Patriot Post
Mar. 16th - Mar. 20th, 2020
*THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION REGARDING EICS AND COVID-19 CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.EICS.AB.CA*
This Week at St. JPII
Monday Mar. 16th
Patriot Choir Practice @ Lunch
Gr. 8 Badminton Practice 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday Mar. 17th
SWITCH Day! Follow Friday schedule
Feast of St. Patrick Day: Wear Green in his honour.
Gr. 7 Badminton Practice 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Wednesday Mar. 18th
Gr. 8 Badminton Practice 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Thursday Mar. 19th
Modified HotLunch Program (Chopped Leaf)
School Council Meeting at 6:30pm (school library) *POSTPONED*
Gr. 7 Badminton Practice 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Friday Mar. 20th
Basketball Pep Rally at 1:45pm - 3:00pm *POSTPONED*
Chaplain's Corner
Today’s readings reflect themes of water and thirst. When you are thirsty, your cells are crying out for water! Thirst is a healthy sign that signals the need to hydrate our body. But we also hear today about living water. Are we thirsty for this water? Can it permeate our souls to rejuvenate us?
In the first reading, one sympathizes with the people of Israel as they wander in a desert country with livestock and children in tow. This created a problem as water that was needed was scarce. But their healthy desire for water also revealed an unhealthy disposition. By blaming Moses and accusing him of treachery, they show a loss of faith. They experienced miracle after miracle in their journey out of Egypt, but they apparently needed more assurance.
How different is the reaction of the Samaritan woman in today’s Gospel! She likely had a hard-knock life. She was getting her water alone rather than with friends, a sign of alienation within her community. This alienation led her to a unique encounter with Jesus. Jesus put some uncomfortable truths before her. Instead of making excuses or blaming others, she responded with openness. In doing so, she allowed the living water to enter and change her life.
Paul’s letter to the Romans further affirms truth that we must hold: God’s love is poured out in our hearts to bring life to our thirsty souls. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When we forget God’s love, this sign reminds us. The Holy Spirit is at work within and among us to refresh this truth.
In this Lenten season, let us open our hearts to life-giving water. When uncomfortable truths emerge, let us respond with repentance, not excuses. And if we doubt God’s love, let us pause and recall the many signs that God has placed in our lives, the greatest of which is the gift of his Son to bring us life with Him forever. Thanks be to God.
God bless each of you and your family this week and Lenten Journey.
Vernon
Alms Jars
During our Lenten journey, the three pillars are meant to help us rebuild and strengthen our bond with God. Praying, Fasting and Alms giving are all expected of us.
To give alms means to provide for those who are less fortunate than us. We, as a school community have so many things to be grateful for. The alms jars in each classroom are an opportunity for our school community to recognize our blessings and help others face and overcome their challenges. Each day, the students are challenged to look at their life and give a donation to the Alms jar in conjunction with something they are blessed with. All funds raised through the Alms Jars this year will be donated to the Ft. Sask. Food Bank.
Here are this weeks challenges.
Monday. Simple changes can help reduce pollution and slow global warming. During Lent, encourage your family to avoid single-use plastics and buy in bulk. Give 10¢ for every reusable bag your family owns.
Tuesday: The Indigenous Mura people in the Brazilian Amazon live by fishing, hunting and gathering. Their sustainable way of life is threatened by a Canadian financed mine. Pray for them and their future.
Wednesday: Fast from 1 snack today and give the proceeds to the Alms Jar.
Thursday: Check out the left over change mom and dad have. Ask them to let you donate 1-2 dollars to the alms Jar today.
Friday: Choose someone who you would not usually pray for say a special prayer for him/her today and this weekend.
- someone you think could use the extra support.
1. GrACE (Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education) has been in existence since November 2018. Created by the Bishops of Alberta, the Alberta Catholic School Trustees (ACSTA) and the Council for Catholic School Superintendents (CCSSA), GrACE seeks to unite, engage, educate and communicate with one voice on behalf of Catholic education.
2. Why does GrACE exist? The gift of publicly funded Catholic education in Alberta is a true blessing. As a community we are called in gratitude, faith and action to ensure that our children and future generations continue to learn and grow in our Catholic schools.
3. GrACE invites all those committed to Catholic education, through the unity of the Holy Spirit, to be advocates and witnesses for our schools’ successes and their future. Tell your stories of Catholic education. Let your voice be heard. Every day is a celebration of Catholic education. Let us be grateful for our blessings and commit our support.
