Newsletter Dec-15
Year 54,
` Issue 4
St. Louis Messages
O Holy Night
Contents:
Reflection
1
Principal’s Message
1
Staff List
2
Remembrance Day
2
School Hours
2
School Council
2
Medication
3
Breakfast w Santa
3
Cold Weather
3
Sacraments
3
PD Days
3
School Holidays
3
Graduation Dates
3
Parents in Yard
4
Parking Lot Safety
4
Transportation
4
Photo Re-take
4
Report Dates
4
Attachments:
-Trustee Hobin Letter
-December Calendar
-December Math Ideas
-Special Education Info
-Flu
-Advent Calendar
What can I give Him? Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring him a lamb.
If I were a wise man, I would do my part.
Yet what I can, I give him.
I give Him my heart.
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE:
Advent is a season of joyful expectation. It prepares us for Christmas, when we recall
Christ’s first coming among us. It is a time to celebrate Jesus’ presence in our midst, and
it is also a time when we look forward to his second coming. We assemble each
Monday morning of Advent, in our gym to listen to the Word of the Lord, and to
prepare ourselves for His birth, and light our Advent candles!
Advent Celebrations: Please come!
Advent candle lighting – Nov 30, Dec 7 & 14 – 8:30am – Gym
JK/SK Christmas Concert – 2pm – Sporcic/Nimer- Dec 16 – Gym @ 2:00pm
JK/SK Christmas Concert – 2pm – Spiewak- Dec 17– Gym @ 2:00pm
Annual Christmas Sing-a-long – Dec 18 – 9:00am-to 11:00am – Gym
Christmas Mass –January 12, 2015 – 10:30am- celebrated by Fr. Jerry!
Breakfast with Santa is this week-end!
Saturday December 5, 2015 – from 8:30am to 11:00am
Santa Photos available for $10.00 w DVD
Our Breakfast Program continues to grow each day under the supervision of Mrs. Haddad and
Ms. Figliuzzi. We also continue to provide snacks for those students who forget their snacks and
are in need. Students must have signed a waiver to participate in this program.
Virtues Education – will continue this year. A virtue is a habit or established capacity to perform
good actions according to a moral standard. St. Louis is an ideal place to practice and prepare to
live a virtuous life. When we demonstrate these virtues, we are making the presence of God
visible in the world around us. More information is available to students and parents in student
agenda. HOPE is December’s Virtue – which is an attitude that encourages us to involve God
in our lives and helps us develop and maintain relationships with God and with others.
The staff wishes all of our St. Louis community – a joyous Advent and
Christmas seasons – and here’s hoping that many, many wonderful
memories are created celebrating Christmas 2015!
Laura DiGiambattista
Principal
St. Louis
Follow us on Twitter @DPCDSBSchools
St. Louis Messages
Page 2 of 4
St. Louis Staff
L. DiGiambattista - Principal
St. Louis
School
1450 Lewisham Dr.
Mississauga, ON
L5J 3R3
(905) 822 -8251
PRINCIPALL. DIGIAMBATTISTA
SECRETARY:
L. Carli
K. Calvovic-Sporcic-Jk/Sk
8:15am -Supervision in Yard
8:30am -Morning Bell (please be on time)
11:30am -Lunch
11:50am - Lunch Recess
12:30pm- Afternoon Bell
3:00pm –Dismissal (please be on time)
3:15pm - Supervision of dismissal ends
T. Boutros-Nimer -ECE
Remembrance Day AWARDS!
L. Carli - Head Secretary
M. Silva– Head Custodian
P. Antal– Custodian
M. Spiewak-Kabza –JK/SK
D. Ivankvovic –Gr1/2
T. Tome (LTO) – Gr 1/2
L. Pruss – Gr 2/ 3
SUPERINTENDENT:
D. Amaral (NEW!!!!)
(905)890-1221
M. Parent- Gr 5/6
M. Bosnjak – Gr 6/7
F. Kotulak – Gr 8
St. Christopher
Church:
(905) 822-1171
The Port Credit Legion – Presented our students
with the following awards:
Giancarlo Balajadia-3rd for Intermediate Poetry
Samantha Lainez- 3rd for Intermediate Essay
J. Marroquin- Gr 3/4
C. Watts - Gr 4 /5
TRUSTEE;
S. Hobin
905-301-1210
905-822-1221
SCHOOL HOURS
C Mant – SERT/SERC
Criminal Reference Checks:
Please see Mrs Carli for the
application form. Once you have
completed this official screening-you
will be sent home a form to sign
annually to update your file.
