Welcome to
St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School
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Our Motto...Caring, Sharing and Preparing
MISSION STATEMENT
We, the staff of St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School celebrate spirituality and diversity through achieving, believing and community living in an inclusive Byzantine Catholic faith environment.
Our mission is to nurture each child's Eastern Byzantine Catholic faith and traditions, while developing the attitudes, skills, knowledge and desire for life long learning.
In doing so, we will be building a school community which enriches future growth through caring, sharing and preparing.
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Opening Day Procedures September 6, 2016
9:00 - 9:15 a.m.
Bus Students:
After disembarking from the buses, students are to follow the directions of the teachers on duty. Students will be directed to proceed to the south wall of the school, passing the FDK area and Kiss n' Ride (Williamsport Dr. entrance) area and walk toward the south gym wall, where they will find their grade signs.
Walkers & Kiss n' Ride Students:
FDK Students:
All FDK students are to proceed directly to the east FDK gated area, where students will be met by FDK teams.
Parents are to hand-off their child to a teacher for attendance purposes.
Things to keep in mind...
No student entry is permitted into the school building prior to 9:15 a.m. on September 6, 2016.
No students or parents are to enter the school building via the main office doors (Havenwood Dr. entrance) prior to 9:15a.m.
At 9:15 a.m. students will be led from the south wall of the building, into the school by their classroom teachers.
To alleviate any anxieties or apprehension by students on the first day of school, parents are kindly asked to please say their goodbyes to children outside the building and let teachers take their students to start their day with their new classmates.
Appointments with Mr. Dmytrasz
Office Hours - Monday, August 29 to Friday, September 2, 2016 (inclusive)
9:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily
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2016 - 2017 Modified School Calendar
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Pope Francis has declared 2016 a"Holy Year of Mercy" as a way for the Catholic Church to"make more evident its mission to be a witness of mercy."
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Pope Francis continually reminds us in word and action that, in imitation of Jesus, we are called to service in our work in Catholic education.
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METROPOLITAN ANDREY SHEPTETSKY
This year, our school will honour and pray for Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. His great leadership and determination helped to renew the Ukrainian Catholic Church. He was a true pastor to his people. God grant him eternal rest.
Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky is a man to be honored and emulated. He dedicated his life to God, to the Church and to the Ukrainian culture and heritage. He showed his great love for the Ukrainian people (and people of all nationalities as well) especially the students and the young people. His deeds should inspire our lives. By following his example we can dedicate our lives to God’s laws and His love.
After learning the ways in which Metropolitan Andrey lived his life fully and wisely, we, too, can make wiser choices to give meaning to our lives and to live our lives fully. To help us make wiser choices Metropolitan Andrey wrote a prayer about the Holy Wisdom of God. We have to remember that Holy Wisdom is also called Saint Sofia. And the Holy Wisdom of God has a special meaning for us today in this school.
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BUSING INFO: Please check the STOPR website at www.stopr.ca for the most up-do-date information regarding bus schedules, pick-up and drop-off times, and stops. Please do not call the school for this information. Please contact STOPR for the most accurate information, please check STOPR or call 905-890-6000 and press "1".
Parents are also reminded that we are notified regularly by STOPR when there are bus changes (stop times, stop changes, etc.), a notice is sent home with your child. Please check with your child regularly for such changes to his/her bus schedules/route so you are always up-to-date with this important information. Thank you.
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SCHOOL HOURS and BELL TIMES(times are subject to change)
| Bells | 9:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. |
| Lunch Recess | 12:09 p.m. to 12:49 p.m. students are outside. |
| Lunch* | 12:49 p.m. to 1:09 p.m. students are having lunch in class. |
| Afternoon Recess | 2:20 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. |
*Note: FDK Lunch is at 12:09 p.m.
