The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
56 Oaklea Blvd, Brampton, Ontario, L6Y 4W7
Phone: 905-455-1001
Principal: W. Bodsworth
Secretary: A. Mijandrusic
St. Jerome Church 905-455-4260
Pastor: Fr. Jan Kolodynski
NEWSLETTER #6
PRAYER FOR THE VIRTUE
OF RESPECT
of winter:
Season to cherish
O God, the source of human dignity,
in your image every person is
fashioned,
and by your Son all people are
redeemed.
Make us honour
the work of your hands,
that we may reverence you,
in those whom the world
considers least,
and serve you
in all whom society neglects.
AMEN
Fax: 905-455-3406
Superintendent: L. Kazimowicz 905-361-0146
Trustee:
A. DaSilva 905-890-0708
February 2012
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Catholic schools focus on the virtue of
Respect during the month of February. What
better place to learn the true meaning of
RESPECT than in our own families! It is at the
knees of our mothers and fathers that we
learn powerful lessons about listening to
others, sharing, taking turns and helping
those in need. The safe haven of home is also
where we learn that we cannot truly love
others until we love and respect ourselves.
The school is no substitute for the blessing of
a nurturing, faith-filled and well-disciplined
home. Therefore, during February, the month
of the Holy Family, let us turn our thoughts to
how our own family can mirror the same
patience, devotion and kindness that was
characteristic of the family relationships
between Mary, Joseph and Jesus. In so doing,
we will be reinforcing the messages of the
school in cultivating the virtue of respect.
With report cards and interviews behind us, it
is opportune to celebrate both our children’s
academic successes and the many ways in
which they are growing in faith and virtue.
There is no single road to success and
personal fulfillment but one thing is sure: If
our children don’t learn to live harmoniously
in community, treating others with respect
and loving kindness, then all of the academic
prowess in the world will not suffice!
Wendy Bodsworth
FAITH
FEBRUARY’s Virtue
~Respect
This month we will celebrate the
virtue of respect.
God has given us the virtues of friends and
companions to keep us company and to
help us out along the way.
Every person in our lives carries the Spirit of
God – and so every person is our brother or
sister through Jesus Christ.
As brothers and sister who share one Holy
Spirit, we are all valuable to God. We all
deserve to be shown consideration,
courtesy, sensitivity and thoughtfulness,
which are different ways of saying respect.
Respect should come first and foremost
from ourselves. We have to respect
ourselves and then we will be able to
respect others. We should also be able to
expect to be treated with respect by
everyone we meet – our brothers and
sisters in Jesus.
Through prayer and concentration, we can
get better at respecting ourselves as well as
respecting those around us.
Our Daily Prayer for February
Let us now pray…
For the virtue of respect so that everyone
we meet will feel like we are their
brother and sister in Christ.
AMEN
Our Catholic School Heritage
Question: Once section 93(1) was enacted,
why did Ontario’s separate school supporters
continue to suffer financial hardship?
The Separate School (Scott) Act of 1863 did not
anticipate the creation and/or growth of
corporations and public utilities in Ontario, or
the creation of public high schools. These two
omissions caused over 100 years of financial
hardship and inequity for separate school
supporters.
Question: Why did Catholic parents and
students have to pay tuition to attend a
Catholic high school after grade ten?
In 1871 the Ontario government passed an Act
to Improve the Common Schools and Grammar
Schools of Ontario. This Act abolished common
and grammar schools and created public
schools for Grades 1 to 10 and high schools for
grades 9 to 13. The highest official with the
Department of Education, Egerton Ryerson,
commented that the 1871 Act did not affect
separate schools. The separate school boards
operating secondary school classes carried on,
receiving funding from grants and taxes.
However, early in the twentieth century the
government passed legislation which forbade a
separate school board from offering education
beyond Grade 10 if its boundaries fell partially
or fully within the boundaries of a high school
district. Thus, all but one separate school board
(in Dublin) lost their ability to receive tax or
government grant financing beyond Grade 10.
Furthermore, if a separate school board chose
to continue operating Grades 9 and 10, it
received only elementary school grants for
them.
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Breakfast Club Open to All
Newcomers to our school community will be
interested in the benefits of joining our school’s
Breakfast Club.
Thanks to sponsorship from the
Boys and Girls Club and
Breakfast Clubs of Canada our
school breakfast club provides
many children with a nutritious breakfast every
morning and a recess snack to carry with them.
If you would like your child to participate in this
program, please phone the school office and we
will arrange for a permission form to be sent
home with your child. The Breakfast Club runs
each morning from 8:25 a.m. to 8:40 a.m.
