St. Joseph Elementary C.E.S.

Address: 249 Church Street, Mississauga, ON, L5M 1N1

School Phone Number: 905-826-4422

St. Joseph General Mailbox: St.JosephESMississaugaInfo@dpcdsb.org

Principal: A. Cavaliere

Administrative Assistant: S. Camaioni

Catholic School Council Chair: T. Prsa

Superintendent of Schools- Mississauga North: L. Odo

Trustee Ward 6 & 11: L. del Rosario

Associate Pastor: Rev. P. Dobson, St. Joseph Parish

St. Joseph Parish Email: stjosephMI@archtoronto.org

School Hours:

St. Joseph School Hours for the 2024-2025 school year are:

Morning entry: 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.

AM Recess: 10:09 a.m. - 10:24 a.m.

Lunch: 11:48 a.m. - 12:48 p.m.

PM Recess: 2:12 p.m. - 2:27 p.m.

Dismissal: 3:15 p.m.

Need a translation of our school newsletter? On a computer/laptop, click "Translate". On a mobile device, click on the "Accessibility" icon at the bottom of your phone screen and click "Translate".

In September, we celebrate the Virtue of Faith. Faith is the great virtue of believing in God and trusting that God is with us. A faithful person believes that we are created, guided and destined to be reunited with God. A faithful person believes that God's plan for us includes the right to be safe, especially at school.

A faithful person:

• Prays regularly and reverently
• Learns from Scripture stories
• Honours people's God-given names
• Assumes that there is good in everyone
• Accepts the God-given worth of themselves and others

Our daily prayer for Faith:

Let us now pray for the grace and strength to be people of faith-- people who can truly believe that God's plan for us includes the right to b safe at school.

Amen +

Lord,

Thank you for your unique gifts of every child as they transition into a new school year. Fill each student with fresh enthusiasm and a heart that's excited to learn and grow. Surround them with your enduring love. Give them confidence and grace; equip them with the ability to persevere through trials. Bless their teachers with wisdom, understanding, and a heart to serve, as they embark on the journey together.

Amen+

I trust that students, staff and parents have had the opportunity to enjoy time with loved ones this summer and everyone is eager to get back to school.

As we begin the 2023-2024 school year, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new families, our new staff members, Ms. Chiappetta-Trujillo (Planning Time), Ms. Abdel-Messih (School Social Worker), Ms. Mohsin (School Speech and Language Pathologist), and our Long Term Occasional Teacher, Ms. de Vera for Ms. Martin.

We look forward to our continued work with St. Joseph Parish through Fr. Paul Dobson and Fr. Anish Alex. We look forward to continuing our spiritual and faith journey together.

Thank you our custodians, Mr. Buenaventura and Mr. Erdelyi who worked diligently over the summer to prepare our school for September and for the staff who came in to set up their classrooms. As we begin our learning journey, know that we will do our best to promote the academic, spiritual, social and emotional growth of our students.

Families will be receiving communication from the board via School Messenger beginning on Saturday, August 31st with your child's placement to parents/guardians via primary contact emails. If you do not receive a call, our staff will be pleased to provide assistance on Tuesday, September 3rd at 8:30 a.m.

We will be having our Curriculum Night/Open House on Thursday, September 26th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing reconnecting with our families for this community event! We look forward to our Catholic Education Week Theme 2025- "Pilgrims of Hope," as we begin our new school year together.

Address: 5440 Drurie Road, Mississauga, ON, L5M 2J5

Parish Team:

Pastor: Fr. Paul Dobson

Associate Pastor: Fr. Anish Alex

Deacons: George Jurenas & Lionel Gomes

Parish Staff: Ann Cavallin, Michele Mullins

Sacramental Coordinator: Zahra Pilar Alvarez

Youth Minister: Megan Dominguez

Office Phone Number: 905-826-2766

Parish Email: stjosephMI@archtoronto.org

Parish Website: http://stjosephmi.archtoronto.org

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's Sacraments, please contact St. Joseph Parish via email at stjosephmi@archtoronto.org. Due to limited office hours, it's best to email your questions for a quicker response.

