St. Teresa of Calcutta Newsletter

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.

We will be conducting a School Uniform Interest Survey starting January 6, 2026, to gather input from our school community.

Please note the following key points:

• The survey will be sent by the DPCDSB Research Department to the primary contact for each family in our school (excluding Grade 8 families) on January 6, 2026.
• Each family counts as one voting unit.
• For next steps to occur, at least 60% of all families must vote YES to explore a uniform option. An elementary school community shall not be surveyed about interest in establishing a school uniform policy more than once every four (4) years.
• Families will choose between:

• Dress Code : a standardized local dress code, which means a colour scheme (e.g., navy blue pants and white tops), with standard items purchased by parents through local vendors;

• Uniform: a consistent school uniform with clear identification of the articles of clothing which will constitute the school uniform, including school name, crest, logo, and/or insignia;

• No change
• Initial consultation must happen during the first of week of February 2026 and all decisions must be finalized by the beginning of March 2026 for a 2026/2027 School Year Start. A minimum of 6 months shall elapse from the date of notification of the changes to the date of implementation of the new school uniform.

• If you do not receive the survey email on the date mentioned above, check your email junk folder first

• If the email is not in the email junk or main folder, please advise your school administrator through the info mailbox

• Do not share your personalized survey link with anyone. We will only keep the most recent survey submission

Reminders will be sent to families who have not completed the survey, and we will follow up directly with those who need assistance.

Thank you for your support in ensuring clear communication and timely decision-making.

EDGE & ELEV8 Night Fridays

We are so excited to get the 2025/2026 year started and starting off our Ministry year strong! Parents, you’re welcome to stay for a few minutes at the start of the night to meet our team and hear a quick overview of what’s ahead this semester. We’ve also attached the EDGE calendar dates below so you can mark them down and have your children ready to join us each time.

What to Expect:

This will be a great opportunity for your Grade 6, 7, 8 to meet their small group leaders, connect with friends, and get a taste of what EDGE is all about! There will be games, music, snacks, and a short message to kick off the year.

Bring your friends, and feel free to join us on Friday! RSVP is encouraged - link below.

We can’t wait to see everyone there and begin this journey together!

To stay updated on upcoming events and announcements, follow us on social media @spygmississauga.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself (Kristina) at this email or by phone at 905-270-2301 ext. 226.

Finally, we’d love for you to register your child as soon as possible using the https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCCxQ9epeBi8-ZoiE0rRLk9wj3YdGcaJgRplYZjfDyG8avaQ/viewform?pli=1

form, or by scanning the QR code on the bulletin board. This helps us prepare a warm and welcoming experience for everyone.

EDGE/ELEV8 CALENDAR

2025-2026

January 9 – Catechesis

January 16 – Catechesis

January 23 – Social Night

February 13 – Catechesis

February 27 – Catechesis

March 13 – Catechesis

March 27 – Catechesis

April 10 – Social

April 24 – Catechesis

May 8 – Catechesis

May 29 – Catechesis

June 12 – END OF YEAR SOCIAL

Click the link for more information:

https://stpatricksmi.archtoronto.org/en/our-ministries/youth-edge--verso-lalto/
Registration is only required once for the school year of 2025-2026. If you have already registered for Edge this year, there is no need to register for the upcoming nights.

Blessings,

Kristina Silvester

Youth Minister

St. Patrick's Parish

As the colder weather begins, please ensure that your child comes prepared to participate in all activities including outdoor recess – all children should have hats, scarves, gloves, warm coats and boots.

Snow boots and snow pants in primary must be worn on the field. Please bring indoor shoes & an extra pair of socks is also good idea!

SNOW stays on the ground.

For everyone’s safety, we do not allow snowballs, kicking/throwing snow or any other ice/snow activity that could lead to potential harm or injury.

School begins: 8:55 a.m.

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.

Congratulations to the recipients of our December Virtue of Hope certificates:

Ms. Scarpelli FDK

Jack

Kyle

Ms. Medeiros and Ms. Pereira FDK

Addyson

Max

Ms. Iassogna Gr.1

Luka

Mateo

Aitana

Ms. Hassell Gr.1/2

Stefano

Anna

Ms. Bailey Gr. 1/2

Anita

Gabrielle

Ms. Casciaro Gr. 3

Emmy

Orest

Ms. Armstrong Gr. 4

Estella

Anastasia

Mark

Ms. Pereira Gr.4/5

Sofia

Kyrylo

Mrs. Neiva Gr.5/6

Nico

Elnaz

Mr. Salinas Gr.6/7

Maliya

Yelyzaveta

Ms. Guzik Gr.7/8

Maryam

Gabriel

Mr. Felice Gr. 7/8

Krystian

Andrzej

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.

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.

DP Math At Home Site

January's focus: Geometry

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.

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.

Click above for January Issue

As we turn the calendar to 2026,we are invited to pause and look ahead with hope and intention. January marks not only the beginning of a new year but also Mental Wellness Month, a dedicated time to nurture our minds and hearts as we set meaningful goals and embrace fresh opportunities. The virtues of self-control and thoughtful decision-making are especially important during this season of resolutions. Setting intentions can feel daunting, but Pope Leo XIV reminds us that “hope does not mean having all the answers, but rather it calls us to put our trust in God.” Practicing self-control means managing our emotions and impulses with patience and compassion for others and for ourselves. This month, let us prioritize mental well-being alongside academic, spiritual and personal growth, creating spaces where students can thrive as self-directed, responsible, lifelong

learners. Inside this issue, you’ll find resources to support self-regulation, mental wellness, and overall well-being as we journey together into a year of balance and hope.

Click above for January Issue

What you’ll find in this edition:

• Dental Screening for Children

• Digital Habits and Emotional Awareness

• February 4th is Winter Walk Day!

• National Non-Smoking Week 2026

• Protect your Family from Respiratory Illnesses this Winter

• Spot the New Nutrition Symbol on Packaged Foods!

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

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

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.