ST. DAVID OF WALES
FEBRUARY 2016
Principal
B. Gillis
Secretary
B. Meo
Trustee
L. del Rosario
416- 805-7110
L. delrosario@dpcdsb.org
Superintendent
D. Amaral
905-890-1221
Parish
Pastor: Fr. Joyson
St. Martin of Tours
1290 McBride
Lane
Mississauga, ON
L5C 1M8
905-279-5742
School Hours
Grades FDK-8
8:45 -3:15
St. David of Wales
4200 Beacon Lane
Mississauga, ON
L5M 2N6
905-848-4200
WebSite
http://
www.dpcdsb.org/
DWALE
WebSite
http://
A Valentine Prayer
I said a Valentine prayer for you
and asked the Lord above
to fill your heart and bless your soul
With the precious gift of love.
I asked Him for sincere love
The kind that's meant to stay
Just like the generous love
You give to those you touch each day.
I prayed for love from family
And from every cherished friend
Then I asked the Lord to give you
His love that knows no end.
WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN NIGHT
Welcome to Kindergarten Night will be held
on Thursday, May 5, @ 6:30 p.m. All new
Junior Kindergarten students and parents/
guardians are invited to attend. This is for
new JK students only, please do not bring
siblings.
SNOW & OUTDOOR PLAY
We would appreciate your support in
reinforcing the school rule that snow stays on
the ground. For everyone’s safety we do not
allow snowballs, kicking snow, or any other
snow/ice activity that could potentially lead to
harm or injury.
PANCAKE TUESDAY
On Tuesday, February 9, the St. David of
Wales School Council will be providing pancakes and juice
to the students of St. David of Wales to celebrate Shrove
Tuesday. This year, our pancakes will be supplied by Lunch
Moms. We look forward to a fun, yummy, morning! If you
do not wish your child/ren to have pancakes, please send
a note with your child/ren.
NATIONAL FLAG DAY
February 15, was declared National Flag of Canada Day in 1996.
It marks when the maple leaf flag was first raised over
Parliament Hill in Ottawa and indeed, hundreds of
communications across Canada. Red and white were designated
as Canada’s official colours in 1921 by His
Majesty King George V. Check out the
story
behind our greatest national symbol at
Canada.gc.ca/flagday.
ASH WEDNESDAY LITURGY
The custom of placing ashes on the
heads of the faithful on the Wednesday
before the First Sunday of Lent
probably dates back to the fourth
century. At the time, public sinners would come to the
Church to have ashes placed on their heads by the Bishop as
a sign that they wished to change their way of life, to do
public penance during Lent and to return to full union with
the community of God’s people. By the Middle Ages, it
had become a custom for all the faithful, to come on Ash
Wednesday to receive the Blessed Ashes as a sign that they
wished to change their way of life, do penance and
strengthen their commitment to Christ during the Lenten
season. Please join us for our Ash Wednesday Liturgy to be
held in the Gym on Wednesday, February
10 at 10:30 AM.
EQAO DATES FOR 2016
The following time span has been
designated for the Provincial EQAO
testing. We ask that parents of Grade 3 and 6 students make
sure that they mark these dates on their calendar, and we ask
that parents do not book appointments at all during this time
span. Students attendance during this time period is
absolutely essential!
The test period has been scheduled from May 25—June
8, 2016.
RECESS REMINDERS
We at St. David of Wales have a NO
CONTACT policy. This policy
states that students are not to play any games or be involved
in any activities in the school yard that involve physical
contact. Games such as tackle football, touch tag, manhunt,
and like games are not allowed. If a game develops during
the course of a recess break where contact becomes part of
the game or activity, students are reminded to remove
themselves from that activity and to report the contact to the
nearest staff member on yard duty. Staff can easily be
identified by their bright orange vests.
DOGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY
For the safety of our students, parents/guardians and staff, please
do not bring dogs on school property when you ar e picking
up or dropping off students. Several students have severe
allergies and animals may be unpredictable
when confronted by a group of children.
Thank you for helping to keep the school
environment safe for all!!!
Parents and students interested in
International Student Programs invited to attend an
Information Session – February 23
On February 23, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic Institute for
International Education will host an information session for
parents and students interested in International Student Programs
at Dufferin-Peel Catholic schools.
The session will provide an overview of the board’s International
Student Program, Summer ESL Credit Program, Student
Exchange Program and the community supports available to
newcomers.
