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230 Humbercrest Boulevard Toronto, Ontario

M6S 4L3 Telephone: 416-393-5275

Principal: F. Savoia

Superintendent:

416-222-8282 x 2732 Dr. J. Saraco

Trustee: Barbara Poplawski

416-512-3410

Parish:

St. James 728 Annette Street Toronto, Ontario

416-767-6451

Classes start at 9:00 a.m. (Please be on time)

Lunch Hour: 12:05 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.

Dismissal: 3:30 p.m.

Chairperson: Z. Beckles Co- Chair - M. Bijukovic Treasurer: C. Trotman Recording Secretary: D. Hammond

Dear Parent / Guardian, Kindly be informed that I will be on

leave from Friday, December 6,

2013 to Friday December 13, 2013.

In my absence Mr. Paul

Woloszanskyj former principal of St.

Leo will take over my duties at St.

James.

Thank you for your support and

understanding during this time.

Sincerely,

F. Savoia, Principal

NEXT MEETING

Thursday, January 16, 2014 6:30 p.m.

The following are some of the items to be raffled off during the Christmas Concert:

28 inch TV RCA model $50.00 Pizza Pizza gift card World Finest Chocolate basket Mini Family Portrait session Hand Knit Circle Scarf donated by a parent The 1 month membership and uniform at the karate place (debbie got this) $50.00 Gift card Swiss Chalet Donated by Mr. Savoia

St. James

Anchor of Hope

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STUDENT COUNCIL

Nicholas Riccardi (Chair), Vincent Pham (Vice Chair), Martina Mrazovac (Secretary), and Hillary Olojo Kosoko (Treasurer).

STUDENT COUNCIL REPORT:

ST. FRANCIS TABLE

St. Francis Table would like to take

this opportunity to thank-you for

responding so generously to our

Thanksgiving Food Drive.

On behalf of the Capuchin friars,

staff, volunteers and patrons of St.

Francis Table, please accept our

heartfelt thanks and appreciation for

such a wonderful effort on part of

your school community. May God

continue to bless all our efforts!

Sincerely, Br. John Frampton

TOONIE TUESDAY

To everyone who participated in our Toonie Tuesday fundraiser for the Philippines, we thank you. Congratulations to all our students, staff and their families for their

outpouring of generosity. You make us very proud. Thanks again for responding with compassion to those in need.

“On behalf of the typhoon victims,

thank you St. James Catholic

School students, teachers and staff

for helping our country the

philippines. May God bless you all.”

Lyann’s Family

REMEMBRANCE DAY

CEREMONY

The students respectfully

participated in our Remembrance Day Service on

November 11th. We were honoured to have the

McDougall family and Officer

Eric our school community Police officer in

attendance. The students honoured Mr. McDougall, our

retired custodian who served

in the Canadian Navy and passed away this

summer. Each student signed a red peace dove

pledging to be a peacemaker. The doves

formed the Canadian flag and

was displayed at the service.

Mrs. Costanzo

FDK

On Nov. 7 Ms. Kontra and Mrs. Cochrane's class were visited by the Scientists in the School program.

The program chosen was "I Can be a Scientist". There were 4 stations where the students became : Astronomer; an expert in the scientific study of the stars and planets; Chemist; a scientist skilled in scientific study of substances and elements and how they reach when combined with one another; Paleontologist; a scientist studying forms of life existing long ago through the discovery of fossils; and a Meteorologist; a scientist who studies the science of atmospheric conditions or the weather. Some of the fun activities,were looking at the stars inside a tent, making a dinosaur fossil, mixing substances eg. sand, sugar with water to see if they dissolved, and trying out an anemometer (wind machine). It was alot of fun and educational too.

The FDK classes visited

Loblaws on Nov. 22 and Nov.

29. They were met by a nutritionist who showed us

Canada's Food Guide. We then visited the various

sections of the store to see the food items on Canada's

Food Guide. We were able to

touch fresh fruits and vegetables, felt the difference

between oatmeal and steel oats, looked at brown and

white breads. We then went

to the meat and alternatives section and touched a real

live lobster. Then we went to the dairy section to see

yogurt, cheese, and milk. We

had a little break in the flower department where the

nutritionist made a great dip with greek yogurt,

mayonnaise and fresh herbs and onion and we all dipped

some raw vegetables in it.

When we got back to school we all took home a bag filled

with goodies from Loblaws. It

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was a fun trip and it didn't cost us anything.

VOLLEYBALL

Two weeks week the boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams played at the Divisional tournament at James Culnan. The boys and girls played with enthusiasm, dedication, sportsmanship and great teamwork. Both the girls and boys represented St. James proudly and they finished first and second respectively. As winners of the girls Divisional tournament, the girls advanced to the South Regional tournament on Wednesday, November 20th. They are the first ever team to represent St. James at the South Regional tournament and the first to win the tournament! The girls played at the City tournament on Thursday November 28th at Humber College and after some challenging and close matches, finished 6th in all of Toronto! We’d like to congratulate the following athletes for their effort and dedication over the past month.

Congratulations to the girls team: Samantha B., Alyson S., Sylvia C., Hillary O.,Feven N.,Sierra G.,Eva V.,Kaitlyn M.,Martina M.,Christine O., Alba M. Boys team: Bryan G.,John Clyde M.,Adam S.,Zachary B.,Justin S.,Michael S.,Sam B.,Nicholas R.,Mackenzie D., Jackie T.,

GRADE 7

The students in Mrs. Pietrangelo’s grade 7 class are writing letters to Kathleen Wynne, the Premier of Ontario. Our letters are regarding the use of certain pesticides on Ontario crops which are killing bee populations. In our recent visit to the Royal Winter Fair, we learned that bee populations have declined, due to certain pesticide used on corn crops. Ontario farmers have noticed a decline of crop yield at about 30%. The students were fascinated to learn the importance of bees in our ecosystem, and how this directly affects our food source.

