St. David of Wales
September 2026 Newsletter
Head Secretary: Romena Khan
Superintendent: Drago Radic
Trustee: Luz del Rosario
Pastor: Fr. Felix, O Carm
Associate Pastor: Fr. Shyju Jose, O. Carm
4200 Beacon Lane
Mississauga, ON
L5C 3V9
Phone: 905.848.4200
Please feel free to click on the Translate button on the bottom of the newsletter to choose your language of preference! (Arabic, Spanish, Hausa, Portuguese, Taglog, Polish, Italian, Malayalam, Hindi etc.)
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Dear St. David of Wales Families,
Welcome to a new school year!
As we open our doors once again, we are filled with gratitude for the opportunity to learn, grow, pray, and celebrate together as a Catholic school community. Whether you are joining us for the first time or returning as a familiar face, we extend a heartfelt welcome to each member of our school family.
This year, our theme, "Many Voices, One Family: Inclusion is Our Jam," reminds us that every person is a beloved child of God with unique gifts, talents, experiences, and perspectives to share. At St. David of Wales, we believe that our differences are a blessing. When we listen to one another with open hearts and treat each other with dignity and respect, we create a community where everyone belongs and everyone can thrive.
As a Catholic school, we are called to follow Jesus' example of radical love, compassion, and inclusion. Throughout the year, we will encourage our students to recognize the value of every voice, to stand up for one another, and to build relationships rooted in kindness, empathy, and understanding. Together, we will celebrate the richness of our diverse community while remembering that we are united as one family in Christ.
Our patron saint, St. David of Wales, is remembered for his simple but powerful words: "Do the little things." This year, we challenge ourselves to live out this message through small acts of kindness, welcome, and service. Whether it's including a new student at recess, offering a helping hand, or sharing words of encouragement, these little things help create a school where everyone feels seen, valued, and loved.
As we begin this exciting journey together, I would like to thank our families for their continued partnership, support, and trust. Your involvement strengthens our school community and helps our students flourish academically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally.
May God bless each of our students, staff, and families as we embark on a year filled with faith, learning, friendship, and joy.
Together, let us celebrate our many voices and embrace our shared identity as one family in Christ.
Blessings,
Semantha da Silva
Principal
St. David Catholic Elementary School
"Let all that you do be done in love."
1 Corinthians 16:14
Loving God,
As we begin a new school year, we thank You for the gift of summer, for time spent with family and friends, and for the many blessings You have given us.
We ask You to be with our students, staff, and families as we return to learn, grow, and serve together. Fill our school with Your love, joy, and peace. Help us to be kind in our words, generous in our actions, and respectful of one another every day.
We pray for our teachers and staff. Give them wisdom, patience, and strength as they guide us in learning and faith. We pray for our parents and guardians who support us with love and encouragement.
Lord, through the example of our patron, St. David of Wales, help us to remember his simple but powerful message: "Do the little things." May we follow his example by showing kindness to a classmate, helping someone in need, caring for God's creation, and doing our best in all that we do.
Bless our classrooms, our playgrounds, and our school community. Help us to grow not only in knowledge but also in faith, becoming disciples who shine the light of Christ wherever we go.
May this school year be filled with friendship, learning, laughter, and countless opportunities to share Your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. David of Wales, pray for us.
Virtue of the Month: FAITH
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
Ms. Giovannini - Teacher
Ms. Sousa - Plannning Time teacher
Ms. Torres - DECE
Ms. Giorgianni - ERW
Ms. Osita - ERW
Ms. Santos - ERW
Ms. Toubia - ERW
Mr. Lapp - CYCP
Students will begin each day at 8:45. Students will enter the school anytime between 8:30am - 8:45am and go straight to their classrooms where they will be supervised by staff. All students will be dismissed at 3:15pm using their designated doors. All bus and PLASP students will be dismissed at 3:15pm.
- On the first day of school, Tuesday September 8, all grade 1-8 classroom teachers will be in the yard at 8:30am with signs indicating the teacher name and grade. All teachers will have a class list.
- Families were notified beginning Thursday what there classment is and who their teacher is
- Students in grades 1-8 are to be dropped off at the back pavement.
- All support staff will also be available to assist students who were not able to access their child's placement information.
- When the bell rings at 8:45am, classes will enter the school building via their designated doors. Please find your child's designated door below.
- All SK students will begin school on Wednesday September 9th.
- All JK parents will have an interview on Tuesday September 8th. Letters were sent home in June. If a child is new to the school, please connect with the office to find out your interview time.
Designated doors:
JK Interviews: Ms.Chaves, Ms. Foley, and Ms. Brullo, Ms. Torres (Please go to the office.)
