Corpus Christi Catholic Elementary School
September 2013 Newsletter
BEGIN AGAIN
Corpus Christi
Catholic
Elementary School
4155 Elora Drive
Mississauga, Ontario
L5B 3N4
Tel: 905-897-7037
Fax: 905-566-4333
Principal
Mr. E. Filippozzi
Secretary
Mrs. A. Tognon
School Council Chair
Mr. S. Mavely
Superintendent
Mr. C. Blanchard
Ward 4 Trustee and Past
Chair of the Board
Mrs. A. Abbruscato
905-890-0708 x 24239
416-459-0126
Ward 6 Trustee and Past
Chair of the Board
Mr. P. Ferreira
416-805-7110
One of the best things one can do in life
is to begin again.
Begin to see yourself as you were when
you were the happiest and strongest
you’ve ever been.
Begin to remember what worked for you
(and what worked against you) and try
to capture the magic again.
Begin to remember how natural it was
when you were a child—to live a lifetime
each day.
Tomorrow tells us it will be here every
new day of our lives; and if we will be
wise, we will turn away the problems of
the past and give the future—and ourselves—a chance to become the best of
friends.
Sometimes all it takes is a wish in the
heart to let ourselves...Begin Again.
May the parents, staff and students of
Corpus Christi Catholic School….Begin
Again!
May we remember the happiest, strive
toward excellence, become the best of
friends in Christ and recapture the
magic of learning this September and
every new day of our lives!
Parish Team
Rev. Carlos Macatangga
Cristo Rei Parish
905-270-1133
Principal’s Message I am excited and honoured to join the Corpus Christi School Community. I have been impressed by the welcoming and friendly nature of all staff, parents and stu‐
dents. I hope everyone had a safe and rest‐
ful summer. I would like to welcome every‐
one back to Corpus Christi Catholic School and a warm welcome to the new families who have joined our community and espe‐
cially our new JK children who are starting school for the first time. We hope that they will develop many happy memories of our school as they begin this very important journey. Part of my vision as school princi‐
pal is to focus on student achievement, and the development of virtues in action. I encourage a cooperative partner‐
ship between home, school and parish to promote positive learning experiences for our students. Corpus Christi Catholic School is an active school that relies on cooperation and teamwork. We are very blessed to have a very devoted School Council and Parish team. Please consider putting in your nomi‐
nation to become part of our Council. It is a very important part of the life of our school. We also have a very important volunteer program which I would like you to consider joining. Parent Handbooks will be sent home with each child. The handbook out‐
lines all the expectations and procedures related to school discipline and manage‐
ment. Please review it with your child(ren). I wish everyone a very successful 2013‐2014 school year. Our staff is commit‐
ted to working with our parents, parish and community partners as we support our chil‐
dren in their quest for knowledge and spiri‐
tual development. May God bless each of you. E. Filippozzi Teaching for The Father Inspired by The Son Guided by The Holy Spirit
September 13, 2013
No school for students.
There is a possibility that some classes may have to reorganize. Parents of affected students will be informed as
soon as possible. Reorganized classes take effect Monday,
September 16, 2013.
Catholic School Council Meeting
Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 @ 6:30 p.m. in the
school library. Please join us!
OPEN HOUSE/BBQ
School Board Administration The Director of Education for the Dufferin‐Peel Catholic District School Board is Mr. John Kostoff and the Associ‐
ated Directors are Mrs. S. McWatters and Mr. J. Hrajnik. The Superintendent of Schools for the Mississauga East Family of Schools is Mr. C. Blanchard. All of these admin‐
istrators can be reached at: The Catholic Education Centre 40 Matheson Blvd. West Mississauga, Ontario L5R 1C5 (905) 890‐1221 Area Trustees Our Area Trustees on the Dufferin‐Peel Catholic District School Board are Mrs. Anna Abbruscato and Mr. Peter Ferreira Anna Abbruscato Trustee & Past Chair of the Board Mississauga Ward 4 (905) 890‐0708 extension 24295 anna.abbruscato@dpcdsb.
org The annual Open House/BBQ evening will be Tuesday,
October 1st, 2013. The BBQ will be held from 5:00 - 6:30
pm and teachers will be available to meet you in their classrooms from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Order forms for the BBQ will
come home in the next few weeks. Only preorders will be
accepted. No food will be sold that evening.
