We are Christians
... Chaplain’s Corner
ST. PAUL SECONDARY SCHOOL’S
HEARTBEAT
Think Fast
Wrap Up
School Play
Presenting “Perfect Pitch”
French Contest
Concours Secondaire d’art oratoire
Graduation
Dates and Information
Spring Sports
Our Teams Move Outdoors
DP Skills Competition
And the winners are...?
Looking Ahead...
Important Dates for your calendar
St. Paul Secondary School
SPRING ISSUE, 2011
815 Atwater Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L5E 1L8
Phone: 905-278-3994
Web: stpaulss.org
Fax: 905-278-1163
Trustees
B. Iannicca, Mississauga Ward 7 - 905-270-0536, bruno.iannicca@dpcdsb.org
M. Pascucci, Mississauga Wards 1 & 3 - (P) 905-302-3096, (F) 905-890-0888, mario.pascucci@dpcdsb.org
Superintendent
Mr. C. Blanchard
Principal
Mr. P. Schmidt
Vice-Principal
Ms. C. Iacobucci
Chaplain
Mr. B. Finamore
Student Services/ARD
Mr. B. Bonnah
Guidance Counsellor A - K, ELL
Ms. E. Wasiuk
Guidance Counsellor L - Z, SHSM
Mr. J. Multari
Youth Care Worker
Ms. V. Williams
St. Dominic Parish Pastor
Fr. Philip Jones
Heartbeat Editor
Mr. T. Brugmans
Magazine Layout & Design
Mr. T. Brugmans
Cover Photo
L. Richardson
Principal’sMessage
“Dying you destroyed our death, rising you
restored our life, Lord Jesus, come in glory.”
As Easter and mid-term reports approach, the snow has disappeared and
our teams have taken to the playing fields for spring sports. After a winter
that seemed to drag on forever, our school community is bubbling with
activity.
Our grade 10 students completed their OSSLT on March 31 with good
participation, while grade 9 students did a mock up as a practice for next
year. Considerable preparation went into this years test and students and
staff alike are hopeful for positive results when they are reported in the
fall.
Our Annual Thinkfast event was held
on Friday, April 1 with over 90 students raising pledges for Third World
students. Students heard from Greg
Cornell about the challenges of bottled
water and enjoyed the all night camaraderie for a good cause.
All parents will want to hear guest
speaker, Michael Reist on May 11
in the school cafetorium. Our parent
council has invited Michael to speak
on Effective strategies for raising
boys. There is no admission and parents are encouraged to spread the word
for this very important topic.
Parents will be able to purchase tickets
the evening of, for the St. Paul Players
presentation of Perfect Pitch, directed
by P. Kay and A. Kelly. The play will
be presented on Wednesday, May
25 and Thursday, May 26, curtain at
7.30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance
and $12 at the door. Please phone
the Main office at 905 278-3994 for
further information.
Graduation will be held on June 29
at St. Dominic’s Parish Hall and we
have over 50 students that still need to
complete their service hours. Students
are required to earn 30 credits and
have a total of 40 community service
hours in order to be eligible to receive
an OSSD. Our initial list of graduates
has been posted by Mr. Bonnah and
we would ask all graduating students
to make sure that this requirement is
fulfilled or to see their Counsellor as
soon as possible.
While we were able to lower our grad
fee this year, we will need to restrict
our audience to parents of grads and
two guests due to space considerations. Start time remains at 5:00 pm
and the ceremony normally concludes
at 7:30. Parking will be available at
the church as well as the school.
On the instructional side, we have submitted a proposal to install eight Smart
Boards in specific rooms to broaden
our ability to teach to a broader range
of student learning styles. In sequence
with those priorities, a committee of
staff has submitted a proposal to the
ICT Governance committee for a pilot
project to make our school wireless
(wifi). Students are digital natives and
we have made a priority of building
capacity for all students to work on
their notebooks, netbooks and iPads
everywhere in the school. This will
place more responsibility on senior
students becoming more responsible
for their personal possessions and
we will be meeting with students in
advance of flipping our switch.
