NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 2015
5820 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 5J9
Telephone: (905) 814-9216
Fax: (905) 814-9217
In Flanders Fields
Principal
D. Della Rossa
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Secretary
S. Droy
Superintendent
Mississauga North
T. Cruz
Parish
Merciful Redeemer Parish
Phone: 905-812-0030
Pastor
Fr. Vid Vlasic
Associate Pastor
Fr. Scott Birchall
School Council Co-Chair
Cristina Gouveia
School Council Co-Chair
Michelle Martinovic
Trustee
Esther O’Toole
Ward 9
Phone: 905-812-5163
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Principal’s Message
In November, we pause and remember our loved ones
and our saints who are part of our faith community. As
we approach November 11th, we need to take the time to
pause, thank and reflect on the many men and women
who have died and continue to fight for the freedoms
that we enjoy. We will see many wearing the red poppy
in honour of all war veterans. We work to keep their
memories and our quest for peace alive by wearing a
poppy and through liturgies that commemorate the bravery of these veterans. On Remembrance Day our school
will be gathering in the gym at 10:45am to participate in
an assembly. Please join us.
We wish to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff for their
support and to the parent volunteers for the countless
hours spent on making this a great success. Also, a special thanks to our parents who co-ordinate the Pizza
Fridays, Yearbook, Poinsettia, Cineplex and Christmas
Bazaar fundraiser. Thank you to all volunteers for your
time, presence and dedication in helping our school.
On November 16th, our school pastoral plan will be
posted on the school website under the Faith tab. If you
would like a paper copy please contact the school. The
pastoral plan details our home, school and parish events
that support the liturgical, sacramental and social outreach event that our school community will work towards throughout the year.
Attendance Verification
Phone: 905-814-9216
Our 2015-2016 Our Lady of Mercy School yearbook is
underway. The yearbook will capture the story that unfolds this year at school. Thank you to the parents who
have shown dedication and commitment in creating the
yearbook.
Web Site
www.dpcdsb.org/OLMCY
Many thanks to the entire Our Lady of Mercy community for your ongoing support and partnership.
God bless,
DPCDSB is now on Twitter! For the
latest board news
and information,
follow us
@DPCDSBSchools.
D. Della Rossa
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17th
Progress Reports Sent Home
Scarce heard amid the guns below.\
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
Lt. John McCrae
Our Catholic School
Heritage
1. How long have Catholic separate schools
been educating Catholic children and contributing to the public good in Ontario?
For about 170 years. In the early 1800s there
were separate schools in many cities, towns and
townships. In Peel, three separate schools
opened before Confederation (1867): St. James
in Malton in the 1830s, St. John’s Agricultural
College (1861) and St. Patrick’s (1861), both in
Wildfield.
School News
School Operations
ARRIVING ON TIME FOR SCHOOL
Please ensure that your child arrives at school between
Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School
welcomes new Grade 5s from Divine Mercy
8:30 and 8:45 am so they are able to line up with their
class to enter the school in the morning.
LATES – Late for School –
Please, Report to the Office
To ensure safe arrival, late students need
to report to the office rather than proceed
to the back of the school where students
may find themselves locked out! School
begin at 8:45am.
DRESSING FOR COLD WEATHER
Soon we will be experiencing cold weather and with
winter on its way, we need to prepare. It is important
for students to come prepared to participate in all activities, including outdoor recess. Please ensure that your
child is dressed appropriately for the forthcoming colder
weather, including having hats, boots and
mittens/gloves as winter approaches.
COLD AND FLU SEASON
In colder weather, we receive requests to
allow children to remain indoors when students have a cold or the flu. Please note
that we cannot comply, as we have neither the facilities
nor the staff to supervise these students. Please use discretion in keeping your child at home to recover if they
are ill. A child who is coughing, wheezing, etc. is not in
a state to learn and will only infect others. If your child
is well enough to attend school, he/she should be well
enough to go outside at recess.
INDOOR/OUTDOOR SHOES
In order to keep our students warm and
comfortable and to help keep their workplace clean, please ensure that your child
has a pair of “indoor shoes”. It will reduce the amount of
dirt and mud brought indoors. It will also assist our custodial staff in keeping our school clean. It is also important
because if the fire alarm goes off they cannot stop to put
shoes on.
VALUABLES
Students are reminded not to bring valuables such as
personal electronic devices, toys, or personal items of
importance. The school does not accept responsibility
for lost or missing valuables.
The French Immersion Program at Divine Mercy Elementary School was established as a Grades 1 to 4 program
with Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School as the sister
site that would continue the program for students in Grades
5 to 8. We are excited to welcome the new Grade 5 students
at Our Lady of Mercy. Administrators of Divine Mercy
and Our Lady of Mercy will be working closely together to
support a variety of transition activities. Please contact the
school office should you have any further questions.
FRENCH IMMERSION INFORMATION MEETING
Year 2 Kindergarten parent(s)/guardian(s), who wish to
enroll their child in a Grade 1 French Immersion class for
September, 2016 are invited to attend an information
French Immersion centres
Our Lady of Providence
St. Angela Merici
St .Joachim
Session location
St. Gertrude
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
St. Pio of Petrelcina
Tues. November 10, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Divine Mercy
St. Elizabeth Seton
St .Margaret of Scotland
St. Margaret of Scotland
Thurs. November 12, 2015
7:00 p.m.
St. Angela Merici
Wed. November 11, 2015
7:00 p.m.
meeting at:
EXTENDED FRENCH INFORMATION MEETING
Grade 4 parents/guardians who wish to enroll their child in
a Grade 5 Extended French class for September, 2016 are
invited to attend an information meeting at::
School: St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Address: 6930 Mount Forest Drive
Date: Thursday, January 14, 2016
Time: 7:00 P.M.
School Council News
AFTERSCHOOL GAMES AND SPECTATORS
Please be advised that students who are remaining after school
to watch Our Lady of Mercy sporting events need to be accompanied by an adult. There is no supervision at this time and it
poses a safety concern. We thank you in advance for your un-
Please join us for our next Catholic
School Advisory Council Meeting:
Wed. Nov. 25, 2015 @ 6:30PM
Celebrating Our Virtues & Ontario Catholic
Graduate Expectations
Social Justice Outreach
Eden Food Bank has changed its
name to Eden Food for Change
Toonie Tuesday - Nov. 19th, 2015
God helps us to choose to be good people.
A person of conscience…

