The Good News-Sept. 12th
Saint John XXIII Catholic School 2021-2022
Meet our Team: Making Connections the Priority
Connecting with our families continues to be one of our top priorities at St. John
Parents have shared over the past year that they feel like they know St. John staff well and are more intimately connected to teachers and leadership based on the increase of outside presence, Googlemeets, videos shared, communication, and intentionality of connections. This is a beautiful affirmation for our staff as we have poured much energy and love into ensuring our families feel connected. Having said this, the need continues to be very intentional for staff-family connections as we navigate the safety restrictions the pandemic places on limiting school visitors.
What does this mean for our annual "Meet the Staff?"
The purpose of the Meet the Staff is for families to learn about the St. John team, place faces to names, see their child's learning environments, and build teacher-parent connections. Keeping this in mind within the perimeters of health and safety right now, our "2021-2022 Meet the Team" will look like this:
- Meet the Team each week in our Smore, highlighting individual staff members
- Each homeroom teacher will connect via phone call (and/or Googlemeet) with each family during the month of September
- Teachers will share videos, pictures of the learning environments, and introduce staff members working with students in their teacher communication
- Our weekly Smore and Social media will continue to share pictures, celebrations, and information of our school community
As your child's first teacher, your connection with our staff matters. Please continue to stay informed and communicate any needs or celebrations with us. Together, we can continue to make St. John a great place to be for everyone!
Blessings,
Mrs. Bonnie-Lynne Boehm
2021-2022 School Volunteers: Update
Thank you St. John families for your cooperation and understanding with us not having visitors in the school during our re-entry this month. It is important for us to figure out the health and safety measures and routines with our staff and students before we can run other programs that require volunteers and/or visitors. While we are the experts in education, the health measures required of us right now take extra energy and navigation.
We thank you in advance for your patience as we slowly, thoughtfully and strategically open to volunteers while continuing to maintain our high standards for our safe and joy-filled learning and growing environments. More details will follow regarding safety protocol expectations for volunteering.
In October, teachers, staff and/or School Council may begin to reach out to our St. John community and invite you to participate in volunteer opportunities in or for your child's class or for school activities. Thank you for keeping your eyes open for these reach outs.
Should you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bonnie-Lynne Boehm at 780-998-7777.
Meet the STJ Team 2021-2022
MEET Mrs. Boehm: Principal
Grew up: Acreage outside Gibbons & Fort Saskatchewan
Education: Bachelor and Masters in Education, Dental Assistant RDAII
Role at St. John: Principal, Teacher, Student Support Team
Hobbies: reading, writing, watching baseball, outdoor activities: hiking, paddleboarding, exploring tidepools, snorkeling
Favourite scripture quote:
Let all that you do be done in love. 1Corinthians 16:14
Contact Info:
Twitter: @MrsBoehm
Meet Mrs. Greene: Assistant Principal
Grew up: On a farm outside of Melville, Saskatchewan
Education: U of S grad BEd
Role at St. John: Assistant Principal , Pathways teacher, Literacy/Numeracy Intervention Teacher, Student Support Team
Hobbies: Hiking, golfing, skiing and design
Favourite scripture quote:
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Colossians 3:15
Contact Info:
Twitter @TeachMrs.Greene
Please note: Calendar change: *Sept. 30th No School-National Truth & Reconciliation Day Holiday
September 27-Oct. 1: Truth & Reconciliation Week
The Government of Canada has proclaimed September 30th as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. To read what EICS is doing to honour this day, please visit:
At St. John, we will be honouring the week of Sept. 27-Oct. 1 as Truth & Reconciliation Week with prayers, activities, a Trail Tale, and wearing our Orange Shirts on Wednesday, September 29th.
Each morning, please ensure you are doing the AHS Daily Assessment with your child. Your child's attendance is your declaration this has been completed.
Please ensure your child has a clean water bottle every day. Kids get very thirsty, especially in masks
Learning Disruption Grant: Supporting Literacy and Numeracy at St. John
In addition to building our classroom communities, our Grades 1-3 teachers will work with students to assess and address any potential setbacks in literacy and math learning. Each year, we use the EICS Literacy and Numeracy Frameworks to determine areas which require focussed support and set learning goals. However, the disruption to in-class learning during the Covid-19 pandemic may have resulted in some of our students not attaining the skills they would have in a regular year. As a result, targeted literacy and math assessments designed and supported by the division will be used with all students in Grades 1-3 as an extension to the classroom processes already in place to identify students who require additional intervention to develop their skills and close gaps.
