St. Brigid News - Waterloo Catholic District School Board

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September 2015
At St. Brigid Catholic School we have:
Pride In What We Do and Say,
In All Our Work and
When We Play
2015 – 2016
Staff
Dear St. Brigid Families,
Early Years
Ms. Leduc
Mrs. Rotteveel
Mrs. Izzo
Mrs. Bakker
JKK
JKK
ECE (am)
ECE (pm)
Primary
Mrs. Schmidt
Mrs. Kelly
Mrs. Lloyd
Gr 1
Gr 2
Gr 3
Jr/Int
Mr. Durrer
Mrs. Macdonald
Mr. Lund
Mr. Stere
Gr 4/5
Gr 5/6
Gr 6/7
Gr 8
Mrs. Bellew
Mr. Loik
Mrs. Van Dam
PLT
FSL
Spec Ed
Ms. Sampson
Mrs. Martin
Mr. Murray
Mrs. Fuchs
Mrs. Raposo
Mrs. Nowak
Mr. Scholtz
EA
EA
EA
EA (Extended Day)
Librarian
LHS
LHS
Itinerant Teaching Staff
Mrs. Downs
Gr 7&8 (Tues. pm)
Mr. Koechl
Gr 4/5&5/6 (Thurs. am)
Mr. Brian Blackmore
Jera Donelson
Mrs. Cathy Kuntz
Custodian
Administrative Assistant
Principal
Attendance (519)632-5101
Address: 50 Broom St. Ayr ON N0B 1E0
Open House/Subs/
Speaker
Sept 24, 5-7:30pm
Picture Day
Oct. 6
Welcome back to a new school year. If you are new to St. Brigid,
welcome to our school. We have several new families in JK/SK
and across the grades. We look forward to meeting you at the
Open House & Sub Night Thursday, September 24 from 5:00 PM
to 6:30 in your child’s classroom followed by a guest speaker in
the gym.
St. Brigid welcomes all returning staff and all new staff for this
school year, which includes Ms. Fuchs (formally Kubassek)
(Extended Day program), Mr. Scholtz (Lunch Supervisor), and
Mrs. Van Dam (Special Education Teacher) who is returning to
St. Brigid. We would also like to extend our best wishes to Mrs.
Maschio-Hanson in her retirement. I am thrilled to be joining your
wonderful school community as well.
We look forward to a busy and enjoyable year. I would also like to
invite parents and extended families to consider volunteering at
St Brigid throughout the school year in whatever capacity possible. As always, I encourage you to be involved with your children’s education. You are their first and most important
teachers.
Sincerely,
Mrs. C. Kuntz
School Hours
Outside Supervision Begins
Morning Entry
Recess
Lunch Begins
Lunch Recess
8:20 am
8:35 am
9:45 – 10:00 am
11:20 am
11:40 am
Afternoon Entry
Recess
Dismissal
Outdoor Supervision Ends
12:20 pm
1:40 – 1:55 pm
3:05 pm
3:20 pm
Please keep this issue of St. Brigid Newsletter handy as
a reference for the 2015-16 school year.
St. Brigid Catholic School………………………………………….…...………….….www.stbrigid.wcdsb.ca
Waterloo Catholic District School Board……………………………………….……………...www.wcdsb.ca
1.
Important Dates
2015-2016
School Agendas
Holidays & Professional Activity Days
Term 1
September 8, First day of School Year
September 18, PA Day
October 12, Thanksgiving Holiday
November 13, PA Day
December 21 - Jan 1, 2016, Christmas Holidays
January 4, 2016, School Resumes
January 29, PA Day
Term 2
February 15, Family Day
March 14 – 18, March Break
March 25 & March 28, Easter Holidays
April 22 PA Day
May 23, Victoria Day Holiday
June 3, PA Day
June 30, Last Day of School (dismissal at 3:05)
Each child from grade 1 to 8 will receive an
agenda. In the agenda, our school rules are outlined and explained. Please make sure that you
read this information with your child, and sign
the last page. These agendas are important
learning tools for your son/daughter, and serve
as a means of communication between you and
your child’s teacher. Please check them regularly with your child(ren). Over the next couple of
days teachers will also provide guidelines for
their use in the classroom.
The cost of the agendas this year has been
covered by School Council funds raised last
