1300 McBride Ave., Mississauga, ON. L5C 1M8 905 - 277- 4512
PRINCIPAL: S. CALVERT
SECRETARY: A. MILLER
PASTOR:
COUNCIL CHAIR:
SUPERINTENDENT:
TRUSTEE:
FR. JOYSON POTTACKAL
T. MAILLET
C. SAYTAR
P. FERREIRA
905 279-5742
January, 2013
905-848-3215
Issue 5
905 890-1221
416 805-7110 Peter.Ferreira@dpcdsb.org
1957-2012
“Celebrating Fifty- Five Years of Catholic Education”
Prayer for a New Year
Lord Jesus, faithful companion.
In this New Year, we pray:
To live deeply with purpose,
To live freely with detachment from things of this world,
To live wisely with humility,
To live justly with compassion,
To live lovingly, with fidelity,
To live mindfully, with awareness,
To live gratefully, with generosity,
To live fully, with enthusiasm.
Help us to hold this vision and to daily renew it in our hearts,
Becoming ever more one with You.
Amen!
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
I would like to begin this New Year by wishing
everyone a warm welcome and Happy New Year. I hope that
all were able to conclude the Advent Season with a restful,
enjoyable and Holy Christmas holiday season.
At St. Gerard School, we ended 2012 with joyful
Advent preparations and celebrations, and with reaching out to
others in need within our community. Thank you to all of
you! To the children, to the parents, to the staff for the
outstanding support of those less fortunate in our community
this past Christmas Season.
We also were able to make an enormous contribution
with toys and our food drive to the St. Martin of Tours Parish.
We were able to provide support to 13 children and 4 families.
Through your help and everyone else’s we made
Christmas brighter for many families. It is amazing how a
“few loaves of bread and a couple of fish” helped feed so
many. Your support is truly appreciated!
As we start off our second term we would like to
welcome Blair Patterson, a new ERW in our Mainstream. We
also welcome to our school student teachers from York
University as well students from Sheridan College and St.
Martin Secondary School. We would also like thanks Ms.
Hwa Suk Choi and Ms. Ilsun Kim who were on a teaching
exchange from Korea. We have enjoyed your contribution and
sharing of Korean culture in your stay with us.
ATTENDANCE AND STUDENT ABSENCE
If your child will be late or absent from school, please contact
the school at (905) 277-4512. The school has an attendance
line dedicated for reporting absences. It is available to you 24
hours a day.
If your child is absent and we are unaware of the reason, we
will attempt to contact you or your emergency contact. We
need your cooperation to make our attendance procedures
work effectively. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
VISITORS IN THE SCHOOL
All visitors to the school are asked to report to the office
where the office staff will assist you. If you are picking up
your child during regular school hours, we ask that you report
to the main office and we will arrange for your child to meet
you there. In order to help ensure the safety and security of
our children, please remember, that to many of them, you are a
stranger.
EXTENDED FRENCH/ FRENCH IMMERSION
Grade 4 parent/guardians who wish to enroll their child in a
grade 5 Extended French class for September 2013 are invited
to attend an information meeting on Wednesday January 16th,
at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at St.Philip school
located at 345 Fairview Road West. At the present time, the
above mentioned school is the designated centre for our area.
Applications will be accepted at that centre until 3 p.m. on
Wednesday, February 6th.
There will be an information meeting at St. Margaret of
Scotland School on Thursday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m. for
parents/guardians of students in SK for the French Immersion
Program for next year.The deadline for applications is
Wednesday February 6, 2013.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
St. Gerard will continue to be a Full Day Learning site in
September 2013!
Registration for the 2013-2014 school year will be held on
January 28, 2013 (snow date Jan. 29) from 7-9 p.m. and
from Jan 30- Feb 1, 2013 from 9-11a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
You must bring the following in order to register:
• Proof of age of the child (birth certificate or passport)
• Original Catholic Baptismal Certificate of the Roman
Rite for the parent and the child.
• Updated Immunization Records.
• Proof of residence/ home address (Utility or tax bill).
• Proof of Canadian Citizenship or of Landed
Immigrant Status.
• All documentation must be submitted in English
Any student already attending St. Gerard will be registered
for FDL there is no need to re-register. For parents who
wish to request a Flex Boundary, you must register at your
home school and fill in a Flex Boundary request with our
office. Flex Boundaries are allowed only after all local
students are placed and there is no wait list for spaces. This
past year we were not able to grant any flex boundary
requests because our classes were full.
