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

The start of a new year is always a time for reflection and resolution. As we begin a new year, we look back and reflect on what we have accomplished and what we want to do better. During this month of January, take a few moments with your child/children and ask them to reflect on the gifts and talents God has given them and have them think of ways they can share those gifts with others during this New Year.

In 2024, we will continue to build community through the relationships with home, school and parish to ensure that St. Ursula School continues to provide a safe, positive and enriched learning

environment for all students.

May this year be filled with peace and happiness for all families and may God bless you and your

families with joy, hope, and peace throughout 2024!

Mr. Daly

Principal

Thank you for a new year. May everyone in our family be

willing to begin anew with a clean slate. We know that you are

always ready to forgive us. Help us to be willing to forgive

ourselves and to forgive one another.

As we begin a new year, remind us of our truest values and our

deepest desires. Help us to live in the goodness that comes from

doing what you want us to do. Help us to put aside anxiety about

the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with you

now, one day at a time.

Amen

Jan 8 - First Day back from Christmas Break

Jan 9 - Tonino's Sandwich Lunch

Jan 10 - Mr. Sub Lunch

Jan 12 - Pizza Day!

Jan 16 - Tonino's Sandwich Lunch

Jan 17 - Mr. Sub Lunch

Jan 19 - Pizza Day!

Jan 22 - PA Day (No School for Students/report card writing)

Jan 23 - Tonino's Sandwich Lunch

Jan 24 - Mr. Sub Lunch

Jan 26 - Virtue Celebration -Self Control 9:30am (Parents welcome)

Jan 26 - Pizza Day!

Jan 30- Dance-a thon Kick-off Assembly

Jan 30 - Tonino's Sandwich Lunch

Jan 31 - Mr. Sub Lunch

Please feel free to click on the Translate button on the bottom ofthe newsletter to choose your language of preference! (Arabic,Spanish, Hausa, Portuguese, Taglog, Polish, Italian, Malayalam,Hindi etc.)

God has given us the ability to choose.

We are able to control how we react to what happens around us.

We may feel pressure from inside or from outside ourselves to react violently to a situation. We’ve all “lost it” at one time or another. We are never proud of those moments. As soon as they happen we

make a promise that they will not happen again.

Through prayer and concentration, we can get better at controlling

our reactions. We can get better at showing self-control.

Self-control helps us to resist the temptation to do something that we will regret. Self-control helps us to resist the temptation to do something that will harm ourselves or others. Self-control is one of

the marks of a spiritually mature person.

When we all use self-control, we can be sure that our school will be a

safe, caring and inclusive place to live and to learn.

A person with self-control…

• is patient

• knows how to wait his/her turn

• can calm him/herself down and think before reacting to situations

• knows how to avoid physical aggression (hitting, kicking, pushing)

• can think things through

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.

Term 1 Report cards will be sent home on Tuesday, February 13th, 2024. Parent-Teacher interviews will be held on the evening of Thursday, February 15th, 2024 and during the day on Friday, February 16th, 2024

Please note that Monday, January 22nd, 2024 is a PD Day. This day is for “Term 1 Assessment and Evaluation of Pupil Progress.” As well, Friday, February 16th, 2024 is also a PD Day. This day is set aside for Parent/Teacher interviews. Information regarding Parent/ Teacher interviews will be communicated later in the month. Please note there will be no school for students on the above dates.

The last C.S.C. was held on Wednesday, December 13th 2023. Minutes of this meeting will be posted on our school website.

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, February 7, 2024 @ 6:30PM (Virtual)

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 @ 6:30PM (Virtual)

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 @ 6:30PM (In-Person)

The next Catholic School Council Meeting will take place virtually on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 6:30. As always, all parents are welcomed to attend this open meeting.

St. Ursula will be holding their first major school fundraiser on Tuesday, February 13th, 2024. The students of St. Ursula will be participating in a “VALENTINE’S DAY” Dance-a-Thon in order to raise money for classroom enhancements a experiences. Many major prizes to be won including Raptors Tickets, Jack Astors, Cineplex Gift Certificates. A huge thank you to our Catholic School Council for organizing this upcoming event!! More information will be shared later in the month of January.

