Sister Alphonse Academy Newsflash!
26/January/2021
Happy Friday Sister Alphonse Academy Families!
What a wonderful week of winter fun! Our students were excited to be able to participate in many engaging activities as homeroom classes this week. Thank you to all families who contributed to donating new socks to assist vulnerable youth keep warm during the winter time. Every time we help another person in need we live like Jesus and "Arise up: Get up!"
Please remember that there is no school tomorrow. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Christine Samson, Principal
Lisa Kleparchuk, Vice Principal
Sock Toss for Charity!
Student led Stollery intiative!
There was a SAA donation of $614.86 yesterday. It was announced that $1.6 million was raised over the last two days for the Stollery Hospital Radiothon.
In their own words:
"Along with giving to the Stollery we can also pray for the sick children, pray that the doctors can heal them and pray for the children’s families that they can be strong and believe in God. We can also pray that the sick children can ARISE, GET UP and GO with God as they heal!"
Covid - Health & Safety Updates: Important message
Parents/Guardians:
To answer a few questions I have recently received regarding how notifications work if health officials confirm a case of Covid-19 in a school community, please see the procedure below. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact the school.
This information is also found found in our GSACRD Parent Handbook:
COVID-19 Protocols
If health officials confirm a case of COVID-19 in a school community, Alberta Health Services will take the following steps:
1. The zone medical officer of health will work with school authorities to quickly:
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○ identify cases
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○ identify close contacts
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○ create isolation measures when needed
- ○ provide follow-up recommendations
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A COVID-19 case will not automatically lead to school closure—it could be that only the group of students and staff who came in close contact will be required to stay home for 14 days.
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Parents will be notified if a case of COVID-19 is confirmed at school and the individuals who tested positive, the school, and/or public health officials will contact those who were in close contact with the person.
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Each school authority will support students and staff to learn or work at home if they are required to self-isolate.
Please click on the link below to read the latest update from Dr. Clint Moroziuk, Superintendent of Schools.
Superintendent's Update (Jan. 28, 2021).pdf
https://www.gsacrd.ab.ca/schoolreentry/parentguidebook
The Alberta Government has established stronger mandatory province-wide public health measures to help slow down the spread of the COVID-19.
Please open the link below to see an important change in the symptoms and isolating:
Alberta Health Daily Checklist - Please continue to screen your children for any symptoms BEFORE choosing to send them to school.
Covid-19 - How long to stay home from school
Thank you so much for your support!
SAA Upcoming events:
Upcoming events: Month of February, 2021
Feb. 1 - 3 - Exciting days of learning!
Feb. 4 & 5 - Teachers Convention No School
Feb. 10 - School Council at 6:30
Feb. 11 - School Virtual Open House
SAA Elementary/Junior High virtual Open House! Registration now open as well on our website.
Feb. 12 - Early Dismissal 11:45 am NO Kindergarten classes
Valentine Activities
Feb. 15 - No School Family Day
Feb. 15 - 26 Time Machine Book Fair!!
Feb. 16 - Shrove Tuesday (Muffin, Juice & Fruit snack to be provided from the school activity fee). Mardi Gras MASK cohort parade 10 am
Feb. 17 - Ash Wednesday Liturgy 9 am
Feb. 17 - Lenten Project begins - Virtual Auction for Vulnerable Youth CSS! More information to be shared in our February newsflash
Feb. 22 - 26 - Virtual Career Symposium Week
Feb. 23 & 25 - Parent/Teacher Virtual Interviews: 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. (Sign up and Google links to follow next week)
Feb. 24 - Pink Shirt Day
Blessings,
Christine Samson,
Principal
Lisa Kleparchuk,
Vice Principal
Parents/Guardians: Face to Face/Online Education Survey
As we look ahead to the 2021-22 school year, we are interested in gathering your preliminary thoughts about whether you would prefer to access face-to-face and/or online education for your child(ren). We will ask for your feedback again as we get closer to the summer, so this survey will provide us with your thoughts right now. Thank you in advance for answering this very brief survey by Friday, January 29, 2021.
SAA Elementary/Junior High Open House!
SAA Kindergarten Virtual Open House!
Our new "Exploring Sister Alphonse Academy" Website!
Please check out our "Exploring SAA" Website which has been created by Mrs. Kleparchuk and the Open House committee at our school. This website is an opportunity to showcase our programs and information about SAA. Please note that this website is being developed and added to on a daily basis as we prepare for our upcoming Elementary/Junior High Virtual Open House, which is taking place on Thursday, February 11th at 6:30 p.m.