SEPTEMBER 2013- FULL DAY LEARNING AND
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
There will be an information session for parents/guardians
of children with special needs such as vision, hearing,
autism, physical/medical and/or developmental delays who
are entering the Full Day Kindergarten Program in
September. The Information Session will be held at the
Dufferin Peel CDSB Catholic Education Centre, room 301
on January 17, 2013 from 7:00-8:30 pm.
Parents/Guardians are also reminded to register their child at
the Main Office.
STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
As required by the Education Act and the Ministry of
Education, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
annually provides parents with information about costeffective student accident insurance coverage via student
courier. Although enrollment is voluntary, the board
encourages parents to take advantage of the inexpensive
insurance coverage, especially if their child/children
participate in sports, excursions/field trips, or, if parents do not
have dental insurance coverage. Enrollment is required in
writing so there are two options for enrollment: 1) Complete
the traditional form and mail it in or 2) Photocopy the form
and fax it to Reliable Life at 1-905-522-7211 or 1-800-463KIDS (5437). Parents alone have the right to insure their
children.
REFERENCE CHECKS
In compliance with the recent Ministry directives regarding
Criminal Reference Checks, volunteers are required to
provide an original copy of their Criminal Reference Check
dated within 90 days of the activity date. If you are planning
to volunteer on school trips and/or in the school, please pick
up a form at the office.
Our thanks and gratitude to all of you who have signed up to
volunteer in our school!
RECESS REMINDERS
We at St. Gerard School have a “NO CONTACT” policy.
This policy states that students are not to play any games or be
involved in any activities in the schoolyard that involve
physical contact. Games such as tackle football and British
Bulldog are not allowed. If a game develops during the course
of a recess break where contact becomes part of the game or
activity, students are continuously being reminded to remove
themselves from that activity and to report the contact to the
nearest staff member on yard duty. Staff can be easily
identified by their bright orange vests
SNOW SAFETY
Students have been reminded continuously that, “Snow stays
on the ground”. Every student in the school is made aware of
the importance of this rule in preventing injury to others.
Students are also reminded to stay off snow hills and to stay
off the ice in order to avoid any possible injuries.
Please continue to assist us by reviewing with your child(ren),
the dangers of throwing snowballs and the importance of
preventing injury to other students.
SAFETY REMINDERS
In the interest of student safety, pupils are asked not to bring
the following items to school: skateboards, roller blades,
scooters, baseball bats and hard balls. Also, we remind
students regularly about safe practices during recess times
such as: no contact sports, no play fighting, no soccer playing
on the asphalt and reporting problems to the teacher rather
than taking matters into their own hands.
Together, we can create a schoolyard which is safe for all
during the winter months.
DRESSING FOR THE WINTER
Winter has arrived. It is imperative that students come to
school prepared to participate in all activities, including
outdoor recesses and lunch breaks. Children who are too sick
to go outside at recess periods should be resting at home. We
ask parents/guardians to ensure that children come dressed
appropriately to go outdoors: mittens/gloves, winter
outerwear, hats, boots and scarves. Whenever possible, please
label your child’s belongings. We also recommend that
students bring an extra pair of socks and mittens and have a
pair of indoor shoes.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN POOR WEATHER
There may be days during the winter months when poor
weather conditions present a potential safety hazard to
children. The weather may cause disruption of bus
transportation and regular school operations. It is extremely
important for parents to have a plan in the event of emergency
situations and to discuss with their children, the procedures
they wish them to take to get home safely.
REPORTING HEAD INJURIES
Even when it may appear to be insignificant, we inform
parents of all reported head injuries at school. We do this in
recognition of the potential danger of any injury involving the
head area. Our intent is not to alarm you, but to keep you
informed. Please remind your child to let a staff member
know if they bump their head or if they get hurt at school.
MINIMIZING CLASS DISRUPTIONS
We appreciate continued parental support in minimizing
disruptions to classes, whenever possible. By trying our best
not to disturb classes, except in very important situations, we
are reducing disruptions to quality teaching and learning time.
