St. Luke School
September 2026
St. Luke Information
Principal - M. Gibson
Vice Principal - L. Sasso
Secretary - R. Leonardo
Superintendent - D. Radic
Trustee- Herman Viloria
Parish - St. Mary Star of the Sea
Priest- Fr. Laszlo Nagy
St. Luke School Hours
Supervision Begins 8:15 a.m.
School Begins 8:30 a.m.
Recess (a.m.) 10:13-10:28
Lunch : 11 :18-12:18
Recess (p.m.)2:01-2:16
Dismissal: 3:00 p.m.
St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish
11 Peter Street South
MIssissauga, ON
L5H 2G1
telephone:905-278-2058
Morning and School Dismissal Procedures
School starts at 8 :30 am and all late arrivals have to sign in at the Main Office.
Just a reminder teacher supervision begins 8 :15 am.
School finishes at 3: 00pm
September: Faith
In September, we celebrate the virtue of faith.
A Faithful person…
- prays whenever they can
- learns from Scripture stories
- assumes that there is good in everyone
- knows that we are all loved by God
Catholic Education Week :'Becoming Artisans of Peace'
“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us.”
(Letter on the Jubilee Year of Hope, February 11, 2022)
The theme chosen for the upcoming 2027 Catholic Education Week is: Becoming Artisans of Peace.
Catholic Education Week will run from May 2-7, 2027
Dogs on School Property
Please remember that from 8: 15 a.m. to 3 :15 p.m. dogs are not allowed on school property. This includes small dogs being carried. Please be respectful of the fact that some of our students have a fear of dogs. We thank you for your continued understanding and support.
MEDICAL ALERT– Sabrina’s Law (Anaphylaxis)
Sabrina’s Law is an Act to protect anaphylactic pupils in publiclyfunded schools in Ontario. Named “Sabrina’s Law” in honour of anOntario student who died following an anaphylactic reaction in2003, this law requires that every school board establish andmaintain 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 soonas possible. It is essential that the information you provide us withis accurate and up-to-date. There are various forms which need tobe completed by you and your family doctor if it is necessary to store and dispense an EPI-pen orany 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’sclass directly, we require your continued cooperation in sending foods to school with your childthat
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 orpeanuts. We offer our heartfelt thanks for your support in making our school a safer environment for all.
Bus Information & STOPR-Courtesy Transportation Request
Parents and students have access to bus route information on the 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. https://businfo.stopr.ca/LoginReturnUrl=/Subscriptions/ChildTransportInfo
Please note the Primary Protocol for Kindergarten and Grade One students, which is that these students will have red cards attached to their backpacks indicating stop and bus route. If a parent/guardian is not at the stop to meet students from this age group, the bus driver will return these students to the school and parents will be called to pick up their children.
STOPR has established a procedure for granting courtesy seats. These seats must not, under any circumstances, result in additional costs or a longer bus trip, and must not create precedents or penalize students who already ride the bus. Courtesy students must be assigned to existing bus stops. STOPR will not accept requests for additional stops or for altering the existing bus route. STOPR will not grant courtesy seats on Special Education buses.
Courtesy transportation is assigned on an annual basis. Requests for courtesy transportation must be submitted to the school, by the parent/guardian each year, using Courtesy Transportation Request Form.
A courtesy seat may be granted if all the following conditions are met:
1. a seat is available on the bus:
- for single school runs, seat availability is the difference between maximum allowed riders and assigned riders.
- for integrated bus runs, seat availability for each involved school will be determined, by STOPR staff, based on percentage of eligible riders from each school and communicated to each school;
2. the bus stop already exists in the current school year.
3. the bus run is not a school-to-school transfer run.
The school Principal may approve students to courtesy seats taking into consideration the following conditions:
1. student age;
2. distance from home to school;
3. date and time request was received;
4. enrolment stability;
5. maximum allowed riders
On a yearly basis, the school administrator will inform the parent/guardian when a seat has been granted and the parent/guardian has signed the Courtesy Transportation Request.
During the school year, courtesy transportation may be withdrawn at any time for any of the following conditions:
1. seating is required for eligible students
2. altering the route is necessary
3. student behaviour is unacceptable
Courtesy Request Forms are due to the school office September 30, 2026 by 3:00pm.
* Please note that submitting a Courtesy Seat Request Form does not guarantee a seat on the school bus.*
Terry Fox Walk
We will be holding a Terry Fox Walk/Run on September 25 and requesting Toonies or small donations. All proceeds go to the Terry Fox Foundation.
Kiss ‘N’ Ride
Student safety in our driveway is so important as students enter and leave our grounds. When doing pick ups or drops, please drive slowly and pull over to the right side of the driveway directly in front of the school. Please do not leave your vehicle unless you park in the school parking lot and please keep the left lane free for passing. The following video explains the Kiss ‘N’ Ride rules very well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXxt_KRCjjM
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.
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 inhalers 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).
