St. Clement Elementary/Junior High School Newsletter December 2018/January 2019 Administrators Message

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1 St. Clement Elementary/Junior High School Newsletter December 2018/January 2019 Administrators Message This month is when our liturgical year begins with Catholics celebrating Advent and the birth of our savior. Advent begins on Sunday, December 2nd; it is the beginning of the liturgical year and the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent is a season of preparedness, a time of waiting for the Adventus Domini (coming of the Lord). Since Advent looks forward to Christ's birth and incarnation, it is an appropriate way to begin the Church Year. However, Advent is not part of the Christmas season itself, but a preparation for it. On another note, our School Plan for Continuous Growth has been posted to our school website. The plan was developed with input from our staff and was reviewed by parents/guardians at our November School Council meeting. Please take a few minutes to review our goals for the year. As always, parents who have any questions or concerns are invited to contact Mrs. Flynn by calling the school at As we prepare for the Christmas season we wish each of our families a blessed Christmas holiday filled with joy and happiness. Mrs. Jackie Flynn Principal Mr. Joe Estephan Assistant Principal

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5 Calendar Important Dates Your PowerSchool username and password may be required for viewing! A Parent s Survival Guide to Junior High School 1. Remember that YOU are the parent. Act like it. Many parents want to be their kids BFF doing whatever it takes not to disrupt the magic that happens when everyone is happy. But at this stage in the game, our role is more like that of coach than friend. You re not done parenting yet, this child is not ready to be launched into the world as an adult, so you must continue to work at parenting during this stage knowing that the goal of friendship lies just ahead. They need a parent, and that s a function only you can fulfill. And yes, while they won t always be happy with you or happy in general during their tween/teen years it doesn t mean they don t love you. Parents are the most important thing in a child s life. 2. Don t take anything personally. Because of their hormones, they can and will showcase the full range of emotions in a matter of hours sometimes minutes! During those moments of insanity, they will say things that might hurt you. They will roll their eyes, huff, sigh, or completely blow you off. WARNING: that s not the time to pick a fight. You can t argue with unbalanced people, your children included. The chances are that they don t really mean it. Pushing boundaries is now one of the primary activities on the Junior high school child job description. And it s not that we shouldn t enforce those boundaries, it s just that we need to do so with grace and truth. Grace. Lots and lots of grace. 3. Get and STAY Connected. Be intentional about getting your Junior High schooler connected to the right people. They can t navigate this time on their own. They need people in their lives who are not you. They love you, but they will not tell you everything. In their eyes, you re no longer objective. Connect your kid to a trusted adult such as a..teacher, a church leader, a sport coach, a family friend, a police officer, an aunt, a grandparent or the family doctor.. because they won t ask you every question that pops into their head, widen the circle and find other adults who would say what you say. Most of all, we can simply offer our kids safe places to land. Sometimes they just need space to clear their heads. They need us constantly reminding them they have value and that we love them despite the crazy. Junior High school isn t easy, but with a little planning, preparation, and parenting you will help your children thrive throughout these important years. A message from: ECSD - (STAY) - School Team Advisors for Youth

6 MYP November Design Cycle Challenge On Thursday November 8, 2018 our MYP students participated in a Design Cycle Challenge where they built newspaper shoes. The challenge was to create one shoe for one group member strictly out of newspaper and tape that was able to be removed. Students worked through the design cycle by inquiring, developing ideas, creating a solution, and then evaluating their solution. They then were able to apply their proposed solution and shoe design when they built them again. Students used a combination of different designs, additional supplies and creative solutions to apply their plans and enhance their newspaper shoe design with their groups. St. Clement Feast Day November 23, 2018 Theme: Walking Together in St. Clement s Love Pope St. Clement was believed to be the 3rd Pope of the early Christian Church who studied under and was ordained by St. Peter the Apostle. He is regarded as one of the Apostolic Fathers of the Church and the letters he wrote to the Corinthians, though not part of the biblical canon, offer an important look at the role of authority and charity in the early Church. To honour our patron saint, the school community of St. Clement, along with invited guests, gathered to celebrate a Liturgy of the Word using the prayers, quotes and writings of Pope St. Clement. Deacon Tony from St. Theresa Parish delivered a beautiful homily. Following the liturgy, students from Grades 1-9 were grouped into school families to participate in a faith-based carousel of activities. ECSD consultants, St. Theresa Parish team members and school staff hosted the following sessions: Prayerful Movement with ECSD Physical Education Consultant Heather Rootsaert. Students engaged in mindful movements that incorporated reflection, music and sounds with guidance for a prayerful and peaceful mind and spirit. Reflective Foot Art created by ECSD Art Consultant PJ Krumins. Students reflected on our district theme of Walking Together in God s Love. These will be put up in the hallway creating a visual pathway toward the school chapel. Praying with Colour presented by ECSD Elementary Religious Education Consultant Kathleen Nguyen. A time for mindful reflection, peaceful prayer and self-expression using colour.

