St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Email: St.BernardofClairvauxinfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: dpcdsb.org/brnrd
Location: 3345 Escada Drive, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Phone: (905) 542-9203
Twitter: @StBernardDPCDSB

God our Father,

I know that I have much to learn

from other people

who reflect Your image and likeness

in different ways.

Inspire me to respect others fully

as my equals,

seeing and loving in them

what you see and love in them.

Amen.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux continues to be a vibrant, active, faith-filled community and the month of February will bring us many opportunities to celebrate, reflect, grow and pray as we look forward to learning more about Black History Month, celebrate National Flag Day, St. Valentine's Day, and prepare ourselves to enter into Lent.

This month, as we focus on the virtue of Respect, we pause to acknowledge and express gratitude for:

OUR STUDENTS, for their enthusiasm, laughter and spirit, for following safety protocols, for understanding when switching to remote and back again, and for their continued hard work, determination and perseverance.

OUR PARENTS/GUARDIANS, for your courage and resilience and patience in changing directions at a moment's notice, for assisting your children in following our Catholic Code of Conduct, for supporting your children with their academic progress, for ensuring students arrive to school on time, with their screening form signed, for calling your child's absence, for continuing to respect our Kiss & Ride procedures and following our school driveway practices.

OUR TEACHING STAFF, for their endless dedication and hard work in support of student achievement and well-being, for their commitment, hard work, dedication, talents and efforts in ensuring that our students are learning in a safe, caring and inclusive Catholic environment, for the additional time and unending selfless efforts they dedicate to the students in teaching in-person, remotely and in a hybrid classroom.

OUR OFFICE STAFF, for always professionally addressing the daily needs of our students, families and staff, for showing genuine care and concern when students get hurt, for ensuring the safety of all of our students with regards to COVID protocols and screening, for answering many questions and concerns.

OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF, for their efforts to ensure that our school is safe, clean and looking great.

OUR TRUSTEE OF THE BOARD, Mrs. Brea Corbet, and OUR SUPERINTENDENT, Mrs. Martine Lewis, for their continued guidance and support.

OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL, for working tirelessly at providing valuable and positive enhancements for students and the school community.

OUR PARISH TEAM AND FATHER MARK, for their spiritual guidance and the celebrations that they share with us.

Please see below for a link to Trustee Corbet's website and February newsletter.

Our Catholic School Council is hard at work providing many wonderful opportunities for our students at St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Please watch closely for upcoming permission forms being sent home to enjoy some special treats this month.

The next meeting for our council is on Monday, February 6 at 6:30 pm in the library. All are welcome to attend.

Thank you to all families participating in our pizza days. A special thank you to the parent volunteers who help make this happen. It is greatly appreciated by staff and students.

Session 2 for pizza will run for 8 weeks beginning Friday, February 24 and ending Friday, April 28. Please use SchoolCash Online to purchase pepperoni or cheese pizza for your child/ren by Friday, February 10. Please note: during Lent all slices will be cheese only.

If you require gluten-free pizza, please contact the office directly.

A small number of slices will be available for purchase each Friday on a first come, first served basis.

Our Catholic School Council is pleased to offer two events for Valentine's Day. First is a school-wide dance in the gym. Second is a sugar cookie to celebrate the day.

Students must return the cookie form in order to receive a cookie on Valentine's Day. Please check with your child's teacher if you have not received a form.

If your child requires a gluten-free cookie, please contact the office.

In celebration of Shrove Tuesday, on Tuesday, February 21, our Catholic School Council is hosting a pancake breakfast for students and staff. Each student will receive one pancake and syrup. In order to reduce waste, we are asking each family to bring a reusable plate and cutlery to school on Tuesday.

Students must return the pancake form in order to participate in the pancake day. Please check with your child's teacher if you have not received a form.

If your child requires a gluten-free pancake option, please contact the office.

We are sincerely grateful for our school council and all volunteers for providing so many wonderful events for our school community. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the St. Bernard of Clairvaux family.

February 1 - 28 - Black History Month

February 2 - Term 2 begins

February 2 - Grad Photos

February 2 - National Sweater Day

February 8 - Walk to School Day

February 9 - Extended French Virtual Information Night

February 10 - Pizza Orders due

February 14 - Valentine's Day Dance (and cookie day)

February 14 - Report Cards sent home

February 15 - Rosary Apostolate visits

February 15 - Flag Day

February 16 - interview evening

February 17 - PA day - interviews

February 20 - Family Day (no school)

February 21 - Shrove Tuesday

February 23 - Pink Shirt Day

February 24 - Pizza Session 2 starts

February 28 - Virtue Assembly @ 11:20

Our junior girls and boys have been hard at work during basketball tryouts and practices for this year. Once teams have been selected, they will participate in a pod style one-day tournament with other schools from our family of schools.

