St. John Henry Newman Newsletter

Principal - Ms. Viola

Vice Principal - Mr. Campbell

Head Secretary - Mrs. Davidrajan

Superintendent - Mr. Brunton

Trustee - Mr. Xavior

Parish - St. John Fisher Catholic Church

Pastor - Fr. Regulo Imperial

Email: CNEWM.info@dpcdsb.org
Website: https://www.dpcdsb.org/cnewm
Location: 698 Balmoral Drive, Brampton, ON, Canada
Phone: 905- 792-2268
Twitter: @CNEWM_DPCDSB

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

“We would like to begin by acknowledging the land on which we gather, and which the Region of Peel operates, is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississauga’s of the Credit. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples inhabited and cared for this land. In particular, we acknowledge the territory of the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Ojibway/Chippewa peoples; the land that is home to the Metis; and most recently, the territory of the Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation who are direct descendants of the Mississauga’s of the Credit.

We are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land, and by doing so, give our respect to its first inhabitants.”

To begin the new school year, we will focus on the importance of our first virtue of the

month faith. Faith is the great virtue of believing in God and trusting that God is with us.

Faith is an attitude which encourages us to involve God in our lives and helps us to maintain and develop relationships with God and with others both when things are going well and when they are not.

Gracious God, we come to you at the beginning of this academic year with our many feelings, expectations, fears and hopes. Help us to remember, however, we have the comforting
assurance from you: "I will always be with you."
Loving God, for all of us this is a time of transition. It is transition from the work and leisure of summer back to the classroom. It is transition from time spent with family and friends.
Give us patience with ourselves as we transition as well as patience with one another.
Faithful God, this beginning is totally new for some among us. Turn the sadness of leaving families to openness to new friends and opportunities. Turn the anxiety about academics to a quiet confidence in the way you have blessed us in the past. Give us a new perspective to see persons, events, and academic work as an invitation to develop the many gifts you have given us to be used in service for others.

Amen

On behalf of the staff of St. John Henry Catholic Elementary School, welcome to the 2023-2024 school year. The theme for this year’s Catholic Education Week is, “We are called to love”. At St. John Henry Newman, we live each day expressing and renewing our faith and see the vital importance and value of our Catholic Education.

A special thank you to our custodians, who have been working tirelessly to ensure that our school is a safe and clean place for all. A sincere thanks and gratitude to all of the staff who have given their time in order to prepare for the arrival of your children.

We are all looking forward to an exciting year with ample amounts of new learning in the 2023-2024 academic year. Our staff is dedicated and committed to working with our parents, parish, and community partners as they support the children in their quest for a Catholic faith-based education. Please note that you can follow us on Twitter @CNEWM_dpcdsb for a glance into our learning. Our newsletters and updates will be emailed out and available on our school website at https://www.dpcdsb.org/cnewm .

Wishing you many blessings for the 2023-2024 academic year!

May God continue to bless our St. John Henry Newman families,

Ms. Viola Mr. Campbell

Principal Vice Principal

Catholic Education Week

Each year, the Catholic community of Ontario engages in a week-long celebration of the unique identity and distinctive contributions of Catholic education during Catholic Education Week.

The theme for Catholic Education Week 2024 is We Are Called to Love, May 5 - 10, 2024.

Supervision in the schoolyard begins at 9:00 am. Please do not drop your children off at school prior to that time, as they will not be supervised. The school day ends at 3:45 pm. Parents are asked to ensure that arrangements are made for their children to leave school at 3:45 pm. Students are not supervised after 3:45 pm. The exception to this is, of course, our students who are bussed. The doors of St. John Henry Newman Catholic School are open to parents who wish to visit or confer with staff; however, an appointment is necessary, as the classroom teacher’s first responsibility is teaching the class during regular school hours.

This Is Our Daily School Schedule.

9:00 AM Supervision In The Yard

9:15 Am Instructional Day Begins

11:21 AM Morning Recess All Grades

12:16 Pm Lunch - Outdoor Play

12:56 Pm Lunch - Indoor Eating

1:16 PM Afternoon Instruction Begins

2:50 Pm Afternoon Recess All Grades

3:45 PM Dismissal

You may enter the school and go through kiss and ride or turn right into the parking lot to park. Thank you for following the rules of kiss and ride. Driving all the way to the top of the kiss and ride lane, having children ready to exit vehicles from the right side and ensuring the continuous flow of cars. We appreciate your assistance. Remember always SAFETY FIRST. Thank you for continued cooperation.

