The Good News - October 29, 2023
St. John XXIII Catholic School
Leadership Message
In today's gospel Jesus gives us the Great Commandment and the Golden Rule. At St. John XXIII, staff work every day to help our students to love God and love their neighbours by showing acts of love, generosity, and kindness—our own expressions of our love for God.
In November each year, we focus on the great communion of saints. On All Saints Day, 1st November, we acknowledge the saints we know as part of our Catholic tradition and on All Souls Day, 2nd November, we remember those who have died: family, friends and others. Many of these people were never famous. Their statues are not in churches, but their pictures are in our homes and their stories alive in our community, and in us. We know of their goodness and their struggles. We now pray for them, and remember them with love, celebrating in faith their journey to God and now within the great communion of saints.
October/November 2023
Monday, Oct. 30
- Sacramental prep (1st Communion) with Father Carlos 3:15-3:45pm
- 9am -Support Plan Meeting program closes
Tuesday, Oct. 31
- Halloween Parade 1:00pm
- 9am - Parent Teacher Student Conference program closes
Wednesday, Nov. 1
- Early Dismissal 2:10, (Wear red for Remembrance Day)
- Hot Lunch
- Three Way Conferences 3-6pm
- Book Fair
- Three Way Conferences 4-7pm
- Book Fair
- Kindergarten Only Three Way Conferences 9am-3pm
- Remembrance Day Celebration
- Book Fair
Sunday, Nov. 5
- Catholic Education Sunday - 11am mass at OLA Parish
Looking Ahead...
Nov. 6-10 - No School/Fall Break
Nov. 13 - First day back from Fall Break, Faith Assembly
Nov. 16 - Hot Lunch
Nov. 20 - Parent School Council Meeting, 6:30pm
Nov. 21 - TPet Gr 4, Picture retakes
Nov. 22 - Earth Rangers Presentation 12:45-1:45
Nov. 23 - NK Strathcona Wilderness Centre
Booking deadline is October 30th at 9AM for Support Plan Meetings and on October 31st at 9AM for Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences
An email was sent home on October 25th regarding the Parent-Student-Teacher conferences that will take place on:
- Wednesday, November 1st from 3:00-6:00pm and
- Thursday, November 2nd from 4:00-7:00pm
The first 2.5 hours of each night will be in person conferences, and the last half hour will be virtual, via Google Meets.
Kindergarten will have additional time slots on Friday, November 3rd from 9:00-3:00. These conferences will be in person from 9:00-12:00pm and via Google Meet from 12:00-3:00pm.
A separate email was sent home on October 25th with the details of the Support Plan Meetings which will take place:
- Monday, October 30th from 8:00am - 5:00pm in person
- Tuesday, October 31st from 8:00am - 5:00pm via Google Meet
Please go to our website (front page, under Upcoming Events) for details on how to book your conference.
We are looking forward to connecting with you and your child to celebrate their learning progress and together, setting learning goals for their future growth.
Scholastic Book Fair
Please join us this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for our “Blizzard of Books” fair in our St. John XXIII Library Learning Commons. Purchases at our annual book fair help us grow our library collection!
Bring on the Bookjoy! At the Fair, there’s a book for every reader . . . but these titles will be winning over the most readers at fairs across the country! Check out the top-10 books trending at Scholastic Book Fairs here.
Want to watch our Book Trailer Videos? These short, fun videos introduce readers to new characters, authors, or a new series that they may not have considered before, creating a wonderful world of empathy, adventure and fun!
Book Fair Dates: November 1, 2 & 3, 2023
Wednesday: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Thursday & Friday: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Location: St. John XXIII School Library
Family Event:
November 1, 2023 from 2:30 – 6:30 pm
November 2, 2023 from 3:30 – 7:30 pm
Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Buban at may-leeb@eics.ab.ca if you have any questions about the fair. We hope to see you at the fair!
Ensure students come dressed to play outside!
As the weather gets cooler, please ensure children come dressed and ready to head outside every day! We belive strongly in daily outdoor recess and will head outside rain, snow or shine.
Thank you PSC for an amzing night at our Halloween Dance!
Remember:
Students and staff come dressed for the day on Tuesday, October 31st! (M/W Kindergarten will be celebrating on Monday, Oct. 30th) . Please have children come dressed and ready for the day so parents can assist with any makeup or tricky costume pieces at home before school.
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 Parade '' together in the gym at 1:00pm. It will begin with Pre - K and end with 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.
Candy Swap- "Give a candy, get a smile!"
