ST. GERTRUDE
NEWSLETTER
M ay
SCHOOL
2 015
Guided by Faith, Committed to Excellence
The Month of Mary
815 Ceremonial Drive,
Mississauga, Ontario L5R 3S2
905.568.7660 phone
905.568.8194 fax
Principal:
Vice Principal:
Secretaries:
T. De Vellis Carino
K. Yates
M. Sgambelluri
M. Cherubino
Pastor:
Rev. Msgr. Edgardo
May is the month we dedicate to Mary,
the mother of our Saviour, Jesus. We
celebrate Mary, who humbly and gladly
accepted God’s will when she said “Yes”
to our Lord. As we honour Mary and all
mothers, we are reminded of the many
blessing mothers bestow upon their
children each and every day.
Let us keep Mary and all mothers in our thoughts and
prayers so that the honour and respect they deserve is
not limited to one day or month in the year.
Elias Salazar Pan
Superintendent:
L. Papaloni
Trustees:
T. Thomas
Please report all ABSENCES
& LATES
A Prayer for Mothers…
by calling (905) 568-7660
Council Chair:
S. Dutra
Dear Jesus,
We thank you for all mothers and carers around the world,
Please report all ABSENCES & LATES
by calling (905) 568-7660
and for all they do for their children.
We thank you for their patience when
we don’t get things right.
We thank you for their encouragement
when we find life hard.
We pray that mums would feel really
special today
and that you would remind us every
day to show them
as much love and help as they give to
us. Amen
Please join our GREEN campaign
and get St. Gertrude updates &
newsletters to be sent directly to
your inbox! Sign up today by visiting the office & filling out a blue
form or visit our website
www.dpcdsb.org/GERTR to download the form.
To all mothers, and mother figures in
our school community, from all of us ,
Happy Mother’s Day!
PARENT INFORMATION
From St. Gertrude
MEDICATION & EPI PENS
If a child is required to bring
medication to school, procedures
relative to the administration of
medication shall only be adopted:
 when requested by the parents/guardians; and

when authorized by a physician; and
when medication must be provided during school
If medication is required at school, signed request /
authorization forms from the parents/guardians and
the supervising physician is initiated. These forms are
available through the school office. The required authorization forms and the medication shall be delivered to the principal by the parents/guardians or other responsible person. All medication with the exception of EPI-pens will be housed in a safe location.
Medication must NOT be kept in the child’s possession (i.e. pocket, backpack, etc.) or in the classroom.
Epi-Pens must be carried at all times by students.

LOST AND FOUND
Our school Lost and Found container
is over flowing. Most of these items
look new, in good condition and certainly suitable for continued use. If
your child is missing anything, especially clothing, please visit the school
at your earliest convenience to check our Lost and Found
container. Please ask for assistance at the office upon
your arrival.
Any Lost and Found items remaining at school at the end
of June will be donated to a local charity.
ARE YOU MOVING?
We are beginning the process of planning classes and
staffing for the 2015-2016 school year.
This information will help us with our
planning for next year. Please let us
know by writing a letter and submitting it to the office at your earliest
convenience.
TRAFFIC SAFETY
The safety of all children and staff must
be considered as paramount at all times
when dropping students off at school.
The number of serious incidents related
to traffic circulation at the front of the
school and in the Kiss and Ride area during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal are concerning. These incidents include vehicles entering the site in
the wrong direction, parking and pulling out of no parking zones, students crossing at the flagpole across traffic
lanes, & parking in bus lanes, to name a few.
It is imperative that all parents and guardians who drive
their children to school adhere to the traffic circulation
plan and comply with the traffic and parking signage on
the site. It is equally imperative that all drivers follow the
direction of staff managing the traffic circulation on the
school site. Thank you for your consideration and cooperation with this important matter.
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION TEA
The staff and students of St. Gertrude
would like to show our appreciation
for all the support we have received
throughout the year from all our volunteers. If you have volunteered any
time this year, we would like you to join us for a reception on June 18, 2015 at 10:00-11:00 a.m. Invitations will come home soon.
