Message from our Holy Cross Administration

Transcription

1 Message from our Holy Cross Administration Lent is the 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays. It begins on Ash Wednesday. The 40 days symbolize the time that Jesus spent in the desert. For Catholics, it is a time of prayer, repentance, fasting, and almsgiving. During Lent, your family might want to: give of your time and resources to help others. give up internet, television, or video games for a day. pray for good things for others. make hot cross buns or homemade pretzels. pray the rosary. attend a Holy Week mass. do something to help the earth. May we learn the grace of silent reflection and prayer during the Lenten season. Mme Lorraine Press Principal Mme Lynnette Anderson Assistant Principal Mme Donna Rankin-Anderson Assistant Principal 1

2 New Registrations for We continue to accept registrations for the year. Registration forms are available on our website or at the school office. Father Michael Mireau Youth Faith Day On February 6th, 2017, Grade 8 students from Edmonton Catholic School District and surrounding areas came to the Shaw Conference Centre to celebrate God, love, and superheroes. This day was influenced by Father Michael "Catfish" Mireau, an inspiring priest. Father Catfish loved to teach people about God and he often talked about superheroes. On this day, students celebrated Father Catfish's message and learned what it means to be a superhero along with examples. The theme this year was "Serve like a Superhero." Jesse Manibusan and Carla Cuglietta shared their talents and thoughts. The day ended with a mass officiated by Bishop Motiuk. It was a wonderful event and a great experience. - Keira 8e 2

3 Celebration of Learning The staff of Holy Cross Académie Internationale welcomes you to the Celebration of Learning on Thursday, March 16th. This is a special time set aside for you and your child and is important to our home/school partnership. Your child is looking forward to showing you his or her achievements this year. Our Celebration of Learning will be free flowing. You may attend between the hours specified below when it is convenient for you and your child. Celebration of Learning: March 16th 1:00pm-5:00pm and 6:00pm-8:00pm Holy Cross Académie Internationale staff members very much value the positive working relationship we have with our parent community. We strongly encourage all parents who have concerns about their child s learning, be it academic, social, or emotional, to arrange an alternate time to meet privately with the teacher. 3

4 4

5 Grade 5 Robotics Grade 5 students were honing their problem solving and collaborative skills during the last week of February as they worked through a number of challenges that were presented to them during the robotics sessions with Mr. Korassa, the Emerging Tech Consultant for ECSD. The level of enthusiasm was evident as each group shared ideas and applied their coding skills while resolving problems that arose. This was a wonderful experience for our students, they enjoyed the process. Thank you to Mr. Korassa for guiding us through these sessions! 5

6 Shrove Tuesday On Tuesday, February 28th, staff and students at Holy Cross enjoyed a delicious pancake breakfast in celebration of Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. This is the last day before Lent begins, a last chance to indulge in rich foods before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Thank you to Mrs. Megic for organizing this event and to all the parents who helped to prepare and serve the meal. 6

7 CTF Courses in MYP 7

8 Grade 4 Welcomes the Alberta Science Network Grade 4 was happy to welcome Nick Malchuk, a former engineer from the Alberta Science Network, into our classroom this month. Students had the chance to ask Nick questions about simple machines, as well as make some on their own. It was a great way to finish our Science Unit C: Building Devices and Vehicles that Move. 8

9 9

10 Grade 4 Visits Fort Edmonton Park Grade 4 students visited Fort Edmonton this February to see the role of the French-speaking community in the Fur Trade! Students learned about the challenging work of the voyageurs, the settlement of the Métis and involvement of the First Nations in the Fur Trade. During this hands-on experience, students cooked Bannock over an open fire and participated in the Trumpline Races, a traditional Voyageurs pastime, where they raced with a "fur bale" on their back. 10

11 11

12 12

13 Valentine's Day The Grade 1 students made about 200 Valentine's cards to share with the international community at the University of Alberta. What an authentic activity for our young learners! Delivered by one of the Holy Cross Grade 1 students and her parent, the cards were very well received. What a great way to teach students about student mental health, community development and caring for others. Thanks to Mrs. Gratton for connecting us with the students at the University. 13

14 14

15 15

16 16

17 CANADIAN PARENTS FOR FRENCH-EDMONTON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CHAPTER GENERAL MEETING March 8, 2017, 6:30 pm AGENDA 1. Call to order 1. Introductions 1. Approval of Agenda 1. Approval of minutes from February 2017 meeting 1. President s Report ing & PIPA for new members 1. Old Business: Gala Change of venue again! The event will be held at JH Picard on April of 13 schools attending. Received names of 6 parent volunteers (including myself). French Classes Level 1 classes starting at Bishop Savaryn on March 9. Classes may start at Picard on March 14 if there are sufficient registrants. Invitation to meetings Wanda sent an to all FI principals 1 week before the meeting. Free Kindergarten memberships update from Maureen. Attending Open Houses Wanda & Maureen have attended Open Houses. Wanda questioned the purpose of attending these events and felt going to the fall Kindergarten welcome would be more beneficial. The principal of the elementary program at Picard however felt it still was beneficial to attend the OH because we are showing potential FI students that there are resources for them if they decide to attend an FI school. Although we don t have the manpower to attend all OH s, we will try to attend any that we are invited to. New Membership draws Do we have someone to take on this project? Scholarships need a volunteer to take on this project. 1. New Business 17

