St. Jean-Marie Vianney C.E.S. News

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75 Jordensen Dr,

Brampton, ON

L6X 0S1
Principal: Tara Persad

Superintendent: Viviana Varano

Trustee: Darryl D'Souza

Parish: St. Jerome's Parish

School Phone: (905) 497-6888
School Fax: (905) 497-8833
X: @VianneyDPCDSB
Website: https://viann.dpcdsb.org/

Email: St.Jean-MarieVianneyInfo@dpcdsb.org

Hope is the virtue of relying on God. It keeps us searching for true happiness and sustains us during hard times or discouragement. God helps us to work for a more peaceful world even when we feel discouraged.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13)

From the perspective of the Catholic Graduate Expectations, a person of hope...

• Sees more good than evil in the world
• Acts legally and morally

Supervision begins in the back of the school at 8:45am (field is closed during this time). For your child's safety, please do not send your child earlier as there is no supervision.

School Begins: 9:00am

Recess: 10:23am - 10:38am

Lunch: 12:01pm - 1:01pm

Recess: 2:23pm - 2:38pm

Dismissal: 3:30pm

Dec. 1- Soles4Souls Shoe Drive begins (new or gently used shoes).

Dec. 2- Vianney hosting the Girls Int. Volleyball Family Tournament (spectators welcome).

Dec. 12- Soles4Souls Shoe Drive ends.

Dec. 17- ADVENTure Day (students only).

On Sunday November 30th, we entered into the Season of Advent. This season is marked with the Advent wreath which reminds us of the coming of Christ, whose love for us has no end. The light from these candles will remind us of the coming of Christ, who is the light of the world. The green colour of the wreath will remind us of the coming of Christ, who brings us eternal life. There are four candles on the wreath: the first purple candle symbolizes hope, the second purple candle symbolizes love, the third candle is pink to represent joy, and the last purple candle represents peace.

EQAO Literacy Session for Families: Focus on Reading

EQAO will be hosting a free live webinar about how EQAO assesses students’ reading skills at key stages of their Education. Staff will discuss reading samples and questions from the Primary & Junior Reading Assessments, and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Staff will also highlight valuable insights & resources that can help parents and guardians support their child’s learning.

Next available session: December 2, 2025 at 6:00-7:00 pm ET (offered on multiple dates, a recording will be provided to registrants)

Registration: https://eqao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d5doLU_HSVad0Jmb_V7skQ#/registration

EQAO Math Night for Parents and Guardians

Join us for a free live webinar where EQAO staff will discuss math questions that Ontario students encounter when they participate in Ontario’s large-scale assessments. These assessments are taken by all Ontario students in Grades 3, 6 and 9. During the webinar, EQAO staff will show how these math questions help assess the skills students are learning in their math classes. Staff will also share valuable insights from EQAO research into assessment results, which can help parents and guardians support their children’s math learning.

Next available session: January 28, 2026 12:30-1:30 pm ET (offered on multiple dates, a recording will be provided to registrants)

Registration: https://eqao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5puRqI8uQJypIaHgBYoBMw#/registration

EQAO will be offering additional webinars throughout the year for families, administrators, and teachers.

Please check our website regularly for an updated list of upcoming sessions.

https://www.eqao.com/school-outreach

🍪 Munchie Mondays are Here! 🎉

Treat your kid(s) to a tasty snack while supporting our grade 8 grads!

They will be selling:

• Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Salty Popcorn
• White Cheddar Popcorn

Each item is just $2.00!

All proceeds go directly toward helping our Grade 8 students celebrate their graduation in a special and memorable way.

Thank you for supporting our fundraiser. No cash accepted, all orders are done on Cash online.

Pizza Tuesday! 🍕

Grabb-A-Pizza is at Vianney every Tuesday with fresh, hot pizza.

You now have the choice of pepperoni or cheese pizza!

How It Works:

• Pizza is available every Tuesday.
• You must have already placed your order for the entire month.
• Once the order window closes, it cannot be reopened—you’ll need to wait until the next month to order.
• All proceeds will be used to support school initiatives (school beautification, presentations, resources, technology, etc.).

