January, 2016

St. Cecilia C.S. School News

Principal’s Message

Dear Parents,

Welcome back and Happy 2016 to you and your families. We trust that you had an

opportunity to share the holiness of this season with your family.

We would like to thank all of the parents who attended our 2015 Christmas Concerts.

The children look so forward to presenting for you and you were such a great

audience. Together we can continue to build an appreciation of the Arts in all of our

students.

I would like to remind you that at the start of the school year we asked all of our

students to set academic, athletic and artistic goals. Continue to remind them about the

goals they have set and rest assured that we will assist our students, your children, to

attain the set goals. Regular discussion imparts the powerful message that you are

involved actively in their overall education. Together we are their guides because it

really does take the whole community to raise a child.

The harshness of winter also reminds us that children need to be well equipped with

the essentials for outdoor activities. A good heavy coat, gloves and hats will certainly

make the winter most enjoyable.

We strive to keep your children safe so please continue to support us in enforcing our

‘helping hands’ policy, which reminds the students to use hands only for doing good

and as such, helping one another. During this month of January, we celebrate the

virtue of ‘Courage’. Invite them to discuss ways in which they can demonstrate

courage in their daily lives and how this virtue applies to our ‘helping hands’ policy.

Many of our teachers created blogs so please take the time to ask your child’s teacher

about this tech initiative. We continue to promote the establishment of clear learning

goals; the co-creation of success criteria across the curriculum and the use of relevant,

descriptive feedback so that our students will know what they need to do in order to

achieve Excellence in all curricular and extra-curricular areas.

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to working with you in the

educational development of your child during this special year dedicated to The

Family.

Nick P. Biagini,

Principal

St. Cecilia

Catholic School

355 Annette Street Toronto, Ontario, M6P 1R3

Phone# (416) 393-5218

Fax # (416) 397-6045

Principal: Nick Biagini Vice-Principal: Victoria Purri Superintendent: Dr. Jim Saraco (416) 222-8282 x5371 Trustee: Barb Poplowski (416) 512-3410

Parish: St. Cecilia C.S. 161 Annette St. (416) 769-8163 CSPC Chairs: Marisa Cicero

Olga Geryluk

CPIC (Parent Engagement--TCDSB) www.tcdsb.org/cpic OAPCE Toronto (Provincial Voice for Parents) www.tcdsb.org/oapce-toronto Enrollment: 654 Hours of Operation: 8:30am -3:00pm Lunch Hour: 11:15am -12:15pm _______________________________

NEW REGISTRANTS WELCOME: Call 416-393-5218 or the TCDSB Admissions Department at

416-222-8282, ext. 2383.

For general information about the Toronto Catholic District

School Board, please visit the website at www.tcdsb.org.

Stay in touch with the latest news throughout the school year:

Follow @TCDSB on Twitter

School Hours 8:30 a.m. Morning Entry 9:55 – 10:10 Morning Recess

11:15 -12:15 Lunch

1:25 - 1:40 Afternoon Recess 3:00 p.m. Dismissal

School Masses & Celebrations

2015-16

Friday, January 15 Mass: Courage

Wednesday, February 10 Ash Wednesday Mass

Wednesday, March 9 Lenten Confession

Thursday, March 31 Easter Mass

Friday, April 15 Confirmation

Tuesday, April 19 Mass: New Life

Friday, April 22 First Reconciliation

Saturday April 23 First Holy Communion

Friday, May 13 Marian Mass

Monday, June 27 Graduation Mass

Tuesday, June 28 Mass: End of Year

God our strength

With you by our side, we can do anything.

With you at our side, we can go anywhere.

Thank you, God, for giving us the gift of courage. Amen

Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016

The Corporal Works of Mercy

1. Feed the hungry

2. Give drink to the thirsty

3. Clothe the naked

4. Shelter the homeless.

5. Visit those in prison

6. Comfort the sick.

7. Bury the dead – through prayers or presence, comfort those who mourn

The Spiritual Works of Mercy

1. Admonish sinners – do not judge, but support others to correct their mistakes

2. Forgive offenses – letting go

3. Counsel the doubtful – accompany a friend who is on a faith journey

4. Comfort the sorrowful – lend a shoulder for someone to lean on

5.Bear wrongs patiently – take a deep breath

6. Instruct the uninformed – know your faith and be open to share with others

7. Pray for the living and the dead – prayer is one of the most powerful ways we

can support one another

ST. CECILIA CHURCH NEWS

On Sunday, January 17th after the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00

a.m. Masses: Pizza Sunday!