RECESS REMINDERS
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 place an extra pair of socks
and track pants in your child’s backpack in the event that a change of
clothing is necessary.
UPCOMING EVENTS
At St. Gertrude
WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN
SACRAMENTS
GRADE 8 CONFIRMATION
The Grade 8 students of St. Gertrude
will be celebrating the sacrament of
Confirmation on Thursday May 7th
at 7:00 pm at St. Francis Xavier
Church.
All JK and NEW SK students, who will be coming to St.
Gertrude in September are invited to our exploration
evening on Thursday, May 21st at 6:30 p.m. You received your invitation when you registered. If you
know of any new Kindergarten students for September, please have them contact the school office ASAP
so that we may add them to our list!
EQAO: May 26th—June 4th
Grade 3 and Grade 6 dates are as follows:
Tuesday, May 26: Grade 6
Tuesday, June 2: Grade 3
Wednesday, May 27 Grade 6
Wednesday, June 3: Grade 3
Thursday, May 28: Grade 6
Thursday, June 4: Grade 3
Please ensure your child is at school during these
dates and periods. Do not schedule any appointments or trips during this time. STUDENTS MUST
COME TO SCHOOL ON TIME!
Helpful strategies for preparing students for Provincial
Assessments:
EQAO Assessments will begin promptly at 8:30 am.
Please ensure your child arrives on time for school on
these days.
1. Ensure that your child gets a good night sleep.
2. Ensure that they pack healthy snacks for recess.
3. Make this period as positive and stress free as possible.
4. Encourage your child to do the best that they can.
5. Set aside some time to discuss the assessments with your
child before. during and after the assessment days.
GRADE 2 FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
The Grade 2 students of St. Gertrude will celebrate
the sacrament of First Holy Communion on Saturday May 9th at
10:00 am at St. Francis Xavier
Church. Lifetouch photos available in the Parish hall, one hour
before the service.
A special thank you to the Grade
2 and Grade 8 teachers for their work in preparing the students during this special time. Thank
you to Father Joshua & Msgr. E. Pan as well, who
accepted our young people into the parish.
VICTORIA DAY
Monday May 18th
There will be no school for students.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Summer Literacy Camp
Summer Literacy Camp will be held at a variety of
locations from July 6-24, 2015. This extremely
worthwhile program is offered to children S.K. to
Grade 6 at a cost of $300 for all three weeks. The
deadline for applications is May 29th. Your child’s teacher has further
information available. Please note: Transportation is not provided. If
you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher
or The Continuing Education Department at (905) 891-9263.
Grade 7 and 8 students
Remedial literacy and numeracy
June 29 - July 17 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students recommended by the
Principal. Busing provided at home school pick up points
Deadline for applications: May 29
UPCOMING EVENTS & INFORMATON
SAVE THE DATE
June 23, 2015
Grad Ceremony
St. Francis Xavier Parish @ 6:30 pm
June 24, 2015
Year End Mass at St. Gertrude
School 9:00 am
DRESS CODE
We would like our students to be neat, clean and
comfortable for learning. Students are expected to
dress in an appropriate manner and wear attire that
is suitable for the school environment. Boys must
wear full length t-shirts with sleeves. Girls are not
to wear anything strapless or have bare midriffs.
Tank tops and crop tops are not acceptable nor are
very short shorts. Shirts with offensive language or
pictures are not allowed. This direction is addressed
more toward junior and intermediate students. A
little more latitude is given to primary students. If
students do not adhere to these guidelines, parents
will be called and/or alternative attire will be provided. We trust you will assist us in maintaining a
sense of dignity and modesty within our Catholic
SUMMER BBQ
Thursday June 4th, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
Save the date for our upcoming St. Gertrude
BBQ. Come join us celebrate a wonderful 2014
-2015 school year as a community. We will
have fun games, special guests, and of course
food! Thank you to our Parent Council for organizing this event! Looking forward to a fun
evening!