E. Grego - Librarian/ESL
Pastor:
Fr. Scott Young
Fr. Jerry Dunn
L. McLean– PlanningTime
Pastoral Assistant:
C. Burles
H. Saliba Haddad – ERW
A. Greenshields -SERT/PT
M. Figliuzzi - ERW
WE HAVE A
NEW
CAMERA and
DOORBELL @
our front
entrance
SMILE!!!
Push only new silver
button – as old
doorbell rings
through entire school
and is disturbing to
students
Please NOTE – it may
take us a few minutes
to unlock the Front
door – as this has to
be done only by a staff
member who might be
momentarily away from
their desks.
G. Streker – FSL Teacher
Psychology - S. Henry
Soc. Worker – D. Kostyshyn
Child/ Youth – a. archbold
Speech and Lang.- L. Moeser
Head Injury
When a student receives an
injury to the head, it is Board
policy that we inform
parents. We will make every
attempt to notify you –even
when it is a very minor head
injury. Please do not be
alarmed if you receive this
phone call. Head injury
prevention will be taught to
students this year and
constant reminders
provided.
SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS!!!!
In effort to bring about the best year ever at St. Louis – the
following social events have been planned to bring our
wonderful community together:
Sept 23/15 – School Council Mtg – 6:30pm
Sept 23/15 – Council Election -7pm
Sept 24, 2015 – Open House BBQ-5:30-8pm
Oct 22/15- 6:30pm- Mtg- Library
October 30,2015 – Halloween Dance-a-thon
Nov. 19, 2015- 6:30pm- Mtg- Library
December 5, 2015 – Breakfast with Santa
Jan. 21, 2016- 6:30pm- Mtg- Library
Feb. 18, 2016- 6:30pm- Mtg- Library
Apr. 21, 2016-6:30pm- Mtg- Library
May 19, 2016- 6:30pm- Mtg- Library
June 3, 2016- Volunteer Breakfast
Milk/ Popcorn/ Pizza Days start
Wednesday September 16, 2015
Pizza = every Wednesday-$2.00/slice
Milk/Popcorn – Wed & Fri - $1.00 each
St. Louis Messages
Page 3 of 4
Liturgical/
Sacramental Update
First Communion
Information Meeting
Sept 28 or 29 , 2015–at 7:00pm
We Have Skates to lend!
Let us know the size and we will send home –We will skate in
Jan/Feb as a school!
Please also we accept donations of skates, helmets.
@ St Christopher’s Church
Confirmation
Information Meeting
Grade 8 – Sept 9 or 10, 2015
Grade 7- Jan. 19 or 20, 2016
At St. Christopher’s Church
*Gr 7 & 8 will both make
confirmation this school year
Confirmations –
Grade 8- November 30/15
Grade 7 –TBA
Gr 7 Registration Nights:
Jan 19/16 or Jan 20/16 –
7pm at the Church
Breakfast with Santa
School Masses
December 5, 2015 – 8:30 am to 11:00am
Ticket Prices:$4 adult breakfast;$4-child w 4 crafts;$3-Admission only
Photo with Santa - $10 for DVD image
Crafts, Choir, Santa, Breakfast –
This is the 24
tradition!
th
Anniversary of this St. Louis favorite Christmas
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT DAYS
Cold Weather
With the arrival of colder weather, students are reminded
to dress appropriately (hats, mitts, boots, etc.) and to wear
all clothing that they came to school in when they go out
for recess. We recommend that clothing is labelled for our
primary students, so that we can easily identify who owns
what. During the winter season it is generally accepted in
Dufferin—Peel that when the wind chill factor drops below
–25 C, students should not go outside for recess.
Cold and Flu Season
Please use discretion in keeping your children home to
recover if they are ill. A child who is coughing, wheezing,
etc. is not in a state to learn and will only infect others. If a
student is sent to school, it is assumed that they will
participate in all aspects of the school day, including
outdoor recess. We do not provide individual indoor
supervision. We also remind parents to dress students for
our weather conditions. We will be having outdoor recess,
weather permitting, as much as possible. At all times, we
follow the Board guidelines for inclement weather. The
students enjoy going out, especially if they have their
snowsuits, hats and mittens.
