2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

ST. MAURICE CATHOLIC SCHOOL 45 Kingsview Blvd. | Etobicoke, ON. | M9R 1T7

Telephone: 416.393.5379 Fax: 416.393.5085

APRIL 2020

Giuseppe (Joe) Bucci PRINCIPAL

Flora Cifelli – Tel: 416.222.8282 x 2732 SUPERINTENDENT

Joseph Martino (Ward 1): Tel: 416.512.3401 TRUSTEE

Transfiguration of Our Lord Tel: 416.247.0513

45 Ludstone Dr. Etobicoke, ON. M9R2J2 PARISH

Natalia Marriott | Elissa Roberts

CSPC CHAIR

www.tcdsb.org/cpic CPIC (PARENT ENGAGEMENT - TCDSB) www.tcdsb.org/oapce-toronto

ENROLLMENT HOURS OF OPERATION LUNCH HOUR 285 8:30-3:00pm 11:15-12:15pm

NEW REGISTRANTS WELCOME

Apply online: soar.tcdsb.org Call 416-393-Phone# or the TCDSB Admissions Department at 416-222-8282, ext. 2383. For general information about the Toronto Catholic District School Board, please visit the website at www.tcdsb.org Stay in touch with the latest news throughout the school year: Follow @TCDSB on Twitter.

Dear Parents/Guardians: A season much like spring, Easter offers us renewal and hope, and so with Easter, with Jesus’ death and resurrection, we too are re-born. We are offered a new chance to feel hope and offer hope. Jesus’ resurrection fills our hearts with the same feeling and love that a beautiful warm spring day can bring. During the month of April, students will focus on the virtue of JUSTICE. As our Justice banner states, “the first step to achieving justice is to do what is right and stand up for what we know God wants.” It only seems fitting that during the month of April, we also acknowledge the valuable contributions that volunteers make at St. Maurice. From April 19th - April 25th, we take the time to show our appreciation for these individuals through Canadian National Volunteers Week. On behalf of the staff and students at St. Maurice, it is with sincere gratitude that I take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers for the important contribution they make to the lives of our students. Mother Teresa reminds us, “Love cannot remain by itself - it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service.” On behalf of the entire staff at St. Maurice, we wish our students and their families and the entire school community a Holy and Blessed Easter season. Mr. J. Bucci Principal

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

A WARM WECLOME TO OUR NEW STAFF AT ST. MAURICE C.S.

1. Ms. O. Francesconi (LTO for Ms. Duprey); 2. Ms. E. Castillo (LTO for Ms. Bush); 3. Mr. Taylor begins as our full-day caretaker at St. Maurice, welcome. 4. Mr. Fiaschetti (LTO for Ms. Foglia).

SCHOOL CLOSURE AND MENTAL HEALTH: As of schools remain closed until further notice, it is important to self-check and to ensure that our own Mental Health is looked after. Please refer to the guidelines below ����

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING

APRIL 2020

Special COVID-19 Edition: Ways to connect & calm the body & mind

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

STUDENTS • PARENTS & GUARDIANS • TEACHERS

Stay Active!

Tune in to the YMCA Facebook page @YMCAGTA for FREE family-friendly sessions led by their fitness instructors and early childhood educators.

Click here for 5 simple steps to de-stress, from a YMCA yoga instructor.

Be Creative!

The YMCA has shared the following resources to help keep you, and your kids, get creative at home:

• 4 energy-burning activities for at home • Child-Friendly apps to help, rather than hinder, your child's development. • Easy Craft: How to make spring window gel clings

Download. Print. Color. Relax.

Over 100 Museums, Libraries, and Galleries Are Offering Free, Printable Colouring Sheets. Click here to explore all colouring sheets.

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

(Virtual) Travel!

Feeling restless with the recent coronavirus-induced travel restrictions? You can still have adventures from your home!

On top of virtual hikes through 31 National Parks, Google Earth also offers virtual treks through Mt. Fuji in Japan, the Khumbu valleys at the base of Mt. Everest in Nepal, Gombe National Park in Tanzania and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

Listen!

Concerts - both professional and amateur - are taking place in front of online audiences daily, here are a few favourites we've seen:

• Separated by coronavirus pandemic, students from Navy base in Italy sing a Bon Iver song together online

• Caremongering in Toronto is a fantastic way for communities to pull together and help our neighbours in times of need.

• Singing in Italy, this lovely video shows the spirit of humanity thriving in difficult times • Berlin's Staatsoper, streamed a performance of George Bizet's Carmen. • Conductor Simon Rattle's performance of Luciano Berio's Sinfonia and Bela

Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. • James Blunt performed his concert in Hamburg's empty Elbphilarmonie - but to an online

audience of millions.

Look At!

