Highlights For April

CSPC Meeting 6:30– April 4

Easter Season Mass– April 10

Italian Film Festival –April 13

Quebec Trip-April 17-20

KLP Trip-April 18

Gr 1 Trip– April 19

Grade 2/3– April 20

Contacts

Principal:

Mr. M. Boccia

Vice Principal:

Ms. T. Silva

Superintendent:

Ms, F. Cifelli

Trustee:

Mr. S. Piccininni

Parish Church:

Fr. Joshua

St. Jude

Catholic Church

3265 Weston Rd.

416-742-9072

Secretary:

Ms. L. Losiggio

CSAC Chair

Mr. D. Montisano

Happy Children Who Love to Learn

St. Simon is an eco-friendly school:

The newsletter is only available in electronic form.

If you would like a newsletter sent to your email, please send a request to: teresa.silva@tcdsb.org

The newsletter is also accessible via the school website: http://www.tcdsb.org/schools/stsimon/News/Pages/Newsletters.aspx

If you wish to receive a paper copy please contact your the office.

St. Simon Catholic School 24 Strathburn BLVD Tel - 416-393-5383 Fax - 416-397-6299 School Hours 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m

Catholic Parent Involve-

ment Committee (CPIC):

www.tcdsb.org/cpic

School website:

http://www.tcdsb.org/SCHOOLS/STSIMON

ST. SIMON NEWSLETTER

Virtue of the Month: Justice

God of Justice, We know that we should always

work hard to treat others with respect and fairness.

Help us to remember to play by the rules and to

take turns. Teach us to live with justice every day,

so we can live happily with others and look for

peaceful solutions to any problems. We ask this

through your Son, Jesus.* Amen.

Principal’s/Vice Principal’s Address

Dear Parents/Guardians

We are so pleased to have moved into our beautiful new building. It

has been so exciting to see all the children and staff arranging their

classrooms and setting up their environments for learning and gather-

ing.

As you may have noticed, there are some areas of the school that are

still being worked on. We anticipate a prompt completion of these

projects and exercise patience while the work is being completed.

The students love their new surrounding and cannot wait to spend their recesses playing on the field. We are so blessed to inhabit such a beautiful, modern building where we will continue to learn, build friendships and live as a St. Simon Catholic School Community.

Mario Boccia & Teresa Silva

ST. SIMON NEWSLETTER

Happy Children Who Love to Learn

Student Information Updates

As the year progresses, often some infor-

mation changes. Please ensure that all

emergency contact information is current.

If an emergency were to happen, the

school must have current contacts. If you

have changed your phone number or ad-

dress please inform the office.

Spring Is Here

As the weather is changing, please ensure that students

are dressed appropriately for the cold, wet, unpredictable

weather. Students should have a pair of indoor shoes to

wear as the spring weather brings about messy, muddy

conditions.

To report an absence please call 416-393-5383

From the Office

Uniform

Students are expected to wear the following dress code:

Appropriate Dress Code – consists of any combination of navy blue and white garments (i.e., plain

white top, navy blue bottom, navy blue top and bottom, no denim). Only blue and/or white sweat-

ers are to be worn in the class. All student attire must be in keeping with our Catholic teach-

ings and beliefs, and reflect principles of modesty.

TCDSB School Year Calendar

2017-2018

Mid-Winter Break March 12-16 2018

Good Friday March 30, 2018

Easter Monday April 2nd 2018;

Victoria Day May 21, 2018;

Last day of classes for elementary students June 29, 2018

Wards

1. Joseph Martino 7. Michael Del Grande

2. Ann Andrachuk 8. Garry Tanuan

3. Sal Piccininni 9. Jo-Ann Davis

4. Patrizia Bottoni 10. Barbara Poplawski

5. Maria Rizzo 11. Angela Kennedy

6. Frank D’Amico, Vice Chair 12. Nancy Crawford, Chair

Christopher MacDonald, Student Trustee Hannah McGroarty, Student Trustee

TORONTO CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

TRUSTEES 2016-2017

St. Simon Reminders

Prescription medications

As we continue into the end of winter season, incidences of illness are still prevalent.

If your child is taking a prescription medication, please do not send him or her to

school. Please make every effort to schedule medication times around school hours.

If it is absolutely necessary to administer medication during school hours, please con-

tact the school to obtain the proper documentation to be filled out by your doctor.

Allergen sensitive school

St. Simon is an allergen sensitive school. Several of our community members have severe sensitivities to a variety of foods As such, to ensure everyone’s safety, please ensure that all students bring in nut free products. All packaged food must be la-beled as nut-free.

