Staff update.
Once again, we would like to welcome Ms.
Cautillo, our new Vice Principal.
This month, Mrs. Doulgeris will be returning
from her leave. Mrs. Velocci has organized the
grade 5 class, but she will be leaving us on
Friday, October 16. We want to thank Mrs.
Velocci for her contribution to the school.
World Teacher’s Day – “Teachers Matter”
October 5th is celebrated as the day specifically
designated to recognize the contribution of
teachers throughout our education system. At
Saint John Paul II School we are very fortunate
to have so many dedicated individuals who
work to provide for the education of the young
people in our community. Thank you to all our
committed teachers.
Open House
Thank you to the community for attending our
Open House on Thursday, September 24th,
2015. This was a great evening for you to meet
the staff and establish a connection with the
teachers involved with your children’s learning
this year. We especially want to express our
thanks to the Parent Group who greeted
parents at the door and recruited for
volunteers. Thank you to those who left their
names to be called on to help in the school;
many hands make light work.
EQAO Results
This year’s results have been delayed. We are
expecting them to be released sometime in
November. We will keep you posted.
Textbook Policy
Textbooks are the property of the school and
are loaned out to students with the
expectations that they will be returned at the
end of the school year in good condition. The
teachers keep record of each textbook that
students are given. Cost will be incurred by
students if books are lost or not returned in
good condition.
Ongoing Learning
For the duration of the first term, we will have
three Co-op students from St. Michael’s
Secondary School working with us. They will
be working in some of our Kindergarten and
primary classes as well as in the gym during
Phys. Ed. We are pleased to have them add
their support to our students and we hope that
they are able to have many learning
opportunities during their placement at the
school.
In Mrs. Kennett’s class, Ms. Valente will be
working and learning.
She is a teacher
candidate now enrolled in the two year teacher
education program at Niagara College.
Joining us from Seneca College is Ms.
Shinomiya. She is a student enrolled in their
Child and Youth Worker Program. She will be
working throughout the school with a variety of
students, groups or classes on Mondays,
Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Once again, we are
very grateful for her presence and we hope that
many of our students will benefit from her
learn and work experience.
Terry Fox Run
Our school Terry Fox charity event was a
huge success on Friday, October 2.
Student awareness of the work of the
Terry
Fox
Foundation
was
heightened and money raised will
go to support the Terry Fox
Foundation. This year, all the Kindergarten to
Grade 8 students were outside together
running as a community. Sincere thanks are
extended to the staff team for organizing this
event and we are grateful to the many parent
volunteers who also supported the students on
the route.
Hard Candy Donations
We will once again be collecting
Hallowe’en candy for Dr. Simone’s
Feed the Children organization. Any hard
wrapped candy can be brought to Saint John
Paul II where we will gather it and send it to Dr.
Simone’s.
Co-ed Softball Teams
Thanks to all who tried out for the
teams with great enthusiasm. The
teams competed in tournaments on
September 30 and October 1.
Congratulations to the Junior Softball team for a
great tournament. The team won all three
games before a tough defeat by only one run in
the semi-finals. We are proud of the effort and
sportsmanship all the team members displayed
throughout the tournament. The players who
represented the school so well included: Maya
C., Julia A., Jessica Q., Ava A., Louisa F., Alyssa T.,
Charlise H., Joshua M., Zachary C., Christian R.,
Carson I., Connor S., Luca P., and Noah L.
Congratulations to the Intermediate Softball
team for winning the Family Tournament. Not
only did they win all five games, but they
represented our school with pride. The players
shared positions, encouraged each other and
demonstrated great sportsmanship!
Their
coaches are very proud of each of the following
players: Mia C., Tristan W., Francesca P.,
Sydney M., D’Arcy C., Bailey M., Xavier D., Mario
R., Dante M., Ryan G., Reid D., Christian X., Jorge
T. and Braedan T. Special thanks to the
coaches, Mrs. Kennett, Mrs. De Angelis, Mrs.
