Knapsack News
January 2012
Benefits of CSAC Fundraising
Funds raised by CSAC continue to enhance academic, social, spiritual and
recreational activities for students at St. Bonaventure. CSAC has
provided financial support for numerous events and activities to date,
including: classroom visits by Scientist in the School, teacher
classroom resources, JK & SK craft supplies, fresh/cold water drinking
stations for students, monthly Internet access for the three portables
through Wind Mobile, Grade 7/8 Quebec Trip, Welcome Back BBQ, Halloween
Dance, Advent Reception, Christmas Gift basket Program, resources for
the rainy day bins and W5H buzzers (available for use by all
classrooms). Lots more initiatives are planned. Thank you for your
continuing support!
Parent Information Session
Another evening information seminar for parents is being organized for
April. The session will again focus on Internet Safety and Social Media,
with a different speaker. The event is made possible by a Parents
Reaching Out grant from the Ministry of Education. PRO grants are used
to support school-based initiatives that increase parent involvement in
the support of student achievement and well-being. If you have ideas for
the event or can assist with organizing, please contact the school
office.
Chocolate Bar Fundriaser
Our CSAC is organizing a World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser from
January 20 to February 3 in support of CSAC fundraising
activities at the school. This event and the fall QSP magazine
subscription drive are CSAC’s two major fundraisers throughout the
school year. While this is a voluntary initiative, we encourage your
participation. Signed parent approval is required for all participants.
Some of the proceeds of this initiative will be invested in technology
to assist student learning at St. Bonaventure.
Beginning Monday, January 30, CSAC will be conducting daily draws for
prizes. Participating students will receive one raffle ticket for every
case of 30 chocolates sold. Prizes will also be awarded to the top
selling families. Thank you in advance for your support for this
initiative!
Next CSAC Meeting
The next CSAC meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 22nd in the
school library from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All parents are
invited to attend. Complimentary childcare is available for attendees.
Friendly Friar
“For everything there is a season...”
Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful and restful Christmas
holiday, with pleasant moments shared with family and friends. This
year’s vacation time seemed to suit everyone with the week after New
Year’s giving us all time to rest. Speaking with your children they all
said that Christmas was really good, though some said that they did not
get the gift that they wanted. I used this to open a discussion as to
the real meaning of the season as a time of sharing and appreciating the
gifts we receive rather than a time to look for specific gifts. We
should be thankful that family and friends cared enough about us to want
to give us something.
Once again your gifts to the families in St. Paul’s brought great joy to
many children and I thank you for your outpouring of love and generosity
to those in need. Your actions speak loudly of your love for your
neighbours and your desire to live the gospel message of feeding the
hungry.
We, as church, have now moved into Ordinary time, but Lent is just
around the corner, and both Church and School have many events planned
to help us in our preparations for Easter. Meanwhile sacramental
preparations are under way for both First Communion and Confirmation
with meetings with parents and children already planned. This is a time
for families to spend together, hopefully sharing meals and sharing the
events of their daily lives in peace and harmony. Your children are a
great gift from God so spend time with them, they are great children and
I appreciate the time that I can spend in their company. Thank you for
letting me share in their lives.
May God’s peace and blessing be with each of you throughout this New
Year.
Friar David
St. Bonaventure Family Skate
Due to a scheduling conflict, the date of the annual St. Bonaventure
Family Skate has changed. The event will take place on Thursday,
February 9 at Broadlands Arena (19 Castlegrove Boulevard) from 6:15 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m.
Light refreshments will be served to all skaters and spectators. Please
mark your calendars for an evening of fun.
Pancake Tuesday
Parent volunteers will be serving up delicious pancakes and maple syrup
to all students and staff on the morning of Pancake Tuesday (February
21) at the school. Pancake Tuesday is always the day before Ash
Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Tradition has it that
people prepare pancakes on this day to clear their cupboards in advance
of Lenten fasting. Thank you to those parents who have already
volunteered. It’s not too late to volunteer – please leave your name at
the school office if your forte is tossing flapjacks!
Winter Uniform Sale
Is it too cold to go shopping? Join us for Hemera Products’ Online
Uniform Sale
Shop on-line: http://www.hemeraproducts.com/boutiques
Sale: Crested White Polos “Buy-One-Get-One”
Crested Navy Polos – 20% off
Crested fleeces and sweatshirts up to 30% off
Check the on-line boutique for all sale items
Prices are already reduced online
The sale runs to the end of February 2012
December 2011
Christmas Gift Basket Program
Thank you to a very lengthy list of volunteers for assisting with
another successful Christmas Gift Basket Program that will bring
Christmas cheer to 15 needy families in the St. Paul’s Catholic School
community in downtown Toronto.
Students and parents were very generous with the gift donations - our
sincere thanks for making this act of kindness possible. We thank the
parents and students who were busy elves on December 12, sorting and
wrapping gifts in the Parish Hall. Under the direction of our super
organizers Laurie Bildfell, Marlene D’Silva and Maureen Yorke, our
volunteers had the gifts wrapped and ready for transport in record time.
Thank you also to our corporate sponsors for their kind assistance -
Avery Moving & Storage for the colourful boxes used to collect
donations; members of the Power Workers’ Union for their gift donations
and cash collection that will be used to purchase Christmas dinners for
all of the families; Starbucks for the refreshments served at the
wrapping party; and The Karen Millar Team for their volunteer support
and use of their cube van to transport the Gift Baskets to St. Paul’s.
“For it is in giving that we receive.” A Merry Christmas to all!
Parent Information Session
Thank you to Sgt. Tim Burrows, Social Media Relations, Corporate
Communications Office, Toronto Police Service for attending our school
on the evening of November 29 to talk to parents about Internet Safety
and Social Media.
Should you have any follow-up questions for Sgt. Burrows, he can be
reached at 416-808-7093 (office), 416-452-6294 (cell),
Timothy.Burrows@torontopolice.on.ca,
40 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2J3.
