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St. John XXIII Newsletter June 2015

“Weather” to Layer Although we are all so thrilled that the warmer weather has finally arrived, please be

mindful of your child’s dress. When the weather is especially warm please

remember that our school is not air conditioned and has very few fans, and our

schoolyard has very little shade. Students should be dressed in loose fitting,

breathable clothes, bring a hat and have a refillable water bottle. This will help to

mitigate heat related health issues. Also, make sure your child carries his/her puffers

if they are required. The mornings can still be cool so please send your child in

layers. A friendly reminder that our school uniform is blue bottoms and white tops

therefore all summer clothing should still adhere to our school dress code. If you are

in need of new uniform items please contact the office. Finally, as we approach that

last few weeks, we encourage you to visit our lost and found as all items will be

donated at the end of the school year.

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Parents/Guardians,

It is hard to believe that June is here already. June is a time for reflecting on the school year, saying farewell to those who are leaving our school and planning for September. We can reflect on all the events that made this a great year for all of us. I am so proud of all the accomplishment and successes of our students throughout the year. The students have grown so much over the last year and their love of learning is evident in everything they do.

It has been a busy year. We have been blessed to have had many extra-curricular activities for students as well as events for both parents and students throughout the year. I want to thank the wonderful staff that volunteered their time and talent to offer these enrichment opportunities to our students. I also want to thank and recognized our Catholic Parent School Council for giving of your time, ideas, and expertise to enhance the experiences of our students throughout the year. Finally, I want to thank you to the parents and guardians for your continued support of the school. The active support of parents makes a significant difference in ensuring the safe, positive environment that enhances student learning.

The learning never stops. Please encourage your child to read and keep up with their math skill building over the summer. This will help students to strengthen and maintain the skills they have worked so hard to gain over the past year.

It have been a pleasure serving as your principal over the last 6 months and I look forward to our continued relationship in the coming year. The opportunity to work within this amazing community has been a gift. I wish you all a safe and relaxing summer.

God Bless!

Pershia Nelson Fernanda Pires Principal Vice Principal

ST. JOHN XXIII BUGLE

St. John XXIII

175 Grenoble Drive, Toronto, ON M3C 3E7

416-393-5348 Fax - 416-393-5164

Principal: Ms. P. Nelson

Vice Principal: Ms. F. Pires

Secretary: Ms. L. Freimanis

Superintendent: Mr. J. Shanahan

Trustee: Ms. A. Kennedy

Parish: Saint John XXIII

150 Gateway Blvd, Toronto, ON

M3C 3E2 (416) 429-4000

Parent Council: Mr. P. Lameira – Chair Ms. A. Cann – Co-chair

Ms. A – Palagaras – Treasurer

Ms. R. Malabago - Secretary

Enrolment: 415

Hours of Operation:

8:30 am – 4:00 pm Lunch Hour:

11:45 am – 12:45 pm Dismissal

3:30 pm

PRINCIPALS’ MESSAGE

What do you think of when February rolls around? Most of the world think of chocolates, flowers, and valentines which all have come to symbolize love. What would the month of February be without the celebration of Valentine’s Day? As a TCDSB school we will also be focusing on the virtue of love as expressed in the gospels. The golden rule “Love your neighbor as yourself” is a key tenet of our faith and the message we give all our students. If we all take this message to heart it will make our school and community a better place. We will be engaged in many activities this month which focus on this lesson. February is also African Heritage month. The students at St. John XXIII will be engaged in many events and activities which recognize and celebrate the contributions of those who come from the African Diaspora. We appreciated the ongoing support of the St. John XXIII community as we work in partnership to foster a love of learning in our students. May God Bless! Pershia Nelson Fernanda Pires Principal Vice Principal

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who

loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

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St. John XXIII Newsletter June 2015

Harbourfront Trip

PIZZA lunch

Our Pizza lunch protocols have changed recently, in order to avoid lost funds and confused orders.

Parents are asked to send the required forms (with the teacher and student name) and money to the classroom teacher by the due date. We will no longer accept orders at the school office. We will also not be selling pizza on the day of and thus won’t be ordering extra pizza. Classroom teachers are not able to make change so please ensure that correct change accompanies the forms.

Finally, if students are absent, their orders are forfeit. We will not be providing refunds so please check your calendars before submitting orders.

These new protocols will help to ensure students who have ordered pizza, receive their pizza, will ensure money is not lost or uncounted for, and we don’t end up with wasted, leftover pizza. Thanks for your co-operation.

Math Moment

5 Ways to Support Math over the Summer

Children typically forget some of what they learned during the school year if they don't engage in learning activities over the summer. This is particularly true in math.

