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R. Pazzelli
Principal
M. Vecchiarino Superintendent
Fr. A. Maderak Pastor, St. Leonard Parish
840-3921
890-1221
846–5385
L. Zanella
M. Psaila
Trustee
Head Secretary
School FAX
Catholic Education Week (May 5-10)!
840-2707
840-3921
840-6454
April , 2013
In our school the Spirit of God is alive! When you walk through the halls, stop and
listen, you will hear the marvelous work of the students and staff reflecting on God’s
graciousness in their learning and teaching.
This year’s Catholic Education Week (May 5-10) gives us an opportunity to shine a
light on our school with this theme: ‘Catholic Education Week—Growing Together in
Faith’. During this Catholic Education Week, we will open our doors to God’s Spirit
in a special way and celebrate how the Spirit is renewing the face of our school!
There are five sub-themes, one for each day of Catholic Education Week:
Monday
- Celebrating - Faith that is Rooted
Tuesday
- Celebrating - Faith that is Nurtured
Wednesday
- Celebrating - Faith that is Discerned
Thursday
- Celebrating - Faith that is Witnessed
Friday
- Celebrating - Faith that is Celebrated
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 is ‘rooted and
grounded in love’. Further information regarding our school activities during Catholic Education Week will
soon be forthcoming! We invite all members of our community to participate in the activities at our school
during this week!
Important Sacramental Dates and Activities
Grade 2 Students:
First Holy Communion:
Saturday, May 11, 2013 , 9:00 am, St. Leonard
Confirmation Rehearsal:
Grade 8 Students:
Thursday, April 25, 2013, 1:00 pm, St. Leonard
Confirmation:
Wednesday, May 1 2013, 7:00 pm, St. Leonard
Important Liturgical Dates and Activities
Liturgy for Catholic Education Week::
Catholic Education Week Liturgy: Monday, May 6, 2013, 9:00 am, St. Stephen School Gym
Please join us!
FIRST COMMUNION:
PLANNING FOR SEPTEMBER, 2013:
Our Grade 2 students, will receive the
Sacrament of First Holy Communion on
Saturday, May 11 at 9:00 am at St.
Leonard Church. This Spiritual
experience will assist students in
developing a closer union with Jesus and
to share in the mission of bringing God’s
love to all people.
Even before we have completed
the present school year, planning
for next September has begun.
The Staff will soon begin the process of
developing tentative class lists.
Care is taken, based on current
information, to place students in an
environment that is felt to be conducive
to their social, psychological and
academic growth.
Any parent wishing further input is asked
to submit their request in writing prior to
May 17, 2013! Please consider the
following guidelines if you wish to submit
your request:
CONFIRMATION:
Our Grade 8 students, will receive
the Sacrament of Confirmation
on Wednesday, May 1 at 7:00 pm at St.
Leonard Church. We look forward to
their continued commitment in the
preparation for this Sacrament.


SECOND TERM REPORTING:
The final term Report Card will
be sent home on Wednesday, June 26,
2013.
If you still wish to meet with your child’s
teacher, please phone to make an
appointment for an interview!
The final school day is Friday, June 28,
2013.
EQAO TESTING FOR GRADES 3 & 6:
Grades 3 and 6 students will
participate in the Provincial Education,
Quality and Accountability Office testing.
The students will be tested between
May 27–June 7, 2013.
Attendance is very important and we ask
that, if at all possible, to refrain from
making appointments during this time!
VALUABLES AT SCHOOL:
Students are requested not to
bring valuables or items of
importance to school. This
includes CDs, Game Boys,
Cell Phones, expensive Sports
equipment, etc.
We cannot assume responsibility for lost
or damaged valuables.

Input must be made in writing to the
Principal
Frame requests in terms of
educational contexts: eg. – your child’s
learning needs / strengths / style
(information not already known to the
school), best learning environment…
Please do not make requests for
specific teachers as staffing is always
tentative and changes can take place
between now and September
For your information, teachers will
receive a copy of your letter.
ARE YOU MOVING AWAY?:
If you are moving before the end of the
school year or over the summer, we
would ask that you please inform the
school office as soon as possible so that
class lists may accurately reflect the
number of students enrolled and the
space available for growth.
