NEWSLETTER
March 2012
5820 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 5J9
Telephone: (905) 814-9216
Fax: (905) 814-9217
Principal’s Message
Principal
T. Cruz
We have had the opportunity to experience winter in Ontario in a truly unique
way. Our children have had limited opportunities to experience the joys of
building snow forts, snowmen or snow
angels but have had more time to play
soccer and use our peace garden.
Vice Principal
D. Carpe
Secretary
S. Droy
Superintendent
Mississauga North
D. Oude-Reimerink
Parish
Merciful Redeemer Parish
Phone: 905-812-0030
Prayer for Lent
Dear God;
During this season of Lent,
May you help us to thank you for
the new life you gave
Pastor
Fr. Vid Vlasic
Associate Pastor
Fr. Robert Mignella
School Council Chair
Gail Bellissimo
Trustee
Esther O’Toole Ward 9
Phone: 905-812-5163
Attendance Verification
Phone: 905-814-9216
Web Site
www.dpcdsb.org/OLMCY
Please check our website
for information regarding
two Presentations being
offered in local schools
focusing on ‘Social Media’
and “Living with our Teens’
to our world and to our spirits.
To find your presence around us in the
sparkle of the sunshine,
a word given in encouragement,
and 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
With Ash Wednesday, we have now entered one of the most important times in
our liturgical calendar as a Catholic community. Lent is a time of growth, penance
and prayers. 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. We continue to
see many areas of the world, and within
our own communities, that still require
prayers for peace, food and shelter. Let
us pray for these communities that they
may receive these gifts. We also pray that
our students, families and staff will be
able to journey through Lent in good
health and with the essential elements
necessary for healthy living.
Have a wonderful March Break and I
look forward to seeing everyone back and
working hard during the final part of this
school year.
God Bless
off the path.
T. Cruz
To remember what Lent is all about
and to turn our lives toward You.
Amen
March Break
Monday, March 12th
to
Friday, March 16th, 2012
March Madness - March 5-9
Spirit Week Schedule
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.
Our Lady of Mercy School is once again hosting our Spirit
Week from March 5th to 9th 2012. Below is a schedule of
the events the students will be participating in.
Monday March 5-Sports Day
Wear your favourite team Jersey or colours
Watch the Teacher / student volleyball game at 1pm.
What is Kindness?
Wear your favourite hat !! There will also be a
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.
mystery surprise sometime during the day ?????
Why practice Kindness?
Tuesday March 6 - Hat Day /Mystery Day
Wed. March 7- Backwards Day
Wear your clothes backwards today!
Thursday March 8 - Pajama Day
Wear your favourite Pajamas.
Friday March 9 -School Colours Day/ Mercy Idol
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
Was your child born after 2004? Is your family income less that of worth. Let kindness flow!
Wear blue and yellow and enjoy the show at 9:00am.
Free Education Money !
$42,00 per year ?
You can get up to $2,000 in free education You are practicing the Virtue of KINDNESS when you…
money...All you have to do is open a Registered Education Sav-  Share with others
ings Plan ( RESP ) . You don't have to put any of your money 
into the plan to get this money from the Government of Canada.

When you open an RESP, the Government will deposit $500

right away and could deposit up to $1,500 more by the time your

child is 15. That's up to $2,000 for your child ’ s education after

high school. Visit www.pcyi.org or call the information free line
Use your manners
Listen to others
Are inclusive and never leave anyone out
Think of others first
Use kind words
905 890-9432 to learn more about how you can register your
You need more practice when you…
child.