This is a great evening and opportunity to …..
Meet your child’s teacher
Tour the school
Enjoy a tasty BBQ by P and P Catering
Meet trustees Anna Abbruscato and Peter Ferreira
Meet Superintendent Charles Blanchard
Meet our Catholic School Council
Meet old friends...make new ones!!
SCHOOL OPENING MASS
Our School Opening Mass will be on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013 @ 9:30 in the school gym. Father Rev. Carlos Macatangga will lead students and staff in our first liturgical celebration of the year. Parents are welcome.
Peter Ferreira Trustee & Past Chair of the Board Mississauga Wards 6 & 11 (905) 890‐0708 extension 24295 Peter.ferreira@dpcdsb.org Our Parish Team We would like to take this opportunity to welcome back Rev. Carlos Macatangga and the Parish Team of Cristo Rei Church to our school. We truly appreciate all of their hard work and above all their dedication to the entire Corpus Christi Community. We look forward to their spiritual guidance with our staff and students! School Hours The school hours for students are as follows: 8:30 am Classes Begin 10:35 am Recess Break 11:30 ‐ 12:30 Lunch Break 1:55 pm Recess Break 3:00 pm Dismissal Please note that supervision in the playground begins at 8:15 a.m. Please do not leave children unattended in the school grounds before the teacher supervision begins. arrangements. Please complete, sign and return this form to the school as soon as possible. Corpus Christi is a Catholic community that respects and promotes the uniqueness of all its members. By following the teach‐ ings of Jesus, we pledge to provide every‐ one with a safe, caring and peaceful envi‐
ronment, which ensures the respect and acceptance of all. Because of these beliefs, bullying will not be tolerated. Your child deserves a safe environment to work, learn and play in. If you have any concerns, please contact us. Thank you for supporting us as we support your child. Reorganization of Classes As each school year begins at Corpus Christi, reorganization of classes due to Student Transportation fluctuating enrolment is a good possibil‐
ity. If we must reorganize classes, please be assured that we will do so with the The board has a system to determine eligibility using GPS best interest of your child(ren). Written software system. We request that you visit the website, communication will be sent home if any changes are re‐
http://businfo.stopr.ca. Once you are on the site, you will quired. School reorganization is scheduled for the Profes‐ have to change the school year to 2013‐2014 and then enter sional Activity Day of Friday, September 13th, 2013. your address, grade level of your child and School Board, There will be no classes for students on this day. and it will inform you if your child is eligible for bussing. For eligible students, bus pick up and drop off times are available using your OEN number this is on your child’s Combined Grades – Did You Know? report card every year). Should you have any questions Safe School Mission Statement A combined grade class is comprised of students from two consecutive grades. Combined classes are a reality in the Dufferin‐Peel Catholic District School Board, as with all schools in Ontario and have been an educational reality dating back to the “one room school house”. Teachers of all classes, single or combined grade, strive to meet the range of individual needs. This is achieved through the imple‐
mentation of varied teaching and assessment strategies and working with students in a variety of groupings. Teaching strategies and groupings are chosen as appropriate to the learning styles of the students in the class. Lunch Hour please do not hesitate to contact the Transportation Depart‐
ment (1‐800‐668‐1140 or 905‐890‐6000) directly. As per board policy, any courtesy seats will be granted mid October, 2013. During the month of September, only those students who live in the bussing area are eligible to ride the school bus. Parents are asked to write a letter to the Princi‐
pal to request an empty seat. Letters will be accepted until September 27th, 2013. After this date, you will receive no‐
tice of any empty seats available. Preferences will be given to those students from Grades 1 ‐ 4. For more information regarding transportation and/or eli‐
gibility contact STOPR directly at: www.stopr.ca businfo.stopr.ca During the lunch hour all students who stay for lunch are or by phone at (905) 890‐0614 expected to remain at school, and all students who go For Special Education contact (905) 890‐6362 home for lunch are expected to go home every day. If there is a change in the regular lunch hour procedure for your child, parents/guardians are asked to provide the teacher with a note explaining the change. A form will be going home with your child in regards to your child’s lunch time School Bus Safety Rules The conduct of individual students on the bus directly af‐
fects the safety of all students on the bus. The driver’s at‐
