Notre Dame Catholic School

Principal: Mr. A. Cardamone Superintendent of Education: Mr. G. Pizzoferrato

Parish: Our Lady of the Scapular Church

Pastor: Fr. Gregory Schmidt Associate Pastor: Fr. Yohander Sanchez

Location: 6559 Caswell Street, Niagara Falls, ON L2J 1C2

Phone: 905-358-3861

Website: https://notredame.niagaracatholic.ca/

On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for

Our blessings all year through.

For family we dearly love,

For good friends, old and new.

For sun to light and warm our days,

For stars that glow at night.

For trees of green and skies of blue,

And puffy clouds of white.

We’re grateful for our eyes that see

This beauty all around.

For arms to hug and legs to walk,

And ears to hear each sound.

The list of all we’re grateful for

Would fill a great big book.

Our thankful hearts find new delights

Everywhere we look.

AMEN

When we do something kind or stand up for a friend, we are like a bright light that everyone can see. We can be witnesses of our faith in our words and in our actions. When we use kind words, play together, and support one another we are being light for the world.

September has been a wonderful and exciting month at Notre Dame Catholic Elementary School! It has been a joy to begin the school year together and to see our students quickly settle into their classroom routines. Throughout the month, our students participated in the Terry Fox Walk, participated in the junior and intermediate soccer tournaments, and took part responsibly in our school safety drills. I continue to be impressed by the positive attitude, respectful behaviour, strong work ethic, and school spirit demonstrated by our students each day.

As we move into October, we turn our hearts toward the virtue of charity and are reminded that our faith calls us to put love into action. Inspired by the example of St. Teresa of Calcutta, we encourage our students to recognize that even the smallest acts of kindness, compassion, and generosity can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

This spirit of giving will be especially evident as our school community participates in the Holy Childhood Walk, supporting the Holy Childhood Association and children in need around the world. Through our prayers, participation, and generosity, our students have an opportunity to live out the Gospel message and recognize their ability to make a positive difference beyond the walls of our school.

October also brings the beautiful celebration of Thanksgiving, a special time to pause and recognize the many blessings God has placed in our lives. At Notre Dame, we are especially grateful for our students, families, staff, parish partners, and the wonderful sense of community that makes our school such a special place.

As I reflect on my first month at Notre Dame, I am incredibly grateful for the warm welcome I have received. It is truly a blessing to return to a school that was such an important part of my own childhood and now have the privilege of serving this community as Principal.

On behalf of the entire staff of Notre Dame Catholic Elementary School, I wish all of our students and families a joyful, restful, and blessed Thanksgiving.

In honour of Our Lady of Fatima, our families are warmly invited to join the Our Lady of the Scapular parish community for the annual Mother Mary’s Procession on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

This beautiful faith-filled tradition brings together our parish, schools, families, and community in prayer and devotion to our Blessed Mother. The procession will be followed by Mass at 6:15 p.m.

Everyone is welcome, especially our children! Families are also invited to bring flowers from their gardens and personal religious items to be blessed.

We hope many of our Notre Dame families will be able to join us for this special evening of faith, prayer, and community.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is observed to raise awareness about the legacy of residential schools and the broader impact of colonization on Indigenous communities. As Catholic educators, we must teach students about the need for truth in the reconciliation process.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, created in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action #80, is a statutory holiday to honour Survivors, their families, and communities. It ensures that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital part of reconciliation. This day also honours the children who never returned home. It coincides with Orange Shirt Day, which highlights Phyllis Webstad's story and the message that every child matters.

October 4th is dedicated to honouring the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and supporting families who have been tragically touched by the loss of a loved one to violence. Vigils take many forms: a rally, a candlelight vigil, a workshop, a moment of silence, a walk, or a gathering of people to share memories and a meal.

Together, the October Sisters in Spirit Vigils have become a movement for social change and a reminder that our sisters will not be forgotten.

December 1 - Family Advent Mass & Social

December 8 - Shrek the Musical - Greg Frewin Theatre

June 2 - Family Food Truck Night

More information will be shared at a later date.

Pita Pit Day - Friday, October 16, 2026

Pizza Day - Tuesday, October 27, 2026

All items will be available on School Cash Online

On Friday, October 9, students and staff of Notre Dame Catholic School will take part in a special walk to support the Holy Childhood Association—a global mission club for elementary school children.

Guided by the motto “Children Helping Children,” this initiative inspires young people to support those less fortunate around the world while fostering empathy, compassion, and global awareness.

Funds raised through this event will help support vital programs such as:

• Building schools
• Providing medical care
• Supporting agricultural development
• Supplying teaching resources

We will be collecting donations through School Cash Online, and every contribution—big or small—makes a meaningful impact.

Thank you for your continued generosity and support!

Notre Dame Catholic School will be celebrating Halloween on Friday, October 30. This will be an alternate dress day, and students are welcome to come to school dressed in a costume or in black and orange.

Please ensure that students arrive already dressed, as visitors will not be permitted inside the school.

Parade of Costumes
Our annual Halloween parade will begin at 8:45 a.m. for students in Kindergarten through Grade 8. Weather permitting; students will walk around the perimeter of the school. Parents are invited to find a spot along the route and enjoy the fun!

Visitor Guidelines
All visitors are kindly asked to remain outside during the parade to ensure student safety and follow school protocols.

Treats and Nutrition Guidelines
In accordance with our Nutrition and Anaphylaxis Guidelines, we ask that no Halloween treats be sent to school. Treats will not be distributed or shared among students.

Costume Guidelines and Tips

• Costumes should be student-friendly and easy for children to manage independently
• A change of clothes is recommended if students wish to change out of their costume during the day

Additional information will be sent home later this month.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making this a safe and enjoyable celebration for all.

