Email: st.ursulainfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: www.dpcdsb.org/URSUL
Location: 11 Dwellers Road, Brampton, ON, Canada
Phone: (905) 454-5213
Twitter: @StUrsulaDPCDSB

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.

Head Secretary: A. Vitorino

Superintendant of Education, Brampton West: T.L. Peel

Trustee: Darryl D'Souza, Brampton Ward 5

St. Anne Parish Pastor: Rev. Joel Pabilona Jr.

Associate Pastor: Rev. Jobby Muppathiyil Joseph

Catholic Education Week this year takes place from May 5 – May 10th, 2024. During this week, the Catholic community celebrates the distinctive contribution that Catholic schools make to our students, our community and our society. Catholic Education Week is a unique opportunity to celebrate the great work of Catholic schools in the dynamic and creative integration of Catholic teachings and gospel values across the curriculum. This year’s theme is “We Are Called To Love.”

Catholic Education Week 2024 begins on a Sunday to highlight the partnership that remains the foundation of Catholic education – parish, family and school. We particularly want to underline the relationship of Catholic schools with the broader Church community, especially with the parish that remains the center of the worshiping faith community.

We have many activities planned at St. Ursula both in class and school wide. On behalf of all staff at St. Ursula C.E.S, we look forward to celebrating with you!

May 2 - Ball Hockey Tournament @ St. Alphonsa

May 3 - Pizza Day!

May 5-10 - Catholic Education Week

May 6-10 - Book Fair!

May 7 - Tonino's Sandwich Lunch

May 8- Mr. Sub Lunch

May 10 - Pizza Day!

May 14 - Tonino's Sandwich Lunch

May 15 - Orienteering Club @ Serena Gundy Park

May 15 - Gr. 7-8 Waterloo Math Contest

May 15- Mr. Sub Lunch

May 17 - Hearing and Vision Clinic

May 17- Pizza Day!

May 20 - Victoria Day! (no school)

May 21 - Tonino's Sandwich Lunch

May 22- Mr. Sub Lunch

May 22 - Catholic School Council Meeting 6:30pm (school library)

May 23 - Softball Tournament @ Fred Kiline Park

May 24 - Pizza Day!

May 27 - Gr. 8 Montreal Trip

May 27 - Gr 6 EQAO Assessment

May 28 - Gr. 8 Montreal Trip

May 28 - Gr 6 EQAO Assessment

May 28 - Int. Soccer Tournament @ Sandalwood Soccer Fields

May 29 - Gr. 8 Montreal Trip

May 29 - Gr 3 EQAO Assessment

May 30 - Gr 3 EQAO Assessment

May 31 - EQAO Assessment Make-Up

May 31 - Virtue of Acceptance Celebration (10:45am)

May 31 - Catholic School Council Movie Night 7pm

During the month of May, we celebrate the virtue of 'Acceptance.'

God wants us to make friends with everyone no matter how different they may look or act. God has placed His creation, including people, in our care. We come to God asking for the grace to be accepting of others. God grants us the ability to see the light of Christ in one another. It is our hope that throughout May, we are ever mindful of those who have suffered tragedy – through famine,

war and natural disaster.

A person showing the virtue of acceptance:

• is friendly and open to all God’s people

• sense God’s presence in people of all ages, beliefs, genders,

cultures and/or abilities

• avoids the temptation to judge or negatively stereotype

• looks for the positive traits in others

• understands there may be more than one way of doing things

• sticks up for the disadvantaged

• notices who is left out and include them

As always, Catholic Education Week begins on Sunday to highlight the parish-home-school partnership that remains the foundation of Catholic education.

We are pleased to announce the theme for 2024 is:

"We Are Called To Love"

The five sub-themes for Catholic Education Week are:

Monday: As people of hope / Dans l’espérance

Tuesday: As people of faith / Dans la foi

Wednesday: As people of mercy / Avec compassion

Thursday: As people of justice / Dans la justice

Friday: As people of joy / Dans la joie

Catholic Education Week Prayer:

God who is love,

Love is our calling, and the goal for which you have made us.

