St. Ambrose Catholic School Newsletter 20 Coules Court, Etobicoke, Ontario, M8W 2N9

Telephone: (416) 393-5259 Fax: (416) 393-5039 Visit us: http://stambrose.tcdsb.org and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stambroseces

St. Ambrose Parish Superintendent: D. Yack 416-222-8282 ext. 2732 Principal: K. Van Dinter Fr. Donatello Iocco Trustee: A. Andrachuk 416-512-3402 Secretary: E. Silva (416) 251-8282 CSAC Chair: B. Minor and J. Grande

DECEMBER 2016

Principal’s Message

As we begin the Advent season, let us reflect on

Christ’s presence in our lives and in the lives of

others. At St. Ambrose School, the month of

December will focus on creating an atmosphere of

preparation by touching the lives of those most in

need and giving back to the community through a

variety of community service initiatives.

Our Me to We team will be organizing Advent

Shoeboxes for Dr. Simone’s Canadian Food for

Children and we will be collecting reading books

and chocolates for the Catholic Children’s Aid

Society for our Sweet Read initiative. On

Thursday, December 15th, we will be celebrating

this special advent season with our Family Advent

Liturgy at St. Ambrose Church.

During this Advent season, as we prepare

ourselves to live out the virtue of charity, let us

show the same selfless giving of ourselves for

the betterment of others as Jesus did for all of

us.

On behalf of the entire staff at St. Ambrose, I

want to extend warm wishes to you and your family

during this season of Christmas!

Katherine Van Dinter Principal

A Christmas Prayer By Nancy Brummett

I said a Christmas prayer for you

Because the season’s near,

I didn’t ask for riches

But for something much more dear.

I asked for joyful gatherings

With your family all around,

And for carols to inspire you

With their old familiar sound.

I asked for quiet moments

In your heart on Christmas morn,

For a special time to celebrate

The Savior who was born.

I asked for friends to send their best

That you might know they care

I asked for peace and love and hope

And I know God heard my prayer.

May the spirit of Christmas

Bring you peace.

May the gladness of Christmas

Bring you hope

And the warmth of Christmas

Bring you love.

AMEN

Prayer for Charity

O Lord, give us more charity,

more likeness to you. Make us

kindly in thought, gentle in

word, generous in deed.

Teach us that it is better to

give than to receive, better to

forget ourselves than to put

ourselves forward, better to

minister than to be

ministered to. And to you,

the

God of love, be all glory and

praise, now and forever.

Amen.

By Henry Alford

Virtue of the Month: Peace

The Virtue Award for the month of November goes to the student(s) in each

class that are usually calm, level-headed when under pressure, generously forgive

others, and promote and practice conflict resolution.

CLASS TEACHER STUDENTS

ELP/1 Ms. Kwiatkowski Aidan A., Lauren V., Dominica K.

ELP/2 Ms. Bureau Jase M., Vivienne F., Alesander N.

ELP/3 Ms. Van de Coevering Jordan M., Oliver S., Tyler B.

1 Ms. Russo Elisabeth B., Emilia P., Aurelius G.

1/2 Mrs. Vieira Elizabeth C., Maria Lorella P.

2 Ms. Gacad Miley K., Kieran G.

2 Ms. Taddeo Evie K., John R.

3 Ms. Sztuka Justin P., Ronin H.

3 Ms. Pereira Emma H., Francois T.

4/5 Ms. Czarnecki Jorge G., Emily R

5 Ms. Pappano Madelaine M., Jacob de S.

6 Mrs. Birt Karolina P., Skyler H.

7 Mr. Roque Christian B.D., Kaitlyn M.

7/8 Ms. Berardi Anna P., Azaria L.

The Catholic Community Award for December: CHARITY

The criteria for the Virtue of Charity:

students who demonstrate generosity with their time and energy

students who participate in school wide initiatives related to charity

students who lend a helping hand

students who give to others without expecting anything in return

As we enter the season of Advent to prepare our hearts for the birth

of Jesus, it is rather suitable that this month’s virtue is CHARITY.

Many of us are already engaging in the mad rush to purchase gifts to

put under the tree on December 25th, but let us be mindful of the

fact that charity is not always about giving material things. Our quote

for the month is “Where charity and love are, God is there.” As St.

Thomas Aquinas described it, “Charity is friendship first with God and

secondly with all who belong to God.””