Good tickets for the Blue Jays vs.
White Sox Major League Baseball
game on May 28 are available through
the Main office and include admission
to our Wolverines vs. Tigers game
afterwards. Tickets are $42.00 and can
be purchased any time. Come on out
and cheer our Wolverines on.
Have a restful spring.
›››Chaplaincy
Our
Living
Faith
I am writing this letter during Catholic Education Week in Ontario. The
glorious events of Easter and the beatification of John Paul II this past
weekend in Rome are fresh in our minds. There is a Federal Election underway and a Provincial Election looms on the
horizon this fall. Let us always remember the
precious gift of Catholic Education.
Catholic Schools are fully funded in
the Province of Ontario. Parents in
many areas of Canada and throughout
the world pay thousands of dollars
every year to provide a Catholic Education for their children. Let us thank
God for the blessings in our lives.
Let us always do our best to support
Catholic Education.
Grocery Shopping is a big event in
the Finamore household. Every week my wife Sylvia, goes
through the grocery flyers from
all of the major food chains
looking for specials. At the end
of the day we usually find that
shopping at No Frills saves our
family money on our weekly
grocery bill. No Frills isn’t the
most comfortable place to shop.
The food selection isn’t as large
as some of the large chain stores.
Many of the products on the shelves
at No Frills are “No Name” brands,
packed with the distinctive yellow
label. I don’t know why, but No Name
products cost less than the regular
commercial Brands. I don’t know if
the quality of the product is inferior
but in my experience, there seems to
be no difference except for the price.
This past Holy Week I was reflecting
on the great price that Jesus paid for
you and for me. He sacrificed his life
dying on the cross. He loves us and
cares deeply for each of us. He even
calls us by name to follow Him
and share in his infinite love!
We are no longer “No Names.”
We are Christians, we share in the
Resurrection of Christ! May we
always see the great inherent value in each other. The quality and
the way we live our lives should be
different. We are the Brand Name
people...we are Christians!
›››Guidance Files
Student Services • ARD • Counseling
The Student Services counselors have begun the process of timetabling for the
new school year (2011-2012). Students were asked to input their course requests
through the St. Paul website on-line program in January and were asked to review and confirm their selections when they received a Verification Sheet. Thank
you to all parents and students for their support in meeting these important
deadlines and for submitting the $60.00 activity fee. The timetabling process will
occur during the month of May.
Dual-Credit Programs
Humber and Sheridan College offers Dual
Credit Programs for St. Paul students interested in spending a semester in a pre-college
program while simultaneously earning their
high school credits. Details are available
through your son/daughters’ guidance counselor in the Student Services department.
Program offerings for 2011 include:
Police Foundations (Humber)
Business Studies (Humber)
and pre-trades programs including:
Plumbing (Sheridan)
Electrical and Welding (Sheridan)
Construction (Sheridan)
Architectural Drafting (Sheridan)
Electomechanical Engineering (Sheridan)
Summer School Information
Information and Forms have arrived in
Student Services. Students must have a parent/guardian and a guidance counselor sign
summer school application forms. All forms
are due by Friday, June 3, 2011.
Final Reminders for Potential
Graduates: Class of 2011
A list of all students who are currently eligible to graduate has been posted outside the
Student Services Office. Students are asked
to check the list regularly to ensure their
name appears on the list and they remain
eligible to graduate. Students or parents who
have any questions or concerns regarding
eligibility to graduate must contact their son/
daughter’s respective guidance counselor as
soon as possible.
Graduation Due Dates and Reminders:
Gown form orders and Commencement fees
are due in Student Services by April 27!
1) Graduation Prom: Friday, June 24
2) Graduation Mass and Breakfast: June
29 at 10:00 a.m. Mass: St. Dominic’s
Church followed by Grad Breakfast at St.
Paul S.S.
3) Graduation Commencement: June 29 at
5:00 p.m., St. Dominic’s Church
Specialist High Skills Majors
Student Success is about meeting the individual learning needs of each and every student. St.Paul is providing students with more
opportunities to customize their high school
experience and build on their strengths
and interests through a variety of enhanced
learning options. One of those options is a
Specialist High Skills Major.
