November 2015
Divine Mercy Catholic School
2840 Duncairn Drive
Mississauga, Ontario L5M 5C6
(905) 812-5445
Follow Us on Twitter@DPCDSBSchools
In Flanders Fields
Principal
L. Calabrese
Vice Principal
S. Krolewski
Head Secretary
C. Pelkey
Assistant Secretary
K. Persaud
School Council Chairs
D. Langley
B. Coady
Superintendent
T. Cruz
Mississauga North
Trustees
E. O’Toole –Ward 9
L. del Rosario –Ward 11
Parish
Merciful Redeemer
2775 Erin Blvd. Ctr.
Miss., Ont. L55 5W2
905-812-0030
Pastor
Fr. Vid Vlasic
Associate Pastor
Fr. Scott Birchall
School Website
www.dpcdsb.org/DMRCY
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie.
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies
grow. In Flanders fields.
John McRae.
We Must Remember
We wear a poppy
On Remembrance Day,
And at eleven
We stand and pray.
Wreaths are put
Upon a grave.
As we remember
Our soldiers brave.
Administrator’s Message
The recurring theme throughout November
is one of “remembrance”. All Hallowed Eve
gives way to All Saints Day and All Souls
Day. It is a month of endings and of new
beginnings. We pause and reflect on those
who we have known, loved and respected
and who now are deceased. This month is
also a good time to reflect on peace within
ourselves and with others. At this time, it is
good to remind ourselves to be role models
in what we say and what we do. We pray
for peace and an end to conflicts that exist in
our world today. On Wednesday,
November 11, 2015 at 10:45am we will
have our Remembrance Day Liturgy in the
gym as we honour those women and men
who have fought and continue to fight and
protect our freedom. All of our students
will receive a poppy to wear to our liturgy
and we ask that you please send in a
donation to your child’s teacher. All
parents are invited to attend our liturgy.
Progress Reports will be sent home on
Tuesday, November 17, 2015. There will
be an opportunity for some parents,
students and teachers to meet together at
progress conferences on the evening of
Thursday, November 19, 2015.
At this time of the year we are also planning
for the waiting season of Advent leading to
Christmas and the beginning of a new
liturgical year.
Advent will begin on
Sunday, November 29, 2015.
As a
community we will come together on
Monday, December 7, 2015 to celebrate
our School Advent Mass. The mass will
be held at Merciful Redeemer Parish at
9:30 AM weather permitting.
This
celebration will focus on the sacred
aspects of this special season in the
Church calendar. Please mark the date
on your calendar and join us to celebrate
the season of Advent.
Administrator’s Message Continued
We would like to remind all of our parents to try to use the
“Kiss and Ride” in the morning. Please avoid dropping your
children off on the street, or in the parking lot, as then we have
children walking in between the cars and traffic. It is very
important that we all slow down and respect the rules and
procedures to keep our students safe. We would also like to
thank Mrs. Tung and Mrs. Bandula, our parent volunteer, who
has been very instrumental in helping to keep our children safe
every Monday, Tuesday and Friday. If you would like to
volunteer please contact the school.
Please join us for our Virtue Assembly on Empathy on
Friday, November 27, 2015 at 12:45 pm in our school
gym. We would like to thank Mrs. McKinnon, Ms.
Noble and Mrs. Bianchi-Wynne and their classes.
MERCIFUL REDEEMER PARISH
During this time of reflection, remembrance and anticipation, we
thank you for your continued support.
2775 Erin Centre Boulevard
Mississauga, Ontario
L5M 5W2
Tel: (905) 812-0030
Fax: (905) 812-0011
Pastor: Father Vid Vlasic
Email: office@mercifulredeemer.org
Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.
Website: http://www.mercifulredeemer.org/index.html
God bless,
COMMUNITY PRAYER
L. Calabrese
Principal
S. Krolewski
Vice Principal
THE VIRTUE OF THE MONTH: Conscience
During the month of November,
we will focus on the virtue of
Conscience.
God has given us the ability to
know the right and decent way to
act and then to act that way. We
trust that the common Spirit we
share inspires us and guides us to
make good decisions if we allow
our conscience to be well formed.
A person of conscience allows prayer and scripture to influence
him/her.
A person of conscience…
• chooses to do the “right thing” and feels good about it
• can see how his/her actions may help or hurt others
• admits his/her wrong-doing and feels badly about poor choices
• says “sorry” and tries to make up for mistakes
• keeps promises even when tempted to give up
• chooses to do what Jesus would do
• knows that followers of Jesus will have to make difficult
choices
Let us pray this month, for the grace and strength to be people of
conscience – people who know the good and decent way to act
and then choose to act that way.