How can we practice charity and generosity in our community without

necessarily giving material things? Lets’ make this the challenge that

we all strive to achieve for the month of December!

Our next Virtue assembly will be on Friday, December 23rd at 12:30 pm

with Christmas caroling to follow. All parents/ guardians are welcome

to attend!

SWEET READ

Spread the gift of literacy! During

this Christmas season, St. Ambrose

students are asked to participate in

a “Sweet Read” initiative. Students

from FDK to Grade 3 will help to

brighten another child’s day and

increase literacy in our community

with their donations of new books

and peanut-free chocolate treats.

It is a true display of “Christmas

Spirit”. From Monday, December

12th through to Friday, December

16th, students can drop off their

wrapped donations (in clear

cellophane), around the Christmas

tree. All proceeds will be given to

the Catholic Children’s Aid Society.

ADVENT SHOEBOX DRIVE

The ME to We team is organizing

an Advent Shoebox Drive for Dr.

Simone’s Canadian Food for

Children. Students from Grades

4 to 8 will be asked to pack at

least one shoebox per student

for a disadvantaged child in a

third world country. The ME to

We team will be visiting classes

the week of December 5th to give

a mini presentation about this

social justice initiative. A letter

will be sent home the week of

December 5th with more

information.

ADVENT FAMILY LITURGY

This year we are celebrating the

Year of the Parish. On Thursday,

December 15th we will be having our

Family Advent Liturgy at St.

Ambrose Church. Our celebration

will begin at 7:00 pm with carol

singing followed by the Family

Advent liturgy at 7:15 pm. The

theme for our liturgy is the Jessie

Tree. Students will be decorating

the Jesse Tree while incorporating

scripture and song.

Students involved with the liturgy

will be seated at the front of the

church. All other students will sit

with their families during the

celebration.

A light reception will follow in the

St. Ambrose School gym,

compliments of our Parent Council.

Parents are welcome to bring treats

to add to the food table. Please

contact Mrs. Minor at

theminors@rogers.com for more

information!

We hope you are able to attend!!

CANDYGRAMS

With Christmas fast approaching,

the Student Leaders will be selling

Candy Grams. An order form with

more information will be sent home

the week of December 5th.

LAST DAY OF CLASSES The last day of classes before the Christmas holidays is Friday, December 23rd, 2016. Dismissal will be at the regular time of 3:00 p.m. Classes will resume on Monday, January 9th, 2017.

. SPIRIT DAY! Friday, December 23rd will be a Spirit Day! Students are invited to wear red, green and white! We will be having a Spirit Assembly in the afternoon where students will be participating in a Christmas Carol Sing-along run by our Choir and ME to We team. Money collected will be put towards Share Life.

INTRAMURALS

On Friday during lunch recess, Mr.

Mac Leod will be organizing

intramurals. More information will

be sent home shortly about this!

INDOOR SHOES In order to keep our students warm

and comfortable and to help keep

their workplace clean, please ensure

that your child has a pair of

“indoor shoes”. It will reduce the

amount of dirt and mud brought

indoors. It will also assist our

custodial staff in keeping our school

clean. These extra shoes serve many

functions, safety being the primary

reason. Students will not track

water into classrooms, hallways and

stairwells making them potentially

slippery and dangerous.

Also, during fire drills or in case of

a fire, students need to be able to

exit the building quickly; they will

not have enough time to stop and put

on their shoes. Students are not

permitted to be in sock feet in the

classrooms or anywhere in the

school. Indoor footwear is expected

for all students.

WINTER WEATHER

It is that time of year when

students need to be reminded of

the necessity of dressing properly for the weather (mittens, hats,

scarves, boots, etc.). Labelling

items would be helpful, as many

boots and mittens look very similar. Many items make their

way to the Lost and Found and are

often not claimed.

Except under inclement conditions,

students go outside during recess and lunch hour. Children who are

too ill to go outside should be

resting at home and should not

be at school.

Winter Safety

In anticipation of the arrival of our first significant snowfall, students are reminded that there is to be no snowball throwing, kicking of snow, taking hats, etc. Please take this opportunity to discuss these behaviors with your child (ren) in the interest of student safety.

ST. AMBROSE CHOIR On Wednesday, December 14th, the St. Ambrose Choir will be participating in Trillium’s Patient Christmas Party! Our choir will be sharing their gift of music by singing carols!!

