ST. CLARE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
4140 Glen Erin Drive
Mississauga, Ontario L5L 2Z3
Phone: 905.820.2227
Web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/clare
December 2015
Principal
M. Diab
The Season of Advent
D. Amaral
(905) 890.1221
Lord, fill our hearts with your love and as you
revealed to us by an angel, the coming of your
Son as man through His suffering and death to
the glory of His resurrection, for He lives and
reigns with you and the Lord our God, forever
and ever. Amen.
Trustee
Principal’s Message
Administrative Assistant
E. Iannicca
Superintendent
Wards 2 and 8 (Mississauga)
S. Hobin
Cell: (905) 301.1210
Email:
sharon.hobin@dpcdsb.org
Parish
St. Ignatius Loyola Parish
2300 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W.
Mississauga, ON L5L 3T6
Phone: (905) 820.1444
Fax: (905) 820.6879
Dear Parents and Families,
The season of Advent marks the beginning of a
new Liturgical Year. We wait patiently with hope
and joyful expectation for the coming of our
Saviour, Jesus Christ, on Christmas Day. As we
prepare our hearts and minds, let us always
remember the promises of God. Let us continue
to strive for peace through acts of justice and love
for each other.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Diab
www.st-ignatius-loyola.com
Pastor
Father T. Hanley
Associate Pastor
Father C. Egbulefu, CCE
School Council Chair
I. Ross
Enclosures include:
* Message from S. Hobin
* Inclement Weather
* December Calendar
Advent Mass
As we began the Season of Advent on Sunday
November 29, 2015, let us embrace hope,
compassion and love to guide us to the light of our
Lord, Jesus Christ. We will be celebrating Advent
Mass on Thursday December 3, 2015 at 10:00
a.m. Our choir, continues to provide us with
beautiful music. All are welcome to join us at St.
Ignatius Loyola Church.
Seniors Advent Mass
On Tuesday December 8 our choir has been
invited to provide the music at the 10:00 a.m.
Mass. Following the Mass, there will be a
reception in the Parish Hall, where our choir will
continue to share the gift of music with the seniors.
Students will be walking to St. Ignatius Loyola
Church with the Choir Leaders.
Striving for Excellence
December Virtue – Hope / We All Want
to Feel Included
This month we will focus on the Virtue of
Hope. We believe that God comes to us as
a real human who can show us the way of
life. God has given us this Advent season
year after year in order to focus our minds
and our hearts on the good all around us.
People of Hope…
 Keep up a positive attitude
 Can bounce back from tough situations
 Set and stick to their goals
 See the good in others even when they
make mistakes
 Work to include others
 Let others know that they are good
people
Advent Angel Tree
On behalf of our Youth Faith Ambassadors,
St. Clare Catholic School families are invited
to take an angel from our Advent Angel Tree,
then bring back a gift card from the store
written on the back of the tag. Please write
your family name on the tag and return it with
the gift card to the office by Friday December
11, 2015. You may keep the angel as a
reminder that your family has helped spread
the peace, love, hope and joy of the Advent
Season. Thank you for your consideration
and support!
Christmas Open House
Family Advent Afternoon
We will be having a Christmas Open House
on Wednesday December 16th at 1:30 p.m.
Our students will begin with an Advent Liturgy
followed by a variety of meaningful and
engaging activities. Parents/Guardians are
welcome to join us. In the spirit of the season
we invite you to make a contribution to
ShareLife. We thank you for your generosity
and support.
Parish Information – St. Ignatius Loyola Church
Sacramental Dates
 Grade 2 First Communion – Sunday May 1, 2016
at 2:00 p.m. (Church)

Grade 7 & 8 Confirmation – Thursday May 11, 2016 at
7:00 p.m. (Church)
Important Dates from St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church…
Advent - 2015
Be reconciled to God and one another through the healing
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) before Christmas.
Please plan to celebrate Confession before Christmas – the best
gift that you can give yourself this year.
The Sacrament is available as follows:
- Every Saturday between 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. or
anytime by appointment
- On Thursday December 17, the Archdiocesan Day
of Confessions from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.; 4:00
p.m. – 6:00 p.m.; 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. For more info,
visit: www.archtoronto.org/confession/
- On Tuesday December 22 – extended confessions
from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. and on Wednesday
December 23 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Father Tim
and Father Charles will be available for individual
confessions.
