Monday, October 2, 2017

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

The first month of the school year is behind us and our students and staff are settling in nicely to the exciting challenges

of this new school year. Although we had to do a little bit of a reorganization earlier in the month, the students involved

in this reshuffle have bravely adapted to their new teacher and classmates. Thank you to their families for all of the

support they provided in making these changes such a success.

Although nothing has begun yet with regards to construction, we are hopeful that shovels will be hitting the ground

soon. When I receive any information pertaining to the beginning of construction, I will definitely relay that information

to the St. Clement community.

With the calendar officially flipping over to October, many activities will soon be introduced to our students to enrich

their overall experience at the school. Thanksgiving is on October 9th, which means we will be asking families in our

community to help donate to our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive (which runs from October 4th though to October 11th).

This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to demonstrate our gratitude for all that we have, by being able to

provide for those that are less fortunate. Turning to Athletics, Cross Country practices have already begun with the

Divisional Meet set for October 11th. We wish our student athletes and our Cross Country Coaches all the best as they

represent our school on that day. Picture Day is set for Thursday, October 12th, so if all families could ensure that their

child(ren) is present for that day, it would be appreciated. For those that unfortunately can’t make it on that day, a

photo re-take day will be announced later. Secondary School application forms will be handed out to our Grade 8

students at the end of the month, with the due date for their return set for the beginning of November. Halloween

activities will be starting as we near the end of the month of October, with our costume parade set for Halloween Day

(October 31st). All these events and activities, plus the excursions, trips and activities that each individual grade has

planned for the month will make this an active month for sure for our students and staff.

Thank you to everyone that was in attendance for St. Clement Church’s 50th Anniversary celebrations on Sunday,

September 24th. It was a beautiful ceremony, with Cardinal Collins presiding over the Mass. The celebration reminds us

of the importance of the Church in our community, as well as the special bond between Church, School and Home.

Our CSPC is in the full swing of things for this new school year as well. They hosted our Family BBQ on September 20th.

With hamburgers and hot dogs on the menu, many families were in attendance that night to get reacquainted with one

another after the two month break. The beautiful weather that night made things even better for all of the families in

attendance. Our CSPC meets once a month in our school’s Library. All are welcome to attend.

Thank you to all of the families in our school community that have helped make our first month back such a success. I

look forward to working together with you throughout the rest of the school year.

Sincerely,

S. Peters

Principal

St. Clement Catholic School

4319 Bloor St. West 416-393-5307

October Newsletter 2017

Principal: Stephen Peters Secretary:

Sobita Pereira

Clerk Typist:

Elena Simone

Pastor: Reverend

Msgr. Zimmer

Superintendent

D. Yack

School Trustee:

A. Andrachuk

CSPC. Co-Chairs: Katie Piccininni and Jenn Casuccio

Parish: St. Clement Catholic Church 409 Markland Woods Toronto, Ontario M6J 2P4 (416) 621-4060

October Message from Trustee Ann Andrachuk

Now that October is upon us and we’ve begun to settle in to another school year it is a good time to highlight some changes, additions and programs across the Board. The TCDSB is pleased to introduce School Cash Online, an easy to use, safe and convenient way for parents and guardians to pay for their children’s school fees including agendas, yearbooks and class trips. For more information visit https://www.tcdsb.org/forparents/schoolcashonline. September also saw the adoption of the Parent and Student Charters of Principles. The two documents, which underwent extensive consultation with

parent and student groups, outline expectations parents and students can have when dealing with the School Board. The TCDSB is the first school board in Ontario to adopt such a document. To view the charters, please visit https://www.tcdsb.org/forparents/charterofprinciples. Also of interest for parents is the Spelling Bee of Canada which will hold its 31st Annual Spelling Bee,

with regional spelling bees taking place from March 24 to April 8, 2018. The 1st place finishers in each

age category will represent their school and community at the Championship Final on May 6, 2018. Visit

http://www.spellingbeeofcanada.ca/ for more information.