7 The Life of a Saint presented by St. Theresa Parish team of Fr. Patrick, Fr. Aloy and Santo Chines (Confirmation & Youth Minister). Students engaged in conversation about the qualities that make a person saintly and how the life of St. Clement exemplified these characteristics. Karaoke with Christ presented by the PYP and MYP Music teachers. Student participated in singing, dancing and using percussion instruments to accompany Christian songs and videos for physical praise and worship. Social Justice & Service Project Students decorated paper bags with messages of kindness, caring, peace, encouragement and hope for others in need. These care packages contained sandwiches, juice boxes, granola bars, mini gloves and socks that were donated to Catholic Social Services programs at Valeda House & Katharine Drexel Place who provide supportive/transitional housing options for women and children. We thank everyone who participated in making this possible, God bless! Leadership Symposium On November 14, 2018, 10 students from MYP Leadership attended the Expecting Respect Junior High Leadership Symposium. This was a full day where student leaders attended sessions which empowered them to support mental health and wellness in our school. The symposium focused on a variety of topics, such as: healthy relationships, mental health, digital citizenship and substance use/misuse. Through informative hand-on experiences, students were able to learn about how they can make an impact in our school community and our St. Clement students came back to school ready to take action! IB News Balanced learners understand the importance of intellectual, physical, and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others. Living a well balanced life is difficult for adults and children alike. Support children s personal, physical, mental and emotional well being with this great selection of books. Big Wolf and Little Wolf by Nadine Brun-Cosme - The Three Questions by John J. Muth - A Child's Garden A story of Hope by Michael Foreman - UrpXY

8 Reading Star Winners Our monthly draw for our St. Clement Reading Stars (home reading program) was earlier this month and we are pleased to congratulate our lucky winners who will enjoy a treat and book to take home with Mrs. Flynn, Miss Gomes, and Mr. Estephan on Wednesday, December 5, Please encourage your child to participate in the program by reading nightly and then getting their reading strips signed and handed-in to their teacher, in order to be included in the draw! held KA Jumarie 1A Mikaela 1/2A Hudson 2A Esther 3A Johann 4A Matthew 4B Cooper 5A Savannah 5B Hannah Mental Health and Wellness Morning On November 23rd, St. Clement IB World School held our first 'Mental Health and Wellness Conference.' The day started off with a keynote by Sarah Chan who shared with us the challenges of being a teen and the importance of self care. Following this introductory session, all of our Middle Years Program students (Gr. 6-9) chose 2 different sessions that were facilitated by 11 community partners/agencies including: City of Edmonton - 'Hello, How Are You' Campaign' City of Edmonton - 'Individual and Family Well-Being' - Making a Personal Stress Management Plan Edmonton Police Services - Cyber and community safety Kids on Track - Team-building, leadership, problem-solving and confidence Kids4Cameras - Promoting mental health and wellness through selfexpression ECSD LSI - Meditative art session through drawing and painting ECSD FSLW session - Play and Wellness Canadian Mental Health Association - Stamp Out Stigma Elizabeth Fry Society - Positive Choices Alberta Health Services - Positive Mental Health Primary Care Network - Confidence in Youth These organizations shared information on promoting positive mental health, coping strategies, self-confidence, making connections, community resources and leadership. During the students lunch break, a 'mini resource fair' was also organized to provide students with information/brochures/posters on various agencies and events in the community. We also had hula-hoops and music to allow for maximum student participation!

