The Good News
Saint John XXIII December 20, 2020
Week Four of Advent: Love
The whole meaning of Christmas can be explained in one little four-letter word…LOVE. God sent us the gift of pure love that very first Christmas-Jesus. Love descended from heaven to be born of a virgin. Love lay in the hay of a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. God's infinite love for us, was wrapped in swaddling clothes and came to show us way, the truth and the light. This final week of Advent helps us to reflect on the magnitude of God's love that came to us that first Christmas.
OLA Catholic Parish Update
Sunday Livestream Masses will continue at
9:45 am on Facebook
Pre-Registration for Sunday Masses in effect
Click Sign-up Genius link to register
(some spots left)
LIVESTREAM MASS
DEC. 24 AT 4:00 PM
(OR AVAILABLE ANY TIME AFTER FOR VIEWING ON FACEBOOK PAGE)
NO FACEBOOK ACCOUNT REQUIRED FOR VIEWING
CLICK ON LINK ABOVE FOR VIEWING
Winter Break and January Return for EICS
We recognize that there was some confusion with the last day of classes across the province for Winter Break.
Please note that the last day of classes for students is Tuesday, December 22nd.
First day of online instruction after Christmas is Wednesday, January 6th
Kindergarten to -Gr 12 classes are online January 6th - 8th.
Students resume in person learning on Monday, January 11
Classes online: Jan. 6-8th Information for Parents
As stated by the Ministry, students in K-12 will attend school online for Jan. 6-8th.
You will be receiving information this week from your child's teacher with the online plan overview for Jan 6-8th. We have been working very hard to plan for, and collaborate, as a school team, to support your child's online learning experience. We have taken into consideration the important feedback we heard from parents such as: worries over shared devices, same time Googlemeets, screen time and internet safety.
There will be a Google meet each day and learning tasks to be completed daily These tasks have been created with the understanding in mind that families require flexibility for completion as some students will be in care during the day. Reconnecting with students and their peers will be part of the important elements of learning online for Jan 6-8. Attendance will be taken each morning and afternoon, your child's teacher will share with you how this will be done. Please enter absences as usual, if your child will be away.
In order to limit overlap Googlemeets for families Googlemeets have been scheduled as follows:
Kindergarten 9:00 am (continue to follow the regular M/W T/Th Kinder schedule)
Grade 1 9:30 am
Grade 2 10:00 am
Grade 3 10:30 am
Grade 4 10:00 am
- Pathways and PUF Pathways will share their Googlemeet schedules
How can you assist as parents?
- Stay informed and connected by reading teacher and school communication
- Clarify any questions with your child's teacher sooner than later
- Help your child with digital citizenship and responsible tech use
- Let us know of any challenges your child or family are facing so we can help and support
- What is Google Classroom? Click here to access a short Slide Show presentation about Google Classroom and how to access the Google Applications with Google Suite. Here is a PDF version of the slide how presentation.
- We will be taking attendance am and pm Jan. 6, 7, and 8. Your child's teacher will share how attendance will be taken in each classroom. Please continue to use School Messenger and report any absences to our school and your child's teacher.
Our JOY-look at our windows around the school!
Parents, we are missing you too and we wanted to show our families the joy we are finding during our season of Advent. We wanted to include our parents in our journey so look around and you will see our stars filling all windows throughout our school-showing the world that we are finding Joy in the journey towards Christmas.
Advent Project: Lighting up the Manger with JOY!
Our Faith and School Spirit Student Leadership Squads have been leading our giving Advent project with true JOY! Kids helping others is such a gift to our world.
It's not about the money, Serving others is the goal:
As shared in last week's video, our grade 4 leaders wanted to "Light up the Manger with Joy" with acts of service and finding all kinds of ways to connect and share the light of our faith with others during a very difficult time. If this is a time of financial hardship for your family, please continue to support your child in their acts of service and send in their sheet so we can "light up the stable" with their lights, even without the loonies or toonies.
Every contribution (monetary or service) gets a star or a light in our display at the front entrance.
Where is the money going? Can we contribute online? Catholic Social Services
Due to Covid and storage space, Catholic Social Services is unable to take donations of clothes and toys for Valeda House. Instead, our loonies and toonies gathered during our "Light up the Manger with Joy" Advent Project will help bring Christmas joy to vulnerable women and children through the Catholic Social Services' (CSS) 2020 Stuff a Stocking for Sign of Hope initiative! Donations received through this campaign will go towards purchasing gifts, stockings, and Christmas trees for over 100 women and children currently seeking refuge at CSS shelters.
STJ Staff, students and families can either bring in loonies or toonies when earned or make a donation online (if that is easier), please go to our St. John XXIII team page: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-sign-of-hope-society-archdiocese-of-edmonton/p2p/eicsd-soh/team/st-john-xxiii-catholic-school/
Thank you for your consideration.
We are in need of replacement pants for our kids! Please donate any gently used, clean items and return any borrowed items
Advent Prayer Celebration & Concert: The Light of Christmas. Virtual concert shared on Dec. 22 to be viewed in your homes
We will share the link to our Advent Celebration and Concert on Tuesday, December 22. It will be shared as an unlisted link for you to enjoy with your family. Please do not post this on any public forum.
This couldn't have happened without the dedication from so many of our staff. Many thanks to our two music teachers, Mrs. Schaub & Mrs. Doderai, our Chaplain, Mrs. Comartin, our Admin. Team, Mrs. Boehm & Mrs. Astalosch, and all staff who contributed to our virtual concert and celebration. *Special note of appreciation to Mrs. Schaub for splicing it altogether. *
We hope you enjoy the special celebration and concert this year. We wish we could see your joy-filled faces as you watch it together but we will know it was worth all the effort and countless hours of work if one smile sparkles in your home and joy fills your hearts. Please send Mrs. Boehm any pictures or videos of you and your family enjoying the celebration and concert to bonnie-lynneb@eics.ab.ca, we would love to celebrate with you!
Looking ahead: Mark your calendars
December 22: Last day of classes for students. Advent Celebration & Concert link shared with families.
January 4: Registration begins for Sacramental Prep OLA Parish
January 6: First day of classes online
January 6,7,8: First week of classes- Online Learning
January 6: Early Out Dismissal 2:23 pm - Crazy Hair day
January 7: OLA Parish priests visit our SJXXIII Grade 2 classrooms- Online Visit
January 11: First day back to school- in person learning after Christmas break
January 12: Parent School Council Meeting 7:00 – 8:30 pm
January 22: 1st Reconciliation and 1st Communion Registration closes
January 29: PD DAY-NO School for Students
Christmas Break Dec. 23-Jan. 6
Growing Brains & Sharing Smiles! It's a Great Day to be a Saint John Kid!
OLA Parish News: Sacramental Prep Registration-January
For Grade two children and those who have not yet received these sacraments:
1st Reconciliation and 1st Communion
Registration begins: January 4, 2021
Registration closes: January 22, 2021
Saint John XXIII School Council News
See you at our next meeting, on Tuesday, January 12th@ 7:00 pm.
Google Meet link will be shared with you that day.
Thank you for checking your email inbox or spam/junk folder.
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