion and Confirmation.
If your child is not baptized or if your child was baptized in
another Christian Church (Anglican, Lutheran, etc.) and you
would like your child to be a member of the Catholic Church
please call St. Jerome Parish office at 905-455-4260.
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 25th to June 5th. 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.
Full-Day Kindergarten Registration for 2015-16
We are now accepting registrations for Full-Day Kindergarten
and Grades 1 to 8, for the 2015-16 school year. The following
documents are required for registration:
Proof of age of the child (birth certificate or passport)
Original Roman Catholic Baptismal Certificate or
Baptismal Certificate from an Eastern Church in full
communion with the Holy See of Rome. If the child has
not been baptized, then the Baptismal Certificate of a
parent is required.
Updated immunization records
Proof of Canadian Citizenship (birth certificate, passport,
permanent resident status)
Proof of home address (any 2 of the following: Property
tax bill, current utility bill, real estate document or
Government of Canada issued forms)
Please call the school at 905-454-0316 if you require any further
information
Are You Moving?
As noted previously, we will soon begin the process of planning
classes and staffing for the 2015/2016 school year. If you are
planning to move anytime between now and
September 2015, 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, yearto-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.
SCHOOL WEBSITE
Check out our school web
site. Access the site
through the School
Board’s website at
http://www.dpcdsb.org/ce
c
Each year the Catholic community of Ontario engages in a weeklong celebration of the unique identity and distinctive
contributions of Catholic education during Catholic Education
Week. Pope Francis continually reminds us in word and in
action that, in imitation of Jesus, we are called to service in our
work in Catholic education. This year’s celebration entitled
“Catholic Education: Exploring Paths of Joy” is scheduled for
the week of May 3 – May 8, 2015. The scriptural passage that
guides our theme is: “Were not our hearts burning within us
while He was talking to us on the road?” Luke 24:32
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 2015 in our schools.
End of the Year Mass
Please join the St. Brigid community as we celebrate
our End of the Year Mass on Thursday June 11th.
Please note that we will be celebrating our end of the
school year mass at St. Jerome Church, starting at 10:00. This is
an opportunity to give thanks for all of God’s graces that we have
received throughout the school year. We are looking forward to
seeing many of our community parents, as we come together and
celebrate the Eucharist. Thank you to all of the teachers and
students who have prepared our liturgical celebrations this year.
Please note that our Catholic School Council will be providing a
hot dog lunch for our students once they return to the school.
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:



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.
St. Brigid Catholic School Council News
Our Catholic School Council shares your ideas and suggestions
with the school and supports ways to enhance the educational
experience of our students. The Council also contributes to the
fundraising efforts in the school and helps to organize volunteers
for various events and activities. Our next Catholic School
Council meeting has been scheduled for Monday May 25th at
7:00 p.m. 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.
Our Fun Fit Family Night Boot Camp with “The Studio” with
dance artist, Julia on April 15th was full of energetic dancers from
our school! Students and (some parents that participated) learned
new moves for the modern day music! Many thanks goes out to
our volunteers that helped to make this a successful night!
There’s one more Family Fit Night. This time students and
parents will be learning Karate! Our Karate Night will take place
on Tuesday, May 26th 2015 – 6:30p -8pm with Shodan Shotokan
Karate.
As we go into the month of May with our Virtue of Acceptance
let us realize that you can make a difference! As Parents, we play
a vital role in our children’s learning and understanding of
acceptance in life. Your getting involved will have a great
impact in accomplishing our goals together as a School Council.
Victoria Day
Just a reminder that Monday, May 18th is
Victoria Day. This is a holiday and therefore
the school will be closed. We wish all our
students and their families a safe and relaxing
long weekend.
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
their cooperation.
The image of the learner, as described in the
Catholic Graduate Expectations was developed
by the Institute for Catholic Education in
consultation with representatives of the
Catholic community across Ontario. The life
roles, knowledge, skills and attitudes outlined
in The Catholic Graduate Expectations describe
the distinctive expectations that the Catholic
community has for graduates of Catholic
secondary schools. These expectations are
based on research which identified current and
future educational goals and priorities across
the province and enhance the expectations of
the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training
as outlined in provincial curriculum documents.
For more information, visit the Institute for
Catholic Education website.
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.
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.
Go to www.stopr.ca for
daily bus cancellations or
delays.
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 14th, 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. Please note that activities are only for our
new Junior Kindergarten students.
The Wizard of Oz
We are in the home stretch in our preparations for our Musical,
“The Wizard of Oz.” The many students and teachers have been
working hard and are excited in anticipation of the performances.
The musical will be performed on Wednesday May 6 th and
Thursday May 7th at 7:00 p.m. in our school gymnasium. These
shows are for the entire St. Brigid Community. Come out and
support our students and enjoy an evening of fun and music.
Some tickets are still available. Please note that tickets are not
numbered and there are no reserved seats. Tickets are only $5.00
each! Snacks will be sold prior to the performance and during
intermission.
Public Speaking Contests
In April we held our annual Intermediate and Junior
Public Speaking contests. As usual, the speeches were
varied, insightful, educational and entertaining. Our students did
not disappoint! Congratulations to all our contestants. We are
extremely proud of them! Thank you to our judges, timekeepers
and our set up crew. A special thank you to our Catholic School
Council for supporting this endeavor and to Mrs. Turner for
organizing both contests. A job well done by all!
Sir John A. MacDonald – 200th Anniversary
On April 14th, St. Brigid School was proud to send Noel to
represent us in the board's speech contest initiative. The purpose
of this contest was to acknowledge the bicentenary of Sir John
A. MacDonald's birth. Dozens of students demonstrated their
understanding of and appreciation for our first Prime Minister's
contributions and legacy through prepared speeches and spoken
word presentations. Noel's creative speech was entitled "Sir
John A and me." Congratulations on an excellent effort!
