March Break
A reminder that March Break is from Monday, March
11th to Friday, March 15th. There will be no school for
students on these days. We hope everyone enjoys a
safe and restful March Break.
Changes of emergency numbers
Throughout the school year there may be any number
of changes which occur at home. There are a few
families who have not left us with emergency contacts.
Please help us ensure that we always have current
home numbers, work numbers and emergency contact
numbers. In addition, it is important that you have a
network of support for your children as a back-up in
case you cannot be reached. Cell phones, family and
local friends are all good contacts for us to have on file.
OCEANS ALIVE!
Guest speaker, Loretta Penny is coming to Pope John
Paul II on Monday & Tuesday, March 4 & 5th, 2013.
Her presentation will take us on a marine adventure.
At the end of the presentation, students will have an
opportunity to visit The Global Village Gift Shop,
featuring affordable, fair-trade items that benefit
artisans locally and globally. Thank you in advance for
supporting our school.
10% of sales will go back to support the school.
THE GLOBAL VILLAGE GIFT SHOP ITEMS FOR SALE
(All taxes included) * While supplies last!
$1.00
Rocks/Minerals/Gems,
Healing
Stones,
Necklaces, Back Pack Ties, Rings, Gem Cards
$2.00 Gemstones, Crystal Geodes, Amethyst, Bamboo
Flutes, Mood Rings, Jewellery, Button Buddies,
Strongest Magnets ($2.00 pr), Energy
Bracelets, Hacky Sacs, Moonstone Eggs, Mulberry Fans,
Gem Bugs
$3.00 Elephant Poo Books, Mulberry Books, Gemstone
Bracelets, Jewellery, Frog Rasps, Bark Pencils with
carved animals, Duck Quackers,
Egg Shakers. Jungle Paper Books, Rings
$5.00 Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings, Rings, Seed
Shakers, Mini Rainsticks, Coconut Coin Purse, Books
(by guest speaker Loretta Penny),
Shaker Drums, Scarves, Coconut Clappers
$10.00 & up Jewellery, Scarves, Natural Carvings,
Musical Instruments & more!
Cash Only!
Immunization
Peel Health has now distributed letters to those
families that require updated immunizations. Peel
Health works through school boards. If you don’t
respond, the school will be instructed to suspend your
child. Please check your mail to see if you have
received notification and ensure that your
immunization records are up to date.
April is Reading Month
We are looking forward to April which will be our
month of Reading! Parents or community members are
invited to join us as guest readers. Our reading guests
will read to three classes in a one hour time slot. If you
are interested or know of a local person who may be
interested, please contact the office and the names will
be passed on to the Parent Group.
EQAO Update
The grade 3 and 6 EQAO assessments measure how
well students have met the expectations in the Ontario
Curriculum Grades 1-8. The assessments test what
students know and how well they apply their
knowledge and skills in reading, writing and
mathematics by requiring students to read and
respond to passages, to write and to solve
mathematical problems. The results are reported in
terms of achievement from levels 1-4 with level 3 as
the standard. The window for EQAO assessments of all
grade 3 and 6 students of 2012/2013 has been
established for May 27 to June 7. Please keep this
important time frame in mind when you are planning
family trips or appointments. It is important that all
grade 3 and 6 students be in attendance for the
assessments.
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 the child’s name. No
Personal Electronic Devices, including cell phones are
allowed on school premises.
Chalice
Chalice is a Catholic sponsorship and development
organization working to alleviate the effects of poverty
in the developing world.
Chalice supports the
initiatives of the local people working for the common
good of their community through the care of children
and elderly in need. As we proceed through Lent we
ask for your support of the Parent Group who will be
leading this project. Letters will be sent out shortly.
We would like to remind you that the Chalice
containers will be collected after Easter, on Tuesday,
April 2nd.
Good ‘Ole Hockey Game
This year we have been unable to secure ice time for
our annual Sharelife fundraiser, Good ‘Ole Hockey
Game, where students play against staff and parent
volunteers.
We hope to be able to resume the
tradition next year. We will be seeking another source
for our Sharelife fundraiser.