The seminar was made possible by a Parents Reaching Out grant from the
Ministry of Education. PRO grants are used to support school-based
initiatives that increase parent involvement in the support of student
achievement and well-being. The St. Bonaventure CSAC will be organizing
another evening educational seminar for parents in April.
Next CSAC Meeting
The next CSAC meeting will take place on Monday, January 16th in the
school library from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
All parents are invited to attend. Complimentary childcare is available
for attendees.
Friendly Friar
“there were shepherds in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks
“
These shepherds were the first to witness that God’s son, Jesus, was
born to be our Saviour. The fact that they were awake and watching, that
they were in a position to hear the angels, and be led by them to the
stable in Bethlehem, reminds us of the reality of Advent. This is our
time of preparation and looking forward to the birth of Jesus, a time to
anticipate this wonderful gift from God. The children are all actively
engaged in this preparation by their participation in various activities
such as concerts, the living manger, gifts for the families at St.
Paul’s school and making Advent wreaths in their classrooms. It is a
great feeling to walk through the halls of our school and to see the
amazing decorations there. It brings the spirit of Christmas to life,
especially so this year where we have experienced such mild un-Christmas
like weather!
Thanks to all of you for your continued generosity to those who are less
fortunate than we are. You have enabled many children to have an
enjoyable Christmas and brightened the lives of their parents. May God’s
blessing be with you all at this special season of the year. With all
best wishes to you and your families. Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year.
Friar David
Café Glacé
The café Glacé was a huge success last Wednesday due to the community
coming together to make this event possible. A special thank you to all
parents who volunteered their time or donated items for the silent
auction. We couldn't have done it without you! We are very proud of our
students who participated in the lip sync contest as well as the wait
staff. We really live up to our reputation at St.Bonaventure. The
proceeds of the sale will go to defray the cost of the students Quebec
trip. Thank you again for your support!
Mme Côté-Campbell, Mme Nash, M. Ward
Advent Reception
Our thanks to our parent volunteers who supplied baked goods for the
Advent Celebration at
St. Bonaventure. This annual celebration, with a live outdoor Nativity
that includes real animals, makes this time of year just that much more
enjoyable for the Parish community.
St. Bonaventure Family Skate
The annual St. Bonaventure Family Skate will take place at Broadlands
Arena on Thursday, February 16.
Please mark your calendars for an evening of fun.
Chocolate Bar Sales
Our CSAC is organizing a chocolate bar sales fundraiser early in the new
year (January 16-23) with some of the proceeds being invested in
technology to assist student learning at St. Bonaventure. Thank you in
advance for your support for this initiative.
Holiday Uniform Sale
Shop on-line:
http://www.hemeraproducts.com/boutiques
Sale: Crested White Polos “Buy-One-Get-One”
Crested Navy Polos – 20% off
Crested fleeces and sweatshirts up to 30% off
Check the on-line boutique for all sale items
Prices are already reduced online
The sale runs to the end of January 2012
On behalf of Hemera Products Inc. we would like to wish you a very Merry
Christmas and Festive Holiday Season and look forward to seeing you all
in the New Year.
November 2011
Grade 8 Quebec Trip Fundraiser
A big raffle is planned to raise funds to send Grade 8 students to
Quebec City. We would greatly appreciate receiving prize donations that
could be included in this raffle – e.g. tickets to major sporting events
(Leafs, Raptors, TFC), theatre/entertainment outings, or
products/services offered by parents’ businesses. All donations are
welcome and greatly appreciated. Please contact the school office if you
are able to assist.
Communications
The weekly ‘efile’ is up and running for the 2nd year at St.
Bonaventure. Over 80% of the School
Community are now receiving weekly efiles
containing School News, updates and reminders.
The weekly ‘efile’ is intended to help supplement paper communication
and ‘patch-in’ between the monthly School Newsletter and Knapsack News
Many teachers are also using the email network to send out reminders and
notices on upcoming Classroom events. You are welcome to join at any
time, please email csac.stbonaventure@tcdsb.org if you would like to
participate.
The Communications Committee
The Communications Committee is always looking for new members to help
enhance and improve ALL Communications at St. Bonaventure. If you are
interested in joining or have some feedback,
please contact Laurie Bildfell @
laurie.bildfell@sympatico.ca
Parent Information Session (Nov. 29)
Internet Safety and Social Media
St. Bonaventure’s CSAC received a grant from the Ministry of Education
to fund a school-based initiative to increase parent involvement in the
support of student achievement and well-being. To this end, St.
Bonaventure will host an evening information session for
parents on Tuesday, November 29 (7-8:30 p.m.) in the school gym to
discuss Internet Safety and Social Media Issues.
Our guest speaker for this candid and interactive discussion will be
Constable Scott Mills, Social Media Relations Officer, Corporate
Communications Office, Toronto Police Service. TPS is a leader in the
use of interactive digital tools for community engagement, crime
prevention and investigation. Constable Mills is TPS’s social media
specialist. He regularly presents to school groups on a host of youth
safety issues, including: bullying, substance abuse, violence
prevention, Internet safety and social media use. A follow-up session
will take place at St. Bonaventure in the spring for those parents who
are not able to attend the November 29 session. Please mark your
calendars!
Advent Reception
We are looking for a lead organizer for the Advent Reception that will
take place on the evening of Thursday, December 15 following the live
Nativity celebration at St. Bonaventure. Please contact the school
office if you can assist.
Next CSAC Meeting
The next CSAC meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 23 in the
school library from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All parents are invited to
attend. Complimentary childcare is
available for attendees.
Friendly Friar
“Peace I leave to you, my peace I give to you “
Today as we celebrate Remembrance Day in honour of all those who have
given their lives to bring freedom and peace to the world, we are aware
of how very blessed we are in Canada where we take peace for granted.
