Please feel free to click on the Translate button on the bottom of the newsletter to choose your language of preference! (Arabic, Spanish, Hausa, Portuguese, Taglog, Polish, Italian, Malayalam, Hindi etc.)

Hay una opción de traducción en el boletín informativo. W biuletynie znajduje się opcja tłumaczenia. هناك خيار ترجمه في النشرة الاخباريه

Welcome back! As we begin our journey into a new school year, we begin by extending our appreciation to the St. Edith Stein community for your continued kindness, understanding and support. Thank you to our custodians, Mrs. Madore, Mr. Matoni and Mr. Tigani for working tirelessly through the heat and humidity to ensure that our school is a clean and safe place for all. We are also grateful to have wonderful educators who have given of their time to prepare for your child's entry into a new year.

To all who are new to the St. Edith Stein community, whether you have joined us in our remote only class or in our in-person classes - we welcome you with open hearts. A special greeting is also extended to our Junior Kindergarten children who are starting school for the first time. May your begin your journey into learning with wonderful memories.

To all of our families who are suffering due to illness or have experienced hardships know that we are here for you and that our thoughts and prayers are with you. [I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13]. May God's grace and peace be with you to support you with your challenges.

Please join us in welcoming our new staff members:

Mrs. van Putten (head secretary), Mr. Cordeiro (teacher) and Ms. Rodrigues (remote classroom teacher). Welcome to the team!

We look forward to creating an exciting learning environment for all of our learners. Our staff is dedicated and committed to working with our parents, parish and community partners as they support the children in their quest for a Catholic faith-based education. In cooperation with our Parish Team, our Catholic School Council, our Superintendent Dr. Lewis, our Trustee, Mrs. Corbet as well as you, the parents our school will work to support the well-being and achievement of your children.

Please note that you can follow us on Twitter @SteinDPCDSB for a window into learning at our school. Our newsletters and updates will be emailed out and available on our website at https://www.dpcdsb.org/STEIN.

May God continue to bless you, your children, your families and friends throughout the 2021-2022 school year.

Kathleen Ferrao

Principal

To you and to all , I repeat: Never yield to discouragement. Do not lose trust, do not allow your hope to be extinguished.

(Pope Francis)

Before the first day of school, you will receive an email through school messenger providing you with the name of your child's teacher and their classroom number.

All students in SK to grade 8 will start school on September 7th. Kindergarten educators will contact parents of JK students on September 7 to let them know what the procedures for starting school will be for their JK students. JK students will have a staggered entry into the school year. All students from JK to grade 8 will be in attendance on September 10th.

From 8:45 a.m. - 9:00 am.: Mrs. Habashy, Mrs. Vago, Mrs. Thrasher, Mr. Longo and myself will be assisting parents and children by directing them to the area in which they will gather with their teacher (see map below). School staff will also greet children arriving on the bus, ensuring that they are supervised until they are able to find their teacher. Parents are not permitted to enter the building with their child(ren). Teachers will meet the children in the designated zones in the school yard rain or shine.

Students will be dismissed through their dismissal doors (see chart and map below). If you have a young child teachers will wait with them until they are directly given to an adult listed on his/her pick up list. Teachers will be asking who will be picking up your child on the first morning. If you have an older child, please ensure that they know how they are getting home and with whom. Remind your older child to be on time to pick up their sibling(s).

Problem? If you have a question on the first morning, please talk to a staff member. There will be extra staff outside to help with lost and new students.

Reminders:

Please be reminded NOT TO PARK OR STOP your car for an extended period in the Kiss & Ride lane at anytime. Please observe parking signs.

Please be reminded that you are not allowed to photograph or video any child other than your own on school property. We discourage photography on school property due to privacy and safety concerns. As well, we discourage adults from observing children during lunch and recess play time. We strive to maintain a safe environment at all times for our staff and students.

Each student should arrive at school with a full, reusable water bottle along with snacks and lunch each day. Due to COVID restrictions, parents will not be permitted to entry to the school to drop off lunches for children. In case of emergency, we will meet you at the door to get your child's lunch and place it on the table for your child to pick up at lunch time. Please put your child's name on their lunch. If your child forgets their lunch, we will contact you. If children will be going home for lunch, it is our expectation that your child will go directly home and then return to school in time for the afternoon classes to begin. A note will go home on the first day of school that you may sign to give your child permission to go home every day. Intermediate students must have a signed note from parents to leave school property for lunch. In this case, they are encouraged to return to school after eating their lunch.

Students will go outside during recesses and for 40 minutes of the lunch hour. They will be expected to stay in their own cohorts while outside (i.e. in areas outside with students from their own classes. Students will be able to remove masks when they are playing outside. They will be able to go to the sink and wash their hands as needed.

