ST. BRIGID CATHOLIC SCHOOL
“Live
Love
Learn
Light”
May
2016
Newsletter
L.Papaloni…........Superintendent
905-890-1221
A. DaSilva…. ………..…Trustee
416 -709 -5679
V. Pugliese ……………Principal
C. Rice ....……….........Secretary
C. Mexner - 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
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 our
students 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 7 and 8 students at St. Brigid School will
take place on Thursday May 26th, 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 8th. 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 2016 - 17
We are now accepting registrations for Full-Day Kindergarten
and Grades 1 to 8, for the 2016-17 school year. The following
documents are required for registration:
Proof of age of the child (birth certificate or passport)
Original Roman Catholic Baptismal Certificate of child or
Baptismal Certificate from an Eastern Church in full
communion with the Holy See of Rome. If the child has
not been Baptised, 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 (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?
We will soon begin the process of planning classes
and staffing for the 2016/2017 school year. If you
are planning to move anytime between now and September
2016, 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. Catholic Education Week will be celebrated from May 1st
to May 6th, 2016. Pope Francis has declared 2016 a “Holy Year
of Mercy” as a way for the Catholic Church to “make more
evident its mission to be a witness of mercy”. Catholic
Education Week 2016, combines both the theme of mercy and
the act of opening doors of reconciliation, mercy, and
forgiveness to all around us. Catholic Education: Opening Doors
of Mercy
The sub-themes for Catholic Education Week 2016 are as
follows:
Monday: Mercy that Welcomes – (Jesus and the
Woman at the Well)
Tuesday: Mercy that Loves – (The Good Samaritan)
Wednesday: Mercy that Forgives – (The Prodigal Son)
Thursday: Mercy that Lives the Gospel – (Zacchaeus)
Friday: Mercy that Rejoices – (Healing of the
Paralytic)
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 2016 in our schools.
End of the Year Mass
Please join the St. Brigid community as we celebrate
our End of the Year Mass on Friday June 24 th. 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.
Staffing Updates
We want to welcome Ms. D. Ayala to St. Brigid. She will be
replacing Mrs. Di Vito who is on maternity leave. Ms. Ayala
comes to us with a wealth of experience in both the primary and
junior divisions. Her enthusiasm and professionalism will be a
wonderful addition to our school.
Professional Activity Day
Please note that Friday May 13th, 2016 is a
Professional Activity Day. There will be no school
for the students on that day.
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 5th, 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.
Green Team
St. Brigid School continues to participate in
“Green” activities. Our primary students learned
about importance of plants for beautifying the world,
pollination of plants and the care of them. They planted their
own seed in hand made pots made from newspaper. They also
created wild flower pods from clay and seeds, which will be
dried and placed in the Peace Garden. Students also planted
vegetable seeds which will be grown in the library. Our students
also helped clean up the yard on Earth Day. Keeping our earth
healthy and clean is everyone's responsibility.
St. Brigid’s Got Talent
Our St. Brigid’s Got Talent, Talent Show was a
huge success. Our students preformed with poise
and confidence in front of a huge audience. We would like to
thank our Catholic School Council for their continued support of
the arts at St. Brigid. Thank you to all the parents that attended
the performance and to all the teachers that participated in the
evening.
Quebec City Trip
Attention tout le monde! The French language lives in
Québec City! From May 9th to 12th, 2016 the
intermediate students will take a trip to this historic
city (the second oldest city in North America). Students
will be enjoying numerous activities such as; a trip to
Montmorency Falls, a tour of Old Quebec and a visit to Ste. Anne
de Beaupre Church. This trip will not only help our students
understand that French is a wonderful way to learn about our
neighbours, but as well, provide an opportunity to learn about
our history and experience the Québécois culture. We wish them
a safe and fun filled trip.
Public Speaking:
Here at St. Brigid School we have a long tradition of
excellence in public speaking.
This year, our
Intermediate contest will be held on Tuesday May 3 rd,
followed by our Junior contest on Friday May 6th. 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!
GRADE 8 GRADUATION
The grade 8 graduation will take place on Thursday June 23rd at
7:00 p.m. in the school gym. A luncheon for the graduates will
take place on Tuesday June 28th, at the Mandarin.
Further information will be sent home to graduate
parents as the date approaches.
Victoria Day
Just a reminder that Monday, May 23rd 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.
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.
