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
Superintendent: Mr. C. Blanchard (905) 890-1221
Pastor: Fr. John Facey (905) 270-2301
October 2013
Lord, we thank you
for being our ever-present safety net
during the storms in our lives
and for the gift of family and friends to support us
in our times of need.
We pray that we will work at
strengthening our relationship with you each day
so that we may have the courage and love
to reach out to those in need
through word, action and prayer.
October’s Virtue – Empathy
An empathetic person listens when people speak.
An empathetic person notices when someone is
upset and tries to help.
An empathetic person can name their feelings
An empathetic person can see a situation from
another person’s point of view
An empathetic person accepts that others have
different perspectives.
St. Vincent de Paul: EQAO Results
A huge congratulations to the staff and students at our
school!!! St. Vincent de Paul continue to make strides
on Grade 3 and Grade 6 EQAO testing. The following
data shows the percentage of students who reached or
performed above the Ontario Provincial Standard.
Grade 3 Reading:61% Grade 6 Reading:83%
Grade 3 Writing:100% Grade 6 Writing:78%
Grade 3 Math: 50%
Grade 6 Math:52%
While we will always focus on developing our
student’s academically, morally, physically and
spiritually; academic achievement will always be the
major goal at St. Vincent de Paul School. Our focus
for students this year with be on Math Problem
Solving strategies, Math Vocabulary and Reasoning.
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
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday Oct. 7
Picture Day
Monday, Oct. 14
Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, Oct. 16 Opening Mass
Thursday Oct. 31
Hallowe’en Dance-details to follow
Monday Nov,.4
Picture Retake Day
Tuesday, Nov. 5
Reports go home
Thursday Nov.7
Interview Night
Lunch Hour Routines
A reminder that students who regularly stay for lunch are
NOT permitted to leave school property without a
signed and dated note from parents each time they leave
school grounds. We have been cooperative this month, but
for your child safety we require your support. We encourage
consistency. Students either go home for lunch or stay in
school for lunch. Thank you for supporting this important
safety routine.
THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE
Our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive currently will
th
start October 3rd until October 15 . All food collected
will be donated to St. Mary’s Food Bank on behalf of
the St. Vincent de Paul School Community. Thank you
for your generosity and for thinking of those less
fortunate.
PARENTS IN THE SCHOOL YARD
Thank you for your cooperation of parents and
caregivers from not entering the schoolyard when
dropping off their children.
SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS
Supervision begins at 8:45 a.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.
CATHOLIC CODE OF CONDUCT
The Catholic Code of Conduct mirrors the revised
Provincial Code of Conduct. The Catholic Code of
Conduct sets standards of behaviour that promote,
encourage and foster a shared commitment to gospel
values in daily life, respect for the dignity of person’s
created in God’s image, responsible, participation in
the civic life of the school community, peaceful
conflict resolution, respect for diversity, and a
commitment to exemplary conduct, conscientious
work, and service to others. At St. Vincent de Paul,
we continue to work together to provide a safe,
caring, inclusive and healthy Catholic school
community for all.
Catholic Education Center School -Section
23 program
Education Programs for students in Ministry of
Education approved Care and Treatment (Section 23)
are partnerships between school boards and
community agencies. In 2011, a Catholic Education
Center School -Section 23 program in partnership with
Peel Children’s Aid Society moved a program to St.
Vincent de Paul. The program continued in its
successful traditions of providing students the
opportunity to experience well-being and academic
success while receiving ongoing support from Peel
Children’s Aid. Success stories from this program
include one student who said, “I was able to learn and
grow with our teacher and support staff. It was a safe
place to learn, it wasn’t just a school for me; it became
my family. This has been my best ever experience at
school”. In the summer of 2013 a decision was made
by Peel Children’s Aid to close the program due to
financial constraints. The team continues to engage in
discussions with other community partners in the use
of this space, as appropriate. A sincere thank you is
extended to the staff and students at St. Vincent de Paul
who welcomed the students and to all who helped these
young people feel they belonged to a community.
FUNDRAISING
FIRST SCHOOL MASS
The entire St. Vincent de Paul community is invited
to attend our first school Mass on Wednesday
October 16 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church.
Please join us.
PICTURE DAY
Individual student photos and class pictures will be
taken October 7th. Picture retake day will be on
Monday November 4, 2013.
This month of October will mark
our first Fundraising initiative. We
hope all families will do their best to support us in
whatever way possible. Thank you to our Cathiolic
School Council for all their efforts in organizing and
managing our event. There are several times students
are asked to bring money to school but it is important
to understand that fundraising goes to support school
resources such as Reading materials for grade one,
Gym mats for student safety, transportation for
sports team, support for needy families, indoor and
outdoor games.
