NEWSLETTER
September 2010
Principal
T. Cruz
Vice Principal
M. MacDonald
Secretaries
S. Droy
J. Harvey
Superintendent
Mississauga North
D. Oude-Reimerink
Parish
Merciful Redeemer Parish
Phone: 905-812-0030
Pastor
Fr. Vid Vlasic
Associate Pastor
Fr. Ivan Camilleri
Fr. Mariush Runevich
School Council Chair
Gail Bellissimo
School Council Co-Chair
Megan Scott
Trustee
Esther O’Toole
Ward 9
Phone: 905-812-5163
Attendance Verification
Phone: 905-814-9216
Web Site
www.dpcdsb.org/OLMCY
5820 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 5J9
Telephone: (905) 814-9216
Fax: (905) 814-9217
Beginning of School Prayer
Dear Lord
You give us this new school year.
We are excited to be back
With our friends and teachers.
Help us to make the best of a new beginning.
Guide us to make wise decisions and
To do the best that we can.
Help us to make this a happy year.
Let us share with our friends and
make new friends feel welcome.
Principal’s Message
I am very pleased to welcome our entire school
community back for another year. I hope the summer was filled with fun and positive adventures for
all. A very special welcome to the new families who
have joined this community. I would like to extend
a special greeting to our Junior Kindergarten children who are starting school for the first time and
hope that they will develop many happy memories
of our school as they begin this very important
journey. As in the past, we will encourage a cooperative partnership between home, school and
parish to promote positive learning experiences for
our students.
Our Lady of Mercy 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 nomination
to become part of our Council. It is a very important part of the life of our school. Dates for nominations and elections can be found within this
newsletter. Our school website also has a great
deal of information you may find useful and we will
post our newsletters to this website.
If at any point you have questions or concerns that
you would like to discuss with me please simply
call Ms. Droy, our school secretary, and she will be
happy to set up an appointment.
I wish everyone a very successful 2010-2011
school year. Our staff is committed to working with
our parents, parish and community partners as
they support the children in their quest for knowledge and spiritual development. May God bless
each of you.
T. Cruz
Our Lady of Mercy Staff 2010-2011
Grade
Teacher’s Name
JK/SK
T. Fang
SKam
J. Adamkowski
Grade 1
M. Paolone
Grade 1/2
R. Merle
Grade 2
R. Sowinski
Grade 2/3
J. Cahill
Grade 3
C. Loiacono
Grade 3/4
G. Rabiega
Grade 4
M. Murphy
Grade 5
N. Rockarts
Grade 5/6
K. Karaim-Rudyk
Grade 6
P. Fitzgerald
Grade 6
M. Capobianco
Grade 7
J. Guiry
Grade 7
J. Quintana
Grade 8
C. Dodaro
Grade 8
C. Roda-Zaffino
EXCEL
T. Russo
EXCEL (CYW) M. Grave
FSL
L. Pierro
FSL
D. Guzman
SERT/ESL
T. Hillyer
SERT & PT
H. Maxwell
SERT & PT
S. Cunningham
SERC
K. Read
Librarian
J. Adamkowski
ERW
I. Chaplia
ERW
E. Cavan
Intervenor
A. Kulczyski
Custodian
A. Jones
Head Secretary S. Droy
Secretary
J. Harvey
Vice Principal M. MacDonald
Principal
T. Cruz
P.D. Day (Re-organization)
Friday, September 17th, 2010
(No School for Students)
School Operations
SCHOOL HOURS
8:30 Supervision in the yard
8:45
School Entry
10:50 Morning Recess (Grade 1-8)
11:15 Kindergarten Dismissal
11:45 Lunch (Grade 1-8)
12:45 Afternoon Start
2:15
Afternoon Recess
3:15
Dismissal
POLICY AND PROCEDURES
All students are expected to attend school regularly and
punctually. In the event that your child will be late or
absent, please telephone the school before 8:45 a.m. and
12:45 p.m. to inform us of the absence. All students who
arrive after 8:45 a.m. or 12:45 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.
The number to call is: 905-814-9216
Provide the following information:
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Date of absence(s)
Name(s) of student(s)
Name of student’s Teacher(s)
Reason for absence
Date of Return
A Student Verification Form for each child has been sent
home. All sheets (even those which have correct information) should be returned to the appropriate classroom
teacher. If you have not returned yours, please do so as soon
as possible, as this will greatly help us to update our records.
In case of an emergency, we need current phone numbers
and up-to-date information to contact you immediately.
Please add cell phone numbers if available. In addition, any
students leaving or returning to the school due to appointments must be signed out and in at the office.
