A PRAYER FOR OUR
COMMUNITY
O God, Our Creator and Lord
You are our light;
We are Your People, a people of Light.
Bless us O Lord and send your Spirit upon us.
It is through our love
And caring
That You give us light
And we bring Light to each other.
Help us, O Lord, to make our communities
Centres of Light;
Places of Sharing;
Of Learning;
Of Giving;
Places where Love for you and one another
Will inspire and sustain us as we struggle in our journey.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Welcome to St. Cornelius!
Welcome to the 2013/14 school year. It is a pleasure to welcome
everyone back and to extend a warm welcome to all new
students and their families. I am honoured to have been
appointed Principal of St. Cornelius School. I am looking forward
to meeting and getting to know everyone. At St. Cornelius
School, we are dedicated to providing excellence in Catholic
education and to working closely with all the partners to
promote the spiritual, academic, social, emotional and physical
growth of our students. Parental commitment in working
collaboratively with the school staff serves the best interests of
our students. If parents have any questions or concerns about
your child’s education, you are encouraged to contact the
teacher to discuss them. Please take time to read the school
monthly newsletters and other correspondence from the school,
as they will contain important information for parents about:
school procedures, health and safety, liturgies, activities,
curriculum, upcoming events and other information of interest.
Each child is a precious gift from God and holds great promise for
contributing to making our world a better place. May we, the
partners in Catholic Education: school, home and parish, work
closely together in the best interests of our students. I look
forward to many joyful, memory-making school days of learning,
self-discovery, working, celebrating, praying and playing together
at St. Cornelius School.
Over the course of the summer, there were some staffing
changes. Goodbye and thank you to Mr. LaCute who has
become principal of St. Andrew School. Congratulations to Mrs.
Epp who officially retired and we wish her all the best. We will
miss your contributions to the school community. We would like
to welcome our new teachers: Mr. Gregoric, Mrs. Burke, Mr.
Furtado, Ms. Mcdonnel and Mr. Christopher-Kozjan . Also a
warm welcome to Mrs. Sebasta, our LTO teacher who will be
filling in for Mrs. Milonas, as well as our new Educational
Resource Worker, Mrs. Graham-Evan.
School Hours
Page 2
Open House- Please Join Us!
Page 2
Receiving Newsletters Electronically
Page 3
P. A. Day
Page 4
Transportation News
Page 5
We kindly ask that you take a few moments to read through this
important newsletter. Looking forward to seeing you at our
Open House and Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 17,
Safe Schools Prevention Corner
Page 8
2013!
School staff have been working hard to prepare for our school
opening. Thank you to the teachers, support staff who have been
preparing for opening day. We thank our custodial staff who
have worked hard throughout the summer to make our school a
clean and safe environment.
Together in Faith and Excellence
A.Tavares and G. Graci
1
Reorganization Day –Sept. 13
Based on our current registered students, some of our
class sizes exceed the Ministry of Education’s student/
teacher ratio cap. As a result, there is a strong
possibility that we will be reorganizing. Please note that
classes from Sept 3-12th are tentative throughout the
province. Final class lists will be in effect on Monday,
Sept. 16th. On the Sept. 13th P.A. Day, administration
and staff will be working to reorganize. We appreciate
your understanding and cooperation as we continue to
meet the needs of our growing school community.
Our School Mission Statement
This year, we will collectively continue to strive to
provide the best learning and faith environment for the
students at St. Cornelius School as described in our
school mission statement.
The staff of St. Cornelius School strives to provide a safe,
caring, inclusive environment which inspires academic
excellence, continued personal faith development and
respect for all living things. Each individual is challenged
to use his/her unique talents to contribute positively to
the school community. Parents, teachers, parish priest
and students work together to promote the Gospel
values and be living examples of God's message of
love. Through our shared efforts and commitment, we
encourage our children to develop spiritually,
intellectually, morally and socially in the image
of Christ.
