1195 Clarkson Road North

Mississauga ON , L5J 2W1

905 822-0721

Email:St.ChristopherInfo@dpcdsb.org

Principal - I. Sauve

Vice Principal - C. Fernandes

Secretary -T. Lanceta

Trustee - Herman Viloria (Mississauga Ward 2)

Superintendent - D. Radic

Parish - St. Christopher's Parish

Priest-Fr. Steven Kwon

St. Christopher School Hours

Supervision Begins 8:00 a.m.

School Begins 8:15 a.m.

Recess (a.m.) 9:38-9:53

Lunch:11:16-12:16

Recess (p.m.)1:39-1:54

Dismissal 2:45 p.m.

1171 Clarkson Road North
Mississauga, ON
L5J 2W1
t: 905.822.1171
e: stchristophersmi@archtoronto.org

Father all powerful, Your gifts of love are countless and your goodness infinite.

For Thanksgiving, we come before You with gratitude for Your kindness.

Open our hearts to concern for our children, men and women, so that we may share your gifts in loving service.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus, Your SON, Who lives and reigns in the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let us give thanks to…..

Our first month together at St. Christopher. To friendships new and old, to new challenges, new learning and much success.

All the parents, students and staff for a wonderful Open House. We are blessed to have had such a wonderful turn out. As always, we will continue to encourage a cooperative partnership between home, school and parish, and will continue to work collaboratively in the best interest of the students entrusted to our care.

The students of St. Christopher School and community for supporting of our Terry Fox Walk which will take place on October 4, 2024.

Our volunteers, staff coaches/leaders and all other persons who give unselfishly of their time to children to enhance their learning experiences.

The staff, students and community of St. Christopher who assist in organizing our Thanksgiving Food Drive in order to reach out and help those in need during this time. We also thank all families for their donations. Please consider donating canned goods and toiletries.

On behalf of the entire school staff, we would like to wish our school community a joyous Thanksgiving. We hope you will have the opportunity to feast together as family and give thanks for the many blessings we have been bestowed. As we celebrate our blessings, let us always remember those in need and those who are suffering during these times.

“Always be faithful in the little things, for in them our strength lies.”

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I. Sauve and C. Fernandes

In October, we celebrate the virtue of empathy

An empathetic person…

“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us.”
(Letter on the Jubilee Year of Hope, February 11, 2022)

First Communion classes will begin in January. Information sessions will be held on Tuesday, September 24, and Wednesday, September 25, at 7 p.m. in the main church. Your child must be in grade 2 or seven years old or older to participate in the preparation classes.

Confirmation classes will begin in November. Information sessions will be held on Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27, at 7 p.m. in the main church. Your child must be in grade 7 or 12 years old or older to participate in the preparation classes.

Parents and candidates are asked to attend ONE of these meetings together. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the class schedules and be well-prepared for the upcoming classes. If your family has children receiving both Sacraments, you must attend ONE session for each Sacrament.

The church is looking for children (aged 5 to 12) interested in singing in the St. Christopher choir at one of the Saturday Masses. There is no extra time commitment required, and mandatory attendance is not required.

For more details, please introduce yourself to Paul Wisniewski who is the musician and leads the music ministry at the church for the past 5 years.

School starts at 8:15am and all late arrivals have to sign in at the Main Office. Just a reminder teacher supervision begins at 8:00 am to 8:15 am. School finishes at 2:45pm.

If Dismissal/pickup procedure for their child has changed for a day or specific reason, to avoid confusion, Please either

1) write a note in the Student Agenda or

2) email the school info mailbox.

Please do not leave a voicemail as that may not always be checked on time.

• Thank you very much to the many parents who safely use the parking lot and the Kiss’n’Ride drop-off and pick-up area! The patience and courtesy demonstrated by our community goes a long way in maintaining a safe environment for all!