Christmas Mass Schedule and New Year’s Mass Schedule:
- Christmas Eve: Thursday December 24 at
4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m. and
12:00 Midnight
- Christmas Day: Friday December 25 at 9:00 a.m.,
10:30 a.m., 12:00 Noon
- New Year’s Eve: Thursday December 31 at
5:00 p.m.
- New Year’s Day: Friday January 1 at
10:30 a.m. and 12:00 Noon
Calling All Young Families….
Please consider having your children participate in our
Children’s Dramatization of the Nativity on Christmas Eve at the
4:00 p.m. Mass. There will be only 1 rehearsal on Saturday
December 19 at 1:30 p.m.
Feast of the Holy Family
On the weekend of December 26/27, we celebrate the Feast of
the Holy Family. Our Priests and deacons will be very happy to
offer Individual Family Blessings following the final hymn of the
Mass. They will ask blessings of the Holy Family upon the lives
of our families in the coming year…please plan to take part!
Jubilee Year of Mercy Begins
Pope Francis has designated 2016 as a Jubilee Year of Mercy.
The solemn inauguration of the Holy Year is marked by the
opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on
December 8, 2015. St. Ignatius Loyola Parish will inaugurate the
Year of Mercy with a special mass that evening, the Solemnity of
the Immaculate Conception of Mary, on Tuesday, December 8
at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome!
Safe School Initiatives
Before School Hours Supervision
For your child’s safety, we request that he/she not be on school
property until supervision begins at 8:15 a.m. This is when
supervision begins.
Visitors to the School
By law, ALL visitors to the school must report to the main office
using the doorbell for entry as all doors are locked. Our first
priority for all students is their safety. Board and Provincial
guidelines clearly outline the process that all visitors must follow
upon their arrival on school property, which begins with
reporting to the Main Office. You will be issued a Visitor
Sticker, which must be worn visibly during your stay and sign in
and sign out.
Attendance and Punctuality
All students are expected to attend school regularly and
punctually. In the event that your child will be late or absent,
please call the school and follow the prompts to leave a
message. This can be done 24 hours a day. For students who
are absent and for whom a call is not received, we will attempt
to contact you.
PLEASE CALL: 905-820-2227 Press # 1
All students who arrive after 8:30 a.m. or
12:30 p.m. must obtain a Late Slip.
Kiss and Ride
Kiss and Ride drop – off begins at 8:15 a.m. with supervisors
wearing orange safety vests. The lane along the sidewalk is
reserved for DROP-OFF and PICK-UP ONLY. Proceed to the
YELLOW post.
We respectfully ask that you do not leave your vehicle while in
this lane to avoid causing a traffic backup. Children are to exit
the car on the passenger side only with their backpacks ready.
A staff member is available to escort your Junior and / or Senior
Kindergarten child to the Kindergarten yard. Parking and
getting out of your car is not allowed anywhere upon entry into
the school (especially the north corner of the entrance near the
Kindergarten yard). Your assistance and positive response to
directions from staff on duty in this area are greatly appreciated.
Striving for Excellence
Respect for Self, Respect for Others
As a staff, we continue to work together to provide example and
consistency in modeling Jesus’ message to our students. We will
assist and remind students of the importance of being respectful
and working together to create a safe, caring, inclusive
community.
Snow Stays on the Ground
Students will be reminded that SNOW STAYS ON THE
GROUND. Every child in the school is made aware of the
importance of this rule in preventing injury to others. Students
are encouraged to constructively use the snow that winter brings
to build snowmen, forts and sculptures. Please assist us by
reviewing with your child the dangers of throwing snowballs.
Together, we will create a schoolyard which is safe for all during
the winter season.
Winter Dress Reminder
It is imperative that all students come to school ready to
participate in all activities, including outdoor recess. Please
ensure that your child(ren) come to school with hats, scarves,
gloves, winter outerwear and boots. As well, all students should
have indoor footwear at school. This is essential in case of an
emergency evacuation, as students will not have time to put on
their boots if they need to evacuate the school in a hurry.
Sports and Activities Update…
Intermediate Boys and Girls Volleyball
A great big COUGAR cheer goes out to our Intermediate Girls
and Boys Volleyball teams! Both teams had an amazing season,
demonstrating excellent skill and sportsmanship. The
Intermediate Boys have advanced to the Mississauga South
Family Tournament on Thursday, December 3rd. The coaches
are very proud of all the hard work and efforts of our teams. They
look forward to another fantastic season next year.
Thank you to our coaches: Mr. Benec, Ms. DeJulio, Mrs.
Newell and Mrs. Zanatta for all their time and dedication to our
teams!
