
St. Anthony News
A community of learning on a foundation of faith
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Dear Parents & Guardians,
Congratulations to St. Anthony's students and staff for a remarkable return to school! This September’s return to school was certainly a unique one and we are very proud of your children’s extraordinary resilience and respect. Your children have adapted to many challenges and changes. Their consistent compliance in following health and safety protocols is commendable. Students are very much aware of how each person’s behaviour affects the safety and well-being of others. You have taught them well.
Our staff have been working tirelessly to keep your children safe, comfortable and ready to learn. The learning and daily routines look different as we adjust to new timeframes for doing things. In addition to providing quality indoor education, students go outside in class cohorts for outdoor education twice daily for 30 minutes of fresh air and teacher-directed activities. Staff stringently follow all Public Health guidelines, such as ensuring students wash hands before and after going outside, regularly using hand sanitizer, maintaining physical distancing inside and outside, etc. As well, custodians sanitize desks and high touch area twice daily in accordance with Public Health’s guidelines. What remains the same, though, is our teachers’ unwavering dedication and love for their students, as well as the joy and laughter of your children. The students are very happy and excited to reunite with friends and to learn new things alongside their classmates.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we count our blessings. Thank you for teaching your children about wearing masks, practising physical distancing and handwashing. We all stay safer when we take care of one another. Thank you for being such a caring and generous parent community. Thank you to our polite and respectful students who are eager to learn and thank you to our dedicated staff who are committed to the academic, social and spiritual growth of children. Your support of your child’s learning and for our staff is greatly appreciated. The staff of St. Anthony wishes you a blessed and bountiful Thanksgiving!
Yours in Catholic Education,
Patricia Williams, Principal
The Virtue for the month of October is Empathy
God Wants us to Care About Everyone's Feelings
An empathetic person...
listens when people speak
notices when someone is upset and tries to help
can name her / his feelings
can see a situation from another persons point of view
accepts that others have different perspectives
St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Our school is part of the parish of St. Anthony of Padua Church. Father Joseph is an integral member of our school community. Details regarding mass time and happenings within the church can be found below.
COVID-19 Self-Screen
All staff and students must self-screen every day before attending school. If a student or staff member is experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, they must stay home from school and should consult their health care provider. Signs will be posted at entrances to the school to remind students, staff, parents, guardians, caregivers, and essential visitors of screening requirements. The COVID-19 self-assessment can be retrieved via the following link: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment Please ensure that you adhere to this direction in order to decrease the chance of a potential outbreak.
Responding To and Monitoring Reporting of COVID-19 Symptoms
If a student becomes ill during the day and/or exhibits signs of illness, they will be placed in a separate health room/area designated by the school until a parent or guardian picks them up. The student will be provided with a disposable mask to wear, and staff assisting the student will be asked to wear a gown, gloves, goggles and face shield in addition to a mask. The separate health room/area will then be closed for deep cleaning and sanitization.
Verification Forms
It is important that we are able to contact someone in the case of an emergency. Please complete the emergency student verification sheets HAVE BEEN SENT HOME - PLEASE RETURN ASAP. Remember that those people you list as contacts are automatically given permission to pick up your child from school. They are needed in case we cannot contact you. It makes sense to have a relative, neighbour, or friend who lives close to the school and is available during the day to pick up your child in case of illness, concussion, or changes of clothes that inevitably happen. If your child is sick, there must be someone available to pick them up if you are unable to leave work.
This information is even more important now with COVID-19 as we need someone to pick-up your child immediately once a call has been made to ensure school safety and to adhere to Ministry Health Guidelines. PAPER FORMS HAVE BEEN SENT HOME
St. Anthony's Breakfast Program is Beginning Soon!
The St. Anthony Breakfast Program will be beginning soon! In order to adhere to health and safety protocols the process for the Breakfast Program will be run differently this year. While continuing to follow the food guidelines, food items provided will be prepackaged and distributed with tongs. If you do not wish for your child to participate please leave a note for your child's teacher in your son / daughter's agenda.
Although we do receive some funding for the program we ask that you please consider supporting our school breakfast program! Support can be made in the form of cash donations via the donations tab on our school website (please see donations link on side bar as illustrated in image below). We appreciate any support offered!
Talking to Your Children About how they are Feeling Using the Zones of Regulation
St. Anthony School community continues to work to support our students to understand their feelings and how to respond and cope with their feelings using the strategies provided through the Zones of Regulation. We invite you to also use the language and strategies of the Zones program in your home in order to provide consistency between home and school.
● Identify individual feelings and levels of alertness
● Effective regulation tools
● When and how to use tools
● Problem solve positive solutions
● Understand how their behaviors influence others’ thoughts and feelings
[Leah Kuypers M.A. Ed., OTR/L]
WHAT ARE THE ZONES?
There are four zones to describe how your brain and body feel.
BLUE Zone – Your body is running slow, such as when you are tired, sick, sad or bored.
GREEN Zone – Like a green light, you are “good to go.” You body may feel happy, calm and focused.
YELLOW Zone – This zone describes when you start to loose control, such as when you are frustrated, anxious, worried, silly or surprised. Use caution when you are in this zone.
RED Zone – This zone is for extreme emotions such as anger, terror and aggression. When you are in this zone, you are out of control, have trouble making good decisions and must STOP!