1. Note numbers.

Increase your child's awareness of numbers by looking around the house to find examples: the kitchen clock, the calendar, a cereal box, a TV dial, a stamp or inside her shoe. Have him/her write down the numbers he/she sees, or give him/her a number and ask him/her to look around the house for examples of the number.

2. Two, four, six, eight, now it's time to estimate.

Estimation is one way to increase a child's number sense. Before you put a stack of folded towels on a shelf or fill a bowl with peaches, ask your child to estimate how many will fit. Then count afterward to compare the actual number to the estimate.

3. What does a hundred look like?

Suggest that your child start making collections of 100 things - rubber bands, watermelon seeds, pebbles or buttons. You can divide the objects in groups of 10 or 2 or 5 to see how these smaller groups add up to 100 in different ways.

4. Play grocery store math.

The supermarket is an ideal place to use math skills, particularly for older children. Point out that yogurt is $2.59 a six-pack. Ask how much it would cost to buy 3? Your child can round up to $2.60 or $3.00 and figure this out. Talk about how he/she arrived at that number, point out how the estimate differs from the true cost. Or get the latest advertisement announcing sales from the grocery store. Have him/her look at the specials on fruit and determine how to spend $10.00.

5. Measure the distance.

You don't have to leave home for this game, although it's ideal for vacations. Get out a map that indicates the distance in miles between cities. Measure the distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and between Phoenix and San Francisco. Which is greater? How does that compare to the distance between New York City and Chicago?

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St. John XXIII Newsletter June 2015

On Friday, April 25, 2015 Mrs. Ganguly and

Ms. Cooke’s classes went to the Harbourfront

Center in downtown Toronto. At the Harbourfront Center we learned what others

witness in their countries such as changes in

their lifestyle due to war, alcoholism, child

labour and drug abuse. As part of our activity,

we made textile quilts to show our own messages such as poverty, drug abuse, equality,

freedom, etc.

After lunch we went through the

craftsmen’s area to see how glass was blown

and how glass sculptures were made.

We then continued working on our quilts

for a while and then it was time to head back to

school. We went back to school knowing that

things aren’t the same in other countries, with war, violence and worse; we are very fortunate

to live in a free country like Canada.

By Dale Grade 6

Ms. Woo’s Class Goes to the Science

Centre Today we went to the science center, it

was so much fun! First Faye and Anthony

went on a teeter-tauter and showed us

that when they moved closer to the

fulcrum, they were able to be heavier

than Chloe. Next, Bernardo and

Natalia came up and showed us that even

a small person like Natalia could use a

simple machine to carry a tall person like

Bernardo! After that, we used slides and

tubes to get the marble to fall into a

basket within 5 sec to finish.

Megnot-gr. 2 M. Woo

Mrs. Cooke’s Grade 7’s talk about Hope

Even though everyone thinks that Easter is only one day, it’s actually a whole season that ends at the end of May with Pentecost. Lent makes us think of forgiveness. Easter reminds us of Hope.

When life is putting you down

and you’re in need of some hope

look deep inside yourself

And you’ll find a way to cope

When life is putting you down

Don’t allow it so

Change the way you see life

And it will be better, you know?

When life is putting you down

Take the time to pray

Don’t let yourself frown

God will help you see the blessing of the day

By Nigela

Hope is there on big tests.

Hope is there when someone’s sick.

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St. John XXIII Newsletter June 2015

Hope is there when seeking for a light in the deepest

and darkest caves.

Hope is there for people who don’t have homes.

Hope is there for animal’s habitats.

Hope is there when everyone’s gone and you’re the only

one.

Hope is there for everyone, hope to be happy.

Hope is there every time we pray, hoping to be forgiven

or recover.

Hope is there always.

By Francesca

When I’m in need of hope I usually pray or sit down and

think about the situation I am in because I know God is

right by my side and will help me through it. My family

also gives me hope such as believing in me and how I’m

going to achieve many things in the future. When they

have hope

for me I have hope for myself. I can do anything if I just

work hard enough. Whenever I’m in a situation that is

difficult and feel that I’m going to give up, I end up

believing in myself and how I’m going to get through it

and I just do. So my family, friends, God and me

believing in myself gives me hope.

We should always have hope, even in the problems we

have to cope.

No matter how hard it will get, work thought it but don’t

sweat.

God believes in and is always right beside you, but you

have to believe in yourself too.

Hope is truly beautiful, in many situations it’s usually

useful.

I know sometimes hope is difficult to find, but you just

have to look real hard in your mind.

Hope is brought to people in many ways, sometimes you

just need to pray.

Hope is kind of like wishing, but more like believing. So

why have hope? Do you want to give up? Nope.

By Alezah

Writing in Grade 3 This term, the Grade 3’s in Ms. Baldari’s class have been practicing writing paragraphs. This is what they had to say about choosing to walk or to be driven to school.

