POPE JOHN PAUL II It is with great joy that we celebrate the beatification of Pope John Paul II on, May 1st, 2011. Students and families attending Mass at Holy Family Church that day received Prayer cards which were brought back to the school. Father Larry and Father Sherwin joined us in a Liturgy of the Word on Thursday, May 5th. All students received a prayer card. We are all encouraged to pray for Pope John Paul II to intercede on our behalf for our special intentions. Father Larry asked us to keep in mind: “Believe. Do not be afraid to believe.” Pope John Paul II’s first words after being elected Pope. Holy Family On-line Please be sure to visit Holy Family Church on-line at their Parish website. The website is www.holyfamilybolton.ca All families are invited to visit the new church website. Victoria Day We would like to remind you that Monday, May 23rd is Victoria Day. This is a holiday and therefore school will be closed. We wish all our students and their families a safe and relaxing long weekend. P.D. Day A reminder that there will be no school for students on Monday, June 13th. On this day teachers will be working on assessment and evaluation of pupil progress and report card writing. Please note that the final report cards go home on Tuesday, June 28th. Eco-School Activities Our Grade 5 Green team have been very busy. Despite the need to postpone our yard clean-up because of wet weather, we were eventually able to get everyone to help. Together we were able to gather 46 kg. of garbage from our yard. Our Green team under the coaching of Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Jobb has also reminded us for the need to turn off lights, bring a litterless lunch and walk to school now that we have good weather. We are also working on a plan to improve our gardens at the front. We are grateful to Mrs. Cardoza who has been sharing ideas with Mr. Barnett on plants that will make our entrance way more attractive and green friendly. Showtime Success Congratulations to all those who participated in the performance of Showtime. In order to for this production to occur, it required a whole school effort. Thanks to all the staff and students who coped with disruptions to routines during the week of performance. Thanks to the parents and those staff who helped to provide props, costumes, make-up, lighting and sound. The end result was spectacular! What a celebration of the talent at the school. All the hard work of the performers and their teacher coaches was well worth it as the community enjoyed very professional presentations. Chalice Thank you to all the families who sent the Chalice containers back to the school after Easter. Catalogues are now being distributed to the classrooms for students to choose what may be purchased to support communities. Last year we were able to provide chickens, goats, cows and household items to countries in need. Thanks again to the Parent Group who collected the containers, counted the money and organized the donations. Welcome to Kindergarten – Wednesday, May 11, 2011, 6:30 p.m. On the evening of June 2, at 6:30 p.m. – all parents whose children are entering Junior Kindergarten are welcome to come out and experience kindergarten routines, instruction techniques, pre-school ideas – as our kindergarten team will welcome you and your children to a night of family learning!!!! A number of community groups will also be joining us this evening. For more information, please contact the school. Junior Achievement Special thanks to Mrs. DiIulio for organizing the Economics of Success through the Junior Achievement program. With the help of H. Wilkie, B. Vasconcelos, V. Vivona, P. Di Iulio, S. Campanelli and C. Markham, the Grade 8 students were introduced to practical skills of the workplace. We are very grateful for the contribution of everyone involved in this project. Elementary Summer School Attached you will find an information form in regards to the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District Summer School Programs for 2011. Please note that these programs are intended for students achieving Level 1 or 2 in Reading and Writing. Please contact your child’s teacher if you are interested in having your child participate in either the Gr. 7 and 8 Summer School program or the Gr. SK-6 Summer Literacy Camp. The deadline for applications is June 1st, 2011. Kindly refer to the website for further details. DPCDSB Summer 2011 Adult Programs Adult CO-OP Programs (905-362-0701 or 905-891-3934) ESL English as a Second Language (905-891-9263) FSL French as a Second Language Conversation 905-891-9263 (ext 37955) LINC Language Instruction for Newcomers (905-279-6816) Visit our website: www.dpcdsb.org/coopcentre Reading Month Success During April time was set aside each week for the whole school to enjoy silent reading. In addition, the Parent Group had special community guests visit classes to read. In order to share the joy of reading, junior students brought in books for a book swap and primary students put together reading worms for display in the hallways. Special thanks to our Parent Group for all their hard work in organizing these activities and running the events. Confirmation Confirmation for students in grade 8 will take place at Holy Family Church on various dates over the next few weeks. This is an important step in the lives of our grade 8 students as it marks their full acceptance and commitment to the larger church community. While we celebrate, we also need to acknowledge the time and effort of the many people involved in supporting our students along the way. The list includes teachers, parents, the parish team and a significant number of other adults who continue to work hard in preparing our students for this sacrament. A special thank you to Father Larry and Father Sherwin. Valuables Students are reminded not to bring valuables, items of importance or money to school. The school does not accept responsibility for the above. Treasures, with a monetary value or sentimental value, should not be brought to school. Student clothing and play items should be clearly marked with your child’s name. First Communion We congratulate our grade 2 students – both those who have already received the sacrament and those who will be receiving Holy Eucharist for the first time in the month to come. Again, we would like to acknowledge all those who were instrumental in the preparation of our students. Farewell and Welcome We would like to say forewell to Mrs. Saab as she has started a leave to prepare for a new arrival in the family. We hope to hear news from her family soon. We would like to welcome Mrs. Mammoliti who will be completing Mrs. Saab’s teaching assignment. Proper Clothing and Protection Warm beautiful days are fast approaching; therefore, parents are reminded to please ensure that your child is protected from the sun. Current fashions in clothing may cause some problems if they are worn to school, regardless of grade level. Students are reminded of our school dress code. Please consider the following when you purchase summer clothes: • Observing certain modesty in dress is advised. • Spaghetti straps, tank tops, tube tops and halter tops are not appropriate for school. • Shorts & skirts should fall below fingertips when extended along the side of the body. • Tops should not be "cropped" (if they expose the belly when the arms are raised straight above the head, they are too short for school) nor should they have large cut armholes, be skin tight, or sheer. • Pants are to be worn at the waist. No undergarments should be exposed. Integrated Ridership The school board’s bus transportation services are operated by Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR). One initiative promoted by the Ministry of Education, that is designed to improve efficiency is known as integrated ridership. In integrated ridership, students from both Dufferin-Peel and Peel schools will ride on the same buses, where feasible. A number of school boards across the province have successfully implemented integrated ridership. All eligible students continue to be transported on runs where integrated ridership is implemented. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board has approved the implementation of integrated ridership, where feasible, starting September, 2011. Integrated ridership works best in situations where schools are located close to one another and the number of students involved helps achieve better organized bus runs. Pope John Paul II School is one of the schools scheduled to implement integrated ridership to some extent. Integrated ridership is designed to create a more effective and efficient operation of service, is more environmentally friendly and reduces traffic in our communities. Integrated ridership may also result in higher transportation funding levels for school boards. As we receive more information from STOPR, we will pass that information on to the community. From the Library: 1. Congratulations to all Forest of Reading readers!!! All eligible Blue Spruce, Silver Birch, Silver Birch Express and Red Maple readers voted for their favourite books on April 20th, 2011. Ballots were counted across Ontario and the winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremonies at Harbourfront on May 11th and 12th. Pop into the library to see who the winners were! 2. Book Fair: “Catch the Reading Wave!” We will be hosting a Book Fair from Tuesday, May 24th to Monday May 30th. Tuesday to Thursday a.m. will be browsing days, with Thursday p.m. to Monday p.m. being purchasing days. The Book Fair will be open until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 26th. Catch the summer fun reading wave and come on out and support our Library!! 