Principal - I. Sauve
Vice Principal - C. Fernandes
Secretary -T. Lanceta
Trustee - Herman Viloria (Mississauga Ward 2)
Superintendent - D. Radic
Parish - St. Christopher's Parish
Priest-Fr. Steven Kwon
St. Christopher School Hours
Supervision Begins 8:00 a.m.
School Begins 8:15 a.m.
Recess (a.m.) 9:38-9:53
Lunch:11:16-12:16
Recess (p.m.)1:39-1:54
Dismissal 2:45 p.m.
1171 Clarkson Road North
Mississauga, ON
L5J 2W1
t: 905.822.1171
e: stchristophersmi@archtoronto.org
Sacramental Preparation Information Sessions
First Communion classes will begin in January. Information sessions will be held on Tuesday, September 24, and Wednesday, September 25, at 7 p.m. in the main church. Your child must be in grade 2 or seven years old or older to participate in the preparation classes.
Confirmation classes will begin in November. Information sessions will be held on Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27, at 7 p.m. in the main church. Your child must be in grade 7 or 12 years old or older to participate in the preparation classes.
Confirmation:
Commitment Weekend: Saturday January 11 at 5pm, Sunday January 12 at 8:30am, 10am and 12pm
Reconciliation: Saturday April 26-8:45-4:00pm
Confirmation Mass: Wednesday April 30th at 7pm
The Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations
Vision of the Learner
The Graduate is expected to be:
- A discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith community who celebrates the signs and sacred mystery of God's presence through word, sacrament, prayer, forgiveness, reflection and moral living.
- An effective communicator who speaks, writes and listens honestly and sensitively, responding critically in light of gospel values.
- A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who solves problems and makes responsible decisions with an informed moral conscience for the common good.
- A self-directed, responsible, lifelong learner who develops and demonstrates their God-given potential.
- A collaborative contributor who finds meaning, dignity and vocation in work which respects the rights of all and contributes to the common good.
- A caring family member who attends to family, school, parish, and the wider community.
- A responsible citizen who gives witness to Catholic social teaching by promoting peace, justice and the sacredness of human life.
Morning and School Dismissal Procedures
School starts at 8:15am and all late arrivals have to sign in at the Main Office. Just a reminder teacher supervision begins at 8:00 am to 8:15 am. School finishes at 2:45pm.
If Dismissal/pickup procedure for their child has changed for a day or specific reason, to avoid confusion, Please either
1) write a note in the Student Agenda or
2) email the school info mailbox.
Please do not leave a voicemail as that may not always be checked on time.
Kiss & Ride, School and Visitor Parking
Thank you very much to the many parents who safely use the parking lot and the Kiss’n’Ride drop-off and pick-up area! The patience and courtesy demonstrated by our community goes a long way in maintaining a safe environment for all!
A few reminders to help ensure a safe parking lot:
1) Please do not let your child out of the driver's side door. Students need to exit from the passenger side. If your child needs assistance with exiting the vehicle, please park in the parking lot to assist your child.
Volleyball
Our Intermediate Girls Volleyball team played their best at POD Tournament, making it to semi-finals but lost in the third set. We are so proud of our girls for their hard work and dedication to the team. Our Intermediate Boys played amazing in the POD Tournament and will be representing St. Christopher in the Family Tournament on Wednesday December 5.
Thank you to the coaches Ms. Formusa and Ms. Comi for coaching both teams.
We are also proud to recognize our Junior Boys and Girls for making it to the Family Tournament. Congratulations to our Junior Boys for their Second place finish at the Tournament!!
Thank you to Ms. Comi and Ms. Formusa for supporting and training our students this Fall.
Brave Education
On November 11 and 12, Brave Education led workshops for our Grade 4-6 students about the role of the bystander. Students learn to manage social situations through identifying harm, and practicing our S.T.A.N.D. intervention steps. Students apply knowledge by evaluating an animated case study.