What is a Specialist High Skills Major
(SHSM)?
An SHSM is a ministry-approved specialized program that allows students to focus
their learning on a specific economic sector
while meeting the requirements to graduate
from secondary school. It also assists in their
transition after graduation to apprenticeship
training, college, university and/or the workplace. For the upcoming 2011–12 school
year, 5 SHSM’s Programs are available in
the following sectors:
· Construction
· Energy
· The Environment
· Broadcasting (ICT)
· Non-profit Organizations
Pursuing an SHSM enables students to:
• Customize their secondary school education to suit their interests and talents
• Develop specialized knowledge and skills
• Earn credits that postsecondary educational
institutions and the sector recognize
• Gain sector-recognized certification and
career-relevant training
• Develop Essential Skills and work habits
documented through the Ontario Skills
Passport
• Identify, explore and refine career goals
and make informed decisions about their
future
• Remain flexible, with the option to shift
between pathways, should their goals and
plans change.
A SHSM Program includes the following 5
components:
1. a bundle of 8–10 Grade 11 and Grade 12
credits that includes:
•4 major credits that provide sector-specific
knowledge and skills
•2–4 other required credits from the Ontario
curriculum, in which some expectations are
met through learning activities contextualized to the sector
•2 cooperative education credits that
provide authentic learning experiences in
a workplace setting,enabling students to
refine, extend, and practise sector-specific
knowledge and skills
2. sector-recognized certifications and/or
training courses
3. experiential learning activities within the
sector
4. “reach ahead” experiences connected
with the student’s chosen postsecondary
pathway
5. development of key Essential Skills and
work habits required in the sector, and the
use of the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP)
for purposes of documentation.
How is an SHSM recognized?
Students who successfully complete an
SHSM receive:
• an Ontario Secondary School Diploma with
an embossed red seal
• an SHSM Record documenting his/her
achievement
• formal recognition on his/her Ontario Student Transcript.
How do I find out more?
More detailed information about SHSMs and
how they work can be found at www.ontario.
ca/studentsuccess or by contacting your son/
daughter’s guidance counselor.
›››Technology
Skills Competition
Hairstyling and Aesthetics, Carpentry, Cabinetmaking, Plumbing, Electrical Wiring,
Landscaping, and Home building.
Technological Education is an integral part
of the St. Paul community. This spring
the students at St.
Paul had the opportunity to participate
in the competition
held by the DufferinPeel Catholic District
School Board at St.
Augustine Secondary
school in Brampton on
March 22. This allowed
the students the opportunity to show off
their skills in a handson competition, which
serves as a qualifying
round for the Skills
Canada Provincial
Competition.
This year St. Paul sent
14 students to the
competition in the following sectors of technology:
All students were outstanding in their performance. The Gold medal winners will be
representing Dufferin-Peel at the Provincial competition on May 2 and 3 at Rim Park in
Waterloo, Ontario. This is an honour as our students will be competing against candidates in high skills trades across the province.
Hair Styling.............................................Wendy Hernandez.........................................Gold
Carpentry Team.......................................Julian Dubicki, Shaun Maiato......................Gold
Cabinetmaking........................................Michael Lis...................................................Gold
Plumbing.................................................Garrett Reynolds...........................................Gold
Electrical Wiring..................................... Aaron Saunders............................................Gold
Brick Masonry........................................Nick Povse.................................................. Silver
Landscape Construction Team (2).......... Maciej Leja, Connor Tavares...................... Silver
Home Building Team (4)........................Justin Succo, Mitchel Czornodolskyj,
Brandon Messenger, Robert Dal’Bo.......... Silver
Carpentry Individual...............................Andrzej Zielinski...................................... Bronze
Good Luck to All!!!
›››English
Grammar
Literature
The English Department has had a number
missioner for Refugees. See Mr. Kay for
Drama Experiences
As well, the Knights of Columbus have an
continues her trips to Stratford in April
There is always information posted near
the great Jesus Christ Superstar.
