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ST. GREGORY CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWSLETTER 126 Rathburn Road, Etobicoke, Ontario, M9B 2K6

Telephone: (416) 393-5262 Fax: (416) 393-5189 Visit us: http://school.stgregorytoronto.com and follow us on Twitter @StGregoryCS

St. Gregory Catholic Church Fr. Sean Lee Lung (416) 239-4831

Superintendent: Mr. Yack 416-222-8282 School Trustee: Mrs. Andrachuk 416-512-3402 CSPC Chairs: Stephen Thomas

Principal: J. Pannozzo Vice Principal: B. Muron Secretary: C. Pulcini, Clerk Typist: S. Shanahan, L. Grise

May 2018

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

We hope that all the members of our school community are ready to enjoy the spring weather and join us for some exciting events scheduled this month.

The grade 2 students, with the support of Father Sean, church members, the school community and family and friends, made their First Communion on April 7. The children demonstrated understanding of the significance of this very special Sacrament and were excited to participate in the Eucharist during the school Mass. The grade 7 students be Confirmed the weekend of May 19th and May 20th.

The virtue of the month for May is compassion which the St. Gregory school community appreciates as a way of living Jesus’s commandment “…love one another; even as I have loved you”. (John 13:34-35) Compassion was also very much in evidence this past month. St. Greg’s prayed for the families and friends of the Humboldt Bronco’s and the Toronto Tragedy of April 23rd. We continue to hold everyone affected by these tragedies close in our thoughts and prayers. April saw several exciting projects come to fruition. Students in the junior grades collaborated on creating planters to beautify the schoolyard using recycled tires. Parents and volunteers shared their expertise on the Intermediate Grades Wellness Day to promote the development of life skills supporting optimal well-being. Students from grade 2 to 8 demonstrated commitment through participation in the Fitness Club and showed caring by cheering each other on. Dedication to students was highlighted when the entire school community, students, parents and staff gave their time, resources and skills to support the TCDSB Swim Meet held at the Etobicoke Olympium on April 28th and 29th. Many participants commented on the positive experience they had at the meet. St. Greg’s is grateful for the time, thought, work and planning which went into organizing and hosting this exceedingly successful event.

We would like to invite all the members of the St. Gregory school community to join us in celebrating Catholic Education Week from May 6th to 12th and hope you enjoy the products of our student’s skills, talents and ingenuity.

On behalf of the staff and students of St. Gregory Catholic School we would like to wish all of our moms a Mother’s Day filled with rest and sunshine. Thank you for your ongoing support. J. Pannozzo

SCHOOL HOURS/TIMES

8:30 a.m. MORNING ENTRY

10:12-10:27 a.m. A.M. RECESS

11:15-12:15 p.m. LUNCH HOUR

12:15 p.m. AFTERNOON ENTRY

1:40-1:55 p.m. P.M. RECESS

3:00 p.m. DISMISSAL

All visitors to the school including parents and guardians are expected to report to the office immediately upon arriving at the school. A sign-in procedure is in place for every individual who enters the school.

Parents/Guardians must call the school at 416-393-5262 and leave a message on the answering machine (Auto Attendant, Press #1). Please state your child’s name, teacher’s name, grade and a reason for absence. When a student arrives late for school, he/she must report to the office before going to class. Early Dismissal Children who must leave before dismissal, must be signed out by their parent/guardian at the office. Please contact your child through the office, not by texting your child.

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The city of Toronto is in mourning due to the tragic incident in which a vehicle injured and killed many people. This tragedy impacts all of us. Children can be affected by tragic events by having first-hand knowledge of persons who were hurt or killed or through exposure to media coverage. Children’s natural resilience is an important protective factor but trauma can interfere with their well-being. Families and educators can support children by establishing a sense of security, helping them to process feelings and placing events in context. The following supports are suggested to help children in times of crisis: Pray Together: Prayer honours the suffering and allows us to help others. Prayer is a way to find respite by turning to God when we feel pain and anxiety Be Reassuring: Children take their emotional cues from significant adults in their lives. Some children may be concerned about something bad happening to family or friends. Reassure them that you will take care of them. Monitor The News: Images of disasters can become overwhelming, especially if watched repetitively. Young children may not be able to distinguish between images on television and their personal reality. Be available to discuss what they see to provide perspective. Family Time: Being with family is especially important in difficult times. Doing things together reinforces children’s sense of stability, safety and connectedness. Routine activities, school and friends can help children feel e secure. Focus on People’s Compassion: Tragedies often generate a tremendous outpouring of caring and support from people all over the world. Listen and Observe: Let children guide you about their concerns or how much information they need. If they are not focused on the tragedy, do not dwell on it. However, be available to answer their questions to the best of your ability. From May 2018 -Student Mental Health and Well-Being Newsletter

EQAO has announced the creation of the EQAO Student Advisory Committee, whose role will be to represent the student voice in the agency’s activities. EQAO celebrates student diversity across the province, and aims to engage in open dialogue welcoming all viewpoints. Students are invited to review the eligibility criteria, and the application form for this opportunity. Submissions must be received by May 31, 2018 and selections will be announced on June 20, 2018.

