St. Jean-Marie Vianney C.E.S. News

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Brampton, ON

L6X 0S1
Principal: Tara Persad

Superintendent: Laura Odo

Trustee: Darryl D'Souza

Parish: St. Jerome's Parish

School Phone: (905) 497-6888
School Fax: (905) 497-8833
Website: https://viann.dpcdsb.org/

Email: St.Jean-MarieVianneyInfo@dpcdsb.org

Loving and Gracious God,

As we begin a new school year at St. Jean-Marie Vianney Catholic School, we thank You for the gift of our students, families, staff, and community. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow, pray, and journey together in faith.

Lord, guide us as we embrace this year's Catholic Education Week theme, "Becoming Artisans of Peace." Help us to be builders of peace in our words, our actions, and our hearts. Teach us to choose kindness over conflict, understanding over judgment, and forgiveness over resentment. May we be instruments of Your love wherever we go.

We ask Your blessing upon our school theme, "All Are Welcome. Many Voices. One Family. Inclusion is Our Jam." Help us to honour the dignity of every person, celebrate our differences, and recognize the unique gifts You have given each member of our school family. May every child, every family, and every staff member feel welcomed, valued, respected, and loved.

Like our patron saint, St. Jean-Marie Vianney, may we grow in faith, humility, and service. Help us to listen with open hearts, speak with compassion, and work together to create a joyful and inclusive community where everyone belongs.

Bless our students as they learn, our families as they support one another, and our staff as they guide and inspire. Fill our classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, and hearts with Your peace and presence throughout the year.

May we walk together as one family in Christ, becoming true artisans of peace and shining examples of Your love in our school and in the world.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

St. Jean-Marie Vianney, pray for us.

Faith is an attitude which encourages us to involve God in our lives and helps us to maintain and develop our relationships with God and with others both when things are going well and when they are not. God made us to live together as a family community.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1)

From the perspective of the Catholic Graduate Expectations, a person of faith…

• Knows the saving story of our Christian faith
• Speaks the language of life
• Prays and worships God

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year at St. Jean-Marie Vianney!

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our students, parents/guardians, grandparents, parish partners, and staff as we begin another exciting year of faith, learning, and community. We are especially delighted to welcome our new Kindergarten students and families, new students joining our school community, and new staff members who have become part of the Vianney family.

We also extend a heartfelt welcome to our Superintendent, Laura Odo, and her Executive Assistant, Dianne Cassar, whose support and leadership help strengthen Catholic education across our board.

At St. Jean-Marie Vianney, we believe that education is about nurturing the whole child: mind, body, and spirit. This year, we are inspired by the Catholic Education Week theme, "Becoming Artisans of Peace." As followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers in our classrooms, on the playground, in our homes, and throughout our community. Together, we will learn how our words, actions, and choices can build understanding, kindness, reconciliation, and hope in the lives of others.

Our school theme, "All Are Welcome. Many Voices. One Family. Inclusion is Our Jam," beautifully complements this call to peace. We celebrate the unique gifts, talents, cultures, and perspectives that make our school community so special. When we listen to one another, value each person's voice, and create spaces where everyone feels they belong, we become true artisans of peace. Through faith, respect, empathy, and inclusion, we strengthen our school family and create a community where every child can thrive.

Throughout the year, students will participate in a variety of engaging learning opportunities, faith experiences, school events, athletic activities, and leadership initiatives. Our dedicated staff is committed to providing rich educational experiences that challenge students academically while nurturing their spiritual growth and well-being. Whether learning in the classroom, celebrating Mass, participating in service projects, performing on stage, or competing in sports, every experience is an opportunity to grow as learners, leaders, and disciples of Christ.

As we begin this new school year together, let us embrace the opportunities that lie ahead with enthusiasm, gratitude, and faith. By working together as partners in Catholic education, we can help our students become confident learners, compassionate leaders, and peacemakers in our world.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to celebrating the many accomplishments and special moments that await us this year.

May God bless all of our students, families, and staff as we begin this exciting new school year together.

