PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE….

FEBRUARY 2012

Mr. Simpson, Sr. Director of engineering at Celestica, and one of our parents. The presentation was combined with the presence in the school of actual solar panels and also photographs of their creation and a question and answer session for students. It brought to life a very complicated concept.

Winter is upon us. Please note that should it become necessary to cancel school bus transportation or close schools due to inclement weather, the Communications Department and Toronto Student Transportation Group will endeavour to provide updates through the following vehicles:- News releases to radio and television outlets in Toronto (Note: although the news release is provided to the media outlets, there is no guarantee that all television and radio stations will broadcast the information in a timely fashion.)-

Notification to E-News subscribers (Note: If you do not already subscribe to E-News, but wish to do so, please visit our website at www.tcdsb.org and click on the E-News icon on the top right hand side of the homepage)-

Updates will be posted on the Board’s 24-hour telephone information line, 416-222-8282, extension 2873.- The information will also be posted on the homepage of the Board’s website at www.tcdsb.org as well as the Toronto Student Transportation Group website at http://www.schoolbus.to/c_home.asp

Our Students Feed the Hungry Since 2001, over 400 grade eight students from St. Bonaventure Catholic School have been up at the crack of dawn (6:30 am!) on Mondays to travel downtown to serve breakfast at St. Paul’s School. The St. Paul’s Breakfast Club ensures that students from less fortunate families start the day with a hot, nutritious breakfast. Under the guidance of Friar David Suckling, serving breakfast is part of the students’ preparation for Confirmation. In rain, snow, sleet and hail, these students put the Gospel into action and carry out their responsibilities with the same zeal and determination that St. Paul displayed after his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. Congratulations!

For more information on Toronto CPIC, a list of all meeting dates or to contact your ward representative with parent engagement questions or suggestions please visit our website at:http://www.tcdsb.org/parents/cpicmembers.htm.

Please join us at our next CSAC meeting on February 22nd @ 7pm in the library. A big thank you to Marlene D’Silva and Maureen Yorke for spearheading the chocolate fundraiser and to all parents for supporting it.

JANUARY 2012

January Gospel Virtue – Courage

While January sees the beginning of the New Year, many of us also regard it as the true beginning of the long, hard winter. In this sense it is apt that the virtue for January is COURAGE. The quote for this month is Isaiah 41:10, "Do not be afraid; I am with You". "Be not afraid!" is also what the angel tells Mary at the annunciation. (Lk 1:30) and at the resurrection, another angel uses the same words to tell the women at the tomb that Christ has risen. (Mt 28:5) Jesus himself uses these words to strengthen his apostles. (Jn 6:20) It takes a lot of courage to practice and be true to our Catholic faith. This month at St. Bonaventure school we will demonstrate our courage to live our faith by leading through kindness and helping others.

NOVEMBER 2011

November Gospel Virtue – Peace

Every person can work for peace by carefully considering how their words and actions make others feel.

Our Gospel virtue this month is peace, fitting as we highlight Remembrance Day and focus on helping each other. In keeping with the gospel virtue of peace, we will have a Remembrance Day assembly, with students from a variety of classes reciting poems, readings and singing songs. Our school Mass will be said in honour of all our dearly departed. All are welcome at our Mass November 23rd at 9 am.

A reminder that Parent Teacher Interviews are on Thursday, Nov. 17^th  in the evening from 5:00 pm to 8 pm and on Friday morning from 9:00 am  to 11:00 am. We look forward to seeing everyone at the interviews.

SCHOOL  NEWS

J.K./S.K.- Ms.Rudd

Throughout November, our class will continue to discuss the changes in God's creation as we, and animals, prepare for winter. We will review all letters and sounds studied to date, as we continue to learn new ones. In math, we will continue our weekly graphing, review patterning, and make some fun creations using various 2D shapes. Please mark your calendars...December 7th is our Christmas craft day. All parents are welcome.

