St Richard Community Update

Principal: T. Brancalion

Head Secretary: G. Falotico

Superintendent of Schools: Laura Odo (905)-890-1221

Trustee: Brea Corbet (905)-301-9373

Parish: St. John of the Cross Parish (905) 821-1331

Email: RICHAInfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: https://www.dpcdsb.org/richa
Location: 7220 Copenhagen Road, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Phone: 905-826-5572
Twitter: @StRichardDPCDSB

God of light, shine forth, show us how to bring hope to others.

God of mercy, help us to comfort your people and share their joy.

God of hope, make us an Advent people, preparing the way for life in all its fullness.

Amen

Advent is a time of waiting and quiet preparation. As we participate in the season of Advent, and prepare for the coming of Jesus, may we continue to show generosity to those in need and reflect God’s love in all that we say and do. On behalf of the staff of Divine Mercy, Merry Christmas to you and your family. May the peace of the Advent season, the joy of Christmas, and the excitement of a new year be a part of your celebrations. Wishing you and your families a blessed Christmas and a safe and joyful New Year.

A hopeful person is…

· inspired and inspires others

· optimistic

· one who seeks good things from life

· one who sees the good in the world

To receive parish notifications, weekly bulletin & Sunday Mass link, please click https://bit.ly/SJOCAddme to signup

Message of His Grace Most Rev. Francis Leo

Please read the Archbishop's pastoral letter on World Youth Day 2024 (Solemnity of Christ the King) here

2024/2025 Sunday Missals

The new liturgical year's Sunday Missals are available in the Parish office for $5 each

2025 Collection Envelopes

Next year's collection envelopes are available for pickup in front of the Parish office

Book of Life

On All Souls Day and throughout the month of November, the Book of Life containing the names of deceased loved ones will be placed in front of the altar. Their souls will be prayed for on that day and in all Holy Masses throughout the month.

There are 2 ways to have the names of your loved ones be included in the Book of Life:

1. By picking up a purple sheet in the hallway of the church and bringing the sheet back once completed OR

2. By clicking here and listing the names of your loved ones on the form. The Parish office will print their names and add them to the Book of Life.

Our Lady of the Cape Pilgrim Statue

The pilgrim statue of Our Lady of the Cape which is on its way to Rome for the Jubilee 2025 will be visiting our parish.

Children's Liturgy

The Liturgy of the Word for children during Mass has returned

Every weekend during the 5pm, 10am, 12pm & 4pm Masses

All children ages 5 to 8 years old are invited to join

Parish Prayer Group

The Parish Prayer Group invites all parishioners as their sessions reconvene

Every Thursday starting September 12th at 7:00pm in the Lisieux Room

All are welcome to attend

Children's Bible Study

The Jesus Youth Ontario Initiative will be hosting a God's Plan in Scripture (GPS) Bible study for children in grades 3 to 5

Men's Fraternity Group Fall Session

The Men's Fraternity Group invites all men ages 18 and up to join their Fall session "The Fight of Faith"

Every Saturday morning starting September 14th at 7:00am to 8:30am in the Nessinger Hall

To learn more click here. To register click here.

Bereavement Grief Sessions

The Parish invites you to bereavement sessions

6 week session starting Monday January 6th at 10:00am to 12:00pm in the Lisieux room

Please contact Muriel Haney at muriel1066@bell.net for more information

Bible Study

The Parish invites all parishioners to come and join the Bible Study on the Gospel of Luke

8 week session starting Tuesday February 11th at 7:00pm to 8:30pm in the Nessinger Hall

Cost is $42 for the workbook and 1-year video access

Please contact the Parish office to sign up 905-821-1331

2024 – 2025 1ST COMMUNION & 1ST RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE

1st Communion Registration Meetings

Sunday, September 22nd 7:00pm @ the church

Tuesday, September 24th 7:00pm @ the church

Reconciliation

Monday, November 25th 7:00pm @ the church

Tuesday, November 26th 7:00pm @ the church

1st Communion Registration Meetings

Sunday, January 19th 7:00pm @ the church

Tuesday, January 21st 7:00pm @ the church

Enrolment Ceremony

January 25th & 26th, February 1st & February 2nd All Sunday Masses

Ash Wednesday is March 5th, 2025

Easter Sunday is April 20th, 2025

1st Communion Masses

Saturday, May 3rd 10:30am @ the church

Sunday, May 4th 2:00pm @ the church

Saturday, May 10th 10:30am @ the church

Sunday, May 11th 2:00pm @ the church

SCHEDULE FOR CONFIRMATION 2024 – 2025

Drop off Confirmation Package to Schools: Monday, September 9th

CONFIRMATION PARENT MEETINGS

Sunday, September 29th, 2024 6:00pm @ church

Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 7:00pm @ church

CONFIRMATION DATES

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Our Catholic School Council met for our first meeting on Wednesday, September 18th 2024.