Birthdays and celebrations

Birthdays and other special occasions are announced over the PA system on a regu-lar basis. As we are an allergen sensitive school, we cannot verify the contents of food that parents may send to school for distribution. If food is sent to the school, parents will be called and asked to come pick up the food. Although we appreciate that the thought is well intentioned, we must work together to ensure the safety of each student. Instead of food, feel free to send grab bag items such as pencils, eras-ers, stickers, etc…

Bus Cancellations

Please be aware that when buses are cancelled the cancellation is for the duration of the entire day. If students attend school they must provide their own transportation to and from school.

If there is a bus cancellation, the cancellation is the for the entire day. If you decide to drive students to school, you must also arrange their pickup.

For the latest information from St. Jude’s Parish, follow them on twitter and Insta-gram.

Instagram account - stjudesparish

Facebook account - St. Jude’s Parish @stjudesparish.weston

Dear Parents

Thank you for your continued support as we have journeyed into our new school

location and future home of St. Simon Catholic School. We are asking that at the

start of the day when parents and caregivers are dropping off their children they

leave the school upon drop off. The yards are fully supervised and the children

are being watched by school staff.

We also ask that when dropping off or picking children up that parents check in-

to the office first. Also adults are not to wander in the hall or past the lobby area

of the school. You will have the opportunity to do so on May 2nd

on our Expres-

sion Art Night.

In addition, if you are required to pick your children up early for appointments,

please ensure that you do so before 3:15PM. If you are picking students up

past 3:15 PM, please allow them to be dismissed with their classes and pick

them up in the school yard. This period of time is extremely busy in the school

office, the more advance notice we have, the smoother dismissal will be for eve-

ryone. Also to ensure safety, we ask that we follow the “100 m rule”. The “100

metre rule” is not noted on any legal signage, we are asking everyone to stay

away from the school by 100 metres. This will generate safety and flow. Your

child, our students, you will enter and exit the school area much faster than be-

ing in front of it. This 100 metre rule will apply for morning drop off and after-

noon pick up.

Thank you kindly for your continued supports in our exciting transition.

Sincerely

Mr. Boccia Ms. Silva

Library Thanks

Thank you to Ms. Tokii Gordano. She has also donated several boxes be-fore our move. Thanks for your passion for reading and providing these books to contribute to our beautiful library.

April Message from Your Trustee

Happy Easter! As we celebrate Easter and greet the coming of spring, we are provided with a much-needed opportuni-ty to recharge and refocus on the important aspects of the season. I would like to remind parents that the Board of Trustees

has begun the budget setting process for the 2018-2019 school year. As always, I encourage parents and CSPCs to review the budget documents and let me know what their priorities are. For more information please visit, https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/BudgetandFinance. Finally, I would like to congratulate the students and staff at St. Simon’s as they move into their new school building. It’s been a long wait but I’m sure they’re enjoying the new space. Details on the official ribbon cutting ceremony and blessing will be provided once a date has been set.

Monthly Update from the Board

April 2018 OAPCE Toronto & TCDSB Parent Engagement Department Annual Parent Reaching Out (PRO) Grant Workshop Apply for a Grant of $1000 for Parent Engagement at your school! Parent Councils, Administrators & all Parents are welcome Guest speakers from the Ministry of Education, OAPCE and TCDSB. Interactive workshop to kick start the application process. Sharing of resources to run PRO Grant events. Monday, April 30, 2018, 6:00 Light Refreshments and Networking; 7:00 Workshop Location: Toronto Catholic District School Board (CEC) 80 Sheppard Avenue East, 2nd Floor Atrium (CEC: Free Parking Available Underground/Yonge & Sheppard Subway Station) Elementary International Languages After-Hours Program Online Registration Starts May 12, 2018 https://www.tcdsb.org/ProgramsServices/SchoolProgramsK12/InternationalLanguages/Pages/Saturday-School-Registration.aspx Award and Scholarship Opportunities for Students

Applications are now being accepted for:

Catherine Temple Mathematics Award Deadline: May 11, 2018

The Catherine Temple Mathematics Award of $4,000 is presented annually to an eligible female stu-

dent graduating from a TCDSB secondary school to encourage and support her in her pursuit of stud-

ies in mathematics or a mathematics-related field at a Canadian post-secondary institution. Click

here for an application form and for more information on the award.

Fintan Kilbride Memorial Scholarship Deadline: May 11, 2018

$500 award open to eligible graduate students of a Toronto Catholic District School Board secondary

school who are accepted into a recognized post-secondary institution. Click here for more information.