year. Thank you for your support of this endeavor.
Report Card Distribution
Progress Report – November 3, 2015
November 5 Interviews
Term 1 – February 18, 2016
Term 2 – June 23, 2016
Important School Events In Sept/Oct
Opening School Liturgy/Bible Celebration, Sept 17, 10:15 am
North Dumfries School Fair, Sept 20-22
Jr Co-ed Soccer, Sept 22, pm (raindate Sept 23)
Int. boys and girls 3-pitch Sept 22 pm (raindate Sept 23)
Say “HI” Day, Sept 24
Open House/Subs /Speaker Sept 24, 5:00-7:30pm
Terry Fox Run/Walk, Sept 25 pm
1st School Council Meeting, Sept 30 6:00pm, Library
Thanksgiving School Mass, Oct 1, 10:15am
Picture Day, Oct. 6
St. Brigid School would like to share
important school information and newsletters
with you electronically this year.
This change would greatly reduce our paper
consumption and contribute to a positive
impact on our environment.
Get your newsletter and school updates sent
straight to your email! To register for
Newswire:
Office Hours
The school office is open daily from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. During the Lunch Break, our Administrative Assistant is not in the
office, but the telephone may be answered by a student helper.
These students will record your message or transfer your call to
the appropriate staff member if they are available. Please note
that the answering machine will be “On” when the office is
1. Go to St. Brigid school homepage at
http://stbrigid.wcdsb.ca/
2. Go to “Newswire—Join our Mailing list”
on the home page.
3.
Enter your email address.
2.
June’s Theme
Fairness
Congratulations to the students who received
recognition for demonstrating their commitment
to the virtue Fairness as chosen by the staff at St
Brigid.
Students who received acknowledgement
include: Ethan S, Mackenzie B, Spencer R,
Anthony S, Ethan McDowell, Ani G, Alessia M,
Grace L, Oscar G, Madison J, Brady B, Jaclyn
W, Meghan G.
Communication Wednesdays
We will continue to use Wednesdays as communication days
for our community. Every Wednesday, you are advised to ask
your children if they have anything from the school. (You
might even want to check their bags/knapsacks just in case
they have forgotten).
Friday, September 25, 2015
Students will participate in the Terry Fox Walk/Run for Cancer
Research. Classes will travel around St. Brigid School & in the
neighbourhood to demonstrate their support for this very worth
while cause! Wave as we pass!
North Dumfries School Fair
Important DATEs
Sept. 8: First Day of School
Orientation visit for JK and new SK families
Sept 17: Opening School Mass/Bible Celebration - 10:15
Sept 18 : PA Day (Faith Day)
Sept 22: G1-8 North Dumfries School Fair visit
Int. Boys & Girls 3-Pitch tournament, Churchill
Park, (boys), Victoria Park, (girls)
Junior Co-Ed Soccer, Riverside Park
Sept 24: say "hi" Day
Open House/sub night with guest speaker,
Michael Redfearn - gym
Sept 25: Terry Fox Run/Walk day
Sept 30: School Council Meeting - Library
Oct 1: Thanksgiving Mass - 10:15
Oct 7: 1st Reconciliation/Eucharist parent mtg,
Christ Church
It is time to get your entries ready for the 106th Annual
North Dumfries School Fair. The school fair will be hosted
at the North Dumfries Community Complex from
September 20 - 22, 2015. A brochure has been sent home
- one for each family. Families are encouraged to review
the brochure and select the categories they wish to enter.
Have fun!
If you require more information, please contact Goretti
Seton at 519-463-9883.
Oct 12: Thanksgiving Day
Pizza/sub days
Please stay tuned for upcoming information
in October for pizza and sub days!
3.
Safe Arrival Program
Student Absences

