H St. Hilary Catholic Elementary School October 2014—Issue 2 5070 Fairwind Mississauga, ON L5R 2N4 Office: 905-568-0056 Fax: 905-568-8236 www.dpcdsb.org/hilry Principal T. Loftus ~ Secretary C. DeRoia ~ Superintendent L. Papaloni ~ Trustee Thomas Thomas ~ Parish Priest: Msgr. E. Pan Associate Pastors: Fr. J. Roldan Fr. S. Savarimuthu ~ St. Hilary Prayer Almighty God, Father, I know that I owe you this: to serve you always with my thoughts and words. Your gift of speech to me has no greater purpose than to be a servant proclaiming you, revealing to a world that does not know that you are the Father of the Only Begotten Son. Saint Hilary (300-368) Bishop and Doctor Understanding Key Issues in Catholic Education Has the Ontario government always supported separate schools? Yes, as did its predecessor, the United legislature of Canada East (now Quebec) and Canada West (now Ontario) during its total life from 1841 to 1867. One of the first pieces of legislation it passed in 1841 was the Common School Act, with a separate school clause. Virtue of the Month: Empathy Stay Connected Join the Dufferin-Peel ECommunity www.dpcdsb.org Follow DPCDSB on Twitter: @DPCDSBSchools For the latest board news and information. During this month of October, we will be focusing on the virtue of Empathy. There are days in our lives that we may see others come to school sad, afraid, frustrated, or even angry. To live the virtue of empathy is to walk in another’s shoes, truly striving to understand their situation and seeking ways to help them. "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:39 Thanksgiving Prayer O Gracious God, we give You thanks for Your overflowing generosity to us. Thank You for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today. Thank You for our home, family and friends, especially for the presence of those gathered here. Thank You for our health, our work and our play. Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick and suffering war and violence. Open our hearts to Your love. We ask your blessing through Christ, Your son. Amen Page 2 St. Hilary Catholic Elementary School Opening School Mass Father Joshua Roldan celebrated our opening school Mass on September 22nd. It was a wonderful celebration reminding us of our many blessings. A special thank you to Mrs. Orr and Mrs. Ribeiro’s classes for organizing the Mass. Thank you to Mrs. Yamaguchi, Mrs. Stefaniuk and the choir for sharing your musical talents. We also greatly appreciate the many families who took the time to join us on this special occasion. October 13, 2014 Happy Thanksgiving! Schools are closed Sacramental Preparation Events and Key Dates First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation: Oct. 9 at 7:00 p.m.: Parents’ Meeting at Church (Mandatory) Nov. 2 at 9:00 a.m.: Inscription Mass Jan. 18 and Feb. 1 at Noon.: Preparation Masses Jan. 29 at 9:30 a.m.: First Reconciliation April 18 at 10:00 a.m.: First Holy Communion Mass Confirmation: Nov. 4 at 7:00 p.m.: Parents’ Meeting at Church (Mandatory) Nov. 23 at 9:00 a.m.: Inscription Mass Jan. 29at 7:00 p.m.: Preparation Mass Feb. 19: Confirmation Retreat at Queen of Apostles Retreat Centre April 16 at 7:00 p.m.: Confirmation Mass Remembrance Day Liturgy November 11, 2014 11:00 a.m. St. Hilary School Please join us. The Rosary Apostolate We are proud to announce that The Rosary Apostolate will be returning to St. Hilary School this year. Each class will be visited once a month by a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish’s Rosary Apostolate group. They will be in the classroom working alongside the teachers to deliver the messages about the Rosary. receive their very own rosary. Each student will Page 3 World Teachers’ Day Sunday, October 5th was United Nations World Teachers’ Day and throughout DufferinPeel Catholic District School Board we recognized the many contributions of our teachers . We would like to recognize and celebrate teachers, especially those at St. Hilary School, for their commitment and dedication to Catholic education. Most of us can point to a teacher who has influenced us positively in some way. Take a moment to reflect on the teachers you have today, or have had in the past. If there is someone who has had a major influence on you in the past, has made learning fun and interesting, or has helped you to achieve success in some way, take a moment to thank that person if you can. Or simply thank one of your current teachers by telling them you appreciate them. To our outstanding team of teachers, we thank you for the work you do. You are the reason we have such an exciting, vibrant school and that our students continue to excel. You truly matter! Curriculum Night/ BBQ Thank you to the parents and guardians who attended our Curriculum Night. It was a wonderful opportunity to foster the home-school connection. Many thanks, also, to the Catholic School Council for providing apples for everyone and for organizing the BBQ provided by Harvey's. A special thank you to the Janicki family (idrinkcoffee.com) for their generous donation of delicious coffee that evening! Book Fair A huge thank you is extended to everyone who supported the recent Scholastic Book Fair. We would also like to thank our volunteers for their time, as the book fair cannot run without volunteers! They helped our students find their “just right” books and merchandise. Our library profited by adding over $400 worth of new books for the students to borrow. Again, thank you for your