JOIN US FOR OUR MATH NIGHT- FEB. 12
We invite you to join us for St. Cornelius Parent Math
Night: Understanding your child’s math. In order to
engage parents in the learning, we encourage adult
only participation on Feb. 12th at 7:00 p.m. in the
library. Babysitting will be provided. Please complete a
registration form and return to your child’s teacher. A
math tool kit will be given to each family in attendance
to help support your child’s learning at home. Thank
you to our Catholic Parent Council for donating funds to
support this evening!
THE VALUE OF A SMILE
It costs nothing, but creates much, it enriches those who
receive, without impoverishing those who give. It
happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts
forever.
None are so rich that they can get along without it
And none are so poor but richer for its benefits.
It creates happiness in the home
Fosters good will in business
And it is the countersign of friends.
It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged,
Sunshine to the sad and nature’s best antidote for
trouble.
Yet it cannot be bought, bagged, borrowed or stolen
For it is something that is no earthly good to anybody
Until it is given away. Greet each other with a smile!
FEBRUARY 2015: INSIDE THIS ISSUE
National Sweater Day
Go Cougars Go! School Hockey Team
Catholic School Council News
Safe Schools Focus for February
LE CARNAVAL A ST. CORNELIUS
Vive le Carnaval a St. Cornelius! On February 23-27, our
school community will be participating in a fun-filled
Carnaval week. Each day we will be having Spirit days
which include:
Monday February 23 - Jersey Day
Tuesday February 24- Toque & Scarf Day
Wednesday February 25- Pyjama Day
Thursday February 26 - Wacky Hair Day
Friday February 27 - Red & White Day
All classes will be participating in indoor contests in
their classrooms. We will be playing BRAVO (Bingo)
each day and all winners will be announced on Fri Feb
27th. Bonhomme Carnaval will be visiting classes
throughout the week. Outdoor activities will take place
weather permitting. We look forward to a fun Carnaval
for all St. Cornelius students!
Page 2
Page 2
Page 3
Page 5
Together in Faith and Excellence
1
ST. CORNELIUS 2015 HOCKEY
SEASON IS UNDERWAY!
On Thursday, February 5, 2015 our school, St.
Cornelius, will be participating in National
Sweater Day. This day was initiated through the
organization World Wildlife Fund as a way of
initiating participation and conversation around
energy conservation. Students and staff at our
schools will be wearing their sweaters to school as
the temperature of the schools will be lowered in an
effort to conserve energy. As good stewards of the
earth we know that our call to preserve our
resources and invent new ways of protecting the
environment is also a way of honouring and praising
God. Please help us on our collective mission by
participating in this initiative.
Sincerely,
St. Cornelius Eco Team
REPORT CARDS
Reports for Term 1 will go home on Tuesday,
February 3, 2015. Report card interviews will take
place the evening of Thursday, February 5TH and
during the day on Friday, February 6th. Please feel
free to contact your child’s teacher to set up an
interview or a phone interview.
Our 2015 hockey season at St. Cornelius has begun
with a bang. This yearʼs team, was quick out of the
blocks while continuing to uphold our school's
reputation as a force in elementary school hockey.
They just finished competing in the annual All
Saints Intermediate Hockey Tournament where
they brought home gold! This prestigious
tournament was a 32 team competition. Our team
compiled a 6 and 0 record which included 41 goals
scored & only 8 goals allowed. The team will be
competing in 2 more tournaments (the St.
Cornelius Winter Classic in Feb. & the Beacon Cup
in March ). Congratulations to the following
players who represented our school incredibly well:
Defense- Stephanie C. (assistant captain), Jada C.,
Justin P., Ethan P., Reid S.
Adam C. Forwards –
Andrew D. (captain),
Brendan S. (assistant
captain), Jordan F., Jacob
F., Remy D., Jordan G.,
Rory K., Goalies: Sam D.,
Diego D. A special thanks goes to Mauro D., Noah
D., & Eric P., 3 former students who came back
again this year to volunteer their time and
expertise both on the ice for try-outs as well as
behind the bench at the tournament. Their
influence on all members of our team was
tremendous. It’s great to see our high school
students giving back to their community. A special
thanks to our parents who support the hockey
program and bring our team members to the rinks
to compete. We couldn’t do it without all of you!
REMINDER OF FAMILY DAY
HOLIDAY
Just a reminder that the Provincial Family Day
holiday is on Monday, February 16, 2015. The
school will be closed on this date. Enjoy your day!
Together in Faith and Excellence
2
6th ANNUAL TEACHERS’ VS.
