September 2014 Newsletter
Prayer for a New School Year
Pauline Vanier
Catholic School
56 Oaklea Blvd,
Brampton, Ontario,
L6Y 4W7
Phone: 905-455-1001
Fax: 905-455-3406
Website:
http://www.dpcdsb.org
//pvani
Principal:
I. Maas
Superintendent
L. Papaloni
Trustee
A. daSilva
905-890-0708
Head Secretary:
T. Winckler
St. Jerome’s Parish
8530 Chinguacousy
Rd. Brampton
Phone:905-455-4260
Fax: 905-450-6326
Website: http//
www.stjeromeparish.ca
Pastor: Fr. Jan
Kolodynski
School Council Chair
K. LaNave
Bless us as we start this new year
With our friends and teachers.
May the beginning of this school year
Remind us that You give us chances to start
Over and over again
Help us to learn and work together.
Bless our school and keep us safe.
Bless all those who care for us
In school and at home.
Help us to live as well as we possibleuy can
Giving thanks and glory to God.
Amen
Principal’s Message
It is with great pleasure and excitement that
we welcome both new and returning students, staff, and families to Pauline Vanier
school.
Staff members have been working hard in
preparation for our school opening. Thank
you to the staff who have been preparing
their classrooms. Thank you to our head
custodian, Mr. Voci and Mr. D’Souza and
Mr. Musoke the two other members of our
custodial team, for making the building
fresh, clean and ready for our students.
On behalf of the staff, we would like to
thank the students and their parents for
their cooperation during the first week of
school.
We will continue to encourage a cooperative partnership between home, school and
parish to promote positive learning experiences for our students.
We have a very active Catholic School
Council at Pauline Vanier and you are encouraged to join the council, volunteer or
attend the meetings throughout the school
year. I wish everyone a very successful
2014—2015 school year. Our staff is committed to working with our parents, parish
and community partners as they support
the children in their quest for knowledge
and spiritual development. May God bless
each of you.
School Board Administration
The Director of Education for the DufferinPeel Catholic District School Board is Mr. J.
Kostoff and the Associated Directors are
Mrs. S. McWatters and Mr. J. Hrajnik. The
Superintendent of Schools for the Mississauga Brampton Central Family of Schools
is Mrs. L Papaloni. All of these administrators can be reached at:
The Catholic Education Centre
40 Matheson Blvd. West
Mississauga, Ontario L5R 1C5
(905) 890-1221
Area Trustee
Our Area Trustee on the Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District School Board is Mrs. Anna
da Silva. She can be reached at 890-0708 or
anna.dasilva@dpcdsb.org
Congratulations Mrs. C De Souza
We say a special farewell to Connie De Souza who retired from Pauline Vanier. We
will miss Mrs. De Souza’s expertise and
her sense of humour. All the best Mrs. De
Souza as you enter this new phase of your
life.
School Enrolment
As each school year begins, reorganization
of classes due to enrolment may be a consideration. If we must reorganize classes,
please be assured that we will do so with
the interest of your child(ren) foremost in
our minds. We will inform you in the event
that any class reorganization is required.
Your patience and co-operation is appreciated.
Learning and Growing Together with God
Combined Grades – Did You Know?
Open House
A combined grade class is comprised of students from two
consecutive grades. Combined classes are a reality in the
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, as with all
schools in Ontario and have been an educational reality
dating back to the “one room school house”. Teachers of
all classes, single or combined grade, strive to meet the
range of individual needs. This is achieved through the
implementation of varied teaching and assessment strategies and working with students in a variety of groupings.
Teaching strategies and groupings are chosen as appropriate to the learning styles of the students in the class.
The Meet the Teacher Open House will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2014.
Staff from grades Kindergarten to Grade 8 will be in their
classrooms from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm and we are hoping
that between that time you are able to drop in and meet the
teacher (s) and tour the classroom(s) and the school. Some
of our Catholic School Council members will also be available to answer questions about the Pauline Vanier Catholic
School Council. We hope you are able to join us at any
time between 6:30 and 7:30 pm. Hope to see you then.