Welcome to our new members.

Neisma Peredo Chair

Magda Kaniewski Co-Chair

Renata Bieniek Treasurer

Gina Falotico Secretary

Rachel Pinto OAPCE Representative

David Randall Parish Representative

Lynn Rockett Voting Member

Cynthia Sudeyko Voting Member

Stephanie Giorgio Voting Member

Michael Freeze Voting Member

Milena Piasentin Voting Member

Meeting Dates:

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Monday, October 21, 2024 @ 6:30pm in our Library

Monday, November 18, 2024 @ 6:30pm in our Library

Monday, January 13, 2024 @ 6:30pm in our Library

Monday, February 10, 2024 @ 6:30pm in our Library

Thursday, April 24th 2024 @ 6:30pm in our Library (Public Budget Information Webcast)

Monday, May 12, 2024 @ 6:30pm in our Library

Please note all meetings will be hybrid.

On Thursday December 5th Peel Health will be here running a vaccine clinic for students in grades 7 and 8. Information was sent home to families.

Our Grade 5 and 6 students will particpate in this Mercy Retreat

Students in grade 7 and 8 will participate in this United Retreat

Please join us at 6:00pm on Thursday, December 12th at St John of the Cross Parish for our Advent Mass. Thank you to our Catholic School council for providing treats and refreshments for the event.

Please join us On Wednesday, December 18th to watch our students perform in our Christmas Concert. We ask that you please choose either the 9:00am concert or the 1:00pm concert.

During our Christmas Spirit week we will be selling Candy Grams at the office every day at first recess. The cost of the Candy Grams are $1.00.

Candy Cane Ingredients: Sugars (sugar, glucose, syrup), Natural flavour, Sweet potato and carrot juice (for colour) Sunflower lecithin, canola oil. May contain Milk, Eggs, Wheat.

We hope you and your loved ones have a safe and peaceful Christmas Break. We look forward to seeing you all back at school on Monday, January 6th 2025

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT WEEK

Monday, December 16th: CHRISTMAS ACCESSORIES DAY—Wear Christmas jewelry, socks, clothes, hats, headbands, and scarves. Be creative and show your Christmas spirit.

Tuesday, December 17th: Santa Hat Day!

Wednesday, December 18th: CHRISTMAS COLOURS/COSTUME DAY— Wear Red, Green or White for Christmas or Purple, Pink or White for Advent.

Thursday, December 19th: FESTIVE SWEATER/SHIRT DAY/FLANNEL—Wear your spirited Christmas clothes today.

Friday, December 20th: HOLLY JOLLY JAMMIE/COZY DAY—Wear your favourite Christmas PJ’s or comfy clothes to school today.

In the season of Advent and preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ the St. Richard Catholic Elementary school community will once again be working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society supporting the Christmas campaign for families who are in need. The St. Vincent de Paul Society serves over 100 families in our local community. We are hoping you can support this worthy cause by purchasing gift cards for our neighbours in need.

This year St Vincent de Paul will be using the gift cards we collect to purchase food in January for our neighbours in need. Some suggestions for stores would be Walmart, FreshCo, Superstore, No Frills, and the Dollar store.

St. Richard donors have always been very generous, and we hope that you will continue in your generosity by supporting families at this time of the year. There is no set denomination for the gift card as we are grateful for whatever you are able to contribute, however, we are kindly requesting that you include a receipt of the balance on the gift card.

We value your generosity as this project is only possible through your charitable and thoughtful spirit. We ask that you send all gift cards to the school by Thursday, December 13th 2024. Thank you in advance for your continued support.

We are excited to share that beginning on Modnay, January 13, 2025, St. Richard will be offering Swiss Chalet lunches to all students every Monday. Thanks to our new community member at Swiss Chalet, Meadowvale Town Centre, this opportunity has become available to our school.

Students will have the option between:

• Quarter Chicken, dark meat
• Quarter Chicken, white meat
• Pierogies
• Chicken Strips

All meal options come with the choice of one side:

• Garden salad
• Cesear salad
• Mashed pototoes
• Rice
• Veggies

All the details are on SchoolCash online!

The Lunch Lady program is offered every Monday at St Richard!

Please see the link below to set up an account. You will need to enter your child's name and select your child's teacher information as a part of your account information.

Lunch options include kid favourites such as pasta, burgers, grilled cheese, shepherd's pie, as well as many "breakfast for lunch", vegetarian, gluten free and halal options. There's even a specialized "Little Lunches" menu for our younger students to enjoy!

You can place or cancel your order by 8 am on the delivery date.

Once you create an account you can order every week or only for the days that suit your schedule.

https://order.lunchlady.ca/Security/Registration

Starting Tuesday, October 15th we will be having pizza days every Tuesday and Friday. We have chosen Dominos Pizza as our provider again this year. We are excited to let you know that pizza will also be available for purchase on pizza days. The cost of the pizza will be $2.50.

