The Good News
Saint John XXIII October 19, 2018
Leadership Message
The Most Important Word: God’s Love Letter to Us
Our week began with Father Kris reading to us at assembly to celebrate Read-in Month. The book he read was written by Max Lucado called, You are Special. It is a story about a village of small wooden people called Wemmicks who, like us, come in all shapes and sizes with unique gifts and talents. But all made by the same “carver”. The Wemmicks spend their days giving away stickers; stars for those who are beautiful and talented and gray dots for those who aren’t. The character, Punchinello, ends up with so many “dots” he does not even want to go outside any longer until he meets Lucia, a Wemmick without dots. Punchinello discovers that neither dots nor stars stick to Lucia because every day she visits Eli, the woodcarver who made them. Punchinello visits Eli and is too reminded how much he matters and as he leaves Eli shares, “Remember, you are special because I made you and I don’t make mistakes."
We sometimes hear words that hurt us or believe the words that send messages that we are not good enough, talented enough, tall enough, just not enough and we forget to visit our “carver”.
At our Grade 4 Bible Presentation on Wednesday, Father Kris told our grade fours that they were receiving the ‘most important words”, the word from God. He shared that we will sometimes hear or say words that hurt or words that confuse us, but the bible is God’s love letter to us; sharing the truth and how much we are loved.
As we remember to visit our maker every day, through prayer and scripture, we can be reminded that we truly are God’s masterpiece; inherently loved, valued, and most definitely, enough.
Blessings,
Mrs. Boehm
Faith Corner
Mark your calendars: Catholic Education Sunday: Sunday, November 4, 2018 at the 9:00 am mass Saint John XXIII and OLA
Keeping Our School Safe-Visiting and Picking Up Protocol
Picking up students:
Please ensure that it has been clearly communicated to the office staff when your child is being picked up. As well, please bring along your picture ID and inform those that may pick-up your child to carry picture ID so we can follow through with verification. While this may seem excessive, please remember that our commitment comes from ensuring that those people you have identified to be a safe and responsible adult are the ones who we release your child to. Thank-you for your understanding and cooperation.
Where do you come from?
We want to discover and celebrate where our students and their families come from and the rich cultural diversity we have in our SJ village! Please be a part of our Cultural Heritage Project - If your family heritage, ancestry or country of origin is not listed below please email Ms. Bourassa ( ronalee.bourassa@eics.ab.ca ). The countries and places below are already included. This is part of a school wide project to understand the importance of history and culture.
Australia Austria
Canada/Indigenous Peoples / Metis / First Nations / Cree
Columbia
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Holland
India Ireland Italy
Mexico
Nigeria Norway
Philippines Poland
Scotland South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland
Trinidad
Ukraine
Venezuela
Thank-you,
Ms. Bourassa
Indigenous Education Lead
October Read-In Month: Bringing Stories to Life
Student Teacher, Miss Wilson
MLA Jessica Littlewood
Mrs. Melynk returns to share a story with us!
Calling all Parents, Grandparents, and Friends of SJXXIII! A Story for Every Child
To celebrate our Read-in-Month finale, we have a BIG goal this year! We want to have “A Story for Every Child” at Saint John XXIII on October 26, 2018 from 2:15-2:45 pm. Our hope is that we can have one reader for every student during that time. If you are available and can come to Saint John XXIII from 2:15-2:45 pm on October 26th, please email our librarian Mrs. Wagner susanw@eics.ab.ca or call our school and let us know 780-998-7777. At that time, also share the name of the student or class that you are connected to and we will try our very best to pair you up. Please bring along your favourite children’s book or two to share that day. Please carpool, walk, or park along the street when you come. We hope you can help us share a story for every child in our school!
We Love to Read: We recommend...
Upcoming: Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences
Communicating Student Learning: Communicating student learning at Saint John XXIII is an on-going process that involves all key stakeholders; students, staff, and families.
Forms of communication student learning progress may include:
Feedback on student work
Evidence of student learning: daily tasks, Fresh Grade, Google Classroom, Writing portfolios, Portfolios, Growth as a Learner Booklets or checklists, etc.
