NEWSLETTER
March 2008
5820 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 5J9
Fax: (905) 814-9217
Telephone: (905) 814-9216
Principal’s Message
Principal
T. Cruz
This very cold winter should soon be leading
us into the warmer temperatures of spring. We
hope the snow and ice will soon melt. Our
students and teachers look forward to seeing
the green grass in our field and flowers blooming in our peace garden. These signs of new
life are a wonderful time to rejoice in God’s
love and His continuous commitment to us as
a global community.
Vice Principal
M. MacDonald
Secretaries
D. Nolan
J. Harvey
Superintendent
Mississauga North
M. Prospero
Prayer for Lent
Dear God;
Parish
Merciful Redeemer Parish
Phone: 905-812-0030
Pastor
Fr. Vid Vlassic
Associate Pastor
Fr. Ivan Camilleri
Fr. Mariush Runevich
School Council Chair
Gail Bellissimo
School Council Vice-chair
Megan Scott
Trustee
Esther O’Toole
Ward 9
Phone: 905-812-5163
Attendence Verification
Phone: 905-814-9216
Web Site
www.dpcdsb.org/OLMCY
During this season of Lent,
May you help us to thank you for the new
life
Easter will soon be upon us and for us this is a
time of growth, penance and prayers. It is a
time to follow Jesus more closely. As we journey through the season of Lent, let us use
what remains of the forty days to pray for
peace and harmony in our world. Let us pray
that our students, families and staff will be
able to journey through Lent in good health
and filled with the awe of our faith.
You gave to our world and to our spirits.
To find your presence around us in the sparkle of the sunshine,
A word given in encouragement,
A smile shared in passing.
To open our hearts to your call.
To serve one another with your loving compassion. To have courage to ask for help as
we journey
And to know when we have gone off the
path.
To remember what Lent is all about
P.A. Day
And to turn our lives toward You.
Friday, March 7th, 2008
Amen
Teacher will be preparing 2nd term
report cards. There will be no
school for students.
March Break
March 10th—14th, 2008
School Council
Fundraiser
The School Council will run their major fundraiser with
World’s Finest Chocolates from Mar 19th - April 7th. Further
information will be sent home after the March break.
Fundraiser Volunteers
We are asking for volunteers for the morning gathering of
envelopes and counting (8:45 am) for approximately one to
one and a half hours. We are flexible based on your schedule. If you could volunteer for at least one
day a week over the two and a half week
period, it would be a huge benefit to the
School Council.
Fundraiser Prizes
The School Council is providing prizes for students who display great participation in selling chocolates and whose
names are drawn at the end of the fundraiser.
If any parents would like to contribute prizes, it would be
greatly appreciated. You can drop off any donated prizes at
the office with a note attached displaying the contributing
family name along with a child's teacher name.
Kiss N’ Ride Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to help out with the morning
Kiss N’ Ride. We would require help from 8:30-8:50a.m.
You could help out on any day of the week, once a week or
whatever you can offer. If you can help, please contact one
of the members of the school council or the school office.
Our Lady of Mercy 10th Anniversary
Has it been 10 years already? Our Lady of Mercy School is
celebrating its 10th Anniversary. We will have an evening
celebration on May 1st from 7:00-9:00 p.m. We are forming
a committee to organize the events. If you are interested in
being on the 10th Anniversary Committee and helping out on
May 1st, please leave your name, phone number and email
Spirit Week—March 3 to 6
The Student Council is running a “Spirit Week” from
March 3-6. There are various activities
during the week including a theme for each
day:
Monday—P.J. Day
Communication Updates
KISS N’ RIDE & PARKING LOT
When entering the Kiss N’ Ride lane from Glen Erin, please
make sure to drive all the way to the front of the lane (closest
to the Kindergarten fenced area). Please do not stop immediately after entering the lane. There are many cars behind
waiting to enter and this is causing congestion on Glen Erin
and the danger of other drivers having to go around you to
drop off their children in the appropriate spot. Supervisors
are also there to assist your children exiting your vehicle. The
parking lot is to be entered and used by Our Lady of Mercy
Staff only. If you wish to drop off or pick up your child,
please use Kiss N’ Ride in front of the school.
