Welcome to Kindergarten – May 8, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Please note that the date given in our last newsletter was
incorrect. On the evening of May 8, 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.
Pope John Paul II
A year ago, on May 1st we
celebrated the beatification of
Pope John Paul II. We are all
encouraged to continue to pray
for Pope John Paul II to
intercede on our behalf for our
special intentions.
P.D. Day
A reminder that there will be no school for students on
Friday, May 11th, nor on Monday, June 11th. The focus of
the May 11 PD Day, is faith development. On June 16th
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 26th.
Eco-School Activities
Our Green team under the coaching of Mrs. Jackson and
Mrs. Jobb remind 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 for the support of Mrs. Cardoza
and Mr. Barnett who have working together to develop the
garden that will make our entrance way more attractive and
green friendly
On Monday, May 7, we will have visitors from EcoCaledon to
present a workshop called Waste Not to our Grade 4 and 5
classes.
Improvements have been made to solve
some drainage problems and exposed
root systems in our Peace Garden. This
is a joint project of the Board, the
School and our School Council.
Arts Night May 29
Please note that we have had to adjust the date of
our Arts Night in order to accommodate Grade 8
Confirmations at Holy Family Church. We are
planning an evening to celebrate the Arts at Pope
John Paul II School.
Activities will include a
“Coffee House” atmosphere of musical and literary
performances and an Art Gallery showcasing a variety of
student art. In the library, Mrs. Condotta
will be hosting her Book Fair that evening.
Victoria Day
We would like to remind you that Monday, May 21st 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.
Office Staff adjustments
Mrs. Cameron, our Assistant Secretary, is temporarily
away. As a result, Mrs. Durante is filling that position, and
Mrs. Frisoli is working as part-time Assistant Secretary.
We expect Mrs. Cameron to return shortly, but in the
meantime we appreciate the adjustments that others have
made.
Chalice
Thank you to all the families who sent the Chalice
containers back to the school after Easter.
Catalogues are now being prepared for
distribution 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.
Are you Moving?
We are in the process of planning staffing and organizing
classes for the 2012 – 2013 school year. If you are moving
please advise the school office. In addition, if any of your
contact information (work numbers, home numbers, cell
numbers) change, please let us know as soon as possible.
Grade 8 Graduation
The Grade 8 Graduation Mass, distribution
of diplomas and awards will take place on
Thursday, June 28th at 7:00 p.m. at Holy
Family Church. Further details will be made available
shortly.
May: Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary
During this month we make an effort to pray
the Rosary every day. We are grateful for the
prayers of those students who have joined our
rosary group at lunch hour.
“The Rosary is my favourite prayer.” (John Paul II)
Gr. 1, 3, 5, 7 Visit Holy Family Church
On Thursday, May 10, our students in Grade 1, 3, 5 and 7
will be attending morning Mass at Holy Family Church.
While there, they will work with Father Larry, Stephanie
Benedetti and Catherine Ecker. We are grateful to the
School Council who covered the cost of the buses to the
church.
DPCDSB Summer Programs
Elementary Summer School Grades 7 and 8
Tuesday, July 3rd to Friday July 20th, 2012
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Students recommended by the Principal
Bussing provided at home school pick up points
Deadline for applications: June 7th, 2012
Summer Literacy Camp Grades SK to 6
Tuesday, July 3rd to Friday July 27th, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily
Fee for Service Program
No transportation provided
Deadline for applications: June 1st, 2012
Location: St. Nicholas School
Adult Programs
Adult CO-OP Programs (905-362-0701
or 905-891-3934)
ESL English as a Second Language (905-891-9263)
LINC Language Instruction for Newcomers
(905-279-6816)
On-going adult registrations
For more information and registration forms
regarding any of these programs please contact your
local elementary school or
visit the Board website at
http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/CNE/
Food Drive
Our Student Social Justice Committee is organizing a
number of Sprit Days to help encourage students to
participate in a Food Drive. All food brought in will be
donated to the Caledon Community Services. In particular,
they are in need of pasta sauce, canned fruits and
vegetables, cereals and diapers. Pyjama day will be held on
Friday, May 18. Donations are also welcome at our Arts
Night and on the day of the trip to Mass at the Church.