Now that school is well underway, it is a good time for a quick reminder about school safety zones. In addition to the 40 km/h many schools have designated pick up and drop off zones as well as bus loading areas. Also important to remember, the shorter days and reduced visibility in autumn increases the risk of accidents around schools. Please be extra vigilant on your way to and from school. Finally, Canadian Walk to School Day is October 4th. Walking or riding a bike to school helps children meet the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Physical activity also supports healthy brain development, which can lead to improved learning and academic outcomes. Many schools have walking school bus programs which allow groups of students to walk to school under parent supervision. For more information on how to start such a program in your school, and to learn more about the benefits of active transportation, please visit http://www.saferoutestoschool.ca. Have a safe and pleasant October, a fantastic Halloween and a wonderful Thanksgiving! . Sincerely, Ann

CSPC News

(October 2017)

The whirlwind of September is now behind us and we already have many fond memories of the first month

of school and of course… our first annual Fall BBQ! It was a lovely evening. Thanks to all who came and

had some fun, a big thanks to those who volunteered some of their time, and of course to our BBQ

Organizers!

It’s hard to believe it’s already October – a new month and a new calendar to mark up. October 4th is Walk

to School Day, so be sure to leave the car at home that day! The two classes with the most “walkers” will

win a pizza party!

Going on right now is our brand-new gift card fundraiser! FundScrip is an innovative program that lets our

CSPC earn cash rebates when you buy gift cards for things that you buy everyday anyways – like groceries,

gas and other household items! A package has been sent to you – please take a look at it for more details.

The deadline for all orders is Friday, October 13th.

Our popular and fun QSP magazine drive will be starting on Monday, November 6th. We encourage

everyone to jump-start their sales now by encouraging their supporters to order/renew online at qsp.ca.

All early sales will count towards our sales goals, student prizes, rewards and even double day points!

Please note that this year’s QSP campaign will be slightly shorter again this year. Last year, we were able

to raise even more money, in slightly less time – let’s hope that we can rise to the challenge again!

For those who are participating, don’t forget that this month’s Pizza Lunches are being held on Friday,

October 13th and Friday, October 27th. The first Subway Lunch of the year will take place on Thursday,

October 19th – look for the forms to go out shortly.

This past Tuesday, our new CSPC Executive was formed! We look forward to working together this year

to make CSPC the best it can be. Our next CSPC meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 24th. It’s our

budget meeting – come out and have your say about how our hard-earned fundraising dollars are spent!

If you have any suggestions about how some of the money should be spent, please send them along in

advance of the meeting to cspc.stclement@tcdsb.org.

Sincerely……………Your CSPC Team

Jenn Casuccio & Katie Piccininni, Co-Chairs

Lisa Lippa, Treasurer

Heather Marczynski, Secretary

The Year of the School Virtue of the Month – Gratitude

Walk To School Day – Wednesday, October 4th, 2017

Curriculum Night – Wednesday, October 4th, 2017 (6:30 – 8:00 PM)

PA Day – Friday, October 6th, 2017 (no school for students)

Thanksgiving Day – Monday, October 9th, 2017

Next School Mass – Monday, October 23, 2017

Next CSPC Meeting – Tuesday, October 24, 2017

School Info

St. Clement Church 50th Anniversary

On Sunday, September 24th, St. Clement Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary of being in the community. The Mass was

spectacular, with Cardinal Collins presiding over it, offering us a beautiful message about “magnificence” and “being the

light for God”. It was so nice seeing so many families from St. Clement School joining in the celebration, including the

student reps from each grade, as well as our Grade 7 students offering their assistance after the Mass as well. Thank you

to Msgr. Zimmer and Sister Christina for all of their support and guidance leading up to the celebration. Thank you to

Katie Piccininni for all of her assistance with coordinating all of the students participating in the ceremony.

WE DAY 2017

We Day is something that all Me to We ambassadors look forward to, so waking up early and getting to school by 6:45 am

was no problem for us. Since you cannot buy tickets and need to earn them, we were quite honoured we were able to attend.

Not only did the Me2We ambassadors get the opportunity to attend, but our very own Mr. Sloan, was able to secure tickets for

everyone in Ms. Ferreira’s grade 7/8 class!

Upon arrival at the ACC, the Me 2 We grade 8 ambassadors marveled at our amazing floor seats in a stadium with

twenty thousand other students. When the show was opened by a speech from Marc and Craig Kielburger themselves,

everyone listened with rapt attention. It was truly amazing that the founders of such a world changing organization that we are

proud to be a part of were standing in front of us; thanking us all for the work we`ve done and that we need to continue what

we`ve been doing for the greater good.

