I LOVE Family Day! Family Day reminds us all to focus our thoughts, energies, and time to those closest to us—the members of our own families.

Our busy lives are filled with learning, teaching, and working, and it is easy to allow ourselves to lose sight of what should always be most important—our family! It is also easy to lose sight of the important role we play within the family of God—in our own parish families. Family Day gives us an opportunity to reconnect with our families and share some quality time together.

Our SILC family—our students, parents, and staff— have enjoyed many successes during the school year, thanks to your continued dedication to Catholic education and the well being of the students who are entrusted to our care. On behalf of the staff of St. Isidore #SILCFamily, we wish you all, and the members of your families, a happy, memorable, restful, and safe Family Day 2023.

Grace & peace,

Tracy Melnyk, Principal

WE are made for mission, to make a difference. I’ve always been inspired by the words of Gandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

Yet sometimes it can be easy to get caught up in doing “big things” that impact on others, and we can forget how important the small things are. Rather than focusing on changing the world, perhaps if we each focused on doing our little bit of good where we are, on simply being kind to those around us, we could create a tidal wave of transformation.

As a Church, there are countless invitations to consider how we can best meet the needs of the marginalised and how we can advocate for those who are oppressed. However, in the midst of our aspiring to bring about lasting change in the lives of others, we need to be careful to never forget basic kindness in the way we deal with one another and all those we meet. Jesus made a lasting impression in the lives of people by his capacity to not only perform miracles, but because he had genuine encounters with ordinary people. He met people as they were, in their daily lives.

As we strive to live in imitation of Jesus, we are invited to make conscious choices to touch people’s lives in small but meaningful ways.

Let us be aware that if we want to bring about change, if we want our society to be more empathetic and kind, it begins with US! May we be the voice of kindness that we wish to see in our families, in our school, in our communities, and in our world.

Shrove Tuesday is a day that's celebrated by many Christians around the world before the start of Lent. That's the six-week period that leads up to Easter.

Here's the story behind this day (and it does involve pancakes!)

The word shrove is the past tense of shrive, which means to confess.

In the Middle Ages, this day was a time for people to confess their sins and ask for forgiveness. This allowed Christians to enter into the season of Lent and prepare for Easter with a clean spirit.

Shrove Tuesday takes place on a different date each year, depending on when Easter falls. In 2023, Shrove Tuesday takes place on February 21st.

Long ago, after people went to church to confess their sins on Shrove Tuesday, they often returned home to have a feast. One of the dishes that was often made was pancakes. And that tradition has continued to this day. Some people make rolled-up paper-thin pancakes called crèpes with yummy fillings.

In places around the world, including Canada, England, Ireland and Australia, people stuff themselves with pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.

That’s why it’s sometimes known as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day.

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 (Grade 1-12)
• 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.

Register here for the 2023-2024 school year: https://silc.eics.ab.ca/register-now

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

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

Still I Rise conference - May 4, 2023, sponsored by Ever Active Schools

• Grades 6-12 youth

• Indigenous and non-Indigenous students walking together towards reconciliation

• No cost, but registration is required

• One-day virtual event. Students can join individually, or classes can join together.

Scholarships and Bursaries - various deadlines for application

• ATCO - First Nations, Métis, Inuit

• Rupertsland Post-Secondary Education Funding - Métis specific

Our Lady of Victory Camp registration for summer 2023 is open! A camp long run in the Archdiocese of Edmonton, it offers week-long faith experiences where everyone can Encounter Christ, Encounter Community, and Encounter Creation. It is an opportunity to meet new friends, be outdoors, play epic games and sports, try archery and/or canoeing, celebrate the sacraments and more. All while getting to know Jesus.

More information about our camp can be found at our website https://camps.caedm.ca. Children can be registered by going to our registration site at olvc.campbrainregistration.com and creating an account. If you have any questions regarding programs or registration please email us at camps@caedm.ca or call us at 587-447-2837.

We are now part of Flocknote, which is the best way to receive our updates. You can let us know you would like to receive them this way, or sign up to receive them at https://caedm.flocknote.com/CAMPS, and sign up in the small box to the left of your screen. Or you can sign up via text by texting CAMP to 514-900-0130. Please be sure to sign up using both your cell phone number and your email so you can receive messages both ways!

God bless,

Donna Hansen

Camp Administrator

Our Lady of Victory Camp

(587) 447 - 2837

The Staff of 2022-2023:

Principal: Mrs. Tracy Melnyk tracym@eics.ab.ca

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Melissa Damur melissad@eics.ab.ca

Chesterton Headmaster: Dr. Gerard McLarney gerardm@eics.ab.ca

Creative Director, Chesterton & Chaplain : Mrs. Justine Wright justinew@eis.ab.ca

Secretary: Mrs. Natalie Mangatal nataliem@eics.ab.ca

Family Wellness Worker: Katy Parsons katy.parsons@eics.ab.ca

Inclusive Learning Facilitator: Mrs. Shari Morin sharim@eics.ab.ca

Mrs. Christy Oikonen - Elementary (Grades 1-6) christyo@eics.ab.ca

Mr. Daniel Hughes - Jr / Sr Social Studies - daniel.hughes@eics.ab.ca

Mr. Brandon Geiger - Jr / Sr Science & Math - brandon.geiger@eics.ab.ca

Ms. Jillian Hughes - Jr High LA & Phys Ed & Health - jillian.hughes@eics.ab.ca

Mrs. DeeDee Perrott - Sr. Science & Chesterton deedee.perrott@eics.ab.ca

Mrs. Eva Fung- Sr Math eva.fung@eics.ab.ca

Mrs. Katarina Urdova - Chesterton Math - katrina.urdova@eics.ab.ca

Mr. Brett Fawcett - Chesterton and Religious Studies - brett.fawcett@eics.ab.ca