Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
ST. TIMOTHY CATHOLIC SCHOOL
2214 Cliff Road, Mississauga, ON L5A 2N9
TEL: 905-277-0990
FAX: 905-277-5570
School Website: www.dpcdsb.org/TMTHY
COOPERATE … EDUCATE … CELEBRATE
DECEMBER 2014 NEWSLETTER
K. Kovacs
FOLLOW US ON
Principal
A. Aguilar
Vice-Principal
@StTimothyDPCDSB
E. Dal’Bo
Head Secretary
C. Bissola
Assistant Secretary
L. Kostick
Catholic School Council Chair
linda@lindakostick.com
C. Blanchard
Superintendent of Schools,
Mississauga East
905-890-1221
M. Pascucci
Chair of the Board of Trustees
905-890-0708 X20161
Cell: 905-302-3096
mario.pascucci@dpcdsb.org
www.TrusteePascucci.ca
B. Iannicca
Trustee, Ward 7
Cell: 905-270-0536
bruno.iannicca@dpcdsb.org
Fr. Camillo Lando
Pastor,
St. Catherine of Siena Parish
905-272-1454
www.stcatherine.ca
P.L.A.S.P. Program
905-890-1711
PRAYER FOR ADVENT … A TIME OF HOPE
God of eternal hope,
You sent Your only Son, Jesus,
the Light of the World, to save us.
As we journey, like Mary and Joseph, to Bethlehem’s stable,
like the shepherds, our ears attuned to the song of angels,
like the magi, our eyes alert for a bright star,
forgive us if, on our journey,
we are hurried and get distracted
by the tempting offers of this world.
As we light the candles
on our Advent wreath each week,
may we rekindle within ourselves
the desire to make peace with Jesus and with one another.
May the flame of His presence grow brighter and brighter
in our hearts, in our homes, in our school, and in our world
as we prepare and wait for His coming.
May the God of hope fill us all with joy and peace this Christmas
by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.
+ AMEN.
SAFE ARRIVAL / SCHOOL HOURS / PUNCTUALITY / ATTENDANCE
8:45 AM
– Supervision Begins
9:00 AM
– Entry
12:04 -1:04 PM – Lunch
3:30 PM
– Dismissal
We are hoping to minimize the number of
lates we are experiencing on a daily basis.
Please have your child(ren) at school 15
minutes prior to the 9:00 morning bell.
During this time, yard supervision begins.
Late students must sign-in to the office
and obtain a late slip. Being on time is
an essential life skill for students to learn.
For the safety of your child(ren), we ask that
you DO NOT drop your child(ren) off at school
prior to 8:45 AM and arrange for pick-up
PROMPTLY at 3:30 PM.
This also applies during inclement weather days.
For safety reasons, it is very important to
notify the school of lates/absences.
PLEASE CALL 905-277-0990
PRESS 1 FOR ATTENDANCE
and leave a message if your child(ren)
will be absent or late.
Line is Open 24 Hours
Page 2 of 9
DECEMBER 2014
St. Timothy School Newsletter
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
As the Church liturgical calendar comes to an end and
begins anew with the season of Advent, we will have
time to reflect, pray and give thanks for our many
blessings. The word Advent derives from the Latin
word adventus meaning coming. The Lord is coming.
It is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for
the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.
Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually
waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill.
Hope, struggle, fear, expectation, excitement, and
fulfillment are all part of our Advent experience. The
coming of Christ and His presence among us - as one
of us - gives us reason to live with hope. The star of
Bethlehem is a sign of that hope, its brightness
shattering the darkness. As we light the candles on
the Advent wreath for each of the four weeks, we
reflect on the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
A visit from Santa on November 26th and the wellattended Christmas Community Fun Day on November
29th organized by our Catholic School Council put us
all in the festive spirit. We are indeed blessed to have
a school community of very supportive parents and
families. This, together with our dedicated students
and devoted staff, gives us much to be grateful for.