Acocella and all the parents who came to
support the teams.
Hallowe’en Dance-a-thon
We are all looking forward to our Hallowe’en
Dance-a-thon on October 30th. Just a
reminder that this is the major
fundraiser of our Parent Group for
the school year, so your support is
appreciated. All students will have
an opportunity to dance-dancedance and parents are invited to
join us during their child’s dance
time. Remember your costumes.
Please remind children that their
costumes should be appropriate for school (no
weapons or replica weapons; no gore; no
masks covering faces) and they should be able
to change in and out of them in order to protect
them for evening use on Hallowe’en.
Pupil Accommodation Review Policy Public
Consultation
The Ministry of Education released the new
Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline
(PARG) in March 2015. This guideline sets
expectations for all school boards on managing
and reviewing underutilized school space,
including potential school closures, and for the
greater coordination and sharing of planning
related information between school boards and
other community partners.
The guideline requires all school boards in the
province to develop or revise Pupil
Accommodation Review Policies and to invite
public input into the policy before it is finalized.
A survey to collect feedback on the DufferinPeel Catholic District School Board’s draft
amended Policy 6.51 Pupil Accommodation
Review will be available for review and
comment on the Board’s website at
www.dpcdsb.org until 4:30 pm on Friday,
October 16, 2015. Please consider reviewing
and providing input on this policy.
Allergy Alert
In keeping with the Board’s anaphylactic policy,
students are reminded once again, not to share
food items. We ask that no food treats are to be
sent to the school for birthdays or special
occasions. There are many alternatives such as
stickers and pencils. All food treats sent in for
sharing will be returned for home use.
Pizza Nova is the same pizza provider that we
have been using for Pizza Days for the past few
years. There have been no changes in their
ingredients, although they cannot stipulate “nut
free” as we indicated in our pizza letter.
Cross Country Team
The Saint John Paul II Cross Country team has a
large number of participants this year from
Grades 4 to 8. They will be competing in the
Family of Schools Meet at Monora Park on
October 16th. Thanks for the support of the
coaches: Mme Attard, Mrs. D’Amico, Mme
LaRosa, Mrs. Arbic, Mrs. Vitaro, Mrs. Schembri,
Mrs. Pennella, Mme Filippo, Mrs. DeCaria, Mrs.
Isopo, Mr. Kenny, Mrs. Mandolofo and Ms.
DeFranco. Good Luck!
Board Communications
We are pleased to present you with the Board’s
Report to the Community – Fall 2015. This
publication, along with our Twitter feed, news
releases, Director’s Bulletin, Director’s Annual
Report and other communications, are all part of
our effort to keep our staff and school
communities apprised of the many successful
events and activities that are taking place in the
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board.
The Report to the Community is available on the
board website and DP24.
School Council
Our first meeting was held on
September 30th. Meetings are
open to all members of the
community. Thank you to those who have
come forward to serve as, Council Co-Chairs:
Mr. and Mrs. Biagi, Treasurer: Mr. Maggi and
Secretary: Mrs. Graf. Other parent members
include: Mrs. Romasco, Mrs. Sweeney, Mrs.
Colacitti, Mrs. Cardoza and Mme. LaRosa.
Education is a partnership involving students,
teachers, administrators and parents. The
School Council works to strengthen this
partnership. Parent involvement within the
school community is a key factor in improving
student achievement and well-being.
Please join us for the next meeting on October
27th at 6:45 p.m. We look forward to seeing you
there.
Vulnerable Sector Check
All volunteers must have a Vulnerable Sector
Check. As of September, 2013, it is a Ministry
requirement that anyone working in the school,
even if it is a one time occurrence, must have a
VSC. This includes drivers for athletic teams,
volunteers for field trips, or helpers in the
school. Once there is a Vulnerable Sector Check
on file at the front office, it can effectively be
maintained yearly with an Offence Declaration.
