June Newsletter 2017
St. Martin's Catholic School
Principal's Message
Much like our butterflies that our grade 3 students study in science, this is the time of year when schools begin to transition into the next school year. It is an odd time as we plan for the next year while we close out the current year. For teachers, this means getting developing the report cards for the current year, while working on the class lists for the following year. For students, I like to tell them that they are now closer to their next grade than they are the start of their current one. We have seen so much growth in our students and as teachers, that makes us so very proud and we know we certainly see that pride in the faces of our parents as they reflect upon the year that their child has had.
To continue the butterfly theme of this message, it is that time of year where we get ready to say goodbye to staff as they begin transitioning to new stages in their career. This year, we will be saying goodbye to Mrs. Welke and Miss Bjornstad. Mrs. Welke accepted a transfer to Our Lady of Mount Pleasant in Camrose and Miss Bjornstad accepted a transfer to Our Lady of the Angels in Fort Saskatchewan. School staff and students will certainly miss these two fantastic teachers and we wish them the best of luck. As a school we are going to be welcoming a new teacher to the school. Mr. Darren Kirk, most recently a teacher at St. Mary's, will be joining the St. Martin's staff in the 2017/2018 school year. We are excited by the opportunity to have Mr. Kirk share his skills and talents with the students of St. Martin's.
As we enter into the final weeks of the school year, I want to share a small prayer for all of the staff and students of St. Martin's.
Lord, as our journey through this year draws to a close in the next few weeks, we turn our hearts in gratitude to you. Each day, you sustain us with your Holy Spirit that we might continue in the work you have given us. We ask you fill us now with the joy of your Spirit, that we might praise and glorify you through our prayer. I ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
Have a wonderful last few weeks of the school!
Class Lists for 2017 / 2018
There are a number of factors that the professional staff tries to balance when placing students in classrooms. The following are some of the criteria that are critical in the placement decisions made by the teachers who were involved with the students during the school year: gender, compatibility with peers, social ability, academics, special needs, and equality of class size.
In addressing all of these factors, the teachers who are most responsible for the students
this school year are a valuable source of information regarding ideal student groupings. For example, grade 2 teachers meet and group the next year’s grade 3 students, while grade 5 teachers group the next year’s grade 6 students, and so on. It is important to recognize that as professionals; teachers are most competent in making these decisions.
Teachers will create two class lists that they feel are equal in terms of the factors above. They will present these lists to school administration and school administration will approve the lists and assign the teachers to the classes. We will be announcing our teaching assignments in the coming weeks.
Included with the report card will be a letter identifying which classroom a student has been assigned to.
Volunteer Appreciation
Take my hands and let them Craft Your Work,
Take my feet and let them Walk in Your Ways,
Take my ears and let them See Your Word,
Take my eyes and let them See Your World,
Take my mind and let it Judge with Your wisdom,
Take my heart and let it See with Your passion.
Amen
-Les Miller
The hands, feet, ears, eyes, mind, and heart are ever present in the volunteers that share their gift of time with us in a weekly, monthly, or even once a year commitment to be valuable partners with St. Martin's. Our school is better because of your gift. And for that, we say thank you! As a way of saying thank you, we welcome you to join us on June 6, 2017 at 1:00 pm in the gymnasium for our Volunteer Appreciate Tea. There will be light refreshments, snacks, and some amazing entertainment provided by our students.
Invitations were sent home with students the other day, but if you did not receive one, please inform your child's teacher by writing in their agenda that you will be joining us or by calling the office and speaking with Mrs. Bond (780.632.2266).
Monthly Calendar
About Us
Email: stmn@eics.ab.ca
Website: http://stmn.eics.ab.ca
Location: 4314 54A Avenue, Vegreville, AB, Canada
Phone: (780) 632-2266
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmartinscatholicschool/
Twitter: @StMartinsEICS