All students are welcome to join. There are no
stipulations, other than a desire to ensure that
your child has a healthy breakfast to start the
day! Thank you to the many staff and parents
who have volunteered to assist with the
Breakfast Club. A special thank you goes out to
Mrs. Maria DeSouza for her devoted leadership
of the Breakfast Club. Maria orders all of the
food supplies and organizes the scheduling of
volunteers.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration is
happening all this week. We
began our 2012 Registration
with a large number of
visitors on Monday evening
February 6th. Registrations
continue during the day on February 8th, 9th,
and 10th, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:00-3:00
p.m. To register your child, you will require
the following:
• proof of child’s birth and age
• Catholic baptismal certificate for child or
parent
• immunization records for your child
• landed immigrant papers, if not a Canadian
citizen
• proof of address
P.L.A.S.P. day care and before/after school care
are available on-location at our school.
Special Needs Children
Parents of students with special needs or
learning exceptionalities are asked to make this
fact know at the time of kindergarten
registration.
Early notification will ensure
adequate supports and interventions.
“Welcome to Kindergarten” Night
Parents and newly registered kindergarten
students for the 2012-2013 school year will be
invited to attend a “Welcome to Kindergarten”
evening on May 17th from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30
p.m. in the school library. At that time, families
will participate in a variety of fun activities and
will receive a gift bag of resources to help their
child successfully transition to life at school.
Grade 1 FRENCH IMMERSION
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
offers the French Immersion Program starting in
Grade 1 at six school sites. Students registered
in this program will spend 90% of their day
learning in the French language. All subjects and
activities in the French Immersion classroom,
with the exception of Religion and Family Life,
will be delivered in French. In Grades 2 and 3,
70% of the instruction will be in French, with
the proportion of English increasing to 50% in
later years.
Parents and guardians of Senior Kindergarten
children who wish to enroll their child in a
Grade 1 French Immersion class for September,
2012 must submit an application by 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012. Consult the
board’s web-site for the French Immersion
location nearest you. Please note that busing is
not provided to French immersion schools.
http://www.dpcdsb.org/cec
Grade 5 EXTENDED FRENCH
The Extended French Program starts in Grade 5.
In the program, 50% of the total instruction is in
French. Grade 4 parents/guardians, who wish to
enroll their child in a Grade 5 Extended French
class for September, 2012 are invited to submit
applications to St. Monica School at this
location.
St. Monica
60 Sterritt Drive
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 5B6
Applications will be accepted until 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012.
Are You Moving?
We are in the process of organizing classes and
staffing for the 2012-2013 school year. If you
are planning to move anytime between now
and September 2012, please inform the school
at your earliest possible convenience.
Student Agendas
Please check your child’s agenda daily, as this is
a very effective tool for communication and
tracking of work. This helps students to
develop
skills
in
organization,
time
management and goal setting, helping them to
meet with more success.
EQAO Testing—Grades Three and Six
A reminder that this year the EQAO assessment
for Grade 3 and Grade 6 students will run from
May 28th to June 8th. We ask that parents of
students in these grades ensure that their
children are in attendance during these weeks.
Visit DPCDSB on the web for Board and School
profiles http://www.dpcdsb.org/EQAO
I Matter
Grade 4 students will be learning about Child
Abuse Prevention. The unit called “I Matter?” is
a module of four lessons which will assist
children in understanding child abuse and its
various forms. The material will be taught in an
age-appropriate manner within the context of
the ‘Fully Alive’ Family Life program. Parents of
students in grade 4 are invited to attend an
information session on the subject of child
abuse at the Catholic Education Centre (40
Matheson Blvd. West) on Wednesday, February
15th at 7:00 p.m.
Black History Month
Dufferin-Peel Catholic schools have a long
tradition of celebrating Black History Month
with special events and activities held
throughout the month of February. Please
check out the board’s web-site for detailed
information at: www.dpcdsb.org.
At Pauline Vanier School many of our classes
will be researching, writing and speaking about
inspirational black musicians, writers, athletes
and politicians who have contributed to a more
inclusive and compassionate world.
March Break Reminder
The March Break this year falls on the week of
March 12th to March 16th. School resumes again
on Monday, March 19th. The last day of classes
before the break is Friday, March 9th, 2012.
What Tips Can I Use to Help My Child
Succeed in Math?
Encourage your child to give explanations.
When you and your child are
trying to solve a problem, have
your child share his or her
thinking aloud and talk about
the strategies that he or she used to reach a
solution. If some of your child’s ideas are
puzzling, ask your child to explain further. As
children talk about their ideas and how they
reach solutions, they are learning to reason
mathematically.
