ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
435 Rutherford Road North, Brampton, ON, L6V 3V9
905-453-4472
Follow us @StJoachimDPCDSB or visit our website at www.dpcdsb.org/JOACH
Principal
M. Di Nunzio
Vice Principal
I. Judd
Office Staff
L. Quiambao
Y. McCutcheon
Superintendent
D. Oude-Reimerink
Family of Schools
Brampton North
East
Prayer for Respect
All mighty God, giver of all that is good.
We thank you for the precious gift of human life.
Guide us to respect all life.
Like St. Francis, help us to see the beauty and goodness in all living things
Help us to imitate your respect for life.
For the life of children, making us glad with their enthusiasm
For the life of young people, hoping for a better world
For the life of the sick and disabled, teaching us humility
For the life of the elderly, witnessing patience and wisdom.
We thank you Lord.
Like Blessed Mary, may we always say yes to your gift of life.
May we have respect for all.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PPRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Trustee
A. Da Silva
Parish
St. Anne
Parish Priest
Father J. Cherickal
Associate Pastor
Father F. Marrone
Parish Telephone
905 453-1303
“Through A
Celebration Of Our
Faith All Who Enter
Our School May
Grow Together As A
Christian
Community”
Lent is a journey with Jesus to Jerusalem from Ash Wednesday to
Easter Sunday. The meaning of the word Lent is “Springtime”.
During Lent, we are called to open our hearts to the Father so
that we may live with God. Lent is a time for rebirth and
renewal, for looking our lives over, weighing our relationships
with Christ our friend, brother and Saviour, with our families,
friends and humankind. Lent is a time of growth, a time of
penance and prayer. Our Liturgical Season of Lent begins with
our Ash Wednesday Paraliturgy on Wednesday, February 18 at
10:30 a.m. and continues until Easter weekend (April 3-6). During
our six week Lenten journey we recognize and discuss with our
students our human frailties which cause us to sin. We prepare
for the coming of Easter through reflection, prayer and charity.
We respond to Jesus’ call for a change of heart by becoming
stronger in our will to say ‘yes’ to God and ‘no’ to our selfishness.
We look forward to our Lenten journey together, and a
strengthened and renewed faith in God’s will.
Your Admin team – M. DiNunzio & I. Judd
14Septe
SHROVE TUESDAY
With the Lenten season upon us, the grade 8 students at St. Joachim School will be participating in a “Give Back” program
dedicated towards making our school community a better place before they take the next step in their school journey. On
Tuesday February 17th, the grade 8 students will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday by providing a pancake snack for all
students (JK-grade 8).
Students from junior kindergarten to grade 3 will be receiving one pancake with one juice box, while
our junior and intermediate students will be receiving two pancakes and one juice box. We will also
be offering maple syrup with the pancakes. Look for a permission form to come home soon. Please
return by Friday February 13th, 2015.
LENT BEGINS – ASH WEDNESDAY
Ash Wednesday is a universal day of fasting and abstinence from meat. “Abstinence from meat binds those who are 14
and older; the laws of fasting bind those from 18 to 59 years of age. Parents and educators are reminded of their duty to
introduce children gradually to the understanding and practice of penance. Adult example will be the greatest influence in
this matter.” (Ordo of the Canadian Catholic Church, note 30) This year Ash Wednesday falls on February
18th. Ashes will be distributed to students in their classrooms. Students will be asked to make their own
Lenten promises. These promises should be their focus for the forty days of Lent and will be a reminder
that Lent is a time to change the things in our lives which separate us from Jesus.
VIRTUE OF RESPECT
“Respect yourself and others will respect you.” Confucius
We all deserve to be treated respectfully by others. However, in order to be respected we also have to respect ourselves.
Everyone has a right to go to school/work free of gossip, name-calling, and put-downs.
We should expect to be treated with respect by everyone we meet – our brothers and
sisters in Jesus.
A respectful person…
 uses a positive tone of voice and body language
 avoids swearing, name-calling, put-downs, and inappropriate gestures
 says ‘Excuse me’, ‘Please’, ‘Pardon me’
 avoids gossip
OUR DAILY PRAYER FOR FEBRUARY
Let us now pray...for the virtue of respect so that everyone we meet will feel like we are their brother or sister in Christ.
AMEN
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
The next Catholic School Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 2nd. We welcome all members of our school
community to come out and get involved in whatever capacity they can.
*Please note that in the event that school buses are cancelled, the Council meeting will also be cancelled.
PARENT ENGAGEMENT EVENT – ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA SCHOOL
Parents are invited to attend Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s Parent Engagement
Event at St. Josephine Bakhita School on February 10 from 7:30 through 8:30. The event will
feature thirty minute workshops on how inquiry is foundational to 21st Century
Learning. Parents are asked to register through survey monkey by accessing the following link
for the BW/BNE/MBC Family of Schools.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LCTX2Q9
Some of the topics discussed (in workshop format) include:
 Faith Formation and Information: Exploring the Digital Vineyard: Join this workshop for an exploration of resources
that will support your child's faith formation and provide you as a parent with useful and legitimate information
navigating the world of the cloud about our faith.
 Assistive Technology in Spec Ed: This workshop will provide insight into how assistive technology supports and
enhances student learning.
 FDK: This presentation will outline the FDK program and inquiry process. Presenters will outline how students
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explore the curriculum through play based learning.
Tablet based learning: Explore the impact tablets are having on learning in this workshop.
Responsive classroom design: This presentation will explain the importance of a responsive classroom design and
how it is changing our traditional ideas about the space that students learn in.
My Blueprint in high school: Get more information and experience using My Blueprint at the secondary school level.