On Thursday, October 29, 2015, Divine Mercy held a
community prayer with the Rosary Apostolate in the front Foyer
of the school at 8am. Thank you to Mrs. Commisso, and Mme.
Cenedese for their spiritual guidance and support. Please join us
for our next community prayer on November 26, 2015 at 8am in
the front foyer of the school.
ROSARY APOSTOLATE
On Thursday, October 29, 2015, the Rosary
Apostolate from Merciful Redeemer Parish
visited Divine Mercy. The Rosary Apostolate is
a non-profit association of volunteers in the
community that freely give of their time and
talents to lead children, youth and families into a
deeper relationship with our Triune God through
prayer. Through the prayer of the Rosary our
Lady will guide our young people closer to Jesus
and at the same time sanctify families and Parishes. The Rosary
Apostolate seeks to bring about a spiritual renewal in future
generations through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God
and by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostolate through its
volunteers, wants to help the children and youth to feel that they
belong to a greater family of God, namely, the Roman Catholic
Church. Our students were given a Holy Rosary and were
taught how to pray the rosary. Pope Francis has denoted this
year to be the year of “Opening Doors of Mercy”. Future visits
of the Rosary Apostolate will be on:
November 26, 2015
December 17, 2015
January 28, 2016
February 25, 2016
March 31, 2016
April 28, 2016
May 4, 2016 Crowning of Mary
On these dates, we will have our community prayer at
8:00am. All are invited to join us if you are available.
ATTENDANCE
DIVINE MERCY SCHOOL ADVENT MASS
Our Advent Mass will be held on
Monday, December 7, 2015 at 9:30 AM
at Merciful Redeemer Parish weather
permitting. We invite all parents to share
in this spiritual celebration. It is truly a
wonderful way to capture the “true
meaning” of Christmas with your family. Please record the date
on your calendars.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
On November 11th, Canadians all
across the country pause in a
silent moment of remembrance of
the men and women who served our
country during wartime.
We
honour those who fought for Canada in the First World War, the
Second World War, and the Korean War. Everybody stands in
silence as they remember the more than 100,000 brave
Canadians who were killed. They gave their lives and their
future so that we may live in peace. World War One Armistice
was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
That is why November 11th is called Remembrance Day. Our
school will pay tribute to those who gave their lives for freedom
on Wednesday, November 11th. We will be honouring
Remembrance Day at our school from 10:45am in our gym.
Poppies will be distributed to all students on November 11th
and we will be accepting a small donation for the poppies
which will be sent to the Veteran’s Association. We welcome
you to join us for this occasion.
Our attendance line is: 905-812-5445 (Press #1). Please call to
register an absence. You can call 24hrs a day including
weekends if you know your child will be absent from school.
An answering machine is available to take information.
Please provide the following information:
• Name(s) of student(s)
• Name of student’s teacher(s)
• Grade of student(s)
• Reason for absence
If an absence is not reported, our policy is to call home to verify
student absenteeism. A parent or guardian must sign out students
at the office who leave early.
All students are expected to attend school regularly and
punctually. All students who arrive after 8:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.
must obtain a late slip from the office. This measure is to ensure
the safety of your child. We thank you for your continued
support in following this procedure.
ANTI-BULLYING WEEK
This year’s Anti-Bullying Week is from November 16, 2015 to
November 20, 2015. Students will have a chance to discuss
safety and problem solving strategies in class. We will end the
week with a presentation from Freeze-Out Bullying on
Friday, Nov., 20th, 2015 at 9:00am in the gym. The
presentation includes strategies for incorporating teamwork,
handling disappointment, reporting responsibly, being inclusive,
demonstrating respect, compassion and empathy as well as how
to handle social media responsibly.
PROGRESS REPORTS
SCHOOL HOURS
8:15 Supervision in the yard
8:30 School Entry
10:30 – 10:45 Morning Recess
11:30 – 12:30 Lunch
2:00 – 2:15 Afternoon Recess
3:00 Dismissal
Please note that supervision in the playground begins at 8:15
AM. Please do not leave your children unattended in the school
grounds before the teachers begin their duty. At 8:15, we would
ask all parents to leave the pavement area for the safety of
all the children.
Progress Reports for students will be sent home on Tuesday,
November 17, 2015. Along with the progress report, you may
receive a confirmation time for your progress report conference.
These conferences include the student, the teacher and the
parents/guardians. Interviews will take place on the evening
of Thursday, November 19, 2015.
During the first conference, the teachers / parents may have only
requested to see and speak with some of the parents and students
in their class in order to discuss their child’s progress and also to
make plans and set goals for the remainder of the first term.
