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Catholic School News Dear Blessed Pope Paul VI School Community, It is hard to believe that the first term of the 2017-2018 school year is coming to a close. Once again, it has been a busy and productive time at Blessed Pope Paul VI C.S. with many school activities and events taking place. Across the school, routines and classroom expectations are now firmly established. Whether it was in academic gains or athletic accomplishments, our students have strived to do their best and represent our school proudly and with confidence. We all have reason to look back on the past month with significant pride. During the month of December, we can easily become entangled in the constant wave of motion called the ‘Christmas Rush’. For us Catholics the season of Christmas begins on Christmas Eve and lasts for several weeks afterward. We prepare for Christmas by celebrating Advent, the season of waiting and preparation. Advent is a time of quiet, joyful preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and also a time to remember that we wait for Christ to come again at the end of time. It is a season to enjoy the hope that Christ’s Resurrection points to. The First Sunday of Advent is also a time of new beginnings – it is the official start of the Church’s calendar. Take the time to celebrate Advent with your children. A beautiful tradition is the lighting of the Advent wreath during the four weeks of Advent. The Christmas tree located at the office is our Jesse Tree. Each morning the students are decorating it with symbols that tell our Faith history. Our tree reminds us of an important person or story in the Bible. As we now move through the Advent season, our prayers are for a happy and holy Christmas for all. May the Christmas holidays provide you an opportunity for rest and rejuvenation. On behalf of the staff at Blessed Pope Paul VI Catholic School, we wish you and your family a wonderful time together over this Christmas season!

Classes will resume on Monday, January 8, 2018. Merry Christmas and many

blessings for a great New Year.

L. Lio

BLESSED POPE PAUL VI CATHOLIC SCHOOL

270 Laughton Ave. Toronto, Ontario

M6N 2X8 Telephone # 416-393-5374

Fax # 416-393-5842

Principal: L .Lio Secretary: E.Pardela

Superintendent:

J. Wujek 416-222-8282 x5371

Trustee: F D’Amico

416 222 8282 ext. 2873

Parish: St. Nicholas of Bari Church

1277 St. Clair Ave. W. Toronto, Ontario

416-654-8908

Enrollment: 319 Hours of Operation: 9:00-3:30

Outdoor Supervision 8:45 a.m.-9:00 a.m. 3:30p.m.-3:45p.m.

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Advent Wreath Prayers

First Sunday in Advent – Light the first purple candle. This is the Candle of Hope. It is a sign that God is with us, encouraging us on our way. Blessing for the First Candle- O, Lord, fill us with a longing for you. Help us to be open and eager, as we wait for your coming with joy and excitement. In the busy days ahead, keep us in your sight. Let us remember that it is you, our Lord, for whom we are preparing. Amen. Second Sunday in Advent – Light the first and the second purple candles. The second candle is the Candle of Peace. It is a reminder that Jesus came to share God’s peace with all. Blessing for the Second Candle: O, Lord, as we prepare for your coming, let us reflect your love in all we say and do. Encourage us to be people of peace. Let it reign in our hearts and minds this Advent Season. Amen. Third Sunday in Advent – Light the first two purple candles and the pink candle, the Candle of Joy. It is a sign that God has promised us life in abundance. Blessing for the Third Candle- O, Lord, this is a time for caring and sharing. Help us open our hearts fully to others. Let our faces radiate the joy of your coming so that everyone we meet will know of you and the gift of life you bring. Amen. Fourth Sunday in Advent – Light all the candles, the last one is called the Candle of Love. It is a sign of God’s generous care and concern for all. Blessing for the Fourth Candle- O Lord, you are the Light of the World. Help us to see your will. Always be with us so that we will come to know and love you in many ways. Teach us to recognize you in those we meet and in all of creation. Amen.

