The Good News
Saint John XXIII January 10, 2019
Leadership Message
Epiphany: How will you share your gifts with Jesus?
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was [Mt. 2:9].
This week we celebrated Epiphany, a special time in our Catholic faith. where "Epiphany" means "manifestation”.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. the great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee.
During our Monday assembly, we reflected on the journey of the three kings and how they came to adore the newborn king. Today, as we think of our own journeys and the gifts we have, how do we encounter Jesus and how do we share our gifts with others?
As we step into a new year and a new journey, may each of us be reminded how loved we are and how we are called to share our gifts and love with others. Love-First, Last and Always...
Blessings,
Mrs. Boehm
We LOVE to Read...Who was it? Who will it be?
This week our Mystery Reader was Mrs. L. Morin, grade two teacher, who shared a beautiful library story about loving each child in a unique way. Mrs. Morin shared, I Love the Purplest, by
Barbara M. Joosse.
See if you can guess who next year's first Mystery Reader is?
If you have any extra gently worn socks, girls pants, skipants-we need a few for our extra clothes supply for our kids
Alberta Winters: Alberta Kids-Polar Bear Recess (Read Below)
Our EICS Division Administrative Procedure 134 provides guidelines for us at Saint John XXIII for responding to the winter months:
Decisions regarding outdoor activities are to take into consideration inclement weather that may result from the following conditions or combination of conditions: Continuous rain; Extreme wind, and/or Extreme cold
The suggested guideline is that students do not go outside if the temperature is - 25 C or colder. The suggested guideline above is at the discretion of school Administrators and staff as part of their consideration for determining whether recess will be inside or outside. Outside time is sometimes shortened or withheld to accommodate winter conditions
Morning: Supervision begins at 8:30 am, please do not drop off students prior to 8:30 am.
Recess is a very important time for students for play, social-emotional regulation, fresh air, and exercise. We will go out almost every recess; rain, snow or shine. Please ensure that your child comes prepared for the weather. Recesses will be indoors only during extreme weather conditions deemed unsafe to head out for even short spurts.
In order to support the important balance of learning and play, we will have three responses to recess breaks to respond to Alberta weather:
1. Regular recess outside (temperature and conditions not an issue)
2. Inside Recess (Extreme cold and/or weather conditions that are deemed unsafe for full duration of outside playtime)
3. Polar Bear Recess: (Temperatures are lower and cold but still safe to head outdoors for short periods). Students must be dressed for weather conditions and during a Polar Bear recess, students will be given a choice to head outside for a short duration of supervised play or stay indoors for supervised play.
We know from research that outside play is so important for a child's mental, social, emotional, and physical well-being and we will do all we can to support daily outside play as much as possible.
If you have any questions, please contact the school.
Please help your child dress for the weather
Parents: please do not cross parking lot at any time. Students must use the pathways and crosswalks. Visibility is limited between cars in the parking lot. We need to keep all of our kids safe.
We APPLEsolutely love our Sponsors! Thank YOU to our January Apple Program Sponsors: The Selte Family!
Our January Sacred Teaching: The Bear-Courage
January Reading Challenge: Following St. John XXII-We Love to Read!
Following in the footsteps of our school saint, Saint John XXIII, who devoted at least ten minutes a day to reading, we are challenging our students to read every day at home for at least ten minutes and celebrating this with a chance to win a new book of their choice. We will draw a total of 15 students (5 at each assembly for the next three weeks).
Have fun reading!
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.
Crazy Hair Day was SO much fun! Way to get into the spirit Saint John!
OLA Parish News
Sacramental Prep: First Holy Communion
First Eucharist for children in Grade 3 and up: For children in grade 3 and up who have celebrated their First Confession, registration deadline for First Communion is January 31, 2020 Registration forms are available at the office and at the back of the church or online at:
www.olafortsask.caedm.ca or the school website (Under Sacramental Prep link). No late registrations accepted. Please provide a copy of baptism certificate when registering your child (if not baptized at O.L.A.) and the $25.00 fee. *Registration form and fee can be dropped at St. John XXIII School (cash or cheque) or at the church office 10004 – 101 St.
Classes:
Feb. 8, 2020 OLA Meeting Rooms 10:00 am Parent meeting in Lounge
Feb. 15, 2020 OLA Meeting Rooms 10:00 am Children only
March 1, 2020 OLA Church Celebration 2:00pm
*For children in Grade 2, who celebrated have celebrated their First confession, registration deadline for First Communion is April 3, 2020. Celebration is May 3, 2020 at 2 pm. More information to follow closer to the date.
If you would like your child to receive their First Communion this year and they have not yet celebrated their First Confession, please contact the parish office 780-998-3288 and make an appt. with Father Kris.
Saint John XXIII School Council News
Next school council meeting: Monday, January 20, 2020 7 pm Collaboration Room. Please join us as we welcome Adrian Xavier, from Ever Active Schools, who will be sharing information about an exciting program coming to Saint John XXIII in the Spring: Loose Parts Play!
Loose Parts Play offers an authentic play experience that is fundamental for the social, emotional, intellectual and physical wellness of children and youth. Loose parts involves simple, inexpensive, everyday materials that can be moved, carried, stacked, manipulated and/or repurposed for play. The theory behind Loose Parts Play suggests the level of discovery, creativity and inventiveness within an environment depends on the amount and variety of flexible materials within it. Ever Active Schools is a provincial initiative that helps to create and sustain healthy, active school communities. Ever Active Schools supports quality wellness education through a comprehensive school health approach and works to ensure schools have the resources they need to respond to the complexity of Alberta's classrooms.
LOOKING AHEAD...
Jan. 13: Monday Assembly (presentations by Healthy Living Team & 3S-Arctic Winter Games)
Jan. 20: Monday Assembly, PSC meeting 7:00 pm (Adrian Xavier-Ever Active Schools)
Jan. 23: Grade 4 Skating 1-2 pm
Jan. 28: Monday Assembly-3S leading, Grade 4 Ski Trip
Jan. 31: Saint John XXIII Arctic Winter Games pm
Feb. 3: Monday Assembly
Feb. 5: Report Cards live on PowerSchool, Early Out dismissal-2:23 pm Spirit Day-Dress as your favourite Book Character, World Read Aloud day (School-wide read aloud), Winter Walk Day (School-wide Winter Walk)
Feb. 6 & 7: No School-Teachers' Convention
Feb. 10: Monday Assembly-2LM leading, Grade 4 Symphony Field Trip
Feb. 12: Grade 4 Bennett Center Field Trip
Feb. 14: No School for students-PD day
Feb. 17: Family Day-No school
Feb. 18: Tuesday assembly 9 am National Flag Day celebration
Feb. 19: 100th Day of school grades 1-4
Feb. 21: Rocks & Rings-Grade 4 (gym)
Feb. 24: Monday Assembly 9 am
Feb. 25: Shrove Tuesday
Feb. 26: Ash Wednesday 11 am celebration @school
Feb. 27: Grade 2 TPet-Magnets
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