This Week at École OLPH
December 3 to 7
Message from the Office!
Dear Parents,
Advent comes from the Latin word meaning "coming." Jesus is coming, and Advent is intended to be a season of preparation for His arrival. While we typically regard Advent as a joyous season, it is also intended to be a period of preparation, much like Lent. Prayer, penance and fasting are appropriate during this season.
Advent is not as strict as Lent, and there are no rules for fasting, but it is meant to be a period of self-preparation. The purple color associated with Advent is also the color of penance. The faithful should fast during the first two weeks in particular and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The color of the Third Sunday of Advent is rose. This color symbolizes joy and represents the happiness we will experience when Jesus comes again. The Third Sunday is a day of anticipatory celebration. It is formerly called "Gaudete" Sunday; gaudete means "rejoice" in Latin.
Finally, Sundays during Advent, just as during Lent, should not be given to fasting, but instead to celebration because we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord every Sunday. It is important to remember, however, there are no particular rules for how the laity should observe Advent.
God Bless
M. Morin
Principal
École OLPH
Weekly Events at École OLPH
Sunday, December 2, 2018
- First Sunday of Advent
- Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!
- Girls Basketball practice ~ 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 4
- Grade 6 ~ DARE program begins
- Boys Basketball practice ~ 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 5
- Early Dismissal ~ 2:07 p.m.
- Hot Lunch ~ Opa
- Girls Basketball practice ~ 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Thursday, December 6
- First Week of Advent Liturgy ~ 1:07 p.m. to 1:47 p.m.
- Grade 6 Legislature Field Trip ~ All Day
- Linking Generations ~ 12:24 p.m. to 1:47 p.m.
- Peer Partnenrs ~ 12:24 p.m. to 1:47 p.m.
- Boys Basketball practice ~ 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday, December 7
- Regular Day
Important Dates to Remember!!!
Sunday, December 9, 2018
- Second Sunday of Advent
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
- Hot Lunch ~ Wild Wings
Friday, December 14, 2018
- Canteen will be open at lunch ~ 12:24 p.m. to 1:07 p.m.
Sunday, December 16, 2018
- Third Sunday of Advent
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
- Hot Lunch ~ A & W
Friday, December 21, 2018
- Outdoor Ed ~ Vertically Inclined ~ 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
- Fourth Sunday of Advent
Monday, December 24 to Sunday, January 6, 2018
- Christmas Break ~ No School
Monday, January 7, 2018
- First Day of School after Christmas Break
The Joy of Christmas!
Please join us as we count down to Christmas by sharing joy, hope, and love.
God Bless
December 2, 2018 (First Day of Advent)
- Then I will rejoice in the Lord, exult in God's salvation. ~ Psalms 25:9
December 3, 2018
- Find joy in your journey, today and every day.
December 4, 2018
- For it is in giving that we receive. ~ St. Francis
December 5, 2018
- A joyful heart is the health of the body. ~ Proverbs 17:22
December 6, 2018
- Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God. ~ Saint Ignatius of Loyola
December 7, 2018
- We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers. ~ Thessalonians 1:2
December 8, 2018
- Live at peace with all. ~ Romans 12:18
J'aime Parler Français!!!
Congratulations to the following
students who won the
"Parler Français" prizes.
Student 1 ~ Evan Freimark ~ 5/6 G
Student 2 ~ Lukas Skinner ~ 8D
Félicitations de Parler Français!!!
EICS - Fee Waiver Program
Dear Parents,
If you require any assistance with your child(s) school fees, the EICS Division offers a "Fee Waiver Program".
The application deadline for this EICS - Fee Waiver Program is Friday, December 14, 2018!
Please click on the link below for more information.
God Bless.
Fee Waiver Program Application
and
OLPH Parish ~ Christmas Eve Mass ~ 6:30 p.m.
Please be advised that the Christmas Eve Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish on Monday, December 24 at 6:30 p.m. will be designated as a Christ centered - youth focused mass.
Students from the Elk Island Catholic School District will also be singing during this mass.
We look forward to celebrating our Christmas Eve Mass with our EICS families.
God Bless.
Panago Pizza Coupons!!!
Dear OLPH Parents,
École Our Lady of Perpetual Help School is offering a fantastic opportunity to each of you in efforts to support the upcoming Grade 8 educational trip to Quebec in May 2019. We have both Nitza’s and Panago Pizza coupons available for purchase, depending on your family’s preference. We are hoping that you’ll take advantage of these great savings while supporting the kids!
We all know what it is like to juggle work, home, kids’ activities, and our numerous other commitments so this opportunity can help keep all those balls in the air!
We have 25 Nitza’s (Wye road location) coupons available at a cost of $10 which is good for a Large 3 topping pizza of your choice. You may use one coupon per order and they are valid on Sunday through Thursday nights, so it makes for an easy option when you are racing your child from one activity to another or running behind and are pressed for time!
We also have Panago Pizza coupons selling for $12 which are good for any medium pizza, saving you upwards of $4-$5 per pizza! There are no limits as to how many coupons you can use at once, and can be used at any Panago location.
