Lord, You make all things new
You bring hope alive in our hearts
And cause our Spirits to be born again
St. Thomas More
Catholic School
Website: http://www.dpcdsb.org/TMORE
Welcome One Another As Christ Has Welcomed You, Romans 15:7
St. Thomas More Catholic School
A New Years Prayer
3270 Tomken Road
Mississauga, ON., L4Y 2Y7
(905) 279-6472
Fax: (905) 279-3205
Principal
M. Nicoletti
Vice Principal
R. Furtado
Secretarial Staff
A. Rago
L. Antilope
Thank you for this new year
For all the potential it holds.
Come and kindle in us
A mighty flame
So that in our time,
Many will see the wonders of God
And live forever to praise Your glorious name.
Amen
SUPERINTENDENT MISSISSAUGA EAST FAMILY OF SCHOOLS
Please note that effective January 1st, 2015 our new Superintendent of the
Mississauga East Family of Schools is Mr. Tim Lariviere. Effective
January 1st, Mr. Charles Blanchard is the Superintendent of Strategic
Planning, Policy & Special Projects. We welcome Mr. Lariviere to
Mississauga East. We wish to thank Mr. Blanchard for his support during
his tenure with the Mississauga East Family of Schools and wish him
continued success in his new portfolio.
Superintendent
T. Lariviere
(905) 890-1221
Trustee
Mario Pascucci, Chair
Mississauga Wards 1 & 3
(905) 302-3096
(905) 890-0708 x20161
mario.pascucci@dpcdsb.org
School Council Chair
S. Olmedo
Pastor
Rev. John Facey
St. Patrick’s Church
(905) 270-2301
Follow us on Twitter:
@DPCDSBSchools
“CRAM A CRUISER” WITH GIFTS
St. Thomas More “Cram A Cruiser” Campaign
Tuesday, December 16th 2014
During the month of December the St. Thomas More
Youth Faith Ambassadors initiated a food collection and toy
drive campaign. The goal this Christmas was to “cram a
cruiser” with gifts and food for the less fortunate members of
our school community. This goal was met due to the
wonderful generosity of students, parents and members of the
St. Thomas More School community, who donated many new
and unwrapped Christmas gifts and non-perishable food
items. A special thank you also goes out to Constables Steve
and Paul of the Peel Regional Police, who donated their time
and brought out their police cruiser for the special event.
Newsletter Inserts:
Kindergarten Registration, International Languages Parent
Information Night, Kindergarten Information Night for
Students with Differing Abilities, and Math @ Home.
PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME
Start Time
9:00 a.m.
AM Recess
11:11 a.m.
Lunch
12:06 p.m.
PM Recess
2:29 p.m.
Dismissal
3:30 p.m.
We applaud students who are on time for class and ask all
students to make a concerted effort to come to school
in a timely manner, with all homework completed,
ready to learn. Punctuality and preparedness are valuable
life skills. Parents/guardians will be notified of students
who are repeatedly late.
FOOD REMINDERS
We would like to remind parents that there
are a number of students in the school with
life threatening allergies to various food
products. Birthday celebrations and
festivities for special occasions are part of
the educational experience, however, we are requesting
that parents not send food items to their child’s class.
Instead, consider alternatives such as: stickers, pencils,
etc., to ensure the safety of all of our students.
Please drop lunches at the table in the
hallway outside the office and remind your
child that his/her lunch is being dropped
off at the school. Parents are also
encouraged to leave after dropping off their
child’s lunch and not to open the door for
other parents. We are asking for your cooperation in this
matter to enhance student safety and ensure that your
child(ren) will have enough time to eat their lunch.
SCENT FREE ZONE
St. Thomas More has implemented the
Dufferin-Peel initiative “WE SHARE THE
AIR.” This is a scent awareness campaign
for staff, students and the school community,
that will help keep our students with severe
allergies and sensitivity to scents safe in the school
environment. We are asking staff, students and visitors to
our school to kindly avoid using perfumes/colognes in
our school environment.
BUS STUDENTS
ELIGIBILITY DISTANCE
JK/SK-Gr. 1
Gr. 2-4
Gr. 5 - 8
1.0 KM
1.6 KM
2.0 KM
INCLEMENT WEATHER
During the winter months inclement
weather may cause disruption of bus
transportation and regular school
operations. A decision to cancel school
transportation and/or to close schools is
usually made by 6:00 a.m. and will be
announced on the following radio and television stations:
VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9, CHUM AM1050, FTR
AM680, CFNY FM102.1/AM640, CJCL AM590,
CHFIFM98.1, CFRB AM1010, EZ ROCK
FM97.3, CJBC (FR) AM860, FM Z103.5,
FM93.1, FM Q107 CHIN FM100.7/AM1540,
CBC99.1, CITYPULSE, GLOBAL NEWS, CTV
CANADA AM
For further inquiries, such as cancellations, pick/drop-off
times and locations, please see visit the transportation
website at: www.stopr.ca.
