Shrove Tuesday is a day that's celebrated by many Christians around the world before the start of Lent. That's the six-week period that leads up to Easter

• The exact date of Shrove Tuesday changes from year to year. But one thing stays the same — it’s always 47 days before Easter Sunday. And yes, you guessed it, it’s always on a Tuesday!
• The name comes from the old word ‘shriving’, which means to listen to someone’s sins and forgive them. In Anglo-Saxon England, Christians would go to church on Shrove Tuesday to confess their sins and clean their soul. In other words, they would be ‘shriven’.
• In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Canada, Shrove Tuesday has another name… Pancake Day! Traditionally during Lent, Christians would give up rich, tasty foods such as butter, eggs, sugar, and fat (some Christians continue to do so, in fact). Shrove Tuesday was the last chance to eat them – and what better way to do so than with a delicious pancake!

School Council will be making Pancakes for all children on Tuesday, February 21st for lunch.

We are still in need of a few volunteers to help with making pancakes. Please contact our School Council Chair if you can volunteer for some time in the morning.

Kerstin @ madonnasces@gmail.com

Ash Wednesday School Mass will be in person at OLPH Parish at 10:00 am on Wednesday, February 22nd. Students will be bussed to Mass. The following schools will be at the mass with us: OLPH School, EPK School, and Holy Redeemer School

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting that prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God

Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.

Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too.

Ashes are administered during Mass and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance.

The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's palm Sunday Mass.

Father Jim notes, " My friends, Ash Wednesday is not just another day in the Liturgical year of the Church. It is not just the first day of our Lenten preparations for the celebration of the death and resurrection of our Lord. It is not only one of two days of Fast and Abstinence in the Catholic Church. (Although it is, and Good Friday is the other.) Ash Wednesday is for you and me, a very humble and subtle way of saying to the society we live in; Jesus Christ died and rose so that I might have eternal life. I am grateful and proud to be Catholic.

This Wednesday may all of us; Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel."

If you are not planning on being at Madonna Catholic School next year, please call the school at 780.467.7972 and let us know. We are planning for staff next school year and that is always dependent upon the number of students in the school.

Parents of Grade 4 students, we automatically forward your child's information to the next school too. You do not need to re-register. We will be sending the parents of Grade 4 students very specific information in the next couple of weeks. Keep your eyes open for the Open Houses at OLPH School and St. Theresa School.

COGITO Academy

Will be offerred for Kindergarten & Grade 1

Grade 2, Grade 3, and Grade 4 will be dependent upon numbers.

Alternative program,

• Teacher - direct instruction
• Student desire for excellence
• Students will wear a uniform
• The desks will be in rows.
• Pre-assessment is required to be accepted into the program
• Daily Homework requirements in literacy, Math, and recitation

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE COGITO Academy please fill out this interest form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_eemlnhGEcd1i5TLUEkdz0DeoRiU6kgN9a1gtIK5tORhhZA/viewform

PRE-ASSESSMENT DATE IS MARCH 6 for Kindergarten and Grade 1

... Once you have indicated an interest (fill out link above) we will send you a sign-up time for the assessment.

(Born in 2018).

Please come out and see our wonderful Kindergarten Program. Bring a neighbor and let them know how great Madonna Catholic School is.

We will be offering:

Kindergarten hours 8:30 - 3:15 pm

Option 1

Monday & Wednesdays ~ designated Fridays

Option 2

Tuesday & Thursdays ~ designated Fridays

Option 3

Full Day Every Day Kindergarten for a fee of $425 /month - this is dependent upon the number of registrations. Please register in Option 1 or Option 2 first and fill out a form indicating interest in Full Day Every Day.

Division Calendar: https://www.eics.ab.ca/schools/school-calendars

For Notable Dates:

February

20 - Family Day -NO SCHOOL

21 - Shrove Tuesday .. Pancake Lunch put on by School Council

21. Inuit Presentation 2L & 2S

22 - Ash Wednesday Mass at OLPH parish at 10:00 am

23 - Pink Shirt Day .. Wear Pink on Thursday ...

27 - Assembly - Lent All are welcome to attend 9:00 am

March

1 Djemebi Drums in school for the month of March

1 Early Dismissal School is out at 2:15 pm

3 NO SCHOOL Professional Development for teachers: Faith & Wellness Day for Teachers

6 Assembly - Indigenous - 9:00 am all are welcome to attend

6 Pre-Assessment Day - COGITO ... by appointment only

9 Grade 3's Ukrainian Village

17 Indigenous Peoples Map of Canada at the school for a week

20 & 21 Parent-Teacher-student Meetings

20 Gotcha Assembly (4 draws per class)

22 Helmet Safety Presentations all classes

24 - Spring Break starts March 24. Students Return on April 3

Inclusive Learning Teacher Consultant:

Build your child’s counting skills. Count out loud regularly and count items (ie. let’s put five blocks on the tower or count the ducks floating in the bathtub). Start with 1-5 and slowly increase as your child gets more confident with numbers.

Use number word vocabulary, (a lot ,few, a little, more less, same). Do you want a lot of goldfish or just a few? Who has more goldfish?

One-to-one correspondence is important too. Have your child give one lego to each stuffed animal, or one cup to each family member.

Occupational Therapist:

When it is just too cold to be outside, make obstacle courses! Move couch cushions and pillows onto the floor and walk or crawl over them. Play ‘Follow the Leader’ and climb in/out of boxes or the laundry basket, and crawl over/under/around obstacles. This is a great activity for developing core muscles.

SLP (Speech and Language Pathologist):

If your child makes a speech sound or grammar mistake, say the sentence back to them correctly and emphasize the sound or word they made a mistake on. Your child does not have to copy you, the focus is on hearing a correct model.

• Speech sound example: Child: “Tan you help me?”

One of our parents noted the following "a beautiful faith formation program at OLPH parish. The Catechesis of the Good Shephard is absolutely beautiful. They have classes on Thursday and Saturday. It helps children fall in love with their faith. It starts at an early age and is very calming and prayerful. "

Please consider bringing your child. You can start at any time of the year.

https://www.olph.ca/child-youth-ministry/cgs/