St. Teresa of Calcutta Newsletter
February 2026
1120 Runningbrook Dr.
Mississauga Ontario
Phone: (905) 273 - 3937
Fax: (905) 273 - 9223
Dear STOC Family,
St. Teresa of Calcutta continues to be a vibrant, active, and faith-filled community. As we enter February, we look forward to many opportunities to celebrate, reflect, grow, and pray together.
This month, our students will deepen their learning during Black History Month, share kindness as we honour St. Valentine’s Day, and begin preparing our hearts for the Lenten Season.
We are also excited to celebrate student achievements during our parent/guardian–student conferences on February 12 and 13, where we will reflect on Term One successes and set goals for the months ahead.
As we focus on the Virtue of Respect, we pause to recognize and extend our sincere gratitude to:
- Our Students: For their enthusiasm, joy, hard work, determination, and perseverance.
- Our Parents and Families: For supporting learning at home, communicating with staff, encouraging adherence to our Catholic Code of Conduct, reporting absences, and helping strengthen the home–school partnership.
- Our Teaching Staff: For their ongoing dedication, care, and commitment to student learning, well-being, and a safe, inclusive Catholic environment.
- Our Office Staff: For meeting the daily needs of students, families, and staff, and helping ensure the smooth and safe operation of our school.
- Our Custodial Team: For their continuous efforts to maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming school environment.
- Our Superintendent, Dulcie Belchior: For her ongoing leadership, guidance, and support.
- Our Catholic School Council: For their dedication to supporting initiatives that enrich student learning and strengthen our school community.
- Our Parish Team: For their spiritual guidance and the celebrations, visits, and faith experiences they share with us.
On behalf of the staff of St. Teresa of Calcutta, I wish you a joyful and blessed month ahead.
Mrs. Maddison
Principal
February is Black History Month and is acknowledged widely as a month devoted to the celebration of Black stories, contributions, and achievements. "During Black History Month, people in Canada celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada a culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous country" (Government of Canada). As a Catholic community, we are called to live in solidarity. Solidarity requires that we learn from, and about our families in Christ.
STOC Students from all grades will be sharing insights and information with the school during announcements.
CSC 2025-2026
Co- Chairs-
Chris Garofalo and Julia Van de Kraats
Secretary–
Nelly Xavier Cordner
Treasurer-
Claudia Filipe
OAPCE Representative –
Kelly Amaral
Parish Representative–
Janet Kus and Heather Dawson
Teacher Representative –
Stephanie Iassogna
Our next meeting will take place on February 5, 2026 with a timed agenda at 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
All parents are welcome to attend our CSC meetings.
Information will be sent out to the community with information about how to request a link if you wish to attend virtually. If parents/guardians that are not voting members on a school’s Catholic School Council, wish to have an item to be added to the agenda, then these items need to come forward through nominated members of Catholic School Council listed above. This can be facilitated by parents/guardians sending an email to our Catholic School Council Info email account located at: mtrsacscinfo@dpcdsb.org
All Catholic School Council Meetings will be at 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. on the following dates:
April 9, 2026
May 7, 2026
June 11, 2026
Approved minutes are posted on our school website.
Mental Health and Well-Being Day
We are very proud of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Champions, Grade 8 students, Siena, Catarina, Max and Emmett with Co-ordinating Teacher, Mrs. Beach and Public Health Nurse, Jennifer Pickering who put together the Second Annual STOC Mental Health and Wellbeing Day on Bell Let’s Talk Day Wednesday, January 21.
This whole school initiative was a full day of fun and mindful activities for students from kindergarten to Grade 8.
At STOC, we continue to present Mindful Mondays with virtual announcements and prayers led by our intermediate students.
We will continue with these student led initiative throughout the school year.
Thank you to the DPCDSB Mental Health and Wellbeing Special Education and Support Services for supportin gthese initiatives. Please see the February Edition of Thrive for more!
St. Patrick’s Church February Info
EDGE Camp (Grades 6–8)
We have recently received EDGE Camp information from the Archdiocese. EDGE Camp will take place from August 15–19. Details regarding leaders, permission forms, and registration will be shared soon.
