Metro Messenger October 2023
Metropolitan Andrei Newsletter
Metropolitan Andrei Catholic School
Email: metropolitanandreiinfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: https://www.dpcdsb.org/ANDRE
Location: 515 Mississauga Valley Boulevard, Mississauga, ON L5A 3G6, Canada
Phone: 905.270.4151
Twitter: @MetroDPCDSB
Our School Parish is Sts. Peter & Paul Parish (905) 273-6630. peterandpaul@archtoronto.org. Click for website. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeterPaulChurchInSauga/
Trustees:
Stefano Pascucci (Mississauga Ward 4) - 416-508-5543
Bruno Iannicca (Mississauga Ward 7) - 905-270-0536
Principal - M. DiNunzio
Acting Vice - Principal - L. DeWitte
Administrative Assistant - J. Speziale
Superintendent Mississauga East Family of Schools - Dulcie Belchior 905-890-1221
School Council Chair - K. Lepore
Please follow our School Council on Twitter @MetroAndreiCSC
Admin Team Message
It was wonderful to see all the families able to attend our Open House / BBQ.
School initiatives like the Terry Fox Run, Food Drives , Monthly Virtue assemblies, Cross Country, and Volleyball highlight the importance of giving, and the importance of giving thanks. Thank you to all who organize these events, to the students who so willingly participate, and to our community for their support.
To all families, we thank you for your efforts in helping to foster your child’s education and support your involvement in your child’s schooling.
Wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving! We gather on this day to be thankful for what we have, for the family we love, the friends we cherish, and for the blessings that will come.
Important Dates
October 10 - Pizza Days start
October 11 - Blue/White Day for Maple Leafs fist game of the season. Fresh From the Farm orders due on School Cash Online (see below how to register)
October 13 - Cross Country Meet Centennial Park
October 17 - Junior Volleyball Tournament
October 20 - Picture Retake Day
October 24 - Board Cross Country Meet
October 25 - Catholic School Council Meeting 6:30 pm Library
IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, WE FOCUS ON THE VIRTUE OF 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 their feelings
- accepts that others have different perspectives
Sts. Peter and Paul Parish
Child in Need of Protection
It is the law in Ontario that every person within the school board who suspects that a child may be experiencing abuse, neglect or risk of harm must report this directly to the appropriate Children’s Aid Society (Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, amended 2021). This includes reporting suspected or confirmed cases of human/sex trafficking (Bill 251). Please see attached letter for more information
CONTACTING THE SCHOOL
You may continue to leave voicemail as it will be checked regularly. 905-270-4151
You may email our general mailbox: mailto:metropolitanandreiinfo@dpcdsb.org
Please note that we will attempt to respond to any inquiries that are received in a timely manner. At this time, we cannot predict the volume, so thank you in advance for being patient as you await a response.
When appropriate, the email will be directed to your child’s teacher. You can help us direct your question appropriately by including the following:
Student’s name
Teacher’s name
A brief description of the request/need.
Halloween
On October 31st, we will be having a Halloween Dance. Students may choose to wear costumes to school on October 31st. Individual classroom teachers will send home information regarding classroom activities, as appropriate for this traditional
day. We are asking for a $2.00 donation to offset the cost of the DJ - any moneys collected beyond the cost will go towards our music program and school events.
This dance is for students only. Parents will not be able to attend the dance.
As we anticipate Halloween festivities students are aware that face masks either full or partial will not be allowed in the interest of student safety. As well, any weapons associated with a particular costume will not be allowed in the interest of student safety. We ask your co-operation in not sending in food products for special events (Halloween, Birthdays, Christmas, Valentines’ Day). We also have several students with allergies and we want to keep all of our students safe.
Finally, please be aware of the appropriateness of costumes. We discourage costumes that are not appropriate and that impact the moral tone of our Catholic Schools. Remember CULTURE is NOT a costume…please discourage costumes that represent a cultural group or ethnicity (e.g. Indigenous peoples, Arabic, Mexican etc.). For more information, parents can visit “I Am Not a Costume”
Halloween Candy Drive by Youth Faith Ambassadors
Donate your extra, unwanted, unopened candy to brighten a child's day.
Your sweet treats will be donated to Canadian Food for Children and sent to children in countries such as Cameroon, El Salvador, Malawi, Sierra Leone and many more.
