The Good News November 26, 2023
St. John XXIII Catholic School
The Solemnity of Christ the King
Is Jesus the King of my Heart?
This Sunday is the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Each year we set aside this Sunday to reflect upon this title that we have given to Jesus.
To understand how Christ is our king, we connect to the Kingdom of God. Christ’s kingship extends to all places, all people, and all times. Jesus showed us that God's love is universal, everlasting, and humble. The King came to us in a manger, on a silent night. When we see with eyes of faith we recognize Jesus to be our heavenly king and our guide of love. When we make Jesus the King of our hearts we live the lives we are called to lead.
November 2023
Monday, Nov. 27
- Assembly 12:20, parents are welcome to join us
- Father Abraham visit (gr. 1)
Wednesday, Nov. 29
- Regular Classes
- Hot Lunch
- Gr. 1 SAB fieldtrip
Looking Ahead...
Dec. 4 - KMW TPet
Dec. 5 - KTR TPet
Dec. 6 - Early Dismissal 2:10, Christmas Spirit (Wear red/green)
Dec. 6 - Feast of St. Nicholas
Dec. 7 - NK Strathcona Wilderness Centre
Dec. 8 - PSC Poinsettia Order Pickup 1-3pm & 6-8pm only
Dec. 13 - Hot Lunch, Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal
Dec. 14 - Christmas Concert
Dec. 18 - Sock Toss
Dec. 19 - School Mass
Dec. 20 - Tobogganing and Hot Chocolate
Dec. 21 - Christmas Sweater Day, Christmas Sing Along
Dec. 22 - Last Day of Classes, PJ and Movie Day
Christmas Countdown
We are very excited to come together as a school community as we prepare for Jesus’s birth and have some fun during this Christmas season. We have planned several fun activities for our students to enjoy in the days leading up to Christmas break. Some days will require your child to bring certain things for the activity of the day.
Wednesday, Dec. 6th - St. Nicholas Day, Wear Green and Red/Buddy Bingo
Thursday, Dec.14th - School Christmas Concert Day! Dress in your best wear for our Christmas Concert. There will be an afternoon show (1:00pm) and an evening show (6:00pm). Don’t forget to bring money to buy raffle tickets for our Christmas Basket Fundraiser for Lurana Shelter.
Monday, Dec. 18th - Sock Toss
Tuesday, Dec 19th – School Mass (am) We will celebrate mass as a school at OLA church at 10 am. Our grade 2 classes will be leading. Families are welcome!
Wednesday, Dec.20th - Toboggan and Hot Chocolate Day! We will be spending parts of the day outside having some fun in the snow (if there is snow!). We will be tobogganing and having hot chocolate. Students need to bring their own toboggans (No Crazy Carpets) and helmets! Check with your bus drivers for rules with transporting toboggans on this day. If you do not want your child to toboggan, please let your child’s teacher know! Please make sure your child has snow pants and proper gear to spend an extended amount of time outside.
Thursday, Dec. 21st - Christmas Sweater Day, Buddy Bingo, Christmas Sing along
Friday, Dec 22nd – PJ and Christmas Movie Day! Wear your PJ’s for the day and bring your favourite stuffed animal. We have some cleaning to do in the morning and then our afternoon will be spent enjoying a movie. Students can bring ONE sandwich-size Ziploc bag full of a snack of their choice to enjoy during the movie.
St. John XXIII Advent Concert
Our Saint John XXIII Advent Concert is less than 3 weeks away! Our students have been working hard to share the light of the season with our St John XXIII Community. We hope that all of our students are able to participate in this year's concert. If your child is unable to attend, please let their classroom teacher know as soon as possible.
Advent Social Justice Project : Baskets of Blessings
This Advent, all of our EICS community, including St. John XXIII, is continuing to partner with Catholic Social Services to support women and children at the Lurana Shelter. At St. John XXIII our goal is to raise enough money to purchase two Baskets of Blessing per class. The cost of each basket is approximately $100. To raise this money we will be creating themed baskets that will be raffled off at our Christmas Concert.
Lurana is a 21 day domestic abuse emergency shelter. The women and children who stay there have nowhere else to go because their own homes are unsafe. They may have left their home with only the clothes on their backs. When the women arrive at Lurana Shelter, they receive a ‘Basket of Blessings’. Each basket is tailored to the specific needs of each woman and her children. A typical adult basket may include soap, toothbrushes and other toiletries, feminine hygiene products, make-up, hair brushes/combs and other basics. A typical children’s basket may include necessities like soothers, a rattle or other small toy, a book, a small blanket.
