299 Landsbridge Street
Bolton, Ontario
L7E 2K4
Phone (905) 951-8788
Fax (905) 951-8798
MAY 2015
Principal: K. Barton
Vice Principal: F. Troiani
Secretaries: L. Grant and
St. John the Baptist School
G. Odoardi
Celebrates
SERVING OUR
Catholic Education Week
COMMUNITY
L. Storey
MAY 4 - MAY 8
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road?”
– Luke 24:32
905-890-1221
Please see our Catholic Education Week flyer for a list of scheduled events.
TRUSTEE
Each year on Mother’s Day we celebrate our mothers, who have brought us into life and have
loved and cared for us. There are so many mothers to honour - grandmothers, godmothers, adoptive mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers and friends’ mothers. There’s Mary the Mother of God.
Jesus made her the mother of all people. And, of course, there’s Mother Earth. This title for our
planet is one way of saying that God has made the earth a Holy home for all living things. In different ways, any one or more of these mothers has earned our love.
SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS
F. DiCosola
905-951-8898
HOLY FAMILY CHURCH
MOTHER’S DAY: Sunday, May 10th, 2015
Rev. L. Leger and Fr. D.
Gikonyo
To all mothers in our school community, from all of us at
905-857-1938
Happy Mother’s Day !
St. John the Baptist Catholic School,
ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Chair: M. Cardinale
905-951-8788
Please visit our website at
www.dpcdsb.org/JBAPT
Follow us on TWITTER
@JBAPT_DPCDSB
During the month of May we will celebrate the virtue of
ACCEPTANCE.
One of the great wonders of the world we live in is that no two people are exactly alike. We may share biological families or national identity or cultural and ethnic identity but we are all very unique and distinct creations.
God breaks the mold every time and that is a fantastic fact of life!
The virtue of acceptance describes our ability to look at the attitudes and actions of those around us and then
just stop and consider without judging them. The virtue of acceptance means that we look beyond what we
see—a person’s skin colour, ethnic background, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation and see a person created and loved by God.
An accepting person …

Is friendly and open to all God’s people, regardless of age, beliefs, gender,
culture or ability

Sees the positive traits in all people even if she/he disagrees with them

Avoids judging or stereotyping others

Understands that there may be more than one way to do things

Sticks up for the “underdog”
Virtue Assembly on May 22 at 1:35 p.m.
Page 2
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
ANNUAL STAFF/PARENT VS.
STUDENTS SHARELIFE HOCKEY GAME
- “Great Success”
On Friday March 27, 2015, our community came together for a great cause playing and watching the game we
love for Sharelife. The St. John the Baptist Jaguars Hockey team took on an elite combination of parents/teachers
in what can be characterized as a back and forth battle
which ended in Student Triumph. Most importantly, a
total of approximately $644.00 was raised for Sharelife
and all involved had a great time. The students from
grades 4-8 attended the event and cheered proudly. We
would like to thank all students, parents, and family
members who supported this fantastic event, and we
look forward to doing it again next year. WAY TO GO
JAGUARS!!!!
BOYS NIGHT IN 2015
The date has been set for our 1st Annual St.
John the Baptist Boys Night In. We are encouraging all grade 4, 5, and 6 Boys to sign
up in what will be truly a fun and interactive
night. 3 on 3 challenge, Minute to Win It,
Survival Game are just some of the amazing
activities planned. The event will be held on
Thursday May 14, 2015 from 3:30 pm. to
8:00 pm. Our theme for the night comes
from 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14 (NIV) 13 Be on
your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
Sign up because it is going to be awesome!!
Page 2
SOME HELPFUL TIPS TO HELP YOUR
CHILD BE POSITIVE ABOUT
MATHEMATICS

Be positive, and talk about the ways you use mathematics
every day. Sharing negative experiences ( by saying , for example, “I was never good at math”) will not encourage your
child to engage in mathematics and be confident about taking
risks as he or she solves problems. Instead, try statements
like this: “Okay, we can solve this if we work it out together.
What are you thinking?”

Let your child know that you think mathematics is important.

Point out the ways in which different family members use
mathematics in their jobs and at home.

Let your child know that everyone can learn mathematics.