The information session will take place at St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Catholic Learning Centre located at 3566 South Common Court
in Mississauga from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
For more information, contact Rita Borg, Principal - International
Education at 905-412-3341 ext. 31460.
WHAT: International Student Programs Information Night
WHEN: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
WHERE: St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Learning Centre,
3566 South Common Court, Mississauga
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
We are privileged to live in a city as
diverse as the Greater Toronto Area. As
Canadians, we welcome all
opportunities to celebrate our
differences and to learn more about each
other.
Black History Month, which is celebrated during the
month of February, is one such opportunity. During
this month, we will take time to develop greater
awareness and understanding about Black
people in Canada and around the World.
“I have a dream that my four children
will one day live in a nation where they
will not be judged by the color of their
skin but by the content of their character:
I have a dream today”.
By Martin Luther King
INDOOR SHOES / EXTRA
CLOTHING
With the arrival of colder weather, and
increased precipitation, we would like to
ensure all students are dry and comfortable when
indoors. We ask that you ensure your child has a pair of
shoes that he/she wears only when indoors at school.
You may wish to have your child keep a change of
clothing at school, including extra socks and mittens.
Be sure such clothing is labeled and easily identified by
your child. For safety reasons students must wear shoes
at all times indoors.
STUDENT IMMUNIZATION FROM PEEL
REGION OF HEALTH
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016
 HPV Clinic for Gr. 8 Girls
 Hep B & Meningitis for all Gr. 7 students
Forms have been sent home. If you have not sent these
forms back, please return them to the school as soon as
possible.
THANK YOU FROM SAINT VINCENT DE
PAUL
The members of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Martin of
Tours Conference wish to thank you, the Staff and the
Students of St. David of Wales, for your kind donation
of food towards our Christmas Hamper Program. All
food received was given to our neighbors in need for
Christmas. We were able to help 67
families. Thank you for your continued
support. God Bless You.
MARCH BREAK
We would like to wish everyone a relaxing and enjoyable
March Break. This year it takes place Monday March 14 to
Friday March 18 inclusive. We r etur n to school on
Monday, March 21, 20156.
INCLEMENT RECESS—WINTER SEASON
The winter season is upon us. Please ensure that your child is
properly dressed for outdoor play in a Canadian winter. It is a
school expectation that all students go outside for recess for
exercise and fresh air.
At rest, an unprotected person is able to maintain their core
body temperature until the temperature falls to or below minus
25o Celsius. The main risks of exposure to extremely cold
weather for relatively short periods (recess or lunch periods) is
that of frostbite. Someone who is protected by clothing or is
physically active may be able to
withstand exposure to colder
temperatures. Consideration will be
given to reducing the amount of
time outdoors for children (Grade 8
and under) when the temperature is
–20o Celcius or colder. When the
temperature or equivalent wind chill
is –25o Celsius, children must be
kept indoors.
FAMILY DAY
This is a reminder to parents that
Monday, February 15 is
designated as Family Day. There
will be no classes for students on
that day. Enjoy your children!
VALENTINE’S DAY
Prayer To Respect Others
As I walk down dusty roads or busy concrete boulevards,
help me, God, to take the time to see in the eyes of the other.
To recognize the other, in order to respect.
As I encounter many people, many races,
help me to appreciate the hand of the other.
To recognize those hands that create and build in order to work
together.
As my path calls me to various places,
help me to learn to walk together with others on paths that lead
to peace,
Recognizing that by walking with others,
in working together we learn to recognize ourselves in the other
to recognize and appreciate our differences
and begin to recognize what love is about.
Medication
A reminder that students are not allowed to bring any
medication to school. This includes Prescription and non
prescription medication.. As per Board Protocol, all
medication must be stored in the office, accompanied by
appropriate paperwork and a Doctors signature. Please note that
this includes Advil, Cough medications Cough drops, etc. We
thank you for your cooperation in this matter. As always, student
safety is paramount.
ARE YOU MOVING?
If you are planning a move, or have already moved, please let us
know. You are required to complete new assessment forms even
if you move within our school boundaries. If you are moving to a
new school we will give you a Transfer Form to take with you to
the new school. If you are moving but would like your child to
remain at St. David of Wales, please submit your request in
writing. We will be preparing classes for September 2015 and
this information will be helpful in determining class sizes. In the
past we have had to reorganize our classes in September due to
unexpected transfers.