Kindergarten Bussing for 2013-2014
On Saturday, August 25th, STOPR will be holding
their
annual
YOUNG
RIDER
ORIENTATION
DAY
for
ALL
Kindergarten children. The intent of
the day is to introduce children to
school buses in an informal setting
prior to the first day of school.
We encourage you to participate by bringing your
Kindergarten children and elementary age siblings to a
one hour program between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and
12 noon. Bus rides and a school bus safety video are
only part of the informative fun. All Young Rider Days
have been tremendous successes.
To confirm your attendance and preferred time slot,
please call Parkview Transit at 905-846-1070 in June
2013. The location for this training is Humberview
Secondary School, 135 Kingsview Drive in Bolton.
Placements for September 2013
Soon we will begin work on next year’s class lists. If
you are planning for your child(ren) to attend Pope
John Paul II School next year and there are any
learning needs that you think we need to consider in
making up classes (this does not include requests for
specific teachers), please include this information in a
letter to the principal. Educational reasons will be
factored into the decisions which will be made by
teachers, resource staff and the school administration.
Letters must be signed and submitted to the
Principal prior to March 28, 2013. We cannot
guarantee your request but we will consider your
concerns and reasons along with all other factors.
Junior Kindergarten students from this year will be
notified of any changes in either a.m. or p.m. program
by June 2013 . As always, class placements will be
tentative until the end of the second week of
September when our staffing is confirmed. Your
assistance in helping your children understand this
process is greatly appreciated.
Weather Update
As the wet spring season approaches 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
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.
Snow Safety
We have reminded students repeatedly that “snow
stays on the ground”. Despite these reminders we
have incidents where students get hurt from ice
particles in the snow that is thrown. Your help to
reinforce this message is appreciated.
Safety First
A safety reminder to all our students that
bikes, scooters and roller blades are to
be walked both on and off the school
property. Bikes are to be locked at the
side of the school. We do not have facilities to store or
secure roller blades or scooters, so there is an added
risk of damage or theft and they are not encouraged to
be brought to school. The school is not responsible for
these items. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Parking Cautions
Once again we remind you to always consider student
safety over adult convenience. Right at bell times, we
have major congestion. It lasts for about 10 minutes.
There will not be major changes in our parking lot or
driveways to accommodate these times. We must
work together to consider how we can support one
another to ensure the safety of all. Please reduce your
speed on school property.
Please be aware that the front drive thru area of the
school is considered a “fire route”. Parking control is
very conscientious in ticketing anyone stopped in this
area, at any time. Please do not park or leave your car
in this area at any time.
Forest of Reading
The Forest of Reading program is alive and well in the
library. All programs are up and running. Grades 1-3
have already read their 4th Blue Spruce book while
older students are enjoying their fiction and nonfiction titles. Over 65 students have joined the Silver
Birch, Silver Birch Express and Red Maple Programs.
Participants come to the library daily to read their
books, to discuss them with their peers or simply to
exchange them for new ones. Students are very excited
about being part of this program that allows them the
opportunity not only to read great Canadian literature
but also to have a voice in the selection process.
Congratulations to our committed readers!! Voting
day is on April 22, 2013.
Reminder to parents and students to check out our
school website for access to Online books through
Tumble Books and other great sites. Links are found
on the Library tab through Student Resources.
Pizza Reminder
We would like to thank all those who support our pizza
days. This is a wonderful fundraising project for the
school. Please be reminded that if there is an
unavoidable disruption of the school routine, such as
bus cancellations, pizza days will continue. We do not
have the facilities to store or reheat pizza for students
who are not present for Pizza Day. Special thanks to
our volunteers who work on this project.
Student Safety
If a child is being picked up from school by someone
other than a parent or guardian, there must be written
permission from the parent or guardian. Also all
parents/visitors to the school must report to the office.
All visitors in the school, must wear a visitor’s badge.
No one should be going directly to their child’s class or
wandering through the school. No adult should engage
in conversation with other students on school
property. Please share any concerns you may have
with staff only. Remember you are a stranger to
other students in the school.
