Welcome back to all of our Courageous Cougars!
We hope that you have had a wonderful summer. We are looking forward to welcoming students back and to work and learn alongside all of you as "Pilgrims of Hope "; our Catholic Education Week Theme for 2025.
A warm welcome to all the new families to our school community and welcome back to all those returning. A special greeting is also extended to our Junior Kindergarten children who are starting school for the first time. May your days here be memorable and inspire life-long learning.
I would like to thank our hard working custodians and our exceptional secretary, Mrs. Iannicca who worked throughout the summer to get the school ready on time. Our deepest appreciation is extended to our educational staff who have truly extended themselves in preparing the school for another year of spiritual growth and academic excellence.
This year we will continue to strive towards environmental stewardship with all communication to families being sent out electronically. Please ensure we have your most up to date email information at the school office. We will continue to communicate to parents via our St. Clare Courageous Cougar monthly newsletter. A week at a glance will be added to the monthy newsletter, please continue to check our school newsletters regularly, to ensure you have the most current information. We hope this will help to reduce the amount of information coming to your inbox.
We wish everyone a strong start to the school year. Thank you for entrusting us with the privilege of nurturing your children's hearts, minds, and souls. We look forward to a year filled with growth, joy, and the boundless power of love. This school year, we will continue to make it better than the last, creating more memories and participating in new experiences and activities.
We welcome your input and involvement in the learning of your children. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child(ren’s) teacher(s) or the main office. Best wishes on a wonderful start of the school year!
With gratitude and excitement,
Mrs. Rodrigues-Coelho
Principal
To begin the new school year, we’ll focus our attention on the first of our virtues – faith. Faith is the great virtue of believing in God and trusting that God is with us.
A faithful person believes that we are created, guided by and destined to be reunited with God. A faithful person believes that God’s plan for us includes the right to be safe, especially at school.
A Faithful Person...
- Prays regularly and reverently
- Learns from Scripture stories
- Honours people’s God‐given names
- Assumes that there is good in everyone
Students will begin each day at 8:30. Students can come to school anytime between 8:15am - 8:30am and will be supervised by staff outside until the 8:30am bell. This means that parents will NOT be permitted on school property during that time, unless accessing the main office. Drop off should take place utilizing the kiss and ride, pathways, fields and surrounding areas. The playground pavement areas will be off limits to families, this is to ensure the safety of all children. All students will be dismissed at 3:00pm using their designated doors. All bus and PLASP students will be dismissed at 3:00pm.
On the first day of school, Tuesday September 3rd, classroom teachers will meet students in the yard beginning at 8:15 to collect their respective students, grades 1 through 8. Teachers will have grade level signs visible so that students can line up with their grade. Primary students will meet and enter via the south door side entrance, pavement area. Junior and Intermediate will access the north side enterance, pavement area. All support staff will also be available to assist students who were not able to access their class placement information.
When the bell rings at 8:30am, classes will enter the school building via their designated doors. Please find your child's designated door below.
Designated doors:
Kinder yard: Ms. Avila, Ms. Carreiro, Ms. Farris, Ms. Montanaro, Ms. Black
Primary/Intermediate-->South Side Doors: Ms. Kolwich, Ms. Battiston, Ms. Bianchi, Ms. Corona
Junior--> North Side of the Building Doors: Mr. Benec, Ms. Mangaroff, Ms. Bartucci, Ms. Bungay, Mr. Bugeja
Kindergarten
JK/Year 1 students will begin school on either on Wednesday, September 4th, or Thursday September 5th. All JK parents will be contacted by the teacher by Thursday August 29th to find out when their child will begin. All students will be attending school on Friday, September 6th, 2024.
All SK/Year 2 students will begin school Tuesday, September 3rd at 8:30am.
Kindergarten students will proceed to the Kindergarten playground area. The kindergarten team will be there in the gated area to meet and greet students. Please DO NOT enter into the enclosed kindergarten area or enter into the classroom. It is important that parents are not in that designated area. Kindergarten educators will use that area to sort students by class list.
