l
a
n
r
u
o
J
e
n
i
St. Valent
Volume 1, Issue 9
May 2012
Prayer on Mothers Day
Inside this issue:
God our Father
Today we thank you for one of your special gifts to us— our Mother.
Thank you for the love she shares with us in so many ways.
EcoSchools / Catholic Education Week
Summer Programs / Hats Off to Kidz Walk
Welcome to Kindergarten / New Registrations
Liturgy of the Word for Children / Ice Dawgs
We thank her for the warmth she gives our home,
Valuables / EQAO Reminder
For the cuts and bruises she makes well,
OAPCE/DRAPCE
For the ideas she shares when de don’t have anything to do,
Virtue for May—Acceptance
For all the times she talks and listens to us,
Dress Code / Social Skills
For the ways she makes peace when we are mean to each other.
St. Valentine Catholic School
5610 Heatherleigh Avenue
Mississauga, Ontario
L5V 2V7
We thank her for seeing good in us that we don’t see in ourselves.
Help us to love her as she loves us and keep her
close to you always.
We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen
Principal’s Message
Congratulations to our Grade 2 students who will receive the Sacrament of First Communion on
May 1st and to our Grade 8 students who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on May 17th.
Thank you to the teachers who have worked with the children throughout the school year to prepare
them for these very important milestones in their faith development and to you their parents for your
modeling and support of our faith. Thank you to Msg. Pan for his ongoing support and guidance.
Thank you as well to our staff who have worked with your children to prepare for Catholic Education
Week which will be celebrated from May 6 – May 11. This year’s theme, Catholic Education: Walking in the Light of Christ finds its biblical source in the Gospel of John where Jesus proclaims, “I am
the Light of the World” (John 8:12) and we read in psalm 119, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a
light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) During this week, our school will be celebrating the enduring gift of
Catholic education with special prayers and presentations.
Living
Learning
Brenda LeClair,
Principal
Adrian Scigliano,
Vice-Principal
Franca Dodgson,
Secretary
Kelly Anne Leonard,
Assistant Secretary
Cathy Saytar,
Superintendent of Schools
905 890 0708
Peter Ferreira,
Trustee - Ward 6
416 805 7110
Judy Borges,
School Council Chair
Msgr. Pan,
Pastor
St. Francis Xavier Church
905 890 5290
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 9
Page 2
EcoSchools Update
As you are aware, St. Valentine has been working hard this year to be “Green”. We have successfully implemented several “Green” initiatives including “Lights Out Lunch Hour” and “Litterless Lunch Mondays”. The students’ participation in these events is incredible! Last
month we had 96% participation in Lights Out Lunch Hour. Our Litterless Lunch Mondays have also been successful with many classes
having 100% participation! We look forward to continued success with these two initiatives.
Our most recent environmental initiative was “Pitch-In”. This event helped students recognize the
impact littering has on our earth. Staff and students ventured out on a very chilly Monday morning to pitch in and clean up the school grounds and neighboring parks. The students showed
great enthusiasm throughout this event.
Your continued support with our school’s environmental initiatives is greatly appreciated. Thank
you for supporting our goal of becoming an Ontario EcoSchool.
Catholic Education Week May 6-12, 2012
In our Catholic schools there must
There are five sub-themes for each day of Catholic Education
be that deliberate intention that the
Week:
light in which we walk is the Light of
Monday – Listening in the Light of Christ
Christ. When you walk through our
Tuesday – Learning in the Light of Christ
school, the feeling that you are walk-
Wednesday – Living in the Light of Christ
ing in the Light of Christ is palpa-
Thursday – Loving in the Light of Christ
ble. The interaction of student and teacher, the dialogue of principal and staff, the presence of parents in the school, the welcome
extended to the visitor, are imbedded with the conviction that we
believe that we are indeed walking in the Light of Christ. Being
human, we may not always be conscious of that great reality and may
sometimes act in a manner that may belie that conviction, but the
light will always continue to shine.
Friday – Leading in the Light of Christ
During the week, there will be various activities that the students
will be engaged in and we invite you to attend the events described in a letter sent home April 27th. If you are unsure of the
date and time of the activity in your child’s class, please check the
school website and/or call the school to confirm.
We hope to see you during our school celebrations!
Summer Programs
Summer School:
Summer Literacy Camp:
The Summer Literacy Camp is offered by the
Summer School is offered by the Department of
Department of Continuing Education for stu-
Continuing Education for students in Grades 7
dents in Senior Kindergarten to Grade 6. Its
and 8. Its purpose is to reinforce and enhance
purpose is to reinforce and enhance literacy, in-
literacy, including oral language, reading, spelling
cluding oral language, reading, spelling and writing.
and writing, math and study skills. Summer School
The camp runs from Tuesday July 3rd—Friday
runs from Tuesday July 3rd to Friday July 20th.
July 27th. The cost is $200 for July 3rd-13th or
There is no cost for this program and it will be held
$210 for July 16th-27th (minimum enrolment) and
at St. Gertrude School. For more information,
