real link - St. Mary Immaculate - Catholic Elementary School

St. Mary Immaculate Catholic School
161 Regent St.
Richmond Hill, ON L4C 9N9
905 884 5381
School Website: smi.ycdsb.ca
September 2015
A Warm September Welcome!
Virtue of the Month
Courage
I will stand up for what
I know is right and just.
I will face challenges,
fears and difficulties
with fortitude. I will
take responsibility for
reaching my potential.
__________________
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year at St. Mary Immaculate! We are all energized and excited about our upcoming
school year, as we continue with our 21st century learning
endevours, developing critical thinking skills as life long Catholic learners. The YCDSB multi-year strategic plan includes
the following core values: excellence, equity, inclusion, integrity and respect and these will be our focus at SMI!
Welcome to all of our new families!
Principal
Lynne Chabot
__________________
Secretary
Ms. Pina Volpe
____________________
Blessings for a New Year
Loving God,
Extend your blessings over our families this new school year.
May homes be filled with love, joy and hope.
Trustees
Dominic Mazzotta
Ann Stong
Cathy Ferlisi
____________________
Superintendent
Mary Battista
____________________
May our children grow in knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
May they be strong in mind, body and spirit.
May they have the courage to follow Your ways.
May home, parish, and school work together to create a world where
our children can build a civilization of love.
Parish Priest
Father Pawel Zborowski
____________________ The first School Council meeting will be held on Monday, September 21, 2015 at 7
Director of Education
Patricia Preston
__________________
p.m. in the library. All parents are welcome to attend! Elections for the upcoming
Council will be held during the September 21 meeting. There are executive positions,
as well as parent representative positions. Additional information regarding elections
for School Council is included with this newsletter.
Introducing Our New School Website!
The St. Mary Immaculate website has recently been updated with a new
design. This new design is easier to navigate and features the school’s
prominent information such as our contact information, SAFE ARRIVAL
- Student Absence Reporting, bullying reporting feature, calendar, transportation, and school forms on
the home page.
The Our School section has also been updated to include our timetable, boundary map, child care information, dress code, and a link to our EQAO results.
Visit our school website at smi.ycdsb.ca often to learn more about the wonderful activities and initiatives
taking place at St. Mary Immaculate.
Farewell… Welcome
We have had to say good bye to Mrs. Egizii, Mr. Cellucci and Ms. Troiano as they have accepted positions at other schools. Mr. Cellucci and Mrs. Egizii had been part of the SMI family for many years! We
wish them all the best at their new schools.!
Welcome to Ms. Stanly who will be teaching grade 2/3. Welcome also to Mrs. Garofalo, hearing teacher
and Ms. Rafferty and Ms. Kehm, teaching ESL and to Mr. Charity, CYW.
Mr. Van Veen joined the SMI staff last April as the head custodian and is a wonderful addition to our
staff!
Rights and Responsibilities
This year again, there will be a focus on rights and responsibilities. This is an excellent way for the students to ‘think’ about the other person. This is also part of our anti-bullying program. Included in the
newsletter are some of the statements ‘with every right comes a responsibility’. These will be discussed
during morning announcements and in the classroom. There are a number of rights and responsibilities
posters throughout the school.
2015 Fall Courses for Grade 8 Students
Welcome back! This announcement is from the Continuing Education Department of
the York Catholic District School Board. Grade 8 students are invited to register for
our Reaching Up credits offered at Night School or on Saturday. We have added
new courses and credit language programs to meet student requests and needs. Kindly go to the Board website and click on ‘Continuing Education’ to view our programs
in Elementary as well as in Secondary. Register early and avoid disappointment. We thank you for your
continued support.
Pediculosis (Head Lice)
“The York Catholic District School Board recognizes and appreciates concerns related to pediculosis at
the school, community, and regional level. The Board also recognizes that the Ministry of Health does
not designate pediculosis as a communicable disease, and as such, it is not considered a health hazard to
the community.” (Policy 210)
Anyone can get head lice, regardless of cleanliness. Head lice are not a public hazard, as they do not
cause illness, but they are a nuisance. To prevent this from becoming a problem at St. Mary Immaculate
CES we all need to work together. Please check your child’s head weekly for lice or nits. If you do find
lice or nits, contact the office so that we can notify other parents in the class to keep a special watch for
any signs of head lice.
