NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2013
Principal
Principal
T. Cruz
D. Della Rossa
Vice Principal
Secretary
D. Carpe
S. Droy
5820 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 5J9
Telephone: (905) 814-9216
Fax: (905) 814-9217
Thanksgiving Prayer
Lord, we come before you in Thanksgiving
For the gifts you have given
The colour of the season reminds us
of the beauty
You alone can create.
Secretaries
Superintendent
S.
Droy
Mississauga
North
We are thankful for the food you provide
T. Cruz
Superintendent
Mississauga
North
Parish
D.
Oude-Reimerink
Merciful
Redeemer Parish
You have filled the earth with your gifts.
in the harvest.
You have blessed us.
We are ever grateful!
Phone: 905-812-0030
Parish
Merciful
Pastor Redeemer Parish
Phone:
Fr. Vid 905-812-0030
Vlasic
Pastor
Associate Pastor
Fr.
Vid Vlasic
Fr. Robert
Mignella
Associate
PastorCo-Chair
School Council
Fr.
Robert
Mignella
Jennifer
Rodrigo
School
Council Co-Chair
Chair
School Council
Keith Mussar
Trustee
Esther
TrusteeO’Toole
Ward
Esther9O’Toole
Phone:
Ward 9 905-812-5163
Phone: 905-812-5163
Attendance Verification
Phone:
905-814-9216
Attendance
Verification
Phone: 905-814-9216
Web Site
www.dpcdsb.org/OLMCY
Web Site
Volunteers Make it Happen
Our Lady of Mercy has many volunteer positions
available. Some ongoing ways that you can contribute include the All Star Program, Pizza Days,
Kiss & Ride, and classroom/library assistant. As
well, we have various special events that occur
throughout the year such as fundraising, school
concerts, religious and seasonal celebrations.
Any amount of time you can offer would be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in volunteering, please let the school office know or send a
direct e-mail to G.I.F.T.S. Volunteer Program at
mercygifts@yahoo.ca and one of our volunteer
co-ordinators, will contact you. Thank you to
those who have already signed up to volunteer!
www.dpcdsb.org/OLMCY
DPCDSB is now on Twitter!
For the latest board news and information, follow us
@DPCDSBSchools.
Thanksgiving—Monday, Oct. 14
There will be no school on this day. Our
Lady of Mercy Staff would like to wish your
family a Happy Thanksgiving and a safe
and blessed holiday weekend!
Principal’s Message
A special thanks to all who were able make it to
our Open House to meet their children’s teachers.
We wish to extend a heartfelt thanks for your support with the Used Book Sale. We will be presenting a cheque to the parish in support of ShareLife
for $160.00.
As a school we did have to reorganize our primary, junior and intermediate classes to meet ministry standards and board policies. We wish to
thank all families for their understanding and
support through the process.
At Our Lady of Mercy, the month of October will be
filled with wonderful moments of giving, reflecting
and supporting. The virtue of Empathy will be a
strong part of our focus during October and especially for Thanksgiving. Our first school mass will
be held on Tuesday, October 8th. This will provide
time for our school community to reflect on what
we are most grateful for and what we need to do
to give back to our communities. Together in this
special moment of faith where the home, school
and parish unite in presence we ask that you join
in as a community. Also, a special thank you to
the community for their support with our Terry Fox
Walk held on the afternoon of Thursday, September 25th. We raised a total of $714.17 surpassing last year total all in support of cancer research. Thank you to Fr. Jim and to the many
families that joined us for our walk.
Our School Council Elections and First Meeting
were held September 24th. A special thanks to all
parents who participated in the meeting and for
those who took on a role.
During the month of November we will be having a
food drive for Eden Food Bank during the week of
November 18th to November 22nd. We will mark
November 19th as Toonie Tuesday for Eden Food
Bank.
Thank you for helping us to help those in need.
On behalf of the staff here at Our Lady of Mercy,
we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
D. Della Rossa
School Operations
Communication Updates
STUDENT VERIFICATION SHEETS
KISS N’ RIDE