STUDENT SHARELIFE HOCKEY
GAME
Sharpen your skates! It’s
happening again this year! Due
to the amazing success we had
last year, we will be having our
Fifth Annual Teacher-Student Share Life ice hockey
game on Friday, March 13th from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at
the Caledon East Arena. Students will be walking
over to the arena from St. Cornelius School. The cost
for this event is $2 per student and $2 for any parents
who would like to attend. Participation is strongly
encouraged as this is a whole school communitybuilding event for the Share Life charity. We will
require some parent volunteers to play on the
teachers’ team with a valid criminal reference check
on file in the office. If you are able to play that day,
kindly let the office know and we’ll add you to our list
of players. Also, please note, the student team will
be comprised of various students in the school, not
only those who are on our school team. This
promises to be another fun event for our school and
a great ShareLife fundraiser.
NEWS FROM OUR CATHOLIC
SCHOOL COUNCIL
Chocolate Fundraiser
We recently hosted a kick off assembly for our
school fundraiser. Each family is invited to sell a
box of chocolates as shared in the letter sent to
parents and guardians. These products are peanut
and tree nut free. If you would like an additional
box of chocolate, please contact Mrs. Caprara at
petrini.minime@sympatico.ca. Prizes include:
three Easter baskets, a three pound chocolate,
passes to Legoland, movie passes, gift cards to a
toy store and an incredible bike as a GRAND prize!
Chocolates are always a great fundraiser at the
school and is just in time for Valentine’s Day and to
fulfill our chocolate needs before Lent.
Volunteers
If you are interested in helping the school out in
any way, please don't hesitate to join a Council
meeting to find out what our Catholic School
Council does for your children to make their school
a better place. Our next meeting is on Tuesday,
February 24th at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome!
FIFTH DIESEASE
ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOL
The award winning CBC acclaimed performers
Braithwaite and Whitely will be visiting our school
on Wednesday, February 11th during Black History
Month. This performance will be for grades 2-8.
SAFE ENTRY PROTOCOL
Thank you for your support in following our safe
schools protocol where our school doors are
locked, all visitors report to the office and only
students and staff are in the school yard. Please
note that daily at 9:00 a.m. there is a staff member
on duty on the field to escort those students who
walk using the path at the back of the school yard.
However, during inclement weather, when
students are not playing in the yard from 9:00-9:15
a.m., students may be escorted by
parents/guardians to the front door of the school.
Thank you for your cooperation in following these
important safety procedures.
Fifth disease has the potential to put staff,
volunteers and other parents, who may be
pregnant, at risk. If you child shows symptoms of
fifth disease please bring him/her to your family
physician to obtain an actual diagnosis. Systems
may include: mild usually not febrile infection, a
“slapped cheeks” rash on the face followed by a
fine lace like rash. The rash may be more prounced
during exercise, stress or environmental changes
(e.g., exposure to sunlight). In the event that your
child is diagnosed with fifth disease, please inform
the school.
LOST AND FOUND
Our school’s Lost and Found Box is a good place to
start looking for missing items. Periodically, we
remind students to check the box for any items
they may have lost. Please remind your child(ren)
to check the Lost and Found Boxes if anything is
lost.
Together in Faith and Excellence
3
Brampton East, Caledon, Dufferin, Malton
Family of Schools Present:
A Parent Engagement
Evening on
Next Generation Learning
February 10th, 2015
7:30p.m. — 8:30p.m.
Robert F. Hall Secondary School
Presentations will be given on Next Generation Learning
topics such as: Faith Formation, Inquiry in Language and
Math, Critical Literacy, the Flipped Classroom, and
Online Homework Help. Parents are asked to go to their
school website and select the Next Generation Learning
Event link, and then choose the 2 presentations they
are interested in attending. Each presentation is 25
minutes long. The URL is also listed below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/35W9RW6
LITERACY TIPS FOR PARENTS
As a follow up to Family Literacy Day on January 27th here
are 10 Tips to help your child with writing.
1. Read from a variety of sources. Reading and
writing are linked – success in one supports
success in the other. Read stories,
newspapers, advertisements, instructions,
etc. to your child every day and then discuss
what you have read.
2. Encourage your child to write. Children love
to make their own birthday cards, write thank
you notes, make place cards for the table, or
send an email to a friend. Save old cards from
birthdays and holidays to recycle for homemade
cards. Whenever possible, let your child see you
writing – grocery lists, instructions on the family
whiteboard, emails, etc. – and get them to help.
3. Writing can be done anywhere. Have lots of
magnetic letters or words on the fridge. Get a
box of chalk and write your names on the
driveway or sidewalk. Get a white board – it can
be used again and again.
4. Play writing games. Make a game of letter
finding. Show them how to form a letter and
then go letter hunting in your house or in a
book – count the number of "Ds" on a page.
Find a picture they like and have them write
words or a sentence about it.
5. Help children build their vocabulary. Try
rhyming games starting with one word such as
"mat". Say and write down all the words that
rhyme, like "cat", "hat", "fat" and "splat". You'll
be surprised how fast their word list grows.
6. Explore the meaning of words. Create a word
book at home and have your child add words as
they're learned. Have them note the words they
use the most and talk about why.