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KISS & RIDE The safety of our students and staff is of paramount importance. Thank you for your cooperation in adhering to the traffic circulation plan.| For the 2015-2016 school year, there are new KISS & RIDE procedures. |
| Please do not drop off students at the front of the school (Havenwood Drive entrance). |
| Parents who choose to drive their children must enter the KISS & RIDE lane from Williamsport Drive ONLY. |
| Please do not park in the KISS & RIDE lane. |
| There is no parking in the THROUGH LANE (see map below). |
| Do not enter either parking lot in the wrong direction. |
| It is imperative that all drivers follow the direction of staff managing the traffic circulation on our school site. |
| Thank you for your support and cooperation in keeping our children safe! |
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PARKING
Please do not park in the northeast bus lane at any time of the day. Unless you have a valid permit, please do not park in the handicap parking spots. Thank you. |
| If you are picking up your child during the school day, please park in the Visitor designated spots only in the Williamsport Drive parking lot. Enter the building from the FRONT of the school and proceed directly to the main office. |
The safety of all children and staff must be considered at all times.
For our new school Kiss and Ride and Parking map, please click here: Map.pdf
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SAFE SCHOOL ENTRY PROTOCOL:VISITORS and SCHOOL SECURITY
Our school has a buzzer entry system at the main office doors. After ringing the buzzer, you will be asked to identify yourself and the reason for your entry. Please ring the bell only ONCE; your patience is appreciated! The school has the right to either authorize or deny entry to the school.
| 1. | Upon arrival at the school by bus, students will enter the school immediately. |
| 2. | Kindergarten students will be dropped off at the FDK gate by Bus Monitors. Kindergarten students dropped off at Kiss & Ride will be escorted by staff to the FDK gate. |
| 3. | Grades 1-8 students will enter through the northwest doors near the bus area. |
| 4. | Students who arrive late must report to the office and get a Late Slip. |
| 5. | Parents should NEVER enter the school without first signing in at the school office and obtaining a Visitor Sticker. |
| 6. | Parents/Individuals who are found in the school without a Visitor Sticker will be questioned and redirected to the office to sign in. All visitors, include parents/guardians, volunteers, couriers/delivery persons, other board employees. |
EARLY ARRIVAL
| Parents/guardians should be aware that there is no supervision for students who arrive at school early. |
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ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance at school is critical for the student’s learning. Each student has the responsibility to be in attendance at all classes and scheduled activities on time and with proper materials required for full participation.If your child is to be absent, we request that you please call the school prior to 8:45 a.m. to report your child's absence and the reason for that absence. A message can be left on the school voicemail. If a child is absent and we have not received notice from the parent/guardian, we will telephone you. Students who arrive late at school must sign-in to the office and receive a Late Slip to be admitted to class. |
Student Safety in the Playground: Parents are reminded that there is NO entry via the BUS ENTRANCE off Havenwood Drive. This driveway is for buses ONLY. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children safe.
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END-OF-THE-DAY PROCEDURES --> 4:00 p.m.
FDK students: these procedures do not change. The FDK teachers will continue to dismiss all FDK pick-ups from the FDK gated area. Parents should proceed to this area for FDK students.
WALKERS & GR. 1-8 STUDENTS: The teacher on duty will take all WALKERS and Gr. 1-8 students who are pick-up out the southwest exit doors and bring them to the Kiss n' Ride area. Walkers will depart from the teacher on duty at this time and the remaining pick-up students will be handed off to waiting parents/guardians. Parents who are picking up should wait for Gr. 1-8 students at the Kiss n' Ride area.
BUSING: these procedures have not changed. Students who are bused will continue routines as before. Students exit from the northwest exit doors and will be directed to their buses by teachers on duty. Once "all remaining" is announced to students, then students whose buses have not yet arrived will exit the school by the northwest exit doors and wait in their bus lines with another teacher on duty until their buses arrive.
Pupil Accommodation Review Policy Public Consultation
The Ministry of Education released the new Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline (PARG) in March 2015. This guideline sets expectations for all school boards on managing and reviewing underutilized school space, including potential school closures, and for the greater coordination and sharing of planning related information between school boards and other community partners.
The guideline requires all school boards in the province to develop or revise Pupil Accommodation Review Policies and to invite public input into the policy before it is finalized.
A survey to collect feedback on the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s draft amended Policy 6.51 Pupil Accommodation Review will be available for review and comment on the Board’s website at www.dpcdsb.orguntil 4:30 pm on Friday, October 16, 2015. Supporting documents will also be available for reference and review. Please consider reviewing and providing input on this policy.
KISS & RIDE 
SAFE SCHOOL ENTRY PROTOCOL:
ATTENDANCE
END-OF-THE-DAY PROCEDURES --> 4:00 p.m.
ATTENDANCE