For the first 2 weeks, 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 intervention
All students Year 2 Kindergarten to Grade 8 will attend school on Tuesday September 3rd.
There is a PA Day on Monday September 16th therefore there is no school for children.
We also want to welcome our new staff joining the St. Clare school family this year. Please welcome Ms. Zingone (ERW), Ms. Careleo (Child and Youth Worker), Ms. Wilk (Speech & Language Pathologist), and Ms. McLennan (Grade 3). We are excited to work with them this year.
Farewell... Ms. Avila, our school DECE. We wish her great success in her future endevours and will surely miss her presence in our Kindergarten classroom.
Welcome Ms. Kennedy, DECE replacing Ms. Avila
Welcome Ms. Corona, replacing Ms. McLennan
Welcome Ms. O'Brien, replacing Ms. Wilk, (SLP on maternity leave)
Bus safety
If your child rides the bus daily, it is important that they are aware of the safety rules on the bus. Students are required to:
- Listen to the Bus Driver at all times and report any problems or injuries to him/her
- Go directly to their assigned 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
The Kiss n’ Ride program is available to provide the convenience and safety for our students and parents driving to our school. Please take a moment to review the following procedures to ensure safety for all students and parents using Kiss N’ Ride.
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 anytime. If you need to directly drop off your child, please park your car. For safety reasons, have the children exit the car from the passenger side of the vehicle only. If they are unable to do this without your help, you must park your car and walk your child in.
2. DO NOT drop your child(ren) off in the bus loading zone or in the bus lane, only in the DRIVETHRU lane
3.Teach your child to watch for buses in the bus lane, before they cross into the lane and on to the sidewalk. Once on the sidewalk, they can walk along the sidewalk to the back of the schoolyard.
4. Students walking and using the crosswalk, need to respect the crossing guard on duty. Running across Glen Erin Drive is never allowed and is dangerous. Please use the tunnel.
5. 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. Please remember that the driveway is a one way only. Please follow the signs to ensure that safety for all students and family.
We want to ensure the safety of all students at all times. Please drive slowly. Thank you for your continued cooperation. Please feel free to direct any questions or safety concerns to Mrs. Rodrigues-Coelho.
NEW Bike Racks!
This year St. Clare will receive 2 additional bike racks through the Region of Peel school bike rack program. Students are responsible for locking their bikes and scooters, securing them outside utilizing the bike racks provided. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen equipment. Students are not permitted to store their equipment in the school.
Peel Region’s School Bicycle Parking Program provides safe and secure bicycle parking that encourages students to bike to and from school more often. Since 2015, more than 300 bike racks have been installed at more than 150 schools in Peel Region through the program.
Thank you Ms. Gillis for leading this initiative. More information on the region's Bike to School Week will be forthcoming.
More information: walkandroll@peelregion.ca
Vaccine clinics for routine immunizations (Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Hepatitis B (Hep B), or Meningococcal ACYW-135) are coming to our school! To help protect your child from severe diseases and get them back on track, Peel Public Health will be offering these immunizations to Grade 7 and 8 students at their school. Please complete a consent form to ensure your child is vaccinated during the clinic dates at their school. Visit Peel Region’s website and follow the instructions to print and fill out the consent form Please return the completed form to the school before or on the morning of the clinic date. Students who have existing consent from earlier this school year or from previous years, or if their parents completed an online or verbal consent, do not need to complete a new consent unless your consent choice has changed. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please visit http://www.peelregion.ca/immunize or call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.
Our Vaccination Clinic is set for SEPTEMBER 13th, 2024 1:00-4:00PM
Please review details attached below.
Peel Public Health (PPH) will be conducting dental screenings for students in JK, SK, Grade 2, Grade 4 and Grade 7 during the school year. There is no cost for these screenings. A dental screening is a quick assessment by a Registered Dental Hygienist who will look inside the child's mouth to identify any dental care needs. This screening can identify dental issues at an early stage and stop more serious dental issues from developing. Maintaining good oral health contributes to better overall health.