As new neighbours move in, it would also
be appreciated if you would mention to
them that registration before September
is helpful in school planning.
TRAFFIC SAFETY:
As the year progresses at St. Stephen
School, reminders become necessary for
drivers to adhere to traffic safety rules in
the front of the school, the Kiss and Ride
lanes and the parking lot. Please refer to
the attached flyer regarding these
important reminders!
SAFETY – BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS,
ROLLER BLADES, SCOOTERS ON
SCHOOL PROPERTY:
Bicycle season has arrived.
We remind students of the importance of
following traffic safety rules. Students
are reminded that bicycles must be
walked on to the school grounds. All
bicycles should be chained and locked.
Unfortunately, even chained bicycles can
be quickly removed by determined
thieves. It is suggested that expensive or
hard to replace bicycles remain at home
as the school cannot be responsible for
stolen or damaged bicycles. Also a
reminder to all students that the law
requires that all children wear proper
bicycle helmets.
Scooters, skateboards and roller blades
are not permitted on school property and
students are asked not to bring them!
SUMMER SCHOOL LITERACY CAMP:
A literacy reinforcement programme
for students in SK- Gr.6 is available at
various sites in the Board.
Teachers deliver a balanced literacy
curriculum to help students build
literacy skills. There is a fee for these
programmes. Your child’s teacher
will need to recommend your child
for this camp. Please contact your
child’s teacher for more information.
THE NEXT SCHOOL COUNCIL
MEETINGS:
Our next School Council meetings
will take place on the following days:
April 8, May 7 and June 3! Please join us!
THE KIDSSENTIALS HOT LUNCH
PROGRAMME:
Take a break from packing lunch!
Kidssentials is the fresh, hot lunch
provider at our school!
The Lunch Menu for April – June, 2013 is
now available to order online. To place
an order, please log in or create your
Family’s account at:
www.kidssentials.com
Lunch Cancellation Policy:
If your child is away on a Kidssentials
lunch day (illness, field trip, etc.),
Kidssentials must be notified directly
before 8:00 am and a credit will be
applied to your account for future use –
kindly provide as much notice as
possible for all cancellations.
Kidssentials may be reached at
905 855-1914 or via email at :
mail@kidssentials.com
Kidssentials is hiring! Work only while
your child is at school - perfect for any
stay-at-home parent. Contact
Kidssentials today for more information!
SUMMER LITERACY / NUMERACY
PROGRAMME FOR GR. 7&8 STUDENTS:
The Dufferin-Peel Board and Ministry,
offers Elementary Summer School
for Gr. 7 & 8 students who would
benefit from additional review and
consolidation of skills.
Students must take both Literacy &
Numeracy classes!
LENTEN FOOD DRIVE:
With teacher and Principal
recommendations, your child may
register for these programmes.
Our third and final Food Drive during
the Season of Lent, was once again a
tremendous success!
Thank you for your generous donations.
The food was distributed to needy
families in our Parish community!
Summer School will take place from July
2-19, 2013 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm each
day. Transportation is provided.
The deadline for applications is May 24,
2013.
More information will be forthcoming!
SUMMER ADULT PROGRAMMES:
There are various Adult Programmes
during the summer:




DPCDSB Adult Co-Op
ESL and LINC
FSL
Adult Computer Classes
For detailed information please call:
 Brian J. Fleming Adult Learning
C enter at 905 891-3034
 St. Gabriel Adult Learning Center
at 905 891-9263
 Adult and Continuing Education
Office at 905 891-9263
 St. Kateri Tekakwitha Adult
Learning Center at 905 891-9263
 LINC at 905 279-6816
WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN
EVENING:
On Wednesday, April 17, 2013
at 6:00 pm, we will be hosting a
‘Welcome to Kindergarten’
evening for those students
(and their parents) who will be
starting school for the first time in
September, 2013.
Children and their parents will be
involved in activities that promote
student school readiness. At the end of
the evening, each child will take home a
bag of materials to promote readiness
activities at home. These bags are
provided by ‘The Learning Partnership’.
Please contact Mrs. Larade for more
information.
Or check the website at:
www.dpcdab.org/coopcentre
VOLUNTEER CRIMINAL REFERENCE
CHECKS (REMINDER):
SOCIAL WORK WEEK COMMITTEE OF
DPCDSB OFFERS THIS MESSAGE:
If you are interested in
volunteering in the school,
you will require a
Criminal Reference Check.