TOONIE TUESDAY
Divine Mercy will once again have
“Toonie
Tuesday”
on
Tuesday,
November 17, 2015 in support of the
Eden Community Food Bank. The funds
will go to help families in need in our
community. One toonie helps the food
bank provide the food needed for a hungry family coming to the
food bank for help to make four meals. For more information
about our local food bank click the following link:
http://edenfoodbank.org/
CUSTODY OF CHILDREN
qualified for the board tournament. Thuraya came 14th at the
boards. Way to go Dragons!!!! Thanks to the coaches: Mr.
Tomas, Mdm Ballard, Mdm Costanzo & Mdm Makoudjou
Way to go DRAGONS!!!
VOLLEYBALL
Our junior girls team qualified for the family
tournament. They made it all the way to the finals
to lose in a very, very, very close game to St. Rose
of Lima. The score was 23 - 25, 24 - 25. Team members
include: Kristina, Arianna, Yoma, Aihvilinn, Isabella, Erin,
Sydney, Ann, Ciara, Sara, Rania, Nicole, Gemma, Madison, &
Sam
On rare occasions, we are faced with difficult situations in which
non-custodial parents arrive at school asking to visit their child
or to take their child home after school. We are best able to
serve and protect students when we are made aware of legal
custody arrangements, visitation rights, and other special
instructions. If legal custody matters affect your family, please
ensure that our office and classroom teachers are aware of
custodial arrangements between parents that may affect your
child during school hours. Please ensure that a copy of the Court
Order is on file at the school office.
This year's junior boy’s volleyball team was an amazing group
of boys. In our regular season we defeated St Elizabeth Seton
and narrowly lost to Our Lady of Mercy and St Rose of Lima.
The boys showed amazing improvement in their skills. Your
coaches Mme. Ballard and Mlle Noble are very proud of you.
We are already looking forward to next season. Congratulations
to Jesse, Nathan, Zein, Steven, Fady, Michael, Ethan, Michael,
Julien and Aidan.
LOCKDOWN
Way to go Dragons!!! The junior girls team won DM's 100th
Banner!!! Thank you to the coaches: Mr. Tomas & Mr.
Lonardi, Mrs. Ballard and Ms. Noble
As mandated by the Ministry of Education, we will
have our practice lockdown procedure Tuesday,
November 24, 2015 at 9:00 AM. Lockdown
procedures are part of our systematic safety plan
that includes fire drills and visitor security protocols. A
lockdown could occur in the event of a dangerous situation
occurring in or around the school.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
EXCURSIONS
A call will be made over the P.A. system indicating that a
practice lockdown procedure is taking place. All staff and
students then will follow the emergency procedures
established for this drill which could include getting low to the
ground, moving away from windows and doors, closing doors
and turning off lights. Students are warned ahead of time to
reduce any anxiety of what may occur in a drill of this type.
Please feel free to discuss this drill with your child. Please
review with your children the letter that will be sent home.
SCHOOL SPORTS
CROSS COUNTRY
Divine Mercy brought 70 students to Erindale
Park on Oct. 8th. Students raced with great
courage and perseverance. Kristen came 2nd,
Sydney came 3rd and Thuraya came 4th. Our
Grade 4/5 girls team qualified for boards. The team included
Sydney, Thuraya, Ola, Sara & Ciara. In total 14 students
ACTIVITIES
AND
Students will have the opportunity to take field trips and
participate in a number of extra-curricular activities. Permission
forms will be sent home to be filled out, signed and promptly
returned to school.
NO STUDENT WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE ON
A TRIP OR EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY WITHOUT
WRITTEN
CONSENT
FROM
THEIR
PARENT
/GUARDIAN.
VERBAL CONSENT OVER THE
TELEPHONE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
No exceptions will be allowed. Teachers give ample notice for
trip consent forms. We encourage parents to support these
educational opportunities by volunteering to assist and supervise
these excursions. For the safety of your child, excursions
lacking appropriate adult supervision will be cancelled.
PALS
ALLERGIES
We are very pleased to have PALS underway at our school.
PALS is a program that stands for Playground Activity Leaders
in Schools and promotes:
We would like to inform you that Divine Mercy School is an
allergen aware school. We have a number of students in our
school who have severe allergic life threatening reactions to
peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oils, any peanut/nut by-products
and dairy products. As in the past, we are asking you to not put
any child at risk, therefore, are requesting that PEANUTS,
PEANUT BUTTER, PEANUT OILS, ANY PEANUT/NUT
BY-PRODUCTS NOT BE BROUGHT INTO THE
SCHOOL. WE ASK THAT YOU READ THE LABELS OF
ALL FOOD ITEMS SENT TO SCHOOL. A letter was sent
home the first day of school which addressed this issue for each
particular class. We are asking parents not to send food items
to school when celebrating your child’s birthday since there
are many alternatives such as pencils, stickers, etc.