Following up with parents/guardians of children who have dental needs is a part of the screening process. To do that, the school will be required to provide updated parent/guardian contact information to Peel Public Health. This information will be used to support parents/guardians with accessing dental care. This information is being shared in accordance with the Education Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
If you have any questions about the sharing of this information, please contact the DPCDSB’s Manager, Records Management, Access & Privacy at dpprivacy@dpcdsb.org or at 905-890-0708 extension 24443.
If you have any questions regarding Peel Public Health’s Dental Screening Program, please contact Peel Health directly at 905-799-7700 extension 5622 (be sure to follow the prompts and use the extension number).
IMPORTANT: Prior to any child receiving the free dental screening, DPCDSB requires parent/guardian consent. In this regard, please complete the requested information below indicating whether or not you consent to your child receiving the free dental screening. Once you have completed the information, detach the form and return it to your school as soon as possible.
Thank you for your attention to this important information.
As we begin a new school year, we would like to inform you that St. Clare is an allergen aware school. There are pupils and staff in attendance who suffer from severe and life threatening allergies to certain foods, such as dairy, peanut and nut products. Exposure to even the smallest quantities can cause severe life threatening reactions. Anaphylaxis is a severe and life threatening allergic reaction. The most common allergen triggers are food, insect stings, medications, and latex. An anaphylactic reaction involves symptoms from two or more body systems. We at St. Clare would appreciate the cooperation of the entire school community by NOT sending any lunches or snacks that contain nut or nut byproducts including peanut butter alternatives (i.e. WowButter), or other products containing nuts or nut oils (i.e., Nutella). If a student who has such an allergy comes into contact with anything containing peanuts, nuts, nut oils or derivatives, it could be life threatening. Some students have such a severe allergy that only the smell of the allergen may cause a reaction. Your child’s teacher will inform you of any class specific allergy concerns which could potentially harm a pupil. Please make sure that all of your children’s caregivers are aware of the food restrictions. Please do not send food for birthdays or special occasions. 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. If you did not receive the necessary forms in June, kindly please contact the office.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medications and forms are updated for any student who requires medication to be administered at school. If your child requires medication, please have the necessary forms completed and return them, along with any medication, to the office as soon as possible.
Please remember to check the expiry dates of all medication before bringing them to school.
Medication that is sent to school without the proper documentation will not be stored or dispensed by school personnel. This also applies to over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen, cough medicine, Benadryl, and allergy medications.
All medication with the exception for Kindergarten or students who carry their medication (ie. fanny pack) will be stored centrally in the school office. Kindergarten student medication will be stored in their classrooms for accessibility. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school.
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. We encourage you to click on the Concussion Resources button below which will take you directly to the board website for further information. Again this is a precautionary measure and for information purposes.
SafeArrival is an application within SchoolMessenger that will allow parents/guardians to report their children’s absences in one of the following three ways:
- SchoolMessenger App
- SchoolMessenger website https://go.schoolmessenger.ca
- Toll Free number 1-844-435-3440
What is SafeArrival:
- SafeArrival is an absence management system that improves student safety.
- It supports school staff to follow up on unexcused absences.
- It allows parents and/or guardians to notify the school in advance about an upcoming absence.
Benefits:
- Better Attendance Management for Enhanced Student Safety
- Faster and Easier Attendance Management
- Simplified Parent Reporting Tools
- Accessible, Convenient and Secure
- Automated Key Tasks With SafeArrival Administrative Tools
The Board recognizes the importance of the use of PEDs by students at school and that students can benefit from their use in the classroom. Students can bring their own devices (B.Y.O.D.) for learning purposes. Please note, it is optional for students to bring their devices to school. Students shall care for, maintain and secure their personal devices at all times and recognize that the Board is not responsible for the replacement of lost, stolen or damaged items. In alignment with Ministry guidelines and board policies, PED's must be "out of sight" and powered off or on silent for the entire instructional day (grades K-6) or during instructional periods (grades 7-12), exceptions for medical, health, to support special needs or for educational purposes with explicit permission. Please do not text, or call your child during the school day on their personal device. If you need to contact your child during the school day, please contact the school by phone.
