SAFE ARRIVAL PROGRAM Please call the school to report all student absences and late arrivals. Dial 905-876-2386.

If calling outside office hours, your call will be directed to our voicemail system. Please follow the prompts to leave a message:

clearly state student name, grade, teacher, reason and length (if known) of the absence. If no notification is received,

we will call home/workplace/emergency contact numbers to determine your child’s location. (Please keep contact numbers current.)

NEWSLETTER – December 2015 Edition

650 Bennett Blvd.

Milton, ON L9T 6B1 Telephone: (905) 876-2386

Fax: (905) 876-2658

School Website www.hcdsb.org/schools/grda

Principal: Mrs. R. LoPresti Secretary: Mrs. A. Boyle Vice Principal: Mr. J. Crowell

Vice Principal: Mr. D. MacDougall Office Assistant: Mrs. W. Altobello

Office Assistant: Mrs. J. Scott

SCHOOL HOURS: 8:30 – 11:30 a.m./12:30 – 3:00 p.m.

ADMINISTRATORS’ MESSAGE

Mrs. LoPresti, Mr. Crowell & Mr. MacDougall

As we prepare to enter into the wondrous and miraculous

Advent journey, we are reminded that we are called to patience,

perseverance, and prayer at many times in our lives. This is a

time when we find ourselves turning to the comfort and peace

that the Christmas Season brings. For many, this is a time of

hope and spiritual renewal for we understand that the Christmas

message is truly about God’s great love for us.

At Guardian Angels Catholic School, we welcome Advent in

prayer and song. We teach students about our faith traditions; we

share our familiar Christmas story of new life, of a very special

child born, in a very ordinary manner…the Child of God.

During this festive and busy season of Advent, let us try to

remember the true spirit of Christmas. There are many

activities planned throughout the school during this time:

† Family Christmas Box Charity Initiative – (Tuesday,

December 1 – Friday, December 11) Donations will be given

to the St. Vincent de Paul Society from St. Benedict Parish.

† Weekly Advent Prayer Service – Our students will be

involved in weekly Advent Services which will be led by our

students. These prayer services will be held in the morning over

the P.A. system.

† Advent Mass - Friday, December 4 at 9:00 a.m. in the

School Gym – Please join us!

† Grade 1-3 Primary Christmas Concert – The Primary

division cordially invite you to attend our Christmas Concert in

our school gym on Wednesday, December 9 at 9:00 a.m. and

1:30 p.m. Please note that due to the popularity of this

celebration, our limited availability for parking, and the number

of students participating, we ask that only immediate family

members attend the morning or afternoon performance. Siblings

who are students here will be attending with their classes. Thank

you for your support!

† Family Christmas Craft Night – Thursday, December 10

organized by Guardian Angels Catholic School Council. Order

forms are due back no later than Thursday, December 3.

Reserved seating times are at 6:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

† Kindergarten Christmas Celebration – We invite you to join

us in the gym on Tuesday, December 15 for “A Christmas

Celebration” at 10:30 a.m. (Mrs. Cerio, Miss Cunha, Mrs.

Freitas, Mrs. Gomes) and 1:30 p.m. (Mrs. Bark, Mrs. Lee, Mrs.

Sutton, Mrs. Wrixon). All Kindergarten parents are welcome!

May this time of anticipation and waiting fill our hearts, minds

and souls. May God’s grace and goodness brought to all through

the birth of the Christ child, bless you and your family with

renewed hope, peace, and love now and in the New Year!

Christmas Blessings and best wishes for a safe, happy, and holy

New Year from all of us at Guardian Angels Catholic School !

“ANGELS AMONG US”

MONTHLY CATHOLIC VIRTUES

December’s Virtue is HOPE

What is HOPE?

We demonstrate the virtue of Hope when we: live a life of peace

and joy; never give up our hopes and dreams; and maintain a

positive attitude or spirit in light of hopeless situations. We can

gain an inner peace this holiday season supported by God and

those around us.

Jesus taught us that we are all children of a loving God. At

Guardian Angels Catholic School, we believe that each child is

created in His image and are valued as unique individuals and

important members of our community and society. We strive to

create an atmosphere here that promotes cooperation with one

another in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding as

children of God.

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

CHRISTMAS BOX CHARITY INITIATIVE

Our St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Box Drive will begin on

Tuesday, December 1 and run until Friday, December 11.