However your children have been learning about these brave women and men
and the great sacrifices they have made for us. Sadly we are still
losing too many of them in wars in far of lands where they are
attempting to bring to those countries. Please keep them always in your
prayers.
The world around us has many people who are trying to take away some of
our freedom, abolishing prayer or even the mention of God in schools and
work places, so it is important for all of us to help our children
understand that we have to stand up for what we believe in so that we
can maintain our Catholic Christian identity and the freedom to worship
and to pray. Thankfully I witness a great deal of faith in the children
at school so obviously you as parents are doing a great job of teaching
them their faith.
The month of November marks the beginning of the season of Advent, the
time of preparation for the birth of the infant Jesus, come into this
world to bring us peace. Both at the parish and the school this
preparation takes on many forms, all leading up to the wonders of
Christmas. This will call us to sacrifice a little in order to reach out
to those in need, such as the Christmas gifts we collect and donate to
families of students at St. Paul’s where there is a great need. Your
generosity in the past has brought great joy to many families over the
years and I thank you on their behalf. This is a perfect example of
living the gospel life and Jesus’ request that we do these things in his
name.
As we prepare to welcome the Christ Child into are hearts and our homes
please continue to pray for the less fortunate in the world.
May God continue to bless you and give you peace.
Friar David
Halloween Dance
Thank you to all the parent volunteers, teachers and custodians at the
school who helped make the Halloween Dance a success. Many people were
involved this year. There were shoppers, decorators, game co-ordinators,
chaperones, prize donors, a music DJ, sound system co-ordinator,
clean-up crew and more. It was a huge group effort and it really paid
off.
This year saw the most costumes out of any past year and the highest
level of participation by the students. The energy was high, the mood
was fun, the music was rockin', the costumes were outrageous and the
children really appreciated it all. Thanks to our generous donors, every
child left the gym with a little treat/prize. It was fantastic to see so
many new faces from the parent community helping out as well as those
from past years. Thanks so much to everyone. Great job!!
Christmas Gift Basket Program
At St. Bonaventure, we strive to be charitable and assist those less
fortunate. Our school will again sponsor a Christmas Gift Basket Program
to bring Christmas cheer to needy families in the St. Paul’s Catholic
School community in downtown Toronto. Gift donations from our students
will be assembled into Christmas Gift Baskets for St. Paul
families, ensuring that that they have food and gift items to enjoy this
Christmas.
An information sheet will be distributed to all
students in the near future. St. Bonaventure
parent volunteers will gather in the Parish Hall (Monday, December 12,
9:00 a.m. for interested volunteers!) to sort and wrap the gifts and
assemble the Baskets. Thank you in advance for your continued support of
this worthwhile initiative!
Welcoming new Families
CSAC has implemented a new ‘Ambassador’ program to help integrate new
families to the school, into the St. Bonaventure Community. Please
contact Monica McDonald @ mmcdonald@rogers.com if you would like to be
part of this program as a ‘new family’ or ‘volunteer’.
May 2011
Friendly Friar
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
I trust you all enjoyed a wonderful Easter and continue to enjoy this season of celebration. Our church was beautifully decorated, the music was very moving, and it was wonderful to see the church so full. On Holy Thursday the students from grade eight presented a Passion play to the whole school, which was enjoyed by everyone. Our congratulations to all who assisted in this event. A special congratulation to those young students that celebrated their First Communion on May 1st. They all were so excited that the moment had finally arrived when they could receive Jesus in the Eucharist. They were equally excited when they were able to receive communion at our school mass!
Easter welcomes spring each year, although this year spring is a little bit slow in getting its act together. But as I sit here in my office I can see blossoms on the trees, dandelions blooming all over the lawns, and hear the songs of so many birds. Our children (and parents) were excited to see four deer cutting across the baseball diamond in the middle of a game one evening! We are so blessed as a community to be able to enjoy the beauty and wonders of God’s creation right here in our back yard.
As the school year draws to an end we look ahead to Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday for our candidates who have been busy preparing over the year. Please keep them in your prayers at this important moment in their lives. I am very proud of them and of the volunteer work they have performed as part of their program, especially those that joined me on Monday mornings for the Breakfast Club. Thank you for all that you do to fulfill Jesus’ wish that we should feed the hungry. Thank you to all of you for the great children you have, they are a reflection of your love and care for them: I am honoured to be able to work with them and share in their lives.
My God bless you all as we enjoy the spring, and hopefully some sunshine.
Friar David.
Movie Night
Movie Night, which was held on Friday May 6th, was a big success
this year. The kids had a terrific time running around (more so at the
earlier movie) and hanging out with their friends. Thank you to all of
the parents who donated their time and energy to this event, from
purchasing food and glow products for the night, setting up, cooking
hotdogs, dressing hot dogs, handing out drinks, selling snacks and glow
products, greeting at the door and organizing the DVD give-away. And
also, thanks to the staff volunteers who came with their own children.
Your presence was greatly appreciated. See you next year at MOVIE NIGHT
2012.
Homecoming 2011 BBQ
Planning is ongoing for the Homecoming 2011 BBQ at St. Bonaventure.
The event will take place on Saturday, September 17 at the school.
Homecoming unites the St. Bonaventure school community in a celebration
of the start of a new school year with games, activities, food, music
and fun. Volunteers are needed for the Homecoming Organizing Committee
-- please contact Ian Campbell (416-699-9535 or ian.campbell@drinksontario.com)
to volunteer.
Scholastic Book Fair
Our Book Fair will run from June 13th to 17th in the library and
students can purchase books from the wide selection on view.
QSP is coming Back next October
CSAC has decided to run the QSP Magazine fundraiser again starting
in October 2011. Please ignore all of the publisher requests for
magazine renewals and wait and renew your magazines in the fall through
our school program. Next year QSP will offer subscription gift cards and
a selection of top selling digital magazines will be available. For
every magazine sold, St Bonaventure receives $10. Last year we raised
over $8000 which CSAC uses for many student programs throughout the
year.
