St. Clare Courageous Cougars

Principal: Sonia Correia

Head Secretary: Elena Iannicca

Superintendent: Drago Radic

Pastor: Rev. Edward Curtis, St. Ignatius Loyola Parish

Email: St.ClareInfo@dpcdsb.org

Website: https://www3.dpcdsb.org/CLARE

Twitter/X: @StClareDP

Instagram: @stclaredp

Supervision Begins Outside: 8:15-8:30 am

School Begins: 8:30am

Recess: 10:03-10:18am

Lunch: 11:41am - 12:41pm

Recess: 2:05-2:20pm

Dismissal: 3:00pm

The month of April was filled with rich faith experiences, engaging learning opportunities, and many moments of student achievement across our school.

Students participated in meaningful faith celebrations, including time of reflection with Chaplain Mr. Michael, the Rosary of the Apostolates, Stations of the Cross led by Ms. Jajou’s class, the celebration of First Holy Communion for our Grad e 2 students, and the joy of Easter reflected through prayer, kindness, and classroom activities.

Students across grades enjoyed hands-on learning experiences such as the Kindergarten trip to Living Arts Centre, Scientist In The School, the Grade 3 Swim to Survive program, and participation in academic and athletic events including the Speech Competition, basketball tournaments, chess tournament, and ongoing ball hockey practices. Parent Council let a successful chocolates fundraiser for the school.

Our Grade 8 students and families were also supported through Transition to High School meetings.

We appreciate the support of families and community partners during Grade 7 vaccinations and dental screenings, helping promote student well-being.

Our Wellness Team proudly showcased their year-long initiatives at their final conference, and we thank Mme Gallant for her dedication to this important work.

Overall, it has been a full and rewarding month. I am proud of our students, grateful for our dedicated staff, and thankful for the continued support of our families and school community.

Congratulations to our students who received First Holy Communion on April 19th and 26th.

May the Holy Spirit bestow upon you wisdom, courage, and unwavering faith as you embark on your spiritual journey. Congratulations on your First Holy Communion. May this day serve as a reminder of God's immense love for you, and may His grace accompany you always.

On Tuesday May 26th, Lunch will be provided for all grade 2 students in the library as part of their celebration of receiving their sacrament of First Communion. More information will be shared with parents/guardians regarding dietary restrictions.

Congratulations to our students who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on May 19th.

May the Holy Spirit fill you with wisdom, courage, and a deep and enduring faith as you continue your journey as witnesses to Christ. On this special day, may you feel the abundance of God’s love surrounding you, and may His grace guide and strengthen you always.

Congratulations on your Confirmation, and may God’s blessings be with you today and always.

On Monday May 25th, Lunch will be provided for all grade 7 students in the library as part of their celebration of receiving their sacrament of Confirmation. More information will be shared with parents/guardians regarding dietary restrictions.

Please note that the Hot Lunch Program is provided to students who have pre-ordered online via School CashOnline:

Monday - Shawarma

Tuesday - Pizza

Wednesday - Chicken

Thursday - No Hot Lunch

Fridays - Burrito

May 4-8th Catholic Education: Pilgrims of Hope: On the Path to Holiness

This year’s Catholic Education theme is, “Catholic Education: Pilgrims of Hope: On the Path to Holiness.”

The theme for Catholic Education Week 2026 was inspired by the following considerations:

• The Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee year provides us the ongoing opportunity to serve the common good and recommit ourselves to prayer, service, and evangelization.
• As we remember our late Pope Francis, and eagerly embrace the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, the coming school year will be a time to renew the momentum of our Jubilee celebrations, by inviting everyone in Catholic education to embrace the journey toward holiness and peace.
• In light of the canonization of Blessed Carlos Acutis, the Catholic Education Week theme will focus on the Pastoral Letter to Young People issued by the Bishops of Canada in October 2022. As young people themselves, their example shows us, very vividly, what it means to live as pilgrims on a journey of faith, toward a hope grounded in the unshakeable love of the Risen Jesus.
• Our lives as Christians are truly a path toward holiness, becoming, more and more, the people God created us to be. That will look different in each of our lives, but for all of us, we know that it is God’s Spirit at work in us who guides us toward holiness: “The Holy Spirit illumines all believers with the light of hope. He keeps that light burning, like an ever-burning lamp, to sustain and invigorate our lives.” (Spes Non Confundit, 3)

