ST. CLARE CATHOLIC SCHOOL 4140 Glen Erin Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5L 2Z3 Phone: 905.820.2227 Web: http://www.dpcdsb.org/clare February 2016 Principal Prayer for Lent M. Diab Administrative Assistant E. Iannicca Superintendent D. Amaral (905) 890.1221 Trustee 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 www.st-ignatius-loyola.com Pastor Father T. Hanley Associate Pastor Father C. Egbulefu, CCE Blessed are you, O Lord our God, You have made the sun to light the day And the moon and stars to light the night. Help us walk in your light. During this season of Lent, renew us through the gifts of your Holy Spirit. Help us grow in faith, hope and love. During this special time, we remember that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so that we might be free to love. Help us grow to be the people You call us to be: letting go of old habits of selfishness, forgiving those who have hurt us, giving quality time to our families, spending time in quiet prayer. Amen. As we begin our Lenten journey, let us pray for the strength and courage to be the people God created us to be. School Council Chair I. Ross Enclosures include: * Math @ Home * February Calendar Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday begins Lent, a time when we stop and assess how we are doing in our walk with God. Lent helps us to identify spiritual areas in which we can grow and sinful areas that we need to avoid. To repent, means to turn away from sin and turn toward God. We use ashes as an outward expression of our need to begin again. Together, let us make good plans for Lent. We can choose actions to atone for our sins, to make our lives more joyful by sharing with others. Striving for Excellence Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. Please join us for our Ash Wednesday Service on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. (gym) with Father Charles. Celebrating Black History Month “I have a dream that my four children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by colour of their skin but by the content of their character: I have a dream today.” Martin Luther King Black History Month is an opportunity to share the historical and present contributions of African Canadians. Black History Month has been celebrated in Canada since the 1950’s. Black History Month is an opportunity for Canadians to recognize the significant contributions of individuals in areas such as education, medicine, art, culture, public service, economic development and human rights. We will be celebrating Black History Month by recognizing the contributions of Black Canadians to our society through Library resources, bulletin board display and a Power Point presentation in the front foyer. Parish Information – St. Ignatius Loyola Church Sacramental Dates Grade 2 First Communion – Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. (At the Church) Grade 7 & 8 Confirmation – Thursday, May 11, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. (At the Church) Lenten Confessions Lenten Confessions will take place on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 for our Grade 3 to 8 students at 9:45 a.m. in the gym. 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. Reporting to Parents (First Term Interviews) St. Clare Lenten Drive for St. Clare’s Residence Our Youth Faith Ambassadors invite you to take part in our Lenten Drive for personal care items that will be donated to St. Clare’s Residence, a women’s shelter that is run by the Toronto Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We have organized this collection in the past, and the generous donations have been greatly appreciated by the residents. This year, they are requesting the following items: Unscented cream and lotion Shampoo and conditioner Lightly or unscented body wash and soap Unscented deodorant Toothpaste and toothbrushes We are requesting that the donations be sent to the school by Friday, March 11, 2016. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Youth Faith Ambassadors…. The Youth Faith Ambassadors are planning Bullying Awareness activities to help inform our students of the causes, effects and strategies to prevent any form of bullying. Thank you to Mrs. Brown, Mrs. McDonald, Mrs. Monk and all of our Youth Faith Ambassadors for their great work. February Virtue - Respect /Telling an Adult About Bullying is Not Tattling This month we will celebrate the Virtue of Respect as well as responsibility and truthfulness. As brothers and sisters who share one Holy Spirit, we are all valuable to God. We all deserve to be shown courtesy, consideration, sensitivity and thoughtfulness, which are different ways of showing respect. A respectful person … Treats himself / herself and everyone else with equal consideration and courtesy Uses a positive tone of voice and body language Avoids name-calling and put-downs Says “Excuse me,” “Please,” “Pardon me” Avoids gossip Please note: Report Cards will go home on Tuesday February 2, 2016. An Interview Confirmation Form will be sent with the Report Cards. Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews begin Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 3:10 p.m. Parents are asked to complete Page 3 of the Ontario Report Card. The Parent – Student Response Form is an opportunity for parents and students to comment upon student achievement. This is also an opportunity for parents to express their personal commitment to helping their child set goals. When parents return this form to the school, it will be place in their child’s Ontario Student Record (O.S.R.). Annual Book Fair Scholastic Book Fair will be at St. Clare Catholic School beginning Monday February 1, 2016. Students will be visiting the Book Fair throughout the week. Families are welcome to visit the Book Fair in Room 107 during the hours listed below: Thursday, February 4 at 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Book Fair is a great way to encourage reading while supporting the school and library. Mr. Murphy would like to thank everyone for their help and support. Also, a HUGE thank you to all of the parent volunteers for their hard work and commitment. 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. Teacher supervision begins at 8:15 a.m. 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. Striving for Excellence Safe School Initiatives (continued): Attendance and Punctuality Please arrive at school on time. Supervision begins at 8:15 a.m. Regular attendance and being on time for learning is one of the cornerstones for student success in school. We encourage you to examine the “Lates” and “Absences” on your child’s Term 1 Report Card and use this information for your child’s personal goal setting for Term 2. Thank you! KISS and RIDE Safety Reminder 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 permitted 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. Activities and Events… Student Council Update St. Clare Catholic Student Council is busy preparing for “Movie Night” on Friday February 26, 2016. Students and their families are invited to join us for an evening of “togetherness.” We will be showing the movie, “The Good Dinosaur” beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will be no cost for the movie. Water and treats will be available for purchase at a cost of $1.00. The money that is raised will support Share Life. Thank you to our Student Council for their work. Thank you to Mrs. MacSween, Mrs. Newell and Mr. Zulianello for their commitment to our students. Thank you to our Catholic School Council for supporting this community event. Junior Boys and Girls Basketball Congratulations to our Junior Boys and Girls Basketball teams for their sportsmanship and teamwork this season. The Girls team has advanced to the Family Tournament on February 25th. Go Cougars! Many thanks to Ms. Ste. Marie and Mrs. Brady for coaching our teams! CHESS CLUB Students in grades 4-8, under the direction of Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Wickham and Mrs. Pospieszynski will be meeting at lunch time to learn to play chess. The Family Chess Tournament will take place on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at St. Luke Catholic School. Eco Angels: Shepherds of a Greener Earth Walk to School Wednesday is back! On February 3rd, students are encouraged to walk to school. It is a great way to get exercise and reduce the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere. It is also enjoyable and a great way to socialize. Even getting dropped off further away from school can help reduce our carbon footprints while increasing our daily exercise levels! Our school will be participating in Board – Wide Observance of National Sweater Day on Thursday, February 4, 2016, providing an opportunity for everyone to learn about the importance of conserving energy. All students and staff are invited to wear a sweater! Congratulations to Mrs. Zanatta's Grade 4/5 class on their energy minimization! The eco-team surveyed the school during recess to ensure that lights were off when no one was in the room and electronics/SMART Boards were off when not in use. Their prize is an extra gym period and their picture on the front foyer TV. Our Eco-School is Eco-Cool! Public Speaking Competition Students in grades 4-8 will be participating in this year’s Public Speaking Competition on Thursday, February 11th at 12:30 p.m. Students will be selected to represent St. Clare at the Family Competition on Thursday, February 18th at St. Margaret of Scotland. Thank you to our Junior & Intermediate teachers and Mrs. MacSween and Mrs. Zanatta for coordinating the school event. All are welcome to join us in the gym on February 11th. Partnership with Peel Police Our Youth Education Officer will be visiting our school in February/March/April to present Bullying Prevention Programs to our students in Grades 1 to 8. 