Patriot Post
Oct 7th - Oct 11th, 2019
This Week at St. JPII
Monday Oct 7th
Girls Volleyball Practice 3:00pm - 4:45pm
Tuesday Oct 8th
Boys Volleyball Exhibition Game 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Wednesday Oct 9th
Girels Volleyball Practice 7:00am - 8:00am
Grade 5KL NWMP Field Trip
Boys Volleyball Practice 3:00pm - 4:30pm
School Council Meeting 6:30pm
Thursday Oct 10th
Grade 5S NWMP Field Trip
Thanksgiving Mass @ St. JPII 9:00am - 10:00am
Girls Volleyball Game @ JPII
Boys Volleyball Game @ St. Theresa
Friday Oct 11th
PD DAY NO SCHOOL
Chaplain's Corner
Today's readings continue to expound to us the connections between the past and the present where we see the injustice towards our brothers and sisters that is taking place each day. One might begin to ask: Where is God in all this? Why does he not protect his children, especially the most defenceless? Often, in these situations, people are reduced to a sense of helplessness and hopelessness.
But listen to the prophet again. He has a message of hope in the future, a “vision for its own time…eager for its own fulfillment, it does not deceive.” Then he continues: “If it comes slowly, wait, for come it will, without fail.” But this vision is not for the fainthearted: “See how he flags, he whose soul is not at rights but the upright man will live by his faithfulness.” Whatever the surrounding circumstances, the one who is not in touch with God wilts, while the one who is full of God’s spirit lives. He believes that “come it will, without fail”.
And so, in the Gospel today, the disciples ask Jesus for an increase of faith. The faith that is being asked for is not to have a better knowledge of our catechism. What is being asked for is a much deeper and stronger trust and confidence that our God is near us, even when he seems so far away, that he will take care of his own. That does not mean, however, that with such a faith Christian life will be free of all hardship and difficulty. Being a Christian, taking the Gospel seriously, is never going to be a tea party. God has promised his loving care but he has never promised a life free of pain, difficulties, suffering, or even sudden and violent death. Let us not forget that “He did not spare his own Son.”
What God does promise is that, with a deep faith and trust in him, we can endure pain and difficulties, that we can accept pain and suffering, if and when it comes, for the sake of making the message of Jesus a reality in our world.
This gift of faith in Christ is “not a spirit of timidity”, a spirit of anxiousness about the future. It is, rather, the “Spirit of power and love and self-control”. With this faith in hand, even if we are not suffering ourselves, we will not hesitate to express our solidarity with those who do so for the sake of the Gospel, even if it will entail personal loss for ourselves.
May we take this to heart and work together to help our brothers and sisters overcome the challenges they may be facing.
God Bless each and everyone.
Mr. Brady
Junior Retreat Invitation
Orange Shirt Day
The “orange shirt” in Orange Shirt Day refers to the new shirt that Phyllis Webstad was given to her by her grandmother for her first day of school at St. Joseph’s Mission residential school in British Columbia. When Phyllis got to school, they took away her clothes, including her new shirt. It was never returned. To Phyllis, the colour orange has always reminded her of her experiences at residential school and, as she has said, “how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.”
The message that Phyllis wants to pass along on Orange Shirt Day — and every day — is that every child matters. Orange Shirt Day was started by Phyllis to educate people about residential schools and fight racism and bullying.
PATRIOT ATHLETICS
READING WEEK
IT'S READING WEEK AT ST JPII AND WE NEED YOU!!!
Volunteers needed to read October 9th, 10th, 11th. If interested in reading to groups, please email Liane or Jennifer at emails below by Tuesday, Oct 8th.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!
Musical Theater Fieldtrip
GrACE SUMMIT
2019/2020 YEARBOOK NEWS
The 2018/2019 yearbooks have arrived! If you missed ordering your copy, we have several extra yearbooks in the office.These yearbooks can be purchased for $30.00. Please bring cash or a cheque made out to St. John Paul II Catholic School to the office.