Encourage your child to be persistent when a problem
seems difficult.
GRADE 8 GRADUATION
The grade 8 graduation Mass and ceremonies will take place on
Tuesday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m. at Holy Family Church . Further
details will be provided soon.
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
REMINDER: Monday, May 11 - P.A. Day
Monday, May 18 - Victoria Day
ARE YOU MOVING?
We are in the process of planning staffing and organizing classes for the 2015-2016 school year. If you are
planning on moving out of the St. John the Baptist area,
or simply changing addresses within our boundaries,
please let the office know as soon as possible. Thank
you for your cooperation!
Page 3
APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY…..
MUD PUDDLES !
With the rainy season still upon us and not wanting to leave us, there are puddles and mud in
the school yard where children can get wet
socks and clothing. Our school approach is to
contact parents to bring dry clothing for students
who get significantly wet above their knees only.
This is often inconvenient for parents. Therefore
may we suggest that you place an extra pair of
socks and track pants in your child’s backpack in
the event that a change of clothing is necessary.
GRADE 3 AND 6 PROVINCIAL ASSESSMENT
OF READING, WRITING AND
MATHEMATICS
All grade 3 and 6 students in Ontario will again be participating in the Educational Quality and Accountability Office
(EQAO) Provincial Assessments. Children will be participating between May 25th to June 5th.
We would ask that if possible, please try to avoid booking
appointments or vacations for your grade 3 and 6 children
during this assessment period. It is important to note that
those students who are away for the assessment are recorded as achieving zero and are averaged into our school results. For those interested in more information about these
assessments, there is a provincial website available:
What are you waiting for???
Want to be notified about upcoming
events/activities that are taking place at St.
John the Baptist? Want to be a part of the
learning that is taking place in your child’s
class by viewing photos of their learning?
Want relevant, up to date information about
education and ways to support your child?
Then follow St. John the Baptist on TWITTER today!!!
@JBAPT_DPCDSB
TAKE TIME TO PLAY and EAT HEALTHY
According to statistics Canada, growing evidence indicates
that the health of Canadian children has deteriorated in
the past few decades. Childhood obesity has risen sharply—a quarter of children and youth are now overweight
or obese—and physical fitness has declined. Only seven
percent of elementary children get at least 60 minutes of
heart pumping physical activity at least six days a week
and boys and girls are not active over eight hours a day.
Encourage your children to be active for at least 60
minutes a day. Research shows that children that are
active do better in school, improve their health, improve
their fitness and grow stronger, and have an improved self
confidence.
www.eqao.com. The website includes parent resources,
samples of assessment questions and more.
HELP YOUR CHILD PREPARE FOR TESTING
Talk with your child and help reduce the anxiety related to any
type of testing situations. Be sure that your child has enough
sleep, eats a nutritious breakfast and is well hydrated. Research
shows that students who are well rested and have enough fuel to
stimulate brain activity, achieve higher scores on average.
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.
Thank you for your consideration and co-operation with this important matter.
May 2015
Page 4
FACT SHEET ON STUDENT LATES
Arriving at school on time does make a difference. Your children learn the importance of punctuality
from what you say and do.
Insist that the kids leave the house in time to arrive at school at least five or ten minutes before the bell.
The time spent in the school yard before class is a transition time that allows your child to reconnect with
the classmates and to refocus on school issues. Lining up to enter the school with the rest of the class allows your child to become part of the group and to ease into the routines of school.
The first few minutes in the classroom are critical. During these minutes the teacher deals with the many
issues that individual students share - just like the busy excitement of a group of relatives getting together
for a visit. And the teacher eases the students into the business of learning with a number of routine opening activities. When you child arrives even five minutes late, it is like arriving at a family gathering when
everyone else is already seated at the table. You would have missed some important information and you
might feel a little “outside” the group.
