St. Thomas More Catholic School 3270 Tomken Road Mississauga, ON., L4Y 2Y7 (905) 279-6472 Fax: (905) 279-3205 Website: http://www.dpcdsb.org/TMORE Welcome One Another As Christ Has Welcomed You, Romans 15:7 St. Thomas More Catholic School Thanksgiving Prayer Principal M. Nicoletti Vice Principal R. Furtado Secretarial Staff L. Antilope D. Bozzelli Superintendent T. Lariviere (905) 890-1221 Trustee Mario Pascucci, Chair Mississauga Wards 1 & 2 (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 Thank you, Father, for having created us and given us to each other in the human family. Thank you for being with us in all our joys and sorrows, for Your comfort in our sadness, Your companionship in our loneliness. Thank you for yesterday, today, tomorrow and for the whole of our lives. Thank you for friends, for health and for grace. May we live this and every day conscious of all that has been given to us. Amen OFFICE REMINDERS Attendance: Please call (905) 279-6472 (press 1) to let us know your child will be late or absent. This information is important to the safety of your child. Visitor’s Protocol: In keeping with Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board Policy, all visitors to the school must report to the office. We are asking for your cooperation to ensure that there are no visitors on the schoolyard other than those adults who are staff at the school and can be identified by wearing an orange safety vest. Parents are welcome to wait outside fenced areas. Appointments: Any student leaving the school during the day due to appointments, etc., must be signed out at the office. Please ensure that you send a note in this regard to your child’s teacher. Newsletter Attachments: Aussie X, Math @ Home, Dufferin-Peel Updates, CAS-Go Purple Day, Mississauga Fire Dept. 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. BUS STUDENTS ELIGIBILITY DISTANCE JK/SK-Gr. 1 Gr. 2-4 Gr. 5 - 8 1.0 KM 1.6 KM 2.0 KM COURTESY SEATING We have received many requests for courtesy seats. Every effort will be made to accommodate requests on a case We applaud students who are on time for class and ask all by case basis, in adherence to the Board’s “Courtesy Seat students to make a concerted effort to come to school Policy.” Parents will be informed by mid October whether in a timely manner, with all homework completed, their child/children have been granted a courtesy seat for ready to learn. Punctuality and preparedness are valuable the 2015-2016 school year. The expectation is that any life skills. In the workplace deadlines must be respected. student who has been granted permission to ride the bus, Parents/guardians will be notified of students who are will be taking the bus every day, not only when they repeatedly late. choose to do so. All students riding the bus will also be required to have their assigned bus tag visible at all times. FOOD REMINDERS We would like to remind parents that there are several 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, but we are requesting that parents not send food items and consider alternative treats to send into the class. Please consider stickers, loot bags or other nonedible products 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. We will not interrupt classes to notify students that their lunch has arrived. 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 We thank you in advance for your co-operation regarding the transportation of your child. For further inquiries, such as cancellations, pick/drop-off times and locations, please visit the transportation website at: www.stopr.ca. BUS RULES 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 LIBRARY NEWS Thank you to all of the students, parents, St. Thomas More has implemented the and guardians who came out to support the Dufferin-Peel initiative “WE SHARE St. Thomas More Scholastic Book Fair this THE AIR.” This is a scent awareness year. It was another great success. A special thank-you to everyone who waited campaign for staff, students and the patiently during the open house while the book fair “staff” school community, that will help keep worked hard at processing orders and assisting customers. our students with severe allergies and Once again we are on track to earn 60% of our total sales sensitivity to scents safe in the school environment. We are asking staff, students and visitors to and all proceeds got back into purchasing items for the school library. our school to kindly avoid using perfumes/colognes in our school environment. CURRICULUM FOCUS Personal Electronic Devices on Board Premises and/or Board Sanctioned Events for Educational Purposes: The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board acknowledges the value of the use of technology for learning. Students are permitted to register and use personal electronic devices (PEDs) on board premises and/or board sanctioned events for educational purposes, under the direction of staff and only with parent/guardian permission. Students may register their PED for the purpose of connecting to the board wireless network. Students are required to adhere to the student “Personal Electronic Device Used with WI-FI Network Student Agreement” (GF 337) and the “Network User Application and Agreement.” (GF066) Please be advised that the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will not be responsible for any cost incurred through the use of personal data