2015

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Important Contact Numbers

Nativity of Our Lord School Phone: (416) 393-5288 Fax: (416) 393-5051 Nativity of Our Lord Church Fr. Michael Machacek (416) 621-2732 Mr. D. Yack (Superintendent) Ms. A. Andrachuk (Trustee) Ward 2 Public Health Dept. (416) 338-7600 Dental Health Dept. 311 Elmbrook Public Library (416) 394-5290

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER February Virtue Dear Parents/Guardians:

During the month of February we celebrate the Virtue of Love. Love is what God gave us and continues to give us, through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. It is through Jesus that God calls us to exemplify this virtue within ourselves, with one another and the world. "I believe in person to per-son. Every person is Christ for me, and since there is only one Jesus, that person is the one person in the world at that moment” (Mother Teresa). Mother Teresa is tell-ing us that each and every one of us has Christ inside us. Jesus reveals Himself through us in our everyday lives. And it is through our relationship with Him, and among ourselves that the Holy Spirit is able to pour out God's infinite love for human-ity and the world. The Virtue of Love presents itself in many ways at our school from the daily teaching that goes on in every classroom to the different initiatives and events that take place throughout the year. This is testament to the commitment of our entire school community. During these past couple months many exciting and educational events have taken place at Nativity of Our Lord School. Just to name a few – they include: the Advent Family Mass; the ABC Literacy Day; Scientists in the School; Community Safety Meeting; Shrove Tuesday; Ash Wednesday Mass; the Resilience Workshop; and Junior W5H Competition. As a community of faith, we are called to make a difference for others. Each day, sometimes noticeable and some-times not so evident, a difference for others is being made by all the members of our faith community. The students, the school staff, CSAC, parent volunteers, and Fa-ther Michael have made a difference for the children of Nativity of Our Lord School. I thank and commend everyone for all their efforts, partnership and continued commit-ment to Nativity of Our Lord School community. Sincerely, Michael Femia, Principal

Monday, February 16—Family Day Family Day is observed in the Canadian prov-inces of Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan on the third Monday of February. This holiday cel-ebrates the importance of families and family life to people and their communities. Enjoy your time with those you love most! NO SCHOOL ON FAMILY DAY!

Toronto Catholic District

School Board Trustees

2014—2015 Wards

1 Joseph Martino 416 512-3401

2 Ann Andrachuk 416 512-3402

3 Sal Piccininni 416 512-3403

4 Patrizia Bottoni 416 512-3404

5 Maria Rizzo 416 512-3405

6 Frank D’Amico 416 512-3406

7 Michael DelGrande,

Chair 416 512-3407

8 Garry Tanuan 416 512-3408

9 Jo-Ann Davis 416 512-3409

10 Barbara Poplawski 416 512-3410

11 Angela Kennedy 416 512-3411

12 Nancy Crawford,

Vice-Chair 416 512-3412

Christopher MacDonald,

Student Trustee 416 512-3417

Hannah McGroarty

Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School

35 Saffron Crescent Etobicoke, Ontario M9C 3T8

Telephone: (416) 393-5288 Fax: (416) 393-5053

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Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario Schools Beginning September 2010, the Ontario Ministry of Education has implemented new policy regulations for Assessment Evaluation and Reporting in all provincial schools. The complete government document, Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting in Ontario Schools, First Edition, Covering Grades 1 to 12, 2010 may be found at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/growSuccess.pdf. The reporting schedule for the 2014 – 2015 school year will be as follows:

The Provincial Progress Report Card is used to inform and to monitor students’ progress towards achieving the overall and specific expectations so that timely, specific and descriptive feedback can be provided in response to student needs. The First Provincial Report Card, will reflect the student’s achievement of curriculum expectations introduced and developed from September to January/February of the school year, as well as the student’s development of the Learning Skills and Work Habits during that period. The Second Provincial Report Card will reflect the student’s achievement of the curriculum expectations intro-duced or further developed from January/February to June of the school year as well as the student’s development of Learning Skills and Work Habits during that period. Although there are only three formal reporting periods, communications with parents and students about achievement is a continuous process that occurs throughout the whole of the school year. Please feel free to con-tact us at any time to request a meeting to discuss your child’s progress.