Event Reminders: Easter Sunday April 1 Easter Monday April 2 April is Volunteer Appreciation Month Let’s show our appreciation for the many parent volunteers and other family members, as well as members of the community and our parishes who help out in our schools on a regular basis, and to the many students and staff who volunteer their time to countless worthwhile charities throughout the year. Thank you for all that you do!

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day Special Event for Students, Families and Staff 8th Annual Autism Awareness Evening Featuring Aspie Comedian Michael McCreary Monday, April 9, 6:30 PM - 9:00PM Catholic Education Centre, 80 Sheppard Avenue East, 2nd floor Angel Brigade Week April 16-23, 2018 In support of the Angel Foundation for Learning http://www.angelfoundationforlearning.org/ Earth Day April 22, 2018 https://www.tcdsb.org/News/othernews/2018/Pages/earthday.aspx Administrative Assistants’ (Secretary/Clerical Staff) Appreciation Day Wednesday, April 25, 2018 Staff Arts Production: “Curtains”--The Musical Comedy Whodunit 2018 Performance Dates: April 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21 In the theatre at Cardinal Carter Academy of the Arts (36 Greenfield Avenue Willowdale) Order tickets online and save $2.00: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=tcdsb For a manual ticket order form visit: https://www.tcdsb.org/affiliates/StaffArts/PastSeasons/20172018/Documents/Musical/TicketOrderFormCurtains2.pdf CPIC - OAPCE PARENT SUMMIT Helping Parents Get to Know Saturday. May 5th, 2018 At the Catholic Education Centre Get to know...Parent Engagement, Special Education, Math, Internet Safety, Positive Parenting, 21st Century Learning https://www.tcdsb.org/FORPARENTS/ParentInvolvement/News-and-Events/Pages/cpic-parent-conference.aspx Coming Soon:

Catholic Education Week May 6-11, 2018 Respect for Life Week May 13-18, 2018

Opportunities for Students Student Trustee Elections April 24, 2018 https://www.tcdsb.org/FORSTUDENTS/NewsAndEvents/2017-2018/Pages/electionofstudenttrustees.aspx Student Job Fair May 2, 2018 Ontario Science Centre 770 Don Mills Road, North York

https://www.tcdsb.org/FORSTUDENTS/OpportunitiesForStudents/Pages/Job-Fair.aspx Autism Awareness School Bus Contest Classes have the opportunity to WIN a FREE school bus for a class trip of their choice, just by demonstrating how their class is using the resources available on the Autism Services Portal. The winning class will be select-ed by way of random draw that will be taking place at the Autism Awareness flag raising event at the Catholic Education Centre on Monday, April 9th, 2018. All entries must be received by Friday, April 6th, 2018. Click here for more information. 11th annual Kids' World of Energy Festival Relay Education is recruiting volunteers for the 11th annual Kids' World of Energy Festival. I want to volunteer! From April 28 – May 3, 2018, 1,600 students (ages 9-13) will participate in our children's education festival that focuses on energy and the environment. https://www.tcdsb.org/FORSTUDENTS/OpportunitiesForStudents/Pages/Kids-World-of-Energy-Festival.aspx Kids: Help name up to 12 RCMP Foals! The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has a contest just for kids! The RCMP needs names for up to 12 foals born this spring at the RCMP breeding farm in Pakenham, Ontario. Individual winners and one school class will be selected from across Canada. Online entries must be received no later than April 30, 2018; Mail-in entries must be postmarked no later than April 26 2018. https://www.tcdsb.org/FORSTUDENTS/OpportunitiesForStudents/Pages/Help-name-RCMP-Foals.aspx Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations Bursary, Essay Writing Competition & Luncheon

The bursary is open to all graduating Ontario High School students of Jamaican descent who are accepted into a post-secondary education program. The Essay Writing Contest is open to all graduating students of Jamaican descent (whether they ap-ply for the bursary or not). The deadline for this is May 18, 2018. Details for all three opportunities here: https://www.tcdsb.org/FORSTUDENTS/OpportunitiesForStudents/Pages/alliance-of-jamaican-alumni-assoc.aspx More opportunities for students here: https://www.tcdsb.org/FORSTUDENTS/OpportunitiesForStudents/Pages/default.aspx Information about Awards scholarships and bursaries: https://www.tcdsb.org/FORSTUDENTS/AwardsScholarshipsBursariesContests/Pages/default.aspx Never miss out on important news and information. Subscribe to ENews https://web1.tcdsb.org/InterestSubscription/subscription.aspx and receive weekly notifications via email. Or follow us on Twitter @TCDSB.