Students should not be self-administering medication (i.e.: Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, cough syrup, eye drops. etc.) at school. For all non-prescription medication, at GF 035 must be completed and sent to the school.
First Communion & Confirmation 2026-2027
If you child is in Grade 2 and Grade 7 this year and would like to receive their Sacrament of First Communion (Grade 2) and Sacrament of Confirmation (Grade 7), please contact St. Mary Star of the Sea or St. Christopher's Parish.
Please see the information that will be sent out via School Messenger regarding sacraments for the 2026/2027 school year.
The Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations
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.
Picture Day
Picture Day will be Friday October 2, 2026. Picture Retake Day will be Thursday November 5, 2026.
Indigenous Awareness & Orange Shirt Day
St. Luke School will be participating in Orange Shirt Day on Wednesday September 30, 2026. Students are invited to wear orange on this day.
Students will be given buttons to raise awareness of Indigenous affairs and are encouraged to wear orange that day. There will be class activities and announcements celebrating Indigenous culture.
Lunch Options
Again, this year parents will have the option to buy Subway sub lunches on Tuesdays, Lunch Lady meals on Wednesdays, and pizza on Fridays. However, ordering will not begin until mid-September after any potential reorganization of classes. The first food days will likely take place in early October. Thank you to Ms. Acri, Ms. Tannant, Ms. Parsons, and our Catholic School Council volunteers for providing these food options that raise funds to support many school initiatives, such as technology purchases, trips, and presentations.
Catholic School Council
Communication between home and school is greatly enhanced by parental involvement with the Catholic School Council. Please note that our Council is comprised of parents, school staff as well as community and parish representatives. The aim of the Catholic School Council is to support school activities and students through involvement and fund raising. The School Council also provides a forum for parents to meet and share information and ideas concerning the school community.
A reminder that if you are interested in volunteering within the school in any capacity, a Valid Criminal Reference Check (CRC), with Vulnerable Sector and Local Records Check completed by Peel Regional Police is required. The cost is $35. Please note that there may be some time required to process a CRC, thus waiting for an announced volunteer opportunity to obtain your CRC may not provide sufficient time for processing. Once the school has a valid CRC on fi le, we will not need a new CRC yearly, rather, a yearly Offence Declaration will suffice.
The date of our first Catholic School Council meeting (final meeting with last year’s council) will be on September 30 at 6:00 pm. Elections will take place at that meeting if there is more than one candidate running for each position. Nomination forms are available in the office for CSC positions and are due to the office by September 24 at 4:00 pm. We encourage parents who wish to learn more about the CSC or participate in CSC-run events to join us at any of the meetings. New members are always welcome.
Thank you,
St. Luke Catholic School Council
DPCDSB SafeVoice Safe Schools Tool
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) is committed to the safety and well-being of all students. To support this, DPCDSB offers SafeVoice, a confidential Safe Schools Tool for students to share concerns about bullying, harassment, discrimination, or other issues.
Students can access SafeVoice from the DPCDSB homepage, the Student Portal, their school website, or directly at dpcdsb.org/SafeVoice. The form allows students to provide information about incidents they’ve experienced or witnessed, including details about who was involved and when and where it took place. Students may choose to remain anonymous or include their name and contact information if they wish to be contacted directly by a school administrator.
All submissions are reviewed by the school Principal and Vice-Principal, unless a concern involves a Principal or Vice-Principal, in which case it is directed to the Superintendent.
SafeVoice is one of the many ways DPCDSB works with students, staff, and families to foster safe, caring, inclusive, and faith-filled school communities. If you need to share information about a crime, please contact Crime Stoppers, Peel Regional Police, or the Ontario Provincial Police.
If you have questions, please contact your school Principal or Vice-Principal.
Combined Grades Information
A combined grade class is comprised of students from two consecutive grades. Combined classes are a reality in the Dufferin‐Peel Catholic District School Board, as with all schools in Ontario and have been an educational reality dating back to the “one room school house”. Teachers of all classes, single or combined grade, strive to meet the range of individual needs. This is achieved through the implementation of varied teaching and assessment strategies and working with students in a variety of groupings. Teaching strategies and groupings are chosen as appropriate to the learning styles of the students in the class.
Please see the attached for more information regarding combined grades.
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.
Emergency Protocol
Emergency response procedures in the event of a fire, bomb threat, serious accident/injury or an intruder have been established and are revised on an ongoing basis. Each school within the DPCDSB is required to hold 9 emergency procedure drills over the course of the year.
These drills consist of three fire drills per term, one lockdown drill per term, and 1 hold and secure drill per year. During these drills staff review all emergency procedures with students to ensure all children are safe in the event of a real emergency.
Valuables
Please help us to protect your child’s valuables. Staff cannot be responsible for any valuables that your child brings to school. In order to avoid valuables being lost or misplaced, please keep them at home.
