December 4 to 8, 2023
December 4 to 8, 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
Christmas Miracle Story
Students will be encouraged to do helpful tasks at home to earn a quarter, loonie or twoonie to continue to add to this special jar. Just before Christmas break, the "Miracle Jar" will be given to a family in need.
During this week, students will also be decorating a very special Christmas ornament to place on our Advent tree. This ornament ties into our faith theme for this year: Growing in Love, with the Father. During this season, the guiding quote for students is : “It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.” - Mother Teresa
We our looking forward to journeying through Advent with our students!
This Week at JJN:
Dec. 3 - Advent begins
Dec. 4 to 22 - Grade levels gather in front foyer and lead morning prayer
Dec. 4 - Admin. share a very special Christmas story with students to begin Advent season
Dec. 4 - Deadline for GSACS Education Foundation Raffle - see below
Dec. 5 - 9:15 a.m. Advent Liturgy
Dec. 5 - MakerSpace Club - Grade 3 Boys
Dec. 7 - MakerSpace Club - Grade 3 Girls
Dec. 8 - KFC Hot Lunch
Dec. 11 - Christmas Concert
Upcoming Events:
All past Parent WAAGS are posted on our JJN website - LINK
Dec. 11 - Christmas Concert @ Sturgeon Valley Baptist Church (51 Woodlands Rd.)
by family last name:
A-H at 5:30 p.m.
I-Z at 6:45 p.m.
All Kindergarten at 5:30 p.m.
- Dec. 12 - National Day of Solidarity for Indigenous People
- Dec. 15 - Gr. 5 Garage Sale - Advent Campaign supporting Our Lady of Kibeho Orphanage for girls in Uganda
- Dec. 15 - Deadline for purchasing JJN F & F Cash Calendar Tickets - see below
- Dec. 15 - Dairy Queen Hot Lunch
Dress Festive Week for students and staff:
- Monday (Dec. 18) → Tree Topper Day
- Tuesday (Dec. 19) → Tip Toe Tuesday: Wear Xmas Socks
- Wednesday (Dec. 20) → Candy Cane Day: red and white
- Thursday (Dec. 21) → Shake the Snow Globe: Wackiest Christmas Wear
- Friday (Dec. 22) → Christmas Morning (PJ Day)
- Dec. 22 - Early Dismissal (no classes until Jan. 8, 2024)
- Dec. 25 - Christmas
JJN Christmas Performance - December 11
Tickets
Details regarding tickets and ticket sales were sent by email on Monday, November 27.
If you missed the message, please see the attached letter below.
If your child will not be attending the Christmas Concert, please fill out this form.
JJN will be holding our annual Christmas performance on December 11 at Sturgeon Valley Baptist Church (51 Woodlands Rd.). In order to honour families busy schedules during the holiday season, we have organized the performance according to family last name. This ensures that only a very small number of families need to stay for both performances. Families with the last names starting with letters A to H will attend at 5:30 p.m. and families with the last name starting with letters I to Z will attend the 6:45 performance. The location was chosen as a cost effective option to pair with another Division school.
Kindergarten Families
All Kindergarten students will be singing at the 5:30 performance only. Students remain with their parents in the front foyer until their teacher comes to gather them. After the kindergarten performance students will exit the stage and join their parents. At this time, kindergarten parents are welcome to leave or to remain for the show.
We look forward to joining for an evening of singing, laughter and joy!!
School Photo Feedback
We are looking for feedback on this year's school photos. Please fill out the attached form to have your say. Photo Feedback
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF JJN FUNDRAISER FOR OUR PLAYGROUND - CA$H CALENDAR (AGLC Licence # 666110)
We are into week 2 of our cash calendar sales and pledge forms are starting to roll in!
This fundraiser has the potential to bump us up to HALF OF OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL if we sell all 800 of the cash calendar tickets! We are asking that JJN families reach out to grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors in the community and ask them to support this fundraiser. Each ticket sold is then entered into a draw for 31 prizes, ranging from $100-$1000 in cash. That’s 31 chances to win cash for a total of $4,800 to give away in prize money and a total of $11,200 in park funds raised for our new playground! It's a win, win for everyone!