You are welcome to send in left over Halloween candy in exchange for an apple or orange. All the candy will be donated to the George Spady Society. This Society helps people that are unwell and is a way to cheer people up.
God calls us to love others and help those in need. "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16
A Remembrance Day Prayer
We remember them kindly,
We remember them tenderly
Their memories brings tears to our eyes.
They were brave, they're our heroes
They fought for their country.
And too many paid with their lives.
We wear poppies proudly, our praise echoes
loudly, so world wars will not come again.
To forget would be fateful, let us all be so grateful
and remember these women and men.
Amen
Remembrance Day and Poppy Distribution
The Grade One team will be leading the Remembrance Day celebration next Friday, November 3rd at 10:45 am.
The school would like to take a special moment to remember the family members of students who have worked to protect our country, and promote peace. We are looking for
photos of family members who have served to keep our country safe.
If you could send the photos to Miss Menzak at kristen.menzak@eics.ab.ca by Wednesday, November 1st so we can prepare them for the ceremony it would be greatly appreciated.
Teachers will give students their poppies prior to the Remembrance Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 3rd. Donations will be accepted throughout the week. Money can be given to your child's classroom teacher.
Picture Retakes are November 21st
Your child's photo proofs were sent home this past week. Please note that the November 2 due date has been changed to November 13th!
After much safety and security testing, Lifetouch has developed a way for families to access their child’s photo using their student ID number.
Go to our website at www.mylifetouch.ca, click on Student ID and follow the detailed instructions to view and order photos. Your child's student ID is located in PowerSchool, under their name on the main page.
If you have any questions on this ordering process, please call the Lifetouch Customer Care Line at 1.866.457.8212 or access the live chat on our website, www.mylifetouch.ca
Growing Brains & Sharing Smiles! It's a GREAT Day to be a St. John Kid!
Important Reminders
We’re excited to announce that the ability to submit student absences is now available in PowerSchool!
Please refer to the EICS Parent Technology Handbook for instructions on how to report you child's absence, early departure, leave & return or multiple day absences.
This EICS Parent Handbook contains details on many other PowerSchool functions, such as viewing grades and report cards, paying fees, and updating student information (including medical information).
Our Elk Island Catholic Schools IT department is continuing to work on implementing additional features, so keep an eye out in our Smores for future updates!
Please also notify your teacher with a Dojo message or a note sent with your child.
For any last minute Early Departures, please call the office before you arrive so we can make arrangements for your child to come to the office for pick up.
23-24 SCHOOL FEES
School fees have been applied to your child's account in PowerSchool.
You can pay on-line with a debit card or credit card. However, if you wish to pay by cash (exact change only) or cheque, please send it to the school office (make cheques payable to Elk Island Catholic Schools). If you have other questions or require assistance with the online payment, please refer to the link at the bottom of this newsletter, and contact our school at 780-998-7777 if you need further assistance.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please review the fee waiver here or contact the principal, Mrs. Kristine Willis Dengler at 780-998-777 to arrange a meeting.
Community Events/Support
Sacramental Prep Offered In School 2023-2024
We are so blessed to be able to have our school and parish work together to walk with you and your child on their Sacramental Journeys. Father Carlos and our Sacramental Prep team will be offering Sacramental Prep classes at St. John XXIII after school from 3:15 - 3:45 on the following dates:
First Holy Communion Prep Classes
October 23, 24 30 at the school following dismissal (3:00pm)
Teaching Mass and short Adoration
November 1 at 6:30pm ( At OLA Parish) -
All children are required to attend O.L.A. parish on November 1 at 6:30pm for a tour of the church and adoration. Parents are expected to stay that evening as well.
Celebrations:
First Reconciliation Nov 18th at OLA Church at 2pm
First Holy Communion Nov 19th at OLA Church at 2pm
More information can be found at https://www.olafortsask.caedm.ca/Sacraments
E-mail registration forms to: olangels.ftsask@caedm.ca (We accept e-transfer of fees to the same email address.)
PSC and St. John XXIII have partnered with Skip The Depot!
What is SkipTheDepot? A door-to-door bottle collection service that makes refundable recycling and fundraising easier than 1, 2, 3.
- Download the app, create an account and book a pickup using the QR code to the right or this link: https://app.skipthedepot.com/eicssjxxiii
- Place your bags outside (don't forget to label them with your account #)
- Receive a refund or donate to us! (on the last page of creating your scheduled donation pickup, you can select our school account)
*For future reference, please go to our website under School Council, for the link and instructions on how to support St. John XXIII and PSC through Skip the Depot. .
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