We will also be hosting a parent information night, and will follow up with additional details within the coming week.
EDGE Night – February 13
Our next EDGE Night will be held on Friday, February 13. As this event includes food, we require attendance numbers in advance. This form applies only to students who will be attending:
https://forms.gle/jtKyb49W4o6QsbHS6
EDGE/ELEV8 - 2026 CALENDAR
February 13 – Movie Night
February 27 – Catechesis
March 13 – Catechesis
March 27 – Catechesis
April 10 – Social
April 24 – Catechesis
May 8 – Catechesis
May 22 – Catechesis
June 12 – END OF YEAR SOCIAL
Event Details – EDGE Movie Night & Pizza Party (Grades 6–8)
All students in Grades 6–8 are invited to join us for an EDGE Movie Night (David by Angel Studios) and Pizza Party.
🕡 Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM (doors open at 6:15 PM)
📍 Location: St. Patrick’s Parish Hall
✨ What to Expect:
🎶 Games & music
🍕 Snacks & dinner
🤝 Time with friends and small group leaders
🙏 A faith-filled evening designed to help students grow in their relationship with God
🔔 Registration is mandatory and only needs to be completed once for the 2025–2026 school year. If a student is already registered, no further action is required. All families should use the following registration link:
https://forms.gle/XBtthpDQuCNRDwbE7
Parents are welcome to stop by at the beginning of the evening to meet our team and ask any questions.
To stay up to date with events and announcements, families can follow us on social media @spygmississauga.
Blessings,
Kristina Silvester
Youth Minister
St. Patrick’s Parish
St. Teresa of Calcutta Winter Guidelines
STOC Cold Weather Plan
St. Teresa of Calcutta will follow the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and Peel Health guidelines during the cold weather. Some of the measures we will take are:
WIND CHILL
At -20 to -24 degrees, time outside will be limited to a maximum of 20 minutes.
At -25 degrees or colder, students will remain inside.
We would like to remind all students to dress appropriately for the season by wearing the proper winter attire which includes hats, gloves/mitts, winter coats and boots.
School Hours for 25-26
School begins: 8:55 a.m. *Please arrive at school on time
First Recess: 11:00-11:15 a.m.
Lunch: 11:55-12:55 p.m.
Second Recess: 2:25-2:35 p.m.
Dismissal: 3:25 p.m.
YARD SUPERVISION
Staff supervision of students in the playground begins at 8:40 a.m. To ensure your child’s safety, we appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this matter.
Important Reminder
Pets on school property For the safety and well-being of all our students, we kindly ask that pets are not brought onto school property during drop-off and pick-up. Even well-behaved animals can be unpredictable around children, and some students may have allergies or fears. To help us maintain a safe and comfortable environment for everyone, we ask for your full cooperation in keeping pets off school grounds.
In the month of February we will celebrate the virtue of: Respect
Congratulations to the recipients of our January Virtue of Self-Control certificates:
Ms. Scarpelli FDK
Vitalii Kus
Ms. Medeiros and Ms. Pereira FDK
Rostyslav
Angel
Ms. Iassogna Gr.1
Rihanna
Emiliia
Ms. Hassell Gr.1/2
Camilla
Vivia
Ms. Bailey Gr. 1/2
Alanna
Cameron
Viktoriia
Ms. Casciaro Gr. 3
Emma L.
Cabriel
Ms. Armstrong Gr. 4
Hania
Eleen
Keyara
Ms. Pereira Gr.4/5
Heidi
Arthur
Mrs. Neiva Gr.5/6
Bianca C.
Angelina P.
Mr. Salinas Gr.6/7
Yeremy
Thomas
Ms. Guzik Gr.7/8
Julia
Allen
Mr. Felice Gr. 7/8
Catarina
Vitalli
Catholic Graduate Expectations
As A Collaborative Contributer:
I co-operate with others in all that I do
I value everyone’s work
I respect and listen to others
I think of others before myself
I follow rules of fair play
I work hard in school so that I can build my community and make it a better place
Because I am a team player, I know that ‘Together is Better’, and we will live our lives like Jesus.
Math@Home newsletter
Connect learning between school and home with our Math@Home newsletters.
