Principal s Message MONSIGNOR HALLER CATHOLIC SCHOOL. September Mark Your Calendars: God Bless, Tanya Hunter

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1 September Newsletter MONSIGNOR HALLER CATHOLIC SCHOOL Principal s Message Welcome back!! On behalf of the staff, we would like to extend our warmest welcome to the new families who have also joined the Monsignor Haller family!! And, welcome back all returning families to the school year! We hope that you have had a restful and wonderful summer with time spent with family and friends. This new school year will continue to build on the many positive aspects at Monsignor Haller School in order to provide the best Catholic education for our students. September brings another school year filled with engaging learning opportunities, in and out of the classroom, and community building activities for our students. We are excited to work with you and your children this year, and our wish is to work cooperatively together so that we ensure the best interests of our children always remain first and foremost. If you have a concern, please do not hesitate to let us know. Early and ongoing communication can help us deal with problems before they become serious. As a caring community of learners, the staff at Monsignor Haller Catholic School believes that all students deserve an education with high expectations and the ability to learn in a friendly, safe and respectful environment. We are excited to kick-off our School Wide theme this year of We are All Smart as we uncover the amazing and different talents and gifts each one of us brings. In addition to monthly assemblies celebrating our different smarts, we will also be handing out recognition awards where students have demonstrated their gifts and talents in special ways to our school community. Look forward to Smarts Days in the year ahead. We are trying to do our part in going green. Therefore, kindly visit our website regularly for information concerning the school, and sign up for our electronic news at: This year, our school newsletters will be posted on our website for your convenience, beginning in October. Paper copies will be available at the office should you need to pick one up. In order to nurture hope in every learner and ensure success for each and place for all, we strive to be a safe and inclusive school where we protect the dignity of all individuals. We look forward to supporting our staff, students, and families this new school year. Our wishes and prayers are with everyone this year. I would like to welcome Fr. Larry to our school community and look forward to our first mass with him on Sept. 25th. God Bless, Tanya Hunter Mark Your Calendars: School pictures will be taken on October 19th for all students, JK to Grade 8. There will be a class picture taken and an individual picture of your child. If you do not wish to have your child s picture taken with her/his class, please contact your child s teacher. Please try to avoid appointments which cause students to be out of school on that day since class pictures cannot be retaken.

2 School Calendar Sept. 8 First Day of School Sept. 18 PD Day Oct. 12 Thanksgiving Monday Nov. 13 PD Day Dec. 18 Last day of school before Christmas Break December 21 - January 3 Christmas Break Jan. 4 First Day Back Jan. 29 PD Day Feb. 15 Family Day Holiday Mar. 11 Last day of school before March Break March 14 - March 28 March Break Mar. 21 First Day Back Mar. 25 Good Friday No School Mar. 28 Easter Monday No School Apr. 22 PA Day May 23 Victoria Day June 3 PD Day June Last Day of School Monsignor Haller Staff Principal Mrs. Hunter Administrative Assistant Mrs. Garibaldi Teaching Staff Mrs. Szymkowski Miss Boutzis Miss Schnarr Mrs. Maloney Mrs. Gaiger Mr. Jolly Mrs. Mikuljan Miss Stevens Mr. Gruber Mr. Nahrgang Mr. Bell Mme Nash Ms. Gross Mrs. Walker Itinerant Teachers Mrs. Wadel Mrs. Radisic Mr. Marcotte Educational Assistants Mrs. Roethel Mrs. Scherbey DECE TEACHERS Miss Lynn Mrs. Hehn Library Technician Mrs. Marin Lunch Supervisor Mrs. Kilgour Mrs. Ribeiro-Cerqueira Custodian Mr. Werner Page 2