plans. WORLD TEACHER DAY October 5 was World Teacher’s Day! This was a day to recognize and celebrate our teachers for their commitment and dedication to Catholic education in Dufferin-Peel. HOMEWORK POLICY Following consultation with system stakeholders, a Dufferin-Peel homework policy document (Kindergarten to Grade 12) was adopted to foster consistency across the board in this area. The policy addresses the following: definition of homework characteristics of effective homework types of commonly assigned homework timing and quantity of homework general and specific procedures PEDs are to be used responsibly and should not interfere with reporting of homework learning; their use must comply with the Catholic Code of Conduct, board policies and procedures. Any personal commu- roles and responsibilities of administrators, teachers, students, and families. nications (i.e., phone calls, text messages, etc.) will continue to be directed through the main office. Failure to comply with The homework policy may be viewed in full at: these guidelines may result in a loss of PED privileges and/or any dpcdsb.org/homework other consequences deemed necessary by school administration. The school principal may authorize limited acceptable uses of personal electronic devices during school-sanctioned activities for a specific designated purpose outside of instructional spaces and/or in common areas. Students are responsible for the safety and security of PEDs at all times and the Board assumes no responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen devices. For additional information please link to our school website: http://www.dpcdsb.org/TMORE 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. VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!! The All Star Reading Program consists of one-on-one reading sessions to help students meet grade level reading benchmarks. The coaches are parent volunteers who read to students each week, ideally for a minimum of two twenty-minute sessions per student. We invite any support you can provide for this program. Please consider volunteering 1-2 hours a week to assist with the STM All Star Reading Program. All volunteer coaches will receive training about the program and the different strategies that can be used by students to help improve their reading skills. If you would like to volunteer some time to help our young readers, please leave your name and contact information with our main office. Homework Help is a FREE online math help resource for students in Grades 7-10. Homework Help provides FREE, live oneon-one tutoring from Ontario teachers. Homework Help is funded by the Ontario government and administered by TVO. Ontario.ca/HomeworkHelp KISS & RIDE: SAFETY FIRST The safety of all children and staff must be considered as paramount at all times when dropping students off at school. PICTURE DAY Our school picture day will be held on: Monday, October 26 & Tuesday, October 27. Photography services are provided by Lifetouch Canada. To minimize the risk of a serious incident The schedule is as follows: related to traffic circulation at the front Monday: FDKs, Grades 1 to 4 of the school and in the Kiss & Ride area during morning arrival Tuesday: Grades 4/5 to 8 and afternoon dismissal, drivers are reminded of the following: Retake Day – Nov. 18th -Follow traffic signs -Watch for children/pedestrians -Advance vehicles forward to stop sign so that children can cross at designated crossing area -Never let your child walk between buses -Do not leave your vehicle unattended -Arrive on time (supervision starts at 8:45am) -Do not let children out on the drive though lane -Do not let children out at driveway entrance -Do not cut in front of other vehicles, advance in line -If you need to get out of your vehicle to assist your child please advance forward towards stop sign Again, it is imperative that all parents and guardians who drive their children to school adhere to the STM traffic circulation plan and comply with the traffic and parking signage on the site. PEEL REGIONAL POLICE PROGRAMS Peel Regional Police: Youth Education Department In collaboration with the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board, many informative programs are offered to positively engage and influence youth from Grades 1 to Grade 8. We welcome Constable David Craig, who will be our Youth Education Officer, and will be speaking to classes on November 18th, 19th and February 25th. Peel Regional Police: Peel Safety Village Students who have volunteered to be “Bus Patrollers” will be attending Bus Patrolling training at the Peel Safety Village on October 20th. Constable Michelle Vivian will lead the training session. Permission forms will be sent home with students who have volunteered. Peel Regional Police: RAID Program The RAID program (Reduce Abuse in Drugs), is a 5 week program offered to Grade 6 students. Constable Holly Faulkner will be at STM in March and April to meet with the students for 80 minutes and provide the corresponding lesson. Peel Regional Police: NPU Officers Every school year, all schools are assigned NPU officers (Neighbourhood Police Unit). We have been informed that new officers, who have yet to be determined will be assigned to STM. We would like to thank Constables Steve and Paul for their roles in promoting positive relationships in our school community. Our first Lockdown practice