Sports and Activities Update (continued):
Student Council
Thank you to our Student Council for organizing Spirit Week
Activities from November 23rd to November 27th. We sold
cookies to raise money for Chalice, a catholic charity, through the
“buy an animal” program.
Eco Angels: Shepherds of a Greener Earth
Winter is coming and with it…cold temperatures. We will be
implementing our energy conservation strategies throughout this
month. Saving energy not only saves money, but it reduces the
amount of resources that we use. We will also be continuing our
recycling program and encouraging the use of reusable water
bottles. Let’s do our part to conserve the resources that God has
given us. Thank you to Mrs. Grattan, Mr. Murphy and Mrs. Brady
for leading our students.
Homework Help – Free Real-Time Math Tutoring
Grades 7 to 10 students at Dufferin-Peel now have access to 20
hours a week of free, online math tutoring to help them improve
and succeed in math. Check out Homework Help where certified
Ontario teachers are available Sunday to Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to
9:30 p.m., for one-on-one confidential help. Students can access
a collection of online math resources 24 / 7.
Visit: http://homeworkhelp.ilc.org
Full-Day Kindergarten Registration for 2016 - 2017
Registration for Full-Day Kindergarten for 2016 – 2017 will take
place at St. Clare Catholic School on the following days:
 Monday January 25 at 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
 Wednesday January 27 at 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
 Thursday January 28 at 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
 Friday January 29 at 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
NOTE: Snow Date – Tuesday January 26 at 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Junior Kindergarten - Children must be 4 years old by December
31, 2016.
Senior Kindergarten - Children must be 5 years old by December
31, 2016.
Parents/Guardians must bring the following documents
when registering their child:
 proof of age (birth certificate)
 original Catholic Baptismal Certificate of the Roman,
Greek or Ukrainian Rite, for parent (one) and child (if
the child has not been baptized, a letter of counseling
with the parish priest, to complete the process will be
accepted)
Striving for Excellence
Parents/Guardians must bring the following documents
when registering their child: (continued)
 updated immunization records
 proof of Canadian citizenship or of Landed Immigrant
status
 2 documents for proof of address:
1. Property tax bill
2. Real estate document (i.e. purchase
agreement / rental agreement
3. Current utility bill
4. Government of Canada – issued forms (i.e.
Passport; Service Canada documents)
Dufferin-Peel Hosts Parent Evening to Support the Transition
of Students with Differing Abilities into Kindergarten
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s Special
Education and Support Services Department will host a
Kindergarten entry planning information session on Tuesday
January 12, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Catholic
Education Centre (Room 301), 40 Matheson Blvd. West,
Mississauga (Hurontario and Matheson).
This meeting is for parents and with special needs which affect
their learning, such as vision, hearing, speech, autism, physical, /
medical and / or delays in the cognitive and / or motor areas who
are entering Kindergarten in September 2016.
For more information about this session, call 905.890.1221
Note: Snow Date - Wednesday January 13, 2016.
Catholic School Council Update
Many thanks to our Catholic School Council for their ongoing
commitment to our students. It has been a very busy Fall with the
Spook-a-Thon and Pizza Days. We look forward to our third
fundraiser, The Christmas Store!



Tuesday December 8 – Christmas Store
Wednesday December 9 – Christmas Store
Thursday December 10 – Christmas Store
Thank you to our Council and parent volunteers who have
dedicated much time and effort in organizing the Christmas Store.
Thank you for your support!
Extended French Information Meeting
Grade 4 parent(s)/guardian(s), who wish to enroll their child in a
Grade 5 Extended French class for September, 2016 are invited
to attend an information meeting on:
Wednesday January 13, 2016 at St. Christopher School
(1195 Clarkson Road, Mississauga) – 7:00 p.m.
The deadline for submission of Applications is: Tuesday
February 16, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
DPCDSB is on Twitter!
For the latest board news and information, follow us
@DPCDSBSchools.
St. Clare is now on Twitter! For information,
activities and events follow us @StClareDP
Upcoming Dates






January 4 – Classes Begin
January 18 – P.A. Day: Assessment and Evaluation (no
classes for students)
January 21 – Catholic School Council Meeting at 6:30
January 25 – FDK Registration Evening
January 26 – Grad Photos
January 29 – Earth Rangers Assembly
Closing Christmas Message
May our celebration of His birth lead to renewed love and
involvement in each other’s lives, and moved by Your Spirit,
may we make Your kingdom on earth more like the image
of our home in heaven.
