Thanksgiving Dinner Prayer
Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day, we bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You’ve done, especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see, for joy and health, friends, and family.
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🧡 Happy Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Families! 🦃🍂
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to wish all of our St. Patrick’s families a joyful and peaceful holiday filled with warmth, gratitude, and time together. Fr. Rafal asked or students at mass this week to think of 5 things they are thankful for in there lives, I look forward to hearing there answers this coming week!
On behalf of our students and staff, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported our Thanksgiving Food Drive. Your generosity and compassion are a wonderful reflection of our Catholic community and will make a meaningful difference for families in need.
🎃 Halloween Dance Fundraising Campaign 🧡
Our Halloween Dance Fundraising Campaign is now underway! The funds raised will help support student learning and enhance classroom experiences and school initiatives throughout the year.
Students have brought home a letter and donation form with additional information. Our goal is to raise more than $4,000 to support a variety of opportunities and resources for our students.
The campaign is ongoing, and we appreciate your support as we work toward our goal. Thank you for your continued generosity and commitment to our St. Patrick’s community!
SPS Halloween Dance Parent Letter 2026
🎃 Halloween Dance Costume Reminders
As we prepare for our Halloween Dance, we ask families to keep the following considerations in mind when choosing costumes:
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Culture is Not Costume: Please avoid costumes that represent or imitate a cultural group or ethnicity.
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Masks: Masks that conceal a student’s identity are discouraged, except when required for PPE or health and safety purposes. Being identifiable helps us maintain a safe and comfortable school environment.
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Appropriate for School: Costumes should reflect the moral tone and values of our Catholic school community and be appropriate for a school setting.
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Consider Younger and Vulnerable Students: Ghoulish, frightening, or particularly graphic costumes may be upsetting to younger students, students with special needs, or students with phobias.
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Be Trauma-Sensitive: Please be mindful that certain costumes or themes may unintentionally trigger difficult experiences for members of our school community.
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When in Doubt, Think Saint! Halloween is followed by All Saints Day and All Souls Day. We encourage students to consider dressing as a saint or another positive role model of faith.
Thank you for helping us create a Halloween celebration that is fun, inclusive, respectful, and welcoming for all of our students.
October is K-12 Cyber Awareness Month!
This month is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to learn more about staying safe online. Together, we can build healthy digital habits and reduce risks related to privacy, security, and online safety.
For the past four years, the Ministry of Education and the Educational Collaborative Network of Ontario (ECNO) have partnered to create K-12 Cyber Awareness Month (CAM). This annual campaign provides practical tips and resources to help schools, students, and families use technology in safe and responsible ways.
Through CAM, families and students have access to age-appropriate activities and resources that support safe online navigation and strengthen digital skills.
📲 Explore Cyber Awareness Month resources here: CyberSafe.ca
👕 YCDSB Civvies Day Fundraiser – Thursday, October 15
On Thursday, October 15, St. Patrick’s will join schools across the YCDSB in marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty through our third annual Civvies Day Fundraiser.
Elementary Dress Code – Preliminary Survey: SPS Dress Code Survey
Every school in the YCDSB as per board policy 219, will be engaging their communities in a review of the schools current dress code. For further information and to participate in the survey – families are asked to see the link above for further details.
Cookie Sales: Continue this week, please see the letter for further details: Terra Cotta Cookies
🌦️ Weather, Recess & Student Safety: At St. Patrick CES, the health and safety of our students remains our top priority. Outdoor activity and recess are important to student well-being, and we monitor weather conditions throughout the school day in accordance with YCDSB Board Policy 221.
❄️ Winter Weather
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When temperatures are above -18°C with windchill, students will participate in regular outdoor recess.
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When temperatures are below -18°C with windchill, recess will be held indoors.
☀️ Extreme Heat
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When the Humidex exceeds 35°C, or temperatures remain above 32°C for three consecutive days, recess routines may be modified to provide additional opportunities for students to cool down and stay hydrated.
Dates to add to your Calendar:
October
12 Thanksgiving
15 Eradication of Poverty Civvies Day
19 Cross Country @ Bruces Mill
23 Sharelife Civvies Day
26 PA Day
30 Halloween Fundraising Dance
November
8 Indigenous Remembrance Day
11 Remembrance Day
20 PA DAY
Yours in Catholic Education,
Mr. M. Caruso, Principal
St. Patrick’s CES