There are five sub-themes for each day of Catholic Education Week:

Day 1: Peace be with you / La paix soit avec vous

Day 2: God loves you / Dieu vous aime (Dieu t’aime)

Day 3: Christ saves you / Le Christ vous sauve (Le Christ te sauve)

Day 4: The Holy Spirit lives in you / L’Esprit Saint demeure en vous (L’Esprit Saint demeure en toi)

Day 5: Together on the journey / Ensemble sur le chemin

Every year, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) provides our Catholic schools with a resource kit to help schools prepare for Catholic Education Week. St. Mark will be accessing these resources, as well as our own developed plans, we have prepared a series of activities, which will highlight how the students and staff at our school are being Pilgrims of Hope together.

May 25, 26, 27, 28 GRADE 6

May 26, 27, 28, 29 GRADE 3

Please do not book vacation times or appointments during these times. Thank you!

We will soon begin the process of making class lists for next year. This is a complex procedure which takes into consideration not only the needs of the individual child, but frames those needs in the context of the larger classroom group. In each class, we strive for a balance of learning styles, a balance of gender, a balance of learning needs and a variety of abilities. Current grade teachers, support staff and administration all take part in the process. If you, as a parent, wish to provide input, please take into consideration the following guidelines:

• Input must be put in writing and submitted to Ms. Correia no later than May 9th, 2026.
• Submit requests in terms of educational contexts eg. your child's learning needs/strengths/style, information not already known to the school, best learning environment

Please do not make specific requests for teachers as staffing is always tentative and changes can occur up until the second week of September when staffing is finalized.

Please email your requests to: st.clareinfo@dpcdsb.org Attn: Ms. Correia

We ask any family who will be moving out of the area for the 2026- 2027 school year to please notify the office in writing. We will be projecting student enrollment for September 2026 and having this information assists us in being more accurate with our projection. Your assistance with this information is greatly appreciated as school organization changes with enrollment at each grade level. Please contact the school to inform us of your leaving.

​Catholic Education Week begins on a Sunday to highlight the partnership that remains the foundation of Catholic education between our Catholic schools and local Catholic parishes.​ During Catholic Education Week, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board celebrates the significant contribution that Catholic Education has made to the community, the province and to Canada.

Students at St. Clare school will participate in various activities and lessons celebrating Catholic education throughout the week.

We will be hosting a "Cougar Paw Prints" Art evening. See poster attached.

This year together with our Rosary Apostolates we will be honouring Our Lady of Lourdes at our Crowning of Mary celebration on May 12th.

• Primary Celebration: Kindergarten to Grade 3 ~ 12:45 -1:20 pm in our school gymnasium
• Junior/Intermediate Celebration: Grade 4-8 ~ 2:20 - 2:55 pm in our school gymnasium

With the arrival of warmer temperatures and more time spent outdoors, we wanted to remind you how to protect yourself and your loved ones from Blacklegged Ticks, which are native to our region, live in wooded areas, tall grasses and bushes, and may carry Lyme Disease.

In this regard, we encourage you to read the attached fact sheet from Health Ontario which indicates how to prevent tick bites when outdoors.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

At different times throughout the year, especially in the winter when students are wearing hats and hoodies, schools experience an increase in the number of cases of head lice. In an effort to be proactive, we ask that your child’s hair be checked periodically to ensure that they do not have head lice. Should you discover the presence of lice or nits, we would appreciate being informed. Helpful information can also be obtained from a pharmacist or the local Public Health Department. Click Here for Peel Health Information Pediculosis (head lice) is spread only by direct contact with a `case', often through the sharing of combs and brushes, exchanging of hats, etc. Please help us instruct students regarding prevention.