Suggest that your child act out a problem or
draw a diagram to solve it. Have your child
show how he or she reached a conclusion by
drawing pictures and moving objects, as well as
by using words.
Treat
errors
and misconceptions as
opportunities to develop reasoning skills and
new ideas. Identify which part of your child’s
reasoning is convincing and which part is less
convincing. For example, "I like the way you
organized the information. Can we look at the
chart again to see if the numbers are accurate?”
Also, prompt your child to think of another way
to solve the problem.
This information is from Helping Your Child to
Mathematics, A Parent Guide. The full
document is available at:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/pare
ntGuideNum.pdf
STUDENT INFORMATION
Contact Information
It is critical that we have up-to-date
records of your address, phone
numbers, and emergency contacts
in the event that the school must
contact you regarding your child. If there have
been any changes, please contact the school
office immediately.
The Power of Just One Hour!
Be an In-School Mentor!
Make a difference in the life of a child in as
little as one hour a week by volunteering to
be an In-School Mentor. Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Peel in partnership with the
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
matches elementary girls and boys with a
caring adult mentor. Matches meet for one
hour each week from September – June
during school hours and on school property
to share in fun activities such as playing
board games, baking or playing sports. The
result – increased self esteem, better grades
and improved relationships with family and
peers.
Children are in need of mentors in many of
our schools and we need your help. You
can make a significant difference by
volunteering or encouraging your friends
and family to mentor a child in a school in
their neighborhood.
Call 905-457-7288 or visit
www.bbbspeel.com for more information.
Attendance Verification
Please notify the school at 905-455-1001,
before 8:30 a.m., if your child is going to be
late or absent. Pauline Vanier’s answering
machine is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. Notifying the school will save Mrs.
Mijandrusic, our school secretary, many hours
of phone calls to verify absences. Please note
that daily attendance at school for students
between ages six and eighteen years is the law.
School social workers are mandated to
intervene with students and their families
whenever students are identified as truant.
Late Students
Punctuality is important. Please ensure that
your children arrive at school no later than
8:35 a.m. The constant parade of late arrivals
between 8:40 and 9:00 a.m. is delaying morning
exercises and interrupting the smooth start of
morning lessons. Children who arrive late are
often out-of-sorts and have a hard time settling
in to their day. Their time to socialize and greet
their peers is lost in their hurried entry into the
classroom. Many start-up instructions have to
be repeated for those students arriving late.
A student who is late must obtain a late slip
from the office. This late slip procedure is an
important link in our safe entry protocol. When
a child is alerted to the office as absent, the
secretary cross-references students who have
entered late before making calls home to
confirm a child reported as absent.
Sign-In/Sign-out Book in Office
All visitors to the school, including parents,
caregivers,
community
agencies
and
tradespersons, must sign in at the office and
obtain a visitor’s sticker.
Students and staff
feel safer when a visitor’s sticker is visible. It is
also important for the safety of all students in
the school that students who are picked up
early by parents, or arrive later in the day, sign
in and out at the office.
Newsletter Format –What is your preference?
If you would like the newsletter e-mailed
directly to you, and have not already provided
us with your e-mail address, it is not too late to
let us know. Forms have already gone home
asking you to state your preference. Thanks to
the many families who have already returned
these forms and opted for the eco-friendly online version of the newsletter.
Student Illness
Students who come to school are expected to
be healthy enough to participate in
daily activities, including physical
education and outdoor recess.
Should your child(ren) not feel well
enough to participate in all facets of the school
program, please keep them at home an extra
day or two so they can fully recuperate. Please
be aware that there is no facility to care for sick
children at the school.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
Next Meeting
School Council will meet again on Monday,
March 5th at 6:30 p.m. Please join us!
WINTER WEATHER
Staying in for Recess
Health Officials indicate that fresh air is good
for children, not harmful, as long as students
are dressed appropriately. We follow guidelines
from the Health Department which help us
make a decision as to whether it is too cold for
students to go outdoors: A wind chill factor of 22  C is a modified day; -25  C students stay in
all day. During modified school days students
will be outdoors for both morning and
afternoon recesses (15 minutes) and for a
maximum of 20 minutes at lunch recess. Please
make sure your child is dressed appropriately
for these extended periods of outdoor play.
Indoor Footwear
Students must wear shoes in the school
building at all times. Please note that in the
event of an emergency evacuation, students
will not have the opportunity to put on shoes,
boots, clothing articles, etc. Please ensure
that your child has an extra pair of shoes at
school, to keep their feet dry and warm
during wet and/or snowy weather.
Safe Outdoor Winter Play
The safety of all our students is of concern to
us, especially during the winter months. We
remind our students daily about playing safely.
