Our Lady of Providence School

Dear Mother of Divine Providence

watch over us and keep us safe.

Help us, along with your Son, Jesus, to be better people.

Protect us and comfort us through our troubles.

You are the Mother of Divine Providence,

please pray for us. Amen.

TRANSLATE

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As we embark on the New Year of 2025, we extend our heartfelt best wishes for health, happiness, peace, and love to all. We have celebrated Christmas, New Years, the Epiphany of Our Lord and this coming week the Baptism of Our Lord. The Christmas Season helps us to celebrate Jesus' coming into the world, to recognize His presence, and to await His return as we continue building his Kingdom. It is our hope that the Christmas Season provided valuable time to share time with family and friends to reflect on the greater gift of love we are called to give each day. May the joy of the coming of Christ’s birth bring a renewed sense of hope and love for us and all our loved ones. We pray for health for those who are ill and eternal rest for those who have passed.

From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank the entire school community who together raised over $2000.00 in gift cards together with food, hats, scarves and mittens to support our families in need. The families were overcome with joy and thanksgiving at the generosity of our giving spirit. Thank you.

As the Jubilee Year of Hope began on Christmas Day with Pope Francis opening the doors reminding us to enter and take our steps inside renewing our commitment to walk as disciples of Christ by loving one another.

God Bless,

D. Della Rossa, S. Quartarone & Staff

• Self-control helps us to resist the temptation to do something that we will regret. It also helps us to resist the temptation to do something that will harm ourselves or others. Each time you exercise self-control you grow stronger in the Lord and invite peace to settle over your life as you avoid any guilt you may feel from having made a poor decision.

  
  

People with Self-Control:

• Are patient
• Know how to wait his/her turn
• Can calm him/herself down and think before reacting to situations
• Know how to avoid physical aggression (hitting, kicking, pushing etc.)
• Can think things through

VIRTUE OF SELF-CONTROL PRAYER:

Let us pray: for the Virtue of Self-Control, so that we will resist the temptation to cause harm to ourselves or to others around us. AMEN.

It is important that your child arrive to school on time and ready to learn. As we work as a community to provide academic excellence and to nurture well-being. Our school hours are as follows:

8:30 Students supervision begins in the school yard

8:45 Morning classes begin

10:17-10:32 RECESS

11:55am - 12:55 Lunch

2:20pm - 2:35pm RECESS

3:15 End of School Day Dismissal

To support school safety, parents/guardians

are not permitted on the pavement.

To support school safety, we are reviewing the procedures for student drop off/ pick up. We ask parents who are dropping off or picking up students to use the Kiss N' Ride in front of the school. This Kiss N' Ride is supervised by a staff member before and afterschool.

If you are parking, there are three designated areas for parking marked on the map by a red P respectively:

• Sugar Pine Court
• Municipal Parking Lot behind the school(access through Blue Oak Ave.)
• In front of the school between Blue Oak Drive and the school driveway entrance

***The parking lot on the side of the school is a designated for staff.

A special thanks to all parent volunteers that support our Kiss N' Ride safety practices. We ask our community to support their work to keep everyone safe.

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring safe entry for students and staff.

Together, we work together to support one another. Thank you.

Sacrament of First Reconciliation -

Saturday, February 15th, 2025 - 11:00am@Church

Sacrament of First Holy Communion -

Saturday, May 10th, 2025 - 11:00am@Church

Sacrament of Confirmation -

Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 - 7:00pm@Church

Monday, June 23rd, 2025 @ St. Marguerite D'Youville Church

12:00pm Lunch and Dance(Staff & Students)

4:30pm Graduation Mass with ceremony to follow(ALL WELCOME)

One Stop Talk is a free service offering immediate access to mental health support, when and where it’s needed. This service is available to children, youth, and families across Ontario, providing culturally safe and appropriate therapy through a network of certified professionals from community-based child, youth, and family mental health agencies.

• Who can use it?
  Children and youth under 18 years of age, as well as their parents/caregivers (who are welcome to connect alongside their child).
• Language Support:
  Interpretation services are available upon request.

It is important for students to be at school on time and ready to work. When students are late they miss important information and routines. We realize that throughout the year there will be times that your child will be away from school.

SafeArrival is an application within SchoolMessenger that will allow parents/guardians to report their children’s absences in one of the following three ways:

• SchoolMessenger App
• SchoolMessenger website https://go.schoolmessenger.ca
• Toll Free number 1-844-435-3440

What is SafeArrival:

• SafeArrival is an absence management system that improves student safety.
• It supports school staff to follow up on unexcused absences.
• It allows parents and/or guardians to notify the school in advance about an upcoming absence.

Benefits:

• Better Attendance Management for Enhanced Student Safety
• Faster and Easier Attendance Management
• Simplified Parent Reporting Tools
• Accessible, Convenient and Secure
• Automated Key Tasks With SafeArrival Administrative Tools

In the event that your child is late or absent, please use one of the three ways to access Safe Arrival.