9 This event allowed students to focus, have discussion, and gain awareness on mental health and wellness. It was also a great opportunity to bring us together as a community and build knowledge on resources and ways to take care of ourselves! We are grateful to everyone who made this day possible for the amazing students at St. Clement. You re invited! St. Clement s Annual 2018 MYP Winter Concert When: Who: Tuesday, December 11 at 6:30 pm Where: St. Clement School Gymnasium Jazz Band Dear Parents/Guardians: Grade 6 Concert Band Grade 7 Concert Band Grade 8 Concert Band Grade 9 Concert Band The students of St. Clement IB World School s MYP Music Program have been working very hard to prepare an evening of music. We welcome you to attend in support of the arts programming at St. Clement, while enjoying the musical talent our students have to offer. Concert Info: Students participating in the musical performances must be at the school no later than 6:00 in order to have enough time to set-up and warm-up their instruments. What to wear: St. Clement uniform shirt or long sleeve black dress shirt Black Dress Pants/Skirt Black Dress Shoes IMPORTANT: Since instrumental music is a performance-based subject, it is a very important part of the music curriculum for all students to attend and perform in this concert. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent your son or daughter from attending the performance, please fill out the form on the back of this. Please return the absence request to Mr. Kaluzniak no later than December 4 th. Thank you for your support in this endeavor. Public performances of this type are an important part of a child s musical, artistic and social education. See you at the concert! Yours truly, Mr. Robin Kaluzniak MYP Music Director Robin.Kaluzniak@ecsd.net

10 Please complete this form if your child will not be able to attend the MYP Winter Band Concert. Have your child return this form to Mr. Kaluzniak as soon as possible! Dear Mr. Kaluzniak, RE: St. Clement Annual Winter Band Concert Tuesday, December 11, 2018 My child s/children s name/s is/are: The reason for absence is: Sincerely, Sign name (parent) Print name (parent) *You only need to fill out this form if your child is NOT attending!

11 School Fees A reminder to pay for all school fees on Power School. Please view your account and ensure that your child s fees have been paid. If you are having any difficulties accessing your account please contact the Help Desk at: 12 Days of Christmas Beginning December 6, students will partake is some fun festive events and activities, all in the spirit of Christmas. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 10 Read/view the Sparkle Box and discuss social justice 11 Create a lip sync video to a Christmas Carol as a class 12 Make cards to be delivered to the community in a random act of Christmas kindness 6 (B Rotation Day) Door Decorating 13 Snowflake creation day 7 Annual Rent-a-9er. Bring a donation for the Sign of Hope campaign. Students in Grade 9 will be auctioned off to students/classrooms. Use your donation to Rent-a-9er! 14 Santa Hat and Reindeer Ears Day 17 Create a Nativity Scene 18 Mitten Tree Deadline and Decorating 19 Ugly Christmas Sweater Day 20 PYP Movie Afternoon in the Gym Pajama Day (PYP) 21 MYP Movie Morning in the Gym (Pajama Day MYP) Rent-A-9er On Friday December 7, 2018 we will have our annual Rent a 9er. Students are asked to bring money as we will be auctioning off Grade 9 students to the highest bidder. These grade 9 s will be a helping hand for the student, or the class on things such as: assist with homework, help clean or organize the classroom, setting up or taking down displays, etc. For K 3, you may enclose money and send it back with your son/daughter. for the teacher to hold on to. PYP

12 classes may pool their money together to buy a Grade 9 student. All money raised from this event will go to the Sign of Hope Campaign, a non- profit organization working towards helping families in need. Christmas Family Fun Night December 19, 6-8 PM.

