Principal- Nuno Tome Secretary- Priscilla Graff

E-mail St.AnthonyInfo@dpcdsb.org Website https://www.dpcdsb.org/anthy

Trustee: Shawn Xaviour (Brampton Ward 7) 905-890-1221

Superintendent- Brian Diogo 905-890-1221

Parish- St. Anthony

Rev. Jibin Joy MCBS Pastor, Rev. Samoj Edathinal Sunny MCBS Part-time Associate Pastor

Parish Number (905) 793‐8030 Parish E-mail: stanthonyofpaduabr@archtoronto.org

Dear St. Anthony Community,

As the new principal, I am excited to welcome you all to a new school year. Our theme this year, "Pilgrims of Hope," invites us to embark on a journey together, grounded in our shared values and commitments.

As families who understand the value of hard work and perseverance, we know that the strength of our community lies in our ability to come together. Your involvement is crucial in nurturing an environment where hope thrives. We encourage you to participate in various activities and events, volunteer, or join our Catholic School Council.

Thank you for choosing St. Anthony Catholic Elementary School.

With love and gratitude,

Nuno Tome,

Principal

Class Placements and Board Communication - An email and phone message indicating the class name and room number should be forthcoming this weekend. If you do not receive this information, please rest assured that upon arrival at school on Tuesday, a team of teachers will be here to ensure your child gets to where they need to be. We ask for everyone’s patience during this process.

First Day of School - Starting at 8:15am, as students arrive for the first day of school, they will be directed to their area on the pavement to meet their teacher (BLUE box area). Students will be using this as their assigned exit at the end of the day.

Morning arrival from September 4th to June 30th for Grades 1 to 8:

1. We will continue with soft entry this year. This means that students will access the school through the doors closest to church and the front entrance starting at 8:15-8:30.
2. Supervision will be present at kiss n ride and classrooms beginning at 8:15 a.m. each morning.
3. Students are to arrive at school no sooner than 8:15 a.m. each morning.

End of day (September 4th to June 30th) for Grades 1 to 8:

1. At 3:00 p.m. all students will exit out the doors according to the map above.

FDK Daily Arrival and Departure

• All FDK students are to be dropped at the FDK gate and will enter the school via the FDK yard.
• Year Two’s (SKs) start the first day of school and continue all day, every day.
• Year One FDK (JKs) will have a staggered entry for the first week of school. FDK teachers will be contacting families with the information in the coming days.

Busing

All students who qualify for busing will continue to be provided with the bus. We ask that you please visit stopr.ca, click Transportation Eligibility and follow the prompts. If you have more than one child, please complete this for each child. The bus eligibility changes depending on the grade of the child. You will require your child’s OEN (found on report card).

School Items and Supplies

Each student should arrive to school with a full, reusable water bottle along with snacks and lunch each day. If children will be going home for lunch, it is our expectation that your child will go directly to their own home and then return to school. Written permission will be asked of all students leaving the school for lunch.

Each child is welcome to come prepared with learning materials that may be suggested by their teacher. Communication from your child’s teacher will provide some guidelines regarding pens, pencils, crayons, etc. Should students require materials, they will be provided by the school.

Very excited to be returning to school,

N. Tome

Principal

St. Anthony will be continuing with the nutrition program this 2024-2025 school year. Each morning while students are arriving at school they are welcome to enter room 102 and choose a snack. We provide a variety of healthy snacks such as fruit cups, muffins, croissants, yogurt, cheese and crackers and more. Please be advised of some of the common allergens these foods contain such as: wheat, dairy and egg. If the child under your care should not consume these allergens please email or send a note to the office and we can accommodate for them.

All students are expected to attend school regularly and punctually. In the event that your child will be late or absent, please use School Messenger -SafeArrival to notify the school. Parents can report daily or future absences in one of three ways:

Web: go.schoolmessenger.ca

App: Download and install the SchoolMessenger app.

Phone: 1-844-435-3440

All students who arrive through the front doors after 8:30 a.m. must obtain a Late Slip.

All students leaving for lunch:

• need writen permission from parents
• need to leave at 11:40 and return by 12:40
• need to sign out and in when they leave and return
• can not leave school property once they have re-entered

DON'T

• DON'T Walk and cross anywhere and everywhere through the kiss ride and thru lanes to get to the parking lot.
• DON'T Leave your car in kiss n ride to wait outside for kids. If you want to greet them outside your car - find a parking spot in the lot or on the street. Kiss n' Ride is not a parking spot.

DO

• DO Pull up your car as close as you can to the end of kiss n' ride.
• DO Use the cross walk at the front end of Kiss n' ride to go from the parking lot to the school. Crossing between live lanes is unsafe.
• DO Kiss and hug your kids (in the car) and remind them that you love them when you drop them off and pick them up.

We continue to have students and staff with severe, life-threatening allergies to certain foods, such as peanuts and nuts. This medical condition may cause severe and life-threatening reactions to specific allergens within minutes. Although this may or may not affect your child’s class directly, we require your continued cooperation in sending foods to school with your child that are free from peanuts, nuts, or their by-products.

