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St. Valenti
Volume 1, Issue 1
October 2011
Inside this issue:
School Re-organization
Terry Fox Run
Memories of the Thankful Heart
Anaphylaxis—School Safety
Fire / Lockdown Drills
Absences—Kiss N Ride
Snuggle Up & Read
Loving God,
Health Alert / Pediculosis
It is good to be here.
May our gratitude for this moment
Sacraments—Empathy
Extend back through time
PALS—Raising Resilient Chil-
Tracing the ways You have taught us wisdom
Into the future with hope for promises to be fulfilled
Trying to build a civilization of love
St. Valentine Catholic School
5610 Heatherleigh Avenue
Mississauga, Ontario
L5V 2V7
To wonder at the majesty of Your creation.
Brenda LeClair,
Principal
Around the world to embrace Your people
Up into the heavens
May our time together
Adrian Scigliano,
Vice-Principal
Remind us of our gratitude for Your gifts.
-Les Miller
Franca Dodgson,
Secretary
Principal’s Message
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our families a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving! We often take
many of our blessings for granted and I feel truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of the St. Valentine community. It is the combined efforts of everyone—parish, staff, students and parents—that make this such a vibrant
and caring learning community. By working together we move forward as lifelong learners striving for excellence in
our personal, social, spiritual and academic growth.
During this time, let us thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us and ask Him to continue to
guide us on our journey. Let us also be mindful of those less fortunate and share to ease their plight. In previous
years, our community has been extremely generous during food and Christmas basket drives. Once again this
year, we are asking families to bring in non-perishable food items that our Youth Ambassadors will collect and
ensure are distributed to our local food bank.
As the term continues, our student activities will swing into full gear as staff work with your children on cross coun-
Jewelline Sequeira,
Assistant Secretary
Cathy Saytar,
Superintendent of Schools
905 890 0708
Peter Ferreira,
Trustee - Ward 6
416 805 7110
Judy Borges,
School Council Chair
Fr. Robert O’Brien,
Pastor
St. Francis Xavier Church
905 890 5290
try, volleyball and various other clubs and activities. We look forward to an exciting year!
Learning
Loving
Praying
Page 2
Volume 1, Issue 1
Staffing—School Re-Organization
As referenced in a communication from our Associate Director Ralph Borelli, our Board has been in the process of meeting compliance with the Ministry initiative of capping classes in the primary grades at 20 students, with only 10 percent of classes across the
board eligible to exceed the cap.
At St. Valentine School, we experienced a reorganization as a result of shifts in our population. This resulted in changes in our primary classes to ensure compliance with the cap and to ensure balanced classes. During the September 16th PA Day, teachers
worked to create new classes that ensured a mixture of abilities and personalities. We also, where possible, maintained classes and
student-teacher relationships.
Below is the current organization at St. Valentine:
JK/SK —S. Diana, L. Lang, C. Fernandes;
Grade 1—3: C. Karim, A. Mancuso, T. Sturino, N. Ryan-Sampson,
S. DiBiase
Grade 4-6: S. Love, E. Kogut, A. Duffy, K. Boone, J. Dutra, C. Marino
Grade 7-8: C. Mercer, D. Fendley, A. Mercieca, M. Dorscht
FSL: L. Rundsztuk, A. Koka
Resource Teachers: K. Morris, A. Tavares, J. Webster
ESL:K. Morris, L. Rundsztuk
Planning Time: S. Brown, D. Chiola-Nakai, K. Morris
Library: D. Chiola-Nakai
ERW—R. Beadle, G. Glsuszczyk, K. Hudec, S. Lutes
DECE—V. Celeste, V. Correia, M. Lipo
We thank you for your patience during this reorganization and look forward to working with you through this school year.
Terry Fox Walk—2011
Congratulations
St Valentine Bravehearts! On
Wednesday September 28th, we
held our annual Terry Fox Walk. Students
regaled the neighbourhood with signs, spirit
and good cheer!
Our community also far surpassed our challenge of matching last year's total raised in
the Terry Fox Run by raising $2500!!!
