PAULINE VANIER CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 56 Oaklea Blvd, Brampton, ON, L6Y 4W7 Tel: Fax:

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1 PAULINE VANIER CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 56 Oaklea Blvd, Brampton, ON, L6Y 4W7 Tel: Fax: Principal S. Chambers Head Secretary T. Winckler Superintendent W. Brunton Family of Schools Mississauga Brampton Central Trustees A. da Silva Advent Prayer God, as light comes from this candle, may the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us, warming our hearts and brightening our way. May Christ our Saviour bring life into the darkness of this world, and to us, as we wait for His coming. Amen. D. D Souza darryl.dsouza@dpcdsb.org Parish Information Father Jan St. Jerome s 8530 Chinguacousy Rd ADMINISTRATOR MESSAGE School Council Chair K. LaNave Learning and Growing Together with God The Season of Advent is upon us, a time when we plan to celebrate the coming of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. We are caught up in the multitude of tasks: buying gifts, baking treats and visiting loved ones. Some of us may have travel plans but we know what is said about the best-laid plans. There is no guarantee that our plans will ever be realized. God s plans, however, are always fulfilled. As we joyfully await the Feast of the nativity, let us mark our Advent path with the signs of love, acceptance, patience, caring, compassion and little acts of kindness and forgiveness. Thank you to our families who are donating to our Non-Perishable Cram-A-Cruiser Food Drive. We will continue to accept donations. We hope to see you our families at out Christmas Carousel on December 14th, 6:00 8:00 p.m. May the joy of Christmas fill your hearts with Love, Hope and Peace. Wishing you a holy and happy Christmas season. God Bless, S. Chambers 1 1

2 THE VIRTURE OF HOPE EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE IN THE WORLD IS DONE BY HOPE. A person of hope is inspired and inspires others optimistic one who seeks good things from life one who sees the good in the world Martin Luther God helps us to work for a more peaceful world even when we feel discouraged. From the perspective of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations, a person of hope... Sees more good than evil in the world Acts legally and morally May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13) THE ADVENT WREATH One of the most important ways we mark this time of waiting is through the Advent wreath. The Advent wreath holds four candles which are lit on the Sunday of each of the four weeks of Advent. There are three violet (purple) candles and one rose (pink) candle, each representing 1,000 years. Added together, the four candles symbolize the 4,000 years that humanity waited for their Savior. Purple is the liturgical color of the Advent season (the same as Lent), which represents penance. The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. On this day we celebrate that our waiting for Christmas is almost over. Rose is a liturgical color that is used to signify joy, so we light the rose candle on the third Sunday of Advent. Each of the candles represents the light of Christ in the World. On the first Sunday, we light a purple candle, representing Hope. On the second Sunday of Advent, we light another purple candle, the candle of Faith. The third Sunday of Advent is when the pink candle is lit, representing Joy. The fourth candle is purple which represents Peace. On many Advent Wreaths, there is a fifth white candle in the centre that represents Jesus birth. It is a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world. When we follow Him, we will never find ourselves in darkness. CATHOLIC SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL The purpose of the Pauline Vanier Catholic School Advisory Council, which is mandated by the Ministry of Education, is through active participation of parents, to improve pupil achievement and to enhance the accountability of the education system to parents. The School Council usually meets every six weeks, but is only mandated by the Ministry of Education to hold a minimum of four meetings a year. All meetings are public meetings and open to all members of the parent community of Pauline Vanier School. The next scheduled meetings are as follows: Thursday, February 15, 2018 Mississauga Brampton Central Family Winter Event Monday, March 5, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday June 13, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend. School Councils are advisory in nature but have a tremendous impact on both the quality of education and day-to-day activities within the school. The school council works in co-operation with our school administrator in providing the best educational experience for our students. We hope that you will decide to join the School Council Team and join us in our commitment to Catholic Education and the future of our children. Merry Christmas and blessing to you all from your Catholic School Advisory Council 2

