NEWSLETTER
April 2008
5820 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 5J9
Fax: (905) 814-9217
Telephone: (905) 814-9216
Principal’s Message
Principal
T. Cruz
Vice Principal
M. MacDonald
Secretaries
D. Nolan
J. Harvey
Superintendent
Mississauga North
M. Prospero
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
Ways to Love a Child
Give your presence.
Laugh, dance and sing together.
Encourage. Understand.
Call them love names.
Allow them to love themselves.
Ask their opinion. Learn from them.
Say yes as often as possible.
Say no when necessary. Honour their no’s.
Apologize. Touch gently. Speak kindly.
Build lots of blanket forts.
Learn about parenting. Open up.
Fly kites together.
Change your routine.
Believe in possibilities.
Read books aloud. Create a circle of quiet.
Teach feelings. Remove guilt.
Share your dreams.
Walk in the rain. Go barefoot.
Let them help. Sing during dinner.
Celebrate mistakes. Admit yours.
Let them cry. Don’t hide your tears.
Frame their artwork.
Honour their differences.
Cherish their innocence.
Answer their questions.
Show compassion.
Keep them in your hearts and in your
prayers.
As we come to the end of our
Lenten journey, we witness many
signs of spring. The hills of snow
have begun to melt and we begin to
see tulips, crocuses and other
spring flowers trying to pierce the
ground and begin the cycle of rebirth. The beginning of spring is a
time to evaluate what needs to be
done in order to have our environment looking it’s best. The peace
garden will begin to come alive
again as we plant additional perennials. This continuous cycle of rebirth represents our hope for the
future and God’s challenge for each
of us to embrace the many gifts and
talents that we have. Spring is also
a time when the daylight hours become extended. The symbol of
light offers us a positive image of
Christ and represents His challenge
to us since He asks us to light the
path for others. I hope that this season of spring brings a period of
health and rest to our entire school
community.
Early Release Day
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
Students will be dismissed at
11:45 a.m. There will be no
school in the afternoon.
Catholic Education Week
April 27th—May 3rd, 2008
School Council Fundraiser
This year Our Lady of Mercy is participating in our
first World’s Finest Chocolate fundraising campaign. Our campaign began on March 19, 2008 and will end on
April 14, 2008. One case per child was
sent home. Each case contains 25
items and each item sells for only $3.
Fundraiser - Dates to Remember
Date
March 25th
March 26 –
April 14
We will be happy to give your child another case once the first case is sold!
April 14th
Prizes: Check them out in the display
case in the front hallway! All gift card prizes will be
given to the store of the winner’s choice.
April 15-18
Activity
Start Returning Money – Early Bird
Random Draw Prizes
Daily returning of money. Students
may pick up another case if parents
would like them to only if they have
sold their previous case.
All money and unsold chocolate
must be returned to the school –
FINAL WRAP-UP
All Prizes awarded.
Top Seller Prizes
Top in Whole School
- $300 gift card - store of
10th Anniversary - May 1st
choice
Top Seller – Grades 6,7,8
- MP4 Player + $50 gift card
Top Seller – Grades 3,4,5
- Hummer CD Player + $50 gift card
Top Seller – Grades JK,SK,1,2
- Gumball Machine + $50 gift card
Grand Prize Draw - April 15th
For each case your child sells, he/she receives 2
tickets for the draw for each case sold. The more
they sell, the more chances they have to win!
The prize is a $200 gift card to the store of
choice.
Classroom Prize:
The class that sells the most in each
level, Primary, Junior and Intermediate will be treated to an Ice Cream
Sundae party at a future date to be
confirmed.
Surprise Daily Draws
When students sell their chocolates, their names are
submitted for surprise daily draws. The faster chocolates are sold, the faster they are eligible to win.
We thank you for participating in our Annual Fundraiser. As you know our fundraisers are very important
in ensuring that our students continue to receive the
best education we can give them. The funds raised go
towards purchasing books, educational supplies,
sports equipment, literacy and math materials along
with the many other tools our children need to make
their elementary education a successful one.
Our Lady of Mercy School is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. We will have a celebration on May 1st
from 7-9 p.m. to commemorate this event. Our
theme is “A Walk Down Memory Lane”. Displays,
banners, food, and socializing will take place in the
lower floor hallways and in
the gym. Former and current students, parents and
staff are invited to attend
and reflect back on the last
10 years at Our Lady of
Mercy as well as renewing
friendships.
Do you have Pictures?
We are looking for pictures of events that have occurred over the last 10 years to display during the
night of May 1st. The pictures could be from school
trips, performances, sports teams, clubs or even just
classroom and school yard action shots. We would
be looking to create collages and
display charts with them. Any
pictures that are loaned to us will
be returned to you. Please make
sure to put your name on them.
If you wish, you may also create
a display, album, or collage and
we would be happy to use it for
our celebration.
If you are interested in being on the 10th Anniversary
Committee or you would like to volunteer in any capacity, please leave your name, phone number and
email address at the office. We appreciate any help
you can give.
Virtue of the Month
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
A NOT TO BE MISSED SCHOOL WIDE
EVENT! PUT MAY 22nd ON YOUR
CALANDAR NOW!
Affirmation:
I am a loving person.
I show my love by doing kind things and saying kind words.
I treat others as I want to be treated.
I love God and all that God has created, including myself.
What is Love?