Supervision begins on the yard at 8:20 am

Teachers take attendance upon arrival of students
for morning and afternoon classes.

Attendance logs are sent to the office, where a designate checks the log against the day’s list of calls
from parents. It is very important for the safety of
all the children that you contact the school if
your child will be absent. Please call (519)6325101 and leave a detailed message on the answering machine prior to 8:00 am.
If your child will be late or absent, please telephone
the school. Your call can be made at any time of
the day or night, as the answering machine is on.
Please give the following information:
 Child’s name
 Child’s teacher & grade level
 Number of days your child will be absent
 Reason for absence
If we do not know the reason for a child’s absence,
we will call the home or work numbers.

Parents, of students who are absent and for whom
no call has been recorded, are called by a designate
as soon as possible. If no one can be reached the
police may have to be contacted.

All students must leave school at the end of the
day and go to their designated after school location so that parents/caregivers know they are
safe. They can then return to the playground afterward with parent supervision/permission.

If your child misses the bus after school, please
remind him/her to stay at school and report to the
office. The administrative assistant, classroom
teacher or principal will contact the parent.
If you wish to withdraw your child from school early
in the course of the school day:

Send a note to the classroom teacher in advance, who will notify the main office

Come to the office to “sign-out” your child. Parents/guardians should pick up their children at
the office or outside the school doors, not outside the classroom doors.
If you are going on vacation during the school year, please complete an “Intent to be Absent” form (longer than 14 days). If it
is a normal week vacation, please send in a note to the office.
You may print the form off our school website under the heading
"About" and "documents". If you will be withdrawing your child
because of a move or transfer, please contact the main office in
advance and we will arrange for the transfer of the Student Files.
Late Policy
Visitors
Definitions:
1) Students are to arrive at school prior to 8:35 am
and 12:20 pm.
2) A student is deemed late if she/he is not in class by
the time O Canada begins or 8:40 am.
3) Any student not in the class at these times must be
recorded as being late and must obtain a late slip
from the office before being admitted to class.
4) Students late for school should use the front doors.
Unless you are a registered student or board
employee, you are considered to be a visitor to
the school. When visiting please:
Late arrivals and absences are noted in the daily attendance register and reported on term report cards.
In the case of chronic lateness and/or absences, parents/guardians will be contacted by the school and the
board social worker or attendance counselor may be
contacted. Unexplained lateness/absences may result
in the loss of school privileges or further consequences.
Every effort should be made to schedule appointments outside of school hours.

Report to the office before proceeding to any
classes or other areas.
 When dropping off lunches or other personal
items remain at the office. The administrative staff will deliver the item to the student
or page the student to the office.
 Please call the school to make appointments/interviews with school staff in advance to respect the student learning and
teaching time.
All visitors must sign in at the office and
pick up a visitor or volunteer badge from the
secretary.
These procedures are used to ensure the safety
of all students, staff and visitors.
4.
Illness & Medications at School
Communication Guidelines for
Parents/Guardians
Whenever a child becomes ill or is injured at school, we will telephone the emergency contacts given to request that a parent/
caregiver pick him/her up. When a child returns to school,
please DO NOT request that your child stay in for recess; we do
not have staff available to supervise sick children during recess.
Frequent & clear communication is essential between home & school. When there is a concern:
If your child must take prescription medication during school,
contact the administrative assistant and ask for “Request for
Medicine” form. This form must be completed to distribute medicine as directed.
It is important that parents inform us if your child has contracted
a contagious disease. For the health and well being of all students, staff and their families we ask that you inform the school
re: measles, chicken pox, mumps, roseola, pink eye, flu viruses,
colds, lice, etc.
STEP ONE
Speak to the teacher. Hopefully the issue wil be
resolved.
STEP TWO
Speak to the principal. If you have not spoken to
the teacher, the principal will ask you to. The principal will involve the teacher in the discussions.
The principal may request, at any time in the process, that you put your concerns in writing.
The principal may be involved at any time in the
process. Others who may be helpful in resolving
the concern include: supports from the school
board, employee group representatives, the local
parish, community agencies.
Cell Phones/BB/IPOD/Camera,etc
Electronic devices such as these are not to be used
As part of our ECO School initiative, we
are encouraging students to participate in
TRASHLESS TUESDAYS. Every Tuesday, we are asking that you try to eliminate garbage in your child’s lunch. Please
use recycleable containers to support our
during school hours, on school property. The office
telephone is available for messages and
emergency student telephone calls. If a student
chooses to bring such items to school, they are to
be out of sight and turned off. Please remember
that we are not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Please refer to the Student-Parent Handbook.
Lunch
Students who stay for lunch will eat in a classroom/
portable. They are expected to clean up their garbage and remain on school property under the supervision of staff. Prim/Jr lunch students cannot
leave school property unless signed out by an adult.
Int. students may leave only if they present a note
signed by their parent or guardian in advance.
St Brigid Yearbook
St. Brigid School is seeking a
small group of parents or volunteers to put together our 20152016 yearbook. Without your
help, we will be unable to support the production
of a St Brigid Yearbook. Contact the school if interested.
Health Alert
X
NO NUTS HERE! Some students registered at St.
Brigid experience severe reactions to “nut” products.
Anaphylaxis refers to a condition that results in difficulty
breathing and shock. These reactions are potentially
fatal; often emergency procedures including the use of
an Epi-pen are required. We need to protect these
students from any contact with peanuts etc. Please do
not send “nut” products or substitutes to school with
your child (i.e. peanut butter cookies, sandwiches, etc.).
5.
School Parking Lot
& Parking
Student Behaviour