Class Liaison Volunteers Needed for 2011/12
School Year
The end of the school year is around the corner and the Comms Committee
is looking to have Class Liaison Volunteers in place early in the school
year to help get off to a smooth start.
If you would like to volunteer to be the Class Liaison for NEXT YEAR,
please submit an email Julia Barsan at iuliabarsan@yahoo.ca
The Class Liaison's role is to help build and manage the Classroom
Contact list and aid in disseminating information from School and
Classroom as required.
All Class Liaison's rotate every year so we are looking for NEW
VOLUNTEERS for the 2011/12 School Year.
Please contact Julia or speak with your existing Class Liaison if you
have any questions.
Communications Survey
A brief Survey on School Communications will go out on the School email
network in June.
We look forward to your feedback. For those not on email, a paper copy /
response format will be made available.
School Website and Weekly efile...update
The TCDSB will be launching a new WEB Portal for all schools. Since this
is in the works, the Comms Committee is unable to actively make use of
the current School Website.
The weekly 'efile format' will continue to adapt to 'complete and
compliment' YOUR School Communications. If you have any ideas or
suggestions, please contact Marlene D'Silva at marlene.dsilva@sympatico.ca
or 416-499-0242.
Olympic Play Day
Olympic Play Day will take place at St.
Bonaventure on Thursday, June 16. This event sees students from all
grades divided into teams to compete in a series of fun activities
throughout the day. In the event of rain, the event will be moved to
Tuesday, June 21.
2011-12 CSAC Meeting Dates
Tentative CSAC meeting dates have been established for the 2011-12
school year. They are: September 22 (Annual General Meeting); October
17; November 23; January 16; February 22; March 26; April 18; May 14;
and June 13.
Class Liaison Volunteers Needed for 2011/12 School Year
The end of the school year is around the corner and the
Communications Committee is looking to have Class Liaison Volunteers in
place early in the school year to help get off to a smooth start.
If you would like to volunteer to be the Class Liaison for NEXT YEAR,
please submit an email Julia Barsan at iuliabarsan@yahoo.ca or call
Juila at 416 752 4626.
The Class Liaison's role is to help build and manage the Classroom
Contact list and aid in disseminating information from School and
Classroom as required.
All Class Liaison's rotate every year so we are looking for NEW
VOLUNTEERS for the 2011/12 School Year.
Please contact Julia or speak with your existing Class Liaison if you
have any questions.
School Website and Weekly efile...update
The TCDSB will be launching a new WEB Portal for all schools. Since this
is in the works, the Comms Committee is unable to actively make use of
the current School Website.
The weekly 'efile format' will continue to adapt to 'complete and
compliment' YOUR School Communications. If you have any ideas or
suggestions, please contact Marlene D'Silva at marlene.dsilva@sympatico.ca
or 416-499-0242.
Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grant
The St. Bonaventure CSAC has applied to the Ministry of Education
for a Parents Reaching Out (PRO) grant to host fall 2011 and spring 2012
parent information seminars on “Social Networking and Internet Safety.”
The Ministry provides PRO grants to school councils to encourage parents
to become more involved in all aspects of their child(ren)'s education.
This year’s PRO funding was used to host fall and spring seminars
focusing on math skills.
NOTE:
Mme. Cote-Campbell is looking for a family who
would welcome a live in nanny from Quebec. This girl is a 16 year old
student who wants to learn english. If you are interested in helping out
this student please contact Mme. Cote-Campbell at the school.
March 2011
Friendly Friar
“The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.”
Spring is here, at least on the calendar! But more than that there are
many signs of the return of spring. In the gardens we see signs of new
growth, the wild animals that live on the property are emerging from
there hibernation and birds are returning from their journey to the
south. All of these are reminders of the Resurrection, the celebration
of Easter. But before we celebrate Easter we need to continue to prepare
as we journey through Lent with our minds set on sacrifice and penance.
There are many ways in which we can prepare, not all of which require
giving up our favourite treats; we can reach out to others, help those
around us, increase our prayer time and continue to walk closer to our
God.
As we look around at our world today, the many wars and disasters, the
great needs of those in the third world, we should give thanks that we
are so blessed here in Canada. Even though there is need here at home,
we as members of the St. Bonaventure community continue to be generous
in our support of the needy. Thank you all for your constant love and
support of all God’s children.
First Communion is coming fast, and the children in grade two are very
excited about this powerful moment in their lives. Please continue to
keep them in your prayers as they continue on their faith journey.
Meanwhile grade eight students continue in their preparation for
Confirmation, having already been on their retreat. You should all be
proud of your children’s enthusiasm for these events.
May God continue to pour out his blessings on us all as we prepare for
the Easter Season.
Cross Country
Contrary to our Monthly calendar - cross country for the divisional meet
in April 20th and the regional meet on April 28th are at Riverdale not
Earl Bales Park.
Rippleton Roadsters Satellite Program
The Rippleton Roadsters Satellite Program is
accepting registrations for September 2011 for its St. Bonaventure
location. The program provides after-school childcare at the school.
Registration packages are available for the school-age program – these
can be picked up in Room 115. Should you require further information,
please contact Denise Vuocolo at 416-449-4559.
Next CSAC Meeting - March 28th
Our next CSAC Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 20th 7:00 - 8:30
pm in the School Library.
All parents are invited to attend. Complimentary childcare will be
available.
QSP Fall Fundraiser
The St. Bonaventure CSAC will launch its annual QSP magazine
subscription fundraising initiative in October 2011. QSP (a subsidiary
of Reader’s Digest Association (Canada) Ltd.) offers 700 titles
including magazines, books and CD-ROMs at savings of up to 85% off
newsstand prices. We ask that you please set aside any renewal requests
received between now and October and wait to renew your subscriptions
through the school’s fundraising campaign. This will help to ensure that
St. Bonaventure is credited with the sales.
