![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/8.72e42688.jpg)
![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/8.7b5f91a1.jpg)
St. Edmund Catholic School
March 2024
1250 Melton Drive
Mississauga, Ontario
L4Y 1L5
905-277-8962
"Mind, Body, Spirit"
Principal - T. Podobnik
Vice Principal - C. Fernandes
Secretary - C. Walker
Trustee - Mario Pascucci - Ward 1
Superintendent - D. Belchior
Parish - St. Patrick's Parish - Rev. Fr. J. Facey
St. Edmund School Hours
Supervision Begins 8:30 a.m.
School Begins 8:45 a.m.
Recess (a.m.) 10:51—11:06 a.m.
Lunch 11:46—12:46 p.m.
Recess (p.m.) 2:09—2:25 p.m.
Dismissal 3:15 p.m.
KINDNESS PRAYER
God of power and mercy, give us the spirit of prayer and repentance, - with burning love for you and for all humankind.
Help us to work with you in making all things new in Christ, - and in spreading justice and peace throughout the world.
Teach us the meaning and value of creation, - so that we may join its voice to ours as we sing your praise.
Forgive us for failing to see Christ in the poor, the distressed and the troublesome.- and for our failure to reverence your Son in their persons.
Allow us to show kindness to all we dialogue with.- and to see the face of Christ in these encounters.
We ask through your Son, our Lord and Saviour,
AMEN
Administrator's Message
February was a fabulous, fun filled month. Black History Month was highlighted through classroom activities, lessons, daily announcements. We wore our pink in support of Pink Shirt Day and learned more about it. Students were treated by our parents to a wonderful breakfast on Shrove Tuesday.
We thank our Catholic School Council for all the work they did to feed all our students on ‘Pancake Tuesday’. We look forward to highlighting the virtue of kindness this month.
Classes also celebrated the 100th day of school. Students painted, wrote, coloured, and built all things to honour the number 100. We know that our students are 100 days smarter.
As a Catholic faith community, we entered into Lent with our Ash Wednesday Liturgy. Lent is the time of the church year in which we are called to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As we turn inward, and self-reflect during these up-coming 40 days of Lent, we are ever-mindful of the examples set by Jesus Christ. These actions help prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Our students received their Term One report cards. Thank you to all the students and parents who came to the school, during a snowstorm, to meet with teachers! This was an excellent time to connect with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress and work together to reflect on new goals for Term Two. We encourage all our students to take the time to set new goals for Term Two, continuing to utilize their Growth Mindset!
Thank you to all our staff and students who continue to come to our school each day eager to work and learn with and from one another. Together we are dedicated to the success and well-being of everyone in our school community. May we continue to support a sense of community and belonging at St. Edmund as we embark on our Lenten Journey.
T. Podobnik & C. Fernandes
In March, we celebrate the virtue of kindness
God wants us to give generously to others around us.
A kind person…
gives their time to help others
stands by their friends in time of need
shares with their friends
is polite
cares about other people’s feelings
We are Called to Love / Appelés à aimer
“If we love one another, God lives in us.”
(1 John 4:12)
First Communion & Confirmation 2023-2024
If your child is in Grade 2 and Grade 7 this year and would like to receive their Sacrament of First Communion (Grade 2) and Sacrament of Confirmation (Grade 7), please contact the St. Patrick Parish Office with your child's name, school, grade and with the email address you use regularly. Communication will primarily be via email.
The Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations
Vision of the Learner
The Graduate is expected to be:
- A discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith community who celebrates the signs and sacred mystery of God's presence through word, sacrament, prayer, forgiveness, reflection and moral living.
- An effective communicator who speaks, writes and listens honestly and sensitively, responding critically in light of gospel values.
- A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who solves problems and makes responsible decisions with an informed moral conscience for the common good.
- A self-directed, responsible, lifelong learner who develops and demonstrates their God-given potential.
- A collaborative contributor who finds meaning, dignity and vocation in work which respects the rights of all and contributes to the common good.
- A caring family member who attends to family, school, parish, and the wider community.
- A responsible citizen who gives witness to Catholic social teaching by promoting peace, justice and the sacredness of human life.
Dogs on School Property
Please remember that from 8:15am to 3:30pm 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.
Annual Offence Declaration
As in the past, each volunteer is asked to list any criminal convictions that have occurred since the last Criminal Background Check (CBC) or Annual Offence Declaration (AOD).