The Christmas season is upon us and the grade seven students will participate in an Advent wreath celebration within our classroom to welcome this Holy Season! Later in

December, each student will be decorating their own gingerbread house. Best wishes for a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Mrs. Pietrangelo

A Christmas to Remember St. James’ Primary Classes

Congratulations on a very successful Book Fair

Thank you to the students, families and teachers of St. James for their great support of this year’s Scholastic Book Fair! This year the sales were $1600 and we raised over $750 which will be spent on books for the library.

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Tips to helping your child succeed with

extra help:

1. Get them involved in the

plan. Give your child the

chance to have some say in

when the work will be done,

how much time is given for

each task, and what the goals

are.

2. Making the grade is not all

about marks. Help improve

your child's self-confidence by

letting him or her know that

marks are only one way of

evaluating performance and

ability. Marks alone can't

measure your children as

individuals.

3. Finish what they start. Help

children understand it is

important to stick with an

assignment until it is

completed. Make sure your

children know you are proud of

them when they master

something.

4. Be positive and give

praise. Be sure to congratulate

your child with each success

and milestone reached.

5. Talk to the teacher. Keep in

touch with the teacher to learn

about your child's progress.

Work together if a new action

plan is required.

DECEMBER 11 Christmas Concert K-4

18 Advent Mass 19 Last Day of School 20 NO SCHOOL JANUARY 6 School Begins 15 School Mass 16 CSAC MEETING 24 Assessment and Evaluation Day Virtue: CHARITY

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectation: A Collaborative Contributor Faith, Hope and Charity Prayer Loving God, we pray that the Toronto Catholic District School Board community continue to witness to the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. May we be people of FAITH, always willing to follow the example of Jesus in all that we do. May we be people of HOPE, always trusting in your loving presence in our lives May we be people of CHARITY, always willing to give of ourselves to better the lives of others. Reminders:

Friday, December 20th is a system-wide Professional Activity Day (no classes for students)

Christmas Break: December 23rd through to January 3rd. Classes will resume Monday, January 6th. Have a safe and happy Christmas.

Winter is Coming

And so is the winter weather. Get all the latest information about cancellations and closures throughout the winter

months, and all year long by following @TCDSB on Twitter.

Full-Day Kindergarten Registration for September 2014

The Toronto Catholic District School Board invites families with children born in 2010, to register for Kindergarten beginning Wednesday, January 8th, 2014.

St. James will offer one evening registration on Thursday, January 16, 2013 - from 4:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m. PLEASE BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

New for 2014: parents can save time and complete their application via the Board’s new Online Registration Website: http://soar.tcdsb.org

The following original documents are required for registration:

1.Child's Birth Certificate (Certificate of Citizenship or Landed Immigrant Status)

2.Child's Catholic Baptismal Certificate (or other proof of Catholicity)

3.Child's Immunization Record

4.Proof of residency in Toronto

General information is available by telephone at 416-222-8282, ext. 5314 or via the board’s website at www.tcdsb.org

Supporting Relief Efforts in the Philippines

A heartfelt thank you to the all the students, staff and families who have contributed to fundraising efforts to support relief

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efforts in the Philippines. Just a reminder that the Canadian Government will match all donations made to the Archdiocese of Toronto for this cause up to December 9th. Check out the board website for details. http://www.tcdsb.org/Board/NurturingOurCatholicCommunity/News/2013-2014/Pages/Humanitarian-Aid-for-Philippines.aspx

A Christmas Creed

I believe in Jesus Christ and in the

beauty of the gospel begun in Bethlehem.

I believe in the one whose spirit glorified

a little town; and whose spirit still

brings music to persons all over the

world, in towns both large and small.

I believe in the one for whom the crowded

inn could find no room, and I confess

that my heart still sometimes wants to

exclude Christ from my life today.

I believe in the one who the rulers of the

earth ignored and the proud could

never understand; whose life was among

common people, whose welcome came

from persons of hungry hearts.

I believe in the one who proclaimed the

love of God to be invincible:

I believe in the one whose cradle was a

mother's arms, whose modest home in

Nazareth had love for its only wealth,

who looked at persons and made them

see what God's love saw in them, who by

love brought sinners back to purity,

and lifted human weakness up to meet

the strength of God.

I confess my ever-lasting need of God:

The need of forgiveness for our

selfishness and greed, the need of new

life for empty souls, the need of love for

hearts grown cold.

I believe in God who gives us the best of

himself.

I believe in Jesus, the son of the living

God, born in Bethlehem this night,

for me and

for the world

Sharing Christ’s message of love, hope,

peace and forgiveness:

Spend quality time with the

people you care about.

Talk less, listen more

Be generous with praise and

encouragement

Smile often

Look for the good in people

and situations.

Role model courteous

behaviours.

Volunteer in your community

Help people around you who

are going through a difficult

time.

Keep a jar filled with special

intentions on your kitchen

table and include these needs

in your mealtime prayer.

Take your kids grocery

shopping, fill a bag of

favorite Christmas foods and

deliver it to a community food

cupboard.

Help out at a food bank or

charitable Christmas store.

Last, but not least, wish

others a Merry Christmas

The staff and students of

St. James

Wish you a blessed and

joyous Christmas and

may the New Year bring

you good

health and

prosperity!

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