l
a
n
r
u
o
J
e
n
i
St. Valent
Volume 1, Issue 8
April 2012
Father God,
Thank you for New Life
For Spring flowers, baby chicks,
new born lambs
For Spring sunshine and rain showers
Which helps the plants to grow.
Thank you for the dried bulbs and seeds
which look so dead
They are springing into new life, soon they
will be beautiful.
Most of all Lord,
We thank you for your Son, Jesus,
Who suffered and died for us, on the cross.
And today, we celebrate, that on Easter Day
He rose from the dead.
HE IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!
Amen
Inside this issue:
Planning for 2012—2013
Summer Programs
High School Transitons
Sacraments—EQAO—Lates
Spring Fling - Mrs. Tavares -Pediculosis
E-Newsletter—Dress Code
Virtue for April:Love—Bikes
Catholic Education Week
St. Valentine Catholic School
5610 Heatherleigh Avenue
Mississauga, Ontario
L5V 2V7
Brenda LeClair,
Principal
Adrian Scigliano,
Vice-Principal
Principal’s Message
I wish everyone a beautiful, restful and Holy Easter! As a Catholic community, this is a
special time to pray and reflect upon our blessings. We are fortunate to be able to come
together to profess our faith. At Easter, we share in the grace of Christ as “children of
the light” and “sharers of the eternal glory”. May all these blessing fill your hearts, today
and always.
Thank you to all the parents who volunteer in the school to make us a better school. A
particular thank you to our Catholic School Council and St. Francis Xavier parish who
work very hard in partnership with staff to educate our children.
We are in the “home stretch” of the 2011-2012 school year and time is quickly going by, -
although it has been a long winter, spring has sprung. It promises to be an exciting and fulfilling term at St. Valentine.
Living
Learning
Praying
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
Volume 1, Issue 8
Page 2
Class Placement for September 2012
The staff at St. Valentine will meet during the month of May to begin discussing an appropriate placement for each student for September 2012. When
determining placement some of the criteria we consider are:
* Academic ability
* Work habits and study skills
* Maturity/date of birth
* Social factors, and
* Placement history.
If you have any concerns about your child’s class placement for September would you please put them in writing addressed to Mrs. LeClair. Please do not
make specific requests for teachers. Rather, you may wish to describe the way your child/children learn best (e.g. “hands on learning, structured environment,
language rich activities and so on).
Our decisions are made after careful consideration of all the relevant information and are based on the individual strengths
and needs of each child and, as such, requests for placement are not guaranteed. As well, class composition (i.e., combined
grades) may be necessary due to guidelines established by the Ministry regulating class size. All letters, however, will be considered.
Please send your letters by Friday April 27, 2012.
Planning for 2012 – 2013
Are you moving? To help
schools often have to reorganize classes in Sep-
or additional supervision for students admitted
us with our planning for next
tember due to unexpected fluctuations in popula-
under this procedure.
September, it would be
tion.
appreciated if you could let us know now if you
will be moving out of our school area over the
summer. If you know of any families moving into
the area with children who plan to attend St.
Valentine, it would be helpful if you could alert us.
The more information we have, the better we are
able to organize staff and students for September. In the absence of accurate information,

The students admitted under this procedure
Flexible Boundary Procedures—A reminder to
do not automatically become eligible for the
parents/guardians of students that are at St.
secondary school serving the school. A sepa-
Valentine School under the “Flexible Boundary”
rate request must be made to the secondary
that the procedure is reviewed annually and per-
school principal.
mission is granted under the following conditions:

If you would like to continue to be granted permis-
Transportation is your responsibility. The
sion under this procedure for the 2012-13 school
Board will not provide either transportation
year, please submit your request in writing ASAP.
