FEBRUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER

Vice Principal’s Message

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

We have much to celebrate in the month of February! To those who are celebrating Chinese New Year, we wish you a Happy Year of the Rooster - Gong Xi Fa Cai! We look to Ground Hog Day with the hopes of either a longer winter or an early spring; depending on your disposition. St. Valentine’s Day is a day to remember God’s unconditional love for us, as such we are called to demonstrate this love for one another through the golden rule. We are looking forward to the Cake Walk to raise funds for KidsAbility. Family Day is a special day for families to create long lasting memories. We end off this month with Mardi Gras - Shrove Tuesday - and will be eating pancakes as a school community before the solemn season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. On March 1st, ashes will be distributed to the students as part of our Ash Wednesday Services.

February also marks the beginning of our Second Term of school. Term One Report Cards for Grade 1 through 8 and the new Kindergarten Communication of Learning will be sent home on February 16th. The Report Card and the Kindergarten Communication of Learning provides parents/guardians detailed information on your child’s academic, social and spiritual progress, based on the expectations for his or her grade level. They also, more importantly, explain each student’s strengths and next steps for continued de-velopment and improvement. Parents are encouraged to discuss these areas of strength and improvement needs with your child(ren). We then ask that you and your child complete the third page of the report card, setting goals for your child(ren) to achieve in term two. We value the role our parents play as the first educator of their children and as partners in each child’s educational journey. The consistency you provide at home helps our students develop learning skills and work habits that will support them moving forward in their education. Thank you.

On behalf of the entire St. Teresa of Calcutta staff, we wish a February filled with celebrations of family, love and joy!

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one come to you without leaving happier.” - St. Teresa of Calcutta

Respectfully yours,

Mr. F. Petrella

REGISTRATION FOR JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN

Thursday February 9, 2017 9:30 am to 11:30 am AND

12:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Please call the school to schedule

an appointment at 519-624-7115

Love Love is patient and kind. It doesn't envy or boast,

and it's never proud. Love is not rude or selfish. It doesn't get angry easily, or keep track of wrongs.

Love doesn't delight in bad thing, but rejoices in the truth.

Love always protects, trusts, hope and perseveres

Love never fails..

- St. Paul to the Corinthians

15th Annual St. Teresa of Calcutta School Charity Cake

Walk for KidsAbility

Tuesday February 14, 2017

Once again, we are asking you to get out your mixing bowls and your creativity, to bake and decorate cakes for this event. Cakes may be dropped off at the school starting on Monday, February 13th until Tuesday the 14th (before 9:00 am). Anyone donating a cake will be asked to complete a numbered identification card which includes an ALLERGY ALERT (list of ingredients would be appreciated.)

Please be reminded that our school is a NUT FREE environment.

To ensure freshness (and to protect against stray fingers) please ensure that your cake is protected by a plastic dome or plastic wrap.

Students and members of the community can purchase tickets beginning Monday, February 6th until Tuesday, February 14th. Eight tickets can be purchased for $2.00. Members of the community can purchase tickets at the office.

Be sure to put in your child‘s agenda on February 14th a phone number where you can be contacted during the school day should your child be a lucky winner! The Official Draws will be done at lunch on the 14th and the winners will be announced before the end of the school day. Volunteers from our St. Teresa community will bring the cakes to the winners classrooms in the afternoon. Students usually "walk" their cakes home.

Last year, over 50 families in our school community celebrated Valentine's Day by enjoying one of the cakes won at our CAKE WALK. As a result we were able to send over $2,000.00 in proceeds to KidsAbility. This year our proceeds will once again be donated to KidsAbility.

GOOD LUCK to all participants this year and thank you for supporting the St. Teresa of Calcutta CAKE WALK!

Attendance and Vacations

519-624-7115

If you are going to be away please call the attendance line. This lets us know your child is absent with your approval. We call every child who is absent in the morning and by calling the attendance line (open 24 hours) we will know your child is safe. If you are going to be away for 15 or more consecutive school days please fill out an Intent to be Absent form, they are available at the office.

* Please remember should a teacher be away for the day, prior knowledge of an absence may not make it to the office and a call may still go home.

Term One

Report Cards On Thursday, February 16th, term one

report cards will go home for students in Grades 1 through Grade 8 and the new Communication of Learning for our Kindergarten students. Please remember to send back the cut off portion of the report signed by the parent and/or guardian, as well as the report card envelope.