I like driving to school. I like driving to school because when it’s winter or bad weather, I won’t get cold or wet. If I live far from school I will have to drive. Walking would take FOREVER! Also, if my bag is really heavy I won’t have to carry it all the way. I think I would get tired walking to school. From my car seat window , I could comfortably see everything. I like driving to school and think many other people would agree. By: Christina

I like to walk to school because it is active and gives you a lot of exercise and fresh air. You get to hear the birds chirp and you get to splash in puddles. I like to see the bees, the butterflies, and enjoy the sunshine. I like to talk to my neighbour or friends too. I love walking to school! By: Troy

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St. John XXIII Newsletter June 2015

Palindrome poem Theme - Future

“Edge of Yesterday”

The invention of hover boards Removal of minerals not wood Bundled with outlets and cords

Recreating tech as much as we could

No needing for bikes and cars Travelling the speed of light

Now reaching the peak of wars Not sure if all of this is right

Living in a world full of steel With the streets full of crime

Not taking the moment to realize it’s all real

Wishing to go back in time

Life before was fun we’d all admit Now get ready to make a run for it

By Russell, Grade 8

Free Verse Poem

Theme- The Ups and Downs of Life

“Everything Will Change”

Creations, adventures, and experiences Colours, feelings, and emotions.

Known by all, this is life. They are sometimes so original, and so

amazing that there are no words to describe them

And sometimes they are too great to let go

As you grow up and grow old new things will be revealed

You will find that with time, everything changed

And a new life will be discovered. By Tamara, Grade 8

Heritage Month June is NATIONAL ABORIGINAL HISTORY MONTH as declared by the Canadian Parliament in June of 2009. June 21st has been held as NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY since 1996. During the month of June we also celebrate and recognize PORTUGESE and ITALIAN Heritage month. All of these bring rich traditions and cultures which are seen throughout our school communities and Canadian Society in general.

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St. John XXIII Newsletter June 2015

Monthly Update from the Board June 2015

TCDSB’s Three-Year Pastoral Plan Focuses on Family, School

Parish

Together with One Voice

Year one, starting September 2015, the focus is on Family.

Watch for news and information:

https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/NurturingOurCatholicCommunity/Pag

es/Default.aspx

Toronto Catholic Parent Involvement Committee is a

provincially mandated and funded committee. The focus of the

committee is to support student academic achievement through

increased parent involvement. Members provide information and

advice on parent engagement to the school board; create initiatives

that promote and facilitate parent engagement; and educate parents

to help them support their children’s learning at home and/or at

school.

Find out how you can get involved in CPIC:

https://www.tcdsb.org/FORPARENTS/ParentInvolvement/Pages/def

ault.aspx

First annual TCDSB Catholic Parent Involvement Week

October 26-30, 2015

Watch for news and information: www.tcdsb.org

School Calendar 2015-2016

Number of school days 194

Number of Professional Activity Days 6

Labour Day September 7, 2015

First Instructional Day September 8, 2015

Thanksgiving Day October 12, 2015

Christmas Break December 21, 2015–January 1, 2016

Start of second semester for secondary schools February 1, 2016

Family Day February 15, 2016

Mid-Winter Break March 14–18, 2016

Good Friday March 25, 2016

Easter Monday March 28, 2016

Victoria Day May 23, 2016

Last day of classes for elementary students June 29, 2016

More details including PA Days here:

https://www.tcdsb.org/school/SchoolYearCalendar/Pages/FutureSch

oolYearCalendar.aspx

June is Portuguese and Italian Heritage Month

Get all the info here:

https://www.tcdsb.org/FORCOMMUNITY/HeritageCelebration

/ItalianCanadianHeritage/Pages/default.aspx

https://www.tcdsb.org/FORCOMMUNITY/HeritageCelebration

/PortugueseCanadianHeritage/Pages/default.aspx

June is Aboriginal Education Month https://www.tcdsb.org/pages/june-is-aboriginal-education-

month.aspx

June 21st is National Aboriginal Day

TCDSB Staff Musical: Urinetown – June 5-13, 2015

Don’t let the title scare you off! Shows and tickets:

https://www.tcdsb.org/affiliates/staffarts/pastseasons/20142015/page

s/musicalperformance_jun5_6.aspx

Canada Day Celebrations--June 25, 2015

Students across the Toronto Catholic District School Board will

celebrate Canada Day on the last day of the school year, Thursday,

June 25th, 2015. Students will dress up in red and white, and gather

in their school yards, fields and gyms with their Canadian flags, to

join with students and staff from across the Toronto Catholic District

School Board in the singing of the National Anthem at 9:30 a.m.

Get all the latest news from the Board via email by subscribing to Enews

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

Or follow @TCDSB on Twitter