Please refer to the information sheet attached to this newsletter, “The Facts of Lice.” It contains information about the identification, treatment and prevention of head lice.
Readmission to school is contingent upon lice no longer being present and all the (nits) eggs
have been removed. For more information or advice on the identification, treatment and
prevention of head lice, please contact the Public Health Nurses at Health Connection, 1-800
-361-5653.
Curriculum Night
Parents are invited to attend our Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 24 at 7 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, to see the classroom learning environment and to receive an
overview of the curriculum for the year. We will begin the evening in the gym for a brief welcome, prayer and teacher introductions. Following this there will be information sessions in each classroom.
Safe Arrival Program
To report your child’s absence please access the Safe Arrival program on each day of your child’s absence. This Safe Arrival program allows you to report your child’s absence in advance or before bell
time by calling the toll free number at 1-855-856-7862 or accessing the website at http://
yorkcdsb.schoolconnects.com.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Nut ‘Safe’ School
Sabrina’s law came into effect on January, 1, 2006. The Board has established a policy, ‘Protection of Anaphylactic Students’ (Policy 209), in accordance with Sabrina’s
Law. Because there are a substantial number of students in the school who have a life
threatening allergy to peanuts, we strive to be a nut ‘safe’ environment. Please do not
send your child to school with snacks or lunches that contain any peanut product or
traces of peanut products. Even very tiny traces of peanut residue can be harmful or
life threatening to those children with peanut allergies. Please carefully read the list of ingredients on all
food products sent to school.
It is also requested that you do not send in any type of baked goods or treats at any time to share with the
class.
Emergency Procedures and Consent Forms
The Emergency Procedures and Consent Form for the 2015-2016 school year will be sent home. These
forms provide important information in the event that we need to reach you, the parents, or your designated emergency care givers, in the case of an illness or an emergency. Please return this form to your
child’s teacher as soon as possible.
Annual Parental Consent re: Freedom of Information Forms
The forms have been sent home and must be signed on an annual basis. The form meets the requirements
of the Municipal Freedom and Protection Privacy Act and Education Act for the disclosure of personal
information. It provides for consent that is both informed and voluntary, and relates to clearly identified
information to be used and disclosed for clearly defined purposes. Please read the form carefully and
return it no later than September 30.
Internet Forms
All students will require an ‘Acceptable Use of information Technology’ form to be signed by the parents
and the student, as per board policy. Please take a few minutes to discuss the safe use of the internet with
your child and return the signed form to you child’s teacher.
Standardized Dress Code
Thanks to everyone for complying with our standardized dress code! A reminder of our
colours: navy blue bottoms and white, light blue or navy blue tops. Skirts and dresses are
navy blue. Tops can be shirts or polo shirts with collars, (short or long sleeved), sweaters,
cardigans, turtlenecks and hoodies.
Safety in the Yard
As always, we ask that you drop off your children in the playground (if you bring them
to school) in the morning and then leave school property promptly. There is staff on
duty to supervise the children. Thank you for your cooperation!
Terry Fox Run
On September 30th the students will participate in the Terry Fox Run (walk) for
Cancer Research. Terry Fox’s compassion and determination to find a cure for
cancer lives on as so many students all across Canada participate in the annual
school run. Please send in loonies or toonies with your children on the morning
of the run.
Parents and Visitors to the School
Parents send their children to school with the expectation that the school building and playground are a
safe and secure place of learning and play. All visitors and parents coming into the school are, therefore, asked to report to the office. This ensures student safety as well as minimizing class disruptions.
Volunteers and supply teachers will wear a generic identification badge.
Bus Transportation
Transportation is provided for students who reside within the designated transportation zone. As well, throughout the year students will be going on class
trips on the school bus. There is a mandatory annual School Bus Safety Program to educate elementary students on riding safely on the bus and to practise
evacuating school vehicles in case of an emergency.