KINDERGARTEN

REGISTRATION FOR

SEPTEMBER 2017

The Toronto Catholic District

School Board invites families with

children born in 2013 to register

for FDK beginning Wednesday,

January 18, 2017 at 10 a.m.

Registration Options:

• Online: Parents will be able to

complete their application

online at:

https://soar.tcdsb.org/Login.as

px. A follow up with visit to the

school to present the required

documents will be scheduled

following the online application.

• In Person: Parents can register

at their local school with the

required documents. Information: 416-222-8282 ext. 5320 or 5314, www.tcdsb.org/kindergartenregistration. Documents Required:

The following documents are

required for registration:

1. Child's Birth Certificate

(Certificate of Citizenship or

Landed Immigrant Status)

2. Child's Catholic Baptismal

Certificate (or other proof of

Catholicity)

3. Child's Immunization Record

4. Proof or residency in Toronto

It is best to call your local Catholic

school for an appointment. For a

complete listing of TCDSB schools,

please consult the Board website

at http://www.tcdsb.org/school/Al

phabeticalschooldirectory/Pages/d

efault.asp

We will be hosting a Kindergarten

evening Registration session on

Wednesday January 25th from

4:30 pm – 9:00 pm.

•Located in St. Ambrose Catholic School •Open at 7:30a.m. until 8:30 a.m. (the school bell) and after school until 6:00p.m. • P.A. Days, Winter Break and March Break included in your fee (excluding A.M. Only) Program Fees: A. M. Only -$18.00 /day P. M. Only – $25.80 /day AM/PM – $29.00 /day (Subsidy is available with the City of Toronto, call 311 for more information. Current child care fee subsidies are transferable) Register today! For program details call; (416) 622-6331 or filomena.zita@ymcagta.org

CATHOLIC SCHOOL

PARENT COUNCIL NEWS

NEXT CSPC MEETING

The next CSPC meeting will be on

Wednesday, December 14th at 6:30

pm – 7:30 pm. All parents are

welcome to attend!

.

September 2017-2018! St. Ambrose YMCA

Before and After School Program

Full Day Kindergarten Quality Care for 4 & 5 Year

Olds

GINGERBREAD MAKING

AND PHOTOS WITH SANTA!

Mark your calendar! Please join us

for some Christmas music and

holiday cheer! Decorate a

gingerbread house and take a

professional photo with Santa

(taken by Bright Pics) on

Thursday, December 8th from

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm!

SAMKO FUNDRAISING EVENT!

Need to do some Christmas

shopping? Shop at the Samko and

Miko Toy Warehouse sale located

at 77 Fima Crescent (Horner and

Kipling) as well as the Richmond

Hill location from November 25th

to December 6th.

Please mention to the cashier that

you are fundraising for St.

Ambrose Catholic School and

Samko will stamp

“Fundraiser” on the back of your

receipt. Then, please turn in all

stamped original receipts to the

school by December 23rd, 2016

and the school will get 10% of

your pre-tax sales. Happy

shopping!

QSP MAGAZINE FUNDRAISER

Need a last minute holiday gift idea? GIVE THE GIFT OF READING! Order a magazine subscription for someone special this holiday season! Simply go to www.QSP.ca and start shopping. Use the Account Finder to find our Group Online ID to support our school and children.

Remember, you can order a

magazine for anyone who lives in

Canada. It’s cheaper than wrapping

and mailing a gift and it lasts all

year long! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR

MAGAZINE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN!

SUBWAY SANDWICHES

CATERING MENU

Do you want to order sandwiches for a private family function and help fundraise for your school at the same time? Then look no further! If you order from Subway (300 Browns Line, Etobicoke), 10% of your total order will be given back to St. Ambrose!

When ordering, please make sure that you indicate you are a St. Ambrose parent so that you can help to raise money for our school!

Subway Sandwiches

300 Browns Line, Etobicoke

(416) 255-6474.

CHECK OUT OUR SCHOOL WEBSITE!!

GO TO:

https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/stambro

se

Kindergarten Registration for September 2017 The Toronto Catholic District School Board invites families with children born in 2013 to register for Kindergarten

beginning Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 10 a.m. EST.

