The Thunderbird Nest

Email: St.TeresaofAvilaInfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: https://www.dpcdsb.org/avila
Location: 6675 Montevideo Road, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Phone: (905)858-3462
Twitter: @AvilaDPCDSB

Principal: C. Roda

Vice-Principal: L. Di Muzio

Head Secretary: J. Sequeira

Catholic School Council Chair: TBD

Superintendent of Mississauga North: L. Odo

Trustee Wards 9 & 10 Brea Corbet (905) 301-9373

St. John of the Cross Parish Information Website: http://www.saintjohnofthecross.com/

Please feel free to click on the Translate button on the bottom of the newsletter to choose your language of preference! (Arabic, Spanish, Hausa, Portuguese, Taglog, Polish, Italian, Malayalam, Hindi etc.)

Greetings St. Teresa of Avila Families,

As we begin the 2024-2025 school year, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to all and returning families and staff.

We have a number of new faces here at Avila, and we would like to introduce Ms. DiMuzio (Vice Principal), Mlle. Nemi (Grade 5/6 French Immersion), Mlle. Deusdado (FSL), Mr. Leach (Planning Time), Ms. Banson (ERW), and Mr. Addison (Social Worker).

We look forward working with our local parish, St. John of the Cross. Father Joyson and Father Joby continue to support the spiritual life of St. Teresa of Avila and are often seen at the school.

We continue to work closely with our Catholic School Trustee, Brea Corbet, and have our first Catholic School Council meeting scheduled for September. St. Teresa of Avila is so blessed to be supported so well by the parents of the community. We hope to see you all at our Open House BBQ event on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. Details to come!

Thank you to our incredible custodial team, Mr. Pinto and Mr. Tomas for their exceptional work in making our school beautiful. Thank you to the outstanding teaching staff for all of their efforts in coming in during the summer days to prepare their classrooms to recieve students. We are so lucky to have this amazing community of teachers.

As we begin another academic year together, please know that we will do everything we can to support the adademic, social, spiritual and physical decelopement of your children. We are here to bring out the excellence in all.

September is a time of transition and fluxuations. Please remember that class placements are tentative until after the reorganization day, September 16th.

We look forward to an amazing year together!

Best,

C. Roda, Principal

L. DiMuzio, Vice Principal

The virtue of the month of September is faith. Faith is the great virtue of believing in God and trusting that God is with us. A faithful person believes that we are created, guided by and destined to be reunited with God.

A faithful person believes that God’s plan for us includes the right to be safe, especially at school.

A Faithful Person...

Prays regularly and reverently

Learns from Scripture stories

Honours people’s God‐ given names

Assumes that there is good in everyone

Good and Gracious God, as a new school year begins,

Fill the hearts of our students with an eagerness to learn:

About the world You have created,

About themselves and

Most of all about You!

Bless our teachers with the gifts of wisdom and patience,

That they may help students find the truth.

Give our parents generous hearts,

To encourage and support their children.

Help us all work together to form a community of learning

That teaches not only skill for material success,

but all that we need

To live our faith fully in this world.

Amen

During these days in the first few weeks of school teachers will focus on topics such as:

• Entry and dismissal routines
• Movement in and around the school
• Transition times
• Eating lunch/ snacks, etc.
• Mental health and well-being check-ins
• Support Diagnostic assessment to plan for intervention to address learning gaps
• Getting to know their learners
• Building a faith-filled community

• Please do your best to arrive to school on time! Students arriving late for class in the morning are missing valuable instruction time. Students can enter the school building starting from 8:15am daily.
• Please be reminded NOT TO PARK OR STOP your car for an extended period in the Kiss & Ride lane at anytime. Please observe parking signs. Please also do your best to move up in the Kiss & Ride lane to allow for as many cars as possible.
• Photography while on school property: We discourage photography on school property due to privacy and safety concerns.
• We discourage adults from observing children during lunch and recess play time. We strive to maintain a safe environment at all times for our staff and students.
• All parents/guardians are encouraged to keep their distance and help us reduce the chance of crowding before and after school. Primary teachers work hard to ensure their students are safely connected with their parents or caregiver and that can be a challenge when visitors gather too close to the doors. Please stay along the grass line as you wait for your child/ren to enter or exit.
  

Arrival

We will be allowing for soft entry to the school each morning. Students will be provided access to the school beginning at 8:15 each morning. Please note that there is no teacher supervision of students in the school yard. Each of the designated entrance doors will be unlocked for students to enter and go to their respective class. Parents are not permitted to enter the school doors with their child(ren). Doors will be locked again after the bell at 8:30.

Dismissal:

We will be dismissing students at the conclusion of the school day, at 3:00pm. Students will be dismissed in the same area as they entered in the morning. If you have a child in grades K-3 teachers will wait with them until they are directly given to an adult listed on his/ her pick up list. Teachers will be asking parents to inform them of their dismissal plans. If you have an older child, please ensure that they know how they are getting home and with whom. Bus students will begin loading the bus as soon as the bus arrives.