Students will eat lunch in their classes and are encouraged to bring water bottles to school. These water bottles can be refilled at our water bottle refill stations. Students should bring to school a packed lunch each day to limit the amount of visitors in the building. In the event that a student forgets a lunch, a parent/guardian will be contacted. Students will be allowed to go home for lunch. If you choose to have your child go home for lunch on a daily basis, please notify the school or let your child's teacher know. If your child is to go home on an occasional basis, a written note or email must be provided to the office for each occasion. Unfortunately verbal permission will not be honoured.
For more information about our St. Clare Snack Shack and Nutrition Program please review the attached information letter and permission form.
To make a donation to our YMCA Peel Student Nutrition Program click HERE
Student verification forms will be sent home during the first few weeks of school. We ask that you kindly review all information to ensure that it is correct. Please ensure that all phone numbers are accurate in case we need to contact you should your child be sick at school. If you have any information that has changed, you can call the school and we will update it for you.
Homework
Please be advised that teachers at St. Clare 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.
Custody of Children
On rare occasions, we are faced with difficult situations in which non-custodial parents arrive at school asking to visit their child or to take their child home after school. We are best able to serve and protect students when we are made aware of legal custody arrangements, visitation rights and other special instructions. If legal custody matters affect your family, please ensure that our office and classroom teachers are aware of any custodial arrangements that may affect your child during school hours.
Student Accident Insurance
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/
At St. Clare our preferred method of payment is with the use of Online Payment. School Cash Online allows parents to pay school-related fees online safely, quickly and easily. Please go to https://dpcdsb.schoolcashonline.com/ to register online if you are new to the school or if you did not register last year. All lunch programs and field trips will be placed on School Cash Online.
PLASP Child Care Services operates Before and After School Programs at this school. The Before School Program operates from 7:30 a.m. until school start. A nutritious breakfast is served daily. The After School Program runs from the end of the school day until 6:00 p.m. Children participate in recreational activities, are served a nutritious snack daily and have time for homework.
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. Clare community and therefore you are welcome to attend council meetings and participate in council elections.
I would like to take a moment to thank our Catholic School Council Chair, Mrs. Zampino-Mendonca for your support and leadership for the 2023-24 school year. The Council members worked as a team to provide program enhancements from fundraising dollars (i.e. Beef patty days, sub days, read-a-thons etc.) throughout the year including, classroom funds for program enhancements, pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, pretzels during Lent, sacramental gifts for Grades 2 and 7 students, graduation composite photo and gift, just to name a few initiatives.
Through Council-organized school-generated funds, students will also benefit from so much more. Please continue to support school fundraisers to benefit the students, and consider joining Council meetings.
On behalf of the staff, students and the school community, we express our utmost gratitude for the volunteer efforts and dedication of the 2023-2024 Catholic School Council Members listed below:
Chair: Mrs. Laura Zampino-Mendonca
Secretary: Mrs. Joanna Agueci
Treasurer: Mrs. Laura Zampino-Mendonca
Parish Rep: Mr. Gerald Menezes
OAPCE Rep : Mr. Leonard Mendonca
Teacher Rep: Mrs. Camilleri-Alonzi
Non-Teacher Rep: Mrs. Iannicca
Voting Members: Mrs. Lawie-Kilik-Oliveira, Mrs. Anne Rebelo, Mrs. Aksana Savitskaya, Mrs. Danielle Campion, Mrs. Lisa Whitelaw, Mr. Dayle Forgie, Mrs. Karolina Piasecka, Mrs. Melisia Catling.
Our Closing Catholic School Council Meeting will take place on September 23rd, 2024 @ 6:00PM
Our Elections for the 2024-25 school year will take place following the closing meeting on September 23rd, 2024. During this meeting, we will vote on the new council. More information on the election process and future council dates will be coming shortly. We look forward to meeting you and coming together to make this year an exciting one for our students. We are ready to keep making changes to the school to make it even better but we need your help and your creative ideas.
