OLMP Catholic School
Weekly Bulletin - January 11, 2019
Welcome back to a chilly January!
Welcome back, we hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! Please be mindful that January tends to be a month of extreme temperatures and it is important that students dress for these conditions as they come to and leave our school. This is also very important for grade 5 and 6 students when out at recess so we ask that parents please check their child's bags to ensure they are bringing appropriate outdoor wear.
The Elk Island Catholic suggested division policy is that students do not go outside if the temperature is colder than -25 degrees or if the temperature and wind chill factor are - 20 degrees or colder. School administration and staff will determine and communicate to students when it will be indoor recess.
Because of this importance of fresh air and outdoor play we have been working on more ways to engage students in outdoor activities. We have several options for students to take part in starting Monday next week. We have outdoor snow toys (shovels, snow art, etc.) available to students. We also have one supervisor who will meet students out back by the sheds and be walking students across the street to the community playground on a class by class rotation. Finally we will be implementing a Loose Parts Playground, also on a class by class rotation. Rotation schedules will be shared with students.
For more information on outdoor play and developing outdoor play options moving forward we encourage all parents to join us at this months Parent Council meeting on January 22nd at 7pm that will include this report from administration.
OLMP Loose Parts Play
Loose parts are materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, lined up, and taken apart and put back together in multiple ways. They are materials with no specific set of directions that can be used alone or combined with other materials.
The theory of “loose parts” first proposed by architect Simon Nicholson in the 1970's has begun to influence child-play experts and the people who design play spaces for children in a big way. Nicholson believed that it is the 'loose parts' in our environment that will empower our creativity. ‘Loose parts’ theory is about remembering that the best play comes from things that allow children to play in many different ways and on many different levels. Environments that include ‘loose parts’ are infinitely more stimulating and engaging that static ones. The play environment needs to promote and support imaginative play though the provision of ‘loose parts’ in a way that doesn’t direct play and play opportunities, but allows children to develop their own ideas and explore their world.
Some of the items that we will be looking for to furnish our center are: ropes, cords, tarps, planks of wood, milk crates, pylons, etc.. If you are able to donate any of the items listed, or have any questions about donating parts please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Kate Wagner (katherine.wagner@eics.ab.ca).
We ask that you inquire before you donate, as we will be keeping a close eye on our inventory!
No parking or stopping in front of OLMP before or after school!
Faith Formation at the Forefront of OLMP
Written by OLMP Chaplin Mr. Darby Murphy
As Chaplain I have had the immense pleasure and opportunity to witness firsthand the impact Christ has had on our community at OLMP. There have been a number of ways that faith can be seen as the main priority of our our staff.
Elk Island Catholic’s division theme this year is 'We are all God’s Masterpiece'. Jesus has formed each of us in a unique way, and asks each of us to allow his message of love, mercy, forgiveness and redemption to impact us in a way that we are forever changed. This message is seen throughout our building, in our classrooms, and on our walls. It is taught in our Religion classes by men and women of faith, and is lived out in the daily lives of staff and students.
Opportunities for times of prayer and tradition have been lived out in our school masses, times of Adoration and our Advent Celebrations. Students have had the chance to meet other youth across the continent who share their faith as they travelled to NCYC (a youth convention of over 25000 young people) in 2017 and will be able to again in 2019. I have been privileged to see students have the chance to walk the halls of the Vatican, the Sistine chapel, the catacombs of Rome and the great Cathedrals of the Church like St. Peter's Basilica. OLMP Students have stood where St. Paul spoke to the Athenians on Mars Hill and have celebrated Easter at midnight with Orthodox Catholics. These have been surreal and awe inspiring times that have led to great fruit.
At a more local level our parishes have been helpful to guide the school in their walk with Christ, by encouraging us in Word and Prayer, and our teachers have been faithful in their guidance of students during Religion classes. We would like to thank Father Larry, Father Mark, Constantine and Deacon Doug for modeling faith to us through divine liturgy and class visits.
I have never been more proud to serve as a teacher as I have these past few years at OLMP. Having the chance to speak the truth of Jesus into the lives of young people has always been a calling and a privilege. I stand confident knowing that our Division, administration and Staff all desire that Faith Formation will always be at the Forefront of OLMP.
Important Dates:
JH Basketball home games - January 14th at 5:00
Divine Liturgy with Father Mark in the OLMP Chapel at 7:45am on January 15th - ALL Welcome!
High School NAIT Trip - January 17th from 11:30 - 4:15
FRIDAY SCHOOL DAY - Monday Schedule - January 18th
JH Basketball home games - January 21st at 5:00
Parent Council Meeting - January 22nd at 7pm - ALL Welcome at OLMP school in our High School Commons
Last day of class for High School (grade 9-12) for semester 1 - January 24th
FRIDAY SCHOOL DAY for middle school (grade 5-8) - Tuesday Schedule - January 25th
Knights of Columbus Free throw competition - January 25th 3:00 - 6:00 - registration forms at the office
Divine Liturgy with Father Mark in the OLMP Chapel at 7:45am on January 29th - ALL Welcome!
Bell Lets talk day - wear Sandals, Sunglasses, and Shorts to show your support - January 30th
NO SCHOOL - January 31st - Teacher PD day
Second Semester begins - February 4th
High School (grade 9-12) Exam Schedule & Student Study Resources for all grades!
All students at OLMP have access and utilize IXL for study help.
Parents may also want to check out solaro for study help and exam prep for grades 3-12 by clicking here.
Exambank is a place where students can find practice questions related to the curriculum. There is a slight change in username and password. Our schools login:
Username: olmp
Password: eics
click here to access exam bank.
You can also click here diploma exam guides for students.
Sign up for Guitar class Second Semester
Tour of NAIT for potential students.....
University of Alberta's Info Week
Do you want to participate in Indoor Running Games?
- Wednesday January 16- 3:45 to 4:30 OLMP School
- Wednesday January 23- 3:45 to 4:30 OLMP School
- Wednesday January 30- 3:45 to 4:30 OLMP School
- Wednesday February 6- 3:45 to 4:30 OLMP School
- Wednesday February 13- 3:45 to 4:45 (Encana track) Students will walk over after school)
- Additional Practices will be added after the Qualification Meet
Competition Dates will be:
Qualifying Round - Wednesday February 20th (during the school day)
Finals if Qualified - Saturday March 16th
Grade 7 to 9 teams will start at the end of January so stay tuned...........
See more info on the games in the link below.
Do you know a child dealing with grief?
Book Recommendation
Book Recommended: Just the Way You Are
Author: Max Lucado
Recommended by: Father Larry (St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church)
Book Description: One of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is the assurance that Mom and Dad love them just as they are, apart from anything that they do. But telling them once won't make it sink in. Kids need to be reminded of it over and over, until those words get inside their hearts. In the same way, children need to hear again and again that their Heavenly Father loves them and wants to spend time with them—even if they're not wonderfully talented or extremely smart or exceptionally popular. That message of God's unconditional acceptance and deep desire to enjoy a friendship with His children is at the heart of this book. (click here for a digital copy and reading of the story).
Why it is recommended: This is one of my favorites over the last 30 years of reading a story to the children on Christmas Eve Mass (Father Larry reads a story to children at Christmas Eve Mass every year!).
Modeling reading, reading with your children, and talking about the things they like to read are all ways to increase literacy and learning for our youth!
How to Report An Absence
To report an absence you can do any of the following options:
- Call 1-877-246-9970 - option 3
- Use the SchoolMessenger App
- Use the “SchoolMessenger” link in the EICS App (this requires the SchoolMessenger App to be installed on a phone)
- Use https://go.schoolmessenger.ca