LITURICAL YEAR AT A GLANCE
DATE
September 19 @ 3:00
CELEBRATION
Or September 20, 2011 7:00 pm
Parent’s Meeting for First
Reconciliation (at church)
September 26th or 27th , 2011
Parent’s Meeting for
7:00 p.m. in Church
Confirmation
October 5, 2011
10:00 am
Thanksgiving Liturgy
(Church)
October 16, 2011
Feast Day of St. Gerard
Weekend Masses weeks of
October 22 and October 29, 2011
Rite of Enrolment for
Confirmation
Oct 31, Nov 28, Dec 19, Jan 20,
Feb 27, Mar 26, Apr 23, May 8
Rosary Apostolate will pray
the Rosary with our students.
November 11, 2011
Remembrance Day Liturgy
November 22, 2011
First Reconciliation
7:00 pm
Gr. 2 students (Church)
Dec. 8,2011, 10:00 a.m.
Advent Mass (Church)
Weekend Masses weeks of
January 21 and 28th
Enrolment for First
Communion
Feb 22,2012 10:00 am
Ash Wednesday Celebration
(in classes)
April 8, 2012
EASTER Sunday
April 11, 2012 1:30pm
Resurrection Mass (Church)
April 21, 22, 28 or 29, 2012
First Communion
May 1, 2012 10:00 am at Church
Confession before
Confirmation
May 4, 2012 7:00pm at Church
Confirmation
May 7-11, 2012
Catholic Education Week
May 8, 2012
Crowning of Mary (school)
June 14, 2012 1:30pm (Church)
End of Year Mass
June 26, 2012 6:30 pm
Graduation Mass/Awards
(Church and Church Hall)
VIRTUES INITIATIVE
A Catholic Faith Community is rooted in a set of common beliefs
which are inspired by the life, mission and teaching of Jesus.
As a Catholic Community we are called to learn, to grow and to
become more like Jesus in the way we see and treat others. Our
Catholic faith plays an important role in helping us shape schools
that are safe, caring and inclusive.
Catholic School education provides us the opportunity to integrate
virtue formation into all areas of our school life within the context of
our faith. St. Gerard School will again focus our attention on the
Catholic Virtues. This program is designed to help us nurture virtue
and character development in the lives of our students. Each
month, the entire school will focus on a different virtue. Classroom
activities and school wide activities and prayer will all focus on the
nurturing of a specific virtue. We would appreciate your support in
discussing these virtues with your child and encouraging behaviours
that demonstrate these virtues. Here is a list of the virtues we will be
nurturing this school year.
September
Faith
October
Empathy
November
Conscience
December
Hope
January
Self Control
February
Respect
March
Kindness
April
Love
May
Acceptance
June
Fairness
St. Gerard
Pastoral Plan
2011-2012
Learn, Pray, Love
MISSION STATEMENT
St. Gerard School is committed to academic excellence, upholding the
values of a caring Catholic community. As a community of learners,
we, at St. Gerard school, promote the development of the whole child by
nurturing the intellectual, social, emotional, physical and spiritual
growth of each individual.
Using Christ as a model for our actions, students, teachers and
parents of St. Gerard school respect and celebrate diversity and live the
Virtues that promote responsible citizenship. Together we model
Catholic values by setting the examples of fairness, respect and a
positive attitude.
We are St. Gerard School!
SCHOOL PASTORAL PLAN
A COMMUNITY GROWING IN FAITH
ST. GERARD
The triad of home, school and parish working together to support one
As we continue with our journey of faith, our Pastoral Plan will another in educating the whole child is what makes Catholic education
St. Gerard Majella is the Patron Saint of St. Gerard School in
Mississauga Ontario.
be centered on the faith formation of the students we serve.
distinct. Now more than ever, our challenge is to instill Catholic values
within our students. We are called to live the gospel teachings, to be
Prayer
disciples of the Good News and to be Samaritan to those in need. Our
Gerard was born in Muro, Italy, in 1726. He was a prayerful,
Prayer, a reflection or reading from Scripture, and O Canada
mission statement and beliefs establish a strong foundation in which to
pious child who really enjoyed receiving communion as often
are part of every student’s opening exercises. Prayer helps to
create a positive and challenging learning environment for our school
as he could. His father was a tailor and so he trained to follow
bring us together as a community of faith and is extended
community. Our pastoral plan is an example of how we can learn and
his father’s profession. Although he became a tailor he had the
throughout the school day through liturgies, sacramental
work together as followers of Jesus.
feeling that God was calling him to do more for the poorest
preparation and classroom activities.
and weakest of God’s children. At the age of 23 he joined the
Redemptorist religious community and became a professed lay
Sarah Calvert
Special Liturgical Celebrations
Principal
brother in 1752.
As Catholics, we praise God every day and we are thankful for
our many blessings. We use special times of the year to
Gerard was a humble man. He accepted whatever work the
highlight our thanks to God for all the blessings bestowed
Parish & Home Connections
Redemptorist community required of him-even if he wasn’t
upon us. Our special liturgical celebrations include: Opening,
St. Gerard School is very fortunate to have Father Joyson as our
trained to do it. He never said “that’s not my job!” His charity,
/Thanksgiving Mass, Virtues Celebrations, Remembrance Day spiritual leader. He, along with Father Philip, visit our school
obedience, and selfless service made him the perfect model of
Liturgy, Advent Mass, Ash Wednesday Liturgy, Lenten
community. They each add greatly to the development and celebration
lay brothers. He died in 1755 at the age of 29 with
tuberculosis.
Liturgy, Easter Mass, Crowning of Mary, Education Week
of our faith. We are also fortunate to have the Parish Marian Apostolate
Liturgies, School Graduation Mass, and our Year End Mass.
come to our school throughout the school year to pray the Rosary with
our staff and students.
BELIEF STATEMENTS
Community Service & Outreach Projects
We
believe
that:
As a community of faith, we show our compassion and
The School Council parish liaison representative provides an important
…Our school is based on our faith and the gospel teachings
generosity by giving to those in need. We will continue to
communication link with St. Martin of Tours Parish and assists us in
of Jesus Christ;
look for opportunities to demonstrate our commitment to
achieving our spiritual goals. We continue to invite and seek guidance
…The Church, family, school and community are
Jesus and His ministry through community service projects.
of the parents on our School Council in the faith formation of our
active partners in the Catholic education of our children;
By reaching out to others, students are encouraged to become
students.
…Our school is a safe, caring and harmonious
thoughtful and caring members of the community and to
environment in which to learn and grow academically,
appreciate the importance of social justice and stewardship.
Ongoing and effective communication between home and school is
socially and morally;
essential for supporting our students’ faith formation and creating
…Each person, as a child of God, deserves respect
Sacramental Preparation
successful learning experiences. Parents are welcome to attend school
and dignity;
Sacramental preparation of students is central to the faith
liturgies, sacramental preparations, and to support our efforts in
…Each individual is encouraged to respect self, others
formation of each and every student. At St. Gerard, our grade creating a strong sense of stewardship among our students by
two and grade eight teachers work to support the parish team
supporting school outreach projects and community charities.
and the environment;
at St. Martin of Tours Church in preparing students for the
…All students are encouraged to develop their gifts and
sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and
talents to the fullest; and
Confirmation. Sacramental dates and parent meetings will be
…In developing and instilling in each child a love of
“The Catholic Education system is distinct in the way
it prepares its students. We prepare our youth in
provided through the parish.
learning, we are committed to a cooperative and
stewardship. We prepare them to be persons for the
inviting school.
world rather than just preparing them academically for
the future.” - Our Catholic Schools, Ontario Catholic
Trustee’s Association 2000