will take place on November 6th @ 11:30am. WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS Wonderful Wednesdays are back starting October 7! Every Wednesday students can purchase snacks which complies with the Food & Beverage Policy for $1.00. Snacks include Frozen Yogurt and various flavours of popcorn. Snacks are nut free. A list of the ingredients in these snacks was sent home. HALLOWEEN All Saints Day, All Souls Day & Halloween With the approach of All Saints Day, All Souls Day and Halloween, it is important to recognize our faith heritage in a special way, while also recognizing the fun aspect of Halloween and School Spirit. As a Catholic School, we will be reminding students of the purpose of Halloween and the importance of remembering in our prayers the saints and martyrs that the feast of All Saints Day honours. It is also a time for us to remember and to pray for all of the Faithful Departed on All Souls Day that follows. We will celebrate both feast days with special prayers during opening exercises. More information can be found in an article published in the Catholic Update, available in the Information Rack in the main foyer. Costumes On October 30, Grade 7 & 8 students will celebrate Halloween with a dance. We are asking for a minimum donation of $2.00 towards the cost of the D.J. with proceeds going to ShareLife. Grades Kindergarten to Grade 6 are invited to celebrate Halloween by wearing costumes. Parents are asked to have their children leave all accessories at home, including masks. No toy weapons are to be brought to school. FEDERAL ELECTIONS St. Thomas More will be an Advance Polling Station on October 9th-12th, 2015. Parents are informed that we expect additional traffic and fewer available parking spaces in order to accommodate voters. Under the Education Act of Ontario, school boards are required to provide space in schools for use as polling stations. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board supports and encourages the use of its schools as polling stations and has issued permits for each of the designated school sites through the Permit Dept. VIRTUE OF EMPATHY STUDENT ACTIVITIES The students at St. Thomas More School will have the opportunity to focus on a virtue each month. We will celebrate the virtue at the end of each month in a Liturgy. An empathetic person… listens when people speak notices when someone is upset and tries to help can name her/his feelings can see a situation from another person’s point of view accepts that others have different perspectives God wants us to care about everyone’s feelings. There are days in our lives that we may see others come to school sad, afraid, frustrated, or even angry. To live the virtue of EMPATHY is to not judge others. Try to remember that you may not always understand what others are feeling, but you can always be a good friend. Please join us at our Virtue Assembly on Thursday, October 29th. 9:30am FDK2, FDK3, 1/2A, 1/2B, 3A, 3/4A, 5C, 6B, 7A, 8A, 8C 10:15am FDK1, 1A, 2A, 2/3A, 3B, 4/5A, 4A, 5B, 6A, 6C, 7B, 7C, 8B Cross Country: STM’s Cross Country Team has started to train for the upcoming Family Cross Country Meet . The team is 70 strong and we are looking forward to fitter, stronger, healthier students who we are sure will represent well at the Mississauga East Family of Schools race at Centennial Park on October 19. Thank you to Mr. Grogan, Mrs. Matteo, and Mrs. Giacobbe for coaching. We wish all runners good luck! STM Choir: The STM choir has started up for another busy year! Mme Di Ilio and Mrs. Kolenko are very excited at the level of enthusiasm! Over 100 students have signed up to sing at masses and concerts. Practices will usually be during Wednesday and Thursday lunch recesses. Thank you to Mrs. Kolenko and Mme. DiIlio for organizing our choir. SCHOOL MASS Youth Faith Ambassadors (YFAs): The St. Thomas More YFAs Youth Faith Ambassador We celebrated our first school mass on October 5 at St. Commissioning Mass is on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Patrick’s Church. Thank you to the parents/guardians that at Cristo Rei Parish, time, TBD. were able to join us. Parents/Guardians are always welcomed to our masses and virtues assemblies. The YFAs will be involved in several social justice initiatives as well as promoting our WITS initiative THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE throughout the year. As we prepare for the coming Thanksgiving weekend, we are reminded of many of the less fortunate in our community that go hungry on a daily basis. Our Youth Faith Ambassadors have initiated a Food Drive for Oct. 5– Oct. 30, 2015. We would like to thank everyone in advance for your contribution to this drive. Reminder: School will be closed on Monday, October 12th for the Thanksgiving holiday. TERRY FOX STM Loves Terry Fox! On Sept. 25, STM participated in it's 21st annual Terry Fox Walk to raise money for cancer research. Our goal was to raise $3000 and we surpassed our goal, with a total of $3175! A special shout-out to Ms. Sequeira's Gr. 8s for raising over $800, and to the Gr 7 EFs for a combined $500. Thank you to everyone - the teachers, students, parent volunteers and the sponsors who have helped honour Terry's dream - "A dream as big as our country." W.I.T.S: W.I.T.S is a strategy that will be used by students and school staff to support students and help them reduce and resolve conflicts. Students