Terry Fox Run
P.A. Day
Friday, September 12, 2014
September is a time when we remember a Canadian hero,
Terry Fox. On Friday, September 26th students will particThis is dedicated for meetings to organize, reorganize and ipate in a walk/run to raise money for cancer research. The
plan. There will be no classes for students on this day.
length of the route is dependent on the age of the student.
Parents with a current Criminal Reference Check are welCatholic School Council Election Information
come to assist with supervision at this event.
Parents interested in seeking election should adhere to the
following timelines:
 Self Nomination forms can be picked up at the school
office or call the school and one will be sent with your
child from– Friday, Sept.5. - Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014

Completed Self-Nomination Forms must be received
in the office by Friday, September 19, 2014 at 3:30 pm.
 Catholic School Council Election (if necessary) is on
Thursday, September 25, 2014 in our school library.
 First Council mtg. will be on Monday, September 29th
2014 at 6:45 pm in the library.
Please note that if you are interested in being a member of
the Catholic School Council, legislation makes it mandatory that everyone submits to a Criminal Check. Criminal
Check Application Forms can be picked up at the school,
but must be dropped off at Peel Police station.
If however, you have a Criminal Reference Check on file at
the school then you do not need a new one but will need to
sign a Criminal Offence Declaration Waiver.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to get involved
in the Pauline Vanier Catholic Elementary School Council.
School Hours
The school hours for students in Full Day Kindergarten
8:40am
Classes begin
11:40am—12:40pm
Lunch
3:10 pm
Classes dismissed
The school hours for students in grades 1-8 are as follows:
8:40am
Classes begin
10:43am
Recess
11:40am—12:40pm
Lunch
2:03p.m.
Recess
3:10 pm
Classes dismissed
Lunch Hour
During the lunch hour all students who stay for lunch are
expected to remain at school, and all students who go
home for lunch are expected to go home every day. If there
is a change in the regular lunch hour procedure for your
child, parents/guardians are asked to provide the teacher
with a note explaining the change. A form was sent home
Catholic School Council: Election Committee
earlier this week in regards to your child’s lunch time arrangements. Please complete, sign and return this form to
We are currently seeking volunteers to be part of an ad hoc the school as soon as possible. If you are dropping off a
election committee. In order to be part of this committee lunch for your child, we ask that you label and drop it off
you can not be running in the election. If you are interested at the “Lunch drop off table” in the front foyer. Students
please contact the school before Sept.12, 2014.
will be allowed to come down to the foyer and pick up
their lunch at 11:40 am.
Reporting Student Absences
ans are asked to not send food in for birthdays, special
days or holidays. Any food or food product brought in
As in the past, we ask that you call the school on the morn- with the intention to share will be returned with your
ing or afternoon that your child is absent or late. This meas- child. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.
ure is to ensure the safety of your child. A message can be
left at anytime by calling 905-455-1001.
Reporting Head Injuries
Students who leave early must be signed in and out at the
office by a parent or with written notification.
Even when it appears to be insignificant, we aim to inform
parents of all reported head injuries at school. We do this
Security
in recognition of the potential danger of any injury involving the head area. Our intent is not to alarm you, but to
A reminder that all visitors INCLUDING PARENTS must keep you informed. Please remind your child to let a staff
come into the office, sign in and pick up a visitor’s badge member know if they bump their head or if they get hurt at
when on a prearranged visit. Anyone not wearing an iden- school.
tification badge will be asked to return to the office immediately. This procedure will help students and staff recogStudent Accident Insurance
nize visitors to our school.
For the safety and security of your children ONLY staff and As required by the Education Act and the Ministry of Eduassigned supervisors are allowed in the school yard during cation, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
all recesses. Parents are kindly asked to NOT go into the annually provides parents with information about coststudents’ play yard at the back of school during recess and effective student accident insurance. Although enrolment is
lunch recess. If you need to speak to your child during a voluntary, the board encourages parents to take advantage
recess, arrangements can be made in the front office. We of the inexpensive insurance coverage, especially if their
thank you for your co-operation in supporting the safe en- child/children participate in sports, excursions/field trips,
vironment of our school.
or, if parents do not have dental insurance coverage.
There are two options for enrolment:
Storage/Administration of Medication
1) Complete the traditional form and mail it in.