This includes staying off ice patches and steep
snowy slopes. Students should not throw
snowballs or kick snow at other students. The
fundamental rule in the playground is that
students are not to play any games or be
involved in any activities that involve physical
contact. Games such as Tackle Football and
Crack-the-Whip are not allowed. Accidents will
happen but cautious play will reduce
the possibility of injuries.
o
RECESS RULES
Keep your hands and feet to
yourselves
o
No verbal insults or put-downs
o
Use respectful language at all times
o
Treat all people with courtesy and respect
o
Play only “no contact” games outside
o
Stay on school property at all times
o
Snow, ice, rock, gravel, sand and soil stay
on the ground at all times
Please discuss with your child appropriate ways
to interact with others, which includes keeping
hands and feet to themselves, using kind words
to resolve problems, and treating others as
Jesus has taught us, with kindness, respect and
dignity. Remind young children to walk away
when games get too rough and to report to the
staff member wearing a bright orange vest.
Students have been informed repeatedly that
inappropriate play will result in consequences
such as lost recess time, “think sheets”, or a
phone call home.
Recess Foods
Good nutrition is a significant factor in student
health and well-being, and academic success.
Parents/guardians are urged to send lunches
and recess snacks that offer all of the nutrients
necessary for energy and growth. High fat,
high sugar, empty calorie foods should be
avoided, except as an occasional special treat.
Pauline Vanier is an allergen aware school.
Please make a conscientious effort to avoid any
foods containing peanuts and nuts.
We
discourage home-baked goods and sweets for
special occasions and encourage parents to
consider favours such as pencils or stickers.
P.A.L.S.
Our P.A.L.S. group is comprised of student
leaders who help children to play cooperatively
on the playground. Under the leadership of
Mrs. Sonya Rondinelli our trained students will
be starting up once again to assist our younger
children several recesses each week, promoting
fun, safe, cooperative games during recess.
Children are reminded daily about safety on the
playground and the rules of good
sportsmanship.
Family Safety Plan in Hazardous Weather
Note that announcements about school
closures are posted on the Dufferin-Peel
website at http://www.dpcdsb.org and
broadcasted on most local radio stations. In the
event that the weather deteriorates rapidly it is
important that families have a well-established
safety plan in place.
For students who do NOT take the bus, please
discuss the following with your child/ren:
 the best way to walk home;
 with whom the child should walk;
 where he/she should go if no one is home;
 how the child should seek help if visibility is
a problem due to blowing snow
For students who DO take the bus:
It is a fact that bad
weather may cause delays
for student pick-up at bus
stops. Please ensure that
your child has a safe place
to go if the bus is late or does not arrive. If you
notice that a student is stranded at a bus stop,
please attempt to contact the child’s parent for
them. It is not recommended that parents
volunteer to drive another child to school
without the permission of the child’s parent.
If you decide to transport your child to school
because buses have been cancelled, please
ensure that you have made arrangements for
their safe return home at the end of the day.
A Note about Late Buses
As the winter weather intensifies, please be
aware that buses are often delayed in reaching
their stops. Follow these precautions if the
weather is extreme:
• Assume buses will be delayed
• Listen to the radio for bus cancellations
 Check the website: As soon as the board is
notified of delays by the bus company
details will be posted: http://www.stopr.ca
• If possible, remain with your child at the
bus stop until the bus arrives. We don’t
wish to see students stranded in the cold.
Kiss ‘N Ride
Parents please do not leave your car
unattended in the Kiss ‘N Ride lane at the main
entrance of the school or in front of the
kindergarten entrance. If you are dropping off a
young child or delivering a lunch to the office,
please make sure you car is parked in a
designated parking spot, or on the street. We
ask parents to use extra caution in the winter
months due to impaired visibility and icy
conditions. Please be advised that there is no
supervision on the playground before 8:25 a.m.
Students must NOT be dropped off before then.
CAUTION: if you need to get out of your car to
assist your children— then Kiss and Ride is not
for you. Please use the parking lots. Please also
ensure that your children only exit the car from
the passenger’s side.
PARENT’S CORNER
Teaching Respect
Ask your youngster to rephrase requests.
Teaching your child to speak and act
respectfully is one of the most important things
parents can do. Here are suggestions that will
help you raise a youngster who makes others
feel respected - and earns their respect in
return.
Behave respectfully.
Together, create family rules that contain the
word “respect.” Examples: “Respect others by
keeping your hands and feet to yourself.”
“Respect property by putting clothes and toys
away.” Have your child draw a picture for each
rule.
Speak respectfully.