use their W.I.T.S when they remember to walk away, ignore, talk it out or seek help. Empowering students to resolve their conflicts is an important step in conflict resolution and to follow the values that Jesus showed us on how to treat each other. “W.I.T.S” (Walk Away, Ignore, Talk it Out, Seek Help) CHURCH PARKING LOT CONCERNS IMPORTANT DATES Dear Parents and Guardians: October 5 World Teacher’s Day Concerns with student safety and liability continue to be expressed by St. Patrick’s Church, relative to use of the adjacent church parking lot and driveway by some of our parents/guardians. The concerns relate to the practice of some parents/guardians, who are stopping and discharging/picking up children in the driveway leading into and out of the church property, not parking in the designated parking spots, and parking in the designated handicap parking spots without proper documentation. October 6 Rosary Apostolates visit STM October 7 Pizza Day October 9-12 Advance Polling Station October 12 Thanksgiving—School Closed October 13 Pizza Day October 15 Please be advised that St. Patrick’s has informed us that it has given permission to the city to come onto its property and ticket illegally parked vehicles. 5:30pm CCCSC: Family of Schools Meeting with Superintendents, School Administrators and Catholic School Council Chairs at St. Francis Xavier S.S. October 16 CAS-Purple Day Thank you for your co-operation. October 19 Family Cross-Country Meet @ Centennial Park Sincerely, M. Nicoletti Principal October 21-23 X Movement Games October 26 School Photos: FDK, Gr. 1-4 In the interests of student/pedestrian safety, and good relations with our neighbour, please adhere to the designated parking areas at the church and be extra vigilant in terms of the safe operation of your vehicle in the driveway area. CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS 2015-16 St. Thomas More Catholic School Council Council Executive: Chair: Vice-Chair: Secretary: Assistant Secretary: Treasurer: Parish Rep.: OPACE Rep.: S. Olmedo T. Beaudry C. Farmer M. Conte T. Zappulla T. Schmiedt A. Farmer Board Cross-Country Meet @ Centennial Park October 27 Pizza Day X Movement Parent Evening Community Event @ STM in the Large Gym Time: 5:30pm-8:00pm October 29 Other Members: K. Campbell, M. Conte, J. Hawtin, N. Hoop er, R. Kochevar, J. Podsiadlo-Rebej, M. Swiezawski, M. Szcezch, I. Tarcoci Principal: Vice-Principal: Teacher Rep: Non-Teaching Rep: M. Nicoletti R. Furtado M. McCallion TBD Next Council Meeting: Monday, November 16, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the library. School Photos: Grades 4/5-8 Virtues Assembly 9:30am FDK2, FDK3, 1/2A, 1/2B, 3A, 3/4A, 5C, 6B, 7A, 8A, 8C 10:15am FDK1, 1A, 2A, 2/3A, 3B, 4/5A, 4A, 5B, 6A, 6C, 7B, 7C, 8B October 27 Pizza Day October 30 1:06pm Halloween Dance (Gr.7-8s) DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD -UPDATESPupil Accommodation Review Policy Public Consultation The Ministry of Education released the new Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline (PARG) in March 2015. This guideline sets expectations for all school boards on managing and reviewing underutilized school space, including potential school closures, and for the greater coordination and sharing of planning related information between school boards and other community partners. The guideline requires all school boards in the province to develop or revise Pupil Accommodation Review Policies and to invite public input into the policy before it is finalized. A survey to collect feedback on the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s draft amended Policy 6.51 Pupil Accommodation Review will be available for review and comment on the Board’s website at www.dpcdsb.org until 4:30 pm on Friday, October 16, 2015. Supporting documents will also be available for reference and review. Please consider reviewing and providing input on this policy. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Stand Up! Against Bullying Posters In support of Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week – November 15-21 Ontario has designated the third week of every November as Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week to help promote safer schools and a positive learning environment. During this year’s Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week (November 15-21), Ontario students, school staff and parents are encouraged to learn more about bullying and its effect on student learning and well-being. To help support bullying awareness and prevention throughout the entire school year, the board is once again sending a call out to secondary students to submit a poster design. Selected poster submissions will be printed and distributed to all schools and board sites. DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD -UPDATESDufferin-Peel unveils enhanced outdoor learning environments for early learners Kindergarten students at 25 Dufferin-Peel Catholic schools will enjoy newly enhanced outdoor learning environments in their Kindergarten playground areas this year. These new outdoor learning areas are part of Phase 2 of a multi-year initiative that adheres to the principles of early learning pedagogy being implemented in DufferinPeel Catholic elementary schools. To date, 44 sites have been completed. The newly enhanced playgrounds include several different areas and elements that