November 21, 2021
The Virtue of the month is Justice! We continue to reflect and learn how we as a community can put this virtue into action. We focus on raising awareness and knowledge of what bullying is and how we can be an upstander and help those in need.
Many of our students have a good understanding of what bullying is because they have seen it happen. Bullying is when someone is made uncomfortable or is being hurt on purpose.
There are many ways that people bully:
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Punching, shoving and other acts that physically hurt another person
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Spreading rumours
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Excluding people from a group
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Teasing people in a way that can hurt someone’s feelings
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Getting people to :gang up” on other people
What can be done for people involved in a Bullying incident:
For Victims:
Walk away
Tell someone you trust – a teacher, coach, guidance counsellor, parent
Ask for help
Say something complimentary to the bully to distract him/her
Stay in groups to avoid confrontation
Use humour to throw off or connect with your bully
Pretend that the bully isn’t affecting you
Keep reminding yourself that you are a good person and are worthy of respect
For Bystanders:
Instead of ignoring a bullying incident, try:
Tell a teacher, coach or counsellor
Move toward or next to the victim
Use your voice – say “stop”
Befriend the victim
Lead the victim away from the situation
For Bullies:
Talk to a teacher or counsellor
Think about how you would feel if someone bullied you
Consider your victim’s feelings – think before you act
To promote Bullying Awareness week, this Friday, November 26 we will wear Pink (Shirt, hat, pants etc..)
Catholic School Council News
The Catholic School Council tab on our school website contains information regarding the council minutes, meeting agendas, and its members. The webpage can be accessed from the following link. (https://kta.ycdsb.ca/)
This year our Catholic School Council meetings will be held via Google Meet and they will be live-streamed using our Google Calendar platform. The Livestream link for all our meetings will be posted on our school website. Our next meeting is Monday, November 22, 2021 @ 7pm: Live Stream Link
YPIC News
Please feel free to join a webinar from the Pine River Institute’s Center for Family Initiatives: Surviving the Holidays: The most wonderful stressful time of the year. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday December 9, 2021 at 7 pm and is open to all YCDSB school communities. flyer Register here
School Picture Retake Day is Monday, November 22, 2021
November 12 school pictures were sent home last week for families to review. If you wish for your child to retake their picture, on Monday, November 22 will be their opportunity. If any student was absent previously they will have the opportunity to take a picture as well on this day.
2021 GRADE 8 EXIT SURVEY RESULTS
The Grade 8 Exit Survey was administered in Spring 2021 to support the continued success of all students enrolled in the York Catholic District School Board and as part of the Board’s strategy to ensure that the school system is working effectively to meet the needs of all students.
The survey was completed anonymously online and was intended to identify students’ perceptions about their experiences in elementary school and their plans for high school.
Highlights of the findings from the Grade 8 Exit Survey include the following:
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Over half of the Grade 8 students surveyed stated that they attended an open house at their nearest York Catholic high school (60%) and more than two-thirds of Grade 8 students indicated that their class had been visited by a representative of the nearest York Catholic high school (70%).
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Most of the students surveyed indicated that they planned to enrol in a York Catholic secondary school (81%).
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Grade 8 students surveyed indicated that their elementary school helped them:
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Learn how to treat everyone with dignity and respect (91%);
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Develop their interests (73%);
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Understand how their skills and strengths will help them be successful in school and later on in life (89%);
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Know what skills they need to be successful (87%);
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Apply what they are learning to real-life problems (74%).
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Most of the students surveyed indicated that they had developed a plan that will help them be successful in school and later on in life (78%).
Students indicated that their top 3 reasons for enrolling in a York Catholic high school were as follows: location, friends going to a YCDSB high school, and it was a family decision.
We will use student feedback from the Exit Survey and other school information at St. Kateri Tekakwitha C.E.S. to support further improvements in student achievement, faith development, equity and well-being.
Blessed Frederic Ozanam Parish News
Blessed Frederic Ozanam Parish is seeking financial support from the parish community, and recognizes that a number of families due to the pandemic haven’t been able to access regular Parish communication. St. Kateri Tekakwitha C.E.S. believes in a strong home/school and parish working relationship to support our community.
Therefore the school is looking to collect WalMart and President Choice gift cards that the parish can pass on to families in need. The school will also be collecting the following items that the parish can package as extra gifts for the families they assist. (If you’d like to donate some of the items below, we ask for them to be in a sealed plastic bag). We will collect these items from November 29 to December 3, 2021, all donations can be left at the front doors of the school.
– warm winter socks
– personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, etc.
– winter mitts, hats, scarves
– small treats for the family (eg chocolates, candy, etc)
SSVP Christmas Pledge Flyer 3page for electronic (3).pdf
Notice to schools for families in need (1).doc
Mental Health Support for Families
The link below is for parents on how to support and address their children who don’t attend school. I will also link on our resource list on the website
https://www.family.cmho.org/school-refusal/
Flyers
19th Annual Kids’ Fish Art Flyer and Entry Form English.pdf
Ancestral Voices Joanne Robertson.pdf
Dates to keep in your calendars for future events:
November 22, 2021 @ 7pm Catholic School Council Meeting
November 26, 2021 Wear Pink – Bullying Awareness Week
November 29 to December 3 Gift Card Fundraiser in support of Blessed Frederic Ozanam Parish
December 9, 2021 Red Bag Food Drive in Support of the Markham Food bank
December 16, 2021 @ 1:10 pm School Mass – Virtually (Live Stream)
December 18 to January 2, 2022 Christmas Break
January 14, 2022 PA Day