Make a plan!

It is so important for families to always establish a plan for how children are getting home. Please be sure to share this plan with your child's teacher. If the plan should change, please be sure to let the school know, so we are aware.

It is important that we are able to contact someone in the case of an emergency. Please complete the emergency student verification sheets that will be sent home electronically the first weeks of school. Remember that those people you list as contacts are automatically given permission to pick up your child from school. They are needed in case we cannot contact you. It makes sense to have a relative, neighbour, or friend who lives close to the school and is available during the day to pick up your child in case of illness, concussion, or changes of clothes that may be required.

Good Morning Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

We are happy to announce that all Courtesy seating requests have been processed and STOPR will begin assigning seats as of Monday, September 25th. Please be patient as this process will be completed over the next few weeks. For updates, continue to check https://www.stopr.ca/ for your child's busing information. Please pay close attention to the start date and stop location.

If you have not submitted a Courtesy Transportation Form and would like to be considered for Courtesy Bussing please complete the attached copy of the Courtesy Transportation form. Completed copies are to be submitted to the main office for processing. The school will inform the family when a seat has been granted. We will only reach out to you if and when a seat is granted.

During the school year, courtesy transportation may be withdrawn at any time for any of the following conditions:
1. Seating is required for eligible students
2. Altering the route is necessary
3. Student behaviour that is unacceptable

TFL004 Courtesy Transportation Request.pdf

If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact us here at the school.

All positions for the 2024-2025 Catholic School Council (CSC) will be open for nominations. We hope you will consider joining us for what will prove to be a very rewarding and worthwhile experience.

Nomination forms for those considering joining our Catholic School Council are due Friday, September 13, 2024 by 4:00pm.

Elections will take place on our first School Council meeting on Wednesday, September 18th, 2024 at 6:00pm in the school library (zoom link to be shared later)

Kiss & Ride Procedures.

Guidelines when using the Kiss & Ride program at St. Teresa of Avila:

• Children are to be dropped off or picked up, using the drop off lane between the hours of 8:15 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:00-3:15 p.m. Due to the high volume of cars, especially in the morning, and dependent on the weather, please consider arriving early.
• As cars enter the school driveway, please proceed in a slow and cautious manner, around the parking lot.
• The drop off and pick up lane begins directly in front of the kindergarten yard and extends until the STOP sign. Please drive up to the very top of the kiss and ride lane to drop off and pick up your children to facilitate a steady flow of traffic.
• Children are to exit the car in a safe and careful manner with their backpacks ready to avoid a long wait time in the drop off lane. Children are to exit the vehicle on the right side of the car, onto the curb, for safety purposes and proceed to their door.
• Cars are to exit in a slow and cautious manner and are encouraged to turn right out of the school in order to ease the flow of traffic.
• Please do not attempt to move into the drop-off lane from the drive thru lane.
• Do not park or leave your vehicle unattended in the Kiss & Ride lanes. If you need to get out of your car, please park your car and escort your child(ren) to school.
• Cars may park in the parking lot, Please use the area specified to cross across the lanes safely.

Please see the visual below to help support this messaging

We realize that the mornings are very hectic, and the Kiss and Ride lane is very convenient for many families, however, the safety of the students is always first. Please help us create a safe environment for everyone.

Are you interested in volunteering at St. Teresa of Avila? Our volunteers support programs and activities at the school. We appreciate and rely on parents who can devote a small portion of their time to help. People who volunteer in schools and attend trips are required to have completed Vulnerable Sector Check -Level 3 ($35), which can be completed online at the link below.

Please note that if you have previously submitted a Criminal Reference Check, they have expired due to the pandemic time lapse, unless you have completed the Annual Declaration. Please connect with the main office if you are unsure.

Once the form is completed, your volunteer service can begin. We look forward to working with you for the betterment and support of all students.

Good Morning Avila Families!

We are very pleased to share that our lunch options at St. Teresa of Avila will begin the week of September 30, 2024.

Thanks to support from our Catholic School Council, we are able to offer you lunch options for each day of the week!

Monday: Ozmow's

Tuesday: Domino's Pizza

Wednesday: Mr. Sub

Thursday: Domino's Pizza

Friday: Hero Burger

All orders will be placed through SchoolCash Online. SchoolCash Online will be live in the coming days for all of these orders.

All orders for the week will close the Friday before. For example, orders for the week of September 30, 2024 will close on Friday, September 27, 2024 at noon.

There will not be any opportunity to purchase Ozmow's, Mr. Sub, or Hero Burger for the day-of. We will continue to have available a limited amount of pizza for same- day sales at $3.00 per slice.

Greetings Avila Families!

We would like to formally invite all of you to our Open House and Community BBQ!

The event will take place on: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 from 5:00pm- 7:00pm. We invite you all to come to the school and meet the teachers!

SCHOOL CASH IS LIVE!