TFC SOCCER EVENT
Wednesday May 13th
TFC School Game Day - Both our Intermediate Boys and Girls team will have an exclusive opportunity to play soccer and have a
tour of the TFC Kia Training Facility from
9:30am - 1:30pm
Community Excursion at BMO Field - TFC
plays Montreal Impact for the first leg of the
Canadian Soccer Championship from 7:30pm
- 10:00pm. A limited amount of tickets are on
sale for $40.00, bus included.
PROTECTING THE SKIN
Overexposure to the sun can cause skin damage. We remind students to take precautions to
protect their skin during recess times. The following are some suggestions to help protect the
skin:
1. Wear protective clothing to cover the skin.
2. Wear a hat to protect both the eyes & skin.
3. When possible, stay out of direct sunlight.
4. Wear sun block, the higher the protection
factor number, the greater the
protection.
BALLROOM DANCING
Our Grades 4-8 students have been hard at work learning a variety of dances with their Ballroom instructors.
Our Showcase is on Wednesday May 6th. Come join us
in the gym! See our Catholic Education
Week invitation for details of your
child’s performance time. Thank you
again to our School Advisory Council for
sponsoring this great experience.
GO GATORS!
FAMILY SKATE NIGHT
On Thursday April 9th, the St. Gertrude community
gathered in the Erin Mills Twin Area for a night of family fun on ice. Thank you to Parent Council for organizing this event and bringing our community together!
On Thursday April 9th the Staff of St. Gertrude played the intermediate student in a
nail bitter volleyball game in the school gym.
We were able to raise $772.45 for our Catholic charity ShareLife with all our donations!
Go Gators!
BASKETBALL
SPIRIT FRIDAYS
As you may know from the newsletter that was sent home, the student council reps have come up with fun and interactive spirit days
for teachers and students in our school to participate in! The students are all encouraged to show off their school spirit in each of the
themed events for a little fun competition, we have awarded prizes
to classes with the most spirit. The student council always loves
putting their creative minds together in order to think of fun activities that will stir up participation. Spirit days are used to show off all
of our amazing school spirit while incorporating our virtues and having fun. Thanks St. Gertrude for making our Spirit Fridays a success!
~Nicole W. (Student Council Rep. Grade 8)
FIRST GARAGE SALE AT ST. GERTRUDE WAS A SUCCESS!
Before I start, on behalf all the grade 8's, we would like to thank everyone
who supported us at the Garage Sale. Whether it was buying items, just
looking around, or even giving in some donations we couldn't have done it
without the help of our St. Gertrude Community. St. Gertrude's very first
garage sale was a big hit! The grade 8's had a blast and so did the rest of
the school. With your support, we were able to raise over
$1400 to help fellow classmates subsidize the cost of their trip. Once
again, thank you all for all the support. It was truly amazing. A special thank
you to Ms. Bryce , Mr. Todoschuk, and Ms. Gentili for helping us during the
Garage Sale.
~Olivia S.~
Congrats to the Intermediate Boys & Girls
Basketball Teams for playing their best at
their pod tournaments! The boys advanced
to the Family tournament and played right
to the finals placing 3rd overall. Special thanks to our
amazing coaches Mme Silva & Mr. Shelsen! Without
all their time and effort, the teams wouldn't have
made it as far as they did! Great season to all! Go
Gators!
~Katarina & Erica~
St. Gertrude is happy to announce the introduction of the
Go Girls! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds program offered
by The Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization. This exciting mentoring program provides intermediate girls with
information and support to make informed choices about
active living, balanced eating and feeling good. We look
forward to having the weekly sessions at our school beginning May 5-June 9. Thank you to Mrs. Brathwaite for organizing.!
SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
On Tuesday, April 14th Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board hosted a competition honouring
the life and times of Canada's
first Prime Minister, Sir John A
Macdonald at St. Gregory
School. Sarah and Charnelle
from Mr. Todoschuck's grade 8
class represented St. Gertrude
by presenting their Spoken
Word on our First Prime Minister. Congratulations to the
girls on their fine performance and for working so
hard on this special history assignment.
GUIDED BY FAITH
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK
Catholic schools are Catholic communities. Catholic
schools are faith communities. We – parents, students,
teachers, administrative and support staff – walk and
grow together in the faith which we received at our Baptism. And it is the ‘together’ that we grow. Our growth is
primarily a relationship with God, who at our Baptism,
called us by name. But the response of each of us to that
growth is both personal and communal. We grow in our
faith in the nurturing atmosphere of our Catholic community be that of our local parish, our home, or our Catholic
school community.
Our school community will celebrate Catholic Education
Week 2015 in ways that are appropriate to our students’ age.
We invite you to participate in
one or other of these activities
as your personal time and work
schedule may permit.
Sunday May 4—Friday May 8
There are five sub-themes for each day of Catholic Education Week:
Monday: Walking Together and Sharing our Story
Tuesday: Opening the Scriptures
Wednesday: Welcoming Others to the Table
Thursday: Recognizing Jesus in the Breaking of the Bread
Friday: Proclaiming the Good News
Catholic Education Week begins on a Sunday to highlight
the partnership that remains the foundation of Catholic
education between our Catholic schools and local Catholic
parishes. Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask
you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education’s
presence and contribution in our Church, and in our society. We invite all members of our community, to join
us at St. Gertrude in the celebrations and activities that
will mark the celebration of Catholic Education Week
2015 in our school. See invitation sent home and on
our website with details of events, times and locations.
Make Sure Your School Support Designation is
English Separate (Catholic)
It’s a powerful message in support of Catholic education
By registering your child into a Dufferin-Peel Catholic school, you have chosen to support Catholic education
through direction of your school support.
When you designate yourself as an English Separate school supporter, you help promote a strong political
voice through your elected representative (Trustee) in ensuring your rights to a Catholic education for the
young people in our province.
To verify that you are registered as an English Separate school supporter:

Check the assessment section of your Tax Bill or Property Assessment Notice

Check your Voter Information Card received during an election year
We can help you register or change your direction of school support.
Contact the Admissions Department at 905-890-0708 ext. 24512 or visit www.dpcdsb.org
ALLEGATION OF SEXUAL ABUSE REGARDING THE LATE FR. JAMES (JIM) ROTH, OSFS
Information regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor related to the late Fr. James (Jim) Roth, OSFS, is posted on the
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s main webpage at www.dpcdsb.org. Additional information, including where to report
abuse or suspected abuse, is also posted on the website of Father Roth’s religious order, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, at
www.tdprovince.org and the Archdiocese of Toronto at www.archtoronto.org. Please consult these sources as appropriate.
ST.GERTRUDE NEWS
ST. GERTRUDE CELEBRATES EARTH DAY ON APRIL 22
St. Gertrude staff and students
participated in our annual "school
yard" cleanup along with various
Earth Day activities in our classrooms. Nous fetons la journee de la
terre. We look forward to many
more GREEN initiatives from our
Green Team in May involving planting in our Peace
Garden! More info to come St. Gertrude! Thank
you to Mme Viti, Mrs. Koziol, Ms. Dela Cruz &
Mme Markic for all your hard work.
BIKE SAFETY PRESENTATIONS
St. Gertrude’s Healthy School committee would like to
extend a very special thanks to the students who lead
the Bike Safety Presentations. These students demonstrate dedication, passion and initiative.
They also dedicate their recesses to
learning about and promoting various
health initiatives. Two thumbs up for
the GREEN TEAM, THE WALKING
SQUAD & THE HEALTHY SCHOOL TEAM!!!!
TECHNOLOGY TEAM
Our St. Gertrude technology teams participated in
the Dufferin-Peel Skills
Canada competition on
April 8 at St. Bernadette
Elementary School winning the bronze medal.