EQAO Primary and Junior Assessments
All grade 3 and 6 students will have completed EQAO in May. We would like to thank the staff and students for their work before and during this provincial EQAO testing. Thank you also to the parents for their efforts in assisting with their EQAO preparation and ensuring their child’s attendance during the assessment. Results of these assessments will be used to define school goals and refine improvement strategies. Results will be available at the school in the fall 2026.
We, again, would like to congratulate our grade 3 and 6 students for persevering and trying their best !
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. Once you are registered, please follow the Password Reset Instructions
St. Luke Open House Barbecue and Scholastic Book Fair
Our St. Luke Open House Barbecue and Scholastic Book Fair is on September 23 at 5:00 pm. Food order details are coming soon and will be completed on https://www.schoolcashonline.com/ This is not a formal interview night, but rather a chance for the community and staff to relax together and enjoy the nice weather. After enjoying a bite to eat outside, parents are invited to visit our Scholastic Book Fair in the library and see their children’s classrooms.
School Cash Online Payment
To reduce the handling of cash, St. Christopher will continue to use and promote the School Cash Online Payment System. The Online Payment System is a secure and electronic method to pay for school related fees.
Reporting Student Absences
Whether it’s a medical appointment, an illness or other important event, there are times when students may need to be away from school. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District school board uses School Messenger's Safe Arrival system for parents to report their child(ren)’s absences. Using the SafeArrival system, parents will be able to report daily or future absences in one of three ways:
Web:
- Go to the SafeArrival website at go.schoolmessenger.ca
- Select Sign Up to create your account. (Only needed for the initial setup, after that you will click on login).
- Select Attendance.
- Select Report an Absence.
App:
- Download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Please note that SafeArrival uses the SchoolMessenger app.
- Select Sign-Up. (Only needed for the initial setup, after that you will click on login).
- You will be prompted to enter your email (same email address your school has on file) and create a password.
- The system will send a link to the same email address the school has on file, please click on the link you have received in your email to activate your account.
Phone:
- Call the toll-free number 1-844-435-3440
- Listen to and follow the instructions to report an absence.
- If the system doesn’t recognize your caller ID, you will be asked to enter the student’s home phone number or any phone number for the guardian that is on file with the school.
Parent Notification of Unexplained Student Absences
Elementary Schools: If your child's absence is not reported in advance, the SafeArrival automated notification system will contact you by email / text (SMS) / phone to inform you of your child's absence and will provide an opportunity to verify the absence. By reporting your child's absence in advance on the SafeArrival SchoolMessenger mobile app, SafeArrival website (go.schoolmessenger.ca) or 1-844-435-3440 (toll-free number), you will not receive a notification.
How to Create a SchoolMessenger Account:
- Click on the Apple App Store or Google Play icon.
- Enter SchoolMessenger in the Search bar and click 'Get" or "Install" to download the App
- Once installed click 'Open'
- Click 'sign up' to setup your account
- Enter the email address you have on file with your child's school
- Create a password using at least 6 characters, including one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter and one number
- Set the location to Canada
- Click the 'sign up' button
- Open your email and click on the link provided to complete the registration process
- Login with your email address and the password you just created and make sure the location is still set to Canada
How to Report an Absence Using the SchoolMessenger App:
- Open SchoolMessenger
- Login to your account with your email and password
- Click the menu icon at the top left (three horizontal lines) and select 'Attendance'
- Click the plus sign beside 'Report an Absence' at the bottom right
- Select your child's name
- Select the type of absence you would like to report
- Check a box for the reason for your child's absence
- Select the date of absence (and expected time of arrival if reporting a late arrival), then click 'Send'
- Once sent, the reported absence will appear under 'Attendance' for your child.
By directing your tax support to the Separate (Catholic) School System:
- You may vote for Catholic School Trustees in Municipal elections
- Your children may attend Catholic elementary schools
- You show your support for the Catholic school system
To verify that you are registered as an English Separate (Catholic) school supporter:
- Check the assessment section of your Tax Bill or Property Assessment Notice
- Check your Voter Information Card received during an election year (2022)
Have you moved?
Even if you have been an English Separate (Catholic) School Supporter in the past, the designation DOES NOT follow you when you relocate. By default, your property taxes support your municipality's English public school board. Every time you move or if there is a change of ownership, it is essential that you register yourself as an English Separate (Catholic) school supporter.
To register as an English Separate (Catholic) School Supporter or change your Direction of School Support, please contact the DPCDSB Admissions Department by phone at 905-890-0708 ext. 24512 or by email at admissions@dpcdsb.org.
Learn More:
- Visit the Direction of School Support webpage
- Watch our Direction of School Support video
Important Dates to Remember!
September 2026:
2- PA Day
3- PA Day
7- Labour Day
8- First Day of School
21–25- Truth and Reconciliation Week
23-Open House Barbecue and Scholastic Book Fair at 5:00 pm.
24- Nomination forms for CSC positions are due to the office by 4:00 pm.
25-Terry Fox Walk/Run
30- Orange Shirt Day
30- First Catholic School Council meeting (final meeting with last year’s council)