Ms. Tara Persad
Principal
St. Jean-Marie Vianney Catholic Elementary School

T. Persad- Principal

C. McIntyre- H. Secretary (Aug. 31 to Sept. 16)

E. Fraser- Teacher

TBD- (DECE)

J. Drepaul- Teacher

K. Wright- Teacher

D. Cecile- Teacher

B. Peterka- Teacher

C. Gendron- Teacher

G. MacEachern- Teacher

J. Barbour- Teacher

J. Furtado- Teacher

D. Vella- Teacher

S. Khan- Teacher

H. Cropper- DBI/Educational Recourse worker

K. Recinos- Educational Recourse worker

J. Fernandes- Educational Recourse worker

T. Sinclair - Child Youth Care Practitioner

U. Syed- Social Worker

C. Pirraglia- Psychologist

A. Armani- Deaf & Hard of Hearing Teacher

R. Ilas- Head Custodian

A. Lewandowski- Night Custodian

S. Thomas- Night Custodian

M. Glenn- ICT

A. Spence- Student Monitor

S. - Student Monitor

P. Dhindsa- Student Monitor

The beginning of each school year is always marked by unexpected changes which require all of us to be understanding, accommodating and flexible. The September school organization is based on projected enrollment prepared by the Board’s Planning Department. Such enrollment projections determine the number of teachers assigned to the school and consequently the grade and class configurations. In the event that student enrollment falls below or increases above projections, an adjustment to the number of teachers assigned to the school follows, which in essence may affect the placement of your child. Therefore, as we start the year, staffing is still tentative and until actual numbers are realized and assessed, reorganization of classes is a possibility. You will be notified if changes need to be made.

The board office will share assignment information to all Dufferin-Peel elementary parent/guardians beginning Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Information will be available through the Parent Portal, email, and an automated phone notification.

Class assignment information will include:

• School Name

• Class Name

• Room Number

• Teacher Name

Please be advised, that classroom assignments are still subject to change prior to the first day of school. Should the information provided change, staff at the school will be available to assist on the first day of school.

School Begins: 9:00am

Recess: 10:23am - 10:38am

Lunch: 12:01pm - 1:01pm

Recess: 2:23pm - 2:38pm

Dismissal: 3:30pm

There is NO SCHOOL on these days.

Students will begin each day at 9:00am. Students will go directly to the back of the school where there will be supervision starting at 8:45am until the bell rings at 9:00am. The field is closed during this time, therefore there will be no supervision in that area.

On the first day of school, Tuesday September 8th, all classroom teachers will be in the yard at 8:45am with signs with their name and grade. Grades 1-8 are to be dropped off at the back pavement. All support staff will also be available to assist students who were not able to access their child's placement information. When the bell rings at 8:45am, classes will enter the school building via their designated doors.

All JK: Intake Interview are on Sept. 8 & begin school on the 10 or 11

All SK: will begin on Sept. 9

For the first week, teachers will focus on topics such as:

• Entry and dismissal routines
• Movement in and around the school
• Transition times
• Using the school washroom
  
• Eating lunch/snacks, etc.
• Mental health and well-being check-ins and support
• Diagnostic assessment to plan for lessons and interventions

We are excited to welcome all parents and guardians to St. Jean-Marie Vianney's Open House!

Date: Sept. 23, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

The evening will begin with dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. More details will be shared.

From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., families are invited to:

• Visit classrooms and meet your child(ren)'s teacher(s).
• Participate in Guelph Grotto Climbing activities in the gym.
• Explore our school and connect with staff and other families.

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing an enjoyable evening together as a school community!

We hope to see you there!

Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!). Choosing your own books empowers kids and inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. AND—as always—every purchase at the Fair benefits our school. The Book Fair will take place from September 14-23. During that time, each class will have the opportunity to visit the book fair, to browse, and/or make a wish list. Please note that there is no obligation to purchase anything on the wish list, it is just a way for students to share with you at home. If students would like to purchase something they can then come back to the fair during their classes second assigned timeslot.

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more:

https://bookfairs.scholastic.ca/bf/stjeanmarievianneyschool5

Families are also invited to come to the book fair during the open house on Wednesday, September 23rd. Catch you at the Fair!

Happy reading

The annual Orange Shirt Day on September 30th opens the door to global conversation on all aspects of Residential Schools. It is an opportunity to create meaningful discussion about the effects of Residential Schools and the legacy they have left behind. A discussion all Canadians can tune into and create bridges with each other for reconciliation. A day for survivors to be reaffirmed that they matter, and so do those that have been affected. Every Child Matters, even if they are an adult, from now on.