Visitors & Volunteers
To ensure school security for students and teachers, the
Board policy requires that all visitors (including parents)
and volunteers must report to the office when entering the
school. Please enter through the main doors only. Identification stickers are required to be worn when visitors are in the
school.
Volunteers are welcome and appreciated in the school. If
you wish to volunteer, you must complete a criminal reference check. If you completed a criminal reference check last
year, and submitted a copy to the school, you are requested
to complete an Offence Declaration Form this year. Please
contact the school office for more information.
Communication Updates
Extra-curricular Activities & Excursions
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.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Policy
Parents or designated individuals are required to sign children in at the office when bringing them to school late and
must also sign them out at the office when withdrawing
them from school before regular dismissal time.
Parents are requested to provide the classroom teacher with
a note if it is necessary for a child to leave for an appointment. Please meet the child(ren) at the main office and sign
them out. Upon their return, they must report to the office
for an admittance slip.
International Languages The Dufferin-Peel C.D.S.B. offers an extensive program in International Languages, providing instruction in 24 languages at 22
schools for students from JK to grade 12. It is a wonderful opportunity for our children to expand language skills. This program will
be of interest to those who already have a working knowledge of a
language which may be spoken and home and wish to learn more
and those who wish to learn a new language.
The elementary program (JK-8) runs from September 11 through
June 4 each Saturday (Sundays at St. Herbert) from 9:00 to 11:30
a.m.. Parents who wish to register their child in this program may
attend a walk-in registration at the school which offers the
language of interest to them, on Saturdays from 9:00 to
11:30 a.m., beginning September 11. Registrations are continuous
(space permitting) throughout the school year.
Secondary courses offered in International Languages are credit
courses and students may earn up to 3 credits in this program towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Adults, and students registered in a secondary school, are welcome to attend the
secondary program. Students wishing to register for this program
may attend a walk-in registration at the school which offers the
language of interest to them, on September 11 from 8:45
a.m. to 12:15 p.m.. The last day to register for secondary credit
courses will be October 2.
More information can be found on our website at http://
www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/CNE/International+Languages/
Secondary+Credit+International+Languages.htm and also
in the Fall 2010 Adult and Continuing Education Course calendar. For more information, you are also welcome to call the Adult
and Continuing Education office at (905) 891-9263.
Virtue of the Month
Safety Procedures
Beginning and Dismissal of School
1. Kiss and Ride Program
Affirmation:
I am faithful to what I believe
I am a faithful friend. I do not backbite.
I clear up problems face to face.
I keep my promises. I walk my talk.
What is Faith?
It is holding to what you believe is important no matter what happens.
Faithfulness is being like a rock in the midst of rushing waters. When
you are faithful you can be counted on and trusted. Faith is needed
when you have beliefs and principals that cannot be proven to others.
If you are faithful to your belief, such as belief in God, honesty and
friendship, others see your values in the way you act.
Vehicles entering school property from
8:30 to 8:45 a.m. are to use the school’s
Kiss & Ride Program. The program is
supervised by staff and volunteers.
There are two lanes to enter the Kiss and Ride, and then
three that have very specific functions.
The lane on the right and closest to the school is for
buses and emergency vehicles ONLY.
How do you practice Faithfulness?
There are two lanes to the left of the cement barrier that
serve different purposes. The right Kiss and Ride lane is to
be used for dropping children off at the Drop Off Point.
This drop off point is approximately half of the lane or the
first five vehicles at the front of the Kiss and Ride lane.
Please DO NOT let children leave the car anywhere before
that point. You are definitely putting them in serious danger
of possibly being struck by a vehicle. Children should be
prepared with their bags to exit the vehicle on the passenger
side only. Never exit a vehicle from the driver’s side. Drivers should remain in their vehicles at all times, and a Kiss
and Ride supervisor will assist them to exit the vehicle.
Being faithful means you keep your promises. You walk your talk. To
do a job faithfully means you do it with as much excellence and precision as you can. And you do it on time. Listen to your heart when
things come up to test your faith. Faith is not really Faith until it is
tested. Your faith gets stronger when your beliefs are tested and you
still find that they are true.
Once your child(ren) has been dropped off, you can access
the left ‘drive through’ lane and ‘slowly ‘ exit the Kiss and
Ride. There is a serious issue with vehicles travelling too
fast through this lane, either to get to the front of the line or
to exit. You will not be able to stop in time when a child
comes out between cars.
You are practicing the Virtue of FAITH when you…
When entering or exiting, be VERY mindful of pedestrian
traffic. Cars travelling southbound on Glen Erin and turning
into the driveway often run the red light, and pull in quickly.
There is a cross walk on the south side of the driveway.
