2023-24 School Year Calendar
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-25 school
year is now open
Kindergarten
registration for the 2024-25 school year at Dufferin-Peel Catholic District
School Board (DPCDSB) schools is now open. Parents/guardians can register
online at dpcdsb.org.
Virtue of the Month - December: Hope
Hope is the virtue of relying on God. It keeps us searching for true happiness and sustains us during hard times or discouragement.
Prayers for Advent Week 1
December 5 & 7 - DPCDSB's 2024-2025 French Immersion Program Virtual Information Sessions
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) will hold two virtual public information meetings for parents and guardians interested in enrolling their child(ren) in the board's Grade 1 French Immersion Program for the 2024-2025 school year. The information sessions will provide parents and guardians with an overview of the French Immersion Program, criteria for admission, information about the online application process, and information about the random selection process (should the number of applications exceed the number of spaces available). Virtual information sessions for parents/guardians will be held on two different evenings based on region of interest.
BRAMPTON & MISSISSAUGA (Our Lady of Providence C.E.S., St. Angela Merici C.E.S., St. Joachim C.E.S., St. Pio of Pietrelcina C.E.S.)
Tuesday December 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Microsoft Teams Online Meeting
MISSISSAUGA (All Saints C.E.S., Divine Mercy C.E.S., St. Elizabeth Seton C.E.S., St. Gregory C.E.S.)
Thursday December 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Microsoft Teams Online Meeting
For more information, visit the French Immersion webpage.
December 6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against
Women
December 7 - DPCDSB Adult Faith Formation For All Series: Dr. Michael Hryniuk - The Hope of Advent: What are we waiting for?
The season of Advent is traditionally celebrated as a time of hopeful and expectant waiting for the coming of the messiah in Christ Jesus. In these present times of chaos and crisis, we may be feeling especially anxious and in need of God's presence and comfort in our lives. In this session, we'll reflect on how the promise of the coming of Christ is the fulfillment of our deepest spiritual longings and explore how Advent can be enriched through a deeper understanding of what those longings are. Virtual Session. Session: #22222. Register on Professional Learning. More Information.
December 8 – Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
A feast dedicated to Mary’s conception.
December 9 - St. Giovanni Scalabrini C.E.S. Christmas Market
Time: 10 am - 4 pm Location: 225 Central Parkway West, Mississauga. Christmas Market Flyer
December 10 – Second Sunday of Advent
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" (Luke 2:14)
During Advent, we are invited to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord – to wait in joyful hope for his return in glory at the end of time and to prepare for the annual celebration of his birth.
Prayers for Advent Week 2
December 10 – International Human Rights Day
December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe (Patroness of the Americas)
Commemorates the apparition of the Blessed Virgin at Tepeyac on the outskirts of Mexico to Juan Diego.
December 12 – National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
The Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council, founded by the Canadian Conference of Bishops (CCCB) in 1998, proposes that the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) be a National Day of Prayer and Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. All are invited to join their Indigenous sisters and brothers in a special way this day through prayer and acts of solidarity.
December 14 – DPCDSB Christmas Read Aloud with author Yolanda T. Marshall
On December 14, the DPCDSB's Black Community Advisory Council will be hosting its first Christmas Community Event. Join us on December 14 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Catholic Education Centre (40 Matheson Blvd. W., Mississauga) for treats, crafts, music and a read-aloud by Yolanda T. Marshall, author of Christmas Elves Being Themselves and A Piece of Black Cake for Santa. All are invited to dress cozy for this fun, festive event. Admission is free for DPCDSB families. Space is limited. Register at: https://forms.gle/hdTJYjT5ePB19ywc6 / Event Flyer
December 14 – St. Paul C.S.S. Arts Christmas Coffee House
This Christmas season, the students at St. Paul C.S.S. invite you to join us in a holiday celebration at our Arts Christmas Coffee House on Thursday December 14, 2023. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:00 p.m. Location: St. Paul C.S.S., 815 Atwater Ave., Mississauga. The night will be filled with Live Music, a Visual Arts Gallery and a Dramatic Arts performance of “Christmas in the Land of OZ”. In this Wizard of OZ spin off, the Wicked Witch of the Northwest, becomes the grinch of this delightful holiday play when she steals Christmas from Munchkinland. It takes all your Oz favorites — Dorothy and Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man, the Lion, and the Munchkins to bring the yuletide holiday back. In the process, the Tin Man recovers his sense of humor, the lonely Lion finds a lady companion, and Dorothy finds the spirit of Christmas to take back to Kansas for Auntie Em and Uncle Henry. It’s sure to make you laugh and remind you what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. Tickets are $8 in advance, which can be purchased on School Cash Online, $10 at the door, with proceeds going towards our St. Paul Christmas Fundraiser.
December 17 – Third Sunday of Advent
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)
A pink candle is lit on our Advent Wreaths to represent joy or rejoicing and reveals a shift in the season of Advent away from repentance and toward celebration. It reminds us that the time of Christ's arrival is fast approaching, and we must prepare.
