Patriot Post
Jan. 13th - Jan. 17th, 2019
This Week at St. JPII
Monday Jan. 13th
Girls Basketball Practice - 7:00am - 8:00am
Boys Basketball Practice - 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday Jan. 14th
Girls Basketball Game vs. OLPH @ JPII - 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Wednesday Jan. 15th
Boys Basketball 'B' Practice 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Boys Basketball 'A' Game at St. Theresa - 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Thursday Jan. 16th
HOT LUNCH: BOOSTER JUICE
Girls Basketball Practice - 3:00pm - 4:30pm
St. Theresa Hawks Nest Basketball Tournament
Friday Jan. 17th
St. Theresa Hawks Nest Basketball Tournament
Saturday Jan 18th
St. Theresa Hawks Nest Basketball Tournament
Chaplain's Corner
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. Up to this point, we have had prophesies of Isaiah and John the Baptist who tell all of the coming of Jesus. Isaiah tried to prepare the people. The Messiah will surprise us. He will not vanquish his enemies, garbed as a king or warrior or sage. The holy one comes as a servant, ministering quietly to the forgotten. Those, who Isaiah was preaching to were waiting for this great event expecting a conqueror trampling over the earth, not a friend to broken creatures.
For us in today's society, We have the gospels that tell us of Jesus' life fortifying Isaiah's prophecy in the Old Testament. This should show us how we are to live our lives but this is still a challenge for us because we are not willing to relinquish control to God who wishes nothing but love for us.
We are much like John the Baptist who was very uncomfortable when Jesus came to him to be baptized. By the river was Jesus, feet sunk in the mud like the throng awaiting the waters. John was just a messenger. To baptize the holy one was not proper, not just. Jesus reassured him: treat me the same. He came to share in our humanity. He came to serve sinners, not to rule from above.
Jesus emerged joyous from the water to the divine chorus. In accepting our humanity, we find God’s embrace. “Here is my beloved. I am well pleased.”
This week and moving forward into Ordinary time, let us see Jesus' ministry for what it was. A rebuilding of our relationship with God and a light to follow as we journey through life. May we be more like Jesus calls us to be. Disciples who walk in His footsteps seeing those who are in need of our support and assistance.
God Bless each and every one of you.
Vernon
St. JP II Family Games Night
This event has two objectives:
The first objective is to create a time and place where friends and families to come to St. John Paul II to enjoy an evening playing board and card games. We are blessed to have Brian, the owner of Table Top Cafe in Edmonton, bringing out some games for people to try and if they enjoy them, he will have some for purchase. Brian tells me that the game she is bringing will be pretty straight forward and true family fun games. Families and individuals are also encouraged to bring their favorite games to share with others. Make sure they are labeled so you don't lose them.
The second objective is to continue supporting Valeda House through our fundraising efforts. The games night will run no matter what. We are accepting voluntary donations that will go towards supporting the women of Valeda House who are striving to overcome the challenges they are facing.
Suggested Donation
$5 per Person
$15 - $20 per Family
Please email Vernon Brady at vernonb@eics.ab.ca to let him know you will be
attending along with how many will be joining you.
This allows him to gauge approximately how many will be
attending to ensure space and games for all
COLD WEATHER TEMPERATURES AND EICS SCHOOLS
Environment Canada is forecasting extreme cold conditions through the week of January 13th, which is also exam week for many of our EICS students. We are asking parents to have alternate transportation arrangements in place in the event that busing is cancelled due to the weather.
We will make every attempt to make the call and advise parents the night before, but in the event of a bus breakdown, the notification may be last minute.
Notices will be sent out using the BUS PLANNER notification system, School Messenger as well as a posting on the EICS website on the Bus Status page.
Many thanks for your attention to this matter and please stay safe and be prepared for this cold temperature situation.
EICS Transportation Policy on Cold Weather:
School bus service shall be suspended at a temperature of -40C as measured at the appropriate Environmental Weather Service Centre. School bus operators are responsible for the safety of your child and take poor weather and road conditions very seriously.
Parents will be advised via an email and call out system of any bus cancelations and delays.
Parents are asked to:
- Ensure all contact information in PowerSchool is accurate and up to date.
- Ensure that parents of students on EICS Transportation are enrolled in the BusPlanner notification system. To find out how to register, please click on the following BusPlanner instructions.
- Go to eics.ab.ca and go to the Transportation main page for bus status.
