SILC News

Today's Gospel Reflection

Gospel Reading
John 14:15-21

"Jesus promises his disciples that he will send them another advocate, the Spirit of truth".

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today’s Gospel is a continuation of last week’s Gospel: Jesus is speaking to his disciples at the Last Supper. In today’s reading Jesus offers encouragement to his disciples, who will soon see him crucified. He reassures them that even though he will leave them, he will not abandon them. Instead he will send them the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, through whom the disciples will continue to live in union with Jesus.

Jesus uses the term Advocate to describe the Holy Spirit, whom the disciples will receive. Another word used to describe the Holy Spirit is Paraclete, a legal term meaning “one who offers defense for another.” Note that Jesus says that he will send “another Advocate.” Jesus himself is the first advocate, interceding for his disciples with the Father.

In today’s reading Jesus contrasts his impending departure with the permanence of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus will leave to return to the Father, but the Holy Spirit will remain with the disciples.

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the disciples will come to know and appreciate the unity of the Son and the Father. They will also understand that they too participate in the communion between the Father and the Son: “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you” (John 14:20).

Today’s reading is one example of the contrast that John’s Gospel presents between the community of disciples, to whom God will reveal himself, and the unbelieving world, which will remain in darkness. The unbelieving world cannot accept the “Spirit of truth,” whom the disciples will receive. Only through the Spirit will God’s revelation and love be known.

Catholic Education Week

As for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. Micah 4:5

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In this month of May, we celebrate Catholic Education Week in the province of Alberta. This occasion affords us the welcome opportunity to reflect on the crucial role Catholic schools play in educating our children and young people, by creating formative communities of love and care that witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Alberta’s Catholic schools are beacons of hope for families across the province seeking faith-based education for their children.

The provincial theme this year reminds us of the call to “walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever” (Micah 4:5). Catholic Education Week also provides a special opportunity to thank each one of you for your extraordinary service on behalf of Catholic education.

We offer our deep appreciation to the educators in our Catholic schools who stayed the course throughout these past difficult years with extraordinary commitment. To the teachers, administrators and support staff of our schools, please know that your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Your tireless dedication on behalf of Alberta’s children and families has been holy work. As Scripture states, “Well done good and faithful servants”

Parents, you have our prayers and our support. Raising a family is both a joy and challenge. Our increasingly secularized society makes your task even more demanding. We honour the role you exercise as your child’s first and most important teacher. When you choose Catholic education, you are making a choice to have your child in a community of learning where faith in God is permeated in all of the activities of the school every day.

To the community that surrounds Catholic education, - clergy, grandparents and parishes – we want to affirm your commitment to supporting and enriching Alberta’s Catholic schools as essential. Please continue to pray and advocate for this precious gift of publicly funded Catholic education.

We, the Bishops of Alberta and Northwest Territories, in unity with the Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association (ACSTA), the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA) and Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education (GrACE), invite you all to unite with us in the promotion and strengthening of Catholic Education, as we walk in the name of the Lord along the pathway of faith and hope.

Yours in Christ,

Catholic Bishops of Alberta and NWT:

Most Reverend Richard W. Smith Archbishop of Edmonton

Most Reverend William McGrattan Bishop of Calgary

Most Reverend Gary Franken Bishop of St. Paul

Most Reverend Gerard Pettipas CSsR Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan

Most Reverend David Motiuk Bishop of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Edmonton

Most Reverend Jon Hansen, CSsR Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith

REAL Foundation Annual Friends of the Foundation Golf Tournament

Dear Friends,

The REAL (Religious Education Activities for Life) Foundation is once again asking for your

support for our 17th annual golf tournament on Wednesday May 24, 2023 at the Broadmoor Golf

Course. This tournament raises funds to support Catholic education in the Elk Island Catholic

Schools. These funds enable students to be inspired by Catholic speakers, attend faith-based retreats and leadership activities along with the goal of providing student scholarships in our high schools and parishes. This strengthens the Catholic education of Elk Island Catholic School students from kindergarten to Grade 12 in Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan, Camrose and Vegreville.

Please consider becoming a 2023 Tournament SPONSOR

Our wide variety of sponsorship packages offers something for every budget – we hope you’ll find something that fits into yours.

Hole Sponsorship:

GOLD – sole sponsorship $1,000/hole

SILVER – co-sponsor (one of two) $500/hole

BRONZE – co-sponsor (one of four) $250/hole

As a hole sponsor, your company, organization or family receives:

• Your company’s name on signage at the hole to be provided by us

• Recognition in all promotional material the day of the event

• Tax receipt provided for the full amount of the sponsorship.

Lunch, Dinner and Refreshment Sponsors

The Foundation welcomes sponsorship of the breakfast, lunch and refreshments, which will take place at the Broadmoor Golf Course Clubhouse. If you’re interested, please contact us to discuss these exciting opportunities more fully!