The paper work may be
requested at the school Office and must
be taken to the Peel Regional Police
headquarters for processing.
Once the CRC is complete, the
information is mailed to the applicant’s
home address. The school only receives
this information when the volunteer
produces it.
Please consider obtaining your Criminal
Reference Check in advance, before you
find yourself disappointed!
Contact the Office if you wish to begin
this process!
Helpful Hints to Effective Parenting:
 Treat your child / teen with
dignity, respect and love
 Support and encourage your child
spiritually, socially & emotionally
 Promote positive self-image,
self-esteem & sense of self
 Establish age appropriate
expectations for your child / teen
 Set clear, concise boundaries
 Be consistent
 Play with & enjoy your child / teen
 Allow your child / teen space to be
an individual
 Provide opportunity for your child
to exercise decision-making skills
 Maintain clear parent / child
boundaries
 Pick your battles, don’t sweat the
small stuff
ATTACHMENTS:
1. April, 2013 Calendar
2. Summer Programmes, 2013
3. Invitation to Parents for ‘Marcia
Tate’ Session
4. Sketch of ‘Outdoor Classroom’
Proposal
5. Traffic Safety Reminders
6. MEDIA DANGERS, ‘Cyberbullying’
ECO GREEN INITIATIVES:
Our ECO SCHOOLS Committee,
comprised of students and Staff, has
procured a $5,000.00 grant provided to us
from the Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority!
Lead by Ms Paglialunga, the Team
provided details regarding a proposal to
create an ‘outdoor classroom’ where
instruction for various lessons (art,
reading, large group discussions etc.) can
take place.
In creating this ‘outdoor classroom’
green space, students will develop an
appreciation for the environment. This
well secluded and protected space will be
located at the end of the hallway past the
Kindergarten and Day Care classrooms
and out the doors at the side of the
school.
Attached is a ‘rough sketch’ that
approximately depicts the proposed plan
for the outdoor space. The sketch
includes seating areas made with natural
materials (logs) and plants / vegetation to
provide shady areas.
The project will begin soon and will be
completed by Fall.
Once again this year, we continue to
offer stainless steel WATER BOTTLES
with the St. Stephen Logo, Motto and
Sports Teams’ Mascot highlighted on it.
This helps to reduce waste and teaches
students to reuse what they can.
The cost is $10.00 for a 26 oz size.
Please consider purchasing one!
APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY
……PUDDLES!
With the rainy season upon us,
there are puddles and mud in
the schoolyard where children can get
wet socks and clothing. Our school
approach is to contact parents to bring
dry clothing. This is often inconvenient
for parents.
Therefore, may we suggest that you pack
an extra pair of socks and track pants in
your child’s back pack in the event that a
change of clothing is necessary.
SCHOOL YARD RULES FOR RECESS
AND LUNCH HOUR OUTDOORS:
With Staff input and for keepng
children’s safety in mind, a few ‘rules
have been derived. We ask that you
support student safety and review the
following rules with your children:
 Keep your hands and feet to
yourself
 Manhunt (or like games that
are aggressive) is not
permitted
 Football is not permitted
 Soccer is on field only!
 Tag can be acceptable if
students are playing safely
(supervisor is to make the
determination)
 Area behind the Portapak is
not allowed for student to
play in
THE BOARD’S TWITTER
ACCOUNT:
DPCDSB is now on Twitter!
For the latest board news and
information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools.
SENIOR KINDERGARTEN
GRADUATION CEREMONIES:
Please join Mrs. Larade and
Mrs. Ianiero as they prepare to
celebrate the Kindergarten Students’
Graduation:
SK (am) class:
Wednesday, June 19 at 10:20 am
SK (pm) class:
Wednesday, June 19 at 2:20 pm
If you have any questions, please contact
Mrs. Ianiero.
PIZZA DAYS:
There will be 5 Pizza Days offered until
the end of the year. The dates are:
April 16, 30
May 14, 28
June 11
Please contact Mrs. Psaila for more
information.
April 2013
SPRING HAS
SPRUNG!
Sun
Mon
1
7
14
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
2
3
4
5
* EASTER
MONDAY!