ATTENDANCE
VERIFICATION
905-454-0316 & PRESS 1
You
may
go
to
www.stopr.ca for daily
Catholic School Council News
As we approach the last two months of school we focus on the
virtue of acceptance - who we are, where we come from, and
how do we fit in… As part of our diverse multicultural
community, the Catholic School Council is focus on creating this
inclusive environment by encouraging multiculturalism. Please
join us in creating our Multicultural Recipe Book. Please type
in your recipe on the survey monkey link provided:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NXBCXX6
We would like to take this time to say thank you for your support
with our first Annual Spring Fundraiser – Cookie Dough
Campaign. As a result of your generosity, we are able to
continue to support many of the activities that take place in our
school. Below are a few examples of activities that we have been
able to sponsor:
Earth Day Movie for the School
Grade 4 to 6 trip to the ROM
Sponsor the Grade 7-8’s Confirmation retreat
Communion Pins
Christmas Event
Fun Fit Family Evenings
Scientists in the School
FDK – bussing
As a council, part of our goal is to continue to engage parents
within the school community. We had a great presentation on
April 20th on Internet Safety with Mr. Paul Davis. He stressed
that as Parents, it is our duty to ensure our children are safe.
Technology is perhaps the greatest challenge that we face with
this regard. He provided some eye opening examples of how
easy it is for technology to be used for the wrong purpose and
some helpful hints on how to protect our children.
Our next Fun Fit Family Night will be on Thursday May 18 th
from 7 to 8 pm. Please join us for a fun filled night of Zumba.
Also, stay tune for news on our Intermediate Basketball
Challenge for students and adults. We are aiming for 5 on 5
teams- be sure to sign up!
Our End of Year School Lunch will be held on Tuesday June
21st. Students will be receiving a lunch with pulled-chicken
sliders, mac and cheese, potatoes wedges and for desert a waffle
with ice-cream and fresh seasonal fruits with water. All are
welcomed! Volunteers are needed to help with this event.
We would like to thank each and every one of you for your
continued support! We are always looking for additional
volunteers! Please let us know how we can help develop our
School Community! Our next meeting will be on May 2nd. We
would love to hear your ideas! All are welcomed!
Movie Day
On Monday May 2nd staff and students will be going to see the
nature film, Enchanted Kingdom. This is the annual movie that
our school views for Earth Day. We would like to thank our
Catholic School Council for financially supporting this event.
bus
cancellations
delays.
or
Secretary Appreciation Day
Wednesday April 27th was Professional Secretary Day.
I would like to publicly thank Mrs. Rice for all the
things she does on a daily basis for the students, parents and staff
at St. Brigid School. We are truly blessed to have her, with the
many qualities she offers our entire community. Thank you Mrs.
Rice!
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 entrance onto the school driveway is restricted to buses only.
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.
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.
Twitter
DPCDSB is now on Twitter! For the latest board
news and information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools.
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.
At no time should parents 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.
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.
PLAYGROUND SAFETY RULES
The safety of all students at St. Brigid is our
number one priority. We remind students daily of
playground expectations. Please review the
following rules with your child:
 Keep your hands and feet to yourselves
 No verbal insults or inappropriate
language
 Treat all people with respect
 Respect school property
 Play only no contact games
 Stay on school property at all times
 Rocks, gravel and snow stay on the
ground.
Dates to Remember
May 2
Enchanted Kingdom Movie
After School EQAO Tutoring
Catholic School Council Mtg. – 7:00 pm.
May 3
Intermediate Speeches
Mr. Sub Lunch
May 4
Lunch Moms
Visual Arts Experience – Hill
After School EQAO Tutoring
May 5
Rosary Apostolates – Crowing of Mary
Welcome to Kindergarten – 6:30 pm.
May 6
Junior Speeches
May 9-12 Intermediate Trip to Quebec City
May 9
After School EQAO Tutoring
May 11 Lunch Moms
After School EQAO Tutoring
May 13 P.A. Day
May 16 After School EQAO Tutoring
May 17 Junior Trip to ROM
Ceramics – Balchand
May 18 After School EQAO Tutoring
Ceramics – McPhee
Lunch Moms
May 19 Ceramics – Fitzpatrick
Fun Fit Family Night – Zumba – 7:00 pm.
May 20 Pizza Day
Confirmation Rehearsal
May 23 Victoria Day – No School
May 24 After School EQAO Tutoring
May 25 After School EQAO Tutoring
Lunch Moms
May 25 – Jun. 8 EQAO
May 26 Confirmation – 7:00 pm. @ St. Jerome’s
May 27 Springridge Farm – FDK
May 31 Mr. Sub Lunch
June 1
Scientists in the School – Gr. 2
Lunch Moms
June 6
Catholic School Council Mtg. – 7:00 pm.
June 8
Lunch Moms
June 13 P.A. Day
June 14 Scientists in the School – Gr. 3
Mr. Sub Lunch
June 15 Lunch Moms
June 17 Pizza Day
FDK End of Year Celebration – 2:15
June 20 Silvercreek – Serrentino
June 21 End of Year Lunch
June 22 MBC Track & Field @ St. Marcellinus
Lunch Moms
June 23 Graduation – 7:00 pm.
June 24 End of Year Mass – 10:00 @ St. Jerome
June 28 Mr. Sub Lunch
Graduation Luncheon
Report Cards Sent Home
June 29 Lunch Moms
June 30 Last Day of Classes