• First Holy Communion Parent Information Evening will take place on Tuesday, September 24th at 7 p.m. at the church.
• Confirmation Parent Information Evening will take place on Friday, September 27th at 7 p.m. at the church.

An information package will be distributed to all Grade 2 and 7 students in early September. If your child is NOT in Grade 2 and 7 and will be receiving the Sacraments, please contact the office for an information package.

We look forward to welcoming our St Joseph students in Grades SK to Grade 8 on Tuesday, September 3rd! Our JK students should have already been contacted by their teachers regarding staggered entry for September 4th or 5th. All JK students will begin school on Friday, September 6th.

Class Placements:

Beginning on Saturday, August 31st, parents/guardians will receive a message from SchoolMessenger with your child(ren)'s grade, classroom assignment and room number. If you don't receive a message, staff will be available in the morning on the first day of school to provide assistance. Please note, at this time, class placement changes will not be considered until reorganization.

Meeting Areas on Tuesday, September 3rd:

On Tuesday, September 3rd, our Grades SK-8 students will be greeted by our staff who will assist in finding their child's teacher. Students in Grades 1-8 will meet on the upper pavement. Students in SK will go to the Kindergarten yard and where staff will be available to assist. If there inclement weather, Grades 1-8 students will go directly to their classrooms and SK's will meet in Room 2.

Pick Up Arrangements:

Please let your child's teacher know if your child will be picked up at the end of the first day by a parent/guardian, walking home or riding the school bus. Bus students will receive their bus tags on the first day of school. Please let your child's teacher know if your child will not be taking the bus on the first day of school. Students will be assisted by their teachers and staff to find their bus. Parents/guardians are asked to use the Kiss N Ride and to avoid blocking our bus lines to provide supervision to our students. Parents/guardians and pets are not allowed inside the fenced area during the school day.

The new school year offers us an opportunity to reflect upon our personal, professional and spiritual growth and to set some new goals. The theme chosen for the upcoming 2025 Catholic Education Week theme is:

Pilgrims of Hope

Catholic Education Week Prayer

Hope is our calling, O Lord,

and the destination of our pilgrim journeys.

As we mark this Jubilee Year of hope,

keep our eyes focussedo on Jesus,

and on the hope he reveals to us.

All our hope is in you, O God, in the name of Jesus

our Lord and companion.

Amen +

St. Joseph School will be hosting a Welcome Back Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday, September 26th at 5:30 p.m. More information to come

Parents/Guardians will have an opportunity to visit their child(ren)'s classroom from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Parents/guardians are reminded to continue to report their child's attendance daily. Attendance continues to be taken daily by 9 am and 1 p.m. Please continue to use the School Messenger application when reporting your child absent or late for school.

Here is the link for your reference: https://www3.dpcdsb.org/parents/absence-reporting

Web: go.messenger.ca

App: SchoolMessenger

Phone: 1-844-435-3440

Web:

1. Go to the SafeArrival Website at go.schoolmessenger.ca

2. Select Sign Up to create your account. (Only needed for the initial set up, after that you will click on login.)

3. Select Attendance

4. Select Report Attendance

APP:

Or you can download the SchoolMessenger App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Please note that the SafeArrival uses the SchoolMessenger App. You will be prompted to enter your email address. Please use the email address that we have on file in the office and create a password. The system will send a link to your email address on file, please click on the link to activate the account.

Phone:

1. Call the toll-free number 1-844-435-3440

2. Listen and follow the prompts to report the absence

3. If the system doesn't recognize your caller ID, you will be asked to enter your student's home phone number or any phone number for the guardian that is on file with the school.

Parents/ guardians are reminded to avoid parking in front of our Kindergarten yard on Church Street. Parking in this area is creating a safety concern for our pedestrians and vehicles exiting our parking lot.

Alternatively, we advise parents/guardians to use our Kiss N Ride or park in designated parking spots (i.e., Green P) across the street. We thank you for your continued support!