School Hours
9:00 a.m. – Yard Supervision begins
9:15 a.m. – Morning Classes begin
10:40-10:55 a.m. – Recess Break
12:05 p.m. – Lunch Break begins (change)
1:05 p.m. – Afternoon Classes begin (change)
2:50 p.m. – Recess Break (change)
3:45 p.m. – Dismissal
Open House / Curriculum
Night – September 17, 2013
St. Cornelius School will be hosting an Open House on
Tuesday, September 17, 2013 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
All parents are invited to come visit the school with
their child(ren). More information is forthcoming.
Attendance Verification
In the interest of your child’s safety, it is very important
to inform us if your child will be late or absent from
school. To record your child’s absence, please call the
school at (905) 584-2245. Messages can be left on the
school line at any time.
Please leave the following information:
1) Your child’s name
2) Your child’s teacher
3) Date and time of absence
4) Reason and duration of absence
Student Agenda Planners
The use of the agenda plays a critical role in your child’s
learning. It has been proven that students who maintain
an up to date and accurate agenda are more organized
and ready to learn. We encourage you to check your
children’s agenda daily and also feel free to use the
agenda as a means of communication with your child’s
teacher. A special thank you to our School Council who
have generously supported the purchase of our school
agendas this year.
Parish News
We are very blessed to have Father Bob
Glynn continue as both the pastor at St.
John the Evangelist and St. Cornelius
Church. We look forward to working
with him and we know that he is
strongly committed to the faith and
spiritual development of our students.
We encourage parents to join us especially for our
school masses throughout the year at the school and
our divisional masses held at St. Cornelius Church. Our
2013-14 school Liturgical Calendar will be distributed in
the near future.
Together in faith and excellence
2
Important- Visitors to the
School
Parents, guardians and visitors
are required to use the main
entrance of the school, and to
report to the office and sign-in
prior to visiting anywhere on school grounds or in the
building. Visitors and parents will be given a Visitor’s tag
to wear. This policy ensures student safety.
As you may recall a letter was sent home in June
explaining the front door monitoring security system
that will be installed in all schools through the
province’s Safe School Welcome Program. In keeping
with our commitment to maintain a safe and secure
school environment, we kindly ask that all visitors avoid
gathering in the front entrance. This will also help to
minimize the amount of office interruptions during
dismissal times. You are welcome to meet your child at
the designated pick up spots or outside the front doors.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as
we implement the new access protocol in September.
School Picture Day
Individual student and class pictures
(does not include sibling photos) will be
taken on Thursday, September 20th . Further
information will be forthcoming closer to Picture Day.
Nut Allergies
We have several students who have life
threatening allergies to nuts, sesame seeds
and/or peanuts. We are asking that you help us make
St. Cornelius an allergy aware school by refraining from
sending your children with peanut butter or other
products containing nuts or nut oils (i.e., Nutella). If
these students come into contact with anything
containing nuts, nut oils or derivatives, it could be life
threatening. Some students have such a severe allergy
that only the smell of the allergen may cause a reaction.
Your child’s teacher will inform you of any class specific
allergy concerns. Should you wish to send in a treat for
the class in honour of a birthday or special occasion, we
ask that treats such as stickers, pencils, book/game
board donations be considered. Please note that food
related snacks will no longer be accepted.
Students Leaving Early/
Students Being Picked Up
Early from School
If a student is to be released from school early for an
appointment, a note must be sent to the child’s teacher
with a parent/guardian signature. The note should
clearly state who will be picking up the child, if it is
someone other than the parent/guardian. Upon arrival
to the school, parents/guardians are required to report
to the office. Office staff will call for your child to come
to the office. Parents/guardians are asked to stay in the
office until students arrive from their classroom. Please
avoid phone calls during the school day to release your
child. If you are picking up your child at regular
dismissal time, please wait outside at the appropriate
exit area, to avoid disruption of classroom routines.
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
Newsletters will be sent home with the
eldest/only child in the family once a
month throughout the school year.
