St. Therese Tribune
September 2026 Edition
Contact Information
Email: St.ThereseoftheCJinfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: www.dpcdsb.org/TCHLD
Location: 6930 Forest Park Drive, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Phone: 905-785-0066
Twitter: @StThereseDPCDSB
Meet Our Team
Administrative Assistant: A. Simoes
Catholic School Council Chair: TBD
Superintendent of Mississauga North: P. Cusumano
Trustee Wards 9 & 10 Brea Corbet (905) 301-9373
St. John of the Cross Parish Information Website: http://www.saintjohnofthecross.com/
Duty To Report
Translate this Newsletter!
Virtue of the Month: Faith
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
Prayer For a New School Year
Good and Gracious God, as a new school year begins,
Fill the hearts of our students with an eagerness to learn:
About the world You have created,
About themselves and
Most of all about You!
Bless our teachers with the gifts of wisdom and patience,
That they may help students find the truth.
Give our parents generous hearts,
To encourage and support their children.
Help us all work together to form a community of learning
That teaches not only skill for material success,
but all that we need
To live our faith fully in this world.
Amen
Principal's Message
Welcome back St. Therese of the Child Jesus families.
The summer has flown by and the 2026-27 school year is here! We are very excited to be welcoming back existing St. Therese of the Child Jesus students and well as all our new families after the summer break. We hope you enjoyed your time with family and students are feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Please help us welcome some new faces to our staff this school year. Mrs. Simoes our newest Admin Assistant, Ms. Siles (Education Resource Worker) & Mrs. Alves (Grade 7 Extended French). We know you will make them all feel welcome!
The start of a new school year brings excitement and anticipation with new friends waiting to be made, old friendships reconnecting, teachers to meet, learning to experience and curiosity to be nurtured. We are so excited to gather as a faith community and participate in many of the activities that make school so wonderful! We look forward to the opportunity to continue working with the students and parents of our community. Together with a dedicated staff, we will do our very best to help all students experience spiritual, academic, social and emotional growth throughout the school year.
At the beginning of every year we send home important information and request any updates or changes to your child's contact information. Please be sure to return ALL forms that require your signature within the first week of school.
PLEASE RETURN THESE FORMS:
Elementary Health and Phys. Ed Curriculum (Gym) GF401
Annual Consent and Notification Form GF 068
Student Verification Form (pls return even if there are no changes)
Student Emergency and Early Dismissal Consent Form GF009
Personal Electronic Device Used with Wifi Network Student Agreement GF337
We look forward to gathering again as a faith community.
Godspeed,
Cathrine Duke
The first few weeks...
- Entry and dismissal routines
- Movement in and around the school
- Transition times
- School Rules
- Eating lunch/ snacks, etc.
- Mental health and well-being check-ins
- Support Diagnostic assessment to plan for intervention to address learning gaps
- Getting to know their learners
- Building a faith-filled community
Some Reminders
- Please do your best to arrive to school on time! Students arriving late for class in the morning are missing valuable instruction time. Students can enter the school building starting from 9:00am daily.
- Please be reminded NOT TO PARK OR STOP your car for an extended period in the Kiss & Ride lane at anytime. Please observe parking signs. Please also do your best to move up in the Kiss & Ride lane to allow for as many cars as possible.
- Photography while on school property: We discourage photography on school property due to privacy and safety concerns.
- We discourage adults from observing children during lunch and recess play time. We strive to maintain a safe environment at all times for our staff and students.
- All parents/guardians are encouraged to keep their distance and help us reduce the chance of crowding before and after school.
- Primary teachers work hard to ensure their students are safely connected with their parents or caregiver and that can be a challenge when visitors gather too close to the doors. Please stay along the grass line as you wait for your child/ren to enter or exit.
School Hours
We will be allowing for soft entry to the school each morning. Students will be provided access to the school beginning at 9:00am each morning. Please note that there is no teacher supervision of students in the school yard. Each of the designated entrance doors will be unlocked for students to enter and go to their respective class. Parents are not permitted to enter the school doors with their child(ren). Doors will be locked again after the bell at 9:15am.
Dismissal:
We will be dismissing students at the conclusion of the school day, at 3:45pm. Students will be dismissed in the same area as they entered in the morning. If you have a child in grades K-3 teachers will wait with them until they are directly given to an adult listed on his/ her pick up list. Teachers will be asking parents to inform them of their dismissal plans. If you have an older child, please ensure that they know how they are getting home and with whom. Bus students will begin loading the bus as soon as the bus arrives.
Make a plan!
It is so important for families to always establish a plan for how children are getting home. Please be sure to share this plan with your child's teacher. If the plan should change, please be sure to let the school know, so we are aware.
The Importance of Attendance
Emergency Contact and Verification Forms
Catholic School Council 2026-27
All positions for the 2026-2027 Catholic School Council (CSC) will be open for nominations. We hope you will consider joining us for what will prove to be a very rewarding and worthwhile experience. Nomination forms will be sent out two weeks prior to CS Council elections. All elected members of Council will be encouraged to volunteer at times throughout the school year. Nomination forms for those considering joining our Catholic School Council are due Tuesday, October 6th, 2026 by 4:00pm.
Elections will take place on our first School Council meeting on Wednesday, October 7th, 2026@ 6:00pm in the school library or join us virtually. Meeting links will be sent the day of each designated meeting date. All virtual meetings will be facilitated through TEAMS. Zoom contracts are no longer renewed. All School Council Meeting dates will be set on the first meeting date.
Volunteers Needed!