Parking spaces are available at the school during
the day for parents and visitors.

The front driveway is to be used by school buses
only from 8:10 to 8:40 and 3:00 to 3:30 daily.
St. Brigid School and the Waterloo Catholic District
School Board have aligned our Student Discipline
Policy with the Provincial Legislation. We need
school-wide conditions that optimize the learning of
all students. Please ensure that you discuss with
your child, the Student Discipline & Code of Conduct
Expectations outlined in the Handbook.
Respectful, courteous behaviour of staff, parents and
students is necessary to promote learning and peace.
We need your support! Keep an open mind and heart
as we begin this school year.
Thank You!
Bus Routes
We have 3 bus routes at St. Brigid School. Students riding the bus are expected to respect bus
regulations. School bus behaviour guidelines are
reviewed with bus students. Trained Bus Patrols
are on the bus and will be helping children who
need assistance.
Students are expected to respect
the Bus Driver and Bus Patrols!
Skateboards, roller blades, scooters, toboggans,
hockey sticks, and other sizeable sports equipment
are not allowed on the bus.
Student Dress Code
At St. Brigid Catholic School we take pride in the
appearance of our students. Students are expected to dress in a modest, appropriate manner.
Please ensure that you discuss with your child, the
Student Dress Code outlined in the Handbook.
While the dress code attempts to make expectations
as clear as possible, it cannot cover all the variables.
Therefore, the final decision as to whether something is allowed or not will be at the discretion of
teachers and the Principal who have the authority
to invoke consequences on those who violate the
school’s Dress Code.
Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region
(STSWR)
Important Information on the STSWR WEBSITE
Your transportation details are available. Parents and students will be able to login and view their transportation details for
the school year.
Please note any address changes need to be done through the school. If you moved this summer or have changed
your sitter arrangement for this fall, you should communicate the change of address to the school as soon as possible.
Find your transportation details by visiting www.stswr.ca and click on student login.To login you will have to enter the following information:
 Ontario Education Number (from report card)
 Student’s birthdate (day, month, year)
 Street Number (street # from student’s home address)
 School (select school from the drop down)
A new policy is in effect immediately regarding students on crutches. No crutches will be permitted on the bus. If your child
is in this situation, please call the school immediately so that a taxi may be arranged for that time period.
6.
School Council
Would you like to be a parent representative on the School Council?
Would you like to join a team of dedicated parents/guardians and staff committed
to improving the learning of the children at St. Brigid Catholic School?
School Council plays a very important role at St. Brigid Catholic School. School Councils were created to enhance students’ learning through the cooperative efforts of parents, students, staff members and others in the community. Your
School Council is an advisory body of volunteers who work together to provide ideas and opinions to help the principal,
and sometimes the School Board. The School Council provides a forum for discussing educational issues and fundraising for the school needs. It also provides a way to get information to parents/guardians, get feedback from them, and
present their ideas and concerns to the school and the School Board. Members of the Council are committed to working with the community to provide the best for our children.