We ask that all students and staff wear an orange top in respect of Truth and Reconciliation.

JAMAICA ISLAND CUISINE is back!

Get ready to spice up your Wednesdays again with an island vibe!

Every Wednesday enjoy your choice of:

• Jerk Chicken with Rice & Peas
• Fried Chicken with Rice & Peas
• BBQ Fried Chicken with Rice & Peas
• Curried Chickpeas (Chana) with Rice & Peas

ONLY $7.50 each!

Bonus: Add coleslaw for FREE!

How It Works:

• You must place your order on cash online
• Once the order window closes, it cannot be reopened.
• All proceeds will be used to support school initiatives (school beautification, presentations, activities, resources, technology, etc.).

Come taste the island spirit every Wednesday!

Pizza Thursday! 🍕

We know it's your favourite, so we are brining Grabb-A-Pizza back to Vianney, fresh hot pizza every Thursday!

Cost : $2.50 per slice; $1.00 per juice

When: Thursday

How: Purchase via School Cash Online

Choice: Pepperoni or Cheese

How It Works:

• You must place your order on cash online
• Once the order window closes, it cannot be reopened.
• All proceeds will be used to support school initiatives (school beautification, presentations, activities, resources, technology, etc.).

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. Jean-Marie Vianney community and therefore you are welcome to attend council meetings and participate in council elections.

Information on the election process and council dates will be coming in the near future. We look forward to meeting you and coming together to make this year an exciting one for our students. We are ready to make changes to the school to make it even better but we need your help and your creative ideas.

“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Stay Connected

Parents are encouraged to join the Vianney WhatsApp Group to stay informed about Parent Council updates and upcoming events.

👉 Join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KXQVj6HDuEaDuBGpMG3SGG?mode=gi_t

To ensure the safety of our students, DPCDSB employs student monitors (lunchroom supervisors) to assist with supervision during the lunch hour.

St. Jean-Marie Vianney School is currently hiring for backup student monitor positions. These are paid roles through the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, based at our school location.

If you’re interested, please visit the main office to pick up an application.

You do not need to have a child enrolled at the school to apply. However, to qualify for a permanent position, you must be available to work every school day during the lunch hour. For the backup role, you’ll be called in as needed when a regular monitor is absent.

Applicants must:

• Speak English

• Be available during the lunch hour

• Be a Canadian citizen and have a valid SIN (Social Insurance Number)

For more information, please stop by the main office.

Student verification forms will be coming home in the first few weeks of school either via email or paper copy. We ask that you kindly review all information to ensure that it is correct. Please ensure that all phone numbers and email address are accurate in case we need to contact you should your child be sick at school.

It is important that we are able to contact someone in the case of an emergency. Please fill out and return the emergency student verification sheets that will be sent home with your child. Remember that those people you list as contacts are automatically given permission to pick up your child from school. They are needed in case we cannot contact you. It makes sense to have a relative, neighbor, or friend who lives close to the school and is available during the day to pick up your child in case of illness, concussion, or changes of clothes that inevitably happen. If your child is sick, there must be someone available to pick them up if you are unable to leave work.

We ask that parents continue to support their children in their morning routines so that they can arrive to school on time or log in on time. This ensures that your child learns an essential life skill, participates in the entire school day, and that disruptions to the learning environment are minimal.

• Your child’s name
• Your child's teacher's name
• You child's grade
• The reason for the absence or lateness
• The duration of the absence

• Students will eat lunch in their classrooms and are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle to school. Water bottles can be refilled at our refill stations.
• To help limit visitors in the building, please send your child with a packed lunch each day. If a student forgets their lunch, a parent or guardian will be contacted.
• Students may go home for lunch with written permission from a parent or guardian. If this will be a daily routine, please notify the school office or your child’s teacher in writing.
• For safety reasons, food deliveries through Uber Eats, DoorDash, or similar services are not permitted. Our school doors remain locked during the day, and we do not have staff available to accept deliveries. If you need to use these services, please contact the school first.

We appreciate your understanding—student safety is always our top priority!