Their empowering words were followed by incredible performances by Vanessa Hudgens, Shawn Hook, Kelly

Clarkson, Lilly Singh, Hedley and Sabrina Carpenter. We witnessed an inspiring interview by Spencer West with Canadian

athletes Penny Oleksiak and Andre De Grasse along with a motivational speech by Rick Hansen and some Invictus athletes.

After Hansen spoke, we were told that we were going to hear a recorded message from Prince Harry, but instead he

surprised us by coming out onstage. Prince Harry urged us all to work together and help one another in order to build a

brighter future.

A spotlight was shone upon our St. Clement Me 2 We Ambassadors and teacher leaders, as our school was surprisingly

given the award for Outstanding School in Community Engagement by Cineplex as part of the We Volunteer Now campaign.

Along with the recognition of volunteering with such organizations as Canadian Food for Children, each member was given a

free movie pass!

We Day wasn’t just a concert, though, but a chance for ambassadors to get together and learn about the cause we believe

in; helping others. It was truly great to see young people doing good in the world; like our former St. Clement student, Julia

Menezes, who was awarded the We generation award for her exceptional community involvement and service trip to Tanzania.

(Julia will even be coming back to St. Clement to share that experience with us.)

The ending of We day was bittersweet, as no one wanted to leave yet but everyone wanted to see Marc and Craig

again. Seeing them on stage is something moving, the passionate and dedicated way they speak. The whole day was a

memorable experience and we left with knowledge in our hearts and minds. It’s easy to say that you can change the world, but

seeing so many thousands of people gathered together who believe, it takes what you say and makes it real. I speak on behalf

of my peer ambassadors when I say that together we can really change the world for the good. Thank you to Ms. Ferreira, Mrs.

Tatangelo and Mme. Morrison for being our guides on this amazing journey and to our entire school community for their

continuous support of our many local and global actions.

Anaphylaxis Students

Some information has already been sent out, and there will be more to come regarding protocols surrounding our

students that have allergies. It is important that we are all on board with ensuring that all of our students and staff are

protected, and that we are not bringing in food that could possibly be harmful to them.

Specific information will be sent home soon alerting parents to the allergies that are present in their own child’s class.

If we could ask all parents to respect and follow the request to not make lunches, or bring in food that may contain

these food items, it would be appreciated.

Just a reminder to those families that have a child that uses an epi-pen, please make sure your child has the one that

needs to be on their person, as well as the epi-pen for the classroom and the one for the office.

Toronto Public Health – Avoiding Student Suspensions

Many families still have not updated their child’s immunization records for Toronto Public Health. Parents of students

with incomplete records are receiving suspension orders. Refer to the below appendix, detailing suspension

information for parents:

- How to update your child’s vaccinations:

Online at www.toronto.ca/immunization

- Call the Immunization Information Line at 416-392-1250

- There are free Toronto Public Health vaccination clinics to students with limited access to healthcare

Birthdays

This is just a reminder that if your child is celebrating a birthday, we would appreciate it if food/treats were not brought

into the school to help celebrate the event. As much as we want to make the day a special day for our child and

his/her friends, we have to be respectful of the allergies that exist in our school and making sure we are doing all that

we can to keep every child safe. Please ask your child’s teacher for some ideas of things to bring in to help make the

day a special one for your son/daughter. Thank you for your cooperation.

Dogs in the School Yard

Although I am a big dog lover, we unfortunately cannot be bringing dogs onto school property before, during or after

school hours. Signs are posted on the school wall, stating the Board’s policy with this issue. It is unfortunate,

because I am sure that these pets are wonderful companions for their owners. However, we have to be able to

maintain a safe and comfortable environment for all of our students at all times. Not all of our students are

comfortable around dogs, for various reasons. Therefore we need to ensure that our student’s well-being is secured

while they are on school property. Thank you to those dog owners that have recently come to the school with your

dog, but have kept them off of school property. I appreciate your efforts with this matter.