School Buses First
Please only park in designated parking spots and please remember to let
the buses leave first.
Movie Night
St. Bonaventure will host a fun Movie Night for students on the evening
of Friday, May 6. The free event will be held in the gymnasium with
refreshments available for purchase (to fund big-screen movie rentals).
There will be an earlier screening for students in JK-Grade 4/5. Please
circle the date in your calendars.
Olympic Day
Following up on last year’s fun, another Olympic Day is being organized
at St. Bonaventure. The event will take place on June 16 (with June 21
at the rain date). Students will enjoy a day of fun, participating in
activities and games that celebrate their athleticism. If you are
available to assist in organizing, please contact Lana Reddick
(lreddick4@gmail.com).
Homecoming 2011
Planning is underway for Homecoming 2011 at St. Bonaventure. The event
will take place on Saturday, September 17 at the school. Homecoming
brings the St. Bonaventure school community together to celebrate the
start of a new school year with games, activities, food, music and fun.
Volunteers are needed for the Homecoming Organizing Committee -- please
contact Ian Campbell (416-699-9535 or ian.campbell@drinksontario.com) to
volunteer.
JUMP Math Night
The St. Bonaventure CSAC is hosting another JUMP Math Night at the
school on April 14 (6:30 p.m.). Registration forms were distributed
earlier to students. JUMP Math is a numeracy program started in 1998 by
mathematician, author and award-winning playwright John Mighton. The
event is funded by a Parents Reaching Out (PRO) grant received from the
Ministry of Education. PRO grants are used to engage the parent
community in various activities that enhance the learning environment.
For further information or to register for this free event, please
contact Lana Reddick (lreddick4@gmail.com).
St. Bonaventure Chess Club
Registration notices were distributed to students for the spring session
of the St. Bonaventure Chess Club. Chess can be a powerful learning tool
to hone mathematics, memory and strategic thinking skills. St.
Bonaventure Chess Club lessons are conducted by the 25-year-old
non-profit Chess’n Math Association (CMA). The CMA currently teaches at
more than 70 schools in the GTA and runs chess tournaments and camps.
Small class size (10-12 students, beginner to advanced) allow for
quality instruction. Students are grouped by ability, regardless of age.
Each lesson is followed by a practice session. Lessons are held in the
three portables. Certificates achieved are awarded at the end of each
course. The deadline for registrations is April 12. The cost is $65 (by
cheque payable to the Chess’n Math Association) for eight lunchtime
sessions (April 14-June 2). If there is any small surplus in funds, this
will be used for St. Bonaventure Chess Club activities and resources.
February 2011
School Visitors
In the interests of student safety, all visitors to the school are
reminded to report first to the school office to sign in and receive a
Visitor badge.
Thank you in advance for your assistance with this important safe school
policy.
Pancake Tuesday
Parent volunteers will be serving up delicious pancakes and maple syrup
to all students and staff on the morning of Pancake Tuesday (March 8) at
the school.
Pancake Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
Tradition has it that people prepare pancakes on this day to clear their
cupboards in advance of Lenten fasting. Thank you to those parents who
have already
volunteered. Please leave your name at the school office if you can
assist in the fun.
JUMP Math
Please join us on April 14th, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, in the school gym
for a second session of the JUMP Math program, hosted by the creator of
JUMP Math, Mr. John Mighton. The session that was run in November was a
great hit with students, parents and teachers. Grade 3 students and
older are able to attend with their parent/guardian. A registration
letter for this session will go home in March. This event is sponsored
by CSAC and the Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grant.
CSAC Communications
A small group has been formed to enhance School Communications. Anyone
interested in joining is welcome at anytime. To join or provide
feedback, please contact: Laurie Bildfell - 416-564-7507 laurie.bildfell@sympatico.ca
OR Ian Campbell, ian.campbell@drinksontario.com
We look forward to hearing from you.
Homecoming 2011
Planning is underway for Homecoming 2011 at St. Bonaventure. The event
will take place on Saturday, September 17 at the school.
Homecoming brings the St. Bonaventure school community together to
celebrate the start of a new school year with games, activities, food,
music and fun. Volunteers are needed for the Homecoming Organizing
Committee.
Please contact Ian Campbell (416-699-9535 or ian.campbell@drinksontario.com)
to volunteer.
Next CSAC Meeting - March 28th
Our next CSAC Meeting will be held on Monday March 28th 7:00 - 8:30 pm
in the School Library.
All parents are invited to attend. Complimentary childcare will be
available.
January 2011
Friendly Friar
“How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth.”
Walking home this evening from the CSAC meeting, enjoying the night air
and the bright moon, I was greeted by two deer that were enjoying
whatever they could salvage from our garden. As I watched these two
beautiful animals I was reminded of God’s great gift of creation, of all
the things we so often take for granted. Suddenly the deer became aware
of my presence, looked at me as if to say ‘What are you doing here?’ and
then bounded away to their home in the ravine. What a great way to end
the day!
In my last piece I mentioned that we were entering into Advent and the
beginning of the Christmas season. Now that is behind us and we are in
Ordinary time, but the Christmas story remains in our hearts. We were
blessed with great weather for our outdoor nativity and I think that the
event was enjoyed by all. This year’s donkey was small and cute, just
the right size for Mary. Unfortunately the sheep could not join us,
maybe we should have invited the deer! My sincere thanks, and that of
all the friars, for all those who helped in so many ways: the students,
the people behind the scenes that make it all happen, the choir for the
beautiful carols and especially the baby (and her parents).
