St. Vincent de Paul School
665 Willowbank Trail Mississauga, Ontario L4W 3L6
Tel: (905) 848- 5397 Fax: (905) 848-0738
Principal: Mr. L. Dodaro
Secretary: Ms. S. Ferenc
Trustee: Mr. Mario Pascucci (905) 302-3096
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Fax: 905-890-0888
Telephone: 905-890-0708 ext. 21061
mario.pascucci@dpcdsb.org
www.TrusteePascucci.ca
Superintendent: Mr. C. Blanchard (905) 890-1221
Pastor: Fr. John Facey (905) 270-2301
February 2014
A Special Thanks.
Ann Velagic,we wish you a Happy Retirement.
You are wonderful, your spirit and
energy will always guide us to move
Forward. Now as you retire, we are missing
our great colleague and role-model.
As you retire, you leave the corridors
of the school but you will never be able to
leave the corridor of our hearts.
We wish you a happy life with fun and
Happiness. Your footprints will stay here
for years to come.
Wishing you Happy Retirement.
FEBRUARY’S VIRTUE – RESPECT
God wants us to treat all people with the respect they
deserve.
A respectful person…
 uses a positive tone of voice
and body language
 avoids
swearing,
name-calling,
put-downs, and
inappropriate gestures
 says ‘Excuse me’, ‘Please’, ‘Pardon me’
 avoids gossip
DATES TO REMEMBER
Reports go home
Parent-Teacher Inter. Evening
Family Day – Holiday – No School
Guest Speaker: Spider Jones
(11:00 am- 12:00 pm ,gr 1-5)
( 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm older gr 6, 7, 8)
Toronto Marlies – Day Trip
Raptors evening game- Families
JKSK Heritage Celebration
March Break
Feb. 26
Feb. 27
Feb. 28
10-14
Please be Careful
As you know, our school communities experienced a
significant ice storm over the winter break. Our custodial
and maintenance staff continue to work with plant services
contractors to remove ice and snow. For everyone’s safety,
please note the following:



Welcome to Ms. Heinisch- She will be teaching our
Grade 6/7 class. She comes with varied experiences
with Dufferin-Peel schools. She is a welcomed
addition to our community.
Flexible Boundaries Request: If your child is currently
in our school with a flexible boundary, a letter will be sent
to you to complete your request for continued attendance
under a flexible boundary. Thank you for your
cooperation.
Feb. 4
Feb. 6
Feb. 17
Feb 25


Please walk carefully when on school/board
property; do not run.
Please ensure students dress appropriately for the
conditions. We ask all visitors to wear proper
footwear for the conditions, including boots/shoes
with non-slip soles.
Although efforts have been undertaken to clear
sidewalks, paths, patches, parking lots and paved
play areas, in some cases these efforts were less
than successful due to the ongoing freezing
temperatures combined with the base of ice
resulting from the ice storm. These situations will
continue to be addressed.
Our parking lots do have ice buildup. Please
exercise caution when leaving your vehicles. As
always, please drive safely.
Please let us know if you see any concerns
while on our school/board properties.
Black History Month
Our students will be participating in many activities
related to Black History month.
- read aloud of stories and biographies of important
figures during black history month.
- researching and doing a report on an important
figure.
- a Heritage day celebration
- celebrating our differences and our similarities.
- celebrating all of our cultures
- integrated inquiry into social justice and
representations of slavery in the past and present,
with a focus on Black Africans in the third world and
North America.
- Black social justice heroes, such as Nelson
Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., President Obama,
& Oprah
- Social responsibility
and how we as Christ's
followers can create
positive change in our
world through creating
awareness and
changing our attitudes
and consumer habits
- the impact of Martin
Luther King Jr and
Rosa Parks on the Civil
Rights Movement.
- reflecting on the
dreams of these two historical figures and their own
dreams for equality in our world now.
- Black History Poetry and Timeline
Mural Artist: We are looking for a mural artist that
can come in and give us a quote for the gymnasium
and hallways.
Spider Jones-Guest Speaker February 25 - All Are
Welcome!
Born into poverty, violence and bigotry, Spider rose
from the gang infested treacherous streets of Detroit
to become one of the most inspiring speakers of our
time.
By fifteen, Spider had grown disillusioned with
school and dropped out. Shortly after he joined a
vicious Detroit street gang called the Motor City
Mobsters and within six years had risen to the top as
the gang’s War Lord. His larcenous ways eventually
cost him his freedom, but something even much more
precious was lost.
Spider has inspired thousands of our youth to stay in
school, believe in themselves and work towards a
better future.
Spider is the founder of the “Believe to Achieve
Charity” and assisted in initiating the “Spider’s Web
After School at Risk Youth Program” located at the
Chalkfarms complex.
Spider is the author of his biography “Out of the
Darkness” and an award winning broadcaster that has
worked for The Fan, Talk 640 and CFRB radio
stations.
Spider is the recipient of many awards which includes
the “Board of Governors Award,”
“The Premiers Award” for his community work, the
Edmund R. Murrow award and he also received the
distinguished “Red Beret” from “The Guardian
Angels” which is their highest award.
Spider informs students about peer pressure and
bullying and the devastating results it had on his life.