We would like to thank Mr. Rossit, Ms. Comi, and Mrs. Lopez for coaching this great group of students. Go Bears!

We would like to thank our Catholic School Council for organizing a school dance for the students on Valentine's Day. Classes will join together by grade/division throughout the day in the gym.

Don't forget to return your cookie form to enjoy a cookie courtesy of our Catholic School Council after the dance.

Every February, people across Canada recognize Black History Month. During Black History Month, we celebrate the history and the many contributions of Black Canadians and their communities who have done so much to make Canada a great country. Black Canadians have been a part of shaping Canada’s identity since the arrival of Mathieu Da Costa, a navigator, and interpreter, who arrived in Canada in the early 1600s. The role of Black Canadians and their communities in Canada used to be ignored in Canada’s history. For the month of February, we will be sharing some information about Black Brilliance on our announcements.

We will also engage classes in a Who Am I? padlet during morning announcements.

We are super excited to share that as part of our celebration of Black History Month, students in grades 4 - 8 are joining Saidat for 20 Days of Canadian Black History, Making Connections to Black Excellence.

Students in grades 4 - 8 will watch a short video produced by Saidat and use journal prompts to encourage discussion and reflection.

In April, students will have the opportunity to explore music, movement and motivation to bring awareness on well-being, diversity, inclusion and Black Canadian History with Saidat.

As part of our commitment to learning and teaching culturally relevant and responsive curriculum, we are continuing to grow and expand our library collection to reflect our students and their cultures.

Also, once a week, teachers from kindergarten to grade 8 will be reading a wide variety of identity affirming texts (provided by the school board) with their class. Students will engage in discussions and activities based on the texts. Each class will receive a new book each week to explore.

We look forward to continuing to have books available that represent and reflect the students at St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

Thursday, February 2, 2023 is National Sweater Day

Our planet is getting hotter. National Sweater Day is an

opportunity to raise awareness about climate change

and energy conservation, and show how together we

can be a part of the solution!

Since 2010, more than a million Canadians have shown their support for limiting global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius by turning down their thermostats by the same amount (or more!) and wear their favourite sweater to stay warm.

Students are encouraged to wear their favourite sweater on Thursday to help raise awareness to climate change!

Families can also participate at home by turning down the thermostat and wearing your favourite sweaters.

Celebrating Pink Shirt Day

February 23 is Pink Shirt Day. St. Bernard of Clairvaux will be sharing the message that we will not tolerate bullying. We encourage staff and students to wear pink on February 23 in our continued efforts to be accepting and inclusive of others. #BearsWearPink

Get your smiles ready! St. Bernard of Clairvaux graduation photos for our Grade 8 students will take place on February 2.

Mass Schedule

Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 pm

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

Weekday Masses

Monday, Wednesday, Friday Mass 7:00 pm

Tuesday, Thursday Mass 7:30 am

Saturday Mass 9:00 am

Email: parishoffice@stjosephinebakhita.ca
Website: stjosephinebakhita.ca
Location: 3200 Thomas Street, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Phone: (905) 826-1143

During the month of February, we will focus on the virtue of Respect.

God wants us to treat all people with the respect they deserve.

A respectful person ....

• sees God's presence in themselves and others
• uses a positive tone of voice and body language
• avoids gossip, searing, name-calling, put-downs, and inappropriate gestures
• says 'Excuse me,' 'Please,' 'Thank you'

We all deserve to be treated respectfully by others. However, in order to be respected, it is important to RESPECT ourselves. Everyone has a right to go to a school where they feel safe and included. We should expect to be treated with respect by everyone we meet - our brothers and sisters in Jesus. Mutual respect is the way we live in harmony with one another. Respect for others, their property and the environment is our responsibility.

Let us now pray for the virtue of respect so that everyone we meet will feel like we are their brother or sister in Christ. AMEN.

I AM A LEARNER FOR LIFE!

• I use my gifts and talents given to me by God
• I always do my best
• I build on my strengths and weaknesses
• I set goals
• I accept change
• I am proud of the good things I do
• I am thankful for the gifts of others

Because I am a learner for life, I can reach for my dreams, by living my life like Jesus.

Shrove Tuesday (February 21) is the day before Lent starts. It is a day of penitence, to clean the soul and a day of celebration as the last chance to feast before Lent begins. Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up, and of giving of ourselves more. Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself and to use up the foods that are not allowed in Lent. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the ritual of shriving that Christians used to undergo in the past. In shriving, a person confesses their sins and receives absolution for them. During Lent there are many foods that some Christians historically would not eat: foods such as meat and fish, fats, eggs and milky foods. So that no food was wasted, families would have a feast on shriving Tuesday and eat up all the foods that would not last the forty days of Lent. The need to eat up the fats gave rise to the French name "Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday." Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday as they were a dish that could use up all the eggs, fats and milk in the house with just the addition of flour.