School Bus Monitor Website
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board has been
added to the SchoolBusMonitor.com' website and can be
accessed for bus cancellation information effective immediately. SchoolBusMonitor.com provides up to date bus
cancellation and school closure information on the web
for a number of jurisdictions across Ontario.
Mississauga Youth Plan
Let your voice be
heard! Plan to attend one of the
upcoming Youth
Plan sessions and
share your ideas,
thoughts and feelings on what Mississauga does well and what can we do better to make Mississauga a youth-friendly city. For more information on the
sessions or the Mississauga Youth Plan, email
youth.plan@mississauga.ca or call 905-241-5014. You
could also visit the youth plan website at
www.mississauga.ca/youth.
YOUTH PLAN WARD AND GENERAL MEETINGS SCHEDULE
Mar 18
3:30-
Meadowvale Secondary
Ward 9
5:30 p.m.
6700 Edenwood Dr.
1-4p.m.
Central Library
General
meetings
Tuesday—Backwards Day
Wednesday—Wacky Hair Day
Thursday—Sports Day
On Thursday morning, March 6, Canadian Idol is being
performed by Our lady of Mercy students. Contestants
are trying to raise money for Share Life. Donations will
be given to each student’s favourite contestant. In the
afternoon, there will be a Share Life students versus
teachers volleyball game. Students are also encouraged
to bring in a donation. Spirit Week will be fun for all!
Feb 16
Ages 12-18
Feb 27
301 Burnhamthorpe Rd West
7-9p.m.
Open to all
March 5
Ages 19+
Living Arts Centre
4141 Living Arts Dr.
7-9p.m.
UTM Campus, Mathew Auditorium
in Kaneff Centre 3359 Mississauga
Rd North
Virtue of the Month
Sleeping Children Around the World
Dear students/parents of Our Lady of Mercy School,
Affirmation:
I am kind.
I look for ways to help others and show I care.
I show kindness to any person or animal I see.
I do all I can to take care of the earth.
I remember that all things have been created by God.
What is Kindness?
Kindness is caring about what happens to others. It is doing
things to make others happy. Being kind is showing that you
care about anyone or anything because everything is a part of
what God has made.
Why practice Kindness?
Kindness should be practiced because it brings us together and
celebrates diversity. It is a virtue of inclusion because kindness
is a universal language that everyone understands. When we
are kind to each other, we no longer use hurtful language or
ridicule anyone, this produces a safe environment where everyone can increase in self-esteem and feel comfortable to participate. Through the kindness we give and receive, we begin to
understand how we are connected to those around us. Giving
and receiving kindness are vital to our health, harmony, and
hope.
How do you practice Kindness?
When we sense someone’s need, we either choose to help them
in some way or not to. If we choose to help, we are offering
kindness, and at that moment we experience a surprising and
overwhelming feeling because we have made a connection and
difference in someone’s life. Kindness is a positive power that
we all possess and when we use it by performing acts of kindness we feel a great sense of worth. Let kindness flow!
You are practicing the Virtue of KINDNESS when you…
Share with others
Use your manners
Listen to others
Are inclusive and never leave anyone out
Thank you for the generous gifts from all of us at
SCAW. Your gifts in total will provide sixty-three
children with a comfortable place to sleep and the joy
that is distributed with the bedkits.
Our most recent distribution of bedkits was in Bangladesh where our volunteer team, headed by David Dryden, successfully delivered 7500 bedkits to delighted
families. Our three India trips will be departing in the
New Year with a total of 19000 bedkits given out in
three different locations. Our website will have live
updates of the team’s progress. Children like to enjoy
this site.
Such projects are possible only because of the effort
and thoughtful generosity of many donors like you. A
sincere thank you is sent to you on behalf of the children for whom you have provided these bedkits. Thank
you so much for being there to protect and encourage these precious
and deserving little ones.
Peace and Joy to all of you,
Sue Theakston,
SCAW Volunteer
Website: www.scaw.org
Central Erin Mills (ARC)
Pupil Accommodation Review
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is convening
public meetings for the Pupil Accommodation Review Process.