continued support. Special thanks to Mrs. Stefaniuk for organizing and overseeing the event! Catholic School Council On Monday, October 6th, we held our Catholic School Council election for this year. The executive members for 2014-2015 are: Co-chairs: M. Da Costa and S. Sukhu Parish Rep.: M. DaCosta Treasurer: J. Hart Secretary: S. Olenroot Pinto Volunteer Coordinator: A. Guerra Co-Fundraising Coordinators: E. Ladislao and S. Olenroot Pinto OAPCE Rep: D. Groppo Teacher Reps: B. Tremblay, C. Stefaniuk We look forward to working with our Catholic School Council this year. All are welcome. Future meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates: Nov. 3, Dec.8, Jan. 26, April 13 and June 1. St. Hilary Catholic Elementary School Page 4 St. Hilary Walks for Terry! On Friday, September 26th, the staff and students of St. Hilary School participated in a walk to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of Terry Fox’s inspirational Marathon of Hope. We thank all families for your generous contributions of $1435.00. These donations have been forwarded to The Terry Fox Foundation to further the cause of cancer research. Chocolate Fundraiser The Catholic School Council’s major fundraiser will involve the sale of World’s Finest Chocolates. Chocolates were sent home on October 7th. The campaign will run until Friday, October 24th. Your continued support is greatly appreciated to help raise funds for programs and resources for our students. Pizza Days: Every Wednesday Pizzas must be pre-ordered with the forms provided, and, returned to the school on the due date. Many thanks to the parent volunteers who organize these events. Please contact the school if you are able to assist on those days. Homework Tip: Designate a quite working space. Distractions and Battery Collection Pop Can Tabs Please collect and send in your used batteries to the school. Batteries will be brought to a recycling center for appropriate disposal. Please continue to send in your pop can tabs. The Royal Canadian Legion uses the tabs towards the purchase of wheelchairs for those in need. homework do not mix. Provide a space for your child to do homework in an area that is free from distractions such as the television, computer, games, friends, pets, and telephones. Progress Reports Progress reports will be sent home on Tuesday, November 11th. Interview evening will be Thursday, November 13th. Teachers will be contacting parents only if there is a need for an interview. Page 5 DROPPING AND PICKING UP STUDENTS IN FRONT DRIVEWAY The number of 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 parking and pulling out of no parking zones and parking in bus lanes, to name a few. Parents are reminded not to leave their cars parked in the lanes in the front driveway. Our driveway is a fire route and parking is illegal. If you need to park and get out of your car when dropping off or picking up your child, please park in the parking spots at the front of the school, or, on the street as permitted. Please also refrain from blocking the bus lane so that the school bus is able to enter and exit the driveway safely and on schedule. It is imperative that 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. CRIMINAL REFERENCE CHECKS ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST PROVIDE THE SCHOOL WITH A VALID CRIMINAL REFERENCE CHECK BEFORE THEY CAN ATTEND ANY SCHOOL TRIPS, VOLUNTEER TO WORK WITH STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL, OR PARTICIPATE ON CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL. PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE FOR FORMS. Cross Country On October 24, 2014 St. Hilary’s Cross Country Team will participate in a very challenging race at Terry Fox Stadium. Our athletes are currently training for the big day. Stay tuned for results in our next newsletter . Thank you to Coaches Mme. Fantin, Mrs. Slabikowski, Mrs. Paniconi and Mr. Bury, for your time and efforts in preparing the team! Run Hawks Run! Hands-Off Policy In order to ensure the comfort and safety of all, we expect students to adhere to the “Hands-off Policy” at the school. “Play fighting” is also not permitted. Every student has been made aware of the importance of these rules. Please assist us by reviewing these expectations with your child. This will help to make our school environment a safe and positive place for all of our students. Page 6 St. Hilary Catholic Elementary School Pediculosis Although not a communicable disease, pediculosis (head lice) is a concern to parents and teachers. Each year it is common for outbreaks of pediculosis to occur. Head lice are parasites and are not connected in any way to dirt or neglect. Anyone can be infested with them. In order to control these pests, we shall follow the procedures outlined below. We request your full co-operation. proper treatment. This information can also be obtained from a pharmacist or Peel Health Department. If a case is found in the school, we will inform all parents of the students in that class with a special letter. We then request that you check your own child’s head. If you find them to also be infested, we would ask that you contact us so that we may advise you of the If your child does become infested with head lice, we will ask you to keep them out of school until after they have been treated with the correct shampoo and their hair is entirely clear of both lice and nits (eggs). Even if cases are not reported from the school, it is a wise precaution to check your child’s head periodically. Encourage your children not to put on other people’s hats or scarves. Inform them not to use other people’s combs or hairbrushes. When a child returns to school, he /she must report directly to the office and be checked by the principal or designate before proceeding to the classroom or the yard. No one is to be re-admitted to class without being checked. If we all follow these procedures, we may not entirely escape outbreaks, however, we may prevent some cases, and, bring others under control quickly. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Halloween It is that time of the year already when our children will want to visit their neighbours for trick or treating. In school, we will remind them about the safety rules so that they can both enjoy the evening and stay safe. In addition, we will also be stressing the fact that the most important aspect of our activities at this time of year is the celebration of two great Feast Days. On November 1st, we honour all the Saints of our Church and we are encouraged to pray that we might all emulate their example in our daily lives. We will remember all those who have gone before us in faith by celebrating the Feast of All Souls on November 2nd. Again, we are reminded that while those who have died are out of sight, they are not out of mind or beyond our prayers. Thus, just as we pray for each other in life, it is consoling and a fact of faith that we can be one with them in prayer after death. Throughout our school activities then, we will focus on these essential aspects of the two great Feasts. Catholic School Council will be hosting the annual Halloween-Dance-a-thon for all grades and the fun of dressing up on October 31st. Masks, weapons and long costumes that drag on the ground are not permitted for safety reasons. In this way we can be sure to enjoy the day and promote the safety of all students. Welcome to New Staff Please join us in welcoming the following new staff to St. Hilary School: L. Bartnik: Gr. 4 Classroom Teacher A. Falco: DECE L. Consiglio: ERW D. Pacheco: DECE B. Tocarz: ERW M. Bury: CYW Page 7 Schools Front Door Monitor System All visitors, including parents/ guardians must sign into the office and wear a Visitor’s badge. Access during lunch time may be delayed depending on the availability of staff who are required to monitor the new system. In this regard, parents/guardians are encouraged to: Arrive at school on time to allow children to enter with their classmates and to avoid lates/disruptions. Send lunch with your child in the morning to limit traffic through the front door at lunch time. We respectfully request that you limit your visits to the school during the daytime as much as possible in order to protect the instructional time and reduce interruptions. Fire Drills We will be having fire drills for students to practice exiting the school building at the sound of the fire alarm. This is also a good reminder to parents to practice home fire escape and to check smoke alarms in your homes. Hold & Secure and Lockdown Procedures There may be situations where the school, under the direction of the Peel Regional Police, may need to have a “hold & secure” or a “lockdown”. The School Board has mandated that lockdown procedures be added to the school’s safety routines. The lockdown procedures attempt to secure students in their own classrooms in the event that there is a high risk incident about to unfold in the school or in dealing with the presence of an individual in possession of a dangerous article on school property. Student Supervision Times P.A.L.S Program The P.A.L.S. Program, (Playground Activity Leaders in the School) encourages all children to participate in activities regardless of their gender, size or ability. P.A.L.S. is a peer-led program in which Grade 6 students are trained to plan and lead fun and safe activities on the playground at recess. The objectives of the program are to: Increase physical activity Decrease conflicts and reduce the incidence of playground bullying Provide a leadership opportunity for students Please encourage your children in grades 1- 4 to take advantage of these activities on the playground at recess. The P.A.L.S. leaders wear pinnies to help identify them. Thank you to Mrs. Dias, Mrs. Paniconi, Mr. Bury (CYW) and Stephanie Grayson (Peel Public Health Nurse) for supporting the program. Please note that teachers are on supervision duty 15 minutes before the start of the school day. For safety reasons, we ask that your child does not arrive at the school prior to 8:45 a.m. Page 8 Important Dates October 6 Catholic School Council Elections 6:30 p.m. October 8 Walk to School Day October 9 First Holy Communion Parents’ Meeting 7:00 p.m. at Church October 13 Happy Thanksgiving. Schools are closed. October 17 Rosary Apostolate October 24 Fundraising Chocolate and Money Due Back at School October 27 Elections Polling Stations at St. Hilary School October 29 Picture Re-takes 9:00 a.m. October 31 Council -Sponsored Spook-a-thon Dance November 1 All Saints’ Day November 2 First Holy Communion Inscription Mass 9:00 a.m. at Church November 4 Confirmation Parents’ Meeting 7:00 p.m. at Church November 11 Progress Reports Sent Home November 11 Remembrance Day Liturgy 11:00 a.m. at School. All are welcome to attend. November 13 Parent-Teacher Interviews (As needed) November 14 P.A. Day. No school for students. November 23 Confirmation Inscription Mass 9:00 a.m. at Church