Fort Saskatchewan Catholic Schools Parent Society News
The Fort Saskatchewan Catholic Schools Playground Society Presents:
Parent's Night Out- In support of the playgrounds being built.
Get ALL of your adult friends together and come to our Adults Only event and help us get the playground built!!
-We have a DJ that will be taking requests!
-Door Prizes!!
-BIG auction items!!
-Plus you can call The Bears Den to book a table for your group in advance!
EVERYONE 18+ is welcome to join us at The Bears Den SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd 6:00 pm.
Tickets are $20/person and 100% of the proceeds go toward our goal of building the playgrounds for our students!!
To order your tickets you can email fsplaygroundsociety@gmail.com, call 780-722-4442 or contacting us on our FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/fscatholicschoolsplaygroundsociety/
More options may become available soon.
Please SHARE with your friends, family, coworkers and neighbours!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
EICS Transportation
Elk Island Catholic School (EICS) Transportation is pleased to share with the EICS community that there is now increased awareness for parents and guardians regarding EICS bus arrivals and possible delays through our transportation software program BusPlanner. This new app will allow parents and caregivers to see the details of current routes, stops and transfers relating to their children on EICS transportation.
With this new system parents gain access to the following:
- The BusPlanner Parent Portal, located here: https://eics.mybusplanner.ca/Default.aspx which allows parents to view details of the routes, stops and transfers for their children.
- The BusPlanner Notification System for email alerts to parents for issues which impact transportation on a route by route or school by school basis.
- The BusPlanner Delays app which both parents and students can install on a mobile (hand-held) device and allows them to subscribe to and receive BusPlanner notifications through push notifications.
Parents, please take the time to create an account for the BusPlanner Parent Portal and subscription to receive notifications of transportation delays or school closures through email. Please click here for further instructions - thank you.
Please know, it will be through this portal that all notifications will be vetted. There will no longer be emails or phone calls directly from EICS transportation regarding route cancellations or late buses.
Notifications will come to you through Bus Planner, so please subscribe.
In faith,
Your EICS Transportation Department
EICS Demographic and Consent Forms
EICS Demographic Confirmation and Consent Forms are available now on your PowerSchool ParentPortal. Please take a moment to visit your PowerSchool ParentPortal account and complete these forms; one for each child you have attending school with EICS.
Alberta Education requires that we obtain a detailed update of student demographics on an annual basis. School funding from Alberta Education is conditional on us receiving these updates and including them in your student’s record. More importantly, these forms ensure that we have the most current contact information if we need to reach you in event of an emergency.
We certainly appreciate you taking the time to complete these forms. Should you have any questions, or require assistance, please contact Carrie-Lynn in the office at 780-992-0889 and she will be happy to help.
VISITORS IN OUR SCHOOL
School and Field Trip Fees
School fees and field trip fees will be uploaded into the PowerSchool Parent Portal shortly. This year will see some minor differences with respect to field trip fees. As opposed to sending home multiple requests throughout the school year asking for money for your child's field trips, our grade-level teachers will establish a total amount that will be added to your PowerSchool Fees that can be paid in one lump sum at the start of the year. An option will also exist to pay your school/field trip fees in installments over the course of the year.
A reminder, we encourage these fees to be paid online through your Powerschool Parent Portal, or you are welcome to send cash or a cheque made payable to Elk Island Catholic Schools to the office as convenient. If you require assistance logging in to the ParentPortal please call the school and we will be happy to help.
SCHOOL COUNCIL INFORMATION
Please join us for our next School Council meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9th @ 6:30pm in the school library. Congratulations to the following parents who were elected onto the Executive for this year: Chair Brad Burr, Vice-Chair Kelsey Van Der Kley, Treasurer James Wright, and Secretary Jennifer Gross-Burr.
This is an excellent opportunity to receive the latest school and grade level updates from our Administration and Teacher Representatives, as well as, upcoming School Council supported activities and events!
PATRIOT WEAR!