18 Meetings can be moved to JH Picard. Cafeteria can offer coffee and cookies for small fee (same date & times) discuss. Wanda to attend FI principal s meeting. Will ask the best way to do the free Kindergarten membership. Wanda presented at St Stanislaus Literacy Evening on Feb 23. If anyone else is interested in presenting on behalf of CPF, please let Wanda know. Wanda discussed holding the Fall Carnival at Picard. Michelle Dupuis agreed that it can be held at the school but she needs to be contacted early enough to make plans/bookings. Need volunteers: Secretary, scholarship, new membership draws, advertising CPF on ECSB Facebook page or any other projects brought forth. 8. Motions Motion to spend $1,000 EACH on elementary, JH and SH scholarships. Motion to move meetings to JH Picard Motion to have cafeteria staff supply coffee and treats during meetings Motion to give JH Picard school an honorarium for hosting the 2017 Gala 1. Adjournment 18

19 Amoris Laetitia Chapter 6: Some Pastoral Perspectives A partner is defined as a person who takes part in an undertaking with another or others. Between the people of Faith and the Church, we make for excellent partners on a journey that leads us through life and to God. An exceptionally important part of this journey is that of marriage. To every person, marriage is an exciting mystery filled with potential which requires our best effort to understand and responsibility to develop: truly it engages us all. Pope Francis Amoris Laetitia speaks to how the partnership of marriage involves a role and responsibility of man and woman to become a committed couple. It recognizes how a couple shares something with one another which they will not and could not share with any other person on this earth: it is a love unique between them and from any other form of human relationship to be found. This is so because God designed it to be so; God created us to connect with another and we sense this within our very selves. The first experience of this bond of love is within our families. It begins and is felt in child to parent, it is seen between mother and father, and it is developed in families to our communities. Indeed, the qualities and intention of a strong marriage are its own reward; we follow this by the example of those who live it well and the way in which they inspire others to live and give to the same. Within any new relationship there is always excitement and challenge. As education prepares us for our future, so a quality formation in marriage will assist in preparing couples for a life lived between two and among the wider community. A couple does not know what they may encounter together; but they desire to be prepared, both to overcome challenges and delight all the more in the joys which will surely occur. The Church stands ready and willing and is eager to offer pastoral assistance through this time of early growth. Sound preparation and mature formation will become the foundation to their success. And, the simple ways can often be the surest of ways to achieving this success: intimate time together, communication in community, and speaking with God. Over time, and as this couple matures, they will then be able to give 19

20 back in witness and wisdom perhaps to children and hopefully to younger couples who explore and learn this for themselves. In so doing, each person of every family will pass on the tradition and values received, and so contribute to the experience and heritage for a future generation. Amoris Laetitia affirms how love is always a gift from God; like any good gift, we seek to show and share it with those around us. A married couple in love naturally share their love with those around them. The Church in general, and the Parish in particular, are places which recognize, celebrate, assist, protect and promote their relationship. In turn, the couple will receive affirmation, advice, and assistance as we would within a home. However, if a married couple no longer attends the Church or choose not to draw on their Faith which brought them to each other, it may become similar to walking a long path alone. Such a path is indeed private and a couple will have one another on which to draw support, but it eventually becomes lonely and they risk becoming lost or subject to greater difficulties without help. Furthermore, to do so would be for them to miss out on a shared experience of past and present with others, while the rest of the community misses their contribution for the present and the future. The Church continues to offer and desires to share the sacredness of the Sacrament of Marriage. Like a guide on a journey or an expert within a field, so the Church can and will be for a couple who are searching their hearts in love: it is and will always be a companion who seeks to introduce and relay God s will for them. The Church has travelled this road of life for over two thousand years and so can point out what to do, where we should be, with whom we should seek company, when we ought to arrive, and why we are capable of doing so successfully. It is through this purpose which Amoris Laetitia expresses and confirms how husband and wife are always special partners to each other, and how married couples are vital and valuable partners with the Church; together, we will then be and become the faithful partner to God - God who is and remains our pastoral partner for life and for all. ~Father Dean Dowle 20

21 21

22 22

23 23

24 24

25 25

26 26