13 DECEMBER 2018: What s Happening in the Community? Free AHS Caregiver Education Sessions in December Parenting Strategies that Promote Positive Mental Health and Build Resiliency in Elementary School Children Date: Wed, Dec 5, 2018 Time: 6:00-7:30pm Location: Queen Alexandra School Street NW Edmonton, AB Notes: This session is for adults only Test Anxiety: Strategies for Success Date: Tues, Dec 4, 2018 TIME: 5:00 6:30 pm LOCATION: Jasper Place High School Street NW, Edmonton, AB Notes: Parents and Teens (Grades 7 12) to attend together. More than Just a Bad Day: Understanding and Supporting Youth with Depression and Self-Injury Date: Thurs, Dec 6, 2018 Time: 6:00-7:30pm Location: Louis St. Laurent School Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB Notes: This session is for adults only and focus is on caregivers of kids and teens grades 7-12 *If you have questions or wish to register, contact or CYFEducation@ahs.ca or directly register at: MILLWOODS EDMONTON PUBLIC LIBRARY (2610 Hewes Way): offers free drop-in programming for children, teens, families and adults. Check out their monthly calendar: Call: for more info. Pop-Up Makerspace (All ages) 1 st and 3 rd Tuesday of the month, 4:00 PM Lego at the Library (6-12 years) 2 nd and 4 th Tuesday of the month, 4:00 PM Minecraft Club (9-12 years) 1 st Saturday of the month, 2:30 PM Word Wizards (9-12 years) 2 nd Saturday of the month, 2:30 PM Evil Genius Club (9-12 years) 3 rd Saturday of the month, 2:30 PM Lego Robotics Club (9-17 years) 4 th Saturday of the month, 2:30 PM

14 Teen Gaming (13-17 years) Thursdays 3:30 PM GSA Youth Drop In (13-17 years) Wednesdays 4:30PM FAMILY FUTURES RESOURCE NETWORK: offers free and low-cost programs and services to families in the areas of: parenting, early childhood development, family support, child/youth events, and accessing community resources. Call or visit their website for more information! December Events: Triple P Workshops The Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) aims to foster strong parent-child relationships by empowering parents with tips, tools, and strategies that encourage appropriate behaviour in their children. Join us for a variety of two-hour workshops where we will explore helpful strategies for some common challenges parents face. These workshops are aimed at parents of children birth to 12 years. Join one or join them all. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. *No Childcare Available* Raising Resilient Children Date: Mon, Dec 10 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location: Millhurst Site Popcorn & Pillow Party! Family Movie Afternoon Wear your comfiest clothes, bring you stuffies and pillows, and join us from a family movie with lots of our friends. We will be popping popcorn and serving refreshments for this event. This is a fun event for the whole family. Parental supervision required. Date: Sat, Dec 1 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location: Westbrook Site 30 FREE THINGS TO DO IN EDMONTON IN DECEMBER: FAMILY FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN EDMOTNON: *You can call 311, 24-hours a day, every day of the year for access to City of Edmonton information and programs! OR call 211: a 24-hour information and referral line that helps people connect to social, health and government services (ex. Basic needs, employment, parenting, counselling, healthcare, legal services etc) Feel free to contact Anna (Family School Liaison Worker) at if you have further questions!

15 Inclement Weather Alert DATE: November 19, 2018 TO: Principals / Assistant Principals FROM: Debbie Hunter Director, Student Transportation Services RE: Cancellation of Yellow Bus Service - ALL PROGRAMS Please be advised that the following Radio and TV Stations will carry announcements with respect to transportation cancellations due to inclement weather conditions. RADIO STATIONS 630 CHED AM 930 The Light CJCA CBC CISN FM SHINE FM CHFA (CBC Fr.) THE CHUCK FM 92.5 TSN 1260 CFCW 840 INEWS 880 AM 95.7 CRUZ FM CAPITAL FM 96.3 Kiss FM 91.7 The Bear FM K UP! 99.3 FM SONIC FM NOW! Radio HOT 107 FM VIRGIN Radio FM TV STATIONS CITYTV CTV Edmonton GLOBAL Edmonton CBC TV Every effort will be made to have messages broadcast commencing no later than 6:30 a.m. DH:lk