You may already know the value of punctuality. If it feels like, despite your best intentions, you are not
able to consistently get the kids out the door on time for school, sit down with someone to make a new
plan for your morning routine. Every parent knows that morning are one of the hardest times of the day
to master - right along with dinner time. If you’re just not good at organizing time, people and tasks, talk
to someone who is. This is important!
Grade Eight Parent Organized Grad Party Night
Please be advised that St. John the Baptist School is NOT involved with the organization, planning, supervision, or date of
the Graduation Party Night. This event is not sanctioned by the school and any decisions regarding location, date, and other
particulars are made solely by parents in the community, who have taken it upon themselves to volunteer to organize the
event. This has been the tradition in the parent community since the opening of the school. Any concerns regarding this event
should be directed to the parent committee who is organizing the event.
The School Organized Grad Night is June 23rd at 7:00 at Holy Family Church. As is tradition, the teachers have organized a luncheon and dance for the Grads on June 22 nd, which is paid for by our School Council. More information regarding this
will be sent out by the teachers in June.
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.
Page 5
STUDENTS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY AFTER HOURS
There should be no students on school property after school hours unless they have permission to
do so by means of a permit. Board security officers and the Police will continue to monitor the
grounds so please speak to your children about remaining off school grounds after school hours.
Thank you for your support on this matter.
Swim to Survive for Grade 3 Students
All grade 3 students at St. John the Baptist Catholic School are participating in the "Swim to Survive" program run by
the Lifesaving Society. This program teaches students the essentials needed to survive an unexpected fall in deep
water. In class, students are instructed on the dangers of thin ice, the importance of wearing a life jacket, and boating safety. At the pool, students learn skills from basic swimming instruction to more advanced skills depending on
their level of ability. Our school is fortunate to be participating in such an important and physically active learning experience.
St. John the Baptist ECO Update
Wow! What an Earth Month it has been! The Eco Team has been very busy, and we’re not finished yet! During the month of April we took on several
projects in the pursuit of promoting the health of our home. We set up a display in the front entrance of our school to inform one and all of Earth
Month. We gathered a few willing Grade 5 students including Sophia and her mom, Mrs. Perrota, and created a video for the Town of Caledon’s IdleFree Caledon video contest and we won!!!! See the video yourself at http://youtu.be/JErGQrQMsr0. We’ve visited the kindergartens during the lunch
hours and read stories about the Earth and the Environment. We’ve begun collecting throw-away water bottles and will build a surprise structure for
the upcoming Eco-Fair. We had a two day workshop with Amy Darrell of eco-Caledon and learned about our sources of water and where rainwater
goes. We held an Earth Day Steps Card draw and selected another 10 winners of Pedometers. By the way, Mrs. Cocco’s class is still in the lead! We
went for a “We Love the Earth” march at the lunch hour on Earth Day. We ran an Idle-Free Caledon campaign, using information and materials from
the Town of Caledon and DADA Canada to get the message out to drivers. With the help of Grade 5 student Keanna’s design, we painted a beautiful
rain barrel for water conservation. Our Terracycling funds have reached $140 and we hope to spend it on a Butterfly Garden for our school! We
were invited to Town Hall in Caledon East for the presentation of our barrel and our winning video, and videographer Tiana R and Keanna T, both of
Grade 5, came along. We have been planning our many events for the May 8 th Eco Fair, including four guests presenters: Amy Darrell and John MacRae
of ecoCaledon, Shannon Carto of the Environment Department at Town of Caledon and Alicja Petrucelli, our Region of Peel Nurse, promoting Bike to
School as well as Walk to School campaigns. We’ve conducted an Energy Audit and a Waste Audit. We’re planning Lunch and Learns with all of our
classes to help them better understand how to sort their waste. And our Terracycle Trophy is in the midst of a beauty make-over, thanks to Xavier
and his helpers.
Not bad for a few short weeks, besides teaching and learning! We look forward to May 13 th when EcoSchools Ontario will send a Site-Visitor who will
