Volume 25--Issue 2

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The theme for Week 3 is SUN!  It has not rained since we returned to school and we need that trend to continue for this week’s many outdoor events so please, keep your fingers crossed.

We enjoyed many exciting activities again this week during the last set of Scheduled Days until the end of October.  The Admin. Team enjoyed their lunch session with new staff who are adjusting very well to Mary Ward’s unique system.  Thanks to all of you for making them feel so welcome.  Some of you may be approached by teaching staff new to the profession to act as a mentor.  We hope you will welcome sharing your expertise and guiding them along their new path.  The Board is offering sessions throughout the year for new teachers and their mentors to enable this sharing to take place.  Your mentees will have further details.

Thanks to Nicole Powell who shared her WebMarks expertise with introductory and review sessions last week.  Ensuring your students are entered into the system will help TAs during their interviews and facilitate early communication with parents.  Hopefully, most students managed to meet Friday’s Unit 1 target date allowing them to be off to a good start.

Our OASIS leaders had a successful training session at Camp Robin Hood last Wednesday and returned very excited to meet their groups of Grade 9 students.  Thank you to Mary Louise, Dana, and Kara for organizing and facilitating this event.  The hard work of the staff and student OASIS teams will come to fruition on Thursday with the Grade 9 sleepover and Friday’s trip to Camp Robin Hood.  Please see Kara if you have any free time to spare on Thursday night even if it is just for a short period.  This is a great opportunity to meet the newest members of our school community.

You may have noticed our school sign on Kennedy Road looking a bit worn down.  The good news is that we have taken steps to improve its appearance.  Thanks to Paulette for organizing the repair of the sign locks and Dave Emer for guiding his students in the building of the storage boxes for the letters.  If you would like to advertise an upcoming event on the school sign, please see Paulette.  Everyone should experience changing the messages displayed in the sign; it really is quite a workout, just as Derek.

Thanks to all Fall Coaches who made the trek to Msg. Johnson for last Monday’s meeting.  We look forward to supporting you throughout your season.  Please ensure Derek has a copy of your schedule so he can input all games in the calendar.  All staff are invited to review the calendar and make an effort to catch a game and show your school spirit.  The coaches and players will appreciate your support.

Our beloved Supervisor of Students, Antonella Ferrante returns on Monday and her newly hired partner, Liz Nero will join us mid-week.  Please make sure you make a point to greet Antonella and meet Liz, we are lucky to have them both.

We begin our Day 1 – 10 Schedule this week and I ask that those responsible for changing the daily signs ensure the correct schedule is identified.  I also ask TAs to ensure their Grade 9 students are familiar with the schedule and make good use of their agendas.  With our high enrolment, the work areas will be well-populated and we want to ensure our Grade 9 students do not become too frustrated.  They should be encouraged to arrive promptly to the area they have identified in their agenda and have a back-up plan if there is not sufficient space.  Violet Derek and I along with Antonella and Liz will do our best to be in the halls to help students find their way.

This Monday is Photo Day.  Students will be called over the PA in TA groups.  If you are available when your TA is called, your supervision would be greatly appreciated.  Students will have their yearbook, I.D., and TTC photos taken and staff are asked to have their pictures taken as well.  Each student will receive their I.D. badge and lanyard immediately and are expected to wear it around their necks throughout the school day.  TAs will begin collecting I.D. badges at Monday’s end of day check-in and will distribute them in morning TA.  I.D. badges should not leave the building.  Your help with daily distribution and collection is much appreciated.  Please refer to Derek’s memo for further information.

Thanks to John Notten and Nicole Powell for designing the template for the I.D. badges and working with Derek to co-ordinate this task with the photographers.

A large contingent of our Grade 12 students along with Mr. D’Agostino and his team, will travel to Sandbanks Provincial Park for their annual camping trip.  We wish you dry, sunny weather and friendly bears and look forward to your return on Wednesday.

A big thank you to Mike Kennedy for accepting the role of TSU rep along with the staff that volunteered for LSSAC.  We will meet Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 3 p.m. in the Office Conference Room.  Thanks also to Pierre, Anna Sersanti and Pamela who will share the role of Health and Safety rep. for this school year.

Kathy and Patrick’s extra help sessions for Grade 9 students continue Tuesday after school with a focus on scheduling.  Please encourage your advisees to attend especially if you believe they require some assistance with scheduling.

Our Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC) also meets on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. for the AGM and welcomes Trustee Del Grande as the Keynote Speaker.  Please encourage your advisees to have their parents attend.  Anyone interested in being the staff rep., is asked to see Patricia. 

DECA will hold information sessions at lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday for any students interested in joining this group.  If you want to get further information to share with your advisees, please see staff moderators Joanna Morra or Marie Ventura.  There will be many activities hosted by DECA this year and it is a wonderful opportunity for students to gain exposure to the world of business.

Wednesday is a Day 3 but will be slightly modified for Grade 9 students only.  All Grade 9 students will be called to the cafetorium during period 1 to hear the speeches for Grade 9 Rep. on SAC.  At last count, there were an impressive 17 students interested in this position.  Upon entering the cafetorium, students will be given a ballot to record their selection.  The ballots will be collected when students are dismissed from the café and the top 2 individuals will be crowned Grade 9 Rep.  Students will need to have a pen to record their vote.  Although the SAC members have this event well-organized, your assistance is appreciated if you are available during period 1. 

Thanks to all teachers who volunteered to represent your SBAT on this year’s Steering Committee.  From Violet’s group, we have Dave Frair, Dana, Peter Petrasek and Nicole Powell.  John Notten, Cathy Schwan, Jen Wisniowski and Kara Zidar will represent Derek’s SBAT and Pierre, Mary-Lynn, Jen Hayes, Rick come from Patricia’s group.  Our first meeting is Wed., Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. in the Office Conference Room. 

Thursday, Sept. 19 is a C Day and we expect a beautiful sunny day allowing us to celebrate our Opening School Mass by the pond with Fr. Dave.  We will welcome back George Kolos, Andrea Magee, and Santo Visconti and allow them a chance to say goodbye to the school community as this opportunity was not possible at last year’s Closing Mass. 

The mass will be followed by a BBQ and fun activities coordinated by SAC and staff moderators, Michelle Albert, Mary-Lynn and Sandra Pezzetta.  Although Violet and I really wanted to go in the dunk tank, Derek won the draw.  Isn’t that right, Derek?  That is certainly how Violet and I remember it! 

The Grade 9 sleep-over will begin at 3 p.m. with snacks in the café and continue into the wee hours.  The agenda is jam-packed and will give all involved an opportunity to have fun, meet new friends and sleep in the school gym 9 (girls) or café (boys).  Once again, if you would like to lend your assistance to any of the events, please see Kara.

On Friday, Sept. 25 while most staff and students are making their way to school for a Day 4, the OASIS staff and student leaders along with the Grade 9 students will have already enjoyed a nutritious breakfast and departed for Camp Robin Hood.  Our expected return time is 4 p.m.

Grade 12 students should be reminded of the Ontario University Fair that begins Friday and runs the entire weekend at the Toronto Convention Centre.  This is a good opportunity for students interested in attending a University next Fall to get helpful information all within one space. 

Continuing with the Loretto Sisters 400^th Anniversary celebration, there will be a Corporate Social Responsibility – The Vision of Mary Ward in Today’s Global Economy at St. Michael’s Campus, University of Toronto on September 26, 9 – 3:30 p.m.  We would like to send some students to represent our school.  If you have any students who are interested, please see Patricia.

Remember, think SUN.

Enjoy your week!

Daily Schedules