Currently, we are asking students to delay bringing additional indoor shoes. Currently students are adjusting to keeping all of their belongings in their desk area and must take personal items home each evening. We will revisit this as the weather gets colder.
Outdoor Learning
All students will participate in two 30-minute outdoor learning blocks daily. Students will only engage with students in their own class cohort in their designated zone of the school yard. During outdoor learning, students are permitted to take off their masks should they wish but must maintain appropriate 2m physical distancing outside. It is recommended that students store their masks on a lanyard or small bag. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately to go outside daily.
Catholic School Advisory Council
The purpose of Catholic School Council (CSC) is, through the active participation of Parents/Guardians, to improve student achievement and to enhance the accountability of the education system to Parents/Guardians. A Catholic School Council’s primary means of achieving its purpose is by making recommendations in accordance with this policy and regulation to the Principal of the school and to the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Also, to help the Principal and the Teachers bring appropriate community resources to the school and to help the Principal and the Teachers ensure that Parents/Guardians recognize and exercise their right to participate in the education of their children. Nominations are now closed. Our Catholic School Council meeting will be held on October 14 at 6:00 pm.
Patricia Williams is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: St. Anthony CSAC Meeting
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98501114587?pwd=L2pqcGpIVDJmU1h1U0xUZVVBemZhUT09
Meeting ID: 985 0111 4587
Passcode: NBrAp2
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Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aoBv4WlVz
Bussing
STOPR - Transportation
The distance criteria for transportation eligibility must be more than:
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 – 12
Contacting STOPR
Internet: 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 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
It is important that your child arrive to school on time and ready to learn. Our school hours are as follows:
8:30am - Morning classes begin
10:00-10:15 – RECESS
11:40am - 12:40pm - Lunch
2:05pm - 2:20pm - RECESS
3:00pm - Classes Dismissed
Healthy Living
Learning potential increases through small, frequent drinks of water throughout the day. Water is important for almost every process that takes place in the body. Drinking water regularly through the school day helps to:
Improve learning and concentration.
Prevent tooth decay.
Reduce feelings of thirst, tiredness and irritability.
Prevent short and long term health problems.
We can get H20 from beverages and food. Our bodies absorb water from beverages and from foods like yogurt, soup and watery fruits and vegetables
Anti - Racism Links and Resources
Anti Black Racism is not a new issue, but with what children are viewing and hearing in the news can be very overwhelming for all children. Below you find a link to some great resources from the WE ARE TEACHERS organization that parents and teachers can utilize to help start the discussions that are necessary.
Personal Electronic Devices (P.E.D.s)
BYOD– Bring Your Own Devices
Our vision of education in Dufferin-Peel Catholic schools is rooted in the gospel values of faith, hope and love. All sectors of society, including the education sector, must work to keep pace with our rapidly changing world. Our teaching and learning environments - our schools and classrooms - must continue to change and adapt to ensure that our students continue to succeed. Our students and staff are already engaged as 21st century learners, living and shaping ways of being, becoming and belonging in our world. St. Anthony School is a PED ready school. DPCDSB Personal Electronic Device Use form with Wi-Fi Network Student Agreement will be signed for all new registrations. It is also be available on our website for download. Please read it over and have yourself and your child sign it so that they may bring their devices to school to be used for educational purposes as directed by staff.
Personal Electronic Devices on Board Premises and/or Board Sanctioned Events for Educational Purposes:
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board acknowledges the value of the use of technology for learning. Students are permitted to register and use personal electronic devices (PEDs) on board premises and/or board sanctioned events for educational purposes, under the direction of staff and only with parent/guardian permission (GF 066, Network User Application and Agreement). Students may register their PED for the purpose of connecting to the board wireless network. Students are required to adhere to the student “Personal Electronic Device Used with WI-FI Network Student Agreement” and the “Network User Application and Agreement.” Please be advised that the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will not be responsible for any cost incurred through the use of personal data plans.
PEDs are to be used responsibly and should not interfere with learning; their use must comply with the Catholic Code of Conduct, board policies and procedures. Any personal communications (i.e., phone calls, text messages, etc.) will continue to be directed through the main office. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in a loss of PED privileges and/or any other consequences deemed necessary by school administration.
The school principal may authorize limited acceptable uses of personal electronic devices during school-sanctioned activities for a specific designated purpose outside of instructional spaces and/or in common areas.
Students are responsible for the safety and security of PEDs at all times and the Board assumes no responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen devices.
MOVING to School CashOnline
https://dpcdsb.schoolcashonline.com
You will need your child’s name and date of birth. Use of student number is optional.
Should you encounter any difficulties, you can use the parent help desk at 1 (866) 961-1803 or the support link on the school cash online website.
PAY WITH: Credit Card or Debit Card
1. Create Your Profile:
Go to https://dpcdsb.schoolcashonline.com/ and click on "Get Started Today".
2. Confirm Your Email:
Check your inbox for the email confirmation and click on the link inside. Sign in with your new login details.
3. Add a Student
Click "Add Student" and fill in the required fields with your child’s details:
1. School Board name
2. Select a school
3. Legal First Name
4. Legal Last Name
5. Birth Date (Month/Day/Year)