Kindergarten Literacy in action!
We have been reading the 'Enchanted Wood' novel to help build some higher level literacy skills (with the lack of pictures in a novel, they really need to paint these pictures in their heads to understand the story). This Kinders 'passion project' is to transform our loft into the Enchanted Wood, which is the setting of the story. In the end they will have a complete retell of the story including all the important elements: setting, plot, characters etc as well as a documentation piece with their opinion of the best 'land' to visit when climbing this magical tree. Their ideas are phenomenal and quite intricate for 5 and 6 year olds ;). This is such a great way to make their learning visible!
PJ Day Fun at SAA!
SAA Career Symposium is coming up!
SAA VIRTUAL CAREER SYMPOSIUM
Exploring Different Careers Feb. 22 - 26
How did you choose to serve the world?
Students and staff at SAA would like to invite you to participate in our first ever Career Symposium. We are in need of parents who would be willing to join a class google meet or create their own video describing their career! We want to guide our students to the exciting possibilities in their futures. We know that being able to connect with real people actively working in various careers will make this meaningful and wonder driven for everyone! Please read this parent letter for more information and contact Mrs. Nadine Trenchard at natrenchard@gsacrd.ab.ca if you would like to participate by February 12th! Thank you!
Valentine's Day Guidelines
With Valentine's Day coming up soon, we have had some parent/guardian inquiries regarding cards and treats:
PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY TREATS/CARDS WOULD NEED TO BE SENT TO THE SCHOOL BY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, AS TIME WILL BE NEEDED TO ENSURE SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE FOLLOWED UP WITH. This provides the staff time to separate and properly distribute items with gloves, safety routines and protocols.
Food treats are in pre-packaged in sealed packaging. Please do NOT send homemade foods.
Thank you so much!
Junior High News!
A couple of staff from Ecole Secondaire St. Albert Catholic High School will be having a short visit with our Grade 8/9 class on Thursday, February 11th during our EXCEL block to provide students with some information about the high school programming. Grade nine parents stay tuned for more information on transition tips/information to high school. Thank you!
Purchase your SAA Yearbook today!
Mrs. Kleparchuk and our staff are working hard on our 2020/2021 yearbook! A big thank you to one of our parents Mrs. Kosik-Lowen who is spending time again helping us build our yearbook. Your time and expertise is greatly appreciated! Purchase your yearbook through school cash using the link below.
If you experience any problems with the system, please let our office know at 780-809-2996.
We are Knights! Our clothing store is open!
SAA Scholastic Book Fair is Coming!
Sister Alphonse Academy Virtual Book Fair
Let reading take you anywhere at our Time Machine Book Fair!! From February 15-26, you are invited to shop our Scholastic Book Fair online.
Come explore the latest books and enjoy these special online shopping features:
All orders ship direct to home
FREE shipping on book-only orders over $40
FREE shipping for orders made on Wednesday from 6pm-8pm
All purchases support our school and earn 20% in rewards
Our goal is to get 180 books into students’ hands, so please help us make this the best fair yet! Click here to explore our online fair when it goes live on the 15th. Until then, you can use the link to preview the upcoming books. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!
Happy Reading!
Ms. L. Gamache
Phone: 780-809-2996.
Email: lgamache@gsacrd.ab.ca
SAFETY PROTOCOL STUDENT RE-ENTRY REMINDERS
Before coming to school each day, all staff and students must complete the Alberta government’s COVID-19 Information Screening Questionnaire, which is available in multiple languages, to determine whether they can attend or must stay home. The form does not need to be submitted to the office. If your child has any symptoms, contact your school office to let your child’s school know. Everyone who enters a school will see a sign that reminds them to complete the daily COVID-19 Information Screening Questionnaire before entering the building.
Please remember to bring with you all of your books and supplies that are needed for school on Monday morning. Monday is a regular, full day of classes.
Please remember that we have four entrances for students. When you arrive at school please report to the same school door that you were using before the Christmas break.
On August 4, grades 4-12 students and all staff have been asked to wear masks and mask use will be mandatory in common areas and when physical distancing of 2m is not possible. K-3 students are not required to wear masks, but mask use is encouraged as much as possible. Masks are to be worn while riding the bus as well.