3 CHRISTMAS MARKET FOR KIDS Thank you for your donations to our upcoming Christmas Market for Kids which will take place on December 20 th, 2017 at Pauline Vanier. This Catholic School Advisory Council sponsored event is an opportunity for students to shop for their loved ones a price point they can afford. It has been a huge success over the last four years. We are continuing to accept donations. The donated items should be appropriate as a gift from a student to his or her parent, grandparent, sibling or friend. Examples: jewellery, mugs, jarred candles, children s books, crafts, DVD s, Christmas decorations, any items for men. We would love it if you could begin gathering items at home or at your work. VOLUNTEERS AND CRIMINAL REFERENCE CHECKS We continue to seek volunteers who would like to work with students, staff, the Catholic School Council, Breakfast Club, Masses at St. Jerome s or on school trips. If you are interested in volunteering, you are reminded to complete the volunteer form and a criminal reference check. NOTE: As of January 2018 volunteers will be required to pay a fee to the Police Department for Criminal Reference Checks. Therefore, if you think you may want to volunteer for an event or trip in the new year and do not have a current Criminal Reference Check on file, you are encouraged to stop by the school and pick up a form before we break for Christmas. MEET OUR NPU OFFICERS Neighbourhood Policing Officers (NPU Officers) from Peel Regional Police work with the local schools to maintain a presence with our youth population. They work directly with teachers and parents to ensure our youth are on the right path to a great future. We welcome Constable Nathan and Constable Louie into our classrooms and our school. YOUTH FAITH AMBASSADORS Catch the Spirit Pass It On! YFA Update The Youth Faith Ambassadors would like to thank the Pauline Vanier community for their generosity with the hard candy drive for Dr. Simone and the Food Drive. The Food Drive will continue until December 12 th, so please send in donations if you have not already done so. Together with Peel Police, we will be Cramming-A-Cruiser with all our food drive donations on December 13 th. The Youth Faith Ambassadors will be presenting our Virtue of Hope Assembly on Friday, December 22 nd at 10:35. They will also be organizing a Share Life Spirit Week. During Spirit Week, they will be collecting a $2.00 donation for ShareLife as well as judging the Christmas Door contest. Thank you for supporting our Youth Faith Ambassador initiatives. Monday, December 18 -Festive Head Gear Day Tuesday, December 19 Dress up as a Tree Day Wednesday, December 20 Wear Read/Green/White Day or Ugly Christmas Sweater Day Thursday, December 21 - Christmas Door Decorating Contest Friday, December 22 Virtue Assembly 10:35 11:20/Movie Day EXTENDED FRENCH INFORMATION MEETING St. Monica will be hosting an Extended French Program Information meeting for parents/guardians of Grade Four students who wish to register for the program. The extended French Program starts in Grade Five, with students receiving 50% of curriculum instruction in the French Language. Parents are encouraged to speak to your child s classroom teacher and French teacher to discuss the suitability of this opportunity for your child. Interested parents and students are invited to this presentation on Wednesday, January 17th, 2018 at 7 p.m. at St. Monica School. (60 Sterritt Drive, Brampton L6Y 5B6) Applications will be accepted at St. Monica until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, February 20 th, FRENCH IMMERSION ONLINE REGISTRATION Online registration for French Immersion will be available from January 15 to February 11, A link to the registration form will be posted on the Board Website. 3