Summer Programs
Summer Literacy Camp—Grades SK to 6
Tuesday July 3 to Friday July 27, 2012
Elementary Summer School—Grades 7
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily
and 8
Fee for Service Program
No transportation provided
Tuesday July 3 to Friday July 20, 2012
Deadline for applications: June 1, 2012
Students recommended by the Principal
Mississauga locations: -St. Catherine of
Bussing provided at home school pick up
Siena, St. Barbara, Sts. Martha & Mary,
points
St. Albert of Jerusalem, St. Bernard of
Deadline for applications:
Clairvaux, St. Gerard, St. Gregory,
June 1, 2012
Blessed John XXIII
Location for St. Valentine students:
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
St. Gertrude School
Living
Learning
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 8
Page 3
“Imagine the Future Through Your Child’s Eyes”
Be aware that on the evening of Wednesday April 18th, 2012, The Dufferin Peel Special Education Advisory Committee (S.E.A.C.)
is inviting ALL parents of elementary and secondary students with special needs such as developmental disabilities or autism, to attend a
Pathways and Transitions, Parent and Student Engagement Workshop: “Imagine the Future Through
Your Child’s Eyes” from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at John Cabot Catholic Secondary School, 635 Willowbank
Trail, Mississauga. Graduates from our system will share their success stories and guest speaker Shelley
Higgerty will help guide parents, along with their child, to create their vision, using a new way of planning
with a strengths-based focus on student capabilities and assets, not deficits. The evening, presented with
funding from the Ministry of Education’s Parent Reaching Out (P.R.O.) Grant will include networking
opportunities. A light dinner will be served. Please RSVP via e-mail: Christine Paldino at christine.paldino@dpcdsb.org or by phone (905)890-0708 ext.24411 by April 5. For more information contact Leslie Hutchison at leslie.hutchison@dpcdsb.org
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN
Sacramental Celebrations
First Eucharist:
Our grade 2 students are currently celebrating the
Sacrament of First Communion at St. Francis Xavier Church.
EQAO Reminder
A reminder to all of our parents for Grade 3 and 6 that
EQAO testing will take place from May 23rd to June
6th, 2012.
The date is Tuesday May 1st at 7:00 pm.
Please continue to assist your child to
Congratulations to our grade 2s on this important
prepare for the test by reinforcing their
accomplishment in their faith journey.
literacy and numeracy skills and by ensuring that any medical appointments
Confirmation:
are not made during these particular
Our grade 8 students are currently preparing for the
weeks as the students prepare for the Ministry tests.
Sacrament of Confirmation. The celebration will be
held May 17th at 7:00 pm at St. Francis Xavier
Depending on heir grades, your child should start to en-
Church.
sure that they have the following tools for the test: calcu-
We look forward to witnessing the grade 8s make this
lator, pencils, erasers, protractors and coloured pencil
important step into young adulthood in our faith.
crayons.
A number of our students continue to arrive late daily. In some
Lates
instances, it is the same students arriving after 8:30 am without
Late arrivals cause disruption to the other students and also
parental accompaniment. This is a safety concern for us. Any
to the teacher who may have already begun his/her lessons
student arriving after 8:30 am is considered late and should be
for the day.
accompanied by an adult.
Developing good work habits and time management skills
Please make every effort to have your child/ren at school on
can maximize a child’s learning potential.
time. When a child is late, they not only miss opening prayer and
Living
the anthem, but they also miss valuable teaching time.
Let’s work together to develop these skills!
Learning
Praying
April 2012
Sun
Mon
1
Tue
2
Wed
3
Thu
4
Fri
Sat
5
6
Holy Thursday
Good Friday
7
1:15—Stations of the
Cross
8
9
10
11
12
Easter Monday
Gr 6 Tutoring
Gr 3 Tutoring
Gr 6 Tutoring
13
14
20
21
27
28
School Council
15
22
16
17
18
19
Gr 3 Tutoring
Gr 6 Tutoring
Gr 3 Tutoring
Gr 6 Tutoring
23
24
25
26
Gr 3 Tutoring
9:45 am—Virtue
Secretaries’ Day
Gr 6 Tutoring
Assembly
Gr 3 Tutoring
(Led by JK/SKs)
Gr 6 Tutoring
29
30
Gr 3 Tutoring
After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are
many more hills to climb.
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 asks for your support of our Lamontagne Chocolate fundraiser. This year we plan to continue supporting various school
initiatives, including faith development and sacramental support, the Arts, academic programs…. As a result of your support from chocolate sales last
year, the school was able to have students in grades 1-8 participate in Aussie X and all students receive virtues t-shirts! In past years we have purchased
sports, gym, and playground equipment, computers, and subsidized various excursions.
