Halton Highlights. June 2014 Volum e 10

Transcription

1 Halton Highlights June 2014 Volum e 10 At today s General Audience (March 19, 2014) which happened to fall on St. Joseph s day, Pope Francis invited faithful gathered in St. Peter s Square to pray for all fathers, both living and dead. He underlined the educational role of fathers and the personal experience of St. Joseph who was a refugee when he, Mary and Jesus fled to Egypt.

2 Today, 19 March, we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Virgin Mary and Patron of the universal Church. Saint Joseph is venerated as the guardian of the Holy Family, and in this role he serves as a model for all fathers and educators. Joseph watched over Jesus human development, Francis said. "Joseph greatest characteristic was his being a guardian, his great mission is to be a guardian". "Saint Joseph is the model of every educator and every believer, because he was able to cross the darkness of doubt, the experience of exile and of having to flee from his home, without ever losing. his trust in God and in His love. Learn from him that only faith in God can turn doubt into certainty, evil into good, the total darkness of the night into a radiant dawn. "We look at Joseph - had said in catechesis - as the model of the educator, who safeguards and accompanies Jesus in his journey of growth "in wisdom, years and grace, as the Gospel of Luke tells us. "He was not the father of Jesus, the Father was God, but he was a father to help him grow in years, wisdom and grace. "Let's start with his age, which is the most natural dimension, physical and psychological growth. Joseph, together with Mary, took care of Jesus, first of all from this point of view, he 'raised him', worrying that he had all he needed for a healthy development. Let us not forget that the faithful care of the life of the Child also led to the flight into Egypt, the harsh experience of living as refugees to escape the threat of Herod. Then, once they returned home and settled in Nazareth, there is the long period of the hidden life of Jesus within the Holy Family. During those years, Joseph also taught Jesus his work, Jesus learned to be a carpenter. "Let's move on to the second dimension of Christ's education, that of "wisdom". Scripture says that the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord. Joseph was an example and teacher of this wisdom for Jesus, which he nourished by the Word of God. We can imagine how Joseph taught the child Jesus to listen to the Holy Scriptures, especially accompanying him on the Sabbath to the synagogue in Nazareth. Joseph accompanied Jesus so he would listen to the word of God in the synagogue. "And finally, the dimension of "grace". Again St. Luke tells us referring to Jesus: "The grace of God was upon him. Here certainly the part reserved to St Joseph is more limited than in the areas of age and wisdom. But it would be a grave mistake to think that a father and a mother do nothing to educate their children to grow in the grace of God. Look, how many dads! Greetings, greetings on your feast Day! I ask for you the grace to always be very close to your children, letting them grow, but close. Close to them, eh? They need you, your presence, your closeness, your love. Be like St. Joseph for them, guardians of their growth in age, wisdom and grace. Guardians of their journey. Educators! And walk with them. And in your closeness, be true educators. Thank you for all that you do for your children: Thank you. Best wishes and happy Father's Day to all the fathers who are here, to all the fathers. May St. Joseph bless you and be with you. And also, some of us have lost our father, he may have passed away, the Lord has called him: many in the square no longer have their father. We pray for all fathers of the world, for living fathers and even for those who are dead, and we can do this together, each recalling his or her father, alive or dead, Pope Francis said, praying the Our Father, for our dads with the faithful in St. Peter s Square. Francis sent a special prayer out for Canada, whose Patron Saint is St. Joseph. Happy Father s Day! CALENDAR OF EVENTS Report Card Writing PD Friday, June 6, 2014 Advanced Polls Closes on June 6, 2014 Summer Institute Reg. Closes on June 9, 2014 Executive Meeting #12 Wednesday, June 11 4:30 p.m. HEU OECTA Office Provincial Election Thursday, June 12 President s Dinner Thursday, June 19 6:30 p.m. Burlington Golf Club Golf Tournament Friday, June 20 4:00 p.m. Oakville Executive GC Report Cards Go Home Monday, June 23 Last Day of School Friday, June 27