This is a process which undertakes the necessary steps to enable the board to determine whether it should close schools in
the future. The board has identified that the following schools
in the Central Erin Mills review area are in an area of declining
enrolment and should be considered under the Pupil Accommodation Review process:
Blessed Trinity, Divine Mercy, Our Lady of Mercy, St. Joseph and St. Rose of Lima.
Walk away from others
The first two Public Meetings for the Central Erin Mills ARC
were held on February 7th at 7:00 p.m. at:
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School
2800 Erin Centre Boulevard
Mississauga
Exclude others from activities
Future Public Meeting Dates:
Are rude and insulting
•
Public Meeting # 3—Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Don’t share with others
•
Public Meeting # 4—Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Always think of yourself first
All meetings are held at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary
School at 7 p.m.
Think of others first
Use kind words
You need more practice when you…
Peel Children’s Centre
Winter and Spring Groups
Peel Children’s Centre is pleased to offer the 2008 Winter and Spring Group Series. These groups are designed
to provide information for parents on specific issues, give
opportunities to parents and/or children to interact and
learn from each other, and help parents and children develop strategies for coping with concerns in their lives.
All groups are offered free of charge. Groups are facilitated by Peel Children’s Centre staff and childcare is
available for most groups. All sessions are located at
Peel Children’s Centre at 85A Aventura Court (SE corner
of Derry Road and Hurontario) and
are held in the evening, unless otherwise noted below.
What do we do?
Our groups offer you and your child
education, support, and treatment to help you manage
problems in your family better. In some groups, your
child will learn skills that will help him or her behave
better at home, in school, and in the community. In some
groups, you can talk to other parents and learn from
them. These are some of the groups that you or your
child can take part in:
•
Helping Children Through Separation and Divorce
Wednesdays: March 24—May 14 (6:30-8:00 p.m.)
• Parenting Your Teen
Mondays: April 7—May 12 (6:30-8:30 p.m.)
• Learning about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) - Thursdays: April 24—May 29 (6:30-8:00 p.m.)
• COPEing with Challenging Behaviours
Tuesdays: April 15—June 17 (6:30-8:30 p.m.)
• COPEing with Toddler Behaviour—at Miss. East OEYC
Mondays: March 31—May 26 (9:30-11:30 a.m.)
• Temper Taming for Boys (10-13 years old) and Parents
Thursdays: March 27—May 22 (6:00-7:30 p.m.)
• The Incredible Years (managing 3-6 year old behaviours)
Wednesdays: April 2—June 18 (6:00-8:00 p.m.)
• Feeling Good about Being You (A Group for Moms)
Tuesdays: March 18—May 6 (10:00-11:30 a.m.)
• C.A.L.M. (Combat Anxiety and Learn to Manage)
(for 10—13 year old children and parents)
Tuesdays: March 18—May 20 (6:00-7:30 p.m.)
How can you find out more about our groups?
You can find out more about our groups by calling our Centralized Intake Services at 905-451-4655.
Dates to Remember
March
3
Spirit Week Activities
4
Accommodation Review—3rd Public Meeting
5
Peel Regional Police presentations
7
P.A. Day—Report Card Preparation
10-14 March Break
19
World’s Finest Chocolates Fundraiser begins
20
Grade 4’s to Medieval Times
21
Good Friday (Stat. Holiday)
24
Easter Monday (Stat. Holiday)
25
School Council Meeting—7 p.m.
31
Rosary Apostolate
April
2
Grade 8 Retreat
8
Accommodation Review—4th Public Meeting
10
Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences—evening
15
Grade 8 Graduation Pictures
15
Mississauga North CCCSC
at St. Faustina—7:00 p.m.
16
Peel Regional Police presentations
22
School Council Meeting—7 p.m.
23
Early Release Day
28
Rosary Apostolate
May
1
Our Lady of Mercy 10th Anniversary Celebration
3
Confirmation Ceremony—2 p.m.
14-16 Intermediates trip to Ottawa
Order Magazines Online
Go online at www.QSP.ca to order your new or renewal
magazine subscriptions. Use our school’s name and a
portion of your subscription goes to support our school.
If you buy a magazine online, you will also be entered in
a contest for a chance to win a Dell Laptop!