Cost : $2.50 per slice; $0.75 per juice

When: Tuesdays

How: Purchase via School Cash Online

Choice: Pepperoni or Cheese

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.

Wednesday Chicken Fingers or Garlic Bread! 🍗🧄🧀

Vianney, we’re excited to bring Grabb-A-Bite to offer Chicken Fingers or Garlic Bread!

Choose between:

• Chicken Fingers with Fries $7
• Chicken Fingers with Veggie Sticks $7
• Garlic Cheese Bread/Sticks with Fries $7
• Garlic Cheese Bread/Sticks with Veggie Sticks $7

How It Works:

• You must have already placed your order for the entire month.
• Once the order window closes, it cannot be reopened. You’ll need to wait for the next month to order.
• All proceeds will be used to support school initiatives (school beautification, presentations, resources, technology, etc.).

Cost : $7.00 per combo

When: Wednesdays

How: Purchase via School Cash Online

Choice: Chicken Fingers or Garlic Cheese Bread with a side

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.

It Just Keeps Getting Better at Vianney! Don’t miss out and order now and enjoy delicious burgers every Thursday at Vianney!

How It Works:

• You must have already placed your order for the entire month.
• Once the order window closes, it cannot be reopened—you’ll need to wait until the next month to order.
• All proceeds will be used to support school initiatives (school beautification, presentations, resources, technology, etc.).

Cost : $7.00 per burger

When: Wednesdays

How: Purchase via School Cash Online

Choice: Beef burger, Chicken burger, or Veggie burger.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.

Sub Days at Vianney

How It Works:

• Sub is available every Friday.
• You must have already placed your order for the entire month.
• Once the order window closes, it cannot be reopened—you’ll need to wait until the next month to order.
• All proceeds will be used to support school initiatives (school beautification, presentations, resources, technology, etc.).

Cost : $6.50 per 6" sub & drink

When: Fridays

How: Purchase via School Cash Online

Choice: Vegetarian, Turkey, Ham (Assorted Meats will be added in Nov.)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.

Please join all schools for a fun filled evening filled with Christmas activities. Please see flyer for more information and to register.

Join us on Wednesday, December 10th from 5:45–7:15 PM for a cozy evening of school-wide holiday fun! Families are invited to come together for story-time, crafts, games, caroling, hot cocoa, cookies, and a festive scavenger hunt. It’s a joyful way to celebrate the season and make special memories with your children. We can’t wait to share this merry night with you!

Don't forget to RSVP using the below link!

As Catholics, we believe in giving back.

DPCDSB schools proudly supports ShareLife, an organization rooted in Catholic values that helps those in need in our communities. As part of our Catholic commitment to charity and compassion, we collect donations through our monthly Spirit Weeks.

We kindly invite families to contribute monthly donations or a lump sum to support this cause.
Come to School with Vianney Spirit!

Let’s stand up against bullying and put smiles on faces all week long!

Monday, Dec. 15 – Christmas Sweater Day

Tuesday, Dec. 16 – Christmas Dress to Impress Day with your Christmas sparkle

Wednesday, Dec. 17 – Christmas Accessory (hat, socks, etc.) and Light up Day

Thursday, Dec. 18 – Christmas Character Day

Friday, Dec. 19 – Christmas Cozy Day

Cash Online will be open for donations from October 1st to April 30th. 100% of all spirit week contributions go towards ShareLife. Please Donate! There is no timeline or limit when helping others.

Https://dpcdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/246290/146/False/True

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

2 Corinthians 9:7

Enjoy this time to spend with your family!

St. Jean-Marie Vianney School would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the many generous companies and individuals who are supporting our school fundraisers. Your kindness and community spirit helps us put the fun back into learning!

A heartfelt thank you goes out to:

• Brampton Steelheads- who donated hockey tickets to our Bee You winners from November until March!

• Lowes Brampton (10111 Heart Lake Road)- who donated a life size Reindeer and Santa Sleigh for our Merry & Bright event.

