• Principal's Greeting
• Welcome
• Grade 9
• Allergic Reactions
• School Board & Parents
• Conclusion

We particularly wish to welcome to our school, both the Grade 9 students & those who have transferred from other schools

After a relaxing & refreshing summer, blessed with great weather, we welcome everyone back to the St. Thomas More community. We particularly wish to welcome those new to our school, both the Grade 9 students & those who have transferred from other schools. Our school population remains about the same as last year, around 1900, a testament to our solid reputation as a school since declines in enrolment seem to be the trend in our province.

Welcome to our new vice-principal, Mr. Paul Hargot, former Math department head at S.T.M., who brings a wealth of wisdom, skills and dedication to his new role.

Welcome to our new teachers, who will bring enthusiasm, vitality and innovation to our staff: Mrs. Korber (Math), Mr. Santos (Music), Mr. Rullo (Math), Ms. Russell (Religion), Ms. Whalen (English), and to Ms. Robertshaw (English) and Ms. Davies who are now full-time staff members.

Welcome to our new clerical, Ms. Derkach, who works in the Main Office, and to many new educational assistants – Ms. Freeman, Ms. Giglia, Ms. Huynh, Ms. Ksiazek, Mr. McKee, Mr. Pedreschi, and Ms. Plate.

Start Up:

By today, everyone should be scheduled into and attending all their classes. Those whose options changed as a result of summer school, failures in June, or new destinations, should have altered their schedules by now.

Absolutely no changes will be entertained after September 17^th.

Students who did not pick up their report cards or take care of outstanding accounts should also do so immediately.

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School Pictures:

School pictures (in full uniform) will be taken on Monday, September 10^th. They are used for the Yearbook,for our library, and for admittance to school dances and other events. Brochures and order forms will be distributed prior to that date. Until H.S.R. cards arrive, last year's cards will suffice so long as they have been validated with a sticker provided at the school.

Opening Mass:

Our first liturgical celebration will take place on Friday, September 14^th. It will be followed by our opening assembly to welcome new staff & students.

Especially for Grade 9's:

Grade 9 students will take part in a number of orientation sessions:

• A meeting in the gym in Period 1 on Wednesday, September 5^th
• A "special" orientation as part of our opening assembly on Friday, September 14^th
• A dance, just for Grade 9's on Friday, September 14^th . Stay tuned for details.

 

... get a feel for a typical high school day, all in 90 minutes.

Grade 9 parents:

One of our most popular & appreciated events of the year for parents of Grade 9 students will take place on Monday, September 24^th at 7:00 P.M..

Parents will have the opportunity to meet the teachers of their children, find out about their Semester 1 courses first hand, including content & evaluations, & get a feel for a typical high school day, all in 90 minutes. Meet in the forum at 6:45 p.m. to receive your instructions.

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to certain foods (primarily peanuts) or insect stings. We are aware that some students in our school are at risk. While we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment at St. Thomas more, we intend to make every reasonable effort to:

• reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents in classrooms and common school areas
• ensure that school personnel are aware of which students have been identified as being at risk for severe reactions
• implement procedures to intervene in the event of an anaphylactic emergency.

Since the enactment of "Sabrina's Law: An Act to Protect Anaphylactic Pupils", we have developed an Allergy-Anaphylaxis Management Plan. We have in-serviced all staff & trained them through our Public Health Nurse on how to use an epi-pen. We have asked our cafeteria food providers to exclude peanuts from all foods served in the school cafeteria & vending machines. We are requesting that all members of the school community attempt to refrain from bringing peanuts in any form into the school, and to definitely restrict the eating of such potentially dangerous allergens to the cafeteria.

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Most importantly, we need to identify which students are at risk to allergic reactions so that we can, with your assistance, develop an Individual Emergency Anaphylactic Action Plan for each of them. Therefore, we ask parents to ensure that every such student who should be identified come to the office during the first week of September to pick up an identification package which should be read & completed, and returned to the school as soon as possible. Your cooperation is crucial.

School Board Policies
& Procedures:

Attached are two letters of information from the School Board that deal with protocols for parents who have concerns about their children's progress or about practices & procedures at our school, & with policies around reporting child abuse. They are included to clarify for you the procedures to be followed when dealing with such issues.

Parent Conference:

The annual HWCDSB Parent Conference wil take place at Bishop Tonnos C.S.S. on Saturday, October 20^th. There is no charge for this very worthwhile event filled with valuable presentations. Brochures & registration forms are available in our Main Office Workshop descriptions are found attached to this newsletter.