And so we begin the cold part of the school year which brings its own
delights. The beautiful white snow to play in, skating parties and
tobogganing, hot chocolate on a cold winter night, time spent with
friends and family. We are a truly blessed community. As Canadians we
enjoy so many opportunities to share with one another and yet we still
reach out to others in need, both here and abroad, fulfilling Jesus wish
for us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in need of
comfort. All of these things we do so well at St. Bonaventure in a
spirit of joy and peace.. Your efforts on behalf of St. Paul’s school
were greatly appreciated, keep up the good work.
May God continue to pour out His blessing on us all.
Peace. Friar David
Carnival
M. Kissieh is looking for 4 sets of toboggans/sleds and snowshoes or
skis for the Carnival Celebration that will be held at the end of the
month. Please contact the school directly if you can help us.
School Communications
CSAC is in the process of forming a Communications Committee. The
Committee will be reviewing all existing School Communications including
the new Community email.
Please contact Ian Campbell (ian.campbell@drinksontario.com) or Laurie Bildfell (laurie.bildfell@sympatico.ca / tel: 416-564-7507) if you wish to join or simply provide
feedback on what is working or what you would like to see more of.
Fundraiser
Thank you to all parents for helping with our Chocolate Bar Fundraiser.
The $90.00 valued kits will be distributed by Thursday January 20th and
we ask that the money be handed into the school by January 31st at the
latest. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. The money raised will go
towards enhancing technology at the school.
St. Bonaventure Family Skate
Thursday, February 24 has been tentatively set as the date for this
year’s Family Skate at Broadlands Arena. This is a pleasure skating
event for the school community with complimentary refreshments served to
all attendees. Watch for further news on this in the next issue of
Knapsack News.
Welcome Back BBQ 2011
It’s not too early to start planning for the Welcome Back BBQ next
fall to welcome new and returning families to our school community. This
event will take place on Saturday, September 17 and involves food, fun
and games for everyone. If would like to assist with planning
activities, please contact Ian Campbell,
ian.campbell@drinksontario.com.
Next CSAC Meeting - Wed Feb 23rd
Our next CSAC Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 23rd at 7:00
p.m. in the School Library.
Complimentary childcare will be available.
November 2010
School Community E-mail List
CSAC is helping to create e-mail lists by class to help build linkages
in your child's class and speed the flow of information out to you. If
you have not yet completed the 'e-mail permission' form that went home
with the
report cards, please send the form in to your child's morning teacher.
Alternatively, you can e-mail directly laurie.bildfell@sympatico.ca.
Please indicate YOUR name(s), CHILD's name(s) and morning class. Thank
you. You will be receiving confirmation e-mails shortly.
In the Spirit of Christmas
Keeping with past tradition, St. Bonaventure will again be making
spirits bright for a number of needy families in St. Paul’s Parish in
downtown Toronto. We will be collecting donations from students (new
toys, hats, mittens, scarves and other items) and assembling a Christmas
basket for each of 10 families. Cash donations are
welcome and will be used to purchase gift cards for the
family members. No gift or donation is too small. The baskets will be
delivered to St. Paul’s in mid-December. A letter explaining this
initiative will be sent home with all students. If you are available to
sort and wrap gifts in early December (date t.b.a.), please call Ian
Campbell (416/699-9535 or ian.campbell@drinksontario.com).
Next CSAC Meeting - Tues Nov 23rd
Our next CSAC Meeting will be held on Tuesday,
November 23rd at 7:00 p.m. in the School Library. Complimentary
childcare will be available to parents
attending the meeting.
Friendly Friar
The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.
It was mid afternoon on a Saturday, the parking lot was empty and no one
was around. As I approached the
office I heard this sound which I could not identify, so I stood quietly
and listened. The sound seemed to be all around me and then I realized
it was coming from the trees which were full of chattering birds. As I
stood there suddenly the trees were emptied as hundreds of birds took
flight and flew all around me. It was an awesome experience of the
wonders of God’s creation. Have you ever stood and watched the little
finches dart from tree to tree, flying right through the leaves and
never
crashing? Surely a sign of God’s great love for us.
We shall soon be witnessing this great love as we move into Advent and
the preparation for the birth of God’s greatest gift to us, his son
Jesus who became one of us so that we may be saved. At school and in the
parish we are busy with making plans to celebrate this event and looking
forward to sharing this time with each of you.
The school celebrated Remembrance Day with a
beautiful service in the Parish Hall, with the children
participating with songs, prayers and poetry. Following the two minutes
silence to remember those who gave their lives that we may be free,a
student played Taps on the trumpet which was followed by the whole
school singing” O Canada”. I have never witnessed our national anthem
sung with such volume and enthusiasm!
As your children prepare for the Sacraments I
encourage you to spend family time with them, both at meal time and at
prayer time. Your children have an
incredible faith, thanks to the example that you set for them. May God
bless you and your family and fill you with his peace and love.
Friar David
October 2010
QSP MAGAZINE SALE
Thank you very much to all of the families who
worked hard selling Magazines for our QSP Fundraising Sale.
While the sale officially closes today Friday October 22nd, you can
still squeeze in those last minute orders over the weekend or bring your
paper forms in Monday morning. Top seller prizes and the top selling
class prize will be announced Tuesday morning. Total sales and money
raised for the school will be in the next copy of knapsack news.
JUMP MATH WORKSHOPS
JUMP Math Workshops will be held on the evenings of November 24, 2010
and April 14, 2011. The 2 workshops will be presented by the founder of
JUMP Math, John Mighton. For more information on JUMP Math, please visit
their website: www.jumpmath.org/about/philosophy. Next week a notice
will be sent home for grade 4-8 students. Space will be limited so
please register early.
FRIENDLY FRIAR
Happy are they who fear the Lord and
walk in his ways.
We are truly blessed this year with such incredible weather, and it
seems to be continuing. The trees outside my window are still a wonder
to look at, and certainly the children have been enjoying the fall
colours and the falling leaves.
