The Advent season is one of the most beautiful times in the school. We gather every morning as a school. We sing the song "Violets in the Snow", we share a Jesse Tree Symbol and its significance as students and staff offer up the prayers of their hearts.

The third candle is pink and is lite this week. This pink candle symbolizes joy. It is called the “Shepherd’s Candle,” and is pink because rose is a liturgical color for joy and to remind us of the joy that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus.

We are so happy to announce that we will put an Advent Christmas Concert video together for you and your family again this year.

Each class will be performing twice: Song and Poem, 2 Songs, A reading of a story.

On Monday, Dec. 13th, we ask that you send your kids to school wearing their Sunday best clothing and we will video record the concert. The video link will be sent out on Dec.17th.

If you do not want your child recorded, please let your child's teacher know and we will keep them out of the recording.

We will also, send you a link on Dec.17th to make a donation to Lurana Shelter/ Sign of Hope stuff a stocking campaign. . Like every Christmas, we collect at the concert $$ for Lurana Shelter.

We are so happy that we can keep the Christmas Spirit as a special part of Madonna School.

Also, On the Last day of classes before Christmas - December 21, School Council will be providing popcorn for your children.

Elk Island Catholic School (EICS) parent/staff community,

As part of our ongoing open engagement with our EICS community, we invite you to participate in developing our 2022-2026 Division Education Assurance Plan.

To participate in the ThoughtExchange, please click the following:

https://my.thoughtexchange.com/scroll/625525170/welcome

The exchange will close on December 15th and will be the starting point for the ongoing analysis by the EICS Board of Trustees and EICS leadership
in creating the 2022-2026 Division Education Assurance plan.

Ted Paszek, Chair
EICS Board of Trustees

December

13 - Recording the Christmas Concert -- Students are to wear their Sunday Best

16 - BEND the RULES Day --- Money Collected for Lurana Shelter

17 - Virtual Christmas Concert Link will be sent out

21 - Last Day of School before Christmas Break

December 22nd to January 4 = Christmas Break NO School

January

5 - First Day Back and Early Dismissal ... school is over at 2:15 pm

12 - Swimming Lessons 3G and 4P

13 - Swimming Lessons 1F , 1N , 2/3 H , 2/3 S

1. First Reconciliation & First Communion for children grade 2 and older
• Winter session register by January 7, 2022
• Spring Session register by March 31, 2022
• Registration Form lists dates and times, can be downloaded here OR picked up at the church: https://www.olph.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/First-Rec.Comm_.-Registration-Form-Winter-2022-Update.pdf
2. Confirmation for children grade 6 and older
• Monthly Classes January -May 2022
• Please register by January 7, 2022
• Registration Form with class dates and times can be printed off from the parish website OR picked up at the church: https://www.olph.ca/sacraments/confirmation-2/
3. Baptism for children not baptized as infants
• Special preparation is available for families who did not baptize their children yet but wish to “catch up” and participate in sacraments with the peer group. Please contact the parish by email to learn more at sacraments@olph.ca