The first meeting of the Notre Dame Catholic School Council for the 2026–2027 school year was held on Monday, September 28, 2026. We extend our sincere thanks to all new members for joining this important committee, and a heartfelt appreciation to our returning members who have generously dedicated their time and energy over the years.

During the meeting, elections were held for council leadership positions. Congratulations to Andrew Vergalito and Marty Petrullo, who were elected as our Co-Chairs for this school year.

Thank you to Tara Thornton who continues to lead our Bingo and Nevada Lottery accounts and to Ivona Tadic for assisting Tara. As well, thank you to Christina Guarino for acting as our Parish Rep and to Amanda Lizzotti for acting as our OAPCE rep.

We also thank all parents who attended and volunteered to serve as parent representatives - your involvement is truly valued. The following parents will serve on this year's CSC... Melodie Renette, Olaitan Onyebuoha, Sofia Ferreyro-Mazieres-Amirtabar, Christina Vasquez Mate, Astrid Chiri, Diana Sanchez, John Miano, Samantha Vasquez-Young, Alexa Didemus Marra, Cassie Godwin, Peace Godwin, Jen Smith, Elizabeth Hofmann.

Topics discussed at the meeting included:

• Policy Review
• Council By-Laws
• Dress Code Donations
• Niagara Nutrition Partners Grant
• Fundraising Goals for the Year
• Parent Engagement

Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 23, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

We look forward to continued collaboration and meaningful contributions from our school community.

October 19- 23 is Waste-Free Lunch Challenge Week. Notre Dame students are encouraged to decrease the amount of garbage produced to help our earth. Students are encouraged to bring reusable containers in their lunch during this week.

Take Me Outside Day has always been about simply making time to head outside and learn beyond the four walls of a classroom. But this year we want to celebrate in a way like never before. On October 22 & 23, classes will head outside for learning!

We are incredibly proud of our Intermediate Boys, Intermediate Girls, Junior Girls, and Junior Boys soccer teams who represented Notre Dame at the Saint Paul High School Family of Schools Soccer Tournaments throughout September. All four teams competed with determination and demonstrated outstanding teamwork, sportsmanship, and school spirit.

A special congratulations to our Intermediate Girls Soccer Team, who advanced to the Board Finals on October 1st! We wish them the very best of luck as they represent Notre Dame!

Congratulations to all of our student-athletes and coaches! Go Notre Dame!

Keep your child’s smile BOO-tiful this Halloween!

Here are some tips to help keep teeth healthy:

• Brush teeth twice a day for two minutes using fluoridated toothpaste

• Floss once a day

• Stay away from sticky, starchy, and hard candy

• Limit sugary drinks. Drink water after eating tasty treats to rinse away sugar that may be stuck on your teeth.

• Book a FREE dental appointment at Public Health's dental clinics by calling 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7399 or live chat with us (Link #1).

To learn more on how to keep your family’s teeth healthy, visit www.niagararegion.ca/dental.

Fall brings the ‘unofficial’ start of respiratory illness season. This means that viruses that affect our respiratory system (for example our lungs and throat) begin to spread more often.

Help keep the classroom germ free by keeping your child home if they are sick. If your child is sick, they should stay home from school until:

• They have no fever, without the use of fever reducing medication and

• Their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours or 48 hours if they have nausea, vomiting and / or diarrhea and

• They don’t develop any new symptoms

Each year, different respiratory viruses can be spreading in our community at the same time. These viruses can have similar symptoms. This means it can be hard to tell what you are infected with based on just symptoms alone. For more information on, visit Managing Illness - Exclusion periods (Link #2) and our downloadable resource Respiratory Illnesses: Protect Yourself and Others (Link #3).

By keeping your child at home when they are feeling sick, you are actively helping to prevent the spread of infection and disease among the entire school community.

With Halloween around the corner, it’s a good time to review safe storage tips for cannabis edibles. These products can look just like regular treats—gummies, brownies, or cookies—which makes them easy for children to mistake for candy.

Hospitalizations for accidental cannabis poisonings in children have increased across Canada, most often happening at home. To help keep kids safe:

• Store edibles in child-resistant packaging, out of reach (up high) and out of sight

• Keep them separate from regular food

• Use a locked container whenever possible

Symptoms of cannabis poisoning in children may include confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, slowed breathing, or trouble walking. If you suspect a child has consumed cannabis, call 1-844-POISON-X or 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Let’s keep Halloween safe and fun for everyone!

The changing season means colourful leaves, migrating birds, and scurrying critters. How many of these can you and your child(ren) spot on your journey to school this month? Use the IWALK I-Spy activity cards to track your sightings!

Visit ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/international-walk-to-school-month/ for resources, ideas, and tips to help celebrate and participate in IWALK Month. Share stories and images of your community getting your walk on by tagging @OntarioAST and using the hashtags #IWALK and #JourneyOutside on Twitter.

1. Live chat with us (https://vue.comm100.com/chatWindow.aspx?siteId=232657&planId=545)

2. Managing Illness - Exclusion periods (https://www.niagararegion.ca/living/childcare/service-providers/child-care-manual/illness.aspx#non-report)

3. Respiratory Illnesses: Protect Yourself and Others (https://www.niagararegion.ca/living/childcare/service-providers/child-care-manual/illness.aspx#non-report)

A friendly reminder that all schools within the Niagara Catholic District School Board follow a standardized dress code.

In general, students are expected to wear:

• A white or navy collared shirt
• Navy bottoms – including pants, shorts, or skirts

For specific details or questions regarding the dress code, please feel free to contact the school office. We are committed to working with families to support and address any concerns.