  
  

  A few reminders to help ensure a safe parking lot:

  
  

  1) Please do not reverse your vehicle while in the Kiss and Ride zone. Children may be crossing behind you using the crosswalk. Be patient.

  
  

  2) Drive slowly through the Kiss and Ride. We do try to give preference to the buses when leaving in order for them to maintain their morning schedules so please wait at the cross walk until you are directed to cross.

  
  

  3) Students are reminded not to bounce sporting equipment such as basketballs while walking through the cross walk. Students need reminders that if a ball falls from their grasp, not to chase after it. An adult can help them retrieve it.

  
  

  4) There is a bike path for students coming in on their bikes, on the south side of the church. Please use this path, and WALK your bike to the bike rack area, as the path is shared with walking pedestrians.

  
  

  5)Parents and students are strongly encouraged to use the cross-walk instead of crossing in front of the kiss and ride.

  
  

  6)The parking spaces adjacent to the church, near the cross walk, will be off limits to vehicles for parking. The crosswalk area can become crowded at times and we would like to maintain a clear sight line between children entering and exiting the school grounds.

  
  

  7) Please ensure that students are being dropped off at the Kiss and Ride designated area and are accessing the cross-walk.

  
  

  8) Please be aware that when entering the school lot, via the church entrance on the south side, it is NOT advisable to drop children off before the Kiss and Ride designated area. This is a drive-through area. Please merge into the kiss and ride lane when it is safe to do so, and please stop at the stop sign, proceeding with caution to the kiss and ride zone for pick up and drop off.

  
  

  Thank you for your attention to these matters. We know that everyone is in a hurry in the morning and at the end of the school day, but our number one concern is always the safety of all members of our community at St. Christopher School. Thank you for taking the time to be considerate of others by following these important safety reminders!

Please remember that from 8:00a.m to 3:00pm dogs are not allowed on school property. This includes small dogs being carried. Please be respectful of the fact that some of our students have a fear of dogs. We thank you for your continued understanding and support.

A dress code refers to the standard of student dress which is respectful of the dignity of the human person. At DPCDSB, students are dressed in a manner which ensures that their torso and upper legs, to the mid-thigh, are not exposed.

Our Cross Country training has begun. Thank you to all our coaches for training our students. We wish our St. Christopher Storm Cross Country Team the best of luck at the Mississauga South, Family of Schools Meet on October 16th at Erindale Park.

This year marks the 44th Anniversary of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope. As is our tradition here at St. Christopher, the Storm Community will be taking part in this important fundraising event on Friday, October 4th, 2024.

We are ready to once again, help keep Terry’s dream alive by spreading awareness and raising money to support cancer research. We will begin our afternoon with a school-wide gathering in the gym before heading out with our walking buddies. Primary and junior classes will pair up with older students for the walk.

Our route this year will take us into our local St. Christopher community. We invite all students to wear RED & WHITE this day to show our support for our Canadian hero. Please be sure to visit our St. Christopher School fundraising page by using the link below.

All donations can be made directly on the Terry Fox Foundation’s website for your convenience. https://schools.terryfox.ca/68660/ui

This year we have 3 fundraising goals we are working towards…

$1500 – PJ & Movie Day (TBD by classroom teachers)

$3000 – Teacher Tricycle Race

$4700 – Pie-in-the-Face (Staff Members TBA)

We would like to thank you in advance for your support in helping to keep Terry’s dream of finding a cure for cancer alive!

Students who are interested in joining the St. Christopher Chess Club are asked to come with some knowledge and experience prior to joining our club. Thanksgiving weekend may be a great time to sharpen those skills and learn to play at home. There are a number of web-based videos and resources for parents to access, where instructions can also be downloaded.

More information will follow with details of how students can join.

Special thanks to the coaches for running the Chess Club once again here at St. Christopher school.

Our Junior and Intermediate girls and junior boy volleyball training has begun. Thank you to all our coaches for supporting and training our students this Fall.

Just a reminder that will be no classes on Friday October 11th.