Are you interested in volunteering at St. Therese of the Child Jesus? Our volunteers support programs and activities at the school. We appreciate and rely on parents who can devote a small portion of their time to help. People who volunteer in schools and attend trips are required to have completed Vulnerable Sector Check -Level 3 ($40 approx), which can be completed online at the link below. Please see the office for a letter requesting a CRC to take to your local police station.
Please connect with the main office if you are unsure your CRC is still valid. You only need to aquire a CRC at one time, but must insure to complete the AOD - Annual Offense Declaration each year to ensure your CRC is still in good standing. All parents who sumbit their CRC's are notified of this update each school year.
Once the form is completed, approved and submitted to the main office, your volunteer service can begin. We look forward to working with you for the betterment and support of all students.
Lunch Options and Snacks
Mondays -- Osmows
Tuesday -- Subway Subs
Wednesday -- Lunch Pails
Thursday -- Dominos Pizza
Friday -- Swiss Chalet
Open House
Please join us on Thursday, October 1st, 2026 to meet your child's teacher(s) & meet our staff.
5:00 pm to 6:00pm: Eat and Greet - Privded by BBQ Gourmet
6:00 pm to 7:00pm: Meet the teacher and visit the classroom
Information will be communicated to RSVP to order food for this event in the coming weeks. We will also be hosting our annual Scholastic Book Fair!! Please visit our library. A BIG Special thanks to our Catholic School Council for volunteering. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Photo Day!!!
Tuesday, September 29th, 2026! Picture retake day: November 2nd, 2026.
Recess and Outdoor Learning Time
*If you wish for your child to wear sunscreen, please apply at home before school as teachers are not permitted to apply sunscreen on students. In addition, as we draw closer to the season of fall and the temperature outside begins to drop, we ask that your child comes to school in appropriate clothing/ outerwear and footwear.
Lunch Drop Off
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 their children. 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 be leaving the lunch on the table at the front doors.
Drink Breaks
Allergies In the Classroom
We at St. Therese of the Child Jesus School would appreciate the cooperation of the entire school community by NOT sending any lunches or snacks that contain nut or nut byproducts which could potentially harm a pupil. Please also refrain from sending WOW butter, as this product is very difficult to distinguish from peanut butter. Please make sure that all of your children’s caregivers are aware of the food restrictions. Please do not send food for birthdays or special occasions . We look for ward to your co-operation in making this a place safe year for all of our pupils.
Plan of Care Medical Information
Medical Information
Some important paperwork must be filled out in order for the school to have information on how best to support your child. Please ensure that the Authorization for the storage and administration of medication accompanies all medication coming to the school.
Student Insurance Options
Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) at School
**Students are not allowed to use their PEDs on the school bus as per STOPR rules and regulations.
School Cash Online
Orange Shirt Day
We will be participating in Orange Shirt Day on Wednesday, September 30th to honour our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. All students will recieve a special orange bracelet😃
Truth & Reconciliation Week will take place from September 21st to September 25th. During this week students will participate in various lessons on Indigenous studies. On Orange Shirt Day we will gather as a school and participate in a school liturgy in the gym at 9:30am. All students will be provided with a commemorative orange bracelet to acknowledge this special day.
Combined Grades
Early ON Years Program😀
Reporting Student Absences: Safe Arrival through School Messenger
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board continues to use the student absence reporting system that will make it easier for you to report your child’s absence from school. This system is called SafeArrival.
With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of the following three convenient options:
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/#/home )
- The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account.
- Select Attendance then Report an Absence
- 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. For Student Being Late to School or Early Departure from School.
- The automated message will prompt you to enter ABSENCE for student, and will ask if the student be ABSENT today, tomorrow etc.
- To this question, please say ‘yes’ to absent as the next question will be to enter the type of absence and will give you options of full day, late, early departure leave and return.
- The above 3 options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.
- Future absences can be reported at any time.
Remember to: Please report absences in advance using SafeArrival instead of sending notes or calling/emailing the school.
STOPR Transportation 2026-27
STOPR Transportation Procedures
- 1.0 kilometer Kindergarten and Grade 1
- 1.6 kilometers for Grades 2 – 4
- 2.0 kilometers for Grades 5 – 8
- 3.8 kilometers for Grades 9 – 1
If your child is moving to grade 2, grade 5, or grade 9 in the 2026-2027 school year, their eligibility status for transportation may be changing. Eligibility information can be accessed at the website noted below. All transported kindergarten and grade 1 students are required to be met by a parent/ caregiver when disembarking from their bus on their return trip from school.
Courtesy Seating Requests will be finalized in early October 2026. Should you wish to apply for Courtesy Seating, please be sure to complete the request form, found on STOPR and submit to the office for your request to be processed and reviewed.
Contacting STOPR
The STOPR website provides up to date delay and inclement weather cancellation information in addition to policy, procedures and frequently asked question. Please consider registering for notice of alerts regarding issues such as buses running behind schedule. The STOPR website also allows parents to access information specific to “what school do I attend” and “am I eligible for transportation”. This site also provides parents access to specific bus stop location and pick up and drop off times for their children if eligible for transportation.
Telephone: STOPR: Phone: 905 890-6000 Toll free: 1-800 668-1140
Helpful Links
2026-27 Important Dates: Mark Your Calendars!
September 8th: 😄First day of school / School Cash Online open for food orders
September 21st to 25th: Truth and Reconciliation Week
September 21st to 24th: Scholastic Book Fair
Septmeber 22nd: Catholic School Council Election Forms sent through School Messenger
September 24th: Thanksgiving Mass/Feast Day/Opening School Mass with Father Joyson 10:00am Parents/Guardians welcome to join. Please sign in at the main office.
September 28th: Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Walk/Run
September 29th: Picture Day
September 30th: Orange Shirt Day & Liturgy at 9:30am
October 1st: Open House BBQ 5:00pm - 7:00pm