St. Christopher School

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

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the staff at St. Christopher School

“Advent” originates from the latin word adventus, meaning "coming" or "arrival." The first day of Advent is the first day of a new Liturgical calendar and begins a four week period of preparation for the nativity of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Advent will begin on Sunday, December 1, 2024. The Advent Season is all about reflecting on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for Christ's birth.

Here at St. Christopher, we highlight the significance of the birth of our Savior through our Christian deeds. We ensure that Advent is a time where we partake in reflection, charity, and social justice initiatives. It is a time to prepare our hearts and to acknowledge God’s presence in our lives each and every day through prayer and Christian actions. We wish you and your family a Holy Advent and blessed Christmas. Parents and families are welcome to join us at St. Christopher Parish for our Community Advent Mass on December 4, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.

Our school community is a vibrant and supportive school where students thrive!

I. Sauve and C. Fernandes

In December we celebrate the virtue of Hope

A hopeful person is…

• inspired and inspires others

• optimistic

• one who seeks good things from life

• one who sees the good in the world

“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.

Confirmation:

Commitment Weekend: Saturday January 11 at 5pm, Sunday January 12 at 8:30am, 10am and 12pm

Reconciliation: Saturday April 26-8:45-4:00pm

Confirmation Mass: Wednesday April 30th at 7pm

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 let your child out of the driver's side door. Students need to exit from the passenger side. If your child needs assistance with exiting the vehicle, please park in the parking lot to assist your child.

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.

Our Intermediate Girls Volleyball team played their best at POD Tournament, making it to semi-finals but lost in the third set. We are so proud of our girls for their hard work and dedication to the team. Our Intermediate Boys played amazing in the POD Tournament and will be representing St. Christopher in the Family Tournament on Wednesday December 5.

Thank you to the coaches Ms. Formusa and Ms. Comi for coaching both teams.

We are also proud to recognize our Junior Boys and Girls for making it to the Family Tournament. Congratulations to our Junior Boys for their Second place finish at the Tournament!!

Thank you to Ms. Comi and Ms. Formusa for supporting and training our students this Fall.

On November 11th, we remember our fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives for us. We thank Ms. Smerilli, Ms. McNeilly and Ms. Comi's class for organizing a touching Remembrance Day Liturgy.

On November 11 and 12, Brave Education led workshops for our Grade 4-6 students about the role of the bystander. Students learn to manage social situations through identifying harm, and practicing our S.T.A.N.D. intervention steps. Students apply knowledge by evaluating an animated case study.

On December our FDK classes visited the Living Arts Centre to participate in "Let's Put on a Show". Students were exposed to the world of drama and theatre and created a performance.

On November 15, the grade 2 in Ms. McNeilly, Ms. Comi and Ms. Smerilli's class went to Peel Safety Village. Students learned about bike and car safety.

On November 25-27, St. Christopher school participated in Cricket Clinics where each class learned how to play the sport of cricket with professional cricket players.

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 Ms. Alcaid for running the Chess Club once again here at St. Christopher school.

St. Christopher Christmas Food Drive in support of Compass Food Drive will begin on December 2 until December 13, please send in non-perishable food items such as pasta, cans of vegetables, soups, baby food, nut butters etc. Also, we will be accepting donations of reusable shopping bags to pack the donated food items.

Thank you for your support!

We have a number of items that are in the Lost and Found. We will be displaying all items starting next week. Please remind your children to look for any missing items. All missing items will be donated by December 20.

Please be mindful of the weather conditions and dress children appropriately. As the weather starts to change, students are encouraged to wear layers for the cooler mornings and warmer afternoons. Students will be asked to have indoor shoes at school, especially once the weather changes as wet and soiled boots and shoes will remain in the hallways to keep the classrooms clean!

Thank you to all the families that signed up for our Gingerbread Night! Registration will close on Monday December 2, 2024. Please use the link to sign up: https://forms.gle/AbQcxUjqJHgkwbFL7

CHECK OUT THE FUN BELOW.

Just a reminder that will be no school starting Monday December 23 to Friday January 3, 2024. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year! We will see you back on Monday January, 6, 2025.

Please register your child for the Knights of Columbus Free Throw event happening on January 16, 2025. The event will occur during the day at school from 11:15am -12:15pm. Please see the attached application form to register your child.

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.

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 Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce the introduction of School Cash Online. As school move toward being cash less, School Cash Online allows parents and community members to pay school-related fees online safely, quickly, and easily. Parents can purchase items like spirit wear, lunches, and field trips - anytime, anywhere. For more information and to set up an account, please click the link below.

As we head into the holiday season, it’s a good time to keep our children’s online safety and health in mind.

25% of youth aged 12 to 17 reported being cyberbullied in the past year.

Cyberbullying has been linked to increased stress, lower self-esteem, and mental health challenges.

Having open discussions can help children navigate online experiences safely.

Setting limits to screen time and rules helps build healthy habits for the future. For your child's safety, look for apps that provide parental controls which can help block sites and enforce time limits.

Fun and Easy Activities for the Holidays:

Planning fun activities with your child can promote mental and physical well-being. This may include:

• Building a snowman or snow angels

• Going skiing or skating
• Family game night (puzzles, board games)

Food plays a significant role during the holidays for many families. It can also provide an opportunity to enjoy a variety of foods, eat with others, practice food skills, and learn about cultures and food traditions. Here are some tips to make the holidays be both fun and healthier:

1. Include vegetables and fruits when offering foods at celebrations and events, Canada’s Food Guide recommends making half your plate vegetables and fruit. Try preparing or adding fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables and fruits with festive colours to the meal.

2. Serve water instead of other drinks such as juice or pop that contain sugar at your celebrations. Try offering holiday inspired infused water with a cinnamon stick and chopped apple or pear and a drop of vanilla extract.

3. Enjoying your food is an important part of healthy eating. Ways to enjoy your food can be through eating with others while sharing stories and adding a festive touch to your eating environment. Practicing mindful eating and using your senses can also help appreciate your meal.

4. Encourage cooking together as the holidays can be a time where families can share and learn food skills, cultures, or traditions. Including children in food preparation can help them learn family recipes and try new foods. For more ideas on how to involve children visit: Cooking with Kids of Different Ages.

Try this recipe for Apple berry crisp that is kid friendly and perfect to share during the Holidays.

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.

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).

​Kindergarten registration for the 2025-2026 school year at Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) schools is now open. 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, 2025.

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

December

3 Advent Start

3 Intermediate Girls Volleyball Tournament

4 Advent Mass Night at St. Christopher's Parish-6:30pm

5 Intermediate Boys Volleyball Tournament

5 Winter Walk to School Day

6 Gingerbread Night and Evening with Santa

12 Rosary Apostolate

16-18 Spirit Week

19 Virtue Assembly of Hope

23 - Jan 3 Christmas Break

January

6 First Day Back

**All images are taken from Freepik**