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 any time. If you need to leave your vehicle, please park. For safety reasons, have the children exit the car from the passenger side of the vehicle only.
2. DO NOT drop your child(ren) off in the bus loading zone or in the bus lane, only in the DRIVE THRU lane
3. STUDENTS MUST EXIT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. This is for the safety of your child(ren) in the case of a vehicle driving by.
4. Remind your child(ren) to watch for buses in the bus lane, before they cross into the lane and onto the sidewalk. Once on the sidewalk, they can walk along the sidewalk to the back of the school yard.
5. Students walking and using the crosswalk, need to respect the crossing guard on duty.
6. 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.

Bus Route Information:

Parents and students have access to BusPlanner Web parent and student portal. STOPR encourages all parents/students to create an account so that they can view personalized transportation information at any time.

STOPR Hours of Operations and Contact Information:

Our office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Parent phone number/general line: 905-890-6000

For regular busing queries: StoprBus@peelsb.com

For special needs queries: StoprSpecEd@peelsb.com

We encourage all schools, students, and parents to visit our website at stopr.ca and follow us on @STOPRinfo. These communication portals are an excellent way to view and receive important transportation information, bulletins, updates, weather cancellations, and much more.

Wishing you a Wonderful School Year!

The distance criteria for transportation eligibility must be more than:

• 1.0 kilometre for Kindergarten and Grade 1
• 1.6 kilometres for Grades 2-4
• 2.0 kilometres for Grades 5-8

All Kindergarten and Grade 1 students who take the bus are required to be met by a parent or guardian when disembarking from the bus after school.

STOPR is committed to ensuring that students have safe and reliable transportation services to and from school every single day. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to a new school year.

• Encouraged to wear a mask
• Listen to the Bus Driver at all times and report any problems or injuries to him/her
• Go directly to your 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

If you have any questions, please talk to your child’s teacher or the school staff. We look forward to your co-operation in making this a safe year for all of our pupils.

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.

Please be advised that teachers at St. Jean-Marie Vianney Catholic School will adhere to the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board policy on Homework – Kindergarten to Grade 12. In particular, the policy states that homework shall not be assigned to students in kindergarten. Homework in the early grades (Grades 1-3) shall more often take the form of reading, playing, discussing, listening, viewing, and interactive activities such as building and cooking with the family. In later grades (Grades 4 to 6) homework may take the form of independent work, with a maximum of 40 minutes per day for junior students, and a maximum of 60 minutes per day on average for intermediate students.

A summary of the policy can be found in your child’s agenda.

We continue to ask for your support as we promote good work habits at home for our students and ask that you help in the following ways:

• monitoring daily homework and ensuring that your child(ren) complete all tasks to the best of their ability;
• providing a consistent time and location for daily homework.

Students should not bring toys, valuables or items of importance to school. The school cannot assume responsibility for valuables brought to school.

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 enrollment is voluntary, the Board encourages parents to take advantage of the inexpensive insurance coverage especially if your child participates in sports, excursions/field trips, or if parents do not have dental insurance coverage. Enrollment in writing is required. There are two options for enrollment:

1) Complete the traditional form and mail it in.

or

2) Apply online to Reliable Life at https://insuremykids.com/

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 fact sheet from Health Ontario which indicates how to prevent tick bites when outdoors.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

September 1 - Ukrainian Heritage Month (National)

September 2 - 25th Annual Archdiocesan Catholic Education Mass

September 7 - Labour Day

September 8 - Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

September 8 - UNESCO's International Literacy Day

September 12 - Memorial of The Most Holy Name of Mary

September 13 - Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, Bishop & Doctor of the Church

September 14 - Feast of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

September 15 - Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
September 21 - Feast of Apostle and Evangelist St. Matthew

September 21-25 - Truth and Reconciliation Week

September 23 - Memorial of St. Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)

September 24 - Memorial of Blessed Emilie Tavernier-Gamelin, Religious

September 25 - Franco-Ontario Day (Provincial)

September 25 - Memorial of Martyrs St. Cosmas and St. Damian

September 26 - Feast of the Canadian Martyrs: St. Jean De Brébeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Secondary Patrons of Canada

September 27 - World Day of Migrants and Refugees

September 29 - Feast of the Archangels St. Michael