PF - October Template | Smore Newsletters

November is here! As we look back on October, there is much to celebrate at Pope Francis. Students have settled into routines, strengthened friendships, and embraced new learning. Each day, the kindness and care of our students, staff, and families help our school feel like a place where everyone belongs.

Our board theme, “Becoming Artisans of Peace,” invites us to consider how we can build peace through our words and actions. Listening with patience, including someone new, offering forgiveness, and helping a friend are simple ways we can each make a difference.

As Remembrance Day approaches, we pause to honour those who have served and sacrificed, and we pray for all those affected by war and conflict. We remember with gratitude and renew our commitment to being peacemakers in our own community.

When I take a moment to step back, it is often the simplest things that bring the greatest gratitude—family, friendships, faith, and the opportunity to learn and grow together. I hope November offers your family moments to pause, give thanks, and recognize the peace we can share with one another.

Time to pray. Time to remember.
Time to rebuild, restore, and renew—together.

Kerri Lomax, Principal

Nov 4: Picture Day

Nov 4: Gr. 7/8 Trip - Level Up!

Nov 6: Gr. 8 Christmas Greenery Fundraiser Orders Due

Nov 7: Grade 8 Confirmation - St. Patrick's Church @ 11am

Nov 9: Report Cards

Nov 11: Remembrance Day Liturgy

Nov 13: MacMillan's Fundraiser Ends

Nov 18: School Advisory Council Meeting @6pm

Nov 19/20: Parent Teacher Interviews

Nov 20: PD Day

Nov 22: December Pizza Orders Due on School Cash Online

Nov 22: First Communion Enrollment Ceremony @10:30am St. Patrick's Church (Grade 2 students)

Nov 24: Christmas Greenery Fundraiser Pick up Day - 11:30am - 4:30pm

Nov 25: Grade 7/8 Vaccine Clinic

Nov 25: JR. Basketball Tournament - Holy Trinity CHS

Nov 25: Gr. 2 & 3 classes trip to Taquanyah

Nov 30: Month End Assembly

📌Spirit Days!

Nov 6 - Dress as your favourite teacher

Nov 13 - Dress as a decade - 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's 2000's

Nov 27 - Twin Day

📌Pizza Days 🍕**Please note that pizza's days are now on Tuesdays**

November 3

November 10

November 17

November 24

**Pizza orders for December are due on School Cash Online by November 22, 2026**

📌Ms. Martin's Kitchen Hot Lunch Program👩🏻‍🍳

November 5

November 12

November 19

November 26

📌PD Days

November 20

January 22

June 11

June 30

Support Catholic Education in the Upcoming Municipal Election

Help protect and preserve our Catholic education system by ensuring that you are registered as an English Separate (Catholic) School Supporter. Like many Catholics, you may be surprised to find out that you are registered as a 'Public School' supporter. You are able to correct this before the upcoming election.

If you miss the update deadline, you can also bring photo identification and proof of address to your polling station on election day to ensure you are able to cast a vote for your local Catholic school trustee.

By directing your tax support to the separate school system:

You may vote for separate school trustees in municipal elections
Your children may attend Catholic elementary schools
You show your support for the Catholic school system

You can visit MPAC to learn more about changing your school support online or download the MPAC school support factsheet below.

School News and Announcements

📌Progress Reports

Progress Reports will be sent home on Monday, November 9, 2026. Families will receive both a paper copy and a digital copy of the report. The digital copy will be delivered through our Document Delivery system using the email address(es) currently on file for your family. Please ensure your contact information is up to date to avoid any delays in receiving your child's report.

📌Parent-Teacher Interviews November 19th / 20th

Parents can book their own interview times using our online booking tool. A "How To" information sheet will be shared digitally with families. Please watch your email for the shared link. You will receive and email reminder closer to the date of your interview.

📌Late Arrivals

Our school day begins promptly at 8:30 a.m., and arriving on time helps students start their day ready to learn. If your child arrives after the morning bell, they must be signed in at the school office before going to class. This ensures accurate attendance records and, most importantly, helps us keep all students safe.

Thank you for your support in helping students arrive on time each day!

📌Family Vacations During the School Year

If you are planning a family vacation during the school year that will result in your child(ren) being away from school for 5 or more school days, please remember to notify the school office ahead of time. An Intent to be Absent Form must be completed and submitted to the school before your child leaves for the extended absence. Providing us with advance notice helps ensure that we are aware of the absence and can update our records accordingly.