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Great job!!!
raised $199.50
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The following classes led their divisions in
on a date chosen by their teacher:
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Intermediate classes - Mrs Mercer's
class who raised $161.90
raising money and will receive a pizza party
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Junior classes - Mrs. Love's class who
Congratulations and thank you to everyone
JK/SK classes - Mrs Lang's class
who contributed to cancer research.
who raised $222.50
Primary classes - Mrs Ryan-
Thank you as well to Mrs Lang for all her
Sampson's class who raised $176.50
work in organizing this wonderful event.
Anaphylactic Shock—Classroom Snacks
We felt that all parents would like to be
aware that there are several students in
day, if you would like to send something,
Law”, we are no
is a medical condition that can result in
longer permitted to
death within minutes of exposure. Al-
with your child’s lunch that
tion. To acknowledge your child’s birth-
part of “Sabrina’s
food allergy to peanuts and nuts. This
child’s class directly, please send foods
they can bring for their own consump-
Further to this, as
our school with a severe life-threatening
though this may or may not affect your
teachers will advise students what foods
are free from nuts /nut products.
allow treats for
cial occasions (Halloween, Christmas)
Loving
treasures” that are not edible would be
appropriate. Thank you for your con-
sharing with other students. On spe-
Learning
items such as pencils or “dollar store
sideration and co-operation in making
our classrooms safer for students.
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 3
School Safety—Reminder
Parents are welcomed to the school
student programming. Since the hall-
throughout the year, however, for the
ways are busy during pick up times,
safety of all children, parents and visi-
siblings and parents are asked to ar-
tors must use only the front door for
range with your child, a meeting place
entry and must sign in at the office
outside of the school. Messages and
and receive a visitor’s sticker each and
deliveries (keys, lunches, etc.) are han-
every time you visit the building. Visi-
dled through the office. Please re-
tors are not entitled to go to the
member: to most students in the
classrooms as this is a disruption to
school, you are a stranger.
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN
Fire Drills and Lockdown Drills
As a precautionary measure, we will prac-
In a lock down, students are alerted over the
to Huron Park Community Centre.
tice fire drills and lock down procedures
P.A. that we are “initiating lock down”. Stu-
Safety regulations require us to have
throughout the year. We are required to
dents are directed to move away from all
this contingency plan in place. In such an
hold 6 fire drills each year as well as 2 lock
windows and doors and to lie on the floor, if
event, your child will remain with school
down drills.
possible under desks. Classroom doors and
staff until we contact you.
During fire drills, students are asked to
move safely and swiftly to the nearest exit
windows are secured. Students remain this
way until the alert is cancelled.
and to report to their designated area out-
Discussing these procedures with your child
side of the building. If an exit is blocked,
will help reassure the importance of these
students are reminded to use their alternate
safety procedures.
exit. We will have three of the fire drills in
the fall and the remaining three in the spring.
Student safe arrival at school is
In the unforeseen event that we should have
an emergency in our school, we will evacuate
Student Absences
your child is late for school, they
paramount. If your child is absent,
must check into to office before
please call the school attendance
proceeding to class.
line at 905 890 0909, Press 1.
Children must be signed out at
This procedure helps to ensure
the office by an adult.
the safe arrival of all students. If
Learning
Loving
Praying
Page 4
October 2011
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
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2
3
4
5
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7:00 pm—School
PROVINCIAL
9:30 am—Opening
Council
ELECTIONS
Mass @ St. Francis
8
Xavier
9
10
11
THANKSGIVING
Picture Day
12
DAY
13
14
Youth Ambassador
Cross Country Meet
15
Rally
16
17
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19
20
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24
25
26
27
28
29
Progress Reports go
Interviews for Pro-
home
gress Reports
Parent Meeting—
Communion @ St.
Francis Xavier Church
30
31
Happy Halloween
We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.
Nelson Mandela
Learning
Loving
Praying
Page 5
cil
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From S
On behalf of the School Council we would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new Principal, Mrs. LeClair. We look forward to working
with her to make St. Valentine a safe and happy place. We would also like to welcome everyone back and extend a heartfelt welcome to our new
families and faculty. Our main function as a council is to enhance your child’s educational experience by supporting activities and initiatives that
unfortunately are no longer supported by government and school board funding. We do this through various fundraising initiatives. We thank you
for your support as we launched our QSP magazines sales as well as later throughout the year.