Walk away from others

Exclude others from activities

Are rude and insulting

Don’t share with others

Always think of yourself first
OLOM is going GREEN!
The staff and students are working hard to reach
our ECO-certified status! The eco-team has organized several initiatives to educate our school on the
importance of conserving energy, minimizing waste
and reducing plastic water bottle use. Here is a
snapshot of what goes on each week in the school:
Dates to Remember
March
TURN IT OFF TUESDAYS
The entire school reduces their light usage, and
places a greater focus on using natural
light.
Lights are
turned off completely
when
classrooms
are not in use. The Eco-team goes around at recesses to check each room and keeps a spreadsheet of the results so that individual classes can
see how they are doing.
EARTH HOUR takes place on Tuesdays from 1:002:00. The entire school limits their lights and technology use during this time. Encourage your children to do the same at home and set an example by
turning off electronics when not in use and unplugging small appliances like toasters and coffee makers.
WASTELESS WEDNESDAYS - On Wednesdays
garbage bins and recycling bins are off limits. Students are asked to bring a litter-less lunch. Any
waste should be taken home and placed in the
green bin. Attached are ideas on
how you and your child can work
together to assemble a waste-less
lunch.
FREE WATER THURSDAYS
Students are asked to bring in their
reusable water bottles. As a school, we are trying to
reduce the amount of plastic water bottles in our
recycling bins. Fountain water is FREE and great
for the environment too! Stay tuned for more exciting
info from the ECO-team! Remember, ECO stands for :
Environment, Community, One !
See attached info to learn how
to
Pack a Waste-Free Lunch !!
5
Sports Day-Teacher/Student Volleyball-1 p.m.
6
Hat Day
7
Grade 8 Confirmation Retreat Day
Backwards Day
8
Pajama Day
9
School Colours / Mercy Idol -1pm
12
March Break Begins !
19
Bullying Presentation - All grades 9:15am
April
5
Stations of the Cross - Passion Play 9:15am & 1pm
6
Good Friday - School Closed
9
Easter Monday - School Closed
12
School Council Meeting 6:30pm
21
First Communion 1pm at Merciful Redeemer
26
Grade 7&8 Kortright Trip
May
9
Welcome to Kindergarten—evening
15
Confirmation-7pm at Merciful Redeemer
17
School Council Meeting-6:30 p.m.
21
Victoria Day
23
EQAO begins
Last chance to order !!
“Our Lady of Mercy Yearbook”.
If you are interested in
purchasing a yearbook please
send in $25.00 cash or a cheque
payable to “Our Lady of
Mercy” as soon as possible !!
Order Forms can be found on
the school website !
From Your Catholic School Trustees
Esther O’Toole
It has been very busy in our schools. Trustees were delighted to serve as a judge in a few
speaking contests and as ever were impressed by the subject matter, poise and talent of the students. Congratulations to all the participants! As I enter the season of Lent I am so pleased that most of our schools hosted pancake
mornings on Shrove Tuesday and then of course our students were able to receive their ashes on Ash Wednesday.
Flipping pancakes has now been added to my job description. So much fun!
Full Day Learning is continuing in specific schools in our area. In schools where classes are full, lotteries will take
place to determine registration. Extended French continues to flourish with an increase in some schools in the
number of classes. French Immersion also continues to grow. At this time we are not sure if there will have to be a
lottery. We have begun the budget process for the Board. We are not sure what the Grants for Students Needs will
look like. We are concerned with suggestions that have come from the Drummond Report. There were cut backs
on textbooks and technology on the last budget and other budget lines and the Drummond Report suggests more
cuts. This would be terrible for our students. There will be a public consultation for the budget in May. The budget
must be balanced and approved in June.
The Drummond Report which was released in late February reaches well into the operations of all school boards in
Ontario. Some points in the report are:
Class Size: Increasing class size across all grades. The success that the Ontario school system in particular,
Dufferin-Peel, has experienced over the past six years is directly related to class size. We, as a Board, believe in this direct relationship and do have concerns.
Transportation: There is a suggestion to charge for travelling on school buses. The imposition of transportation user fees could have an impact on the ability of parents to send their students to Catholic schools in
Dufferin-Peel. As well it would create a have/have not situation for students as this could be a financial
hardship for some parents.
Textbooks and Technology: Reductions in this area will not only hamper our ability to provide an enhanced
learning experience, but will again create a two-tiered system of students; those who are fortunate enough
to have a technology-rich family setting and those who are not coming from a home where there is technology. Schools should act as an equalizer in this regard.
70% reduction in non-teaching staff: Non-teaching staff help create environments that are caring, supportive
and enriching places for our students to learn and succeed. Reduction of non-teaching positions which actually support, in many cases, the most vulnerable people in our system is impossible to comprehend.
Much of the success of students with special needs is directly related to the people who help them on a
daily basis.
We will see how the provincial government responds to this report. Your Board of Trustees has sent a letter about
the ramifications of the Drummond Report to the Premier, Minister of Education, and our MPP’s. The Board of
Trustees did meet with our/your MPP’s to discuss issues affecting our students and schools. It was a positive and
open discussion.
I am so pleased with the results of our EQAO scores and much praise and thanks go to our teaching and support
staff. Dufferin-Peel’s scores surpassed both Peel and the province. Great work!
As ever if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me - (905) 812-5163.
I wish you a safe March Break and Blessed Easter.