$380 for four weeks. For more information,
please contact your child’s teacher. The registra-
please contact your child’s teacher. The
tion deadline is June 7, 2012.
registration deadline is June 1, 2012.
Living
Learning
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 9
Page 3
Hats Off to Kidz Walk
Schools in Mississauga South will be holding a Walk-a-thon in support of Hats off 2 Kidz, Leukemia
Research at Sick Kids Hospital on Friday, May 18, 2012 beginning at 12:30 pm.
Hats off 2 Kidz is a charitable organization in the support of Leukemia Research for the Hospital for
Sick Children and the Sick Kids Foundation. To date, HATS off 2 Kidz has raised over $ 700,000.
On Event Day, students and staff are asked to wear a baseball cap as a tribute to children who live with
leukemia and the effects of chemotherapy.
In the days prior to the walk, each class will design their own banner to carry on Event Day.
Sick Kids donation envelopes will be circulating through the classrooms from Monday, May 14 to Friday,
May 18th.. Please give what you can. No donation is too small.
We invite all members of our school communities to “be the voice of children” and join us on this very special day. Let’s raise
awareness of pediatric leukemia, raise funds for needed medical research and raise our heart rates all at the same time!
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN
Welcome to Kindergarten for New JK Parents
On Thursday May
packages and practical tips will be shared with
pm, we will be host-
areas.
3rd, from 7:00—8:30
ing a session for
you to help get your child ready in these three
dren registering for
junior kindergarten.
This evening will
provide important
information to prepare your child for
tember and have not yet
registered for school,
transportation infor-
please call the school’s
mation.
main office and let us know.
This meeting is inter-
Also, if you have new neighbours who have eligible
active and we ask that
children and are unsure of the procedures, please have
this meeting as they
package to help them
are critical in preparing young children to
enter the classroom. These include literacy,
numeracy and readiness skills. Information
them call the school’s main office.
Our school staff is beginning to plan and prepare for
will receive a special
There are three areas of development that
eligible to start Junior
classroom work, allergies in the classroom and
you bring your child to
school.
If you have a child who is
Kindergarten this Sep-
Some of the information provided will be
parents with chil-
Registrations for 2012—2013
the next school year and it is important that we have the
get ready for Kinder-
most accurate projected pupil enrolment for Septem-
garten.
ber 2012 at this time.
Liturgy of the Word for Children
Mass the children will be called to gather for a blessing
We are happy to announce that the Liturgy of the Word
by the Celebrant of the Mass. The children will then be
with Children is now taking place during the following
taken to the church main hall for proclamation of the
Masses -Saturday: 5pm, Sunday: 9am, 10:30am and 12
‘Word’ and discussions. The children would be brought
noon. This is a wonderful opportunity to have your child
back to the church during the offertory, to join their
attend the liturgy and experience an in-depth understanding
families, and then participate in the liturgy of the
of the gospel of the week. Trained and experienced cate-
Eucharist. Kindly avail of this great new activity in our
chists will be guiding the kids in friendly discussions, using
parish. Please contact the parish office for more details.
audio and visual presentations. At the beginning of the
Living
Learning
Praying
May 2012
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
1
2
7:00 pm—First
6:30 pm—School
Communion @
Council
Church
6
7
8
Fri
Sat
3
Diversity Conference
7:00 pm—Welcome to
Kindergarten (New
JK registrants)
4
5
10
11
12
9
Joe Sax Activity Day
PA Day
QUEBEC CITY TRIP
CATHOLIC
13
14
15
Mother’s Day
20
EDUCATION
Spring Photos
21
16
17
Junior Heads Up
Intermediate Heads
Competition
Up Competition
9:30 am– Confirmation
7:00 pm—Confirmation
Rehearsal @ Church
@ Church
23
24
7:00 pm—Spring Fling
22
Victoria Day
WEEK
18
19
25
26
1:30—Virtues
Assembly (led by
Grade 4s)
27
28
29
30
31
Grade 3 EQAO
Grade 3 EQAO
Grade 6 EQAO
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who
does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Nelson Mandela
Living
Learning
Praying
Page 5
cil
n
u
o
C
l
o
o
h
c
From S
ST. VALENTINE SCHOOL
CHOCOLATE CHALLENGE 2012!
St. Valentine School Council thanks you for your support of
our Lamontagne Chocolate fundraiser. With the funds raised
this year, we plan to continue supporting various school initia-
tives, including faith development and sacramental support, the
Arts and academic programs. In past years we have purchased
sports, gym, and playground equipment, computers, and subsidized various excursions.
Our exciting incentives for our top sellers went to the following
top selling families:
1. $250 Gift certificate for Great Wolf Lodge—Nicholas M
2. E-Reader with $50 Chapters gift certificate - Dylan S
3. $50 Gift certificate for Playdium—Anthony B, Angelo M,
Justin & Meagan F, John A and Keionna & Kamorra C.
4. Limo and Mandarin Lunch for 10—Nicholas M, Dylan S,
Lunch Lady
Anthony B, Angelo M, John A, Justin F, Meagan F,
Keionna C, Kamorra C, Alex B, Rebecca B, Julian H, Jen-
“HOT” Home style lunches
nifer B, Joshua T-M, Leonard M and Matthew I.
prepared fresh daily
Thank you to all the families who sold chocolates to support
our school!
Visit their website at www.lunchlady.ca
Living
Learning