Alberta Education has provided funding to support schools with staffing and resources for these supplementary interventions. Students in Grades 2-3 will complete specialized assessments in September and students in Grade 1 will be assessed later in the school year. Interventions in both groupings will begin shortly afterward the assessments are complete. Students identified as requiring additional support will receive 30 hours of supplementary programming in literacy and between 20-30 hours of support in math in small group formats from specialized intervention teachers. During and after the intervention period, student progress will be monitored and communicated with classroom teachers and parents. A final communication of gains will also be provided to Alberta Education.
We are pleased to share that Mrs. Gail Greene will be taking on the role of our Literacy/Numeracy Intervention Teacher. Mrs. Greene will work collaboratively with teachers, administration, and Division office leads to support students and build teacher capacity in the areas of literacy and numeracy.
*More information will be shared through teacher communication.
Grade 4s are coding and engaging in STEM projects!
While students are being assessed in September and October by their homeroom teachers, Mrs. Schaub and Mrs. Kayla Shackleton will be engaging grade fours in STEM and coding projects. Once teachers determine students' needs, the four teachers will work collaboratively to target supports while weaving coding and STEM throughout the year. It's a win-win for student success!
MIX 107.9 MIX Ninja Visits St. John for the Back to School Contest. Thanks Ms. Bourassa and 3B for the fun!
St. André Bessette High School Mentors: Community school connections
We missed our mentors last year! We are so excited to bring this amazing program back this year!
The Peer Mentor opportunity is a program offered at the high school where students can earn credits for being a mentor. Training, ongoing support and monitoring are important elements for the high school students. Course components align with the mentorship expectations from Alberta Education. "Mentoring relationships are a natural and supported opportunity for both the mentor and mentee to enhance their social-emotional learning" (Alberta Education, 2018).
Mr. Sean Reader is the coordinating teacher from St. André Bessette. Mr. Reader and Mrs. Boehm work closely together to plan and support effective and positive relationships between our high school mentors and elementary mentees. Our Peer Mentors will be visiting St. John twice a week for one hour beginning mid-October. Peer mentors and St. John mentees will continue to follow all school health and safety protocols.
Physical Literacy, Social skill building, Numeracy/Literacy, and building positive connections will be the focus. Peer mentor time will be monitored by both Mr. Reader and St. John staff.
Benefits of mentoring relationships are:
- building students’ sense of belonging within the school community
- enhancing attendance and motivation to learn
- helping individual students feel more connected and valued in their school community
- helping students learn about and value diversity
- encouraging individuals to get to know one another, identify common interests and concerns, recognize one another’s strengths and contributions
Mentoring also contributes to a positive school culture by:
- creating authentic and engaging opportunities
- modelling and teaching the skills essential to healthy relationships
- strengthening school bonds
- enhancing students’ feelings of safety and belonging
- decreasing bullying behaviours
(Alberta Education, 2018)
Who Can Participate in the Peer Mentorship Program?
As this is a class and program offered at St. André Bessette, there are approximately 16 mentors currently taking the course and currently engaged in intensive in-class learning prior to their connection with our students.
Teachers, educational assistants will work closely with our Student Support Team to determine who in their class will benefit from this mentorship program. Once St. John mentees are selected, teachers will reach out to you to share more information and request your support for your child's participation in this amazing opportunity!
Any questions? Please contact Mrs. Boehm 780-998-7777 bonnie-lynneb@eics.ab.ca
Looking ahead: September
September 13 & 14: PUF Pathways Small group orientation.
September 15: PUF Pathways Program begins 8:30-11:30 am
September 15: REAL Foundation Golf Tournament. Live streamed 4 School mass 9:15 am
September 17: Picture Day
September 24: Terry Fox Run
September 27-Oct. 1: Truth & Reconciliation Week
September 29: Orange Shirt Day at St. John
September 30: *No School* National Truth & Reconciliation Day Holiday
Growing Brains & Sharing Smiles! It's a GREAT Day to be a St. John Kid!
OLA Parish News
Live streamed mass for our four schools this Wednesday, September 15 9:15 am. Join us in praying for our school communities this year.
Did you know that as a parent of our school community, you are automatically a member of the School Council? We look forward to connecting with and hearing your voice this year.
We will be having our first meeting near the end of September and electing our new School Council Executive members. Are you interested in leading as an executive member? Contact Mrs. Bonnie-Lynne Boehm bonnie-lynneb@eics.ab.ca
Be involved, share your voice, stay connected!
Community Connections
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