Many children from both schools utilize the crosswalk. You
must be vigilant. Pedestrians always have the right of
way .
Thank you for co-operation!
Why practice being Faithful?
When people do not show faithfulness, they say one thing and do another. One day they believe something, and the next day they believe
something else. You can never count on them for anything. When
people are faithful, you know what they stand for and you can trust
them. You can count on them to do what they say they will do. They
are faithful friends.
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Listen to your heart when your beliefs are tested
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Only make promises you can keep
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Make your words and deeds match
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Are loyal to your friends and family
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Clear up problems face to face
You need more practice when you…
Do not believe that anything is important
Accept a belief without thinking for yourself
Say one thing and do another
Talk about people behind their backs
Don’t keep your commitments
We Welcome:
Ms. Pierro who will be teaching Intermediate F.S.L.
Mr. Guiry who will be teaching Grade 7.
Ms. Cavan who will be working as ERW in classrooms.
Ms. Kulczyski who will be working as Intervenor with a
special needs student.
Remember - SAFETY FIRST!!!
2. Supervision in School Yard
Staff are on duty for 15 minutes before the start of the
school day and throughout the 40 minutes lunch recess.
Therefore, you may safely leave your child in the school
yard upon arrival in the morning or returning to the school
after lunch.
3. Picking Up Students at Dismissal
At the end of the school day, parents, babysitters, older siblings are to meet students outside (Grades 1-8) at the side or
back doors. The front area and doors of the school are only
for Kindergarten parents, staff and bus students. Parents
picking up their children by car at the end of the school day,
can only stop in lane 2 of the Kiss & Ride Lane and must
stay in their vehicles.
Health
Medication
On occasion, the school is asked to store
and/or give medication to students. A
completed form must accompany each
request for medication to be stored and
given out by the school personnel. Ask
the Office to supply you with the appropriate forms.
Medical Alerts and Anaphylaxis forms were sent home at
the end of June to facilitate doctor’s appointments and
time to complete documentation. This is necessary to
update files and inform staff of concerns.
Peanut Awareness & Other Allergens
Dates to Remember
September
17
P.A. Day - Re-organization and Division Meetings
20
School Council Nomination Forms Due
27
Confirmation Parent Meeting
—7 p.m. at the church
30
Open House—7:00—8:00 p.m.
October
We have a number of children in our school who have
severe life threatening allergic reaction to peanuts, peanut
butter, peanut oils and any peanut by-products, as well as
dairy, egg, shrimp and nuts.
4
5
Opening Mass - 9:30 a.m. at school
Other life threatening allergens may include allergies to
flour products, sesame seeds and types of seafood if ingested by the student.
7
School Council Meeting and elections
—6:30 p.m.
* Please refer to the Allergen Awareness letter sent
home on the first day of school and an additional letter
specific to each class if it is necessary. Additional information on anaphylaxis can be found on our school website.
STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
As required by the Education Act and the Ministry of
Education, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School
Board annually provides parents with information about
cost-effective student accident insurance coverage via
student courier. 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 writing -- there are two options
for enrolment:
1) Complete the traditional form and mail it in
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.
School Council Elections and Nomination Forms
If you are interested in an elected position on School
Council, please pick up a self-nomination form at the
office or send a note in with your child. Please ensure
that you fill out your self-nomination form and return it
to the office by September 20th. Elections will take
place at the next School Council meeting on Thursday,
October 7th.
1st Communion Parent Meeting
- 7 p.m. at the church
11
Thanksgiving
Combined Classes
With the introduction by the Ministry of a primary classroom cap on class sizes, combined classrooms have become
much more common. We check student enrollment each
day and we may be reorganizing over the next week. Parents have been bringing in letters requesting classroom
changes for their children, however, it will be impossible to
accommodate all requests. We will do our best but I want to
reassure parents that teachers use many different strategies
to teach students in combined grades. All classrooms,
whether single grade or combined, include students performing at a range of achievement levels. Several studies
have found that students in combined classes do just as well
as students in single-grade classes. In fact, some students
actually do better in language and reading.
Lunch Students & Leaving School Grounds
The school lunch hour is 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. When
children stay for lunch, they will eat with their classmates
and remain on school property throughout the lunch period. Supervision is provided by staff and a lunch supervisor. For safety reasons, students either stay for lunch or
leave for lunch every day. Changes to this routine are
done only with written permission by a parent/guardian.
Students are not allowed to call home to go out for
lunch. The office is very busy at this time and phones are
needed for office communication and emergency phone
calls. Parents accept the responsibility for conduct,
safety and the well being of students when they are given
permission to leave school property. We thank you for
continuing to support this safety routine.