4 INCLEMENT WEATHER BUS CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS- ALERT Due to circumstances over which we have no control at the school, busses can be irregular in their schedules. We realize that this is an inconvenience for you when dropping off or picking up your children at the bus stop. Fortunately parents and guardians can now sign up to receive automatic notification of delay and cancellations for their children s bus run. If you are interested, please go to and click on Delayed Buses then click on the Subscribe to Alerts. OEN numbers can be found on any of their report cards and parents of JK students who do not have a report card can call the school and request the OEN. In addition, during the winter months, inclement weather may cause disruption to bus transportation and regular school operations. A decision to cancel school transportation and/or to close schools is usually made by 6:00 am and will be announced on the radio and television stations identified below. VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 BREAKFAST TELEVISION NEWS AM680 CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1 NEWSTALK1010 AM EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860 FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107 CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS CITY NEWS CTV CFRB (Bell Media) For Pauline Vanier the message will be as follows: All buses for the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board have been cancelled. NOTE: If school buses are cancelled, it means that there will be no bus to or from school. Parents who drive their children to school in the morning must also arrange to pick them up at the end of the day. HOT LUNCHES For those who have pre-ordered - Pizza days will take place on December 5, 12, 19. Lunch Moms will take place on December 14 and 21. Just a reminder that due to food handling safety guidelines we cannot hold unclaimed pizza/lunches to the following day. P. A. L. S. Pauline Vanier School is pleased to announce the return of P.A.L.S. leaders (Playground Activity Leaders in Schools). These leaders have been leading the primary students in a variety of games during recess. The motto for P.A.L.S. leaders is, There is always room for one more. Please encourage your child(ren) in the primary grades, to join in the many fun, safe and social skill building activities. Thank you to all P.A.L.S. leaders and the staff for assisting with this initiative. CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL/SANTA PHOTOS You and your family members are invited to join us for a fun filled evening of Christmas activities on Thursday, December 14, 2017, between 6 8 p.m. at Pauline Vanier School. Some events include a visit from Santa Claus, singing, dancing, craft making and more. Our Catholic School Advisory Council will provide refreshments. Please bring your own camera, if you would like a photo with Santa Claus. VOLLEYBALL On November 21 st, our Intermediate Girls Volleyball team competed at St. Veronica School. The girls worked hard and represented Pauline Vanier with pride. They demonstrated great sportsmanship, and team spirit. Congratulations to our girls team consisting of Angel A, Jamila B, Kaitlyn BL, Christina G, Rachel H, Alexia M, Marissa V and Aaliyah W. Thanks to coaches Mrs. Rigato, Mrs. Cotic and Mrs. Prlic, and to Joel B and Joseph K. 4

5 FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION Kindergarten Registration begins January 8, 2018 Parents/Guardians can now register students online This year, parents/guardians have the option to register online or inperson at Pauline Vanier Catholic School. Online registration will begin on January 8, 2018 at The Online Registration Form should be completed prior to in-person school meetings where documentation will be received on January 15* from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and January from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. *A snow date has been designated on January 16 from 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. If parents/guardians wish to register in-person, they may do so during these specified dates and times. The following documents are required for registration: Registration Form (completed online - copies also available at the school) proof of age of the child (birth certificate or passport) Original Roman Catholic baptismal certificate (for child and/or parent/guardian) or original baptismal certificate from an Eastern Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome. If the child has not been baptized, and the parent/guardian is a baptized Roman Catholic or has been baptized in an Eastern Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome, the parent/guardian must bring their own original baptismal certificate. updated immunization records (Immunization Card, Peel Health Form or Letter of Exemption) proof of Canadian citizenship (Birth Certificate/Passport) or permanent resident status proof of home address (two of the following: property tax bill, current utility bill, real estate document or Government of Canada issued forms) proof of English Separate School Support (may be done at the time of registration by completing an Application For the Direction of School Support and/or