Students with pre-existing health conditions that cause symptoms of illness should be tested for COVID-19 at least once before returning to school. A negative test will help show that symptoms are related to their pre-existing conditions, and not to COVID-19. This will establish what their baseline for being healthy looks like. Families should notify their school about any pre-existing condition and the symptoms it causes. As long as these symptoms remain the same, the student can attend school.
Additional hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed in every school and division office and additional hand sanitizer has been provided to schools to enable individuals to practice good hand hygiene.
It is recommended that individual-sized hand sanitizer bottles be purchased for your children so that they have this with them throughout the day. If you need to purchase another one for Monday please do so. Thank you.
Students please bring your own water bottle to school and do not share them. Water fountains will remain open and be cleaned regularly.
All students are asked to wear a mask to wear upon entry at school and when riding a school bus. Teachers will provide mask breaks. Prior to the break, students needed more reminders of continuing to do this so let’s have a new start again.
Grades 4 - 9 students: Please remember to wear your mask at all times when walking in the classroom and/or hallway and continue to maintain physical distance between one another.
Approved cleaning protocols have been put in place in all Division buildings. Custodial staff have been trained to identify high touch areas and to know how to clean, sanitize, and disinfect them.
If your child becomes ill at school, your child will be placed in a safe space until you or your emergency designate picks up your child.
Lunch Hour: All students in the elementary and junior high school need to eat their lunch in their own classrooms. We have always had this guideline in place, but students needed a few reminders to adhere to this prior to the break. Students in Junior High who are leaving the building for lunch please follow all safety protocols with masks use, physical distancing and sanitization upon exit and entry.
Junior High - Nutrition break: You are to eat your snack at your desk in your classroom. If you would like to go for a short walk in the school, wear your mask and continue to maintain a physical distance of two metres while walking.
Gym use - Students will have grade cohort assigned time to use the gym. Please listen for the announcements for your day of use.
Sacramental Preparation - Holy Family Parish
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
If your child is in Grade 2, and is preparing to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist, please contact Marieta by email: marieta@holyfamilyparish.ca to register for preparation class.
If your child is in Grade 6, and is preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, please contact Marieta at marieta@holyfamilyparish.ca to register for preparation class.
St. Albert Parish News!
SIGIS Childcare available
Please note that we have SIGIS Childcare within our building at SAA! If you are in need of before school or after school childcare, please read some information below. This may be a convenient service you may be interested in. Thank you.
Google Meet Information Tips for Parents
Please see some valuable information pertaining to the use of Google meets!
Here is a 60 minute recorded session on Google Meet for Families which was put on by the Cobblestone Collective (formerly Ed Tech Team Canada). This parent-centred session covered the following topics:
- Find the link to your child’s online lesson
- Know how to navigate Google Meet
- Share the top troubleshooting tips for when nothing seems to be going right
- Know how your child may be participating (raising their virtual hand, sending messages in the chat, etc.)
- Parent-strategies for Google Meets
Friends of Sister Alphonse Academy
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO ENHANCE SAA BY SUPPORTING FUNDRAISERS AND VOLUNTEERING
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS:
1. Campbell Park Bottle Depot - Ask for the receipt from the return of your bottles and cans to go towards 'Friends of Sister Alphonse Academy" envelope.2. FlipGive - Go to flipgive.com or get the FlipGive app. Enter code QYXC53 to earn a portion of proceeds for the school by purchasing gift cards and shopping online!
3. COBS DoughRaiser - Mention Friends of Sister Alphonse Academy at St. Albert location, and 5% of your purchase will go to Friends of SAA.
4. Oliver's Labels - http://www.oliverslabels.com/FriendsofSAA
5. Mabel's Labels - mabelslabels.ca - Click on 'Support a Fundraiser' and search for Friends of Sister Alphonse Academy (St. Albert)
Valentine's Day School Fundraiser!
Purchase your Valentine-themed creations now! Bags remain $10, and bowl cozies (great for soup, chili, etc.) are also $10 with 100% proceeds to Friends of SAA.
Please contact Meghan at meghanwagner5@gmail.com to arrange purchase/payment.
Thank you to everyone for your support! Funds raised are allocated to student needed technology or equipment. Blessings.
Sister Alphonse Academy!
Email: info@sisteralphonseacademy.com
Website: https://www.saa.gsacrd.ab.ca/
Location: 1 Joyal Way, Sturgeon County, AB, Canada
Phone: 7808092296
Facebook: facebook.com/sisteralphonseacademy
Twitter: @sisteralphonseacademy