Grade 2- Ms .Zupan

It's a great time to be in Grade 2! In Math, the children are busily working on the creation, interpretation and analysis of graphs (which also includes the fun of tally charts and surveys!). Our upcoming Scientist in School visit (on Nov. 2) will support our current work on and experimentation with matter, solids and liquids. And if you ever want to read a great story, our class journals are exciting, entertaining and packed with beautiful drawings. Speaking of the Visual Arts, we are also learning about Henri Matisse and his style of decoupage - check out our patterns and fall pictures!

The children are delighted to develop their technological abilities through the creation of imaginative online Bitstrips cartoons. We are also having fun with our Apple Unit and are remembering to live and act according to this month's gospel virtue. We certainly are grateful for all of our learning opportunities!

Grade 3-Ms. Werner

After reading “Stone Soup” and several other books on the topic of cooperation and the harvest, the Grade 3’s made their own stone soup with the vegetables they brought to school. The variety of vegetables was amazing and the soup was great! They also conducted “Soil” experiments with our visiting Scientist who showed them that soil is “Not Just Dirt”!

Grade 7 Trip-Mme. Vachon

The grade 7 students will be going on an excursion to Sainte Marie among the Hurons in Midland, Ontario on Thurs. Nov. 3.  This is an opportunity for students to see and experience a part of Canadian history that they are studying this year.  The day will be comprised of guided tours and hands-on activities in both English and French.  We wish them a wonderful trip.

Ministry of Education

The Provincial Progress Report Card is used to inform parents and to monitor students’ progress towards achieving the overall and specific expectations so that timely, specific and descriptive feedback can be provided in response to student needs.

The First Provincial Report Card, will reflect the student’s achievement of curriculum expectations introduced and developed from September to January/February of the school year, as well as the student’s development of the Learning Skills and Work Habits during that period. The Second Provincial Report Card will reflect the student’s achievement of the curriculum expectations introduced or further developed from January/February to June of the school year as well as the student’s development of Learning Skills and Work Habits during that period.

Although there are only three formal reporting periods, communications with parents and students about achievement is a continuous process that occurs throughout the whole of the school year. Please feel free to contact us at any time to request a meeting to discuss your child’s progress.

           Reporting schedule for  2011 – 2012

CSAC

Please note the date of our next CSAC meeting is Wednesday, November 23rd @ 7 pm in the library, all parents welcome.

 Parent Classroom Volunteers

There is a policy that parents are to volunteer in classrooms other than their own child’s class. We do need volunteers to help on a weekly basis in a number of classrooms. Please contact Ms. Meehan, VP, if interested.

High School Visits

November 2nd our grade 8’s will be visiting one of 3 different Catholic high schools and will follow a mini grade 9 schedule. This is a great opportunity to meet the teachers, talk to school guidance teachers and familiarize the students with the schools. Grade 8 parents can expect high school applications to be sent home shortly. Please note the due date on the application form.

Terry Fox Run

A brisk walk, the scenery  of  beautiful  leaves changing colours and smiles in every direction described St. Bonaventure’s Marathon of Hope!  On September 26, 2011 our students collectively worked together to build school spirit and community!  By participating in our event, we remembered and supported those people living with cancer and those who have lost their battle.  It is a positive step toward finding  the cures we need.  This year, we surpassed amounts from previous years—our grand total donated to the Terry Fox Foundation is  $685.00.  A special THANK YOU to our parent volunteers for either joining us for our marathon and/or assisting in the distribution of snacks.  WAY TO GO St. Bonaventure!!

Me to We

A group of intermediate students participated in Free the Children’s We Day—a celebration of the power of youth to change the world!  This year, the line-up of speakers and performers included Nelly Furtado, Danny Glover, Craig and Marc Kielburger, Rick Hansen, Shawn Desman and Spencer West. The speakers inspired these students to take action in the area of citizenship and discipleship at both local and global levels.  The Me to We Team is beginning to get the gears in motion as they organize fundraising initiatives throughout the school year. The first initiative the Me to We Team is working on for October is Halloween For Hunger.  The next initiative the Me to We Team is working on for November is the Vow of Silence.