chooses to do the right thing, even when it is hard

takes time to think and pray before making decisions

knows that their actions and decisions affect all those around
them

thinks of others before themselves

says sorry and tries to make up for their actions
Our Daily Prayer for November
Let us now pray
For the grace and strength to be
people of conscience—people who know the good
and decent way to act, and then choose to act that way.
AMEN.
Every month we will be celebrating students who demonstrate the virtues. We will add leaves with their names onto
the Virtue Tree in our front hallway. Student names will
continue to be announced at the end of the month as we celebrate our monthly Grade Eight Youth Faith Ambassador student led liturgies.
Eden Community Food Bank 3051 Battleford Road, Mississauga, ON L5N 4Z9 Phone: 905-785-3651
Eden Food for Change works to be a place where everyone in
western Mississauga can be a part of a community focused on
good food. Through our food bank we provide access to nutritionally balanced groceries. Our kitchen programs teach people
the skills and knowledge to provide healthy meals. We also
seek to provide opportunities for individuals and organizations
to help build a stronger community – with a focus on food –
because who doesn’t love good food. Eden Food for Change –
Good Food For All!
Eden Food For Change pr ovides food and other assistance
to hungry families in the L5N, L5M, L5L and L5K postal code
areas of western Mississauga.
By simply donating a toonie on Tuesday November 19th. You
will help to make a huge difference in the lives of those who go
hungry in our community. Your support is needed more than
ever, so please help us take a bite out of hunger.
OCGSE: A Life-Long Learner
Health and Safety
A life –long learner
At our Opening Mass our Grade 8s were commissioned as
Youth Faith Ambassadors. They will lead the school in
monthly faith liturgies where we will recognize students
with monthly virtues.
Family Advent Mass
Everyone is invited to attend the Family Advent Mass
on Tuesday, December 8th at 9:30 a.m. at
the School. Come and join in our Advent
celebration!
LOCKDOWN PRACTICE
As mandated by the Ministry of Education, we will have our
practice lockdown procedure Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015
at 2:00 PM. Lockdown pr ocedur es ar e par t of our systematic safety plan that includes fire drills and visitor security protocols. A lockdown could occur in the event of a dangerous situation occurring in or around the school. We will
have our Community Officers from Peel Police support us
through this drill.
A call will be made over the P.A. system indicating that a practice lockdown procedure is taking place. All staff and students
then will follow the emergency procedures established for this
drill which could include getting low to the ground, moving
away from windows and doors, closing doors and turning off
lights. Students are warned ahead of time to reduce any anxiety
of what may occur in a drill of this type. Please feel free to
discuss this drill with your child.
Anaphylaxis
Dates to Remember
November
Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis
Our Lady of Mercy is an allergen aware school. There
are pupils in attendance who suffer from severe and
life threatening allergies to certain foods. 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. An anaphylactic reaction involves symptoms from two or more body systems. Safety of all
our students is paramount.
1
All Saints Day
1
Daylight Savings– Turn Clocks Back an Hour
2
All Souls Day
3
Youth Officer Visits
3
Lockdown Practice
4
Gr. 8-Confirmation Retreat-Mt. Alverno
We at Our Lady of Mercy, would appreciate the cooperation of the entire school community by NOT
sending any lunches or snacks that contain any ingredients identified as food allergens for students in your
child’s class.
11 Remembrance Day Assembly (AM)
Please make sure that all of your children’s caregivers
are aware of the food restrictions. We also ask that
you review the letters that were sent home at the beginning of the school year that spoke to specific allergens in your child’s classroom.
19 Learning Skills Day
For celebrations, we are once again asking that food
NOT be brought into the school since we cannot control the ingredients in many baked items.
25 Catholic School Advisory Council Mtg@ 6:30PM
If you have any questions please talk to your child’s
teacher or to school staff. Your co-operation in helping to keep all our pupils safe is greatly appreciated.
12 Flag Football @ Loyola
16 Poinsettia Orders Due
17 Progress Reports Go Home
19 Progress Report Interview Evening
20 School Public Speaking Competition
21 Confirmation–Presentation of Cards@7:00 PM
24 Photo Retake Day, Youth Officer Visits
25 Rosary Apostolate Visits
26 Gr. 7-Confirmation Retreat-Mt. Alverno
30 First Communion and Confirmation Parent Make –
Up Meeting @ Merciful Redeemer 7:00P.M.
December
CASUAL FRIDAYS
You may observe that the staff dress in a casual manner on
Fridays. Through staff donations made on these Fridays,
we are supporting the United Way of Peel or ShareLife.
1
Poinsettia Pick-Up
4
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Music Concert (PM)
8
Advent Mass - 9:30 am. at Our Lady of Mercy
9
Rosary Apostolate Visits
17 Christmas Bazaar
18 Christmas Sing-a-Long (AM)/Int. Dance( PM)
18 Last day of school before Christmas Break
.