Arriving at school on time, and being prepared to learn, helps students with the formation of good work habits and provides a positive beginning to the day. Please review the importance of arriving to school on time with your child(ren). Your cooperation in support of your child’s learning experiences is much appreciated.

All students are expected to enter the school with their class at entry times. If you are coming to the school during the school day please use the front door, and proceed to the office. All visitors must report to the office. Students who enter the front door in the morning will be recorded as late.

Parents who are dropping off their children are asked to remain outside the schoolyard while students are playing. No parents should be in the schoolyard in the interest of the safety of all children. We appreciate your cooperation.

During the lunch hour, all students who stay for lunch are expected to remain at school, and all students who go home for lunch are expected to go home every day. A form will go home with your child about your child’s lunchtime arrangements. Please indicate your child’s regular lunchtime arrangements, sign the form and return it to the school as soon as possible. Parents are asked to ensure that the form is signed and returned to school.

When it is necessary for your child to leave school early, please send a note to your child’s teacher advising him/her of the time that you will be picking your child up. Your child will be asked to meet you in the office at the indicated time. When dropping off or picking up students during school hours, please go to the office to sign your child in or out.

Monday September 18 PA Day is dedicated for meetings to organize, reorganize and plan. There will be no classes for students on this day.

As each school year begins, reorganization of classes due to enrolment may be

a consideration. If we must reorganize classes, please be assured that we will do so with the interest of your child (ren) foremost in our minds. We will inform you in the event that any class reorganization is required. Your patience and co-operation is appreciated.

During the first month of school, student assemblies will be held to review school expectations, with a focus on safety, respect, and responsibility. These expectations, based on the Catholic Code of Conduct, are reviewed and reinforced by teachers in the class-rooms.

Our Open House will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2023. All families are welcome to visit their classroom teacher and our school from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. St. John Henry Newman staff are looking forward to seeing everyone at this event!

Students will share in the ‘Unbreakable Spirit of Terry Fox’ during our Annual Terry Fox Run/Walk. The Annual Terry Fox Run/Walk and Sidewalk Chalk will take place on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. We hope that all the students in the school will contribute a “Toonie for Terry”, an invitation to donate will be sent through school cash online. Donations can be made from September 6 until September 25, 2023. Thank you for your generosity!

Brave Education will be presenting to all our classes, inspiring resilience through social emotional skills. The Brave Education Workshop will be taking place on September 27 and 28. Students learn to identify the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships. Students will learn that conflict is essential to friendship, and how to tell the difference between conflict and bullying.

The day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Each month, St. John Henry Newman students will put on a Virtue Assembly. This month, we are focusing on the virtue of FAITH. Our Virtue Assembly will be held on Friday September 29 at 3pm. All parents are welcome to attend.

St. John Henry Newman will begin a focus on Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si, caring for our common home, the earth. Our goal is to have all families receive newsletters and other communication via email. All newsletters will be made available on the school Website: https://www.dpcdsb.org/cnewm. The calendar on the website will also be kept up to date.

St. John Henry Newman has 2 water bottle filling stations. Please ensure your child has a refillable water bottle. It is recommended that a reusable cup or extra water bottle be left at school in the event your child forgets their water bottle at home.

Personal Electronic Devices on Board Premises and/or Board Sanctioned Events for Educational Purposes

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board acknowledges the value of the use of technology for learning. Students are permitted to register and use personal electronic devices (PEDs) on board premises and/or board sanctioned events for educational purposes, under the direction of staff and only with parent/guardian permission.

Students may register their PED for the purpose of connecting to the board wireless network. Students are required to adhere to the student “Personal Electronic Device Used with WI-FI Network Student Agreement” (GF 337) and the “Network User Application and Agreement” (GF066). Please be advised that the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will not be responsible for any cost incurred through the use of personal data plans.

PEDs are to be used responsibly and should not interfere with learning; their use must comply with the Catholic Code of Conduct, board policies and procedures. Any personal communications (i.e., phone calls, text messages, etc.) will continue to be directed through the main office. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in a loss of PED privileges and/or any other consequences deemed necessary by school administration.