16 Seniors Caring About Seniors SSCAS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help low income seniors retain their lifestyle and independence with a little assistance. SSCAS is looking for home support service providers to help in the following areas: housekeeping, snow removal, light maintenance etc. Earn a little extra cash between ($18-$20 an hr). We also need volunteer drivers(honorarium provided). For more info please contact Val at or at info@sscas.com. Please check out our website at Val Dash Executive Director Advent Celebration On Monday, December 3, 2018 the whole school gather to celebrate the first week of Advent. We would like to thank Mrs. De Boer and Mrs. Graber for organizing the celebration. We also thank Deacon Tony for his presence and blessing us with his words. Parking in the Turn-Around The turn-around in front of the school is a NO PARKING zone during peak drop-off and pickup hours of the day. Parents are asked to keep traffic moving by using the turnaround to STOP, DROP/PICK-UP and GO. There is no parking in the turnaround between the hours of 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM on Monday - Friday, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM on regular school days, and 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM on our early dismissal day. For parents who wish to remain with their child(ren) in the morning, there is parking available across the street. Parents are asked to remember that there is no parking in the bus zone, by the fire hydrant or near the patrollers.

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20 Chapter 3: Gaudete et Exsultate As we continue to explore Pope Francis most current Apostolic Exhortation: On the Call to Holiness in Today s World, this month we reach chapter three. This chapter is at the center or heart of the exhortation both literally and figuratively. Chapter Three: In the Light of the Master, focuses on the life lessons Jesus shared during the Sermon on the Mount. After explaining how to live a blessed life, Jesus says, Rejoice and be glad! (MT 5:12) This is the title of Pope Francis apostolic exhortation on holiness in everyday life. Living our faith is a lifelong journey. The Beatitudes are a roadmap that steer us towards holiness. Also referred to as Blessed are, the Beatitudes demonstrate what it means to be blessed or holy. Pope Francis uses these to remind us of the practical ways we are called to holiness in our everyday life while doing so joyfully. Let s review the Beatitudes. While reading, call to mind that Jesus spoke these words to his people who were being persecuted and judged on his behalf. This was a difficult and challenging time: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (MT 5: 1-12) Jesus is encouraging all of us to give ourselves to God and live a life that is filled with virtue. When we do so, we receive true life: the happiness which we were created for. If humankind would live out these Beatitudes, life would be simpler, just, peaceful, empathetic, loving, and joyful. People would put their trust in God first and foremost. Today this continues to be a path that goes against the flow and is often opposite to society s message. We are constantly called to challenge this and live our lives with mercy and forgiveness. This involves serving others and it also includes forgiveness and understanding. These are two central themes to Pope Francis papacy and reach the heart of this exhortation. Pope Francis Exhortation encourages us to look deep within and ask the questions: Where am I on the path to holiness? How do I rejoice and be glad in my faith journey? God Bless, Kathleen Nguyen, Elementary Religious Education Consultant Edmonton Catholic Schools

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22 January 2019 Epiphany Celebration The Epiphany celebration will take place on January 8 at 9:00 am in the school gymnasium. The Roman Catholic church emphasizes the visit of the Magi when they celebrate the Epiphany. The Epiphany also celebrates the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. It focuses primarily on this revelation to the Three Wise Men, but also in Jesus baptism in the Jordan and at the wedding at Cana. School Council January 14 Parents are always welcome to join us for our School Council meetings. Our next meeting will be held on January 14 at 6:30 pm in the staffroom. Skiing January 21 Students in Grades 4-6 will be going skiing at the Snow Valley Ski Club, here in Edmonton. Students and teachers will depart St. Clement at approximately 8:45 am and return by approximately 2:40 pm. More important details, along with the fieldtrip form will be communicated in January. School-Wide Assembly January 24 On Thursday, January 24 at 9:00 am, the whole school will gather for its second assembly to celebrate student learning and some of the great things happening in the classrooms. Parents are welcome! Grades 6-9 PowerTeacher Pro Term 1 Ends January 31 MYP Progress Reports, Term 1 ends. Please ensure you visit PowerSchool to view your child s progress thus far and contact their teacher if you have any questions.