School Cash orders will close on Friday, September 20th, 2024 at noon.

Each meal costs $6.00 and comes with a bag of chips/ popcorn (assorted flavours) and either a juice box or a bottle of water.

You will be able to choose between:

1. 1/4 pound gourmet hamburger

2. BBQ Hotdog

3. Gourmet veggie burger

St. Teresa of Avila is thrilled to share that we will be having our school photo day on

Tuesday, September 24, 2024!

Regular Morning, Lunch and Afternoon recess will be outdoors with supervision.

*If you wish for your child to wear sunscreen, please apply at home before school as teachers are not permitted to apply sunscreen on students. In addition, as we draw closer to the season of fall and the temperature outside begins to drop, we ask that your child comes to school in appropriate clothing/ outerwear.

Students are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottle to school for water consumption. Although water fountains are open, the water filling stations are also open and students will be able to refill their water bottles throughout the day. Please clearly label your child's water bottle to confusion with other students.

Please ensure that your child arrives at school with all the items they need for the day. We realize that there will be occasions where students forget something at home There will be a table located at the front doors for parents/guardians who are dropping off items for their children. Please label the item clearly with the CHILD’S NAME AND TEACHER.

If you plan on bringing your child’s lunch in the morning, let your children know that you will be leaving the lunch on the table at the front doors.

As we begin a new school year, we would like to inform you that St. Teresa of Avila School 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 St. Teresa of Avila 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 also refrain from sending WOW butter, as this product is very difficult to distinguish from peanut butter. 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 for ward to your co-operation in making this a safe year for all of our pupils.

If your child requires medical equipment such as an epi-pen or puffer, please send it to school in a clearly labelled bag, and it can be stored in the main office.

Some important paperwork must be filled out in order for the school to have information on how best to support your child. Please ensure that the Authorization for the storage and administration of medication accompanies all medication coming to the school.

Here at St. Teresa of Avila School, we take 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.

CELL PHONE USAGE

• Students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 will now be required to keep phones turned off or set to silent mode and out of sight for the duration of the school day, unless otherwise explicitly allowed by the educator during instructional time for a specific purpose.
• Students in Grades 7 to 12 must store their phones out of view and powered off or set to silent mode during instructional time, unless otherwise explicitly allowed by the educator during instructional time for a specific purpose.
• Contravention of these Ministry of Education expectations would be addressed as per the procedures outlined within DPCDSB’s Catholic Code of Conduct.
• Students who need to use their phones or other electronic devices for health and medical reasons, or to support special education needs, may continue to use them during the school day following consultation with school administration.
• Report cards may include comments on students’ distraction levels in class.
  
• The school does not assume responsibility for lost, or damaged devices.
• Please note that St. Teresa of Avila, through the support of the Catholic School Council, has always invested in technology for students. All students have access to devices while at school. Personal devices are not required to access the curriculum.
  

Communication with students throughout the day is to be made through the school; through either the main phone line or the info mailbox at St.TeresaofAvilaInfo@dpcdsb.org.

We will be participating in Orange Shirt Day on Monday, September 30th to honour our commitment to Truth and reconciliation.

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

The school is closed to students on Monday September 16th, 2024. Instruction will resume on Tuesday September 17th. Reorganization of classes will occur at this time.

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board has implemented a new student absence reporting system that will make it easier for you to report your child’s absence from school. This new system is called SafeArrival.

With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of the following three convenient options:

1. Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://go.schoolmessenger.ca/#/home )

• The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account.
• Select Attendance then Report an Absence

2. Use the SafeArrival website, https://go.schoolmessenger.ca/#/home .

• The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account.
• Select Attendance then Report an Absence.

3. Call the toll-free number 1.844.435.3440 to report an absence using the automated phone system. For Student Being Late to School or Early Departure from School.

• The automated message will prompt you to enter ABSENCE for student, and will ask if the student be ABSENT today, tomorrow etc.
• To this question, please say ‘yes’ to absent as the next question will be to enter the type of absence and will give you options of full day, late, early departure leave and return.
• The above 3 options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.
• Future absences can be reported at any time.

NOTE: For absences greater than five consecutive days, please call your child’s school directly.

Remember to: Please report absences in advance using SafeArrival instead of sending notes or calling/emailing the school.

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 – 1

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. 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.

Courtesy Seating Requests will be finalized in early October 2024.

The STOPR website provides up to date delay and inclement weather cancellation information in addition to policy, procedures and frequently asked question. 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

Monday, September 16th- PD Day (no school for students)

Wednesday, September 18th- Catholic School Council Meeting @ 6:00pm, Library.

Monday September 23rd - Friday September 27th: Book Fair

Tuesday, September 24th- Photo Day!

Wednesday September 25th- Opening Mass -- 1:00pm

Wednesday September 25th-Open House BBQ Meet and Greet (5pm-7pm)

Monday, September 30th: Orange Shirt Day- Truth and Reconciliation