The other day I was in the school yard at noon recess and watching the
children when there was a great gust of wind and thousands of leaves
were blown off the trees. The children all stared at the sight and then,
as if there was a signal, they all ran to try and catch the leaves. It
was good to see them enjoying God's creation in such a simple but
profound way.
I hope that you all were able to enjoy a great Thanksgiving, a reminder
of God's bountiful love for us. I know that many of you were able to
share some of the riches of the season with those who have less than we
do. This is a continuance of the great work of loving and sharing that
is so much a part of this great community of St. Bonaventure. May God
truly bless you for your generous spirits!
And now we look ahead to Advent, the time of preparation for God's
greatest gift to us, the gift of Jesus come down as an infant to share
in our humanity and to lead us all to follow him so that we may be
redeemed and dwell with him through all eternity. The birth of Jesus was
a source of great love and joy to St. Francis, a joy we hope that we can
share together as we begin a new liturgical year.
May the Lord pour out his love, joy and peace upon all of us.
Friar David
Reminder: Halloween School Dance
Friday, October 29th
St. Bonaventure School Gym
The Halloween Dance party is back on again this year. Every student is
encouraged to come dressed in their best Halloween getup. There will be
prizes for best/most original costume, best dance moves and other fun
games.
Parents, please remember that there are no weapons allowed with costumes
even if they are fake and no inappropriate outfits please! This is a
CSAC event and will be held in the gym during school hours. Since there
will be lots of dancing and other activities, please send an extra drink
box or water bottle for your child that day.
CSAC Meeting Dates
Thank you to all who came to the CSAC meeting on October 18th. Our next
meeting will be held on Tuesday November 23rd at 7:00 pm in the school
library and free babysitting is provided. The meeting date was moved so
that parents can attend our other CSAC sponsored event - the Jump Math
Workshops.
Don’t worry if you missed the last meeting, come to the next one. It is
a great way to find out about upcoming school activities and meet other
parents.
Parents Reaching Out Grant
We are pleased to note that St. Bonaventure's CSAC was successful with
its Parents Reaching Out (PRO) grant application from the Ministry of
Education. Each year, the Ministry makes funds available to pay for
school-based initiatives that increase parent involvement in the support
of student achievement and well-being. St. Bonaventure's CSAC will
receive $1,000 (the maximum available) to sponsor a Parent/Child Math
Workshop Series designed to help boys and girls build confidence in
their math skills. Evening workshops (involving a special guest speaker)
will take place in late November and April. Further information on this
will be circulated to parents in a separate communication. A big thank
you to Lana Reddick who prepared the application which secured funding
for this very worthwhile initiative!
Grade 8 Quebec Trip Fundraiser
A big raffle is planned to raise funds to send Grade 8 students to
Quebec City. We would greatly appreciate receiving prize donations that
could be included in this raffle - e.g. tickets to major sporting events
(Leafs, Raptors, TFC), theatre/entertainment outings, or
products/services offered by parents' businesses. All donations are
welcome and appreciated.
Parent Volunteers
We are updating our list of parent volunteers to assist with various
events throughout the school year (e.g. Movie Night, Family Skate,
Pancake Tuesday, Welcome Back BBQ, etc.). Sign-up forms will be
circulated shortly. Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Milk Program
Parent volunteers (two or three) are needed to
assist in re-launching the milk program at St. Bonaventure. This has
been a popular initiative in past years - for a small fee, milk is
delivered to students in their classrooms (all grades, likely twice a
week). Help is needed to co-ordinate parent orders, receipts and
delivery. Interested parents are asked to contact the school office to
assist. Thank you!
September 2010
QSP Magazine Sale starts October 4th
St Bonaventure CSAC will once again be running the QSP Magazine
Fundraising Sale. QSP offers over 600 magazines, books and CDs listed at
savings of up to 85% off newsstand prices. St Bonaventure retains an
average of $10 for every magazine subscription purchased. The program
starts October 4th and runs until October 22th. Once again there will be
great prizes for the students throughout the campaign as well as first,
second and third place top seller prizes in each division.
Last year our efforts helped raise over $8300 that went directly to our
children for items such as: Scientists in the School; Pancake Tuesday;
Teacher Wish Lists, Halloween Dance, Skate Night, Grade Eight and SK
Graduations, Sports Uniforms, Physical Education Equipment, Advent
Reception, Grade Eight Quebec Trip, Water Coolers, Fans and much more.
So please ignore publisher reminders and wait and renew your
subscriptions from last year through our school program - and help
support St Bonaventure.
KNAPSACK NEWS
Knapsack News is published around the middle of most months as a way to
make sure our school parents are informed of events and activities that
are happening in our school community. This is also published online on
our school designed website.
SCHOOL WEBSITE
For lots of updated information about our school and the TCDSB, please
be sure to visit the school website regularly ~ www.tcdsb.org/stbonaventure.
On our website we share information from the Principal, the Catholic
School Board, Public Health, Catholic Parent Involvement Committee, the
school’s monthly calendar, staff lists, CSAC information, bus
information, safe school plans and links to Board events, homework help
and other resources.
CSAC MEETING DATES
The CSAC Meetings for the 2010-2011 school year will be held on:
September 15; October 18; November 24; January 17 2011; February 23;
March 28; April 20; May 16; and June 15.
Meetings at held at 7:00 pm in the school library and free babysitting
is provided.
Please come to our meetings. It is a great way to find out about
upcoming school activities and meet other parents.
SCHOOL POLICIES
The St. Bonaventure appropriate dress code policy is outlined on page 5
of the Student’s Agenda. These items may be purchased from the school’s
supplier or privately by the parent who may then apply the crest to
their own purchases as long as they adhere to the policy.
