Virtue of the month: Courage

January 2014

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati News

Principal’s Message

Welcome back everyone, and Happy New Year! I don’t know where the time has gone and it’s hard to believe that we just opened our doors this past September. I hope everyone had a restful Christmas break filled with family and fun. I always find that this part of the year just speeds through and there is a great hum of work and activity happening in our classrooms. As a staff we have already made plans in terms of lessons, and assessments. But school isn’t just about that, it’s about fun too, so we have made sure that we have some fun things planned as well. This month we will be working on the virtue of Courage. Having courage to do the right thing, face your fears, or try something new, is challenging for anyone. As Catholics we are called to be courageous in continuing the work of Christ. In an increasing secular world, this is not an easy task. We are so fortunate however, that we continue to have Catholic schools where we can foster that strength needed to continue spreading our faith. I know that our students will take up the challenge to be “courageous” this month and in the months to come. Parents please note that KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION begins on

January 8th, 2013 and it is on-line on the TCDSB website at:

www.tcdsb.org under SOAR application.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the school.

God Bless, P. Cherrier

SCHOOL HOURS

9:00 a.m. SCHOOL BEGINS 10:45:11:00 a.m. A .M. RECESS 12:05-1:05 p.m. LUNCH 2:10-2:25 p.m. P.M. RECESS 3:30 p.m. DISMISSAL

2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

Number of School Days 194 Number of Professional Activity Days 6 Labour Day Monday, September 2 2013 First Instructional Day Tuesday, September 3, 2013 Thanksgiving Day Monday, October 14, 2013 Christmas Break December 23, 2013- January 3 rd, 2014 Family Day February 17, 2014 Mid-Winter Break March 10, 2014 – March 14, 2014 (inclusive) Good Friday April 18, 2014 Easter Monday April 21, 2014 Victoria Day Monday, May 19, 2014 School Year Ends Friday, June 27, 2014

Blessed Pier Giorgio

Frassati

8 Seasons Drive Scarborough, Ontario

M1X 1X4 Telephone 416 393 5456

Fax 416 397 6168

Principal: Mrs.P. Cherrier

Superintendent: Mr. N. D’Avella

Secretary:

Mrs. P. Barber

Trustee: Mr. G. Tanuan

Parish:

St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church 10 Washburn Way,

Scarborough, Ontario M1B 1H3

Phone 416-298-0989 Rev. Edwin Gonsalves

Enrollment:

233

Hours of Operation: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Lunch Hour:

12:05 am – 1:05 pm

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January Birthdays Wishes

Happy Birthday wishes go out to the following students:

Jan 4th: Shemaiah

Jan 5th: Janeth

Jan 6th: Aaron

Jan 8th: Nathan

Jan 9th: Nitharshy

Jan 10th: Adrian

Jan 11th: Adam, Manasseh

Jan 21: Jason

Jan 22: Djenan

Jan 23rd: Joshua

Jan 26th : Nathaniel

Jan 28th: Joroel

Jan 30th: Raymond

Advent Mass

On December 2nd, 2013 our school travelled to St. Barnabas Parish to have our Advent Mass. Ms. Robbins class lead our Mass, and it was nice to see many parents join us. Father Edwin was very pleased with our students’ behaviour, responses, and singing. It was a special time to celebrate as a community!

Advent Liturgies

During Advent, Mrs. Philips’ and Mrs. Feeney’s classes lead us in a liturgy for the first three weeks of Advent. We gathered in the gym to light the Advent candles, and learn about the meaning of Advent. It was a lovely way to begin our mornings, and to refocus ourselves on the true meaning of the season. A big THANK YOU goes out to both our classes who did a tremendous job leading us.

Guidance Corner

I hope you and your families have had a peaceful Christmas season! January is a good time for students to reflect on goal-setting; looking at what they have already done well, and planning for what they would still like to accomplish by the end of the school year. Grade 7's in particular will be spending time exploring strategies related to the Learning Skills and Work Habits on the Report Card. Grade 8's are eagerly awaiting news of their High School applications that will arrive next month and can expect to receive the annual Program and Course Calendars in January. Happy New Year! Miss Vincent - Guidance Counsellor

Food Drive

Thank you very much for your kind donations of food during our Christmas concert. The ministers from St. Barnabas Parish came to pick up the food and were very grateful for all the donations.

Letter from Archdiocese of Toronto

Parents please see attached letter from the Archdiocese of Toronto in thanks for our school’s effort with the Haiyan Typhoon relief efforts.

Statue of Mary donations

Thank you parents for your donations to the fund for the statue of Mary. Donations can still be dropped off in the Office. CSAC appreciates your support.

Christmas Concert

During the final week of school we gathered as a community to enjoy our Christmas concert. I would like to congratulate our students on a wonderful concert; they did a tremendous job. We didn’t have much time to prepare since we were coming off the heels of our Official Blessing and Opening, so everyone really felt the crunch. The students were so committed to learning their parts, and were extremely excited to showcase their talents. It was so charming after each performance because each class silently celebrate when the curtain closed. All the students were beaming with pride. A big thank you goes out to all the staff and students who worked diligently to get every last detail done.

Virtue for January - Courage

Below are some ways and books to help us: 1. Let your actions be guided by the idea

that God is inside everyone. 2. Know that sometimes doing the right

thing is very tough but with courage you CAN do the right thing.

3. Stand up respectfully when you see something wrong that is being done.

4. Live your life in a way that makes others know you are a follower of Christ.

Books that deal with Courage: Beware of the Storybook Wolves – L. Child Brave Horace – H. Keller Courage – B. Waber Grandfather’s Journey – A. Say Thank You Mr. Falkner – P. Polacco The Paper Bag Princess – R. Munsch The Princess Night – C. Funke The Recess Queen – A. O’Neil The Story of Ruby Bridges – R. Coles The Talking Eggs – R. San Soucci The Village that Vanished – A. Grifalconi There’s Something in My Attic – M. Mercer When Jessie Came Across the Sea – A. Hist Where the Wild Things Are – M. Sendak

Frassati Phantoms …!

Now you see us…

Frassati Phantoms coming soon. Details about Spirit Wear ( no pun intended) will be coming shortly as we work out the details with our supplier.

Dressing for the Weather

We have been lucky so far because the weather hasn’t been that unbearable. Parents please make sure that your child/children are dressed for the weather at all times. According to Environment Canada, temperatures of -28 to -39 degrees Celsius (combined with wind-chill) – frostbite can happen in 10-30 minutes. Only in the case of extremely cold temperatures do we stay inside. Students get “cabin fever” if they have to stay in all day, so we try and go out even for a short time to get fresh air. Also, it’s a good idea to pack extra socks in your child’s schoolbag. Socks tend to get wet easily during the winter months. Also, just a reminder parents that supervision in the yard does not begin until 8:40 a.m. Please do not drop off your students before then; they cannot wait inside either.

PJ Day

We will be having a PJ day on January31st, 2013. Students can wear their PJs to school that day, or their school uniform. We will be talking also about our favourite lullabies, and bedtime stories.

Stuffies are welcomed too!

Photo Gallery

Economics for Success Program in Gr.7/8

Ms. D’Alessandro’s class

Intermediate Chorus

Mr. Montanaro’s class

Jessica as Mary

Mrs. Philips’ class