Catholic School

Virtue of the Month St. Albert Catholic School

1125 Midland Avenue Toronto, Ontario

M1K 4H2 416-393-5335

Acting Principal: M. Wyatt Acting V P: A. Tacoma Admin Asst: M. Villanti Admin Clerk: P. King

CSPC Chair: M. Carbonaro

Superintendent: K. Malcolm

Trustee:M. Del Grande

School Parish: St. Maria Goretti

717 Kennedy Road Toronto, Ontario

M1K 2C1 416-261-0076

Fr. Edwin Galea

School Population: 437 Hours of Operation:

9:00AM - 3:30PM Lunch Hour:

11:45AM - 12:45PM

http://stalbert.tcdsb.org/ For more information, read our comprehensive Monthly Newsletter ... Visit our website at:

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Page 1: Cover/Front Page Page 2-3: Table of Contents Page 4: School Pledge, Catholic Graduate Expectations, Social Teachings Page 5: St. Albert School Prayer Page 6: Information about the Sacraments Page 7-8: Reading Club Page 9: Five Tips for Sharing Family Stories Page 10-11: Monthly Update from the Board Page 12: Calling the School // Coming to School Too Early Page 13-14: What’s New in 2019 Page 15: Milk Bags // Think Safety First (Parking and the Loop) Page 16: School Arrival Page 17: Kindergarten Registration 2019 Page 18: Justice is… // Brushamania Contest Page 19: International Day of Pink (Wear Pink) Page 20-22: Catholic Education Month Activities & Events Page 23: Reminder—Anaphylaxis Policy Page 24: Safe Schools Page 25: Social Justice Page 26: Growth Mindset//Power of Yet

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Page 27: Virtue of the Month Recipients … Page 28: Principal’s Message Page 29: Bus Information Page 30: Monthly Calendar of St. Albert School Events

“We All Belong” emphasizes our Christian values and is inclusive and indicative of what we all cherish and believe - We respect ourself, others, and God. Essentially, we all belong to the family of God. Let our feelings of love and joy be visible in our daily lives.

Always be kind

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I pledge today and every day to do my best in all I do.

I promise to do good, because it is good to do.

I will respect myself, respect others, and respect God.

I will treat others the way I want to be treated, because we all belong to God’s family.

I am here to learn all I can, to try my best, and be all I am.

I know that life is work – and I will work in all I do to be all I can!

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Grade 1 and 2 participated in the St. Albert Reading Club. Mrs. Filipowich and Ms. Furtado organized the different reading activities and had lots of help from some grade 7 and 8 students. On the last day, the children wrote down comments about their experiences.

Following Instructions Before Christmas the students followed instructions to colour baby Jesus. Emilina, Kyra, Katelyn and Levio liked to colour. Youale, Janessa, Kabron, Kristina, Livia thought this reading activity was fun. James and Gav wanted to do it again. Mi-kayla remembered that there was lots of time to colour. Karen liked all the differ-ent colours on baby Jesus. Trayvon said he liked baby Jesus and Liezel said she loved baby Jesus.

Reading Robert Munch Stories Hermela, Janessa, Matthew, Isabel, Karen, Livia and Ava all agreed that the Robert Munsch book, I Have to Go, was funny. Gav liked this book but Levio loved this story.

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Reading Dr. Seuss Books

Kiara, Olivia, Kristina, Haashini, David, Brianna, Ian, Eliana, Hermela, Ching Hok, Mikaela, Janae and Danica all said they liked taking turns reading the Dr. Seuss books. Jazz'Lynn, Anisha and Kabron called the stories funny.

Word Puzzles

Livia called the St. Albert word puzzles amazing. Isabella said they were awesome and Youale called them cool. Ian remembered it was super fun to solve a puzzle. Renzo, Eliana, Haashini, and Brianna said they had fun. Ava, Anthony, and Adrian loved the puzzles. Justin liked to play with them.

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Bring your child into the story Choose stories about interesting things that happened to you or to members of your family, including your child. Include your child in the storytelling by making links to him/her. For example, “You know how you like to ride your bike? Well this story is about a time when I was your age and I rode my bike to get bread for dinner…”

What kind of story to tell Stories do not have to have a clear beginning, middle and end with a problem and solution. They could simply describe an event that happened. Try to keep the stories brief and simple, especially for younger ones. Children’s attention spans become longer as they get older.

Bring in all five senses Use words that will relate to your child’s five senses – sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. These words help to bring the storyto life and make it more real for your child. Use physical gestures like handmovements to show action, and facial expressions to show emotion.

Introduce new words Including one or two new words will add detail to the story and help expand your child’s vocabulary. These could be words that relate to the story that help to paint a better picture in your child’s mind, e.g. invitation, guests, celebration, etc.