Candy can be brought to class November 1 - 4.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
On September 27th, the Metropolitan Andrei Catholic School Council for the 2023-2024 school year was elected.
A sincere thank you is extended to the 2022-2023 School Council for their dedication and commitment to the students and staff of Metropolitan Andrei.
The 2023-2024 Metropolitan Andrei Catholic School Council:
Co-Chairs: J. Abella & K. Lepore
Secretary: S. Gillis
Treasurer: M. Clara
OAPCE Rep:
Media Rep.: K. Lepore
Teaching Reps.: N. Guiyab, D. Planche, T. Spadafina
Member at large: G. Baltakys
The next council meeting is October 25, at 6:30p.m. All meetings take place on Wednesday and run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00p.m. Meeting dates for the 2023-2024 Council are:
• October 25, 2023
• November 22, 2023
• January 31, 2024
• February 28, 2024
• April 24, 2024
• May 29, 2024
All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. If you can not attend in person - please email us before the meeting to get a link for the meeting. Coming soon: Big Box of Cards and Gift Card Fundraiser, and thank you to the community for supporting this fundraiser!
Transportation & STOPR
Please note that we can not accommodate all the courtesy seat requests. Want to know if the bus will be late? Register at STOPR.ca to subscribe for alerts.
Medical
From time to time, medical information changes. Please be sure to keep our files current with any new allergies or medical conditions that can impact your child's day. Should it be necessary for a student to take any medication, an inhaler or an epipen, there are forms that must be signed before they can be administered and the medication must be logged and stored safely. Ask your child's teacher for more information if needed.
Allergies
Please note that we do have some students who suffer from severe food allergies in our school. Letters went home to classes in September advising of the allergies. We ask that you do not send any foods with nuts to school.
Metropolitan Andrei Moves for Terry Fox
On Thursday, October 5th, we moved for Terry Fox. If you forgot to bring your twonie for Terry. You can still donate online: Metropolitan Andrei Catholic Elementary School - Mississauga, ON | Terry Fox School Run. So far we have raised $801.15!
REPORTING ABSENCE OR LATES:
Please call 1-844-435-3440 or use one of the three methods listed below.
- 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. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
- 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.
- Call the toll-free number 1-844-435-3440 to report an absence using the automated phone system.
Please remember:
- School starts at 8:30am (12:30pm). If your child is NOT PRESENT when attendance is taken (typically within the first 10 minutes of school) they are marked ABSENT.
EMERGENCY INSTRUCTORS
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is committed to ensuring that qualified teachers are teaching in our classrooms at all times. From time to time, in extenuating circumstances, this may not be possible. A Board registered Emergency Instructor may be called upon, as a casual worker, to cover a classroom in the absence of the classroom teacher for a part or a full day. Careful consideration is given to the selection of people to fulfill these roles, and the Emergency Instructor is given training in school procedures and is subject to a Criminal Background Check/ Vulnerable Sector Screening before entering the classroom. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact the Principal of the school for further clarification. If you are interested in becoming an Emergency Instructor please contact the school.
Mental Health Supports
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868, text "CONNECT" or Black youth can text “RISE” to 686868 (for all ages)
Indigenous Youth can text “FIRST NATIONS”, “INUIT” or “METIS” to 686868 to connect with an Indigenous volunteer crisis responder.
24.7 Crisis Support Peel Dufferin
Call us anytime: 905-278-9036 1-888-811-2222
Black Youth Help Line
1-833-294-8650 or 416-285-9944
Looking for Activities to do - Check out the Community Bulletin Board
The Board and its schools no longer distribute advertising and promotional materials from external organizations directly to parents "through the backpack." Please check out our Community Bulletin Board Website.
PLEASE NOTE: The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board makes these materials available for informational purposes only, with no intention to recommend, endorse or provide determinations of suitability in respect to any product or service listed on this site.
SCHOOL CASHONLINE
Don't Forget to Get yourself set up on School CashOnline.
Please follow the link below to register online - it takes less than two minutes!
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 e-Cheque
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)
Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution
We know that conflict is a part of life and we need to develop socially acceptable ways of working through the conflict. At our school it, we have been using the strategies of WITS and THINK. These strategies have been shared daily but are fully supported by all teachers. . We will continue to reinforce and support students as they continue to develop the skills needed to solve the day to day conflicts that arise when we share a space with many others. Click on link for ideas on how you can use WITS at home.