Each Math@Home newsletter:
- Highlights a mathematical concept/skill;
- Includes related Family Math Activities that can be done at home;
- Spotlights a resource that can be used to further support doing math at home.
February's Focus - Algebra
*Click link above for activities to try at home
Coming to school every day helps your child:
Build friendships/social skills
Strengthen faith and community involvement
Develop problem solving skills
Develop organizational skills
Increase gross and fine motor skills
Develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills
Foster creativity
Maintain physical activity levels
Independence in toileting/dressing, etc.
WWJD - Gotcha Tickets @ STOC
Students earn WWJD tickets when they demonstrate the Catholic Graduate Expectations. Tickets are entered into a weekly draw on Virtual Mondays. We celebrate what the student did and how they followed Jesus. Teachers had out tickets selectively when students demonstrate these positive behaviours:
1. A Caring Family Member
I show love and I use kind words
---
2. A Faithful Person
I show my faith every day.
---
3. A Respectful Friend
I treat others the way I want to be treated.
---
4. A Responsible Citizen
I take care of my classroom and school.
---
5. A Lifelong Learner
I try my best and do not give up.
---
6. A Peace Maker
I help solve problems calmly.
---
7. A Person with Integrity
I make good choices, even when no one is watching.
---
SAFE ARRIVAL /STUDENT ABSENCES
It is important that students attend school regularly and punctually. If your child will be late or absent, please use SafeArrival Absence Reporting. With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 convenient methods: 1. Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger App from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://go.schoolmessenger.ca ). The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account. Once you are signed up and logged in, select Attendance then Report an Absence. 2. Use the SafeArrival website, https://go.schoolmessenger.ca . The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence. 3. Call the toll-free number 1 (844) 435-3440 to report an absence using the automated phone system. These options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time. If further assistance required on how to report an absence using SafeArrival can be found on the following link: https://www.dpcdsb.org/parents/absence-reporting This measure is to ensure the safety of your child. We thank you for your continued support in following this procedure.
February is a time for respect
Click above for February Issue
February 2026 School Health E-Blast
Click above for February Issue
What you’ll find in this edition:
• Healthy Smiles Ontario Program
• Digital Habits and Sedentary Behaviour
• School Suspensions Related to Vaccinations
St. Teresa of Calcutta Staff 2025-2026
R. Scarpelli FDK
L. Medeiros FDK
A. Pereira DECE
S. Iassogna Grade 1/2
M. Bailey Grade 1/2
C. Hassell Grade 1/2
M. Casciaro Grade 3
T. Armstrong Grade 4
C. Pereira Grade 4/5
M. Neiva Grade 5/6
D. Salinas Grade 6/7
A. Guzik Grade 7/8
M. Felice Grade 7/8
A. Galle French
V. Corapi Library/Planning Time
C. Beach SERC/SERT/ESL
M. Tully SERT/ ESL
B. Ramgoolam Planning Time
A. Mastropaolo Planning Time
L. Mykhalyuk Planning Time/ESL
M. Knibbe ERW
A. Passarelli Child and Youth Worker
S. Haji Speech and Language Pathologist
R. Jardine Psychologist
T. Hoyt Social Worker
L. Gordon Head Secretary
J. Xamin Head Custodian
E. Garcia Night Custodian
A. D’Ettore Night Custodian
School Bus Transportation
Internet: https://www.stopr.ca/ - this website provides up to date delay and inclement weather cancellation information in addition to policy, procedures, and frequently asked questions.
Businfo.stopr.ca - this website allows parents to access specific to “what school do I attend” and “am I eligible for transportation.” This site also provides parents access to specific bus stop locations and pick up and drop off times for their children if eligible for transportation.
Telephone: Transportation EAST 905-890-6000
Concussion Protocol
The 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. A brochure containing information about Concussions is provided upon pick up of the student or when they go home for the day. This is a precautionary measure and for information purposes.
Contact Information
St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Elementary School
Principal: G. MaddisonMain Office: L. Gordon
Email: BlessedTeresaofCalcuttaInfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: https://mtrsa.dpcdsb.org/
Location:
1120 Runningbrook Drive
Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 2T2
Phone: 905-273-3937 Twitter: @stocmississauga