Tell stories anytime Share family stories throughout the day –it doesn’t have to happen only at bedtime. You could tell stories at meal time, on walks through the community, while riding on a bus or subway, while driving in a car or waiting for appointments.

10 TCDSB Monthly Update April 2019

Budget Consultation All parents, staff, students and stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the consultation regarding the 2019-2020 budget. By identifying your priorities for consideration, the Trustees of the Board will be better able to make decisions that reflect the concerns and interests of TCDSB stakeholders. The budget website will be available as of Wednesday, April 3rd. This website will include both video and printed materials outlining the budget, and the budget process, as well as a break-down of the various ways that everyone can participate in the consultation pro-cess. An online survey will also be available through to May 3rd to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to share their views. https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/TCDSB-Community-Consultations/Pages/budget_2019_2020.aspx

Reminder: OAPCE’s 80th Annual Parent Conference Friday April 5th, 2019 OECTA Reception at Montecassino Hotel & Venue, Toronto 6:00-9:00pm Saturday April 6th, 2019 All Day Conference at Madonna Catholic Secondary School, Toronto 8:00am-4:30pm Mass with Cardinal Collins; Keynote Speaker: Greg Rogers; Parent Learning Workshops; Vendor Mall Gala Dinner Montecassino Hotel & Venue 6:30pm; Awards Ceremony REGISTER AT: www.OAPCE.org

Volunteer Opportunities

Meagan's Walk 2019 Volunteer Registration is Open

Raising hope, awareness, and funds for paediatric brain tumour research. Volunteer Registration closes on April 30th On Saturday May 11th, 2019, Meagan's Walk will be holding the 18th Annual Walk & Hug. They need more than 200 volunteers. The event is a 5km walk from Fort York to SickKids where they finish with their "Hug" around the hospital.

CNTower Climb for World Wildlife Federation April 13-14, 2019 Volunteers Needed https://www.tcdsb.org/FORSTUDENTS/OpportunitiesForStudents/Pages/CNTowerClimb.aspx

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April 2019

Important Dates to Note:

Important Dates to Note:

April Events and Observances:

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month https://www.tcdsb.org/Pages/Volunteer-Appreciation.aspx April 7-13is Volunteer Appreciation Week

TCDSB Music Festival April 1-26 https://www.tcdsb.org/News/othernews/2019/Pages/TCDSB-Music-Festival.aspx

Autism Awareness Day April 2 https://www.tcdsb.org/programsservices/specialeducation/autism/autismawareness/pages/2019-events.aspx

ShareLife Week April 8-12 (Civvies Day for ShareLife, Fr iday, Apr il 12th) https://www.tcdsb.org/board/nurturingourcatholiccommunity/news/2018-2019/pages/sharelife.aspx

Holy Week: Holy Thursday Apr il 18; Good Fr iday Apr il 19; Easter Sunday Apr il 21 https://www.tcdsb.org/Board/NurturingOurCatholicCommunity/Pages/Lent-and-Easter-Resources.aspx

Earth Day April 22 https://www.tcdsb.org/board/environment/earthmonth/pages/earthday.aspx

Administrative Assistants Day April 24 https://www.tcdsb.org/news/othernews/2019/pages/administrativeassistantsday.aspx

Earth Month Community Clean Up April 26 https://www.tcdsb.org/board/environment/earthmonth/pages/default.aspx Angel Brigade Week

Angel Brigade Week April 29-May 3 https://angelfoundationforlearning.org/?page_id=6189

Never Miss Out on Important News and Information Follow us on Twitter @TCDSB Check us out on Instagram @torontocatholicdsb Subscribe to E-News and have the latest news come straight to your inbox on a weekly

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

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Thank you to all parents who are calling to report their child sick or absent from school. It cuts down from calling parents at work or home and allows us to expedite matters in a more efficient manner.

NOTE: As of September 2016, any changes in how your child goes home must be arranged with the school via written/signed notice - a phone call alone, unfortunately, is not acceptable. If you need to alter the way your child will be picked up or go home, please provide a signed written request to the Office at the beginning of the day (or previous days). This is necessary for the continued safety, health & well-being of all members of the St. Albert school community.

Please do NOT send your children to school too early. If your child is coming to school earlier than 8:30AM, that is too early. There is no supervision and your child is in an unsafe situation. This year, we have had several incidents of “strangers” hanging around the school in the early hours before school starts. We have taken measures to address this unwanted behaviour. Yet, we continue to see students arriving as early as 8:10AM - This is something that you as parents need to change as you have the control on this! Please, regardless of other issues, NEVER drop off your child and leave your child alone at school prior to 8:40AM when supervision begins. This is where you as a parent need to be accountable, because no matter what, STUDENT SAFETY trumps all other reasons for coming to school too early! Please, before something regrettable happens, think SAFETY FIRST, not convenience!

