THE SABRES ROAR
Weekly St. Sofia E-Blast - Sept. 18-22, 2023
St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School
3540 Havenwood Dr. Mississauga, Ontario L4X2M9
(905) 625-0823
E-mail: stsofiainfo@dpcdsb.org
Twitter: @StSofia_DPCDSB
Principal
S. Donaghue
Vice Principal
R. Cosentino
Head Secretary
N. Vereshchak
Assistant Secretary
O. Tkaczyk
D.P.C.D.S.B Catholic Education Centre
905-890-1221
Website: www.dpcdsb.org/SOFIA
Superintendent Mississauga East
D.Belchior
Trustee
Mario Pascucci (Mississauga Ward 3)
Regional School: All Trustees
SHARING 🔶 CARING 🔶 PREPARING
VIRTUE OF THE MONTH: FAITH
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Heb11:1)
Faith is an attitude which encourages us to involve God in our lives and helps us maintain and develops our relationships with God and with others both when thing are going well and when they are not.
From the Perspective of the Catholic Graduate Expectations, a person of faith...
- Knows the saving story of our Christian faith
- Speaks the language of life
- Prays and worships God
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Monday September 18, 2023: Mindful Monday
Embrace your PACE!
- 8:15 Cross Country practice **All those with SIGNED permission forms & proper footwear.
- 10:30 The Feast of St. Sofia and School Opening Moleben ALL ARE WELCOME! Don't forget to sign in at the office and receive a visitor sticker before joining us.
- Lunch Juniour Boys Volleyball tryouts (Grades 4-6) in the gym **Must return SIGNED permission forms & have proper footwear.
Tuesday, September 19, 2023: Take Action Tuesday
- Don't forget to donate to Geronimo's Dream through cash online.
- Lunch Junior Girls Volleyball tryouts (Grades 4-6) in the gym **Must return SIGNED permission forms & have proper footwear/
- Lunch Cross Country practice.
Wednesday, September 20, 2023: Wellness Wednesday
- 8:15 Cross Country practice.
- We are a PLATINUM ECO school. How can you reduce paper waste? Did you pack a Boomerang lunch?
- Lunch Junior Girls Volleyball Tryouts.
Thursday, September 21, 2023: Thoughtful Thursday
- Smile! It's the language everyone understands.
- Lunch Junior Boys Volleyball Tryouts.
- Lunch Cross Country practice.
Friday, September 22, 2023:FunTastic Friday
- 8:15 Cross Country practice.
- Try playing a new co-operative game at recess.
- Grade 7/8 Vaccination Clinic, please ensure you have registered online.
- Catholic School Council Nomination Forms DUE at 4:00pm.
LOOKING AHEAD....
September 25-Saturday, September 30: Truth and Reconciliation Week
- Monday, September 25 :
- Catholic School Council First Meeting and Elections if needed @ 6:30 pm.
- Tuesday September 26:
- School Wide Terry Fox Kahoot game.
- Wednesday, September 27:
- Terry Fox Walk, Assembly at 9:45-10:15, community walk to follow. Don't forget to wear red and white. **Raindate Monday October 2nd.
- Thursday, September 28:
- Open House: Time TBD
- Friday, September 29:
- Truth and Reconciliation Day and Orange Shirt Day - Everyone encouraged to WEAR Orange.
2023-24 BELL TIMES
9:00: Supervision begins
9:15: School day begins
12:04: Lunch Begins: Nutrition Break in classrooms
12:24: Outdoor Recess
1:04: Afternoon classes begin
2:27: Recess Begins
2:42: Recess Ends
4:00: Dismissal
Please be advised that students will require a note if an early dismissal is needed, or if your child is not taking the bus or has a change in end of day routine.
STUDENT LUNCH MONITOR NEEDED
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
The purpose of Catholic School Council is, through the active participation of parents, to improve pupil achievement and to enhance the accountability of the education system to parents. 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.
Council members shall maintain a school-wide focus on all issues. Each member shall:
- Attend regularly and participate in council meetings;
- Participate in faith development, information and training programs;
- Act as a link between the Catholic school council and the school community;
- Encourage the participations of parents from all groups and of other people within the community.
We are excited for the beginning of another great school year. We look forward to meeting our new St. Sofia families and reconnecting with returning ones.