• Buddah-Williams family- who organized the Jamaican Relief collection and donated two barrels to collect the items.

• Century 21 Brampton- who graciously donated $2,500.00 in gift cards to support families in need and our students at Vianney.

Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of our students and helps us create memorable learning experiences for everyone. Thank you for your continued support and partnership!

With gratitude,

The St. Jean-Marie Vianney Students

🎅 Ho, Ho, Ho… the holiday magic has arrived!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we’ve got some fun and festive happenings coming your way!

🍬 Candy Cane Grams are BACK!
Get ready to spread a little sweetness around the school!
Class Pack: $18
Pack of 6: $5
Individual Candy Cane: $1 each

📸 Mini Christmas Photo Sessions:
Capture the holiday sparkle with our family mini-photo sessions (yes, little siblings are welcome!).
For $15, each shoot includes:
• A mini photo session
• One printed 5x7 photo (will be sent home the following week)
• Two digital images (emailed to the parent)

Orders are open from November 21 to December 7 exclusively through School Cash Online.

Perfect for Christmas cards, gifts, or holiday keepsakes!

Letters with full details will be sent home.

Keep an eye on those backpacks!

☎️ For parents who haven't already joined our Whatsapp group, here is the link to do so.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/KXQVj6HDuEaDuBGpMG3SGG?mode=hqrt1

🗓️ Next Parent Council Meeting
Mark your calendars! Our next meeting will be in person on February 4th, 2026 @ 6pm in the school staffroom. We’d love to see you there and kick off the new year together!

Wishing all our families a joyful, cozy, and love-filled December! ❄️❤️

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 259 937 891 085 89

Passcode: TN6hK7kN

Online registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open.

ELIGIBILITY

Elementary school admissions are open to children who have been baptized Roman Catholic or baptized in an Eastern Catholic Church that is in full communion with the Holy See of Rome, or to children of whom at least one parent has been baptized Roman Catholic or baptized in an Eastern Catholic Church that is in full communion with the Holy See of Rome. Kindergarten students must be 4 or 5 years of age, by December 31 of the school year for which they are registering

It’s as easy as... 1 2 3 Find out which Catholic school is in your boundary area. Fill out the Online Application Form on the Register for School webpage at dpcdsb.org. Submit supporting documents online or bring them to the school office to complete the registration process.

1. LOCATE YOUR SCHOOL

2. SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FORM

3. SUBMIT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ELIGIBILITY

The following documents are required for registration:

• proof of age of the child (birth certificate or passport);
• original Roman Catholic baptismal certificate - an original Roman Catholic baptismal certificate (for child and/or parent/guardian), or; - an original baptismal certificate (for child and/or parent/guardian) from a church that is in full communion with the Holy See of Rome, or; - an original baptismal certificate (for child and/or parent/guardian) from an Eastern/Byzantine Rite of the Roman Catholic Church.
• proof of Canadian citizenship (birth certificate/passport) or permanent resident status;
• proof of home address (two of the following: property tax bill, current utility bill, real estate document or Government of Canada issued forms);
• emergency rural address numbers, if applicable;
• immunization - report your child’s immunizations to number on the Online Application Form.
• proof of English Separate School Support (may be provided at the time of registration by completing an Application for the Direction of School Support and/or a Separate School Lease Agreement available at the school). * All documentation must be in English

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

We’re delighted to welcome you to this important journey with your child as they prepare for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion or Confirmation in Spring 2026.

This is a pivotal moment in your child’s spiritual development, and we’re committed to providing support and guidance throughout the preparation process. Our goal is to create a meaningful and enriching experience that nurtures their growth and deepens their connection with the Church.

• Preparation classes will help your child understand the significance of these sacraments. Each program has twelve sessions. Classes are scheduled for Saturday mornings or Tuesday evenings for Communion children, while Saturday afternoons or Thursday evenings for Confirmation children.

• Your active participation is essential to the success of this preparation process. We will provide you with valuable resources and support to help your child’s preparation at home.

• Important dates:

- Mark your calendars for key events and meetings related to sacrament preparation.

