815 Ceremonial Dr.,
Mississauga, ON
L5R 3S2
Tel: 905 568 7660
Fax: 905 568 8194
Principal
T. De Vellis Carino
Vice-Principal
M. Diab
Secretaries
M. Sgambelluri
M. Cherubino
Superintendent
Mississauga
Brampton Central
L. Papaloni
Trustee
T. Thomas
Parish
St. Francis Xavier
905 890 5290
Pastor
Msgr. Edgardo Pan
Prayer For A New School Year
Dear Lord, as we begin this school year, we gather once again as a community of believers.
We thank you for the energy and the spirit you renewed in us through the summer months.
We thank you for the time to enjoy our family and friends and to reflect on what is important in our lives.
Let this year be marked by enthusiasm, and love so that, with the inspiration of your Spirit, we may continue to grow in our faith.
Help us to fulfill Your hope for us with honest intentions and works of faith.
Let us be gentle with ourselves and bring laughter, joy and love to others.
We ask this in Your name. Amen.
Principal’s Message
Welcome back to another exciting school year at St. Gertrude! As we begin this school year, we continue to be “ guided by faith and committed to excellence” . We are looking forward to working closely with all staff, parents, parish and community partners to provide a safe, healthy and inclusive school community for all. A special welcome to the families and staff who are new to St. Gertrude.
We trust that the summer has given you time for relaxation and renewal. We look forward to another wonderful year with many opportunities for learning and growing. We hope you feel comfortable and involved with your child’s learning throughout the year. You are encouraged to become active partners in the education process. We invite you to volunteer in the school whenever opportunities are presented. Please share your ideas, encouragements and concerns with us. This will help us to provide the best possible learning environment for your child.
The 2014-2015 school year will be a challenging and exciting year as we implement many new curriculum initiatives set out by the Board and Ministry. We are in our second year of the Full
Day Kindergarten program and look forward to other 21st Century learning initiatives.
We are part of the Mississauga Brampton Central Family of Schools. We look forward to working with our Superintendent, L. Papaloni and our trustee, T. Thomas.
We are thankful for the pastoral guidance provided by the parish team at St. Francis Xavier
Church and look forward to working with Msgr. Edgardo Pan and our parish priests,
Fr. Susairaj Savarimuthu and Fr. Joshua Roldan . They will be visiting the school and celebrating masses and the Sacraments throughout the year.
St. Gertrude is an active school which relies on teamwork and cooperation. We are truly blessed to have a devoted parish team, an involved school council, supportive parents and a professional, dedicated staff.
T. De Vellis Carino M. Diab
Principal Vice Principal

Page 2 Guided by Faith, Committed to Excellence
St. Gertrude School hours for the 2014-2015 school year are:
08:05-08:20 Outdoor student supervision
08:20 School Begins
10:25-10:40 AM Recess
11:20-12:20 Lunch Hour
 11:20-11:40 Students eat in classro om
 11:40-12:20 Outdoor Recess
1:45-02:00
2:50
PM Recess
Dismissal
As in the past, we ask that you call the school on the days that your child will be absent. This is a safety precaution that can save precious moments should there ever be an emergency situation. We thank you for your continued support in following this procedure.
Upon reaching the school answering service, please leave the following information: a) Date of absence b) Student's full name c) Grade level and teacher d) Reason for absence e) Date of return
Please continue to call each day that your child is absent. When your child returns to school, please provide the teacher with a note regarding the specific reason for the absence.
Friday, September 12th is a Professional Activity
Day. Students do not attend school on this day.
In accordance with Ministry regulations, three fire drills will be conducted in the Fall and three in the Spring.
While we hope that a real fire situation never arises, this practice will help prepare students in the event of a real fire. In addition we will be reviewing “Lock-Down
Procedures”, “Hold and Secure”, as well as “Mysterious
Objects” in the school.
PICTURE DAY is
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Students are reminded to bring their smiles! Pictures will be returned in plenty of time for Christ mas.
STAFF AS OF SEPTEMBER 2014-2015
G RADE
JK/SK
JK/SK
T EACHER
D. Bagnarol
D. Cabral
E. Di Granvino
R OOM N UMBER
101
102
JK/SK
1
1/2
2
2/3
3
3/4
4/5
5
6
6/7
7
8
8
1 - F.I.
1 –F.I.
2 - F.I.
2 - F.I.
3 - F.I.
3 - F.I.
4 - F.I.
4 - F.I.
5 - F.I.
5 - F.I.
6 - F.I.
6 - F.I.