Chess Tournament
Congratulations to our school Chess Team who participated in
the Mississauga Brampton Central Family of Chess competition
on Wednesday April 8th at St. Gertrude School in Mississauga.
The students displayed excellent skill and determination
throughout the competition. Thank you to their coaches, Miss
van Stokkkum, Miss Da Costa and Mr. Dye.
Earth Day
On April 22, 2015, St. Brigid celebrated Earth Day by pledging
to make a difference in the World. Throughout the week students
were encouraged to think about what they can do for the Earth.
On Earth Day, our students made history by signing St. Brigid’s
portion of the Earth Day Flag that will be going to Paris, France
for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. This flag
will represent Canada’s commitment, but more importantly, the
St. Brigid community’s commitment, to making the Earth a
cleaner, greener place today and for future generations. A
special thank you to the St. Brigid Catholic School Council for
making a donation on our behalf to the Earth Day Canada Flag
campaign. For further information on the event please visit:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/04/22/earth-day-incanada_n_7119378.html.
Professional Activity Day
Please note that Monday May 11th, 2015 is a
Professional Activity Day. There will be no school
for the students on that day.
Reading to Make a Difference
Mrs. Murray’s and Mrs. Carr’s Grade 3 class participated in the
Scholastic Classroom Care Program and read 100 books. Due to
their efforts Scholastic donated books to children in need
throughout Canada. Their act of kindness helped empower our
students to make a difference in the lives of other children. Thank
you Grade 3’s for helping other children to enjoy the love of
reading.
Intermediate Basketball
Congratulations to both the girls and boys
Intermediate Basketball teams. The boys team finished second
in the family mini tournament, while the girls team finished first
in the family mini tournament. Both teams moved on to compete
in the Mississauga Brampton Central Family of Schools
tournament. At the Family finals the both teams played well and
displayed true St. Brigid spirit. The boys team advanced to the
tournament finals, only to lose out. Both teams played with
determination and displaying great skill. They represented St.
Brigid School with great pride and displayed true sportsmanship.
Congratulations to the boys and their coaches, Mr. Fitzpatrick,
and to the girls and their coaches, Ms. Duliunas and Mrs.
Balchand. Thank you to all the parents who supported our team
throughout the season.
GRADE 8 GRADUATION
The grade 8 graduation will take place on Tuesday June 23 rd at
7:00 p.m. in the school gym. A luncheon for the graduates will
take place on Thursday June 25th, at the Mandarin.
Further information will be sent home to graduate
parents as the date approaches.
Safety First when dropping students off at school
The safety of all children and staff must be considered as
paramount at all times when dropping students off at school. The
number of serious incidents related to traffic circulation at the
front of the school and in the Kiss and Ride area during morning
arrival and afternoon dismissal has risen. These incidents include
vehicles entering the site in the wrong direction, parking and
pulling out of no parking zones, parking in bus lanes, to name a
few.
It is imperative that all parents and guardians who drive their
children to school adhere to the traffic circulation plan and
comply with the traffic and parking signage on the site. It is
equally imperative that all drivers follow the direction of staff
managing the traffic circulation on the school site.
Parking Enforcement
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. Parents should remain in their vehicles while in the
Kiss ‘N’ Ride lane.
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.
ATTENDANCE
VERIFICATION
905-454-0316 PRESS 1
ALLEGATION OF SEXUAL ABUSE REGARDING THE
LATE FR. JAMES (JIM) ROTH, OSFS
Information regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor
related to the late Fr. James (Jim) Roth, OSFS, is posted on the
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s main webpage at
www.dpcdsb.org. Additional information, including where to
report abuse or suspected abuse, is also posted on the website of
Father Roth’s religious order, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales,
at www.tdprovince.org and the Archdiocese of Toronto at
www.archtoronto.org. Please consult these sources as
appropriate.
Dates to Remember
May 1
May 3 - 9
May 5
May 6
May 7
May 8
May 10
May 11
May 13
May 14
May 18
May 19
May 20
May 21
May 22
May 25
May 26
May 27
May 29
June 2
June 3
June 5
June 8
June 9
June 10
June 11
June 15
June 16
June 17
June 19
June 22
June 23
June 24
June 25
June 26
Diversity Conference
Catholic Education Week
Mr. Sub Lunch
Lunch Moms
Wizard of Oz Performance – 7:00 pm.
Wizard of Oz Performance – 7:00 pm.
Confirmation Retreat
Pizza Day
Mother’s Day
Professional Activity Day
Lunch Moms
Welcome to Kindergarten Evening – 6:30
Victoria Day
Confirmation Practice @ St. Jerome
Mr. Sub Lunch
Lunch Moms
Operation Christmas Child Presentation
Crowning of Mary
Confirmation – 7:00 pm @ St. Jerome
Peel Children’s Water Festival – Gr. 2 & 3
EQAO Begins
Catholic School Council Mtg. – 7:00 pm.
Family Fun Night – 6:30 pm.
Lunch Moms
Pizza Day
Mr. Sub Lunch
Lunch Moms
The Ned Show Assembly
Professional Activity Day
Blue Spruce Presentation
Lunch Moms
End of the Year Mass – 10:00 @ St. Jerome
Church
End of the Year BBQ
Catholic School Council Meeting – 7:00 pm.
Mr. Sub Lunch
Lunch Moms
End of the Year Kindergarten Celebration
Pizza Day
Fire Fighters and Police presentation –
Kindergarten
Grade 8 Graduation
Mr. Sub Lunch
Report Cards Sent Home
Lunch Moms
Grade 8 Graduation Luncheon @ The
Mandarin
Last day of classes