Our community outreach campaign to support needy
families in our community serves to remind us of how
truly fortunate we are. We know that, as always, the
St. Timothy School community will give generously to
the Giving Angel Tree campaign. Further information
will be sent home. We have been provided with the
names of families with children who would benefit
from our generosity, which will help to brighten their
Christmas.
The sacrament of reconciliation for Grades 3-8, our
school Advent Mass and daily school prayers help us
to prepare for the coming of our Saviour. As we await
the coming of Jesus, let us be reminded that Christ is
at the heart of Christmas. Jesus is indeed the reason
for the season. All are invited to attend our Advent
Mass on December 16th at 9:30 AM at the school.
Thank you for your continued support and may the joy
and peace of Christmas abide with you and your
family during this holy season and throughout the
coming year.
Sincerely, K.
Kovacs
DATES TO REMEMBER
For all holidays and PA Days, refer to 2014-2015 School Year
Board Calendar in Student Agendas or visit www.dpcdsb.org
CHRISTMAS BREAK
Monday, December 22, 2014 to Friday, January 2, 2015
Classes Resume on Monday, January 5, 2015.
DECEMBER
1-5
Scholastic Book Fair Week in Library
4
Intermediate Hockey Team Tournament
3
Catholic School Council Meeting ~7:00 PM
7
Second Sunday of Advent: PEACE
9
Sacrament of Reconciliation for Advent
(Grades 3 to 8)
14
Third Sunday of Advent: JOY
15
SPIRIT DAY: Christmas Hat/Hair Day
16
Advent Mass at School ~9:30 AM
SPIRIT DAY: Red and Green Day
17
Artist in the School (Gr. 4 - Sadowski) ~AM
Kindergarten Christmas Celebration ~PM
SPIRIT DAY: Ugly Sweater/Christmas Socks Day
18
Artist in the School (Gr. 6 Classes) ~AM
SPIRIT DAY: Christmas Character Day
19
Christmas Carolling in the Gym ~AM
SPIRIT DAY: Christmas Pajama Day
Last Day of Classes for 2014
Dec. 22 - Jan. 2
*** CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS ***
JANUARY
5
Classes Resume for 2015
9
Grades 1-3 Skating @Cawthra Arena ~10 AM
16
Grades 4-6 Skating @Cawthra Arena ~10 AM
19
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY DAY - No Classes
23
Grades 7-8 Skating @Cawthra Arena ~10 AM
LUNCH PROGRAMS
Mondays
Wednesdays
Fridays
Mon.—Fri.
COOPERATE … EDUCATE … CELEBRATE
Pizza Days
The Lunch Lady
Hot Dog Days
Milk Program
Page 3 of 9
DECEMBER 2014
In the month of DECEMBER
during the Advent Season,
WE FOCUS ON THE VIRTUE OF HOPE
God helps us to keep on working for a more peaceful
and just world even when we feel discouraged.
A hopeful person…
• is inspired and inspires others
 always counts on God
to help them in tough situations
• trusts that things will work out in God’s way
• is one who sees the good in the world
St. Timothy School Newsletter
Extended French
Information Meeting
Grade 4 parent(s)/guardian(s), who wish to enroll their
child in a Grade 5 Extended French class for
September, 2015 are invited to attend an information
meeting at:
ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
3270 Tomken Road, Mississauga
Thursday, January 17, 2015 @ 7:00 PM
At the present time, the above mentioned school is the
designated centre for our area. Applications will be
accepted at that centre until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday,
February 17th, 2015. More information is available on
the Board website at www.dpcdsb.org
Full-Day Kindergarten
Registration Dates
Monday, January 26, 2015 @ 7:00 PM– 9:00 PM
SNOW DATE ONLY: Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 @ 9:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Thursday, January 29, 2015 @ 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Friday, January 30, 2015 @ 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Visit www.dpcdsb.org for more information.
Parent Evening to Support
the Transition of Students with
Differing Abilities into Kindergarten
On Thursday, January 8th, 2015, the Dufferin-Peel CDSB
Special Education and Support Services Department
will host a Kindergarten entry planning information
session. This meeting is for parents and guardians of
children with differing abilities which affect their
learning, such as vision, hearing, speech, autism,
physical/medical and/or developmental delays in the
cognitive and/or motor areas, who are entering
Kindergarten in September 2015. The meeting will be
held at the Catholic Education Centre at 40 Matheson
Blvd. from 7:00 – 8:30 PM.