We are now in the process of reviewing our courtesy seating requests. We have submitted them to STOPR and will begin granting access shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday. The school will be in contact with families to facilitate these requests and to notify families of the status of their requests.

In the meantime, later this week students who are currently eligible for busing will be taking home an "Opt-Out" letter from the school. If your child is currently eligible for transportation but does not require it and wishes to "opt-out" kindly do so by completing and returning the bottom portion of the form with your child to school.

You may also contact the Transportation Department via the following contact numbers: Transportation: 905-890-6000 Special Education Transportation: 905-890- 6362. To determine if your son or daughter is eligible for transportation. You can also receive up-to-date information by following STOPR on Twitter @STOPRinfo

STOPR website: https://www.stopr.ca/

To receive updates on whether your child’s bus is running late, please subscribe to STOPR. Access your account HERE

St. Joseph Secondary School Open House is Thursday October 17th at 6:00 p.m. and there will have information for the regular program (feeder schools) as well as the Regional AP Program (schools south of the 401).

Year 2 Kindergarten parents/guardians who wish to learn more about French Immersion or wish to enroll their child in a Grade 1 French Immersion class for September 2025, are invited to attend an information meeting at one of the following virtual parent evening sessions:

BRAMPTON & MISSISSAUGA

Our Lady of Providence

St Angela Merici

St Joachim

St Pio of Pietrelcina

MISSISSAUGA

All Saints

Divine Mercy

St Elizabeth Seton

St Gregory

Note about Microsoft Teams: For optimal access, use a computer device (desktop, laptop or Chromebook) or use the Microsoft Teams App.

At different times throughout the year, especially in the winter when students are wearing hats and hoodies, schools experience an increase in the number of cases of head lice. In an effort to be proactive, we ask that your child’s hair be checked periodically to ensure that they do not have head lice. Should you discover the presence of lice or nits, we would appreciate being informed. Helpful information can also be obtained from a pharmacist or the local Public Health Department. Head lice is spread only by direct contact with a 'case', often through the sharing of combs and brushes, exchanging of hats, etc.

During the school year we will be rehearsing and will continue to rehearse with students a number of emergency response situations including lock down and fire drills. All schools are required by Board policy to practice these procedures throughout the year. We have these ‘practice drills’ for precautionary purposes only so that in the event of an actual emergency, students will be prepared to respond in a safe and responsible manner. We will also be practicing a Lock Down Drill. During this drill, the outer doors will be locked and the office will be unavailable during the time of the drill. No one will be allowed to enter or exit during the drill while the emergency protocol is being followed. The day will continue as normal following the drill. Thank you for your patience.

Communication between home and school is greatly enhanced by parental involvement with the Catholic School Council. Please note that our Council is comprised of parents, school staff as well as community and parish representatives. The aim of the Catholic School Council is to support school activities and students through involvement and fund raising. The School Council also provides a forum for parents to meet and share information and ideas concerning the school community.

A reminder that if you are interested in volunteering within the school in any capacity, a Valid Criminal Reference Check (CRC), with Vulnerable Sector and Local Records Check completed by Peel Regional Police is required. The cost is $35. Please note that there may be some time required to process a CRC, thus waiting for an announced volunteer opportunity to obtain your CRC may not provide sufficient time for processing. Once the school has a valid CRC on file, we will not need a new CRC yearly, rather, a yearly Offence Declaration will suffice.

Thank you,

St. Christopher Catholic School Council

The first School Council Meeting on Wednesday October 2, 2024 at 6:00pm in the library. All parents/guardians are always most welcome to attend.

Picture day will be on Tuesday October 22, 2024. Picture Retake Day will be on Monday November 18, 2024.

Every October, Children's Aid Societies across Ontario raise awareness about the important role that individuals and communities play in supporting vulnerable children, youth, and families through the provincial Dress Purple Day campaign. This year, Dress Purple Day will take place on October 25, 2024. We are calling on all Ontarians to wear something purple to show children, youth, and families that they are here to help! More Information.