OCTOBER 2011

October Gospel Virtue

Gratitude

"this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.’ Psalm 118-24

The EQAO scores are now available and the excellent scores are confirmation of the children’s hard work and reflective of progress in all grades. Below is a graph provided by EQAO of our school and board’s results. For detailed results, please go to www.eqao.com

School:  St. Bonaventure

For the "Year of Witness", the students at Neil McNeil High School have created a large "Witness to Faith Cross" (travelling cross), which will journey across the school system throughout the next two years, with each school having an opportunity to spend a day with the cross. The "Witness to Faith Cross" will visit St Bonaventure Feb 10th, 2012. The journey of the "Witness to Faith Cross" will be documented on the Board’s website. There will be a prayer service to commemorate the event.

           
SEPTEMBER 2011

September Gospel Virtue – Hospitality

“Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.” Matthew 25:40

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone back after what I hope was a wonderful summer. I have chosen to share with you the above quote from Matthew regarding hospitality, this month's gospel value. Matthew’s words also speak to our school's mission of discipleship. Hospitality and discipleship are just two of the core values the St. Bonaventure community is well known for and I look forward to another year of building upon these.

 Student Leadership is nurtured at St. Bonaventure and can be exemplified through the welcoming and helping of others, by showing that when you bring out the best in others you also bring out the best in yourself. Further, there will be plenty of leadership opportunities for students such as Student Council, playground, lunchtime & classroom monitors and Tech Angels-all with an emphasis on positive and caring behaviour.

Continuing on the theme of hospitality, we welcome our new secretary Ana Sorrenti, Ms Meehan who will be teaching grade 5/6  and Ms Lowisek who will be teaching intermediate science. Ms Rodriguez is returning to teach SK in the pm and Ms Ieraci and Ms Rescigno return from maternity leaves to teach grade 1-2 and grade respectively. In addition, there are numerous changes in teachers’ class assignments.

The CSAC election will take place next Thursday evening (September 22, 7 p.m., School Library). All parents welcome.

Please mark September 15th on your busy calendars for Curriculum Night. It’s a great opportunity to meet CSAC, the teachers and discuss curriculum. There will be brief introductions in the gym and then off to the classrooms. Our first Mass will be Tuesday, Sept. 20^th. Please join us in celebrating the beginning of another school year.

“Only those who have opened their hearts to Christ can offer a hospitality that is never

formal or superficial but identified by gentleness and reverence.”  

Pope John Paul II

Open House

Thursday, September 15th, 2011 @ 6:30 pm

Once again various forms have been sent home along with this newsletter.  Please pay particular attention to the ones outlined on the following page.

         Development Days, Holidays and other non-school days.  Please keep this for future

1. RE: STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE

The Toronto Catholic District School Board does not provide accident insurance coverage for student injuries that occur on school premises or during school activities. Accidents can and do happen. Some injuries incur medical, dental or other expenses that are not covered by provincial health care or employer group plans. As a parent or guardian, you become responsible for these expenses. We do make available an Accident and Life Insurance Programme for students. Participation in such a programme is voluntary and the costs are to be paid by the parent or guardian.

For your convenience, we have arranged a Student Accident Insurance Policy exclusively through Old Republic Insurance Company. This programme offers a variety of plans and benefits at affordable prices. Benefits included are:

·   dental expenses (resulting from an accident)

·   total and permanent disability

·   paralysis/loss of use

·   special disability benefits

·   death benefits

If your child participates in co-curricular activities or activities outside the school day, there is a plan tailored to your needs. All rates are one-time annual premiums. Family rates for 3 or more children are also offered.

The insurance agreement is between you and Old Republic Insurance Company. If you wish to subscribe you can apply directly on-line at:

www.insuremykids.com

Any questions should be directed to Reliable Life Insurance Company toll free at

1-800-463-KIDS (5437).

