What's Heating Up at Holy Spirit
October 5-9
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. -2 Timothy 1:7-
PRAYER for ORANGE SHIRT DAY
Vibrant God
Your creation explodes with the colours of the rainbow
Your peoples reveal the beauty of diversity
We remember today when the joy and dignity of a precious child was destroyed.
We lament today for the childhoods lost through the residential school system.
We mourn for the spirits crushed and the futures compromised.
Celebrate the hope and joy of every child
Tell the stories of resistance that make us stronger
Build the bonds of solidarity to ensure “never again”
In the name of the one who was child among us
Amen
Orange Shirt Day
The grade 4 classes lead our assembly on Friday, October 2 with Orange Shirt Day as a focus. Mr. Binder helped students draw a connection between Terry Fox Day and Orange Shirt Day. Both days helped us reflect on our history and the impact that one person with a vision can have on the world. Many classes participated in activities as well to teach children about how we can understand what happened to children in the residential school system.
The day is inspired by Phyllis Jack Webstad’s experience. On her first day at residential school in 1973, Phyllis was stripped of her new orange shirt, a shirt that had brought her a sense of affirmation and dignity. Canadians are asked to wear orange as a sign of support for children and communities affected by the Indian Residential School System. Wearing an orange shirt can promote discussion, helping us remember the devastating impacts of residential schools and the courageous testimony of survivors offered through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). It is an opportunity to remind Canadians of the need to continue to work diligently towards fulfilling the TRCs 94 Calls to Action.
Principal's Message
We continue to find creative ways to stay connected whether it's through virtual School Council meetings, virtual school assemblies, or our upcoming school mass and bible presentation. The need to stay connected is more important than ever! That's why we are excited to be working with OLPH Parish to have our grade 4 students attend mass at the church while the rest of our school community will participate virtually at school or home. This is a beautiful example in our new normal of connecting with each other and our faith within our home, school, and parish.
Blessings,
Mrs. Aoife Cahill
Principal
Important Dates
Monday, October 5
- Regular Day
Tuesday, October 6
- Regular Day
Wednesday, October 7
- Grade 4 attend mass at OLPH & Virtual School Mass @ 10 am
- Early Out- Dismissal at 2:10 pm
Thursday, October 8
- Regular Day
Friday, October 9
- No School- Professional Development Day
Monday, October 12
- Thanksgiving - No School
Holy Spirit Meet the Staff
Digital Citizenship
As we return to school and we embrace being with our peers and teachers and a full school community we also need to re-learn and support learning behaviors we haven't addressed in some time. At Holy Spirit school, our students will be engaged in opportunities to learn in different ways. One of these ways will be with the use of a device. In grade 4, one-to-one technology is fully integrated into many areas of academics.
With technology comes responsibility. Students have a responsibility to be positive digital citizens. What does this mean? " Digital citizenship encourages students to respect themselves, others and intellectual property, while at the same time learning to think critically about protecting themselves and others from harmful content and behaviors online."
In the next 4 weeks teachers will be focusing on digital citizenship lessons in their classes and we are looking for parents to support these lessons at home as well.
See the following link from our EICS website for tools to support Digital Citizenship at home. Parenting in the Digital Age
Donations Needed
You can also donate directly:
1) Through their website https://signofhope.cssalberta.ca/. There is a 'donate now' option. In the comments box indicate that you want your donation to go to Valeda House.
2) Mail in a cheque made out to Sign of Hope (in the memo put Valeda House)
Sign of Hope Society, 12431 Stony Plain Road NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 3N3
3) Call 780-391-3232 to make a donation over the phone using a credit card
School fees are now active in PowerSchool. We will not be accepting checks or cash this year. Please log into your PowerSchool account to pay for your child's fees by October 30, 2020.
Please note that fees are added throughout the year as field trips are able to occur. Teachers will send home notes when new fees are added to your account.
Yearbooks may also be purchased at this time. They are $25.00 soft cover books. Please add them to your cart. They will have to be paid for in order for the order to be processed and placed. Yearbooks are handed out in the fall of the next school year.
If you require financial assistance in paying fees please fill out the form that is available at on our EICS website-click here to access form: Fee waiver form
Please email our secretary Mrs. Posavec with any questions brigittep@eics.ab.ca
Wellness Corner
What a wonderful September! Our school overflowed with kindness and courage, I can't wait to see what October holds. As always, I am here to support you, your kiddo, or your family, so please contact me by calling your school's main phone line or by emailing me at danielle.bussiere@eics.ab.ca. Elk Island Catholic Schools also has a page of Alberta Health Services, Government aid, and community resources that may assist your family. https://www.eics.ab.ca/coronavirus-information-in-eics/parent-resources. Happy October! - Miss. B ♥️
Thank you,
Danielle Bussiere, MSW, RSW
Family Wellness Worker
Madonna Catholic School 780-467-7972
Holy Spirit Catholic School 780-416-9526
Email: danielle.bussiere@eics.ab.ca
Our week in pictures
Holy Spirit Catholic School
Upcoming Events
- Monday, October 12 - No School - Thanksgiving Day
- Wednesday October 14 - Photo retake day - whole school
- Thursday, October 15 - Photo retake day T/T Kindergarten
- Friday, October 16 - Kindergarten M/W
- Wednesday, October 28 - School Council Zoom Meeting at 6:30 pm
Email: hs@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://hs.eics.ab.ca/
Location: 151 Crimson Drive, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
Phone: 7804169526
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holyspiritcathschool
Twitter: @HolySpiritCS