Three-way conferences
Phone calls
Emails
Meetings
Notes in agendas
Student reflections
Meet the Staff Night
Celebrations of Learning, Faith Celebrations, Assemblies
Report Cards
An opportunity for the student, parent and teacher to engage in conversations around the strengths, area of growth and next steps of the student. These three-way conferences will occur on:
November 8, 2018
March 20, 2018
Next week there will be a letter coming home that will provide instructions on how to book your conference.
Preparing for outside recess
Parents are invited to take part in a Blanket Exercise
Dear Parents,
Parents of EICS students are invited to take part in a Blanket Exercise to be held at St. Theresa Catholic School in Sherwood Park on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23 at 6:30 PM.
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.
Participants are asked to bring a blanket that can be placed on the floor and stepped on for this activity.
Please RSVP by Monday, October 22 by filling out the Google Form linked below.
Google Form - Blanket Exercise Registration
We will also have Elder Theresa Strawberry join us at this event. She has spent the last year working in each of Elk Island's schools creating relationships and connections with students and staff.
If you have any questions, please email Crystal Cholin- Learning Services Consultant (crystalc@eics.ab.ca) or Sarah Congdon-Reitzel- Indigenous Lead at St. Theresa (sarah.congdon@eics.ab.ca)
Halloween
Halloween is approaching and is a very fun time of year for children. Our commitment is to ensure the safety and well-being of all of our students and we appreciate your cooperation. A couple of reminders as you begin preparing for Halloween at school:
Students will be invited to change into their costumes on the afternoon of October 31st, after lunch at 12:37 pm.
Students who are dressing up are asked to keep costumes school appropriate (not too scary or gory) and leave any weapons at home. We have very little people at Saint John XXIII and we want Halloween to be a positive school experience for all.
There will be a "Halloween Congo Parade" that begins in Kindergarten and ends in Grade 4 for the students to share their costumes with our school friends.
Individual classes will be doing their own Halloween activities during the afternoon.
Please note, in alignment with our Nutrition AP, we will not be able to distribute any Halloween treats or snacks sent in from home. Some classes will be having healthy snacks as part of their afternoon, those teachers will communicate with those families. Thank-you for your continued cooperation with this.
SJXXIII Family Dance: Friday, October 26, 2018
A reminder how to purchase tkts through the stjohn.hotlunches.net:
Thank-you Parent School Council for supporting Alberta Opera! SJ & OLA Students loved this today!
SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS:
LAST CALL for milk: The milk online ordering will be available until Monday, October 22. Please use the online ordering process available in your PowerSchool Parent Portal Account.
Daytime volunteers are needed to support reading in grade 1. If you are available and can help out, please contact the school. 780-998-7777
Volunteers are needed for set up and take down the night of the Halloween Dance. Please contact stjohnxxiii.psc@gmail.com if you can help out.
We are GOING PLACES: Celebrations of Learning at SJXXIII
Growing Brains, Sharing Smiles at Saint John XXIII!
"Mapping it out" in 4DB
Praying the Rosary with Legion of Mary
Printing power in 1Se
Learning together in 1H
Learning joy in 2S
Kindergarten Friendships
Kindergarten Fine Motor
Writing Wonders in Kindergarten
Imagination
We are Writers in 1SE
Pumpkin fun in Pre-K
Pre-K Problem Solving
OLA Parish News
LOOKING AHEAD...
Oct. 22: Assembly 9 am
Oct. 26: A Story for Every Child 2:15-2:45 pm
Oct. 26: Saint John XXIII Family Halloween Dance
Oct. 27: Reconciliation Celebration 10 am OLA Church
Oct. 29: Picture Retake Day
Saint John XXIII ECS Pumpkin Carving Event
Oct. 30: Assembly 9 am (Rich Horning from Valeda House coming)
Nov. 4: Catholic Education Sunday at 9 am mass OLA Church (Saint John XXIII & OLA)
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/stjohnXXIII/
Twitter: @St_JohnXXIII