Elementary Schools Parent/Teacher Conference Date

Progress Report Card November 13th (evening) & 14th, (morning) 2014

First Provincial Report Card February 12th (evening) & 13th (morning) 2015

Second Provincial Report Card Report sent home near the end of June

Outdoor Education Field Trip On Wednesday, February 25th, students in grades 4 to 8 will be going to Pioneer Outdoor Education Cen-tre in Port Sydney, Ontario. The focus will be on physical activity based learning. The activities in-clude: a cross-country ski lesson that is designed for beginners (grades 6 to 8), Quinzee building (snow forts/shelters) (grades 4 to 5), tubing and toboggan-ing activities (all students will be provided with a hel-met to wear) and broom ball (similar to ice hockey, but using less equipment). This will be a great oppor-tunity for students and staff to get outdoors, be active and gain knowledge about the natural environment and wetlands.

SCHOOL SAFETY: Parking Lot and School Bus

Boarding Area

Vehicle congestion and traffic is significant in the school

and church parking lot at the start and end of the school

day. For the safety of the children, parents/caregivers

are reminded that they are to drop off and pick up their

children within the fenced school yard area (in the

school yard) at the start and at the end of the school

day. Children are NOT permitted to cross the school or

church parking lot, or bus boarding area to meet their

parents in their vehicles or outside the church parking

lot. This will help alleviate any confusion and allow us to

keep your children safe. Thank you for your under-

standing, support and cooperation.

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Kindergarten Registration for September 2015 September, 2015 will begin Year 5 of the Full-Day Learning Program at Nativity. Registration for Full Day Learning begins on January 8th, 2015. Ex-tended Registration Hours took place on Wednes-day, January 21st, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Parents who wish to register a child for Junior Kindergarten or who would be new to our Senior Kindergarten program, are invited to go online to www.soar.tcdsb.org to complete the pre-registration package and select an appointment to complete the registration process at the school. Booking appointments on-line can only be done after January 10th, 2015. Please call the school at 416-393-5288 if you require further information. Please ensure you bring the following information with you to register:

Child's Baptismal Certificate in the Catholic Faith

Child's Immunization Record Child’s Health Card Child's passport or immigration documents (if born outside Canada) Proof of Residency (i.e., lease or ownership,

utility bills) (at least 2 proofs) Students must reside within the school

boundaries Rathburn Road to Mill Road/Mill Road to Burhamthorpe Road Burnhamthorpe to The West MallThe West Mall to Faversham

School Activities

February is African Canadian History Month To check out the online resources and information, or to find out what is happening in TCDSB schools to celebrate, visit: http://www.tcdsb.org/forcommunity/heritagecelebration/africancanadianheritage/Pages/default.aspx

Creating a Healthy Balance: Technology Use for Children and Adolescents There are many opinions about the use of technology for children – from the concern about wireless technology to battles at home about too much “screen time”. Needless to say, technology is our new reality. It’s everywhere and kids are becoming savvy at surfing and texting, not

to mention the exercise their thumbs are getting from endless gaming!

To find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of technolo-gy use for children and teens, and some tips for parents, read our TCDSB Psychology Department Newsletter at the TCDSB Psychology Month webpage: http://www.tcdsb.org/ProgramsServices/BoardServices/psychologicalservices/psychologyMonth/Pages/

Psychology%20Month.aspx

FEBRUARY IS PSYCHOLOGY MONTH

Enrolment for September 2015 In order to help inform our student enrolment projec-tions for September 2015, please complete the form provided and indicate if your child will be returning to Nativity of Our Lord School in September 2015.

First Communion The Grade 2 classes have been busy preparing for their First Com-munion in May. The children will be attending a special retreat in the church hall with Father Michael on March 10th.