As we celebrate Catholic Education Week,

may our love in action reveal to our world

that we are people of justice and mercy.

May our daily words and example show clearly

that we are people of faith and hope.

In the ways we reflect you daily,

may everyone recognize us as people of joy.

Help us to never forget how much you love us,

and to cherish your life within us,

which gives energy and direction to our loving.

May we hear your call to love generously and inclusively,

and may we call our world to be more loving also.

All of this we ask in the name of Jesus, our Friend and our Lord.

Amen.

There is no love like a mother’s love, no stronger bond on earth, like the precious bond that comes from God, to a mother. A mother’s love is forever strong, never changing for all time, and when her children need her most. A mother’s love will shine. God bless these special mothers, God bless them every one, for all the tears and heartache, and for the special work they have done. Be thankful for our mother’s for they love with a higher love, from the power of God has given, and the strength from up above.

(Adapted from a poem by Jill Lemming)

To all mothers in our school community, from all of us at St. Ursula Catholic Elementary School, Happy Mother’s Day!

On April 24th and 25th, St. Ursula students showcased their talents at the St. Ursula Showcase of Talent. We had many talents ranging from dancing, singing, gaming, sports, art and much much more. Thank you to all who participated in the show. It was a huge success from the MCs, to the performers, stage crew, set / poster design. Your hardwork and efforts were appreciated. Special thank you to the Showcase of Talent Committee, Mrs. Vitorino, Mrs. Fairclough, Ms. Di Felice, Mr. Briganti, Mr. Merino, Ms. De Mello and Mr. Atkinson who put their time and efforts to making the show a success. Bravo!

The Brampton West Poetry Slam took place on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024 at St. Jean Marie Vianney school. Students were tasked with writing poetry in the form of spoken word to express their thoughts and ideas on topics that are relevant and important to them as individuals. St. Ursula was represented by Lorin, Paulina and Gabriel - all of whom did an amazing job! Their poems were impactful and creative. Congratulations!

Mrs. Lucic, Ms. Stokoe, Ms. Di Felice and Mme. McIntosh's grades 5 and 6 students visited Mountsberg Conservation where students had the opportunity to spend the day outside participating in various curriculum-related activities through the following programs: “Watts the Difference?” (Gr.5)

and “Biodiversity” (Gr. 6).

The Royals Eco Team has been very busy lately! There are so many amazing initiatives that are currently in place that all contribute to St. Ursula's dedication to reducing waste and showing our planet some love 🌎❤️

Our LOL (Lights Out Lunches) and Trashless Tuesdays campaigns are in full effect! Thank you for your support by sending your child(ren) with reusable containers in an effort to reduce the amount of waste collected here - even one day a week makes a big difference!

In addition to these campaigns, our students kicked off Earth Week with our annual Spring Walk. We were blessed with beautiful weather to enjoy while we took in the beauty of our community. Next up was Take Out the Trash Tuesday - on this day, our student body all pitched in to clean up our community. Fun Fact: 52 lbs of waste was cleaned up! Our school grounds look absolutely amazing & our students hope that this will inspire others to do the same. On Wednesday, the Earth Rangers put on an exciting immersive and multimedia experience - and included the Animal Ambassadors, like Sonic the Barn Owl, Millie the Three-Banded Armadillo, and Blue the Savannah Monitor.

We look forward to continuing all the wonderful work here at St. Ursula, and as always, we are grateful for your continued support!

On Wednesday, April 17, the 'Earth Rangers' visited St. Ursula school for a dynamic and interactive presentation for the entire school! Through the power of live animal demonstrations and positive, science-based information, the presented educated students about the threats facing animals and the environment, highlighted real conservation initiatives across Canada, and motivated students to get involved. The 'Earth Rangers' will also highlighted amazing live animals and their superpowers, explaining the importance of biodiversity and how animals unique adaptations allow them to thrive in their specific ecosystems. The presentation provided students with tangible ways they can help protect these ecosystems and show the big collective impact small, everyday actions can have.