Healthy snacks

Milk included
Praying

Individually labeled
lunches
Volume 1, Issue 9
Page 6
PA Day &
Marvelous Mondays
Victoria Day
& Fantastic Fridays
Just a reminder that there will be no school for students on
the following days:
Beginning on Monday May 14th, we will begin a new service for families
interested in purchasing a “cool” treat for their child prior to afternoon recess.
Friday May 11th—PA
We will be offering Ice Dawgs (ice cream sandwiches) for a Toonie. These
Day—the school will be
ice cream sandwiches are peanut free, high in fibre and low in fat.
closed as staff will be off-
We will not be taking pre-orders for the Ice Dawgs—we will call down stu-
site engage in professional
dents interested in purchasing an Ice Dawg and they will pay their Toonie
learning and activities.
the day of sale. There is no obligation to participate nor any minimum weekly
Monday May 21st—
Proceeds for the sale of the Ice Dawgs will support various charities on be-
orders. Students, however, will be limited to ONE Ice Dawg per purchase.
half of the school.
Victoria Day
September 2012
Valuables
Students are reminded that electronic games, iPods, MP3 To help with our planning for next September, would you kindly advise the
players and other valuables are to be left at home. In this
school office if you are moving out of the St. Valentine area over the sum-
way, we can be sure that these items are not lost or broken mer.
by other students at school.
Just a reminder that school for students will begin on Tuesday September
4th.
If you would like to share information regarding your child’s placement for
2012—2013, please send a letter to Mrs. LeClair as soon as possible as
teachers will soon begin the process of allocating students to new classes.
EQAO Reminder
that they have the following tools for the test: calculator, pen-
A reminder to all of our parents for Grade 3 and 6 that
cils, erasers, protractors and coloured pencil crayons.
EQAO testing will take place from May 23 to June
6, 2012.
The following link will enable you to access a variety of resources to assist your child in writing the test:
Please continue to assist your child to prepare for the
http://
test by reinforcing their literacy and numeracy skills and by ensuring that www.eqao.com/Parents/Elementary/036/036.aspx?
any medical appointments are not made during these particular weeks as
the students prepare for the Ministry tests.
Depending on his/her grade, your child should start to ensure
Living
Lang=E&gr=036&Aud=Parents&App=Parents
Of particular interest are the sections on “Key Words” and samples of assessments from previous years.
Learning
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 9
Page 7
DRAPCE is the regional council for the students, parents, teachers, schools and
Ontario Association of Parents in
communities. Great schools can become
Catholic Education representing the
even better places to teach and learn.
voice of parents and guardians of children
We encourage parent involvement at the
enrolled in Catholic education in Dufferin local and regional levels through a grass-Peel. When parents are involved in their
roots approach. Each school council, in-
children's education, everyone benefits –
cluding ours, has a representative on
DRAPCE.
Come browse our website. See what’s new in
parent involvement in Catholic education in
Dufferin-Peel and find links to interesting information and events or join our mailing list
at: http://oapce.on.ca/drapce
Virtue for May — Acceptance
This month we will celebrate the virtue of Acceptance. One of the great wonders of the world we live in is that no two
people are exactly alike. We may share biological families or national identity or cultural and ethnic identity but we are all
very unique and distinct creations. God breaks the mold every time! And that is a fantastic fact of life! It can also be a
challenging fact of life if it makes us afraid. Sometimes differences are scary – especially if we haven’t learned about or
don’t understand how people are different. The virtue of acceptance describes our ability to look at the attitudes and
actions of those around us and then just stop and consider without judging them. The virtue of acceptance means that we
look beyond what we see- a person’s skin colour, ethnic background, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, and see a
person created and loved by God. It’s especially important for us to stop and think if what we are made uncomfortable by
seeing or hearing others act differently then we might choose to act.
ON REFLECTION…
Why do I like to have people do things my way?
OUR DAILY PRAYER FOR MAY Let us now pray… for the virtue of Acceptance- the strength to trust that
God is at work in everyone’s life despite what we think.
AMEN
Dress Code
As we prepare for the
bands, sweatbands or bandanas worn across the forehead are not
warmer weather, we would
permitted. Administration has the final decision regarding school
like to remind our stu-
attire. Special outfits can be enjoyed after school and on week-
dents of the expectations
ends.
that are in place, especially our older students,
regarding appropriate
dress. Sleeveless tops
are permitted but not
halter, tank or short tops.
Short shorts and skirts and clothing of a suggestive nature or displaying offensive wording/images are not allowed. Also, head-
Living
In keeping with the Board’s Mission Statement and Catholic
teachings, each school is committed to standards of neatness,
cleanliness, modesty and good taste as specified in the appropriate Dress Code Policy of the Board— “Students are required to
dress in a manner and attire suitable for the occasion and appropriate to the school environment. Failure to comply with this expectation shall result in disciplinary action…” (Catholic Code of Conduct).
Learning
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 9
Page 8
The Last Word
Help Your Child Learn to Develop Social Skills