Terry Fox Day

On September 20th, our school participated in it’s 30th Terry Fox Day. This event is one which is celebrated by

schools right across the country, raising money for Cancer Research, as well as continuing the legacy of Terry Fox

himself of perseverance and courage. This year, our school set a goal of $3000 to be raised. We went well passed

that goal, raising over $4600 for the Terry Fox Run. Congratulations to all of the families in our community for

participating in this fantastic event, as well as surpassing our fundraising goal!!!

Student of the Month Awards

This past month, our school was honoring “Hospitality” as the virtue we were encouraging students to follow. The

following students are this month’s recipients for Virtue of the Month:

(Kindergarten) Alissa Blehman Araujo, Regis Adainoo, Mateo D’Amico, Sterling Whitburn, Mia Villasenor, Eva Vella

(Grade 1) Mason Artero, Isabela Kalaj, Bethany Song, Evan Tabisola (Grade 2) Sophia Fernandes, Lauren

McWilliam, Kole McNeil, Bella Alexander, Alex Casuccio (Grade 3) Brianna Cristalli, Sophia Velji, Ana Millar, Karolina

Sagat (Grade 4) Nikiolai LaFleche, Daniella Alexander, Junior Nwosu, Connor Vieira (Grade 5) Yousif Zomaya,

Christian Marriott, Chantel Judd (Grade 6) Kevin Li, Sidney Sagavicius, Deborah Lee, Sara Riverso (Grade 7)

Marianna Carvallo, Jacob Kim, Michelle Kossowski (Grade 8) Nour Boulos, Michael Tahirovic, Luca Marra (Gifted)

Sara Riverso, Samantha Stephens

Next month’s virtue is Gratitude

Grade 8 Parent Meeting (Quebec Trip)/Secondary School Applications

There will be a Grade 8 Parent Meeting on October 24th in our school’s gym, to discuss the proposed Grade 8 Trip to

Quebec. The tour company (Brightsparks) will be in attendance as well to answer any questions parents might have

about the trip.

Secondary School applications for the 2018/19 school year will be given to students on Monday, October 23rd. The

applications need to be returned to the school by Friday, November 3rd.

School Supports for Students – Special Services

As part of the TCDSB’s goal of Fostering Student Achievement and Well Being, the Special Services department endeavours

to support our special education students in achieving academic excellence and meeting the Ontario Catholic Graduate

School Expectations. The department offers a variety of supports to students based on their need(s) and/or identification(s).

For further information please visit the Special Services departmolent

link: https://www.tcdsb.org/ProgramsServices/SpecialEducation/Pages/default.aspx

Parents/caregivers are reminded that if they require support in accessing the Special Services department link, they may ask

the school principal for assistance. Alternately, for families who require access to a computer to visit the site, they may

access an electronic device through the Toronto Public Library.

Parent Engagement

TCDSB values the involvement of parents in the education of their children, and welcomes their participation in the

lives of our school communities. Find out how you can get involved as a member of the Toronto OAPCE (Ontario

Association of Parents in Catholic Education), or as a member of Toronto CPIC (Catholic Parent Involvement

Committee). At the local level, check out the next meeting of your CSPC (Catholic School Parent Council). More

information is to come regarding CSPC elections, as well as meeting dates.

Athletics

Softball

Both our boys and girls softball teams competed in their own individual tournaments at the end of September. Both days

turned out to be quite chilly for the students to be playing softball (especially how hot it was for most of September), with the

girl’s day being quite wet as well. The boys did a great job all day, coming close to getting to the finals, but falling just short.

Our girls managed a Finalist Pennant, coming up a little bit short in their final game. Thank you to both the boys (Mr. Daley and

Ms. Cashley) and girls coaches (Mr. O’Neill and Ms. Ross) for all of the work they put into getting these athletes ready for their

tournaments.

Cross Country

Students from Grade 3 to Grade 8 have been practicing hard in getting themselves ready for the Divisional Cross

Country Meet set for October 11th at Centennial Park. Those students that advance from that race will compete at the

Regional meet, also at Centennial Park on October 19th. The City Finals are set for October 24th at Earle Bales Park.

Thank you to all of our Coaches (Ms. Ross, Mr. Sloan, Mr. O’Neill, Mr. Sgro, Ms. Di Tomaso and Mr. Arduini) that have

taken the time to support our athletes throughout their preparation for these meets.