Museums, galleries and other attractions are providing virtual tours:

• 10 of the world’s best virtual museum and art gallery tours • Ripley's Aquarium • Toronto Zoo

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

Need Some Support? Kids Help Phone is Here!

Did you know? Youth in need of health support have access to trained counsellors 24/7 by phone or online. Parents/guardians who have mental health concerns about their child/student are also encouraged to get in touch with Kids Help Phone.

Visit www.kidshelpphone.ca or call 1-800-668-6868 for more info and resources.

STUDENTS

Toronto Public Library: Suggested Learning/Reading

Kids can listen to stories any time with Dial-A-Story service, available in 16 languages. Dial 416-395-5400 or click here to visit the TPL website to learn more. Browse nearly 4,000 digital comics, available right now with your library card. Click here to browse comics now.

16 Strategies to Help You Thrive

We all deserve to feel well and to thrive. In order to get there, the first thing to keep in mind is that we ALL have mental health to protect, promote and celebrate.

The Canadian Mental Health Association has 16 strategies to try each day, and reflect on how they impact your mood and sense of well-being. Keep track of which strategies make the biggest impact and keep them in your back pocket to boost your mental health on the bad days, and on the good ones too. Click here for the list of 16 Strategies to Help You Thrive

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

Tips for Connecting with Others

• If you don’t feel that you have anyone to call, reach out to acquaintances. Lots of other people feel just as uncomfortable about making new friends as you do—so be the one to break the ice, or reconnect with an old friend!

• Get out from behind your TV or computer screen. Communication is a largely nonverbal experience that requires you to have direct contact with other people, so don’t neglect your real-world relationships in favor of virtual interaction

• Be a joiner. Join networking, social, or special interest groups that meet virtually. These groups offer wonderful opportunities for meeting people with common interests

• Don’t be afraid to smile and say hello to strangers you cross paths with (while maintaining 2 metres of physical distance). Making a connection is beneficial to both of you—and you never know where it may lead!

PARENTS & GUARDIANS

Staying Updated AND Mentally Healthy

The World Health Organization makes the following recommendations to protect your mental health during this time: Minimize watching, reading or listening to news that causes you to feel anxious or distressed; seek information only from trusted sources.

Seek information updates at specific times during the day, once or twice. The sudden and near-constant stream of news reports about an outbreak can cause anyone to feel worried. Get the facts; not the rumors and misinformation.

Visit the WHO website and local health authorities’ platforms to help you distinguish facts from rumors: Toronto Public Health, Health Canada.

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

Tips for Talking to Children about COVID-19

CAMH has compiled resources to support families and individuals during this time:

• Talking to children about COVID-19 and its impact (one pager) • Mental Health and the COVID-19 pandemic (webpage and resources)

Resources to Help Mental Wellness

• Promoting Personal Resiliency • Hanging Out at Home: A Short Story for Kindergarten - Grade 2

Community Mental Health Resources

Youth in need of mental health support have access to trained counsellors 24/7 by phone or online. Additional resources also available. https://kidshelpphone.ca/1-800-668-686

• Psychology Foundation of Canada - Parent Resources The Psychology Foundation of Canada (PFC) is a registered charity with a 40+ year history of nurturing resilience in children.

• School Mental Health Ontario - Provides information to support youth mental health during COVID-19

• The ABCs of Mental Health - The Resources include ideas for promoting the mental health of children and adolescents, information about how children change as they get older, descriptions of behaviours that might indicate a problem, and practical suggestions for steps to take

• Teen Mental Health.org - This resource provides tips and coping strategies for youth that may be helpful during COVID-19.

• Anxiety Canada provides information and resources to support youth and adults manage anxiety. The Mindshift app can be accessed here

• CALM - This is an app designed to help people with sleep, meditation and relaxation

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

TEACHERS

Supporting Staff Mental Health

For TCDSB staff looking for help, the EFAP provides immediate and confidential assistance for any work, health or life concern. Click here to learn more about available support through EFAP.

Our Next Edition: May 2020

It felt so good, hopeful, and impossible to hear birds singing when I opened the door this morning. How can something so “normal” as birds singing continue to go on? In this very strange and anxiety producing time as adults and caregivers, our mental health is being challenged like never before. In addition to this, our need to be present, calm and tuned into our children’s well-being is also of paramount importance. It is to this end that we want to reduce the feelings of being overwhelmed, provide accurate information and some realistic ways of coping. May the birds always sing and touch our souls!