We will be hosting our second Scholastic Book Fair of the school year May 6th-May10th. Students will have a chance to preview with their class on May6th and 7th, with scheduled purchasing times on May 8th-10th. The Book Fair will be open late, from 3:30-6:30 on Wednesday, May 8th for the community to enjoy. Come visit us on this Family Night Event and enter the Family Night Ballot for a chance to win $25 towards Book Fair purchases for your child and $25 for their class. Scholastic Book Fairs help us keep our library collection updated as well as purchasing other school materials. We earn a percentage back on all sales, with increasing amounts as our sales increase. On top of that, we get an additional 10% back on our sales as this is our second fair of the year!

As always, thank you for your support!

St. Ursula Rocks!

This year our Journey Into Learning FDK Night will take place on Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00pm. This is an opportunity for parents of children who will be beginning JK at St. Ursula School in September 2024, to meet teaching staff and learn a little more about the Kindergarten Program. Parents will also learn what an average day in Kindergarten looks like and provide them an opportunity to ask any specific questions they may have about the program. There is still time to register if you have not yet registered and have a child who was born in 2020.

Thank you to Ms. Lucic and Ms. Caroleo for leading the P.A.L.S (Playground Activity Leaders in Schools) is a student-led peer leadership program in which grade 4-6 students are trained to plan and lead fun and safe activities on the playground during lunch or at recess. The objectives of the program are to: Provide opportunities for student leadership. Increase students' sense of belonging and inclusion.

St. Ursula students explore the wonderful world of LEGO by building amazing creations at reacess time. Thank you to Mrs. Lucic for your time and efforts.

On Friday, April 5th, the St. Ursula Primary, Junior and Intermediate Chess Teams participated in the BW Chess Tournament at Guardian Angels. Our Junior Chess team was victorious against the home team and beat out Guardian Angels for the banner. A huge congratulations to all chess players and a heartfelt thank you to the coaches, Mr. Briganti, Ms. Stokoe and Mr. Merino for all their hardwork and dedication to the team. Way to go Royals!

On May , the grades 4-8 students will be participat-ing in our St. Ursula Track and Field Day. Successful candidates will be selected to represent our school at the BW Meet. Students who make the team will practice their events before/ after school and during lunch hours. The Brampton West family meet is Monday June 12th, 2024 at Chinguacousy Park and the Board meet will be held on June 20th at St. Marcellinus S.S.

The Grade 3 and 6 students of St. Ursula continue to prepare for the EQAO assessments of reading, writing, and mathematics.

How to prepare your child for the test? It is very im-portant that you take the time to talk to your child and help reduce the anxiety related to any type of testing situation, while encouraging them to do their best and answer the questions fully. You should also be sure that your child has enough sleep, eats a nutritious break-fast and is well hydrated. It is especially important that children in grade three and six be in full attendance dur-ing the assessment.

All Grade 6 students will write the Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Junior Division test on:

• May 27th, 28th 2024.

All Grade 3 students will write the Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary Division test on:

• May 29th, May 30th, 2024

Make-up day is set for May 31st, 2024.

It is very im-portant that your child is present during these times. Parents and Guardians are encouraged to schedule ap-pointments etc., outside of the assessment period.

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

Non-Teaching Rep: Ms. Vitorino

Upcoming Meetings:

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 @ 6:30PM (In-Person)

The next Catholic School Council Meeting will take place in-person on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 6:30. As always, all parents are welcomed to attend this open meeting.

Please see the below flyer for our save the date to the St. Ursula Movie Night sponsored by the St. Ursula Catholic School Council May 31st in the gym. Hope to see you there!

As part of DPCDSB’s safety protocol, every school is required to hold three fire drills and one lockdown drill each term in order to familiarize students with procedures to follow in the case of emergency. We will schedule 2 fire drills and one lockdown drill in the upcoming weeks. To date, our students have demonstrated excellent skill during these practices.

We are in the process of planning staffing and organizing classes for the 2024-2025 school year. If you are planning on leaving St. Ursula School, please give the office a call to make arrangements for a student transfer form to be prepared and sent home. The transfer form will serve as an introduction to your new school and will enable the receiving school to request student records from us. Please inform the office at your earliest convenience.