The school principal may authorize limited acceptable uses of personal electronic devices during school-sanctioned activities for a specific designated purpose outside of instructional spaces and/or in common areas.

Each teacher will maintain a Google Classroom where assignments and

information are shared with parents. Depending on the grade level, assignments may be

submitted this way as well. This is NOT a replacement for in-class learning. Students who are

away for a couple of days can look to Google Classroom to see some of the work

that was missed, but it will not have all the learning and/or assignments that happened in the

classroom on any given day. Most of our students are familiar with how to use Google

Classroom after our distance learning. Your child’s teacher will let you know

what their preferred means of communication will be.

In order to avoid tracking mud, water and snow into the classroom, it will be necessary for each student to have a pair of indoor running shoes. Students will change into this additional pair of shoes as soon as they come to their class. We are also requesting that the shoes the students will wear indoors have non-marking soles so that there will be no black scuffmarks on the floors. We appreciate your assistance.

Clean Clothing Reminder

At times, our play area behind the school can become quite muddy. We ask that students keep an extra pair of pants and socks in their backpacks or at school.

All visitors and parents are requested to enter the building through the front door. Please press the buzzer at the left of the door to be let into the school and to go directly to the office. Please understand that during instructional time, teachers are not available to meet with you or to take phone calls. Students are expected to enter and exit through their designated doors. These reminders are outlined for safety, security and protection of staff and students in our school.

For the safety and security of your children, ONLY staff and assigned supervisors are allowed in the schoolyard during recesses. Parents are kindly asked to NOT go into the students’ play yard at the back and side of the school. If you need to speak to your child, we require you to come to the office and we will locate your child and have them meet you in the office. We thank you for your co‐operation in supporting the safe environment of our school.

We are required to conduct three fire drills in the fall and three in the spring. We are also required to practice two lockdown drills during the year. Lockdown drills involve students moving away from the classroom door to a location within the classroom away from windows. Lights are turned off and the doors are locked. These practices are to ensure that students and staff are prepared in case we should need to go into lock- down. Police and Board security personnel would initiate lock-down.

Criminal Background Checks/Annual Offence Declaration

All volunteers having direct contact with students are required to provide a C.B.C. (Criminal Background Check). The board policy has been expanded and includes volunteering on class trips, in classrooms, Catholic School Advisory Council, etc. Criminal background checks must now be picked up and completed with Peel Regional Police. Once this is now complete, you can yearly complete the Annual Offence Declaration with the school if we already have your C.B.C. on file.

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 Instructions

As a school community we will be focusing our attention on supporting student's mental health and well-being. All staff have received training and will be engaging students in activities that support each of the 5 key areas noted above (connecting, kindness, self-care, support seeking and gratitude) in order to develop a positive school climate. Below you will find a link to some resources and supports that can be accessed at home.

Parents interested in seeking election should adhere to the following timelines:

Self- Nomination forms can be picked up at the school office or email mailto:CNEWM.info@dpcdsb.org to request one from– Tuesday, September 5, 2023 to Friday, September 22, 2023.

Completed Self-Nomination Forms must be received in the office by Friday, September 29, 2023 AT NOON.

Catholic School Council Election (if necessary) will be on Monday October 16, 2023.

The first council meeting will take place on Monday October 16, 2023.

Please note that if you are interested in being a member of the Catholic School Council, legislation makes it mandatory that everyone submits a Criminal Reference Check. Criminal Reference Check Application Forms are available at the school office. Thank you for considering this opportunity to get involved in St. John Henry Newman Catholic Elementary School Council.

Safety First when dropping students off at school.

Please try to ensure that your children are ready to get out of the car in Kiss and Ride and that they can exit on the passenger side. Students using Kiss and Ride should be able to exit the vehicle on their own. Drivers please remain in your vehicle if you are going through Kiss and Ride, pause long enough to allow children to exit safely, then continue through to allow other cars to move in. If parents need to get out of the driver’s seat, you should park and escort your child safely to the schoolyard.

To reduce the handling of cash, any payments made to Holy Family can only be made through Schoolcash Online Payment System. If you have not done so already, please sign up.

