St. James the Apostle Catholic Elementary School MARCH NEWS MARCH 2018

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1 St. James the Apostle Catholic Elementary School MARCH NEWS MARCH 2018 Mrs. E. Minicucci Ms. D. Falcao Mr. C. Ciappanna Principal Assistant to the Principal Superintendent Mrs. M. Nardini & Mr. P. DiFrancesco Fr. D. Whilhem Mrs. P. Ferrari Trustees Pastor of Secretary Our Lady of the Assumption Mr. E. Piccioni Principal of Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School Proud Feeder School of Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School. A Message from Mrs. Minicucci The month of March sure came in like a lion and we hope that it leaves like a lamb!! We are all anxiously awaiting the nicer, warmer spring weather. I hope you all had an enjoyable March Break and were able to spend some time with your family. We are well into our Lenten journey as we prepare ourselves for Jesus resurrection. Together as a school community we have embarked on the Road to Easter with a different focus each week. Please dialogue with your children how we can reflect on and better understand the greatest gift of love that we have been gifted.

2 COME TO ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART, DON T LET SIN KEEP US APART. At the beginning of the month the students and staff received the sacrament of reconciliation from our parish priests and other visiting priests. The sacrament of reconciliation is one of the most precious gifts that we have received from God. The sure and certain sign of His love, drawing from the power of the cross, that forgives us our sins and allows us to enter once again into the sacred Liturgy. We also extend our prayers and congratulations to our Gr. 2 students who received their First Reconciliation this month and to their families that they will nourish their children in their faith development. FIRE DEPARTMENT VISITS On March 6 th we had our site visit from the fire department with fire inspector Mrs. MacDonald. We are proud to say that we are doing very well following the safety procedures that are in place to ensure everyone s safety. There are a few areas that we can improve on and this will be our focus in the days ahead. Mrs. MacDonald met with the Gr. 1-4 classes to review fire safety and the importance of having a fire safety plan at home. Smoothie Bike Comes to St. James! Thank you to our ECO team for organizing this great and healthy activity for us. Classes will visit the gym at a scheduled time during our first week back and participate in the making of fruit and yogurt smoothies by peddling the bike. Students are asked to bring in a toonie and a water bottle for this activity.

3 March is Brain Awareness Month Brain Waves a neuroscience-based educational program will be visiting our Gr. 4, 5, 6 students. Educational activities, fun experiments, and interactive diagrams engage students to examine how the lobes, synapses, and senses work together. Students will also apply Science, Health, and Physical Education knowledge as they learn about the importance of injury prevention and identify strategies to protect their brain and body. Earth Rangers visit the Gr. 1-6 students at St. James DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP SAFETY The Earth Rangers Assembly is a dynamic, interactive, multi-media experience that features LIVE Animal ambassadors demonstrating their natural behaviors. They use science-based information to educate children about the importance of protecting biodiversity while highlighting different conservation initiatives across Canada. Students will learn about the animal conservation projects we are helping, including the Gray Fox, Snowshoe Hare and Salamanders of Quebec s Covey Hill. Our priority is the safety of all students when arriving to school and leaving from school. Thank you for obeying the traffic signs that indicate areas where you can park and areas where you cannot park for everyone s safety. Assembly will be on Tues. Mar. 27, CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL Please join us at our next C.S.C. Meeting on Monday April 9, 6:30 pm.

4 We enter Holy Week the week of Mar. 26 th. Palm Sunday On Palm Sunday, we commemorate Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem before his crucifixion. As Jesus rode into the city on a small donkey, the Jews gathered around him, throwing cloaks and palm branches on the road and exclaiming praises as he passed by. At Palm Sunday Mass, there is a blessing of palms which the faithful hold as they process into church. The blessed palms are later kept in the home as a witness to faith in Jesus Christ. During Palm Sunday Mass, the Gospel account of the Passion of Christ is announced. Holy Thursday On Holy Thursday, we celebrate a special Mass of the Lord's Supper that commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. On the night before Jesus Christ was crucified, he changed bread and wine into his own Body and Blood, and he commanded the Apostles and their successors through the centuries to act in his stead and re-present this sacrifice. So at every Mass, by way of transubstantiation, the bread and wine offered by the priest becomes Christ's Body and Blood again. Just as Christ did for his 12 Apostles at the Last Supper and as he commanded them to do likewise, during the Mass of the Lord's Supper, the priest who represents Christ ceremoniously washes the feet of 12 people in the congregation. After the Last Supper and before he was arrested and condemned to death, Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, accompanied by two of the disciples. After the Holy Thursday Mass, the remaining sacred hosts are carried out of the sanctuary to an altar of repose, and the people go with the Eucharistic Christ in a procession to the altar of repose. People stay for a time, adoring the wondrous sacrament that Jesus instituted that day 2,000 years ago. A VACANT CHURCH. The Mass of the Lord's Supper finished, the church now without the Eucharist is truly empty. The tabernacle door is left open, exposing the vacant space inside. The altar is stripped bare of its linens and candles, Holy water is removed from the church's fonts and the sacraments are not celebrated until the Easter vigil. Like the first Christians bereft of Jesus and mourning the two days after the crucifixion, the church stands unadorned until the Easter vigil Mass. Good Friday Good Friday is a day of strict fasting and abstinence. Those over 18 and under the age of 60 are required to fast, which means that they can eat only one complete meal and two smaller ones during the day, with no food in between. We refrain from eating any meat, or any food made with meat, on Good Friday. The Stations of the Cross devotion is centered on the Passion of Christ. While many pray the meditative prayer on their own throughout the year, it can be an especially poignant experience during Holy Week, when the entire church recalls the way of Jesus' suffering and death. By praying the Stations of the Cross, a person makes a spiritual pilgrimage to the principal scenes of the salvific Passion of the Lord, aided by artistic representations of those scenes. On Good Friday, the church gathers for the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, which includes a reading of a Gospel account of the Passion, Holy Communion (consecrated at Mass on Thursday night) and veneration of the Cross. The faithful process to the cross at the foot of the sanctuary, as if to receive communion. There each person reverences the crucifix with a kiss or a bow. Ceremonies usually take place at 3 p.m. the hour at which Christ died on the cross. Holy Saturday On this day, the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, and meditates on His Passion and Death and His descent into Hell. With prayer and fasting we await His glorious Easter resurrection. Mary is also a Holy Saturday symbol. According to Catholic tradition, Mary represents the entire body of the Church. As she awaited in faith for the victorious triumph of Her Son over death on the first Holy Saturday, so we too wait with Mary on the present Holy Saturday.

5 Easter Sunday Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead. It is celebrated on Sunday, and marks the end of Holy Week, the end of Lent, the last day of the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday), and is the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year. As we know from the Gospels, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day following his crucifixion, which would be Sunday. His resurrection marks the triumph of good over evil, sin and death. It is the singular event which proves that those who trust in God and accept Christ will be raised from the dead. Since Easter represents the fulfillment of God's promises to mankind, it is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar. You are invited to join us for The Stations of the Cross that will be re-enacted by our Intermediate students on Thurs. Mar. 29 pm. On behalf of myself and the staff of St. James the Apostle C.E.S. we wish you a Blessed and Joyous Easter. May the Resurrection of our Savior be a constant reminder of His love and promise of eternal life.