Shout out to Enhance It Embroidering for making this possible. All orders are processed directly through the store and Enhance It Embroidery will call to arrange pickup within the allotted shipping time.
http://www.enhanceitembroidery.ca/store/c2/St._John_Paul_II_Spirit_Wear_.html
HAPPY SHOPPING!
EICS FAMILY WELLNESS WORKER
Service Delivery
Each school is staffed with a Family Wellness Worker (FWW), who works under the direction of their School Principal and the Assistant Superintendent of Faith & Wellness. FWW's receive clinical guidance from a Registered Psychologist.
The primary function of the Family Wellness team is to provide social and emotional support to students and families. Family Wellness Workers meet with students and parents to assess needs, set goals, identify required supports, and plan appropriate interventions.
They collaborate with school system staff and community resources to build a “village” of support around students/families who are struggling.
Referrals
Parental consent is required for FWW services.
Referrals to the Family Wellness Program may be made by students, parents/guardians, school administration, teachers, or other school staff (e.g. school counsellor or collaborative response coordinator).
Parents and guardians can access these services by speaking with the Principal or contacting the school's Family Wellness Worker directly.
Family Wellness Contact Information
Hello St. JPII School Community! My name is Lee Dube and I am so excited to be a part of your Fort Saskatchewan school community. I am here to support families and students to be successful. I am someone that parents and students can talk to and can offer connections to various resources in the community. Please do not hesitate to give me a call at the school or send me an email at lee.dube@eics.ab.ca to set up a meeting. I will be at St. JPII on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday afternoons.
It has been such a pleasure meeting some of the students and parents. Thank you for being so welcoming. Please feel free to come and stop in at my office upstairs in room #214. I am at the school all day on Tuesday and Thursday as well as Friday afternoons.
The Boys & Girls Club of Fort Saskatchewan has a new youth drop in program. This is for young people ages 11-14 and 15-18. There will be a weekly coffeehouse starting September 14th between 3-5 please feel free to stop in and learn more about it.
We are starting up the Breakfast Club at Lunchtime. This is open to all students and is a great place to come and meet some new friends and have fun. The club is held on Thursday during lunch break. Come hang with us, we meet at the opportunity room upstairs.
The Breakfast Club.....at Lunchtime
CAFETERIA
Cafeteria News
September Menu is here! Our kitchen is stocked and ready to feed your hungry students Meals start at $4.50 and sides can be added for $1-3 each
Monthly pass $120 (this includes a meal and two sides every school day and works out to 4 free lunches!)
Lunch tickets- $7 each or packs of 10 for $65
Wed 11th- Meet the teacher night, we will be open if you have any questions or want to try one of our sides
Available everyday:
Gluten free options are marked with an * and are only available through online preorders.
Chicken Strips*, Pizza (ham & cheese, or extra cheese), Wraps (chicken caesar or turkey/bacon/ranch), Salad* (chicken caesar or egg), Mac&Cheese*
Daily Specials:
Monday- Taco Wrap/Salad*, Tuesday- Chicken Noodle Soup*, Wednesday- Pancakes with fruit and syrup, Thursday- Chicken Fried Rice*, Friday- Cheeseburger*
Sides:
Fresh fruit*, fresh veggies*, apples&grapes*, sweet snap peas*, apple sauce*, cheese strips*, apple crisp, blueberry bran muffin, chocolate chip oatmeal cookie, rice cereal square*, puffed wheat square, tapioca pudding*, pretzels, smoothie* (mango or strawberry), milk* (chocolate or 2%), juice box* (apple or orange)
Monthly passes & lunch tickets now available
Email admin@fortsasklunchbox.com for info
Pre-order online or cash purchases
Online orders- how to get started:
· Visit www.fortsasklunchbox.com
· Click the order tab
· Create an account (use the email that is best for receiving receipts and create your own password)
· Choose St. John Paul II as your school- lunches can be picked up at the school cafeteria
St. John Paul II Catholic School
Email: stjp@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stjp.eics.ab.ca
Location: 9975 93 Avenue, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-992-0889
Twitter: @stjp2cs