He talks about his life experiences telling stories
about himself and people he has met while
involving students in his presentation.
Spider discusses the importance of staying in school
and the consequence of not getting an education or
skill. The importance of setting goals for yourself,
taking little steps to reach your desired
results.Couches
Eco-Schools
In an effort to engage students in small
environmental initiatives that can have a big
impact, St. Vincent de Paul School will be
starting an Eco Team. Our Eco Team will
promote eco-friendly practices within the school
and the community. Please help us become
certified with Ontario EcoSchools.
If more details are required, please review the board
website for up-to-date information. You may also contact
your child's present school, the principal of the French
Immersion School in your area, or the board's French as a
Second Language Consultant at (905) 890-0708 extension
24307.
Kindergarten Registration 2014-2015
Book Club! At St. Vincent De Paul
Forest of Reading has Started!
Primary- Blue Spruce
Junior-Silver Birch
The Forest of Reading book club has started at St.
Vincent de Paul school! Children from
kindergarten to grade 6 will have the opportunity
to read recently published Canadian books and
decide which ones are their favourite! In the
spring, we will submit our choices and a winner
will be awarded based on the results submitted by
all participating schools. The program helps to
develop recognition for Canadian authors and
Canadian books, contribute to the financial
stability of the Canadian publishing industry,
provide teachers, teacher-librarians, librarians,
library staff and parents with a meaningful tool for
improving literacy in schools and libraries and
respond to community interest and needs. This will
be an exciting journey for your son or daughter.
Have them share their favourite stories with you!
French Immersion
The French Immersion Online Application System is now
open for submissions. To apply, go to
www.dpcdsb.org. Applications will be accepted until
February 28, 2014.
Reminder:
•
All eligible submissions are accepted and, in the
event that the number of applications is greater than
the number of spaces available at a French Immersion
school, a centralized, computer-generated lottery will be
held at a date yet to be determined.
Registration for Kindergarten for the 2014-15 school
year is ongoing, Flex-Boundary may be on a wait list.
The following documents will be needed when
registering:
(for child and/or parent/guardian) or baptismal
certificate from an Eastern Church in full communion
with the Holy See of Rome. If the child has not been
baptized, and the parent/guardian is a baptized Roman
Catholic or is baptized from an Eastern Church in full
communion with the Holy See of Rome, the
parent/guardian must bring their own baptismal
certificate.
Passport) or Landed Immigrant status
proof of residence
WEATHER CANCELLATIONS
During the winter months, inclement weather and/or poor
road conditions may cause the disruption of bus
transportation and regular school operations. In these
cases, parents/guardians should develop alternate
care/transportation arrangements. A decision to cancel bus
transportation and/or to close schools is made by 6:00 a.m.
Decisions are based on several factors including
precipitation, air temperature and road conditions. A
decision to cancel bus transportation may be system wide
(where all buses in Dufferin County and the Region of
Peel are cancelled) or municipality specific (where buses
in one or more municipalities are cancelled).
If buses are cancelled in the morning, they will not operate
in the afternoon. Therefore students transported to school
by parents require the same transportation home.
Notification
Parents/guardians, students and school staff are asked to
monitor the following radio/television stations after 6:00
a.m. to receive bus cancellation/school closure
information.
A bus cancellation and/or school closure message will be
posted on the Board's main webpage at www.dpcdsb.org,
on Twitter @DPCDSBSchools and on the Board's phone
message system at 905-890-1221 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 905-890-1221
end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Thank you for your support as we focus on providing
safe transportation for all our students.
Attached for your information only, and in the event
that “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD BUSES AND THE PEEL DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD BUSES IN THE TOWN OF
CALEDON ARE CANCELLED” the list of runs which
would be cancelled are also attached.
SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS
Supervision begins at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.
Please do not bring/send your children to school
earlier than this time. Given safety concerns, it is not
a good idea to leave your children outside unattended
as student supervision in the yard begins at 8:45 and
not before. Please make other arrangements for the
care of your children prior to 8:45 a.m. Please meet
your child at the school at 3:30p.m. when they are
dismissed.
DRIVEWAY—KISS AND RIDE SAFETY
Many thanks to parents / guardians who have
been using the correct and safe procedure for
dropping their children off in the morning in
our Kiss and Ride program. Our driveway is
made safer when everyone cooperates. Please ensure
you have pulled up to the front of the drop-off line to
let children in or out of your car. The driveway gets
very congested as 9:00 a.m. approaches, and many
students are arriving after the bell rings. Please be
aware that it is our expectation that children arrive at
school on time and prepared to work. In addition,
please use the available parking spots on Willowbank
Trail directly in front of the school when picking up
and dropping off your children. This makes for a safer
driveway and Kiss N Ride.
WINTER IS HERE
Parents are reminded that students should be dressed
appropriately for winter weather conditions. Recess is
considered a part of the school day and thus students in
attendance are expected to participate in this
activity. Consideration will be given to reducing the
amount of time outdoors for children when the temperature
is -20 degrees Celsius, and cancelling outdoor recess when
colder.
Website
Please
continue
to
visit
our
website
at
http://www.dpcdsb.org/VPAUL. Our school newsletter, as
well as many board memos, announcements and
information will be posted. Next we will have a new easier
to use website. Please visit.