October 28th- Orange and Black Day

October 29th-Halloween Hat and Hair Day

October 30th-Class Costume Theme Day

October 31st-Individual Costumes/orange and black Day

We want to have fun with students on Hallowe'en as much as we can safely do so. We invite students to dress up in a costume or wear black and orange on Thursday October 31st. Please refrain from sending children to school with costumes that have weapons and face masks. Also, please be reminded that costumes should not become opportunities to turn a person's identity into a stereotyped image.

Did you know? Peel Public Health provides free dental screening for kids in Peel elementary schools.

What is a dental screening?

• A dental screening is a quick look in the child's mouth by a registered dental hygienist using a no-touch technique.
• A separate, sterilized mouth mirror is used for each child.
• A dental screening identifies children who may need dental care.

[Image description: A child receiving a dental screening.]

What happens after a school dental screening?

• A form with the results of the dental screening will go home with every child screened.
• If a child is identified with a dental condition requiring immediate dental treatment, an additional form will be attached for parents to fill in and return to Peel Public Health. Please read the form(s) carefully.

A dental screening can help increase access to free dental services for eligible children. Visit peelregion.ca/dental or call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 to learn more.

Happy fall! Along with changing leaves and pumpkins, fall also brings an earlier sunset. That’s why October is Pedestrian Safety Month in Peel!

Brush up on your pedestrian safety skills with our games for elementary students. To stay safe this fall, remember these safety tips:

• Stay alert when walking, rolling or cycling, and avoid distractions such as cell phones or headphones.

• Be visible by wearing reflective or brightly coloured clothing.
• Follow traffic rules, and even if you have the right of way, ensure drivers see you by making eye contact with them before crossing.

As we approach Autumn, it’s the perfect time for students to walk to and from school! With support from School Travel Planning, students can improve their physical activity and mental health!

Let’s all…

• Celebrate the Season: Encourage students to walk or roll to school daily and take in the beauty of the changing leaves.
• Include everyone: For those who live further, consider alternatives like walking to the bus stop or getting dropped off a few minutes away to walk the last part of the journey.

Fall 2024 Ideas

WALKtober –International Walk to School Month (IWALK)
October is the time to celebrate walking and rolling to school! Visit the Ontario Active Travel website for inspiration: International Walk to School Month

Travel Tips Webinar
Active, Safe and Healthy: Travel Tips for your Daily Journey to School .

Take the One-Walk-a-Week Challenge
Challenge yourself and others to add one extra day of walking, rolling or biking. Plan your route using the School Trip Planner Tool .

Mindful Walks
Walking is great for the mind and body! Take a moment during your walk to notice the cool fall air and the beautiful colors of the season.

Every year, Peel Public Health teams up with schools and parents to make sure students get their important vaccines. As part of the Ontario immunization routine schedule, Grade 7 students aged 11 or older are eligible for their routine vaccines. Students can get Hepatitis B (HB), Human Papillomavirus (HPV-9), and Meningitis (Men-C-ACYW) vaccines. These vaccines are safe, have been used for a long time and help keep everyone healthy!

Vaccinations: A Shared Responsibility

Starting in the fall, vaccination clinics will be set up in schools to help students stay on track and get these vaccines for free The goal is to make sure all students get their vaccines before they complete Grade 8.

For Parents: Keeping Your Child Healthy

If your child is in Grade 7 or 8, check with their school to see when vaccine clinics are happening. You will also get an immunization fact sheet and a paper consent form to sign.

Want More Information?

For more details about the vaccines, visit the Peel Public Health website or at 905-799-7700.

Hey Parents, heads-up! As required by the Ministry of Education, all schools now have a zero-tolerance rule for vaping and smoking. Students are not allowed to have or use tobacco, vapes, or nicotine products at school. This means that if your child is caught with any of these items, the items will have to be given up, and you’ll be notified right away.