Maria's famously delicious pizza is available for purchase

either by the slice or whole, to eat in or take out!

All funds go to our restoration fund!

St. Cecilia Kinders Sing for CBC Competition

The CBC hosted "Canada's Greatest Music Classroom" a competition for all classrooms across Canada. Music classes were to choose a song from a list given, and our St. Cecilia Kinders performed "If I Had a Million Dollars," a Canadian classic. Our submission unfortunately did not win, however we did receive an email back from CBC telling us we had won the "cutest and youngest submission award!" They also gave our submission a shout out on both their Twitter and Facebook page! Gooooo Tigers!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpFZ7Zfk2Fo&list=PLxuaaONzLc3eSXeX7737kT9b-3Sg5A7Qx&index=57

Kindergarten Registration Starts January 13, 2016

Registration options:

Online: Parents will be able to complete their

application online beginning at 10 a.m. EST on January

13, 2016, at SOAR.tcdsb.org, and follow up with a

visit to the school to present the required documents.

The online application is available 24 hours.

In Person: Parents can register at their local school

beginning January 13, 2016 at 10 a.m. EST.

St. Cecilia Parent Advisory Committee

CSPC

Happy New Year and welcome back to school! We hope you had a lovely, restorative break.

After the bustle of Christmas, January is a great time to slow down, catch up and to give thanks. We are doing the same thing at CSPC this month!

Pizza/Booster Juice Ordering - It's that time again! Stay tuned for more info about how to sign up for Term #2 Friday lunches - registration will open soon on Munchalunch.

Our Outdoor Space - Lots of people are busily organizing plans for many improvements to our outdoor spaces that will unfold over the coming months: benches; playground repairs & additions and landscaping/beautification. We will provide more details as plans get firmed up and sincerely thank everyone for their help.

Project Hope - Thank you to everyone who donated and is helping to get things organized for the arrival of the refugee family that our school is supporting in conjunction with the Arch Diocese. We don't yet have an arrival date, but will keep the community posted as we know more.

Santa Pics - These were a hit! Thank you to all the parents and students who helped out and to Butcher by Nature for catering the delicious lunch for volunteers. The event raised $1,139.40 for CSPC/the school and $379.80 each for our designated charities: SickKids Foundation and Project Hope. When we submitted the donation to SickKids Foundation, a corporate donor was matching all donations so our donation amount actually became $759.60. Great news!!!

The generosity of our school community never ceases to amaze us. Thank you!

How can I help / stay informed? Become a Pizza Lunch Volunteer-if you can volunteer to help at any of our Friday pizza days, please let Tara know at tarae.ritchie@gmail.com “Like” us on Facebook www.facebook.com/stceciliaparents Bookmark the blog at http://stceciliaparentcouncil.weebly.com/ Join us at our next parent council meeting on January 12th @ 7pm. Please let us know if we can be of any help.

Olga and Marisa CSPC Co Chairs csac.stcecilia@tcdsb.org

Mme Choquette and Mme DaSilva’s ELP Class

enjoy Christmas Concert, Cookie Extravaganza and

Movie/PJ Day!

St. CeCilia’S Art Gallery

(photo credit: Mr. Pinnington)

Junior Choir

Four Seasons Centre

Queen’s Park

Richard Bradshaw Ampitheatre

Grand Staircase

Busy Month in St. Cecilia Music Department!

The St. Cecilia choirs were busily singing angelically all throughout December. Both choirs performed at the St. Cecilia Advent Concert as well as the St. Paul of the Apostle Annual Christmas Concert. The Junior Choir joined by the grade three choir members sang at the First Friday Advent Mass at the CEC. The Junior Choir had the opportunity to Carol on the Grand Staircase at Queen's Park Legislative Assembly, as well as go for a tour backstage at the Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts. And finally the Junior Choir recorded three Christmas Carols for Rogers Television, Channel 11, for their TCDSB Celebration of Christmas.

Winter Weather

Please ensure that your child comes to school prepared for

the cold, winter conditions. Unless it is raining or the

temperature falls below 20 degrees Celsius, we will go

outside for recess.

