St. Joseph CES Aurora: September 2019-2020 Newsletter
Chair Dominic Mazzotta (Richmond Hill), Vice Chair Maria Marchese and Trustee Iafrate (Richmond Hill), Trustee Crowe (Aurora)
Dominic.Mazzotta@ycdsb.ca Maria.Iafrate@ycdsb.ca Elizabeth.Crowe@ycdsb.ca
Superintendent: Tina D’Acunto
Dear Families of St. Joseph CES,
Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year! The staff and I are excited to open our doors to 325 students this year.
To prepare for the first day of school, parents are responsible to check www.schoolbuscity.com to find their child’s busing information: bus number, drop off & pick up locations and times. Please check the schoolbuscity.com website one week prior to school starting.
The St. Joseph Aurora CES website will be updated on a continuous basis to include important news, the school calendar, school forms and highlight school events. Make it a habit to check out the St. Joseph website and be sure to make http://sja.ycdsb.ca a favourite.
Follow us on Twitter @SJA_YCDSB for the most up to date news.
We look forward to another wonderful year of building partnerships between home, school and parish, as well as meeting you at our upcoming ‘Meet the Teacher/Curriculum Night’ on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Classroom visits and the Scholastic Book Fair will take place from 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Volunteering in the school is a wonderful way to be involved with your child’s education. The Volunteer Orientation is on Monday, September 9 at 11am.
Our Catholic School Council is an active and integral part of our school life and we are continually looking for help in all areas. Our first CSC meeting is Wednesday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m. We encourage all parents to participate and get involved!
Picture day will take place on September 19, 2019 for all students
May God bless you and your loved ones!
Ms. L. Oliphant
Safe Arrival: Student Absence Reporting
It is extremely important that if you know that your child will be absent, please call the Safe Arrival Phone Number (1-855-856-7862) or visit go.schoolmessenger.ca to download the SchoolMessenger App. Similarly, if you know that your child will be late, please call the safe arrival number to notify us so that we can keep track of where your child is.
Students arriving after the bell at 9:00 a.m. are asked to report to the Main Office where they will be given a late slip to get into class. It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to ensure that their children arrive on time for school and we appreciate your support/encouragement in teaching the children the importance of punctuality.
Please note that if we are not informed of your child’s absence and cannot locate anyone on the emergency contact list, the office is obligated to contact the police for assistance to locate your child. Thank you for your understanding of this matter.
Your child’s safety is of the utmost importance to all of the staff at St. Joseph Aurora Catholic Elementary School.
Minimizing Interruptions at School & Teaching Responsibility
Please ensure your child arrives to school on time. The school day begins at 9:00 a.m. Tardiness results in the interruption of classroom instruction. Please encourage your child to be responsible for their own belongings and bring the materials he/she needs to be successful to school each day.
We want our students to become responsible, life-long learners!
Important Information & Forms
At the beginning of the school year you will receive a lot of important information to assist us with ensuring your child’s safety at our school. Please ensure that you have completed and returned the following items so that we can update our records:
- Emergency Information Form
- Freedom of Information Form
- Insurance Envelope
- Acceptable use of technology form
Pediculosis (Head Lice)
Head Lice are tiny brown insects that live on human heads. They do not jump or fly, but glue their eggs (nits) on the hair strands close to the scalp. They may be found anywhere on the head, but most frequently behind the ears and at the back of the neck. Head lice are not caused by poor hygiene and they don’t cause illness but they do make one itchy. Check every family member carefully and please report any incidence of lice to us at the school. When one case is reported, a notice is sent home to all parents of students in that classroom. Any student found to have lice will not be allowed to return until the problem has been treated.
If you have any questions on the prevention, identification or treatment of head lice, please contact the Public Health Nurses at York Region Health Connection, 1 800 361 5653.
Life Threatening Allergies
There are numerous students at St. Joseph who have life-threatening allergies and must have an Epipen available for emergencies. Parents of such students are to inform the school and are required to complete the Administration Medication Form (S16), available from the school office. Students for whom an Epipen has been prescribed are required to wear it at all times as per Board Policy 207, a second Epipen is to be provided to the office. We strongly encourage a NUT FREE environment.
SAFETY AWARENESS – THE PROTECTION OF ANAPHYLACTIC STUDENTS
The York Catholic District School Board continues to help protect anaphylactic students, students with life threatening allergies. Protecting anaphylactic students from exposure to life threatening substances creates a major challenge to all elementary schools. The following are proactive strategies we continue to implement at St. Joseph to help keep all our students safe.
We will continue with our ‘allergy safe’ school environment via food restrictions, students will be informed of and reminded that WE HAVE A NO SHARING FOOD POLICY! The school environment includes entire school grounds, buses and other modes of transportation, school trips, before/after school/weekend programs, and school sanctioned events involving students. Food outdoors is prohibited to minimize exposure to insects (wasps etc.) We will continue to communicate regularly to the entire school community that we are an “Allergen safe” school via newsletters, and posting of “allergy safe” signs throughout the school.