Join us in Person or Virtually:
St. Clare Catholic School Council Meeting
Time: Sep 23, 2024 06:00-8:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94385555773?pwd=vn4FjFthbxbvmUJ18i2ctbZppukGuQ.1
Meeting ID: 943 8555 5773
Passcode: gRW1Ry
Just a reminder that if you are interested in volunteering within the school in any capacity, including field trips, student support, Catholic School Council member, etc., a Valid Criminal Reference Check (CRC), with Vulnerable Sector and Local Records Check is required. Due to COVID closures and not having volunteers in the schools for multiple years, many of our filed CRC and CRC Annual Declarations have lapsed. Therefore, we would like to begin now for any possible volunteer opportunities that may arise this year. Please note that there may be some time required to process a CRC, thus waiting for an announced volunteer opportunity to obtain your CRC may not provide sufficient time for processing. Therefore, we are asking all parents that if you feel that you may be interested in volunteering in any capacity in the school this year, it may be best to start the process now.
Come by the office for a Volunteer Letter from the school before you apply!
Thank you for all your ongoing support and we look forward to having many volunteer opportunities in the school this year.
Catholic Education Week 2025 is held each year in May in our 29 Ontario Catholic School Boards. Catholic Education Week 2025 is scheduled to take place during the week of May 4 – May 9. The theme chosen for the upcoming 2025 Catholic Education Week is: Catholic Education: Pilgrims of Hope L’éducation catholique: Pèlerins de l’espérance
Parish Information
St. Ignatius Loyola Parish
2300 Burnhamthorpe Rd. West
Mississauga, ON
L5L 3T6
Rev. Edward Curtis
Rev. Alexander D'Silva, Associate Pastor
Deacon John Brown
Deacon Robert Sansone
PARISH STAFF
Olga Calderon Parish Secretary StIgnatiusLoyolaMI@archtoronto.org
t: 905.820.1444
e:stignatiusloyolami@archtoronto.org
Sunday Mass Times for St. Ignatius Loyola Parish are 7:45am, 9:00am, 10:30am and 12:00pm (Noon) Website
Please see the attached letter to parents from St. Ignatius Loyola Parish regarding Grade 2 Reconciliation and Holy First Communion for the 2024-25 year.
Information Session: October 15th or 16th at the Parish. Please register through EventBrite. Details attached in the community letter attached.
Reconciliation Dates: November 30 or December 7th
Holy First Communion Dates: May 4 or 25th
Newcomer Reception & Assessment Centre ~ What We Do?
- Welcome newcomer students and their families
- Introduce them to the Ontario elementary and secondary school system
- Offer settlement support through Multicultural Settlement and Education Partnership (MSEP)
- Assess English language proficiency and knowledge of mathematics
- Suggest placement for secondary school students based on school transcripts, assessment results and age
- Counsel secondary school students in choice of program/courses and post-secondary destinations
- Send the assessment report to the school of registration
If you are First Nation (Status Indian or Non-Status Indian), Métis and/or Inuit you can self-identify as Indigenous. You do not need to produce any documentation or proof of ancestry. Self-identification is voluntary and confidential.
“This has been really important for us because of the sense of community and the connection to other Indigenous families.” ~ Melanie Cormier, parent
Self-identification will provide access to culture and language programs and monthly programming for students and families. Relevant information will be sent directly to you about upcoming cultural events and opportunities which help to build community and a sense of Indigenous pride in Dufferin-Peel.
To learn more about opportunities for Indigenous students and families please visit: https://www3.dpcdsb.org/students/indigenous-self-identification
Periodically, throughout the school year, Scholastic Books may be offered by your child's classroom teacher or via Book Fair. While owning books is a valuable experience for children, please note that participation in this program is completely optional and that the books curated in these offerings are selected for a wide audience and not specifically for a Catholic audience given it is a secular company.
We encourage parents/guardians to review the selections that their child/ren make/s to ensure the material chosen reflects their family values.