Region of Peel Public Health supports the Canadian Paediatric Society's (CPS) position that there is no sound medical rationale to support exclusion of students with head lice from school. Children with head lice should be treated and can attend school.

Peel Public Health does not allow it’s public health nurses to visit schools and provide such services like screening for lice. Further to this, Peel Public Health does not provide recommendations for external services.

CPS further recommends that:

• Treatment should be recommended, and close head-to-head contact should be discouraged pending treatment.
• Families of children in a classroom where a case of active head lice has been detected should be notified and informed about proper diagnosis, and prevention.

To read the Canadian Paediatric Society's position statement on head lice, please visit: http://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/head-lice.

Please visit: Head lice | Caring for kids (cps.ca) for additional information on head lice.

If your child has a medical condition, please ensure that the school is aware of it by submitting the proper forms and medication as soon as possible. If you did not receive the necessary forms in June, kindly please contact the office.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medications and forms are updated for any student who requires medication to be administered at school. If your child requires medication, please have the necessary forms completed and return them, along with any medication, to the office as soon as possible.

Please remember to check the expiry dates of all medication before bringing them to school.

Medication that is sent to school without the proper documentation will not be stored or dispensed by school personnel. This also applies to over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen, cough medicine, Benadryl, and allergy medications.

All medication with the exception for Kindergarten or students who carry their medication (ie. fanny pack) will be stored centrally in the school office. Kindergarten student medication will be stored in their classrooms for accessibility. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school.

Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board has developed a Concussion Policy and Guidelines for students who have been diagnosed with a concussion by either a medical doctor or nurse practitioner. School staff cannot diagnose a concussion. Anytime a student reports to the office with a head injury, the parent/guardian will be contacted and the incident will be entered into the school’s “Documentation of Head Injuries” log. This is precautionary only, and we ask that you check your child when he/she gets home for any signs of a concussion or illness. We encourage you to click on the Concussion Resources button below which will take you directly to the board website for further information. Again this is a precautionary measure and for information purposes.

DPCDSB offers the full-day Kindergarten program in 125 Catholic elementary schools in Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Bolton and Orangeville. Elementary school admissions are open to Catholic children and children of Catholic parents. Kindergarten students must be at least 4 years of age by December 31 of the school year for which they are registering.

NOTICES

• All elementary schools are currently accepting new online registrations for 2026-2027​ unless specified below.
• For information about Kindergarten Registration for the St. James Catholic Global Learning Centre, visit the St. James C.E.S. website.
• To find out which Catholic school is in your area, use the Peel Region and Dufferin County Find My School tools or contact the Planning Department at 905-890-0708 ext. 24440
• If you are applying for admissions under 'Flexible Boundaries', please contact the school office directly.
• Elementary Student Transfer Request Form (for current DPCDSB students)
• Entry Planning Form for Students with Differing Abilities Form
  Completion of this form should only be done after parents/guardians have completed the online registration process. This form should only be completed for students who have higher needs (e.g. a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, medical needs, needs requiring equipment or specialized services, speech, vision or hearing needs, etc.)
• Region of Peel Public Health Resource: Building a Healthy School Environment - For Families Registering Their Children for Kindergarten
  

​For more information about admissions and requirements, parents/guardians should contact their school directly or the Admissions Department at 905-890-1221 or admissions@dpcdsb.org.

REGISTRATION PROCESS

1. Create an account on the Online Application System.
2. How to Create an Account: Quick Reference Guide
3. ​Once you have created an account, complete and submit the Online Application Form​​.
   ​How to Register Online: Quick Reference Guide
4. Receive email confirmation acknowledging receipt of the online Application Form with further instructions if supporting documentation was not submitted online. (See below for a complete list).
5. Entry Planning Form for Students with Differing Abilities
   Completion of this form should only be done after parents/guardians have completed the online registration process. This form should only be completed for students who have higher needs (e.g. a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, medical needs, needs requiring equipment or specialized services, speech, vision or hearing needs, etc.)