Thank you to everyone for your generosity.
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.
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.
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week will be celebrated from May 6-11,
2012. During this week the
Catholic community celebrates
the unique and distinctive
contribution
that
Catholic
schools make to our students,
our community and our province. Catholic Education Week is
an opportunity to celebrate the mission of our Catholic
schools as they strive to integrate the Gospel values of
Jesus Christ in every aspect of school life and curriculum.
This year’s theme is: Walking in the Light of Christ. We will
be sharing special readings, reflections and prayers on
announcements and in classes.
Reading Month Success
During the month of Apri,l time was set
aside 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.
Holy Name of Mary C.S.S.
Registration for the 2012/2013 school year continues for
students from all grades. For Grade 9 registration
information
please
visit
our
website
at
http://www.dpcdsb.org/HNMRY/Guidance/Grade+9+Registr
ation.htm. For Grade 10, 11, and 12 registration information
please
visit
our
website
at
http://www.dpcdsb.org/HNMRY/Guidance/Gr.+1012+Registration.htm. If you have not registered yet please
do so as soon as possible.
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 Damien.
PALS
Grade 6 students are being trained by Mrs. Pizzolon, Mrs.
Matias and 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.
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
instrumental in the preparation of our students.
were
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.
Street Safety
All students are reminded to go directly home upon
dismissal from the school. If students take a bus, they are
to go home when dropped off. Please remind your children
of safety in the neighbourhood and the need not to talk to
strangers. Children should be encouraged to advise an
adult if they are approached by someone who they do not
know.
After School Security
Students are not allowed to return to the school after
having been dismissed at the end of the day. Many parents
may see it as “following through” by ensuring their child has
their work or agenda, which may have been left at school,
however, returning to the school after hours is not a safe
practice for employees who are still working in the building.
Custodians have a demanding routine which cannot be
interrupted
with
having
to
escort
unknown
parents/students around the building and possibly unlocking
classrooms. Similarly, the school cannot be opened for
people who are playing nearby who want to use the school’s
washroom facilities. Your cooperation is appreciated.
From the Library!!
Award winning author Eric Walters will be presenting at
Pope John Paul II School on May 9th, 2012. His enthusiasm
for writing will definitely capture the interest of our junior
and intermediate students as he shares his stories and
writing techniques with them.
Forest of Reading:
Congratulations to all voters of the Forest of Reading
Program. Over 60 Silver Birch, Red Maple and Silver
Express readers were eligible to cast their votes on voting
day. The favourite Blue Spruce picture book at Pope John
Paul II was: “Giraffe and Bird” written by Rebecca Bender.
Official winners of all categories of the Forest Program will
be announced at the Festival of Trees held on May 15th and
16th, 2012 at Harbourfront.
Book Fair: “Say Aloha to Great Books!!” We will be hosting
a Book Fair from Monday, May 28th to
Friday, June 1st in the school library,
The Book Fair will be open during school
hours. On the evening of May 29,
during the Arts Night, the Book Fair will
be open from 6:30 to 8:30. Catch the summer fun reading
wave and come out and support our school Library!!
All books are due back to the library by June 8th, 2012.
Mrs. Condotta is busy trying to retrieve all those lost or
misplaced books. Please help us by searching closets and
under beds for any books that may be hiding.
Junior Boy’s Basketball Team
Congratulations to the Junior Boys Basketball team who
placed an impressive 3rd place in our Family of Schools
tournament. Our boys displayed excellent sportsmanship,
skill and determination. They represented Pope John Paul
II School well. The team consisted of, Dario B., Jordan D.,
Devin E., Michael H., Michael M., Daniel A., Joseph C., Noah
D. and Christopher Z. Thanks to the coaches, Mme Filippo
and Mr. D’Agostino.
Junior Girl’s Basketball Team
Congratulations to our Girl’s Junior Basketball team. They
played with spirit and determination. After an initial loss
by one point to St. Cornelius School, they came back and
won their final two games. They played St. Cornelius again
for the Championship and beat them to win our Family of
School Tournament.
The girls go on to our Board
tournament on Tuesday – Go Panthers! Included on the
team are, Sydney B., Deanna D., Cristina F., Makana M.M.,
Amanda B., Isabella B., Alana C., Natalie L., Juliana Q. and
Hannah T. Thanks to our coach, Mr. Pusztai who was
assisted by Mr. MacNeil and students, Alyssa and Morgan.