tention needs to be on the road. We are requesting that all parents/guardians reinforce the School Bus Rules with their child(ren). All students should:  Be at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to their stop time  Never play close to the road  Be ready to board the bus by waiting in an orderly line  Board the bus in single file, use the handrail and sit down in their seat as quickly as possible  Listen to the driver  Always remain seated while the bus is moving  Do not throw anything out of the window  Keep aisles clear of objects (backpacks, lunches, etc.)  Not shout or cause any other unnecessary noises  Never put any part of your body out an open window  Be sure to look all ways before crossing the road  Do not damage the bus in any way  Do not throw garbage on the floor  Do not consume any food or drink on the bus Bus privileges will be revoked if need be. Thank you for your support in ensuring that our students journey safely to and from school. School Council the school then you do not need a new one but will need to sign a Criminal Offence Declaration Waiver. Student Accident Insurance As required by the Education Act and the Ministry of Edu‐
cation, the Dufferin‐Peel Catholic District School Board annually provides parents with information about cost‐ effective student accident insurance. Although enrolment is voluntary, the board encourages parents to take advantage of the inexpensive insurance coverage, especially if their child/children participate in sports, excursions/field trips, or, if parents do not have dental insurance coverage. Enrolment is required in writ‐
ing so there are two options for enrolment: 1) Complete the traditional form and mail it in or 2) Photocopy the form and fax it to Reliable Life at 1‐905‐
522‐7211 or 1‐800‐463‐ KIDS (5437). Parents alone have the right to insure their children. Student Accident Insurance forms will be sent home with each student. If you decide to take advantage of this offer, please return the application form to the company. If you did not receive one please contact the school. School Security Protocol We have taken proactive measures to secure the safety of staff and students by locking the front door. Visitors may You are invited to attend the Corpus Christi Catholic gain entrance by pressing the buzzer School Council Meeting. It will be held on Wednesday, mounted on the wall, beside the door. September 18th, 2013 @ 6:30 pm in the Library. All are The buzzer activities a 2‐way speaker invited to attend. It is very important to have as many par‐
and camera system. The Office will ents out as possible so that we can all work together to then be able to tell who is at the door make our school a better place to grow and learn. If you through a TV monitor and thus, regulate visitor access to are interested in being a member of this very important the school. group, or would like to nominate an excellent candidate in the community, please pick up an application form from Pick‐up and Drop‐off Policy the office. Nomination forms are due back in the school by September 30, 2013.. If there is a need for an election, the To ensure school security for students and teachers, the election will take place on October 2nd, 2013 followed by a Board policy requires that all visitors (including parents) meeting. Please note that if you are interested in being a must report to the office. Parents or designated individuals member of the School Council, recent legislation makes it are required to sign children in at the office when bringing mandatory that everyone submits to a Criminal Check. them to school late and must also sign them out at the of‐
fice when withdrawing them from school before regular Criminal Check Application Forms can be picked up at the dismissal time. school but must be dropped off at Peel Police Headquarters at 7750 Hurontario Street, Brampton. If however, you have a Criminal Reference Check on file at Fire Drills/Lock Down Procedures In accordance with Ministry regulations, three fire drills will be conducted in the fall and three in the spring per school year. While we hope that a real fire situation never arises, this practice helps prepare stu‐
dents in the event of a real fire. In addition, our School Board has established lockdown procedures should a high risk incident involving weapons occur in the school, or on school property, that could endanger the lives and safety of students and staff. We will practice the Emergency Lock‐
down Procedure with students two times during the school year and review it periodically. Reporting Student Absences/ Signing Out/Lates Please call to register an absence ‐ 905‐897‐7037, press 1 for the attendance. You can call 24hrs. An answering machine is available to take information. Please provide your child’s name, grade and teacher’s name. If an absence is not reported, our policy is to call home to verify student absenteeism. A parent or guardian must sign out students who leave early. A reminder to parents and students that an expectation set our from the beginning of the year clearly that all students must arrive to school on time. Being consistently and continuously late interrupts the‐