A NEW CSC will be elected for 2023/23. Please consider putting your name forward and making this important contribution to our school community. The CSC is vital to the school experience. Nomination forms are due to the office by Friday, September 22, 2023 by 4:00 pm. Join us at our first meeting of the year and elections if needed, on Monday, September 25 2023 @ 6:30 pm. Please check your email for nomination forms and information.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PIZZA DAY
We are looking for volunteers, once a week to help with the distribution of pizza. Any interested person please contact the office or our Catholic School Council. Once again, a Vulnerable Sector Check dated within the last 6 months is required.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND DOCUMENTATION
Dear Sabre families,
If your child has a medical condition or is newly diagnosed with one over the summer, please review the information that was sent through School Messenger. Any relevant forms should be returned to the school. If you identify a form that you must submit, please review it carefully. If necessary, a copy of these forms can be picked up at the main office. Please note some forms may require a doctor's signature. Thank you to those that have already provided their child's medication/documentation to the office and working together to keep our students safe.
TERRY'S MARATHON OF HOPE
This year marks the 43rd anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope. St. Sofia will participate in a school-wide assembly and community walk with their classroom. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 27th, 2023, because that's when the excitement will unfold. We'll be ready to rock, but just in case the rain decides to join us, we've got a backup plan for Monday, October 2nd, 2023. Donating is a breeze! You can show your support online through Cash Online https://dpcdsb.schoolcashonline.com or head straight to our St. Sofia Elementary School Fundraising page at https://schools.terryfox.ca/StSofiaESMississauga. Every little bit helps! Donations can be made for the entire month of October. Don't forget to wear red and white for our walk. Help us achieve our school goal of raising $5000.00 as a Sabre Community. The class that raises the most for Terry will win a Pizza Party. We would love to have parents join us on our walk, don't forget to stop by the office and pick up a visitors sticker.
St. Sofia Terry Fox Walk Organizers
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY TIPS
Statistics indicate that the most critical moment for student safety, while riding a school bus, is actually when students are getting on or off their school bus. Therefore, it is important that Parents/Guardians understand that they are ultimately responsible for the safe conveyance of their children to and from their bus stop location each day. There is simply no substitute for an adult’s supervision at a bus stop. Here are some important School Bus safety tips for parents and children.
- Get to the bus stop in plenty of time so you do not have to run
- Wait for your bus in a place that is away from traffic in the road
- Bus stops are not appropriate places to push or wrestle with your friends
- Let the school bus stop before you try to get on
- If you can touch the school bus, you are too close
- Remember if you cannot see the bus driver, then the bus driver cannot see you
- The driver will let you know when it is safe to approach the bus
- When getting onto the bus, take the steps one at a time, holding onto the handrail
- Go right to a seat, and sit quietly, without blocking the aisle
- Listen to your school bus driver, and follow his/her instructions.
- Leave the bus in single file, holding the handrail
- Walk away from the bus without running, and never go behind it
- If you have to cross the street to leave or board your bus, you need to be 10 giant steps away from the front of the bus. Watch for overhead red lights to flash, and wait for the stop arm to activate and your driver’s signal before crossing
- If you ever drop something underneath the bus or in its path, leave it there! Never, never stop and reach under the school bus to pick it up. (information taken from https://www.stopr.ca/school-bus-safety)
Bus Safety Tips While At School
- Ensure your child(ren) know their plans for after school dismissal ie taking the bus or being picked up.
- Communicate any changes to the classroom teacher.
- When arriving to school and disembarking the bus, students are to go directly to their classroom.
- Disembark the bus in a single file.
- At the end of the day, remind students to listen attentively for their bus to be called and proceed directly to their bus.
- Once the dismissal bell rings students are to promptly line up in their bus lines.
- Embark the first in a single file, with the youngest students loading the bus first.
- Students are to sit on the bus in order of age, with our youngest students at the front. If siblings would like to sit together, they will sit with the youngest sibling.
- Students are to be seated facing the front.
- Aisle is to be clear at all moments.
- Students are to remain in their seats for the entire bus ride. Seat swapping is not allowed.
- Due to safety precautions eating is not permitted on the bus.
- Screaming, throwing objects, pushing and inappropriate language is not allowed.
- Be kind to each other.
- Listen to the instructions of the bus driver and teachers loading the bus.
- If there is an issue, report it immediately to the bus driver and school staff.
- Parents/Guardians sign up for STOPR bus notifications to be aware of any bus delays.
TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER AND SAFER!