Parents/guardians are reminded to follow the flow of traffic by entering Kiss N Ride via the south driveway at all times.

We would like to thank all of our parents/guardians other visitors to the school for respecting the designated waiting areas outside of the fenced area on the upper pavement and away from the gate at the Kindergarten yard. In the event that you have an appointment, please be reminded that all visitors to the school are to report to the office, sign in and wear a visitor's sticker. This helps to ensure the safety and security of our students.

If you need to pick up your child prior to the end of the day at 3:15 p.m., please send a note with your child in the agenda advising the teacher when to send them to the office. Please be prepared to sign your child(ren) out at the main office.

Please make sure to inform your child's teacher of regular lunch arrangements for your child. If there is a change to the regular arrangements, a note signed and dated by the parents must be provided to the classroom teacher. No students in Grade 1-6 will be allowed to leave the school property without being signed out by a parent/guardian. Students in Grade 7 and 8 will be able to leave school property for lunch, if a note has been provided by the parent. NO permission will be granted over the phone/text. Permission must be made in writing. Please attach a separate note that can be submitted to the office for record keeping.

On the first day of school your child(ren) will be receiving a student information package/consent forms. Please complete and return these documents to your child's teacher by Monday, September 9th.

In addition, a printout and attendance verification for your child will be sent home after reorganization with the most current emergency contact information. Please send it back to the school by Friday, September 20th to your child(ren)'s teacher. It is critical that we have current and accurate contact information on file in the event of an emergency at school. Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.

School yard supervision does not begin until 8:30 a.m. every morning. Please do not drop students off prior to 8:30 a.m. unsupervised. For student safety, we would like to remind all parents/guardians and visitors to use the designated waiting areas outside of the school yard.

Transportation is provided for JK/SK and Grade 1-8 students at St. Joseph who meet the Board distance eligibility for bussing. At the present, all eligible seats will be assigned by transportation.

The expectation is that students will ride the bus regularly. If you would like to OPT out of bussing for this year, please let Ms. Cavaliere know and a form will be sent home.

Courtesy seats will be considered in late September depending on available seats, students' age. If you are interested in receiving a courtesy seat form, please have your child pick one up from the office.

We currently have 6 buses assigned to our school. Bus run details are posted on the front doors of the school. However, it's best to check the www.stopr.ca website for the most up to date information and to check bus delays. Parents/guardians can create an account to receive notification and updates on your child's route. You will require your child's student number to register for an account.

If your home address changed during the summer, please notify the school as soon as possible so that we can make the changes to our system. Address changes after June 30th will not be reflected in the planned bus routes to begin in September and may result in transportation services not being available for your child during the first weeks of school.

The distance criteria for transportation eligibility is:

• more than 1.0 km from the school for FDK to Grade 1
• more than 1.6 km from the school for Grades 2 to 4
• more than 2.0 km from the school for Grades 5 to 8

The Catholic Code of Conduct sets standards of behaviour that promote, encourage and foster a shared commitment to gospel values in daily life, respect for the dignity of persons created in God's image, responsible participation in the civic life of the school community, peaceful conflict resolution, respect for diversity, and a commitment to exemplary conduct, conscientious work and service to others. At St. Joseph, we continue to work together to provide a safe, caring, inclusive and healthy Catholic School community for all.

As in the past, we continue to have students with severe, life threatening food allergies. This is a medical condition causing a severe reaction to certain allergens and can result in death within minutes. Although this may or may not affect your child's class directly, please send lunches and snacks to school with your children that are free from peanuts or nut products. We ask that you do not send in food products for the whole class to celebrate birthdays or social occasions. A donation of a book or a game to the classroom is a safe alternative to food products and enjoyed so much longer by the children.

Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that all medication and forms are updated annually for any student who requires medication to be administered at school. If your child requires medication, please have the necessary forms completed and return them to the office to Ms. Cavaliere as soon as possible. Forms were sent home in June and are available from the office for any new students to the school.

