Father Francis McSpiritt March Newsletter 2015
A PRAYER FOR THE LENTEN SEASON
Jesus you are triumphant
And your footsteps are determined.
Your road has been steep and rough.
This week we see the journey
That you have made toward life.
You are our leader and our guide.
We too walk on this road.
We place our feet,
Our words, our actions….on the road.
We walk behind you,
We follow you.
Amen
Principal:
G. Sideroff
Vice Principal:
S. Salameh
Secretary:
K. Walsh
J. Carere
Superintendent:
D. Oude-Reimerink
Brampton North -East
(905) 890-1221
Trustee:
S.Xavier
Our Virtue for March…… Kindness
This month, we celebrate the virtue of Kindness. We will learn that:
Parish:
St. Patrick’s Church
(905) 794-0486
Pastor:
Fr. V. Marziliano
Father Francis McSpiritt
Catholic School
55 Lexington Road
Brampton, Ontario
L6P 2B1
Telephone: (905) 794-5031
Fax- (905) 794-9542
A kind person….
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Says nice things to others so they feel good about themselves
Sticks up for people who are picked on or need help
Refuses to join others who are insulting, intimidating, mean or hurtful
Watches and looks for ways to help those in need
“As brothers and sisters who share one Holy Spirit, we are all valuable to God.
We all deserve to be shown concern for our welfare and our feelings. We have all
been given the fruit of the Spirit called “Kindness”.
Father Francis McSpiritt March Newsletter 2015
Dear Mrs. Abulu:
Thank you for sharing your gift of kindness and compassion with us.
Thank you for gracing our hallways with your beautiful smile.
Thank you for displaying your love of teaching and inspiring our students
to be the best that they can be.
Thank you for demonstrating true courage and never losing faith in Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
We will miss you and you will always be remembered.
With love, from the staff, students and parent community of Father Francis McSpiritt School.
Staff and students participated in a school-wide liturgy with Father Vito on February 24.
A Memorial Liturgy is being planned for staff and the community, here at the school, in honour of Mrs.
Abulu. More details will follow. Please refer to school website for information regarding arrangements.
Father Francis McSpiritt March Newsletter 2015
Growing Together in Faith
Thank you to School Council and to all our parent volunteers for organizing and “flipping”
pancakes for staff and students on Shrove Tuesday.
Students were asked for a $2.00 donation with all proceeds going to ShareLife.
Thank you to ShareLife for providing all participants who made a donation with a green “Share
Life” bracelet. Thank you to the McSpiritt community. We raised $920.00 for ShareLife.
MARCH BREAK
MARCH 16 – 20, 2015
We wish all staff and students a restful break.
PLAY SAFE
SAFETY AND LATES
We are noticing a significant number of students arriving at school after the 8:45 bell. It is
very important for our students to realize the importance of arriving at school on time. Lining
up with their classmates will help reduce the number of front office disruptions. When
arriving late, please do not use the front driveway. Park on the street, and walk your child.
The Kiss “N” Ride area is at the “side” of the school.
Even though we acknowledge the fact that the Kiss “N” Ride area is not able to accommodate
the large volume of cars that use it on a daily basis, using the front of the school while the
buses are unloading students is a safety concern and is NOT AN OPTION.
If you drive your child to school, please arrive prior to the bell and drop off your child in the
Kiss “N” Ride area at the side of the school. Also consider walking as a healthy alternative.
For the safety of the children, parents / guardians are reminded that the fire route at the
frontSports
of the Corner
school must remain free of vehicles to provide for emergency access and the safe
arrival of 7 busses on a daily basis. Please note that vehicles parked in the fire route at the
front of school may be tagged by By-Law Enforcement.
Father Francis McSpiritt March Newsletter 2015
On February 19, 2015, Nadine Williams was invited to our school to speak to
our students during Black History Month. She is a native of St. Mary Parish,
Jamaica and is a poet and author. Currently, she calls Brampton her home. In
2008, she successfully self-published her first book of poetry. She is the author
of: “The Culmination of Marriage Between Me & My Pen”, “With this Pen I Do
Tell” and “Love Rocks”.
Thank you to Nadine for sharing a little bit of music, literature, and history with
us.
Throughout the month of February, students also learned about “Black History”
through regular morning announcements, made by our students, featuring the
accomplishments of prominent African American /Canadian figures.
Teachers also engaged our students through a variety of classroom activities.
Our Kindergartens learned about Martin Luther King. Please refer to picture
below.
SPORTS CORNER
On February 19, our Junior Boys and Girls Basketball teams represented Fr. Francis McSpiritt School at
the BNE Family of Schools Tournament which took place at St. Anthony School. The boys came in “first”
and they were able to advance to the Family Finals on February 26th at St. Anthony School. The boys and
girls demonstrated sportsmanship, hard work and a positive attitude. Your coaches are very proud of you.
Thank you to the coaches, Mr. Toledo and Mr. MacNeil.
Intramurals
Thanks to Mr. MacNeil, Intramurals have begun for our Grade 4 students. They are enjoying playing
basketball with their peers in a non-competitive manner. The students are demonstrating sportsmanship and
they are making positive choices while displaying Catholic Virtues. The program will run until March break
on Monday’s and Tuesday’s at lunch time. After March Break, the program will run for the Grade 5 students.
Father Francis McSpiritt March Newsletter 2015
THE GREAT BIG CRUNCH
As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, on March 12th, all of our students will be participating in a
fundraising event which will go towards our school snack program. Each student will receive a
complimentary apple and at 2:30 p.m. the whole school will be “crunching” into their apple. We are asking
for any amount of donation and it will go towards providing fresh fruits and vegetables for our students
throughout the year. We hand out an average of 125 snacks daily with the financial support of the Peel Boys
and Girls Club and Breakfast for Kids. Thank you in advance for your donations. Snacks are made available
on a daily basis to any student who wants one. No child is turned away.
BOOK FAIR
Thank you for your support with our school book fair. It was a great success. We would like to thank
parents, students and staff for their contributions to this year’s book fair. The school profit was
approximately $2000.00 and will go towards library purchases. Thank you to Ms. Huber and her
volunteers for coordinating this yearly event.
Dates to Remember
March 4
March 6
March 11
March 16 – March 20
Mar. 30 to April 3
April 1st
April 2
April 3
April 6
April 8
April 14
April 15
May 4 – 8
May 6 & 7
May 11
May 16
May 18
May 23
May 25 – June 5
June 3, 4, 5
June 8
June 17
June 26
CWL Intermediate Speeches @ Holy Spirit School-7:00PM
Immunization Grades 7 & 8
School Council Meeting @ 6:30 PM
March Break – No School
Holy Week
Passion Play in school gym – parents are welcome
Grade 8 Retreat @ Mount Alverno
Good Friday – No School
Easter Monday – No School
Easter Mass with Father Vito in school gym – 1:15 PM
Graduation Pictures for Grade 8 students
Grade 2 Retreat Day at school
Catholic Education Week
School Production “Wizard of Oz” 6:30 PM-Advance ticket purchase
PA Day – No School
First Communion @ St. Patrick Church 12PM & 2:30 PM
Victoria Day – No School
Grade 8 Confirmation @ St. Patrick Church 10:00 AM & 1:00PM
EQAO testing for all Grade 3 and 6 students
Dental Screening- for all Kindergartens, Grade 2 & 8 students
PA Day – Assessment and Evaluation Day – No school for students
End of Year mass with Father Vito in school gym – 1:30PM
Last Day of School