Monthly Archives: October 2023

Greetings St. Dominic Savio parents and caregivers.

We have a fun-filled week ahead of us with the Halloween Dance and costume dress up happening tomorrow! Our Intermediate students will showcase their creative pumpkin designs which they have on display in the front foyer. Younger students will have an opportunity to vote for their favourite one today.  The winning class will receive an extra treat!

A final reminder about Halloween.  On Tuesday, October 31st, students are welcome to come in that day in their Halloween costumes to enjoy an exciting day of class activities!  Students can also wear orange and black as an alternative.

• In our Catholic education community, we want to promote respect, inclusion, and empathy for all individuals.
• Costumes must allow the student easy, independent access to the washroom. This is especially important for students from Kindergarten to grade 2.
• Costumes must allow the student to wear sufficiently warm clothing over or under the costume as weather/temperature dictates for outdoor recess.

Costumes must not:

• Impair vision.  Masks that cover the eyes are not permitted.
• Present a trip hazard to the wearer.  You must be able to sit, walk, and move comfortably for the day
• Represent disfiguring injury or, to put it bluntly, “blood and guts” as we have younger students who may be afraid
• Include weapons or replica weapons;
• Require staff to apply or remove costume pieces and/or make-up

During the Month of November:

November’s Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectation (OCGE) focus is on being a Team Player and Effective Communicator.  Students will kick off this month’s theme at our celebration on November 2nd and students will then engage in a range of classroom activities aimed at developing these skills throughout the month.

Being an Effective Communicator means: I HAVE A VOICE!

• I speak, write, and listen as Jesus would want me to
• I care about others and speak up for them
• I am honest
• I think carefully before I react or speak
• I respect all people and their languages
• I listen to the Word of God

Because I have a voice, I will use it lovingly, and I will live my life like Jesus.

During the month of November, as Catholics we will show transferable skills through communicating as the ability to express oneself clearly and effectively in different ways, such as speaking, writing, and using media. Communication also involves listening to others, asking questions, and sharing opinions. Communication is important for learning, working together, and making friends.

November 1st is All Saints Day

On All Saints Day, we remember the saints and allow the memory of their faith to spur us on to deeper worship and greater service to the Lord. All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day is a Christian celebration in honor of all the saints from Christian history.

Photo Retake Day: Tuesday November 7th!

Pegasus will be back at our school for retakes on Tuesday, November 7th.  Pictures will be taken of those students who were absent or are in need of retakes.

November 13th, Board Wide Spiritual Development Day

November 13th is our Spiritual Development Day and there is no school for students. During the morning of the Spiritual Development Day, St. Dominic Savio Staff will engage in a Family of Schools Mass at Resurrection High School and also listen and learn from community leaders (Keynote Speakers), who through their lives and experiences have made the marginalized a priority. We hope that the heartfelt words will Strengthen us to Listen and Respond to the needs of our world. In the afternoon, staff will be engaging in learning that is built around the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations.

Have a terrific week!

Hello DRAGONS!

We are so happy to share that our Strong Start Literacy Program is returning once again to St. Dominic Savio!  However, we can not run this program without your help.  Please read the attached letter if you are interested in volunteering.

STRONG START Volunteer LETTER

Thank you, DRAGON Community!

Hello St. Dominic Savio parents and caregivers.

This year Remembrance Day is on Saturday, November 11th.  Our school community will have a Remembrance Day Service on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th to honour our veterans of past and present for their service to our beautiful country.  We would like to pay tribute to our community’s veterans and need your help with this.  If you have a family member who served our country in the past or is currently serving in our military, we would like to recognize them in our service slide show.  Please send a picture of your veteran to Angela.Carroll@wcdsb.ca and include any relevant information such as their name, the war they served in, their ranking (optional) and who they are the relative to at St. Dominic Savio School.

Thank you, we look forward to paying tribute to your relatives.

Good morning, St. Dominic Savio Community.

Fall is all around us these days.  The temperature has dipped, and the trees are vivified with vibrant colours.  We are reminded of God’s infinite love, acts of miracles, and our daily blessings.  Here at St. Dominic Savio, we are so thankful that you have chosen to share your most precious gifts, your children, with us!  Our community of school, home, and parish is built upon wonderful relationships, and we continue to look forward to the many experiences together this year.

School Sports

We have 2 more Basketball and Volleyball games this week for each of those teams!  Our teams are playing so well, and the new jerseys are looking fantastic on the students.  Keep representing our school well as you travel the city!  Good luck DRAGONS!

Playground Before School

Thank you for your co-operation with remaining off of school property from 9:00 – 9:15 am when supervision is present. Having parents/guardians off of school property during this time helps us with student safety.

Halloween Just Dance

Student council have organized and will be running Halloween Just Dance Sessions on Halloween.  The dance sessions are as follows:

Kindergarten-9:25-10:25

Primary dance-10:55-11:55

Junior dance-1:115-2:15

Intermediate dance- 2:40-3:30

For the Halloween Dance-Glow sticks will be available to purchase through School Cash Online at a price of $1.00 for 2 glow sticks.  There is a limit of 2 glow sticks per child/ subject to availability.

A reminder that Costumes must not:

• Impair vision.  Masks that cover the eyes are not permitted.
• Present a trip hazard to the wearer.  Students must be able to sit, walk, and move comfortably for the day
• Represent disfiguring injury or, to put it bluntly, “blood and guts” as we have younger students who may be afraid
• Include weapons or replica weapons;
• Require staff to apply or remove costume pieces and/or make-up

It is suggested that students bring a change of clothes for the day so that if they are uncomfortable in their costumes, they can change.

Please remember that it is not necessary to send in treats for students as we have many students with food allergies.   If you would like to send something with your child, non-food items such as stickers, pencils, glow bracelets, etc. are preferred to share or hand out to friends.  If you were thinking of bringing food treats, they must be:

• • store-bought
  • labeled with the ingredient list
  • labeled as peanut/nut-free
  • individually wrapped

We do have multiple food allergies throughout the school, including but not limited to peanuts or tree nuts.   This is why we cannot share homemade treats/cupcakes/cookies etc.  Homemade treats cannot be passed out and will be sent back home.  Thank you very much for your understanding as we strive to include all of our school community members in the fun and joy of the Halloween spirit!

First Communion

All children in Grade 2 and Baptized in a Catholic Church, are invited to make their First Reconciliation and First Communion at St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Parish.  Please see the information provided and contact the CHURCH directly if you have any questions.

First Communion Information and Sign-Up: First Communion 2023

Confirmation Information

If your child is in Grade 7 or Grade 8 and has not completed their Confirmation, please see the attached form from St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Parish.  All information is sent into the CHURCH, not the school.

Confirmation Information and Sign-Up:  Confirmation Information 2023

Math Tutoring

TVO Learn Mathify – Free Online Tutoring Gr. 4-12 – Math Support. TVO Learn Mathify provides FREE online math help for Ontario students in Grades 4-12. Students/families can use the link to access the math support: https://homeworkhelp.ilc.org/

Have super week Dragons!

A huge THANK YOU to all our Librarians and Librarian Technicians because it is “Canadian Library Workers’ Day”.  From cataloging so many books and resources, story time with classes, and supporting schools with technology and other resources, we say thank you to all of you. You are always ready to lend a helping hand and you all play valuable roles in our schools.  Thank you especially to Ms. Sathiaraj!  We hope you enjoy this day as it is dedicated to wonderful you!

Good afternoon parents and caregivers.

At around 3:00 pm today, we received a phone call from police asking us to go into a Hold and Secure, which means everyone is to remain in the school building or their portable classroom until further notice.   Someone of suspicion had been spotted in the Resurrection School area and police were checking our trails for this person.  Police notified us around 3:30 pm that our school area had been cleared and that we could come out of our Hold and Secure.

Our students and staff were rock stars and listened to well to instructions.

Have a good evening.

Driving a bus full of students is not an easy job. Buses tend to be loud with many conversations taking place while the driver tries to focus on the traffic in front of him or her and make sure students remain safely in their seats. We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all our Bus Drivers today on “National Bus Drivers Day”.  You are sometimes the first smiling adult a child sees each morning and the last before they get home.  You always brave the weather to get our kids safely where they need to be, while being a shining example for students as you do it!  You are truly superheroes each day and we want to say THANK YOU!

A Special shout out and BIG thank you to Ms. Rowe, Ms. O’Leary, Ms. Kenning, Ms. Braendle, and Ms. Rodriguez for all you do! Our Kindergarten students are so blessed to have you educating them!  The staff and students at St. Dominic Savio School hope you have a wonderful day.

Good Monday Morning St. Dominic Dragon Community!

Last week ended with some lovely weather days allowing many classes to get extra physical fitness outside through DPA and gym class.  Friday brought about some extra fun excitement as all students gathered in the gym to watch Ms. Berg, Ms. McCallum and Ms. Carroll get pied in the face (a reward for our school meeting the Terry Fox fundraising goal of $1500.00 or more)! Congratulations to all students and families who contributed to meeting this goal for a good cause. Our dragon mascot also made his first appearance which elevated the energy in the gym.  It was a memorable day for all!

Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day is Tuesday, October 17th!

The staff and students of St. Dominic Savio School would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all our Early Childhood Educators today and on Tuesday which is Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day.  It takes a big heart to work with young children. We are thankful for your kindness, patience and efforts with our youngest learners.  Our students in Year 1 and Year 2 Kindergarten students learn and grow so much thanks to the work you do with them day in and day out.  Your endless patience, kindness, and enthusiasm with our youngest learners helps to create an environment that they want to be in, that their parents trust, and that builds the foundation for a wonderful educational experience for years to come.  We have 5 ECEs who work within the Extended Day and Kindergarten programs. We would like to recognize Ms. Rowe, Ms. O’Leary, Ms. Kenning, Ms. Braendle, Ms. Rodriguez for all they do! 

School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is Wednesday, October 18

Driving a bus full of students is not an easy job. Buses tend to be loud with many conversations taking place while the driver tries to focus on the traffic in front of him or her and make sure students remain safely in their seats. We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all our Bus Drivers today on “National Bus Drivers Day”.  You are sometimes the first smiling adult a child sees each morning and the last before they get home.  You always brave the weather to get our kids safely where they need to be, while being a shining example for students as you do it!  You are truly superheroes each day and we want to say THANK YOU!

Friday, October 20, 2023, is Canadian Library Workers’ Day

This Friday we also say a huge THANK YOU to all our Librarians and Librarian Technicians because it is “Canadian Library Workers’ Day”.  From cataloging so many books and resources, story time with classes, and supporting schools with technology and other resources, we say thank you to all of you. You are always ready to lend a helping hand and you all play valuable roles in our schools.  Thank you especially to Ms. Sathiaraj!  We hope you enjoy this day as it is dedicated to wonderful you!

October 31st – Halloween

On Tuesday, October 31st, students are welcome to come in that day in their Halloween costumes to enjoy a fun-filled day of dancing and class activities!  For students who do not want to wear costumes, they may instead choose to wear orange and black as an alternative.   As families begin to plan or create their costumes, please keep in mind the following:

• In our Catholic education community, we want to promote respect, inclusion, and empathy for all individuals.
• Costumes must allow the student easy, independent access to the washroom. This is especially important for students from kindergarten to grade 2.
• Costumes must allow the student to wear sufficiently warm clothing over or under the costume as weather/temperature dictates for outdoor recess.

Costumes must not:

• Impair vision.  Masks that cover the eyes are not permitted.
• Present a trip hazard to the wearer.  Students must be able to sit, walk, and move comfortably for the day.
• Represent disfiguring injury or, to put it bluntly, “blood and guts” as we have younger students who may be afraid.
• Include weapons or replica weapons!
• Require staff to apply or remove costume pieces and/or make-up.

It is suggested that students bring a change of clothes for the day so that if they are uncomfortable in their costumes, they can change.

Please remember that it is not necessary to send in treats for students as we have many students with food allergies.   If you would like to send something with your child, non-food items such as stickers, pencils, glow bracelets, etc. are preferred to share or hand out to friends.  If you were thinking of bringing food treats, they must be:

• • store-bought
  • labeled with the ingredient list
  • labeled as peanut/nut-free
  • individually wrapped

We do have multiple food allergies throughout the school, including but not limited to peanuts or tree nuts.   This is why we cannot share homemade treats/cupcakes/cookies etc.  Homemade treats cannot be passed out and will be sent back home.  Thank you very much for your understanding as we strive to include all of our school community members in the fun and joy of the Halloween spirit!

On Tuesday, October 31st, Student Council will be running a Halloween Just Dance Session in the gym for each grade division.  The schedule is as follows:

Kindergarten Dance -9:25-10:25 am

Primary Dance -10:55-11:55 am

Junior Dance -1:115-2:15 pm

Intermediate Dance – 2:40-3:30 pm

Glow sticks will be available through school “Cash Online” at a price of $1.00 for 2 glow sticks.  A limit of 2 glow sticks per child/ subject to availability.   Student Council will sort the orders and give them to teachers no later than Monday, October 30th.

“Free to Attend” – Level UP! Career Fair in the Skilled Trades for Parents and Guardians

Introducing Level Up! the Ontario-wide, multi-day career fair events that bring together the best in skilled trades professionals. Your child might not realize a career in the skilled trades is a great option for them to consider. This is your chance to help them explore the possibilities. Learn why the skilled trades are an ideal career for young people who are hard-working, hands-on, passionate, and committed to positively impacting society.

On the first day of each fair, parents and guardians are encouraged to attend an intimate evening event, which will include insights from and discussion with skilled trades and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) representatives, as well as the opportunity to experience hands-on exhibits for yourselves. Enjoy interactive, hands-on experiences. Learn what’s next in the skilled trades. Speak to industry organizations, post-secondary institutions, businesses, associations and more.

Level Up Home Page

Dates:

• Level Up in Hamilton on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18
• Level Up in London on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2
• Level Up in Mississauga on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16

October as Autism Awareness Month, which aims to increase awareness and promote understanding and inclusion for people living with autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurological disorder that affects the way a person communicates and relates to the people and world around them. ASD can affect behavior, social interactions, and one’s ability to communicate verbally.  Please watch this short video, which aims to raise autism awareness among non-autistic audiences.

TVO Learn Mathify – Free Online Tutoring Gr. 4-12 – Math Support

TVO Learn Mathify provides FREE online math help for Ontario students in Grades 4-12. Students/families can use the link to access the math support: https://homeworkhelp.ilc.org/

Home and School Communication

Home and school communication are very important, please connect with your child’s teacher should you have any questions or concerns. Likewise, teachers will contact you directly if they have great success stories to share or any concerns as we value the home and school partnerships. If you are not sure how to contact your child’s teacher please log into their online D2L class or call the office.

Individual Education Plan (IEP) 

If your child has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) their documentation will come home this week. A reminder to our families to please review, sign the consultation page, and return to the school. Any questions can be directed to the classroom teacher, Ms. Paolo and/or Ms. Adeyemi our Special Education Teachers.

Community News: Annual Spaghetti Supper & Salad

Sunday, November 12^th from 5:00 to 7:00 in St. Mark’s Parish Hall (55 Driftwood Drive).  Sponsored by St. Mark’s Knights of Columbus.  Bring your family and friends for superb spaghetti, delicious salad, great dessert, hot and cold drinks and plenty of fun.  Don’t want to eat in the church hall?  Take-home will be available at 5pm.  Tickets will be on sale from Oct. 14 to Nov. 12 at the church after all weekend Masses.  Cost:  $15 Adult; $10 Child (4-12yrs); Free under 4yrs; Family $40 (2 adults/3 kids).  To reserve tickets, call John Deneau at 519-741-0434 or text 226-789-1094 or email jdeneau@sympatico.ca.  Thank you in advance for your support!

Have a divine week dragons!

Good afternoon, St. Dominic Savio Dragons!

If you have a student in our Extended Day program, please read the following information carefully as it pertains to the Christmas break and billing.  If you have any questions, please contact the office and we will direct you to the proper person to answer your questions.

Have a great afternoon!

Christmas Break Information