On Monday, September 16th and Friday, October 11th, there will be a Professional Activity Day. Teachers will be involved in professional development activities. Students do not attend school on this day.

In accordance with Ministry regulations, three fire drills will be conducted in the fall and three in the spring per school year. This helps to prepare our students in the event of a real fire. Our first fire drill will take place on September 25th. Our School Board has established lockdown procedures should a high risk incident involving weapons occur in the school, or on school property, that could endanger the lives and safety of students and staff. We will practice the Emergency Lockdown Procedure with students two times this year. Our first lockdown drill will take place on October 4th. In addition, we are also required to conduct one Hold and Secure/Shelter in Place drill per year. This practice was established to prepare students and staff in the event of severe weather/potential risk in the community.

Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board has developed a concussion policy and guidelines for students who have been diagnosed with a concussion by either a medical doctor or a nurse practitioner. School staff cannot diagnose a concussion. Anytime a student reports to the office with a head injury, the parent/guardian will be contacted and an incident will be entered into the school's "Documentation of Head Injuries" log book.

Your child will be given an information pamphlet entitled "We want to give you a heads up...Concussions are serious." This pamphlet outlines the signs and symptoms of concussions. It also includes information about what to do if you suspect your child has a concussion and how a concussion is treated. Guidelines have been developed by Dufferin-Peel CDSB to support an 8-phase "Return to Activity" process following a diagnosed concussion. These guidelines include 5 phases for "Return to Learn," followed by 3 phases for "Return to Play". With parental consent, school administration will work collaboratively with school psychology staff to monitor your child's progress through the 8 phases. For more information, please contact the main office.

Students are requested not to bring valuables such as electronic games, large amounts of money or items of importance to school. The school does not accept responsibility for the above. All personal items and school supplies should be clearly labelled with your child's first and last names.

The school will provide your child with materials such as pens, pencils, workbooks and textbooks. Therefore, it is not necessary for you to purchase any such materials unless you wish to do so. However, it is important that children learn to make proper use of these materials and, with this in mind, your child's teacher will explain our expectations. Students are responsible for replacing lost/damaged texts, library books or technology. Parents have public access to all current Ministry of Education documents at www.edu.gov.on.ca

If you are bringing a lunch for your child to pick up from the office, please ensure that it is labelled with your child's name, room number and teacher's name. Please instruct your child to come to the office at 11:48 a.m. to pick it up as students will not be called from class prior to lunch time, so as not to interrupt their lessons.

We are excited to announce that Pizza Days and Milk Days will continue this year. Look out for more information later this month. All orders must be made through CashOnline by the deadline! Don't miss out! The money raised will be used for many projects and activities that occur at the school such as Scientists in the School, Guest Speakers, Enhancements to Technology and school events. All of these projects depend on these funds and your family's participation. All meals from Pizza days will comply with our School Food and Beverage Policy (PPM 150). Thank you for your ongoing support in our school fundraising efforts!

Please ensure that your child has a reusable water bottle, two snacks and a lunch with easy to open containers and utensils. We ask that you make these litterless lunches with little garbage to keep our classrooms clean and eco-friendly. Students are not allowed to share food due to allergen awareness. Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions.

DPCDSB must follow the Ontario Ministry of Education's Policy/Program Memoranda (PPM No. 128): Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct with an update and direction on cellphone use (i.e., phones, devices, tablets, smartwatches, etc.):

• Students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 must now keep their phones turned off or set to silent mode and out of sight for the school day, unless otherwise allowed by the educator during instructional time for a specific purpose.
• Students in Grade 7 to 12 must store their phones out of view and powered off or set to silent mode during instructional time, unless otherwise explicitly allowed by the educator during instructional time for a specific purpose.
• Students who need to use their phones for health or medical reasons, e.g., glucose monitoring, etc., may continue to use them during the school day following consultation with school administration
• The Ministry Expectations will be addressed according to the procedures outlined within DPCDB's Catholic Code of Conduct.
• We will not be considering the creation of a central phone storage in schools or classrooms. Instead, it is recommended that students keep their phones stored in their backpacks when not in use for educational purposes or for health, medical or special education needs.
• It is hoped that student behaviours and actions will align with the new rules. School administrators will deploy progressive discipline as required for those found in violation of the restrictions.
• If parents/guardians need to communicate with their children during the school day, parents should contact the main office.