Special congratulations to all the team members consisting
of Kevin T., Vincent H., Katarina L.R., Erica M., Cassandra
C., Victoria F., Angel L. and Nicole W. Thank you to Mr.
Todoschuk for his guidance and leadership.
SWIM TO SURVIVE
Grade 3 students continue to participate in the Swim to Survive program
at Frank McKechnie Community Centre. This program is fully funded by
the City of Mississauga.
SPRING BOOK FAIR
Mme Marchand
would like to
thank everyone
for their support
of our Spring
Book Fair. It is
encouraging to see how
many students enjoy reading.
Thank you to all the volunteers who assisted. Your help
is greatly appreciated!
CHESS TOURNAMENT
St. Gertrude Chess teams did amazing in 2015! Our junior
team won 1st place medals and banners and advancing to
the Board Finals. The juniors highlight was the surreal record
of the team going 27-1 throughout the whole season! Our
primary team placed 4th & intermediate team won 3rd place
overall at the Family Tournament. Thank you to our first rate
coaches that trained the team: Mrs. McGuire, Mr. Shelsen,
and Mr. Migdal. Thank you to all coaches and as well as Mrs.
Lackey for hosting a great tournament. The future looks optimistic with potential
players on the rise and
with the teamwork
formed this year, St.
Gertrude is going to be
a force to be reckoned
with! Go Gators!
~Luis & Antoni
ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTRE
The grade six French Immersion
class went to the Ontario Science
Centre for a Voyage to
Mars. They had a great adventure
and had to overcome
an emergency in their spacecraft. Mission accomplished! Mrs. Cassano and Ms. Dela Cruz
going to the Science Center on May 12th, 2015! Thank you to
Mlle Surzyn for organizing the trip!
COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE
ON TE TRANCHE LA TÊTE!
La Reine de Cœurs envoie ses salutations.
Les classes de 4e, 5e, et 6e d’immersion française ont visité le pays des merveilles. Nous
avons vecu de la vraie culture française au
Living Art Centre. Tout le monde peut agréer
que c’était à la fois drôle, effrayant et complètement fou! Le 1er mai, 2015, ne va pas
être un jour facile à oublier…spécialement
parce que nous avons un chat violet qui se
déforme qui va nous hanter dans nos pires
cauchemars.
~Olivia & Patricia Gr. 6 FI~
SCHOOL EMERGENCY DRILLS
Over the month the students of St. Gertrude will
be participating in three Fire Drills and a “Lock
Down” drill. While we hope that we never have
to experience the types of emergencies we are
preparing for, it is anticipated that student participation in these drills will better assist them to
respond to emergency situations.
UNDELIVERED EMAILS
If you have signed up for our email
distribution, but have not received
any emails lately, we may not have
your correct email address. Please
contact the office to verify.
DATES TO REMEMBER
May 3
Catholic Education Week Begins
May 4
Rosary May Celebration
May 4
Music Monday/Virtues Assembly
May 5
French Café
May 6
Ballroom Showcase Presentations
May 7
First Holy Communion Retreat
May 7
Confirmation, St. FX Parish 7pm
May 9
First Communion, St. FX Parish, 10am
May 11
P.A. Day—No School
May 12
Swim to Survive
May 12
Gr. 5/6 & 6 Trip to Ont Science Cent
May 13
TFC School Game Day
May 13
Community Excursion at BMO Field
May 19
Swim to Survive
May 21
Welcome to Kindergarten Night
May 22
Gr. 2 LAC Trip
May 23
Dental Screening
May 26-28
EQAO Gr. 6
May 26
Swim to Survive
May 29
Lion King Rehearsal
June 1
Police Presentations
June 2-4
EQAO Gr. 3
June 4
Beach Volleyball @ Ching Park
June 4
BBQ Night @ 6:30 pm
June 5
Police Presentations
June 5
Virtues Assembly
June 5
FDK @ Springridge Farm