299 Landsbridge Street
Bolton, Ontario
L7E 2K4
Phone (905) 951-8788
Fax (905) 951-8798
February 2015
A VALENTINE PRAYER
Principal: K. Barton
Vice Principal: F. Troiani
Secretaries: L. Grant and
G. Odoardi
SERVING OUR
I said a Valentine prayer for you
and asked the Lord above
to fill your heart and bless your soul
With the precious gift of love.
COMMUNITY
SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS
L. Storey
905-890-1221
I asked Him for sincere love
The kind that's meant to stay
Just like the generous love
You give to those you touch each day.
TRUSTEE
F. DiCosola
905-951-8898
HOLY FAMILY CHURCH
I prayed for love from family
And from every cherished friend
Then I asked the Lord to give you
His love that knows no end.
AMEN
Rev. L. Leger and Fr. D.
Gikonyo
905-857-1938
ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Chair: M. Cardinale
905-951-8788
VIRTUE - RESPECT
Please visit our website at
www.dpcdsb.org/JBAPT
Follow us on TWITTER
@JBAPT_DPCDSB
During the month of February we celebrate the virtue of respect. A respectful person:

Treats himself/herself and everyone else with equal
consideration and courtesy

Uses a positive tone of voice and body language

Avoids swearing, name-calling, put-downs and
inappropriate gestures

Says “Excuse me”, “Please” and “Pardon me”
 Avoids gossip
Our next Virtues assembly is scheduled for February 27th at 1:35 a.m.
Page 2
Popular Books for SALE!!!
On Thursday, February 5 (parent/
teacher interview night), a representative from Popular Books will be
selling remediation workbooks and
EQAO practice workbooks for student use. These books offer a great
opportunity for students to review
previously taught skills while promoting parent engagement as well.
Please visit the Popular Books representative in the lower forum of the
school.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
St. John the Baptist is in need of parent
volunteers to help out on Mondays at
lunch with the distribution of pizza. Volunteers are expected to stay for approximately one hour. Please notify the office if
you are able to volunteer your time.
Thank you for your continued support!!
ONLINE REPORTING TOOL
The Online Reporting Tool was designed to help
promote a positive school climate and is intended
for students who become aware of bullying incidents and negative behaviours impacting the school
community. Students will be able to access the
Online Reporting Tool on our school’s website.
Students can simply “click” on the “Online Reporting Tool” link and will be directed to complete a
report. Mrs. Barton and Mr. Troiani will be made
aware of these incidents and will deal with them
accordingly. It is important to note that the Tool
is an alternate option. It is best practice to
speak directly with a responsible adult in the school
so the issue can be dealt with immediately. Thank
you for your support on ensuring our school is
safe, accepting, and inclusive.
Page 2
Greetings from the Eco Team
The Eco Team has been busy since September, however we have neglected to stop and announce what we’ve been busy at: so here it goes! We began
with our opening event, the ecoCaledon- sponsored Caledon Crunch, when we
washed and distributed over 400 apples to everyone in the school, and counted
down to a great big CRUNCH! Next, we invited our School Nurse, Mrs. Alicja
Petrucelli and the Town of Caledon Crier, Mr. Andrew Welch, to come and usher
in our first Walk to School Wednesday, on October 8th. Since then, students have
been walking regularly and have been collecting check marks on their Steps cards
and Thank You Footies too. In fact, for a student who walks twice a day, and hasn’t missed a day, they’ll have reached 140 walks by the time this newsletter is in
print: that’s 3 and a half walking cards!
In October our school participated in the province-wide Waste Not
Week. We conducted two audits: one before Waste Not Week began, where we
collected about 63 kg of garbage (from 1/3 of the school), and one during the
week, where we collected a mere 51 kgs (from the same 1/3): Great job on the
reduction, everyone!!! With proper recycling, terracycling, and bringing home compostables, we can continue to reduce our contributions to the Region of Peel landfills.
We also benefitted from a great opportunity when the Parent Council
heard of the Eco Team’s desire to garden and plant trees in the school yard. Mrs.
Mather, one of our council members, recalled a connection she had with the owners of Humber Nurseries and within a week, we were the happy recipients of two
young trees: a Maple and a Little Leaf Linden. The eco Team and some extra volunteers came out on a cool late autumn day, to dig holes and plant them. We
thank Mrs. Mather, Humber Nurseries, and all members of the Parent Council for
supporting our work!
In November, we conducted an Energy Audit, where we discovered 5
classes enjoying Natural Sunlight instead of electric light as they did their work!!
Many unattended rooms had also wisely turned off their lights.... but unfortunately
there were 10 rooms where lights were left on, but NO ONE was HOME! We
can do better, and with a little help from our little Energy Hog reminders, and
Sunsational Awards... we expect that will soon change.
Throughout these highlights, the Eco Team continually visits classrooms
to cheer on those who’ve brought in Re-usable water bottles and to collect Terracyclables, where we have already reached a point value of $105 and where we’ve
been named a “Top Terracycler.” We now encourage families to send in their
clean, flattened outer milk bags, which our board is collecting in order to making
temporary bedding for Ebola victims in Sierra Leone, to be delivered there with