A gentle reminder to parents that supervision begins at 8:45 a.m. Parents should not drop off their children prior to 8:45 a.m. For your child’s safety, we request that he/she not be on school property until scheduled supervised times. Also, dismissal of students takes place at 3:30 p.m. For your child’s safety, we request that he/she not be on school property beyond 3:45 p.m., unless on occasions when they are participating in a school event. No child should be unsupervised before or after school. The St. Ursula Office is not able to supervise your children, and as such, no students are to be found waiting for parents after school.

As part of DPCDSB’s safety protocol, every school is required to hold three fire drills and one lockdown drill each term in order to familiarize students with procedures to follow in the case of emergency. We will schedule these drills in the upcoming weeks. To date, our students have demonstrated excellent skill during these practices.

Pizza Days continue every Friday at St. Ursula. The cost is $2.75/slice. Money raised will be used to pay for Guest speakers, and school/classroom presentations to supplement classroom programming.

We are now offering the ability for those students who have not purchased pizza to purchase pizza on a first come first serve basis at the office for the price of $2.75/slice. This will be cash only and first come first serve basis as we will have limited quantity available to sell.

Starting Wednesday, October 2023, Catholic School Council ishappy to collaborate with Mr. Sub to offer a healthy and affordable 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 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.

Please ensure that your child arrives at school with all the items they need for the day. We realize that there will be occasions where students forget something at home There will be a table located at the front doors for parents/guardians who are dropping off items for theirchildren. Please label the item clearly with the CHILD’S NAME AND TEACHER.

If you plan on bringing your child’s lunch in the morning, let your children know that you will beleaving the lunch on the table at the front doors.

St. Ursula Grade 8 students will continue to sell popcorn in efforts to raise funds to go towards their graduation. Purchases can be made on SchoolCashOnline monthly. Popcorn will be delivered to classrooms for those who purchase every Tuesday and Thursday for last snack break. Thank you to all who purchase.

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 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.

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.

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Daily attendance and puncutality are important. If your child will be absent, please the School Messenger application (School Messneger) or visit the website at go.schoolmessenger.ca or call the attendance line at 1-844-435-3440 to report your child's absence. Please note that for any gastrointestinal issues that students are picked up or sent home for, there is a 48 hour waiting period from the first incident. Student are required to remain at home during this waiting period. Any questions, please feel free to contact the office. Thank you.

We are happy to bring SUISH (St. Ursula In School Happiness) and Feel Good Fridays back to St. Ursula and we are proud to have our new Grade 8 Leaders join us this year! Each Friday our SUISH leaders will continue to roll out our monthly initiatives to motivate and inspire their peer group. We love seeing our students and staff the first Friday of each month for our dance party and monthly goal roll out!

Kindergarten registration for the 2024-25 school year at Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) schools is now open. The DPCDSB offers the Kindergarten program in 125 Catholic elementary schools in Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Bolton and Orangeville.

Parents/guardians can register online at dpcdsb.org.

The following documents are required to complete the registration process:

• Proof of age of the child
• Original Roman Catholic baptismal certificate (for child and/or parent/guardian) or original baptismal certificate from a church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome or an Eastern Catholic Church.
• Immunization Reference #’s from the local Public Health Unit
• Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
• Proof of home address
• Proof of English Separate School Support
• 
  

Please refer to the Register for School webpage for accepted forms of documentation.

Inquiries about home school locations/boundary areas should be directed to the DPCDSB Planning Department at 905-890-0708 ext. 24440.

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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.

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.

We are pleased to share the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s 2022-23 Director’s Annual Report with you. This report outlines the goals of the Board of Trustees’ Multi-Year Strategic Plan and how we, as a system, strived to meet the goals of that plan.

Our profound gratitude goes out to our faculty and staff, administrators, senior management, trustees, parish priests, parents/guardians, and the many other community partners for all you do in helping us deliver a quality Catholic education to the thousands of students in our care.

Blessings to you all.

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