Parents can call (905) 890-6000 during the hours of 07:30 am to 6:00 pm to reach our call centre. If parents are looking for their children’s transportation information or eligibility, please direct them to our web site at www.stopr.ca While on our web site, in addition to receiving their children’s busing details, parents can also set up an account through the Parent/Student Login to receive late bus notifications and access additional transportation information such as: Parents will need their child’s Ontario Education Number (OEN) to access their children’s transportation details.

STOPR - Transportation Procedures

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 – 12

If your child is moving to grade 2, grade 5, or grade 9 in the 2022-2023 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.

STOPR is providing bus transportation services o for the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School r Board. The STOPR website address is www.stopr.ca. This website provides access to up to date information regarding delayed buses and bus cancellations due to inclement weather. To check for eligibility for transportation, please access the following website: businfo.stopr.ca.

STOPR Telephone Contact Information: 905-890-6000

The conduct of individual students on the bus directly affects the safety of all the students on the bus. The driver’s attention needs to be on the road. If students are misbehaving, this can distract the driver. We are requesting that all parents/guardians reinforce the School Bus Safety Rules with their child (ren).

All Students Should:

Be at the bus stop 5-10 minutes prior to their stop time. Never play close to the road. Be ready to board the bus by waiting in an orderly line.

Board the bus in single file, use the handrail and sit down in their seat as quickly as possible.

Listen to the bus driver.

Always remain seated while the bus is moving.

Do not throw anything around the bus or out of the window.

Keep the aisles clear of all objects (back packs, lunches, books etc.)

Do not shout or cause any other unnecessary noises. Be especially quiet at railway crossings.

Never put any part of your body out an open window.

Be sure to look all ways before crossing the road.

Do not damage the bus in any way.

Do not throw garbage on the floor.

Do not consume any food or drink on the bus.

If students fail to follow the bus safety rules, the following actions will be taken.

First Offence – child is warned by administration with a phone call home

Second Offence – parents will be notified in writing and/or a telephone call

Third Offence – student may lose bus privilege

Please be reminded that the front of the school is designated as a “Bus Loading Zone.” Parents/guardians are not permitted to pick up or drop off students in this zone. The safety of our students is our priority. Please drop off or pick up students in the designated school parking lot or the Kiss and Ride area.

Please ensure that your child rides the bus to which he or she has been assigned. If you wish to change your child’s bus, bus stop or have concerns about the bus schedule you must contact the Transportation (STOPR) department directly.

It is a parent’s responsibility to ensure that kindergarten to grade 2 students are met at the bus. If the bus driver does not see a parent or sitter at the stop, the student will be returned to school.

The Peel Transportation Consortium has ruled that the Courtesy Rider policy will only take effect as of October. The school will be notified by STOPR if we are permitted to allow more riders. We are starting the school year with our buses quite full with eligible riders, reducing the possibility of courtesy seats becoming available. Requests for “empty seats” must be submitted in writing and addressed to Mrs. Mountjoy. Please pick up and fill out a TFL004 should you wish to apply for a courtesy seat. Please be sure to list your child’s grade, address and phone number.

A courtesy seat may be granted if the following conditions are met:

1. A seat is available on the bus;

2. The bus stop already exists.

The following conditions are taken into consideration when assigning courtesy seats: student age, distance from home to school, date and time request was received and enrolment stability. Courtesy seats are granted for one school year. We are encouraging all students to walk to and from school with a friend. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

PLASP Child Care Services operates Before and After School Programs at this school. The Before School Program operates from 7:30 a.m. until school begins. A nutritious breakfast is served daily. The After School Program runs from the end of the school day until 6:00 p.m. Children participate in recreational activities, are served a nutritious snack daily and have time for homework. Fee assistance is available for those who qualify. Visit http://www.plasp.com and register your child online today. PLASP operates Before and After School Programs at this school in Rooms 1 and 2.

We believe that parents/guardians are the primary teachers of their children. Our goal is to educate every child well and to maximize student achievement and well-being. We will provide ongoing resources through the board and school websites to enable parents and guardians to be better informed and to participate fully in their child's education. Visit https://www3.dpcdsb.org/parents/help-your-child-learn/help-your-child-learn to explore a variety of student engaging websites.