Student Lateness
Snowbank Safety
There has been a gradual increase in
the
number of students arriving
just as the bell rings. Please
note that classes begin at 8:30
sharp and students should
arrive at school prior to that
time in order to ensure that they are prepared
to begin work on time. Please review the need to
be punctual with your children. Once the last of
the student lines have entered the building at
the back, the doors are closed and locked. A
child who is coming in late must report to the
office for a late slip as part of the safe arrival
program. Lateness is a disruption to the class
and other students. Please try to impress upon
your child the need to be on time.
In the event of a substantial snowfall, Student
Transportation is concerned that students may
be playing in the snowbanks and possibly creating
an unsafe pick up and /or drop off for students.
When the snowbanks are high, the appropriate
location to wait for the bus would be where the
area has been shoveled and a pathway exists.
Parents are asked to discuss this safety rule. As
well, bus drivers have been instructed to be
cautious about where students are dropped off.
Christmas Wishes
On
behalf
of our teaching staff and
administration we would like to say
a heartfelt thanks
to all the families for such
generous Christmas wishes! Your
kind words, gifts and cards are much
appreciated.
Parent Volunteers
We are very fortunate to have many beautiful
decorations for the Christmas season. Such a
display would not be possible without the help of
our parent volunteer crew who put up the
Christmas decorations and then came in and took
them all down. The contribution of your time
during such a busy season is greatly appreciated.
In addition, many volunteers from the Parent
Group helped with the distribution of Hot
Chocolate and Christmas Bookmarks during our
Christmas Activity Week.
Thank you for
organizing our Christmas Care Projects – the
community here has been very generous in
making donations for those less fortunate. We
are so lucky to have people who just jump in to
help out in so many ways.
Farewell and welcome back!
We would like to welcome Mrs. Hassberger back.
She will be joining Mrs. Romano in providing
planning time to Grade 1 to 3 classes. Mrs.
Romano will be at the school on Mondays and
Tuesdays and Mrs. Hassberger will be here on
Thursdays and Fridays.
They will alternate
every other Wednesday.
We are pleased to
have Mrs. Hassberger with us once again.
Extended French Program
The Dufferin-Peel Board of Education offers the
Extended French (French Immersion) program at
St. Cornelius School for this area. Currently,
the Extended French program starts in grade 5
with 50% of the program taught in French. More
detailed information will be available at a
parents’ meeting to be held at St. Cornelius
School on Thursday, January 13th at 7pm.
Inclement Weather
So far we have been very fortunate with our
winter weather. Please be prepared in case
buses are cancelled. Just before Christmas we
sent home a flier identifying radio stations to
listen to and messages to listen for in case the
weather is questionable. Current information will
also be posted on the Board website and the
transportation website: www.stopr.ca
School Council
There will be a meeting of the School Council on
Monday, January 17 at 7:00 p.m. All meetings are
open to community members. At this meeting we
will be setting budget priorities.
Rough Play
While outside during recess students sometimes
find themselves engaging in inappropriate
activities that involve rough play. Pushing,
shoving, tackling, play fighting and wrestling are
all unacceptable activities that compromise
student safety. Please reinforce with your
children the inherent dangers of rough play even
when the intent is fun.
Snow Stays on the Ground
Every year about this time we need to remind
students that throwing snowballs and/or kicking
snow is prohibited on school property - before,
during or after school hours. If students are
caught throwing snow in any fashion, their
behavior will be addressed by the staff on duty
and by the office. Thanks to all for your
cooperation.
Girl’s Intermediate Basketball
Thanks to all who have been involved in try outs.
The basketball practices will continue through
January with the Bolton tournament and Family
tournament to occur in the middle of February.
Best wishes to all the players: Marina Baldassare,
Maya Allen, Yasmin Gordon, Daphne Coulombe,
Isabella Cardoza, Amanda Silveira, Alana Spelko,
Lexie Hesketh-Pavilons, Morgan Deibert, Logan
Fabbro, Shannon Ladouceur, Alyssa Mattacchione.
Thanks again to Mrs. DeAngelis and Mrs.
Farquhar for their dedication to the sport.
Boy’s Intermediate Basketball
We are looking forward to a competitive season
for our Boy’s Intermediate Basketball team.
Thanks to all who have been involved in try outs.
The Family of School games will begin at the
middle of January and continue through February.
Special thanks to the coach, Mr. MacNeil and Mr.
Pusztai for their time and dedication. The team
consists of the following students: Luca Dovigo,
Matthew D’Urzo, Shane Sommers, Anthony
Marino, Justin Donatelli, Anthony Torroni, Pietro
DeMarchi.
Hockey
Thanks to the parents, students and staff for
supporting our hockey team once again. So far,
there has been a large turnout for the tryouts.
Soon the team members will be named. They will
be participating in a number of tournaments this
season.
GREAT Program
Our Grade 7 students will be participating in a
new program offered by the local OPP. This
program is called GREAT, Gang Resistance and
Education Training. The G.R.E.A.T. middle school
curriculum is a skills-based curriculum designed
to produce knowledge, attitudinal and behavioral
changes through the use of facilitative teaching,
positive behavior rehearsal, cooperative and
interactive learning techniques, and extended
teacher activities. The goal is to prevent youth
crime, violence, and gang involvement while
developing a positive relationship among law
enforcement, families, and our young people to
create safer communities. Taught in the
classroom (grade 7) by specially trained,
uniformed law enforcement officers, G.R.E.A.T.'s
violence prevention curriculum is a life-skills
competency program designed to provide
students with the skills they need to avoid gang
pressure and youth violence. We are looking
forward to working with Constable Kiamos on this
project beginning in January and continuing until
Easter.
Youth Ambassadors
The Youth Faith Ambassadors have recently had
the opportunity to visit and spend some quality
time with the residents at the King Nursing
Home. Some activities include playing cards and
Bingo, making crafts and conversing in small
groups. The elderly and our students mutually
look forward to these monthly visits. The next
visit will be Friday, January 28th, 2011 by Group C
members.
In addition, the Youth Faith Ambassadors will be
conducting a Drive called “Soap for Hope”. They
will be graciously collecting bars of soap for
Third World Nations. Your support is greatly
appreciated. All items will be presented to Dr.
Simone Monday January 17th, and Monday 24th,
2011 when our students visit the Canadian Food
for Children warehouse.
Our Faith Ambassadors have been exemplifying
the true meaning of giving back to those in need,
in our community and abroad.
FROM THE LIBRARY
Thank you once again to our school community for the
wonderful support given to the book fair.
We thank the parent volunteers who offered time to
help out and the students for their support through
purchases made. The profit made of $2800.00 will go
towards purchasing new resources for our school
library collection.
The library will be running the Forest of Reading
Programs again this year. Each program brings
recently published Canadian literature to Ontario
children. Mrs. Condotta will be reading 10 newly
published Canadian picture books to grades 1, 2 and 3
as part of the Blue Spruce Program.
Silver Birch Express and Silver Birch Reading Programs
will be offered to grades 4, 5 and 6 students. Red
Maple will be available to our intermediate students.
All programs will be up and running by the second week
of January. Students are encouraged to sign up with
Mrs. Condotta and start reading.
Voting day for all programs will take place during the
week of April 18th, 2011. Feel free to check out
nominated titles @ www.accessola.com/reading. The
Forest of Reading Program provides students with a
wonderful opportunity to become involved in reading
good quality Canadian literature.