a Separate School Lease Agreement available at the school) Inquiries about home school locations/boundary areas should be directed to the Board s Planning Department at ext Admissions are open to Catholic children and children of Catholic parents. Kindergarten students must be at least 4 years of age by December 31, For more information about registration and the Full-Day Kindergarten program, call the school at , visit the Board website at or call the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board at Students currently enrolled in Full-Day Year1 (JK) do not need to register on these evenings. STUDENTS WITH DIFFERING ABILITIES TRANSISIONING TO KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT Information Session to Support the Transition of Children with Differing Abilities in the areas of Vision, Hearing, Speech, Autism, Physical/Medical and/or Developmental Delays in the cognitive and/or motor areas into Kindergarten 2018 On Thursday, January 25, 2018 the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board s Special Education and Learning Services Department will host a Kindergarten entry planning and information session. This meeting is for families of children with differing abilities, such as vision, hearing, speech, autism, physical/medical and/or developmental delays in the cognitive and/or motor areas, who are entering Kindergarten in September The meeting will be held at the Catholic Education Centre 40 Matheson Boulevard West, Mississauga (Hurontario & Matheson), Rm 301, 3 rd floor, from 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. For more information about this session, please call ext Snow Date: January 29, SAFE ARRIVALS For safety reasons, it is very important to notify the school if your child is going to be absent or late. Please call and press 1 to leave a message if your child is going to be absent or late. We have a 24-hour answering machine so a message can be left at any time. 5

6 TRUSTEES MESSAGE A Message from your Catholic School Trustees During this Advent Season, as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, we would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and guardians for choosing a Catholic education for your children. The first three months of the school year have been very successful on many fronts and we have much for which to be thankful. Anna da Silva Brampton Wards 1,3,4 Our schools enjoy strong relationships with our families, local parishes and the community at large, and continue to build more diverse, more welcoming, more humane and more inclusive places to learn and to work. We continue to see strong performances by our students across the board in most areas of the most recent EQAO assessment and our graduation rates are among the highest in the province. Your Board of Trustees continues to work hard on your behalf and on behalf of all students and their families. In the words of our Holy Father, As we contemplate the Crib, let us gaze on the open arms of Jesus, which show us the merciful embrace of God, as we hear the cries of the Child who whispers to us: for my brethren and companions sake, I will say: Peace be within you (Ps 121[122]:8). Thank you, again, for supporting Catholic education, and we wish you all a Blessed Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. ONLINE PAYMENTS As a reminder to parents/guardians, we do not keep cash on hand at school, therefore we are unable to make change at school for such things as trips, pizza, popcorn, etc. We request that parents please use the School Cash Online system whenever possible. If you do choose to pay by cash please provide the exact amount. Furthermore, it would be appreciated if parents/guardians place payments in clearly labeled sealed envelopes or baggies. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause families especially when paying for multiple items at the same time. We still require that these items be submitted separately rather than combined together. WINTERY WEATHER Darryl D Souza, Brampton Wards 2,5,6 Winter is here and it is important that your children are dressed appropriately. Children who are too sick to go outside at recess should be resting at home. We ask parents to ensure that children come with mitts/gloves, winter outerwear, hats, boots and scarves. Please put your child s name first name and last initial in articles such as snow pants and boots. It saves a great deal of confusion when they are all hanging on the racks outside the classrooms. INDOOR SHOES We also recommend that students bring an extra pair of socks and mitts and have a pair of indoor running shoes. Running shoes are the minimal safety requirement for the mandated Daily Physical Activity. It is imperative that all students have a proper pair of running shoes for Physical Education classes. Running shoes with platforms or wheels are not safe. Please ensure your child has a proper pair of running shoes left at school or in their school bag on a daily basis. CHRISTMAS BREAK Just a reminder that school will close on Friday, December 22, 2017 and open again on Monday, January 8, The entire staff of Pauline Vanier would like to wish you a blessed Christmas Season filled with joy, happiness and a Happy New Year. 6

7 Your child is cordially invited to the 5th annual Pauline Vanier Catholic School Council Christmas Market for Kids Wednesday December 20 th, 2017 Here's how it works: 1. Donate a new or almost new item that can be sold at a small price (50c - $5 max) between now and December C.S.C. volunteers will price each item and set up the market in our school gym. 3. Students bring in their money (budgeted by parent/guardian) on Market Day, Wednesday, December 20 th. 4. Each student will have the opportunity to "shop" for their loved ones at a price point they can afford. Mom and Dad actually get a surprise this year! 5. Pauline Vanier C.S.C. earns 100 percent profit. This profit will help us achieve our goal to increase student achievement by purchasing supplementary equipment and programs. DONATIONS DUE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 th *Multiple donations are appreciated* Please Note: The donated item should be appropriate as a gift from a student to his or her parent, grandparent, sibling or friend. (eg. keychain, small toy, journal, craft). Popular items at last year's market included jewellery, DVD s, jarred candles, bath and body sets and especially any items for men. Special Donation Request: paper lunch bags & gift bags for wrapping Any donations that are not purchased will be donated to a local charity or stored for a future fundraiser. Thank You For Your Support! Pauline Vanier Catholic School Council 7

8 DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BAORD DECEMBER 2017 STUDENT e-portfolios ADVENT AND REFLECTION December Focus: Advent Over the last several months, your child/children along with you, have had an opportunity to explore their online portfolio: All About Me (K-6) or Individual Pathways Plan (7-8) and reflect on their progress so far this term. As your child continues to explore the online portfolio, new pieces and goal-setting can be added to their portfolios at GRADES K-6 Explore the MyFaith tab & reflect on the liturgical season GRADE 7 Add a box and write a reflection in Home - Portfolio tabs All About Me K-6 Consider exploring the My Faith section. Your child may want to add a prayer or a journal entry on the theme of Advent and a reflection on the Christmas story. GRADE 8 Write a reflection and consider courses selection start or completion

9 DUFFERIN-PEEL C.D.S.B. DECEMBER 2017 Individual Pathways Plan GRADES 7-8 Your child may consider creating and uploading a journal entry on the theme of Advent or a reflection on the Christmas story. Grade 8 students can go into their high school planner and select courses for grade 9 & create multiple plans for their high school career Don't Forget STUDENTS Reflect and explore your portfolio PARENTS Explore your child s portfolio with them and share your excitement QUESTIONS Consider signing up for a parent webinar to learn all the features of student e-portfolios CREATING PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS AND YOUR CHILD SOURCE: ST. CLAIR C.D.S.B. Who am I? The talents God has given me are Who do I want to become? I can help others with my gifts by What are my opportunities? I am part of a team when I What is my plan for achieving my goals? I can be like Jesus by

10 FOR MOTHERS UPDATE Christmas and the Catholic Mother We can t think about Christmas without thinking about Mary, the Mother of God. The Blessed Mother is, afterall, the first Catholic mother. Have you ever reflected on what Christmas was like for her, as a wife and mother? Did you know that Christmas is a Solemnity with an Octave? For eight days the Sacred Liturgy celebrates the Mystery of Christmas. The last day of the Octave is the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, (a Holy Day of Obligation) which acknowledges the divine motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It celebrates Our Lady s role in the Mystery of the Incarnation and gives Catholic mothers everywhere reason to pause in their own vocation of motherhood. Many moms are struggling to live out their Catholic faith in the here and now, fervently trying to pass down the faith to their children in a world turned upside down. We would benefit tremendously if we