To get a VSC, a person must pick up an
application from the office, complete it, and
return it to the office with two pieces of
identification (usually a driver’s license and
passport). There is no cost when following this
process. Results are returned to the applicant
who brings the form to the office where it is
kept on file. We want to have many volunteers
at the school, so please begin this process as
soon as possible.
Kingsview Drive Drop off and Pick up
Please keep in mind that we provide the Kiss
and Ride program in order to ensure greater
safety for students on arrival. Each morning
the cars move through efficiently and we are
grateful for the cooperation of everyone
involved. It is not safe for
students to be dropped off by
the back gate on Kingsview
Drive. We have had reports
of cars making u-turns, backing up while other
cars are approaching, or turning back into
traffic while dropping students off at the side of
the road. For the safety of everyone, please
make use of the Kiss and Ride program.
Visitors
All visitors, including parents and former
students must check in at the main office before
proceeding to any other area of the school. All
school doors are to be kept locked and you
must buzz for entry. Please be patient as we
may not be able to get to the buzzer right away.
If you are dropping off a lunch or book for your
child, please leave it at the table by the
entrance where there are pens and labels
available for identification. If you are picking up
your child early, you must report to the office
and sign them out; he/she will then be sent to
the office to meet you.
Discipline Issues
If there is a discipline problem which requires
further investigation, please report the details
to the classroom teacher or the office. Under no
circumstances may a parent approach a student
other than their own child. During regular
school hours, the staff are to devote their full
attention to the students in their care. Calls can
be returned and interviews set at times outside
of instructional time. Cooperation in following
these routines helps ensure our students’
safety.
Student Voice
We always seek ways to include the students in
planning and participating in school activities.
As such, there are three groups of intermediate
students who will be organizing events
throughout the school year. To help facilitate
the organization of activities, the school will be
divided into four House Colours. Each student
will be given a colour and as activities occur,
teams can be structured according to colours,
bringing together students of many grade
levels. This is intended to create a more
cohesive sense of community throughout the
school.
The Athletic Council will be
responsible
for
organizing
lunchtime
intramural activities and other athletic
programs in which students can get involved
throughout the school year. The Spirit Council
ran a very successful button campaign last year
as well as a number of Spirit Days. We are
looking forward to their ideas for this year. Our
Faith Ambassadors visit their “Grandfriends”
at the King Nursing home and coordinate
charitable events at different times of the year.
We appreciate the support of our student
leaders who are organizing these events along
with the staff volunteers who oversee these
groups.
At each of our Grade level divisions, Primary,
Junior and Intermediate, the students are active
in the Eco-Council. They have taken care of our
garden, raised awareness about the garbage
generated, asked parents to avoid idling in the
parking lot and encouraged our recycling
program. Thank you to all the students for
their active participation in these initiatives.
Jr. Girls and Boys Volleyball teams.
Congratulations to all the students who tried
out for these teams. The students
chosen to represent the
school are, for the boy’s
team Sebastian P., Luca R.,
Matteo A., Matthew D.,
Tomas M., Peter T.,
Anthony S. and Anthony
R.
Representing the school on the girl’s team will
be, Maya, Charlise, Julia, Grace, Maggie,
Christina, Emma and Mia. The Bolton Mini
tournament will be held on Friday, October 9.
Good luck to both teams and special thanks to
Mr. Pusztai and Mrs. LaRosa for coaching the
teams.
Storage and Administration of Medication
Once again we remind parents that there is
a Board policy on the storage and
administration of medication. If your
child requires daily administration of
medication, please contact the office as
soon as possible. Medical forms are retained
for only one school year, therefore updated
forms must be submitted each school year.
Please ensure that all medications, puffers and
documentation are up to date.
Student Absences & Lates
If your child/children are going to
be late or absent from school for
any reason please call our
Absence Verification Line 905–
857 - 4241 press 1.
Please be reminded that school begins
promptly at 8:30 a.m. Arriving at school on
time allows students to be properly prepared
for the school day and to begin their day in a
positive manner. All students being dropped off
should make use of the Kiss and Ride. Students
should not be dropped off in the bus lanes at
the front doors of the school. We will continue
to monitor students who habitually arrive late.