- For First Holy Communion, online registration opens on Wednesday, September 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM and closes on September 17, 2025, at 11:59 PM.

- For Confirmation, online registration opens on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM and closes on October 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM

- To complete registration, please fulfill the following requirements: 1) Filled-out application, 2) Uploaded baptismal certificate, 3) Payment of registration fees, 4) Class selection, and 5) Appointment for a parent information session.

• The detailed schedule, including key dates, is enclosed for your reference.

We eagerly anticipate collaborating with you to make this a memorable and spiritually enriching experience for your child. Contact us if you have any questions or need assistance.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment and support.

In Christ,

Fr. James Cherickal, Pastor

If you have any questions, please contact St. Jerome's Parish, Brampton

December 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
December 7 - Second Sunday of Advent

Digital Habits that Support Self-Esteem Social media can impact children and youth’s confidence. Constant scrolling and comparing themselves to others can lead to what experts call social media fatigue – a kind of digital burnout that can lower self-esteem and increase stress. Support your child by encouraging healthy digital habits at home. Talk with your child about how online time makes them feel, and remind them that friendships grow from kindness, respect, and shared experiences - on a screen or face-to-face. This month, explore School Mental Health Ontario’s resource Managing Social Media Fatigue together for tips on taking digital breaks, healthy digital habits, and meaningful offline connections. Did you know? Just 60-minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day can help boost your child’s self-esteem and support their mental well-being. Explore these tips to get active and discover fun strategies to help your child swap screen time for movement and play.

Virtual Dental Screening for Children 17 Years Old and Younger Peel Public Health offers free virtual dental screening for any children 17 years old and younger. It is another option in addition to dental screening provided in elementary schools and at Peel Public Health dental clinics. A dental screening is a quick look in a child’s mouth by a registered dental hygienist. It helps identify children who may need dental care. What is virtual dental screening?

• A web-based video call technology is used to provide a virtual dental screening for children 17 years old and younger. The parent can use a laptop, tablet, or cell phone.

• It is a live interaction with a registered dental hygienist.

• The parent will also be asked to take photos of the inside of the child’s mouth before the appointment.

What are the benefits of virtual dental screening?

A virtual dental screening helps:

• Increase accessibility,

• Decrease travel time, and

• Increase convenience. How do I book a virtual dental screening appointment? Call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 to book a virtual dental screening appointment for your child.

Vaccines Required to Attend School in Ontario

Under to the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), all children attending school must be vaccinated or have a valid exemption for the diseases listed on the Province of Ontario’s website. You can get vaccinated through a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or any primary health care providers. Reporting and catching up on vaccines: Every time you get a vaccine, you must report it to Peel Public Health. Doctors and other primary care providers do not report vaccines for you. You can update your child’s immunization record online at peelregion.ca/health/vaccinations/child-vaccination-reporting. If you need help reporting, please watch the YouTube video “How to Report Your Child’s Vaccinations” on the web page.

Peel Public Health is sending letters to students in Grades 2-6 and Grades 9-12 who aren’t up to date on their vaccinations. If you get a letter, make sure your child has the needed vaccinations and that they are reported to Peel Public Health. Students who are not up to date on vaccinations or do not have a valid exemption may be suspended until they are caught up.

If you have any questions, call Peel Public Health at 905-791-5202 or 1-888-919-7800 (Caledon residents). Translators are available on the phone if needed.

• Students will eat lunch in their classrooms and are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle to school. Water bottles can be refilled at our refill stations.
• To help limit visitors in the building, please send your child with a packed lunch each day. If a student forgets their lunch, a parent or guardian will be contacted.
• Students may go home for lunch with written permission from a parent or guardian. If this will be a daily routine, please notify the school office or your child’s teacher in writing.
• For safety reasons, food deliveries through Uber Eats, DoorDash, or similar services are not permitted. Our school doors remain locked during the day, and we do not have staff available to accept deliveries.

We appreciate your understanding—student safety is always our top priority!

