St. Luke Weekly Memo
October 25, 2020
Special Message from Father Jim
A note from Father Jim to Elk Island Catholic Schools, Teachers, Staff, Admin, Trustees, Parents, and Students…
I wish to offer a very profound and heartfelt thank you! Very specifically, I want to thank our students, staff, parents, Admin, Trustees and teachers who are part of our Elk Island area schools in all their different formats. We are closing in on two months accomplished in the school year, and whether you are involved with kindergarten or University-age education, it has been challenging and it has been tough. Whether you are the student or the educator, I am sure this is unlike anything you ever dreamed that school might be like. My key message and goal today is to thank you for your stellar commitment to a very different and very challenging form of education. Whether you are a student or a teacher in the classroom, online, or at home, you have responded very beautifully to this new school year.
Not without some anxiousness and uncertainty for sure. When we move forward into the unknown, our faith is pivotally important to how we progress into that which we are not so sure of. I can say that I have been in numerous schools this fall, and I am truly gratified by the unique and outside-the-box ways our educators and students have been facilitating some of the regular everyday school activities. I am always amazed at how resourceful you educational folks are when it comes to getting things done. If anything, challenging as things have been for you, covid has provided you with an opportunity to really let your gifts shine, in ways that one may not have previously even considered.
My purpose in putting this note together this day is to offer you a profound and heartfelt thankyou for your selfless and tireless efforts to normalize as much as possible our children’s education. You, as trustees, administration and teaching staff have listened and heard many parental concerns of anxiousness, often when you yourselves were feeling anxious and unsure. You have moved forward courageously with initiatives, even when you were unsure what results to expect. You did the due diligence, you prepared as well as you were able, and then you went for it. “You walked by faith, and not by sight.”
In the early days of covid one of my mantras was, and still is, “God’s got this. He has our backs. This is God’s Church, we are His people, and He will prevail.” My views and beliefs have not changed and you as Elk Island Catholic staff and students have shown in a very real way what it is, “to walk the talk.” You have made me very proud to be part of your process, part of your schools, part of your families. I know I can speak for my brother priests throughout the district in prayerful thanks for your commitment to Catholic Education in surely difficult and trying times. Elk Island Catholic staff, students, and trustees, thank you for showing me what it is to walk by faith and not by sight; to choose joy, when it would be easy to make other choices. We are close to celebrating Catholic Education Sunday in early November. Perhaps this year, we need to celebrate our milestones and accomplishments and our faith more than ever.
In speaking with a teacher recently and asking her how things were going, she perhaps summed up how many of us are feeling. She said, “you know, this month is better than last month.” A simple but true statement that speaks of the resiliency, the robustness, and the faith of our educators in Elk Island Catholic. We are gifted, we do choose joy and we do walk by faith. To all of you who have a role in teaching Catholic Education, to all of you students who have a role participating in the learning of Catholic Education, in whatever mode you have chosen; God bless you and thank you. You are all wonderful beacons of light, during a time of year and history where light is much needed and much appreciated.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus provides us with two simple essential rules of the Christian life: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind….You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Two dictates that sum up our Christian journey. My friends, you who are caring for our students in whatever way you are called, you parents who have trusted in the Lord and in the system are beautiful examples of living, in a very tangible way, the call to love God, and to love one another. I pray for all of you daily, at every Mass that I celebrate, in thanksgiving for your faithful witness and example of choosing joy.
“May the Lord bless you and keep you. Amen.
May He let His face shine upon you and show you His mercy. Amen.
May He turn His countenance upon you and give you His peace. Amen
And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you forever. Amen.”
Elk Island Catholic Educators, staff, administration, trustees, students, and parents… thank you and God bless you.
Father Jim
Grade 4 Bible Presentation
Saffron Center
Dressing up as our favorite movie or book character!
Grade 7/8
Admin Team
Thank you!
Halloween Fun!
Halloween is quickly approaching. This year, our celebration will be great but will look a little different. We will still have the opportunity for students to dress up while at school. While dressing up and celebrating Halloween provide opportunities for fun and community building, they can also create situations where students inadvertently dress in a way that can be problematic and even hurtful. I am asking you to join me in helping ensure that students are thoughtful about the costumes that they are wearing to school. Being proactive can help all of us to avoid uncomfortable situations at school and can help us ensure that Halloween is a time where all students feel safe and honoured. Students are asked to leave all props or weapons at home.
This Halloween all classes will be participating in Halloween theme physical activities and age-appropriate read alouds. In following our COVID-19 protocols and align with our Nutrition AP, there will be no distribution of treats or other snacks. In lieu of bringing in treats, we are asking families to donate a canned good that will be added to our donations for the Strathcona Food Bank.The school will be putting together a special Nutritional Halloween snack which will be handed out to all students.
COVID *New Information
As a parent/guardian you are required to complete a daily health screening check for your child each day before they come to school. We need everyone's help and commitment to these health checks, as well as making sure that your child stays home if they are feeling unwell or displaying any symptoms.
These guidelines provide a clear inderstanding of what parents need to do and how long students need to stay home from school.
SCHOOL COUNCIL/PARENT ASSOCIATION
FACEBOOK -Join Us!
If you haven’t already, please consider joining our brand new School Council and Parent Association Facebook page! We are excited to offer this official space to share news and updates about events, fundraising, hot lunch and more!
Link to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/399511261038435
UPCOMING MEETING
Please join us Monday, November 30, 2020 at 6:30pm for our next virtual School Council and Parent Association meeting.
FUNDRAISING
What do you have to do? Just purchase your groceries at Wye Road Save On Foods! That's it!
We are excited to continue partnering with Save on Foods on Wye Road! Each month you can submitt your receipts to Save on Foods (Please no photo copies or purchases with lottery, prescriptions, gift cards or tobacco products on them)
St. Luke School Council receives a 5% donation from these receipts in support of our students!
Receipts can be left in the outdoor library box outside the school's front door for pick up. This fundraising campaign will run throughout the year. Reminders will be put on the School Council and Parent Association Facebook page before a pick up is made.
Thank-you for your support!
Upcoming Dates
Monday, October 26
Virtual Celebration - Praise and Worship at 10:25
Thursday, October 29
- Novena for Catholic Education
Friday, October 30
- Halloween activities within homeroom classrooms
OLPH (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish)
OLPH is a vibrant community of strong faith which welcomes, worships, works and celebrates life together in Jesus Christ. From their beginnings in 1958, to the present, OLPH has been blessed with wonderful leaders, with vision and tremendous dedication, and also with an active compassionate parish family of now over 14,000 strong. Visit OLPH Website for more information about the parish and in regards to sacremental preparation.
Read the lastest bullitin from OLPH.
St. Luke Catholic School
Principal
Email: Stl@eics.ab.ca
Website: stl.eics.ab.ca
Location: 22139 South Cooking Lake Road, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-922-5920
Twitter: @stlcs_EICS