help us celebrate our many accomplishments! Thank you Eco Team for all your energy and enthusiasm! You make Earth Month Fun!
Intermediate Girls Basketball
Congratulations to the Intermediate Girls Basketball team for their outstanding performance, determination and
sportsmanship at our Family Tournament on April 29, 2015. This is the team's third consecutive Family Championship
win! They stand undefeated this year with 7 wins and 0 loses. The girls have once again advanced to the Board Finals on May 14, 2015 at St. Margaret D'Youville in Brampton. We wish them much success at the upcoming tournament! Team members include, Juliana C, Isabella T, Emma N, Alexandra M, Christina R, Christina C, Bianca M, Mackenzie E, Alexandra D and Amanda F. Best of luck girls!
Thank you to our OUTSTANDING coaches Mrs. Modugno and Mrs. Cecchetto!!
SUMMER PROGRAMS
ADULT PROGRAMS
CIAO ITALIA 2015
ESL
CITIZENSHIP
FSL
ADULT CO-OP
COMPUTER CLASSES
PSW - Brian J. Fleming site
ENG3U1 & ENG4U1
June 27 - July 21, 2015
$5450.00
Various ESL Sites (July only)
St. Gabriel Adult
Learning Centre
Brian J. Fleming Adult
Learning Centre
July and August
Explore Italy!
Rome
Florence
Amalfi Coast
Calabria
In collaboration with Calabria
International Tours
ELEMENTARY
SUMMER SCHOOL
ESL Non-Credit
Grade 7 & 8
Open to
ESL DPCDSB
High School Students only
Principal Recommendation Required
June 29 - July 17, 2015
Bolton/Caledon
St. Cornelius
Brampton
Father C.W. Sullivan
Good Shepherd
St. Ursula
Mississauga
Bishop Scalabrini
Holy Cross
St. Faustina
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Gertrude
Grades 9 to 12
Contact:
Brunella Trinca
for additional information
905-891-9263 ext. 37988
brunella.trinca@dpcdsb.org
http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/P
rograms/Summer+Learning/C
iao+Italia.htm
http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/P
rograms/Adult+Education/
SCHOOL ON A BUS
CHV2O1 & GLC2O1
Grade 9 & 10 Students
July 6 - July 21, 2015
$1500.00
Ottawa, Montreal & New York
In collaboration with
EduTravel
905-891-9263 ext. 37955
http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/Progr
ams/Summer+Learning/School+o
n+a+Bus.htm
SECONDARY
SUMMER SCHOOL
SPIRIT ACROSS
AMERICA
Grades 9 to 12
ENG3U1 & ENG4U1
Grade 11 & 12 Students
$2900.00
July 6 - July 28, 2015
Boston, New York,
Philadelphia & Washington
June 29 - July 27, 2015
Brampton
St. Edmund Campion
St. Marguerite d’Youville
St. Thomas Aquinas
Mississauga
Father Michael Goetz
Loyola Catholic S.S.
St. Joan of Arc
St. Joseph
St. Marcellinus
In collaboration with
EduTravel
http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/Progr
ams/Summer+Learning/Secondar
y+Summer+School.htm
http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/Progr
ams/Summer+Learning/Spirit+of+
America.htm
905-891-9263 ext. 37955
SUMMER LITERACY
CAMP
Grades SK to 6
Principal Recommendation
Required
Jul 6- July 24, 2015
Fee-for-service
Brampton
Guardian Angels
Lester B. Pearson
St. Angela Merici
St. Nicholas - Bolton
Ven. Michael McGivney
Mississauga
Father Daniel Zanon
St. Bernard Clairvaux
St. Gerard
St. Gregory
St. Simon Stock
St. Timothy
St. Vincent de Paul
905-891-9263 ext. 37956
Sun
Mon
MAY 2015
ovember 2011
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1 Diversity Conference—gr. 7
2
Medieval Time—Mrs.
Russo and Donnelly
3
4 Catholic Education
Week Liturgy 9:15a.m.
5 Talent Show at 9:15
for gr. JK—3 only
6 Spotlight on Sheridan grade 7s
7 Talent Show at
9:15 for gr. 4-8 only
8 I Can Make a Difference Assembly 9:00
Communion Retreat
for Gr. 2s
Talent Show at 1:00
for Parents
Gr. 1’s to Kortright
Talent Show at 1:00
for Parents
Eco-Fair—afternoon
12
13 LAST Hot Lunch
14 Boys Night In
15 Rosary Crowning
of Mary Celebration
9
Pizza Day
10
11 P.A Day
NO SCHOOL FOR
STUDENTS
For gr. 4-6 boys
3:30—8:30
16
Gr. 4-8 9:00—10:00
Gr. JK-3 10:10 –10:50
17
18 Victoria Day
NO SCHOOL
24 EQAO
25 EQAO Testing
Week 1
Grade 6
Pizza Day
19 St. Michael’s Sec.
School Info Night
20 Dental Screening
21
22 Virtue Assembly at
1:35
23
26 EQAO Testing
Gr. 3
27 EQAO Testing
Gr. 6
28 EQAO Testing
Gr. 3
29 EQAO Testing
30/31
Make-up Day
Parent Council Meeting at 7:00p.m.
JUNE 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
EQAO
1 EQAO Testing
2 EQAO Testing
3 EQAO Testing
4 EQAO Testing
5 EQAO Testing
6
Week 2
Gr. 6
Gr. 3
Make-up Day
Make-up Day
Ottawa Trip gr. 7-8
Ottawa Trip gr. 7-8
Ottawa Trip gr. 7-8
10
11 Gr. 3 to Pioneer Village
Pizza Day
7
8 P.A. Day
9
NO SCHOOL
12 Track and Field 13
Day
Confirmation
meeting at Holy
Family Parish
7:30
14
15 Virtues Assembly at 1:35
16
17 Year End
Mass 9:00 &
10:20
18 Grade 6 Robin
Hood Trip
19
20
23 Grade 8 Grad
Ceremony at 7:00
Holy Family Parish
24 Final Report
Cards come
home
25
26 Last Day of
School
27
Parent Council
Meeting at 6:30
LAST Pizza Day
21 Father’s Day!!
Confirmation Parent meeting at Holy
Family Parish at
2:00
22 Grade 8 grad
lunch/dance