3 Open House Wednesday, September 16th 5:00 pm 7:00pm All members of our school community are invited to meet the staff of Monsignor Haller Catholic School on Wednesday, Sept. 16 th, 2015 from 5:00 pm to 7:00pm. More details to follow. Thankyou! Enrolment and Class Structures Students and staff are already building community together in their new classes and learning new routines for a successful school year! The staff at Monsignor Haller spent many hours of planning and collaborating last spring while creating our class lists. Teachers use their professional judgment to address individual and collective needs. We have a strong, effective and committed teaching staff, all of whom are dedicated to delivering a challenging, supportive and inspiring program to every student. Parking At Monsignor Haller The Parking Lot is available to School Staff only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Parents are not permitted to enter the parking lot to pick up students mid day for appointments or to drop off lunches.you must park at the assigned parking areas on Shea Crescent. Only approved parent volunteers are permitted into the lot during the hours listed above. Please do not park in the No Stopping or Bus Loading Zones on Shea Crescent. By-Law officers, monitor this area on a regular basis and tickets offenders. There is considerable parking available on Shea Crescent for the pick up and drop off of students outside the No Stopping Zones. Many schools across the Waterloo Region have adopted this policy in the interest of student safety. Page 3

4 Peanut Aware School Environment Once again this year, we have several students attending Monsignor Haller Catholic School with severe allergies that can cause anaphylactic reactions. An anaphylactic reaction is an allergic reaction so severe that it can cause death. Some of our children have severe allergies to Peanuts and Nut Products. Since these children can react to trace amounts, inhaling or ingesting even minute amounts can trigger a life threatening reaction. Emergency treatment involves an immediate drug injection and an immediate trip to the hospital. These children with this allergy show maturity in dealing with their allergy. They are taught not to share any food because of a possible reaction. All of us need to do what we can to provide these children with a safe learning environment. Although this may or may not affect your child s class directly, we respectfully ask that you not send food products to school that contain peanuts, peanut butter or nut products, remembering to check ingredients carefully. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation. Parents/Guardians of a child who has an anaphylactic condition, diabetes, asthma or any other serious medical condition > please contact the office as soon as possible to ensure that the school staff are aware of the student s condition and provide all pertinent information should an emergency arise. Medication at School If your child requires ANY form of medication, either over the counter (Tylenol, cough medicine) or prescriptions, the school is required to have on file your signed consent. Please contact the Main Office if you require an Administration of Oral Medication form for your child(ren). We are not able to accept a verbal request to administer any form of medication. Safe Arrival Policy The Education Act states that students must attend school regularly and be punctual. It is imperative for the safety of the students that parents/guardians call the school, at each day your child is absent. Students are not allowed to contact the school regarding their own absence. The purpose of this program is to provide a service for parents to check that their children have arrived at school safely. PLEASE do not send students to school earlier than 15 minutes before the morning bell, as there is no supervision during this time. It is also important that students go directly home at the end of the school day for their own safety. The program recognizes that the ultimate responsibility for children rests with the parents. If a child has not arrived at school and a phone call or note has not been received, the secretary will attempt to alert parents by telephone at home or at your place of employment if necessary. If parents cannot be contacted, we will contact the emergency number provided by the parents. Failing to reach parents or emergency contacts, the police will be notified and sent to the home. Page 4