For more information about this session,
CALL 905-890-0708 EXT. 24011.
www.dpcdsb.org/TMTHY
Page 4 of 9
DECEMBER 2014
REMEMBRANCE DAY
On November 11th, our St. Timothy school community
paused to remember the brave men and women who
fought for Canada in both World Wars and for those
working in peace-keeping missions around the world.
We wish to thank the Grades 2, 7 and 8 students and
staff who organized and led a beautifully inspirational
and poignant service with prayer, dance, artwork and
song in honour of those who have gone before us in
hopes of peace for all. The Grade 2 students learned
sign language to accompany the choir and shared the
message of John Lennon: “Imagine all the people …
living life in peace.”
PEDICULOSIS (HEAD LICE)
Although not a communicable disease, pediculosis
(head lice) is a concern to parents and teachers. Each
year, it is common for outbreaks of pediculosis to
occur. Unfortunately, in recent years, head lice have
become increasingly common throughout North
America. They are parasites which have been common
among human beings for centuries. They are not
connected in any way with dirt or neglect. If a case of
lice is found at the school, we inform the parents/
guardians of the child(ren).
 If cases are found in a classroom, we shall inform all
parents of students in that class. We request that
you also check your own children and, if you find
lice, we ask that you inform us so that we may
advise you on the proper treatment for them.
 Even if cases are not reported from the school, it is a
wise precaution to check your child’s head
periodically. Teach them not to use other people’s
combs or hair brushes.
 If your children do have head lice, we will ask you to
keep them out of school until after they have been
treated with the correct shampoo and their hair is
entirely clear of both lice and nits (eggs).
 Students may return to school after this process is
complete. However, parents/guardians are asked to
continue checking hair on a daily basis for at least
one week after treatment.
Further information can be found by speaking with
your pharmacist, health care provider or contacting
Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.
St. Timothy School Newsletter
VALUABLES / PERSONAL ELECTRONIC
DEVICES (PED) POLICY
Students are requested not to bring
valuables, items of importance or money
to school. The school does not accept
responsibility for lost or stolen items.
Every effort will be made to help students
find missing items. Personal items should
be marked with your child’s name. Cell phones are not to
be used on school property, unless teacher permission is
given. This rule applies to students and parents.
Use of Personal Electronic Devices
at School Presentations
Our School Board Policy states that all PEDs are to be
turned off and not used within school premises or during
school-sanctioned activities. This would include the use of
cameras during school presentations. The taking of photos
and videos of individual students is considered to be the
collection of personal information under privacy
legislation. There are times during the year where we may
take photos/videos of students and school activities for
school and/or board promotional purposes. In such
instances, where the end use of the images and personal
information collected is specific, parental consent is
obtained in writing.
When parents or visitors take photos/videos of students
during school performances, the personal information
(e.g., images, video) of students who are not their children
may be captured. In such cases, the school and board have
no control over the end use of those images or personal
information. Given the present digital and social media
age in which we live, we cannot put the privacy of our
students at such risk. Where possible, we will provide an
opportunity for you to take photos of your child only,
either before or after the performance. We thank you for
your cooperation and understanding in this matter.
For current updates and
information, follow us
@StTimothyDPCDSB
COOPERATE … EDUCATE … CELEBRATE
Page 5 of 9
DECEMBER 2014
St. Timothy School Newsletter
PEEL REGIONAL POLICE
Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU)
officers have been assigned to liaise
with elementary school principals in
the Region of Peel once again this year.
Peel Police are committed to
continuing to strengthen partnerships
with schools. The NPU officer assigned to St. Timothy
is Constable Keen. In addition, we have a Youth
Education Officer, Constable Craig, who will be visiting
our classes in the new year. Both Officers will be
working with staff and students to support and assist
with our Safe Schools policies and initiatives.