The PPM 128 also includes a strict anti-vaping policy where parents and guardians are immediately notified if their children are found vaping on or within 20 metres of school property, and the vapes are in a student's possession will be confiscated. There are immediate consequences for students caught with vapes, or in the possession of illegal substances as outlined in DPCDSB's Catholic Code of Conduct.

PPM 128 identifies the removal of social media sites from school board networks. DPCDSB had previously removed these sites so there was no action required on this component.

If you are interested in being a back up student monitor for the 2024-2025 school year? This is a paid position which involves supervising students inside and outside during the lunch hour each day. Applicants must have a Criminal Reference Check before beginning work. Should you be interested in further exploring this opportunity, please contact the main office for further details and/or obtain an application package.

DPCDSB Policy Affecting All Parent Volunteers

A reminder that all parent volunteers are required to complete a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) to volunteer for excursions such as field trips, helping to drive to sporting events, and to volunteer within the school (i.e., Catholic School Council, Pizza, Milk, All Star Reading, etc.) We recommend that if you plan to volunteer during the 2024-2025 school year, that you complete your CRC as soon as possible.

All you are required to do is come to the main office between 8:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m. to pick up a document that must be taken to the required form by the Peel Regional Police for processing. Please note, that this does require a number of weeks to complete, so it is recommended that you start this process as soon as possible.

Parents who have a valid Vulnerable Sector Screening filed in the office for 2023-2024 are asked to sign and return the Annual Offence Declaration form available in the office before September 30th, 2024. Please inform your child's teacher if you require an annual declaration. Failure to do so, may result in you having to complete another Criminal Reference Check and delay your ability to attend field trips with your child or volunteer within the school. Thank you for your cooperation in following this school board policy.

Calling all students! Bring your smiles! Picture day is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1st!

To help prepare your child for photo day, here are some helpful tips an tricks to getting the perfect photo of your child: Bright and solid colours help to emphasize your child's smile; You might want to send a comb to make sure their hair is perfect for their photo; if your child normally wears glasses, feel free to wear them for your photos. Our photographers are trained to reduce glare on the lens.

As required by the Education Act and the Ministry of Education, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board annually provides parents with information about cost-effective student accident insurance coverage via student courier. Although enrolment is voluntary, the Board encourages parents to take advantage of the inexpensive insurance coverage especially if your child participates in sports, excursions/field trips, or if parents do not have dental insurance coverage. Visit insuremykids.com or call at 1-800-463-5437 for more information.

As you know, organizational skills are imperative to the success of a child in school. Agendas are handed out to all students from JK to 8 to record upcoming assignments, important dates and teacher notices. Parents are encouraged to check and initial their child's agenda daily. Thank you to our Catholic School Council for subsidizing our student agendas for the school.

If you have changed your address or contact information, please inform the office as soon as possible so that we can update our contact information.

In addition, if you know families who haven't registered their children for September 2024 yet, please encourage them to register as soon as possible. This information will help us with our class organization and school staffing for September.

Kindergarten Registration

http://www3.dpcdsb.org/schools/register-for-school/kindergarten-registration

Elementary (Grade 1-8)

http://www3.dpcdsb.org/schools/register-for-school/elementary-registration

2023-2024 Catholic School Council Members:

• Chairperson: Tania P.
• Treasurer: Laura W.
• Parish Representative: Isabella F.
• OAPCD Representative: Mellissa A.
• Fundraising Representative: Kerri R.
• Secretary: Katherine L.
• Voting Member: Allison R., Lauren J-C., Wendy P., Fiorella D.,
• Teaching Representative: Cindy B., Pina G.
• Non-Teaching Representatives: Regina Z.