Nativity of Our Lord Parish News

1) Valentine's Day Dinner Dance Sat. Feb. 14th in the parish hall - tickets are $35 per person and include dinner and dancing. Please call Julius Bueno at 416.621.3624 for more information and tickets 2) Ash Wednesday Feb. 18th mass at 9:30 am (with Nativity school) and 7:00 pm 3) Our 6th annual Youth Ministry Spaghetti/Karaoke evening will be held on Saturday March 7th. A great evening for the whole family - ticket information will be posted in the parish bulletin on Feb. 7/8

Shrove Tuesday Our school will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday on Tuesday, February 17th. The Grade 8 Leadership Team will be sorting and distributing a pancake to each student during the morning.

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December Virtue Stars

Mrs. Stergiou—ELP1 Shamara Andrews and Gabriela Quafalijaj

Ms. Sousa —ELP2 Trevon Weir & Joshua Augustine-Richards

Mrs. Leonetti—SK/Gr.1 Patryk Parczewski

Ms. Nicholas—Gr. 1 Hannah Ebrahem & Jaiden Obra

Mrs.Santelli/Mrs.Perehinets - Gr 1/2 Kaiden Chaulk and Kateri Sumaliling-Dellosa

Ms. O’Toole—Gr.2 Brianna Heim and Jordan Reys

Mrs. Cirinna—Gr.2/3 Justin Pavese

Mrs. Panzeca—Gr.3/4 Elizabeth Giesl-Butler and Chanel McKenzie

Mrs. Morson—Gr.4 Liwia Grzebula, Ryan Maia, and Ami Kamara

Ms. Cavaliere—Gr.4/5 Jean Luc Pavese and Marco Riondino

Mr. Tanguay—Gr.5 FI Connor Linhart and Rachel Da Silva

Mrs. Kleine—Gr.6 FI Sere Otubu, Rayhan Moraldo, and Leanna

Espanillo

Mrs. Hawley—Gr.6/7 Jeneba Kamara

Mrs. Blandi—Gr.7 FI Releigh Giesl-Butler and Bianca Macaluso

Mrs. Muzzatti—Gr.7/8 Efe Iyamu and KM Guino

Ms. Carey—Gr.8 FI Nicole Furtado and Fiona Rivadneira

Mr. Jozwik—Gr.8 Guy D'Mello and Rachel Harper

Mrs. K. Coffey—S.E.

Norman Leite

January Virtue Stars

Mrs. Stergiou—ELP1 Attila Virag and Bianka Hanko

Ms. Sousa —ELP2

Daniel Varkonyi-Nesbitt

Mrs. Leonetti—SK/Gr.1 Jackson Facchin

Ms. Nicholas—Gr. 1

Kylie Biggar & Elias Cuicahua

Mrs. Santelli/Mrs. Perehinets - Gr 1/2 Seraphina Samuel and Andrew Solis-Symmes

Ms. O’Toole—Gr.2

Zen Smith and Daniel Stupar

Mrs. Cirinna—Gr.2/3 Elie Hanna

Mrs. Panzeca—Gr.3/4

Jessica Kalaj and Alexandra Klaudel

Mrs. Morson—Gr.4 Marcel Saad, Braden Warnell, and Lara Pallonji

Ms. Cavaliere—Gr.4/5

Katherin Londono Osorno , Peter Korgol and Rohan George

Mr. Tanguay—Gr.5 FI

Alesio Kacaj and Demelo Mitrovic

Mrs. Kleine—Gr.6 FI Teah Stupar, Gabriel Paez, and Kevin Ebrahem

Mrs. Hawley—Gr.6/7

Miracle Egbon

Mrs. Blandi—Gr.7 FI Madison Ierullo

Mrs. Muzzatti—Gr.7/8 Jozef Gjokay and Jacob Alberi

Ms. Carey—Gr.8 FI

Rhea Fernandes and Valerie Sorokosh

Mr. Jozwik—Gr.8 Xanthe Samuel and Dennis Vijaykumar

Mrs. K. Coffey—S.E.

Thomas Bourke