REMINDER OF BUS RULES
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be at the bus stop at least 10 minutes ahead of
pick-up
follow all directions from the driver, especially
when getting on and off the bus
go directly to a seat and stay seated until the
driver opens the door for drop-off
keep all belongings inside the bus
sit quietly at all times
speak only in conversational tones
no eating on the bus
do not speak with the bus driver while the bus
is in operation, unless necessary
VISITOR’S PROTOCOL
In keeping with Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School Board Policy and enhancing student safety, all visitors to the
school must report to the office. We
ask parents not to walk though the
school hallways to drop off their children.
During inclement days, students will be permitted to
walk through the front doors only.
Parents are also reminded that the church parking lot is
not a supervised area. For the safety of our students, parents or guardians are discouraged from having their children wait for them in the church parking lot to be picked
up. Parents or guardians are reminded to promptly pick
up their children at dismissal and instruct their children to
go the main office immediately, if they do not see their
parents or guardians at dismissal.
LIBRARY NEWS
RAZ KIDS
Did you know that you can now view the
school library from home? Just follow the
The Raz Kids Online Reading
following trail to see what the library has:
Program is being aimed at our
http://www.dpcdsb.org/TMORE
primary students as a means of supplementing our school Literacy Program, with enriching reading activities that can be done
Library (At the top of the screen)
at home.
ALL STAR READING
All students will receive an instruction package shortly,
including their password, so that they can participate in the
reading program at home. We encourage parents or Guardians
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE to spend some time with their child and the RAZ KIDS reading
VOLUNTEERS
program. If you have any questions please contact your child’s
The All Star Reading Program consists of one-on- teacher.
one reading sessions to help students meet grade
PEEL REGIONAL POLICE PROGRAMS
level reading benchmarks. The coaches are parent volunteers who read to students each week, ideally for a
minimum of two 20 minute sessions per student.
Neighbourhood Police Unit
A reminder that all schools are assigned NPU
Please consider volunteering 1-2 hours a week to assist with the officers (Neighbourhood Police Unit). ConstaSTM All Star Reading Program. All volunteer coaches will re- bles Steve and Paul drop in to the school reguceive training about the program and the different strategies that larly as part of their role to promote positive
can be used by students to help improve their reading skills.
relationships and support our safe schools
initiatives. We are planning a lockdown drill on Friday
If you would like to volunteer to help our young readers, please January 16th.
leave your name and contact information with our main office.
Peel Regional Police Youth Education Department
A reminder that all volunteers require an updated CRC. Thank In collaboration with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School
you to Mrs. Bielecka for overseeing the program.
Board, many informative programs are offered to positively
engage and influence youth from Grades 1 to Grade 8. We
welcome our Youth Education Officer, Constable David, who
will be speaking to classes on March 5th, April 23rd and May
In accordance with Board GAP policy 801, all parent volun- 6th, 2015.
teers, even those attending a one-day only school trip or event,
are required to have a Criminal Reference Check (CRC).
VOLUNTEER POLICY
HOMEWORK
Applications are available at the school office.
CONCUSSION PROTOCOL
As required by the Ontario Ministry of Education under the Bill
39 Education Amendment Act, school boards are required to
establish a policy related to head injuries and concussions. As
part of the process at St. Thomas More School, we will continue
to log and immediately inform parents or guardians of any head
injury. In addition to a phone call, parents will now receive an
information pamphlet on concussions and the Medical Documentation for Suspected Concussion Form (GF081). Please
keep in mind that school staff is not trained to diagnose head
injuries such as concussions and parents should take the appropriate precautions and steps when they are informed that their
child has had a head injury, as outlined in the information pamphlet.
Homework Policy
The homework policy may be viewed in full at dpcdsb.org/
homework. A summary of the key features of the document is
available in the student agenda.
Homework Help
This is an excellent resource for students in grade 7 and 8, who
may need a bit of extra help with their math homework. Please
visit: Ontario.ca/HomeworkHelp
VIRTUE OF SELF-CONTROL
STUDENT VOICE
St. Thomas More Christmas Performances:
STM’s Primary Christmas Concert and the Christmas Talent
Show of 2014 were a great success! We would like to thank all
We encourage parents to discuss the monthly Virtues with the amazing performers who shared their talents with us, and all
the parents and family members who were able to join us. A
their children.
special thank you goes out to the primary teachers for organizing
This month we will be celebrating the virtue of self-control. the Primary Concert and, Mrs. Kolenko and Mrs. Di Ilio for
God has given us the ability to choose. We are able to control directing the Talent Show.
how we react to what happens around us. Through prayer and
concentration, we can get better at controlling our reactions. We Written by: Emily, Cassandra, and Daniella
can get better at showing self-control.
