March 2026🍀

1195 Clarkson Road North

Mississauga ON, L5J 2W1

905 822-0721

Email: St.ChristopherInfo@dpcdsb.org

Principal - I. Sauvé

Vice Principal - L. Sasso

Secretary -T. Lanceta

Superintendent - D. Radic

Trustee - Herman Viloria (Mississauga Ward 2)

Parish - St. Christopher's Parish

Priest-Fr. Steven Kwon

1171 Clarkson Road North

Mississauga, ON

L5J 2W1

telephone: 905.822.1171

email:stchristophersmi@archtoronto.org

Supervision Begins 8:00 a.m.

School Begins 8:15 a.m.

Recess (a.m.) 9:38-9:53

Lunch : 11 :16-12:16

Recess (p.m.)1:39-1:54

Dismissal: 2:45 p.m.

School begins at 8 :15am and all late arrivals have to sign in at the Main Office.

Just a reminder teacher supervision begins at 8 :00am to 8 :15 am.

School finishes at 2 :45pm

Loving God,

We thank You for the gift of Kindness,

a virtue that helps us see others with Your eyes

and love them with Your heart.

Help us to follow Jesus’ example

by using kind words, kind actions, and kind thoughts each day.

May we be gentle, patient, and caring

to everyone we meet—

in our classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, and homes.

Teach us to be Caring Family Members,

who include others, comfort those who are hurting,

and bring peace where there is conflict.

Help us become Responsible Citizens,

who choose fairness, forgiveness, and compassion

even when it is difficult.

Holy Spirit, fill our school with kindness

so that our words and actions

bring joy, hope, and love to our community.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (Prov. 21:21; 31:26)

God wants us to give generously to others around us.

Kindness is the act of loving and giving generously to others as God does. Our empathy for others is transformed into action, an action that extends beyond concern for ourselves.

From the perspective of the Catholic Graduate Expectations, a kind person...

• Relates to family members in a loving, compassionate manner

• Values and honours the important role of the family in society

• Examines, evaluates and applies knowledge of interdependent systems for the development of a just and compassionate society

• Promotes the sacredness of life

The Graduate is expected to be:

• A discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith community who celebrates the signs and sacred mystery of God's presence through word, sacrament, prayer, forgiveness, reflection and moral living.

• An effective communicator who speaks, writes and listens honestly and sensitively, responding critically in light of gospel values.

• A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who solves problems and makes responsible decisions with an informed moral conscience for the common good.

• A self-directed, responsible, lifelong learner who develops and demonstrates their God-given potential.

• A collaborative contributor who finds meaning, dignity and vocation in work which respects the rights of all and contributes to the common good.

• A caring family member who attends to family, school, parish, and the wider community.

• A responsible citizen who gives witness to Catholic social teaching by promoting peace, justice and the sacredness of human life.

The season of Lent is important as it serves as a period of reflection, penance, and spiritual growth for many Christians. Lasting 40 days, it commemorates the time Jesus spent fasting in the desert before beginning his ministry. This time encourages Christians to reflect on their relationship with God, seek forgiveness, and prepare their hearts for the celebration of Easter.

You are warmly invited to join us for our Stations of the Cross service, a meaningful reflection on faith and community. This special event will be held on Friday, March 13 from 6 to 7:15 pm in the church. Please do not confuse this with the Good Friday event. This is just a service focused on praying the Stations of the Cross.

Following the Stations of the Cross, we will have a beautiful time of Adoration, accompanied by uplifting songs and music led by Michael that will create a serene atmosphere for all. This is a wonderful opportunity for families and youth to come together, grow in faith, and enjoy fellowship in a supportive environment.

We look forward to sharing this special evening with you and your loved ones. Please bring your family and friends!

St. Christopher Parish

We would like to inform you that our school continues to participate in “We Share the Air”, a scent sensitivity awareness campaign. There are students and staff attending this school who suffer from potentially life-threatening asthmatic conditions triggered by air pollutants. Exposure even to minimal odours may cause potentially life-threatening reactions. Very common severe chemical triggers are perfume, cologne, scented products and personal care products (such as hairspray and body spray). These products may cause severe reactions for students. The safety and well-being of all our students is a priority. To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, please refrain from wearing scented personal products complying with our Scent Free Zone campaign at school and all school events. Please ensure that all caregivers are also aware of this campaign. If you have any questions, please talk to your child’s teacher or the school staff. We appreciate your cooperation in supporting a safe learning environment for all students.

The Virute Assembly for Kindness will be March 31, 2026. The assembly will begin at 10:00 am and is presented by Ms. Saldanha and Ms. Moreira's classes. Parents are welcome to attend.

At St. Christopher, we are committed to ensuring that assessment practices are fair, transparent, and equitable for all learners. To support this, we follow the Ministry of Education’s Growing Success guidelines, which outline how student learning is assessed in Ontario schools.

Assessment During Planned Absences

The Ministry emphasizes that teachers evaluate evidence of learning that occurs in the classroom. Because of this, teachers cannot recreate full lessons or prepare advance packages of instruction for students who will be away for parent‑initiated trips. Planned absences are considered a parent choice, and while we understand that travel opportunities can be meaningful, they do not fall under school responsibility for instructional planning.

Absences for Illness or Medical Need

Expectations differ when a student is away due to illness or medical reasons, particularly for extended periods. In these cases, schools work closely with families to ensure that students receive appropriate support and opportunities to stay connected to essential learning.

What Teachers Can Provide

When a student returns from a planned absence, teachers will:

• Support the student in transitioning back into class routines
• Identify essential learning that may need to be caught up
• Provide clarification and check‑ins
• Offer opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning

These supports ensure that students re-engage with classroom learning in a meaningful and manageable way.

A Consistent Practice Across Ontario

It is important to note that the practice of not preparing individualized advance learning packages is not unique to St. Christopher. Schools across Ontario follow the same Ministry‑aligned expectations to ensure consistency and equity for all students.

Thank you for your supprt and co-operation in your child's learning.

As a school community, the safety of our students must always come first. Recently, we have observed an increase in unsafe parking lot practices during both morning drop‑off and afternoon pick‑up. Although many families follow the procedures consistently—thank you—there are still situations occurring that put children and others at risk.

To ensure the safety of every student, please review and follow the expectations below:

Parking Lot & Kiss & Ride Reminders

• Do not park along the south side of the church at any time. This area is not designated for parking or stopping and parking is meant for church personnel and patrons. Cars parking or stopping in this area force children to cross active drive-thru lanes, creating extremely unsafe condition including blocking the passage of school buses for drop-off and/or pick-up of bus students.
• Kiss & Ride is for quick drop‑offs/pick-ups only. Drivers must remain in their vehicles and move forward promptly. Your child should be ready to exit the vehicle when you arrive at the Kiss & Ride area.
• Use designated parking spots on the NORTH side of the church only: From here you can safely walk your child to the school or pick them up at dismissal.
• Never stop to drop off children in drive‑through lanes that are parallel to the south side of the church. Blocking traffic contributes to unsafe congestion and prevents staff from supervising effectively.
• Follow all staff guidance. Our staff members are outside to support safety—not to inconvenience anyone. Please treat them with respect and follow their directions immediately.

We understand that mornings and afternoons can be busy and rushed. However, no one’s schedule or convenience can outweigh the need to keep every child safe. Small individual choices can have significant consequences when traffic is involved.

Working Together for Student Safety

As a community, we each play an essential role in modelling responsibility and care. We ask all families to recommit to following the parking lot procedures every single day. When all parents cooperate, our routines run smoothly and safely for everyone.

Our Catholic School Council will also be discussing possible additional strategies at the next meeting. If you have suggestions or ideas, please feel free to reach out to our council co‑chairs, Mrs. Ferreira and Mrs. MacInnis.

Thank you for your continued partnership, and for doing your part to help keep our students safe.

Gr.8 Graduation is June 24, 2026 at Oasis Convetion Centre.

The Graduation Luncheon for students takes place during the day.

The Gradution Ceremony begin at 6:30 pm. Parents are invited to attend.

March Break will be Monday March 16- Friday March 20, 2026. There will be no school for students. We wish you a safe and happy time with your family and friends.

The next Catholic School Council Meeting will take place Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 6:00 pm in the school library. This will coincide with the DPCDSB Public Budget Consultation Webcast which has been confirmed from 6:30pm -7:30pm.

Bike to School Week (B2SW) is a celebration of the journey to school on a bike. This year, bike month will be celebrated May 25th to June 26th. Registration for B2SW will open on Monday May 25th. To learn more and register, visit our website or send questions to walkandroll@peelregion.ca.

The following information is provided to access your child’s digital report card.

Note: The PowerSchool Mobile app is not supported. The Parent Portal is best viewed on a computer or iPad/tablet.

To setup your account, you require two emails from the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board:

• Email 1: Instructions for Creating a Parent Portal Account

• Email 2: Parent Portal Access ID and Password

If you haven’t received these emails, please contact your child’s school.

Each student has their own unique Access ID and Access Password. You’ll need the information in each child’s Email 2 to link them to your Parent Portal account.

Need help creating your account? You’ll find helpful tips in the Parent Portal Help and Troubleshooting Tips section at the bottom of this page.

Here's how to create your account:

• You will need the Parent Portal Access ID and Password – Email 2 of 2 for each of your children to create your account

• Go to https://dpsis.powerschool.com/public

• Click Create Account tab

• Click Create Account button

Complete the following fields:

• Your first name

• Your last name

• Your email address you provided to the school

• Enter a username of your choice. Your username can contain upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Please make note of your Username as it is case sensitive.

• Create a Password of your choice following the password requirements

School Suspensions Related to Vaccinations

If you have received a letter about your child’s missing vaccines or a suspension order:

• Check your child’s vaccination record online to make sure it is up to date.
• If your child needs to receive missing vaccinations, make an appointment with your doctor or health care provider.
• If your child has received vaccines but the record isn’t up to date, report the missing vaccinations at peelregion.ca/health/vaccinations/report. Doctors do not report vaccinations to Public Health.

If you have questions, call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 or toll free at 1-888-919-7800.

Please be mindful of the weather conditions and dress children appropriately. As the weather starts to change, students are encouraged to wear layers for the cooler mornings and warmer afternoons. Students are expected to have indoor shoes at school to keep our school floors cleand and hazard free. Wet and soiled boots and shoes will remain in the hallways to keep the classrooms clean!

We would like to inform you that our school continues to participate in “We Share the Air”, a scent sensitivity awareness campaign. There are students attending this school who suffer from potentially life-threatening asthmatic conditions triggered by air pollutants. Exposure even to minimal odours may cause potentially life-threatening reactions. Very common severe chemical triggers are perfume, cologne, scented products and personal care products (such as hairspray and body spray). These products may cause severe reactions for students. The safety and well-being of all our students is a priority. To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, please refrain from wearing scented personal products complying with our Scent Free Zone campaign at school and all school events. Please ensure that all caregivers are also aware of this campaign. If you have any questions, please talk to your child’s teacher or the school staff. We appreciate your cooperation in supporting a safe learning environment for all students.

If a child is required to bring medication to school, procedures regarding the administration of medication shall only be adopted:

· when requested by the parents/guardians; and

· when authorized by a physician; and

· when medication must be provided during school hours

A designated staff member must administer medication; hence, a signed request/authorization form from the parents/guardians and the supervising physician, must be obtained. These forms are available through the school office. Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication and forms are updated annually. If your child requires medication please have all pertinent forms completed and returned with the medication to the office as soon as possible

All medication will be housed in a safe location. Medication must not be kept in the child’s possession or in the classroom except for EpiPens and asthma inhalers.

It is highly encouraged that students who have an anaphylactic allergy or who have asthma, keep their epi-pen and/or inhaler on their person at all times. If able, it is recommended that your child bring two EpiPens and/or two asthma inhaler to the school. This would allow your child to keep this medication on their person as well as ensuring that the school office has an additional set of medication.

Please note that school staff cannot dispense medication of any kind without the proper physician authorization and a properly labeled container, (i.e. prescription bottle or original over the counter container).

Dates to remember for March:

2- Gr.8 Graduation Photos

Junior Boys Basketball Board Tournament at St. Roch CSS

4- Junior Girls Basketball Board Tournament at St. Francis Xavier CSS

Catholic School Council Meeting at 6:00 pm in the library

8- Daylight Savings Time, turn clocks ahead 1 hour

12- Rosary Apostolate Visit

16-20- March Break 😀

26- Great Big Crunch at 1:00 pm

29- Holy Week Begins

Palm Sunday

31- Kindness Virtue Assembly at 10:00 am in the gym. Parents welcome to attend