SERT
SERC/ESL
SERC
SERT/PT
FSL/PT
FSL
PT
PT
PT
Library
ERW
ERW
ERW
S. Barran
M. Daniel
A. Amendola
R. Fitzpatrick
A. Petrasek
A. McGuire
N. Sanderson
I. Talerico
M. Wasilewski
B. Todoschuk
K. Cinapri
A. Viti
N. Samai
H. Bahsous
V. Guerreiro
A. Markic
T. Borisenko
N. Benevides
M. Koziol
M. Silva
A. Lonardi
M. Lackey
I. Cassano
K. Dela Cruz
F. Marchand
J. Harry-Turner
M. Green
J. Cristante
ERW L. Consiglio
Secretary
Secretary
M. Sgambelluri
M. Cherubino
103
103
115
107
109
108
110
218
206
K. Curran 204
R. McIntosh 213
B. Shelsen
C. Bryce
214
117
N. Gentili
S. Martelli
M. Jorge
K. Tessar
J. Surzyn
P. DeLuca
M. Kapov
A. Migdal
Library
212
220
203
207
208
202
114
112
111
113
215
219
216
217
205
210
210
106
119
120
104
118
115
Office
Office
Custodians R. Sapulete, T. Kulpinski, L. Garcia
Principal T. De Vellis Carino Office
Vice Principal M. Diab Office
Please note that classroom assignments may be temporary for the first two weeks of school as new enrolments or withdrawals may require reorganization.
The Ministry regulations of class size allows little flexibility in class configurations.

Guided by Faith, Committed to Excellence
SCHOOL COUNCIL
There will be a Catholic School Council meeting at
St. Gertrude School on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at
6:30 pm in our school library.
Nomination forms for parent/guardian representatives on the Catholic School Council for the
2014-2015 school year are included here and will be available in the school office between the hours of
9:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Completed nomination forms must be received in the school office by 6:00 pm on Thursday, September 18,
2014.
If needed, the election for parent/guardian representatives to the Catholic School Council will take place in the library at St. Gertrude school on
Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at 6:30 pm by secret ballot. Eligible voters must vote in person. Proxy voting is not permitted. An appointed steering committee will assist with the implementation of election procedures.
We look forward to seeing you at the Catholic School
Council information meeting and thank you for your continued support of your school.
STUDENT 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 cost-effective student accident insurance coverage via student courier. Brochures will be sent home with your child soon.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board does not provide any accidental death, disability, dismemberment or medical expenses’ insurance on behalf of students participating in these activities.
If you have any questions, require assistance or prefer to enroll online or by phone, please contact the Client
Services Department of Reliable Life Insurance through one of the following options:
1 800 463 5437 or 905 523 6525
E-mail: insuremykids@reliablelifeinsurance.com
Web: www.insuremykids.com
The information is also posted on the board website: http://www.dpcdsb.org/cec/students+and+Parents/
Newsletters will be sent home each month. Please look for them, as they will be sent home with the youngest and only child in your family. Until we have received your signed Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation Consent, all information will be sent out in hard copy. Please see consent forms attached.
Page 3
SCHOOL MASS AND SACRAMENTAL
PREPARATIONS
Our first school Mass is Thursday, September 18, at
9:00am in the gym. Parents are invited to attend.
During the course of the year, the school, our priest and our parents have the privilege in preparing students for three of the sacraments:
First Reconciliation Grade 2
Thursday, January 15, 2015 @ 9:30 am
Holy Communion Grade 2
Saturday, May 9, 2015 @ 10:00 am
Confirmation Grade 8
Thursday, May 7, 2015 @ 7:00 pm
Although the school plays a major role in Sacramental preparation, parents, as the primary instructors of faith, are key in preparing their children to receive these
Sacraments. Preparatory meetings have been organized for parents. These meetings will provide you with an opportunity to be an integral part of your child’s spiritual growth in these sacraments.
Meetings at ST. FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH
Thursday, October 9 @ 7:00 pm, Parents meeting
Sunday, Nov. 2 @ 10:30 am, Inscription
Tuesday, Nov. 4 @ 7:00 pm, Parent Meeting
Sunday, Nov. 23 @ 10:30 am, Inscription
Thursday, Jan. 29 @ 7:00 pm, Preparation Mass
The new transportation guidelines were effective September 2010. The eligibility is based on the students’ home address.
Grades K to 1: 1 km
Grades 2 to 4: 1.6 km
Grades 5 to 8: 2 km
Parents are reminded to access information on the
Transportation website (www.stopr.ca). This site contains information regarding school transportation eligibility, delays and cancellations. Your child’s student
OEN number can be found on his/her report card.