We will enter the season on Lent together on February 22, with a school-wide liturgy. All are welcome to attend.

The Liturgical calendar continues to move forward and we will soon begin the season of Lent. Lent is the 40 day period of fasting, penitence and sorrow, leading up to the feast of Easter, recalling Jesus' 40 day fast in the wilderness. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time to turn to God in simplicity and sincerity, as we prepare to celebrate the joy of Easter. Our hearts feel heavy as we remember our sins, but we are also confident in God's mercy and forgiveness.

We encourage families in our school community to contact the parish to inquire about registering for the sacraments. Please see the attached note from the church on sacramental preparation.

First Reconciliation Dates

The First Reconciliation celebration for our students will take place the week of March 6-10 starting at 4:00 pm.

First Communion

First Communion for our students will be on Saturday, May 13.

Confirmation

Confirmation for our students will be on Tuesday, May 2.

Report Cards

First term report cards and FDK communication of learning will be emailed to your child's school email account as of Tuesday, February 14.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Interviews with teachers, DECE's, ERW's, French, Planning Time staff will occur on the evening of Thursday, February 16 and throughout the day on Friday, February 17. Please note that there will be no school for students on Friday, February 17.

Term 2

The second term for students begins on Thursday, February 2.

We are excited to share that we have moved to an online system for scheduling interview times with teachers. Please use the link provided below and follow instructions to sign up for interviews with your child's teacher.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child's teacher.

Monday, February 20 is Family Day and there will be no school for students and staff. We hope you enjoy your day with your family and loved ones.

Math at Home

Are you looking for ways to engage your family in math activities at home? Connect learning between school and home with the Board's Math@Home newsletters.

This month the focus is on mental math. Have fun trying out the suggested activities at home.

Please see the link below for the Thrive newsletter for February.

STOPR provides bus transportation services for the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Please see the attached information on how COVID and public health isolation requirements are impacting school bus operations.

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 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.

Please be reminded that this year, March Break will be from Monday, March 13 to Friday, March 17 inclusive. Students and staff will return to school on Monday, March 20.

The week of January 9 was Kindergarten registration. If you did not have an opportunity to register your child at St. Bernard of Clairvaux School, please use the link provided below.

On Saturday, August 26, 2023, STOPR (Student Transportation of Peel Region) will be holding their FIRST TIME RIDER SAFETY PROGRAM for ALL kindergarten children.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to participate by bringing your kindergarten children and elementary age siblings to a one-hour safety session between the hours of 9:00 am and 12:00 noon. Bus rides and a school bus safety video are part of this informative, fun safety program.

More information is available on the STOPR website (see link below) and click on the safety tab. You can also check out the First Time Rider Safety Booklet for Parents and Students ( linked below).

The days continue to be cold, wintery and snowy. We ask that students dress appropriately with coats, hats, gloves, mittens, boots, snow pants etc. If they are dressed warmly, they are better prepared to enjoy many snow activities at recess and during outdoor play. For health and safety reasons, we ask that all students have indoor shoes.

Please note that in the event of an emergency evacuation, students will not have the opportunity to put their boots on.

Thank you for your support in this matter.

On extremely cold days, we limit the amount of time that students spend out of doors. We obtain information from Environment Canada and follow Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board's policy.

Board policy state the amount of time outdoors should be reduced for children (grade 8 and under) when the temperature is -20 degrees Celsius or colder. When the temperature or equivalent wind chill temperature is minus 25 degrees Celsius or lower children shall be kept indoors.

With the exceptions of these occasions, all children will go out for recess and the lunch break. We remind all students to dress appropriately for the weather.

Often during the winter season, we have students, for various reasons, coming to the office with wet clothes from playing outside during recess. We recommend, especially for the younger students, that you place an extra pair of pants, a shirt and socks in your child's backpacks. It is also recommended that a plastic bag be sent as well to store the wet clothing.

Throwing snow, snowballs, ice and sliding on the ice are prohibited in the school yard. Although it may seem like a fun activity, our experience has shown that serious accidents can and do occur. Students have been reminded on a regular basis through daily announcements, teacher reminders and our SNOW safety expectations posters, that while out for recess, snow and ice stay on the ground and we do not slide on ice. It is for the safety of all of our students that these expectations are in place. Please reinforce this safety rule with your child by reviewing the poster below. Thank you for your support.

The present board policy, if school buses are cancelled in a specific zone or in multiple zones, ALL schools in that zone will switch to remote learning for the day. The school will be closed to students and staff for the day.

Please note: we are in zone 1.

Please see the link below for further reminders and general information.