Kindergarten Registration Kindergarten Registration will begin for all Elementary Schools on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 @ 10:00 am. Parents/guardians with children born in 2014, who will be entering Kindergarten in September 2018, may choose to register in person at our school or may apply on-line using the “Student On-line Admission and Registration” platform

known as S.O.A.R. which is found at the following link: http://soar.tcdsb.org. You may register from home, 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. A follow up visit to the school to present the required documents will be scheduled following the online application. The following original documents are required for registration.

Baptismal Certificate

Birth Certificate

Immunization Record

Proof of Residence (2 documents)

Applications to register children in grades other than Kindergarten can also be done on the online S.O.A.R. application. For more information: 416-222-8282 ext. 5320 or 5314, www.tcdsb.org/kindergartenregistration

Reminder Parents:

Please remember to call the school and let the office know if your child will be absent or late for school. This helps us ensure the safety of your child. Thank you so much for your help with this.

NOVEMBER VIRTUE: PEACE The Virtue for November was Peace. We would like to congratulate the following students

who were chosen as recipients of the Virtue of the Month for November.

Teacher Grade Recipients

Adamczewski/Minema JK/SK Eva N, Giselle C, Liam O,

Salituro/Olmedo JK/SK

Di Iorio 1 & 2 Gabriel C, Sophia H

Nahirna 1 Ethan A, Jasmine L

DeFrancesco 2 & 3 Lorena I, Luzane U

Clara 3

Almeida 4 & 5

Di Stefano 3 & 4 Emily S, Nathan N

Mastrogiacomo 5 Nathan O, Iara R

Leadbetter 6 Sydney R, Nathan K, Michael DS.

Pastuszok 6 Ryan, Mariana

Coscarelli 7 Yara S, Ana M, Angel D, Jon A, Emily A

Berdenits 8 Nia O, Eugene P

Monastero 7 & 8 Innes R, Min Young J.

Pozzobon ISP Tomas P.

Winter Weather

During the winter season, the school receives calls from concerned parents as to how we determine when children will or will not be allowed outside for recess. The Toronto Catholic District School Board Policy determines that students will remain indoors when the temperature in conjunction with the wind speed, creates a wind chill factor that could possibly lead to frostbite. Students should also come to school dressed

appropriately for the weather (coats, hats, mitts, boots, etc). For health and safety reasons students must have indoor shoes. Students should not walk through the school with wet socks, boots or shoes. Appropriate Dress Code and Student Uniform Students are to dress to the school’s Appropriate Dress code, which consists of the following:

o A plain solid navy blue bottom-pants must be worn around the waist o A plain solid white or navy blue top o A plain solid navy blue cardigan, sweater, hoodie or pullover o Shoes for indoor wear and shoes for outwear wear

Inappropriate attire includes:

o Clothing with logos o Jeans o Hats/caps/bandanas/gloves/sunglasses worn inside school o Oversized jewelry such as earrings or necklaces

All students are expected to dress in clean, neat and practical clothing. On the occasion

of a dress down day, good sense is the criterion for acceptable dress. We rely on parents’ able judgment to send their children to school dressed appropriately for the activity. Appropriate Dress Code or uniform is mandatory and will be strictly and consistently enforced. It is part of the student’s responsibility to come to school appropriately dressed.

Student Supervision The weather is changing to rain, wind and cold weather. With this in mind, please remember that morning supervision does not begin until 8:45 a.m. Please do not drop off your child before this time. In the morning, the secretary and staff are organizing their morning and day. You may see them in the building, but they cannot supervise children. Please make arrangements if you have to leave work early due to the weather or if you are late for the same reason. Also, when it is raining, please drop off your child at side/school yard doors and staff will escort them to the gym. Only at 8:45 a.m., when it is raining. Please do not bring them through the front doors. Thank you for cooperation and understanding.

Blessed Pope Paul VI Catholic School Parent Council News

Two groups, 10 students

enjoyed Hot Chocolate and

given a special cup by our

CSPC as a prize from

Halloween Scavenger Hunt.

Thank You CSPC for a

memoriable Halloween

afternoon!

