St. James Catholic School 230 Humbercrest Blvd. • TORONTO, ON • M6S 4L3 • 416 393-5275

St. James CS website: https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/stjames/Pages/default.aspx

Parish: St. James’ Church • 728 Annette Street • Toronto, ON • 416-767-6451 • Father Ignacio

Principal: K. Schneider Trustee: Barbara Poplawski Superintendent: John Wujek

416-222-8282 Ext 2732

Peace/Paix

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled,

as to console; to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life

Amen

During the month of November, we focused on the virtue of PEACE at St. James

School. We celebrated this virtue specifically on November 11, 2016 as we remembered

those who fought for our freedom and continue to strive for peace around the world. We extend a big

thank you to Ms. Costanzo Gr. 6 and Ms. Bugeja Gr. SK/1 for organizing this very beautiful

Remembrance Celebration with Officer Berridge and Private William Weiland. Peace among nations

starts with peace among us. Every person can work for peace by carefully considering how their words

and actions make others feel. Be guided by the words of Paul to the Colossians – “Let the peace of Christ

rule in your hearts.”

I close with the wise words of St. Francis de Sales

“Never be in a hurry, do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner

peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset”.

K. Schneider

Please visit us at https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/stjames/AboutUs/AdmissionsAndRegistration/Pages/default.aspx

to register your child.

New students are always welcome to our St. James Catholic School community.

JK Registration for the 2017-2018 school year

begins January 18, 2017at 10:00 a.m. E.S.T. for all children born in 2013

********Attention********

Hello Parents and Guardians,

Please note that the delivery date of the Cookie Dough orders has

been changed to Wednesday December 14.

We hope that all students are doing well in their sales. If you haven’t started selling

yet, it is not too late to start.

Just a few things to remember:

There are two ways to order:

1) Shop online at

www.QSP.ca with our

ONLINE ID: 4551180

You'll see hundreds of other items

available online and every purchase

helps our campaign.

2) Use the LARGE ORDER FORM and submit with correct cash or cheque payment.

ORDERS AND PAYMENT ARE DUE BY Thursday Nov. 24th, 2016

(CHEQUES ARE PAYABLE TO - ST. JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL)

COOKIE DOUGH WILL BE DELIVERED: Thursday Dec. 14, 2016

THE COOKIE DOUGH IS FROZEN AND MUST BE PICKED UP THIS DAY.

We will provide more details regarding the delivery pick up times as we get closer to the

date.

Good Luck and keep up the good work! Thank you for your on-going support,

St. James Catholic School Parent Council

Next time you find yourself feeling annoyed

by a noisy environment- voices, phones,

traffic, lawn movers- try this one minute

exercise to shift your experience. The idea is

to tune in to sounds around you rather than

attempt to shut them out. Sit up tall, close

your eyes, and let your face relax. (You might

feel a connection between your jaw releasing

and your ears softening.) Breathe naturally

and think of yourself as a sort of receiver,

taking in all of the sounds around you. Try

not to favor one sound over another.

Whether is chatter or clanging, or honking,

just hear it. Is it possible to experience this

“noise” the same way you might experience

the sound of a river flowing? Can you relax

and accept what’s around you without

wishing it were different? See how you feel

after just one minute of sitting with this

quality of openness.

Student Mental Health and Well-Being

Newsletter

Mental Health Services provided by TCDSB Psychology, Social Work, and Guidance personnel

Taking time to Remember

November is a time to remember and call to

mind those who have served and are still

serving in the Canadian Military. Many have

paid the ultimate debt to their country, not

only with their service, but also with their

lives. This is a solemn time. A time for

reflection and for honor. Making the time

and space to offer remembrance is

important.

In our busy, fast paced lives, sometimes it can

be difficult to slow down and create that

time and space.

The following is a breathing exercise

suggested by Yoga Instructor, Edward Jones,

from New York City. The suggestions may

help you, your student, or your child to slow

down and create a space and time to

remember and honor those who have fallen

in war or conflicts.

November, 2016

November is a month of remembrance.

Let’s take time to celebrate the lives of

our loved ones and remember the

sacrifices made by those who bravely

served our country.

Happiness is definitely in the

eye of the “beholder”. For

some of us small things can

make us immensely happy.

For others we can at times,

overlook the small triumphs

of happiness and focus on

the negative. If we think

about people we know, we

can often categorize them in

to a “glass half full or glass

half empty” dichotomy.

There is much exciting

evidence to suggest that

happiness contributes to

physical health. According to

an article in the Proceeding

of the National Academy of

Science (2014) entitled “ The

How of Happiness”, the

happiest people had an

average heart rate of about 6

fewer beats per minute. In

Healthy Habits for Happiness

safeTALK suicide awareness

workshops for staff

available via PAL

Psych. And SW supporting

Newcomer Mental Health

Mental Health Initiatives 2016-17

addition a 2010 student cited

in the same article indicated

that over a ten year period,

persons who rated

themselves as happier on a 5

point scale demonstrated a

drop in coronary heart

disease.

5 Habits for Happiness

( The Science of Happiness , Time

Magazine, 2016)

SLEEP MORE

People who have better

sleep have a better chance at

achieving emotional well-

being, according to a 2014

analysis. The happiest people

get and average of 8 hours a

night; 42% of adults in the US

get less than the

recommended minimum of 7

hours

Support for schools in

developing a mentally

healthy classroom. See

Supporting Minds on the

Ministry’s website and

edugains.ca.