- Call 780.449.6480 for our transportation after-hours greeting for details.
Schools are always open unless there is a specific school-related emergency.
ACCOUNTABILITY PILLAR SURVEY
Dear Elk Island Catholic School Families,
Alberta Education will be conducting the annual Accountability Pillar Survey in the new year. Parents of students in grade 4, 7 and 10 will receive a mailed survey from Alberta Education (if the school has fewer than 120 students, parents of students in grades 4-12 will receive the survey in the month of January).
As an annual check-up on the education system, the Accountability Pillar provides an opportunity for Alberta Education to ensure that we are equipping students for success.
BLANKET EXERCISE
Dear Parents and Staff:
Parents and Staff of EICS students are invited to take part in a Blanket Exercise to be held at Central Learning Services (310 Broadview Road) in Sherwood Park on Wednesday, January 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The Blanket Exercise is an active participation learning activity based on the major themes and findings of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. The goal is to build understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada by walking through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. Everyone is actively involved as they step onto blankets that represent the land, and into the role of First Nations, Inuit and later Métis peoples. By engaging on an emotional and intellectual level, the Blanket Exercise effectively educates and increases empathy. For further information, please view this KAIROS Blanket Exercise video.
Participants are asked to bring a blanket that can be placed on the floor and stepped on for this activity.
Please RSVP by Monday, January 13 by filling out this linked Google Form.
We will also have Eva Stang join us at this event. Eva, a Métis Culture and Knowledge Keeper, has been working with EICS this year, supporting the continued growth in staff and administrator knowledge of Indigenous perspectives.
If you have any questions, please email Crystal Cholin, Learning Services Consultant (crystalc@eics.ab.ca).
WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE
This January give
THE GIFT OF WARMTH
to those in need!
=St. JPII will be doing a winter clothing drive for the month of January. All donations can be dropped off in the boxes outside the chapel. All items will be donated to the Hope Mission for men, women and children in need.
Donate some warm winter clothing today.
2019/2020 YEARBOOK NEWS
EICS Transportation
Elk Island Catholic School (EICS) Transportation is pleased to share with the EICS community that there is now increased awareness for parents and guardians regarding EICS bus arrivals and possible delays through our transportation software program BusPlanner. This new app will allow parents and caregivers to see the details of current routes, stops and transfers relating to their children on EICS transportation.
With this new system parents gain access to the following:
- The BusPlanner Parent Portal, located here: https://eics.mybusplanner.ca/Default.aspx which allows parents to view details of the routes, stops and transfers for their children.
- The BusPlanner Notification System for email alerts to parents for issues which impact transportation on a route by route or school by school basis.
- The BusPlanner Delays app which both parents and students can install on a mobile (hand-held) device and allows them to subscribe to and receive BusPlanner notifications through push notifications.
Parents, please take the time to create an account for the BusPlanner Parent Portal and subscription to receive notifications of transportation delays or school closures through email. Please click here for further instructions - thank you.
Please know, it will be through this portal that all notifications will be vetted. There will no longer be emails or phone calls directly from EICS transportation regarding route cancellations or late buses.
Notifications will come to you through Bus Planner, so please subscribe.
In faith,
Your EICS Transportation Department
EICS Demographic and Consent Forms
EICS Demographic Confirmation and Consent Forms are available now on your PowerSchool ParentPortal. Please take a moment to visit your PowerSchool ParentPortal account and complete these forms; one for each child you have attending school with EICS.
Alberta Education requires that we obtain a detailed update of student demographics on an annual basis. School funding from Alberta Education is conditional on us receiving these updates and including them in your student’s record. More importantly, these forms ensure that we have the most current contact information if we need to reach you in event of an emergency.
We certainly appreciate you taking the time to complete these forms. Should you have any questions, or require assistance, please contact Carrie-Lynn in the office at 780-992-0889 and she will be happy to help.
VISITORS IN OUR SCHOOL
School and Field Trip Fees
School fees and field trip fees will be uploaded into the PowerSchool Parent Portal shortly. This year will see some minor differences with respect to field trip fees. As opposed to sending home multiple requests throughout the school year asking for money for your child's field trips, our grade-level teachers will establish a total amount that will be added to your PowerSchool Fees that can be paid in one lump sum at the start of the year. An option will also exist to pay your school/field trip fees in installments over the course of the year.