Newsletters are meant to serve as a means of keeping
strong communication links between home, school and
parish. They will inform you about various school
activities, programs, routines, reminders and so forth.
The newsletters will be supplemented by letters
regarding special events, trips, religious celebrations,
etc.
HELP US TO SAVE PAPER AND YOUR TIME!
Over the past two year we gave parents/guardians the
opportunity to receive our newsletter electronically
each month. We had approximately 3/4 of our school
community taking advantage of this initiative. Help us
to meet our goal of 80% by writing your email
information on the tear off page of your child’s agenda
and return to school with your child. (Also, please
ensure you sign the other two sections of this important
page). Classroom teachers will tear off this page and
submit to the office. If you received newsletters
electronically last year, we do require that you again
provide us with your email address and authorization to
send newsletters to you electronically (requesting
annually is board policy). Please note that email
addresses will not be shared with others. Thank you in
advance for helping St. Cornelius School go green!
Together in faith and excellence
3
The Need for Students Signing
In or Out of School
1.
2.
They are late arriving to school in the morning or afternoon
They are being picked up by parents/guardians for
appointments, etc.
IF A STUDENT HAS A NOTE SIGNED AND DATED BY
THEIR PARENT/GUARDIAN INDICATING THE REASON
FOR THEIR LATENESS OR EARLY DISMISSAL, THEY
SHOULD GIVE IT TO THEIR TEACHER TO KEEP ON FILE.
No student is to be dismissed directly from their
classroom by teachers or picked up at the classroom by
parents/guardians, etc. ALL MUST COME TO THE
OFFICE AND SIGN IN OR OUT.
Cancer Awareness Day
On Friday, September 27th, 2013, students and staff will
have an opportunity to remember Terry Fox and his
courageous fight against cancer as well as recognize
October as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Students will be asked to contribute a toonie for both of
these great causes. Students will participate in a walk,
run or roller blade. This special event will go a long way
to not only raising more money for the causes, but also
for building school spirit. More information will follow
shortly.
Professional Activity Day –
September 13, 2013
There will be no school for students on Friday,
September 13th. Teachers will be involved in school
organizational activities on that day.
Staying In During Recess
Under ordinary circumstances, if a child is not well
enough to go outside for recess he/she is not well
enough to be in school and should be kept at home. We
have no facilities or adequate supervision to keep
children indoors.
Milk Program, Subway, Pizza
and Hot Lunches
Please note that all of our lunch programs will start
soon after school commences. Please keep watch for
order forms coming home with your child. Since we
offer a number of lunch choices from various providers
on different days, we ask that you keep track of which
days your child has ordered a hot lunch on your family
calendar. We take pride in offering healthy and hot
lunch options for our students; however it takes a great
deal of organization. Thank you to our secretaries and
parent volunteers for the countless hours organizing
this initiative.
News from the Library
Welcome
back to another school! For those new to our school,
welcome and please know that we have a very vibrant
and active reading community here at St. Cornelius
School! Primary students will have the opportunity to
visit the library once a week to experience literacy and
music, hear stories, and sign out books to take home.
Junior and intermediate students will have
daily opportunities for book exchange and using the
library resources. We have many exciting and
interesting things planned this year for the library so
stay tuned to the monthly newsletter for updates.
Lunch Drop Off
Please let your child know before coming to school that
you will be bring their lunch to school. You may drop off
your child’s lunch at the lunch table just outside the
main office. Please write their name and teacher. We
will not be calling classrooms during instructional time
to notify students about lunches at the office.
Together in faith and excellence
4
Personal Electronic Devices
A personal electronic device (PED) can be
defined as a wireless and/or personal
electronic handheld device such as a cell
phone, walkie-talkie or iPod/MP3 player.
Dufferin-Peel CDSB has acknowledged that
the dignity of the human person, as promoted by the
Catholic Church, may be compromised by the potential
invasion of privacy made possible by the inappropriate
use of PEDs on school premises. The Board also
recognizes that the use of PEDs by students at school
can potentially interfere with learning in the classroom.