Chess Club
Students who are interested in joining the St. Christopher Chess Club are asked to come with some knowledge and experience prior to joining our club. Thanksgiving weekend may be a great time to sharpen those skills and learn to play at home. There are a number of web-based videos and resources for parents to access, where instructions can also be downloaded.
More information will follow with details of how students can join.
Special thanks to Ms. Alcaid for running the Chess Club once again here at St. Christopher school.
Dress for the Weather:
Please be mindful of the weather conditions and dress children appropriately. As the weather starts to change, students are encouraged to wear layers for the cooler mornings and warmer afternoons. Students will be asked to have indoor shoes at school, especially once the weather changes as wet and soiled boots and shoes will remain in the hallways to keep the classrooms clean!
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce the introduction of School Cash Online. As school move toward being cash less, School Cash Online allows parents and community members to pay school-related fees online safely, quickly, and easily. Parents can purchase items like spirit wear, lunches, and field trips - anytime, anywhere. For more information and to set up an account, please click the link below.
Ho-Ho-Holiday Fun: Get Active and Beat Screen Time!
As we head into the holiday season, it’s a good time to keep our children’s online safety and health in mind.
25% of youth aged 12 to 17 reported being cyberbullied in the past year.
Cyberbullying has been linked to increased stress, lower self-esteem, and mental health challenges.
Having open discussions can help children navigate online experiences safely.
Setting limits to screen time and rules helps build healthy habits for the future. For your child's safety, look for apps that provide parental controls which can help block sites and enforce time limits.
Fun and Easy Activities for the Holidays:
Planning fun activities with your child can promote mental and physical well-being. This may include:
- Building a snowman or snow angels
- Going skiing or skating
- Family game night (puzzles, board games)
Tips for Healthier Holidays!
Food plays a significant role during the holidays for many families. It can also provide an opportunity to enjoy a variety of foods, eat with others, practice food skills, and learn about cultures and food traditions. Here are some tips to make the holidays be both fun and healthier:
1. Include vegetables and fruits when offering foods at celebrations and events, Canada’s Food Guide recommends making half your plate vegetables and fruit. Try preparing or adding fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables and fruits with festive colours to the meal.
2. Serve water instead of other drinks such as juice or pop that contain sugar at your celebrations. Try offering holiday inspired infused water with a cinnamon stick and chopped apple or pear and a drop of vanilla extract.
3. Enjoying your food is an important part of healthy eating. Ways to enjoy your food can be through eating with others while sharing stories and adding a festive touch to your eating environment. Practicing mindful eating and using your senses can also help appreciate your meal.
4. Encourage cooking together as the holidays can be a time where families can share and learn food skills, cultures, or traditions. Including children in food preparation can help them learn family recipes and try new foods. For more ideas on how to involve children visit: Cooking with Kids of Different Ages.
Try this recipe for Apple berry crisp that is kid friendly and perfect to share during the Holidays.
Concussion Protocol
As per Ministry of Education direction, our Board has a Concussion Protocol in place. Again this school year, ALL students who sustain a head injury during the school day, however minor, will receive a Concussions Are Serious pamphlet to take home. We ask parents/guardians to review this pamphlet and seek medical attention for your son/daughter if you feel it is required. As in previous years, all head injuries will be logged and reported to parents/guardians directly. We ask that you please inform the school as soon as possible if and when your son/daughter sustains a concussion as a result of a school incident or as a result of an activity outside of school. Questions or concerns regarding this policy should be directed to the Main Office. Your cooperation and assistance in this regard are appreciated.
MEDICAL ALERT– Sabrina’s Law (Anaphylaxis)
Sabrina’s Law is an Act to protect anaphylactic pupils in publicly funded schools in Ontario. Named “Sabrina’s Law” in honour of an Ontario student who died following an anaphylactic reaction in 2003, this law requires that every school board establish and maintain an anaphylaxis policy.