NO SCHOOL- for students
Sept .18/15 – Re-Organization
Jan. 18/16- Assessment Day
Feb. 5/ 16- Reporting To Parents
June 13 /16 - Assessment Day
Opening Mass-Oct. 13/15
10:30am- Gym
Advent-Candles
Nov.30, Dec7, Dec 15
8:45am
Christmas Mass
Jan. 12/16- 10:30am gym
Ash Wednesday
Feb 10/16- 2:00pm-Gym
Stations of the cross
March 24, 2016-2:00pm-Gym
Easter Mass
Apr.6/16-10:30am -Gym
Year-End
June 23/16-10:30am@St Christopher Church
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
(NO SCHOOL)
Thanksgiving Day –
Monday, Oct. 12, 2015
Christmas Break
Mon. Dec. 21-Jan 1, 2016
Family Day –
Mon. Feb. 15, 2016
Mid-Winter Break –
March 14 –March 18, 2016
Good Friday –
Friday, March 25/16
Easter Monday –
Monday, March 28, 2016
Victoria Day –
Monday, May 23, 2016
GRADUATIONS:
SK Graduation SporcicJune 28, 2016- 2:00pm-gym
SK Graduation Spiewak
June 29, 2016- 2:00pm-gym
Grade 8 GraduationJune 23/16- 10am Mass
- 7pm- Awards
-@ St. Christopher Church
St. Louis Messages - Additional Start-up Info
4 of 4
TRANSPORTATION UPDATE:
Please note that all eligible students will be issued a bus card which must
be attached to their backpack handle – on the first day of school
Non-eligible students are not permitted to ride the bus.
No courtesy seats will be issued this year.
Please contact STOPR @ 905-890-6000 or 1-800-668-1140 for any
information about transportation provided for our students
PARENTS/ADULTS IN THE SCHOOL YARD
It is difficult for the staff supervising in the schoolyard, to distinguish between parents and strangers. We are asking for your
cooperation in dropping the students off during the supervised times of 8:15am and 3:00pm, and letting them be with their
friends. With only staff in the schoolyard, the easier it is to identify a stranger in the yard. Once students are in the school,
parents are encouraged to leave school property as soon as possible so that the students are not distracted from classroom
activities. During the school day, there should be no parents in the schoolyard area at all. Parent may wait along the
Kindergarten fenced area – south yard- before school /end of day. If your child is late, please bring him/her to the Office.
There should not be any parents in the halls or classrooms without prior knowledge of the Office during school hours.
Parent volunteers will sign in and receive a visitor’s badge. It is a matter of safety. Thank you for your co-operation.
Reporting Dates:
Nov 17/15 – Progress Report –HomeInterviews: November 19, 2015
Feb 2/16 – First Term Report
Home - Interviews: Feb 4, 2016 – pm
only; Feb 5,2016
June 28/ 16 – Final Report Card Home
Parking Lot Safety
Students are asked to enter on walkways provided on
south and north entrances of the building
ONLY kiss N Ride cars are permitted into the circular
driveway-Kiss N Ride operational only in the AM
Only Parents with handicap stickers may use designated
parking –AM & PM
Parents are reminded to use extreme care and attention
during drop off of students
HOMEWORK On-LINE HELP
For Homework Help Gr 1-6 – for a variety of subjects – for free language, math and
science support go to:
http://homeworkzone.tvokids.com
For Homework Help Gr 7 & 8 – Math:
https://homeworkhelp.ilc.org/
For Homework Help for French – visit: VoilaLearning.com
Personal Electronic Devices:
Implementation date was October 22, 2015.
Students will follow these rules which are posted in every classroom and the front hall
of the school:
Fe
1.) PEDs to be used only for instructional purposes –as directed by
staff
during
class
V Students
are to avoid
wearing
hoop time
or long dangling earrings.
2.) There is no sharing of peds – for “individual use only”
3.) Personal use of PEDs may take place only in the front office of the
school under supervision of staff
4.) There is absolutely no use of peds at recess time – indoor or outdoor
*Failure to comply by these terms, will result n the removal of wifi access
*Each student usage is tracking by their Ontario student number
Here’s who we met at
the Agricultural Fair
November 13, 2015
INFORMATION SESSION
Parent Evening to Support the Transition of
Children with Differing Abilities into
KINDERGARTEN
Including: Vision, Hearing, Speech,
Autism, Physical/Medical and/or
Developmental Delays in the
cognitive and/or motor areas.
January 12, 2016
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.*
Catholic Education Centre
40 Matheson Boulevard West
Mississauga
*Snow Date: January 13, 2016
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Note: Kindergarten Registration
will take place at your local Catholic
school January 25, 27, 28, 29, 2016.
Registration information available
at www.dpcdsb.org
Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District
School Board
“Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me.”
(Luke 9:48)
For more information,
contact Laura Conte at
905-890-0708 ext. 24011
laura.conte@dpcdsb.org
Extraordinary lives start with a great Catholic education.
Volume 7
Web Resources:
Primary:
Pizza Game
www.mrnussbaum.com
Junior:
Flitting with fractions
www.mathfrog.ca
Intermediate:
Fraction Café
www.wiredmath.ca
Fractions
Learning about fractions extends students’ understanding of our
number system. While whole numbers represent quantities of
whole units, fractions signify parts of whole units or parts of
sets. Although fractions are all around us, learning about
fractions is difficult for some students. Identifying fractions in
our environments makes them meaningful and easier to visualize.