Kay.
of activities going on this semester.
Ms. Bentivoglio, along with Ms. Romao,
and May to see The Grapes of Wrath and
eligibility, rules, topic and due dates.
essay contest on Leaders of Tomorrow.
the English Department office or see Mr.
Ms. Kim, along with Ms. Tobin, brings her
School Play: Perfect Pitch
a production of The Shape of a Girl in
Pitch. It is a Comedy in Two Acts, written
students to Young People’s Theatre to see
the early weeks of May.
This year’s school play is entitled Perfect
by Samuel Taylor.
Mr. Kay has managed to have a little bit of
The story is of a famous violin virtuoso
Shakespearience is coming to the St.
trated in his intentions by his cook, his
theatre come to St. Paul. The great troupe
Paul Library and will provide a wonderful
workshop experience for Mr. Kay’s Grade
10 Drama and English students.
Ms. Romao is taking her students to the
who is determined to retire, but is frus-
wife, his fiery Russian manager, and an
old flame who suddenly appears with a
radical daughter in tow, and a famous rock
singer in hot pursuit.
Panasonic Theatre on May 25 to see
This year’s play is directed by Mr. P. Kay
ture Studies Unit. This will be an awe-
Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May
Ghost Stories as part of her Gothic Literasome opportunity to have a Question and
Answer session with the cast at this event.
Contests
Ms. Tobin’s student Maii Sabilano has entered the OECTA Student Writing poetry
contest and has successfully moved to the
and Ms. A. Kelly and will be presented on
26. Curtain is 7.30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the
door. There are many staff and students
involved in the production. Circle
this date in your calendar.
next level. Congratulations and good luck!
There will be a Mati-
Maii Sabilano was also involved in the
students on May 18,
John Cabot Poetry Slam and looks forward
to next year’s competition.
Upcoming Contests
There is a wonderful poetry contest sup-
ported by the United Nations High Com-
nee teaser available to
but this will only be a
segment production
- not the whole
evening production.
Speaking
›››Athletics
Discipline, Dedication, Determination
Spring is such
a wonderful
issue. The three suicides at Queen’s
time to get outside,
get active and enjoy
the outdoors. Make
a commitment this
spring to incorporate
a healthy active lifestyle into your family’s
weekly routine! With
the high school curriculum condensed
into four short years,
many students don’t
have the room in their
schedules to take
Health and Physical
Education in their senior years.
Spring sports are in full gear with track
and field, four soccer teams, baseball,
slo-pitch, badminton all vying for a piece
of our St. Paul gym and fields. Our track
team is taking advantage of our liason
with York University, to practice at their
state of the art facility. Our PHE department is happy to have several volunteers
working with us this semester. Frank
Kulis, former Colorado state football star,
personal trainer and teacher’s college
candidate, shares his expertise in training
methods with the weight room club every
Tuesday and Thursday after school. Orest
Sawka, third year Health and Physical
education candidate from U of T. will also
be joining us and working on promoting Intramural activities during the lunch
periods. It is exciting to see, how many
students are coming and playing some ball
on their lunch hour. Encourage your child
to get involved! York student teachers
Felicia Turone and Shari Stefaniuk have
been with us on a weekly basis and will be
teaching with us during the month of May.
Thanks to our colleagues at Philip Pocock,
who have graciously lent us the use of
their bussette, as ours has been recalled to
Indiana for important body work.
Compound this with
pressures of getting
into college and university, it’s no wonder
that one in five students will struggle
with a mental health
University this year, is a tragic example of
the need for providing students with strategies for dealing with stress in their lives.
Exercise is one of the best antidotes for
depression and other debilitating mental
illnesses affecting our youth today.
Grade 11/12 Gym
Class OutingsHealthy Body,
Healthy Mind.
As part of the curriculum in the senior
grades, the grade 11 and 12 classes have
fun opportunities to visit a variety of fitness and sports venues in Mississauga.