To this end, we ask the following:
•
•
•
STAYING IN FOR RECESS
In the colder weather we receive numerous requests
to allow children to remain indoors when students
have a cold, flu, etc. Please note that we cannot
comply, as we neither have the facilities nor the staff
to supervise these students. Moreover, Health
Officials indicate that the fresh air is good for
children ... not harmful, as long as students are
dressed appropriately. On extremely cold days,
particularly when the wind chill factor lowers
temperatures considerably, we will limit the
amount of time that students spend outdoors,
or hold recess indoors. With the exception of these
occasions, we expect that all children will
go outdoors for recess and during the lunch break.
If you wish to discuss something with your child’s
teacher, we ask that you set up an appointment with
the teacher. Approaching the teacher before, during
and/or after school makes it difficult for the teacher
to focus on her/his students. This also becomes a
safety issue. Please leave a message with the office
and the teacher will call you back.
Please send a note in advance, to your child’s teacher
when your child needs to be picked up early, then
meet them in the office and sign them out.
If delivering lunches to your child at school, write
your child’s and the teacher’s names on lunch bags
and leave them on the table just outside of the office.
We understand that there will be times when
disruptions will be necessary and unavoidable.
Thank you for your continued co-operation.
ST. GERARD ALLERGEN POLICY
Thank you to all parents who continue to be mindful of
students with nut allergies in our school. Please be aware, we
no longer allow the sharing of food of any kind, including
celebratory foods either for birthdays or seasonal celebrations.
Cup cakes or treat bags intended for sharing with classmates
will be sent home. Thank you for respecting this policy.
VIRTUE OF THE MONTH – Self- Control
People of Self-Control:
• follow their conscience
• are patient with themselves and others
• are able to use prayer to calm down
• think before they act
• look for peaceful ways to solve conflicts
• think What Would Jesus Do?
SAFETY AT SCHOOL
To help us provide a safe learning environment for your
children, please review the following procedures:
• All parents/visitors are required to sign in at the main
office and obtain a visitor’s sticker.
• If students are leaving school early, parents/guardians
are asked to pick up their children at the office and
sign them out.
• If students are returning from appointments during
the day, parents/guardians are asked to sign students
back into school at the office.
• When meeting students at dismissal times,
parents/guardians are asked to wait outside the school
entrances and not in the hallways of the school.
• Parents are asked not to be in the schoolyard during
recess times. (please remember that to most of the
children in the yard, including the teachers on duty,
you are a stranger.)
• The school day begins at 9:00 A.M. There will be
staff on duty beginning at 8:45 A.M. Please do not
drop off your children, or send them to school, before
these times, as supervision will not be available. It is
especially important to be aware of this since the
weather is becoming colder. This also applies to
inclement weather days.
Thank you for your support.
IMPORTANT REMINDER REGARDING SEVERE
FOOD ALLERGIES
Please be reminded that there are several pupils in our school
with a severe life-threatening food allergy (anaphylaxis) to
peanuts and nuts. This is a medical condition that causes
severe reaction to certain allergens and can r esult in death
within minutes. Although this may or may not affect your
child’s class directly, we require your continued cooperation
in sending foods to school with your child that ar e fr ee fr om
peanuts, nuts or their by-pr oducts. 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.
Thank you for helping us to keep our school environment safe
for everyone.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Comprehension is the reason for reading. When good readers
comprehend what they have read, they understand it and
communicate it to others. Teachers can support
comprehension by using graphic and semantic organizers,
asking and answering questions about the text, asking students
to summarize important ideas in text and helping students
draw on prior knowledge about a subject.
At home to support reading comprehension, parents can:
- Ask their child to predict what might happen next in
a story
- Ask who, what, where, when, and why questions
about a book
- Ask their children questions about the topic of a book
before reading it
- Ask their children about books being read at school
and be familiar with them in order to extend
conversation
- Ask their children what the main idea or message of a
book might be.
St. JAMES CATHOLIC GLOBAL LEARNING CENTRE
In September 2013, the Dufferin Peel CDSB will open a new
regional elementary school in the Port Credit are of
Mississauga. The St. James Catholic Global Learning Centre,
located at 98 Wanita Road, will provide diverse and
specialized learning opportunities to students from
Kindergarten to grade 6, with a global focus consistent with
Dufferin Peel’s tradition of excellence in Catholic Education.
An information session will be held on January 16 at
7:00pm at the Catholic Education Centre located at 40
Matheson BLVD West in Mississauga.
Registration will take place on January 21, 2013 from 7-9 p.m.
and January 22-25 from 9-4 p.m. at the Blessed Trinity
Catholic Learning Centre located at 2495 Credit Valley Road.