There are 25 Panago coupons expiring on December 20, 2018 that we would like to use up first so if you know that you will be using the coupons quickly, we request that you utilize these ones. With the craziness of this upcoming holiday season and the demands of life, who doesn’t enjoy an easy pizza night! There are also 25 Panago coupons expiring on February 9, 2019 which would be great for after the holiday rush and everyone is turkey’d out! If you know that you will order pizza before and after Christmas, you may want to consider a combination of both expiry dates!
Due to the limited number of coupons available, they will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis. You can reserve coupons for 24 hours but they will not be guaranteed until payment is received.
Please feel free to contact me with any further question or to partake in this great offer!
Sincerely,
Pebbles Salvian
Pizza Coupon Coordinator
(780) 292-5391
École OLPH Band Performance
Dear Parents,
On Thursday, November 22, 2018, our Beginner band, as well as, our Junior High band had a beautiful performance at the OLPH Parish for parents and community members. The Christmas spirit was truly alive as the students played their musical numbers.
Thank you to our band teacher, Mr. Moes, who worked hard preparing our students for their outstanding show!
Fantastic job École OLPH band students!
God Bless
Strathcona Christmas Bureau Donations!
During the next couple of weeks, we as a school, will be collecting items for the Strathcona Christmas Bureau.
The Strathcona Christmas Bureau will accept any donations of your choosing, however they have asked if we could try to concentrate on the following age groups:
- 13 to 15 years old ~ Boys and Girls
- 16 to 18 years old ~ Boys and Girls
All donations may be placed in the bin in the school foyer until Friday, December 14, 2018.
This year we will also be accepting monetary donations, which can be brought to Mme Winland in the school office.
Student School Council would like to thank you in advance for your support.
God Bless.
École OLPH 2018/2019 Basketball Teams
Congratulations
to the following students for
successfully making the
École OLPH 2018/2019 Basketball Team!
Boys Basketball Team
Alex P., Anthony S., Charlie O., Ethan L.,
Jack M., Luc B., Marc S., Spencer B.,
Ricky S., Xavier M., Zack H., Zack Z.
Girls Basketball Team
Aeraby Z., Ashley B., Ava M., Ciarra F.,
Delaney B., Jada K., Kaitlyn C., Kate E.,
Keara B., Kiera A., Maeve H., Taya V.
My kid is not talking to me... What do I do?
My kid is not talking to me…. What do I do?!?!
This article is a great normalizing acknowledgment that talking to your child may be difficult. But as a parent, you are wanting to connect but none of your questions seems to revoke a response. That is tough and most times, disheartening.
This article offers you, as a parent/caregiver, some ideas around what is going on for your child through a developmental lens and therefore offering a way to break that wall and start a conversation.
https://www.todaysparent.com/family/age-by-age-guide-to-getting-your-kid-to-talk/
Remember:
1) Take it slow
2) Don’t take it personally if they are nonresponsive- sometimes your kiddo has a lot on his mind.
3) Try to listen more, versus offering the solution. Solutions tend to come off judgmental
4) This takes time, so practice and be patient.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mme Moniz at simone.moniz@eics.ab.ca or 780-467-5631.
(Re)Connection Advent Calendar ~ Dr. Jody Carrington
See the (Re)Connection Advent Calendar, from Dr. Jody Carrington, picture below.
Have some fun as a family during the Advent season!
God Bless
Come See Maggie Hunter from 5G Perform!!!
EICS Nutrition Birthday Snack Ideas!!!
Dear Parents,
We are working towards creating nutrition environments in our schools that support the learning and wellbeing of our students.
Using the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth as our guide, we have developed a Nutrition Guide for Elk Island Catholic Schools.
In order to provide consistency at school for our students, we ask that if you choose to send a snack to share with your child's class on their birthday, that you send them with a healthy snack.
The acknowledgment and celebration of a birthday is wonderful and so we wanted to provide some ideas of healthy snacks and other ways to support the celebration!
Nutritious Birthday Snack Ideas
Fruit Lollipops or Fruit Kabobs
Whole Wheat Crackers and Cheese
Veggies tray or Veggie Cups
Nut Free Trail Mix Bar (mini cups that kids can fill with cereal, seeds, dried fruit)
Cheese String Snowmen
Frozen Yogurt Pops
Banana Messages
Butterfly Snack Bags
Ninja Turtle Grape Cups
Fruit Bouquet
Watermelon Cake
Resources
Alberta Health Services Nutrition Resources
Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth
Below are some examples and images.
Fruit Kabobs!
Whole Wheat Crackers and Cheese
Veggie Cups or Veggie Tray
Nut-Aware Environment!
École OLPH Catholic School is a nut-aware environment.
This school policy is in place to provide a safe environment for our children and staff who have life-threatening allergies to nuts and nut products.
We ask parents to monitor this closely with your children as you prepare snacks and lunches to be brought to school.
