DECEMBER 2014

St. Helen Catholic School Dear Parents/Guardians, We are beginning a new liturgical year with the start of the Advent season. During this month of December, we prepare for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and safe holiday season. God Bless!

A. Sanborn I. Mandarino God, Father Almighty, You sent your son Jesus to be light for a world in great need of salvation. Help us grow ever closer to you and to one another as we journey in love through this Holy Season of Advent. Amen.

**REMINDER P.A. DAY DECEMBER 5TH – NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS**

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS - Friday, December 19th, 2014 – LAST DAY OF

SCHOOL. Christmas Holidays - December 22nd through to January 2nd, 2015. School will resume on Monday, January 5th, 2015.

Please join us for… Christmas Concert – Wednesday, December 17th – 9:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Advent School Mass – Thursday, December 18th – 9:30 a.m. at the Church

Christmas Spirit Day – Friday, December 19th – Christmas Sweater & Hat Day

TOY DRIVE - Monday, November 24th to Thursday, December 4th, we will be collecting new toys for the needy.

SANTA PHOTOS - Santa will be visiting St. Helen School on Wednesday, December 3rd to take photos with students.

DRESS UP/DOWN DAY – Free Dress Up/Down day on December 3rd.

CANDY CANE SALE- Me to We /Student Leaders will be selling candy canes for $1.00 each on Thursday, December 18th & Friday, December 19th (while supply lasts). SNACK PROGRAM – Snack program continues for participating students every Tues., Wed. and Thurs. for the year. NOTE: Snack will take place on Mon. Dec. 1st and is cancelled on Wed. Dec 3rd for Santa Photos.

CSAC PIZZA LUNCH – December Pizza Day will take place on Dec. 19th.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION - Families with children born in 2011 are invited to register for Kindergarten beginning on Thursday, January 8, 2015. Please see attached letter with more information.

St. Helen Catholic School 1196 College Street,

Toronto Ontario, M6H 1B8 Telephone: 416-393-5208

Fax: 416-397-6142

Principal: Alise Sanborn

Vice-Principal: Ida Mandarino

Superintendent: Dr. Jim Saraco

Trustee:

Barbara Poplawski

Parish: Father John Cabral

St. Helen Roman Catholic Church 1680 Dundas Street

Toronto, Ontario M6H 3M8

Phone 416-531-8188

Hours of Operation: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Lunch Hour: 11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Celebrating through Faith,

Hope and Charity

Year of CHARITY

CHRISTMAS CONCERT St. Helen’s Christmas Concert will take place on Wednesday, December 17th, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The following classes will be participating on that day.

JK/SK – Mrs. Andrusieczko JK/SK – Ms. Almada Grade 2 – Mr. Carinci Grade 2/3 – Mr. Hewitt Grade 3 – Mrs. Nesci Grade 3/4 – Ms. Hrzina Grade 4 – Mrs. D’Costa Grade 6 – Mrs. Iglio Grade 6/7 – Mrs. Oliveira French – Mrs. Bennacer, Ms. Rocca Instrumental Music – Mr. Medeiros

All remaining classes will participate in the Spring Concert. Due to limited space in the gym, families will be given a maximum of two tickets for the evening performance and, for the day performance, can indicate the number of tickets requested. Student permission forms and ticket forms will be sent home on December 1st, 2014. Tickets to be sent home on December 10th.

Donations of canned goods are welcome!!

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT DAY This month the student leaders have organized the school’s spirit day to take place on December 19th.

Don’t forget to wear your “Christmas Sweater & Hat”.

TOY DRIVE From Monday, November 24th to Thursday, December 4th, we will be collecting new toys for the needy. Your donations and generosity will help children in our community have a happy and fun-filled Christmas.

SANTA PHOTOS Santa will be visiting St. Helen School on Wednesday, December 3rd to take photos with students. Photos will be available for $3.00. This project

is sponsored by Student Leaders.

INCLEMENT WEATHER Reporting of cancellations or closures due to inclement weather. Winter weather arrived early this year. Please note that any cancellations or closures due to inclement weather will be reported before 7 a.m. Best place to get the info quickly is through Twitter @TCDSB (please follow us), the board’s website www.tcdsb.org and the 24-hour telephone information line 416-222-8282 ext. 2873.

WINTER DRESS During cold inclement weather please send your child to school only a few minutes before the bell rings; thus they will not have to stand out in the cold for long periods of time. Students will be kept inside on days in which the weather/wind chill factor is significantly cold. Such decisions are made individually respecting local weather conditions.

Please encourage your child/children to wear a hat, mitts or gloves, proper footwear and warm clothes for winter. It is recommended

that students wear various layers of clothing which will permit them to adjust to the changing weather conditions throughout the day. Please ensure that your child/children’s clothing is properly labeled and thus can be easily identifiable when lost or misplaced. During snowy months when boots are worn, it is required that students maintain at school a pair of shoes or slippers into which they may change to ensure student safety. In the event of an emergency, students must exit the building quickly and would not be able to stop to find their boots.

VIRTUE OF THE MONTH DECEMBER:

CHARITY As we enter the season of Advent to prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus, it is suitable that this month’s virtue is CHARITY. “Where charity and love are, God is there”. This month at St. Helen, we will be demonstrating charity by being kind to others, helping others, and remembering the less fortunate.

Students will be selected for their ability to demonstrate CHARITY for December and will be included in our January newsletter. Students will be recognized with certificates to take home.

