St. Ursula Catholic Elementary School
Email: st.ursulainfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: www.dpcdsb.org/URSUL
Location: 11 Dwellers Road, Brampton, ON, Canada
Phone: (905) 454-5213
Twitter: @StUrsulaDPCDSB
"WHERE WISDOM BEGINS IN FAITH AND WONDER"
The mission of St. Ursula School community is to ensure that home, Church, and school are collaborative partners in the building of an environment that reflects the Catholic faith and values by celebrating each person as a member of the Body of Christ, and by challenging all to achieve excellence spiritually, socially and academically.
NEW YEAR'S PRAYER
Thank you for a new year. May everyone in our family be
willing to begin anew with a clean slate. We know that you are
always ready to forgive us. Help us to be willing to forgive
ourselves and to forgive one another.
As we begin a new year, remind us of our truest values and our
deepest desires. Help us to live in the goodness that comes from
doing what you want us to do. Help us to put aside anxiety about
the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with you
now, one day at a time.
Amen
VIRTUE OF THE MONTH: HOPE
God helps us to keep on working for a more peaceful world even when we feel discouraged.
A person of hope…
- expect the best to happen for everyone
- hold on to their dreams
- always count on God to help them in tough situations
- trust that things will work out in God's way
- look for something good to come out of problems
- are looking forward to life's blessings
- set and stick to their own goals
NOT SUCH AN ORDINARY TIME
As we bring to a close the season of Christmas, we begin to settle into the less active, more ordinary season of our wintery lives. The Church as well moves into Ordinary Time as the church colours move from celebratory white to green vestments and altar cloths. During the liturgical year of the church, the term "Ordinary Time" may be misleading. In the context of the liturgical year the term "ordinary" does not mean "usual or average." Ordinary here means "not seasonal."
Ordinary Time is that part of the Liturgical Year that lies outside the seasons of Lent-Easter and Advent-Christmas. In Ordinary Time, the Church celebrates the mystery of Christ not in one specific aspect, but in all its aspects. The readings during the liturgies of Ordinary Time help to instruct us on how to live out our Christian faith in our daily lives.
Ordinary Time in the Church's year occurs in two sections. The first part begins on the Monday the
Christmas season, which ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on the Sunday following
January 6. It lasts through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season.
Ordinary Time resumes after the Easter Season, on the Monday after Pentecost, and continues until
evening prayer on the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent.
During the Liturgical Year, the scripture readings for the seasons of Lent, Easter, Advent, and Christmas have prominent themes. During Ordinary Time the readings are not chosen according to a theme. During the Christmas season, the gospels recount the birth and early life of Jesus. On the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, the gospel begins to speak about the ministry of Jesus through the text about the wedding feast at Cana and two other passages from the Gospel of Mark. Then, with the Third Sunday, the life and preaching of Jesus unfold in each of the Gospels. We mark Ordinary Time with the colour green… the colour of growth and life. During ordinary time we reflect on how Christ’s gospel message can come to new life within our daily lives.
THE ONTARIO CATHOLIC SCHOOL GRADUATE EXPECTATIONS
Catholic education views human life as an integration of body, mind, and spirit. Rooted in thisvision, Catholic education fosters the search for knowledge as a lifelong spiritual andacademic quest. The expectations of Catholic graduates, therefore, are described not only interms of knowledge and skills, but in terms of values, attitudes and actions. The OntarioCatholic School Graduate is expected to be:
1. A discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith community who celebrates the signs andsacred mystery of God’s presence through word, sacrament, prayer, forgiveness, refl ection andmoral living.
2. An effective communicator who speaks, writes and listens honestly and sensitively,responding critically in light of gospel values
3. A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who solves problems and makes responsibledecisions with an informed moral conscience for the common good.
4. A self- directed,responsible, lifelong learner who develops and demonstrates their God -given potential.
5. A collaborative contributor who fi nds meaning, dignity and vocation in work which respectsthe rights of all and contributes to the common good.
6. A caring family member who attends to family, school, parish, and the wider community
7. A responsible citizen who gives witness to Catholic social teaching by promoting peace, justice and the sacredness of human life.
ST. URSULA CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
The last C.S.C. was held on Wednesday, December 13th 2023. Minutes of this meeting will be posted on our school website.
