The Bison Bugle
Oct. 23 - 27
Mission Statement
At St. Kateri Tekakwitha Academy, we are a spiritual, Christ - centred community that nurtures resilient, responsible, lifelong learners through love and service.
Connect - Inspire - Achieve
Calendar
Oct. 23 - SKTA BISON morning assembly
Oct. 25 - Grade 4 & 5 BISON Breakfast
Oct. 30 - Grade 1-5 BISON lunch winners
Oct 31 - Halloween dress-up day AND/OR Orange/Black day
Oct. 31 -11:45am Gr 1-5 Student Parade & Monster Mash (Gym)
Oct. 31 - Gr 4 & 5 Regular Academy & Option day
Oct. 31 - 10:00am-11:30am Gr 4 & 5 visit GHP Penny Carnival events
Oct. 31 - Last day to support "Friends of SKT" DIELMAN'S FUNDRAISER
Oct. 31 - We will be collecting Loonies and Toonies for Poppy donations all week
Nov. 1 - ATA Institute Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Nov. 2 - Lifetouch Photo Re-Takes
Nov. 2 - Gr 1-3 Reading Groups
Nov. 3 - 11:40am Remembrance Day Observation & Liturgy with Father Trini (ALL FAMILIES WELCOME)
Nov. 6-10 Fall Break (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
Faith
October is dedicated as the month of the Rosary. Praying the Rosary allows us to encounter Mary and to enter the mysteries of Jesus Christ. From his Incarnation, to the Cross, to the Resurrection, we come to understand that God has revealed himself and saved us. Through the intercession of Mary we bring our prayers forward to her Son Jesus Christ.
Mary Mother of God, pray for us.
St. Jean Baptiste Parish
As partners in faith with our local St. Jean Baptiste Parish, please see the link below to find out mass times and locations, upcoming parish events and more.
SAVE THE DATE: Catholic Education Sunday SKTA Mass is Sunday November 26th @ 11:00am (Ecole Notre Dame). We welcome all of our families to join us!
Please note, if you are interested in learning more about having your child participate in Sacramental Preparation, please see the following link: https://www.sjbp.ca/sacraments.htm
Parent Teacher Interviews - THANK YOU to our SKTA Families!
Thank you to all of our families who were able to join us last week for our first round of interviews and goal-setting. Having the opportunity to welcome you into our building to celebrate the amazing things your children are learning each and every day. We truly value the partnership we share with our families in helping to best support your child(ren) and foster their success!
Halloween
We are inviting students to dress in Halloween costumes OR Black/Orangeon Tuesday, October 31. We request that the costumes reflect the fun of the day, not be frightening or overly gory for our younger children. Masks will be allowed, however, students will be expected to remove them durring class time. Weapons or props are not permitted as these can be distracting and may get misplaced. Please ensure your child’s costume choice is in keeping with our Catholic values. Thank you.
November - The Month of Remembrance
November-Remembrance
All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1st and on November 2nd we celebrate All Souls Day, we remember those who have died believing in the resurrection and in life everlasting.
As November is the month of Remembrance, we will be passing our Book of Remembrance from class to class in the next few weeks to record the names of our family and friends who have died in the past year. We invite students and staff to bring pictures (preferably mounted or framed) and/or small mementos of any family members or friends who have died. They will be reverently displayed and will serve as a reminder of these loved ones and our call to pray for them. Please write your child's name on the back of the picture or memento so that we can return them at the end of November.
Remembrance Day Observance & Liturgy
We extend a special invitation to all of our families to join us for our Remembrance Day Liturgy and Observance on Friday November 3rd at 11:35 am in our Gym, led by Father Trini. Any family members in our community who are in the military and are able to attend - please contact Ryan O'Gorman @ rogorman@gsacrd.ab.ca to be our special guests. We also invite any of our students to wear their special uniforms on that day.
School Fees
Schools fees are now open to be paid. Please see the following link to make payment. Should any families have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the office. Thank you.
Parent Council
Thank you to all parents and guardians who joined us at our last Parent Council meeting, it was wonderful to so many engaged families! OUR NEXT MEETING IS THURSDAY NOVEMBER 16TH
Parent Council is a wonderful way for parents & guardians to get involved and support our school. All parents & guardians with children registered at SKTA are welcome to join! Participating in Parent Council will allow individuals to share their voice and their talents with the school community and serve our students.
Any families who would like to review Parent Council Agenda's and Minutes can access them on our SKTA website or by clicking the link below!
Friends of SKTA
Friends of SKT Fundraising
We have two amazing events that are happening in November for you to take advantage of and also support our school. Thank you in advance for your support!
1. Dielman's fundraising - Friends of SKT
Friends of SKT has registered our school for Dielman's fundraising once again. This popular fundraiser has everything you need for the holiday season...something for everyone. Catalogues went home today with students in Grades 1-5, Kindergarten and Pre-K students will bring theirs home on Tuesday. You can also check it out online at https://www.dfscanada.com/shop-now/ and click REGISTER NOW. Our ORGANIZATION ID is 7932. Orders are now open until November 1st.