classroom during lessons, creates delays in the office and sets a poor example for those who do arrive on time. Please note that issues with lates and absenteeism will be dealt with strictly, and may involve the school Administra‐
tion, Child Youth Worker and Social Worker. Please help us teach your children the value of promptness. Child Illness Please keep your child home if he/she is sick. We discourage children who have a fever, are coughing, vomiting or have a runny nose, from coming to school. They will recover from their illness quicker if they are resting at home. Emergency Contact Please ensure the school has updated information with regards to emergency contacts and phone numbers. Have you moved? If you have changed your phone number(s), address or workplace it is imperative that you notify the school promptly. It is extremely important that our records be current and up‐to‐date. In the event of an emergency, we must be able to contact you immedi‐
ately. Picture Day Our Picture Day is on Thursday, October 24th, 2013. All JK to Grade 8 students will have their pictures taken in the morning or afternoon. If your child should happen to be absent that day, a picture make‐up session will be held on Tuesday, Novem‐
ber 12th, 2013. We are pleased to announce that Life Touch will be conducting the photo shoots. Volunteers in the School In accordance to GAP 318 all volunteers having direct and regular contact with students are required to provide a Criminal Reference Check. If you wish to volunteer this year, please pick up a CRC application from the main of‐
fice. Valuables Please help us to protect your child’s valuables by keeping them at home. Staff cannot be responsible for any valuables that your child brings to school. In order to avoid valuables being lost or misplaced please keep them at home. Use of Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) on School Property To promote respect for the dignity of all members of our school community and to enhance student achievement and safety, the use of a PED is strictly prohibited in school (including portables) or during school related activites (such as retreats, field trips, sports events. Etc.) Failure to comply with his policy may re‐
Storage/Administration of Medication sult in the confiscation of the PED and/or disciplinary ac‐
tion as outlined in the Catholic Code of Conduct 2001. The school and the Dufferin‐Peel Catholic District School Board Parents are responsible for ensuring that assume no responsibility for the loss, recovery, repair or all medication and forms are updated replacement for any PED brought onto school property. annually. If your child requires medica‐
tion please have all pertinent forms com‐
To prevent the loss or damage of PEDs, the school encour‐
pleted and returned with the medication ages students to leave their PEDs at home. to the office as soon as possible. A re‐
minder that children are not allowed to keep any medica‐
Textbooks tion in their desk, backpack or classroom (with the excep‐
tion of an epi‐pen if allergies are severe). All dispensing of School textbooks are school property and are loaned to the medication requires medical permission and must be stored in the office. students annually. The expectation is that textbooks will be returned at the end of the school year. Students are re‐ Scent Free Policy sponsible for these textbooks and will be asked to pay if these books go missing or have been vandalized. Children are discouraged from wearing perfume and co‐
logne to school. Some of our students and staff have School Agendas asthma and allergies. The smell of perfume can trigger al‐
lergic reactions and breathing difficulties for them. All students in Grades 1 – 8 will be receiving school agen‐
das. The agendas will be used to record special events and Communication homework to be completed. They also have a pocket in which students will be able to carry important letters to and from school. The agendas will go home each night and Open communication between home and school is very important. Although we will be reporting to you formally must be sent back to school each day. during the school year, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time if you have questions or concerns. A phone call The cost of the agenda will be $6.00 and are available to students to purchase. Funds from the sale of the agendas on the onset of a concern usually resolves itself before it becomes a problem. On our part, if we have any concerns will cover its cost with any residual funds going towards about your child, we will also contact you at the earliest supporting student activities in the school. opportunity. Excursions and Field Trips Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy ACT Educational trips that extend learning opportunities are encouraged. Teachers must follow appropriate Board pro‐ The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (M‐FIPPA) sets out the general rules which cedures and by law, the school must have on file permis‐