stimulate creative and active learning, including: a large sand area, classroom area with blackboard and tree trunk seating, wooden gazebo with seating and flower boxes, paved areas with bike paths and other markings, and storage. These areas have a mix of hard and soft surfaces and shade. Trees are planted on the outer perimeter where possible. “Prior to proceeding with changes to existing playground areas, board staff researched similar initiatives across North America and consulted with principals, child care agencies, architects and others in order to develop system-wide standards with accessibility in mind,” said Marianne Mazzorato, Superintendent of Early Years, Community Relations and Partnerships. “These enhancements support an appropriate focus on the natural environment across the curriculum.” A centerpiece to each outdoor learning environment is an animal indigenous to Ontario (i.e. bear, racoon and owl) that has been carved from reclaimed wood. This concept was designed to support the board’s strategic plan of encouraging respectful and sustainable environmental practices and to nurture children’s sacred trust of the environment and the creatures with which they share the world. The animal was specifically chosen by each school and will be officially unveiled the first day of school. The initial phase of the refreshed outdoor learning environments focused on schools with child care centres, with most completed by fall 2014 and the balance to be in place this September. Child care and Kindergarten yards situated immediately adjacent to each other have been combined to create one outdoor early learning space. Where yards are not adjacent, complementary amenities have been created in each yard, with both spaces available to school and child care programs. Local school and child care staff work together to develop schedules and a learning environment that provides access and learning opportunities for all attending early learners. An annual process has been put in place to create outdoor early learning environments at the remaining elementary schools. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is one of the largest and most diverse school boards in Ontario. It currently serves approximately 84,000 students in 149 schools located throughout Mississauga, Brampton, Bolton, Caledon and Orangeville. It is the goal of the board to provide quality education to students in a setting Calling All Young Writers! Apply to the Speaker’s Award for Youth Writers Calling all young writers! The Speaker’s Award for Youth Writers invites Ontario youth in grades 7-12 to submit their short stories and personal essays to this writing contest. Original fiction and non-fiction submissions are welcome, and a winner from each of the following three grade categories will be chosen: grades 7-8, grades 9-10, and grades 11-12. Online applications will be accepted from September 30th through November 6th, 2015. Visit our website (discoveryportal@ontla.on.ca) for more information and to apply. City of Mississauga Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services Fire Prevention and Life Safety 300 City Centre Drive 2nd Floor MISSISSAUGA ON L5B 3C1 mississauga.ca Dear Madame or Sir; Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services (MFES) are cordially inviting you, your students and parents to one of our public open houses being held October 6th, 7th and 8th from 4:30pm8:00pm at our fire stations. These open houses are part of MFES’s Fire Prevention Week public fire safety educational events that have been schedule around the city. The theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week is “hear the beep, where you sleep” “every bedroom needs a working smoke alarm”. In addition, as part of Mayor Crombie’s city wide program to combat hunger, all MFES fire stations will be collecting items for the food bank. As a token of appreciation, COBS Bread has donated vouchers for a free loaf of bread to anyone who brings a food bank item. The vouchers are in limited quantity so attend early. The fire stations will be hosting fun and interactive evenings featuring fire trucks- tools and equipment displays, meet the firefighters, fire safety education information to keep your families safe as well as goodies to take home. At some our stations you can experience the fire safety trailer and practice your home escape plan in a simulated environment. The dates for the open houses are as follows: Tuesday, October 6th Station 107 - 1965 Dundas St. W Station 118 – 1045 Bristol Rd W Station 108 – 2267 Britannia Rd. W Station 121 – 6745 Mavis Rd Station 111 – 2740 Derry Rd W Station 122 - 3600 Thomas St Station 115 – 4595 Glen Erin Rd Wednesday, October 7th 105 – 7101 Goreway Dr. Station 106 - 1355 Winding Trail Station Station 114 –5845 Falbourne Dr. Station 117 – 1090 Nuvik Crt. Thursday, October 8th Station 101 - 15 Fairview Rd W Station 104 – 62 Port St W Station 102 – 710 Third St Station 110 – 2316 Hurontario St Station 103 – 2035 Lushes Ave Station 112 – 4090 Creditview Rd (The bolded stations will also have an interactive fire hazard house and fire safety trailer on site). If you require more information please contact Fire Prevention and Life Safety Office at 905-8965908. We sincerely hope you will attend one of our open houses to learn more about fire safety. Regards, Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services