2. Christmas Art Cards
Your children will be working hard to create and design a personalized Christmas card for your family to send to those near and far. Your child's artwork will be sent home to you before fall break so that you will be able to admire their beautiful work and place your order to have your cards back in time to send out. Cards will also include a special Christmas message inside. Stay tuned...
GSACRD Voice
Managing Angry Feelings
Expressing anger through a child’s mind might look like slamming doors, stomping feet, yelling loudly and saying things they don’t mean. Although this is not uncommon, it can get overwhelming for families trying to manage those big feelings. Here are some tips on phrases you can say when your child is feeling angry:
“I can see this is hard for you.”
“It is okay to feel angry.”
“Even when you feel your worst, I always love you.”
Check out Big Life Journal for different ways to minimize explosive reactions and how to focus on a way to connect deeper with your child.
Things to say to your child when they are feeling angry
If you have any questions about mental health and mental illness you can reach out to our Wellness Coaches:
Kara Meloche: kmeloche@gsacrd.ab.ca (END & GHP)
Caitlin Josey: cjosey@gsacrd.ab.ca (SKT & Legal)
Marina Casavant: mcasavant@gsacrd.ab.ca (MCHS & Communications)
Supports for Families
We at SKTA are a community school and as such very family oriented. We would like our family community to know we are here to support you beyond the classroom. As a Division, we have access to many resources that may support families, from financial assistance to navigating community supports, we are happy to help. Please know that all families can reach out in confidence to our admin and we will work with you in a non-judgmental, compassionate manner to help all through challenging times.
Methods for Recording Student Attendance
Dear Parents,
Ensuring your child's attendance is accurately recorded is essential for us to provide the best educational experience. To make this process convenient for you, we offer three user-friendly options:
1. School Messenger App (Most Popular): Download the School Messenger app, the preferred choice of many parents. It offers a hassle-free way to report attendance and stay connected with school updates.
2. Parent Portal: Accessible through our website, the Parent Portal provides a secure platform to submit attendance information.
3. Safe Arrival Phone Number: Alternatively, you can call our school phone line to report your child's attendance.
Choose the method that suits you best!
Ongoing Reporting
As communicated with families on Sept. 25, GSACRD schools is moving to an 'ongoing reporting' model. This new model will include the following elements:
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Current grades in PowerSchool (updated frequently and regularly) which is found in the Parent Portal.
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Clear descriptions of which key learnings that were evaluated with each assessment
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Indication if the assessment is formative or summative
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Growth as a Learner* to be assessed three times per year (November, March, and June)
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Formative assessments may show a 1-2-3-4 or a M-NYM** grading scale or
SI-SM-SD***.
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Summative assessments will show a 1-2-3-4 or a M-NYM grading scale.
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One culminating report card at the end of June with comments that include:
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recommendations for further class placement (typically in grade 6)
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any accommodations that were given for the final exam (typically for the
Provincial Achievement Tests in grade 6)
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if the student is on an Individual Program Plan (IPP)
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We encourage all parents to use PowerSchool as a tool to remain informed about student progress. Questions or concerns about student assessments should be directed to the homeroom teacher. Interviews to discuss student progress will continue to be a valuable opportunity for collaboration between home and school. In addition to this, reciprocal emails and phone calls will also be essential to maintaining a solid relationship that is focused on student success.
In the near future, we will be providing a video that outlines how to navigate the Parent Portal. This will provide instructions on how to create an account, view student grades, pay school related fees and sign permission forms. In the meantime, should you have any questions please contact the school office at: 587-764-0420
Information for families Families
As we enter a new school year, we would like to remind families of a few items to help ensure a successful year.
Pick Up & Drop Off
- For those families driving to school we ask that the drop - off lane be for 'quick' drop off's and pick ups.
- If you are choosing to walk your child(ren) to their specific doors, please park in the parking lot and NOT park in the drop off lane.
- Parents/Guardians are asked to remain outside of the school when dropping off and picking up students.
- Parents/Guardians who require assistance at the office are to 'ring' the door bell at the front and come directly to the school office for assistance.
- Parents/Guardians wishing to volunteer with the school are required to fill out annually our 'Volunteer Form' which can be obtained from the office.
- Parents/Guardians who need to contact their child(ren) are to call the school office and we will notify the student(s).
- Parents/Guardians wishing to meet with administration or staff may reach out via email or call to make an appointment during office hours.
- Regular communication is key for all school stakeholders.
- If you require information or clarification please reach out to your child(ren)'s teachers via email or you may call and leave a message for them at the office.
- If you require assistance from the administration please feel free to communicate via email or call the school office directly.
- Please remember our children are always watching us and we expect our parents and guardians to be co-teachers with us, teaching them appropriate community relations by treating everyone with respect, compassion and kindness.