Thank you to all who have completed and returned the Student Verification Sheet which you received from the classroom teacher in early September. The information requested is essential for communication with home in the event of
an emergency. If you have not returned this information,
please do so as soon as possible. Please notify the office of
any changes throughout the year.
Thank you 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. Some parents continue to stop immediately
after entering the lane. 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.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
& EXCURSIONS
This year your child will have the opportunity to participate
in a variety of field trips and extra-curricular activities. In
preparation for these events, permission forms will be sent
home. It is essential that these forms be filled out and
promptly returned to the school. No student will be allowed
on any trip or activity without a signed permission form.
Thank you for your cooperation.
VISITORS TO SCHOOL
& CONTACTING STAFF MEMBERS
If you wish to speak to a staff member, we request that you
call and book an appointment. This enables our staff to plan
ahead to meet you without disrupting any planned activities
during or after school.
VISITORS AND 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.
Lunch Students & Leaving School Grounds
The school lunch hour is 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. When
children stay for lunch, they eat with their classmates and
remain on school property throughout the lunch period.
Supervision is provided by staff and three Student Monitors
(lunch supervisors). 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. Thank you for continuing to support this safety routine.
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.
OPEN HOUSE
Many thanks to all those who attended our Open House on
Wednesday, September 18th. The evening was a great success. During classroom visits, copies of a Curriculum Night
document by divsion, literacy ideas, and math games/
strategies for parents were distributed. Also, there was a
note regarding taking student photos for school events that
was included. Please keep them for future reference.
VALUABLES
Students are reminded not to bring valuables such as electronic games, toys, personal items of importance, or money
to school. The school does not accept responsibility for the
above. Wherever possible, personal items should be
marked with the child’s name. Students will be asked to
have parents pick up from the office any inappropriate
items brought to the school.
SCHOOL DRESS CODE – Cooler
Weather
Students are expected to adhere to standards of
modesty, neatness and good taste in their attire
within our school. As temperatures drop, students
need to dress warmly and have an additional pair of pants
handy for unexpected playground splashes. Please remember
to bring a pair of indoor shoes to keep mud and sand at bay.
PEDICULOSIS
Head lice are parasites which have been common among humans
for centuries. They are not connected in any way with dirt or neglect. Anyone can be infested with them. We ask your cooperation in following our school procedures for controlling these pests.
If cases are found in the school, we will inform parents. We shall
check friends and classmates of the affected students. However,
we request that you also check your own children and if you find
them to be infested, we would ask that you let us know. Information on the proper treatment can be obtained from a pharmacist
or the Peel Regional Health Department. If your children have
head lice, we will ask you to keep them out of school until they
have been treated with the correct shampoo and their head is entirely clear of lice and nits (eggs).
Virtue of the Month
Empathy
God wants us to care
about
everyone’s feelings.
Liturgical Celebrations
Students in Grade 2 receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First
Holy Communion. Students in Grade
8 receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Preparation for these sacraments is a shared responsibility between parents, the parish and the
school. Dates for various liturgical celebrations and activities are as follows:
DATE
An empathetic person…