In this regard, we are asking students to keep all PEDs
out of sight, turned off and not used within school
premises or during field trips. To prevent the loss or
damage of PEDs, we strongly encourage students to
leave their PEDs at home.
Failure to comply with this policy may result in the
confiscation of the PED. Confiscated PEDs will be kept
in the main office and will be returned upon request of
the parent at the end of the school week.
Student Use of School
Materials
The school will provide your child with materials such as
pens, pencils, workbooks and textbooks. Therefore, it is
not necessary that you purchase any such materials
unless you wish to do so. However, it is important that
children learn to make proper use of these materials
and, with this in mind, your child’s teacher will explain
our expectations. Students will be responsible for
replacing of texts or library books
Bus Transportation News
STOPR (Student Transportation of
Peel Region) is the organization which
administers transportation for both
school boards in the Region of Peel.
Their new website,
http://businfo.stopr.ca provides
information to parents about their
child’s bus route, times, and stop
location. Please note when entering
the website, click student login, and
enter your child’s OEN number as it
appears on their report card.
We thank you for your patience and support as bus
schedules become established. We have a total of 18
buses this year. Students should be waiting at bus stops
at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled bus arrival
time. It is a parental responsibility to ensure that
Kindergarten and Grade 1 children are met at the bus
stop. Please advise your children that if they do not see
a parent or babysitter waiting, they are to remain on
the bus and will be returned safely to school to be
picked up. Just a reminder to all parents and students
that children are assigned to a particular bus and are
not allowed to travel on another bus.
Safety is of the utmost importance to all of us. Attached
you will find St. Cornelius School Bus Safety Rules. We
will review these rules and expectations with all our
students, and would greatly appreciate if parents can
review these with their children as well.
Integrated Ridership
As noted above, school board’s bus transportation
services are operated by Student Transportation of Peel
Region (STOPR). This is a consortium, or partnership,
between the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School
Board and the Peel District School Board. The Ministry
of Education requires school board bus transportation
consortiums to improve efficiency.
One initiative promoted by the Ministry of Education,
that is designed to improve efficiency is known as
integrated ridership. In integrated ridership, students
from both school boards at times will ride on the same
buses. We have successfully implemented integrated
ridership beginning two years ago. All eligible students
continue to be transported on runs where integrated
ridership is implemented.
St. Cornelius is a school that is part of this integrated
ridership initiative. Students from both our school and
Caledon East Public School will be sharing seven bus
runs. Please visit our website to access the “Frequently
Asked Questions” document pertaining to integrated
bussing. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Together in faith and excellence
5
St. Cornelius Catholic
School Council
As a new school year begins, we
encourage all parents to participate in their child’s
education and join our School Council. Our school
community is growing, and we are always looking for
new parents to join our dynamic school council.
The time commitment is minimal but the rewards of
enriching the students' school experience is limitless.
Council meetings are held once a month from 6:30-8:00
p.m. and we welcome all parents to attend. Please note
that we have scheduled our first meeting on
Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013.
Events are held throughout the year and the Council
involves all parents to help organize and attend the
events. The success of our CSC is driven by the passion
and the diverse talents of the parents, staff and
students of St. Cornelius. Come join the passion of our
School Council and bring us your talent! If you are
interested in becoming a member, please pick up a
nomination form, which is available from our school
office or at our Open House. Return nomination forms
to Mrs. Tavares. Nominations will be accepted from
September 4th to September 20th, 2013. Further
nominations will not be accepted after this time. Proxy
votes are not permitted. If an election is required it will
be held on Wednesday, September 25th, 2013 between
the hours of 6:30-7:00 p.m.
-
Information is available at our Open House. Please feel
free to ask Mrs. Tavares any questions.