Classes will be filling Christmas boxes with various items that

families can use this holiday season. Donations of Christmas

boxes will be presented to the local chapter of the St. Vincent de

Paul Society from St. Benedict Parish. Thanks to your generous

donations, we hope to help many individuals and families in

need at Christmas time, many of which are children.

Classes will receive a family number and be responsible for

finding a box and filling it with a list of basic family essentials

and toiletries. Students are invited to actively participate in this

process.

We are also accepting donations of storybooks, hats and mitts,

hair accessories, crayons/markers/pencils, colouring books, as

well as $10.00 Gift Cards (Grocery Store, Tim Horton’s,

Walmart or Shopper’s Drug Mart) . Any and all donations are

very much appreciated during this Christmas season.

SAINT BENEDICT PARISH COMMUNITY

Welcome to the season of Advent. Christmas will soon be upon

us. All Masses are celebrated at Our Lady of Fatima School on

Bolingbroke Drive in Milton. Confessions are heard on

Saturdays from 4:00 - 4:30 p.m. in the Prayer Chapel at the

school. Christmas Masses at St. Benedict Parish are as follows:

Thursday, December 24th - Christmas Eve 5:00 p.m.; 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Friday, December 25th - Christmas Day 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, December 26th - Boxing Day

(Vigil for the feast of the Holy Family) 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 27th - Feast of the Holy Family 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m

Thursday, December 31 - New Year’s Eve 5:00 p.m.

Friday, January 1, 2016 - New Year’s Day

(Feast of Mary the Mother of God) 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, January 2nd –

Vigil for the Feast of the Epiphany 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 3 - Feast of the Epiphany 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

God Bless You!

Father Jim Petrie, Pastor

THE CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE OF

ST. BENEDICT PARISH, MILTON…

Invites all Women (16 years and older) to a Spiritual Retreat on

“Mary and the Year of Mercy”.

Speaker: Fr. Jim Petrie, Spiritual Advisor for C.W.L.

When: Saturday, December 12, 2015

Where: Our Lady of Fatima School Gym

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Refreshments will be served. No cost to attend!

RSVP: Lenie D’Souza at cwlmilton@gmail.com

What Christmas Means…

What if this year at Christmas…

I set Santa to the side,

Forgo Frosty on the video

And rest Rudolph from his ride …

Perhaps I’d then forget those things

And listen in the night

For clapping sounds of angel’s wings

That caused the shepherds’ fright.

And maybe I would start to shine

Like that old Eastern star –

And wonder like those three wise men

Who travelled from afar.

To pay Him all due honour

Not just a passing nod,

This year I’m going to ponder –

“What Christmas means to God.”

SYRIAN REFUGEE SUPPORT

The Halton Catholic District School Board was recently awarded

a grant from the Ex Corde Foundation of the Diocese of

Hamilton, established by Bishop Crosby in 2011. This grant is to

be used to support our refugee students and families that are in

need of financial assistance. If you or anyone you know is in

need of such support, please contact Carmen Condo, Consultant

in the Settlement and Multicultural Services department at the

main board office (905) 632-6300.

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

BUDDY BENCH INITIATIVE

Through fundraising efforts on our Vow of Silence Day on

November 25, we were able to raise just over $1,000 to support

the purchase of a Buddy Bench for our school playground this

Spring. This special bench – a gathering spot for any students

seeking to make new friends- is designed to promote and foster

awareness, kindness, inclusiveness and empathy among students

at recess. This initiative helps students engage in play where

they learn to solve problems, share their perspectives and

regulate their emotions and behaviour while communicating

with each other in a positive and productive manner.

Across the country, schools are making playgrounds more

welcoming especially for new students. Childhood friendships

change constantly and sometimes kids can often feel isolated,

embarrassed and shy. The Buddy Bench is a great place for kids

to hang out and wait for a friend or two to come and play with

them. It sounds like a simple concept and yet it can have such a

profound and lasting effect for years to come.

We recognize our Counsellor Mrs. Nelson and members of our

Faith Team for their leadership and wish to thank our Catholic

school community for their generous and heartfelt support of this

worthwhile initiative!

GUARDIAN ANGELS SCHOOL

YMCA SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM

Guardian Angels YMCA School Age Program spaces are

available in the before and after school programs. For more

information on YMCA Programs, call 905-943-9622 ext. 750 or

905-699-3000 or email GuardianAngels@ymcagta.

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

MAGAZINE INITIATIVE ENDS DECEMBER 11

Looking for that perfect Christmas gift for someone special…

consider getting a magazine subscription to support literacy here

in our school community.