Application forms are available at: http://www.eqao.com/en/about_eqao/about_the_agency/communication-docs/SAC-application-form.pdf

Parents are invited to the CPIC-OAPCE Parent Summit will be held on Saturday, May 5th, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Catholic Education Centre located at 80 Sheppard Ave., East. Parents will be able to attend workshops and explore resources on a variety of topics will be available including:

Special Education

School Cash Online Workshop for Parents

21st Century Learning at the TCDSB

Positive Parenting

Internet Safety

Jump Math

Youth Speaks

Child care is available for children aged 4 to 12. To register, please go to:

www.parents-at-tcdsb.ca.

The Polish community in Canada and around the world will join together to

celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Poland’s Independence on May 3rd, 2018. We

welcome you to celebrate this historic event as Polish Heritage Day in the TCDSB, in

recognition of this historic Anniversary and the immense contributions made to the

social, cultural, economic and political fabric of our Board.

May is Asian Canadian Heritage Month which acknowledges the long and rich

history of Asian Canadians and their contributions to Canada. It also provides an

opportunity for Canadians across the country to reflect on and celebrate the

contributions of Asian Canadians to the growth and prosperity of Canada. Events

include the Asian Canadia n Heritage Month Mass and Cultural Exposé scheduled for

Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Morrow Park

Catholic Secondary School (3379 Bayview Ave.). For further information on

upcoming events go to: www.tcdsb.org/forcommunity/heritagecelebration/asiancanadianheritage/events/2017-2018/Pages/default.aspx

WELL-BEING

EQAO STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

TCDSB INVITES

TCDSB NEWS – MONTHLY UPDDATE FROM THE BOARD

CPIC-OAPCE PARENT SUMMIT

TCDSB POLISH HERITAGE DAY

ASIAN CANADIAN HERITAGE MONTH

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St. Gregory Catholic School hosted the 2018 TCDSB SWIM INVITATIONAL, on April 28 and 29, 2018, at the Etobicoke Olympium. The 2018 Toronto Catholic District Swim Invitational was a huge success. St. Gregory Catholic School welcomed and rooted for 1400 athletes from 30 schools across the Board. Congratulations to our own St. Gregory Swim Team who captured a 3rd place finish! The St. Gregory Swim Meet Committee would like to thank the hundreds of volunteers who helped make this an amazing weekend for students, parents and staff. The TCDSB swim meet was made possible due to the willingness, enthusiasm and commitment of volunteers from St. Greg’s. This was an excellent way to show our school as well as to raise funds for school resources and activities. All money raised will go to CSPC to support educational experiences for all students.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

TCDSB SWIM MEET

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THANK YOU ST. GREGORY STUDENTS, STAFF, FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

©2017 St Gregory Catholic School. All Rights Reserved | school.stgregorytoronto.com

GRADE

TEACHER/S

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

ELP Ms. Rosa/Ms. Cabral Isabel, Francesco, Dylan

ELP Ms. Bellissimo/Ms. Del Vecchio Asher, Olivia, Aislyn, Victoria G.

ELP Ms. Andreacchi/Ms. Oppong Ava, Thomas, Nathaniel

ELP Ms. Martino/Ms. Selby Payton, Andrews, Dante, Nahla, Matthew

SK/1 Ms. Botelho Adam, Owen

Gr.1 Ms. Barone Christian, Madelyn

Gr.1 Ms. Ceddia Clara, Alessandro, Alex

Gr. 1 Ms. Ricci (LTO) Michael, Alexia

Gr. 2 Ms. Trinetti (LTO) David, Dorette, Silina

Gr. 2 Ms. Gentile Josip, Tyffani, Ethan, Annalisa

Gr. 2 Ms. Dalmau Luana, Victoria

Gr. 2 Ms. Yetman Entire Class

Gr. 2/3 Ms. Caruana Westin, Greicy

Gr.3 Ms. Lunn (LTO) Mekenzie, Matteo, Georgia

Gr.3 Ms. Steponaitis Sophia, Alexander V.