listens when people speak

notices when someone is upset and tries to help

can understand and name her/his feelings

can see a situation from another person’s point of view

accepts that others may feel differently about things than
they do
A Daily Prayer for October
Let us now pray … for the grace and strength to be people of
empathy -people who can really identify with and feel the
concerns of those around us. AMEN.
CELEBRATING OUR VIRTUES
Every month we will be celebrating students who demonstrate
the virtues. We have added leaves with their names onto the
Virtue Tree in our front hallway. Student names will continue
to be announced at the end of the month. Each student will receive a virtue pencil highlighting the virtue. We are excited to
recognize each of the students as they demonstrate the virtues
throughout the year.
EDEN FOOD BANK
Looking for a family volunteer experience at the food bank?
Next Meetings:
CELEBRATION
September 30 or October 1
7:30 p.m. @ Church
Parent’s Meeting for:
Grade 2 Sacraments
Sat./Sun, October 26/27
Any Parish Mass
First Holy Communion
Presentation of Names
Saturday, October 26
7:00 p.m. Youth Mass
Letter of Request for Confirmation
Saturday, November 23
7:00 pm Youth Mass
Presentation of Cards for
Confirmation
Tuesday, December 10
9:30 a.m. at school
Advent Mass
Saturday, January 18
7:00 pm Youth Mass
Confirmation Crosses
Thursday, February 6
11:00 am @ Church
First Reconciliation
Monday, February 10
11:00 am @ School
Confirmation Confessions
Saturday. February 15
7:00 pm Youth Mass
Confirmation-Lenten Offering
Wednesday. March 5
1:20pm @ School
Ash Wednesday Liturgy
Date TBD
Confirmation – Sponsor
Meeting
Saturday. May 3
11:00 am @ Church
First Holy Communion
Saturday, May 24
2:00 p.m. @ Church
Confirmation
Monday, June 23
10:00 a.m. @ Church
Year End and Graduation
Mass
Wednesday, Nov 13th 2013 @ 7-8:30pm
Wednesday, Dec 11th 2013 @ 7-8:30pm
(Family Nights are monthly on every 2nd Wednesday.)
Where:
Eden Community Food Bank - UNITY 2-3185 Unity Drive (Unity Dr)
the first street south of Hwy 403 west off of Winston Churchill Blvd.)
Bring:
Your family and donations of food that you can help to sort together.
Please wear closed-toe shoes.
Contact: Maur een Sawicki,905-785-3651x5office@edenfoodbank.org
Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis
Our Lady of Mercy is an allergen aware school. There
are pupils in attendance who suffer from severe and
life threatening allergies to certain foods. Exposure to
the smallest quantities can cause severe life threatening
reactions. Anaphylaxis is a severe and life threatening
allergic reaction. The most common allergen triggers
are food, insect stings, medications, exercise and latex.
An anaphylactic reaction involves symptoms from two
or more body systems. Safety of all our students is paramount.
We at Our Lady of Mercy, would appreciate the cooperation of the entire school community by NOT
sending any lunches or snacks that contain any ingredients identified as food allergens for students in your
child’s class.
Please make sure that all of your children’s caregivers
are aware of the food restrictions. We also ask that you
review the letters that were sent home at the beginning
of the school year that spoke to specific allergens in
your child’s classroom.
For celebrations, we are once again asking that food
NOT be brought into the school since we cannot control the ingredients in many baked items.
If you have any questions please talk to your child’s
teacher or to school staff. Your co-operation in helping
to keep all our pupils safe is greatly appreciated.
Dates to Remember
October
1
Gr. 2 Parent Meeting @ 7:30 PM @ Church
3
Grade 8—Mount Alverno Retreat
4
Pizza Friday Day Begins
8
School Opening Mass @ 9:30 AM
9
MuchMusic Dance-a Thon kickoff @ 1:00PM
10 Cross Country Meet @ Erindale Park
11 PA Day—no classes
14 Thanksgiving Day
15 Grade 5 and 6—Mt Alverno Trip
17 Catholic School Advisory Council Mtg—6:30PM
16/18 Gr. 4 CCAT Testing
18
Gr. 7 and Gr. 8 Immunization Clinic
22 School Photo Day
23 Rosary Apostolate Visits
25 Kindergartens—Springridge Farm(AM)
26 Confirmation - Letter of Request @ 7:00PM
26/27 First Communion-Presentation of Names
30 MuchMusic Dance-a-thon
31 Hallowe’en
School Allergy Awareness
November
In our opening school newsletter package, a suggested
list of snacks that are diary, nut and egg free were
shared with the community. This is shared for you information and suggests various foods that support the
safety of all our students.
5
Progress Reports Go Home
7
Progress Report Interview Evening
Food Allergies and Hallowe’en
Hallowe’en is coming soon. Many children will be receiving treats on October 31st. As we have students in
our school who have severe food allergies, we again
ask that you please do not send Hallowe’en snacks to
school as it is difficult for us to identify their contents. Edible items that children receive at Hallowe’en
should be enjoyed at home where they may not pose a
risk to others. As well, please do not send
food for birthdays or special occasions.
Pencils, erasers and stickers are items
that children enjoy and can share with
their classmates.
Your co-operation in helping to keep all
our students safe from food allergens is
greatly appreciated.
11 Remembrance Day Assembly (AM)
13 Catholic School Advisory Council Mtg@ 6:30PM
HALLOWE’EN
Students have the option to wear costumes to school on
Wednesday October 31st. For safety reasons they must follow these guidelines:
 Do not bring weapon replicas such as swords, knives,
guns or objects that could injure others.
 Do not wear costumes that may be too gory or scary.
We have young children who may be frightened.
 Masks may not be worn in hallways or outside as they
pose a safety risk with such a large number of children.
Make up is a better option.
 Costumes may get damaged at school. Please ensure
that you are prepared with a back up for the evening.
 For those who do not wish to wear a costume, we encourage them to wear black and orange.
Have a fun and safe Hallowe’en!