NATIONAL TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION DAY AND ORANGE SHIRT DAY
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Wear Orange
Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on Saturday, September 30 2023. Our school community will commemorate this day on Friday, September 29, 2023.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
On September 29, we encourage all students to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.
Information taken from: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
Each student will receive a pin on September 29, we are collecting donations for Geronimo's Dream through cash-on-line. https://dpcdsb.schoolcashonline.com.
Geronimo Henry is a residential school survivor. He was brought to the Mohawk Institute Residential School, also known as the "Mush Hole" in Brantford, ON at the age of 5 where he remained for 11 years. Referred to by a number instead of his name, Geronimo was forbidden from speaking his native language and stripped of his culture.
Geronimo now spends his time sharing his story in order to educate all people on the realities of residential schools, the impact of inter-generational trauma and why it is critical that everyone is aware of this.
Geronimo's dream is to build a monument in memory of those who, like himself suffered and continue to suffer as a result of this experience. There are no words to express how much this would mean to Geronimo to build this monument as it will acknowledge those survived and those who did not. ( Information taken from: https://geronimosdream.weebly.com/)
ENTRY AND DISMISSAL SAFETY PRACTICES
Keeping Our Students Safe through Kiss ‘N Ride, Parking Lots and Bus Lanes
Our school offers a Kiss ‘N Ride program in the morning where parents can drop off their children at a designated area on school property. The program was established to provide a convenient and safe option for parents/guardians who drive students to school. To ensure the safety of staff and students, we ask all parents/guardians to be mindful of the following guidelines on Williamsport Drive:
• There is no parking and no waiting in the Kiss ‘N Ride lane, the lanes are to be clear at all times, before and after school.
• For safety reasons, passengers may only exit from the curb side of the vehicle. Drivers must always remain inside their vehicles.
• Pay attention to the traffic in front of you and pull forward as cars move forward.
• Be mindful that you are not blocking people trying to exit the parking lot.
• As we only have enough parking for staff to park, we ask that parents refrain from parking in the parking lot or in front of the cement garbage containers. Instead, parents are asked to park in designated places on streets near the school.
• Parents/guardians who display a valid handicapped parking pass assigned to the driver of the vehicle may park in one of the designated handicapped parking spaces.
• Vehicles entering the Kiss ‘N Ride lane must stay in the designated lane, unless otherwise directed by a staff member or volunteer.
• Always respect traffic flow, the instructions of staff/volunteers on duty who are wearing reflective safety vests and abide by all traffic laws and signs. Please do not block the flow of traffic through the Kiss ‘N Ride Lane.
• At dismissal please wait for your children to walk to the kiss ‘n ride area.
•Bus lanes are for buses only. Pedestrians dropping off or picking up their children are asked to access the school yard from the south side (kiss n' ride area).
Some of these rules may seem inconvenient for visitors and parents, but it will promote a safer environment for all staff, parents, visitors and most importantly the students that we serve.
In the event that there are changes to the pick up routine, please inform the office prior to 3:30pm. This will ensure accurate communication with the classroom teacher and the safety of our students.
Thank you for your support in trying to keep our community and our students safe. TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER!
NO PETS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY
In the interest of student safety, we remind you that pets are not permitted on school property. A pet's behaviour and response around strangers can be unpredictable. Although dogs/cats can be good pets for some people, they can be scary to some and pose an allergic risk to others. Pet droppings can pose not only a nuisance, but a health and safety hazard for all as well. Therefore, pets must not be exercised on school property or brought to school when dropping off or picking up students. Of course service and guide dogs are permitted.
WEATHER REMINDERS & GUIDELINES
Students are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles with them every day. On warm weather days, we encourage students to wear hats, sunscreen, minimize vigorous activity and keep hydrated!
Classes in our portables, are welcome indoors on days when the humidity and heat are extreme.
CARING-SHARING-PREPARING Moments
We will send regular communication to your INBOX making every attempt to keep you as up to date as possible with school events and happenings. This communication is able to be translated into the language of your choice.
Thank-you to the Sabre Community for supporting Geronimo's Dream and the Terry Fox Foundation!
Thank-you to all our wonderful staff who have made the transition back to school seamless.
We are grateful and blessed to have had such a fantastic start. Thank-you Sabres and families.
Stay tuned for updates regarding our Open House!
The Sabre Staff
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, app
or phone.
PARISH INFORMATION
Dormition of the Mother of God Ukrainian Church
3625 Cawthra Rad., Mississauga,Ontario L5A 2Y4