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH OCT/NOV. Students of the Month for October for the virtue of Gratitude are: Makayla A. Bianca B. Clara B. Jacklynn C. Patricia C. Emilie C. Braeden F. Ines F. Taeshawn H. Julie I. Lana M. Kenny M. Malisa M. Marc M. Gavin P. Kayla R. Danielle R. Christopher V. Ava Z. Students of the Month for November for the virtue of Peacemaking are: Agatha A. Jacob B. Matthew C. Joseph D. Joseph E. Samantha G. Mary J. Ella L. Alexandra M. Madeleine M. Joca Tiago R. Skyla S. Sarah S. Tyler V. Claudio V. Celina V. Tyler W. Victoria M. Therese M.

IN MEMORY OF ANDREW MCSWEEN It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news of the passing of one

of our students on November 15th. Andrew McSween has been a part of our St. Helen community since 2006 in Ms. Remondini’s class. Please keep Andrew and his family in your prayers and thoughts during this difficult time.

SCHOOL COUNCIL (C.S.A.C.) We invite all parents and guardians to attend the next CSAC meeting which will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

CHOCOLATE FUNDRAISER Thank you to all the families who have supported the CSAC chocolate fundraiser. The chocolate fundraiser draws will take place in January.

If you have any monies or unsold chocolates, please return them as soon as possible. TOP SELLER prizes - The three top sellers in the school will receive one of the following prizes:

1st Prize – Ipad mini 2nd Prize – Ipod touch 3rd Prize – 4 Ripley’s Aquarium Tickets

RAFFLE prizes - Students who sell a complete box (one ballot per box) will have their names entered in a draw for a variety of prizes. CLASSROOM prizes – The top classes in each division will win pizza lunches or 5lb chocolate bars.

POINSETTIA SALE

Thank you to all who supported our first Poinsettia Sale. We are happy to announce that this sale

was a resounding success! The winning class with the most poinsettia sales is Mrs. D’Costa, who will receive a free pizza lunch on Dec. 3rd.

Congratulations!!

PRIMARY GIRLS & BOYS SOCCER Good luck to those students who are participating in the Soccer tournaments and representing St. Helen School on December 9th and 10th. OFFICER ERIC VISIT On November 28th, Officer Eric Berridge visited the students from Grade 6 – 8 to speak to them about Internet Safety. Parents are reminded to check the websites and video games that their children are viewing and playing for age appropriate content. Inappropriate content and violence should be monitored. Officer Eric reminds everyone that there is a correlation between behaviours and actions of children and what they are playing. How they react on a video game affects behaviours in the school yard and in the classroom.

SWIM TO SURVIVE Our Grade 4 students will be participating in the Swim to Survive Program at the end of January and in February. The two groups will be organized in January.

FRONT DOOR POLICY A reminder that students are to use the yard entrance before 8:30 a.m. and not enter through the front door.

SCHOOL HOURS/SUPERVISION Supervision in the school yard starts at 8:15 a.m. Students should not be in the yard or in the school before 8:15 a.m. unless the student is with Immaculata Day Care.

PARENTS/VISITORS In the interest of school safety we ask that ALL visitors to the school (including babysitters) report to the office to sign in upon entering the school building. Access to classrooms and students must only take place after the office is informed and permission is received.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR SEPTEMBER 2015 Families with children born in

2011 are invited to register online for Kindergarten beginning on Thursday, January 8, 2015. Parents can complete their application via the Board’s new Online Registration Website: http://soar.tcdsb.org. The Kindergarten Extended Registration Evening will take place on Thursday, January 22, 2014 by appointment only. Please contact the school to book your appointment. 416-393-5208.

The following documents are required for registration online and the originals are needed for the registration appointment:

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 of residency in Toronto (e.g., landline phone bill, Tenant/Landlord Agreement, utility bill)

General information is available by telephone at 416-222-8282, ext. 5314 or via the board’s website at www.tcdsb.org

GUIDANCE CORNER We All Belong – Bullying Awareness

Week

Bullying Awareness Week was

November 17th – 21st and it served as a reminder that

the elimination of bullying behaviour will only occur if

parents, students and staff work together. We

encourage students to speak up if they are victims. We

remind bystanders to stand up for those who are being

bullied. And we remind parents to work in conjunction

with the staff to settle any issues that may arise.

And above all, we should always

remember that “We All Belong”. Let

us celebrate our differences and make

everyone feel a part of our community.

We all deserve to feel accepted.

National Day of Remembrance and

Action on Violence Against Women

on December 6th is Canada’s

National Day of Remembrance and Action on

Violence Against Women. On this day 25 years ago,

14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal

died because they were women.

As well as commemorating the 14 young women

whose lives ended in an act of gender-based violence

that shocked the nation, December 6 represents an

opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the

phenomenon of violence against women in our society.

It is also an opportunity to consider the women and

girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to

remember those who have died as a result of gender-

based violence. And finally, it is a day on which

communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate

all forms of violence against women and girls.

Season’s Greetings

Mr. Amato, the TCDSB Elementary

Guidance Counsellors, and the Student

Success team would like to wish the school

community a Blessed Christmas and good

wishes throughout the New Year.

NEWS FROM THE BOARD Policy Consultation The Board invites parents, students

and staff to participate in a review of draft

policies. Your input is encouraged into the

following policies:

Draft Policy for Catholic School

Advisory Councils (CSACs)

Draft Policy on Secondary School

Admission and Placement

Details are posted on the board’s website:

http://www.tcdsb.org/news/othernews/2014/pages

/consultation-csac-and-admissions-policies.aspx

We look forward to hearing from you.

Remember to follow @TCDSB on Twitter for all the latest news and important information throughout the year.

The Staff of St. Helen Catholic School wishes

everyone a Happy and Blessed Christmas!

A Special Thank You to our….

CSAC

Volunteers

Parish Team

Student Nurses

Co-Op Students

Teacher Candidates

Community Partners

Your commitment to serving our school

community is commendable!

Please contact the school if you would like to advertise in this publication.