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. Striving for Excellence Catholic School Council Updates: Family Day Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Tuesday) Our Catholic School Council is busy making plans for Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Tuesday on Tuesday, February 9, 2016. We look forward to the delicious pancakes and fun! If you are able to volunteer your time in making the pancakes, please contact the office. Please note: you must have a Criminal Reference Check on file in the office. Thank You Many thanks to all of our Catholic School Council members and parent volunteers who have dedicated their time and effort in raising funds to provide a variety of programs, activities and events for students. Their tremendous efforts will provide support for Sacraments, Graduation, Athletics, Scientists in the School, X-Movement, Author Visit, Math, Movie Night, Shrove Tuesday and much more. Future Meeting Dates: 6:30 p.m. • March meeting is being rescheduled. Date to be confirmed. • Thursday May 19, 2016 • Thursday June 9, 2016 The French Immersion Online Application Notice for Parents / Guardians of Students in SK/Year 2 FDK To apply, go to www.dpcdsb.org. Applications will be accepted until February 14, 2016. Should the number of applications exceed the number of spaces available, a centralized, computer-generated lottery will be held following the deadline. Extended French Information Reminder Grade 4 parent(s) / guardian(s), who wish to enroll their child in a Grade 5 Extended French class for September 2016 must submit the application by: Tuesday February 16, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. Important Immunization Message from Peel Health Peel Public Health will be reviewing immunization records of all students at our school from January, 2016. Peel Public Health must have proof that your child has been fully vaccinated (immunized) according to the Ontario Immunization Schedule. If you receive a letter, please ensure that your child has received the required vaccine(s), then give the date(s) your child received the vaccine dose(s) to Peel Health immediately to update your child’s records. For more information, please call Peel Public Health at 905.799.7700 or visit www.ImmunizePeel.ca Translation services available. This is a reminder that Monday, February 15, 2016 is designated as Family Day. There is no school on this day. Enjoy your time together! ARE YOU MOVING? If you know your family is moving out of our St. Clare boundary, please let us know. This will assist us for our planning purposes to kno whether students will be attending our school next year. Please inform the office at your earliest convenience. DPCDSB is on Twitter! For the latest board news and information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools. St. Clare is on Twitter! Follow us @StClareDP Upcoming Dates March 4 – Virtues Assembly @ 1:00 p.m. (gym) March 7 – School-wide Math Day March 9 – YFA Rally @ Pope John Paul Cultural Centre March 11 – Grade 6 – R.A.I.D Program March 14 – Friday March 18: March Break March 21 – Back to School March 21 – 25 Holy Week March 30 – Police Presentations March 30 – Family Chess Tournament @ St. Luke 2015-16 School Year Calendar Additional Professional Activity Day: Monday, April 11, 2016 Terms of the recent contract settlement between the Teacher Federations and the Ministry of Education included the provision of an additional Professional Activity Day for the 2015-2016 school year for both elementary and secondary schools. Recently, boards were directed to schedule this additional Professional Development Day on or before April 15, 2016. In the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, the designated additional Professional Activity Day has been scheduled for Monday, April 11, 2016. Therefore, there will be no classes for either elementary or secondary students on Monday, April 11, 2016. Striving for Excellence February 2016 Sunday Monday 1 Wednesday Thursday Friday 2 3 4 5 Report Cards Go Home Winter Walk to School Day National Sweater Day Book Fair Pizza Day P.A. Day – Interviews. No classes for students Scientists in the School – FDK Book Fair 8 9 10 11 Confirmation Retreat Grade 7 & 8 @ Mount Alverno Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day 10:30 a.m. Ash Wednesday Service (gym) 12:30 p.m. Public Speaking Gr. 4-8 (Gym) Book Fair 7 Tuesday Book Fair Saturday 6 Interview Evening 12 13 20 Pizza Day 14 15 16 Family Day Holiday 17 18 19 Scientists in the School – Grade 4 Jr. / Int. Public Speaking Competition @ St. Margaret of Scotland Immunization Clinic 24 25 26 Grade 3-8 Lenten Confessions Junior Basketball Family Tournament Pizza Day 21 22 Peel Police Presentations 23 Pizza Day 29 notes 28 Striving for Excellence Family Movie Night 6:30 p.m. 27 Striving for Excellence