Join us on Friday, December 8th for Christmas

Family Night from 6 – 8 pm. We know how to

throw a party so come and enjoy great activities and

light refreshments with your friends and family. Entry by donation of 5 non-perishable food

items or $5 per family to support St. Francis’ Table.

Wondering how our Wish List is doing?

Through your support we have purchased premium art

supplies for the entire school, a second classroom set

of new novels, snow toys for the junior grades, yoga

mats, new English and French library books, jumbo

crayons for the kindergartens, sponsored school wide

holiday activities and subsidized in-class

programming. Every dollar counts so if you have any

vendor connections let us know!

Bus Delays For those parents who’s children ride the big bus to/from school, the website below is a great resourse when there is a bus delay. https://www.torontoschoolbus.org/school-bus-delays/

Reporting of Cancellations Or Closures Due To Inclement Weather

Cancellation of school bus transportation or school closures due to inclement weather will be reported through the following vehicles: New releases to all media outlets in Toronto (Note: although the news release is provided to the media outlets, there is no guarantee that all television radio stations will broadcast the information in a timely fashion). Communications will endeavor to send an email to everyone on the TCDSB E mail exchange to advise them of any cancellations or closures. Updates will also be posted on the Board’s 24-hour information line, 416-222-8282, extension 2873. The information will also be posted on the Board’s website at www.tcdsb.org or www.tcdsb.org/weather.htm.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is December 3, 2017

December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This is a day to recognize everyone in our

schools, our offices and our communities who have disabilities, whether these challenges be visible or not. It is an

opportunity for us to explore how we can better meet their needs, and ensure they feel truly included, valued,

respected and loved.

As a Catholic community, we are called to believe in the worth and dignity of everyone, and to celebrate their

unique gifts and talents. Each of us, though unique individuals, has been created in God’s own image, and it is up

to us use our own strengths, abilities and talents to support and lift up those who need assistance, and to defend

their inalienable rights to equity and inclusion.

We applaud our own Special Education Advisory Committee, our Special Services Department, and the many

educators and support staff in our schools who are committed to ensuring the best education possible for our

students with special needs. We look forward every year to the many celebrations that shine the light on the gifts

that these special students bring to our schools and communities such as the annual picnic for Deaf and Hard of

Hearing Students, the Special Mini Olympics, Best Buddies programs and the annual Bowling Banquet for

Students with Multiple Exceptionalities. We thank all the parents and staff who, despite their own personal

challenges, advocate tirelessly for the needs of those living with disabilities.

This December 3rd, we are invited to see beyond the differences and celebrate the beauty of each individual in our

community.

We thank all of you for the role that you play in fostering a sense of caring Christian community in our schools

and offices, and bringing our Mission and Vision as a Catholic school board to life.

Sincerely,

Rory McGuckin Angela Kennedy

Director of Education Chair of the Board

“The happiness that everyone desires, for that matter, can be expressed in any number of ways and

attained only if we are capable of loving…It is always a matter of love; there is no other path. The true

challenge is that of who loves the most. How many disabled and suffering persons open their hearts to

life again as soon as they realize they are loved! How much love can well up in a heart simply with a

smile! The therapy of smiling. Then our frailness itself can become a source of consolation and

support in our solitude. .—Pope Francis

Stacey C. has been awarded Top Recognition from Attridge Transportation Services for being a good citizen and demonstrating responsibility and care for all the students who use the big bus everyday. We are so proud of you Stacey, thank you for being outstanding and an exceptional role model! Keep up the great work.

Zumba makes us feel excited and HAPPY! It is

very fun and it is good for our bodies. We feel like we can dance in a creative way and we can be expressive. When it is Zumba day; we dance with JOY! By: Sophia H, Laura M and Lorena I.

Remembrance Day Assembly On November 10, the staff and students of BPP VI gathered to honour the peace makers of our past and present. We were reminded that peace begins with all of us and when feel peace; we show peace. We are grateful for our wonderful country Canada who is recognized around the world as a nation who thrives and believes in Peace.