Prayers for Advent Week 3
December 18 – Mississauga South Christmas Toy Drive (All Saints Catholic Elementary School)
Every year, the Social Work Department holds a Toy Drive allowing Board Social Workers to "shop" for toys for families-in-need brought to their attention. Last year's Toy Drive managed to collect more than 600 brand new toys supporting almost 100 children. This year's toy drive has been expanded to include many more schools from Mississauga South in the hopes of supporting even more families. This year's event will be hosted at All Saints C.E.S. If you would like your school to join in on the donations, please contact Krista.Mountjoy@dpcdsb.org or Hamid.Jivraj@dpcdsb.org.
December 20 - International Human Solidarity Day
December 24 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1:39-45)
The last purple candle is lit on our Advent Wreaths which represents Love. The last week of Advent is a direct preparation for Christmas, the commemoration of Jesus’ coming among us in human flesh.
Prayers for Advent Week 4
December 24 - Vigil of Christmas - The Nativity of the Lord (Solemnity)
December 25 – Christmas, The Nativity of The Lord (Holy Day of Obligation)
“To you is born this day a Saviour, who is the Christ.” (Luke 2:1-16)
December 25 - January 5 - Christmas Break
December 26 – St. Stephen, The First Martyr (Octave of the Nativity)
St. Stephen is the first-named among the seven deacons chosen to minister to Greek-speaking Christians in Jerusalem.
December 27 – St. John, Apostle, Evangelist (Octave
of the Nativity)
St. John is referred to as the “beloved disciple” in the gospels as well as John the Divine.
December 28 – Holy Innocents, Martyrs (Octave
of the Nativity)
The ‘Holy Innocents’ are the male children slain by King Herod in Matthew’s Gospel. This feast also points to Jesus as the Messiah.
December 30 – The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (Octave
of the Nativity)
“Those who honor their father atone for sins, and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.” (Sirach 3:2-6)
January 15-18 - Registration for St. James Catholic Global Learning Centre International Baccalaureate Programmes
Registration for St. James Catholic Global Learning Centre International Baccalaureate Programmes for the 2024-25 school year (Kindergarten to Grade 8) will take place Monday, January 15 to Thursday, January 18, 2024. St. James Catholic Global Learning Centre is an authorized International Baccalaureate (I.B.) World School which offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) and provides learning opportunities with a global focus for students from Kindergarten to Grade 8. St. James C.G.L.C. does not offer online registration. The registration process is outlined on the registration section of the school website. The completed registration form(s) and supporting documentation can be sent by email to St.JamesInfo@dpcdsb.org. In the event the number of applications exceeds the number of allotted spaces, completed applications received by the due date will be subject to the random selection process. To be included in the random selection process, registrations must be received by 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2024. For more information, parents/guardians are encouraged to access the school website or contact the school office at 905-891-7619 or St.JamesInfo@dpcdsb.org.
January 24 - DPCDSB Entry Planning and Transition Information Session for students with Differing Abilities
DPCDSB's Special Education and Learning Services Department will host an information session to support the entry planning and transition of students with differing abilities who will be new to the DPCDSB for September 2024. During this session, parents/guardians will have the opportunity to meet with board staff and learn about the entry planning process for students with differing abilities. Differing abilities may include, but are not limited to the following areas: blind low vision, hearing, speech, autism, physical/medical and/or developmental delays in the cognitive and/or motor areas. The information session will be held at St. Marcellinus Catholic Secondary School (730 Courtneypark Dr. West, Mississauga) from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Parents/guardians can register online for this event. For more information, contact Fara Miranda Fernandes, Resource Secretary, Special Education & Learning Services at 905-890-0708 Ext.24011 or Fara.MirandaFernandes@dpcdsb.org. Event Flyer / Registration Link
February 22 - Parents Reaching Out Event: See Me For Me - A Message of Inclusion
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm / Virtual Meeting / Registration Link / Event Flyer
March 6 - DPCDSB Annual Secondary Skilled Trades and Technological Competition
Mark your calendars for this year's Secondary Skills event which will be held at Father Michael Goetz C.S.S. on March 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Successful student competitors will move forward to represent DPCDSB at the provincial event on May 6 and 7 at the Toronto Congress Centre. More information to follow.
April 24 - Transition Advisory Committee’s Central Resource Fairs
The Transition Advisory Committee (TAC) will be hosting two Central Resource Fairs for secondary school students with a developmental or intellectual disability and their caregivers. The first resource fair will be held at St. Marguerite d’Youville C.S.S. on Wednesday. November 8, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. for the Dufferin, Caledon, Brampton area. The second resource fair will be held at Applewood Acres Secondary School on Tuesday April 24, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. for the Mississauga area. Registration is not required for these events. Please refer to the flyer for more information.