You can also donate to the Basket of Blessings initiate online using our school link.
May God bless you and your family this Advent Season.
More info about the Christmas Themed Gift Baskets
We will be creating baskets for a fundraising draw during our Christmas Concert, on Thursday, December 14th. Baskets will be displayed and raffle tickets will be sold at both the afternoon and evening Christmas Concerts. Winning tickets will be drawn on Friday, December 15th. All money raised will be donated to Lurana Shelter.
We are asking students in each homeroom class to bring items related to a theme. Homeroom teachers will be sending descriptions of the various baskets, and what items can be purchased. Please have your student bring their item to their homeroom by Monday, December 11th, and we will collect the items for the baskets there. If you have larger baskets to donate as well, please send those along with your child.
Thank you for your generosity!
It Takes a Village: We are here to help
We recognize that this season can be a difficult time for some of our families within our community. If you or your family are struggling with finances, emotional or mental health, medical or physical needs, please reach out to someone within our school or parish community and we can respond. Everyone needs help sometimes, we are not meant to journey this life alone. There are many resources, agencies and people who have offered assistance and we can confidentially arrange for support, especially through this Advent season.
Kristine Willis Dengler, Principal kristinew@eics.ab.ca 780-998-7777
Eleanor Heesings, Family Wellness Worker eleanor.heesing @eics.ab.ca 780-995-9352
St. John XXIII School Council Poinsettia Sales 2023
St. John XXIII School Council is excited to announce that we are now partnering with Bonnie Doon Flowers Garden Center for our Poinsettia sale. They are happily growing some beautiful Red Poinsettias to help us raise money to support our wonderful school.
Each Poinsettia comes in a 6.5” foil covered pot and stands approximately 18” tall and 16” wide, making them excellent seasonal decorations and festive gifts.
Purchase of the Poinsettias can be made through your child's PowerSchool account, for the cost of $25 each.
The order form opens Monday, November 13, 2023 @ 10am.
The order form closes Thursday, November 30, 2023 @ noon.
Please let your friends and family know about this sale, and you can place their order through your child’s PowerSchool account. Instructions on how to place orders and pay fees in PowerSchool can be found at the bottom of each newsletter and on our website.
Orders must be picked up from the school on Friday, December 8, 2023 from 1-3pm and 6-8pm.
Thank you for your consideration for support.
Michelle McCarthy
Winter Sale Coordinator
Yearbook Cover Contest
We are inviting all St. John XXIII students to enter their drawings in our Yearbook Cover Contest. One winner will be selected to be displayed on the front cover. Four other winners will be displayed on the back cover. The top five entries will be selected by a panel. The front cover will be voted on by the school population via Google form.
Big Box Fundraiser Pickup - this Tuesday, Nov. 28
For those who have not picked up their box of cards, please ensure you pick them up on Tuesday, Nov. 28th from 5pm-7pm.
Boxes will not be sent home with children.
Alternatively, your order will be filled and you can pick up during school hours after the 28th.
Growing Brains & Sharing Smiles! It's a GREAT Day to be a St. John Kid!
Important School Information
2023-2024 School Fees
2023-2024 Fee Statements were sent home on Friday.
You can pay on-line with a debit card or credit card. However, if you wish to pay by cash (exact change only) or cheque, please send it to the school office (make cheques payable to Elk Island Catholic Schools).
If you have other questions or require assistance with the online payment, please refer to the link at the bottom of this newsletter, and contact our school at 780-998-7777 if you need further assistance.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please review the fee waiver form here or contact the principal, Mrs. Kristine Willis Dengler at 780-998-7777 to arrange a meeting.
Fee Waiver Application Deadline is December 11, 2023.
Absence Reporting
Please submit your child's absences in PowerSchool, and also notify your teacher with a Dojo message or a note sent with your child.
Please refer to the EICS Parent Technology Handbook for instructions on how to report you child's absence, early departure, leave & return or multiple day absence.
For any last minute Early Departures, please call the office before you arrive so we can make arrangements for your child to come to the office for pick up.
For accuracy and tracking purposes, absence coding in PowerSchool is to be submitted by parents, not teachers.
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