Scientists in the Grade 6 Classes!

On November 23rd we had the Scientist Liz, from

the Scientist in Schools program, come to our

grade 6 classes. We learned many interesting facts

about Air and Flight. We completed many

experiments with materials that the scientist

brought in to our classes. For one experiment, we

used blow-dryer. We tried to make an airplane

propeller to spin in front of the blow dryer. It took

us a while to figure the correct combination of

blades and the direction to place them, so our

propellers would spin fast. In the second

experiment, we had a cone shaped cup with a ping ball inside it. The cone had a hole at the bottom. Scientist

Liz told us to blow on the bottom to make the ball float but the ball did not float. Scientist Liz then told us

that if we blow on the bottom, there is low pressure on the top which is making the ball stay in the cup, so we

blew on the top and it worked. This is Bernoulli’s Principle. For one experiment we made paper airplanes.

We turned the elevators on the airplane up or down and then we tested them out. Some zoomed across the

classroom.We also learned about Newton’s Third Law of motion; that every action has a reaction. For

example if you let go of a balloon with air in it, the balloon goes forward which is the reaction and the air

going the opposite way, this is the action. Overall, the scientist in the grade 6 classes was really fun and we

learned many new things. It was amazing!

May, Isabella and Lucas

Some classes requested Board Games as class prizes from our CSPC Halloween School Spirit Day. Thanks CSPC for supporting our us with co operative and

collaborative games!

During French class, we are learning how to ask questions. We look at our picture and we ask, our partner has to respond in French! We love this activity because we are learning how to speak and learn new French

words. Merci! By Sebastian M. & Leah A.

We’re lov’n the New Books! Each month we have a school theme school spirit day. Student donations are collected and new books are purchased for our school library. Thank you to all the students for sharing school spirit and contributing to our amazing library! Ms. Litwin

Caught you

working…. We are working on Similie Poems. These poems make us compare and relate to animals or objects. We wrote Mystery Stories using pictures from Chris Van Allsburg. Some of us are studying for our Science Test!

This term the grade 7 students in Mr.

Coscarelli's will class will enjoy the upcoming trip to the Harbourfront Center. Students will have the opportunity to explore the history of ceramic art across cultures and will visit the Craft and Design Studio to see contemporary ceramic artists at work. Classes will participate in a hands-on, inquiry based clay program that will allow students to gain an in-depth understanding of the properties of clay. Students will apply hand building techniques

that encourages individual expression in the creation of a sculptural piece. Can't wait!

As well, the students are getting ready for the upcoming gingerbread house competition beginning November 30th. Students are in the process of gathering various materials in order to complete their craft. Classes are looking forward to working in co-operative groups to express their creative ability!

Poems, Poems, Poems!

Concrete poetry (Shape poems) written in the grade ¾ class.

The

evergreen tree

always green always

great. Survives in the

cold and in the heat, smells

fresh, but the pines sometimes poke you.

It makes the air clean and helps everyone breathe.

And

survives

forever

By: Joao Freitas (Gr. 4)

Tall

as a house,

I am used for paper.

Decorated by a star on top

or an angel pretty for just for me.

I stay alive for a long time and watch kids play,

day and night. I go through all kinds of weather.

I am an evergreen

tree.

By: Catarina Schiraldi (Gr. 3)

Gr.5’s Procedural

Writing

Remebrance Day ~A Peaceful November

The grade 5 students in Ms Mastrogiacomo's class wish you great peace this November. This month we read stories, and created beautiful water colour sillouettes remembering all of the brave men and women who fought in War in order to make our lives better. In writing we continued our procedures. We had so much fun learning and writing about how to make hot chocolate. Then in groups we pretended we had our own cooking show and were teaching others how to make the most delicious hot chocolate. The best part was tasting and drinking our delicious creations! Next, we followed an artist instructions on how to draw elf on a Shelf. Our teacher says if we create a welcoming holiday classroom filled with love and joy, maybe Elf will come and visit. We can't wait to see what's in store for December.