St. Paul Secondary School’s Principal’s Message As I bid everyone a Happy New Year in the St. Paul community, I was prepared to bring fabulous news today, but I am overcome with sadness by the events that are unfolding in Haiti and Afghanistan. One, a tragedy of nature and the other a more humanly directed tragedy. As a school, students will give generously this week at a civvies day to bring some relief to this grief stricken country, and what can we say about waging war 4000 miles across the world. As a catholic secondary school, we know that our duty is to speak out for justice, and I would encourage all parents to write their elected representatives to make their feelings known on the conduct of this senseless war. Now, the good news that has inspired our community over the last three months. On November 20 Talent Night showcased the vast array of performers among our student body who are willing to step up and share their gifts. The consensus this year was that there was a larger variety to the acts and performers. Our athletes had a successful fall season competing as usual above their weight class, particularly in volleyball and girls flag football. The boys made a spirited run in the Sarnia OFSSAA play downs and our girls lost narrowly in the girls Tier 2 championship football game by a touchdown. The team was accompanied by three busloads of raucous St. Paul fans which gave our team a great lift. All of our athletes who wore the Wolverines jersey this fall and winter deserve a compliment and a vote of confidence. We have succeeded, so far, in avoiding the yahoo facWinter 2010 Gemini Award Winning News Anchor, Diana Swain, of CBC News at 6, stopped by Studio30 to talk about careers in Television News and Journalism with our Broadcasting SHSM students. tor, which is destroying so much amateur athletics in this region. As the Principal responsible for our students in ROPSSAA, it is evident to some Principals that there are “coaching” and “refereeing “ problems and challenges in many sports, and that some of our colleagues have lost their way on the ultimate purpose of athletic participation. Not so at St. Paul, but there will eventually be more rather than less certification for coaches. This fall we made three significant changes to our reporting, recruitment and registration procedures. The first was to move our parent /teacher night earlier in the semester and hold our Grade 8 Open House in December. Normally held in January, our Open House was on December 10 with a large crowd of parents and students attending, eager to hear about our program offerings. The second initiative this year will be on Tuesday January 26th at 7:30 in the Cafeteria, when parents are welcome to learn about our High Skills Major programs in Broadcasting, Construction and the Environment. The most recent change in Board registration procedures al- low students to register online through their own school’s website. All reports thus far are that it has made the process simpler and less time consuming for families. The St. Paul community through ACT NOW again responded to the Christmas food drive with remarkable generosity, enough to support fifteen families with the necessities and presents for their Christmas. Student Council members have opened their office from 7:40-8:10 to support a Breakfast Club to guarantee that students have more than an empty stomach to attend class on. All donations are accepted for staple items. Student attendance at the grade nine EQAO mathematics workshops has noticeably improved this semester and I would like to encourage all parents of Grade 10 students to make sure that your son/daughter is enrolled for the extra assistance that will be offered starting on February 9th for our scheduled April 3rd Literacy test. Our partnership with York University Faculty of Education continued on page 2... Chaplain’s Corner ...Principal’s message cont’d Its the start of a new year and a new decade. For those of us who are old enough to remember the Pope before John Paul II, time is flying by. Time really does go faster as you get older. I hate making resolutions. More exercise, healthy eating, and watching less television are grand ideas but let’s get serious. I love cheeseburgers, fries and pizza. I like to excersise but I have a hard time finding the time to do so. So, I’ve decided not to make any resolutions this year. Instead, I’ve decided to make a couple of predictions. B.Finny’s Predictions for 2010: continues to expand our capacity to provide valuable assistance for students preparing for all of these provincial assessments. In 2010, we will laugh until we cry. Whether it’s due to the humorous item in the news or story from a friend or co-worker, someone or something will brighten our days and cheer our hearts. We will get accepted into college or university. We will pass exams. We will finally have the courage to ride the Wild Beast at Canada’s Wonderland We will get a part-time job! We will be overcome with joy. A new love, a new baby, or an old friend will bring