St. Teresa of Calcutta Newsletter

Welcome Back to the 2025–2026 School Year!

On behalf of the staff at St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School, welcome! We’re excited to begin another year of learning, growth, and faith. A special welcome to all new families joining our community—we’re so glad you’re here.

We’re grateful to continue working with Father Facey and the team at St. Patrick’s Parish and Superintendent Mrs. Dulcie Belchior—thank you for your ongoing support.

A big thank you to our dedicated staff for preparing so thoughtfully for the year ahead. To Mrs. Gordon for her dedication and preparation and to Mr. Xamin,Mr. Garcia and Mrs. D'Ettore for their hard work to ensure our school is clean, safe, and ready to welcome students back.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our Open House & Book Fair on September 18th. Wishing everyone a joyful and successful school year!

God Bless,
Mrs. Maddison

School begins: 8:55 a.m.

First Recess: 11:00-11:15 a.m.

Lunch: 11:55-12:55 p.m.

Second Recess: 2:25-2:35 p.m.

Dismissal: 3:25 p.m.

YARD SUPERVISION

Staff supervision of students in the playground begins at 8:40 a.m. To ensure your child’s safety, we appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

A Faithful Person…

• Prays regularly and reverently

• Learns from Scripture stories

• Honours people’s God-given names

• Assumes that there is good in everyone

• Accepts the God-given worth of themselves and others

To begin the new school year, we’ll focus our attention on the first of our virtues – Faith.

Faith is the great virtue of believing in God and trusting that God is with us.

A faithful person believes that we are created, guided by and destined to be reunited with God.

A faithful person believes that God’s plan for us includes the right to be safe, especially at school.

It is important that students attend school regularly and punctually. If your child will be late or absent, please use SafeArrival Absence Reporting. With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 convenient methods: 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 ). The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account. Once you are signed up and logged in, select Attendance then Report an Absence. 2. Use the SafeArrival website, https://go.schoolmessenger.ca . 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. These options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time. If further assistance required on how to report an absence using SafeArrival can be found on the following link: https://www.dpcdsb.org/parents/absence-reporting This measure is to ensure the safety of your child. We thank you for your continued support in following this procedure.

Internet: https://www.stopr.ca/ - this website provides up to date delay and inclement weather cancellation information in addition to policy, procedures, and frequently asked questions.

Businfo.stopr.ca - this website allows parents to access specific to “what school do I attend” and “am I eligible for transportation.” This site also provides parents access to specific bus stop locations and pick up and drop off times for their children if eligible for transportation.

Telephone: Transportation EAST 905-890-6000

Each school year start-up often brings some unexpected changes in terms of enrolment and staffing. Staffing and class placements are tentative and based on school enrolment. All school organizational plans are subject to review in early September, based on actual enrolment. If reorganization is necessary and your child is affected, you will be notified of these changes. Your patience and support are greatly appreciated during this transitional time.

The Catholic School Council is an advisory body whose mission is to enhance the education of our children in a faith-centered environment in partnership with the school, home, parish, and community.

The aim of our Catholic School Council is to support school activities and students through the promotion of faith, achievement, equity and well-being at our school.

The last 2024-2025 CSC meeting, elections and first 2025-2026 CSC meeting will be on Wednesday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the library.

Catholic School Council information letter and Nomination forms for the 2025-2026 school year have been sent via email to you. Nominations are due by September 18, 2025.

Please join us for our Annual STOC Open House and BBQ on Thursday, September 18th at 5:30-7:30 p.m.

CHOICE OF HAMBURGER, VEGGIE BURGER, OR HOTDOG WITH CHIPS AND A DRINK $9.50.

GRILLED CHICKEN BURGER WITH CHIPS AND A DRINK $10.50

Please see link on school website under NEWS:

https://mtrsa.dpcdsb.org/

Our STOC Book Fair will run from September 16-19, 2025.

Students will be given the opportunity to browse books and make a wish list in advance. Families are welcome to shop from September 16th-19th after school. During our Open House on September 18th, the Fair will remain open until 8:00 pm.

As we begin the new school year, we would like to inform you that St. Teresa of Calcutta School is an allergen aware school. There are pupils in attendance at our school that suffer from severe and life-threatening allergies to certain foods, such as peanut and other nut products, and fish. Exposure to the smallest quantities can cause severe and life-threatening reactions. Anaphylaxis is a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction. The most common allergen triggers are food, insect stings, medications, exercise, and latex. An anaphylactic reaction involves symptoms from two or more body systems. We would appreciate the cooperation of the entire school community by NOT sending any lunches or snacks that contain peanuts, peanut products or other nut products. We want St. Teresa of Calcutta School to be a safe environment for all students. Thank you for your assistance with this initiative.

If your child is at risk for severe life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) or any other serious medical conditions, please ensure that the teacher and office are aware and that the proper medication and emergency information forms are in place and up to date.

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 their child/children participate in sports, excursions/field trips, or if parents do not have dental insurance coverage. Information for Reliable Life Insurance will be sent home during the first week of school. There are different options for enrolment: 1) Complete the traditional form and mail it in or 2) Photocopy the form and fax it to Reliable Life at 1-905-522-7211 or 1-800-463 KIDS (5437) or 3) Enroll on line at http://www.insuremykids.com/ Parents alone have the right to insure their children.

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.

Please click here for more information.

What you’ll find in this edition:

• A Healthy Return to School

• Managing Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

• What is Fifth disease? (Slapped cheek Syndrome)

Please click here for more information