7. Write to each other. Write notes to your child
and leave them in interesting places, like the
lunch box. Ask them to write a reply or come up
with something new. If they have their own
email, email each other. Have kids email jokes
to family and friends.
8. Don't limit what you write with or what you
write on. The sky's the limit – pudding, sticks or
fingers in mud, earth, snow and sand, sparklers,
steamed up windows and mirrors, and bubble
soap markers for some sudsy learning.
9. Writing comes in all shapes and sizes. Point out
different ways writing is used – letters, signs,
advertisements, instructions – and explain why
they are different. Also point out different ways
letters are created – printed, cursive and fancy
variations. Let them be inspired to create their
own letter art.
10. Start writing at an early age. Children often
learn to write before they can read. Encourage
this by showing them how to print their name
or the names of friends and other family
members. Buy them notebooks with lines so
they can learn to make their letters correctly or
a practice book with letters they can trace.
Source: Ministry of Education- Tips and Tools for
Parents http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc/eng
Together in Faith and Excellence
4
SAFE SCHOOLS FOCUS FOR
FEBRUARY –
Telling an Adult about
Bullying is Not
Tattling
This month’s focus is the
difference between tattling and telling. In dealing with
bullying situations, students are encouraged to use the
strategy, ‘telling an adult’. Although this sounds simple
and logical, there are many difficulties and roadblocks
associated with this strategy. Younger children struggle
to understand the difference between telling and
tattling, while older children struggle with their desire
to deal with situations independently. The goal of telling
an adult is to keep children safe. Students will learn to
identify the difference between telling and tattling
(reporting and ratting), explore reasons students don’t
report bullying and understand how to effectively and
safely report to an adult.
Tattling/ratting is defined as telling in order to get
someone into trouble, or telling when there is no one
being hurt and no rule being broken that could result in
a dangerous situation.
Telling is defined as reporting unsafe behaviours to an
adult in order to get help for someone – to get someone
out of trouble.
VIRTUE CORNER
Our Virtue for the Month of February is Respect.
God wants us to treat all people with respect they
deserve. A respectful person:
• uses a positive tone of voice and body language
• avoids swearing, name-calling, put downs, and
inappropriate gestures
• says “Excuse me”, “Please”, “Pardon Me”
• avoids gossip
Tips for parents:
- use incidences where one child is telling you about
sibling behaviour to help children identify whether they
are tattling or telling
- practice with your child how to ‘tell an adult’ about
bullying (what happened, how they feel, what help they
desire)
- develop awareness of the ‘reasons’ children state for
not reporting bullying to adults
Together in Faith and Excellence
5
IMPORTANT DATES: PLEASE PLACE

DATES ON FAMILY CALENDAR




























February 2nd -10th
Book Fair
nd
February 2 – Just Catering for
Kids
February 3rd - Report Cards go home with
students
February 5th - Sweater Day
February 5th – Sub Day
February 5th - 4:00 - 9:00 pm Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
February 6th – PA Day – no school for students
February 6th - 9:00 am – 3:30 pm Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
February 9th - Just Catering for Kids
February 11th- Black History Month
Presentation for students in Grades 2-8
February 12th – Math Night 7:00 pm
February 12th – Pizza Day
February 16th - Family Day - School is closed
February 18th – Ash Wednesday – Mass in
gym 1:40 pm – All welcome to attend
February 19th - Rosary Apostolate
February 19th – Junior Boys’ and Girls’
Basketball tournament at St. Andrew school
in Orangeville
February 19th – Sub Day
February 21st – 5:00 p.m. Enrolment Mass at
St. John Albion Parish– Ms. Scarcello’s class
February 23rd -27th – Carnival Week
February 23rd – 9:55 – 10:55 am - Earth
Rangers Presentation – Grade 1 - 6
February 23rd - Just Catering for Kids
February 24th - AM – Scientists in the School –
Mrs. McDonnell’s class
February 26th - Pizza Day
February 27th – St. Cornelius Cougar Hockey
Tournament at Caledon East arena – 7:00 am
– 4:00 pm
March 2nd – Just Catering for Kids
March 3rd & 4th – All Day – BEACON Hockey
Tournament in Orangeville
March 5th - Sub Day
March 9th – Just Catering for Kids
March 12th – Pizza Day








March 13th - Teachers vs. Students ShareLife
Hockey Game at Caledon East Arena 1:302:30 p.m.
March 16th -20th - Mid-Winter Break - no
school for students
March 23rd - Just Catering for Kids
March 26th - Rosary Apostolate
March 26th - Sub Day
March 29th – Palm Sunday
March 30th – Just Catering for Kids
March 30th – Scientists in the School – all day
March 31st – Scientist in the School - am
Together in Faith and Excellence
6