For more info you can call 905-890-0708 ext 24004 or visit
www.dpcdsb.org/JAMES.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
Our next School Council meeting will be on Monday,
January 14th , at 6:30 p.m. in the staffroom. All are welcome to
attend!
DID YOU KNOW? TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF
CATHOLIC EDUCATION.
How long have Catholic separate schools been educating
Catholic children and contributing to the public good in
Ontario?
For about 170 years. In the early 1800s there were separate
schools in many cities, towns and townships. In Peel, three
separate schools opened before Confederation (1867). St.
James in Malton in the 1830s, St. John’s Agriculture College
(1861) and St. Patrick’s (1861), both in Wildfield.
Has the Ontario government always supported separate
schools?
YES, as did its predecessor, the United Legislature of Canada
East (now Quebec) and Canada West (now Ontario) during its
total life from 1841 to 1867. One of the first pieces of
legislation it passed in 1841 was the Common School Act,
with a separate school clause.
ARE YOU TICKED?
Direction of school support has long been an issue for
Catholic school boards in Ontario. The fact is that, unless the
municipality is notified, the school support designation, for
assessment purposes, automatically defaults to public school
support when an individual or family moves to a new address.
This may have an impact on students’ eligibility to attend
Catholic elementary schools, trustee representation on school
boards, and on government perception of support for Catholic
education.
We want to bring a greater awareness around this matter and
have created the Are You Ticked? Campaign is the
communication vehicle for this awareness.
If you would like more information on school support
designation or would like us to help you check or change your
school support designation to the Catholic system, please call
us at (905) 890-0708, ext. 24512.
GRADE 2 FIRST COMMUNION
The Rite of Enrollment for First Communion will be at masses
between Feb. 2, 3, 9, 10th. The celebration of the sacrament of
First Holy Communion will be at masses between Saturday,
April 13, 14, 20th, 2013.
GRADE 8 CONFIRMATION
The grade 8 Confirmation this year will be held at St. Martin
of Tours Parish on Friday April 26, 2013 at 7:00p.m.
Grade 8 students on February 1 will meet with the Bishop at
10:30 at St. Martin of Tours Church. We are also going to be
planning a grade 8 retreat to help prepare for Confirmation.
That information will be sent home shortly.
HEALTHY SCHOOLS GRANT
We have applied and received a healthy school grant from the
Region of Peel for $800.00. The money will go toward
purchasing items for students to use during DPA and toward
parent engagement events in the Full Day Kindergarten
Program.
Immunization Record Review and Update
Process
The First letter has been sent to those families that need to
update immunization records. The letter outlines how to
submit the information to Peel Health. Please look after this
ASAP. We would like all of your records to be up to date so
that no student faces suspension from school on May 2.
JANUARY
1
Happy New Year!
7
First Day back at school
21
Professional Activity Day-No school for students
23
CCCSC Meeting – St Bernadette School 6:30pm
24
NM/SN and grade 5/6 to Famous People Players
26-27 First Communion, Rite of Enrolment
28
Kindergarten Registration Night (and 9-11:30,
1:00 for the remainder of the week)
31
Virtues Assembly
FEBRUARY
1
Bishop visit for Confirmandi
2, 3, 9, 10 First Communion, Rite of Enrolment
5
Report Cards go home
7
Parent/Teacher Interviews (evening)
8
Parent/Teacher Interiviews (day) PA Day – No
Classes for Students
11
Council Meeting 6:30 all are welcome!
13
Ash Wednesday – Celebration and distribution of
ashes at 10am
18
Family Day – No school
20
School Public Speaking Contest
Future Dates:
March 11-15
March Break
March 19
Grad Photos
April 4
Mass 10:30a.m. at Church
April 13, 14, 20 First Communion
April 25
Confession and Rehearsal 10am for
Grade 8 students for Confirmation
April 26
Confirmation
April 29- May 2 Quebec Trip
May 6-10
Catholic Education Week
May 8
Crowning of Mary
May 8
Joe Sax Event
May 13
PA Day – No School
May 17
Last day for Parents to submit class
placement requests.
May 20
Victoria Day – No School
May 27 – June 7 EQAO grades 3 and 6
June 7
PA Day
June 13
School Mass 10:00am
June 18
Volunteer Appreciation 2:30
June 25
Graduation Mass and Ceremony 6:30 at
Church
June 25
Reports Sent Home
June 28
Last Day of Classes