4. The mission of GrACE is to inspire, invigorate and embolden the spirit of Catholic education in order to unite, engage, educate and communicate with one voice on its behalf. GrACE is a partnership of stakeholders resolutely committed to Catholic education within the province of Alberta.
5. Did you know that more than 183,000 students attend Catholic schools in the province of Alberta?
COVID-19 Updates
We continue to be committed to providing St. JPII students with a safe and caring high quality learning environment that is authentically Catholic and will continue to meet this commitment on a daily basis.
We are striving to keep everyone up to date as much as possible on how EICS is effectively dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic. Moving forward, instead of relying on messaging via emails, we will be sharing all updates directly as they become available throughout the day on our EICS website on the coronavirus page and there is a new announcement posted. Please visit the EICS Coronavirus website.
Please click the link below for the most up to date information.
You are encouraged to return to the site throughout the coming days
as new information is added to the site.
Thank you for being our partner in keeping our St. John Paul II Catholic School community safe and healthy. God Bless.
Keeping St. JPII Students and Staff Safe and Well
We will continue to follow all of Alberta Health Services directives to keep St. JPII safe for children in a quality learning environment rich in our Catholic Faith https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx
Programs and event adjustments:
- School Visitors, Parents, Family Members: There will be highly enforced limited access to the school. If you are picking up a child please go to the office and we will call him/her from class. If you are dropping something off, please leave it at the office and we will ensure it is delivered. Staff and students will be permitted in the hallways and classrooms. School visitors, parents, family members will be permitted in the front office ONLY. Thank you for your compliance and commitment to everyone's health and safety.
- School Assemblies: Large-scale school celebrations/assemblies have been postponed.
- Three-Way Conferences/Demonstration of Learning: Are currently postponed and phone or video conferences are being explored for a later date.
- Field Trips and Sport4Life: Will be cancelled or rescheduled to a later date. Until a new safety protocol standard is established, all field trips into the school or out of the school will be rescheduled/cancelled.
- Athletics: Sporting competitions between schools will be postponed. Intramural programs, team practices, and games within the school will still occur.
- Keep child at home: If your child is experiencing respiratory illness symptoms fever, cough, fatigue, muscle aches, or symptoms of a mild cold or flu-like symptoms, please keep them home.
- Immediate pick up: If a child experiences respiratory illness symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, muscle aches, or symptoms of a mild cold or flu-like symptoms, while at school, a family member will be contacted to take the child home immediately.
- Water Fountains: All water bottle filling stations are operational. It is imperative that children bring and use their own personal water bottle.
- Hand sanitation stations: We have increased the number of stations throughout the school.
- Hand washing and hygiene practices: These topics will continue to be reviewed and reinforced with staff and children.
- Coughing and Sneezing: We will continue to remind children to cough and sneeze into their arm/sleeve.
- Travel: All persons returning from travel outside of Canada will be directed to self-isolate for 14 days.
School Council Sponsored Events
- School Council Meeting- Until further notice all in-person School Council meetings will be cancelled.
- Hot Lunch Program: Following Alberta Health recommendations, EICS board and the staff at St. JPII are doing everything they can to ensure our kids can be in a safe environment. We have been given clearance to continue to provide a modified Hot Lunch program. The food will be delivered to the front entrance of the school, and our staff/students will sort and distribute to our classes.
MARCH IS NUTRITION MONTH
APPROVED 2020/2021 CALENDAR
FREE ESL SUPPORTS
2019/2020 YEARBOOK NEWS
EICS Transportation
Elk Island Catholic School (EICS) Transportation is pleased to share with the EICS community that there is now increased awareness for parents and guardians regarding EICS bus arrivals and possible delays through our transportation software program BusPlanner. This new app will allow parents and caregivers to see the details of current routes, stops and transfers relating to their children on EICS transportation.
With this new system parents gain access to the following:
- The BusPlanner Parent Portal, located here: https://eics.mybusplanner.ca/Default.aspx which allows parents to view details of the routes, stops and transfers for their children.
- The BusPlanner Notification System for email alerts to parents for issues which impact transportation on a route by route or school by school basis.
- The BusPlanner Delays app which both parents and students can install on a mobile (hand-held) device and allows them to subscribe to and receive BusPlanner notifications through push notifications.
Parents, please take the time to create an account for the BusPlanner Parent Portal and subscription to receive notifications of transportation delays or school closures through email. Please click here for further instructions - thank you.
Please know, it will be through this portal that all notifications will be vetted. There will no longer be emails or phone calls directly from EICS transportation regarding route cancellations or late buses.