And last but not least ... Foundation “Friends” are invited!

As a “Friend” of the Foundation, we would like to invite you to participate as a golfer, individually or bring a team ... compliments of the Foundation. The tournament includes use of the practice facility, 18 holes of golf, a power cart along with a light breakfast, BBQ lunch & prizes. (more details on the entry form at our website above) Of course, donations will be gratefully accepted and tax receipts will be issued for the full value of all donations.

To Register a Team:

Go online to our website at :

www.real-foundation.com

Bosco Foundation Bursary Information

For High Schools - Grade 12 students

The Bosco Foundation awards bursaries yearly to grade 12 students entering post secondary, who volunteer their time in their local communities. The Foundation has received a record number of applications from Calgary, and are looking for well deserving students in our local area.

Application package - deadline June 15, 2023

Bosco Foundation Website

Provincial Achievement Exam Dates for grades 6 & 9

Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) are administered annually to all Alberta students in grades 6 and 9. These standardized tests reflect the essentials that all Alberta students are expected to achieve, regardless of school choice or location.

PATs help:

determine if students are learning what they are expected to learn
report to Albertans how well students have achieved provincial standards at given points in their schooling
assist schools, authorities and the province in monitoring and improving student learning

The tests occur in May (ELA Part A) and June for language arts, math, science and social studies.

Your teachers will be communicating with you regarding the particulars about these achievement tests.

Elementary Classroom

Hello from Mrs.Oikonen!

Welcome to week 35 of online learning. Happy Mother's Day to all of our moms! I hope you spent Mother's Day doing the things you love with the people you love!

We have an exciting week ahead of us. We will be visiting an apple farm on Tuesday at 9:30am and a pig farm on Thursday at 10:00am. We will be continuing with our individual meets this week. We also have a short week this week and next week. There will be no school on Friday or the following Monday.

Have a look at what we are going to be doing this week!

Registrations are now OPEN for 2023-2024

St. Isidore Learning Centre (SILC) is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. Register early - as we are a "School of Choice" space fills up fast! When you head to our website to "Register", https://silc.eics.ab.ca/register-now you will see a few options. Please choose the correct program:

Online Education - Primarily learning online from home using our Canvas Online LMS - Teacher Directed (Kindergarten - Grade 12+)
Outreach Education - Students who require an "in person" connection with teachers and are required to have weekly check-ins in the SILC Centre (Grades 9-12)
Chesterton Academy - Fully Synchronous "Joyfully Catholic Classical High School Cohort" Grade 9-12 ONLY. **Tuition Fees may be applied Contact Headmaster McLarney for more information: gerardm@eics.ab.ca Check out the website: https://chesterton.eics.ab.ca/
Home Education - Parent Directed Home Education with our partners, THEE - https://thee.ca/

Please follow the instructions carefully. All students, even those already attending, must fill out a new registration form. While St. Isidore is a "School of Choice" and not a designated boundary school, we reserve the right to deny any registration that is not complete. Space is limited.

Any questions? Feel free to contact our secretary, Natalie Mangatal, 780-449-6463 or email silc@eics.ab.ca

2023-2024 School Year Calendars

The 2023/24 approved school year calendars are available by clicking this link: https://www.eics.ab.ca/about-us/media-room/post/2023-2024-school-year-calendars-released

Here is the approved 2023-2023 school calendar for Sherwood Park.

First day of school: Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023
Fall break: Week of Monday, Nov. 6, 2023
Christmas break: Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 - Friday, Jan. 5, 2024
Spring break: Week of Monday, March 25, 2024
Victoria Day weekend: Thursday, May 16, 2024 - Monday, May 20, 2024
Last day of school: Wednesday, June 26, 2024

SUMMER SCHOOL

St. Isidore Summer School offers courses that allow YOU to earn credits, upgrade marks, lighten workloads for the year ahead or finish pre-requisite courses.

Summer School Registration is opening on January 19! St. Isidore Summer School is opening registration earlier as schools and students plan their term two classes and look forward to student schedules for the upcoming school year.

Term 1: July 4-13; Term 2: July 14-24; Full Term: July 4-24

We are offering synchronous, asynchronous, and in-person courses. Check out https://silc.eics.ab.ca/summer-school-2023 to view the courses that will be offered and how to reserve your spot! See the Course Listings here.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Melissa Damur, Summer School Principal melissad@eics.ab.ca

Math 30 help!

Are you registered for Math 30-1 and feeling a little anxious? Have you completed Math 20-1 and wondering if you can handle Math 30-1? The blog post below may be able to help.

https://mathpqjq.com/ready-for-grade-12-pre-calculus-math/