2)Apply online at www.insuremykids.com.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication Parents alone have the right to insure their children.
and forms are updated annually. If your child requires
prescription or non prescription medication please have all Student Accident Insurance forms were sent home with
pertinent forms completed and returned with the medica- each student. If you decide to take advantage of this offer,
tion to the office as soon as possible. A reminder that chil- please return the application form to the company. If you
dren are not allowed to keep any medication in their desk, did not receive an application form please contact the
backpack or classroom (with the exception of an epi-pen if school as soon as possible.
allergies are severe). All dispensing of medication requires
medical permission and must be stored in the office or with
a staff member if your child is on a school trip.
Fire Drills/Lock Down Procedures
Anaphylactic Shock
We felt that all parents would like to be aware that there
are several pupils in school with a severe life-threatening
food allergy (anaphylaxis) to peanuts and nuts and other
food products. This is a medical condition that causes a
severe reaction to certain allergens and can result in death
within minutes. Although this may or may not affect your
child’s class directly, please send lunches and snacks with
your child to school that are free from peanuts or nut products. The list of foods that cause a severe allergic reaction
to are quite diverse and for this reason parents and guardi-
In accordance with Ministry regulations, three fire drills
will be conducted in the fall and three in the spring per
school year. While we hope that a real fire situation never
arises, this practice helps prepare students in the event of a
real fire. In addition, our School Board has established
lockdown procedures should a high risk incident involving
weapons occur in the school, or on school property, that
could endanger the lives and safety of students and staff.
We will practice the Em ergency Lo ck d o w n Pro ced ure with
students two times during the school year and review it
periodically.

Students must use the bus to which they are assigned.
They are not to switch buses unless it is an emergency
and this has been arranged through the office.
Please ensure the school has updated information with
When improper conduct is reported by the bus driver:
regards to emergency contacts and phone numbers. A Stu-  the bus driver will issue a pink slip
dent Verification Sheet for each child was sent home. All
 on the first occasion, an administrator will speak to the
sheets should be returned to your child’s teacher as soon as
student
possible with updated information written on the verifica-  On the second occasion, a letter and/or phone call will
tion sheet and outdated information crossed out.
be made to the parent
 On the third occasion, the school administration will
Pick-up and Drop-off Policy
restrict bus privileges
 Forms kept in a log book are used to record all inciTo ensure school security for students and teachers, the
dents of misconduct on the buses
Board policy requires that all visitors (including parents)
 Bus drivers are also to report any serious incidents
must report to the office. Parents or designated individuals
where a student could be suspended to the administraare required to sign children in at the office when bringing
tion using a Safe School Incident Reporting Form
them to school late and must also sign them out at the
office when withdrawing them from school before regular
Crossing Guards
dismissal time.
Students are reminded to take advantage of the crossing
Early Pick-up of Children
guards in the neighborhood and obey all road safety rules.
Before and after school there are crossing guards located at
From time to time it is necessary for you to pick up your
Ray Lawson and Acadian Heights, Kingknoll at the walkchild/children early. We ask that you send a note to the
way west of Creditstone Road and on Oaklea Blvd near
teacher when possible so that they can prepare any work
Pauline Vanier School.
that they might miss. This will also allow for minimal disruption in the class upon leaving. When it is time for your
Kiss & Ride
child to be picked up please come into the office and advise
us, we will then call the child/children from their classes.
We would like to thank those who have been using the
Please do not under any circumstances go directly to their Pauline Vanier “Kiss and Ride Program”. However, in orclassroom. This is for the safety of all the students in the
der for it to continue to run smoothly and safely both beschool. Your co-operation in this matter is greatly appreci- fore and after school for all our students, everyone needs to
ated.
follow the same procedure:
Transportation
1. Students are expected to exit the vehicle when the vehiWe would like to thank everyone for your co-operation
cle reaches the front of the Kiss & Ride line where a staff
regarding transportation for our school. Our school curmember is on duty.
rently has 6 school buses in the am and pm. We are cur2. In order to ensure the safety of your children, please
rently selecting 2 student bus patrollers for every bus and
only let your children get out on the right hand side of the
the successful candidates will be attending a half day train- vehicle. Please never allow them to exit on the left side of
ing at the Peel Safety Village. We ask that you please rethe vehicle, as it is the designated drive thru lane.
view the following bus safety rules with your child(ren):
3. Never drive or park in the bus lane at the front of the
school. This is reserved for busses.