Parents will be contacted by the Principal or
Vice Principal as necessary.
Safety of Students
We remind families that we are concerned
about young students visiting Mr. Sub at the
Wellness Centre on their own. This is off school
property and the school provides no
supervision.
Students must have written
permission to leave school property if they
regularly stay for lunch. We have a number of
high schools in close proximity of the school, so
we express the need for caution when children
are left unsupervised with young adults. For
the safety of our students, we recommend that
if your son/daughter is planning to visit the Mr.
Sub with their friends, there should be an adult
or parent present with the group.
Kiss and Ride Safety
Once again, a big thank you for your
cooperation in moving smoothly through the
Kiss and Ride lane.
Students should be
prepared to exit from the passenger side and,
for safety reasons, they should not be getting
out on the driver’s side. Drivers, please be
patient and remain in your vehicle so that all
the cars can get through in a timely fashion. If
you wish to escort your child to their waiting
area, please park in the parking lot or on the
road and walk with them to that point. We
remind you that parents and caregivers are not
to be in the supervised areas of the school yard.
Also, for the safety of students, children should
not be allowed to leave the vehicle in the
parking lot and then run across the drive
through lanes to the school on their own.
Lunch Time Procedures
We will continue to provide a table, writing
instruments and notepaper for parents who are
dropping their child’s lunch off at the school.
Please ensure that your child is aware that
his/her lunch is being dropped off at the school.
In the event that your child is unaware, all
students have been instructed to check the
table at the front of the school if they do not
have a lunch or snack. We kindly request your
understanding that we will not interrupt
classes to notify students that their lunch has
arrived, as they are reminded that if they do
not have a lunch or snack, they are to check
the lunch table. If there is no lunch for them,
we will contact a parent/guardian.
Hot Lunches
This year, once again, Lunch Lady will provide
an opportunity for parents to
order hot lunches for students.
Lunch Lady allows you to create
your own packaged meal and
you are able to order with a
form or on-line. Please note, the Lunch Lady
operates independently from the school. This
service is provided solely by them and any
issues you may have regarding your child’s
lunch needs to be addressed with them and not
the school. Their menu is compliant with the
Healthy School’s Act. In consideration of
students with life-threatening allergies at our
school, we have been assured that menu items
offered do not include peanut, tree nut, sesame
seed and shellfish. Students in classes where
there are students with egg allergies will not be
able to order any menu items with egg
products. This is strictly controlled and you
will be advised if you have ordered something
with an egg product that cannot be consumed
in the classroom in which your child eats.
Personal Electronic Devices on Board
Premises
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School
Board acknowledges the value of the use of
technology for learning.
Students are
permitted to register and use personal
electronic devices (PEDs) on board premises
and/or board sanctioned events for educational
purposes, under the direction of staff and only
with parent/guardian permission. Students
may register their PED for the purpose of
connecting to the board wireless network.
Students are required to adhere to the student
“Personal Electronic Device Used with WI-FI
Network Student Agreement” (GF 337) and the
“Network User Application and Agreement.”
(GF066) Please be advised that the DufferinPeel Catholic District School Board will not
be responsible for any cost incurred
through the use of personal data plans.
PEDs are to be used responsibly and should not
interfere with learning; their use must comply
with the Catholic Code of Conduct, board
policies and procedures.
Any personal
communications (i.e., phone calls, text
messages, etc.) will continue to be directed
through the main office. Failure to comply
with these guidelines may result in a loss of
PED privileges and/or any other consequences
deemed necessary by school administration.
The school principal may authorize limited
acceptable uses of personal electronic devices
during school-sanctioned activities for a
specific designated purpose outside of
instructional spaces and/or in common areas.
Students are responsible for the safety and
security of PEDs at all times and the Board
assumes no responsibility for lost, damaged
or stolen devices.