Kiss ‘n Ride Update
We encourage all parents to use the bus transportation
in place for your children. However, if you choose to
drive your children to school, or pick them up at the end
of the school day, you are reminded to follow the Kiss ‘n
Ride procedures:
• Children remain in the car until the car reaches the
end of the Kiss ‘n Ride lane where a staff member is
• Children cross at the crosswalk when given safe
clearance to do so by the supervisor on duty
• Children should only be dropped off in the Kiss ‘n Ride
lane in the interest of their safety. At no time should
parents drive through the bus loading lanes or drop off
children by the front entrance or kindergarten yard –
this includes dropping off and picking up students
during the day.
• At dismissal students will go directly to the Kiss ‘n Ride
area. Parents are asked to wait in their cars in the Kiss ‘n
Ride Lane. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.
Our School is an Idle-Free Zone
A reminder that our school is an idlefree zone and we ask that parents turn
off your engines if you are waiting for
your child ten seconds or longer.
Nomination forms will be available either on our school
website or a hard copy is available at the main office.
Please note that nominees must:
•
•
•
•
•
Be a parent of a student currently enrolled at St.
Cornelius School and be Roman Catholic or married
to a separate school supporter
Absence of two or more meetings without notice
will be grounds for immediate dismissal
Receive no honorarium or personal expenses.
Remain a school council member for one year or
until the first General Meeting in September 2014
The council will consist of:
- Parents of students enrolled in the school
- A community representative who is a member
of a parish in the region served by the school
- 1 teaching staff member
- 1 non-teaching staff member
- Principal
- A student enrolled at the school who is a child
of a separate school elector (mandatory in
secondary schools; at the discretion of the
principal in consultation with members of the
School Council in elementary schools)
OAPCE
Student Accident Insurance
As required by the Education Act and the Ministry of
Education, Dufferin-Peel annually provides parents with
information about cost-effective student accident
insurance coverage. Although enrolment is voluntary,
the board strategy encourages parents to take
advantage of the inexpensive insurance coverage,
especially if their child/children participate in sports,
field trips, or, if parents do not have dental insurance
coverage. Parents alone have the right to insure their
children. We will be sending home the Student Accident
Brochures as soon as we receive them. Please note that
you do not return envelopes to the school- all forms go
directly to the insurance company.
Together in faith and excellence
6
Behaviour Code
For the safety and well being of all students, it is
necessary to have a number of rules and expectations
regarding acceptable behaviour in our school. There are
expectations needed for the classroom, which will be
developed by the students and teacher in each class.
There are also school wide expectations set in the
School Behaviour Code.
The School Behaviour Code is based on the new code
developed by the School Board in response to the
Ministry’s Safe School’s initiative. Students will be
reminded about our behaviour code during the month
of September. We ask that you take the time and read
through the Behaviour Code with your child which is
conveniently located in your child’s agenda.
Medication at School
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/guardian
• when authorized by a physician and
• when medication must be provided during
school hours
If medication must be administered at school, signed
request/authorization forms from the parents and the
supervising physician must be obtained whenever a
prescription is initiated or changed. Please do not send
medication with your child to school without the proper
authorization.
Before/ After School Child
Care Program
Parents, as you are aware, the YMCA is
offering the Before/After School Child
Care Program separately for the Full Day
Kindergarten Program students and the
Gr. 1-6 students. It is the parents’ responsibility to
directly contact the day care provider if you are
interested in this child care service. Please call
Josephine Lopez at 905-857-3531 for more information
and/or to register your child.
Virtues Education
A Catholic Faith Community is rooted in a set of
common beliefs which are inspired by the life, mission
and teaching of Jesus Christ. 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.
Here at St. Cornelius School, we will continue to focus
on our Virtues program. This program is designed to
help us nurture virtue and character development. Each
month all classes will focus on various activities.
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.
These forms are available in the office. The required
forms and the medication shall be delivered to the
principal or designated person by the parent/guardian.
All medication will be housed in a safe location in the
school office. Medication must not be kept in the child’s
possession (i.e., pocket, back pack etc.) or in the
classroom with the exception of epi-pens and inhalers.
If the child is keeping these items on them, they must
be in a fanny pack or a pouch on them at all times.
