Chair’s Message...

The Catholic School Advisory Council hopes everyone is settling into the school routine - we’re pleased with the successful start to the 2009/2010 academic year.

Congratulations to the Fundraising Committee organizers- Laurie Taller and volunteers, parents, families and friends who made this year’s kick-off fundraising campaign a huge success. The funds raised by the magazine subscription campaign will go a long way toward enhancing our students’ experience at OLS through various programs. Thank you to Linda Martino & Rosa Rotstein for organiz-ing pizza lunch this year. Pizza lunch generates considerable revenues for the school every year thanks to the efforts of these committee members and parent volunteers.

Thanks goes also to our Parish Liaison, Eva Marie Moffat, who or-ganized the Thanksgiving Food Drive. It was a larger responsibility this year as food was collected at our school as well as at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Volunteers to help with the upcoming Christmas Toy Drive would be gratefully appreciated.

The budget was the focus of the October CSAC meeting. We are in a healthy position for this year, with generous funds carried over from last year. Our treasurer, Ruthann Symons, is thanked for her outstanding work coordinating the budget. Ms. Cosentino has joined CSAC as the teacher representative. We are excited to have her and encourage the teachers of OLS to use her as their voice at CSAC meetings. The October meeting minutes can be reviewed on the CSAC portion of the school website.

The parent class representative lists are ready and those who have signed up will begin receiving information electronically. Thanks to all who have volunteered to be class reps, but especially to Diane Rugosi for taking on the time-consuming task of compiling the lists.

Remember that the agenda for the next CSAC meeting will also be posted online. Items for the agenda can be e-mailed or dropped into the CSAC mailbox in the school office by Monday, November 16th at 8:30am. The agenda will then be posted on the CSAC portion of the school website; thanks to Ms. Tino for regularly updating the CSAC link on the school website.

There are a number of events that non-OLS organizations have asked our CSAC to share with you.

1. CPIC/TAPCE conference on Nov. 14th entitled “Partnering With Parents”

2. Subscribe to E-News from the Toronto Catholic District School Board at www.tcdsb.org

3. Author Alma Fullerton speaks to St. Elizabeth CSAC on Nov. 10th at 7pm

(E-mail CSAC if you would like clarification.)

Keeping you informed is our mandate. Your CSAC can be reached by leaving a message at 416 397-6800 ext. 88246 or email us at csac.ourladyofsorrows@tcdsb.com . Keep current with news of OLS through our monthly newsletter and visit our website at http://www.tcdsb.org/ourladyofsorrows/ .

We strive to communicate to all parents and raise issues that are important to you. A reminder that if you want to propose ideas or wish to become more involved you can attend upcoming meetings. The January meeting date has been moved from January 13th to January 21st.

-Other Meeting Dates in 2009: November 18 2010: January 21, February 24, April 14, May 12 and June 16.

We welcome all of your ideas, and hope to build on the enthusiasm and dedication that we have seen so far.

Proudly serving our school community,

Joe Orazem, Chair 2009-2010

Our Lady Of Sorrows Catholic Our Lady Of Sorrows Catholic Our Lady Of Sorrows Catholic Our Lady Of Sorrows Catholic

School Advisory CouncilSchool Advisory CouncilSchool Advisory CouncilSchool Advisory Council

(CSAC) Newsletter 32 Montgomery Road, Etobicoke, ON M8X 1Z4

Telephone: 416Telephone: 416Telephone: 416Telephone: 416----393393393393----5246 Fax: 4165246 Fax: 4165246 Fax: 4165246 Fax: 416----393393393393----5031503150315031

November 2009 OLS

Chair Joe Orazem

Vice Chair Michael Perry, Hilary Freitas

Secretary Claudia Lehecka

Treasurer Ruthann Symons

Communications Angela Del Vecchio

Enrichment Julie Tricarico, Kathy McKeon

Fundraising Laurie Taller

Property Management Mary Fantilli, Tonya Zakaria

Community Giving Rosanne Carcasole

Safe Arrival Lori Kerrigan

Lunch Duty Audrey Natale

Parish Liaison Eva Marie Moffat, Kathy McKeon

Social Andrea Flug, Monica Marchand

Pizza Lunch Rosa Rotstein, Linda Martino

Pasta Dinner Kathy McKeon

Swim team Jane Taylor Roper, Joanna Bak

Literary - In Their Own Write Anna Strever

Meagan's Walk Eva- Marie Moffat, Stephanie O’Brien

Members-at-large Julie Tricarico, Noreen Reid, Aoife Humphreys

Parent Class Rep Coordinator Diane Rugosi

Community Representative Open

Bingo Night Open

CSAC Members 2009-2010

Treasurer’s Report

Thank you very much to the parents at OLS who have participated in this year's (and past) fundraising activities! Your purchases of pizza/snacks,

magazines and your participation in fun fair make a HUGE impact on the activities your children will enjoy. Your children will receive in-class

science programs, enrichment activities; have musical instruments that work and so much more. Our teachers will have funds to enhance the

classroom experience and important school milestones (Graduation and Sacraments) will be properly celebrated. The OLS yard duty teachers and

the office will have immediate communication through the purchase of Walkie-talkies, and our children will have more equipment to play with at

recesses. Building on last year's investment with playground painting you can look forward to seeing additional playground painting this year.