We will take special precautions around holidays and special celebrations, by planning activities that are not food oriented. Parents may send in small birthday tokens such as pencils or book marks etc.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND IN FOOD OR POPSICLES FOR A CLASS TREAT! WE WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE IT TO THE CLASS.
Special communication and instructions will be given to individual classrooms where students with allergies are enrolled regarding allergens in that classroom. We will continue to ensure that all products sold through the school for fundraising or otherwise are peanut/nut safe. We will continue to ensure that permit holders, visitors and all school staff are aware of these precautions.
Dogs on School Property
Every child’s safety is our number one priority at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School. There are students and staff members who have severe allergies/sensitivity towards animals.
Therefore, dogs are NOT permitted to be on school property at any time when children are present because of safety/allergy concerns.
Please Label Belongings!
Labeling all clothing and personal belongings will help us to return lost items to the rightful owner. Ballpoint pen works well on clothing labels.
Student Insurance
The York Catholic District School Board strongly recommends the purchase of student school insurance. This insurance is available to families at a low cost, and it will ensure coverage should an accident occur at school. The accident insurance envelopes are sent home this week and they are to be returned directly to the insurance company in the envelopes provided.
Soft Bouncy Balls in the Yard During Recess…
Students are invited to bring soft, bouncy balls to school to play with during recess such as Nerf, tennis or Dollarstore balls. This is to minimize head injuries and concussions. Basketballs are only permitted by the basketball nets. NO soccerballs or footballs are allowed in the yard or on the field.
Parents, Visitors and Stranger Danger
It is important that all parents, friends and relatives report to the office upon entering the school, whether it is before, during or after school. We are responsible for your children and it is very
important that we know who is in the school and the yard at all times throughout the day.
If at any time you come to the school to pick up your child for appointments or to deliver items of importance, please inform the school secretary, who will inform the classroom teacher through the P.A. system.
Please do not visit classrooms or the school yard on your own as this can be an unnecessary disruption to the teachers and students.
Agendas
Agendas are being distributed to all the students. This agenda has information related to the overall school operation and is a valuable resource for students, teachers and parents. Please review the contents with your children and encourage them to use it during the year. Please send $7.00 to school as the classroom teachers will be collecting the Agenda money.
Our Lady of Grace Parish
St. Joseph is a part of the Our Lady of Grace Parish. Please contact our Pastor, Father Frank, if you would like to register with the parish.
Father Frank and other representatives from the parish will be in the school on a regular basis to visit classes and celebrate Masses. They will assist with sacramental preparation and foster faith development with all the children.
We look forward to building the home, school and church partnership and celebrating the beauty of our faith.
Phones/ Electronic Devices “Off and Invisible”
Any students who have their own cell phones are asked to turn them off once the bell indicates the beginning of the school day and leave them off until the end of the day at 3:30 p.m.
The school is not responsible for lost cell phones or any other electronic devices.
Teachers will determine if a child is permitted to use their personal electronic device during class instruction.
If you need to get in contact with your child, please call the Main Office and we will locate them. The students are allowed to use the office phone if they need to contact a parent.
Extra Curricular Activities
St. Joseph CES in a vibrant and active school community! There are lots of opportunities for your children to get involved. Try outs and training for extra-curricular activities will be starting later this month. Students who are interested should listen to the announcements for details. Students in grades 4-8 are eligible to try out for sports teams.
| Choir | Luke 4:18/ Social Justice Club | Chess Club | Cross Country Team |
| Volleyball Team | Basketball | Hockey Team | Dance Team |
| Lunch Monitors | Play Leaders | Peer Tutors | Scrabble Team |
| Announcements Team | Healthy Schools Committee | Speed Stacking Team | Track & field |
| Christmas Spirit Week | Remembrance Day | Virtue Assemblies | Halloween & Valentine’s Day Dances |
| Carnaval Week | Anti-Bullying Week | Talent Show | Lego Club |
| First Communion Liturgy & Luncheon | Confirmation Celebration Luncheon | Oral Communication/ Poetry (Primary) | Oral Communication (Junior & Intermediate) |
| Terry Fox Day | Play Days | Lunch Time Programs | Catholic Education Week Activities |
Meeting with Teachers
If you would like to arrange a meeting with your child’s teacher, please contact the school and leave a message for them. If the teacher is not available, she/he will call you back as soon as they can. It may not be feasible to meet the teacher immediately, but they will gladly arrange to meet you at a mutually agreeable time.