Last year, your support of our fundraising initiatives supported the school in the following ways:
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Purchase of student agendas for grades 1 to 8
Mementos to commemorate sacraments and graduation
Subsidized Busses for Skiing and Skating
Pancake Tuesday - proceeds for Share Life
Purchase VHS/DVD License yearly
Subsidized Grade 8 Quebec Trip
Limo/Mandarin Lunch
Subsidized with the Junior and Intermediate basketball nets.
That is just the beginning. We are hoping to have another successful school year, and we cannot do that without the help of all our volunteers.
At St. Valentine School, the parents are our partners in education. Effective home-school communication can be a critical component in the
ultimate success of a student. In fact, the purpose of this very newsletter is to keep parents informed about the events and happenings at our
school.
Even if you are not interested in being a council member, you are welcome to attend our monthly meetings and listen to some of the initiatives we
are pursuing and/or provide your ideas as to areas we should be pursing. We are always open to fresh ideas.
Our first meeting is on Wednesday October 5th at 7:00 pm in the library. I look forward to seeing you there.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated support.
Judy Borges
School Council Chair
Learning
Loving
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 6
Kiss N’ Ride
The success of this program is
yard. Drop off time begins at 9:00
dependent upon parents, guardi-
a.m. as yard supervision begins at
ans, members of our community,
this time.
staff
and
students
becoming
knowledgeable about the program
bus use only.
If you need to park to escort kindergarten children to their area,
Parents should NOT be using
please park either in the spots at
the front of the school or in the
and committed to following the
side parking lot.
basic principles.
For greater success of our Kiss
Please drive to the end of the
N’ Ride program, we are asking
Kiss’n Ride and drop off your
for your help. If you are able to
child. They will then walk on the
sidewalk and walk across the
the front of the school to drop off
school building and into the school
students—this area is for school
Snuggle Up and Read
volunteer your time before the
school day begins, please contact
the office.
Health Alert
Beginning soon, St. Valentine primary students will be receiving
their Snuggle Up and Read program materials. Students will
have pouches and leveled books that they can take home to
read and track. Please watch for the pouches and books in
their backpacks.
We ask that parents spend time reading the materials with their children, either
taking turns or having the child read the book in it’s entirety. This program is
meant to support literacy instruction in the classroom and is not assigned homework but rather an additional support.
We have noticed a number of students coming to school with
Red Bull and other “energy drinks”. Red Bull is banned in
several countries because of its adverse health effects. One
can contains 80 mg of caffeine and 8 oz. of sugar and will
increase hyperactivity.
St. Valentine School is working hard to promote healthy
eating. Red Bull type drinks
defeat the purpose. Please buy
your child water, juice, or milk to
drink not Red Bull!!
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.
Pediculosis
From time to time, there may be cases of pediculosis or head
child in a class or family, it is likely that other children
lice in our school. This should not be a cause for alarm. Lice
also have head lice.
are a nuisance, but are not hazardous to your child’s health,
If a child has pediculosis, we will ask the parent to
as they do not carry disease. One of the most important
come to school and pick up the child. We will recom-
steps to both their prevention and treatment is knowledge.
mend specific shampoos to get rid of the live lice, and
Head lice do not fly or jump. They can only hitch rides from
for appearances sake you may want to remove the nits
one head to another, and they prefer clean scalp and hair. By the time
that the nits or empty egg sacs are noticed on the head of one
Learning
with a fine toothed comb. An alert letter is sent home to parents
of the infected class.
Loving
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 7
Parish Parent Meetings and Sacrament Dates
The following take place at St. Francis Xavier Church.
summarizes
parent meetReconciliation and First Holy Communion:
ings and sacParent Meeting at St. Francis Xavier Church:
rament celeTuesday October 25 - 7:00 p.m.
brations that
Celebration of Sacrament of Reconciliation
have been
Tuesday January 31—9:30 a.m.
planned for
Inscription Masses
St. Valentine
Saturday November12 and Sunday November 13
students.
All events
Celebration of Sacrament of First Holy Communion
Tuesday May 1—7:00 p.m.
Confirmation:
Parent Meeting at St. Francis Xavier Church:
Tuesday November 29—7:00 p.m.
Inscription Masses
Saturday December 10 and Sunday December 11
Celebration of Sacrament:
Thursday May 17 —7:00 p.m.