As a bit of incentive, if every student in the school sells 3 tickets each we will have a complete sell out of 800 tickets sold and students will be awarded with a WHOLE SCHOOL AWARD! Also, the top 5 selling students will get a special JJN swag prize. If you cannot locate the pledge form, please head to: https://linktr.ee/ffofjjn, print/fill out the form and send the cash or cheque in an envelope back to the school.
Thank you as always for your continued support! If you have any questions, please reach out to friendsofjjn@gmail.com.
Gr. 6 Smudge Ceremony
Thank you to our Grade 6 Student teachers (Miss Lesoway and Mr. Crotty) who organized a special visit from Adrian Joosten. Mr Joosten lead the grade 6 students in a session on the significance of the Indigenous Medicine Wheel and a Smudge Ceremony.
New Division Assessment and Reporting for 2023 - 2024 School Year
- As a division, we are working out glitches with the elementary report card view in PowerSchool as we become aware of them. Thank you for your patience. Remember to view on a web browser, not the app.
Please see the attached tip sheet for information regarding how to view your child's marks in PowerSchool.
If you have questions regarding your child’s progress or reporting in PowerSchool, do not hesitate to contact the classroom teacher.
Movember
Lost and Found Free Year
Please check out this weeks lost and found. The collection is increasing!
Please have your child collect any lost items from the front table or call the office and we can ensure it goes home with them.
Mabel’s Labels fundraiser - www.campaigns.mabelslabels.com (select “JJ Nearing Catholic School (St. Albert)”).
SCHOOL COUNCIL & FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF JJN
School Council Meeting
January 17 @ 7:00 p.m. at JJN (childcare provided by grade six students)
Minutes from all meetings are posted on our JJN Website - LINK
Positions open - contact our school council chair if you are interested assisting with any of the following positions:
- School Council Vice Chair
- Compassionate Friends Committee
- Playground (extra helpers needed)
- Yearbook (extra helpers needed)
JJN School Council
Ashley Dascavich - School Council Chair @ jjnearingschoolcouncil@gmail.com
Families and Friends of J. J. Nearing
Kaitlyn Boyko - President of JJN F & F
Email: friendsofjjn@gmail.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ffofjjnearing
Instagram :https://instagram.com/ffofjjn
PARENT INFORMATION
Hot Lunch Program
The deadline to order is always 5 days prior. If you have any questions or issues with ordering, please email Carly at hotlunchjjn@gmail.com.
Partners in Prayer
If you are interested in joining, please contact Grace at gracekully2@gmail.com. All faiths welcome.
DIVISION NEWS
Indigenous Student Art Contest 2023
Contest Details:
We are calling on all Indigenous students in Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools. The Division is seeking submissions of Indigenous-themed art from our First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. As Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools continues on its journey toward meaningful reconciliation with our Indigenous brothers and sisters, we want to provide an opportunity for our Indigenous students to use their talents and give us a hand. Artwork will be reviewed and selected by our Division First Nations, Métis and Inuit Leadership Committee, which includes representatives from our First Nations and Métis partners.
The theme is “Celebrating Indigenous Culture: Telling Our Stories Through Art,” and we are seeking both black and white (vivid black (marker, paint, or pencil crayon) and full-colour art submissions in each age/grade category. Another option available this year is a 10” x 10” canvas paint format (either full colour or black and white), which will be provided for interested students. If you wish to paint on a 10” x 10” canvas, please contact the Division Services Centre at 780-459-7711. Let them know you are calling regarding the Indigenous Student Art Contest and requesting a canvas for your artwork. Leave your name and phone number, and we will arrange a time.
Be creative! Feel free to seek inspiration from Indigenous art, dance, and culture. Inspiration might include the Medicine Wheel, 7 Grandfather Teachings, or #EveryChildMatters. The Division may use submitted artwork in creating items to support our reconciliation journey (t-shirts, greeting cards, posters, social media posts, etc.).
Click here for full details and application form.
REMINDER: Exciting 50/50 Raffle Announcement for the Education Foundation
- Ticket sales end on December 4, 2023.
- The draw will be held on December 6th at SACHS at 7:00 p.m., just before our Foundation's monthly meeting.
Thank you for your continued support. Together, we can make a difference.