Catholic School Council
We have a wonderfully active Catholic School Council at St. Joseph and encourage all parents to join them in their role as an advisory body to the principal. The term of office is one year and the Council is required to meet four times in the year. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m., when the positions within council will be elected and plans will be established for the school year.
Join one of the following CSC Committees: Academic, Faith, Community, Hot Lunch, Fundraising, and Safety & Wellbeing!
Nomination forms are included in the newsletter. I hope to see you at our first meeting to share your ideas.
Homework Policy
If a student is using his or her time well in the classroom, homework is not usually an issue with the family. The suggested guidelines as to how much time should be spent each night on homework are as follows:
Grades 1–3: 15 to 30 minutes
Grades 4–6: 30 to 60 minutes
Grades 7-8: 60 to 80 minutes
Any homework not completed within these time limits should be left undone and a note written to the teacher.
Staff and Room Allocations for 2019-2020
| GRADE | TEACHER | ROOM | |||||
| 1 | Freda Benoit | 143 | |||||
| 1 | Lucia DeLuca | 148 | |||||
| 2 | Maria D’Aguanno | 154 | |||||
| 2 | Pauline Karam | 156 | |||||
| 3A | Luisa Uribe Raposo | 163 | |||||
| 3B | Silvia Grossi | 141 | |||||
| 4A and 4/5 E | James Donaldson | 204 | |||||
| 4/5 and 4 FI | Sarah Sassone | 205 | |||||
| 5/6 FI | Lisa Mirabelli | 211 | |||||
| 5/6 and 6 E | Gaspare Gucciardo | 213 | |||||
| 6 and 7 FI | Stacey McTaggart | 216 | |||||
| 7 E | Adele Torelli | 207 | |||||
| 7/8 and 8 FI | Emily Andrews | 217 | |||||
| 8 and 7/8 E | Sonja Blas | 220 | |||||
| Library and
Core Resource |
Elaine Williams | Library Office (102)/
Rm. 105 |
|||||
| Core Resource | Robin Sloan | 108 | |||||
| Educational Assist. | Louise McCarthy | 105 | |||||
| Music | Sarah Frijio | 104 | |||||
| Phys Ed. Itinerant | Karen August | Phys Ed. Office (107) | |||||
| Phys Ed. Itinerant | Marilena Palma | Phys Ed. Office (107) | |||||
| FSL | William Grassby | 106 | |||||
| Head Secretary | Michele Ensol | Office | |||||
| Principal | Lynne Oliphant | Office | |||||
Daily Schedule
| 8:45-9:00 a.m. | Yard Supervision |
| 9:00 a.m. | Entry Bell |
| 10:25-10:40 a.m. | Morning Recess |
| 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:25-2:40 p.m. | Afternoon Recess |
| 3:20 p.m. | Primary Dismissal Bell |
| 3:30 p.m. | Dismissal Bell |
St. Joseph Standardized Dress Code Guidelines
Every student is required to come to school dressed in appropriate SJA standardized dress attire. Please note that compliance with the school dress code is not optional.
The Learning Skill ‘Responsibility’ will reflect a student’s compliance with uniform. Please review the guidelines below and save this page for future reference.
Any clothing sold with the St. Joseph logo is the preferred form of dress for the school uniform. Each year at the start of the cross country season, St. Joseph school runs a uniform sale that is very popular with the students because the line of clothing is sporty and comfortable and is embroidered with the school logo and Jaguar motifs.
For parents wishing to buy other types of clothing:
- Preferably navy bottoms (pants, shorts/skirt or skort of an appropriate length)
- White (preferred) or navy top –Please avoid brand logos and be plain in colour
- White or navy sweater/sweatshirt for cooler weather -Please avoid brand logos and be plain in colour.
Please Note Unacceptable Items:
Denim or any pant that resembles a jean fabric
No mesh shoes or flip flops
Civvies Days: There is a tradition at St. Joseph that the last Friday of each month is a non-uniform day. As with all Catholic schools, the students are to dress in a modest nature on these days.
Gym Clothing: Gym clothing is at the discretion of the teacher and generally is required around Grade 4. Gym clothing should consist of a separate t-shirt, shorts and socks appropriate for school and should be brought home for laundering on a weekly basis.
St. Joseph Aurora Catholic School Council Nomination Form
Meeting Wednesday, September 18, 2019
I wish to nominate _______________________________ for an elected position as a parent/guardian representative on St. Joseph Catholic School Council for the year 2019/2020.
Nominee’s Name: ___________________________________
Nominee’s Signature: ___________________________________
Home Phone Number: ___________________________________
I am the parent/guardian of _________________ who is currently registered at St. Joseph CES Aurora.
_____________________ is an employee of this school board, but does not work at St. Joseph CES Aurora.
- Yes
- No
Brief Biography:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you require additional space, please attach to this page. You will be notified when your nomination form has been received.