-
Increase physical activity
-
Decrease conflict and reduce the incidence of
playground bullying
-
Provide a leadership opportunity for students
Our PALS are grade 5 and 6 students who will encourage
children from grades 1 - 3 to participate in outdoor activities,
during lunch recess on Tuesdays and Fridays. The PALS Team
have completed their training on October 20th with our Peel
Health Nurse and are very excited and committed to being good
leaders on the playground.
Thank you to Mme. Trinca, Mme. Costanzo, Mme. Makoudjou,
and Ms. LaCroix.
SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
If you would like to help with any of the special events, or
would like to have input on the various initiatives that are being
planned for this year, please join us at our next meeting on
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at 6:30 PM.
Please mark down our School Council Meeting dates for the
remainder of the school year: January 12, 2016, February 9,
2016, April 12, 2016 and May 10, 2016.
Next School Council Meeting
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 @ 6:30 PM
USE OF SCHOOL PHONES
Students will only be permitted to use the
school phone in cases of emergency. An
emergency is considered to be an illness or
injury. Calling home because it is raining, or for
forgotten shoes, wanting to go to a friend’s house or other minor
issues, are not considered emergencies.
BUSSING and COURTESY SEAT POLICY
All Divine Mercy School Parents
are invited to join us.
YOUTH FAITH AMBASSADORS
This initiative encourages Catholic elementary school students in
grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 to live out our baptismal call to become
Fully Alive in the Lord Jesus Christ through care for themselves
and others. The Role of the Youth Faith Ambassador is to
become active Christians through the Knowledge of God’s word,
increasing their own faith development and improving their
communities through service. Several students from these
grades self-nominated themselves to represent their classes
under the leadership of Mme. Cenedese and Mrs. Commisso.
The students will share their experience as ambassadors and will
discuss and create opportunities for becoming active witnesses
in our school and community.
STOPR (Student Transportation of Peel Region)
Stopr is providing bus transportation services for the DufferinPeel Catholic District School Board. The STOPR website
address is www.stopr.ca. This website provides access to up to
date information regarding delayed buses and bus cancellations
due to inclement weather. To check for eligibility for
transportation, please access the following website:
businfo.stopr.ca.
STOPR Telephone Contact Information:
905-890-6000
Thank you to all parents who completed and followed the school
board process for the Courtesy Seat Bus Request. We tried to
accommodate as many students as possible for this year. Please
remember that this process must be conducted annually for
students not normally eligible to ride the bus.
MOVING?
If you are planning to move out of the
Divine Mercy school area or change
address within our boundaries, please let
the office know as soon as possible.
Please keep us informed of any address, phone number or
medical changes for your children. It is of the utmost importance
that our records be up to date. If your child should get sick or
hurt, we must have accurate contact information.
REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS
Interested in volunteering at Divine Mercy
School for 2015/2016? During the school
year, volunteers support programs and
activities at the school. We appreciate and
rely on parents who can devote a small
portion of their time to help. You may pick up a volunteer
form and a Criminal Reference Check Form at the school
office.
People who volunteer in schools and attend trips are required to
have completed Criminal Reference Checks, which can be
picked up from our school office and taken to Police
Headquarters listed on the form. Once the form is completed,
your volunteer service can begin. We look forward to working
with you for the betterment of all students at Divine Mercy
School.
NO CHILD
PROGRAM
WITHOUT
MEDIC
ALERT
The No Child Without program offers a free MedicAlert
membership to students who attend our school and are between
the ages of 4 to 14. If your child has a medical condition,
allergy, or is required to take medication on a regular basis, then
you should consider a MedicAlert membership through this
program. For further information pick up a brochure at the
school office, or visit www.nochildwithout.ca. If your child is
already part of the program but his/her medical condition or
contact information has changed, call 1-866-479-3220 Ext.1.
AFTER HOURS SCHOOL ACCESS
When school closes at 3:00 p.m students should
be leaving with all the homework and books that
they may need for the evening. We strongly
encourage students to do this.
If they do need to return to the school for forgotten homework,
they have until 4:00 p.m. to do so. They are to come back with
their parent, other family member, or guardian and report to the
school office. If the office is closed they are to look for the
Custodian working on the first floor of the school who will assist
them.