Students who arrive late to school must proceed to the office.

As we begin a new school year, we would like to inform you that Our Lady of Providence is an allergen aware school. There are pupils and staff in attendance who suffer from severe and life threatening allergies to certain foods, such as dairy, peanut and nut products. Exposure to even the smallest quantities can cause severe life threatening reactions. Anaphylaxis is a severe and life threatening allergic reaction. The most common allergen triggers are food, insect stings, medications, and latex. An anaphylactic reaction involves symptoms from two or more body systems. We at Our Lady of Providence School would appreciate the cooperation of the entire school community by NOT sending any lunches or snacks that contain nut or nut byproducts which could potentially harm a pupil. Please make sure that all of your children’s caregivers are aware of the food restrictions. Please do not send food for birthdays or special occasions. We look forward to your co-operation in making this a safe year for all of our pupils.

We sent home forms including the GF067 -NOTIFICATION OF THE ROUTINE COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF STUDENT PERSONAL INFORMATION and GF068-STUDENT ANNUAL CONSENT AND NOTIFICATION FORM. The GF067 is for your information and the GF068 includes live links for your review and is to be returned to the school. You will find the two forms attached for your reference.

hank you for completing the Lunch Permission Form and returning it to your child’s teacher. This will ensure that the school is aware of where you prefer your child(ren) to be over the lunch hour. Any changes to the agreement throughout the year must be submitted in writing to the teacher and/or office. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Once children have arrived back at school, they must remain on school property. They are not permitted to leave school again without written permission.

Please be advised that for those students staying for lunch, they should arrive to school with lunch and snacks at the start of the day. When the need arises to drop off lunch, please come to the front door and let the office know. Services such as Uber Eats will not be permitted.

The Child and Family Services Act compel educators to report any issues that may compromise a child’s welfare. If a staff member suspects any issue that may affect a child’s safety, then the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) must be contacted. It is not the role of the educator to investigate. That is CAS’s role.

The Board takes every precaution to provide a safe learning environment for students, but accidents can and do happen. Some families have private accident insurance which is able to respond to costs arising from injuries. However, many families do not.

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 your child. Although enrollment is voluntary, the board strongly encourages parents to take advantage of the inexpensive insurance coverage, especially if their child/children participate in sports, excursions/field trips, or, if parents do not have dental insurance coverage.

Parents alone have the right to insure their children. An acknowledgment form(GF401) wiil be sent home with the accompanying brochure. It must be signed and returned to the school to ensure an awareness that the board does not provide insurance and that you have received the insurance brochure. It is a requirement for the participation in excursions and/or extra-curricular activities.

1) Complete the traditional form and mail it in.

or

2) Apply online to Reliable Life at https://insuremykids.com/

If your child has a medical condition, please ensure that the school is aware of it by submitting the proper forms and medication as soon as possible.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medications and forms are updated 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, along with any medication, to the office as soon as possible. Please remember to check the expiry dates of all medication before bringing them to school.

When a student receives an injury/bump to the head (however minor), it is a Board Policy that we inform parents. You will be contacted by phone, a phone message will be left at one of your contact numbers or a note will be left in your child’s agenda if you are unavailable. This is precautionary only and we ask that you check your child when they get home for any signs of a concussion or illness. Agenda’s should be checked by parents daily for this reason, as well as to check for any notes from the teacher or office. A copy of the concussion brochure is attached below.

DPCDSB dress codes will be consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Students shall wear clothing that promotes a safe, respectful, and inclusive place to learn. Students cannot wear clothing that promotes or can be seen as representing:

 Hate

 Sexually explicit content

 Stereotypes

 Discrimination

 Illegal Activity

 Profanity

 Violence

By working together, we can promote safe, inclusive, and healthy schools.

Thank you for your attention to this important information.

The purpose of Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC) 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.

Congratulations to our elected members of our Catholic School Advisory Council for 2024/2025 school year:

Co-Chairs: R. Parejo & S. Lowry

Treasurer: M. Singh

Secretary: S. Sealy

Parish Rep: A. Duffus

OAPCE Rep: K. Sealy

Teacher Rep: T. Farhat

CATHOLIC SCHOOL ADVISORY MEETING DATES 2024/2025:

Wednesday, January 22nd@6:30 PM(Library & Virtual Option)

Thursday, February 19th@6:30P.M.(Library & Virtual Option)

Thursday, April 24th@6:30P.M.(Library & Virtual Option)

Wednesday, May 29th@6:30P.M.(Library & Virtual Option)

Please ensure that you send your child with a bottle of water to school each day. We have water refill stations on both the upper and lower levels of the school.

At this time we are not asking students to bring in additional shoes for the indoors. We will revisit this as the weather gets colder.