excitement and new beginnings. A new year brings adventure and new challenges. There will also be times of sorrow. Friends will lose jobs. People will retire. Friends will move. Loved ones will die. We will hear about broken marriages, or the betrayal of a friend. Sadness and despair will be found sometime within 2010. So will disappointment, anxiety, and discouragement. We will read a few books, fifty-two church bulletins, dozens of articles, and too many obituaries. These will move us, encourage us, and remind us that life is fragile, time is quick, and God is always in control. And there’s a pretty good chance, God willing, that in exactly twelve months we’ll be thinking about another new year and we’ll look back on 2010 and reminiscence. We can’t know exactly what is going to happen in the coming weeks and months but we do know that some things won’t change. We have a Father in Heaven who loves us. A Savior who became like us and who died for us. A home in Heaven prepared for us. [This is a little more secure than most of our pension plans and RRSP’s!] Even if fear, persecution, and struggles are rampant, we will always be cared for, loved, and have a glorious future. Set your mind on things above. May God continue to bless us all in 2010. P.S. I also predict that the Toronto Maple Leafs will not win the Stanley cup in 2010! Provincial Literacy Test Preparation Classes The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) will be written on the morning of Thursday, April 2, 2009. To ensure student success, Literacy Test Preparation Classes will begin on Tues. Feb 9, 2010. The classes will run between 2:45-4:15 p.m. at St. Paul Secondary. Students who have registered will receive the full schedule and classroom assignment at the beginning of Semester Two. One of the most significant challenges we face as the Board’s smallest secondary school is our inability to afford many of the higher priced educational tools that all parents are now taking for granted. As a way to improve our abilities, we have embarked upon a variety of partnerships to enhance our capacity, while providing our services for Board projects. Recently, I was informed that my request to enter into a partnership with the Board Program Department was approved and it will enhance our St. Paul Studio 30 with significantly improved HD equipment. Recently Diana Swain, the CBC host anchor for their 5:30 news program spoke to our Broadcasting students for an hour, after watching our morning announcements. On the newscast that night, she remarked upon how impressed she was with the high level of skill development of our crew and how very different schools of today are from her era of educational practice. Parent Council have organized a very stimulating evening for parents with guest speaker Doren Lawson on Raising Children of Character on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 7:30 pm in the school cafeteria. Parenting has assumed so many additional challenges in the digital age that it has become the number one driver of what puts many of our students at risk. Come and invite your neighbor to drill a little deeper than usual on this very important topic. Students will be writing their exams between Jan. 25-28 and that schedule is available on the school website. Please make sure that you are on time or if there is an illness, contact our Attendance Secretary. Student receives Commissionioner’s Citation for Bravery Harrison Travill a Grade 11 student at St. Paul Secondary School, Mississauga, was recently awarded the Prestigious O.P.P. Commissioner’s Citation for Bravery by Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino on October 25, 2009 at a reception in London, Ontario. Without regard for his own safety, Harrison attempted to rescue a man from a burning vehicle after witnessing a motor vehicle collision on Highway 401 in Loyalist Township, Ontario. Harrison and his mother witnessed the accident while returning home from their cottage on September 21, 2008. Harrison rushed to the damaged car that had been hit from behind by a tractor-trailer unit. There were two unconconsious passengers in the badly damaged car. He and another passing motorist at the accident scene were able to remove the person from the passager side of the car. Although they also freed the driver of the vehicle from the burning car and brought him to safety, the driver later died as a result of his extensive injuries. Harrison is a real hero! He brought the Gospel Story of the Good Samaritan to life on Highway 401! When asked about his actions Harrison humbly said: “ I was glad that I could help. I only wish both passengers would have survived!” Apple Certified Final Cut Pro Training Students enrolled in this semester’s Broadcasting High Skills Major Program took a five day hiatus from their regular duties to take part in Apple’s Certified Pro Application Training from December 14 18. The workshop, which was delivered by Apple Master Trainer Darrin Sayewich, provided students with detailed lectures in professional