enrolled in the School of Mary, turning to her frequently asking her to teach us how to mother during these troubled times. The Christmas Octave also includes the Feast of St. John the Evangelist, to whom our Lord entrusted our Blessed Mother. Christ, dying on the Cross, entrusted His mother to John and also gave John to Mary. In reflecting on John 19:25-27 : Woman, behold your son... behold your mother. we are reminded that Mary, the Mother of God, is our mother too. As Catholic mothers, we need to be mothered, to be nurtured, to be inspired and to be supernaturally guided. This Christmas season, let us turn to our Blessed Mother, asking her for her help and intercession. Let us pray that she guides us in our own journey of mothering and being a wife. We at CatholicMomsGroup.com are on a mission to revive the vocation of motherhood by helping parishes start Catholic Mothers Groups. We encourage you to find a group or start a group and discover the joys of Catholic motherhood. Mothers turn Advent into a Sacred Time! Children Need Your Prayers! Five Tips FOR CATHOLIC MOMS AT Christmas One KEEP CHRISTMAS FOCUS ON JESUS, MOTHER MARY AND JOSEPH While many families are focussed on Santa and the exchanging of gifts, it is important for Catholic moms to remind our children about the true meaning of Christmas with a focus on the central figures. Remind children that Jesus is the reason for the season! His mother Mary, the Mother of God and foster father Joseph had to overcome many trials before Jesus birth. Venerating the Nativity scene at church, setting up a creche at home and teaching children to bring gifts to Jesus in the crib by their good works and sacrifices would be a great way to keep the focus where it belongs. Don t forget to talk to children about why Christ was born and how He helps us! Two CELEBRATE THE ENTIRE CHRISTMAS SEASON Remember Christmas is not just one day long. Many moms are putting themselves under an incredible amount of stress trying to make December 25 perfect. Having so many demands, coordinating family and friend visits can be less stressful when we remember that the official end of the entire Christmas season is the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord (January 7). Keep your nativity scene displayed and Christmas tree up through this day, or better yet, until the Presentation of the Lord (February 2nd). This would definitely send a counter cultural message to your family as well as spreading the joy and the social visits over the entire Christmas season. Three MAKE CHRISTMAS SPIRITUAL NOT COMMERCIAL Make Advent a spiritual season, not a shopping spree. Schedule time for the entire family to go to the sacrament of reconciliation. Set up an Advent wreath and introduce Advent prayers to your family s ritual. Consider visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament or going to a weekday Mass. Celebrate the entire Christmas season, remembering the liturgical feasts of the Feast of the Holy Family, the Solemnity of Mary, the Feast of Epiphany and the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. Acknowledge other special days like the Feast of St. Nicholas, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Discover the powerful novena to St. Stephen. Remember to give your children religious gifts. Over time your children will learn to treasure that special gift. Four CREATE NEW MEMORABLE TRADITIONS Resolve to start new memorable traditions. There are many new traditions to consider. Have you ever had your house blessed in association with the Epiphany? This year, help your children discover St. Nicholas. Celebrate his feast day by putting chocolates into their shoes on that day. Do your children know that the original Santa was a saint? Visit and learn all about him. Another new tradition could be baking a birthday cake for Jesus. Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus Christmas morning. Host an evening of singing Christmas carols with family and friends. Consider volunteering at your parish, or helping the poor in your community. Why not help to co-ordinate a Christmas pageant? Host a Christmas cookie exchange for moms in your neighbourhood. Five MAKE CHRISTMAS LESS COMMERCIAL Challenge yourself to buy fewer gifts per family member. Remember Christ the son of God got three birthday gifts! Why should anyone get any more than Jesus Christ himself? Making Christmas gifts or baking is always fun. Help your children experience the joy of focussing on others. Help them make a list of people that might be lonely or sad during the Christmas season and brainstorm ways that your family could help them. Take the family to Mass of the Feast of the Holy Family and get a family blessing.