A reminder, we encourage these fees to be paid online through your Powerschool Parent Portal, or you are welcome to send cash or a cheque made payable to Elk Island Catholic Schools to the office as convenient. If you require assistance logging in to the ParentPortal please call the school and we will be happy to help.
SCHOOL COUNCIL INFORMATION
Please join us for our next School Council meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22nd @ 6:30pm in the school library. This is an excellent opportunity to receive the latest school and grade level updates from our Administration and Teacher Representatives, as well as, upcoming School Council supported activities and events!
PATRIOT WEAR!
Shout out to Enhance It Embroidering for making this possible. All orders are processed directly through the store and Enhance It Embroidery will call to arrange pickup within the allotted shipping time.
http://www.enhanceitembroidery.ca/store/c2/St._John_Paul_II_Spirit_Wear_.html
HAPPY SHOPPING!
EICS FAMILY WELLNESS WORKER
Service Delivery
Each school is staffed with a Family Wellness Worker (FWW), who works under the direction of their School Principal and the Assistant Superintendent of Faith & Wellness. FWW's receive clinical guidance from a Registered Psychologist.
The primary function of the Family Wellness team is to provide social and emotional support to students and families. Family Wellness Workers meet with students and parents to assess needs, set goals, identify required supports, and plan appropriate interventions.
They collaborate with school system staff and community resources to build a “village” of support around students/families who are struggling.
Referrals
Parental consent is required for FWW services.
Referrals to the Family Wellness Program may be made by students, parents/guardians, school administration, teachers, or other school staff (e.g. school counsellor or collaborative response coordinator).
Parents and guardians can access these services by speaking with the Principal or contacting the school's Family Wellness Worker directly.
Family Wellness Contact Information
Hello St. JPII School Community! My name is Lee Dube and I am so excited to be a part of your Fort Saskatchewan school community. I am here to support families and students to be successful. I am someone that parents and students can talk to and can offer connections to various resources in the community. Please do not hesitate to give me a call at the school or send me an email at lee.dube@eics.ab.ca to set up a meeting. I will be at St. JPII on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday afternoons.
It has been such a pleasure meeting some of the students and parents. Thank you for being so welcoming. Please feel free to come and stop in at my office upstairs in room #214. I am at the school all day on Tuesday and Thursday as well as Friday afternoons.
The Boys & Girls Club of Fort Saskatchewan has a new youth drop in program. This is for young people ages 11-14 and 15-18. There will be a weekly coffeehouse starting September 14th between 3-5 please feel free to stop in and learn more about it.
We are starting up the Breakfast Club at Lunchtime. This is open to all students and is a great place to come and meet some new friends and have fun. The club is held on Thursday during lunch break. Come hang with us, we meet at the opportunity room upstairs.
The Breakfast Club.....at Lunchtime
CAFETERIA
November Cafeteria News
We now have two types of month passes:
Meal pass- includes any meal choice every school day in November ...$60
Lunch pass- includes any meal choice and two sides every school day in November... $90
Tues/Wed 6 & 7-
Cinnamon Bun Treats $2.00 can be pre-ordered online or in the cafeteria
Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews ** stop in, say hi, and grab a snack :-)
Meals start at $4.50 and sides can be added for $1-3 each
Lunch tickets- $7 each or packs of 10 for $65
Available everyday:
Gluten free options are marked with an * and have the best availability when preordered online.
Chicken Strips*, Pizza (ham & cheese, or extra cheese), Wraps (chicken caesar or turkey/bacon/ranch, or chicken salad), Salad* (chicken caesar, turkey/bacon/ranch, or chicken salad), Mac&Cheese*
Daily Specials:
Monday- Taco Wrap/Salad*, Tuesday- Chicken Nachos*, Wednesday- Pancakes with fruit and syrup, Thursday- Chicken Burger, Friday- Donair*
Sides:
Fresh fruit*, fresh veggies*, apples&grapes*, sweet snap peas*, apple sauce*, cheese strips*, apple crisp, blueberry bran muffin, chocolate chip oatmeal cookie, rice cereal square*, wowbutter cookies, tapioca pudding*, pretzels, smoothie* (m or mixed berry), milk* (chocolate or 2%), juice box* (apple or orange)
St. John Paul II Catholic School
Email: stjp@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stjp.eics.ab.ca
Location: 9975 93 Avenue, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-992-0889
Twitter: @stjp2cs