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Having problems on the system? You can call Ms. Villanti and she will do her best to help you.

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We congratulate all our students and adults who have diligently brought in milk bags … We keep getting more and more bags and we love it. We may even collect more than 4000 bags this year. Lots of House Pts. for doing good, so keep it up everyone!

Drop-off (8:40-9:00AM) in the loop. Please, do not stop at the school entrance area and let your child out. Pick-up (3:30-3:45PM) in the loop, not in the middle of the parking lot. A tragedy can happen and these are not called accidents because these actions are avoidable - follow these rules:

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It’s one thing to come too early to school, but to come late is not good either. Lately, we’ve been seeing a few more students coming to school later and later and then missing out on valuable instructional time in class. Parents, please remember that school starts at 9:00AM. We ask that parents do the best they can to ensure their children come to school on time so as to not miss any part of the day … every minute counts.

If your child stays after school to participate in a club or sporting activity, please make plans with your child to ensure he/she is picked up or other arrangements are made for your child to safely get home (i.e., walk home with a friend). Always make sure the teacher/coach knows.

… It’s spring - Wear your boots!

Parents, please check if your child is wearing his/her boots when they are coming to school or when they come home after school. There have been numerous boots left lying around the hallways at night and this means kids are not wearing their boots home or to school. Then, the boots and other spring articles of clothing end up lost. We remind everyone to wear indoor shoes so we keep the mud, snow, salt, and sand outside and not in the classrooms. Check our LOST & FOUND for a lot of mitts, hats, boots, coats, and a bunch of other winter clothes - these things belong to you!

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The Toronto Catholic District School Board invites families with children born in 2015, to register for Kindergarten beginning:

Parents with children born in 2015 or earlier and who will be enrolling in Kindergarten, have the opportunity to apply on-line using the “Student On-line Admission and Registration” platform known as S.O.A.R. and found at the

following link: https://soar.tcdsb.org

Parents will be able to complete an application for registration from the convenience of their own home, the office, a public library, or anywhere there is internet access, 24 hours a day. The on-line application also offers access to translations in different languages with built-in help functions and features.

Registration options:

Online: Parents will be able to complete their application online at: https://soar.tcdsb.org/Login.aspx. A follow up with visit to the school to present the required documents will be scheduled following the online application.

In Person: Parents can register at their local school with the required documents. Information: 416-222-8282 ext. 5320 or 5314, www.tcdsb.org/kindergartenregistration

Documents are required for registration when you come to the school:

1. Child's Birth Certificate2. Child's Catholic Baptismal Certificate3. Child's Immunization Record4. Proof or residency in Toronto

For more information, visit our website at: http://stalbert.tcdsb.org/

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St. Albert students from JK to Grade 6 are invited to participate in the “Brush-a-mania” Contest.

To enter the “brush-a-mania” contest students can register at brushamania.ca and begin recording their brushes online.

Once again St. Albert is participating in Brush-a-mania program sponsored by the rotary club. Dr. Ma-ria Pereira was our dentist presenter at the Kick Off Assembly. During the month of April our students (K to 6) will be calculating the number of times they brush for a classroom chart. In addition, parents can register their children at brushamania.ca for an online contest. Look for the information and free dental items that your children will be bringing home.

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Bullying has been a problem in schools and many adults today also note being bullied when they were in school. Bullying, in many forms also occurs in workplaces, homes, and especially over the Internet. Throughout the year we will continue to emphasize what it is we’re doing that makes our school a safe and healthy environment. It is important to know that kindness is not just an abstract concept - it is a deliberate act.

On our journey to make our school a more safe, caring, and welcoming place (and we’ve seen good things happen), we still have a ways to go and we’re not there … NOT YET. Earlier this year, in February, it was nice to see so many students and staff wearing not only a Pink Virtue T-Shirt, but pink pants, shoes, socks, coats and other unique items - This shows that we as a school and the future adults of this country are making an conscientious effort to be nicer to one another and to accept all people (along with their own uniqueness) for who they are.

At St. Albert, as a Catholic school community our focus remains to be a caring, welcoming, and inclusive community whereby each individual is valued, respected, and treasured. We aspire to treat others as we wish to be treated - in our good words and actions - with love and kindness.

With some of the things we’re doing here at St. Albert, we believe that staff, parents, and students will be better able to respond to difficult situations that may arise both in school, home, and in the community – It matters what we say, what we do, and what we fail to do. We want our daily actions to help individuals to feel they belong in our family and we will continue to strive to build positive relationships through modeling from adults and via peer mentorship through our House System. It’s our school and we need to work hard to make it a great place to spend 1156 hours each year.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 10, 2019

WEDNESDAY APRIL 10, 2019

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May 7th - Welcome to Kindergarten … 5:30pm – 6:30PM

May 8th … School Talent Show

May 8th - Welcome to Kindergarten … 5:30pm – 6:30PM

May 14th … School Mass (Lower School) @ 9:30AM in the Gym

May 15th … 50th Anniversary Fun Fair …..4:00 - 7:00 PM More information to follow

Here are just a few of the activities and events taking place in the month of May.