All orders must be placed through cash online. There will be no subs for purchasing on Sub days.

All sales must be made through School Cash Online. There will be no purchasing of food on Harveys days.

This fundraising initiative is to raise money for various activities for our students throughout the year. (Guest Speakers, Technology, and to off set costs for our graduating class of 2025).

• Tuck Shop Items for purchase
• $2.50 Kernels Popcorn (Butter and Salt, White Cheddar, Dill Pickle, Salt and Vinegar, Caramel)
• $2 Various Chips (Lays Regular, Cheetos, Doritos, All Dressed, and Ketchup, Crunchy Cheetos, Pringles)
• $2 Garden Veggie Straws
• $2 Terra Cotta Cookies (Chocolate chip, Fudge chip, Vanilla, Vegan Cholocate Chip, Glutenf ree Choclolate chip)
• $2 Breton Veggie Crackers
• $1 Pretzel Sticks
• $1Goldfish Crackers
• $1 Organic Apple Sauce Pouches
• $1 Rice Krispies
• $1 Welch's Fruit Gummies
• $1 Sour keys

If your child has any food restrictions and you do not want them to participate please contact their teacher directly to let them know.

The Terra Cotta cookies do have a vegan and gluten free option available. Please let your child's teacher know if you would prefer they purchase either of those options instead.

Ingredients for all Terra Cotta Cookies

Fudge Chip DeLite

Ingredients:

Enriched wheat flour, brown sugar, sugar, liquid whole egg, soybean and modified palm oil margarine, semi-sweet chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, dextrose, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), unsweetened applesauce (apples, ascorbic acid), cocoa, soluble vegetable fiber (corn), baking soda.

Contains: wheat, soy, egg.

Catholic Chip DeLite

Enriched wheat flour, brown sugar, sugar, semi-sweet chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, dextrose, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), liquid whole egg, soybean and modified palm oil margarine, unsweetened applesauce (apples, ascorbic acid), soluble vegetable fiber (corn) baking soda.

Contains wheat, soy, egg.
May contain milk.

Vanilla Butterfly

Ingredients:

Enriched wheat flour, soybean and modified palm oil margarine, sugar, liquid whole egg, soluble vegetable fiber (corn), rainbow sprinkles (icing sugar, fractionated palm kernel oil, corn starch, glucose, soy lecithin, colour, gum arabic, carnauba wax), natural flavour.

Contains wheat, soy, egg.

Vanilla Heart Cookies

Ingredients:

Enriched wheat flour, soybean and modified palm oil margarine, sugar, liquid whole egg, soluble vegetable fiber (corn), colour, natural flavour.

Contains wheat, soy, egg.

Vegan Chocolate Chip

Ingredients:

Enriched wheat flour, brown sugar, sugar, semi-sweet chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, anhydrous dextrose, soya lecithin, vanilla extract), water, soybean and palm oil margarine, unsweetened applesauce, milled flaxseed, soluble vegetable fiber (corn), baking soda.

Contains: Wheat & Soy

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip

Brown sugar, soybean and modified palm oil margarine, semi-sweet chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, dextrose, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), rice flour, liquid whole egg, soy flour, cassava starch, vanilla extract, baking soda, xanthan gum.

Contains: soy, egg.

Elementary Schools, including St. Sofia – Professional Activity Days

1. Monday, September 16, 2024 Principal’s Day: Re-organization/Faith Development

2. Friday, October 11, 2024 Provincial Priorities in a Catholic Context

3. Friday, November 22, 2024 Provincial Priorities in a Catholic Context

4. Monday, January 20, 2025 Term 1 Assessment and Evaluation of Pupil Progress

5. Friday, February 14, 2025 Reporting to Parents

6. Friday, May 16, 2025 Provincial Priorities in a Catholic Context

7. Monday, June 9, 2025 Term 2 Assessment and Evaluation of Pupil Progress

Thanksgiving Day Monday, October 14, 2024

Christmas Break Monday, December 23, 2024, to Friday, January 3, 2025 (inclusive)

Family Day Monday, February 17, 2025

Mid-Winter Break Monday, March 10, 2025, to Friday, March 14, 2025 (inclusive)

Good Friday Friday, April 18, 2025

Easter Monday Monday, April 21, 2025

Victoria Day Monday, May 19, 2025

Please note that there are children who have allergies to animal hair, and who have a fear of dogs. In order to prevent a potential concern for our students, please do not bring your dog onto school property during school hours. Thank you for your continued cooperation

Please see pdf below for information about School Cash Online.