Student verification forms have been sent home and are still being collected. Please send back all verification forms as soon as possible. We ask that you kindly review all information to ensure that it is correct. Please ensure that all phone numbers and email address are accurate in case we need to contact you should your child be sick at school.

It is important that we are able to contact someone in the case of an emergency. Please fill out and return the emergency student verification sheets that will be sent home with your child. Remember that those people you list as contacts are automatically given permission to pick up your child from school. They are needed in case we cannot contact you. It makes sense to have a relative, neighbor, or friend who lives close to the school and is available during the day to pick up your child in case of illness, concussion, or changes of clothes that inevitably happen. If your child is sick, there must be someone available to pick them up if you are unable to leave work.

The Kiss n’ Ride program is available to provide the convenience and safety for our students and parents driving to our school. Please take a moment to review the following procedures to ensure safety for all students and parents using Kiss N’ Ride.

1. 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 leave your vehicle, please park. For safety reasons, have the children exit the car from the passenger side of the vehicle only.
2. DO NOT drop your child(ren) off in the bus loading zone or in the bus lane, only in the DRIVE THRU lane
3. STUDENTS MUST EXIT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. This is for the safety of your child(ren) in the case of a vehicle driving by.
4. Remind your child(ren) 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.
5. Students walking and using the crosswalk, need to respect the crossing guard on duty.
6. 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.

We want to ensure the safety of all students at all times. Please drive slowly. Thank you for your continued cooperation.

Welcome back to a new school year. Please see below transportation information for the 2025-26 school year.

Bus Route Information:

Parents and students have access to BusPlanner Web parent and student portal. STOPR encourages all parents/students to create an account so that they can view personalized transportation information at any time.

September Start-Up:

New Students/ New Bus Stops – Students who are eligible for transportation will be assigned to a bus by STOPR. If there is an existing stop nearby and if there is space on the bus, students can usually begin right away. If new stops must be created or if bus routes need to be redirected, please know that it can take 5-10 business days to make new arrangements. Parents are asked to go to BusPlanner Web parent portal to review their bus assignments and start dates.

Requests for Bus Stop Change – Due to the high volume of transportation inquires during the month of September, requests to move existing bus stop locations will not be reviewed until mid-October. Please communicate this timeline with families.

Bus Times – Pick-up and drop off times may fluctuate several times throughout September as STOPR continues to assign new students, add new bus stops and reroute existing directions. Please understand that bus times will be more consistent after the first few weeks of school, and we kindly ask for everyone’s patience during this busy time.

Bus Delays - During the first few weeks of school, it is normal to have delays. There are multiple reasons for these delays, and they typically work themselves out once everyone is comfortable with their new routines. Please direct parents/students to the delays page on our website stopr.ca.

Transportation Opt-out:

During transportation planning, STOPR assigns students to school buses if they are eligible for transportation in accordance with the transportation distance policies. Eligible students who do not require transportation services must opt out. This includes regular and special education students who attend an afterschool program such as PLASP or YMCA, have a babysitter in the walk boundary, or students who are consistently driven to/from school by parents or relatives.

For more details on transportation opt-out, please see the opt-out page in the transportation handbook for school administrators on BusPlanner Web school portal.

Online Incident Reporting:

STOPR’s online incident reporting form is used by school bus drivers to alert schools of any incidents that occur on the bus (i.e., student behaviour or injury, etc.) The online incident form has eliminated the need for bus drivers to enter the school to submit a written report. The form is initiated by the bus company and an email containing a link to the incident will automatically be emailed to school administration for follow up.

Video Cameras on School Buses:

Please note that video cameras may be used on school buses for the purpose of promoting proper behaviour and safety of students on school buses. As per procedure Video Cameras on School Buses STOPR036, notice signs will be installed on buses with video surveillance systems, in accordance with the notification requirements of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Signs will be prominently displayed so that the public has reasonable and adequate warning that surveillance is or may be in operation on the bus.

STOPR Policies and Procedures:

All STOPR policies and procedures can be found on our website stopr.ca. Please visit the website and direct parents/guardians to the site to review all of the STOPR’s transportation policies and procedures.