(schools
closed)
* TEAM Day!
* Notre Dame
Staff to attend
PLC with D.
Peter as host
all day
* ART OF
LEARNING for
Mrs. C.McDowall &
Mrs. McCallum
6
* ART OF
LEARNING for
Mrs. Salituro &
Spottiswood
8* MAD
9
10
11
12
13
SCIENCE for
Mrs. McCallum
* ART OF
LEARNING for
D. Peter, C.& M.
Florio
* AUSSIE X
* Gr. 1s to
Fire Safety
trip
* AUSSIE X
continues!
* AUSSIE X
continues!
* AUSSIE X
Programme to
continue
*ART OF
LEARNING for
Mrs. Ianiero
* Mrs. Pazzelli
to MARKETPLACE event
at St. Joseph
S.S.
15
16
17
18
19
20
* ART OF
LEARNING for
Mrs. Larade
*PIZZA Day!
* Safe School
Action Team
* Meningitis &
HPV Clinic
* Basketball
Tournament at
St. Stephen
25
26* Gr. 1–
27
* Confirmation
Rehearsal at
1:00 pm at St.
Leonard
3 /4 at Country
Heritage trip
* Confirmation
Retreat at St.
Stephen all day
in foyer & gym
* WTK event at
6:00 pm
21
28
Time to Begin Anew!
22
23
24
* Intermediate
students to put
on Assembly
for Gr. 4-8 at
2:30 pm
* TEAM Day!
* JUMP ROPE
FOR HEART
Kick-Off
Assembly
29
30
* HUDDLE-UP
School wide
Assembly at
10:30 am
* PIZZA Day!
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
Summer Programs 2013
Elementary Summer School
Summer Literacy Camp
Grades 7 and 8
Grades SK to 6
Tuesday July 2 to Friday July 19, 2013
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Monday July 8 to Friday July 26, 2013
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily
Students recommended by the Principal
Bussing provided at home school pick up points
Deadline for applications: May 24, 2013







Good Shepherd
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
St. Faustina
St. Hilary
St. Luke
Holy Cross
St. Ursula
NOW A 3 WEEK PROGRAM !
Fee for Service Program
No transportation provided
Deadline for applications: June 3, 2013
Mississauga







Father Daniel Zanon
St. Alfred
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Gerard
St. Gregory
St. Sebastian
St. Therese of the Child
Jesus
Brampton




St. Anne
St. Bonaventure
St. John Fisher
Venerable Michael J.
McGivney
Orangeville
 St. Andrew
Bolton
 St. John the Baptist
For more information and registration forms regarding these
summer programs please contact your local elementary school or
visit our website at http://www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/CNE
MEDIA DANGERS, Part One
CYBERBULLYING
Volume 10, Issue 8
February 1, 2012
By V. Nelson, PhD., C.Psych
Psychology Month, Dufferin-Peel C.D.S.B.
A wonderful new world has been opened to us with the
growing presence of the internet in our lives. Not only can
we communicate with friends and family – we can communicate with the world. Smaller and smaller computers and
smart phones make it easy to access all kinds of media
constantly, and we can be connected to the internet day
and night. Research has suggested that the smartphone is
never more than 3 feet away from its user and has replaced the alarm clock for many people. Movies, music
videos, and games can be played on our phones and televisions, and we can instantly send pictures of ourselves or of
events around the world as they happen.
TIPS for Students If you are looking for a topic for a school
project. What about a class survey of time spent on-line
and on social networks daily, and time spent in other activities? What about the challenge of NOT using your
smartphone for a week to see what happens?
The vast majority of children and adolescents are computer literate and own mobile phones providing them with
almost unlimited access to information and the ability to
keep in touch and share experiences via texting and social
networks.
Cyberbullying occurs when the new forms of technology
are misused to threaten, harass, humiliate, or embarrass
victims. Victims can be targeted with little effort and cost
to the bully, so there is a need for more discussion about
how children and young people can stay safe while being
in constant touch with friends.