We have exciting incentives for our sellers! The three top selling families will receive:
1. $250 Gift certificate for Great Wolf Lodge
2. E-Reader with $50 Chapters gift certificate
3. $50 Gift certificate for Playdium
4. Limo and Mandarin Lunch for 10
This year, Lamontagne will be helping us with our EcoSchools initiative—chocolates will be sent home in reusable bags. Once you have sold your chocolates, the bags are yours to keep!
The kickoff assembly will take place on Wednesday March 21st. Chocolate will be sent home after the assembly.
We hope that—as in past years—you will be able to support our school and programs offered to enrich the educational experience of your children!
Lunch Lady
“HOT” Home style lunches
prepared fresh daily
Visit their website at www.lunchlady.ca
Living

Healthy snacks

Individually labeled lunches

Milk included

3 entrée choices each day
Learning
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 8
Page 6
Congratulations!
Upcoming Dates
With the arrival of spring, activities come up very quickly
Our SERC/SERT teacher, Mrs. Tavares has
at the school. Please take note of some of the events
been promoted to Holy Cross School as full time
that will be coming up in the next few weeks:
Vice Principal effective April 10, 2012. Mrs. Ta-
April 24-Virtues Assembly
vares has been a very active member of staff and a
April 25—Secretaries’ Day
strong advocate for students at St. Valentine
May 1—First Communion
School. In addition to her talents in the classroom,
May 3—Welcome to Kindergarten
Mrs. Tavares chaired our Eco-Team, contributed to many of our liturgical
May 6-12—Catholic Education Week
activities and was a mentor to both students and staff members.
May 11—PA Day
I am confident that you will join me in thanking her for her many contributions
May 13—Mother’s Day
and her dedication to the St. Valentine Community. She will be missed!
May 15—Spring Photos
May 17—Confirmation
As a result of her promotion, some changes in staffing have resulted. Ms.
May 21—Victoria Day
Morris will move to special education, Ms. Rundsztuk will move to English as a
May 23-June 6—EQAO
Second Language and Mme. Gloutnez will join our school to teach French,
May 23—”Spring Fling (Talent Show)
resource and planning time. Please join me in welcoming her to St. Valentine!
Pediculosis
As you may know, schools often experience cases of pediculosis (head lice) throughout the year. When
pediculosis is discovered within the school, we may check the children in the immediate surrounding area of
the affected student as well as that student’s classroom playmates (especially in the younger grades). Students who have been infested are not permitted to return to school until treatment has been applied and
their heads are clean of all lice and nits (eggs).
We thank you for your co-operation in checking your child(ren) and also in following through with treatments
if your child(ren) has been affected.
Eco Schools—eNewsletter
We are continuing our effort to move forward in
office.
an effort to enhance communication and ensure
This initiative will ensure that you receive school informa-
delivery of important school information.
tion without relying on the “backpack” . Environmentally,
We would like to create an UNAT-
we will save paper, energy, and staff time.
TENDED EMAIL MAILBOX for the
Our newsletters and school information will continue to be
added regularly to our school website.
electronic delivery of school newsletters, school
information and School Council updates. Questions, con-
If you are willing, please provide your email address to the office if you
cerns or comments will continue to be welcomed at the school.
haven’t done so already to allow us to send electronic information.
We are asking you at this time to consider providing the school
Should you NOT be willing, or not be able to participate, we will
with your email address which can be added to the list of UN-
make hard copies of school information available to your child to take
DISCLOSED RECIPIENTS who will receive school
home in his/her backpack
wide transmissions of information. Your email address will
Should you have any questions or concerns, please, as always, feel
NOT be available to any party outside of the school
Living
free to call the school.
Learning
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 8
Page 7
Dress Code
As we prepare for the warmer weather, we would
like to remind our students of the expectations
that are in place, especially our older students,
regarding appropriate dress. Sleeveless tops
are permitted but not halter, tank or short tops.
school attire. Special outfits can be enjoyed after
school and on weekends.