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

This newsletter is brought to you by the TCDSB Mental Health Team. Feel free to contact us with any comments, questions or suggestions at 416-222-8282:

Marie-Josée Grendron, PhD, C.Psych. Chief of Mental Health Strategy & Staff Well-Being, ext. 2774 Maria Peixoto, MSW, RSW Interim Mental Health Lead, ext. 2772

SCHOOL DRESS CODE A reminder to all families that the TCDSB has a common dress code for all students from K-8 in elementary school. As such, students must wear any combination of solid white and navy garments (i.e.: plain white or plain navy-blue top with plain navy-blue bottom. No denim or jeans or logos are permitted. Students are expected to wear this attire while at school, on excursions, participating in competitions and tournaments, and while attending Mass. SAFE ARRIVAL AND SCHOOL HOURS

START and Morning Bell: 8:30 a.m. Morning Recess: 10:12 a.m. – 10:27 a.m. Indoor Lunch: 11:15 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. Lunch Recess: 11:35 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Afternoon Recess: 1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. Dismissal – END of the Day: 3:00 p.m. Parents/Guardians, please exercise caution when you are dropping off your son/daughter to school, especially in the front of the school where cars are coming and going. Respect posted speed limits (40 Km/h), DO NOT PARK “left wheels to curb,” and please avoid blocking neighbours’ driveways, even if only for a brief moment. We kindly ask that you leave the BUS LOADING ZONE free from parked vehicles as this causes bus children to be late and prevents buses from parking properly so students can exit the bus safely. One of our kind and caring mothers who volunteers at the school, will re-direct you to “move-along” and park elsewhere. Thank you for your continued support with this matter. We want all students at St. Maurice to be safe and sound while coming to school ����

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

Please do not drop off your children to their designated yard before 8:15 a.m., as students will not be supervised. Also, if you are dropping off your son/daughter, please do so in the yard and we ask that you kindly leave the children to play while supervised by a staff member. Parents should not be waiting in the school yard between 8:15-8:30 a.m. SAFE ARRIVAL – CONTINUED… We are happy that you take interest in your son/daughter’s education and that you enjoy coming into the school! We gladly welcome you into St. Maurice, however, we ask that you sign-in at the main office so we can identify who is in the building. If you need to be inside the building, please ask Ms. Fabrizi (our secretary) for a Visitor badge. We ask that parents/guardians NOT take students directly to their classroom (even when arriving late at school. Students must obtain a late slip before going to their classrooms). If you need to speak with a teacher, please feel free to call the school and have Ms. Fabrizi take a message for you! Staff will gladly call you back ���� PIZZA DAY AND PITA PIT LUNCHES: There is be no lunches for the month of APRIL as the school still remains closed. SCHOOL MESSENGER E-MAIL COMMUNICATIONS TO FAMILIES:

This year, we are trying our best to go paper-less. Having said this, we are slowly rolling out sending communications to all our school community via email. On a daily or weekly basis, we will be sending email broadcast “blasts” to you. If you are NOT set up with an active email address with your son/daughter at the school, I invite you to create a simple email address/account (for example: Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Outlook…). Once completed, please call the school so we can update your new email address and keep it saved on file ����

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

SCHOOL CASH ONLINE:

Another initiative this year for our St. Maurice Community is to go “Cash-less” at school. I have already sent home hard copies of School Cash Online and I have also sent out an email blast to everyone regarding this simple and easy way to pay for lunches, school trips, and other school functions. This method of payment saves you time and there is no need to stress about money being brought into the school and getting lost. We ask that all parents/guardians register and sign up using this new system by the end of November. So far, we have over 100 families online!! This is GREAT! However, we are aiming for this number to increase by March 2020. MEDICAL CONCERNS/ALLERGIES/ANAPHYLAXIS NEW STUDENT PLAN OF CARE As you know, our school is an allergen aware school. There are many students and adults in the building who suffer from severe and life-threatening allergies to certain foods, such as peanut and nut products. We are asking for your help in not sending to school foods that contain peanut or nut byproducts. Also, we also ask that you DO NOT send baked foods for Birthdays or other special occasions as cross contamination may had occurred. An alternative to celebrative special events (without food) could be bringing in pencils, erasers, stickers, or other small items students can use on a daily basis. We have sent home new forms titled: “Student Plan of Care” to those students who require an Epi-Pen (Anaphylaxis), who have Asthma, Diabetes and/or who experience Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders. All forms must be signed by parents/guardians as well as appropriate medical practitioner along with a verified stamp and contact information. If you are in need of another form, please contact us at school. A reminder that all Student Plan of Care Forms were due to the office by: Friday October 11th, 2019.We are still missing a few of these documents. So please, once signed and/or stamped by your family doctor, please return all completed forms to the main office ASAP! SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM: Our Morning Meal Nutrition Program started off with a great success!! Please be advised that students will eat their morning meal just before morning recess. If we have additional left-over food, we will offer these food items to all students and staff in the school for the last recess of the day ����

2019 - 2020 ∙ ROOTED IN CHRIST: WE BELONG, WE BELIEVE, WE BECOME

UPDATED TCDSB TRUSTEE LIST: