The Good News December 3, 2023
St. John XXIII Catholic School
The First Sunday of Advent
First Sunday of Advent - Hope
Today marks the beginning of a new liturgical year starting with a four-week celebration of Advent. Advent is our season of waiting for Jesus. Waiting is not something we are accustomed to in today’s world. Everything is at our fingertips, a click away from immediate gratification.
Yet, as every parent knows, waiting for the miracle of new life takes much needed time. Time to prepare, to hope, to wait with joyful anticipation, and most importantly, to love.
To love, regardless of what challenge or messiness we encounter. It is more about how we wait--with faith--with joy--with love, rather than the external preparations. Let this season of Advent be a time of change in our hearts as we wait for Jesus. Let us prepare with love and trust. Let it be a time of joy and hope for all of us.
December 2023
Monday, Dec. 4
- First Advent Celebration 12:20, parents are welcome to join us
- KMW TPet
- Father Abraham visit (gr. 4)
- KTR TPet
Wednesday, Dec. 6
- Early Dismissal 2:10, Christmas Spirit - Wear (red/green)
- Buddy Bingo
- Feast of St. Nicholas
- NK Strathcona Wilderness Centre
- Yearbook Cover Contest entries - due
- PSC Poinsettia Order Pickup 1-3pm & 6-8pm only
Looking Ahead...
Dec. 10 - Last day to fill out Concert Ticket form
Dec. 11 - 9am cut off for Basket items
Dec. 13 - Hot Lunch, Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal
Dec. 14 - Advent Concert 1pm & 6pm, both Kinder classes are in attendance today
Dec. 18 - Sock Toss
Dec. 19 - Advent Mass 10am at OLA Church
Dec. 20 - Tobogganing and Hot Chocolate
Dec. 21 - Christmas Sweater Day, Christmas Sing Along
Dec. 22 - Last Day of Classes, PJ and Movie Day
St. John XXIII Advent Concert
Advent Concert
We are excited to announce that the St. John XXIII Christmas Advent Concert will be held in the school gym on Thursday, December 14th.
There will be an afternoon performance and an evening performance on this day. To stay within fire regulations, we must limit the number of guests who plan to attend.
We will be providing each family with 2 free tickets for both the afternoon and evening performances. You must have filled out the following google form for tickets. Please note that siblings attending each performance will require a ticket.
The afternoon performance begins at 1:00pm, doors will open at 12:30
The evening performance begins at 6:00pm, doors will open at 5:30
Additional tickets may be available but not guaranteed and will be available on a first come, first served basis. Please enter your request for extra tickets on the Google Form.
There will be no paper tickets sent home. Staff members will have the list of tickets at the door.
Please fill out the Google Form attached here for tickets: Christmas Concert Tickets by Sunday, Dec. 10th
Remember to bring money for the Basket Raffle. Tickets are 1 for $2 or 12 for $20 Winning tickets will be drawn at the end of the evening Christmas Concert. All money raised will be donated to Lurana Shelter.
Christmas Countdown
We are very excited to come together as a school community as we prepare for Jesus’s birth and have some fun during this Christmas season. We have planned several fun activities for our students to enjoy in the days leading up to Christmas break. Some days will require your child to bring certain things for the activity of the day.
Wednesday, Dec. 6th - St. Nicholas Day, Wear Green and Red/Buddy Bingo
Thursday, Dec.14th - School Advent Concert Day! Dress in your best wear for our Christmas Concert. There will be an afternoon show (1:00pm) and an evening show (6:00pm). Both Kinder classes are in attendance today
Don’t forget to bring money to buy raffle tickets for our Christmas Basket Fundraiser for Lurana Shelter.
Monday, Dec. 18th - Sock Toss
Tuesday, Dec 19th – School Mass (am) We will celebrate mass as a school at OLA church at 10 am. Our grade 2 classes will be leading. Families are welcome!
Wednesday, Dec.20th - Toboggan and Hot Chocolate Day! We will be spending parts of the day outside having some fun in the snow (if there is snow!). We will be tobogganing and having hot chocolate. Students need to bring their own toboggans (No Crazy Carpets) and helmets! Check with your bus drivers for rules with transporting toboggans on this day. If you do not want your child to toboggan, please let your child’s teacher know! Please make sure your child has snow pants and proper gear to spend an extended amount of time outside.
Thursday, Dec. 21st - Christmas Sweater Day, Buddy Bingo, Christmas Sing along
Friday, Dec 22nd – PJ and Christmas Movie Day! Wear your PJ’s for the day and bring your favourite stuffed animal. We have some cleaning to do in the morning and then our afternoon will be spent enjoying a movie. Students can bring ONE sandwich-size Ziploc bag full of a snack of their choice to enjoy during the movie.
Advent Social Justice Project : Baskets of Blessings
This Advent, all of our EICS community, including St. John XXIII, is continuing to partner with Catholic Social Services to support women and children at the Lurana Shelter.
At St. John XXIII our goal is to raise enough money to purchase two Baskets of Blessing per class. The cost of each basket is approximately $100. To raise this money we will be creating themed baskets that will be raffled off at our Christmas Concert. You can also donate to the Basket of Blessings initiate online using our school link.
May God bless you and your family this Advent Season.
More info about the Christmas Themed Gift Baskets
We will be creating baskets for a fundraising draw during our Christmas Concert, on Thursday, December 14th. Baskets will be displayed and raffle tickets will be sold at both the afternoon and evening Christmas Concerts. Winning tickets will be drawn on Friday, December 15th. All money raised will be donated to Lurana Shelter.
We are asking students in each homeroom class to bring items related to a theme. Homeroom teachers will be sending descriptions of the various baskets, and what items can be purchased. Please have your student bring their item to their homeroom, and we will collect the items for the baskets there. If you have larger baskets to donate as well, please send those along with your child.
Please drop off all items by 9am Monday, Dec. 11th
Thank you for your generosity!
It Takes a Village: We are here to help
We recognize that this season can be a difficult time for some of our families within our community. If you or your family are struggling with finances, emotional or mental health, medical or physical needs, please reach out to someone within our school or parish community and we can respond. Everyone needs help sometimes, we are not meant to journey this life alone. There are many resources, agencies and people who have offered assistance and we can confidentially arrange for support, especially through this Advent season.
Kristine Willis Dengler, Principal kristinew@eics.ab.ca 780-998-7777
Eleanor Heesings, Family Wellness Worker eleanor.heesing @eics.ab.ca 780-995-9352
St. John XXIII School Council Poinsettia Fundraiser Pick Up Friday
Pick up will be on Friday, December 8th, 2023 from 1-3pm and 6-8pm.
Thank you again for all of your support and enjoy your beautiful plants!
Yearbook Cover Contest - Due December 8th
We are inviting all St. John XXIII students to enter their drawings in our Yearbook Cover Contest. One winner will be selected to be displayed on the front cover. Four other winners will be displayed on the back cover. The top five entries will be selected by a panel. The front cover will be voted on by the school population via Google form.
Growing Brains & Sharing Smiles! It's a GREAT Day to be a St. John Kid!
Important School Information
2023-2024 School Fees
2023-2024 Fee Statements were sent home on November 17th. Please review the statement attached for all fee details.
You can pay on-line with a debit card or credit card. However, if you wish to pay by cash (exact change only) or cheque, please send it to the school office (make cheques payable to Elk Island Catholic Schools).
If you have other questions or require assistance with the online payment, please refer to the link at the bottom of this newsletter, and contact our school at 780-998-7777 if you need further assistance.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please review the fee waiver form here or contact the principal, Mrs. Kristine Willis Dengler at 780-998-7777 to arrange a meeting.
Fee Waiver Application Deadline is December 11, 2023.
Absence Reporting
Please submit your child's absences in PowerSchool, and also notify your teacher with a Dojo message or a note sent with your child.
Please refer to the EICS Parent Technology Handbook for instructions on how to report you child's absence, early departure, leave & return or multiple day absence.
For any last minute Early Departures, please call the office before you arrive so we can make arrangements for your child to come to the office for pick up.
For accuracy and tracking purposes, absence coding in PowerSchool is to be submitted by parents, not teachers.
Saint John XXIII Catholic School
Email: stj@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stj.eics.ab.ca/
Location: 9526 89 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-998-7777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St.JohnXXIII
Twitter: @St_JohnXXIII