11 LEARN ABOUT THE How to Start a Mothers Group Workshop VISIT TO LEARN MORE 10 Good Reasons to Join a Mothers Group 1. Make new friends 2. Become the best mom possible 3. Discover a spiritual program 4. Experience community and acceptance 5. Get encouragement and support 6. Learn about your Catholic faith 7. Pray and be refreshed 8. Get practical parenting and marriage tips 9. Experience joy, inspiration and fun 10. Tap into a network of Catholic moms Parishes in Mothers Group Directory All Saints Parish, Etobicoke Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Toronto Christ the King Parish, Etobicoke Holy Family Parish, Bolton Holy Family Parish, Whitby Immaculate Conception Parish, Sutton Merciful Redeemer Parish, Mississauga Our Lady of Grace Parish, Aurora Our Lady of Peace Parish, Etobicoke Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Toronto St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Brampton St. Benedict Parish, Etobicoke St. Bernadette Parish, Ajax St. Casmir Parish, Toronto St. Christopher Parish, Mississauga St. Francis de Sales Parish, Ajax St. Jerome Parish, Brampton St. John XX111 Parish, Toronto St. Justin Martyr Parish, Unionville St. Leo the Great Parish, Brooklin St. Marguerite d Youville Parish, Brampton St. Martin of Tours Parish, Mississauga St. Mary Immaculate Parish, Richmond Hill St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Mississauga St. Patrick Parish, Toronto St. Patrick Parish, Mississauga St. Roch Parish, Toronto St. Peter and Paul Parish, Mississauga St. Matthew Parish, Oakville St. Margaret Mary Parish, Hamilton start a group find a group CATHOLICMOMSGROUP.COM St. Andrew s Christmas Anticipation Prayer Starting on St. Andrew the apostle s feast day, November 30, this prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a contemplative prayer that puts the focus of Christmas where it belongs. It helps prepare ourselves spiritually for Christmas. Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen. It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew, on November 30 th, until Christmwas will obtain what is asked. [Imprimatur: +Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York, New York, February 6, 1897.] Mothers Group Starter Kit The Mothers Group Starter Kit Our mother s ministry has worked diligently to create a Mothers Group Starter Kit for parishes that are interested in starting a Mothers Group. The kit includes everything a parish needs to launch a Mothers Group. Our workshop How to Start a Mothers Group along with the kit, on-going coaching from our ministry staff, coupled with much prayer and constant petitions to Our Lady, have been fruitful. THINK ABOUT IT The New Year is a perfect time to start a Mothers Group. We have had many priests help us identify moms who would be great Mothers Group Leaders. Many moms have come to us directly. Why not start a Mothers Group at your parish? Identify leaders and register them for our training program. Mothers, Stressed, Stretched, Pulled in 101 Directions Motherhood has changed dramatically in the last two decades. Mothers are stressed and stretched like never before in history. In most cases, not only are they working full time, managing the household, driving children to and from a frenzy of activities, they are faced with a constant bombardment of secular messages. Ministering to Catholic mothers is of paramount importance. For the most part, mothers are still holding the fort and are responsible for their children s spiritual development and formation. We at CatholicMomsGroup.com are on a mission to revive the vocation of motherhood. Church Bulletin Announcement Why not get the ball rolling by putting this announcement in your church bulletin? It will help you gauge interest and identify prospective leaders. Looking for Leaders! Do you want to make a difference here at (your parish)? Have you ever considered becoming a Mothers Group Leader? We have exciting volunteer opportunities for moms with a big heart who will host a monthly meeting for moms here at the parish. An archdiocesan approved mothers ministry at will help provide the training, resources and support you ll need. Join our growing ministry and touch lives in your community! CatholicMomsGroup.com

12 DATES TO REMEMBER December 3 First Sunday of Advent December 6 Rosary Apostolate Visit December 10 Second Sunday of Advent December 12 Cram-A-Cruiser Food Drive Ends December 14 Christmas Carousel December 17 Third Sunday of Advent December 18 Festive Head Gear Day December 19 Dress up as a Tree Day December 20 Wear Read/Green/White Day or Ugly Christmas Sweater Day December 20 Christmas Marketplace for Kids December 21 Christmas Door Decorating Contest December 22 Last Day of School before Christmas Holidays December 22 Virtue Assembly 10:35 11:20/Movie Day December 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent/Christmas Eve January 8 Return to School January 10 Rosary Apostolate Visit January 13 & 14 First Communion Enrolment Weekend January 15 French Immersion Online Application system opens for grade 1 s in September 2018 January 17 Extended French Information St. Monica 7 p.m. January 18 Drumming/Canadian Black Heroes Presentation January 20 & 21 Confirmation Enrolment Weekend January 22 P.A. Day Term 1 Assessment and Evaluation of Pupil Progress No school for students February 9 P.A. Day - Reporting to Parents no school for students ST. JEROME PARISH INFORMATION Pizza Days December 5, 12, 18 Lunch Moms December 14, 21 8