PARKING
Thank you to all our parents who have been obeying
all the parking signage on and around our
school property. We are working with
school
board
officials
and
the
Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU) to
monitor school pick-up and drop-off traffic
flow. If you are parking on the street,
please observe all signs, especially close to
the driveway entrance, exit and the crosswalk at
Queensway and Cliff Road. We want to ensure that
students are safe as they walk across the street at the
crosswalk.
During inclement weather, please continue to
observe the Kiss & Ride protocol. The Kiss & Ride
lane is supervised beginning at 8:45 AM.
Parents/guardians should drive to the curbside lane,
where your child(ren) will exit from the passenger side
and be escorted from your car. Please do not park
and/or exit your car as this backs up traffic and blocks
the lane for use by others. The Drive Through Lane
and Bus Lane at the front of the school are never open
to parents/guardians dropping off their children as
this creates a hazard for students and staff
supervisors. Map and memo for clarification of our
school entry and exit routes and procedures was
attached to previous newsletters and may also be
found on school website.
Note that parking in the school lot is restricted
between 8:30 and 9:00 AM to staff, support staff, and
Board visitors. Your cooperation for the safety of all
our student population is appreciated.
Community members are reminded that parking on
school property overnight is not permitted. During the
winter months, snow removal equipment must be able
to remove the snow. Vehicles remaining on the property
overnight or during the day, that do not belong to staff
or to parents volunteering during the day will be towed
away at the owner’s expense.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
CORNER
Communication between home and school is greatly
enhanced by parental involvement with the Catholic
School Council. The aim of the Catholic School Council is
to promote the vision, values, sacramental life and
Catholic practices of the Dufferin-Peel CDSB and the
Catholic community it serves, and to advise the principal
and the Board.
Council meetings typically occur the first Wednesday of
each month, and all Council Members and parents/
guardians are encouraged to come out to meetings and
participate. Our next School Council meeting will be
held on Wednesday, December 3rd at 7:00 PM in the
school library.
Future Meeting Dates
February 4, 2015
March 4, 2015
April 1, 2015
May 20, 2015
Please refer to attached newsletter insert for the
BOOgie-a-thon Results and student winners. Our
Catholic School Council Executive also wish to extend a
GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all the parents, volunteers,
bakers, chili makers, donors, local businesses and high
school volunteers for assisting in the planning and
organizing throughout the weeks prior to our Christmas
Fun Day Event. Refer to attached page for details.
Thank you also to all families who ordered Christmas
greenery and poinsettias. Your support is appreciated!
www.dpcdsb.org/TMTHY
Page 6 of 9
DECEMBER 2014
St. Timothy School Newsletter
STUDENT COUNCIL
St. Timothy Student Council 2014-2015 has been busy
indeed since the start of the school year, planning Spirit
Weeks for Hallowe’en and Christmas, as well as for
Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week.
They
represent the voice of the students in our school and we
thank them for their leadership and for being positive
role models. The following students represent the
Executive members who work with all the Classroom
representatives to help make our school a great place to
grow , play, and learn.
Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
Treasurer
Deputy Treasurer
Communications Officer
Rebecca B. (Grade 8)
Matthew Z. (Grade 7)
Nicole S. (Grade 8)
Madeline J. (Grade 7)
Taryn R. (Grade 8)
Thank you also to Madame Krampert, Ms. Di Iorio, and
Ms. McCharles for their commitment and efforts as staff
advisors for the Council.
BULLYING PREVENTION AND
AWARENESS WEEK
St. Timothy School was proud to participate in the
Ministry of Education’s Bullying Prevention and
Awareness week held from November 16th to 21st.
Throughout the week, students were engaged in a
variety of activities which reinforced our school’s
commitment to stop bullying of all forms. A big thank
you to our Student Council, our Youth Faith
Ambassadors, our PALS team, and all teacher advisors for
providing daily activities during the week. The school also
held a moment of silence on November 17th honouring
the memory of those who have been bullied. The week
also featured a Pink Day where all students in the school
were encouraged to wear pink in support of our antibullying initiatives.