TERRY FOX RUN
A huge thank you to the entire staff and the students
of St. Vincent de Paul. On Friday September 27, the
entire St. Vincent de Paul School community
ran/walked in aid of Cancer research. We raised
$370.00 which will be sent directly to the Terry Fox
Foundation.
SABRINA’S LAW-ANAPHYLATICS
If your child has a severe reaction
to peanuts, peanut by-products,
bee/wasp stings or any other
allergies, as well as Diabetes or the
need for Puffers. Please let the
school know as soon as possible.
It is essential that the information you provide us is
accurate and up-to-date.
In addition, ALL MEDICATION is to be
stored in the office. No medication should be kept
with students or in their bags. We have
procedures in place to safely keep medication, and
to have on hand in case of
emergencies.
There are various forms which
need to be completed by you and
your family doctor if it is
necessary
to
store
an
epipen/medication at school. We continue to have
students with severe, life threatening allergies to nuts
and peanuts. Although this may or may not affect
your child’s class directly, we require your continue
cooperation in sending foods to school that are free
of peanuts, nuts, or their by-products. We cannot
guarantee that any classroom is nut free, but we are
attempting to minimize the exposure and keep
everyone as safe and healthy as possible.
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Student Verification Forms have been
sent home with all students. It is vital
that we have up to date information to
contact Parents / Guardians in the event
of illness or injury. There is space on the
form to indicate an Emergency Contact person who
could act on your behalf if necessary, as well as
internet email addreses. Signed forms should be
returned to your child’s teacher(s) as soon as possible
so we can update the office records.
IMMUNIZATION
Ontario Law (Immunization of School Pupils Act,
1990) requires all school age children to be immunized
against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Mumps
and Rubella. The law requires Peel Health to keep upto-date records of your child’s immunization. In the
past we have had a number of students receive letters
of suspension from school due to records not being
updated at the Health Department. It is your
responsibility to forward the information to Peel
Health. Whenever you have your child immunized,
inform the Health Department. Your child, before
turning age 7, must have the Age 4-6 Booster for
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio.
All necessary
immunization records for your children must be sent
to Peel Health. You may fax your up-to-date
information to Peel Health at 840-7144 or call 7917800 ext. 7661. Thank you.
Celebrating World Teachers’ Day
Today, across Dufferin-Peel, we recognize and
celebrate our teachers and those who support them in
bringing quality Catholic education to our community,
as we mark United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Teachers’
Day. It is through the good work of teachers and those
who support them, in upholding and promoting our
tradition of excellence in Catholic education by
supporting students and their families, that we are
widely considered to be a leading school board in
Ontario. So, congratulations and thank you. And to all,
please take a moment today to reflect on a teacher, or
teachers, who had a positive impact on your life.
May God continue to bless you in all that you do.
J. Kostoff, Director of Education
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 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.
HOME COMPUTER USE
As parents you are aware encouraged to be vigilant
about your child’s use of the computer. Many of the
students are using many forms of technology for
social reasons. Many social sites do not monitor the
content of their users, such as “ Facebook,” Text
messages,
Hotmail, MSN, and many more,
especially the anonymous sites. It is important that
you be aware of the messages that your child may be
sending or receiving. Be aware of what programs
your child is using and with whom your children are
associating with at all times.
Hallowe’en Dance Oct. 31
Once again our Catholic School Council is sponsoring
our Hallowe’en Dance, with much school spirit. Please
assist us with monitoring your child’s costume in a
Catholic School environment. Please do not put us in
an uncomfortable position to your child to remove or
leave part of the costume at the office. No MASKS,
Props (swords, weapons, etc.), no very scary costumes
due to our JKSK, and anti-Catholic messages. We want
to have fun but also maintain a safe and Catholic
environment for all. Students will have the opportunity
to wear these with you in the evening. Thanks for your
cooperation.
TEXTBOOK POLICY
Textbooks are the property of the school and are
loaned out to students with the expectation that they
will be returned at the end of the school year in good
condition. The teachers keep a record of each
textbook that students are given. Please help to keep
our costs down by encouraging your student to take
proper care of them. There will be a replacement cost
to the student of the textbook is damaged, lost or not
returned at the end of the school year.
VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
FIRE DRILLS
In accordance with Ministry regulations, three fire
drills will be conducted in the fall and three in the
spring. While we hope that a real fire or emergency
situation never arises, this practice helps prepare our
students in the event of an emergency. We will also be
conducting Lockdown drills.
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.
Volunteering is a great way to be
involved in the life of the school
and really does help make a
difference in the lives of the students. If you have
some time to spare, please contact the school and the
School Council as a place to share your talents.
Anyone working in our school as a new employee or
volunteer must have a Criminal Reference Check
completed by the Peel Regional Police. CRC’s are
FREE for volunteers.