The prime purpose of education is student achievement in terms
of spiritual, academic, physical, social, emotional, and vocational
growth. Curriculum involves all school related experiences that
relate to that growth. Homework consists of learning experiences
that are associated within the school program, but completed outside of classroom time. Parents share, with teachers, the responsibility for the educational success of
their child(ren) and should actively participate in the child’s learning process. Junior and senior kindergarten are not assigned homework, but at-home activities are an important extension of the classroom
activities, such as reading with your child and playing simple math games. Grades 1-3 should spend 15
to 45 minutes a night on homework, grades 4 - 6, 30 to 60 minutes and grades 7 and 8, 45 to 90 minutes
each day.
Ontario Student Record (OSR)
The OSR is the confidential record of a student’s academic progress. The OSR includes
registration information, report cards, EQAO results and special education consents and
data. The collection of this data is authorized by the Education Act. The OSR is filed in
the school office. The information in the OSR is available to the superintendent, the principal and the child’s teacher.
Students 18 years and older and parents of students under 18 years of age have the right to
examine the OSR.
Indoor/Outdoor Shoes
It is requested that students have a pair of non-marking shoes for wearing indoors and
a second pair of shoes for outdoor wear. Indoor shoes are important for a clean
school environment.
Parent Volunteers
Parents volunteers will be requested again this year for our literacy programs. All parent volunteers
must have a vulnerable sector screening (police check) in order to work with students. If you have already had a police check then you may come into the office and sign a ‘Volunteer Offence Declaration’
declaring that there have been no incidents since the initial police screening. We also need parents to
help with our hot lunch programs. If you are interested in co-ordinating the pizza program, please let us
know. Thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers!
SMI Staff List for 2015-2016
Staff
Ms. Raso
Ms. Esmailian
Ms. Rigobon
Ms. Bondi
Ms. Swirla
Ms. Stanly
Ms. Colarusso
Ms. Francis
Ms. Charbonneau
Ms. Di Blasi
Ms. Nowickyj
Ms. Degli Angeli
Ms. Kempt
Mr. Charbonneau
Ms. Visaticki
Ms. Keating
Ms. Aria
Ms. Garofalo
Ms. Power
Mr. Di Blasi
Ms. Macciacchera
Ms. Rafferty
Ms. Kehm
Ms. Angiolella
Ms. Chavez
Ms. Crescenzi
Ms. Jamieson
Ms. Kalogeras
Ms. Perugino-Milone
Ms. Chin
Ms. Hindi
Mr. Charity
Ms. Gurrieri
Mr. Van Veen
Ms. Colacicco
Ms. Volpe
Ms. Chabot
Position
JK/SK
JK/SK
Grade 1
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 2/3
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 4/5
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 7/8
Grade 8
Teacher Librarian; Core Resource
Physical Education Teacher (primary)
Core Resource Teacher
Hearing Teacher
Hearing Teacher
Itinerant Music Teacher
French
ESL Teacher
ESL Teacher
French
Early Childhood Educator (ECE)
Early Childhood Educator (ECE)
Educational Assistant
Educational Assistant
Educational Assistant
Educational Assistant
Lunch Time Supervisor
Child and Youth Worker
Lunch Time Supervisor/ Office Support
Head Custodian
Evening Custodian
Head Secretary
Principal
September 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 School Council
Meeting/Elections 7
p.m.
22 Picture Day
23
24 Curriculum Night 25
7 p.m.
26
27
28 PA Day
29
30
Safety Week 
St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Elementary School
161 Regent Street, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 9N9
Phone: 905-884-5381 Fax: 905-884-0972
September, 2015
“Safe and Caring School Communities”
Dear Parents/Guardians:
The York Catholic District School Board has a primary responsibility and goal to ensure a safe
learning environment for all of our students and staff in our school community.
As part of our safety initiative St. Mary Immaculate, along with all other schools in the York
Catholic District School Board, will be practicing a variety of safety procedures with students
and staff.
The week of September 25 to October 2, 2015 has been designated as “Safety Awareness
Week”. During this week, we will be rehearsing a variety of emergency school procedures to
acquaint students and staff with the precautionary steps to take in the event of such things as a
warning of severe weather, an intruder or a bomb threat. In addition, throughout the year we will
hold practice drills to acquaint students with various emergency protocols. Teachers will review
these procedures with students in class prior to our practice drills.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the school. Thank you for your
support.