Courtesy transportation (empty seat ridership) applications are available at the school office. Courtesy transportation will not be allocated until mid to late
October.

Page 4
HEPATITIS B, MENINGITIS & HPV INOCULATIONS
Peel Health will continue to offer free immunization against
Hepatitis B and Meningitis for students in Grade 7, as well as HPV for Grade 8 girls. If you have any questions please call the Peel Health Department at (905) 799-7700. The following dates have been assigned to St. Gertrude School:
HEP B & Meningitis HPV
Gr. 7 Girls & Boys Gr. 8 Girls only
Dose #1 Oct. 20, 2014
Dose #2 TBA
Dose #1 Oct. 20, 2014
Dose #2 TBA
Dose #3 TBA
Health Departments, by law, must keep a current record of your child’s immunizations. It is the responsibility of the parents to keep their child’s records up to date.
CURRICULUM NIGHT
Thursday, September 18, 2014, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
Meet the teacher from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
You are encouraged to attend this evening to meet your child’s teacher and learn about this year’s program.
BOOK FAIR
F. Marchand, our Teacher Librarian, will host a book fair in the Library from Monday, September 15 to September 22, until 3:15 pm daily and 6:30 - 7:30 pm, during Open
House . Further information will come home with your children shortly.
The door monitoring system continues to be in place.
All doors will be locked throughout the day. Visitors will need to ring the door bell and wait for staff to verify and admit them into the school building.
Please be reminded that for the safety of our students, all visitors, including parents, must come to the office, sign in and pick up an identification badge.
Starting at 8:05 am, staff wearing orange vests are on duty to supervise the students in the school yard. We ask that parents wishing to wait for the morning bell, wait outside the school yard - behind the “ students only” painted line or behind the fence, in the field. Your assistance is appreciated as staff works to ensure the visibility and safety of all students.
When the bell rings at 8:20 am, the classroom teachers will come to the entrance doors to collect students.
Guided by Faith, Committed to Excellence
EARLY PICK UP FOR YOUR CHILD
If you are picking up your child(ren) at school at a time other than regular dismissal, 2:50 pm, we ask that you send a note with your child.
Example
“Dear Ms. Smith, please send Joey to the office on
Tuesday, Sept. 11/13 at 1:30 pm to be picked up by myself (alternate name). He will be going to a doctors appointment. Parent Signature”
If you intend to send someone else to pick up your child, please ensure that the persons name is written on the note. You or the appointed person is to report to the office to sign him/her out. Your child’s teacher will ensure that the child is at the office at the designated time.
We thank you for your co-operation in supporting a safe environment at St. Gertrude.
VALUABLES
Students are requested to leave , valuables such as iPods, electronic games, money or items of importance at home.
PED Policy
The school follows the current Board policy regarding
Personal Electronic Devices (PED’s). Items such as cameras, cell phones are not permitted on school property. However, if you choose to provide your child with a cell phone, please be reminded that it must be turned off and out of sight throughout the school day. Please refer to the student agenda for details regarding PED’s.
The school does not accept responsibility for the above.
Personal items should be marked with your child’s name.
Starting at 8:05 am, staff is on duty at the front of the school. Please be reminded that students should exit vehicles on the passenger side, by the sidewalk at the front of the school. The driver’s side is a “drive thru” lane.
Cars must not park in the driveway at any time. For safety reasons, students are reminded to use the walkways when walking to the schoolyard and to avoid walking across the front of the school.
FDK–FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN
Parents/Guardians of Full Day Kindergarten students are encouraged to walk into the classrooms and help students take off outdoor coats and get ready for the school day.
CROSSING GUARD
We are very pleased to have Mrs. Suida back as our crossing guard at the north side of the school. We are asking that all children who need to cross Ceremonial
Drive, use the crossing guard. The safety of our children is always our first priority.

Page 5
ENTRY AND EXIT
Teachers will be reviewing with their students which doors to enter and exit. Students are asked to use the assigned doors for their entry and exit. We ask that parents meet their children outside the school and along the fence near the appropriate door.
LUNCH TIME SUPERVISORS (Student Monitors)
We have three paid lunch supervisors at the school supervising students during the lunch hour. We are in need of substitute supervisors. These would to be available in the event that a regular supervisor is ill or unavailable. Please contact the school office for additional information.
Once again, a table has been placed in the foyer for lunches. Please ensure that your child’s name is on the lunch container. We are encouraging healthy lunches.
Classes are not to be interrupted for students to pick up lunches. Please let students know in the morning if they should expect to have a lunch dropped off. They should be responsible to come down and pick up their lunch.