Build your math skills and confidence with a personalized math coach. Tutors are available online Mondays-Fridays from 9am to 9pm ET and Sundays from 3:00pm to 9pm ET.

https://www.tvomathify.com/students

In accordance with Ministry regulations, three fire drills will be conducted in the fall and three in the spring. While we hope that a real fire or emergency situation never arises, this practice helps prepare our students in the event of an emergency.

Emergency response procedures in the event of a fire, bomb threat, serious accident/injury or an intruder have been established and are revised on an ongoing basis. Each school within the DPCDSB is required to hold 9 emergency procedure drills over the course of the year.

These drills consist of three fire drills per term, one lockdown drill per term, and 1 hold and secure drill per year. During these drills staff review all emergency procedures with students to ensure all children are safe in the event of a real emergency.

In the event that it is necessary to evacuate the school, our site for relocation is St John of the Cross Church located at 6890 Glen Erin Drive.

It is a policy in Dufferin-Peel CDSB that all of its schools conduct a “Lockdown Procedure” twice a year. This will be initiated should an emergency exist on school property or in the surrounding neighbourhood. Part of the process is to practice the “Lockdown Procedures” as well practice Fire drills. The procedures that we will follow have been recommended by the board.

Students will be instructed that when they hear the announcements “Initiate Lockdown Procedure” followed by the repeated ringing of the school bell, all staff and students will follow the following actions:

1. All students and staff inside the building will remain in their classrooms.

2. Students or staff in the hallways or washrooms will be expected to go to the closest classroom.

3. Students and staff will remain in the classroom until further instructions are given.

All students and staff who are outside the building are to quickly move as far away from the building as possible.

We have continued the soft entrance at St Richard this year. Which means the children's classroom are open to them from 8:15. Please make sure students are arriving before the bell so they can be ready for learning at 8:30.

St Richard Catholic School actively encourages and promotes regular and punctual attendance. Educational research has consistently shown that student progress and academic success are closely related to regular attendance and active participation in the day-to-day activities of the school. Frequent absences from school jeopardize a student’s successful completion of any level.

Ultimately, responsibility for attendance lies with the student and the parent.

Although trips and vacations may provide diverse learning experiences, the school does not support travel or vacations during class time. The content covered in each grade is important and requires attendance. While parents may choose to travel during the school year, the time missed from class is recorded as an absence and counted in the total absence record for the term and the year. Also, assessment and evaluation can become problematic.

What takes place in the classroom is the work. What occurs as a follow up is either completion of in-class work, or practice and review of the skills and knowledge gained in the classroom.

Open communication between home and school is very important. Although we will be reporting to you formally during the year, please do not hesitate to contact the classroom teacher at any time if you have questions or concerns. A phone call on the onset of a concern usually resolves itself before it becomes a problem. On our part, if we have any concerns about your child, we will also contact you at the earliest opportunity.

Anyone working with children as an employee or volunteer must have a Criminal Reference Check/Vulnerable Sector Check completed by the Peel Police.

ALL volunteers including those going on one day school trips MUST have a Criminal Reference check. The Criminal Reference Check for volunteers may take a number of days for the paperwork to be processed and has to be done through Peel Police.

If you already have a Criminal Reference Check on file at the school, please ensure you have completed the yearly Criminal Offence Declaration form with the office.

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 will be 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. The required authorization forms and the medication shall be delivered to the principal or designated person by the parents/guardians. 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).

Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication and forms are updated if there is a change to the medication for any student who requires medication to be administered at school. Forms are available at the school office or from your child’s teacher. Please check and note expiry dates on all medication.

When a student receives an injury to the head, it is Board Policy that we inform parents. We will attempt to reach you even when it is a minor injury. Please try not to be too alarmed should you receive a call. Please remind your child to let a staff member know immediately, if they are hurt at school.

As per the Ministry of Education direction, our Board has a Concussion Protocol in place. ALL students who sustain a head injury during the school day, however minor, will receive a Concussions Are Serious pamphlet and accompanying paperwork 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 when your son/daughter sustains a concussion because of a school incident or because of an activity outside of school. Questions or concerns regarding this policy should be directed to the Main Office. Your cooperation and assistance are greatly appreciated.

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board has the following policy regarding Personal Electronic Devices in place for all schools.

The Board recognizes the importance of the use of PED’s by students at school and the benefits in their classroom. As part of our policy, students may bring their own device (B.Y.O.D.) for learning purposes. As part of our efforts to promote and maintain a positive Catholic climate in our schools, all PEDs must be kept out of sight, turned off, and not used within school premises or during school-sanctioned activities; unless the classroom teacher grants specific permission for use.

This policy applies to field trips, retreats, sporting events, etc. as well as daily classroom activities. Personal Electronic devices (PEDs) include, but are not limited to cell phones, iPods, iPads, cameras, ...

Please note that it is optional for students to bring their devices to school and it is their responsibility to follow the school and Board policies set out in the “Personal Electronic Device used with Wi-Fi Network Student Agreement.”