Registration options:

• Online: Parents will be able to complete their application online at: https://soar.tcdsb.org/Login.aspx. A follow up

with visit to the school to present the required documents will be scheduled by the school following the online

application.

• In Person: Parents can register at their local school with the required documents.

Information: 416-222-8282 ext. 5320 or 5314, www.tcdsb.org/kindergartenregistration

French Immersion and Extended French The Toronto Catholic District School Board offers French Immersion and Extended French programs at several TCDSB

sites. The French Immersion program is offered to students beginning in Junior Kindergarten. The Extended French Program

is offered to students beginning in grade 5.

Interested parents are encouraged to attend an information evening to learn more about the program. Please note dates, times

and locations for sessions planned for December through to February available on the French Immersion and Extended

French sites. Information: (416) 222-8282 ext. 2540 or

https://www.tcdsb.org/ProgramsServices/EarlyYears/KindergartenRegistration/Pages/French-Immersion.aspx.

LTAP and LTPP The Toronto Catholic District School Board has launched a consultation on its proposed Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) and Long Term Program Plan (LTPP). All parents, staff, students and Catholic school stakeholders are invited to participate and provide input into the proposed actions outlined in the draft Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) and Long Term Program Plan (LTPP). Two separate consultation surveys (one for each plan) have been prepared to facilitate this consultation process. The links to the online surveys can be accessed by clicking on the links above. The deadline for responding to the surveys is Monday, January 9, 2017 at Noon.

Feedback gathered through the consultation process will help inform the decisions of Trustees regarding final

recommendations for the LTAP and LTPP at the Board meeting in February 2017.

For more information regarding the LTPP and the LTAP, please visit

https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/PlanningandFacilities/ConsultationsLTAPLTPP/Pages/Default.aspx

We thank you for your involvement in these important discussions.

Year of Parish—Promote Your Parish Project As we continue to celebrate our Year of the Parish we want to know what makes your pastor and/or your parish unique.

Students are invited to create a short video, or piece of original artwork, write a short story, poem or letter, or express

themselves in any way artistically to highlight the relationship that the students have with the local parish and/or the

priest/pastor at their church.

“Promote Your Parish” and let’s celebrate the many ways that our parishes and our parish priests contribute to our schools

and communities. Submit the completed projects via email to parish.project@tcdsb.org. We will be sharing the

submissions via the board’s website as well as Twitter. In addition, plans are underway for a showcase of student

submissions—videos, art and written pieces—during Catholic Education Week. Watch for more details about that event

soon.

Deadline for submissions: April 7, 2017

Visit the website for criteria and other details.

https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/NurturingOurCatholicCommunity/YearoftheParish/Pages/Parish-Family-Day-Celebration.aspx

Monthly Update from the Board

December 2016

Toronto Police Service Seeks Crossing Guards Interested individuals should drop in to their local police division to inquire about application.

Advent Has Begun For prayers, liturgies & other resources: https://www.tcdsb.org/Pages/Season-of-Advent.aspx

Get Ready for High School Everything you need to know can be found in the Transition Guides for parents and students:

https://www.tcdsb.org/ProgramsServices/SchoolProgramsK12/GuidanceCoopEd/Transition%20to%20High%20School/Page

s/default.aspx

https://www.tcdsb.org/ProgramsServices/SchoolProgramsK12/GuidanceCoopEd/Transition%20to%20High%20School/Tran

sitionGuidesOct282016/TCDSB_STUDENT_GUIDE.pdf

Preparing for Post-Secondary Education? University application deadline: January 11, 2017 https://www.ouac.on.ca/deadlines/

College application deadline: February 1, 2017 http://www.ontariocolleges.ca/apply/important-dates

OSAP information for students--Find more information about the Ontario Student Assistance Program:

New! Free tuition for eligible students

OSAP Presentation

Dates/Events to Note: • Staff Arts Christmas Concert, December 2nd https://www.tcdsb.org/pages/staff-arts-christmas-concert-and-wine-

and-cheese-social.aspx

• System-wide PA Day December 2nd

• International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3rd

• International Human Rights Day, December 10th

Christmas Break A reminder that schools are open through to December 23, 2016. Christmas holidays begin Saturday, December 24th and

continue through to Sunday, January 8th. Classes resume, Monday, January 9th.

Our Eastern rite families will celebrate Christmas on January 7th.

We wish everyone a safe, happy and blessed Christmas.