All STAR READING PROGRAM
All Star Reading is an exciting component of our literacy
program where reading coaches are matched with primary
students to spend 2-3 sessions per week tutoring. The purpose of
this program is to encourage our young students to become more
self-directed and take responsibility for constructive reading
strategies that work for them. At this time, Mrs. Dunn is not in
need of any more parent volunteers to help with the All Star
Reading Program. We are blessed and thankful to have so many
parents willing to help.
STORAGE AND
MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION
OF
Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication and
forms are updated annually. If your child requires medication,
please have all pertinent forms completed and returned with the
medication to the office as soon as possible.
KISS
AND
RIDE
PROGRAM
PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION
AND
The “Kiss and Ride” program takes place before
school and after school. A reminder to the Divine Mercy
community that our driveway is one-way. Parents wishing to
drop off children at school must enter from the west driveway
only and exit from the east driveway only.
We have reserved for cars that drop and pick up students an area
by the side of the school next to the kindergarten play area. We
ask that when you enter the school’s parking area you follow the
yellow arrows on the asphalt. These arrows will lead you
through the parking area to the Kiss and Ride drop off. The
arrow lane is a drive through while the lane beside the asphalt is
the drop off lane. Please then follow the arrow signs on the
ground to exit. You enter on the west side of the building by the
park and exit on the east side by the homes.
Kiss and Ride is just like the one at the Go Station. You stop, let
your child out and then drive away. Please DO NOT leave your
car in the Kiss and Ride. Please do not get out of your car.
THERE IS NO STOPPING IN THE DRIVE THROUGH
LANE (the lane with the arrows.) The area beside the
kindergarten area is the only area where students are let off and
picked up in the school area.
is found in our schools, we shall inform parents of the students
in that classroom in a letter. We ask that you also check your
own children regularly. If you find them to be infested, please
notify the office.
For more information check out
http://www.peelregion.ca/health/topics/headlice/.
If you wish to walk your child into school, we ask that you either
park on Duncairn in front of the school (this will be a limited
time parking zone) or in the designated parking lot.
UNITED WAY and SHARELIFE
When walking your child into the school, please use either the
sidewalk on the east side and walk them to the asphalt at the
back of the school or the crosswalk on the driveway at the west
side and walk them past the kindergarten area to the asphalt at
the back. Please do not cross through the parking lot
between the cars and on the school driveway.
All staff has
contributed to the
United Way and
ShareLife. The
funds will allow
staff to dress down
on Fridays. We are
very pleased to be participating in such a worthy cause.
We do need volunteers to help us run the program so if you
have some time before and after school please consider
volunteering. If you are able to volunteer, please let the office
know.
We would also like to remind parents that schoolyard
supervision does not begin until 8:15 AM. Students should
not be arriving before this time, as the playground is not
supervised. Parents are not permitted on the supervised
yard during school hours. Thank you for keeping our
students safe.
SCHOOL WEB SITE
We have updated our school website. This site will be
continually updated and has information for parents regarding
school calendar information, newsletters and school updates.
Visit www.dpcdsb.org and link onto the Elementary site at
Divine Mercy Elementary School @ www.dpcdsb.org/DMRCY.
A special thank you to Mr. Martins for overseeing this site.
SIGN UP TODAY!
LOST AND FOUND
We often find lost items at Divine
Mercy School. Items like shoes, socks,
hats, jackets, gloves, etc. are collected
and placed in the ‘lost and found’ box.
Please look through it to see if any
items belong to you. At the end of the
school year, all remaining items will be donated to charity.
Parents and guardians of DufferinPeel Catholic students can stay up-todate with the latest board news and
information by joining the DufferinPeel
eCommunity. Members will receive the
latest news and information by email, including news releases,
school activities and events, board meeting highlights, school
and bus cancellations, plus useful tips for parents and students.
Sign up online at www.dpcdsb.org.
COLD WEATHER DRESS
In anticipation of the weather getting
progressively colder, we ask that students
begin preparing for outdoor play. This
includes proper gloves, hats, scarves, jackets,
coats and boots. Board Guidelines indicate that
students will generally be outside for lunch and
recess when temperatures do not fall below –20 degrees Celsius,
with the wind chill. As such, appropriate clothing is essential.
Please note that students should have indoor shoes during the
winter months. Thank you in advance for your continued
support and cooperation.
PEDICULOSIS
Head Lice is a common problem which occurs at some time in
most schools at least once every year. Head lice are parasites
which have been common among human beings for centuries.
They are not connected in any way with dirt or neglect. If a case
DPCDSB is on Twitter! For the latest board news and
information, follow us @DPCDSBSchools.
ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA
SECONDARY SCHOOL
As part of our partnership with St. Aloysius
Gonzaga Secondary School we will, from time
to time, provide you with information about
important dates or events at Gonzaga. It is our
hope that through the sharing of this
information, to strengthen our ties to our Secondary School and to
assist the administration and staff of St. Aloysius Gonzaga in
keeping parents and the community informed of events that are
occurring at the high school. The link to the Secondary site at St.
Aloysius Gonzaga S.S. is www.dpcdsb.org/GONZA
EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN
HEALTHY EATING AND ECOSCHOOLS
In the unforeseen event that we should have an emergency at our
school, we will evacuate to:
Our Lady of Mercy School
5820 Glen Erin Drive
(905) 814-9216
Safety regulations and Board Policy require us to have this
contingency plan in place. In the event of an evacuation, your
child will remain at Our Lady of Mercy until we are able to
contact you and make arrangements for pick up.
PIZZA DAYS
Students have been participating weekly in a
fabulous Pizza lunch, by Pizza Pizza There
will be 20 pizza lunches taking us from
September 22, 2015 to February 16, 2016. The dates are
as follows:
November 3, 10, 17, 24
December 1, 8, 15
January 5, 12, 19, 26
February 2, 9, 16
We would like to thank all of the parent volunteers and the
Divine Mercy School Council Pizza Committee for their hard
work and dedication.
KIDSSENTIALS
Tired of Making Lunches?
It’s not too late to order!
Kidssentials is very different from other companies. With an
emphasis on nutrition and kid-pleasing options, this full service
catering company serves the lunches fresh onsite to avoid soggy
or mushy meals. Lunches are mixed and prepared just minutes
before they are served to the children, using only the highest
quality ingredients and freshest produce.
Take a break from packing lunch and sign up today. Meals
offered in November and December are still available for
ordering. Menus for the January - March term may be viewed
and ordered online towards the end of November.
To place an order, view the menu and available dates visit:
www.kidssentials.com/parents and create your family account.
For more information about Kidssentials meals and any allergy
related inquiries, visit the website at www.kidssentials.com.
Kidssentials can also be reached by phone at 905-855-1914 or
by e-mail at mail@kidssentials.com
At Divine Mercy School, we will be promoting Healthy Eating
throughout the school year by encouraging our students to bring
in healthy snacks and lunches. Students will be able to
participate in activities in their classrooms and projects that
encourage healthy eating.
We are also encouraging our students to pack a “Litterless
Lunch” and to try to use refillable water bottles.
NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION
Beginning in October, the school Newsletter will be sent out via
email to parents/guardians and will also be posted on our
website. If you have not provided the office with your email
address and would like to receive school information via email,
please contact the main office, complete a CASL form, and then
your email will be added to the distribution list.
HALLOWEEN CANDY
From November 9th to November 20th please bring wrapped
trick or treat hard candies to the school, for donation to Canadian
Food for Children – Dr. Simone. These treats will be sent to
children in third world countries. Your contributions will help
bring a smile to children less fortunate. The hard candy
stimulates the taste buds, and in the most dire circumstances, can
sustain life for a little longer.
FRENCH IMMERSION INFORMATION
MEETING
Year 2 Kindergarten parent(s)/guardian(s), who wish to enroll
their child in a Grade 1 French Immersion class for September,
2016 are invited to attend an information meeting at:
French
Immersion
centres
Session location
Date and time
St Gertrude
St Pio of
Pietrelcina
St Pio of
Pietrelcina
Tuesday,
November 10,
2015
7:00 p.m.
Our Lady of
Providence
St Angela Merici
St Joachim
St Angela Merici
Wednesday,
November 11,
2015
7:00 p.m.
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Divine Mercy
St Elizabeth
Seton
St Margaret of
Scotland
St Margaret of
Scotland
Thursday,
November 12,
2015
7:00 p.m.
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 at:
School: St. Rose of Lima
Address: 4590 The Gallops
Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Time: 7:00pm
At the present time, the above mentioned school is the
designated centre for our area.
REGISTRATION
FOR
KINDERGARTEN 2015-2016
FULL
Admissions are open to Catholic children and children of
Catholic parents. Kindergarten students must be at least 4 years
of age by December 31, 2016.
PARENT EVENING TO SUPPORT THE
TRANSITION OF STUDENTS WITH
DIFFERING ABILITIES INTO
KINDERGARTEN
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 – CEC Room 301, 7:00 pm – 8:30
pm (Snow Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2016)
PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.*
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
* Snow Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2016, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
For more information about registration and the Kindergarten
program, call Divine Mercy School 905 812 5445 or visit
www.dpcdsb.org.
