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 Fax: 905-455-3406 Superintendent: L. Papaloni 905-361-0146 Trustee: A. DaSilva 905-890-0708 February 2013 PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE 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 February is the month of RESPECT in DufferinPeel. Each morning, over the PA, we reflect on a bible passage that challenges us to treat others with the same kindness, compassion and understanding that we would hope for ourselves. Living and working in a school community offers us plenty of opportunities to test out our ability to put this virtue into action. As inevitable conflicts and misunderstandings arise, staff members take advantage of these ‘teachable moments’ to help children acquire the skills and strategies necessary to work through their frustrations and differences in reaching a peaceful solution and restoring friendships. Our teachers, Educational Resource Workers, lunchroom monitors and Child and Youth Worker patiently assist students to communicate using “kind words” and to imagine how the other person might be feeling in the situation. Towards this end, staff members use the five point anger scale and restorative circles to help students develop a healthy respect for other people’s thoughts and feelings. As our students grow in maturity and wisdom, we remind them that Jesus is their model of virtuous living. Together, with support from our families and the parish, we take small steps each day towards our goal of creating a safe, caring, inclusive and healthy school community. 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 PARISH NEWS Father Jan continues to support the faith formation of our students, families and staff. His guidance and leadership in sacramental preparation, and his presence at the school are much appreciated. First Communion Enrolment: February 9th, 10th at one of the regular masses. The children are reminded to bring their enrolment name card. Sacramental Dates nd Reconciliation: Saturday March 2 10:00 a.m. First Communion: Saturday April 27TH 5:00 p.m. Confirmation: May 21st, 2013. St. Jerome Parish Youth News The youth group meets weekly on Tuesday evening from 7:30-9:00 p.m. Feel free to join in at the 7:00 p.m. mass before the meeting. Each week the students explore their faith, play games and form many friendships. New members Grades 7-12 are always welcome. 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 Lenten Observances *Shrove Tuesday - Various celebrations of Pancake Day will happen throughout the school. *Ash Wednesday - This is a day of fast (equivalent of one full meal, two light meals and no snacking between meals) and abstinence (no meat). We will have a liturgy and distribution of Ashes at school. *Cookie ‘n’ Milk Option - Students are invited to purchase the $2 cookie ‘n’ milk package but to opt to ‘give up’ the cookie to be shared with a local food bank or homeless mission. Order forms specifying this option will go home to begin February 20th. Meatless Pizza Days - In consultation with School Council, we have decided to order cheese pizza (minus the pepperoni) for Pizza Days on Tuesday throughout Lent. This is a symbolic gesture to remind students that this is the season of fasting. Pretzel Day - Holy Thursday is pretzel day. Only students who place an order will receive a pretzel. The $2.00 price will cover the cost of the pretzel (one dollar for large dough pretzel/sandwich plate size) and a one dollar Share Life donation. Order forms will go home before March Break. Breakfast Club Open to All Thanks to sponsorship from the Boys and Girls Club and Breakfast Clubs of Canada our school breakfast club provides a nutritious breakfast every morning and a recess snack to carry away. The Breakfast Club runs Monday to Friday 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! 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. Thank you to the many staff and parents who volunteer to assist with the Breakfast Club. A special thank you goes out to Mrs. Maria DeSouza for ordering all of the food supplies and organizing the scheduling of volunteers. Kindergarten Registration - a big success!! Kindergarten registration went well last week. We already have 25 new registrations. As families move into the area we will continue to accept new registrations throughout the winter and spring months. The following documents are required: 1. Updated Immunization Records 2. Birth Certificate (Proof of Child’s Age) 3. Child’s Baptismal Certificate –or-4. One Parent’s Baptismal Certificate 5. Proof of Home Address 6. Proof of Canadian Citizenship PLASP 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 2013-2014 school year are invited to attend a “Welcome to Kindergarten” evening on May 15th 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. Grade 5 EXTENDED FRENCH at St. Monica’s The Extended French Program starts in Grade 5. In the program, 50% of the total instruction is in French. Several Grade 4 parents/guardians, who wished to enroll their child in a Grade 5 Extended French class for September, 2013 submitted applications to St. Monica School for the February 6th deadline. Students will be notified later this spring. Are You Moving? We are in the process of organizing classes and staffing for the 2013-2014 school year. If you are planning to move anytime between now and September 2013, 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 organizational skills, time management and goal setting. 