Because a week just won’t do!

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50th Anniversary

Join us on

May 15th

4pm – 7 pm

Let’s make it a memorable celebration!

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Our very own Ms. Frankland (Gr. 8 teacher) is working on a very special mural. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of St. Albert Catholic School, Ms. Frankland is working on a mural just past the Office. Take a look as it goes from an idea to completion. Thank you Ms. Frankland!

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TCDSB Anaphylaxis Policy & Protocol

Dear Parents/Guardians,

In accordance with the TCDSB Anaphylaxis policy (S.M. 15) and the

Anaphylaxis Protocol and Guidelines, it is the policy of the TCDSB to

create allergen-aware environments in our schools and workplaces. The

implementation of the policy includes strategies that reduce the risk of

exposure to anaphylactic causative agents in classrooms and common

school areas.

We are aware that there is the potential that fast food products make their

way into schools. We ask that you be aware that some of these products

are not peanut/nut free and remain mindful that they could result in a

potentially life-threatening form of allergic reaction. Given this, the

TCDSB strongly advises that parents take this into consideration when

sending your student to school with these products.

We appreciate your cooperation in the TCDSB’s commitment to keeping

our schools a safe environment for all students and staff.

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As part of a Principal’s responsibilities, the health, welfare, well-being, and safety of the school community members (students and staff) is very important. Therefore, as part of our continued procedures regarding student and staff safety, in adherence to TCDSB Safe School protocols, all school doors will continue to be locked during school hours. As such, parents, guests, and visitors are asked to come in ONLY via the front doors - use the buzzer. Alternatively, we ask students to not come in via the front doors, but go the back of the school where there is supervision. Exception: If a student is late, he/she is requested to enter the school from the front doors as there is no supervision outside after the entry bell rings. NOTE: At the end of the day, If you find that you are running late coming to pick up your child, call us and we will have your child wait in the Office area and not outside by her/himself.

I am sure that we can all agree that the safety and well-being of our students - your children - is of the utmost importance. These measures that we will con-tinue to implement for the well-being of all our students, staff and visitors are firm and supersede any minor inconvenience someone may feel they’ve experienced. If anyone does have any concerns or questions about the TCDSB Safe Schools protocols and practices, I would welcome the opportunity to provide clarification and share otherviable options or alternatives that areavailable to individuals.

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God Bless,

M. Wyatt A. Tacoma Acting Principal Acting Vice Principal

Let us always remember that we are the first instruments of justice - in all we say and in all we do.

If we treat people the way we wish to be treated, it is the first step towards achieving justice for all.

When we do good because it’s good to do, we do so because all benefit and all are one step closer to God.

In the end, we respect ourselves, others, and God … We All Belong!

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Gilder Bus AM-Route #303 First Student: 905-294-5104 PM-Route #323 First Student: 905-294-5104

Brockley Bus AM-Route#240 Sharp Transportation: 416-477-4809 PM-Route#301 First Student: 905-294-5104

Deerfield Bus AM-Route#320 First Student: 905-294-5104 PM-Route#320 First Student: 905-294-5104

Rainbow Bus AM-Route#331 First Student: 905-294-5104 PM-Route#877 Stock East: 416-754-4949

Prudential Bus AM-Route#213 Sharp Transportation: 416-477-4809 PM-Route#871 Stock East: 416-754-4949

The 211 Bus AM-Route#331 First Student: 905-294-5104 PM-Route#306 First Student: 905-294-5104

If you have a question or concern, you can call the school, but you are urged to call the bus company directly as well. When you call, tell the person what your concern is and let them know the ROUTE # of the bus in question.

If your child takes a small bus (1928 or 4984) to and from school, call the school and we’ll provide you with the information you need when you call the bus company.

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http://stalbert.tcdsb.org/ For more information and to read our extended Monthly Newsletter, please visit our website at:

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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April is… International Guitar Month

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Bus Safety Presentation

4 5 School Vaaccination Gr 7 & 8

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April is… National Humour Month

7 5th Sunday of

Lent

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SCHOOL MASS @ 1:00 PMUpper School

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International

Pink Day

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Dress Down Day

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14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Easter Saturday

21 Easter

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EASTER MONDAY

NO SCHOOL

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BOYS JUNIOR

VOLLEYBALL

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GIRLS JUNIOR

VOLLEYBALL

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PIZZA DAY

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28 29 30 MAY 15

April is the National Day of plenty of things ...