film & video editing programs such as Final Cut Pro, Motion and DVD Studio Pro. Funding for the training was provided by the Ministry of Education and Dufferin-Peel Board, through the Student Success Strategy initiative. A special thank-you goes out to Greg Witz, President of Witz Apple Certified Training - the number one Authorized Apple Training Centre in Canada, for providing us with an amazing education discount which allowed us to enroll all of our Broadcasting students into this specialized training session again this year! The Apple Certified Pro program creates a benchmark for assessing an enduser’s proficiency in a specific Apple Pro application. By taking and passing the Apple Certified Pro exam, these students will be given Apple Certified Pro status, which will allow them to distinguish themselves to colleges, universities, employers, and future clients as skilled users of the chosen software application. This certification in Final Cut Pro will give these students a competitive edge in today’s everchanging job market. Two students from this group, Greg Leclair and Marie Tacbas scored 92% and 93% respectivly on the end-user exam (which requires an 80% grade or better to pass) and became the youngest male and female in the world to achieve Certified Pro status, in Final Cut Pro 7 from Apple. Student Analysis of Vitamin C Mr. Powers’ Grade 11 University Chemistry class (SCH3U1) worked as a team to analyze several fruits and fruit juices for vitamin C content. Vitamin C is important because our bodies cannot make it and as a result it must be obtained from the food we eat. The task of analyzing for vitamin C required students to apply the material they learned in the course. As part of the differentiated instruction component of the course, students chose the fruit or fruit juice in which he/she was most interested in testing. Students were excited about this task because it illustrates a real life experiment that provides valuable information to those interested in maintaining good health. It also gave students an opportunity to work as a real scientist. The recent cold weather in Florida is going to make citrus products more expensive. The results of this study will allow consumers to select products that will provide them with the required amount of vitamin C at the most economical cost. The results of the study are shown in the corresponding graph. A t h l e t i c s W o l v e r i n e s A Senior Girls Volleyball Senior Boys Basketball So far this season, the Senior Girls Volleyball Team has had a great start, winning their first 6 games. The girls at this point are first place in their division with 2 games remaining. The Senior Boys Basketball team is having a very successful season thus far. The team is off to a 4 and 2 start and is currently in second place in the Southeast Division. Earlier in the season the girls played in the Notre Dame Invitational Tournament and finished in 3rd place out of 12 teams. They also have one tournament to go in February at St. Joan of Arc, gearing up for the playoffs. The team is looking strong again this year and has a bright future with only three Grade 12’s on the team. The team members are Grade 9: Stephanie DiTella, Grade 10: Patricia Gluszak, Nicole Kolenda, Luba Sulypka, Katelyn Turk, Grade 11: Amanda Forest, Kristy Mlakar, Tanya Piitz, Aneta Steciuk, Grade 12: Lilla Matteliano, Emily Porfido and Leslie Skakun. The girls look forward to a rewarding playoff run and hopefully a berth at OFSAA this year in Perth. On the first weekend of January, St. Paul made history by winning the Rick Hanson Invitational Basketball Tournament. The team defeated North Toronto in the preliminaries, the host school Rick Hanson in the semi finals, and then defeated Central Peel Secondary with a 3 point basketball in the final seconds to win the championship 62-61. We wish the team luck as they prepare for the playoffs in early February. The team members include: Zachary Zubilewich, Connor Navia, Rory Coutts, Ryan Halley, Jibar Mahamoud, Brandon Catena, Connor Engels, Shawn Buric, Robert Prelich, Nasir Mahamoud, Darian Joseph, Brandon Palmer, Girls Varsity Hockey Team The Girls Varsity Hockey finished its second successful season with an impressive 4 win and 4 loss record. Special thanks to Jady Angeli who did a great job playing in net for the first time ever and Katelyn Turk who lead the team in scoring with numerous spectacular goals. As well, Cara Coutts, Jennifer Gnappa-Rice, Melynda Moniz, Giova Cascioli and Niamh Burke scored goals and significantly contributed to the team’s overall success. The rest of the team including Emily Bissola, Stephanie Di Tella, Jessica Ferkul, Cassie Garner, Nicole Gnappa-Rice, Kayla Heatherington, Erica Molinaro, Tanya Piitz, Emily Porfido, Jessica Rocchetti and Jacqueline Sousa played with enthusiasm and determination in all of their games. The team will play at York University on February 8th and 9th in an end of the year tournament. Special thanks to Mr.Finamore for helping to support and transport the