For those without online access, printed copies of the Registration Form are available in the school office. You may also download the Printable Registration Form.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
The following documents are required to complete the registration process. All documents MUST be submitted in English and be originals:

Proof of age of the child
Birth certificate or passport.

Original Roman Catholic baptismal certificate
Students registering in DPCDSB elementary schools and/or their parents/guardians, must provide the following:
- an original Roman Catholic baptismal certificate (for child and/or parent/guardian), or;
- an original baptismal certificate (for child and/or parent/guardian) from a church that is in communion with the Holy See of Rome, or;
- an original baptismal certificate (for child and/or parent/guardian) from an Eastern Catholic Church (St. Sofia).

Updated immunization records
Report your child's immunizations to Region of Peel Public Health​ or Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health online and give the reference number to your child's school when registering.

​Proof of Canadian citizenship
Birth certificate, passport or permanent resident status.

Proof of home address/Emergency rural address numbers
Two of the following: property tax bill, current utility bill, electronic bill, real estate document or Government of Canada issued forms. On a case-by-case basis, consideration for any special circumstance shall go through the respective Superintendent or Admissions Officer. If the lease agreement is the sole documentation and not a standard lease form, it should be notarized/Commissioner of Oath.

​Proof of English Separate School Support
May be done at the time of registration by completing an​ Application for the Direction of School Support and/or a Separate School Lease Agreement (Peel or Dufferin). ​ Learn More: Direction of School Support

Link: KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM INFORMATION​

Bus safety

If your child rides the bus daily, it is important that they are aware of the safety rules on the bus. Students are required to:

• Listen to the Bus Driver at all times and report any problems or injuries to him/her
• Go directly to their assigned seat and remain seated during the entire bus ride
• Do not eat, drink, swear, fight or chew gum on the bus
• Do not put arms out the window, or throw items or garbage out the window
• If any damage to the seat of bus is caused, students will be held responsible
• Be at least 5 minutes early at your bus stop to ensure that you don't miss the bus

Improper conduct on the bus will be dealt with at the Office. Repeated or serious incidents can result in busing privileges being suspended or removed. Please review these rules with your child. Taking the

bus is a privilege, not a right.

During the school year we will be rehearsing and will continue to rehearse with students a number of emergency response situations including lock down and fire drills. All schools are required by Board policy to practice these procedures throughout the year. We have these ‘practice drills’ for precautionary purposes only so that in the event of an actual emergency, students will be prepared to respond in a safe and responsible manner. We will also be practicing a Lockdown drill. During this drill, the outer doors will be locked and the office will be unavailable during the time of the drill. No one will be allowed to enter or exit during the drill while the emergency protocol is being followed. The day will continue as normal following the drill. Dates for lockdown and fire drills are posted in our "Upcoming Events" section.

Thank you for your patience.

The Kiss n’ Ride program is available to provide the convenience and safety for our students and parents driving to our school. Please take a moment to review the following procedures to ensure safety for all students and parents using Kiss N’ Ride.

1. NEVER LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE.

Kiss and Ride lanes are to be “moving lane ways”, not parking spots. This ensures that emergency vehicles or buses may enter the school. Please do not leave your vehicle at anytime. If you need to directly drop off your child, please park your car. For safety reasons, have the children exit the car from the passenger side of the vehicle only. If they are unable to do this without your help, you must park your car and walk your child in.

2. DO NOT drop your child(ren) off in the bus loading zone or in the bus lane, only in the DRIVETHRU lane

3.Teach your child to watch for buses in the bus lane, before they cross into the lane and on to the sidewalk. Once on the sidewalk, they can walk along the sidewalk to the back of the schoolyard.

4. Students walking and using the crosswalk, need to respect the crossing guard on duty. Running across Glen Erin Drive is never allowed and is dangerous. Please use the tunnel.

5. PLEASE CONTROL YOUR SPEED.

Kiss and Ride is the type of environment where students behave unpredictably and could quickly ‘pop out’ in front of you. Please give yourself the greatest chance of avoiding an accident. We are all working together to minimize risks to our children. Please remember that the driveway is a one way only. Please follow the signs to ensure that safety for all students and family.