Please contact the school office to get a copy of the required forms or if you have any questions.

📌Student Accident Insurance

Student Accident Insurance is available to families and can provide valuable financial protection in the event of an unexpected injury.

This optional insurance helps cover many expenses that may not be fully covered by OHIP or extended health benefit plans, such as ambulance fees, dental injuries, fractures, and other accident-related costs. Coverage applies not only during school activities, but also during many activities outside of school, including sports and recreational programs.

Information about Student Accident Insurance can be found on our school website under School Forms. If you wish to purchase coverage, please visit www.insuremykids.com or call 1-800-463-5437. Annual individual and family plans are available.

Please note that the insurance policy is purchased directly by families, and the agreement is between you and the insurance provider, Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada.

Upcoming Events

📌🎉 YLT School Spirit Days are Coming! 🎉

Get ready to show your school spirit! Our Youth Leadership Team (YLT) has planned some fun Spirit Days throughout November. We encourage all students to join in and participate!

📚 November 9 – Dress as Your Favourite Teacher
Take inspiration from a teacher who makes a difference in your day!

🕺 November 16 – Dress as a Decade
Travel through time and dress from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, or 2000s.

🧢 November 23 – Hat Day
Wear your favourite hat and show off your style.

👯 November 30 – Twin Day

Find a friend, match your outfits, and dress as twins for the day!

We can't wait to see everyone's creativity and school spirit. Let's make November a fun and spirited month at Pope Francis! 💙💛

📌Picture Day

Picture Day is coming to Pope Francis CES on Wednesday, November 4! Students will have their individual school photo taken during the school day. A reminder card from Edge Imaging will be sent home prior to Picture Day with information on how to view and order photos online.

We look forward to seeing everyone's smiles! 📸😊

📌Remembrance Day Ceremony

In order to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, we will be having a Remembrance Day Ceremony on Wednesday November 11th at 11:00 am, led by Mr. Edge's grade 5/6 class.

God of Peace, May each of us be instruments of Your peace. Help us be away of the many opportunities we have to promote peace and justice. May we never underestimate the power of our actions. Help us to know how best to promote peace and justice. Amen.

📌Bullying Awareness Week

Our board has designated the week of November 15 - 21 2026, as Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week to help promote safe schools and a positive learning environment. During this week, teachers will be leading their classes in lessons appropriate for their grade and specific issues.

School Highlights

📌October Students of the Month: Responsibility

During the month of October, our school community focused on the virtue of Responsibility. We are proud to recognize our October Student of the Month recipients who consistently demonstrated responsible choices, took ownership of their actions, completed tasks to the best of their ability, and showed respect for themselves, others, and their learning environment.

Congratulations to all of our October Student of the Month recipients! Thank you for being positive role models and for helping make Pope Francis CES a caring and responsible school community. 💙💛⭐

FTK1-Hayden R.

FTK2 - Kadence C.

FTK3 - Adanna E.

1A - Bryson Y.

1B - Aleina P.

2A- Taalia S.

2B- Maisie L.

2/3 - Madison A.

3A - Kobi A.

3B - Mikha D.

4 - Francesca S.

4/5 - Angelin C.

5/6 - Jesse B.

6/7 - Jayden Antony C.

7 - Melody K.

8 - Joshua B.

📌Senior Flag Football Tournament

Congratulations to our Senior Flag Football team on a fantastic tournament! Our Phoenix players showed great teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the day. After a strong performance, the team advanced to the semi-finals, where their tournament run came to an end. We are proud of their effort and the way they represented Pope Francis School! 💙🧡🔥

❗Reminders and Ongoing Initiatives

📌Ms. Martin's Kitchen - Hot Lunch Program

We are excited to offer a Hot Lunch Program through Ms. Martin's Kitchen for our Pope Francis CES students! Hot lunches are available every Thursday throughout the school year.

Families can order lunches directly through the Ms. Martin's Kitchen website where a variety of menu options are available. This program provides a convenient lunch option for families while supporting a local food service provider.

We look forward to offering this opportunity to our students and hope your family will enjoy this delicious and convenient lunch program! 🍎🥪🍕

To place an order, visit: Ms. Martin's Kitchen

If you have any questions about the hot lunch program or ordering process, please contact Michelle Martin directly at msmartinskitchen@gmail.com.