The deadline for the 2024 AOD is March 31st, 2024.
RETURNING VOLUNTEERS: All volunteers are required to have a verified copy of a Criminal Background Check (CBC), with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS), within 6 months from the time they started volunteering with the Board/School, kept on file in the school. The Annual Offence Declaration is intended for returning volunteers only, who have already submitted a CBC with VSS, and have continuous service with the Board.
Morning Procedures
Just a reminder that parents are asked to remain behind the Red lines marked by a Stop Sign on the pavement from 8:30 am to 8:45 am to allow students to play together safely, and for line of sight for our teachers on duty. Students are reminded to be not playing with balls before school.
Cold Weather is Here
Inclement Weather Reminders
Our winter season is here! At this time we would like to remind all students to dress appropriately for the season by wearing the proper winter attire which should include hats, gloves/mitts, winter coats and boots. When students are dressed properly for the winter conditions, they can go outside and enjoy some fresh air and activity in comfort. There will be a few times during the course of the year where a recess may be shortened or held indoors due to extreme cold temperatures. According to the school board policy, students are required to remain indoors when the wind chill reaches -25.
In the colder weather, we receive numerous requests to allow children to remain indoors when students have a cold, the flu, etc. Please note that we cannot comply as we neither have the facilities nor the staff to supervise these students. Moreover, the health officials indicate that the fresh air is good for children, and not harmful as long as they are dressed appropriately.
Field Conditions
At St. Edmund, we are so fortunate to be allowed to use City of Mississauga's field and parks for our students. As a courtesy to them as our neighbours we constantly monitor the field for wet and muddy conditions to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
March Break
Please be reminded that this year, March Break will be from Monday, March 11 to Friday, March 15. Students and staff will return to school on Monday, March 18 at 8:30 a.m. Enjoy special time together.
WINTER FUN SAFETY EXPECTATIONS
SNOW Safety Expectations
Now that the snow is here it is important to remind students that St. Edmund has a strict rule of forbidding the throwing of snowballs and kicking of snow. Every student has been made aware of the importance of this rule in the preventing of injury to others.
S Snow stays on the ground
NO No standing, sitting, sliding down hills
W Winter wonder: building snow angels, snowpeople, snow forts!
Please review our Snow Safety Expectations with your children. Thank you for your support.
St. Edmund is Allergen Aware
IMPORTANT REMINDER
Some of the students in our school have severe life threatening allergic reactions to nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oils and any peanut byproducts. For some children the smell of nuts can bring on a severe attack. We need your cooperation! We kindly ask that you DO NOT send snacks to school that contain nuts or any nut products.
Please note that to ensure the continued safety of all students, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board with the support of the Anaphylactic Society and the Peel Health Department has recommended that students not bring peanut butter alternatives (soy butter, sunflower butter) to school. We thank you for your cooperation in supporting student safety
Cellphone Communication
This is just a reminder that cell phone communication is not permitted during the school day. If you need to connect with your children, please contact the school and we will support this communication. Students responding to text messages on their phones during class time provides a significant distraction from learning. We understand that many children have phones to let their parents know that they have arrived at school safely; the recommendation is that they inform you they are present, and then put their phones away.
We also remind parents and students that taking pictures, and recording video of students or teachers during the school day is prohibited, ESPECIALLY when there is no consent.
Kindergarten Registration
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
St. Edmund Catholic School Council
Our Catholic School Council Meeting dates for this year.
October 5, 2023
November 30, 2023 at 6pm
February 1, 2024 at 6pm
April 24, 2024 at 6pm
June 6, 2024 at 6pm
Password Reset Tools
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
Important Dates
March:
March 11-15: March Break
March 17: St. Patrick's Day
March 19: First day of Spring
March 20: Lenten Mass
March 22: ME Chess Tournament/Big Crunch/Earth Hour
March 26: Grad Photos/Pretzel Day
March 28: Stations of the Cross
March 25-29: Holy Week
March 29: Good Friday
March 31: Easter Sunday
April:
April 1: Easter Monday-No school
April 2: World Autism Day
April 6: Immunization Clinic- Grade 7 and 8
April 8: PA Day
April 15: Living Arts Centre Trip-Rohn, Neculai, Mangiardi
April 17: Easter Mass
April 22: Earth Day
April 4: CSC Meeting @6:00pm
April 22-26: ECO Spirit Week of Code
All images are taken from Freepik.