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 27th to June 7th. 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 27th, 2013 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Room 301. 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. February 18th, 2013: Family Day-No School. March Break Reminder The March Break this year falls on the week of March 11th to March 15th. School resumes again on Monday, March 19th. The last day of classes before the break is Friday, March 8th, 2013. 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. 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. Late Students 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. 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 outof-sorts and have a hard time settling into routines. 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. Punctuality is important. Please ensure that your children arrive at school no later than 8:35 a.m. 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 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 after an absence 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 helps 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. 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”, a phone call home, and sometimes suspension from school. 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 non-edible treats such as pencils or stickers. Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (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. Rebecca Bagley our trained students 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: 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 that 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 want to see students stranded in the cold. 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 Winner Congratulations to Mr. Daniels, Ms. Tac and a group of students who were successful recipients of a $2,000 Speak Up Grant to be used for creating sets, props and costumes for the upcoming production of Wizard of Oz. More exciting details about these activities will follow. 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 your 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. 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 goal is to raise $300. The Ambassadors will be selling candy grams for $1.00 between February 6th and February 13th. The candy grams will be delivered to students on Valentine's Day. Also, there will be a raffle on Valentine's Day to win a jar full of candy or a peanut-free cake. Raffle tickets will be on sale on February 14th and will cost $0.25 for one ticket, or 5 tickets for $1.00. So help us "Send the Love" to Chalice this Valentine's Day, sharing the spirit of Catholic leadership as we enter the Lenten Season. Wizard of Oz Update Save the date! On Thursday May 9th, Pauline Vanier will have the chance to ‘follow the yellow brick road’ to see "The Wizard of Oz". Tickets will be selling for $5.00 an adult and $3.00 a child. Tickets will go on sale a few weeks before the show. The students have been rehearsing weekly, during and after school. and they are all very enthusiastic about the production! We look forward to big crowds at the show! Fitness Fridays Let's get healthy together! As part of our Catholic Community Care & Culture (CCCC) team, Pauline Vanier is getting ready to get fit and healthy. Every Friday at 3:30 until 4:30, Ms. Tac leads Grade 4 - 8 students in a dance inspired cardio workout, with some upper and lower body conditioning. This is a fun and great way to stay healthy and fit during the dreary winter months! So come out and join Ms. Tac in a healthy and exciting workout! CLOSING PRAYER I genuflect before You Honorable Jesus, YOUTH NEWS Sending the Love To kick off the Lenten season, the Youth Faith Ambassadors (YFA) are "Sending the Love" through the Valentine's Day Candy Grams Drive. The YFA Team has expressed an interest in purchasing a cow to support a family in need. The money raised will be sent to Chalice, a non-profit Catholic organization. Our Respecting Your Will, Plan and Judgment! You overcame temptations, maintaining self-respect to the end. Jesus, You are my code of conduct; I strive to comply with Your precepts. Teach me all I need to know about respect, its mastery being my long-term objective. May this include learning to listen, allowing others to share their opinions. May my respect towards other humans truly reflect Your love towards all! AMEN DATES TO REMEMBER February 11th-100th Day Celebration February 11th-ERW Day February 12th-Shrove Tuesday February 13th-Ash Wednesday February 14th-Valentine’s Day February 18th-Family Day (NO SCHOOL) February 22nd-Junior Science Olympics March 2nd-Sacrament of Reconciliation March 9th to March 17th inclusive-March Break March 28th-Holy Thursday March 29th-Good Friday (NO SCHOOL) March 29th-Easter Sunday April 1st-Easter Monday (NO SCHOOL) April 27th-5:00 p.m. Mass First Communion May 1st-3rd, Ottawa Trip Grade 8 May 9th-Wizard of Oz May 21st Sacrament of Confirmation June 21st-Kindergarten Graduation June 26th-Grade 8 Graduation February 11th is ERW Day. Special thanks to Ms. Coates, Ms. Miller, Ms. Piekarz and Ms. Sementilli for their dedication and hard work with our special students. We celebrate the gifts they bring to our school!