📌Nutrition Program

We are excited to launch our Nutrition Program beginning in October! The program will run twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays and will provide students with a variety of healthy snack options, including yogurt, cheese, crackers, fresh fruit, and vegetables.

To help keep this program running, we gratefully welcome monetary donations from families. Donations can be made through School Cash Online if a tax receipt is not required. Families wishing to receive a tax receipt can make their donation through the "Donate Now" option on the Pope Francis CES website.

Thank you for your support in helping us provide healthy snack options for our students! 🍎🧀

📌School Spirit Wear

Show your Pope Francis pride with our Schooltee Spirit Wear collection! A variety of clothing and accessory options are available for students and families. Spirit wear is a great way to celebrate our school community while showing school spirit throughout the year.

Please see the attached flyer for ordering information and available items. All orders must be placed by November 13. Be sure to submit your order before the deadline. We can't wait to see everyone showing their Pope Francis spirit! 💙💛🦅

School Advisory Council

📌Meet Our School Advisory Council Executive Committee

We are pleased to introduce the 2026-2027 School Advisory Council Executive Committee! We are grateful to these dedicated parents for volunteering their time, ideas, and support to help strengthen our school community. Through collaboration with staff and families, the School Advisory Council plays an important role in supporting student success and enhancing the educational experience at Pope Francis CES. We look forward to working together throughout the year and thank our Executive Committee members for their commitment to our school.

We encourage all families to stay connected and watch for opportunities to learn more about School Advisory Council initiatives and meetings throughout the year.

Chairman - Robert Covey

Co-Chair - Chelsea Henderson

Secretary - Jess Nevitt

Treasurer - Chelsea Donald

Teacher Representative - Sarah Sienna

📌School Advisory Council MacMillan's Fundraiser

Our School Advisory Council (SAC) is excited to be hosting a MacMillan's Fundraiser in support of Pope Francis CES! MacMillan's offers a wide selection of delicious frozen foods, baked goods, appetizers, desserts, and more.

All orders must be placed through the MacMillan's website by November 13. An information package with ordering instructions was sent home with students in October. If you have not yet placed your order, there is still time to support our school while stocking up on some family favourites.

Thank you for supporting Pope Francis CES and the many initiatives that help enrich student learning and school life! 💙💛🍪🥧🥟

📌Next SAC Meeting......

The next School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting will be held on Wednesday November 18,2026 at 6:00 PM in the library. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend and share their ideas to help support our school community

Parish News and Information

📌St. Patrick's Catholic Church

107 Orkney St. East

Caledonia ON

905-765-2729

Father: Fr. John Pinto

Secretary: Maryann Wijayapura

📌Mass Times:

Saturday @ 5 pm

Sunday @ 8:30 am or 10:30 am

📌Grade 8 Confirmation

We extend our prayers and best wishes to our Grade 8 students as they celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, November 7 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church. Confirmation is an important milestone in our students' faith journey as they receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and strengthen their commitment to living as disciples of Christ.

May God bless all of our Confirmation candidates and their families as they celebrate this special occasion. ✝️🕊️💙💛

📌Grade 2 First Communion Enrollment Ceremony

We are excited to begin the First Communion preparation journey with our Grade 2 students and their families. The Enrollment Ceremony for students who will be receiving their First Holy Communion this year will take place on Sunday, November 22 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church.

This special celebration marks the beginning of an important step in the students' faith journey as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist. We keep all of our Grade 2 students and their families in our prayers as they prepare for this meaningful sacrament. ✝️💙💛

Head Lice - What You Need To Know

Head lice are common among school aged children and having them does not mean your child is unclean. Head lice are tiny bugs that live on the scalp and lay eggs called nits. An itchy scalp and frequent head scratching are common signs of lice.

Lice spread easily by direct head-to-head contact, and by sharing items like hats, helmets, and hairbrushes. They can't jump, fly, swim, or live on pets.

* If your child has head lice, tell the school and anyone they've been in close contact with. Children with head lice should be treated and can attend school.

* Lice shampoo products are the best way to get rid of them. Your pharmacist or doctor can help you choose a treatment. Treatment is covered under OHIP+ with a valid prescription.

Children with head lice do not need to be kept home from school or childcare. Refer to your school board policies for further information.

For more information, visit: www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/head_lice