An increasing number of young people
were exposed to
computers before
they were able to
walk and talk! In
2009 children
between 2 & 11
years were spending
more than 11 hours
per week online, not
counting time on
smart phones and
hand held computers. At that time the average American
teen was receiving 2272 texts per month. What is decreasing is the time spent reading books, magazines, or
newspapers. A recent study of university students
showed that those spending the most time online (more
than 30 minutes per day on Facebook), had the lowest
grade point averages.
There is a “darker side” to the new digital world and everyone is aware of the need for programs and practices to
promote general internet safety, particularly for young
people. Two dangers which have not received enough
emphasis and attention are Cyberbullying (part 1) and the
impact of Violent Video Games (part 2).
Cyberbullying can take the form of repeated abusive text
messages sent via internet of phones, and pictures or videos sent via mobile phone camera to embarrass the victim. Cell phones can be also used to send repeated silent
calls and abusive text messages, or emails can be sent with
a false name or someone else’s name. Chatrooms can be
used as a forum for threatening others or spreading lies or
rumours to damage friendships or reputations. Social networking sites have been used to disclose personal information to cause embarrassment or exclude someone from an
online group, or actual threats of violence. Many children
try to become popular on social networks by having large
numbers of ‘friends’, and this can lead some children to
accept ‘strangers’ as friends, and unknowingly provide
them with personal information which makes them vulnerable.
Cyberbullying can be a temptation for some because it
takes place instantaneously and at such a distance that
bullies have a perceived sense of security, and can easily
‘forget’ or minimize harm that they caused. For the victim
2
the awful part is that the bullying can take place any
time and intrudes into places heretofore seen as ‘safe’.
Technology has also made cyberbullying intergenerational (student to teacher) in a way that does not happen in the real world, and the victims often feel they
have no refuge, no one to trust, and can never be safe
anywhere.
A study done in 2005
revealed that 9 % of
youth who used the
internet regularly were
targets of online harassment. Of those students
50% reported chronic
harassment, 45% knew
the harasser in person,
and most troubling 38%
of those reporting the cyberbullying experienced significant distress as a result of the harassment.
How should we deal with Cyberbullying? Schools should
be teaching and discussing appropriate online behaviour
and the impact of cyberbullying in its various forms (e.g.,
posting photos of others that you find funny without the
consent of the subject of the photo, sending a compromising photo of yourself to a classmate who then sends
it to your whole school, posting very personal information on a social networking site without controlling who
can view it, forwarding or encouraging negative or derogatory comments about someone at school). Everyone should use the tools provided by ISP to allow personal profiles to only be viewed by friends, and only accept as ‘friends’ people they actually know. We all need
to be cautious and thoughtful about our own information when communicating with others, and have the
courage to speak up when someone we know gets
Involved in cyberbullying.



Consider checking the browser history to see where
young children have been and have the opportunity
to discuss any inappropriate sites even if inadvertent.
Use parental controls on computers and keep passwords safe to avoid inappropriate sites.
Report bad online behaviour to the service provider
or website where the cyberbullying occurred and
request that any further communication from the
bully be blocked.
TIPS for Parents, Teachers and Students
 Be alert to anyone seeming upset after using internet or phone.
 If a student reports being bullied teachers and parents must take complaints seriously.
 Encourage victims to keep any offending emails or
text messages to identify a bully.
 Help young people resist the temptation to retaliate
and also break the law when they are angry and upset about being the target of cyberbullying.
 Schools can encourage students to talk about the
ways they are using the internet and mobile phone
and keep communication open so that victims are
able to express any concerns about what happened
to them.
 Parents should talk to teens about online harassment, talk about ways to handle situations where
they witness online harassment such as supporting
the targeted teen and letting others know the behaviour is not acceptable.
 Help students to identify those they can talk to if
they become a victim of cyberbullying.
 Report cyberbullying to appropriate person at
school, and if there are serious threats contact the
police.
 Report online bullying on social network sites to the
service provider.
 Encourage all youth to disclose harassment without
fears of retaliation or restrictions of their use of the
internet.
TIPS for parents to avoid or deal with cyberbullying
With younger children parents should:



Set rules about where kids can go online.
Keep computer in a public area of the house to be
sure that parents are aware of the sites the child is
using.
If there have been problems have children and teens
only use the internet when parents are at home.
For further information and suggestions contact the
psychology staff at your school or Dr. D. Lean, Chief
Psychologist.