Students experience activities such as
spinning, kickbox, Silvercreek outdoor
center, bowling, golf, tennis, squash, belly
dance, zumba just to name a few. By
providing the students with a wide variety
of activities, it is hoped that they will find
something that they will continue with
for the rest of their lives. PHE is not just
a credit, but an opportunity to develop
a healthy active lifestyle that will repay
dividends throughout their lives.
3-on-3 Junior and
Senior Basketball
Challenge
There was a lot of excitement during
the lunch periods during the 3-on-3 bb
challenge. In the senior division, the
team that finished fourth in the qualifying
round, ended up winning the championship. Congratulations to the co-ed team of
Kelsey Forestell, Ryan Halley and Shahir
for showing such grit and determination
in winning the championship game. In
the junior division, congratulations go to
Zack Zubilewich, Kyle Morgan and Adam
Bogaczewicz on winning the junior 3 on 3
bb challenge.
›››Athletics
St. Paul at the
Roger’s
Center
Come out and support the St. Paul Wol-
continued success with his soccer career.
verines as they experience the thrill of a
lifetime, playing at the Roger’s Center
on May 28, 2011. After the Jays games
against the Chicago White Sox, the St.
Paul Wolverines will challenge St. Francis
Xavier Tigers to a game. Don’t miss out
on an exciting evening of fun. Tickets are
available from any St. Paul baseball player
at $42
Mississauga
Marathon
Good luck to the following members of
the co-ed Mississauga Marathon team, that
will be representing St. Paul on Saturday
May 14th, 2011. The race will take place
at 6:30 pm on Saturday and will finish
at Lakefront Promenade. The awards
ceremony will take place at 7:30pm. Come
and support your team of Hayden Nix,
Tanner Blomme, Lina Evans and Tess
Kendrick. Good luck team!
Hiking Club
Between homework, part-time jobs,
computers, cell phones and video games,
so many of our students are becoming
nature deprived. To help reunite our St.
Paul community with the beauty of the
outdoors, St. Paul is planning a hike to the
Bruce Trail on Saturday May 14, 2011.
Our guide, Greg Vincent, will lead us
through the Crawford Lake portion of the
Bruce Trail. The bus will be departing St.
Paul at 8:45 am and will return by approximately 2:30 pm. The hike will take place,
rain or shine. There will be a nominal fee
to cover the cost of the bus and entrance to
Crawford Lake.
Shawn
Buric
St. Paul student, Shawn Buric, has been
offered an opportunity of a lifetime to
play with the Brazilian club Cruziero. The
former OFSAA silver medalist, Shawn
will be training with the U21 team for
the next 6 months. During this training,
many scouts from all over Europe will be
evaluating the players. The entire school
community would like to wish Shawn
qualifying game against Guadelupe, Lucas
scored an important game tying goal. It is
apparent that his commitment and dedication to soccer has paid off. We wish Lucas
all the best of luck in his future soccer
endeavours.
One
Health Clubs
With Ms. Schlarp teaching yoga at One
Bollywood Grooves
St. Paul has been lucky to team up with
a dance company, specializing in Bollywood Grooves to experience the diversity
of Indian dance. All students are invited to
this free after school workshop, which will
be held in the St. Paul gym on Tuesday,
May 3, 2011. Come out and have some
fun, get fit dancing up a storm and learning a little bit more about the art of Indian
dance. Sign up now on the PHE bulletin
board.
Special thanks to Youthnet for sharing
their expertise on mental health issues
with our St. Paul community.
Lucas Cavallini
makes
Team Canada
St. Paul is proud of their former soccer
sensation, Lucas Cavallini, as he is now
representing Canada in the under 20 age
group team. Lucas played in Uruguay and
Argentina, where he competed with professional youth teams and was scouted by
a variety of teams. He was then invited to
play on Team Canada, under 20 team. In a
Health clubs for the past 8 years, we
have been fortunate to team up with this
fabulous gym during the past many years.
With their renovation in full swing, Steve
DaCosta, owner of the club, has graciously offered us some of their older fitness
equipment, in return for volunteer hours.
This community partnership will enhance
our already strong weight room facility.
Thank you!