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Catholic School Council:

The first general meeting of the Catholic School Council will take place on Thursday, September 27^th at 7:30 p.m. in Room 218. It will feature an update on current issues at S.T.M., a special presentation & elections for this year's School Council executive. If you are interested in nominating yourself or another person , please drop off the attached form or mail it to the principal's office by September 14th. Hopefully we will have a good turnout at this meeting. Remember, the primary mandate of the School Council is to provide input into important policy decisions at the school, and to have a voice with the School Board & Ministry of Education that govern us. The role is important & your support of the council is appreciated. If attending this meeting, please use the front door at the northwest corner of the building.

Finally:

Our chosen theme this year is taken from Philippians 2:15. Guided by prayer & our gospel values, our school community will strive to answer God's call to "shine like stars in the world".

As I begin my tenure as principal of this great school, I look forward to working with all parents, staff & students to maintain the tradition of excellence for which St. Thomas More is known throughout this city & province.

Mrs. Fortino-Bozzo
Principal

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Ontario's Child & Family Services Act promotes as its paramount purpose, the best interests, protection& well-being of children.

The act recognizes that each of us has a responsibility for the welfare of children. It states that all members of the public have an obligation to report promptly to a Children's Aid Society if they suspect that a child is, or may be, in need of protection.

The Act further defines the term "child in need of protection" & sets out what must be reported to a Children's Aid Society. Just a suspicion of maltreatment, based on reasonable grounds, represents cause to report.

"Reasonble grounds" are what an average person, given his or his training, background & experience, exercising normal & honest judgement, would suspect.

As long as the report is made in the best interests of the child & is not malicious in nature, there is no fear of liability.

There are three considerations to remember when making a report:

1. If a person has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is or may be, in need of protection, the person must promptly report the suspicion, & the information upon which it is based, to a Children's Aid Society.
2. The duty to report is an ongoing obligation. Regardless of whether a previous report has been made, should additional reasonable grounds exist to suspect a child may be in need of protection, then a new report must be made.
3. The person who has the reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is, or may be, in need of protection must make the report directly to a Childresn's Aid Society. There can be no delegation of this duty.

Members of the public have the same duty as professionals & officials to report a suspicion that a child is or may be in need of protection.

Do not rely on someone else forming the same conclusion that you have determined.

Should you have suspicions, contact a Children's Aid Society immediately. If you are unsure call & request a consultation.

The Catholic Children's Aid Society of Hamilton(905) 525-2012

The Children's Aid Society of Hamilton(905)522-1121

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We are aware that, from time to time, parents/guardians have concerns about thier children's progress at school and/or about the various practices & procedures which we have established at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School.

Classroom Issues:

• Contact the school secretary to discuss the issue with your child's teacher.
• Arrange to speak with the teacher by telephone or scheduling a meeting with the teacher.
• It is not appropriate to arrive at the teacher's classroom expecting to speak with the teacher without an appointment.

School-Based Issues:

• If the concern relates to a practice or procedure which applies to most or all of the students in the school, it is best to speak with the Principal.
• It is suggested that you contact the school secretary to arrange to speak with the Principal or designate by telephone or to schedule a meeting.
• It is not appropriate for the parent/guardian to arrive at the school office expecting to meet with the Principal/designate without an appointment.

Board-Level Issues:

• Most problems can be resolved at the school level through discussions with the teachers & the Principal. However, on occasion you may be dissatisfied with the outcomes of these discussions & wish to obtain assistance from staff at the school board.
• Contact the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board at (905)525-2930, & ask to speak to the Superintendent of Education, Mrs. J. Bajus.
• The secretary will record the nature of your concern & will arrange for the Superintendent of Education to contact you to discuss the problem further.
• It is not appropriate for a parent/guardian to arrive at the Catholic Education Centre & expect to meet with the Superintendent of Education without an appointment.
• If you continue to have concerns, even after speaking and/or meeting with the Superintendent of Education, you may contact the School Trustee, Mr. Sergio Manchia who can be reached at (905)648-8308 & explain your concerns to him.

We trust that these suggestions will prove useful to you. However, if you wish to obtain more information about how to proceed when you have a concern about your children's education, please refer to the website of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, http://www.hwcdsb.edu.on.ca, which includes a "Parent Concern Protocol" in the Programs and Services of the website.