3 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LOCAL HALTON ELEMENTARY AUTHORS! School OECTA Rep Teacher Grade/Category Winners St. Elizabeth Seton Robbie Chesla Janis Fiamelli Grade 1-2 Short Story Sydney Parker St. Joseph (O) Diane Visschedyk Patrizia Cerisano Grade 1-2 Non-Fiction Tia Mehrotra Canadian Martyrs Nancy Hoult Trisha Cain Grade 3-4 Short Story Madeline Vaanholt St. Mary Jill Mercer Teresa Rosso-Rocha Grade 5-6 Short Story Keelen McVay St. Marg. D Youville Cathy Iwankow Kelly Sadonsky Grade 5-6 Poem Alyssa Van Dinter St. Mary Jill Mercer Teresa Russo-Rocha Grade 5-6 Non-Fiction Erika Tandarich Guardian Angels Valerie MacKay Lisa Cilia Grade 7-8 Short Story Nicholas Cabral Canadian Martyrs Nancy Hoult Debbie Hartman Grade 7-8 Poem Alyson Kovacs Holy Family Irene Erickson Elaine Lypkd Grade 7-8 Non-Fiction Samantha MacGillivray St. Joseph (O) Diane Visschedyk Patricia Magill Grade 5-6 Prix Jeunes Christianne Hermans St. Joseph (O) Diane Visschedyk Jeanneda Saulnier Grade 5-6 Poeme Asia Kwasnicki St. Joseph (O) Diane Visschedyk Angela Rzazewski Grade 7-8 Prix Jeunes Anastasia Wu OECTA COMMITTEES It s time again to sign up for our Committees. The (*) indicates a Chairperson is required. 1. Labour Management 6. Social Committee 2. Young Authors (*) 7. Educator s Award (*) 3. Pension 8. Human Rights/Status of Women (*) 4. Political Action 9. Finance 5. Health & Safety (*) 10. Legislation 11. AGM 2015 Delegates Please forward your registration form to HEU OECTA by June 6, HCDSB School Year Calendar September 1, 2014 September 2, 2014 October 10, 2014 October 13, 2014 November 21, 2014 December 22, January 2, 2015 (inclusive) January 22, 23, 26-28, 2015 (5 Days inclusive) January 30, 2015 February 13, 2015 February 16, 2015 March 16-20, 2015 (inclusive) April 3, 2015 April 6, 2015 April 24, 2015 May 18, 2015 June 5, 2015 June 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 2015 (5 Days inclusive) June 25, 2015 June 26, 2015 Labour Day First Day of Instruction for (for all Students) Thanksgiving Day Christmas Break Examinations (Secondary Schools Only) Family Day March Break Good Friday Easter Monday Victoria Day (Elementary Schools Only) Examinations (Secondary Schools Only) Last Day of Instruction (Secondary Schools Only) Last Day of Instruction (Elementary Schools Only) (Secondary Schools Only)

4 AROUND HALTON Our sincere sympathy and prayers go out to the following members, as well as to their family and friends: Stewart Drummond, husband of KAREN DRUMMOND a Child and Youth Counsellor at St. Christopher Catholic Elementary School, Burlington, and son-in-law of Brenda Givlin, retired secretary at the Halton Catholic District School Board died on Tuesday, May 13, Rosemary Schiller, mother of CARL SCHILLER, a teacher at Bishop P.F. Reding Catholic Secondary School, Milton, died on Thursday, May 15, Vincent Pogar, father of CATHY KELLY, a teacher at Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School, Burlington, died on Sunday, May 18, 2014.

5 Sunday, June 15, 2014 is Father s Day! Why don t you take him golfing? OECTA GOLF TOURNAMENT WHEN: FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014 TO: WHERE: HEU OECTA Members/Spouses welcome Oakville Executive Golf Course 4414 Fourth Line Oakville, ON TIME: COST: 4:00 p.m. SHOTGUN START Register by June 16 - $35.00 per person Includes: Electric Cart, 9 holes of Golf, Dinner, Prizes Cheque Payable to: OECTA, Halton Elementary Unit Mail to: Halton Elementary Unit Office, Burlington To Register: Dana Hanson: HansonD@hcdsb.org

6 Halton Elementary Unit Executive President Nina March 1 st Vice-President Tara Hambly 2 nd Vice-President Vince Enright 3 rd Vice President Anne McNeill Treasurer Krista Hutchinson Recording Secretary Mary Ann MacDonald Councillors Lee-Anne Burke Patrick Durka Roberta Maggio Alicia Nunn-Deluca Anne Marie O Donnell PRESIDENT S FORUM As the days grow warmer and longer, it is difficult not to think ahead to summer. A well-deserved break is close at hand. You're almost there! Thank you to our teachers for your commitment and dedication to the children you teach, coach, counsel and walk with at recess. Thank you to all of our OECTA Representatives, Committee members and Unit Executive members for all of your hard work and dedication to our HEU members, this past year. I hope that your summer gives you opportunity to: recharge, spend time with those you love, enjoy peaceful moments, do all those things that you've been looking forward to since last summer. Enjoy each moment. Sincerely, Nina March, President, Halton Elementary OECTA