Junior Basketball:
Self-control helps us to resist the temptation to do something We are currently in the process of selecting the Girls and Boys
that we will regret. Self-control helps us to resist the temptation Junior Basketball Teams. Thank you to Mr. Remigio and Ms.
to do something that will harm ourselves or others. Self-control Sequeira for coaching our junior basketball teams.
is one of the traits of a spiritually mature person.
Intermediate Basketball:
We are currently in the process of selecting the Girls and Boys
When we all use self-control, we can be sure that our school will Intermediate Basketball Teams. Thank you to Mr. DiFranco
be a safe, caring and inclusive place to live and to learn.
and Mlle. Rampado and Mrs. Venditti for coaching our intermediate basketball teams.
Please join us at our Virtue Assembly of Self-Control on
Thursday, January 29th at the following times:
Coaches will be sending out additional information, including
schedules should your child be selected to participate on a team.
1:25pm JK/SK, Grades 2, 4, 6, and 8
2:00pm Grades 1, 3, 4/5, 5 , 6, and 7
Eco-School “Radical Recyclers”:
Parents/guardians and family members are reminded to Our group of “Radical Recyclers” will continue their rounds of
Recycling Collection every Monday to promote our eco-school
enter and exit through the Main Entrance doors only.
initiatives.
PARISH NEWS
Youth Faith Ambassadors (YFAs):
Information regarding the Sacraments of Reconcil- Our YFAs continue to work under the direction of Mrs. Salema
iation, First Communion and Confirmation will be and Mrs. Delfin to assist with our monthly Virtues Assemblies,
forthcoming. For further information please con- School Masses and other ongoing social justice initiatives.
tact the parish office at: 905-270-2301.
STM Eco School Team:
As part of enhancing our Eco School initiatives, classrooms will
receive posters giving examples of what is garbage and what is
recycling. Thank you to Miss Faria, Mrs. Venditti, Mrs.
Capizzano, and Mrs. Noronha for leading our Eco Team.
NATIONAL SWEATER DAY
National Sweater Day will be observed boardwide on Thursday, February 5, 2015, providing an opportunity for employees and students
to learn about the importance of saving energy, while at the same time, reminding us to use
less heat throughout the winter. The heat in participating
schools, classrooms and other board facilitates will be turned
down by 2% on National Sweater Day and students and employees are encouraged to wear a sweater.
Catholic Community Culture and Caring Student Survey:
The Ontario Ministry of Education’s focus on Safe Schools,
Positive School Climate and its Equity and Inclusive Education
Strategy requires that all schools across the province implement
a School Climate Survey for students every two years. The
Catholic Community Culture and Caring School Climate Survey
will take place late January for elementary and mid February
2015 for secondary schools. All students in Grades 3 through
12, as appropriate, will be offered the opportunity to participate
in the survey.
KISS & RIDE
Our Kiss & Ride ensures a safe arrival
for your child at school while providing the convenience of drop-off. It is
open at 8:45am every morning.
Safety First when dropping students off at school
The safety of all children and staff must be considered as
paramount at all times when dropping students off at
school.
The number of serious incidents related to traffic
circulation at the front of the school and in the Kiss &
Ride area during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal
has risen. These incidents include vehicles entering the site
in the wrong direction, parking and pulling out of no
parking zones, parking in bus lanes, to name a few.
It is imperative that all parents and guardians who drive
their children to school adhere to the traffic circulation
plan and comply with the traffic and parking signage on
the site. It is equally imperative that all drivers follow the
direction of staff managing the traffic circulation on the
school site. Thank you for your consideration and
co-operation with this important matter.
WONDERFULWEDNESDAYS
Wonderful Wednesdays are back! Every Wednesday
students can purchase healthy snacks which complies with
the Food & Beverage Policy for $1.00. Snacks include
Frozen Yogurt and various flavours of popcorn. Snacks
are nut free. Please call the office for a list of the
ingredients in these snacks.
COLD & FLU SEASON
As cold and flu season approaches, the
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School
Board continues to be vigilant in ensuring
that our schools are clean and that our
school communities are educated
regarding good hand hygiene and cough
etiquette. These practices are promoted
on an ongoing basis, but as the prevalence
of colds and flu increases, our board increases the cleaning
of contact surfaces, as well as reminds schools to review
cold and flu prevention with students and staff. Many
resources are utilized from our regional health units.