Love is caring for someone. It is wanting to be near those you
care about and wanting to share everything with them because
they mean so much to you. Love is a feeling that fills your
heart. “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful;
it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but
rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.”1 Corinthians 13
Why practice Love?
Do you want to live in a peaceful world? Do you want to experience the love of God in all things and allow others to experience God’s love through you? Everyone has the need to be
loved and the ability to love. No one is perfect, not me, not
you, not anyone else. No matter what you dislike about others,
it is of vital importance that you value others - just as they are
right now. For by doing so, that is how we create peace within
our own hearts. You will be able to embrace and love the
world.
How do you practice Love?
Express your love. Find words and actions of love that are appropriate. You need to speak words of blessing rather than
criticisms. Practicing love means to share your resources with a
needy person, participate in your community of faith, offer
gifts and perform actions or deeds with no ulterior motivation.
You are practicing LOVE when you…
•
Are helpful to those in need
•
Do not expect recognition for doing good
•
Use kind and loving words
•
Sacrifice for others
•
Appreciate everything around you as a gift of love from
God
You need more practice when you…
 Turn your back on others
 Criticize and offend
 Think only of yourself
 Do good actions only to receive recognition
 Unable to see or appreciate the world as a Gift of Love
from God
The school is buzzing with excitement as we begin another
exciting month at Mercy! As part of our arts program, students from JK-8 will be participating in our musical revue
titled, DANCE MUSIC: A TRIBUTE TO
THE DISCO ERA. The show will have commentary
throughout on those exciting times as well as singing and dancing from your favourite disco songs.
Please come and join us on Thursday, May 22nd at 1:00 or
7:00 p.m. in the school gym. The Thursday 1:00 p.m. performance will be for parents and relatives only. However,
there will be a dress rehearsal performance at 1:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, May 21st for all students. Tickets for the show
will go on sale May 1st.
All tickets for the show are $5.00. The money raised will be
going towards our school and charity.
As there will be no assigned seats you are encouraged to arrive early if you would like preferred seating. Doors open at
12:30 and 6:30 p.m. respectively.
Please make all cheques payable to Our Lady of Mercy
School. You will receive your tickets in an envelope.
Don’t forget to mark the date on your calendar! Hope to see
you there.
Central Erin Mills (ARC)
Pupil Accommodation Review
The Dufferin-Peel C.D.S.B. 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
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.
The first three Public Meetings for the Central Erin Mills ARC
have been held.
• Public Meeting # 4—May 20, 2008
All meetings are held at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary
School at 7 p.m. at 2800 Erin Centre Boulevard, Mississauga.
Mississauga North CCCSC
Our next Mississauga North Family of School
Councils' meeting will take place as follows:
Dates to Remember
Date:
April 15, 2008
April
Location:
St. Faustina Catholic School
2
Grade 8 Retreat
8
Report Cards go home
10
Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences—evening
15
Grade 8 Graduation Pictures
15
Mississauga North CCCSC
3420 McDowell Drive
Dinner:
5:30 p.m. (For admin and chairs and
co-chairs of school councils)
Meeting:
6:30 p.m.
Presentation: 7:00 p.m. (approx 1 hour) (Open to any
members of school councils that wish to attend)
at St. Faustina—7:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Ken Dryfhout from "The Dam" youth
drop-in centre in Mississauga
16
Peel Regional Police presentations
Topic: His centre's role in our community streets.
21
Picture of whole school - outside
KISS N’ RIDE
22
School Council Meeting—6 p.m.
Thank you to the parent volunteers who have been coming out in the mornings to help out with the Kiss n’ ride
drop off. Thank you as well to those parents who drive to
the very end of the lane close to the Kindergarten fenced
area and the front doors before letting their children out to be helped
by the supervisors. It has begun to
run more smoothly with the above
in place.
Some parents have continued to
stop immediately after entering the
lane. We are trying to eliminate this
completely. There are many cars behind waiting to enter
and this causes congestion on Glen Erin. As well, there
is the danger of other drivers having to go around them to
drop off their children in the appropriate spot.
23
Early Release Day
26
First Communion
27
Catholic Education Week begins
28
Rosary Apostolate
28
School Book Fair begins
The bus lanes are completely off limits to cars and vans.
Only school buses can use these lanes or the vans that
come from community daycares.
May
1
Our Lady of Mercy 10th Anniversary Celebration
2
Crowning of Mary Celebration
(International Day of the Rosary)
3
Confirmation Ceremony—2 p.m.
12-13 Hearing and Vision Screening
14-16 Intermediates trip to Ottawa
Congratulations to Mrs. Aquino!
20
Pupil Accommodation Review-Public Meeting #4
We could like to congratulate Mrs. Aquino on her promotion to Vice Principal of St. Gregory. Her new position
becomes effective on April 1, 2008. Mrs. Aquino has
been a teacher here at Our Lady of Mercy for 8 years and
has made outstanding contributions to student achievement and activities in the school. We wish her much success in her new leadership role. She will be truly missed
here!
22
Dance Music: A Tribute to the Disco Era
Rosary Apostolate Celebration
On May 2 at 9:15 a.m., the Rosary Apostolate team will
be presenting with our primary students, the beautiful
story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the newly canonized
Juan Diego. An impressive international living rosary is
planned with flag procession for Grades 4-8 at 10:30 a.m.
Parents are welcome to attend both performances.
- 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. performances
26
Meadowvale Theatre trip - JK/SK -Grade 2
26
EQAO begins
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!