A Must Read for
Parents
of Teens
Dr. Leonard Sax- Girls on the Edge &
Boys Adrift
Together with several St. Paul staff, I
had an opportunity to attend Dr. Leonard
Sax’ presentation on gender differences
in learning and he made it very clear that
girls are increasingly struggling with anxiety issues, while boys are falling through
the cracks academically, losing motivation
to do well at school. Any parents with high
school daughters should pick up a copy of
“Girls on the Edge”, in which he highlights some of the important issues that are
challenging girls such as early sexualization and the cyber bubble(facebook) that
today’s adolescents are caught up in. In
“Boy’s Adrift”, Dr. Sax discusses the issues that today’s boys are grappling with,
such as losing themselves in the virtual
world of video games. The percentage of
boys attending university and graduating
is down to 38%, from approximately 68%
twenty years ago.
›››Bits & Bites
Omnia Cum Corde
Felicitations!
On April 6, 2011 Sarah DeSousa and
Natalie Adamczyk represented St. Paul in
the Dufferin-Peel Concours Secondaire
d’art oratoire.
The Concours Secondaire d’art oratoire
is the annual public speaking event for
students in grades nine through twelve
studying French as a Second Language in
Ontario schools.
We are proud to announce that Natalie
won first place in the grade nine and ten
FSL categorie. She will go on to compete
in the provincial speech competition on
May 7 to be held at York University, Glendon College. Felicitations!
Merci beaucoup Sarah and Natalie for
your dedication, determination and a job
well done!
Looking Ahead
Please take note of the following dates to
help you plan out your spring calendar.
Semester 2 Mid-term Reports....... April 21
Good Friday.................................. April 22
Easter Monday.............................. April 25
Catholic Education Week............May 1 - 6
Ontario Skills Competition.........May 2 - 4
Parent Council Meeting................. May 11
Spirit Week..............................May 16 - 20
Civvies Day.................................... May 18
Victoria Day................................... May 23
School Play........................... May 25 & 26
School Council Elections............... May 31
Athletic Banquet.............................. June 9
Civvies Day.................................... June 15
Semester 2 Exams...................June 20 - 24
Study Skills
Whether you’re in grade 9 or 12, developing the following five skills will help you
achieve success in school, in your chosen career, and in life.
1. Time Management
You know the deal: There are just 24 hours in each day. What you do with that time
makes all the difference. High-school students average 35 hours per week of class time.
Getting your free time under control will help prepare you for your classes.
2. Good Study Habits
If you’ve got them, great. If not - well, there’s still time to develop them. Good study
habits include these basics:
Always be prepared for class, and attend classes regularly. No skipping!
Complete assignments thoroughly and in a timely manner.
Review your notes daily rather than cram for tests the night before.
3. Concentration
Listen to your teacher and stay focused. Be sure that you understand the lesson. If you
don’t understand something, ask questions! You’ve heard it before, but the only dumb
question is the one you don’t ask is absolutely true. If you’ve been paying attention, it
definitely won’t be a dumb question.
4. Completion of Assignments
Teachers assign homework for a reason. While it may seem like busywork at times, it
definitely has a purpose. Put your homework to good use. Remember, you’ll only get out
of it what you put into it!
5. Commitment
You’ve started the course, now you need to complete it. Do the best -- and get the most
out of it -- that you can! Your commitment will pay off in the end.
›››Think Fast ‘11
Social Justice For All
On Friday April 1, eighty students participated in the annual Thinkfast event. The
students spent twenty-four hours fasting in
solidarity with the millions of people in our
world who live in hunger.
Participants enjoyed listening to guest
speakers Derek Forge and Justin Minott, who
taught us about the importance of water
and encouraged us to get involved to affect positive change in our world. Some of
the grade eight students from our feeder
schools were also in attendance for part of
the evening.
Mr. Finamore organized a beautiful evening liturgy that celebrated the
Holy people whose images were on our Thinkfast t-shirts. The Thinkfasters raised significant funds for charity and they have an increased
awareness of and appreciation for the gifts of food and water.
Water for all; let justice flow.