school boards must follow regarding the collection, use, sion forms which must be signed by parents. VERBAL disclosure and retention of personal information. Please be PERMISSION can not be accepted. aware that recording of students through printed form (photographs), on film, by electronic means (video taping) Anaphylactic Shock or by any other means is considered a “collection of per‐
sonal information” and therefore certain rules apply for its We feel that all parents would like to be aware that there collection, use, disclosure, etc. While the privacy rules in are several pupils in school with a severe life‐threatening the ACT are strong, signed parental consent forms may or food allergy (anaphylaxis) to peanuts and nuts. This is a may not be required in ALL situations. The photograph‐
medical condition that causes a severe reaction to certain ing/recording of students would not be permitted without allergens and can result in death within minutes. Although the required informed parental consent. 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. Thank you for your under‐
standing and co‐operation. Reporting Head Injuries Even when it appears to be insignificant, we try to inform parents of all reported head injuries at school. We do this in recognition of the potential danger of any injury involv‐
ing the head area. Our intent is not to alarm you, but to keep you informed. Please remind your child to let a staff member know if they bump their head or if they get hurt at school. Volunteers Volunteers play an important role in the life of our school community. They help to enhance the learning opportuni‐
ties available to students and make a difference in the aca‐
demic life of our students. If you can spare some time to read with students, help teachers in the classroom (other that your own child’s) assist in the literacy room, photo‐
copy, count money for special events etc., we need you! If you are interested in volunteering within the school, please contact Mrs. Rossi, our volunteer coordinator. Please note that anyone working or volunteering must have a criminal reference check completed by the local po‐
lice services before volunteering can begin. The Virtues A key aspect to the Board’s strategic direction is the contin‐
ued development of safe, caring, inclusive Catholic School Communities. As a Catholic Community, we are called to learn, grow and become more like Jesus. Catholic educa‐
tion provides us the opportunity to integrate the virtues into our students’ daily activity. The virtues will be cov‐
ered every month during announcements, in class discus‐
sions, and at the school Living Our Faith Awards assem‐
blies. September’s focus is FAITH. FAITH is an attitude, which encourages us to involve God in our lives and helps us de‐
velop and maintain our relationships with God and with others, when things are going well and when they are not. September: Faith
October: Empathy
November: Conscience
December: Hope
February: Respect
January: Self-control
March: Kindness
April: Love
May: Acceptance
June: Fairness
SUNDAY MASSES We should all be faithful to our parish church, be involved in it, participate ac‐
tively in the liturgy and attend Mass on Sunday regularly. The Catechism of the Church says: #2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: “On Sundays and Holy Days of obligation the faithful are bond to participate in the Mass.” #2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and the con‐
firmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faith‐
ful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason. Make every effort to attend Mass every Sunday. Without Sunday we cannot survive in our faith. Did you know...from An Historical Understanding of Key Issues Related to Catholic Education How long have Catholic separate schools been educating Catholic children and contributing to the public good in Ontario?  For about 170 years. In the early 1800s there were separate schools in many cities, towns and townships. In Peel, three separate schools opened before Confederation (1867): St. James in Malton in the 1830s, St. John’s Agricultural Col‐
lege (1861) and St. Patrick’s (1861), both in Wildfield.  Yes, as did its predecessor, the United Legislature of Canada East (now Quebec) and Canada West (now Ontario) during its total life from 1841 to 1867. One of the first pieces of legislation it passed in 1841 was the Common School Act, with a separate school clause. Follow us on Twitter at…. @4corpuschristi We want you to
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newsletter!!
Answer the question below and you can help
your child win a free
pizza lunch, courtesy of
Mr. Filippozzi.
What is the date of our
School Opening Mass?
Answer:
____________________________
Child’s Name:
___________________________
Teacher:
___________________________
Date: ________________________
Please return to Mrs. Tognon ASAP