This year’s 2023-2024 Catholic School Council members are:
Chair: Christina Calabrese
Treasurer: Alana McIntosh-Jacobs
Secretary: Anya Bruney- Francis
Parish Rep: Patti Rodrigues
OAPCE Rep: Dawn Cook
Parent Reps: Don Ouellette, Regina Ukwuoma
Teacher Rep: Ms. Fairclough/ Ms. Yousif/ Ms. Cheaney-Hogan
Non-Teaching Rep: Ms. Vitorino
Upcoming Meetings:
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 @ 6:30PM (Virtual)
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 @ 6:30PM (Virtual)
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 @ 6:30PM (In-Person)
The next Catholic School Council Meeting will take place virtually on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 6:30. As always, all parents are welcomed to attend this open meeting.
St. Ursula Toy Mountain 2023
We are excited to announce our annual school-wide Toy Drive has returned! This heartwarming initiative is an opportunity for our school community to come together and spread joy to those in need.
Our Toy Drive aims to collect new, unwrapped toys that will be distributed to less fortunate children, creating magical moments and lasting memories during the Christmas season. It's a wonderful way for our students to learn the value of generosity and compassion.
We invite each family to contribute to this meaningful cause by donating a new, unwrapped toy. These toys will not only bring smiles but also symbolize the warmth and unity of our school community.
The Toy Drive will run from December 4th to December 20th, and we encourage you to participate early to maximize our collective impact.
We believe that the spirit of giving is a lesson that goes beyond the classroom, and together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
Thank you for your continued support and for being a part of this wonderful tradition at St. Ursula. Let's come together to make this Christmas extra special for children in our community.
Wishing you and your family a joyful and blessed Christmas season!
BUS CANCELLATIONS/ SCHOOL CLOSURES
BUS CANCELLATIONS
During the winter months, inclement weather and/or poor road conditions may cause the disruption of bus transportation.
If buses are cancelled in a certain Weather Zone, schools in that Zone will remain open to students and staff.
Please note that our school, St. Ursula Catholic School is part of Weather Zone # 2
There is no distribution of learning devices in anticipation of inclement weather-related bus cancellations.
While students unable to attend in person due to transportation cancellations are not required to access learning materials in the Learning Management System (LMS), they can if they choose to. Learning activities posted in the LMS specifically for inclement weather days provide opportunities for consolidation, curriculum enrichment or practice of skills already taught.
It is acknowledged that teachers will be supporting in-person students and therefore may have limited availability to support students who are not in attendance.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
If there is a system closure due to inclement weather, where all DPCDSB schools and facilities are closed to students and staff, there is no switch to synchronous learning for the day.
Similar to bus cancellation days, students can access learning activities posted in the LMS specifically for inclement weather days that provide opportunities for consolidation, curriculum enrichment or practice of skills already taught. This also applies to students in remote-only classes.
As always, parents/guardians can contact their child’s teacher if they have any questions or require support using communication methods that have been established by the teacher.
WINTER WEATHER REMINDERS
Winter season has arrived! Please assist us in encouraging your children to dress appropriately for the cold weather. When on yard supervision, teachers monitor if children are wearing their boots, hats, Teachers will teach synchronously in the Learning Management System for 1.5 hours in the morning from 9:30 am to 11:00 am and 1.5 hours in the afternoon from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm. School Bus Cancellations will be communicated by “Weather Zone” through the STOPR website www.stopr.ca and the STOPR twitter account @STOPRinfo by 06:00 am each morning. It is recommended that you visit the sites above rather than listening to the news. What is communicated on the news may not be accurate. INDOOR/ OUTDOOR SHOES The students should have a pair of indoor shoes to wear at school in class and for gym. Outdoor shoes/ boots will be kept for outdoor use only and out of the classrooms in order to reduce the amount of dirt and mud brought indoors. This will assist our custodial staff in keeping the school clean. gloves and scarves. We want our students to feel comfortable out-doors and not get chilled because of inappropriate winter dress. Except under unusual conditions, students will go outside during their outdoor learning blocks and lunch recess time. The outdoor breaks allows for students to remove their masks for fresh air and exercise. Health officials indicate that the fresh air is good for children...not harmful, as long as students are dressed properly. For our younger students, it would be helpful if parents were to label items of clothing with their child’s name, so that each person can more easily locate his/her own clothing from the class coat rack area. Each term many items make their way to the “Lost and Found” bin and are never claimed. Labelled items can be returned more easily and mixed up items sorted out more readily. Please ensure that your child has an extra pair of shoes at school, to keep their feet dry and warm during wet and/or snowy weather. A change of clothing stored in a child’s back-pack, may also be a good idea for younger students.