Yours in Catholic Education,
Lynne Chabot
Principal
______________________________________________________________________________
Living in Faith, Committed to Excellence, Learning for Life
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES


With every right comes a responsibility.
I have a right to be heard and a responsibility to listen to
others.
I have a right to a safe playground and a responsibility to
use equipment properly.
 I have a right to a safe school and a responsibility to help
keep it safe.
I have a right to my own personal space and a responsibility
to respect others’ privacy.
I have a right to be respected and a responsibility to treat
others with respect.
 I have a right to learn and a responsibility to come to class
prepared.
I have a right to know the rules and a responsibility to follow
them.
 I have a right to learn and a responsibility to do my best.
 I have a right to feel safe and a responsibility to look out for
others.
I have a right to use school property and a responsibility to
respect it.
By taking responsibility, we make our world
better!
ST. MARY IMMACULATE CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
ELECTIONS
The first Catholic School Council Meeting is on Monday, September 21, 2015 at 7 p.m.
Each year, Catholic School Council elections are held within the first 30 days of school. There are executive
positions: chair (with the option of co-chair or vice-chair), treasurer and secretary, as well as parent
representative positions.
Members include elected parents/guardians of students enrolled in the school, student representatives, teaching
and non-teaching staff representatives, parish and community representatives and the principal.
Meetings are held a minimum of four times per year. Minutes are taken and posted and all financial transactions
are recorded.
All parents are invited to attend the meetings. You do not have to be an elected member to attend.
The nomination form below can be submitted to the office prior to the first meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL NOMINATION FORM
Election Night: Monday, September 21, 2015
7:00 p.m. St. Mary Immaculate Catholic School - Library
I wish to declare my candidacy for the position of ______________________ on the St.
Mary Immaculate C.S.C.
_____I will be in attendance at the election meeting.
_____I cannot be in attendance at the meeting, but wish to have my name brought
forward and have attached a brief written submission to read on my behalf, prior
to elections.
_____I wish to nominate the person listed below for the position of _______________.
NAME: (print) ________________________________
Please return this form to the school office prior to the first meeting.
t
(
of
Ues, like everywhere else there are
o
head lice in York Region! Perhaps you
have received a letter from school, or a
telephone call to notify you of a "lice
Look carefully in the hair, behind the
ears, nape of neck, hairline "the halo" of the head.
alert". You may feel angry, fearful,
Check the heads of all family
frustrated or itchy. However, head lice
members.
are not a health issue in that they do
not carry disease.
Don't panic! Be sensitive to your child's
feelings and check your child's head
right away. Checking for lice takes
patience, diligence and plenty of time.
Forcentu.-.-ies, people have been dealing
with head lice. A co-operative community effort will help to keep head lice in
check. This means that all families must
take responsibility for regular head
checks and treating their children if
head lice are found. There are differing
opinions by researchers, pharmaceutical
companies and parents who have
"""perience with head lice. This fact
sheet will provide an overview of the
identification, prevention and treatment
of head lice.
The Head Check
Sit in a well lit area - near a sunny
window or brigbtly lit lamp.
Divide the hair into sections and
look carefully, one section at a time.
• Don't forget to have your own head
checked!
x·
checked: e.g. babysitter, grandparents,
the school, playmates, parents,
playgroup/sports group parents.
This helps to prevent the spread
and protect your child from another
encounter with lice. Only humans get
head lice, not animals. Head lice do
not result from a lack of cleanliness.
Life Cycle of the Head Louse.
Adult female glnea the
egg or nit tn the hsir
• If you find head lice or nits (eggs),
proceed with treatment.
w:itb ., cement bo!>d.
close to the scalp.
• If you don't see lice or nits (eggs),
continue to check the head regularly
twice a week for one month or more
often if there is an outbreak.
• If you see anyone scratching their
head or if someone tells you that
their head feels itchy, check their
head.
What you might lind
on the head:
Head Lice:
•
•
•
•
nits (eggs)
lice
bites on the scalp
excrement from lice
(looks .like pepper)
Look alikes:
• hair casts
• residue from ge4 mousse or hair spray
• dandruff
Nymph muults or sheds
skin J tlnle1l to reach
adult l<tagf> 1.n 10 tn 14 dayg.