When bringing classroom treats, please call the teacher to inquire about other food allergies which may cause a severe anaphylactic reaction.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact M. Morin at alyrem@eics.ab.ca or M. St. Jean at marcs@eics.ab.ca.
God Bless.
FundScrip Fundraising
Dear Parents,
OLPH School Council has been using FundScrip for the last 5 years as one of the schools main fundraisers.
FundScrip, is a fundraising program that lets you raise funds simply by purchasing gift cards for your everyday shopping (i.e. groceries, gas, gifts and household items). When you purchase a $100 grocery gift card, you receive the $100 card, but in addition, a percentage is donated to our fundraising campaign. It’s like getting free money, where the only catch is you have to change your method of payment to using gift cards!
Please visit https://www.fundscrip.com/ to place your on-line order(s). To print off a paper order form, please click on the attached document below.
How to Support our École OLPH FundScrip Group
1. Go to www.fundscrip.com and click on Support a Group
2. Complete the information in the Become a Supporter section and be sure to enter École OLPH's group Invitation Code: PETQYC
3. Click on Sign Up and you will be sent a confirmation email.
4. Click the link in the confirmation email and complete your registration.
5. Now you are ready to login, place orders, and start supporting our École OLPH group.
6. Watch your Inbox for the confirmation email from FundScrip.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Erin DiLoreto at artsadminerin@gmail.com.
God Bless
Update ~ Grade 8 Voyage Quebec Trip
Please take to log onto your child's PowerSchool account and pay your child's Voyage Quebec trip.
As a reminder, you always have to option to make multiple payments on your account in order to meet the payments and due dates listed below.
Deadlines and Fees are as follows:
- Gr. 8 Quebec Trip ~ Payment #1($1200.00) due by Dec. 19, 2018
- Gr. 8 Quebec Trip ~ Payment #2 ($800.00) due by Feb. 28, 2018
- Final Reconciliation Fee ~ TBA
May 18 to 25, 2019. Please ensure that your child's trip is paid in full prior to leaving on the Voyage Quebec trip.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact M. Morin with any of your questions or concerns to help you make an informed decision at alyrem@eics.ab.ca or 780-467-5631.
God Bless
Visitors & Guests
In an effort to ensure we have a safe learning environment for all students and staff, we ask that anyone visiting École OLPH to sign in at the school office and wear a visitor name tag.
God Bless.
Parent Council Corner
Please take a moment to "Join" the Parents for OLPH Sherwood Park Facebook group, for important information and updates.
Here is the link for easy access.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/213584608682158/
God Bless.
Lost & Found!!!
Please take a moment to look through the Lost & Found for any missed placed items that your child(ren) may have lost.
God Bless
How To Report Your Child's Absence!
If your child is going to be absent, please follow the instructions below when reporting the absence:
- Safe Arrival portal login: School Messenger Login
- Call the parent toll free number: 1-844-478-2613
- Using "SchoolMessenger" link in the EICS App (requires School Messenger App installed on the phone. It will prompt you to install the App when you open the EICS App and click on SchoolMessenger app)
- Using the SchooMessenger App
- If you are having difficulties, please call the school directly, 780-467-5631.
God Bless.
"Like" our Facebook Page
We now have a Facebook page!
"Like" École Our Lady of Perpetual Help
for latest news and info!
@olphecole
Canteen Dates Below!!!
Dear Parents,
Canteen Dates will start soon!
Friday, December 14, 2018
Friday, January 11, 2019
Friday, January 25, 2019
Canteen cards or Cash only is accepted at the canteen. As well, all items are priced at $1.00 and exact change is appreciated! The canteen is NOT open on hot lunch days.
Canteen items will vary week to week but will include items like hot chocolate, canned drinks, cookies, chips, etc. Canteen is intended for treats and snacks -not a substitution for a healthy lunch.
To reduce wait time there will be 2 canteen carts this year. One will serve the 5/6 wing and one will serve the 7/8 wing.
Any questions can be sent to Barb and Samantha at olphhotlunch8@gmail.com
God Bless
Linking Generations ~ Parent Volunteers Needed!!!
Our wonderful Linking Generations program this year are in need of some parent volunteers for both the CloverBar and Summerwood locations.
The commitment would consist of 2-3 hours twice per month from October 2018 to May 2019. You DO NOT have to have a child in the program in order to volunteer your time.
If you would like to assist with this special program, we ask that you please contact Debbie Sinclair, Executive Director, at 780-410-0711 or at linkgendebbie@telus.net.
Thank you and God Bless
School Cheques!!!
Dear Parents,
Please be advise that all cheques that
are sent to the school need to be
made out to EICS only.
OLPH Parish Bulletin ~ December 2, 2018
Please click on the link below for the OLPH Parish Bulletin for Sunday, December 2, 2018. Wishing you a blessed First week of Advent!
God Bless
2018-2019 Student Sacrament Dates
Please click on the link below for the Sacrament Dates for First Communion and Confirmation at OLPH Church.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Raylene at OLPH Church at 780-467-5470.
God Bless