team to its away games. Kristian Velkoski, Marissa Jochim (Manager), Ms. Hontar (Coach) Mr. Galli (Coach) Junior Boys Hockey For the first time ever, the St. Paul Junior Boys Hockey joined the Tier 1 ROPSSAA league. Even though, we have faced extremely tough competition from schools that are much larger in size, the boys have worked extremely hard and were very competitive in all of our games. The coaching staff is extremely proud of all t h l e t i c s our players for the way they have conducted themselves on and off the ice. The team members include: Andrew Alonzo, Erik Angeli, Tanner Blomme, Joseph Browne, Tyler Corbier, Mitchell Czornodolskyj, Cameron Donaghey, Devon Dunn, Kane Elliot, Michael Kasowski, Matthew Micallef, Evan Moss, Hayden Nix, Andrew Nocera, Adam Palermo, Michael Turk, Martin Zuk, Reese Cutiale, Ryan Peters, Ryan Da Silva and Anthony Zerafa. Torch Relay On Saturday, December 19, 2009, Stephen Covic carried the Olympic Torch, into the City of Mississauga. Stephen is a Grade 12 Student here at St. Paul. We are all very proud of Stephen and his role in this historic event. Other members of Steven’s relay team included Mississauga Mayor, Hazel McCallion and the President of the Toronto Maple Leaf’s Hockey team. Stephen is our St. Paul connection to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver! Green Energy Field Trip ACT NOW Students in the Grade 12 Construction for the Changing Environment High Skills Major went on a three day reach ahead experience at the Kortright Conservation Center in York Region. This field experience took place at the end of November and the instructors were industry professionals and leaders in their respective field of study. The seminars gave an overview of general concepts, resources, technologies and practices of Green Energy for domestic use. Technologies covered in this program include solar (photovoltaic) and wind electrical energy and domestic solar hot water and pool heating systems. The ACT NOW committee would like to thank the St. Paul community: parents, students and teachers, for their generosity in supporting our annual Christmas Raffle. The objective of the seminars was to enable students with a knowledge to introduce energy efficiency in the construction of homes. The participants toured the onsite systems that help power the Kortright Centre. They also got to practice assembling photovoltaic systems to produce electrical energy and take in valuable information which will shape their career decisions. We were able to raise $2500 for 20 needy families in the St. Dominic and St. Paul community. A special thank you goes out to all the students from the ACT NOW committee, as well as the teachers who donated prizes for the raffle. We could not look after those in need if it wasn’t for your care, concern and generosity. On behalf of Ms. Hastings, Ms. Vono and Mr. Finamore, we would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who supported the raffle and helped us put into action the words of St. Francis of Assisi “It is in giving that we receive.” In second semester the ACT NOW committee will run its annual Thinkfast event to raise funds for Development and Peace. We are committed to helping out our friends from Haiti who are in dire need in the aftermath of the earthquake. Information on these two issues will be forthcoming. Thank you in advance for your continued support. Looking Ahead Semi-Formal Dance......................................................................................February 19 Civvies Day...................................................................................................February 24 Progress Reports Sent Home............................................................... Week of March 8 Parent-Teacher Interview Night........................................................................March 11 March Break................................................................ March 15 – March 19 (inclusive) Civvies Day.......................................................................................................March 24 Holy Week.......................................................................................... Week of March 28 Good Friday..........................................................................................................April 2 Easter Monday......................................................................................................April 5 EQAO Literacy Test..............................................................................................April 8 Civvies Day.........................................................................................................April 21 Earth Day............................................................................................................April 22 Diana Swain Visits Studio30 Students in the Broadcasting SHSM were priveleged to have an informal presentation and chat session with two-time Gemini Award Winning news anchor Diana Swain on the morning of January 13. Ms. Swain