Meetings (approximately 6) will be held in the school at a mutually agreeable date and time which will be set at the first
meeting on Wednesday September 30, at 6pm in the school Library. *** Please note date change.
At this time, we wish to acknowledge and thank our 2014-15 school council for a tremendous job : Pam Hall, Celina
Bender, Jennifer Aubrey, Matthew Aubrey, Laura Druar, Jean Aoun, Christina Charette, Goretti Seton, Carla Grbac,
Trinda Schmidt, Michelle Dawtrey, Cheryl Janes, Kirsten Pedersen, Andrea Marck, Jennifer Montroy, Lisa Slater, Theresa St. Peter, Michelle LeDuc, Maryanne Kelly, Kathleena Izzo and Laurie Maschio-Hanson.
Should you have any questions about the commitment/responsibilities of School Council, please feel free to call Mrs.
Kuntz at St Brigid.
Volunteers
St. Brigid Catholic School is looking for interested volunteers who would like to share their time and talents with the
staff and students of our school. The role of volunteers within the school community is a very important one. As a
Catholic school system, we value the additional expertise and the positive school/community partnerships fostered by
volunteers.
Volunteers are needed in a variety of areas including: Strong Start (see below), computer support, library support, classroom support, special events, school council, arts/crafts/sports and gardening to name only a few.
Members of the community interested in volunteering should contact the school and ask to speak to
Mrs. Kuntz.
Are you looking for a Fulfilling Volunteer Opportunity?
Are you interested in volunteering with children in Kindergarten and Grade 1? The Strong Start “Letters,
Sounds and Words Program”, which is offered at our school, provides an opportunity for volunteers to work one on one with a
kindergarten or grade 1 child.
What is the time commitment? A minimum of 30 minutes a week for ten weeks.
What is involved? The volunteer plays a variety of literacy games with a child to help him or her develop early reading skills. A
four hour training program is provided for all volunteers prior to working with a child. Detailed manuals and resources are also provided for volunteers. Children in the program really enjoy their time with the volunteer and make amazing gains in their early reading skills.
How to learn more about this opportunity? Contact Ms. LeDuc for more information about volunteering at our school in this
valuable program. The Strong Start website also provides detailed information. Go to www.strongstart.ca, and click on the
“Volunteer Experience” section of the website.
7.
St. Gregory Parish & St. Brigid Mission
St. Gregory Parish
10 St Gregory’s Drive
Cambridge, Ontario N1S 3Z1
Priest: Father John Redmond
Phone: 519-623-3111
Office: Mrs. Cecilia Kent
Website: www.saintgregoryparish.com
St. Brigid Mission
Christ Church
Manley Street, Ayr
Chair Person: Theresa St. Peter
Phone: 519-632-8875
NEW Mass Celebrated Saturday, 4:15 p.m.
Sacramental Programs for students at St. Brigid Catholic School include First Holy Communion,
Reconciliation, and Grade 7 Confirmation. The sacraments are offered in cooperation and consultation with both St. Gregory Parish and St. Brigid Mission. During penitential services, each student
is given the opportunity to make a private confession and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
St Brigid School Council Presents
Creating an Ethical Digital
Footprint A Presentation by Michael Redfearn, OCT
Where: St. Brigid School, Gymnasium
50 Broom St, Ayr ON
(519) 632-5101
When: Thursday September 24, 2015, 6:30 p.m. 7:30p.m. (Immediately following our Open House)
Parents are also welcome to join us for the student presentation at 8:45 am.
Who:
This presentation is open to all parents and
community members interested in learning more about
creating an ethical digital footprint.
8.