Together in faith and excellence
7
Safe Schools
Prevention Corner
We will be continuing to focus on our
multi-year Safe School Initiative. Please
read over the Safe School Policy that is
located in the front pages of the Student
Organizer/Planner.
St. Cornelius is a Catholic community that respects and
promotes the uniqueness of all its members. By
following the teachings of Jesus, we pledge to provide
everyone with a safe, caring and peaceful environment,
which ensures the respect and acceptance of all.
Because of these beliefs, bullying will not be tolerated.
September - Everyone Has the Right to be
Safe at School.
The key message for September is "everyone has the
right to be safe at school". Each class will create a set of
behavioural guidelines in the form of a classroom
contract. This activity provides students with an
opportunity to identify and discuss their expectations of
how to appropriately interact with others. When
students feel ownership they tend to assume more
responsibility to follow the established guidelines and
manage their own behaviours. Students learn about
expressing opinions, consensus building and
accountability. A sense of safety is established in
knowing that all students have agreed to follow the
contract. By posting the contract in the classroom and
referring to it throughout the year, peer accountability
for behaviour management is encouraged.
Tips for parents:
• Talk with your children about the contract
• Ask them which statements they like the most
and which ones they think will be most difficult
• Discuss behavioural expectations within your
own family and the values or beliefs upon which
these are based
Upcoming Dates
September 2013
• Sept. 3 - Welcome Back!
• Sept. 13 - P.A. Day - no school for students
• Sept. 17 - 5:30 p.m. - Open House/Curriculum Night
(please feel free to pick up CSC nomination form)
• Sept. 20 –-Picture Day (Individual)
• Sept. 20- CSC Nominations Forms due to Office
• Sept. 27 – Cancer Awareness Day
October 2013
• Oct. 2- Catholic School Council Meeting @ 6:30 p.m.
• Oct. 9- Thanksgiving Mass (9:45 a.m.) - all are
welcome
• Oct. 14 - Thanksgiving - School is Closed
Attachments
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2013-14 School Year Calendar
St. Cornelius Bus Safety Rules
Allergy Alert Letter
Physical Education Safety Guidelines Forms
Lunch Permission Form for Non-Bussed Students
living into Brookfield Subdivision
School Reorganization Plans
New Access Protocol Letter (originally sent home
in June)
DPCDSB is now on Twitter! For the latest
board news and information, follow us
@DPCDSB.
Together in faith and excellence
8
Homework Policy
Following consultation with system stakeholders, a Dufferin-Peel homework policy document (Kindergarten to
Grade 12) was recently adopted to foster consistency across the board in this area.
The new policy document addresses the following:
 definition of homework
 characteristics of effective homework
 types of commonly assigned homework
 timing and quantity of homework
 general and specific procedures
 reporting of homework
 roles and responsibilities of administrators, teachers, students, and families.
The homework policy may be viewed in full at dpcdsb.org/homework
Below are some helpful Be’s to support families in the homework process:
Be positive.
Communicate a positive attitude towards homework.
Be consistent.
Develop a homework routine that includes a set time and a regular space for
completing homework, free from distractions.
Be available.
Encourage independent work on the part of your child, but be available for
assistance. Provide guidance, not answers.
Be attentive.
Take a few minutes every day to chat about the school day. Listen
attentively to your child as this may alert you to any academic difficulties,
bullying situations or concerns about emotional well-being.
Be a role model.
Let your child see you reading, writing, and using math during homework
time.
Be a cheerleader.
Praise your child for the effort displayed in completing homework.
Be observant.
Note any signs of frustration that your child may display while completing
homework. If it appears difficult or confusing or if there are errors,
encourage your child to ask the teacher for help at school the next day.
Follow up with the teacher, if necessary.
Be involved
Participate in school functions that offer you the opportunity to stay
connected to your child’s learning. Contact your child’s teacher if you have
concerns about your child’s homework.
Together in faith and excellence
9
Together in Faith and Excellence
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