St. Luke Weekly Memo
January 18 - 25, 2018
Third Sunday of Ordinary Time - Sunday, January 21
Gospel Reading
Mark 1:14-20
Jesus calls the fishermen, Simon and Andrew, James and John, to be his disciples.
Family Connection
This Sunday's Gospel describes how Jesus called his first disciples and the immediacy with which these men dropped everything to follow him. We can only begin to imagine what Jesus’ presence must have been like to invoke such a response in these first disciples. While a few of us might relate to such a radical conversion, many of us would find such a sudden change in ourselves or in another person unsettling. There are few things for which we would willingly drop everything. And yet this is the immediacy with which these first disciples responded to Jesus. These first disciples were willing to drop everything in order to make Jesus and the Kingdom of God the most important things in their lives.
We suggest gathering as a family and talk about circumstances in which you have had to “drop everything.” (the call to pick up a sick child from school, the cry of a hurt or angry child) How did you feel about having to change your plans in each of these situations? How do we feel when someone asks us to drop everything to help him or her? For many of us, it is not easy to drop everything to respond to the needs of another.
After hearing Sunday's Gospel, Mark 1:14–20. Invite your family to imagine what Jesus’ presence and invitation to these first followers must have been like that they responded by leaving their livelihood to become his disciples. How might our life change if we understood the Kingdom of God to be as important and immediate in our lives? Ask God to help you experience the Kingdom of God with such immediacy. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer.
School News
Field Trip & School Fees
This is a reminder to all families who have not already done so please go onto PowerSchool Portal to pay your child's field trip fees and school fees. These fees include the field trip costs for each student and every student has been charged a sports activity fee of $10. When paying your child(ren)'s fees you have the option to choose how much you would like to pay and therefore have the ability to pay in installments. Thank you in advance for your attention to this request.
Accountability Pillar Surveys
As an annual check-up on the education system, the Accountability Pillar provides an opportunity for Alberta Education and school authorities to ensure that we are equipping students for success.
The Accountability Pillar uses a set of 16 indicators. Data on these indicators consists of surveys of students, parents and teachers on various aspects of education quality, student outcomes such as dropout and high school completion rates, and provincial assessments of student learning.
From January to the end of February, Alberta Education will be conducting the annual Accountability Pillar Survey.
· In January, parents of students in grades 4 and 7 will receive a survey from Alberta
Education in the mail.
· In February, students in grades 4-8 and all teachers will be completing their
surveys online at school.
All surveys are anonymous and ask questions about experiences with your child's school. Your participation in the survey helps provide important information on the quality of education your child is receiving, so we encourage you to return your survey promptly.
Survey results will be available to school authorities in May 2018, and will be reported publicly as part of Elk Island Catholic’s Assurance plan and Annual Education Results Reports. Thank you for participating and providing us with feedback to help guide us in your child's educational journey.
Draft Calendar 2018-2019
Please see the draft calendar for the 2018-2019 school year. The Board has approved the calendar "in principle". Please forward any feedback to the school principal Mrs. Aoife Cahill at aoifec@eics.ab.ca All feedback is to be submitted before February 2, 2018 and will be presented to the Board for final approval at the Board meeting on February 21st.
Parent Series
Caregiver Education Sessions
Alberta Health Services is free sessions between January - May 2018. These sessions are intended to provide parents and caregivers with basic information about addiction and mental health challenges that can impact children and youth. Please see the attachment below for more information.
Parent Council
Parish News
Looking Ahead...
January 19 - Praise & Worship 8:30 am
January 22 - Boys Basketball Practice 3 - 4:45 pm
January 22 - Cyberworld: A Caregiver's Guide to Raising Healthy Digital Citizens
January 23 - Boys Basketball Practice 3 - 4:45 pm
January 24 - Grade 5/6 Basketball Practice 3 - 4:45 pm
January 25 - Hot lunch - pizza
January 25 - Basketball Game at Holy Redeemer 4 - 5:30 pm
Email: Stl@eics.ab.ca
Website: Stl.eics.ab.ca
Location: 22139 S Cooking Lake Rd, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
Phone: 7809225920
Facebook: facebook.com/StLukeCatholicSchool
Twitter: @stlcs_EICS