Developing a sense of self and of belonging to a family (infants and toddlers).
 Use mirrors for your child to see him/her self.
 Encourage your young child to talk about his/her family.
 Ask your child his/her preferences and likes and dislikes.
 Use your child's name often when speaking to him/her.

Developing trust.
 Follow through on promises.
 Be consistent (have a schedule, have family rules and enforce them the same way every time and the same way with
each child).
 Talk about yourself and listen as your child talks about him/her self.
 Be your child's best cheer leader.

Learning to separate from their parents
 If your child screams and cries when you leave, stay a few minutes and get him/her involved in an activity with their
caregiver, then ease out the door.
 Be cheerful, say good-bye at the preschool or child care center, and go out looking happy even if you are sad inside.

Playing with other children.
 Invite another child to your home to play with your child.
 Take them to a mother's morning out if you are a stay at home mom.
 Your child will play with other children when he/she is ready.

Sharing and taking turns.
 Talk with your child about sharing and turn taking.
 You take turns with your child at home.
 Encourage your child to talk about his/her feelings when others will not share or are rough.
 Play games that require turn-taking like games with a spinner.

Stating opinions and desires.
 Encourage your child to verbalize his/her needs.
 Ask your child's opinions often.
 After reading a story to your child, ask his/her opinion of events or characters in the story.
 Discuss real life situations - ask your child's opinion about what should be done in those situations.

Using words to solve conflicts and develop control of emotions.
 Encourage talking about feelings when another child pushes, is rough, or messes up a project your child is working on.
 Use situation pictures and ask your child how he/she would solve the situation (ex. Your family is going to the store and
you can spend the dollar you have or save it for the zoo next week. What will you do?)
 Help your child remember to use their words when situations arise.
 Play games using a loud and then a quiet voice.
 Try to be close by when there is a problem situation - do not intervene unless it becomes necessary.
 Have a quiet area where a child can go to be alone and regain control of their emotions (by choice).
 Have a family meeting to set up the rules of the house and all of the consequences for breaking the rules
 Provide some materials like play dough or paper to tear that your child can use to take their frustrations out on when
they are really upset.

Learning that it is okay to make a mistake.
 When your child makes a mistake always encourage him/her to try again or to do better next time
 When you make a mistake let your child know about it.
 Give hugs and encouragement and notice when your child is trying hard to succeed.
 Offer plenty of activities at which your child can succeed.
 Be willing to listen and console if needed.

Developing confidence and self-respect.
 Succeeding and learning that you can make a mistake and try again build your child's self-confidence.
 Accept your child for who he/she is and where he/she is in their development.
 Have some tasks which are slightly difficult for your child and challenge him/her to extend their capabilities.
 Ask questions about your child's projects and show interest - this will build their pride in their own accomplishments.
 Show your support and affection for your child.

Developing respect for others and feelings of empathy.
 Talk to your child about respecting the feelings of other family members and of other people they know.
 Show respect for the property of other people and let your child know that you expect him/her to respect
other people's property, too. Children learn best through the example you set.
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN
Living
Learning
Praying