Winter coats, hats, mittens, snow boots and snow pants will

protect your children from the cold weather and keep them

warm and dry.

Math Club Place Value Practice: Looking at numbers in media - For example: Prices of items in a flyer from a store. Students and their parents can practise identifying different place values: 10's, 100's, 1000's, 10,000's, 100,000's Estimating and rounding: Building on the above: Using rounding students can estimate the cost of items, by rounding to the nearest ten, hundred, thousand, or ten thousand. If possible, provide your child with a hypothetical budget. Students can then estimate the cost of items and then calculate the actual cost and compare.

Practising: Borrowing and carrying numbers. This can be done in conjunction with the above activities, or just through practice problems. For example: $365 - $88

Practising times tables: Grades 1 and 2: Up to 5 Grades 3 and 4: Up to 7, Grades 5 and 6: Up to 12

(Mr. Tucci)

PARKING PROBLEMS

Our staff and teachers at St. Cecilia continuously experience difficulty obtaining a parking

spot, especially in the morning in our school parking lot. Please do not use the staff parking

lot between 8:00am—3:30pm.

Please encourage children NOT to walk through the parking lot as it is difficult to keep small

children in sight lines.

Parents wanting to drop-off or pick-up their children, must do so on Evelyn Avenue. Keep in

mind that the area in front of the school is a bus-loading zone, please do NOT park in the bus

loading zone – PICK-UP OR DROP-OFF only please! Unauthorized vehicles will be

TAGGED AND/OR TOWED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE.

Please do not block the parked vehicles or the north fence, this is a fire hazard. Please note

that there is extra parking on Evelyn Avenue, north of Annette Street and your children can

cross safely with our crossing guard.

Guidance Corner Setting Goals

During this time of new beginnings, I hope that we remember to take the

opportunity to evaluate goals that we have set for ourselves. This would be a good time to review the six Learning Skills and Work Habits and think

about ways that we can grow in these areas. We can find the six Learning

Skills and Work Habits on the first page of the report card. They include:

Responsibility, Collaboration, Initiative, Organization, Independent Work

and Self-Regulation.

Skills Ontario Presentations

A representative from Skills Ontario visited our school to speak to the

intermediate students about careers in the skilled trades. Here are some interesting facts about the trades:

1. The skilled trades are not for students with good grades. FALSE – If you

like to work with your hands and are creative, the skilled trades are a good

choice. These careers require people with strong skills in reading and

writing, math and science.

2. University is the only path to a good career. FALSE – Working in the

skilled trades is a great career choice. Canada is experiencing skills

shortages, leading to higher wages and more job opportunities in a large

number of trades

3. Skilled trade work is dirty, noisy and physically demanding. FALSE – Most trades involve “hands-on” work and many tradespeople will tell you that they like to get their hands dirty. But for many, this type of work is far more rewarding than any desk job could be.

4. Jobs in the trades are dead-end jobs. FALSE – Apprenticeship is only the first step to a career in the trades. Once certified you can expect opportunities to advance to supervisory roles, management or even open your own business. The possibilities are endless.

5. The skilled trades are not for students with good grades. FALSE – Skilled trades require dexterity, stamina, good hand-eye coordination and balance—not just physical strength. Women make excellent tradespeople.

6. People who work in the skilled trades do not get paid well. FALSE – Average salary for skilled trade workers is $10,000 higher than the average Canadian salary.

Visit http://www.skillsontario.com/ for more information.

Angela Gauthier, Director of Education

Primary Soccer

Both boys and girls primary soccer teams won the championship at their respective tournaments. The students played with great spirit and sportsmanship, and represented Saint Cecilia very well, and we know that they will continue to enhance their soccer skills as they continue to play together over the next few years. Coaches Nash and Caverhill are proud of the all-star teams that represented the school, and the entire squad of boys and girls soccer players who participated in the intramural round robin throughout the month of November. Thanks to all the players, and keep practising! Thank you to all of the parents that came out to support the team. (Mr. Caverhill and Mme Nash)

(photo credit: Mrs. Berger)

TCDSB Monthly Update

January 2016

Cold Alerts and

Weather-Related Cancellations/Closures With the approach of winter weather, Twitter and the board website

are the best sources of the latest information relating to cold

weather alerts, cancellations and closures. Get all the information

here:

https://www.tcdsb.org/FORSTUDENTS/HealthandSafety/Pages/W

eather-Related-Safety-Concerns.aspx

And remember to check the Toronto Student Transportation Group

website for any school bus delays throughout the year.

http://www.torontoschoolbus.org/

Kindergarten Registration Starts January 13, 2016 Registration options:

Online: Parents will be able to complete their application

online beginning at 10 a.m. EST on January 13, 2016, at

SOAR.tcdsb.org, and follow up with a visit to the school

to present the required documents. The online application

is available 24 hours.

In Person: Parents can register at their local school with

the required documents beginning January 13, 2016 at 10

a.m. EST. To accommodate the busy schedules of

parents, all elementary schools will host an evening

registration session during the month of January. Parents

are asked to contact their local Catholic school for

specific dates and times.

Details:

https://www.tcdsb.org/ProgramsServices/EarlyYears/Kindergarten

Registration/Pages/default.aspx

French Immersion and Extended French New for September 2016, French Immersion begins in Junior

Kindergarten

Information evenings are being held in January and February. Visit

our website for specific dates, times and locations.

https://www.tcdsb.org/news/othernews/2015/pages/French-

Immersion-and-Extended-French.aspx

Revised MYSP Consultation Coming

January/February 2016 The Board is committed to revising its Multi-Year Strategic Plan in order to be responsive to the changing needs of our system. The TCDSB is committed to authentic broad-based consultation in order to reflect the input from all stakeholders. The consultation will take place during January/February 2016. Details can be found online here: https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/MYSP/Pages/2016-MYSP-Consultation.aspx

Reminder About Application Deadlines for Post-

Secondary Studies

January 16, 2016--Deadline to submit your completed University

application to the OUAC. http://www.ouac.on.ca/deadlines/

February 1, 2016—Application deadline for community colleges

http://www.ontariocolleges.ca/apply

Audited Financial Statements https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/BudgetandFinance/Documents/2015-

08-

31Toronto%20Catholic%20District%20Sch%20Brd%2018413%20

AUD%20Cons.pdf Tentative Schedule of Board and

Committee Meetings The draft calendar of meetings for 2016 has been approved by the board.

Please note that meetings are subject to change. Visit the website

periodically to check on meeting dates and times.

https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/TrusteesoftheBoard/boar

dmeeting/information/Pages/Meeting-Schedule.aspx

New App Helps to Link Adults with the English and

French Language Programs They Need The Toronto Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce

the launch of a new app which allows adults to easily access the

courses they need to succeed. The app can be accessed through the

board’s website at https://adultedcoursefinder.tcdsb.org/. (Please

note the app is optimized for current versions of Firefox, Chrome,

Safari, Android and iPhones, and Internet Explorer 10 and above

with compatibility turned off.

The new app allows the user to quickly pinpoint programs based on

their preferred location, day and time of day they are available to

study, and the type of program they are seeking.

Upcoming Events

Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy

(December 8-November 20, 2016)

https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/NurturingOurCatholic

Community/ExtraordinaryJubileeYearOfMercy/Pag

es/default.aspx

Eastern Rite Christmas January 7th

Family Literacy Day January 27th

PA Day for Elementary Schools January 22nd

February is Black/African Canadian Heritage

Month Toronto Catholic Family Film Festival April 21st--

https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/NurturingOurCatholicCommunity/Year-of-

Family/TCFF/Pages/Default.aspx

Visit the TCDSB Website www.tcdsb.org to get all the news and

information from around the board, including athletics, news for

parents and students.

Follow the board on Twitter @TCDSB to get updates as they happen.

Or subscribe to Enews and receive regular email updates.

https://web1.tcdsb.org/InterestSubscription/subscription.aspx

ECO- TEAM WATER BOTTLE SALE

The EcoTeam is selling Klean Kanteen water bottles to celebrate the school's new water bottle re-fill

station and to support greening initiatives at St. Cecilia.

There are 2 styles to choose from; 20oz regular and 12oz insulated. Both styles are printed with the

St. Cecilia Tiger logo.

For further details and to order you bottle visit the fundraising tab of the pizza lunch ordering site:

http://www.munchaluncha.com/schools/st.Cecilia

Thank you for your support!