The Good News
October 1 - St. John XXIII Catholic School
Leadership Message
We survived September! The first month of school was a HUGE success! Congratulations to our parents, students, and staff for tucking the first month away - 9 more to go! We have had so much learning and growing this month that it is really hard to imagine. I bet you are learning a lot from the little ones - I know we sure are!
The word “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word for thanksgiving. On Thursday, October 5th at 9:30 am our school community will gather at Our Lady of the Angels Church to celebrate the Eucharist at our annual Thanksgiving Mass. We would like to extend much gratitude to Father Jim Corrigan from OLPH Parish in Sherwood Park for coming to lead us in Mass while Father Francis is away. As part of our celebration our Grade 4 students will be receiving their own Bibles to guide them on their faith journey. These Bibles are a gift from the OLA Church CWL, OLA School, St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII School. We hope that these Bibles will be treasured by our students and will travel with them throughout their lives and that they will be reminded of how much they are loved.
Students will be travelling by bus to Mass. Please ensure, prior to this special school-wide event, that you have completed the field trip consent form on PowerSchool. We welcome parents, grandparents and siblings to join us, but as space on the buses is limited, please meet us at the church. We are looking forward to thanking God as a school for our abundant blessings!
In Christ,
Mrs. Tracy Melnyk, Principal
Orange Shirt Day
Love one another and help one another - "sákihitók mina wicíhitók." Cree Proverb
Valeda House
Elk Island Catholic Schools is proud to announce our adoption of Valeda House. Valeda House is a ministry of Catholic Social Services serving as a home to up to six young women, who either have young children or are expecting. In addition to being a home for these women for up to six months, Valeda House offers programs and support to allow these mothers to find long term housing and to address the underlying issues that may be associated with homelessness. The call to support Valeda House, as well as to educate and create awareness, has been made. Our Elk Island Catholic School family has answered the challenge of supporting and engaging in this ministry, which has served women from all of our communities, and which runs entirely on donated support.
To see more about Valeda House, check out https://vimeo.com/230971139/a141a347d9
Challenge Accepted, we are EICS.
Terry Fox Run
Grade 4 SLS Fall Fundraiser
~ Select Products for the menu bar at the top of the page
~ Select Shop for Kits from the menu along the left hand margin
~ Select Purchase & Support a Local Fundraiser (green box on the left)
~ Enter Fundraiser ID: 333336
~ Select products, add them to your cart, and proceed to checkout.
~ Payment online can be made with a credit card
Orders may also be made with any of our Grade 4 SLS!
Orders and payment are due by October 10, 2017
Pizza pickup will be Wednesday, October 25, 2017
from 3:00 - 5:30 pm from the St. John XXIII School.
Little Caesars Pizza Kits will be delivered in time to enjoy on Halloween night!
Thank you for your support!
#challengeaccepted
#choosekindness
From the Parent School Council (PSC)
Thank you to all the parents that have signed up for volunteering positions through the volunteer handout. The school is a better place and many programs are supported, thanks to all the efforts of our volunteers. If you didn’t get your form in already and would like to do so, please send it into the office and your name will be added to the volunteer committees.
The PSC is looking for one or two people to help coordinate the milk program this year. Lucille Yuzda has been so kind to coordinate it for a long time, and would like to pass on her experience. We have two schools that will need coordinators for a milk program next year: OLA and SJXXIII. Unfortunately, if we cannot find coordinators, the milk program will not be able to run. This program brings significant benefits to your wallet, and is a healthy option for the kids: cold milk is served to their classroom three days a week. You save between $20-$50 per year for the first child, and more for subsequent children as opposed to buying milk cartons at the grocery store.
We are also looking for an Apple Program coordinator. Just like us, sometimes kids get hungry through the day. The apple program provides fresh, healthy snacks for your children at school.
Please contact Donamarie Lukie at craiglukie@shaw.ca or 780-998-7629 for more information on both of these programs.
The PSC would also like you to consider applying for local grants. If you are a DOW employee and volunteer for the school, you are able to apply for a grant through the I Give Program. The deadline is October 10. Please contact DOW Human Resources for more information. If you are a Shell employee and volunteer for the school, you are also able to apply for a grant through the Community Service Fund. Please contact Shell Human Resources for more information.
Thank you,
Donamarie Lukie
PSC Chairwoman
IMPORTANT: Changes to the Milk Program
If you have ordered the Reduced Sugar Chocolate Milk, regular chocolate milk will be given instead. If you would prefer white milk instead, please let the office know immediately.
Junior Options!
This Wednesday we will have our first Junior Options afternoon of the school year. Students from Grades 1 - 4 students will have the power to choose how they spent their learning time - with lots of fun activities to choose from!
It's Lunch Time Again!
Thursday, October 26th - Fort Sask Lunchbox
Thursday, November 9th - McDonald's
Thursday, November 23rd - OPA!
Thursday, December 7th - Subway
Thursday, December 21st - Panago
All orders must be paid for by Tuesday, October 17th. For more information visit our website.
Fort Saskatchewan Multicultural Association - Chinese Dough Art
Formed.org- Pick of the Week
Angel in the Waters
Share the Wonder of Life with Your Children Invite your children to celebrate their own journey from conception to birth during pro-life month! These beautiful illustrations and wise words tell the story of a baby growing, exploring, and speaking with its guardian angel in its mother’s womb.
OLA Parish News
Community News
Looking Ahead . . .
October 4 NO ECS or Pre-K Classes
October 4 Spirit Day - Wear your Fall Colours!
October 4 Junior Options for Grades 1 - 4
October 4 Early Dismissal at 2:14 pm
October 4 School Bus Evacuation Drill after dismissal on trip home
October 5 School Thanksgiving Mass 9:30 am at OLA Church - families welcome!
October 6 Staff Professional Development Day - No School for Students
October 9 Thanksgiving Day - No School
October 30 Lifetouch Picture Retake Day
"Encountering Jesus can give a decisive direction to our life, filling it with meaning."
Pope Francis
September 28, 2017
via Twitter
9526 - 89 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
Email: stj@eics.ab.ca
Website: www.stj.eics.ab.ca
Location: 9526 89 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: (780)998-7777
Facebook: facebook.com/stjohnxxiii
Twitter: @ST_JohnXXIII