Christmas Wishes
On behalf of our teaching staff and administration we
would like to extend a heartfelt thanks for all the
wonderful wishes at Christmas time.
We would like to extend a special thanks to those
families who provided support for others within the
community either by contributing toys under the trees
at the front or through their individual donations. This
truly is a community which looks out for one another.
Thank you for sharing the warmth of the Christmas
spirit.
Awareness of Fragrances
Fragrances and scents are found in a wide range of
products including perfume, aftershave, deodorant, soap
air fresheners, fabric softeners, laundry detergents,
facial tissues and
candles. Exposure to
fragrances and other
scented products may
trigger
adverse
health reactions (e.g., asthma attack, anaphylactic
reaction and shortness of breath) in individuals with
asthma, allergies, migraines or chemical sensitivities.
Other less serious but equally debilitating symptoms
include headache, sore throat, runny nose, sinus
congestion, wheezing, dizziness, anxiety, anger, nausea,
fatigue, mental confusion and an inability to concentrate.
In order to support those individuals with sensitivities
to fragrances and scents, and to possibly prevent others
from developing such sensitivities, we are asking for
your cooperation in avoiding the use of spray perfumes
and fragrances in the school. In particular, students
should use roll-on deodorants after gym classes. Often
spray deodorants are misused in the change rooms and
hallways.
We would like to remind
parents of the need to have a
network of support to care for
children especially in case of
midday illness. As we go
through this difficult time when everyone is anxious
about the spread of germs please note that Peel Health
repeatedly recommends that the best practice to prevent
the spread of viruses is:
 wash hands with soap and water thoroughly
and often
 to cough or sneeze into a sleeve or tissue
 stay home if you are sick
When children become sick during the course of the
school day, a plan needs to be in place to care for
him/her. As with all medical issues, we continue to take
direction from Peel Health on how to best respond to
community illness.
Immunization Records
Please be advised that there may be times when Peel
Public Health conducts a review of student
immunization records. In that regard, please note that
under Section 266 (2.1) of the Education Act, the Medical
Officer of Health is entitled to disclosure by the school
principal, upon request, of the following:
a) The pupil's name, address and telephone number
b) The pupil's birth date
c) The name, address and telephone number of the
pupil's parent or guardian
Thank you for your support in ensuring that all
immunization records are up to date with Peel Health.
Primary Christmas Concert
Congratulations to all our primary student angels who
performed in the Christmas concert. The students
reminded us all of the true joy of the season. Special
thanks to all of the staff for their efforts in preparing the
students. It was a wonderful experience for all who were
involved.
Student Lateness
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.
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.
Snowbank Safety
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.
Standardized Dress Code
In the fall the subject of school uniforms/
standardized dress code came up at a School Council
meeting. A committee was formed to look into the
subject. After careful consideration and research, the
committee has decided to explore the possibility of
implementing a Standardize Dress Code. Please look
out for information pamphlets coming home next week
with Dress Code specifics. We will be hosting an
information night welcoming parents, students and
teachers to come and view samples and answer any
questions and discuss concerns. The meeting will take
place at 6:00pm on January 20th prior to the School
Council meeting at 6:45pm. If you are unable to attend
the information evening and have questions or would
like to express any concerns you may email members
of the School Council at sjpcouncil@gmail.com. We
will also have some samples and information posted in
the front display cases for parents and students by the
end of next week. All families will be entitled to one
vote per family for children that will be enrolled in the
2015-2016 school year. New families registering in
January will also be entitled to a vote during the
registration timeframe. The voting period will be
opened from January 26 until February 13. In order for
the school to implement a standardize dress code the
vote needs to reach an 80% approval rate. If the
approval rate is achieved a Standardize Dress Code
would be implemented for September 2015.
Grandfriends
Our Grade 7 and 8 Youth Faith Ambassadors visit the
residents at the King Nursing Home. Before Christmas,
the choir joined them to sing Christmas carols to the
senior residents. Once again in January, students will
engage with the residents by playing cards and Bingo,
making crafts and conversing in small groups.
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. In
addition, many volunteers from the Parent Group
worked with the student Sprit Group in our Christmas
Café. The contribution of your time during such a busy
season is greatly appreciated.
Planning for children with special needs
On Wednesday, January 21, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School Board’s Special Education and Support
Services Department will host a Kindergarten entry
planning information session. This meeting is for
parents and guardians of children with special needs
which affect their learning, such as vision, hearing,
physical, developmental or autism, who are entering
Junior, Senior or Full-Day Kindergarten in September
2015. The meeting will be held at the Catholic Education
Centre from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. For more information
about this session, call 905-890-0708.
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.
Youth Faith Ambassadors
We would like to recognize the leadership of our
students who are involved in events which actively
demonstrates their faith in action. These Grade 7 & 8
students prepared for Christmas by distributing Advent
Wreaths to the classrooms and providing a blessing for
each. They meet regularly under the guidance of Mrs.
D’Amico and Mme. Attard.