2.  Information and Permission Forms: It is crucial that the school maintain accurate, up to date information on each student.  Kindly complete the attached sheets (front and back) as per the directions provided.

3.  Anaphylaxis information letter: Please read this very carefully as it pertains to our students’ safety.  Nuts and/or nut products MUST NOT be sent to school as part of snacks or lunches, more info in the letter.  We also strongly encourage parents to send a non-food item to school when celebrating birthdays!

4.  School Year Calendar:  Along with the September calendar we have included the 2011-2012  school year calendar containing Professional reference.

MORE SCHOOL NEWS…

v      Please keep in mind that students were placed into classes after serious and considerable deliberations by staff.  I will not be entertaining requests for class transfers.

v      Please ensure that students come to school wearing their uniforms in a clean and orderly fashion.  Our appearance indicates both a sense of self respect as well as a commitment to the learning that takes place throughout the day.  Your cooperation in this regard is essential. All student attire must be in keeping with our Catholic teachings and beliefs, and reflect principles of modesty and shall not include the following:
• short shorts/skirts, bare midriffs, halter tops, tank tops etc.
• accessories such as spiked bracelets/necklaces or any externals not in keeping with the spirit of the dress code as determined by administration
• language and/or representation on attire that indicates gang affiliation and/or depicts violence, profanity or discrimination of any kind whatsoever or that otherwise demeans an identifiable individual or group. Please see agenda for further guidelines.

v      Bus safety is important!  Staff will continue to park nearest the bus loading zone in an effort to form a physical barrier between students boarding buses and vehicles leaving the parking lot.  It is your responsibility to follow all safety rules while in the parking lot, including NOT blocking fire routes and ensuring that BUSES HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY WHEN EXITING.  Courtesy and cooperation will keep our students safe.

v      Pizza order forms will be sent home this week.  We will be following the same procedures as last year.

v      Cell Phone policy- Cell phones are not allowed to be visible or used during the school day, if your child needs to keep one in his/her knapsack, they are required to complete a cell phone contract form, available from main office.

v      A significant piece of our “Eco-School” is the Boomerang Lunch Program.  Your continued support of this program is vital.  Remember, our intent is to have students make conscious choices which “aid the environment”.  Our calling as “stewards of God’s creation” compels us to act wisely by minimizing garbage: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!!

v      Agendas will again be made available to all St. Bonaventure students in grades one through eight.  The agenda not only serves as an excellent communication tool between home and school; it also contains important information regarding TCDSB and school policy.  It is vital that parents ensure students have access to this important planner and that it is referred to frequently throughout the year.

CSAC NEWS…

v       CSAC nomination forms will be sent home later this week.  Join us in making this school year the best ever!!

JUNE 2011

Faithfulness

""Happy are those who have not seen, yet still believe."  John 20:29

Our Book Fair will run from June 13th to 17th in the library and students can purchase books from the wide selection on view.

Grade 8 graduation will take place on June 23rd with Mass at 4:30, the ceremony at 5:30, then a very brief parent grad reception with the dinner/dance following. Grade 8 parents are asked to help clean up at the end of the dance. The SK graduation is the following day at 12:30 in the Parish Hall.

We will end our school year with a Faith Day celebration on Wednesday June 28th, beginning with a morning liturgy at 9am followed by some classroom sharing activities, and on the last day, May 29th an afternoon talent show organized by Madame Cote-Campbell in the parish hall.

The EQAO and CAT-4 schedules have been sent home and we ask that parents ensure their children are at school on time, well rested and ready to write their grade level tests. The tests are from 8:35-10:00 May 30th – June 7th, excluding Track and Field day on May 31st. Grade 3’s and 6’s write the EQAO, and grades 2, 5 and 7 write the CAT-4.

>>  Join us for our last CSAC of the year meeting Wednesday, June 15th at 7pm in the library.