Grade 8 Graduation Mass:
Friday June 22—9:30 am
Virtue for October—Empathy
This month we will focus on the virtue of empathy. God has given us the ability to form connections with each
other - to live together. Empathy helps us to connect and live together in safe, caring, inclusive communities. We
understand empathy to mean the ability to identify with and feel other people’s concerns. We believe that in a
faith community we are nothing without relationships. Relationships that grow in a spirit of communion- an understanding that we share an identity based on being created in the image and likeness of God and being imbued
with one Spirit. We are many parts of one body. An empathetic person believes that we all share one Spirit;
that we are many parts of one body because we are all created in the image and likeness of God.
REFLECTION… How will I know that someone needs me to show empathy today?
OUR DAILY PRAYER FOR OCTOBER—Let us now pray… for the grace and strength to be people
of empathy – people who can really identify with and feel the concerns of those around us. AMEN
PALS Program at St. Valentine School
"There is always room for one more.”
The objectives of the program are to:
The PALS program, offered by Peel
Health encourages all children to participate in activities regardless of their
gender, size or ability.
PALS is a peer led program in which
children are trained to plan and lead
fun and safe activities on the play-
o Increase physical activity
o Decrease conflicts and reduce
Please encourage your children in
grades 1-4 to take advantage of these
activities once the students have been
trained and are ready to lead the activi-
the incidence of playground
ties on the playground. The PALS
bullying
leaders will be identifiable in the school.
o Provide a leadership opportunity for students
ground at recess.
Thank you to Ms. DiBiase for continuing to organize the program.
We look forward to working in partnership with Peel Health in order to pro-
A Public Health Nurse is available
mote a healthy and active life style in a
help with training and will support staff
safe playground environment at school.
and students to implement this program in our school.
Learning
Loving
Praying
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 8
The Last Word
Raising Resilient Children and Youth
Resilience is the ability to recover from difficulties or change—to function as well as before and move forward. Many refer to this as “bouncing back” from challenges.
Enhancing resilience
Young people’s resilience is determined by the interplay of their individual characteristics (including skills they have developed), the characteristics of the families in
which they live, and the characteristics of their physical and social environments. Everyone needs skills and supportive people in their lives to help cushion them
from problems they may encounter. Introducing even a few positive elements into their lives can shift the balance and help many children and youth flourish.
Individual Factors
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Everyone has individual factors that help make them who they are and determine their levels of resilience.
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Exposing young people to a variety of learning environments helps them develop awareness, imagination, know-how, initiative and decision-making skills.
Temperament
Children are born with a particular temperament, but it will be affected by their environment.
Infants and children treated with warmth, care and sensitivity are more likely to become resilient, well-adapted children and youth.
Learning strengths
Young people’s learning strengths are a combination of their inborn intelligence and the knowledge and skills they develop through formal and informal education.
Feelings and emotions
How young people express their emotions and react to other people’s emotions is determined by tendencies they are born with and by their early life experi-
ences.
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Families who talk about how they feel help young people learn to identify their own feelings and communicate them to others.
Managing difficult emotions (such as anger or anxiety) builds resilience.
Self-concept
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People’s concept of themselves is influenced by their family and environment.
Young people who grow up in a society, and with adults, that accept and appreciate them the way they are, and the way they want to be, are more likely to feel
good about themselves.
Ways of thinking
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Young people’s ability to think positively is affected by their temperament; their life situations; and their interactions with family, friends, teachers and others.
Teaching young people to have more positive thoughts about themselves can help them to reduce stress, improve their performance (for example, at school, in
sports) and have fewer mental health problems.
Adaptive and Social Skills
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Young people develop skills through the support of others.
Teaching children and youth to be flexible; to make decisions; to solve problems; and to set appropriate goals and persevere to attain them builds resilience.
Young people cultivate social skills through their experiences—by co-operating and interacting with others and making friends.
Positive peer relationships in childhood are one of the best predictors of good mental health in adulthood.
Family Factors and Attachment
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Healthy, well-functioning families provide many of the elements young people need to succeed in life.
To be resilient, young people need a strong, positive emotional attachment to a caring, loving adult throughout childhood and adolescence.
If a parent is unable to fill this role, other significant adults in young people’s lives (such as a grandparent or family friend) could provide them with the attention, guidance and support they need.
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Good communication involves all family members talking regularly to each other about their feelings and concerns and about what’s happening in their lives.
We are on the web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/VALEN
Learning
Loving
Praying