Vaping nicotine has risks. Some risks of vaping include:

• Addiction to nicotine

• Difficulty learning

• Increased anxiety and stress

• Lung damage and changes to how the brain grows and develops

To help you talk to your kids about the risks of vaping, check out our “Let’s Talk About Vaping” resource for parents or visit Not An Experiment. Let’s work together to keep our schools safe and healthy!

As per Ministry of Education direction, our Board has a Concussion Protocol in place. Again this school year, ALL students who sustain a head injury during the school day, however minor, will receive a Concussions Are Serious pamphlet to take home. We ask parents/guardians to review this pamphlet and seek medical attention for your son/daughter if you feel it is required. As in previous years, all head injuries will be logged and reported to parents/guardians directly. We ask that you please inform the school as soon as possible if and when your son/daughter sustains a concussion as a result of a school incident or as a result of an activity outside of school. Questions or concerns regarding this policy should be directed to the Main Office. Your cooperation and assistance in this regard are appreciated.

Sabrina’s Law is an Act to protect anaphylactic pupils in publicly funded schools in Ontario. Named “Sabrina’s Law” in honour of an Ontario student who died following an anaphylactic reaction in 2003, this law requires that every school board establish and maintain an anaphylaxis policy.

If your child has a severe allergic reaction to peanuts, peanut by-products, bee/wasp stings etc., please let the school know as soon as possible. It is essential that the information you provide us with is accurate and up-to-date. There are various forms which need to be completed by you and your family doctor if it is necessary to store and dispense an EPI-pen or any other medication at school.

We continue to have both students and staff with severe, life threatening allergy to certain foods, such as peanuts and nuts. This is a medical condition that may cause severe and life threatening reactions to certain allergens within minutes. Although this may or may not affect your child’s class directly, we require your continued cooperation in sending foods to school with your child that are free from peanuts, nuts or their by-products.

Please do not send food products to be shared in your child’s classroom. If you would like your child to share their special day/birthday with their classmates, we suggest that you consider non-food items such as pencils or stickers.

Letters have been sent home with the students whose classroom members have specific allergies. Please check with your child, and in their backpack, for letters regarding the type of allergy and products to avoid in your child’s classroom. Please pay careful consideration to school lunches and snacks while continuing to refrain from sending in items that are made of, or contain, nuts or peanuts. We offer our heartfelt thanks for your support in making our school a safer environment for all.

Ryan’s Law is an Act to protect Asthmatic pupils in publicly funded schools in Ontario. If your child has asthma please let the school know immediately. It is essential that the information you provide us with is accurate and up-to-date.

Ryan’s Law introduced policies and procedures that:

 Allow your child to carry his/her asthma reliever (rescue) inhaler (with your permission).

 Reduce your child’s contact with asthma triggers.

 Develop an individual plan for every student with asthma, including recommendations from their health-care providers and current emergency contacts. This will be kept on file at the school.

If you have more questions about

Ryan’s Law?

Call The Lung Association Lung Health Information Line at 1-888-344-LUNG (5864), email info@on.lung.ca, or visit www.RyansLaw.ca.

If a child is required to bring medication to school, procedures regarding the administration of medication shall only be adopted:

· when requested by the parents/guardians; and

· when authorized by a physician; and

· when medication must be provided during school hours

A designated staff member must administer medication; hence, a signed request/authorization form from the parents/guardians and the supervising physician, must be obtained. These forms are available through the school office. Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication and forms are updated annually. If your child requires medication please have all pertinent forms completed and returned with the medication to the office as soon as possible

All medication will be housed in a safe location. Medication must not be kept in the child’s possession or in the classroom except for EpiPens and asthma inhalers.