Gr.3 Ms. Loughlin Abraham, Luke, Daniel

Gr. 4 Ms. Micallef Joseph, Eugen, Lina

Gr. 4 Mr. Zinko Alejandro, Gabriel F., Fiona

Gr.4/5 Ms. De Vincenzo Ian, Joaquin, Chiara

Gr. 5 Ms. Hall Sofia D, Aden, Michael, Francisca, Luke

Gr. 5/6 Ms. Cicirelli Nate, Jacob, Abigail, Angelica

Gr. 5 (EF)

Ms. Abboud Lara, Aria

Gr. 6 (EF) Ms. Hetmanczuk Nicholas, Roisin, Andrew

Gr. 6 Ms. Quartarone Joseph A., Beatriz, Jacob, Zoe

Gr.7 Ms. Martinez Wiktoria

Gr. 7/8 Mr. Vennare Tea, Gianfranco, Ricardo, Maja

Gr.8 Mr. De Medeiros Luke, Luca, Stephanie

Gr.7 (EF) Ms. Bahsous Alexander

Gr. 8 (EF) Mr. Sansano Mairead

STUDENT MONTHLY RECOGNITION

Student monthly recognition for the 2017-2018 school year will be based on the Catholic Graduate expectations which

guide teaching and learning from Kindergarten through to Secondary School. Catholic education views human life as an

integration of body, mind, and spirit. Rooted in this vision, Catholic education fosters the search for knowledge as a

lifelong spiritual and academic quest. The expectations of Catholic graduates, therefore, are described not only in terms

of knowledge and skills, but in terms of values, attitudes and actions.

The students recognized for APRIL were identified for demonstrating the characteristics of a CARING FAMILY MEMBER

who loves and respect their own family and all the members of God’s family.

©2017 St Gregory Catholic School. All Rights Reserved | school.stgregorytoronto.com

Parents are encouraged to attend

the next CSPC meeting scheduled

for

Wednesday, May 16 , 2018

at

7:00 p.m. in the school staff room.

Volunteers for various committees and activities are always welcome.

Please join us on Thursday, May 10, 2018, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, as St. Gregory Catholic School presents a “Celebration of the Arts” as part of an extension to the Toronto Catholic District School Board “Education Week”. It’s a great evening to showcase the creative talent here at St. Greg’s. So come on out, meet and mingle with the artists, and discover how everyone can let their own creative side shine through and be celebrated.

Spring is an important time for many of the students in our Board. I would like to send sincere congratulations and prayers to our gr. 2 and gr. 7 students as they receive the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. These moments form the foundation of our faith journey as we strive to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. On May 29th, students from across the TCDSB will take

part in the 21st Annual Special Mini Olympics. This event brings together secondary school students with special needs for a fun filled day of activities and friendly competition. By sharing their gifts, the games provide opportunities to discover new abilities and talents and "their voices" as well. The students improve their lives, and in turn, the lives of everyone they touch. This event is an opportunity for our students to demonstrate their resilience, their courage, and their fortitude; and it is an opportunity for the TCDSB community to share in their joy and witness the strength and determination of the human spirit. The week of May 6 to May 11 is Catholic Education week celebrating the theme of, “Renewing the Promise.” Catholic Education Week is held each year in May across Ontario Catholic school boards with a many events celebrating the achievements of our schools and the critical impact Catholic Education has on the lives of millions of Ontarians. For more information, and a list of events: https://www.tcdsb.org/board/nurturingourcatholiccommunity/catholiceducationweek

The TCDSB and the Board of Trustees continue to work on the budget for the upcoming 2018/2019 school year. In the coming weeks the Board will begin an official community consultation. I look forward to incorporating this feedback as we move closer to setting next year’s budget. Participate in the online consultation here: https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/TCDSB-Community-Consultations/Pages/Budget-Consultation.aspx Finally, with Mother’s Day approaching on May 13th I would like to take a moment to thank all the mothers in our system. Use the day to cherish, honour and say thank you to Mom. Have a fantastic May! Blessings, Ann

CSPC NEWS

TRUSTEES 2017 – 2018

Wards

1. Joseph Martino 5. Maria Rizzo 9. Jo-Ann Davis 2. Ann Andrachuk 6. Frank D’Amico, Vice-Chair 10. Barbara Poplawski 3. Sal Piccininni 7. Michael Del Grande 11. Angela Kennedy, Chair 4. Patrizia Bottoni 8. Garry Tanuan 12. Nancy Crawford Rhea Carlisle, Student Trustee

Joel Ndongmi, Student Trustee

TRUSTEE ANDRACHUK MONTHLY MESSAGE

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