Primary/Junior Door at Back Pavement: Ms. Madigan, Ms. Borges, Ms.Rynkiewicz, Mr. Albanese, Ms. Oliveira
Junior/Intermediate Door at Back Pavement (near the city park): Ms. Giovannini, Ms. Di Carlo, and Ms. Burnham
Please note that all students in Ms. Cuff's class can be dropped off at the office if they are not taking the bus.
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 from Grade 1 to Grade 8 will attend school on Tuesday September 8th. School will begin for SK students on Wednesday September 9th. JK students will begin school either Wednesday September 9th or Thursday September 10th. All Kindergarten students will be at school Friday September 11th.
School Begins: 8:45am
Recess: 10:08am - 10:23am
Lunch: 11:46am - 12:46pm
Recess: 2:09pm - 2:24pm
Dismissal: 3:15pm
Early Learning Team:
Ms. Chaves, Ms. Foley, and Ms. Brullo, Ms. Torres
Primary Team:
Ms. Madigan, Ms. Borges, and Ms. Rynkiewicz
Junior/Intermediate Team:
Mr. Albanese, Ms. Giovannini, Ms. Di Carlo, and Ms. Burnham
Planning Time Team:
Ms. Ardiente, Ms. Fadel, Ms. Vivilecchia, and Mr. Ferreira
Special Education Team:
Ms. Oliveira, Ms. Cuff, Ms. D'Annibale, Ms. Cooper, Ms. Gandin, Ms. Billimoria, Ms. Toubia, Ms. Giorgianni, Ms. Osita, and Ms. Santos
Support Services Team:
Mr. Lapp - Child and Youth Care Practitioner
Ms. Laing - Social Worker
Ms. Wilk - Speech and Language Pathologist
Ms. da Cunha - Psychologist
Families will be notified by email via School Messenger to Guardian 1 and 2 as per PowerSchool records that list the contact who has custody and access to the child’s record who their child's teacher is beginning Thursday September 3rd and throughout the weekend. If your child does not receive an email in their school account, if they are new to the school, or their teacher indicates TBD, they can arrive at the school at 8:30am on Tuesday September 8th and go to the back of the school for grades 1-8. Teachers will have signs indicating which class they have and every staff member will have class lists to assist you with finding your child's teacher. Please note that new classroom teachers may be identified as TBD.
To ensure the safety of our students, DPCDSB employs student monitors (lunchroom supervisors) to assist with supervision during the lunch hour.
St. David of Wales School is currently hiring for both full-time and backup student monitor positions. These are paid roles through the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, based at our school location.
If you’re interested, please visit the main office to pick up an application.
You do not need to have a child enrolled at the school to apply. However, to qualify for a permanent position, you must be available to work every school day during the lunch hour. For the backup role, you’ll be called in as needed when a regular monitor is absent.
Applicants must:
Speak English
Be available during the lunch hour
Be a Canadian citizen and have a valid SIN (Social Insurance Number)
For more information, please stop by the main office.
The distance criteria for transportation eligibility must be more than:
- 1.0 kilometre for Kindergarten and Grade 1
- 1.6 kilometres for Grades 2-4
- 2.0 kilometres for Grades 5-8
All Kindergarten and Grade 1 students who take the bus are required to be met by a parent or guardian when disembarking from the bus after school.
All bus information for the current school year has been shared with families either via phone call or email. Transportation eligibility is determined via the Board Bus policy. Information regarding this policy as well as current route information is available through the STOPR website: https://www.stopr.ca/
You may also contact the Transportation Department via the following contact numbers: Transportation: 905-890-6000 Special Education Transportation: 905-890-6362. To determine if your son or daughter is eligible for transportation, please visit https://businfo.stopr.ca/Eligibility.aspx?Page=School You can also receive up to date information by following STOPR on Twitter @STOPRinfo
To receive updates on whether your child’s bus is running late, please subscribe to STOPR at https:// businfo.stopr.ca/Subscriptions/Login.aspx
STOPR will provide Courtesy Seats. If you would like your child to take the bus to and from school and are in need of a courtesy seat, please contact the school. Please note that courtesy seats will only be provided after Thanksgiving. Flex Boundary students will not be provided courtesy seating. Only students who are eligible to ride the bus according to the distance criteria above will be granted a seat on the bus for the first day of school.
- Listen to the Bus Driver at all times and report any problems or injuries to him/her
- Go directly to their 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
- 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 any time. 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.