5 Student Agenda s Student Agenda s have been handed out to each student. The cost of the Agenda is $5.00 Please send the money into your child s classroom teacher. Yard Supervision Staff members are on the school yard beginning at 8:35 am. Please have your children arrive at the school after supervision begins in the morning Cell Phones, Electronics, and Tablets For safety reasons, cell phones are permitted at school, however it is understood that these devices must be turned off at all times while at school. Teachers will collect electronics at the beginning of the day and return them at the end of the day. School Evacuation & Emergency Procedures Should our students and staff need to leave the school building due to a gas leak, heating problem, etc., please know that Monsignor Haller Catholic School s evacuation location is Trillium Public School. In our efforts to communicate regularly with our families, we will notify parents when we have safety drills of any nature via newswire so that you may follow up with a conversation with your child(ren) after school. Dress Code A reminder to parents and students that Monsignor Haller Catholic School does have a dress code for its students. Please respect the Dress Code at all times including offsite excursions. The following guidelines will help parents and students when choosing clothing that will contribute to a positive school environment: Tablets, I-Pods and docking stations may be used at school ONLY with teacher permission based on classroom activities. These items will be confiscated and kept in the office if permission is not in place (e.g., using for playing games and/or using tablet during lunch, in the hallways, or any other time not designated by classroom teacher). A parent/guardian may be asked to pick up these items depending on the circumstances. Bringing in personal devices is an option, and the WCDSB does not accept responsibility for the theft, loss or destruction while at school or on school property at any time. Clothing may not display any derogatory or inappropriate writing or pictures; Hats need to be removed upon entering the building; Shoulders must be covered (e.g., no tank tops, spaghetti strap tops, etc.); Shorts and skirts should be of modest length (should be no shorter than mid-thigh). * Students who are inappropriately dressed will be asked to change their clothing at school, or a parent/guardian contacted to bring in a change of clothes. Page 5

6 Visitors and Volunteers in the School For the safety and well-being of our students and staff, including parents and guardians, visitors must sign in and obtain a Visitor badge at the main office. Even if you are only picking up or dropping off your child, you are asked to report to the main office. The Visitor badge should be returned to the office upon your departure and you will be required to sign out. Similarly, whenever volunteering in the school, please sign in at the Main Office and obtain a volunteer badge. The Volunteer badge should be returned to the office when you leave the school. In advance, thank you for your understanding and support. Look ahead to October! October 12 Happy Thanksgiving! October 15 Rosary Liturgy 10:15am October 19 Smile! School Pictures New Online Mathematics Resource for Parents This site is designed for Ontario K-12 students and parents: mathies.ca This Ontario Ministry of Education webpage is for parents, guardians, caregivers and other family members of students Kindergarten to Grade 6. It provides information and online links on how you can help support your child's learning: oame.on.ca/mathies/ September Spirit Days! Haller Hawk Days will continue on TUESDAYS this year! Wear Haller Hawk spiritwear, or wear blue, gray and white! Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Welcomes you to their website: Page 6

7 School Council Update First Meeting of : Monday September 21st at 6:30 pm Everyone is welcome to come out for council meetings. Topics for our first meeting include: School Council Constitution Election Fundraising Please call the office for further information on how you can help make a difference at Monsignor Haller! Communication Guidelines For Parents/Guardians The Waterloo Catholic District School Board has established communication guidelines for parents/guardians and staff. Parents/guardians are requested to follow the steps noted below to ensure prompt and efficient resolution to their questions or possible concerns. At St. Luke School, we encourage a cooperative, constructive, and respectful approach in resolving concerns with students and adults. Step One: - Speak with the Teacher / Staff Member - Issue Resolved Step Two * If issue is not resolved, proceed to Step Two. - Speak with the Principal / Vice Principal *If you have not spoken to the Teacher/Staff Member directly, the Principal/Vice Principal will ask you to do so. Should you not wish to do so, the Principal/Vice Principal will involve the Teacher in a three-way discussion. The Principal/Vice Principal may request, at any time in the process, that you put your concerns in writing. The Principal/Vice Principal may involve, at any time in the process, others whom may be helpful in resolving the issue of concern: supports from the school board, employee group representatives, the local parish, and/or community agencies. The Role of Trustee: You may contact the Trustee at any time. The Trustee will direct you to follow the process outlined above. The Role of Catholic School Council: Catholic School Councils were established to advise the principal on matters such as the school curriculum and the school code of behaviour. Catholic School Council meetings are not forums to discuss individual parent-teacher / staff member-student issues. If these matters are brought to any school council member or any school council meeting, the concern will be referred to the principal / vice principal. Page 7

8 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Open House! 5:00-7:00pm Opening Mass 10:15 am at Blessed Sacrament School Assembly 30 Terry Fox Run Gr. 2 Parent Church Gr. 7 Parent Church

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