St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Email: St.BernardofClairvauxInfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: www.dpcdsb.org/brnrd
Location: 3345 Escada Drive, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Phone: 905-542-9203

Dear God,

Thank you for the gift of education in every form.

As our children prepare to start a new year

May confidence be their foundation,

May grace be their guide, and

May hope be their compass toward a bright future.

I pray they would have eyes to see the needs of those around them

And a heart to love well.

May they face each day with positivity

Knowing that no matter what comes their way

They do not have to face it alone.

Amen.

It is with great pleasure and excitement that we welcome both new and returning students, staff and families to another school year. The staff have been hard at work planning, preparing curriculum materials, and creating faith-filled and welcoming learning environments for all our students. Thank you to our custodial staff for their many hours of work over the past few months. Mrs. Cifa has been working hard to ensure that the school year will be a great success - her commitment and dedication to St. Bernard of Clairvaux are both a gift and blessing to our school.

We would like to welcome back teachers and staff who are returning this year as well as staff who are brand new to our school.

As a new school year begins, we are looking forward to working with all parents, guardians, students and staff as together, we embrace the task of guiding students on the path of learning and achievement. As we move forward in the coming days and weeks, we welcome your input and involvement in the learning of your children.

Mr. Scicluna

https://breacorbet.ca/

• Ms. Valdivieso (French and Planning Time)
• Ms. Alves (Tuesdays in FDK with Ms. De Medeiros)

Monday, September 15, 2025 is a Professional Activity Day for staff. There will be no school for students. Staff will be involved in re-organization and faith development.

With the Ministry of Education's goal of reducing class size in primary classrooms, we, at times, find ourselves in a situation where due to enrollment combined classrooms have to be created. New registrations have continued throughout this past week. We ask for your patience as we work to accommodate all of our families and students within the school community. There may be a need to reorganize classes due to the enrollment. If this needs to occur, it would be done on the PA Day scheduled for Monday, September 15, 2025. If your child's class is affected, further information will be forwarded to you.

Our teachers are well-trained in working with students of various skills and abilities. Whether a straight grade or a combined class, they provide opportunities for students to work in large groups, in smaller designed groups, as well as directly one-to-one with their teacher. Throughout much of the curriculum, the skills, process and overall concepts taught are similar, varying in depth and breadth of the information presented. We will work as a school team to do all we can to meet the needs of all our students. We would encourage all parents/guardians to maintain communication with their child's teacher throughout the year so that together we can work to help each child reach their potential.

For further information from Dufferin-Peel, please see the attachments below.

Please complete the forms included in the New School Year Student Package (Verification sheet, lunch forms, agenda, website media release, physical education forms, etc.) and the consent to disclose student information to parish and return them to your child(ren)'s classroom teacher at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your cooperation.

Our Meet the Teacher night is scheduled for Thursday, September 25.

We are in the midst of planning, and hoping to bring in a couple of Ice Cream Trucks at 4:30 p.m.. They will provide soft serve ice cream cones to those families that pre‐order. This will take place out in the back. Each cone costs $3. Families are asked to pre‐order their cones. Once orders are received, tickets will be sent home. No ticket, No ice‐cream. At 5:30, parents/guardians will be able to visit their child’s classroom (s). With the evening ending at 6:30.

More information to come.

Classroom and individual student photos will be on:

Photo Day: Thursday, September 25, 2025

Retake Day: Friday, November 7, 2025

Catholic School Council is an elected body that represents parents/school/parish community in advising the principal and/or board on educational matters. Parents who are interested in being on the council should complete the Self-Nomination Form (see below) and submit it to the office by Friday, September 12. All parents are invited to attend our first meeting scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2 (elections and first meeting).

Sept. 15 – PA Day

Sept. 22 – Immunization Clinic

Sept.22 – 26 - Truth & Reconciliation Week

Sept. 25 - Photo Days

Sep. 25 – Open House / Ice Cream Truck

Sept. 26 – Terry Fox

Sept. 26 – Virtue Assembly (Faith)

Sept. 30 – Orange Shirt Day

Oct. 3 - Opening Mass

Oct. 9 – Virtue assembly

Oct. 10 – PA Day

Oct. 13 – Thanksgiving Day – no school

St. Bernard of Clairvaux CES is proud to once again take part in the Terry Fox School Run on Friday, September 26.

In 1980, Terry Fox had a dream of a world without cancer. Forty-five years later, his Marathon of Hope continues to inspire millions across Canada. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of so many.

This year, our school has set a fundraising goal of $1,500 to support life-saving cancer research. Please consider making a donation to help us reach our target: 👉 Donate Here

Thank you for your generosity and support. Let’s come together as a school community to finish what Terry started!

Daily attendance and punctuality are very important and all students should be prepared to start their day of learning on time and with their classmates.

Thank you to all parents who have been calling the school and using the Safe Arrival website or app when your child has been absent due to an illness or an appointment.

To use the Safe Arrival School Messenger program, use the link provided below or you can down load and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Please note that SafeArrival uses the SchoolMessenger app.

Alternatively, you can call the toll-free number 1-844-435-3440. Listen to and follow the instructions to report an absence.

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.

On occasion, we are faced with difficult situation in which non-custodial parents arrive at school asking to visit with their child or take their child out of school. In order to assist us in making correct decisions in order to serve and protect each child, we ask that you make the office aware of any legal custody arrangements, visitation rights and special instructions that have been agreed upon. Please note that we require legal documentation of these arrangements, not a note from a parent.

The safety of all children is a primary concern. All schools have a buzzer entry system at the front door. All visitors, including parents must come to the office through the front door, ring the buzzer and await a response. In doing so, we welcome you, ask you to sign in and wear a visitor tag while in the building. Not only will this process help to keep our students safe, it will allow our staff to get to know parents more quickly. We thank you for your cooperation in this very important protocol.

In instances where your child is picked up early from school, we will verify that the person picking up the child is an authorized person for pick up. Photo identification will be required for individuals not on the authorized list, whom parents request a special pickup.

Please be aware that under provincial legislation, we are not permitted to discuss students with individuals other than their parents/legal guardians. This applies to disciplinary consequences as well.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux is an allergen aware school. We have a number of students in our school who have severe allergic, life-threatening reactions to peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oils, any peanut/nut by-product and dairy products. As in the past, we are asking you to not put any child at risk, and therefore, are requesting that

• tree nuts
• peanuts
• peanut butter
• peanut oils
• any peanut/nut by-product

NOT be brought into the school. We ask that you read the labels of all food items sent to school. A letter will be sent home which will address this issue for each particular class.

We are asking parents/guardians NOT to send food items to school when celebrating your child's birthday. If you wish to send something, please consider non-food alternatives such as stickers, pencils, etc. We thank you for your continued understanding and support for the safety of all of our students.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux continues to participate in 'We Share the Air,' a scent sensitivity awareness campaign. There are students in attendance who suffer from life-threatening asthmatic conditions to air pollutants. Exposure even to minimal odours may cause potential life-threatening reactions.

Very common severe chemical triggers are: perfume, cologne, scented products and personal care products (such as hairspray). These products may cause severe reactions for students. The safety and well-being of all of our students is a priority.

In order to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, we request that our school community refrain from wearing scented personal products complying with our Scent Free Zone Campaign at school and all school events.

If you have any questions, please talk to your child's teacher or other school staff.

We appreciate your cooperation in supporting a safe learning environment for all students.

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. Please see the office or link below for the necessary form to be filled out.

A reminder that children are not permitted to keep any medication in their desk, backpack or classroom (with the exception of an epi-pen or puffer). All dispensing of medication requires medical permission and must be stored in the office. Please see Ms. Laporte for further information

This program offers a free MedicAlert membership to students who attend school and are between the ages of 4 to 14. If your child has a medical condition, allergy or is required to take medication on a regular basis, then please consider a Medic Alert membership through this program.

For further information, please see the link provided. If your child is already part of the program but his/her medical condition or contact information has changed, call 1-866-679-3220.

Please examine the student insurance information sent to you. Please check the acknowledgement receipt of this brochure on the Physical Education form being sent home by your child's teacher. In addition, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board does not provide accident insurance coverage for student injuries that occur on school premises or during school activities.

You may purchase coverage for your child using the link provided below or by calling toll free at 1-800-463-5437.

Thank you for continuing to follow our Kiss & Ride procedures and helping to keep everyone in our school community safe. Please see the following guidelines when using the Kiss & Ride program at St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

Please Do

• Children are to be dropped off or picked up, using the drop off lane between the hours of 8:30 - 8:45 am and 3:15 - 3:30 pm. Due to the high volume of cars, especially in the morning, and dependent on the weather, please consider arriving early.
• As cars enter the school driveway, please proceed in a slow and cautious manner, around the parking lot. The drop off and pick up lane is directly in front of the kindergarten yard. Students are not dropped off or picked up in front of the school. This lane is reserved for buses only.
• Please drive up to the very top of the kiss and ride lane to drop off and pick up your children to facilitate a steady flow of traffic.
• Children are to exit the car in a safe and careful manner with their backpacks ready to avoid a long wait time in the drop off lane. Children are to exit the vehicle on the right side of the car, onto the landing, for safety purposes and proceed to their door.
• Cars are to exit the driveway in a slow and cautious manner and must turn right in order to ease the flow of traffic.
• Cars may park in the parking lot in available spaces only. Please use the crosswalk at the front of the school.

Please Don't

• Cars are not to enter the Kiss & Ride drop-off lane with any speed - they must proceed in a very slow and cautious manner.
• Do not park or leave your vehicle unattended in the Kiss & Ride lanes.
• Cars are not to stop at the turn point of the driveway and let children out - this is a very dangerous and unsafe practice. It also causes a back log of cars.
• Please do not attempt to move into the drop-off lane from the drive thru lane.
• Under no circumstances are cars to access the bus lane or park in the bus lane; if you need to leave your car, please use the parking lot.
• Please do not double park your car in the parking lot. For the safety of all, please use empty parking spots, or park on the street.

We thank you for your continued support in making our kiss & ride a safe and effective process.

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. Concussions are caused by a bump or blow to the head. Even what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious. You cannot see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of a concussion can show up right after a head injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury.

All students who have had a jarring hit to the head, face, neck or elsewhere (either observed or reported), will go through concussion protocol screening. A call will be made to parents/guardians and students will go home with a pamphlet and a signs and symptoms of a suspected concussion form.

We also ask that you please inform the school as soon as possible if your child sustains a concussion. Questions or concerns regarding this policy should be directed to the office.

NEW this year, all students/parents/guardians must fill out and sign a concussion attestation form. These forms will be sent home by your child's teacher and must be filled and out returned. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

We are required to conduct three fire drills in the fall and three in the spring. We are also required to practice two lock down drills and one shelter in place drill during the year.

Fire drills involve students evacuating the school in a single file and assembling on the field away from the school. Teachers take attendance, all student locations are verified and the class waits for further direction. Lock down drills involve students moving away from the classroom door to a location within the classroom away from windows. Lights are turned off and the doors are locked. Shelter in place drills involve a response to an environmental or weather related situation.

These practices are to ensure that students and staff are prepared in case of emergency. We will be having our first fire drill and lockdown procedure drill later this month.

Peel Public Health has recommended daily screening and to stay home when students are feeling sick. Students who are ill should be kept at home where they are most comfortable and can get better sooner. A child who is too ill to go out for recess is too ill to be at school. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

A gentle safety reminder to all students that bikes, scooters and rollerblades are to be walked/removed while on school property. The school does have bike racks to lock up bikes, however, we do not have the facilities to store or secure rollerblades or scooters. There is an added risk of damage or theft and, therefore, they are not encouraged to be brought to school. St. Bernard of Clairvaux is not responsible for these items. Your cooperation is appreciated.

STOPR (Student Transportation of Peel Region) provides bus transportation services for the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Please access the website (link below) for up to date information regarding delayed buses and bus cancellations. To check for eligibility for transportation, please access the STOPR website or call them at 905-890-6000.

Bus tags for all eligible students have been distributed. Students in FDK and grade 1 must have a tag to ride the bus. If you are eligible for busing but do not require it, please fill out and return the form sent home by your child's teacher.

Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements may apply for a seat in accordance with the 'Courtesy Seat Policy.' If you are interested in the Courtesy Seat Policy for your child please submit the form below to the school office.

Courtesy seat (if available) will not be distributed until the beginning of October. Courtesy seats may be granted if the following conditions are met:

• a seat is available on the regular bus
• the bus stop already exists

When assigning students to courtesy seats, the following is taken into consideration:

• student age
• distance from home to school
• date and time request received
• enrolment stability
• maximum allowed riders on the vehicle depending on the student's grade

Please note that if more families move into the area, who qualify for busing, there may be a need to rescind the offer to make room for those students that qualify for busing.

Once again this year, teachers have distributed agendas to students in grades 1-8 that are used to develop their organizational skills as well as facilitate communication regarding homework, deadlines and special events. Please take some time to look over the agenda with your child, it is filled with useful information, including the Catholic Code of Conduct. It is particularly important to emphasize that the agenda is to be used daily to assist your child in organizing his/her time and to keep parents/guardians informed as to what is happening in class and in the school. It is a great vehicle to jot down a short note to the teacher and the teacher can respond in the same way.

We are asking for a donation of $5 to offset the cost of these agendas. Payments can be made through School Cash Online.

Free dental screening provided to children in select grades in publicly funded elementary schools.

Good oral health is important to a child’s overall health. Untreated tooth decay may lead to pain and infection which may result in difficulty eating, speaking, and learning.

A dental screening identifies children who may need dental care. For children who visit their own dental professional, a dental screening at school can be used as an extra look inside the child's mouth by a registered dental hygienist.

About dental screening

• It's a quick assessment by a registered dental hygienist who will look inside the child's mouth. A separate, sterilized mouth mirror is used for each child.
• A form with the results will go home with every child screened.
• A dental screening identifies children who may need dental care. If your child is identified with a dental condition requiring immediate dental treatment, a dental staff member may contact you. A re–screening may be required.
• If you are not able to afford dental care for your child, they may be eligible for free dental services through Healthy Smiles Ontario.
• A dental screening does not replace a regular dental visit.

If you have any questions, contact us at 905–799–7700, toll-free 1-888-919-7800.

School dental screening exemption

• If you do not want your child to receive a free dental screening, call us or complete the school dental screening exemption form. Exemptions must be completed at least one day before your school starts dental screening. If we do not receive the exemption by the deadline, there is a chance your child could have already been screened. If dental screening has already started, call us. Contact us at 905–799–7700, toll-free 1-888-919-7800.

Please be informed that we have the YMCA providing child care before and after school. For details you may contact the YMCA program directly at 647-267-2400.

Pastor - Rev. Mark

Sacramental Coordinator - TBA

Mass Schedule:

Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 pm

Sunday Mass: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm

Monday, Wednesday, Friday Mass 7:00 pm

Tuesday, Thursday Mass 7:30 am

Saturday Mass 9:00 am

Email: stjosephinebakhitami@archtoronto.org
Location: 3200 Thomas Street, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Phone: 905.826.1143

Information regarding dates and registration for sacraments has been e-mailed to parents. We, as always, encourage any new families to our school community to contact the parish to inquire about registering for these sacraments. The sacramental celebrations will be held at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish. We thank Fr. Mark and his parish team for their continued support in the faith life of our students and their families.

A Catholic Faith community is rooted in a set of common beliefs which are inspired by the life, mission and teaching of Jesus. As a Catholic community we are called to learn, to grow and to become more like Jesus in the way we see and treat others. Our Catholic faith plays an important role in helping us shape schools that are safe, caring and inclusive. Catholic school education provides us the opportunity to integrate virtue information into all areas of our school life within the context of our faith. St. Bernard of Clairvaux School will again focus our attention on the Catholic Virtues. This program is designed to help us nurture virtue and character development in the lives of our students. Each month, the entire school will focus on a different virtue. We would appreciate your support in discussion these virtues with your child and encouraging behaviours that demonstrate these virtues. Here is a list of the virtues we will be nurturing this school year:

September: Faith

October: Empathy

November: Conscience

December: Hope

January: Self-Control

February: Respect

March: Kindness

April: Love

May: Acceptance

June: Fairness

During the month of September, we will focus on the virtue of Faith.

God created us to live together as a family rooted in Christ.

A faithful person...

• prays from the heart whenever they can
• learns from Bible stories
• believes that there is good in everyone
• knows that we are all created and loved by God

Faith believes the incredible, sees the invisible, and receives the impossible. A faithful person believes that God's plan for us includes the right to be safe, cared for, and included, especially at school.

Faith is the great virtue of believing and trusting in God. Our faith helps us to remember the importance of God in our lives, and calls us to deepen our relationship with God, when things are going well and when they are not.

The apostles said to the Lord, "Make your faith greater." The Lord answered, "If you had faith as big as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, "Pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea!" and it would obey you." Luke 17: 5-6

Let us pray...for the grace and strength to be people of faith, people who can truly believe that God's plan for us includes the right to be safe at school. AMEN.

Catholic education views human life as an integration of body, mind, and spirit. Rooted in this vision, Catholic education fosters the search for knowledge as a lifelong spiritual and academic quest. The expectations of Catholic graduates, therefore, are described not only in terms of knowledge and skills, but in terms of values, attitudes, and actions.

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 life-long learner who develops and demonstrates 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.

Grade 7/8 Immuniztion will take place on Monday, September 22, 2025.

Aalso known as Orange Shirt Day, is a day that recognizes the harm that Canada’s residential school system inflicted on Indigenous children and their families, and the ongoing trauma that remains today. This national day serves to honour and support truth and reconciliation and the healing journeys of those impacted by these injustices. It is a day to remember and honour the life of every child.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux will be recognizing this day through various activities throughout the day. Students and staff are also encouraged to wear an orange shirt in recognizance of this important initiative.

As we begin a new school year, we continue to have the opportunity to be a part of a successful Ontario Eco Schools Program. The program aims to develop environment education and action within our community. Last year we were excited to obtain Gold level status, which reflects the tremendous dedication and enthusiasm of our school. We are looking forward to another amazing year.

Tips for an Eco-Friendly Back to School

Reusable Water Bottles - Avoid all of the wasteful plastic and pollution that is created from single use plastic water bottles. We have filtered water stations on both floors of the school that students have access to in order to refill their water bottles as needed. Help us turn our thrown-away culture into a culture of conservation.

Active and Safe Routes to School - It is encouraged that if you live close enough, and are able to, consider walking with your child to school or allowing your child to ride a bike to and from school by following the Walk to School Route signs posted in the neighbourhood. This will encourage healthy and active living for all.

Paper Usage - Consider implementing a GOOS (Good On One Side) bin in your home to ensure that paper is used on both sides. Check notebooks from last year to see if they contain empty pages and can be used again.

Idle Free Zone - If you will be driving your child to and from school, please keep in mind that idling cars are harmful to the lungs of our students and our planet. Please turn off your car while waiting. Help us keep our air clean.

We will keep you informed over the course of the year as initiatives are being implemented and update you on our progress. Go green!

Are you interested in volunteering at St. Bernard of Clairvaux?

Our volunteers support programs and activities at the school. We appreciate and rely on volunteers who can devote a small portion of their time to help. Please pick up a volunteer form and a Criminal Reference Check form at the school office.

Adults who volunteer in schools and for school trips are required to have completed a Criminal Reference Check and/or declaration form. Once the form is completed, you are able to volunteer. We look forward to working with you for the betterment and support of all students.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.