- DO NOT drop your child(ren) off in the bus loading zone or in the bus lane, only in the DRIVE THRU lane
- Teach your child to watch for buses in the bus lane, before they cross into the lane and onto the sidewalk. Once on the sidewalk, they can walk along the sidewalk to the back of the school yard.
- 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 or all students and family.
In the spring, we added 3 additional parking spots at the front of the school and there are now 3 handicapped parking as well. We ask that you kindly park in a designated parking spot and to leave the wheelnchair marked spots for families and staff who require it. If you do not find a parking spot, do not create one, please park on the road.
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. da Silva.
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.
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
DPCDSB dress codes will be consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Students shall wear clothing that promotes a safe, respectful, and inclusive place to learn. Students cannot wear clothing that promotes or can be seen as representing:
- Hate
- Sexually explicit content
- Stereotypes
- Discrimination
- Illegal Activity
- Profanity
- Violence
By working together, we can promote safe, inclusive, and healthy schools. Thank you for your attention to this important information.
The Child and Family Services Act compels educators to report any issues that may compromise a child's welfare. If a staff member suspects any issue that may affect a child's safety, then Children's Aid Society (CAS) must be contacted. It is our Legal Obligation as employees of the school to report any suspicions directly to the Children’s Aid Society. It is not the role of educators to investigate. That is CAS' role. CAS, not the school, informs parents directly of the issue.
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.
nsurance 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/
Please be advised that teachers at St. David of Wales 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.
Students should not bring toys, valuables or items of importance to school. The school cannot assume responsibility for valuables brought to school therefore we are asking for toys to stay at home. Trading Cards such as Pokemon can sometimes cause problems at school. Students will not be allowed to trade cards with another student. If they have duplicates, please have your child trade cards at home after school hours. Thank you for your help.
We are encouraging families to label as many of their child's items as possible to reduce the chance of items to be accidentally shared or lost. Some items that are commonly labelled are indoor and outdoor shoes, water bottles, lunch and snack containers, lunch bags, backpacks, pencil cases, cutlery, outdoor clothing and personal school supplies such as rulers, sharpeners etc. To make this task easier for you, the school has registered for Mabel's Labels. For every purchase made, a portion of the sale will go towards our school. Thank you for helping us reduce the many items that tend to go missing during the school year.
PEDs are to be kept out of site and either powered off or on silent mode. 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.
Please do not text, or call your child during the school day on their personal device. This will greatly assist us at the school to manage discipline. If you need to contact your child during the school day, please contact the school by phone.
St. David of Wales is cashless 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, field trips, and community events will be placed on School Cash Online.
Our open house this year will be held on Wednesday Spetember 30th. This will be your opportunity to meet your child's classroom teacher, visit their classroom and visit the school. We will also have our annual Book Fair taking place during this time and we are also looking for options for an optional dinner. Keep this date open so that you can join us.
As well, we will hold an information session for all grade 8 families regarding the possibility of an overnight graduation trip. This meeting will be taking place immediately after the open house. Come out and find out what is in store for our grade 8s.
If you are looking to volunteer your time at the school, please contact the office and we would be happy to complete a volunteer letter that you can take to the police station. Being a voting member of School Council or attending field trips requires a vulnerable reference check. Complete one in the event that you may want to volunteer as it can take 4-6 weeks to receive the final paperwork.
We are excited to announce that this year from November 2 to November 11, we will welcome 4 certified teachers from Korea who are participating in the Fall COEIEI Overseas Elementary Teachers’ Training Course. The program aims to provide insights into the Ontario educational system and pedagogy that best supports students’ success. They will be observing and assisting students in various classrooms in our school as well as team teaching with mentor teachers in our school. This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community, and we are excited to have them with us.
September 8: First Day of School for Grade 1 to Grade 8
September 15: Confirmation Registration @ 7pm (St. Martin of Tours Parish)
September 17: First Communion Registration @ 7pm (St. Martin of Tours Parish)
September 18: International Dot Day
September 23: Catholic School Council Meeting @ 6:30pm (School Library)
September 24: Picture Day
September 29: Open House (Time and Details TBD)
September 30: Orange Shirt Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day
October 3 and 4: Rite of Enrolment for Confirmation (Attend any mass this weekend)
October 7: Thanksgiving Mass @ 10:30am (Families encouraged to attend)
October 12: Thanksgiving (No school)
October 13: IEPs sent home
October 26: PA Day, Election Day (No school for students)
October 30: Halloween Dance
St. David of Wales Catholic Elementary School
Email: St.DavidofWalesInfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: https://www.dpcdsb.org/DWALE
Location: 4200 Beacon Lane, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Phone: 905-848-4200
Twitter: @St_DavidofWales