If your child has a severe allergic reaction to peanuts, peanut by-products, bee/wasp stings etc., please let the school know as soon as possible. It is essential that the information you provide us with is accurate and up-to-date. There are various forms which need to be completed by you and your family doctor if it is necessary to store and dispense an EPI-pen or any other medication at school.
We continue to have both students and staff with severe, life threatening allergy to certain foods, such as peanuts and nuts. This is a medical condition that may cause severe and life threatening reactions to certain allergens within minutes. Although this may or may not affect your child’s class directly, we require your continued cooperation in sending foods to school with your child that are free from peanuts, nuts or their by-products.
Please do not send food products to be shared in your child’s classroom. If you would like your child to share their special day/birthday with their classmates, we suggest that you consider non-food items such as pencils or stickers.
Letters have been sent home with the students whose classroom members have specific allergies. Please check with your child, and in their backpack, for letters regarding the type of allergy and products to avoid in your child’s classroom. Please pay careful consideration to school lunches and snacks while continuing to refrain from sending in items that are made of, or contain, nuts or peanuts. We offer our heartfelt thanks for your support in making our school a safer environment for all.
Asthma Friendly School Ryan's Law
Ryan’s Law is an Act to protect Asthmatic pupils in publicly funded schools in Ontario. If your child has asthma please let the school know immediately. It is essential that the information you provide us with is accurate and up-to-date.
Ryan’s Law introduced policies and procedures that:
Allow your child to carry his/her asthma reliever (rescue) inhaler (with your permission).
Reduce your child’s contact with asthma triggers.
Develop an individual plan for every student with asthma, including recommendations from their health-care providers and current emergency contacts. This will be kept on file at the school.
If you have more questions about
Ryan’s Law?
Call The Lung Association Lung Health Information Line at 1-888-344-LUNG (5864), email info@on.lung.ca, or visit www.RyansLaw.ca.
Storage/Administration of Medication
If a child is required to bring medication to school, procedures regarding the administration of medication shall only be adopted:
· when requested by the parents/guardians; and
· when authorized by a physician; and
· when medication must be provided during school hours
A designated staff member must administer medication; hence, a signed request/authorization form from the parents/guardians and the supervising physician, must be obtained. These forms are available through the school office. Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication and forms are updated annually. If your child requires medication please have all pertinent forms completed and returned with the medication to the office as soon as possible
All medication will be housed in a safe location. Medication must not be kept in the child’s possession or in the classroom except for EpiPens and asthma inhalers.
It is highly encouraged that students who have an anaphylactic allergy or who have asthma, keep their epi-pen and/or inhaler on their person at all times. If able, it is recommended that your child bring two epipens and/or two asthma inhaler to the school. This would allow your child to keep this medication on their person as well as ensuring that the school office has an additional set of medication.
Please note that school staff cannot dispense medication of any kind without the proper physician authorization and a properly labeled container, (i.e. prescription bottle or original over the counter container).
Password Reset Tools
You can now reset your password remotely by registering for the Password Reset Tool. You must know your old password to create a new one.
To reset your password remotely you must first register with the “Password Reset Tool”, which you can do by following one of these two steps:
Students: students.dpcdsb.org and select Password Reset
Staff: https://account.activedirectory.windowsazure.com/PasswordReset/Register.aspx
**Access to personal email/cell phone is required for registration.
Once you are registered, please follow the Password Reset Instruction
Important Dates
December
3 Advent Start
3 Intermediate Girls Volleyball Tournament
4 Advent Mass Night at St. Christopher's Parish-6:30pm
5 Intermediate Boys Volleyball Tournament
5 Winter Walk to School Day
6 Gingerbread Night and Evening with Santa
12 Rosary Apostolate
16-18 Spirit Week
19 Virtue Assembly of Hope
23 - Jan 3 Christmas Break
January
6 First Day Back
**All images are taken from Freepik**