If you currently live outside the school boundary and are
attending St. David of Wales on a flex boundary request,
you will need to requires flex boundary for next year.
The “Flexible Boundary” procedure is reviewed annually.
Please note that flex boundaries will be looked at on a case by
case basis and are not guaranteed from year to year. If you are
requesting flex boundary, please note that transportation is your
responsibility. The Board will not provide either transportation
or additional supervision for students
admitted under this procedure. Note,
the students admitted under this
procedure do not automatically become
eligible for the Secondary School serving
the school. A separate request must be
made to the Secondary School Principal .
If you would like to be considered for flex boundary for the 20162017 school year, please submit your request in writing by March
8. 2016. Please include the reasons for your
request.
ECO TEAM UPDATE
The Eco Team would like to thank everyone
who participated in our Waste Free Lunch
Challenge which took place on Tuesday
January 20th. It was a great success, with our
school reducing its waste by almost half the amount from the week
before! Great job Dragons! We would like to invite everyone to
participate in our next Eco Challenge, which will take place from
February 1-4. Each day, students are invited to take part in the
daily challenge listed below. A tally will be recorded of the
number of students who participate in each class. Classrooms will
also be asked to turn off their lights during the lunch hour each day
during this week and to open the windows to let the daylight in!
We hope to help conserve energy a little more during this
campaign week. We look forward to seeing everyone show their
St. David of Wales School Spirit!
Monday February 1st - Water Bottle Challenge. Bring a
reusable water bottle to school.
Tuesday February 2nd - Waste Free Lunch Challenge. Bring
reusable containers to school and organic waste home.
Wednesday February 3rd - Walk to School. Reduce the amount
of pollution and get some exercise and fresh air.
Thursday February 4th - National Sweater Day. Wear your
warmest and coziest sweater to school. We will be turning down
the heat to help conserve energy.
Thank you from the Eco Team Members and Coordinators: L.
Horbatiuk and A Colautti
GRADE 2 FIRST COMMUNION
The Rite of Enrollment will be during masses
between Saturday, January 30st at 5:00 p.m. and
Sunday, January 31st at 8:00 a.m.,10:00 a.m. and
12:00 p.m. February 6 at 5:00 p.m. and February
7at 8:00 a.m.,10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. First
Communion will be held during masses between
April 10 at 2:00 p.m., April 16 at 10:30 a.m., or
April 17 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours Parish.
You must be registered with the church to receive
First Communion this year.
GRADE 8 CONFIRMATION
The Grade 8 Confession and Confirmation Rehearsal will be held
on Wednesday April 7, at 10:00 a.m. at St Martin of Tours Parish.
The Confirmation Will take place Friday April 14, at 7:00 p.m.
EXTENDED FRENCH INFORMATION MEETING AT ST.
PHILIP SCHOOL
Grade 4 parent(s)/guardian(s), who wish to enroll their child in a
Grade 5 Extended French class for September, 2016
At the present time, St. Philip School is the designated centre for
our area. Please call St. Philip School at 905 306-8420 if you have
any questions about this program. Applications will be accepted at
St. Philip until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 16, 016.
IN FEBRUARY # MAKE KINDNESS GO VIRAL
Winter is at its peak and some days are slushier than others. Look
out for people struggling to walk through the slush and offer to
walk with them. Remember to keep safe in icy
areas.
How did you #MAKEkindnessgoviral? Share your
stories with us
GRADE 1 FRENCH IMMERSION
Important notice for Parent(s)/
Guardian(s) of students in SK/
Year 2 Kindergarten: The
French Immersion Online
Application System is now
open for submissions. To apply, go to www.dpcdsb.org.
Applications will be accepted until February 27,
2015.
Reminder:
• All eligible submissions are accepted and, in the event that
the number of applications is greater than the number of
spaces available at a French Immersion school, a centralized,
computer-generated lottery will be held at a date yet to be
determined.
• Some French Immersion schools offer Grades 1 to 8 and
others offer Grades 1 to 4, with Grade 5 to 8 offered at a
nearby school. Please refer to the Board website for more
information.
• Parents and guardians of students registered in the
program are responsible for providing transportation for
their child(ren) to and from their registered French
Immersion school. *****Please note that for students living
inside the regular school boundaries of a French Immersion
school, eligibility for student transportation is based on the
policies established by the school board.*****
• A successful placement in the French Immersion School
does not guarantee placement of younger siblings in future
years.