Ask your child to rephrase requests that aren’t
respectful. If he shouts, “I want a snack!” you
might say, “I’ll listen when you ask nicely.” And
since he will follow your lead, talk to him the
same way you’d like him to address you.
Instead of say, “You’re in the way,” say “Excuse
me, please.”
Disagree respectfully.
Teach your child to share his opinion politely.
For example, show him how you respect his
choice of ice cream flavor while explaining your
own: “Chocolate chip is yummy but I like
strawberry because it’s fruity.” Remind him
that he won’t always agree with people sometimes it’s okay to disagree.
Tell the Truth
Show your child that the truth matters –
even in situations when no one would know the
difference. For example, if you leave a store
without noticing that an item is at the bottom
of your cart, let your child see you return to pay
for it. Explain that being honest is the right
thing to do and it makes you feel good. The
truth is especially important when owning up to
misconduct. If a child can be encouraged to
speak the truth about his or her actions, even
when to do so might cause embarrassment or
result in a consequence, this is a huge step
along the road to moral maturity. Lying to
cover up one’s poor choices, or selective retelling of incidents, only prolongs the agony of
facing up to one’s actions and distorts one’s
sense of integrity and self worth. We have an
obligation to teach our children that the “truth
shall set you free.”
Imagine the Outcome
If your youngster is worried, ask him to think of
the worst-case scenario (“If I mess up during my
oral report, everyone will laugh.”). Then ask
him to picture what is more likely to happen
(“Some people might laugh, but my friends
would be nice.”) If your child thinks realistically
about the situation he will be less apt to worry.
Find the Silver Lining
Teach your child that good things happen even
on bad days. When he complains about an
argument with a friend, or a math lesson he
didn’t like, listen to his feelings. Then, help him
to think of something that made him happy (“I
had fun in gym.”)
ARE YOU TICKED?
Please check your property tax bill to ensure
your support is directed to your local Catholic
school board, in our case, the Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District School Board. You can verify
your support by contacting the board’s
Admissions Department at (905) 890- 0708, ext.
24511 or 24512, or your local municipal office.
STUDENTS AWARDED $2,000
Speak Up Winners
Two groups of students
were successful recipients
of a total of $2,000 in
Speak Up grants to support
student leadership at Pauline Vanier School.
Congratulations to the Ms. Sementilli and her
students involved in floor hockey; and to Mr.
Daniels and his young artists who will be
working with the stained glass window project.
More exciting details about these activities will
follow.
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR
OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS
There are many examples of excellence in
Ontario’s schools, boards and licensed child
care settings, and just as many reasons to
nominate someone for a Premier’s Award for
Teaching Excellence. These awards celebrate
educators and support staff who make
remarkable
contributions
to
Ontario’s
education system. Many staff employed in
Ontario’s publicly funded schools and boards
can be nominated. There are eight award
categories:


Teacher of the year
Early Childhood Educator of the Year NEW!





Excellent Support Staff
Excellence in Leadership
Lifetime Achievement
Team of the Year
Full-day Kindergarten Team of the Year NEW!
Nominations are open until February 6, 2012.
Award recipients will be announced in the
spring and recognized as special awards
ceremony during Education Week in May. To
learn more about the awards and how to
nominate: www.ontario.ca/teachingawards.
PEEL PUBLIC HEALTH IMMUNIZATION
Peel Public Health will be reviewing
immunization records of all students at our
school. Peel Public Health must have proof that
your child has been fully vaccinated
(immunized) according to the Ontario
Immunization schedule. If you receive a letter
from Peel Health, please ensure that your child
has received the required vaccine(s) then give
the date(s) your child was vaccinated to Peel
Public Health immediately to update your
child’s record. For more information, please
call Peel public Health at 905-799-7700 or visit
www. ImmunizePeel.ca. Translation services are
available.
IMMUNIZE ON TIME.
REPORT EVERY TIME.
Report all immunizations
your child receives to Peel
Public Health:

On-line at
www.immunizepeel.ca

Call Peel Public Health at
905-799-7700

Fax at 905-565-0426

Tuesday is PIZZA DAY-$2.00 per slice
Wednesday is COOKIE DAY-$1.00 for jumbo cookie
Kindergarten Registration
February 8th, 9th and 10th 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
February 20th Family Day
February 22nd Ash Wednesday
(Liturgy at School)
Dr. Sturdy Presents February 28th, 7:00 p.m.
All are welcome
First Reconciliation March 3rd
St. Jerome Parish 12:00 Noon
School Council March 5th 6:30 p.m.
March Break March 12th to March 16th
(Last day of school March 9th, 2012)