The Good News
Saint John XXIII December 20, 2019
Leadership Message
A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, "Wonderful Counselor," "Mighty God," "Eternal Father," "Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6
What a joyful and blessed Advent season we have had at Saint John XXIII preparing Him room in our hearts and lives. From our morning Advent prayers and songs to our beautiful faith filled Christmas concert, and finally, the daily classroom teachings rich with love and light of Christ. Today, our grade four team led our Advent Celebration where we placed Jesus in the manger and gave our students the opportunity to bring the nativity to life. As our Chaplain, Mrs. Comartin, shared a couple of weeks ago, our commitment to the nativity where each student was able to share how they were preparing Him room was a special opportunity to truly focus on Jesus as the reason for the season.
Today, during our celebration, as the pieces of hay with the students’ love, almsgivings, and prayers were laid, it was a tangible gesture of how Advent is all about preparing for Jesus. Archbishop Richard Smith shared in his Christmas message below the importance of the manger scene and at our school, we have shared the manger with our staff, students, and parents and the love that was given to each of us through the Christ child.
May the love and light of Christ fill your hearts and homes this Christmas and always.
Blessings,
Mrs. Boehm
From our family to yours: Merry Christmas!
We LOVE to Read...Who was it? Who will it be?
This week our Mystery Reader was Mrs. Wagner, our librarian, who shared a wonderful library story about making something from nothing by Phoebe Gilman. We wish Mrs. Wagner w wonderful new journey in her new school community. God's blessings always, Mrs. Wagner.
See if you can guess who next year's first Mystery Reader is?
If you have any extra gently worn socks or skipants, we need a few for our extra clothes supply for our kids
Many thanks again for your contribution at the concert for our Chalice Foster Children. We received a Christmas card from Yalesca!
Our Servant Leadership Squads: Young Citizens & School Spirit Teams thank you for your generous donations for the Food Bank and Families First
Our Grade 4 Team led our Advent Celebration today!
Blanket Exercise Invitation: Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Dear Parents and Staff:
Parents and Staff of EICS students are invited to take part in a Blanket Exercise to be held at Central Learning Services (310 Broadview Road) in Sherwood Park on Wednesday, January 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The Blanket Exercise is an active participation learning activity based on the major themes and findings of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. The goal is to build understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada by walking through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. Everyone is actively involved as they step onto blankets that represent the land, and into the role of First Nations, Inuit and later Métis peoples. By engaging on an emotional and intellectual level, the Blanket Exercise effectively educates and increases empathy. For further information, please view this KAIROS Blanket Exercise video.
Participants are asked to bring a blanket that can be placed on the floor and stepped on for this activity.
Please RSVP by Monday, January 13 by filling out this linked Google Form.
We will also have Eva Stang join us at this event. Eva, a Métis Culture and Knowledge Keeper, has been working with EICS this year, supporting the continued growth in staff and administrator knowledge of Indigenous perspectives.
If you have any questions, please email Crystal Cholin, Learning Services Consultant (crystalc@eics.ab.ca).
Accountability Pillar Survey coming soon
Dear Elk Island Catholic School Families,
Alberta Education will be conducting the annual Accountability Pillar Survey in the new year. Parents of students in grade 4, 7 and 10 will receive a mailed survey from Alberta Education (if the school has fewer than 120 students, parents of students in grades 4-12 will receive the survey in the month of January)
As an annual check-up on the education system, the Accountability Pillar provides an opportunity for Alberta Education to ensure that we are equipping students for success.
OLA Parish News
Christmas Mass Times
December 24th:
OLA at 5:00pm, 9:00pm and 12midnight
OLL at 7:00pm
OLGC, Skaro at 5:00pm
St. Clare, Redwater at 7:30pm
Sacred Heart, Gibbons at 12midnight
December 25th:
OLA at 10:00am
Lamont Auxiliary at 9:00am
St. Michael at 11:00am
December 31st:
OLA Adoration at 4:30pm, Mass at 5:15pm
Skaro 5:30pm
January 1st :
OLA at 9:00am and 11:00am
St. Clare, Redwater at 10:00am
Sacred Heart, Gibbons at 11:30am
Saint John XXIII School Council News
Next school council meeting: Monday, January 13, 2020 7 pm Collaboration Room.
LOOKING AHEAD...
Christmas Break Dec.21-Jan. 6
Jan. 6: Welcome Back to School! Assembly 9 am
Jan. 8: Early Out Dismissal-Spirit Day-Crazy Hair day
It's a Great Day to be a Saint John XXIII Kid!
Saint John XXIII Catholic School
Email: stj@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stj.eics.ab.ca/
Location: 9526 89 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-998-7777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St.JohnXXIII
Twitter: @St_JohnXXIII