We are excited to announce that St. Ursula be going as a school to watch the Mississauga Steelheads School-Day OHL Hockey game on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga against the Brantford Bulldogs. The cost for each student is $16.50 which includes the price of one general admission ticket and bussing to and from the event. Parents are also welcome to attend. Deadline to purchase tickets for students is January 16th, afterwhich the link will be open to those who wish to purchase extra tickets. For parents who wish to volunteer, please provide a copy of the most updated Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) and the link to purchase your ticket will be sent to you.

Please note, tickets can only be purchased through School CashOnline, no cash payments will be accepted.

From December 4th to December 20th, St. Ursula held our annual schoo-wide Toy Mountain Toy Drive. As a school community we were able to collect a large amount of new, unwrapped toys with were delivered by Ms. Cheaney-Hogan to less fortunate children, creating magical moments and lasting memories during the Christmas season.

We believe that the spirit of giving is a lesson that goes beyond the classroom, and together, we as a St. Ursula community made a significant difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Your generosity was overwhelming and much appreciated by many in the St. Ursula community. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

BUS CANCELLATIONS

During the winter months, inclement weather and/or poor road conditions may cause the disruption of bus transportation.

If buses are cancelled in a certain Weather Zone, schools in that Zone will remain open to students and staff.

Please note that our school, St. Ursula Catholic School is part of Weather Zone # 2

There is no distribution of learning devices in anticipation of inclement weather-related bus cancellations.

While students unable to attend in person due to transportation cancellations are not required to access learning materials in the Learning Management System (LMS), they can if they choose to. Learning activities posted in the LMS specifically for inclement weather days provide opportunities for consolidation, curriculum enrichment or practice of skills already taught.

It is acknowledged that teachers will be supporting in-person students and therefore may have limited availability to support students who are not in attendance.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

If there is a system closure due to inclement weather, where all DPCDSB schools and facilities are closed to students and staff, there is no switch to synchronous learning for the day.

Similar to bus cancellation days, students can access learning activities posted in the LMS specifically for inclement weather days that provide opportunities for consolidation, curriculum enrichment or practice of skills already taught. This also applies to students in remote-only classes.

As always, parents/guardians can contact their child’s teacher if they have any questions or require support using communication methods that have been established by the teacher.

Winter season has arrived! Please assist us in encouraging your children to dress appropriately for the cold weather. When on yard supervision, teachers monitor if children are wearing their boots, hats, mittens etc. The students should have a pair of indoor shoes to wear at school in class and for gym. Outdoor shoes/ boots will be kept for outdoor use only and out of the classrooms in order to reduce the amount of dirt and mud brought indoors. This will assist our custodial staff in keeping the school clean. gloves and scarves. We want our students to feel comfortable out-doors and not get chilled because of inappropriate winter dress. For our younger students, it would be helpful if parents were to label items of clothing with their child’s name, so that each person can more easily locate his/her own clothing from the class coat rack area. Each term many items make their way to the “Lost and Found” bin and are never claimed. Labelled items can be returned more easily and mixed up items sorted out more readily. Please ensure that your child has an extra pair of shoes at school, to keep their feet dry and warm during wet and/or snowy weather. A change of clothing stored in a child’s back-pack, may also be a good idea for younger students.

The winter season is upon us! Playing in the snow can be a lot of fun, however, our school has a rule forbidding the throwing of snowballs and the kicking of snow onto others. Students are reminded of the importance of this rule in preventing injury to others and they are encouraged to constructively use the snow that winter brings to build snow persons, sculptors, etc. Please assist us by reviewing with your child the danger in throwing/kicking snow and the importance of preventing injury to other children. This will help to make our schoolyard a safe place for all of our students during the winter season

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

Pizza days will be back on Fridays starting November 2023. We will be partnering with Pizza Point Pizza and the costis $2.75/slice. Money raised will be used to pay for Guest speakers, and school/classroom presentations to supplement classroom programming.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.