If more details are required, please review the board
website for up-to-date information. You may also contact
your child's present school, the principal of the French
Immersion school in your area, or the board's French as a
Second Language Consultant at (905) 890-0708 extension
24307.
MEDICAL CONCERNS
If your son / daughter has any medical concerns, please
ensure that you inform the school.
Information should shared directly with
the office. If medication is required,
forms will be sent for completion by
parents and the family doctor. All
information is held in confidence.
BE SMART, GET A HEAD START
Head lice is always present in the community. By checking
your child’s head once a week for head lice, you will catch
it early and treat it before it has a chance
to spread. Should you suspect that your
child(ren) have head lice, please notify the
school.
Remember, an infestation of lice is not a
reflection on the cleanliness of your child. In fact, students
with appropriate hygiene habits are as susceptible to lice
as any other group. A reminder to all to refrain from
sharing hats at any time, but especially during the winter
months. Any infected student will need to be checked
before re-entry to class. Thank you in advance for your
cooperation.
Peel Health (www.peelregion.ca/jhealth/) is available to
provide advice to parents, school staff, and students about
treatment and prevention. They can be contacted at 905791-7800.
SCHOOL WEBSITE
Be sure to visit our school website. All newsletter,
calendars and other pertinent information is always
updated. Our website address is
http://dpcdsb.org/DWALE
Criminal Background Check
In compliance with Ministry directives, a Criminal
Background Check is Mandatory if you wish to volunteer
your services in the school, transport students and assist on
trips. Copies of the Criminal Background Check forms are
available in the office. An annual declaration is required for
all valid CBC that are on file in the school office. A CBC will
be mandatory this year if you plan to volunteer for both in
school and out of school activities.
Lockdown procedure
Our school Board has established safety procedures should
a high risk incident occur in the school, on school property
or in the neighborhood, that could endanger the lives and/
or safety of students and/or staff. We will continue to
practice the Emergency Lockdown Procedures, Hold and
Secure Procedures and Fire Drills with the students this
Term.
FLU SEASON
We are heading into the flu season. Being parents
ourselves, we are only too aware of the work pressure
you experience when providing care at home for a child
who is ill. Nevertheless, aside from being the best course
of action for your child, keeping your sick child at home
may also serve to limit the spread of influenza in the
community of school children and staff. Below, you will
find just such advice coming from the Health Department.


Stay home! Don’t drag yourself into work or school.
You’ll only infect your colleagues or classmates.
Stay away from people who are elderly, chronically ill,
or have respiratory problems.
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF PEEL REGION (STOPR)\
BUS CANCELLATIONS/SCHOOL CLOSING DUE TO BAD WEATHER
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
A reminder that during the winter months inclement weather may cause disruption of 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 the
following Radio and TV stations:
VIRGIN RADIO FM 99.9
CHUM AM 1050
CFTR AM 680
CFNY FM 102.1
CJCL AM 590
CHFI FM 98.1
CFRB AM 1010
EZ ROCK FM 97.3
CHIN FM 100.7
CJBC (FR) AM 860
FM Z103.5
FM 93.1
AM 1540
AM 640
FM Q 107
CITYPULSE
GLOBAL NEWSCBC
CFTO
ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY
Regular attendance is critical for Success.
Although we encourage you to keep your child at home
when he/she is ill to avoid the spread of illness, we encourage you, where possible, to avoid appointments and
planning vacations during regular school hours.
In addition, we expect students to arrive at school on
time. Late students mess opening exer cises and important announcements and disrupt their classes when
they arrive after the rest of the class has settled in.
Students with multiple absences and lates will be monitored and may be referred to an attendance councilor.
Attendance/late arrivals are recorded on the Report
Cards. Remember to call the
Attendance line if your child is going to be late or
absent
905-848-4200 Ext 1
2015—2016 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
Additional Professional Activity Day: Monday, April 11,
2016
Terms of the recent contract settlement between the teacher
federations and the Ministry of Education included the provision of an additional Professional Activity Day for the 20152016 school year for both elementary and secondary schools.
Recently, boards were directed to schedule this additional Professional Development Day on or before April 15, 2016.
In the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, the
designated additional Professional Activity Day has been
scheduled for Monday, April 11, 2016.
Therefore, there will be no classes for either elementary or
secondary students on Monday, April 11, 2016.
Thank you for your attention to this addition to the 2015-16
School Year Calendar