As part of our school focus on literacy at home and at school,

we would really appreciate everybody’s participation.

Money raised will go towards program materials and playground

and sporting equipment which will directly impact learning at

our school!

SHOP – the catalogue OR order online at www.QSP.ca

with our school ONLINE ID 4381554

RENEW your subscriptions or PURCHASE SOMETHING

NEW FOR YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE!

Telling friends and family using your Smart Phone is EASY !

Go to “START HERE” at www.QSP.ca to use QSP’s email and

NEW TEXTING feature.

Order online OR submit paper orders no later than

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11.

** Cheques are made payable to

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL **

If you have any questions, call QSP at 1-800-667-2536

FOLLOW US ON OUR

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

TWITTER ACCOUNT

https://twitter.com/GAngelsMilton

GUARDIAN ANGELS 2015-2016

CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL

Our third CSC meeting will be held on Monday, January 11 at

6:30 p.m. in our school Library. Dates of future meetings will be

announced in upcoming editions of our school newsletter.

Co-Chairs

Natalie Russell and Jennifer Santos

Secretary

Christine Walters

Treasurer

Morag Weare

Parish Representative

Trish Vergata

Community Representative

Theresa Gatto

Additional Parent Representatives

Sandra Alva, Drazen Bertovic, Jennifer Botelho,

Denise Dawes, Kellie Donaher, Elvira Galati,

Shonna John, Joann Muia, and Michelle Penman

School Representatives

Beverly Smith Teacher Representative

Louise Hansford Non-Teaching Representative

Rosanna LoPresti Principal

Jeff Crowell Vice Principal

Doug MacDougall Vice Principal

The Halton Catholic District School Board’s Catholic Parent

Involvement Committee (CPIC) is planning a great webinar

coming up on Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m.

Grade 1 Religious Education Resource Webinar –

Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ:

This webinar will explore how the Bishops’ new Grade 1

religion program, Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ, supports

our entire educational community in the New Evangelization.

Discover supports for the program for use at home so that the

entire educational community radiates our joy at being faith-

filled members of our Catholic family.

For more information and to register for this webinar,

please visit: http://tinyurl.com/hcdsbreligion

Our previous webinars are already available for viewing on our

YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/user/HaltonCPIC.

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

ANNUAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS CRAFT NIGHT

Come make a GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Thursday, December 10, 2015 Guardian Angels School Gym

6:00 – 8:15 p.m.

Enjoy a family night out!! Cost is only $14.00 per family

Due to the popularity of this event,

there will be two (2) reserved seatings in the gym to assemble

your pre-ordered GINGERBREAD HOUSE:

First seating: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Second seating: 7:15 – 8:15 p.m.

Select a reserved seating time that works for your family.

N. B. Tickets WILL NOT be sold at the door

for this event.

Join us for some additional Christmas crafts, refreshments,

face painting, a visit with a “special friend” and Christmas Karaoke.

Pre-register for a 5 x 7” Christmas Family Portrait

from Edge Imaging at an additional cost of $10.00.

N.B. Our pre-assembled GINGERBREAD HOUSE packages have been purchased from

MacMillans in Acton which is a nut-free facility.

Please return your request form (sent home last week) no later than Thursday, December 3, 2015. Contact Event Coordinator Theresa Gatto at

tgatto@cogeco.ca for more information.

HALLOWE’EN DANCE-A-THON

PRIZE UPDATE

A very special thank you to our Guardian Angels Catholic

School community for raising over $24,000.00 during our

Hallowe’en Dance-a-thon school fundraiser. Thank you to the

many helpers and students who worked hard to make this an

enjoyable day. Thank you to all of our staff on the Dance-a-thon

committee and most especially to our parent volunteers for

decorating our gym, supervising the dance, and making this day

such a successful event. Your dedication to our school is greatly

appreciated. A special thank you to all the generous businesses,

families, school staff, and individuals who donated prizes:

Cadbury Trebor Allan Inc., Ferrero Rocher, Lunch Pails, Mayor

Gordon Krantz, and Mermaid Luxury Limousine

Families

Douglas, Fernandes, Gatto, Landi, Maraj, Russell, and Willison

You helped make our Hallowe’en Dance-a-thon a success!

We appreciate your consideration and support!

A Christmas Time for Prayer

Let us pray together this Christmas time;

O heavenly and merciful Father,

you loved us so much,

that you sent us your only begotten Son

to be the Ruler and Saviour of the world.