Student Dress Code
Students are to maintain a standard of neatness,
cleanliness, modesty and good taste. What is
acceptable on a six or an eight year old student may
not be appropriate on a twelve year old student.
Therefore, students from grades five to eight should
not wear such things as short-shorts, tight spandex
biking short, cutoffs, tank tops, halter tops or any other
clothing which leaves the wearer with a bare shoulder,
a bare back or a bare middle. Pants and tops are to
meet at the waist, even if the wearer is reaching up. All
headwear must be removed upon entry into the
building. Bandannas and sweatbands are not to be
worn to school. Suggestive or offensive slogans,
particularly those of a sexual, racial or violent nature
on t-shirts, hats or sweat shirts or graffiti on regular
clothing, are not acceptable.
We ask for your
continued support for a dress code which reflects a
Catholic school as a place for serious work,
accompanied by standards of sensitivity, politeness
and decorum. The school reserves the right to send
students home when they are not suitably dressed.
Kiss and Ride
Please try to ensure that the children are ready to get
out of the car in Kiss and Ride and that they can exit on
the passenger side. Students using Kiss and Ride
should be able to exit the vehicle on their own.
Teachers have been cautioned by their Association, not
to be opening doors. Their role is to supervise the
students. Drivers, please remain in your vehicle if you
are going through Kiss and Ride, pause long enough to
allow children to exit safely, then continue through to
allow other cars to move in. If parents need to get out
of the driver’s seat, you should not be using the Kiss
and Ride – instead, you should park and escort your
child safely to the school yard. If parking, please use
designated parking areas only.
Holiday Homework
Homework is generally work not completed in class or
reinforcement of concepts taught in class. It is an
integral part of what occurs in the classroom.
Therefore, without the initial lesson/activity in the
classroom, teachers cannot provide homework which
would address the same skills and concepts. Often
when parents take holidays other than during
regularly scheduled holiday times, we are requested to
provide home-work which would cover the same
material as the students may miss. As a courtesy,
worksheets may be provided to reinforce some
concepts, however it may be better to take full
advantage of what can be learned on the trip and have
students read material related to what they will see,
write a journal about their activities and calculate the
exchange of currency. These are real situations which
can be exploited for their learning potential. Work
missed because of absence is the responsibility of the
student. If a student is having some difficulty
demonstrating the expectations of the grade level, one
may want to be cautious on how much school time is
missed and its possible effect on the academic success
of the student.
Financial Opportunity
Was your child born after 2004? Is your family income
less than $42,707 per year?
If you answered yes to both of these questions, then
your child is entitled to receive $2,000 in FREE money
provided by the Government of Canada through the
Canada Learning Bond (CLB) - Registered Education
Savings Plan (RESP). There is an information meeting
to be held at 12:00, noon, at Catholic Crosscultural
Services, 4557 Hurontario St., Mississauga. For more
information, please go online at: www.pcyi.org or call
the information line: 1-888-836-5550.
Knights of Columbus Free Throw
Congratulations to three PJPII students who won the
free throw at St. Michael CSS at the Fr. Henk Van
den Berg Council Championship and who then
moved onto Orangeville. They are Hannah C. and
Joseph C. (grade 6) and Makana (grade 7). Good
luck to Joseph who will continue to compete in
Etobicoke on March 23.
Intermediate Girl’s Basketball Success
The Intermediate Girl’s Basketball team experienced a
successful season.
They won the Bolton Mini
Tournament. Playing very competitive teams, the girls
placed second at the Family Tournament allowing
them to go on to the Board finals. Congratulations to
our Family Champions who represented Pope John
Paul II School with sportsmanship, skill and school
spirit. Team members included: Sydney B., Amanda F.,
Charlotte B., Xena A., Jocelyn C., Deanna D., Britney G.,
Zoe A. and Makana M. Thank you to the dedicated
coaches, Mrs. Farquhar and Mrs. DeAngelis and all the
parent volunteers who transported the team and
supported
them
this
season.