Nit (eggs)
-·-
adult hatches
in 7 to 10 day..
• half the size of the head of a pin
• shaped like a tear drop
• found dose to the scalp, on the shaft
of t..he hait
• are cemented to the hair so they
cannot be blown or flicked off
• feel like tiny knots on the hair
Mature nits (eggs)
Proceed with treatment only if ynu
find nits (eggs) or lice.
• larger, the size of the head of a pin
Who is at IUsk?
• eggs hatel1 in 7 to 10 days
Anyone can get head lice! School
Lice - Immature louse (nymph)
children get them more often because
• Transparent or rust coloured after
blood meal and very difficult to see!
Reaches maturity in about 10 days.
Lice have 6 legs with claws so they
can cling to human hair.
they're frequently in head to head
contact.
If your child has lice:
Tell anyone -with whom your child
has had contact ro have their head
• more visible, creamy colour
continued on back ...
Mamre louse
The female louse can lay up to 150
eggs' during the life span.
Lice do not like movement or light.
lice crawl from head to head.
They do NOT fly or jump.
When using a head lice
treatment:
How do you Prevent Head Lice
from Coming back?
(-::
Timing is important. If the product is
rinsed off too soon, lice may not be
killed.
If you are using a hemical
product, do not leave it on the head
for longer than is recommended. This
will avoid unnecessary exposure to the
chemicals.
Rinsing a child's hair under the tap
(instead of a shower) will limit skin
exposure and prevent the child from
swallowing some of the product.
How Do You Treat Head Lice?
When using anti-lice products READ
directions and FOLLOW them
CAREFULLY!
• These products should not be used
near the eyes, nose or mouth. A towel • We recommend that you check for
held tightly over the eyes protects
and remove all lice and nits after
them during treatment.
each treatment for 7 - 10 days.
Wear plastic/rubber gloves to avoid
Bright, natural light helps you to see
unnecessary exposure to a chemical
the nits better.
product.
Lice are not likelv to abandon the
Store unused head lice products away
warmth of the scalp to lurk in
from the reach of young children.
clothing, furniture and bed linen
where it is cold and there is no food
supply.
Most authorities suggest washing
bed linens, hats and towels in hot
soapy water and drying them in a
hot dryer for at least 20 minutes,
after the first and second treatment
Lice do not like dry heat.
Please talk to your doctor:
• If you are nursing or pregnant
• Treating a child under 2 years of age
Treatments
Chemicals:
• Pyrethrins (e.g. R&C) should not be
used for anyone with a known allergy
to ragweed or chrysanthemums.
• Permethtin (e.g. NIX, KwelladaP creme rinse) should not be used
for persons with a known allergy to
chrysanthemums, synthetic
pyrethroids, or pyretht-ins. Do not
use on children under age 2 unless
directed by a physician.
• AMC Acetomicellar Complex
(SH 206) is not recommended for
children under 30 months of age.
The effectiveness of alternative
treatments has not been scientifically
documented. Please call the Public
Health Nurses at Health Connection for
further treatment information.
Children should be discouraged from
sharing personal items such as hair
brushes, hats and combs.
How to remove nits and lice!
Regardless of what treatment you
use, we :recommend that you check
for nits and remove all that you find.
After treating the hair, comb it to
remove tangles. Part the hair into
four or more sections. Use a clip to
hold each section. Focus on one
section at a time, checking small
amounts of hair. Use your thumbnail against your first ftnger to strip
the nits from the hair starting from
the roots right down to the ends,
then discard. Nit combs are sometimes helpful. If the nits are difficult
to remove, dip the comb in vinegar.
This may help the nits slide off more
easily. Pin back that lock of hair and
continue until all nits are removed.
• Children should be encouraged to
wear their hair in a ponytail or braid.
The single most important
anti-louse measure is to check
for lice and nits regularly.
Sources available
For more information,
please call
Health Connection at
1-800-361-5653
Health
Connection
({)
Your Link to Health
Information and Services
Some other recommended websites: .- \)
wv.,.-w.cps.ca
www:healthcare.ubc.ca/lice/intro.html
www:sickkids.ca/kidshealth/ fall00issue4
/headlice.asp