The Inquiry Process: This workshop will present the inquiry process through integrated Arts and Math from the
teacher's perspective followed by student inquiries in kindergarten and grade 6. It will be highlight how students
learn through the four pillars of learning (Well-being, belonging, engagement, and expression). This workshop will be
examining this through classroom examples of collaborative learning using an integrated inquiry approach.
Student Well-being and Navigating High School: This workshop will outline for parents how to get involved,
communicate with teachers, and add to their understanding of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate requirements.
Colors: Promoting Inclusivity Through School Wide Activities: This workshop will explain that color groups is a school
wide initiative where students are placed into groups that reflect all grade levels. Color groups meet once a month
where students are engaged in a variety of faith-based activities that encourage and promote student wellbeing,
inclusivity, acceptance and friendship.
The SST: The student success teacher plays a key role in supporting students to achieve: This discussion will help
parents to understand the role the SST plays in a high school, and will offer insight into the processes of support
available for students.
THERE IS STILL TIME TO REGISTER! https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LCTX2Q9
USED BOOKS NEEDED
We are currently collecting gently used children’s books for our upcoming used book sale in April. Please
send in any books that you would like to donate, and that your family no longer uses. They will be sold
at our upcoming used book sale in April with funds raised to be donated to an environmental cause.
Please send any books you may be willing to donate to school with your child. If you have a large
collection to be donated, we will gladly receive it in the office.
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.
At St. Joachim, we will be holding drumming workshops for all students from JK – 8 on
February 9th and 10th. These workshops help students to celebrate cultural diversity,
equality and respect for self and others. Students will be taken on a journey through time to
examine African history and how its culture and music have affected our world today. They
will play African drums, explore instruments and artefacts from ancient to present times,
learn traditional African folk dances and use the elements of dance and music. They will
learn about black heroes of then and now (Canadian content included) and re-enact some of the most poignant stories
throughout black history. A fun and positive way to learn about difficult times!
GIFTED PROGRAM OPEN HOUSE– ST. JOHN BOSCO\\
KISS AND RIDE /PARKING AT THE FRONT
Parents please remember that the front driveway entrance by the office is NOT to be used to drop off
or pick up students. Students are not to be entering the school by the front door. Please use the Kiss
and Ride dedicated spot at the side of the school. Remember that if you need to get out of the car with
your child, you must park your car rather than use the Kiss and Ride lane. Students are not to enter
the front doors of the school unless they are being dropped off late. Please do not park your car in the
bus lane at the front of the school at any time. Thank you for following these steps to ensure the safety
and supervision of all our students.
CARNAVAL AT ST. JOACHIM
Quebec City’s famous “Carnaval” is coming to St.
Joachim the week of February 9th to 13th!
Quebec City is the oldest city in North America. Over
a hundred years ago, the French colonists brought
with them from Europe the tradition of eating,
celebrating and being merry during the period before
Lent. This period ends on the night of Shrove
Tuesday. The next day, which is Ash Wednesday, is
the start of the 40-day fast before Easter. The name
of Quebec’s festival, “Carnaval”, actually means
“farewell to meat” in Latin, because during the fast no
red meat was to be eaten. The first Carnaval took place in 1894 and the words most heard are “JOYEUX CARNAVAL!”
We will be celebrating Carnaval with several games and activities, including the following theme days:
Monday February 9th
Tuesday February 10th
Wednesday February 11th
Thursday Febraury 12th
Friday February 13th
toque and mitten day
jersey day
pyjama day
wear a sash around your waist just like Bonhomme
red, pink and white day (in honour of Canada/Valentines Day)
Show your school spirit by participating in these spirit days.
ENVIRONMENT CLUB NEWS
Thank you to all teachers and students who participated in NATIONAL SWEATER DAY on February 5 th. By turning down the
heat, we were able to help reduce the amount of harmful toxins and pollutants released to the environment by reducing
carbon dioxide.
Some other environmental initiatives we continue to ask your support with are:
... St. Joachim continues to accept 4L milk bags. They will be shipped to Milk Bags Unlimited, who will cut and weave the
milk bags into mats and then ship them to Sierra Leone to assist with the Ebola outbreak. All bags can be sent to school
and placed into the labelled box in the front foyer.
... and St. Joachim still recycles printer cartridges, cell phones, laptops and digital cameras through the THINK RECYCLE
PROGRAM. After joining the program in May 2011, the St. Joachim community has collected over 200 cartridges, 50 cell
phones, 8 laptops and 1 mp3 player for recycling or refurbishing.
By bringing your milk bags and used small electronics to St. Joachim, we are helping to keep non-biodegradable items out
of our landfills. Thank you for your help!
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Monday, February 9
Tuesday, February 10th
Wednesday, February 11th
Friday, February 13th
Monday, February 16th
Tuesday, February 17th
Wednesday, February 18th
Thursday, February 19th
Tuesday, February 24th
Wednesday, February 25th
Monday, March 2nd
Tuesday, March 11th
March 16 – March 20
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, February 10 – Drumming Workshops – all students
Parent Engagement Night – St. Josephine Bahkita School
Rosary Apostolate
10:30 Virtues Assembly by Mme. Pollard’s and Ms. Rodgers’ classes
1:30 Virtues Assembly by Mme. Agostino’s and Ms. DeFrancesco’s classes
FAMILY DAY – SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED
Shrove Tuesday – pancakes for the students
Ash Wednesday – LENT begins
Junior/Intermediate Poetry Slam Competition
Confession for students from Grades 3 – 8
Pink Shirt Day
Catholic School Council Meeting 7 p.m.
Rosary Apostolate
MARCH BREAK