the help of Dr. Simone’s charity Canadian Food for Children.
We look forward to two exciting events in the near future: On February 5th, we will have our Winter Walk to School Day. Every student who
walks on that day, may receive a Thank You Footie from the Eco Team, and will
continue to help our school’s walking count increase! The next day will be National Sweater Day: on that day the DPCDSB has chosen to help schools participate
by REDUCING the school’s daytime temperature by two (2) degrees, thus creating
the need for the Sweaters!!! This is something we can try at home too... see how
your energy consumption goes down. Finally, for anyone with a writer’s gift please
consider submitting your Best Sweater Story or your Winter Walk Story to the
Eco Team: they are both eligible for monetary prizes. For details, please see Madame de Groot.
Have an Eco Friendly day!
Page 3
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Every year Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black
Canadians, past and present. Canadians take this time to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous
nation it is today. During Black History Month, Canadians can gain insight into the experiences of Black Canadians and their
vital role in the community. (www.cic.gc.ca)
St. John the Baptist will be celebrating black history month and diversity in February. A number of events will take place to
promote, celebrate and honour Black History and Diversity.
 The library will have on display books about Black History and Diversity
 Black History lessons will be incorporated throughout the month within individual classes
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SPIRIT WEEK!!!
Join the St. John the Baptist community by celebrating SPIRIT WEEK with us! Each day there is something new to do in support of school spirit and community building. The days include;
Monday Feb 9th
Pajama Day
Tuesday Feb 10th
Wacky Hair Day
Wednesday Feb 11th
Toque Day
Thursday Feb 12th
Jersey Day
Friday Feb 13th
Red, White and Pink Day
Grade 7 and 8 Semi Formal Dance
In addition:
1. Monday and Tuesday (Movie Day during Lunch for Gr 1, 2, 3...$2.00 per student)
2. Wednesday and Thursday (Movie Day during Lunch for Gr. 4, 5, 6 ... $2.00 per student)
3. Heart Shaped Lollipops will be on sale for $1.00
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR SHOWING YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT! ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO HELPING FUND
THE INTERMEDIATE OTTAWA TRIP
UPDATE on WATER WELLS IN BRAZIL
Father Marco, from Brazil, has recently been in touch
with Mrs. Covre and would like to extend his gratitude
Challenge
for the donations provided from the St. John the Baptist
Congratulations to all participants of this year’s Knights of Columbus
Free Throw Challenge. Our Grade
Champi- community. Through the sales of the bracelets, a village
water well will soon be built. Father Marco has asked
ons include;
for a plaque to be created with our school name on it.
Grade 4 - Adrianna and Matthew
The plaque will be placed on the well column in the village of Pedra Branca. Father Marco quotes, “Once
Grade 5 - Michael and Keanna
again, many, many, many THANKS for everything and
Grade 6 - Jennifer and Alexander
for helping us pull ourselves out of one fine human and
Grade 7 - Eric and Daniela
environmental disaster.
Grade 8 - Nick and Christina
God bless and take care and, once again, many, many
THANKS!!!!!!!!!”
Knights of Columbus Free Throw
THANK YOU ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
Page 4
PEDICULOSIS CAPITIS “HEAD LICE”
We would like to be proactive in advising you that lice can
often occur at this time of year. It is important at this time
of year, to check your children regularly for lice, in order
to help stop the spread within the classroom and school.
Individual classroom letters are sent out with the students
when an occurrence of lice is found. Names of students
are never given. Siblings are also given a letter to help prevent the spread. If your child has “head lice” please report
this to the school secretary immediately and please keep
your child at home until all of the live lice have disappeared. If there is another situation we should be aware of,
such as students who are in the same daycare, then please
let us know, so letters can be sent to all classrooms affected. In some cases a classroom check may be required if
there is more than one case of lice reported. Lotions and
shampoos containing 1% permethrin often work well. They
can be bought at the store without a prescription, see a
pharmacist. If these do not work, a doctor can give you a
prescription for stronger medicine. Thank you for your
cooperation.
REMEMBER…
February 3, 2015 - Report Cards Come Home
February 5, 2015 - Parent/Teacher Interview
Night
February 6, 2015 - Parent/Teacher Interview
Day NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
February 16, 2015 - Family Day
NO SCHOOL
GIFTED PROGRAM
Parent Information Session
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
On January 27, St. John the Baptist’s annual
Intermediate Public Speaking Competition
was held in our school gym. Twelve students
were selected from their teachers to share
their speeches in front of students, teachers,
parents, and a panel of judges. All of the students demonstrated confidence in their ability
to deliver their speech. Congratulations to
the following intermediate students;
Parents/Guardians/Students:
Please join us for our Gifted Program Information
Session
When: Thursday, March 5, 2015
Time: 4:30—5:30 PM
Where: St. John Bosco—Rm115
What:

Learn about the Regional Gifted Program
Daniela D. - Mrs. Ough

Meet the teachers
Juliana C. - Mrs. Ough

Michael C. - Mrs. Modugno

Meet other potential students
Ask questions about the admission process, program
Nicole B. - Mrs. Modugno
Michael R. - Mr. Cosmo
Alessia I. - Mr. Cosmo
Sophia A. - Mr. D’Onofrio
Mackenzie E. - Mr. D’Onofrio
Amanda F. - Mrs. Morizio
Alexandra D. - Mrs. Morizio
Vanessa B. - Mr. Vandervoort
Maya S. - Mr. Vandervoort
Page 5
STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY
Thanks to our many parents who regularly call the school to report their child(ren) are going to be absent from school. Your
phone call to the school saves our secretary a tremendous amount of valuable time in trying to track down unexplained absences. Remember that you can call the school twenty four hours a day to report your child’s absence. On days that buses are
cancelled and schools are open and students remain at home, it is expected that parents will report the absence of
their children.
Students and parents are reminded that being punctual for school is a very important habit to follow! Our school entry times
are 8:45 am for morning classes and 12:45 pm for the afternoon classes. Students who arrive even a few minutes late for
school not only disrupt classes already underway, but put themselves at a disadvantage, because they need to “catch up” with
classmates once they arrive into class. All students from Junior Kindergarten to grade 8 who arrive late to school must report to
the main office to check in before going to class.
KISS ‘N RIDE IN THE MORNING
Please be reminded that students should be dropped off at 8:30 in the morning to avoid long lines in the Kiss ‘N
Ride lane. 650 cars cannot efficiently enter the school at 8:45. To relieve some of the congestion in the morning,
you may consider parking on side streets or at the splash park and accompany your child to school. Please ensure your child is dropped off closer to 8:30 in the morning. Thank you in advance for supporting the school in
teaching children the importance of punctuality.
PICKING UP YOUR CHILD ON TIME
Parents please be on time to pick your child at the end of the day at 3:15 pm. Please remember we don’t have
supervision for your child after these times. We want to ensure that your child is safe at all times.
YOU ARE INVITED TO...A Parent Engagement Evening on
NEXT GENERATION LEARNING
Presentations will be given on topics such as: Faith Formation, Inquiry in Language and Math,
Critical Literacy, the Flipped Classroom, and Online Homework Help. Parents are asked to
visit the site listed below and select 2 presentations they are interested in attending. Each
presentation is 25 minutes long.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/35W9RW6
WHEN: February 10, 2015 from 7:30 - 8:30pm
WHERE: Robert F. Hall Secondary School (6500 Old Church Road)
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!
FEBRUARY 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3 Report Cards go
home
4 Hot Lunch
5 Interview Night
6 Interview Day
7
Sweater Day
NO SCHOOL
DRESS WARM!!
8
9 Pajama Day
BAPTIST
SPIRIT
WEEK!!!
Movie Lunch for
gr. 1-3
10 Seeing and
Hearing Screening
11 Pizza Day
Parent Engagement Night
14
Movie Lunch for
gr. 4-6
13 Red, White,
Movie Lunch for gr. 4- and Pink Day
6
Grade 7-8 Semi
Formal Dance
18 Hot Lunch
19
20
21
26
27 Virtues Assembly at 1:35
28
Toque Day
12 Jersey Day
Wacky Hair
Day/Movie Lunch
15
16 Family Day
17
NO SCHOOL
22
23 Pizza Day
Ash Wednesday
Liturgy @ 1:00
24 Rosary Aposto- 25 Pizza Day
late
Parent Council 7:00pm
MARCH 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2 Pizza Day
3 Silver Creek
(Watson/Richards)
4 Hot Lunch
5
6
7
8
9 Pizza Day
10 Silver Creek
(Campanelli)
11 Junior Speech
Competition
12
13
14
15
16 March Break 17 March Break
18 March Break
19 March Break
20 March Break 21
22
23 Pizza Day
25
26
27
24 Grad Pics Gr.8
Rosary Apostolate
29
HOLY WEEK
—————>
30 Pizza Day
31 Virtues Assembly
at 1:35
28
It’s Hearing and Vision Screening time!!!
School Screening Association will be visiting our school this year on February 10, 2015 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.
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.
Good Grades start with Good Hearing and Vision