Help us on our journey towards his earthly birth

so that we may prepare ourselves

to receive Jesus anew in our hearts.

May this Christmas be

a time of peace, love and joy,

a time of repentance and forgiveness,

a time of reconciliation, friendship and dialogue,

a time of openness and renewal

a time of faith, hope and love. Amen.

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

2015 SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR UPDATE

Congratulations to Ronan N. in Mrs. Sutton’s FDK class! Ronan

was selected the winner of the $25 Family Event prize and

selected books from the Scholastic Book Fair. Mrs. Sutton also

won $25 to spend towards books for her classroom library.

Congratulations to you both!

The following students also won a prize which was picked up on

Thursday November 19, 2015:

KINDERGARTEN

Kayla B., Kareena D., Nathan D., Jackson N., and Niko P.

GRADE 1

Isaak B. and Elyse Z.

GRADE 2

Matteo C ., Mya F., Parker M., Alex P., Teagan P.,

Andrew S., and Nathan S.

GRADE 3

Christopher C., Bianca M., Bella P., Lindsay P.,

and Olivia W.

GRADE 4

Hailey F., Michela I., Sophia P., Erika S., and Abby W.

GRADE 5

Victoria K., Terrence L., Megan M., Lauren P., Lauren S.,

Kaitlyn T., Anakarla V., Emma W., and Robert Z.

GRADE 6

Kaiden B., Miriam G., and Sofia L.

Mrs. Van Item would like to thank all of the parent volunteers

who graciously donated their time to support our Book Fair!

Mrs. Botelho, Mrs. Ferreira, Mrs. Kramer, Mrs. Miguel,

Mrs. Santos,, Mrs. Skretkowski, Mrs. Urrasio, Mrs. Walsh, and

Mrs. Willison. Our Scholastic Book Fair would not have been

this successful without all of your hard work and assistance! Our

sales were over $10,000. Thank you to the Guardian Angels

Catholic School community for all of your generosity!

Term 2 Pizza Orders

due Wednesday, December 9

† To all those families who made donations to our charitable

initiatives in November. We delivered hundreds of non-

perishable food items to the local foodbank in the last few weeks

and our Paint the Town Red Day raised over $929 in one day to

support the North Halton chapter of the United Way. Way to go

GA!

† To all our Grade 1 students, choir, Peace Team members, and

staff involved in this year’s Remembrance Day service ! It was a

great opportunity as a Catholic faith community to reflect upon

those who gave their lives so that we can experience peace and

freedom in our lives.

† To the many parents who are following our Kiss & Ride drop

off and afterschool pick up procedures. We appreciate your

cooperation driving with caution and slowing down while on

school property as well. Just a reminder: BOTH sides of the

school are open to Kiss & Ride during arrival and dismissal.

Please do not park or leave your car unattended in the Kiss

& Ride area. Please use the parking lot spaces for this reason.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated!

† To all of you who were able to volunteer your time at

Guardian Angels Catholic School. You are appreciated!

† To the students in our school for their cooperation, (for safety

reasons) for not bringing the following items to school: cell

phones, IPODs etc.

† To Mrs. Nelson our CYC and to the Peace Team, P.A.L.S.

Leaders, and Wellness Team for the excellent job they are doing

so far this year.

† To our Intermediate teachers who prepared our Grade 7

students and Father Jim Petrie and Bishop Daniel Miehm who

celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation with us in November.

It was a very special day in the lives of our students as they

became young Catholic adults commissioned to spread the Good

News of Jesus Christ with others in their actions and words.

LUNCH PAILS PROGRAM UPDATE

In the event of a school closure due to weather conditions,

service will be provided on the following day. If your child is

absent on the service day, please contact Lunch Pails kitchen

before 8:00 a.m. on the day of service at 647-828-6240.

S.E.A.C.

SOUNDBYTES

Raising awareness of the Special

Education process at HCDSB December 2015

WHAT IS S.E.A.C.?

Did you know that there is a committee in each school board or

school authority that provides important and relevant advice on

Special Education?

This committee is known as the Special Education Advisory

Committee or S.E.A.C. SEAC is made up of school board

trustees and representatives of local associations with a

common goal of protecting the interests and well-being of

exceptional children or adults. Associations currently

represented on HCDSB SEAC are:

Association for Bright Children (ABC) Ontario, Halton

Autism Ontario

Easter Seals Ontario

Halton Down Syndrome Association

Learning Disabilities Association of Halton

VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children

The importance of SEAC is their ability to assist the board with

understanding the special needs of exceptional children and

youth, and to advise the board in matters that apply to the

delivery of special education services and program.