3. Award Winning author Kathy Kacer will be at our school on Monday, May 16th, 2011. Grades 5 to 8 will have the pleasure of hearing her talk about her books, the writing process and the Holocaust. Students will have the opportunity to purchase the following books after her presentations. Secret of Gabi’s Dresser - $10.00 (Junior) Clara’s War – $10.00 (Junior/Intermediate) Home Free series - $10.00 each (Junior) The Night Spies - $10.00 The Underground Reporters (Non fiction) - $15.00 Hiding Edith (Non fiction) - $15.00 The Diary of Laura’s Twin (Non fiction) - $15.00 Whispers from the ------(Ghettos, Camps, and Hiding) Series (Non fiction) - $15.00 each (Intermediate) 4. Mrs. Condotta is busy trying to retrieve all those lost or misplaced books. Please note that all books are due back on June 10th. Please help us by searching closets and under beds for any books that may be hiding. Library Dates to Remember: Saving Planet Earth Presentation by Loretta Penny– June 15th and 16th (Kindergarten to grade 8) Author: Freida Wishinsky – June 13th – JK, SK and grade 1s. Last week of book circulation: May 31st to June 3rd . All books back by June 10th . Flag Football The Intermediate Flag Football team continues to prepare for the Cubs Tournament on May 18th, 2011. Team members include Jordan B., Shane S., Evan K., Ernesto C., Aydan N., Justin D., Michael P., William B., Chris R., John Paul L., Hannah R., Alana S., Lexie H., Stephanie C., Bella C., Selena D., and Maya A. Team members enthusiastically participate in offensive and defensive drills in the hope that PJPII will be one of the top competitors at the tournament. Coach Bria and Coach Pusztai are very proud of the overall effort and progress to date. Junior Girl’s Basketball Team Representing the school at the Bolton Tournament on April 14 was, Xena A., Jocelyn C., Alana C., Zoe A., Sydney B., Alex G., Makana M., Deanna D., Natalie L., Hannah T., Katrina B. and Amanda F. The girls won the whole tournamenat and went on to compete in the Family tournament, finishing in second place. Thanks to Mrs. Merrick and Mr. Pusztai for their work with this team. Weather Update As we go into the wet spring season parents are reminded that children should be cautious of high water levels and to stay clear of these areas. In addition, we are likely to have rapid shifts in weather temperatures from warm to very cool. Students are to dress appropriately for the weather of the day and they must be prepared for outdoor recesses. ANAPHYLAXIS We would like to remind you that there are pupils in attendance who suffer from severe and life threatening allergies to certain foods, such as peanut and nut products, sesame seeds and/or milk products. Exposure to the smallest quantities can cause severe life threatening reactions. Anaphylaxis is a severe and life threatening allergic reaction. The most common allergen triggers are food, insect stings, medications, exercise and latex. We would appreciate the cooperation of the entire school community by NOT sending any lunches or snacks that could potentially harm a pupil. Please make sure that all of your children’s caregivers are aware of the food restrictions. Please avoid sending food for birthday or special occasions. There are many alternatives such as stickers and pencils. If you have any questions please talk to your child’s teacher or call the office. Parking Enforcement Please be advised that the front of the school where buses drop off students is a designated “fire route”. Local parking enforcement officers have been present at the school and have been issuing fines. They have authority to come on to the property to enforce fire routes and handicapped parking. Kiss and Ride is provided on the west side of the school for students being dropped off before school. Parents should not be dropping off students in this fire route/bus drop off lane. PALS Grade 6 and 7 students are being trained by our Peel Health Nurse to be PALS (Playground Activity Leaders in Schools). They will lead cooperative games for grades 1 – 3 students during recess. The PALS motto is: There is always room for one more. Dance Team The Dance Event, on April 26th, was a big success with 15 schools participating in the day. Congratulations to our