Please ensure that your child has the appropriate cutlery required to eat their snacks/lunches. Keeping the environment in mind, we will not be providing plastic forks/spoons for students to use.

Students from Kindergarten to grade 8, per the direction from our Public Health authorities, will be required to wear a mask that covers their mouth, nose and chin while inside the school building. Please send children to school with at least 2 clean cloth masks each day along with a bag or container, labelled with the child's name, to store the masks. (Please provide separate bags/containers for clean and used masks). If you choose to provide a face shield for your child, please note that the shield will be work in addition to a mask - a shield will not replace the need for a mask, it offers eye protection. Although hand sanitizer will be available at school, students are permitted and encouraged to bring their own unscented hand sanitizer for their personal use. Please note that all of our classrooms have sinks and students will be encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water throughout the day. Hand sanitizer is also available.

In order to maintain social distancing and limit potential gathering in the school yard Dufferin-Peel schools will be allowing for soft entry to the school each morning. Students will be provided access to the school beginning at 8:45 each morning. Each of the designated entrance doors will be unlocked for students to enter and go to their respective class. Parents are not permitted to enter the school doors with their child(ren). Doors will be supervised by staff and locked again at 9:00 a.m.

It is important that your child arrive to school on time and ready to learn. Our school hours are as follows:

8:45 a.m. Students provided access to the school

9:00 a.m. Morning classes begin
10:25-10:40 a.m. RECESS
12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
2:20-2:35 p.m. RECESS

3:20 Classes Begin Dismissal as outlined below (by surname)

3:30 p.m. End of School Day

Staggered entry and dismissal procedures will allow for physical distancing. students will be entering and exiting the school from their assigned Exit/Entrance doors (please see maps and chart below).

• Beginning September 8, all students will enter the school upon their arrival from 8:45 a.m. -9:00 a.m. Students should be in their class, ready for learning by 9:00 a.m.
• Students whose surnames begin with the letters: A, B, C, D, E, and F will be dismissed at 3:20 p.m.
• Students whose surnames begin with the letters: G, H, I, J, K, L, M and N will be dismissed at 3:25 p.m.
• Teachers will escort all remaining students to their exit doors at 3:30 p.m.
• The bus will be boarded upon its arrival.

The PLASP daycare centre is being expanded. The construction has not yet been completed. Because of the construction, part of the parking lot has been compromised to make accommodations for their dumpster. It is not possible to have 2-way traffic in that area. In the interest of student safety, the parking lot will be closed from 3:15-3:30 p.m. each day. If you have a child that is in a primary class that is not dismissed at the front door, please contact the school so that we can allow your child to exit through the front and meet you at the Kiss 'N Ride. We will let the teacher know.

As a school community we will be focusing our attention on supporting student's mental health and well-being. All staff have received training and will be engaging students in activities that support each of the 5 key areas noted above (connecting, kindness, self-care, support seeking and gratitude) in order to develop a positive school climate. Below you will find a link to some posters with ideas you can also practice at home.

Please click below to find Trustee Brea Corbet's newsletter.

We look forward to continuing the WITS program this year and hope to start training our grade 6-8 students to become WITS Leaders. For parents who are not familiar with WITS, you can click on the link: https://witsprogram.ca/families/using-wits-with-your-child/wits-in-action-for-families/ to access the introductory video.

As we begin a new school year, we would like to inform you that St. Edith Stein is an allergen aware school. There are pupils and staff in attendance who suffer from severe and life threatening allergies to certain foods, such as dairy, egg, peanut and nut products. Exposure to even the smallest quantities can cause severe life threatening reactions. Anaphylaxis is a severe and life threatening allergic reaction. The most common allergen triggers are food, insect stings, medications, and latex. An anaphylactic reaction involves symptoms from two or more body systems. We at St. Edith Stein School would appreciate the cooperation of the entire school community by NOT sending any lunches or snacks that contain nut or nut byproducts which could potentially harm a pupil. Please make sure that all of your children’s caregivers are aware of the food restrictions. Please do not send food for birthdays or special occasions. We look forward to your co-operation in making this a safe year for all of our pupils.

STOPR - Transportation Procedures

The distance criteria for transportation eligibility must be more than:

• 1.0 kilometer Kindergarten and Grade 1

• 1.6 kilometers for Grades 2 – 4

• 2.0 kilometers for Grades 5 – 8

• 3.8 kilometers for Grades 9 – 12

If your child is moving to grade 2, grade 5, or grade 9 in the 2020-2021 school year, their eligibility status for transportation may be changing. Eligibility information can be accessed at the website noted below.

All transported kindergarten and grade 1 students are required to be met by a parent/caregiver when disembarking from their bus on their return trip from school.