If your child has a severe allergic reaction to peanuts, peanut by-products, bee/wasp stings, etc., please let the school know as soon as possible. The information you provide us with must be accurate and up-to-date. You and your family doctor must complete various forms if it is necessary to store and dispense an EPI pen or any other medication at school.

Please do not send food products to be shared in your child’s classroom. Consider non-food items such as pencils or stickers if you want your child to share their special day/birthday with their classmates.

The school has created a package to assist children with asthma. This package has already been sent to parents whose children have been identified as having asthma in our records. Our board is dedicated to providing a secure and supportive environment for all students. As part of our asthma policies, we require parents or guardians to notify the school principal or designated staff member of their child's medical needs and provide any updated medical information. If your child has asthma and requires a puffer, please visit the office immediately. Parents of children with asthma are expected to comply with our policy and complete an Asthma Package.

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

A designated staff member must administer medication; hence, a signed request/authorization form from the parents/guardians and the supervising physician must be obtained. These forms are available through the school office. The required authorization forms and the medication shall be delivered to the principal or designated person by the parents/guardians. All medication will be housed in a safe location. Medication must not be kept in the child’s possession or the classroom except for EpiPens and asthma inhalers.

Students with an anaphylactic allergy or asthma are highly encouraged to keep their epi-pen and/or inhaler on them at all times. If able, it is recommended that your child bring two EpiPens and two asthma inhalers to the school. This would allow your child to keep this medication on them and ensure that the school office has additional medications.

Please note that school staff can only dispense medication with physician authorization and a properly labeled container (i.e., prescription bottle or original over-the-counter container).

Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication and forms are updated if there is a change to the medication for any student who requires medication to be administered at school. Forms are available at the school office or from your child’s teacher. Please check and note the expiry dates on all medications.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in different clubs, intramural and intra school sports and activities. Our school adheres to provincial guidelines and policies for concussions from the Ministry of Education and the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA).

A concussion is a brain injury that causes changes in the way the brain functions and can lead to a variety of symptoms including physical (e.g., headache, dizziness), cognitive (e.g., difficulty in concentrating or remembering), and emotional/behavioural changes (e.g., depression, irritability), and/or symptoms related to sleep (e.g., drowsiness, difficulty in falling asleep).

A concussion may be caused either by a direct blow to the head, face, or neck, or by a blow to the body that transmits a force to the head and causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull.

Due to the seriousness of a concussion, school staff, students, parents/guardians, and identified school volunteers all have important roles to play in implementing the school board’s concussion protocols, including prevention, identification, and ongoing monitoring and management of a student with a concussion.

Students wishing to participate in interschool sports, as well as the parents/guardians of students under the age of 18, are required to read the Government of Ontario Concussion Awareness Resources. The resources are hyperlinked in the document below and

can be accessed from the board website at dpcdsb.org/parents/concussion-resources.

A copy of the document below must be signed and returned for your child to participate in any clubs/sports/teams at the school.

If you have any questions, please contact the school.

On rare occasions, we are faced with difficult situations in which non-custodial parents arrive at school asking to visit their child or to take their child home after school. We are best able to serve and protect students when we are made aware of legal custody arrangements, visitation rights and other special instructions. If legal custody matters affect your family, please ensure that our office and classroom teachers are aware of any custodial arrangements that may affect your child during school hours.

8:15 - 8:30 Open entry (students to use front entrance and doorway closest to the church)

8:30- 10:00 Learning Block

10:00 - 10:15 Recess

10:15-11:40 Learning Block

11:40-12:40 Lunch

12:40-2:05 Learning Block

2:05-2:20 Recess

2:20- 3:00 Learning Block

3:00 Dismissal

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Bramalea

940 North Park Drive, Bramalea, ON L6S 3L5

t: 905.793.8030

stanthonyofpaduabr@archtoronto.org

Just a reminder that if you are interested in volunteering within the school in any capacity, including field trips, student support, Catholic School Council member, etc., a valid Criminal Reference Check (CRC), with Vulnerable Sector Check - Level 3 is required. Please note that there is about a 3-4 week waiting period to process a CRC.

Please see the website below for more information on how to apply:

https://www.peelpolice.ca/en/services/record-checks-and-suspensions-pardons.aspx#Vulnerable-Sector-Check-Level-3-

Also, please see the attached letter that will be required upon application for this background check.

We need your help.

Our Catholic School Councils are a great way for parents and guardians to figure out how they can help the school community using their unique talents and gifts. According to Ontario Regulation 612/00 and 298, the goal of a school council is to involve parents in improving student achievement, equity, well-being, and faith life, and making the education system more accountable to parents.

If you're interested in joining the St. Anthony Catholic School Council, just fill out the nomination form attached by Tuesday, September 24, 2024. All parents and guardians are welcome to join our St. Anthony Catholic School Council meetings.

Thanks,

School Cash Online

School Cash Online allows parents and community members to pay school-related fees online safely, quickly, and easily. Parents can purchase items like spirit wear, lunches, and field trips - anytime, anywhere.

How do I register?
Please refer to these Registration Instructions for step-by-step details on how to get signed-up for online payments. To directly login or to register, visit School Cash Online.

What payment methods will be available?
Parent will be able to pay online using Visa, MasterCard and eCheque.