We will be having our first Catholic School Council on Wednesday, October 2nd at 6:30 p.m. in the library. (Zoom link will be provided at later date)

If you would like to be nominated or self-nominate for one of our positions for the 2024-2025 Catholic Council, please contact the main office and a form will be sent home with your child. Elections will take place on October 2nd. Nomination forms are due on Friday, September 27th at 4 p.m. All parents/guardians are welcome to attend any of our Catholic School Council Meetings, you don't have to be a member of the Catholic School Council. Please note that there is a hybrid option for parents who wish to attend our council meetings virtually.

By directing your tax support to the Separate (Catholic) School System:

• You may vote for Catholic School Trustees in the Municipal elections
• Your children may attend Catholic elementary schools
• You show your support for the Catholic school system

To verify that you have registered as a English Separate (Catholic) school supporter:

• Check the assessment section of your Tax Bill or Property Assessment Notice

Have you moved?

Even if you have been an English Separate (Catholic) School Supported in the past, the designation does not follow you when you relocate. By default, your property taxes support your municipality's English public school board. Every time you move or if there is a change of ownership, it is essential that you register yourself as an English Separate (Catholic) school supporter.

To register as an English Separate (Catholic) School Supporter or change your Direction of School Support, please contact the DPCDSB Admissions Department by phone at 905-890-0708 ext. 24512 or by email at admissions@dpcdsb.org

Learn More:

• Visit the Direction of School Support webpage
• Watch our Direction of School Support video

PLASP Child Care Services is now accepting registrations for their before and after school programs, including programs at this school. We encourage you to register as soon as possible. Available space is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

PLASP programs are licensed by the Ministry of Education and are adhering to strict public health guidelines. Highly trained staff facilitate fun, age-appropriate activities both indoors and outdoors.

Before School programs operate from 7:30 a.m. until school starts and include a breakfast daily. After School programs begin at school dismissal, include a substantial daily snack, and run until 6:00 p.m.

PLASP Child Care Services is a charitable organization, operating on a not-for-profit basis, providing award winning programs for children, for more than 40 years.

Visit plasp.com to register, or contact the PLASP Support Services Centre at 647-484-4372

Please check out our Online Community Bulletin Board for After School opportunities offered from our community partners (i.e., scouts, robotics, art classes, etc.).

School Mental Health Ontario has updated their list of resources. We invite you to review their list of resources available on our DPCDSB Well-Being SharePoint to help support you and students during this time of transition back to school. For a list of community telephone-based mental health supports, please see below.

• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text "CONNECT" to 686868 (0-18 years of age)
• 24.7 Crisis Support Peel Dufferin: 905-278-9036 I 1·888·811·2222. (for all ages)
• Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310 (support for all Indigenous peoples across Canada)

September 2024

• September 3: First Day of School for SK-8
• September 6: First Day of School for JK students
• September 9: First Day Consent Forms Due
• September 16: PA Day- Reorganization/Faith Day- No School for Students
• September 17: Elementary Wellness Leadership Conference
• September 24: First Holy Communion Parent Information Night at the parish at 7 p.m.
• September 26: Curriculum Night/Open House from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• September 27: Confirmation Parent Information Night at the parish at 7 p.m.
• September 27: Catholic School Council Nomination forms due at 4 p.m.
  
• September 30: Truth and Reconciliation Day (Orange Shirt Day)
  

October 2024

• October 1: Fall Picture Day
• October 2: Opening Elementary School Mass Teaching with Fr. Anish @ 10 a.m. at St. Joseph School
  
• October 2: Catholic School Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the library. All are welcome! (Zoom link will be shared prior to the Catholic School Council meeting)
• October 11 : PA Day- No School for Students
• October 14: Thanksgiving- Enjoy time with family and friends!

Email: St.JosephESMississaugaInfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: www.dpcdsb.org/JOEST
Location: 249 Church Street, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Phone: (905)826-4422
Twitter: @StJosephDPCDSB