Principal’s Message

This month, our Lenten journey will begin. Easter is the greatest feast in the Christian calendar. On Easter

Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. For Catholics, Easter Sunday

comes at the end of 40 days of prayer and fasting known as Lent. Through spiritual struggle and self-denial,

we have prepared ourselves to die spiritually with Christ on Good Friday, the day of His Crucifixion, so that

we can rise again with Him in new life on Easter. Easter is a day of celebration because it represents the

fulfilment of our faith as Christians. St. Paul wrote that, unless Christ rose from the dead, our faith is in vain

(1 Corinthians 15:17). Through His death, Christ saved mankind from bondage to sin, and He destroyed the

hold that death has on all of us; but it is His resurrection that gives us the promise of new life, both in this

world and the next.

During the liturgical season of Lent, we are naturally drawn to the call of Almsgiving. Again this year, we

have organized a collection of caring where donations will support the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The col-

lection plan is as follows:

MARCH BREAK: March 11 – 15, 2019: NO COLLECTIONS THIS WEEK

Week One: March 18 – 22, 2019: Cereal (e.g., boxed cereals, Oatmeal, etc.).

Week Two: March 25 – 29, 2019: Pasta (e.g., spaghetti/noodles, Kraft Dinner, etc.).

Week Three: April 1 – 5, 2019: Canned Goods (e.g., soup, canned vegetables, etc.).

Week Four: April 8 – 11, 2019: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

HOLY WEEK: April 15 – 18, 2019: Delivery/Pick Up of all Donations

Within the school, we will continue our conversation and learning with our students of ‘why’ it is important

to support others during the season of Lent. This is a wonderful opportunity for the students of St. Jo-

seph’s to lead our school in outreach as we Journey to the foot of the Cross with others during Lent. What

we message out, display, pray and teach can foster this learning and further the understanding of our Cath-

olic call to action. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely, Heather Graham Principal

34 Potts Rd. Simcoe ON • 519.426-0820 • www.stjosephsimcoe.ca twitter.com @stjcatholic Principal: Mrs. Heather Graham Vice Principal: Mrs. Sue Defreyne

Secretary: Mrs. Joyce Barrett & Mrs. Mary VandenBussche

MARCH 2019 NEWSLETTER

Registration for Kindergarten

It is never too late to register for Kindergarten for next year. Stu-dents who will turn 4 years of age by December 31, 2019 are eligi-ble for JK, while students who will turn 5 are eligible for SK. If you know of families in our area who have children of this age, please pass this information along to them. Registration will be complet-ed online. If assistance is required, please call the school at 519-426-0820 or visit www.bhncdsb.ca

On Tuesday February 19th, the Youth Leadership and Social Jus-tice Team visited the St. Vincent de Paul cupboard that is locat-ed in the basement of St. Mary’s Parish. Joe and Midge Farrell taught us all about the mission of St. Vincent de Paul and the great work of the lay people in our own church. Did you know that it is a charitable organization run by volunteers serving 2138 people in our own community? The members also help out in the Soup Kitchen serving 4005 meals in 79 days. At the end of Lent our students will deliver and help stock the shelves at St. Vincent de Paul.

Youth Leadership and Social Justice Team Lent Campaign

SHROVE TUESDAY

March 5th

To begin our Lenten season, once again students will have the opportunity to enjoy pancakes and a

drink on Shrove Tuesday. The pancakes will be prepared by Kaley’s Restaurant and served during the

first Nutrition Break. If you have any concerns about food allergies, please contact the school. For fur-

ther information, please see the note that went home February 19th.

St. Mary’s Church

First Reconciliation:

March 3 9am @ St. Cecilia’s or 11am @ St. Mary’s

First Holy Communion Weekends: May 4/5, May 18/19, May

25/26, June 1/2

March 1 Carnival K-6

March 5 Shrove Tuesday

Mardi Gras Gr 7-8

March 6 Ash Wednesday

Mass at 11:00

Term 2 IEPs go home

March 7 Rescheduled Pizza Day

March 11-15 March Break No School this week

March 21 World Down Syndrome Day

wear your coloured socks

April 3 Grade 8 Grad Photos

April 10 Parent Council Skype

April 12 PA Day

April 17 Volleyball Tournament

April 25 First Communion Retreat

Change your CLOCKS and your SMOKE

DETECTOR BATTERIES

On Sunday, March 10th, 2019 we

turn our clocks ahead one hour. This is a re-

minder that the batteries in your

smoke and CO2 detectors should

change also.

REMINDERS

Remember that there is no supervision on the playground for your child until 8:15 am. For the safety of all, please do not drop your child off before this time.

As well, the parking lot and surrounding streets of the school are not accessible between 8:15 and 8:45 as well as 2:40-3:00. Please drive carefully when dropping your child(ren) off as it is a very busy place.

Please remember to contact the school to inform us of your child’s absence from class.

519-426-0820.

Attention Parents!!!

The Before and After School Program which is located at our school, now has available spac-

es. Please sign up with One List to provide us with the information about your child(ren).

Children ages 3 to 12 are welcome. Healthy snacks, fun and educational games and crafts

are provided. We Can’t wait to hear from you and meet your child(ren).

We Need Volunteers!

The Letters, Sounds and Words program is now in full operation. Our school is fortunate to have this

program available to help children aged five to seven learn the names or sounds of letters, recognize

commonly used words or how to blend sounds together to form words. This program is available

through the generous donation of time that a group of dedicated volunteers provide. The Letters,

Sounds and Words program is a ten week program in which volunteers work one on one with a child

for thirty minutes each week. We currently have one volunteer working with a total of 5 children. We

appreciate the continued support of the volunteers who are providing this worthwhile program in

our school. The volunteers have participated in four hours of training prior to volunteering with a

child.

If you are interested in this meaningful volunteer opportunity more information is available at

www.strongstart.ca. Please contact Mrs. Johnson who coordinates this program at our school if you

are interested in volunteering. We would welcome additional volunteers.

Volunteering and Police Checks

In accordance with B.H.N.C.D.S.B. Policy, if parents wish to accompany their chil-dren on a school excursion or volunteer in the classroom, they must have a cur-rent Police Check Clearance Certificate. If we have your form on file, you are still re-

quired to sign a Declaration every year during the 3 year time frame. Remember all volunteers

are required to complete an online A.O.D.A. training module. Please contact the office to obtain a letter to take to the police station. Police Check processing can take some time so get yours done early, especially in anticipation of year end trips.

No exceptions will be made.

Last Call for Food Orders

Please remember all food orders will be done

through /bhncdsb.schoolcashonline.com/

at the end of March. You can still register!