The Good News-January 9, 2022
Saint John XXIII Catholic School 2021-2022
The Baptism of Jesus
Leadership Message
Welcome Back! We LOVE our St. John kids!
Our St. John staff worked diligently this week to prepare for our students tomorrow, January 10th. As always, our joy will be in seeing and welcoming our St. John kids back! They are our reason for being able to show up every day, regardless of any worries or trepidations.
I can share with you wholeheartedly that this St. John staff continues to go above and beyond to provide a faith-filled learning environment and community and I am so proud of our Team SJXXIII! Once again this week, I saw and witnessed St. John staff work through the current provincial circumstances with grace, professionalism, and hope. This isn't to say that there are not worries or wonders, but Team SJXXIII continues to answer the call to more every day and serve our students.
Thank you staff and families for your continued partnership and commitment in helping with a safe return this week. See you tomorrow!
Blessings,
Mrs. Bonnie-Lynne Boehm, Principal
Return to School, Monday, January 10, 2022. Please ensure you have received and read updated EICS Protocols
As you are aware, on January 5th, the Minister of Education confirmed that
students are returning to in-class learning Monday, January 10th. We look
forward to welcoming students back to classes and are working hard to keep
our schools as safe as possible.
To maintain a safe learning environment for students and staff, we kindly ask
that you refamiliarize yourself with these necessary protocols:
Stay Home if Feeling Unwell
● All individuals must review the Alberta Health Daily Checklist with their
children before sending them to school each day. Students and staff
exhibiting any symptoms must remain at home until symptoms
resolve. This is the single most important thing each of us can do to
support our schools at this time.
● If your child has any of the core symptoms, you are legally required to
isolate. If they test negative on a rapid covid test, they must still stay
home and away from others until symptoms resolve.
● For fully vaccinated students and staff (2 doses) who test positive on a
rapid test for COVID-19:
○ Isolate for 5 days from the start of symptoms or until they resolve,
whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing
condition. For the 5 days following isolation, wear a mask at all
times outside of the home.
● For students not fully vaccinated (1 dose or less) who test positive for
covid on a rapid test:
○ Isolate for 10 days from the start of symptoms or until they
resolve, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a
pre-existing condition.
● Additional isolation information can be found here.
Preparing for Shifts to At-Home Learning
In the event we must move a class or grade to temporary remote learning,
parents will be immediately notified by the school regarding next steps.
Temporary online learning may occur when it isn’t possible to continue
in-person learning due to operational viability.
Rapid Test Kits and Masks
The Government of Alberta is providing rapid test kits and medical-grade
masks for use by students and staff members. These are expected to start
arriving at each of our schools next week. Mask use is required for all K-12
students and staff including when seated in a classroom.
The rapid tests will come in a box of five. Each K -12 student and staff will be
given one box at distribution that will provide them with enough tests for 2.5
weeks; a second shipment will follow. It is recommended that Rapid tests be
used twice per week, 72 hours apart (e.g. Sunday and Wednesday or Monday
and Thursday). Information regarding the Rapid Test Kits can be found in the
following links:
Education At Home Rapid Testing Program
Covid 19 Rapid Testing Guidelines
Reporting Positive Cases of COVID-19 and Student Illness
To keep our schools as safe as possible, please continue to inform your school
if your child has tested positive on COVID-19 test, is exhibiting symptoms or
will be staying home from school for any reason. Schools will continue to
monitor school absenteeism due to illness.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has ended the COVID-19 positive case
notification process. This means that families no longer receive letters home
regarding positive cases.
Additional Health Measures
● Enhanced cleaning protocols will continue.
● All students and staff in grades K - 12 are required to wear a mask in all
areas of the school.
● All parents and volunteers are required to screen for any signs or
symptoms of COVID-19 using the Alberta Health Daily Checklist, must
wear masks while in our schools, and be in compliance with AP 489 -
Covid-19 Vaccination Status - Employees and Volunteers.
Assessments
It is imperative that quality teaching and learning continues to be the focus
and sound assessment is a part of quality teaching and learning.
Thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation. Please watch
for further school specific information in your regular weekly communication
and also on the eics.ab.ca divisional website.
Please ensure your child comes every day with a water bottle and two masks
Please note: Hot Lunch for this week has been postponed!
How To View Your Child's Hot Lunch Selections and Dates
The Hot Lunch order that was to take place the first week of January has been postponed to a later date TBD. We will provide an update in the Smore when we have the revised dates. Thank you for your understanding.
For any parents that would like to view what they ordered for hot lunch, here are the instructions:
1. Go into the Student Fees section of PowerSchool
2. Choose the student from top menu
3. Choose Completed Forms
4. Click into the 'eyeball' icon to view the completed hot lunch form with dates and menu selections
If you have ordered Hot Lunch for this session and you have a receipt, but you cannot see the completed form in PowerSchool, please call the office at 780-998-7777.
We extend our blessings to Mrs. Boehm, St. John XXIII Principal, in her new role with EICS!
Mrs. Bonnie-Lynne Boehm has served our St. John Community as Principal since August 2018. We thank Mrs. Boehm for her service, contributions, and leadership to our St. John community and wish her continued blessings in her new role with our division.
We will continue to inform our community as we welcome our new St. John principal in February.
Wings of Hope Community Project
We are excited to share that all EICS Fort Saskatchewan schools received a mental health grant in partnership with Dow Centennial Center. "Wings of Hope" is the theme that will encompass all students, staff and parent representatives. Each child will receive a seed paper feather that they will add messages/drawings to which will be put onto a large template of eagle wings. These wings will be put on display in our front entrance. Later in January the display will move to the Dow Centennial with all the wings from our Fort Saskatchewan schools in EICS.
Elder Doreen will be leading a smudging ceremony that will include Administrators, Family Wellness Workers, Collaborative Response Coordinators, Indigenous leads, Religion leads and school council representatives from both OLA and St. John. Following the smudge, Elder Doreen will have a google meet with all students leading them in the teachings of the eagle feather. Eleanor Heesing (FWW) will also be sharing the book, Feathers , by Phil Commings. This will take place on Jan. 11, 2022.
Stay tuned for photos of the event and pictures of the "Wings of Hope" display! Later in the spring, the seed paper will be planted to see our "Wings of Hope" grow!
St. John XXIII Advent Concert & Celebration: "Called to the Manger"
Thank you Mrs. Schaub once again for all your amazing work, energy, and talent putting together our, Called to the Manger 2021 Advent Concert!
Special thanks as well to Mrs. Doderai (PreK, Kindergarten & Pathways Music Specialist), Mrs. Comartin (Chaplain), and set painter, Miss Menzak, who also contributed to our concert.
Thank you St. John families for your continued support and sharing in the spirit of community!
Grade 3 Advent Project: Called to the Manger- Bring Hope Campaign
During our Advent season, the grade 3 classes at St. John XXIII led the school community in a giving project called, “The Bring HOPE Campaign” to honour the courageous efforts of healthcare providers at the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
With the help and generosity of students and families at St. John XXIII, this campaign was an incredible success, by raising $436.45. All funds collected have been used to purchase gift cards for the healthcare staff at Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital. On December 20th, our grade three teams were able to present our Advent gifts to Kathy Benvie, from the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital.
Many thanks to teachers, Mrs. Ganes and Ms. Bourassa, and our grade threes for a successful and hope-filled community Advent campaign!
Way to go St. John Community!
Looking ahead: January
January 10: First day back from Christmas Vacation, School Council Meeting via Google Meet 7:00 pm http://meet.google.com/ngm-idmx-xut
January 28: St John XXIII Arctic Winter Games
January 31: No school for students- PD day
2022-2023 Registration Opens! Stay tuned for more details!
Growing Brains & Sharing Smiles! It's a GREAT Day to be a St. John Kid!
OLA Parish News:
Dear Parish family,
Fr. Tomasz and I want to thank you so much for your generosity with your prayers and gifts during this past Christmas season. Fr. Tomasz and I were humbled by your generosity and kind words. This Sunday
we hear the kind Words of the Lord as we celebrate the baptism of the Jesus
let us remember that as we begin this new year, we do not walk alone but
with the Lord because of our baptism. I pray that we may all keep the Lord
in our hearts each day by going to weekly Sunday mass to help guide us
through whatever may come in this new year. Christ our Shepherd lead us
through this new year. Amen.
In Christ,
Fr. Carlos Nunez
Next School Council Meet: Monday, January 10, 2022. Googlemeet link: http://meet.google.com/ngm-idmx-xut Hear about upcoming events, share ideas, and connect with other parents.
January 10, 2022 Agenda and Nov. 1, 2021 Meeting Minutes can be found on our STJ website-Parents-School Council and linked here: https://stj.eics.ab.ca/parents/school-council
Be involved, share your voice, stay connected!
Click Below to order your St. John School Wear
Saint John XXIII Catholic School
Email: stj@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stj.eics.ab.ca/
Location: 9526 89 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-998-7777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St.JohnXXIII
Twitter: @St_JohnXXIII