The following documents are required for registration:



DAY
2016-17 Kindergarten Registration
Registration for Kindergarten for the
2016-17 school year, will take place on:
Monday, January 25, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Friday, January 29, 2016

with the Holy See of Rome, the parent/guardian must
bring their own baptismal certificate.
updated immunization records (Immunization Card,
Peel Health Form or Letter of Exemption)
proof of Canadian citizenship (Birth
Certificate/Passport) or permanent resident status
proof of home address (two of the following: property
tax bill, current utility bill, real estate document or
Government of Canada issued forms)
emergency rural address numbers for identifying your
property, if applicable (residents of Caledon and
Dufferin County)
proof of English Separate School Support (may be done
at the time of registration by completing an Application
For the Direction of School Support and/or a Separate
School Lease Agreement available at the school)
proof of age of the child (birth certificate or passport)
Original Roman Catholic baptismal certificate (for child
and/or parent/guardian) or baptismal certificate from an
Eastern Church in full communion with the Holy See of
Rome. If the child has not been baptized, and the
parent/guardian is a baptized Roman Catholic or has
been baptized in an Eastern Church in full communion
Public Speaking Competition for the Mississauga North Family
of Schools will occur on November 26th, 2015 at St. Faustina
School. The students in junior compete at 9:30am and the
Intermediate students compete at 1:15pm.
FEEDER SCHOOL PROGRAM WITH PEEL
REGIONAL POLICE
Peel Regional Police have assigned Cst. Hart from the
Neighbourhood Policing Unit to liaise between school
administrators and Divine Mercy students. The officers have
direct knowledge of the community safety issues where the
school is located and the surrounding area. The Constable will
be a strong resource for our school community working towards
a Safe School Environment for our young citizens.
The goals of the program are to:
- Increase positive relationships between Divine
Mercy students, school staff, administrators and the
Peel Regional Police.
- Provide greater communication between the Divine
Mercy community and the Peel Regional Police.
-
Increased awareness of crime prevention and
detection towards our common goal of a Safe
School Environment
person to person through hand contact. Cold and flu viruses
typically peak from December through February, but can start as
early as October.
We welcome our relationship with the Peel Regional Police
Officers to Divine Mercy School and look forward to working
together.
Regional Health Unit Resources: Please assist us by reviewing
good hand washing procedures, as well as other preventative
measures, as outlined in the various Peel Health and Wellington
Dufferin Guelph (WDG) resources available to you through their
websites. As always, children who are unwell, should be kept at
home.
TRANSPORTATION
A decision to cancel school transportation and/or close schools,
due to inclement weather is usually made by 6:00 AM. Only the
Director of Education has the authority to cancel transportation
and/or close schools.
INCLEMENT
WEATHER,
SCHOOL
CLOSURES AND BUS CANCELLATIONS
During the winter months inclement weather may cause
disruption to 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 several radio stations. VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9, CHUM
AM1050 , CJCL AM590, CJBC (FR) AM860, CHFI FM98.1,
EZ ROCK FM97.3, CFTR AM680, CFRB AM1010, FM
Z103.5, FM93.1, CFNY FM102.1, AM640, CHIN FM100.7,
AM1540, CBC FM99.1, CTV, CITYPULSE, GLOBAL NEWS,
CANADA AM. The message usually takes the following form;
“All buses for the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin
Peel Catholic District School Board have been cancelled.” This
means that buses are cancelled for the entire day. Parents
who drive their children to school in the morning must arrange
to pick them up at the end of the day.
Flu Clinics: Also available on the Peel Health and WDG
websites, are the schedules of local Flu Clinics.
For more information, visit the health unit websites:
Peel Health website: http://www.peelregion.ca/health
Wellington
Dufferin
Guelph
Health
www.wdgpublichealth.ca
website:
Direct links to the above information can be found in the Parent
Section of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
website at www.dpcdsb.org
FREE REAL-TIME MATH TUTORING
Grade 7 to 10 math 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. DufferinPeel is one of 60 English-language boards taking part in this
pilot project funded by the Ministry of Education.
Features of Homework Help
Students can access a collection of online math resources 24/7
REMINDERS AND RESOURCES FOR COLD
AND FLU SEASON
Best Sessions- Learn by watching other students' lessons
As cold and flu season approaches, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic
District School Board continues to be vigilant in ensuring that
our schools are clean and that our school communities are
educated regarding good hand hygiene and cough
etiquette. These practices are promoted on an ongoing basis, but
as the prevalence of colds and flu increases, our board increases
the cleaning of contact surfaces, as well as reminds schools to
review cold and flu prevention with students and staff. Many
resources are utilized from our regional health units.