Notifications will come to you through Bus Planner, so please subscribe.
In faith,
Your EICS Transportation Department
EICS Demographic and Consent Forms
EICS Demographic Confirmation and Consent Forms are available now on your PowerSchool ParentPortal. Please take a moment to visit your PowerSchool ParentPortal account and complete these forms; one for each child you have attending school with EICS.
Alberta Education requires that we obtain a detailed update of student demographics on an annual basis. School funding from Alberta Education is conditional on us receiving these updates and including them in your student’s record. More importantly, these forms ensure that we have the most current contact information if we need to reach you in event of an emergency.
We certainly appreciate you taking the time to complete these forms. Should you have any questions, or require assistance, please contact Carrie-Lynn in the office at 780-992-0889 and she will be happy to help.
VISITORS IN OUR SCHOOL
School and Field Trip Fees
A reminder, we encourage these fees to be paid online through your Powerschool Parent Portal, or you are welcome to send cash or a cheque made payable to Elk Island Catholic Schools to the office as convenient. If you require assistance logging in to the ParentPortal please call the school and we will be happy to help.
SCHOOL COUNCIL INFORMATION
Please join us for our next School Council meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 19th @ 6:30pm in the school library. This is an excellent opportunity to receive the latest school and grade level updates from our Administration and Teacher Representatives, as well as, upcoming School Council supported activities and events!
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunity!
PATRIOT WEAR!
Shout out to Enhance It Embroidering for making this possible. All orders are processed directly through the store and Enhance It Embroidery will call to arrange pickup within the allotted shipping time.
http://www.enhanceitembroidery.ca/store/c2/St._John_Paul_II_Spirit_Wear_.html
HAPPY SHOPPING!
EICS FAMILY WELLNESS WORKER
Service Delivery
Each school is staffed with a Family Wellness Worker (FWW), who works under the direction of their School Principal and the Assistant Superintendent of Faith & Wellness. FWW's receive clinical guidance from a Registered Psychologist.
The primary function of the Family Wellness team is to provide social and emotional support to students and families. Family Wellness Workers meet with students and parents to assess needs, set goals, identify required supports, and plan appropriate interventions.
They collaborate with school system staff and community resources to build a “village” of support around students/families who are struggling.
Referrals
Parental consent is required for FWW services.
Referrals to the Family Wellness Program may be made by students, parents/guardians, school administration, teachers, or other school staff (e.g. school counsellor or collaborative response coordinator).
Parents and guardians can access these services by speaking with the Principal or contacting the school's Family Wellness Worker directly.
Family Wellness Contact Information
Hello St. JPII School Community! My name is Lee Dube and I am so excited to be a part of your Fort Saskatchewan school community. I am here to support families and students to be successful. I am someone that parents and students can talk to and can offer connections to various resources in the community. Please do not hesitate to give me a call at the school or send me an email at lee.dube@eics.ab.ca to set up a meeting. I will be at St. JPII on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday afternoons.
It has been such a pleasure meeting some of the students and parents. Thank you for being so welcoming. Please feel free to come and stop in at my office upstairs in room #214. I am at the school all day on Tuesday and Thursday as well as Friday afternoons.
The Boys & Girls Club of Fort Saskatchewan has a new youth drop in program. This is for young people ages 11-14 and 15-18. There will be a weekly coffeehouse starting September 14th between 3-5 please feel free to stop in and learn more about it.
We are starting up the Breakfast Club at Lunchtime. This is open to all students and is a great place to come and meet some new friends and have fun. The club is held on Thursday during lunch break. Come hang with us, we meet at the opportunity room upstairs.
The Breakfast Club.....at Lunchtime
CAFETERIA
February Cafeteria News
February Menu
Feb 11&12- strawberry shortcake $2
Feb 19&28- free drink day (with any meal purchase)
Changes to the menu: potato wedges available as an everyday side and poutine as a Wednesday special.
Every day- chicken strips, salad, wrap, cheesy macaroni, and pizza.
Monday special- chili and bun, Tuesday- chicken poutine, Wednesday- grilled cheese and tomato soup, Thursday- chicken burger, and Friday- sweet & sour meatballs on rice.
SJP2 families:
Did you know we offer month passes? You could gift yourself a month of no lunch making? Lunch pass $96 includes a meal and two sides, meal pass $64 includes a meal choice.
Email admin@fortsasklunchbox.com for info.
St. John Paul II Catholic School
Email: stjp@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stjp.eics.ab.ca
Location: 9975 93 Avenue, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-992-0889
Twitter: @stjp2cs