“We learned many different facts and life lessons on
bullying. Bullying is a very serious issue and we know
how severe the effects can be so we are glad we can
work to stop bullying in our school.” ~ Taryn R. (Grade 8)
We hope that students will embrace the message of this
week and that it will have a lasting impact throughout
the year.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT WEEK
Student Council has organized a number of events for the
last week of school before Christmas Break.
This
Christmas Spirit Week will be celebrated during
December 15th to 19th as listed below:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Heads Up to Christmas
Hat/Hair Day
Red and Green Day
OR Pink for 3rd Week of Advent
Ugly Sweater/ Christmas Socks Day
Christmas Character Day
Christmas Carolling/Pajama Day
As we anticipate the birth of Jesus, we remember the true
Spirit of Christmas while we participate in these fun
festivities.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Hard Candy Collection
Thank you to all those students who brought in donations
for our annual candy collection! In just one week, we
collected 5 boxes full of sweet, hard candy to donate to
Dr. Simone’s Canadian Food for Children charity. These
treats will be sent directly to needy places in the world to
help children take important medicine that doesn’t taste
very good. The candy also helps starving children who
have a hard time eating because they are so hungry. We
are happy that so many kids opened their trick-or-treat
bags and their hearts to donate to such a good cause!
~ Ms. Di Iorio’s Grade 4 Class
Giving Angel Tree
As indicated by a previous letter sent home, it is an
Advent tradition at St. Timothy School to prepare for the
coming of Christ by sharing with those less fortunate. The
Christmas tree by the front entrance of the school is
designated as our Giving Angel Tree. Tags indicate
preferred store for gift cards which will be distributed
throughout our school community to those in need. Any
denomination is appreciated. Our goal is to encourage
every family to take at least one tag from the tree,
purchase a gift card for the anonymous child/family and
return a loaded gift card to school with the tag. Our
Advent outreach project will take place from December
1st through to December 12th. Thank you for your
generosity that will brighten someone’s Christmas!
COOPERATE … EDUCATE … CELEBRATE
Page 7 of 9
DECEMBER 2014
St. Timothy School Newsletter
INTERMEDIATE VOLLEYBALL
WALK TO SCHOOL PROGRAM
Congratulations to the Intermediate Girls’
and Boys’ volleyball teams. Both teams
won 4 of their 6 regular season games and
the Girls’
Team advanced to the
Mississauga East Family Tournament. They showed
dedication and determination as they faced fierce
competitors. The girls became more confident as they
played each game in the first round, but lost in the semifinals. The boys improved their skills over the season
and we look forward to a strong team for next year. The
Intermediate Volleyball coaches (D. Gdyczynski, A.
Feather, M. Zivkovic, N. Zabukovec, A. Bledzinski volunteer) are very proud of both teams. GO TITANS !!!
Even as winter approaches, St. Timothy School continues
to encourage all parents/guardians, staff and students to
walk to school. Monthly draws for students with
completed frequent walker cards (i.e. 10 walking
mornings) continue to be held. Ms. van Leeuwen has
even announced a few Bonus 2 for 1 days where students
get a double punch on their card to recognized those
students who continue to walk in these colder months.
Girls’ Team – Alyssa D., Emma D., Mateja F., Sofia C.,
Hailey R., Makenna B., Kaitlyn R., Daryn K., Kate K.,
Aneta M.
Boys’ Team– Brayden H., John N., Connor O., Steven S.,
Justin G., Lucas P., Dylan G., Jack C., Adam D.,
We, along with the team members, would also like to
thank the coaches for their support and enthusiasm.
LIBRARY BOOK FAIR
Our annual book fair will be taking during the week of
December 1st -5th, 2014. The book fair hours are 9:00
AM to 3:30 PM. Students, and staff will have the
opportunity to purchase books during this
week. Parents are also welcome to preview and/or
purchase books during our lunch hour and between
2:30 - 3:30 PM , Monday to Friday. Parents are
reminded to sign in at the main office and obtain a
visitor pass prior to visiting the book fair.