We cannot be responsible if a lunch goes missing. We stress that there are students with food allergies. Please check with your child’s teacher and avoid any foods that may harm others.
We realize that parents mean well when sending treats into classes for celebrations and birthdays. However, many of our students suffer from various allergies.
These children experience a variety of effects when exposed to the allergen, including anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis is a serious, sometimes life threatening reaction. In an effort to ensure the safety of all students, we ask that you do not send in food items for these occasions. You may provide non-edible items, eg. pencils.
SCHOOL AGENDAS
As you know, organizational skills are imperative in the success of a child in school. To assist in this process, school agendas will be handed out to the children in
Grades 1-8. Your child is responsible to record their homework, important dates, teacher notices and so on in their agendas. The agenda is also an excellent communication tool between the teacher and the parent.
We are asking that you, as a parent, check your child’s agenda on a daily basis and initial. You will also notice that the Board has included the Catholic
Code of Conduct and Homework Guidelines in the agenda. The teachers will be reviewing this with their students and we ask that parents take the time to go over it with their child(ren). The School Council is thanked for purchasing the agendas for the students.
Guided by Faith, Committed to Excellence
TEXTBOOK POLICY
Textbooks are the property of the school and are loaned out to students with the expectation that they will be returned at the end of the school year in good condition.
The teachers keep a record of each textbook that students are given. Please help to keep our costs down by encouraging your child to take proper care of them. There will be a replacement cost if the textbook is lost or not returned at the end of the school year.
This year St. Gertrude School will participate in the annual Terry Fox Walk/Run for cancer research on
Monday, September 22 2014, 9:00 am.
Rain date is Tuesday, September 23.
St. Gertrude School will be participating in the “ Toonie for
Terry Walk” along with other schools in Dufferin-Peel.
Teachers will be talking to their classes about the importance of Cancer Research and the impact that Terry
Fox had throughout our country. Parents are welcome to join us for the walk. Further information will go home in a permission letter at a later date.
PLASP operates before and after school programs in this school, for children up to 12 years of age. There are still some places available. Please contact PLASP Child Care
Services at 905 890-1711 or come see the PLASP staff here at the school before 8:30 am or after 3:00 pm. Feel free to visit their web site at : www.plasp.ca
STORAGE AND ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION
Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication and forms are updated annually for any student who requires medication to be administered at school. If your child requires medication, please have the necessary forms completed and return them, along with any medication, to the office as soon as possible. Forms are available at the school office .
MEDICAL ALERT – ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK -
Peanut Allergies
This year, as in the past, we will continue to have some students with severe life threatening food allergy to NUTS (PEANUT) ALLERGIES. This is a medical condition that causes a severe reaction to certain allergens and can result in death within minutes.
Although this may or may not affect your child’s class directly, please send foods with your child to school that are free from peanuts or nut products .

Page 6 Guided by Faith, Committed to Excellence
Within our Dufferin Peel Catholic School Board, we will be integrating virtues formation into all areas of our school life within the context of our faith. The “Virtues Program” will help us to nurture virtue and character development in the lives of our students. It is truly character development within our Catholic School Environment. We will embrace the challenges as we continue to implement the Virtues Program within our school in the year 2013-2014 Each month we will focus as an entire school, on one of the virtues. We will begin with a liturgy in the school gym. Each month, teachers will continue to nominate two students who are exemplary in demonstrating the virtue of Month. The names of these students will be added to a leaf which will then be added to our Virtue Tree.
7
Faith – Our Virtue For September
To begin the new school year, we will focus our attention on the first of our virtues - FAITH
Faith is the great virtue of believing in God and trusting that God is with us. A faithful person believes that we are created, guided by and destined to be reunited with God. A faithful person believes that God’s plan for us includes the right to be safe, especially at school.
A Faithful person is someone who …
 prays regularly and reverently

 learns from Scripture stories honours people’s God-given names
 assumes that there is good in everyone
 accepts the God-given worth of themselves and others
Please join us for our first Virtue Assembly on Friday, October 3, 2014 @ 12:30
Empathy - Our Virtue For October
14
21
Sun Mon Tue
1
LABOUR DAY
NO SCHOOL
2
FIRST DAY
OF SCHOOL
8 9
3
10
Wed
15
First Day of
Book Fair
22
Terry Fox Walk
16
23
4
Thu
5
Fri
6
17
SCHOOL
PHOTO DAY
24
11 12
PA DAY
NO SCHOOL
18 Mass @ 9:00
OPEN HOUSE
Council Nominations
19
13
20
25 26 27
Sat
29 28 30