Family Math Activities
Ordering a Pizza? Make it a family math activity.
Before you take that first bite, have your child count how many slices the pizza is “equally divided”
into. Ask questions like: How many people are eating? How can we share the pizza fairly? How many
slices would someone eat if they wanted half, quarter, the whole pizza. Extend the learning for an
older child by comparing the size of the slices of pizza cut into fewer or more slices. For example, a
pizza cut into 6 slices can be cut into 12 slices. We can compare one sixth to two twelfths…what do we
notice?
 Bake or cook together
 Make a third, fourth or half of a simple recipe or try doubling it
 Ask your child to show you a third, fourth or half of a cookie
 Cut an apple into thirds, fourths/ halves and have your child put the apple back together to
make a whole
 Predict the number of red Smarties in a box. Count the number of red Smarties and
compare it to the whole (total number of Smarties). Repeat with various colours.
 Count the number of people in your family with brown eyes and compare to the whole (total
number of people in family). Repeat with various other features (hair, glasses…)
Grades 7 and 8
CLIPS
CLIPS (Critical Learning Instructional Paths Supports) are web-based interactive supports for
students. They provide precise, personalized learning activities for your children.
http://oame.on.ca/CLIPS/
Elementary Program Team
2012
From Your Catholic School Trustee
Sharon Hobin
I am so pleased that Marianne Mazzorato is our new Director of Education Designate. She will become
our Director on January 15, 2016. As you know our current Director John Kostoff will be retiring in the
New Year. John has devoted many years as a teacher, superintendent, Associate Director and Director of
Education for Dufferin-Peel. It is with much gratitude that we wish him well.
Ms. Mazzorato has been a teacher, principal, superintendent, and spent a few years working with the
Ministry of Education in the EQAO department. She brings to us much enthusiasm, a true belief in Catholic
education and a goal to provide the best opportunities for each student. Ms. Mazzorato believes “positive
relationships imbued with trust, confidence and competency increases the likelihood that Dufferin-Peel
will continue to be a vibrant board as evidenced through increased student achievement and well-being,
system morale and well-being, growth and leadership of everyone in the organization and the confidence
of parents, our partners in Catholic education, parishes, and the public at large. Each and every child
deserves our collective commitment to help them succeed in all aspects of their growth, well-being and
development.”
Thank you to all of our schools for the heartwarming tributes to our veterans on November 11th. We
owe a great debt of gratitude to our veterans of all wars and conflicts. We are blessed to live in this
great country and with the events of the last weeks we continue to value freedom and resolve to always
stand for and protect that freedom. My parents were veterans of World War II. So I wear my poppy
with great pride and in remembrance of them.
Thank you to all of our administrators and teachers for their hard work. It shows again and again and as
ever, in our 2015 EQAO scores. And while we can always improve we know that we can be assured that
our students are reaching the goals that have been set for and by us. Each school will continue to
develop their own plans for improvement. Results can be found on our Dufferin-Peel web site.
During this Advent season many of our schools will be taking part in Advent Masses, liturgies, concerts,
breakfasts with Santa and many other activities. I love this time of year in my schools and I encourage
you to attend one or more of these Masses and events. These touching events will bring the true
meaning of Christmas to the forefront in your minds and hearts.
Please consult the Dufferin-Peel web site for minutes of meetings, meeting schedules, current events,
news and more. The web address is www.dpcdsb.org
I wish you a happy and blessed Christmas and the very best for 2016. May God continue to bless us and
to change hearts from evil to good, bringing peace to all.
The Flu
(Influenza)
Tips for Parents
The flu (influenza) is a serious chest infection caused by
the influenza virus. The flu is spread through coughing,
sneezing or by touching surfaces or objects contaminated
with the virus (i.e. unwashed hands, toys, and cutlery).
The good news is there are ways to prevent
getting the flu!
Did You know?
• The viruses that cause the flu change every year. This is
why you need to get your flu shot annually.
• The flu shot is 70-90% effective in preventing the flu in
healthy adults and children.* Once you get the flu shot,
it will take your body up to two weeks to develop
protection.
• Encourage your family members get the flu shot
every year. See your family doctor or watch
for community clinics every fall in your area.
• Practise good hand washing by setting an
example for those around you. Make sure you
use soap!
• If you are sick with the flu, stay home and get
plenty of rest and fluids. Avoid contact with
people who may be at higher risk of becoming
very ill (elderly people
or people who have
other illnesses).
• The flu shot is safe and is free for all residents of Ontario.
For more information, call the Region of Peel – Public Health
at 905-799-7700, or visit peelregion.ca/health
* NACI Statement, Aug. 2007-2008