Ms. Romeo wishes to express her thanks to St. Timothy
school community for continuing to support our school
library!
Congratulations to our Walk to School winners:
September
Julia C. (Grade 4)
October 6 (Walk to School Day) Kyle M. (Grade 4)
October
Sara M. (SK)
November
Klaudia S. Grade 1)
Keep on walking … even in the winter!
HEALTH ACTION TEAM NEWS
Kilometre Club continues as we head into colder
temperatures. We will continue to meet on Tuesday
mornings at 8:20 AM at the sand pit. If conditions are too
cold or too wet, we will head inside and exercise in the
school gymnasium. Students are reminded to wear
running shoes. Thank you to Ms. Zabukovec and Ms.
Harden!
November was a very busy month for St. Timothy's Health
Action Team. Members have been busy spotting Random
Acts of Kindness (R.A.K.’s) on the playground during
recesses. So far about 100 students have been spotted
performing R.A.K.’s such as helping others, including new
friends in recess games, holding doors for each other and
using encouraging words. Students who are spotted get
their names entered in a draw. So far we have had 10
winners of free skating/swimming passes to any
Mississauga Parks and Recreation location. Let's keep
R.A.K.ing!
www.dpcdsb.org/TMTHY
Page 8 of 9
DECEMBER 2014
St. Timothy School Newsletter
WINTER PLAYGROUND SAFETY RULES
When the winter months arrive and snow and ice are plentiful on the ground, we all like to play in it and
with it. Throwing snowballs and sliding on ice is fun. However, as much fun as it is, snow and ice can be very
dangerous when there are many people in a small area. Therefore, sliding on ice is not permitted. Most
student injuries happen during the wintertime. In order for our school to be as safe as possible, the school
rule must be that snow stays on the ground - no snowballs, kicking snow or any other activity with snow or
ice that could be harmful. For safety reasons, the playground structures are closed for the season.
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF PEEL REGION (STOPR)
BUS CANCELLATIONS / SCHOOL CLOSING DUE TO BAD WEATHER
2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR
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 AM and will be announced on the
following radio and television stations:
VIRGIN RADIO FM 99.9
CHUM AM 1050
CFTR AM 680
CFRB AM 1010
CFNY FM 102.1/AM 640
CJCL AM 590
CHFI FM 98.1
EZ ROCK FM 97.3
CHIN FM100.7/AM1540
FM 93.1 / FM Z 103.5
FM Q 107
CJBC (FR) AM 860
CBC 99.1
CITYPULSE / CP24
GLOBAL NEWS / C T V
THE WEATHER NETWORK
We will be communicating one of four standard messages to the radio stations. The four announcements and their effect on the
transportation system are as follows: (Please note that the highlighted text only will be communicated by the radio stations).
1. “DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES SERVING ST. ANDREW, ST. BENEDICT AND ST. PETER
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND R.F. HALL SECONDARY SCHOOL ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”
2. “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES IN THE
TOWN OF CALEDON AND THE COUNTY OF DUFFERIN ARE CANCELLED”. This means that all runs listed under announcement
#1 above PLUS the following are cancelled.
 All schools in the Town of Caledon and all school runs that begin in the Town of Caledon.
 Individual schools will be notified if this cancellation affects their school.
3. “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES ARE
CANCELLED.” This means that ALL Transportation services provided by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and the
Peel District School Board, including buses, vans and taxis have been cancelled for the entire day. Schools remain open.
4. “THE SCHOOLS AND OFFICES OF BOTH THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD ARE CLOSED.” This means that ALL Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board ad Peel District School Board
schools and offices are closed to all students and staff.
The Dufferin-Peel website home page will also have this updated information. Visit www.dpcdsb.org for more information.
You may also go to www.stopr.ca for daily cancellations or delays.
NOTE TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Buses that do not run in the morning do not run in the afternoon. If you drive
your bus student to school on a day when buses are cancelled, you are responsible for providing transportation
home at the end of the day as well.