Contacting STOPR

Internet: www.stopr.ca. This website provides up to date delay and inclement weather cancellation information in addition to policy, procedures and frequently asked questions businfo.stopr.ca. Please consider registering for notice of alerts regarding issues such as buses running behind schedule. The STOPR website also allows parents to access information specific to “what school do I attend” and “am I eligible for transportation”. This site also provides parents access to specific bus stop location and pick up and drop off times for their children if eligible for transportation.

Telephone: STOPR: Phone: 905 890-6000

Toll free: 1-800 668-1140

If your child has a medical condition, please ensure that the school is aware of it by submitting the proper forms and medication as soon as possible.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medications and forms are updated for any student who requires medication to be administered at school. If your child requires medication, please have the necessary forms completed and return them, along with any medication, to the office as soon as possible. Please remember to check the expiry dates of all medication before bringing them to school.

At this time we are deploying school devices to our remote learners only. Devices to in-person learners will only be deployed if the student is directed to isolate for Covid-19.

NOTE: As of August 23, 2021, the financing option for these Dell devices is no longer available.

Over the past year, remote learning and COVID related school closures have highlighted the importance of technology for the student learning experience. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) worked diligently to provide students with the necessary resources to support their remote learning needs.

In order to further support our student community, the DPCDSB is pleased to announce that DELL is offering directly to you, exclusive purchase prices for computing devices to enhance learning within the classroom and remotely from home.

Please note that all purchases include:

• Academic discount pricing
• 3-year warranty
• Free Shipping to the address of your choice

Click www.dell.ca/dufferinpeelschool to review the catalog and make online purchases.

For more information about the Dell Device Purchasing program, contact Emily_Basque@Dell.com.

Disclaimer: The above noted offer is being provided to you directly from Dell. By participating in this offer, you acknowledge and agree that: (1) DPCDSB cannot and does not attest to the quality, safety or condition of the computing devices and accepts no liability or responsibility in relation to the offer, including the safety, condition, or operation of the computing devices; and (2) DPCDSB will not provide service or support and will not reimburse or compensate for any costs related to the offer and/or devices purchased.

Our vision of education in Dufferin-Peel Catholic schools is rooted in the gospel values of faith, hope and love. All sectors of society, including the education sector, must work to keep pace with our rapidly changing world. Our teaching and learning environments - our schools and classrooms - must continue to change and adapt to ensure that our students continue to succeed. Our students and staff are already engaged as 21st century learners, living and shaping ways of being, becoming and belonging in our world. St. Edith Stein School is a PED ready school. DPCDSB Personal Electronic Device Use form with Wi-Fi Network Student Agreement will be signed for all new registrations. It is also be available on our website for download. Please read it over and have yourself and your child sign it so that they may bring their devices to school to be used for educational purposes as directed by staff.

Personal Electronic Devices on Board Premises and/or Board Sanctioned Events for Educational Purposes:

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board acknowledges the value of the use of technology for learning. Students are permitted to register and use personal electronic devices (PEDs) on board premises and/or board sanctioned events for educational purposes, under the direction of staff and only with parent/guardian permission (GF 066, Network User Application and Agreement). Students may register their PED for the purpose of connecting to the board wireless network. Students are required to adhere to the student “Personal Electronic Device Used with WI-FI Network Student Agreement” and the “Network User Application and Agreement.” Please be advised that the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will not be responsible for any cost incurred through the use of personal data plans.

PEDs are to be used responsibly and should not interfere with learning; their use must comply with the Catholic Code of Conduct, board policies and procedures. Any personal communications (i.e., phone calls, text messages, etc.) will continue to be directed through the main office. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in a loss of PED privileges and/or any other consequences deemed necessary by school administration.

The school principal may authorize limited acceptable uses of personal electronic devices during school-sanctioned activities for a specific designated purpose outside of instructional spaces and/or in common areas.

Students are responsible for the safety and security of PEDs at all times and the Board assumes no responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen devices.

Don't Forget to Get yourself set up on School CashOnline as we are no longer able accept cash payment.

Please follow the link below to register online - it takes less than two minutes!

https://dpcdsb.schoolcashonline.com

You will need your child’s name and date of birth. Use of student number is optional.

Should you encounter any difficulties, you can use the parent help desk at 1 (866) 961-1803 or the support link on the school cash online website.

PAY WITH: Credit Card or Debit Card

1. Create Your Profile:

Go to https://dpcdsb.schoolcashonline.com/ and click on "Get Started Today".

2. Confirm Your Email:

Check your inbox for the email confirmation and click on the link inside. Sign in with your new login details.

3. Add a Student

Click "Add Student" and fill in the required fields with your child’s details:

1. School Board name

2. Select a school

3. Legal First Name

4. Legal Last Name

5. Birth Date (Month/Day/Year)