Each school board and school authority in Ontario must establish

a SEAC. The meetings are open to the public and everyone is

encouraged to attend. HCDSB holds their SEAC meetings on the

last Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Board office in

Burlington. We would love to see you there!

Be sure to check in with us next month to find out exactly

“what is an exceptional student?” or visit our website at

www.hcdsb.org/Community/SEAC/Pages/default.aspx

where you can also find more information on HCDSB SEAC

including copies of minutes from previous meetings and a listing

of upcoming meetings.

Submitted by: Brenda Agnew, SEAC Alternate Member,

representing Easter Seals Ontario

GUARDIAN ANGELS SCHOOL

VOLLEYBALL UPDATE

The 2015 volleyball season began at the beginning of October

with our teams participating in 7 regular season games. At the

Jean Vanier CSS Invitational Tournament in November, our

girls’ team won GOLD and our boys’ team SILVER.

Our boys went on play in the regional playoffs and emerged as

BRONZE medallion winners in North Halton. They advanced to

divisional playoffs in Oakville and Board Quarter Finals in

Burlington. The boys placed in the top 8 out of 45 schools in our

system. Thanks to all our volleyball coaches Miss Natale, Miss

K. Rattray, Miss L. Rattray, Mrs. Schumacher and

Mr. Shannon for coaching our teams. We are very proud of their

combined efforts!

JUNIOR & SENIOR KINDERGARTEN

REGISTRATION- JANUARY 26 & 27, 2016

Early registration for JK and new SK students for September

2016 will take place at Guardian Angels Catholic School on

Tuesday, January 26 and Wednesday, January 27 from

9:00 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Admission Requirements

Junior Kindergarten – age 4 on or before December 31,

2016

Senior Kindergarten – age 5 on or before December 31,

2016

Copy of Roman/Eastern Rite Catholic Baptismal Certificate

for your child or copy of parent’s Baptismal Certificate

Copy of Birth Certificate

Copy of Immunization Card

Proof of home address

Daycare/Busing Arrangements

Special Programming Needs

Students will be placed in our full-day Kindergarten program on

a space available basis. We cannot promise a specific teacher or

placement at this time; however, busing for eligible students and

daycare will be available before/after school hours.

FRENCH IMMERSION REGISTRATION

Our school board currently offers an optional Early French

Immersion Pilot Program starting in Grade 1 at at St. Benedict

Catholic Elementary School. Space in the program is limited -

there will be a maximum of 2 classes per site. Please note that

online registration for the Grade 1 Early French Immersion

program will take place on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.

Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Board also offers an Extended French (Middle

Immersion) program starting in Grade 5 at St. Benedict

Catholic Elementary School. Online registration for this Grade 5

program will take place on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

Registration for both programs will consist of a two-part

process: completion of an online registration form as well as

completion of a written registration form in person. If you have

any questions regarding either French program, please contact

Anne Marie Toltl Board French Consultant at toltla@hcdsb.org .

JEAN VANIER SECONDARY SCHOOL

UPDATE FOR GRADE 8 FAMILIES

Grade 9 Option Sheets for Fall 2016 are due on Tuesday,

December 1. To keep up to date with “What’s New for Grade

8’s” at Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary School, go online at

http://brweb.haltonrc.edu.on.ca/CALZONETTI/JV%20Student

%20Services%20Website/JV%20Guidance.htm for upcoming

dates and event timelines.

GRADE 1-8 PROGRESS REPORTS

AND PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS

We hope that you enjoyed meeting with your child/ren’s teacher

in November to discuss their progress to date. We ask that you

return a signed copy of the Progress Report Card Response Form

(page 3) if you have not already done so. If you were unable to

meet with your child/ren’s teacher at that time, please contact

them to schedule a mutually convenient time to discuss your

child/ren’s progress in person or by phone.

GRADE 2-6 ONLINE MATH PROGRAM

Are you interested in having your child engage in some fun and

interactive math at home? We have a new online resource that

we are offering for all Grade 2-6 students in the board.

The online Math tool, created by Pearson Education, is called

“SuccessMaker”. Throughout their extensive research, they

found that students made significant gains in Math after the

allotted 10-16 hours of using this program. A minimum of 20

minutes per day, 4 times a week for 10 weeks is required to

complete the program and there is absolutely no cost involved

for families.

Simply enter this link

https://survey.hcdsb.org/successmaker.aspx

into your tablet or other electronic device to register your child.