It can be hazardous for small children to walk in extreme weather conditions when high winds and blowing snow
obscure their vision and also prevent them from being seen. Please remember, whether or not the school is open or
closed, you are the ultimate authority in deciding what weather conditions are safe for your child. It is better to err
on the side of caution than to needlessly risk a child's safety.
COOPERATE … EDUCATE … CELEBRATE
Page 9 of 9
DECEMBER 2014
WINTER WEATHER GUIDELINES
During the winter season, the school
receives a number of calls from
concerned parents as to how we
determine when children will or will not
be allowed outside for recess. As per
Dufferin‐Peel CDSB Policy, when the
temperature or equivalent with the
wind chill factor reaches ‐25°C,
students shall be kept indoors. When
the temperature is -20°C or colder, the amount of time
outdoors may be reduced.
In the colder weather, we receive numerous requests to
allow children to remain indoors when students have a
cold, flu, etc. Please note that we cannot comply, as we
neither have the facilities nor the staff to supervise these
students. If your child is not feeling well, we encourage
you to keep them home to avoid the spread of illness.
The expectation at St. Timothy School is that all children
will go outdoors for recess and the lunch break.
WINTER WEAR
Parents and guardians are reminded that
as the cold weather is upon us, children
will be need to be dressed appropriately
for outdoor weather. It is important for
students to have a warm winter coat,
hat, mittens/gloves and boots so that
they are able to enjoy outdoor recess in
the colder months. Snowpants keep
children dry and warm on snowy or wet winter days and
are highly recommended. An extra pair of gloves/
mittens/socks in their backpack may be helpful if these
items should get wet.
For health and safety reasons, students must have
indoor shoes. Students cannot walk through the school
with wet boots or shoes. Indoor shoes keep the halls
clean, dry and safe for students and staff. Please note
that in the event of an emergency evacuation, students
will not have the opportunity to put boots on.
Where possible, please put identification on your
child(ren)’s belongings. Throughout the winter, the Lost
and Found box fills up with plenty of unidentified
clothing. The school is not responsible for lost items, so
please remind your child(ren) to be responsible for their
own belongings.
St. Timothy School Newsletter
REMINDERS AND RESOURCES:
COLD AND 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. 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.
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.
Flu Clinics
Also available on the Peel Health and WDG websites,
are the schedules of local Flu Clinics.
For more information, visit the health unit websites:
Peel Health website http://www.peelregion.ca/health
Wellington Dufferin Guelph.
Direct links to the above information can also be
found in the tab marked ‘Parents’ on the Board
website http://www.dpcdsb.org
Teach your children to wash their hands properly
and frequently, to cough into their sleeves,
and avoid touching their face.
www.dpcdsb.org/TMTHY
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
For your information, St. Timothy recreational skating program has been scheduled for this year. We are
fortunate to have secured Carmen Corbasson Community Centre (a.k.a. Cawthra Arena) for enough time to
enable Grades 1-6 students to skate three times this year, and the Grades 7 & 8 to skate twice.
As per Board policy, all students must adhere to the following procedures:
 All skate blades must be covered.
 C.S.A. approved helmets must be worn.
 Gloves/mittens must be worn by all skaters.
Please take the time over the holidays to check that skates and helmets fit.
This will better prepare the children for our upcoming skating program!
More information will be forwarded to you in the New Year. The following dates have been booked:
Schedule for Skating
GRADES 1-3
GRADES 4-6
GRADES 7 & 8
Friday, Jan. 9, 2014
Friday, Jan. 16, 2014
Friday, Jan. 23, 2014
Friday, Jan. 30, 2014
Friday, Feb. 13, 2014
Friday, Feb. 20, 2014
Friday, Feb. 27, 2014
Friday, March 6, 2014
GREETINGS FROM OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEE
ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA PARISH INFORMATION
Please refer to attached Newsletter Insert for the
Christmas Season Mass Schedule for St. Catherine of Siena Parish.
May the star of Bethlehem which shone brightly over the first crib,
fill your heart and home and all the earth
with Christ’s love, light, and hope.
Blessings for a joyous and peaceful Christmas and New Year.
The Staff of St. Timothy Catholic School