School textbooks are school property and are loaned to

the students annually. The expectation is that textbooks will be returned at the end of the school year. Students are responsible for these textbooks and will be asked to pay if these books go missing or have been vandalized. The cost of an average textbook is about $50.00 each. Please encourage your child to take care of textbooks!

STOPR - Transportation Procedures

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

If your child is moving to grade 2, grade 5, or grade 9 in the 2023-2024 school year, their eligibility status for transportation may be changing. Eligibility information can be accessed at the website noted below. In order to adhere to COVID health and safety guidelines, STOPR will not be granting courtesy seating.

All transported kindergarten and grade 1 students are required to be met by a parent/caregiver when disembarking from their bus on their return trip from school.

If you wish to apply for courtesy seating, please contact the school.

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. Please consider registering for notice of alerts regarding issues such as buses running behind schedule. The STOPR website also 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

Please check the Region of Peel’s Transportation Department’s to: - subscribe for email alerts regarding bus delays and cancellations - answer bussing questions - eligibility -any bussing questions

Students should not bring toys, valuables or items of importance to school. The school cannot assume responsibility for valuables brought to school.

Your participation in your child’s school life is fundamental to his or her educational success. Effective and on-going communication between home and school takes a variety of forms and operates on a variety of levels. Should you have any concerns regarding your child’s progress or issues in the classroom, please do not hesitate to call and leave a message for your child’s teacher with some times that are convenient to reach you. Please address concerns as they arise. A quick phone call, or note in your child’s agenda asking the teacher to call you can help put your mind at ease. All students in Grades 1 to 6 will received an agenda, students in Grade 7 & 8 communication will be done using the Edwins Chromebooks. The agenda and Edwins are wonderful tool for time management, organizational skills and home-school communication.

• Homework

  Please be advised that teachers at St. Raphael Catholic School will adhere to the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board policy on Homework – Kindergarten to Grade 12. In particular, the policy states that homework shall not be assigned to students in kindergarten. Homework in the early grades (Grades 1-3) shall more often take the form of reading, playing, discussing, listening, viewing, and interactive activities such as building and cooking with the family. In later grades (Grades 4 to 6) homework may take the form of independent work, with a maximum of 40 minutes per day for junior students, and a maximum of 60 minutes per day on average for intermediate students.
  

  
  

  A summary of the policy can be found in your child’s agenda.

  We continue to ask for your support as we promote good work habits at home for our students and ask that you help in the following ways:

  
  

  • monitoring daily homework and ensuring that your child(ren) complete all tasks to the best of their ability;
  • providing a consistent time and location for daily homework.

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. Our Lady of Providence 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.

DPCDSB regulates the use of PEDs on school or other DPCDSB premises by prohibiting the following uses:

• School community members are to refrain from using their PEDs unless directed to do so by an educator, or for health, medical, and/or special education needs.

• PEDs are to be kept out of site and either powered off or on silent mode.

• If an educator sees a PED that is not stored out of view, the PED must be placed by the student, in a storage area in a location designated by the principal.

• The use of a PED that compromises the academic integrity of the school or individuals within the school.

• The use of a PED that interferes with or disrupts the academic day or the teaching and learning environment.

• The use of a PED that violates a person’s reasonable expectation of privacy.

• The use of a PED that compromises personal and/or school/workplace safety.

• The use of a PED that facilitates the commission of a crime.

• Any other use of a PED which the school principal or DPCDSB deems compromises or interferes with school/site security, personal safety, individual privacy, or academic integrity.

Don't Forget to Get yourself set up on School CashOnline as we are no longer able accept cash payment.

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 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)

We believe that parents/guardians are the primary teachers of their children. Our goal is to educate every child well and to maximize student achievement and well-being. We will provide ongoing resources through the board and school websites to enable parents and guardians to be better informed and to participate fully in their childs education. Visit https://www3.dpcdsb.org/parents/help-your-child-learn/help-your-child-learn to explore a variety of student engaging websites.

Dear Families,

Road safety is an important topic, especially coming back to school. To ensure a safe arrival, remember to:

· Choose active transportation (e.g., walking or cycling) whenever possible. This helps the environment too! If you live too far to walk the whole way to school, consider parking 5 minutes away to avoid traffic and get some bonus exercise into your day.

· Follow all road signs when driving and obey the school drop-off and pick-up rules.

· Stay clear of fire hydrants, driveways, crosswalks or the Kiss and Ride areas when parking.

· For those who ride a school bus, visit www.STOPR.ca for more information.

Please visit these links to learn more:

· Safe school travel info sheet

· Walk and Roll to School Guide

· Family Cycling Handbook

· Peel Region’s Active Transportation website

· Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)’s website has activities, videos, and an ArcGIS Storymap with information about active transportation in Peel Schools.

If you have any questions about the resources above, or would like more information, reach out to walkandroll@peelregion.ca.

We look forward to another excellent year of learning!

Peel Children's Centre

Registration is open for our summer workshops for parents/caregivers and youth! Learn more and register online at http://WhereToStart.ca.