Crests may be purchased in the school office. The school supplier is
Hemera Products Inc. and our contact is Leanne Simons. Leanne can be
reached at lsimons@hemeraproducts.com or by calling
647-638-7405. Order forms are available on our school designed website
at: www.tcdsb.org/stbonaventure/
Also, please review the Electronic Devices Policies on page 5 of the
Agenda with your child.
June 2010
St Bonaventure Olympic Day 2010
CSAC is pleased to host a fun Olympic Day for students on June 22. The
day will begin with a BBQ lunch at 11:15am and continue with exciting
games and events for students. Students need to dress appropriately for
the weather (sunscreen, hat etc) and bring plenty of water. A separate
information sheet will be sent home with all of the details. If anyone
is interested in volunteering to help plan the event or on June 22nd
please contact the school.
Grade 8 Graduation will be held on Thursday June 24th. Students
are to meet at the Parish Centre at 4:00 pm to pick up their gowns. Mass
will be at 4:30 pm followed by the Graduation Ceremony. The graduates
will have their celebratory dinner and dance from 6:30 pm until 10:00
pm.
Parents - we would appreciate your help to set up the hall for the
graduation dinner and dance. We are meeting on Wednesday June 23rd from
4-9pm at the hall. Please submit the volunteer form that was sent home
with your children to the office as soon as possible. Also, when you
pick up your children at 10:00 pm, it would be great if you could help
with clean up. Most of the decorations are staying up for the SK
graduation the next day, but the more volunteers we have the quicker we
can clean up the Parish Centre.
Friendly Friar
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven."
And so this season comes to an end, but a new one is just beginning,
teaching us to always look ahead to the future. As school ends, so does
spring, but summer brings vacations, warm weather, fishing, sailing,
barbeques and picnics on the beach, all things that Jesus loved to do
too. It is important to remember Jesus as we enjoy ourselves and I am
sure he would love to hear from you, by way of a prayer, rather than a
postcard, and especially a visit to his house. Yes, there are churches
out there in vacation land, so stop by and say hello!
This year seems to have gone by so fast, due in part I think because of
the wonderful weather we have enjoyed. This spring came early as can be
seen by the abundance of flowers and the wild animals around the
property. We had a robin build a nest and produce five babies which she
looked after so well, but then some animal or bird broke the nest and
she lost all her babies. But she did not give up. Even as I write this
she is busy building a new nest and starting all over again. Surely a
great inspiration for us all!
The end of the school year brings many changes in our lives as people
prepare to move onto the next stage of their life journey. Some of you
may be moving away from St. Bonaventure, others will be changing schools
or going to high school or university. It is a time of goodbyes! But
remember that for every 'goodbye' there will be a new 'hello' as we meet
new people, make new friends and visit new places. However there is one
factor that never changes and that of course is God! He is with us at
all times, watching over us and keeping us safe.
I wish everyone a safe and happy summer and look forward to meeting up
with you again in September. May God walk with you and keep you in his
care.
Peace.
Friar David
School Uniform Sale
On August 27th from 2-7pm at the St. Bonaventure Parish Centre in the St
Francis room, our uniform provider Leanne Simons from Guru Sportswear
will have a wide selection of items available for purchase or order.
Donations ~ Thank you ! ! !
We received a very generous donation from Leanne Simons of Hemera
Products / Guru Sportswear. Leanne sponsored half the cost of all the
Olympic Day 2010 tshirts. Guru Sportswear is the new suppier of our
school uniforms. Thank you Leanne!
Thank you as well to Sarah O'Dea Della Rocca for your beautiful drawing
of St Bonaventure School.
Homecoming 2010
St. Bonaventure will host its annual Homecoming on Saturday, September
18 at the school. This event unites the St. Bonaventure school community
in celebration of the start of a new school year with games, activities,
food, music and laughter.
Volunteers are needed for the Homecoming
Organizing Committee -- please contact Jill Thornhill at 416-827-7356 or
jill.thornhill1@gmail.com).
Lunchtime Supervisor
We need a lunchtime supervisor for the 2010-11 school year beginning
September 7. This is a paid
position. All interested applicants should contact the school.
2010-11 CSAC
The election of a new Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC) for the
2010-11 school year will take place on September 15 at St. Bonaventure.
Nomination forms will be distributed to all parents during the first
week of September. We encourage you to consider becoming an active
member of CSAC in the coming year. The CSAC meeting dates for next year
will be held on September 15; October 18; November 24; January 17 2011;
February 23; March 28; April 20; May 16; and June 15. As always,
babysitting will be provided.
Water Coolers at the School
CSAC recently arranged to have a water cooler installed at the school on
a trial basis in order to provide children with cold, filtered drinking
water. This initiative has been a great success and two units will be
installed on a permanent basis in September. The current unit will
remain until the end of the school year. Parents are encouraged to send
their children to school with a refillable drinking container so they
can make use of the water cooler during hot days in June. CSAC has also
arranged for the purchase of electric fans for the classrooms.
St Bonaventure Parish Baseball League
The Parish Baseball League is well underway and kids are once again
having a fantastic experience. Thank you to all of the volunteers who
make this league possible. Your time and efforts are very much
appreciated. The League's Championship Day is being held on Sunday June
27th. The day includes the final game for all three divisions, delicious
food, games, children's activities and much more. Championship Day is
open to everyone so please mark this fun filled day on your calendar. If
you are interested in helping out please email
bonaventurebaseball@gmail.com.
The QSP Magazine Fund Raising Campaign Is Returning This Fall 2010!
The wildly popular and successful QSP Magazine Reading Program will be
back for its fourth year starting in October 2010. Last year over $8000
was raised to benefit our students. Please ignore renewal notices you
receive in the mail from the publishers and order your magazines through
our school this coming fall. We are looking for three parents to run the
program this year. If you are interested please contact
marieferguson@rogers.com.
Have a fun and safe summer
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 7TH
at 8:30 AM
Mrs. DeMiglio is in the office beginning
Monday August 30th.