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.
Dance Team
The Dance Event, on April 24th, was a big success at the
Rose Theatre in Brampton. Congratulations to our Junior
Dance Team members: Leah D., Bethney N., Isabel W., Riley
M., Isabella D., Liliana S., Veronica V., Darcey C., Adriana
D., Marco M., Veroncia C., Charlotte B., Maia R. and Sabrina
I.. They were amazing on stage.
The Intermediate Dance Team members consisted of
Marina C., Madison O., Olivia K., Erica C., Caitlyn M., Sarah
S., Emma S. and Lauren M. 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, in particular, R.
Cameron for volunteering her time to teach and perfect
the dances and to Mrs. Cameron, Mrs. Rosati and Mrs.
Pennella 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.
Girls on the Run
Over 50 of our Grade 4 – 7 girls are participating in Girls
on the Run/Girls on Track. This activity promotes self
esteem, and positive body image as well as health and
nutrition amongst the girls involved. June 17th is the date
of the 5 km. run at Downsview Park. Thanks to the School
Council for helping to subsidize this program.
Special
thanks to Mrs. Miller,. Mrs. Rochester and all the staff
coaches involved.
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.
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
Friday, May 25, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012.
Grade 6
Thursday May 24, 2012
Monday May 28, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Please keep this in mind when booking appointments. Thank
you.
Canadian Children’s Book Week May 7 – 11
All Grade One students will be receiving a free copy of
“Gifts” written by Jo Ellen Bogart. These books have been
generously donated by Toronto Dominion Bank.
Soccer News:
The Pope John Paul Junior Girls Outdoor Soccer Team 2012
is getting ready for their tournament to be held on
Tuesday, May 15, 2012.
Team members include, Alana C., Laura P., Emma O., Anna
Maria V., Noelle D., Samantha T., Juliana Q., Natalie L.,
Leah D.G., Erin H. Special thanks to coaches, Mr. MacNeil
and Mrs. Condotta.
The Intermediate Boy’s Outdoor Soccer team is practicing
for an upcoming tournament on May 10, 2012. The team
consists of Alessandro C., Dominic W., William B., Sebastian
D., Daniel D., Lucas C., Vaughn E., Gian Luca B., Daniel M.,
Dylan M., Michael C., Devin E., Matteo I. and Daniel B
.
Best of luck from your coaches Mr. MacNeil and Mrs.
Condotta.
The Intermediate Girl’s Outdoor Soccer team will start
practicing in the upcoming weeks to get ready for their
Tournament Monday, May 14th, 2012, The team consists of
Stephanie C., Alexandra G., Alyssa M., Victoria P., Jocelyn
C., Morgan D., Vanessa D., Lexie H. P., Alana S., Alana C.,
Madison O., Michelle N., Laura C., Britney G. Best of luck
from your coaches Mr. MacNeil and Mrs. Mangiapane.
Ready Set Read! Summer Reading Club
Coming soon to a Public Library Branch near you!!
Who:
Students in Grade 1 through Grade 3 (who are
reading at an independent reading level of 16 or higher) and
their family members.
What: Each week for 6 weeks, Dufferin-Peel teachers will
be modelling and demonstrating a variety of reading
comprehension strategies during read-aloud sessions.
Participants will receive a “Parent Toolkit” and “Student
Toolkit” to help support reading throughout the summer.
Where:
Select Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon and
Orangeville Public Libraries
When: 1 hour weekly (dates and times will vary depending
on library locations)
Why:
To reinforce reading strategies introduced
throughout the school year and sustain reading
development over the summer months in a fun environment!
Please look for the application coming home soon to enrol
your child in the Ready Set Read! Club this summer.
After School Tutoring for Gr. 3 & 6
Thank you to the staff who are working two days a week
after school to support students preparing for the EQAO
Literacy and Numeracy Test. This is a Ministry initiative to
help students to be successful with the testing. Special
thanks to the parents who have been so cooperative in
making transportation arrangements for their children. In
particular, we are proud of the enthusiasm of the students
who are taking advantage of this opportunity.