It is highly encouraged that students who have an anaphylactic allergy or who have asthma, keep their epi-pen and/or inhaler on their person at all times. If able, it is recommended that your child bring two epipens and/or two asthma inhaler to the school. This would allow your child to keep this medication on their person as well as ensuring that the school office has an additional set of medication.

Please note that school staff cannot dispense medication of any kind without the proper physician authorization and a properly labeled container, (i.e. prescription bottle or original over the counter container).

This is a reminder that the updated Student Handbook for Elementary is now available on the DPCDSB main website. Please click the link below:

All grade 3 and 6 students will have completed EQAO in May. We would like to thank the staff and students for their work before and during this provincial EQAO testing. Thank you also to the parents for their efforts in assisting with their EQAO preparation and ensuring their child’s attendance during the assessment. Results of these assessments will be used to define school goals and refine improvement strategies. Results will be available at the school in the fall 2024. We, again, would like to congratulate our grade 3 and 6 students for persevering and trying their best!

The DPCDSB offers the Kindergarten program in 125 Catholic elementary schools in Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Bolton and Orangeville.

Parents/guardians can register online at dpcdsb.org.

Registration is open to Catholic children and children of Catholic parents. Kindergarten students must be at least four (4) years of age by December 31, 2024.

The following documents are required to complete the registration process:

• Proof of age of the child
• Original Roman Catholic baptismal certificate (for child and/or parent/guardian) or original baptismal certificate from a church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome or an Eastern Catholic Church.
• Immunization Reference #’s from the local Public Health Unit
• Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
• Proof of home address
• Proof of English Separate School Support
  
  

Please refer to the Register for School webpage for accepted forms of documentation.

Inquiries about home school locations/boundary areas should be directed to the DPCDSB Planning Department at 905-890-0708 ext. 24440.

For more information, parents/guardians should contact their local Catholic school, visit the DPCDSB website at dpcdsb.org, or call DPCDSB’s Admissions Department at 905-890-1221.​

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

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

  To verify that you are registered as an English Separate (Catholic) school supporter:

  • Check the assessment section of your Tax Bill or Property Assessment Notice
  • Check your Voter Information Card received during an election year (2022)

  Have you moved?

  Even if you have been an English Separate (Catholic) School Supporter 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

You can now reset your password remotely by registering for the Password Reset Tool. You must know your old password to create a new one.

To reset your password remotely you must first register with the “Password Reset Tool”, which you can do by following one of these two steps:

Students: students.dpcdsb.org and select Password Reset

Staff: https://account.activedirectory.windowsazure.com/PasswordReset/Register.aspx ​

**Access to personal email/cell phone is required for registration.

Once you are registered, please follow the Password Reset Instruction

October

1-10: Thanksgiving Food Drive

2 PALS Training

2 Catholic School Council Meeting at 6pm in the library

3 Rosary Apostolate Visit #1

4 Terry Fox Walk/Run-Please wear Red and White

5 World Teachers Day. Theme is “Empowering Educators, Strengthening Resilience, Building Sustainability.”

8 Downy Farms Pumpkin Field Trip for Gr. 1 – 3 classes

10 Alectra Presentation

11 PA DAY

14 Thanksgiving Day

15 Girls Junior Volleyball Family Tournament

16 MS Cross Country Meet at Erindale Park

17Junior Boys Volleyball Tournament

17 THANKSGIVING/OPENING SCHOOL MASS at 10:00am at the church. All Families are invited

23 Bus Driver Appreciation Day

25 Vaccination Clinic in the library for Grades 7 & 8: Hepatitis B, Meningococcal Men-C. ACYW-135, HPV-9.

27 Children’s Aid Society’s Dress Purple Day

31 Halloween Dance

November

7 Dental Screening

7 Rosary Apostolate Visit #2

12 Progress Reports sent home

14 Parent-Teacher Interview Evening

18 Photo Retake Day

18 – 22: Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week

22 PA Day, No school for students.

25, 26, 27 – Cricket Clinics for Grades 1 - 8

**All images are taken from Freepik**