On behalf of the staff at St. Clare Catholic School, we wish
the students, parents and families a blessed and Holy Christmas. May Go
May God continue to bless you in 2016!
Our next council meeting will be Thursday January 21, 2016 at
6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
Future Meeting Dates: 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday March 24, 2016
• Thursday May 19, 2016
• Thursday June 9, 2016
Striving for Excellence
December 2015
Sunday
29
Monday
30
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
2
First Sunday
of Advent
6
7
13
14
Third
Sunday of
Advent
20
Fourth
Sunday of
Advent
27
21
3
6:30 p.m. Parent /
Student / Sponsor
Meeting re:
Sacrament of
Confirmation
(Church)
6:30 p.m. Parent /
Student / Sponsor
Meeting re:
Sacrament of
Confirmation
(Church)
10:00 a.m.
Advent Mass at
Church
6:30 p.m. Parent /
Student / Sponsor
Meeting re:
Sacrament of
Confirmation
(Church)
8
9
10
Christmas Store
Fundraiser
Christmas Store
Fundraiser
Christmas Store
Fundraiser
10:00 a.m. School
Choir sings at
Seniors’ Mass
Pizza Day
15
16
12:00 noon School
Choir sings at St.
Kateri Christmas
Celebration
Pizza Day
22
23
Pizza Day
Second
Sunday of
Advent
Thursday
17
29
Christmas Open
House / Family
Advent Afternoon
1:30 p.m.
30
Saturday
4
5
11
12
18
19
9:00 a.m.
Christmas
Sing-a-long /
Slide
Presentation
(gym)
24
25
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Christmas
Holidays -----
28
Friday
31
notes
New Year’s Eve
Striving for Excellence
26
Striving for Excellence
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF PEEL REGION (STOPR)
TRANSPORTATION
OF PEEL
REGION
(STOPR)
BUS STUDENT
CANCELLATIONS/SCHOOL
CLOSING
DUE
TO BAD
WEATHER
BUS CANCELLATIONS/SCHOOL
CLOSINGYEAR
DUE TO BAD WEATHER
2015 – 2016 SCHOOL
2015 – 2016 SCHOOL YEAR
During the winter months inclement weather may cause disruption of bus transportation and
regular school operations. A decision to cancel school transportation and/or to close
schools is usually made by 6:00 a.m. and will be announced on the following radio and
television stations:
VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9
CFNY FM102.1/AM640
NEWSTALK1010 AM
FM Z103.5
CHIN FM100.7/AM1540
GLOBAL NEWS
CHUM AM1050
CJCL AM590
EZ ROCK FM97.3
FM93.1
CBC99.1
CTV
CFTR AM680
CHFI FM98.1
CJBC (FR) AM860
FM Q107
CITYPULSE
CANADA AM
We will be communicating one of six standard messages to the radio stations. The six
announcements and their effect on the transportation system are as follows: (Please note that
the highlighted text only will be communicated by the radio stations).
1.
2.
“THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES SERVING
ST. ANDREW, ST. BENEDICT AND ST. PETER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND R.F. HALL
SECONDARY SCHOOL ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”
“THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES AND PEEL
DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES IN THE TOWN OF CALEDON ARE CANCELLED FOR
TODAY”.
 This means that ALL buses which operate into, out of, and within the Town of Caledon are
cancelled for the entire day.
3. “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES AND THE PEEL
DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES IN THE TOWN OF CALEDON AND THE COUNTY OF
DUFFERIN ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY”.
 This means that all runs listed under announcements #l and #2 are cancelled.
 Individual schools will be notified if this cancellation affects their school.
4. “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD BUSES IN THE CITY OF MISSISSAUGA ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”
 This means that ALL buses which operate into, out of, and within the City of Mississauga
are cancelled for the entire day.
5. “ALL DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND PEEL DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD BUSES ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”
 This means that ALL transportation services provided by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District
School Board and the Peel District School Board, including buses, vans and taxis have
been cancelled for the entire day.
6. “ALL BUSES ARE CANCELLED AND THE SCHOOLS AND OFFICES OF BOTH THE
DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD ARE CLOSED”.
 This means that ALL Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and Peel District School
board schools and offices are closed to all students and staff.
Note: For Secondary School students Riding Public Transit, cancellation of service will be
communicated by the respective transit property over the radio. Please be advised that Public
Transit rarely cancels and that the level of service on days with inclement weather is
unpredictable.
Striving for Excellence
Striving for Excellence