Please take time to review this year's 2009-2010 Approved Budget. If you have any comments please contact me directly at

ruthannsymons@rogers.com.

Budget Line

2009-10

Approved

Budget

Brief Description

Opening Bank Balance $35,499

Total Income/Sources of Revenues $42,227

Pizza $20,000 Revenues from the sale of Pizza/Snacks

Magazines $20,000 Revenues from the sale of Magazines (QSP)

GST Refund $1,629 Government refund of 50% of the GST paid over last year

Donation JK/SK Classes $535 A Family Donation to the JK/SK classes

Samko $63 Please submit your receipts from Samko Sale to OLS

Total Operating Expenses $42,585 Enhancement

Teacher Funding $10,000 A budget of $250/Teacher

Science Programs $10,000 “Scientists” come to every classroom to demonstrate a science concept in a fun and

entertaining manner. Complements curriculum. 2/class/year

Enrichment $6,000 Additional activities to complement the school curriculum. (These are non-science programs

such as Drama, Art etc.)

ME Funding $1,700 Accrual of previous donation to the ME Classes

Musical Instrument Repair $1,500 Covers the annual expense of repairing the musical instruments

Donation to JK/SK class $535 A Family Donation to the JK/SK classes

School Spirit Social /Teacher Appreciation $2,000 Refreshments for CSAC meetings, Welcome Tea, Christmas Concert, Spring

Concert, Grade 8 Graduation, and the Teacher’s Luncheon

Graduation Ceremonies $1,500 Rental and cleaning of Graduation Gowns

Sacraments $1,500 Covers the material cost for sacrament memorial pieces

Principal’s Reward Line $1,000 A Budget for the principal to reward students, classes and teams

Student Subsidy Line $500 Financial help for needy students for trips, in-class programs etc.

Eco School $500 To Support the students Eco initiatives

Volunteer Recognition $50 5 Year Volunteer Awards

Sports

Busing $1,800 Helps cover the busing to interschool events

Swim Team $500 Support for the OLS Swim Team

Library – Literacy

Silver Birch, Red Maple Awards $500 OLS Students vote for books nominated for Silver Birch and Red Maple Awards

Property Management

Landscaping $1,000 Covers expenses incurred planting and maintaining gardens

Communication and Misc

Newsletters, agenda/minutes $1,500 Communication Expenses – moving to electronic distribution

Misc. $250 General Office Expenses

Community

Benevolent and retirement $250 Gifts, Cards, Flowers etc.

Total Capital Expenses - $22,318

Library – Teacher Resource Room $3,000 Provide better access to guided reading material

Healthy Action $2,500 For purchase of outdoor sports equipment, storage bins etc.

Walkie/Talkies for Teachers on yard

duty

$2100 Improved safety with immediate communication between school yard and office

Landscaping- Playground painting $1,000 Additional playground painting (building on CSAC’s playground painting last year)

Parish Liaison $1,000 Catholic oriented decoration for school

Unallocated Cash $12,218 End year balance over $10,000 to be directed towards capital expenditures.

Less Committed Expenses $2,823 Cheques not cleared, outstanding expenses

Year End Balance $10,000 Targeted Year End Balance is $10,000

QSP MAGAZINE FUNDRAISER

UPDATE

Thank you to all the students and families of OLS for

contributing to our most successful magazine fund-

raiser ever. We sold over $63,000 in magazine sub-

scriptions and raised over $20,000 for our school.

Our top seller sold 65 subscriptions! This is an OLS

record.

A huge thank you goes to Gillian Dempsey, Eva-

Marie Moffat and Sandra Vendittelli for their time.

UPCOMING CSAC MEETING DATES:

● Nov. 18, 2009 ● Jan. 21, 2010 ** note date changed**Jan. 21, 2010 ** note date changed**Jan. 21, 2010 ** note date changed**Jan. 21, 2010 ** note date changed**

● Feb. 24, 2010 ● Apr. 14, 2010 ● May 12, 2010 ● Jun. 16, 2010

NOVEMBER PIZZA

DAYS NOVEMBER 6th

&

NOVEMBER 20th

VOLUNTEERS ARE STILL NEEDED!

(HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED? )

Check the volunteer list to see your dates..

A message from our Parent Class Rep Coordinator…A message from our Parent Class Rep Coordinator…A message from our Parent Class Rep Coordinator…A message from our Parent Class Rep Coordinator…

Thank you to everyone who has provided their email consent. We have had a fantastic response this year - over 75%! If you haven't provided your email address and would like to receive communications from CSAC by email, please contact Diane at germano@sympatico.ca.

Accept differences

Be Kind

Count your bless-

ings

Dream

Express thanks

Forgive

Give freely

Harm no one

Imagine more

Jettison anger

Keep confidences

Love truly

Master something

Nurture hope

Open your mind

Pack lightly

Quell rumors

Reciprocate

Seek wisdom

Touch hearts

Understand

Value truth

Win graciously

Xeriscape

Yearn for peace

Zealously support a worthy cause

Go ONLINE at http://www.tcdsb.org/ourladyofsorrows for school info & policies

EVA- MARIE

MOFFAT WOULD

LIKE TO EXPRESS

HER GRATITUDE

AND

APPRECIATION TO

EVERYONE FOR

THEIR WONDERFUL

DONATIONS TO

THE GOOD

SHEPHERD FOOD

DRIVE LAST

MONTH.

Thank you everyone!

The

A B C’s

of

life

Advent Tree for Grades K-3

In keeping with an OLS tradition, this December we’re requesting that the families of children from Kindergarten to Grade 3 bring in donations to hang on our Advent tree (formerly “the Mitten Tree.”) Catholic Children’s Aid has requested the following items be donated to make Christmas a little brighter for the children who need their services…(1) socks (sizes: newborn to teen); (2) younger children’s puzzles (wooden or less than 100 pieces); (3) McDonald’s gift certificates. Parents can bring in donations during parent/teacher interviews and hang them on the tree in the front lobby, or students can bring them in from Dec 1st until Dec 14th.

Take Back the Net Presentation

On Tuesday November 17 at 7pm Microsoft will

be at the school to give a Take Back the Net

presentation to all interested parents and staff.

The “Take Back the Net” presentation is designed

to educate parents/guardians and educators

around online safety. Microsoft will address how children are using the

internet, internet and privacy and ways to protect children and parents

while using the internet. The topic of cyber bullying will also be covered.

All interested parents are requested to RSVP by no later than

Thursday November 5th to csac.ourladyofsorrows@tcdsb.org.

November 2009 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 Halloween Candy

donations accepted in the school office until Nov. 10th...

3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13

P.A. DAY

14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26

27 28

Church Toy Drive Collection today

29

Church Toy drive Collection Today

30

Grades 4,5 & 6; School Toy drive Collection begins..

To

Christmas Toy Drive It is that time of year to look into our hearts for those less fortunate and donate to our annual Christmas Toy Drive. We are asking for New, Unwrapped toys for children 0-16. Please pay particular attention, if possible, to the teenage children. Gift cards are also welcome.

The Toy Drive at the Church will be at the weekend masses on November 28th and 29th.EVERYONE is invited to participate.

Students in Grades 4, 5 & 6 are welcome to participate in the Toy Drive at the School from November 30th to December 11th.

We have also arranged for ALL GRADES to participate in the Samko & Miko Toy Warehouse fundraising program for the following dates: November 25th-29th and December 2nd-6th. For anyone who chooses to shop at the Samko store, on these dates, please have your receipt stamped by the cashier (provide group name of Our Lady of Sorrows School and please collect and stamp your receipts) We will be collecting the original, stamped receipts. More information will be provided before we start the Toy Drive.

Volunteers would be greatly appreciated. If you are able to volunteer, please contact Eva-Marie Moffat at 416-239-0259 or at moffats@sympatico.ca. Thank you.

…SCHOOL TOY DRIVE COLLECTION CONTINUES TO DECEMBER 11, 2009

SAMKO FUNDRAISER** BUY TOYS AT SAMKO AND GET YOUR

RECEIPT STAMPED FOR OLS!!! ** Until Nov. 29TH (all Grades)

CSAC

MEETING 7:00 PM

SCHOOL LIBRARY

Putting Halloween treats to great use… Let’s get our kids to think about the hungry children in the world…From November 2nd to 10th, Our Lady of Sorrows School will again be participating in donating extra Halloween treats to third world countries. The treats help stimulate the appetite of malnourished kids which will in turn encourage them to eat healthy food. Students can bring in candy, chips and other treats to donate, or parents can drop off bags of treats in the school office. They will be sent to third world countries via Dr. Simone’s Canadian Food for Children organization.

Microsoft ‘TAKE

BACK THE NET’

Presentation

AT OLS 7:00PM