For additional information, please contact Angie Barden at

bardena@hcdsb.org

HOMEWORK HELP – MATH SUPPORT FOR

GRADE 7-10 STUDENTS

If you’re a parent worried about how to support your child’s

math homework questions, don’t worry! An exciting online

initiative designed to help students succeed in mathematics is

available.

The Ministry of Education and the Independent Learning Centre

have launched Homework Help, an interactive website for our

students in Grades 7-10. Students simply log-on at

www.homeworkhelp.ilc.org and using a chat room can obtain

personalized tutoring from a certified Ontario math teacher.

Chats take place Sunday to Thursday between the hours of

5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Homework Help is free, live and anonymous!

If you are looking for a fun and interactive way to engage your

child in enhancing math skills, try Prodigy Math Game. This

interactive math site is free and aligns with the Ontario Math

curriculum expectations for students in Grade 1-8. Check it out

at https://www.prodigygame.com .

A Christmas Prayer

Loving Father, help us to remember

the birth of Jesus,

That we may share in the song of the angels

The gladness of the shepherds,

And the worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love

all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and

good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing

which Christ brings,

And teach us to be merry with clean hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy

to be Your children,

And the Christmas evening bring us to our beds

with grateful thoughts,

Forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Robert Louis Stevenson

INCLEMENT WEATHER BULLETIN

When transportation services have been cancelled due to

inclement weather, schools will remain open and operational for

walkers. As always, it is the parent’s responsibility to decide if

conditions are safe for their child/ren to walk to/from school.

Tune in to the following radio stations for news about our

Board’s school closures due to inclement weather:

A.M

RADIO STATIONS

680 NEWS Toronto

740 CHWO Zoomer

900 CHML

Hamilton

1010 CFRB Toronto

1150 OLDIE

Hamilton

1460 CJOY Guelph

CHCH Hamilton

CITY-TV Toronto

F.M.

RADIO STATIONS

94.7 CHKX Hamilton

95.3 VINYL Hamilton

97.3 BOOM Toronto

98.1 CHFI Toronto

99.1 CBC Toronto

99.9 VIRGIN Toronto

102.9 KLITE

Hamilton

106.1 MAGIC Guelph

108 Y108 Hamilton

It is very important for children to be properly clothed so they

can enjoy the weather outside at recess time. Students in Grade

1-8 go outside for recess breaks unless it is raining or so cold

that it is dangerous. It is not necessary for anyone to be cold and

uncomfortable outside if they are dressed properly. If your child

is not well enough to go outside, then s/he probably is not well

enough to come to school and should stay home.

In consultation with the Halton Regional Health Unit and

Environment Canada, our Board has created a set of Guidelines

for Principals to assist them in ensuring student safety during

various Inclement Weather situations. Administrative Procedure

VI-39 provides guidelines for responding to Extreme Cold,

Extreme Heat, Smog Advisories, UV Rays, Lightning and

Thunderstorm Watches/Warnings, etc.

As winter quickly approaches, parents are reminded to visit our

website for important information and reminders regarding the

Board’s Inclement Weather procedures and the Inclement

Weather Transportation Zones map: bit.ly/inclement-weather

Additional information and the Inclement Weather

Transportation Zones map is also available in the printed School

Year Calendars that were distributed to parents in September.

Parents whose students ride the bus to school will also find

helpful information in the Halton Student Transportation

Services (HSTS) Fall-Winter Newsletter. Please note that HSTS

provides online access to bus delays and cancellation

information at: www.haltonbus.ca

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Supervision of Students before School

Parents are reminded that supervision of students on the school

yard begins at 8:10 a.m. If you arrive at school with your

child/ren prior to 8:10 a.m., please remain with them until the

yard duty supervisor comes on the yard. Should you leave before

a supervisor is present and an accident/injury should occur, there

would be no one to assist your child/ren. This is a serious safety

concern. We want all of our students to be safe at all times. For

the safety of your child/ren, please ensure you respect the 8:10

a.m. timeline. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Side Doors/Late Slips

After the morning bell rings and all classes have entered the

building, students are to enter the school through the front doors

and are required to report to the main office to pick up a late slip.

Primary students will be escorted to class by a buddy.

Parents/caregivers of late students are asked to say goodbye at

the office as students receive their late slip and proceed directly

to class.