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences will

NOT be scheduled for this term for students in grades 1-8. If you wish to speak to your child’s teacher about the term one report card, please contact the teacher to schedule a conference.

Monday

February 20,

2017

Paint a Bright Future with Us! The Waterloo Catholic District School Board is

pleased to offer a fee based Extended Day Program for children from JK to grade 6.

We…. Provide before and after-school learning for children in

Grades JK to 6 with a Full/Part-time recurring

schedule

Are available from as early as 7:00 a.m. to as late as

6:00 p.m.

Incorporate the same play-based, inquiry and

exploration approach taken in the regular school

day.

Offer parents a convenient school location and a safe

and healthy environment for young children with no

wait lists

Are run by knowledgeable Early Childhood Educators

Allow for consistency and security for parents and

children

Are available for an affordable fee offering a variety of

payment methods including most major credit cards

Are eligible for Region of Waterloo child care subsidy

To register visit www.wcdsb.ca

Extended Day Programs will operate only at sites with

sufficient parent demand

Program location will be announced by

May 2017

Pancake Day – Tuesday

February 28th /2017

Blessed Mother Teresa School will be

providing to each student two (2) delicious

pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, February 28,

2017, as a snack. We are asking each

student to provide a $2.00 donation to help

cover the cost of this “delicious” school

council initiative.

Thank you

from your

school council

“pancake

team”!

Dear Kindergarten, Primary and Junior students

at St. Teresa of Calcutta School,

Just to let you know how much Benji and I

enjoyed our visits to your classes. Thank you all

for being so patient with Benji and his learning

how to behave in class. Also, thank you so

much for all your very generous donations. All

the food, treats and toys, etc are really

appreciated by the shelter animals.

Thank you,

Chris and Benji

Cambridge &

District

Humane Society

Love begins at home,

and it is not how

much we do … but

how much love we

put in that action. -St. Teresa of Calcutta

All students must use the

crosswalk to cross Saginaw

Parkway with the assistance of our

Crossing Guard, Tammy. Please

join us in showing our appreciation

to Tammy with helping us keep our

students safe!

FitBit Article February 2017 - Water Does Wonders!

Water is the natural choice for kids to stay hydrated and healthy. Our community is looking for ways to help children and families choose water and healthy beverages more often.

Water contains no sugar, calories, caffeine, or added ingredients like preservatives. It’s the natural, healthy, and cost-free beverage choice.

Drinks that contain added sugar are not a healthy choice – especially when these drinks start to replace the nutritious drinks and foods that growing children need. These types of drinks add extra sugar and calories to kids’ diets.

Sugar-sweetened drinks are the single largest source of sugar in kids' diets and have been shown to contribute to obesity. Too much sugar also increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay (cavities).

What about juice and other beverages?

Children don’t need juice, offer whole fruit instead. While 100% fruit juice contains some nutrients, it also has a lot of naturally-occurring sugar and calories. A piece of fruit or vegetable is a healthier choice as it contains important nutrients and fibre, and will leave kids feeling more satisfied. 100% fruit juice (no sugar added) should be an occasional treat.

After two years of age, children can include unflavoured skim, 1% or 2% milk as part of their daily fluid intake and as a source of calcium and vitamin D. If a child cannot drink milk, fortified, unsweetened soy beverage is a good option.

Take the pledge to promote water for your family at www.waterdoeswonders.ca! Schools, workplaces and community groups can take the pledge for organizations, and help to share the Water Does Wonders! message across our community and

through social media networks.

Waterloo Region is one of 45 communities across Ontario taking part in the Healthy Kids Community Challenge (HKCC). The HKCC unites communities with a common goal of pro-moting children’s health through physical activity and healthy eating. The current theme is Water Does Wonders! The HKCC will be encouraging children and families to choose water to satisfy their thirst instead of sugar-sweetened beverages; in schools, through local media, at community events, and across the region.

JK Classroom Visits

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE’S & FAMILY DAY

FEBRUARY 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3

4

5 6 7

Timberwolf

Tuesday!

8

9

Kindergarten

Registration

Day!

10

11

12 13

14

Cake Walk

Wear St. Valentine’s Colours Today!

15

16

Report Cards Sent Home

1st Communion Parent Mtg

7:00 pm @ St. Patricks

17

18

19 20

No School

Family Day

21

Timberwolf

Tuesday!

22

23

24

25

26 27 28

Mardi Gras

Pancake Day

Timberwolf

Tuesday!

March 1st