We want to ensure the safety of all students at all times. Please drive slowly. Thank you for your continued cooperation. Please feel free to direct any questions or safety concerns to Mrs. Rodrigues-Coelho.

Just a reminder that if you are interested in volunteering within the school in any capacity, including field trips, student support, Catholic School Council member, etc., a Valid Criminal Reference Check (CRC), with Vulnerable Sector and Local Records Check is required. Due to COVID closures and not having volunteers in the schools for multiple years, many of our filed CRC and CRC Annual Declarations have lapsed. Therefore, we would like to begin now for any possible volunteer opportunities that may arise this year. Please note that there may be some time required to process a CRC, thus waiting for an announced volunteer opportunity to obtain your CRC may not provide sufficient time for processing. Therefore, we are asking all parents that if you feel that you may be interested in volunteering in any capacity in the school this year, it may be best to start the process now.

Come by the office for a Volunteer Letter from the school before you apply!

Thank you for all your ongoing support and we look forward to having many volunteer opportunities in the school this year.

It is important for students to be at school on time and ready to work. When students are late they miss important information and routines. We realize that throughout the year there will be times that your child will be away from school.

SafeArrival is an application within SchoolMessenger that will allow parents/guardians to report their children’s absences in one of the following three ways:

• SchoolMessenger App
• SchoolMessenger website https://go.schoolmessenger.ca
• Toll Free number 1-844-435-3440

What is SafeArrival:

• SafeArrival is an absence management system that improves student safety.
• It supports school staff to follow up on unexcused absences.
• It allows parents and/or guardians to notify the school in advance about an upcoming absence.

Benefits:

• Better Attendance Management for Enhanced Student Safety
• Faster and Easier Attendance Management
• Simplified Parent Reporting Tools
• Accessible, Convenient and Secure
• Automated Key Tasks With SafeArrival Administrative Tools

In the event that your child is late or absent, please use one of the three ways to access Safe Arrival.

Students who arrive late to school must proceed to the office to get a late slip.

The School Advisory Council is comprised of parents, a school faculty member, a non-teaching representative, as well as an appointed parish community representative. The aim of the council is to support school activities and students through involvement and fundraising. We are always looking for new parents to join our School Council! If your child is participating in online learning you are still part of our St. Clare community and therefore you are welcome to attend council meetings and participate in council elections.

ST. CLARE CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL FOR 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR

Principal: Ms. Sonia Correia

Chairs: Mrs. Laura Zampino-Mendonca

Secretary: Mrs. Joanna Agueci

Treasurer: Mrs. Katherine DaSilva

Parish Rep: Mr. Gerald Menezes

OAPCE Rep : Mrs. Sophia Krol

Teacher Rep: Ms. Gillis

Non-Teacher Rep: Mrs. Traynor

Voting Members:

1. Mrs. Sophia Krol

2. Mrs. Eva Chatfield

3. Mrs. Melisia Catling

4. Mrs. Joanna Agueci

5. Mrs. Michelle Divers

6. Mrs. Lisa Whitelaw

7. Mrs. Alexandria McCann

8. Mr. Gerald Menezes

9. Mrs. Laura Zampino Mendonca

10. Mr. Leonard Mendonca

11. Mrs. Tiffany Mammoliti

12. Mrs. Claudia Loustel

13. Ms. Aksana Savitskaya

14. Mrs. Katherine Da Silva

15. Mrs. Danielle Campion

Our last meeting took place on Monday April 27th @ 6:00-8:00pm Catholic School Council in our Library Learning Commons.

St. Ignatius Loyola Parish

2300 Burnhamthorpe Rd. West
Mississauga, ON
L5L 3T6

Rev. Edward Curtis

Rev. Alexander D'Silva, Associate Pastor

Deacon John Brown

Deacon Robert Sansone

PARISH STAFF

Olga Calderon Parish Secretary StIgnatiusLoyolaMI@archtoronto.org

Sunday Mass Times for St. Ignatius Loyola Parish are 7:45am, 9:00am, 10:30am and 12:00pm (Noon) Website