Entry and Dismissal Safety

It has come to our attention that a number of students are coming

late to school each morning and are being picked up late at the

end of the day. It is important that students arrive on time for

school each morning and are picked up by parents/guardians

promptly at the end of the day. Our school day begins at 8:30

a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. Please ensure that your child/ren

arrive at school in time enough to line up with their classmates at

8:30 a.m. If you are running late at 3:00 dismissal time, please

make alternate arrangements. There is no after-hours supervision

in the main office. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and

attention in this matter!

Early Departures & Lunch Hour Procedures

Students who are leaving school outside of normal dismissal

times need to be picked up at the main office. Please send a note

to the teacher stating the time your child is to meet you at the

office. Please be aware that no child will be allowed to leave the

school without a signed and dated note from their

parent/guardian. The office must also be aware if students are

to be picked up by anyone else other than their

parents/guardians.

In keeping with our Board policy, students may remain at school

for lunch at the Principal’s discretion, providing that lunchtime

rules are followed at all times. At the beginning of the school

year, you are asked to complete a form indicating student lunch

arrangements (i.e., whether a student remains at school for lunch

or goes home).

To change these arrangements, it is necessary to provide written

permission from a parent or guardian. These arrangements must

be made ahead of time and each time the lunch routine varies.

Please note that “standing notes” indicating that a student can

leave school anytime s/he chooses are NOT accepted. As a

school staff, it is important for us to know each time a student

leaves our care at noon hour, that permission has been given, and

that parents know the exact whereabouts of their child. We

appreciate your cooperation and support with this important

supervision and safety issue.

Allergies & Nutrition

Please remember that we are an ALLERGEN-REDUCED

environment. For the safety of all students, please refrain from

sending any pea/nut products with your child. For birthday

treats, please consider non-food items for student sharing, such

as pencils, stickers, erasers etc.

Physical Education Instruction

A reminder: students participating in our Physical Education

program require proper phys-ed attire (as outlined in our

physical education curricular guidelines). Individual classroom

teachers have reviewed these expectations with students.

Running shoes with non-marking soles are required in the gym;

outdoor shoes are not acceptable. We also require that students

have indoor shoes for use during the school day for their own

safety so that we can avoid mishaps from the mud, snow, dirt

and water tracked into the school.

KINDERGARTEN EYE HEALTH PROGRAM

The Eye See...Eye Learn® (ESEL) program was developed to

raise awareness among parents of the importance of having their

children's eyes checked upon starting school. The program

provides comprehensive eye exams by local Doctors of

Optometry to Junior Kindergarten students in Ontario. The

eye exams are covered under provincial health insurance (or

OHIP). This means that there is no out-of- pocket cost for the

eye exam. If the child requires a pair of glasses, they will receive

a FREE pair (valued at over $250) donated by Nikon Lenswear,

OGI and your participating Doctor of Optometry.

For more information about this valuable program, check out the

ESEL website at www.eyeseeeyelearn.ca.

KISS & RIDE – SAFETY RULES

We continue to monitor the parking lot and encourage parents to

follow our parking lot procedures in the interest of safety for all

of our students. Please note that Kiss & Ride is available on

both the EAST and WEST side of the building.

Just a reminder that you are asked NOT to get out of

your car if you are using the Kiss & Ride procedures. If

you need to get out of your vehicle, please park in a

designated parking spot

No reversing in the Kiss & Ride lanes for student safety

Please observe the “NO PARKING” signs posted..

PEDICULOSIS UPDATE

“LICE ADVICE”

What Are Head Lice?

Head Lice are tiny, wingless, greyish insects that live and breed

on human hair. They move quickly and are hard to see. The

eggs are half the size of a pinhead and are the colour of the

person’s scalp. Live eggs are laid at the root of the hair and are

“glued” on so that they will not move. The warmth of the scalp

will hatch them in seven to ten days. The nits are empty shells

of eggs that have been hatched. These can be found 1 cm

(½ inch) from the scalp, and continue to grow out with the hair.

The nit is white and distracts attention away from the live egg.

A nit can show how long head lice have been present. Hair

grows about one centimetre a month. For example, if the nit is 3

cm (1¼ inches) from the scalp, the egg was hatched three

months ago.

How Can You Tell If You Have Head Lice?

See live lice in the hair.

See half-pinhead sized eggs the colour of the scalp and

less than ½ inch away from the scalp.

Have an itchy scalp, although you can have head lice

for a long time before the scalp gets itchy.