took time out of her busy schedule at the CBC to watch our Studio30 crew in action as they delivered their morning broadcast. Afterward she was able speak with the students about futures in journalism and broadcasting in Canada. Later that day, on the evening news, Ms. Swain gave a great shout-out to the crew and principal Paul Schmidt. We’d like to thank Ms. Swain for her time and insight, and Ms. Virginia Luh, Co-ordinator in the board’s Program Department for arranging the meeting. English Class Volunteers For Food Collection Ms. M. Tobin’s English 1L2L class was a big part of the St. Dominic’s Caring and Sharing food hampers collection in the week before Christmas. As part of the curriculum they helped identify a community need, developed a plan and project around that need and brought the project to completion. Congratulations all. Talent Night ‘09 On Friday, November 20, St. Paul put on a great show of music and media for a fifth straight year of student-driven performances. The audience of almost 400 enthusiastic students, family members and friends were treated to a remarkable show of more than 24 numbers. After 2 months of planning, taping and rehearsing, the cast and crew showcased another night of first-rate entertainment. All of the hard work was brought together under the direction of Mr. Brugmans, Ms. Laxton, Ms. Tobin, Ms. Richardson and Mr. Penkul. The show was strung together by our capable MC’s: Skylar Brugmans, Patty Oliveira, Luke Stabile and Dave Czubat. The music on stage was off set with 8 pre-taped video clips - a collection of movie, tv & ad parodies plus some original sketches that added a wonderfully hilarious break from the stage performances. These short movies were shot and edited by the Studio30 Crew, who also worked behind the scenes taping the show. They are: Marie Tacbas, Anielika Sykes, Greg Leclair, Joanna Lewandowska, Irena Dudek, Desmond Curtis, Luke Stabile and Skye Brugmans. Video, sound and stage crews worked hard to give the audience a professional show. Door prizes were plentiful this year and we’d like to thank our friends at LA Music, Apple Canada, Revlon, Metro, Monarch Florists, Loblaws, Bert’s Sport Chalet, Captiva Hair Salon, Basketcase, Tim Horton’s, Shopper Drug Mart, Richard’s Chocolate Store, Fast Signs and St. Mike’s Majors Hockey Club for their donations of some amazing prizes. Capping off our list as the grand door prizes, were an Ibanez Acoustic Guitar and an ESP LTD EC50 Red electric guitar, won by two very happy audience members. After 3 hours of top-flight entertainment, the night came to an end with cheers from a very energetic audience. We would like to thank the cast and crew for their work in making Talent Night 2009 such a success. The Guidance Files Happy New Year and welcome to Semester Two! We completed our 2009 year with an outstanding Grade 8 Parent Information Evening on December 10. Parents were impressed with our beautiful school, presentations from Mr Schmidt, Mr. Finamore, Mr Penkul’s band and all the Department Heads and teachers who shared course information and demonstrations. Thank you to all our student volunteers who took photos, supported teachers, presented our broadcast, and happily guided parents and potential students around our school campus. We look forward to meeting our new students in August at the Grade 9 Orientation morning. counselor to confirm enrolment for the 2010-2011 school year. Reminders for Potential Graduates College applications for equal consideration February 1, 2010. Students may still apply after this date but may not get into popular programs. University applications were due January 13. Final marks are submitted to OUAC by February 16. Students are reminded to check their on-line applications to verify marks and check the status of their application. Students taking Night School courses must submit their mid-term and final marks to their guidance counselor so that their academic file can be updated. Semester Two Night School courses run from February 10May 26, 2010 Alternative Education As Semester one comes to a close, our first semester with an Alternative Education Program at St. Paul can be declared a success! Alternative Education is rooted in the uniqueness of each student and based on relationship. It serves students who require a non-traditional educational route. Some of the learning opportunities our students have been provided with include: volunteer work at Dr. Simone’s warehouse every Friday, various fitness challenges at Wynn Fitness working towards a physical education credit, and a challenging adventure based day at Alpine Towers. Students were also provided with the opportunity to listen to, and engage in conversation with, guest speakers from organizations such as Mood Disorders Association of Ontario, Youth Substance Abuse Program, Vita Centre and Region of Peel Healthy Sexuality Clinics. Ms. Sturino, Mr. Isabella and the senior Alt. Ed. students have had a fabulous semester! Graduation Photo Sessions will be organized February 8-19. There is a