 Follow all directions from the driver, especially when
4. During Dismissal Kiss & Ride students will be waiting
getting on and off the bus
near the Kindergarten fence and will be escorted by staff to
 Go directly to a seat and stay seated until let off the bus the car at the front of the line.
 Keep all belongings inside the bus
5. If you need to walk your child to school or you need to
 Sit quietly at all times. Speak only in conversational
stop at the office, please park in the parking lot or on the
tones.
street if it is allowed. DO NOT PARK in the “Kiss And
 No eating on the bus
Ride” lane or the PLASP Daycare parking lot We appre Do not speak with the bus driver while the bus is in
ciate your co-operation in following these procedures.
operation, unless necessary.
Your child(ren)’s safety is our main concern.
Emergency Contact/Student Verification Sheet
Valuables
FAITH is an attitude, which encourages us to involve
God in our lives and helps us develop and maintain our
Please help us to protect your child’s valuables by keeping relationships with God and with others, when things are
them at home. Staff cannot be responsible for any valuables going well and when they are not.
that your child brings to school. In order to avoid valuables
being lost or misplaced please keep them at home.
Lunchtime Supervisor
Textbooks
School textbooks are school property and are loaned to the
students annually. The expectation is that textbooks will
be returned at the end of the school year. Students are responsible for these textbooks and will be asked to pay if
these books go missing or have been vandalized.
We are accepting applications for sup p ly lunchtime supervisors. This is a paid position. The successful candidates
come in for approximately 1 hour over the lunch hour. The
position involves supervising the students in various classrooms for twenty minutes and then supervising the
schoolyard for 40 minutes. You will be required to complete a Criminal Reference Check. If you are interested,
please pick up an application form at the office.
School Agendas
Picture Day
School agendas have been ordered for students from Grade
1 to 8. These agendas will assist with organization, time
Picture Day will be on Thursday, September 25th 2014.
management and home-school-parish communication.
There is a plastic sleeve at the front of the agenda for carrying important notes, forms, Catholic School Council information and school newsletters.
Please take the time to review your child’s agenda each
evening and especially at the beginning of the year, please
review the safety reminders and faith formation information you will find in the agenda.
Upcoming Dates
We would like to thank Pauline Vanier Catholic School
-PA Day ( no classes)
Council for purchasing a Student Agenda for each child in Friday, Sept. 12
Tuesday,
Sept.
16
-Pizza Lunch
Grades 1-8.
Communication
Open communication between home and school is very
important. Although we will be reporting to you formally
during the school year, please do not hesitate to contact us
at any time if you have questions or concerns. A phone call
on the onset of a concern usually resolves itself before it
becomes a problem. On our part, if we have any concerns
about your child, we will also contact you at the earliest
opportunity.
Thursday, Sept. 18
Friday, Sept 19
Tuesday, Sept. 23
Monday, Sept. 22
Tuesday, Sept 23
Thursday, Sept. 25
Friday, Sept. 26
Monday, Sept. 29
September’s Virtue of the Month is Faith
Tuesday, Sept. 30
-Open House 6:30-7:30 pm
CSC Nominations due in the
office by 3:30 pm
-Fall Clinic for Hepatitis B
(Gr. 7)
HPV( Gr. 8 Females)
-Terry Fox Kick Off
-Pizza Lunch
-Picture Day
-Catholic School Council
Election (if needed)
-Terry Fox Run
-Catholic School Council
Meeting 6:45 pm in the
school library
-Pizza Lunch
-Opening Mass at 9:30 in the
school gym
-Pizza Lunch
-Thanksgiving Day (no
school)
A virtue is a habit or established capacity to perform good Tuesday, October 7
actions according to a moral standard. A Catholic School is
an ideal place to practice and prepare to live a virtuous life.
When we demonstrate these virtues, we are making the Monday, October 13
presence of God visible in the world around us. We are
contributing to nurturing a loving, peaceful environment,
Insert
free of discrimination and bullying. This month, we will
Open House Invitation
focus on the virtue of FAITH.