Inclusion of mental health

to school SLIPs

Building partnerships with

community agencies,

families, and parishes.

EXERCISE: Physical activity

boosts the actions of

endorphins, which may be

natural mood enhancers.

GET OUTSIDE: Studies have

found that sunshine boosts

the synthesis of serotonin, a

neurotransmitter that helps

regulate mood and may

combat depression.

EAT MORE FISH: In a review of

studies that tracked the

consumption of fish and

emotions, subjects who ate

more fish demonstrated a

lower risk of depression.

SMILE: A 2012 student found

that people who smiled

enjoyed a lower heart rate

during stress recovery

scenarios and a smaller drop in

positive emotions during

stressful tasks.

On Friday, November 11, 2016, the staff and

students held a Remembrance Day ceremony to

honour the men and women who serve our

country. We were joined by Private William

Weiland , a Reserve for the Royal Regiment of

Canada and Officer Eric Berridge our Toronto

Police School Liaison.

We remember that it is only because of the

sacrifice of so many that we are able to live in

freedom and peace today. May we all pledge to

be peacemakers in our community.

Science center

On Monday, November 14, 2016, the Grade 4,5

and 6 students visited the Ontario Science

Centre. They had a fun filled day and were able

to explore the many fascinating exhibits at the

Science Centre. The Grade 4 & 5 students

attended a program on Energy Transformations

and the Grade 6 students attended a program

called Destination Space. A big thank you to all

the parents who assisted as volunteers on this

trip.

Year OF tHe PariSH

As part of “Year of the Parish” we will continue

sending out the St. James Church Bulletin as an

attachment to our St. James CS newsletter. Stay

tuned and find out what’s happening in our church.

VOLLeYBaLL

On Thursday November 10, 2016 the girls’ junior

volleyball team played at a divisional tournament

hosted by Pope Francis elementary school. The

tournament was extremely competitive with four top

volleyball schools, including St. James, participating.

As a result of the girls’ dedication, enthusiasm, great

sportsmanship, and team spirit, the girls finished first.

The girls then went onto Regionals at St. Patrick

High School and won. They moved onto Cities and

competed at the Pan-Am Centre in the Regional

tournament and finished as one of the top 8 schools

in Toronto. Throughout all this competition, the girls

represented St. James proudly. We wish to

congratulate the following athletes for their effort and

dedication over the past month. Congratulations to

Jamara, Alexa, Jahmilah, Brittany, Bryna, Linda,

Zoe, Kyara, Keri, Jasmine, Israel and Mireya.

Monthly Update

from the Board

November 2016

GET READY FOR PARISH

FAMILY DAY CELEBRATION 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: Friday, April 7, 2017.

Visit the website for criteria and other details.

https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/NurturingOurCatholicC

ommunity/YearoftheParish/Pages/Parish-Family-

Day-Celebration.aspx

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

YOUTH, HIGHER EDUCATION

AND COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT IN THE

PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY A community conversation and an opportunity to

share your ideas and experiences. Friday, November

25, 2016 from 4:30 - 6:00 pm at the Gallery of the

Portuguese Pioneers (960 St. Clair Ave. West,

Toronto, Ontario). Click here for more information

UPCOMING

EVENTS/IMPORTANT DATES

TO NOTE: • December 2nd - Staff Arts Christmas Concert

https://www.tcdsb.org/pages/staff-arts-

christmas-concert-and-wine-and-cheese-

social.aspx

• December 2nd - System-wide PA Day

• Christmas Break: December 26 - January 6

inclusive (Classes resume Monday, January

9th)

• Eastern Rite Christmas January 7th

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES:

NOVEMBER 2016 November 28 Practice Lockdown/Evacuation 12:30 pm

November 29 T.E.A.R.S. Presentation for Grs 7&8

DECEMBER 2016 Thursday, Dec 1 Swim to Survive Grs 3/4 & 4/5

Thursday, Dec 1 Safe School Meeting

Friday, Dec 2 PA Day – No School

Monday, Dec 5 Hold and Secure 1:00-2:00 pm

Thursday, Dec 8 Swim to Survive Grs 3/4 & 4/5

Friday, Dec 9 Confessions

Wednesday, Dec 14 Christmas Concert 7:00 pm Thursday, Dec 15 Mass at St. James’ Church 9:45 am

Thursday, Dec 15 Swim to Survive Grs 3/4 & 4/5 Friday, Dec 19 Bata Museum Gr 6 class 9:00-1:30 pm

Friday, Dec 23 Last Day of School/Civvies Day

Dec 26-Jan 6 Christmas Break

JANUARY 2017

Monday, Jan 9 Second Term begins

Tuesday, Jan 17 Little Red Theatre JK-Gr3/4

Wednesday, Jan 18 JK Registration Begins

Wednesday, Jan 18 Mass 9:45 am

Thursday, Jan 19 Rosary Apostolate

Thursday, Jan 19 OSLAT Gr 4 testing AM

Friday, Jan 20 PA Day - No School

Friday, Jan 27 Civvies Day

‘Tis the season to decorate our Annual St. James

Mitten Tree. In the past, your generous

contributions have been greatly appreciated. We

are asking you to bring in new hats, scarves and

mittens to decorate our Christmas tree. These

winter items in turn will be donated to children

in need in our community.

We leave this Newsletter on an uplifting note.

Mrs. Ann Sabetti our beloved retired secretary

had a very mild heart attack two weeks ago. She

is recovering well and we ask our

parents/students to pray for her. Ann we love

you! Get better and healthy soon from your St.

James CS’ family.