registration fee of $25.00 to book a session. In keeping with the registration process, guidance counselors presented course selection information to all our present St. Paul students. Students were shown how to apply on-line using the St. Paul website and personal password system. This application process is now standard throughout all secondary schools within our Dufferin-Peel School Board. Students were asked to submit their selections and $60.00 fee in January. Changes to selections may be made when students receive their Verification Sheets in early April. Also in January, we had a presentation on the three SHSM programs unique to St Paul. These are the Secondary High Skill Major pathways that lead students to earn a Red Seal on their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Interested students are asked to meet with their guidance Graduation Invitations will be mailed to all eligible Potential Graduates in early March. Students are required to submit gown forms and fees by April 19. Graduation fee is $80.00. Semester Two, Mid-Term Parent Teacher Interview Night is Thursday, March 11. Not going away for March Break? Why not visit/tour an Ontario College or University campus? Students are encouraged to look at the information posted outside the Student Services area for details on this valuable experience. Scholarships are available for many postsecondary programs. Visit the website: http://www.studentawards.com and http:// www.scholarshipscanada.com We wish you all a healthy, happy, successful, Semester Two. “I ask that your minds be open to see God’s light, so that you will know what is the hope to which God has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings God promises his people, and how very great is God’s power at work in us who believe.” Ephesians 1:18-19 English Department News Excursions The next trip to Stratford will occur in Semester 2 for students of Ms. S. Bentivoglio and Ms. A. Romao. The students will be able to see Peter Pan on April 28th. OSSLT Remember the date for the OSSLT test which will be taking place on April 8th, 2010. The next Literacy Blitz Week will occur in March. Grades 9 and 10 teachers are committed to making sure that their courses support the OSSLT initiative and that the students are prepared for the test. The OSSLT is a large-scale assessment written by all Grade 10 students in Ontario public and separate schools. The OSSLT has been in place since 2000. Its purpose is to assess the reading and writing skills attained by all students who have completed the Grade 9 curriculum. Parents and students are strongly urged to visit the EQAO website www.eqao.com; it is a fine website with Teacher, Parent and Student sections containing all information anyone could possibly need for the upcoming OSSLT. English, Drama and ESL Department Website We are in the process of updating our St. Paul English Department website. Currently there is only the Welcome and Introduction page. In the coming weeks we hope to have activated a Quick Launch from the English department so parents and students and the community can access information of topics such as all Ministry Profiles for courses taught in the English and Drama Department, Policies on Plagiarism, the Board Homework Policy and Procedures, a Glossary of Literary Terms and information on recommended websites. Please check our website in the coming semester: www. dpcdsb.org/PAULS/Departments/English/ Who To Call School Choir Once again a big thanks to all the members of our Liturgical Choir who continue to support and greatly enhance the assemblies and liturgies at St. Paul Secondary. During this first semester the group provided music for two school masses and the Remembrance Day assembly. The feedback from the audience was very positive, and our singers and musicians look forward to preparing for the Holy Thursday liturgy and Easter Mass. In addition to school-based activities, we are expanding our repertoire to include performing for various retirement communities in the area. The Choir practices on Wednesdays after school in the Music Room and as always, new members are welcome. See Ms. Laxton, Mrs. Primier, Mr. Finamore, Ms. Baglione or Mr. Penkul for more information! Parent Council Presents... an open invitation to all parents Guest Speaker: Doren Lawson Topic: Raising Children of Character Thursday, February 25, 2010 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. in the St. Paul Cafetorium Trustees: B. Iannicca - 905-270-0536, bruno.iannicca@dpcdsb.org. M. Pascucci - 905-624-3663, mario.pascucci@dpcdsb.org L. McGuire - Superintendent M. McHenry - Student Services/ARD B. Finamore - Chaplain P. Schmidt - Principal E. Wasiuk - Counsellor, A - K, ESL V. Lothian - Youth Care Worker J. Dmytrasz - Vice Principal K. Grenier - Counsellor, L - Z, SHSM Fr. Philip Jones - St. Domenic Pastor M. Piperni - Heartbeat Editor T. Brugmans - Layout & Design 815 Atwater Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L5E 1L8 Phone: 905-278-3994 Web: stpaulss.org Fax: 905-278-1163