SAFE SNOW AND PLAY
The winter season is upon us! Playing in the snow can be a lot of fun, however, our school has a rule forbidding the throwing of snowballs and the kicking of snow onto others. Students are reminded of the importance of this rule in preventing injury to others and they are encouraged to constructively use the snow that winter brings to build snow persons, sculptors, etc. Please assist us by reviewing with your child the danger in throwing/kicking snow and the importance of preventing injury to other children. This will help to make our schoolyard a safe place for all of our students during the winter season
ST. URSULA CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL & MR. SUB
Starting Wednesday, October 2023, Catholic School Council ishappy to collaborate with Mr. Sub to offer a healthy andaffordable lunch option.
Students can enjoy a classic 6" sub with your choice of drink and a snack of Welch’s fruitsnacks or a classic 12" sub every Wednesday. Each month, you will be able to place your order for that month.
If your child is absent on Sub Day, please make arrangements for your order to be picked up by a sibling or parent by the end of the school day.
Refunds will not be given for those students who are absent.
** Order on school cash online only
TONINO'S SANDWICH TUESDAYS ARE BACK !
Tonino's Sandwich Tuesdays are returning starting November 2023. We will be offering sandwiches (breaded chicken, breaded veal or steak) with or without cheese every Tuesday. Please check School CashOnline for ordering details. Money raised will be used to pay for Guest speakers, and school/classroom presentations to suppliment classroom programming.
ALLERGY AWARENESS ALERT
St. Ursula School staff would appreciate the co-operation of the entire school community in NOT sending any lunches or snacks that contain peanuts, nuts or any other life threatening allergens, which could potentially harm a child. We would like to keep all classrooms allergen-aware. In an effort to do so, any child that brings a lunch into the classroom that contains any life threatening allergens will eat their lunch in another location in the school designated for that specific purpose. Please make sure that all of your children’s caregivers are aware of this request. We understand that students enjoy celebrating special occasions with others in the classroom; however, to ensure everyone’s safety, the policy at St. Ursula School is that non-edible treats only will be permitted to be shared. There are many alternatives to bringing in food for birthdays and special occasions. Some suggestions are: stickers, gift certificates, erasers, dollar store Some suggestions are: stickers, gift certificates, erasers, pensils etc. If you would like to discuss any other ideas, please talk to your child’s teacher or the school administration. We look forward to your understanding and co-operation in making our school safe for all students.
MEDICAL
All students who have been formally diagnosed with asthma, anaphylaxis, diabetes, or epilepsy must have a plan of care completed. This only needs to be completed once and it will be kept in your child's OSR file.
- If your child has a new diagnosis or is new to St. Ursula, please email the school and we will send you the forms that need to be completed.
- Each year a GF35-Storage and Administration of Medication must be completed and returned to school. You would have received a GF 35 form recently, if not, please contact the office if one is needed.
- Epipens and puffers should be carried by your child and a second one can be stored in the main office.
- Nut free/ Scent Free School : We have a number of children in our school who have severe life threatening allergic reactions to nuts therefore please do not send any food items to school that may contain nuts or nut products. If there are other allergies specific to your child's class you will be notified. We need your cooperation in ensuring that no snacks or lunches be brought into the school that can put children at risk.
DRINK BREAKS
Students are encouraged to bring their own reusable waterbottle to school for water consumption. Although waterfountains are open, the water fi lling stations are also open andstudents will be able to refi ll their water bottles throughout theday. Please clearly label your child's water bottle.
We have a limited stock of reusable St. Ursula water bottlesfor sale. Please use the link below to get yours today.
PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES (PEDs)
Dufferin- Peel Catholic District School Board policies and procedures support the use of personal electronic devices for educational purposes. This agreement will be signed when your child registers to attend St Ursula. In compliance with the Catholic Code of Conduct and other board policies and procedures, any student opting to use a PED while on school premises for educational purposes must adhere to the policies in the agreement. Please check your inbox for a copy of the document.
Three highlighted policies are:
· Follow board and school policies and procedures regarding appropriate use of technology.
· Be a responsible digital citizen by adhering to guidelines regarding content, security, safety and ethical use through appropriate use of technology.
· Use PED during instructional time and instructional space only with the permission of the classroom teacher and/or staff and only in a manner that supports the teaching learning process.
Compliance with the agreement is mandatory.