How to Prevent the Spread of Head Lice

Having head lice is not a sign of uncleanliness or poor hygiene;

however, you can help prevent children from getting lice by

taking the following precautions:

Avoid head-to-head contact at school, during sports or

at home

Avoid sharing combs, brushes, hats, costume

accessories, ribbons, towels and helmets

Avoid use of bedding, pillows, and toys that have been

recently used by someone with lice

Check hair weekly for lice and eggs, brushing/combing

hair vigorously every night and using appropriate

products to prevent lice

It is also important to do a check after school breaks, sleepovers,

vacations or after any group activities in the community. Tell

anyone who has had close contact with the person in your family

who has lice. Anyone can get head lice, but lice prefer clean to

dirty hair and short to long hair.

What To Do If Your Child/ren Have Head Lice

Ask a pharmacist for a product that kills head lice and

eggs and for any special precautions to take while using

the recommended product. (Some products may not be

recommended for young children, people with allergies,

pregnant or nursing mothers).

Braiding long hair or putting into a ponytail may be

helpful. Routine household cleaning is sufficient.

Check heads of all family members and contacts over

the last six months.

Clean/launder bedding, hats and other headgear.

Inform school/daycare right away

When Can Your Child/ren Come Back to School?

If you find head lice, please notify the school immediately so

that we can contact We Care Home Health Services and have a

nurse check your child/ren’s entire class. If your child/ren have

tested positive for lice, you must keep them home until after you

have completed the treatment and their condition improves. For

children to be re-admitted to class, We Care Home Health

Services professionals must check the condition of your

child/ren’s scalp and issue a written confirmation which

indicates your child/ren are “nit/lice free” and able to return to

school. You may also visit a Walk-In Clinic and request a check

and a letter indicating your child/ren are clear of lice and eggs.

Please bring this confirmation slip with you to the main office

upon your child/ren’s return. For more information, contact

We Care Home Health Services at (905) 905-507-2273 or

1-866-877-8688 or 1-855-507-6562.

You may also call the Head Lice Information Line at

(905) 825-6000 extension 5423 or go online at www.halton.ca

or http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/lice.html.

A SEASONAL REMINDER…

Christmas Break begins for all students on the afternoon of

Friday, December 18. Students will be dismissed and buses

will depart at 1:30 p.m. that day. School resumes again on

Monday, January 4, 2016.

Santa’s Prayer on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve the other night

I saw the most amazing sight,

for there beneath the Christmas tree

was Santa kneeling on his knee.

His countenance was different than

that all-familiar, jolly grin;

his head was bowed, and hand to breast,

and slightly tucked into his vest.

For there in a Nativity

was Jesus and His family,

and as I heard him start to pray,

I listened close to what he’d say.

“Lord, You know that You’re the reason

I take pleasure in this season.

I don’t want to take Your place,

but just reflect Your wondrous grace.

I hope You’ll help them understand

I’m just an ordinary man,

who found a way to do Your will

by finding kids with needs to fill.

But all those centuries ago,

There was no way for me to know,

that they would make so much of me,

and all the gifts beneath the tree.

They think I have some hidden power

granted at the midnight hour.

But it is my love for You

Inspiring all the things I do.

And they give You all the Glory,

For You’re the “One True Christmas Story.”

Original author

Alda Monteschio

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

ONLINE UPDATE

In case you haven’t heard, online payments for School Cash

Online can now also be made by credit card. School Cash

Online provides parents with easy access to make online

payments for a variety of student activities, providing greater

flexibility and control on how payments are made to the school.

This new online payment method will also help reduce the risk

of theft and cash misplacement. For safety and efficiency

reasons, we want to reduce the amount of cash and cheques

coming into our school.

Register online at https://hcdsb.schoolcashonline.com by

selecting the “Get Started Now” and follow the steps. After you

receive a confirmation email, please select the ‘click here’

option, log in and add each of your children to your household

account. Once you are registered online, you will begin

receiving email notifications about upcoming events. If you have

any questions during the registration process or while shopping

online, please select the GET HELP option in the top right hand

of the screen or contact the Help Desk 24/7 at 1-866-961-1803.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

for JANUARY 2016

January 4 – First Day Back to School

January 11 - Catholic School Council Meeting

January 12 - Grade 1 French Immersion Registration

January 19 - Grade 5 French Immersion Registration

January 26 & 27 - Kindergarten Registration

Thank you to all the families that have signed up for School

Cash Online. We are very pleased

by the positive response and

appreciate your support!

Help Guardian Angels Catholic

School reach our goal of having

our entire school go

CASHLESS by January 2016!

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