Interactive Tutorials- Build your own skills with interactive
sessions
A reminder, as well, that communicable diseases can be
contracted in public places throughout the year. For example,
cold-related viruses, such as Enterovirus, are transferred from
Listen and Learn- Listen to mini lessons on various topics
Interactive Tutorials- Build your own skills with interactive
sessions
Chats between students and teachers take place Sunday to
Thursday between the hours of 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Homework Help is free, live and anonymous
A one-time registration creates an account that can be used for
Grades 7-10
Visit http://homeworkhelp.ilc.org/ to learn more!
SACRAMENTAL DATES
Grade 2s:
Sept. 28, 2015
First Holy Communion Parent Meeting and Registration
7:30 p.m. Merciful Redeemer Church
Sun, October 18, 2015
First Holy Communion Presentation of Names at Any Mass
Tuesday February 16, 2016
Grade Two First Reconciliation
9:30 a.m. Merciful Redeemer Church
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Grade Two First Holy Communion
11:00 a.m. Merciful Redeemer Church
Grade 7 & 8s:
September 30 and Oct 5th, 2015
Confirmation Parent Meeting and Registration
7:30 p.m. Merciful Redeemer Church
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Confirmation-Letters of Request
7:00 p.m. Merciful Redeemer Church
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Confirmation- Presentation of Cards
7:00 p.m. Merciful Redeemer Church
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Confirmation Candidates will receive their crosses
7:00 p.m. Merciful Redeemer Church
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Lenten Offering Card
7:00 p.m. Merciful Redeemer
Monday, February 29, 2016
Sacrament of Reconciliation
9:00 a.m. Divine Mercy School
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Confirmation
Grade 7 10:30 a.m. Merciful Redeemer Church
Grade 8 1:00 p.m Merciful Redeemer Church
DIVINE MERCY DATES TO
REMEMBER
November
 Sunday, November 1, 2015 All Saints Day
 Monday, November 2, 2015 All Souls Day
 Monday, November 2, 2015 Grade 4 FI trip to
the Science Centre
 Wednesday, November 4, 2015 Author
Storytelling Primary FDK-3
 Thursday, November 5, 2015 Sister Diane to
visit the Grade 2’s
 Monday, November 9, 2015 Gr 2 FI Nutrition
Trip
 Monday, November 9, 2015 Bus Evacuation
Training
 Tuesday, November 10, 2015 School Council
Meeting 6:30 pm
 Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Riverwood Gr 3/ 4
 Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Remembrance
Day Liturgy 10:45 am in the gym
 Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Girls Volleyball
at St. Sebastian
 Thursday, November 12, 2015 FI Parent Meeting
SK to Grade 1@ 7:00pm at St Margaret of
Scotland
 Thursday, November 12, 2015 Boys Volleyball
at St Sebastian
 Saturday, November 14, 2015 Grade 7 & 8
Confirmation presentation of Cards @ Merciful
Redeemer Parish @ 7:00 pm
 Monday, November 16, 2015 Girls Volleyball
game at Divine Mercy
 Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Progress Reports
sent home
 Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Boys Volleyball at
St. Elizabeth Seton
 Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Sister Diane to
visit Grade 2s
 Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Girls and Boys
Volleyball at Our Lady of Mercy
 Thursday, November 19, 2015 Interview evening
Reporting to parents as needed
 Friday, November 20, 2015 Freeze Out Bullying
presentation 9:00 a.m.
 Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Home game Girls
and Boys Volleyball
 Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Lockdown Drill
9:00am
 Wednesday, November 25, 2015 Girls and Boys
Volleyball at St. Joseph
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Thursday, November 26, 2015 Rosary
Apostolate 8:00 am community prayer
Thursday, November 26, 2015 Public Speaking
Competition at St. Faustina 9:30am Junior,
1:15pm Intermediate
Friday, November 27, 2015 Virtue Assembly
12:45pm in the gym
December
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Tuesday, December 1, 2015 Grade 2 FI
Riverwood Excursion
Thursday, December 3, 2015 Girls & Boys
Volleyball Family Tournament at Mt. Carmel
8:00am girls 11:30 am boys
Friday, December 4, 2015 9:30am Gonzaga
Music Concert for Intermediates @ Divine Mercy
Monday, December 7, 2015 9:30 am School
Advent Mass at Merciful Redeemer (weather
permitting)
Thursday, December 17, 2015 Rosary Apostolate
and Community Prayer 8:00 am
ATTACHMENTS:
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Kindergarten Registration
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