Currently, they are
organizing the Soap and Table Salt donations for Dr.
Simone’s warehouse.
Extended French
Any student who is eligible to attend a Dufferin-Peel
Catholic school and who is presently a Grade 4 student is
eligible to enrol in the Extended French program for
Grade 5 in September 2015. Completed applications,
containing all required documentation must be
submitted by 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2015. A
lottery will be held at a pre-determined and advertised
date if, and only if, the number of applications received
at the school exceeds the places available.
An
information night will be held at Holy Family School on
Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Kindergarten Registration
Junior and Senior Kindergarten registration for the
2015-16 school year, for children not already
registered, will be held at all Dufferin-Peel Catholic
elementary schools on January 26 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
and January 28 - 30 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:003:00 p..m.
For more information, parents/guardians should
contact their local Catholic school, visit the board
website at www.dpcdsb.org, or call the Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District School Board at 905-890-1221.
Term One Report Cards
Term 1 report cards will be sent home on Tuesday,
February 3rd. Parent/student/teacher interviews will be
scheduled for the evening of Thursday, February 5th.
Parents will receive interview scheduling forms. There
will not be report cards for Kindergarten students at this
time of year. However, interviews will be available for
the parents of our Kindergarten students.
Bar Soap and Salt Donations
Again this year, the grade 8’s will be travelling to Dr.
Simone’s warehouse at the end of January to pack
containers that will be sent to several developing
countries in the world. We are collecting bar soap and
table salt to send with the grade 8’s. Please support our
Soap and Salt campaign for Hope. All items should be
sent to the school no later than, January 22. Thank you.
Student Illness
Students who are ill should be kept
home where they are most
comfortable and can get better
sooner. A child who is too ill to go
out for recess is too ill to be at
school. Your cooperation to keep
your child home when he/she is ill is
appreciated. We do not have the facilities to
care for sick children at school and we are concerned for
the health of others who may unnecessarily be exposed
to the spread of viruses and other illnesses.
Junior Boy’s Basketball Team
The boy’s team has now been selected and
they are preparing for the Bolton
Basketball tournament to be held on
Thursday, February 19. Congratulations to
the following students who will represent
the school, Gerick, Josh T., Anthony T.,
Xavier, Ryan B., Alessio, Daniel R., Samuel, Peter
T., Adamo Z., Zachary C. and Luca R Special thanks to
coaches Mrs. DeCassan and Mr. Pusztai.
Fifth Disease-Please Inform the School
Fifth disease has the potential to put staff, volunteers
and other parents, who may be pregnant, at risk. As a
school we are asking, if your child shows symptoms of
fifth disease please bring him/her to your family
physician to obtain an actual diagnosis. Symptoms may
include: mild usually non febrile infection, a “slapped
cheeks” rash on the face followed by a fine lace like rash
on the trunk and extremities, rash may be more
pronounced during exercise, stress or environmental
changes (e.g. temperature and exposure to sunlight). In
exceptional cases, the rash can take up to 5 weeks to
disappear entirely. In the event that your child is
diagnosed with fifth disease, please inform the
school.
Spectators at Tournaments and Games
Please note that our teams represent our school at a
number of games and tournaments and those team
members are supervised by the coaching staff. Only
those players participating at these events should be in
attendance. Students are not excused from their
responsibility to attend school for the purpose of
supporting friends at these events.
Junior Girl’s Basketball Team
Congratulations to all the girls who tried out for the
team! Those representing the school at the Bolton
Tournament on February 19 will be Sophia S., Safia I.,
Izabella Z., Hannah T., Alexandra P., Ailen S., Mia C.,
Valentina C., Julia A., Maya C., Maggie K. and Emma A.
Thank you to the dedicated coaches, Mrs. Farquhar, Mrs.
Filippo and Mrs. DeAngelis.
National Sweater Day
On February 5, 2015, St. John Paul II School will join
other Dufferin–Peel Elementary and Secondary Schools
in the board-wide National Sweater Day. This day
provides an opportunity for all employees and students
to learn about the importance of saving energy, while at
the same time, reminding us to use less heat throughout
the winter. The heating in the schools will be turned
down by 2 degrees on February 5 and everyone is
encouraged to wear a sweater.
Library
Book Fair: Thank you once again to the school
community for the wonderful support given to the book
fair. We thank the parent volunteers who offered their
time to help out and the students for their support
through purchases made. All proceeds will go towards
purchasing new resources for our library.
Forest of Reading: The library will be running the Forest
of Reading Programs again this year. Mrs.
Condotta will be reading 10 newly
published 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
3, 4, 5 and 6 students. Red Maple will be available for our
intermediates. Students are encouraged to sign up with
Mrs. Condotta and start reading. Feel free to check out
nominated titles at www.accessola.org. The Forest of
Reading Program provides students with a wonderful
opportunity to become involved in reading good quality
Canadian literature.
Tumble Book Library: - Online database of picture
books, read-along chapter books and so much more
available at home or school.
Check out our school website for more details.