Junior Dance Team members: Brianna A., Leah D., Isabella D., Caitlin M., Lauren M., Riley M., Madison O., Emma S., Liliana S., Sarah S., Isabella W., Bethney N., Julian L. and Marco M. They were amazing on stage and were the adjudicator’s choice to dance in the St. Thomas Aquinas Spring Show held the next evening. The Intermediate Dance Team members consisted of Logan F., Victoria R., Cierra W., Veronica M. and Chloe H. Their graceful performance and choreography were highly praised. The dancers are commended for their dedication to the art of dance. We would like to thank the choreographers, V. Zullo and R. Cameron for volunteering their time to teach and perfect the dances and to Mrs. Atwater and Ms. Moran for coaching the teams. Thanks as well to St. Mike’s Secondary School for the use of their dance studio for some of our rehearsals. Fire Drill and Lockdown Procedures Throughout the year safety procedures are reviewed with students on a number of topics. Emergency evacuation drills are conducted to ensure that everyone is aware of the procedures to follow in order to exit the building safely. In the event of an unforeseen emergency situation, students and staff will evacuate to St. Michael’s Secondary School. In the near future, students and staff will also discuss and practice procedures that will be implemented in the event of an emergency lockdown situation. Adopt-a-Family Through the support of all the families here at Pope John Paul II School many have been comforted. Together, as a community, we sent donations at Christmas organized by our Parent Group to the Caledon Community Services. Some of our Intermediate classes sent donations to the Adopt-A-Family Program in Toronto. Please see the note attached expressing their thanks to our students and families for their contributions. EQAO PROVINCIAL ASSESSMENT Each year Grade 3 and 6 students in Ontario are assessed in reading, writing and mathematics. This year the specific dates for this assessment are: Grade 3 Wednesday, June 1, 2011 Friday, June 3, 2011 Wednesday, June 8, 2011. Grade 6 Tuesday May 31, 2011 Thursday June 2, 2011 Tuesday June 7, 2011 Please keep this in mind when booking appointments. Thank you. Soccer News: The Junior Co-Ed Indoor Soccer team is practicing for their upcoming tournament on May 26th, 2011 at the Brampton Soccer Centre. The team consists of Jordan L, Alex G., Jocelyn C., Lucas C., Joseph C., Devin E., Daniel B., Sydney B., Tristan S., and Sebastian D. Best of luck from your coaches Mr. MacNeil and Mrs. Mangiapane. The Intermediate Boy’s Outdoor Soccer team is practicing for an upcoming tournament in Brampton on May 12th, 2011 at St. Edmund Campion S.S. The team will also play in the Brampton East Family of Schools Soccer Tournament in June at the Caledon Soccer Fields. The team consists of Evan K., Justin D., Alessandro C., Marcus R., Brendan M., Marco M., Dominic W., William B., Alexander M., Anthony M., Christopher R., Sebastian D., Daniel D., Lucas C., Vaughn E., and Jonathan F. Best of luck from your coaches Mr. MacNeil and Mrs. Condotta. The Boy’s Indoor Soccer team participated in the Remember the Titan’s Indoor Soccer Tournament on April 28, 2011. The Boy’s played very well and showed heart and sportsmanship. Best of luck during the outdoor season. The team included, Evan K., Justin D., Alesandra C., Marcus R., Brendan M., Marco M., Dominic W., William B., Alexander M., Anthony M. and Vaughn E. Thanks to our coaches Mr. MacNeil and Mrs. Condotta and all our parents who drove and supported our team. The Girl’s Indoor Soccer team participated in the Remember the Titan’s Indoor Soccer tournament on April 27, 2011. The girls were very successful and finished in the tournament. The team members included, Maya A., Kennedy B., Daphne C., Jocelyn C., Yasmin G., Stephanie G., Lexie H., Chloe H., Alyssa M. and Alana S. Coaches, Mr. MacNeil and Mrs. Condotta are very proud of the team. The Intermediate Girl’s Outdoor Soccer team will start practicing in the upcoming weeks to get ready for the Brampton East Family of Schools Soccer Tournament in June at the Caledon Soccer Fields. The team consists of Maya A., Kennedy B., Daphne C., Jocelyn C., Yasmin G., Stephanie G., Lexie H., Chloe H., Alyssa M., Alana S. and Alex G. Best of luck from your coaches Mr. MacNeil and Mrs. Mangiapane. Facebook Presentation Thanks to all the parents who joined us to hear Chris Vollum present information about Facebook. He will once again be making a presentation at St. Michael’s Secondary School on June 2, 2011 at 6:30 at the Family of Schools Catholic School Councils meeting. If you would like to attend, please let us know at the office.