In keeping with the Board’s Mission Statement and
Catholic teachings, each school is committed to stan-
Short shorts and skirts and clothing of a sugges- dards of neatness, cleanliness, modesty and good
taste as specified in the appropriate Dress Code
tive nature or displaying offensive wording/
images are not allowed. Also, headbands, sweat- Policy of the Board— “Students are required to
bands or bandanas worn across the forehead are dress in a manner and attire suitable for the occasion
not permitted.
and appropriate to the school environment. Failure to
Administration has the final decision regarding
action…” (Catholic Code of Conduct)
comply with this expectation shall result in disciplinary
Virtue for April —Love
This month we will celebrate the virtue of love. God has given us many guidelines and examples of how to live our lives. He
sent his Son Jesus to make sure that we could see what life could be like. Jesus made one lesson clear above all other
lessons – the lesson to love. Love is not about us – it is about forgetting ourselves and looking out for the good of the
other. That’s what Jesus did – he forgot about himself on purpose. He chose to give up his life for the good of others –
us! Becoming a truly loving person is challenging. It takes prayer and concentration to get used to making little sacrifices
for the good of others. Making little sacrifices on purpose so that others will have a bit of food, a bit of shelter, a bit of
peace, a bit of quiet, a bit of fun, a bit of friendship. Through prayer and concentration, we can get better at showing love
to everyone we meet.
ON REFLECTION…
What would happen if I chose to give away something I own to make someone else happy?
OUR DAILY PRAYER FOR APRIL
Let us now pray… for the virtue of love so that we will never be satisfied until all are satisfied.
AMEN
Baby News
Students Riding Bikes
As the warmer weather approaches,
many students are choosing to ride
their bikes to school. We do have a
bike rack located at the north side of
the school. Please keep in mind that
students are not to ride their bikes on
school property, including pathways,
and do ride their bikes at their own risk. The school cannot be responsible for any lost or damaged bikes. Students are strongly encouraged to
lock their bikes and bring their helmets inside the school.
Congratulations to:
Mrs. Mancuso and her
family on the arrival of
baby Chloe who was
born Wednesday March
14, 2012.
Mrs. Karim and her husband on the arrival of
baby Joshua Isaiah who was born Wednesday March 21,
2012.
Please remember that skateboards, rollerblades and “wheelie shoes” are
Both moms and babies are doing well and we wish them all
not allowed inside the school.
the best during this very special time!
Living
Learning
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 8
Page 8
The Last Word
Catholic Education Week: Celebrating the Spirit
In our schools the Spirit of God is alive! When you next walk through the halls, stop and listen. You will hear the
marvellous work of the students and staff reflecting God’s graciousness in their learning and teaching. This
year’s Catholic Education Week (May 6-12) gives us an opportunity to shine a light on our schools with this
theme: Catholic Education: Walking in the Light of Christ.
This year’s five sub-themes follow the alliteration of listening in the Light of Christ, learning in the Light of
Christ, living in the Light of Christ, loving in the Light of Christ and leading in the Light of Christ. Each subtheme invites us to consider how our listening, our learning, our living, our loving and our leading are impacted by
doing that in the Light of Christ.
 Do we stop our chatter to really listen?
 Do we really want to learn that somewhere in our life a shadow has fallen because we let it happen?
 Does our living proclaim in action what we say in words?
 Do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves?
 Do I lead in the spirit of the servant leadership which Jesus exemplified at the Last Supper when He
washed the feet of His Disciples, an action which was the work of a slave?
We are human and we fail, but failure is overcome when we rise up and start again .
Every year, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) provides our Catholic schools
with a resource kit to help schools prepare for Catholic Education Week. Using these resources as well as our
own school developed activities we have prepared a series of activities to highlight why our school should ‘rejoice
in hope’. We hope to see many of you during our festivities.
In our preparations for Easter and Catholic Education Week we
pray:
God of creation,
give us Your wisdom to lead others into Your light.
Help us to illuminate our leadership with the light of faith, understanding and patience.
Strengthen us to lead our communities with the model of Christ’s light,
so that the children in our care and their families
may continue to grow in faith and knowledge of His love.
Amen
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN
Living
Learning
Praying