KINDERGARTEN DROP-OFF
A reminder, as well, that communicable diseases can be
contracted in public places throughout the year. For
example, cold-related viruses, such as Enterovirus, are
transferred from person to person through hand
contact. Cold and flu viruses typically peak from
December through February, but can start as early as
October.
The “Blue Curb” adjacent to the Kindergarten Yard is
meant for quick drop off only. If you intend to remain
at the kindergarten gate, you must park your vehicle in a
legally designated area and walk your child to the Kindergarten Yard. When using the Kindergarten Drop-Off
zone, wait your turn in the Kiss & Ride Lane then proceed
to the front of the designated “Blue Curb” area.
Regional Health Unit Resources
Please assist us by reviewing good hand washing
procedures, as well as other preventative measures, as
outlined in the various Peel Health and Wellington
Dufferin Guelph (WDG) resources available to you
through their websites. As always, children who are
unwell, should be kept at home.
DO NOT PARK VERTICALLY, as this puts students’
safety at risk when you back out into oncoming traffic.
Flu Clinics
Also available on the Peel Health and WDG websites, are
the schedules of local Flu Clinics.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation in
enhancing student safety.
For more information, visit the health unit websites:
CROSSING GUARD
Peel Health website:
http://www.peelregion.ca/health
Parents and Guardians are reminded that the Tomken Rd. Wellington Dufferin Guelph Health website:
crossing guard duty times are as follows:
www.wdgpublichealth.ca
8:30-9:00am
12:06-12:21pm
12:41-1:06pm
3:30-3:55pm
Please keep in mind that school yard supervision commences at 8:45am. We ask that parents not drop their
children off before this time.
Direct links to the above information can be found in the
Parent Section of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District
School Board website at www.dpcdsb.org
IMPORTANT DATES
DUFFERIN-PEEL CDSB PROGRAMS
Full Day Kindergarten:
Registration for the 2015-2016 school year will take place at St.
Thomas More School during the following dates/times:
Monday, January 26, 2015 (7:00pm – 9:00pm)
SNOW DATE ONLY: Tuesday, January 27, 2015
(7:00pm—9:00pm)
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 (9:00am – 3:00pm)
Thursday, January 29, 2015 (9:00am – 3:00pm)
Friday, January 30, 2015 (9:00am – 3:00pm)
Extended French:
Information Meeting: Thursday, January 15, 2015
St. Thomas More School @ 7:00pm (Small Gym)
Deadline for EF applications is 3:00pm
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
January 5, 2015 School Re-opens
January 7-8
Hearing / Vision Clinic
January 12
Catholic School Council Meeting @
7:00pm in Library
January 15
Extended French Information Session
for Parents
January 16
Aboriginal Metis presentation
(Miss McCallion’s Gr.4/5)
Lockdown Drill
French Immersion:
Information sessions were held on November 25th, 26th and
27th. On-line registration begins January 12th to February 8th,
2015. Please go to DPCDSB to register.
January 19
PA Day Term 1 Assessment and
Evaluation (NO SCHOOL for students)
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS
January 20
Term 2 Begins
January 23
9:30am MADD Presentation
(Gr. 7s and 8s)
January 26
Mr. Grogan’ s Gr. 7s @ Silver Creek trip
Your Council is looking forward to an exciting start to 2015 with the LEGO Math Man!
Please join us at one of the following sessions:
Session 1 for grades JK-3: Tuesday, January 27th @ 7:00pm
Session 2 for grades 4-8: Wednesday, January 28th @ 7:00pm
All sessions will take place in the school library.
7:00-9:00pm FDK Registration
January 27
7:00pm Math Lego Night Session 1
Grades: JK-3
Our next meeting is on January 12th, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the
school library. We hope that you can attend!
2014-15 St. Thomas More Catholic School Council
Council Executive:
Chair:
Vice-Chair:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Parish Rep.:
OPACE Rep.:
S. Olmedo
M. Gwiazdowski
M. Kohl
T. Zappulla
T. Schmiedt
C. Farmer
Other Members: G. Barros, T. Beaudry, M.
Conte, A. V. Devotta, Farmer,
J. Hawtin, R. Kochevar,
D. Moore, M. Swiezawski,
M. Thompson, T. Whelen,
Principal:
Vice-Principal:
Teacher Rep:
M. Nicoletti
R. Furtado
Mrs. Bielecka
Gr. 7s trip to Ripley’s Aquarium
January 28
Mlle. Rampado’s Gr. 7s @ Silver Creek trip
7:00pm Math Lego Night Session 2
Grades: 4-8
January 29
Mrs. Kolenko’s Gr. 7s @ Silver Creek trip
Virtues Assembly :
1:25pm Grades-JK/SK, 2, 4, 6, 8
2:00pm Grades 1, 3, 4/5, 5 and 7
January 28-30
9:00am-3:30pm FDK Registration