Transportation Handbook for School Administrators:

STOPR has created a handbook for all things related to transportation. This is a useful resource for Administrators and can be found on BusPlanner Web school portal. Once logged in, hover over the Board Administration tab and then click on media library to view the handbook.

STOPR Hours of Operations and Contact Information:

Our office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Parent phone number/general line: 905-890-6000

For regular busing queries: StoprBus@peelsb.com

For special needs queries: StoprSpecEd@peelsb.com

We encourage all schools, students, and parents to visit our website at stopr.ca and follow us on @STOPRinfo. These communication portals are an excellent way to view and receive important transportation information, bulletins, updates, weather cancellations, and much more.

Wishing you a Wonderful School Year!

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.

STOPR is committed to ensuring that students have safe and reliable transportation services to and from school every single day. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to a new school year.

If your child rides the bus daily, it is important that they are aware of the safety rules on the bus. Students are required to:

• Encouraged to wear a mask
• Listen to the Bus Driver at all times and report any problems or injuries to him/her
• Go directly to your 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

Improper conduct on the bus will be dealt with at the Office. Repeated or serious incidents can result in busing privileges being suspended or removed. Please review these rules with your child. Taking the bus is a privilege, not a right.

St. Jean-Marie Vianney is an allergen aware school. There are pupils and staff in attendance who suffer from severe and life threatening allergies to certain foods, such as dairy, peanut and nut products. Exposure to even the smallest quantities can cause severe life threatening reactions. Anaphylaxis is a severe and life threatening allergic reaction. We at Vianney would appreciate the cooperation of the entire school community by NOT sending any lunches or snacks that contain nut or nut byproducts including peanut butter alternatives (i.e. WowButter), or other products containing nuts or nut oils (i.e., Nutella). If a student who has such an allergy comes into contact with anything containing peanuts, nuts, nut oils or derivatives, it could be life threatening. Some students have such a severe allergy that only the smell of the allergen may cause a reaction. Please make sure that all of your children’s caregivers are aware of the food restrictions. Moreover, please do not send food for birthdays or special occasions.

If you have any questions, please talk to your child’s teacher or the school staff. We look forward to your co-operation in making this a safe year for all of our pupils.

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.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medications and forms are updated for any student who requires medication to be administered at school. If your child requires medication, please have the necessary forms completed and return them, along with any medication, to the office as soon as possible. Forms are available in the office. Please remember to check the expiry dates of all medication before bringing them to school.

We ask that parents continue to support their children in their morning routines so that they can arrive to school on time or log in on time. This ensures that your child learns an essential life skill, participates in the entire school day, and that disruptions to the learning environment are minimal.

It is important for students to be attending school on time and ready to work. When students are late they miss important information and routines. We realize that throughout the year there will be times when a child is sick and will have to miss school. In the event that your child is late or absent, please call the school at (905) 497-6888 press “1” for the attendance line and leave a message. Messages can be left on the school line at any time. When leaving a message, please state the following information:

• Your child’s name
• Your child's teacher's name
• You child's grade
• The reason for the absence or lateness
• The duration of the absence

Please be advised that teachers at St. Jean-Marie Vianney 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.

Your participation in your child’s school life is fundamental to his or her educational success. Effective and on-going communication between home and school takes a variety of forms and operates on a variety of levels. Should you have any concerns regarding your child’s progress or issues in the classroom, please do not hesitate to call and leave a message for your child’s teacher with some times that are convenient to reach you. Please do not let problems fester. A quick phone call, or note in your child’s agenda asking the teacher to call you can help put your mind at ease. All students in Grades 1 to 8 have received an agenda. The agenda are wonderful tool for time management, organizational skills and home-school communication.

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. We will also encourage you to go onto our school website, where a brochure containing information about Concussions is provided. Again this is a precautionary measure and for information purposes.

As required by the Education Act and the Ministry of Education, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board annually provides parents with information about cost effective student accident insurance coverage via student courier. Although enrollment is voluntary, the Board encourages parents to take advantage of the inexpensive insurance 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/