St. Vincent Catholic Elementary School Street NW Edmonton, Alberta She will give birth to a son,

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1 St. Vincent Catholic Elementary School Street NW Edmonton, Alberta She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Ma hew 1:21 Advent is the same story each year. We light the candles, set up the tree, buy our presents. But is Jesus truly found in the manger when we look in? Advent, which is the beginning of the Liturgical Year, is derived from the La n word coming. It is an opportunity for all members of our school community to invite Christ into our lives or more deeply in our lives. This may be as simple as incorpora ng a special prayer tradi on at dinner or bed me. It could be choosing to a end Mass at the school or in the Parish. It could be as simple as saying one prayer. There are several online resources for families to assist with Advent prayers and tradi ons at home which make the season meaningful. This Advent, every parent is an innkeeper who will decide how much room you make for Jesus in the lives of your family. Thank you to all who joined us in November for our Celebra on of Learning. Your par cipa on and feedback sends a powerful message to your children about the value of educa on. We are grateful to the parent volunteers who spent the me to man the Book Fair. Your me is greatly appreciated. December is a busy month for us. Father Dean will be in classrooms the last week of November to teach the significance of Advent and the Advent Wreath. Constable Jim Burke from West Division, EPS, will be at St. Vincent during the first week of December to speak to all students about Stranger Awareness. The Christmas Concert will take place on December 13 at 6:30 pm in the school gym. The School Council will be hos ng fundraisers throughout the evening. Details will be shared as they are made available. Friday, December 14 is Pyjama Day and Santa pictures. On December 19, we will have our Advent/Christmas celebra on at 10:30 am. Remember to mark your calendars! Thursday, December 20 will be a FULL DAY OF CLASSES, and Friday, December 21 will be our EARLY DISMISSAL DAY at 12:00. Classes Resume at 8:25 on Monday, January 7, We wish Mrs. Rolph DeVicque many blessings and good wishes as she leaves St. Vincent to welcome a new member to her family. We will miss you! In her place, we welcome Ms. Carol Durnford to the St. Vincent community. Ms. Durnford will assume the responsibili es of Assistant Principal. Welcome, Ms. Durnford! It has been a busy term for us here at St. Vincent. We hope the Christmas season is filled with dings of the season and filled with family, friends, and joyful moments. We wish you and your families a merry and blessed Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year!

2 In this Issue Hello from Ms Durnford Public event announcement How to Savor Advent Thank you Book Fair update Trustee visit Santa s coming! Theme day Early Dismissal switch Christmas concert Best seats in the house Share the Warmth WE SCARE hunger Adnet celebration Christmas hampers St. John the Evangelist Parish Advent and Christmas schedule News from St. John the Evangelist Parish A letter from the Archbishop Chapter 3: Gaudete et Exsultate Important notice - online payments Important notice - Term 2 report cards Yellow bus passes Cancellation of Yellow Bus Service Students leaving early Student Absence Fire Drills and Lockdown practices School fees Healthy Habits Illness A Partnership Mark Your Calendars December 2 - December 4 - December 7 - December 9 - First Sunday of Advent Kindergarten fieldtrip to Muttart Conservatory Trustee visit Second Sunday of Advent Advent Celebration 10:30 AM December 13 - Christmas Concert - December 14 - December 16 - December 20 - Dress rehearsal TBD Am Evening performance 6:30 PM Santa Photos and Hot Lunch Third Sunday of Advent Classes for 100 Voices and Kindergarten Full day of school, dismissal 3:07 PM December 21 - No classes for 100 Voices and Kindergarten December 23 - Half day of school, dismissal 12:00 noon Fourth Sunday of Advent Christmas Break: December 24, January 4, 2019 Classes resume Monday January 7 at 8:25 AM

3 Hello! My name is Carol Durnford. I am thrilled to be joining the St. Vincent school community as Assistant Principal. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve education through a variety of roles during my career path, including elementary teacher, enrichment coordinator, science consultant, assistant principal, curriculum developer and research specialist. Most recently I worked at Alberta Education as a curriculum and implementation support manager and as a science curriculum sessional instructor and the U of A. I am passionate about science, the environment and inquiry-based learning. I consider myself a lifelong learner and love to encourage the curious mind in all students! I am the proud mother of two young adult children and I enjoy spending time outdoors. I look forward to supporting the students, families, teachers and the administrative team at St. Vincent school in the upcoming months. Christmas Concert - Please note.. Please note that the Christmas concert is a public event, therefore, filming is permitted. The Christmas concert will be filmed in its entirety and copies of the full concert will be available to interested parents. Further details for copies will be made available during the concert evening.

4 Thank you! Thank Grades 2 and 4 for the beautiful Peace Celebration on November 9. Thank you as well to the parents and family members who joined us. The first term of the school year saw our teachers and students working hard and having great successes. Thank you to our teachers, students and parents for a fantastic start to the year. Thank you as well for a well attended Demonstration of Learning on November 22 it is great to see so many parents actively involved in their child s education. Thank you to Sharon Simper for your time and talents organizing the Book Fair. Thank you to all of the volunteers who came out to assist with this week long event! Book Fair update! The Book Fair was well attended by students and families throughout the week. Lots of happy children found new books to enjoy, as well as posters, pencils and fun gadgets. Some parents were able to complete some Christmas shopping as well! Thank you to everyone who came, and to the many volunteers who made this a success! The Fair sold $ which translates in to $ worth of books for our school library and classrooms. Trustee Visit to St. Vincent School On Friday December 7 St. Vincent School will welcome the Board of Trustees for Edmonton Catholic Schools for a visit. We welcome our Ward 75 Trustee Alene Mutala and all Trustees of Edmonton Catholic School District! St. Vincent Parent Advisory Council presents. Santa Claus is coming to St. Vincent School! On Friday, December 14 we will have a fun day for all the students - Santa Claus will be coming to visit our school and meet all the children and treat them to a candy cane. For $10.00 you will receive a 5x7 photograph of your child with Santa Claus, and your child will receive a hot dog, juice box and a bag of chips for lunch. Students in 100 Voices and Kindergarten will be served during their snack time. Theme Day - Pajama Day Friday December 14 is theme day for December. As is tradition at St. Vincent school the December theme is Pajama Day! Early Dismissal Switch A always, Edmonton Catholic Schools flips the Thursday/Friday hours before the Christmas break. Students will attend classes all day on Thursday December 20 and dismiss at 12:00 noon on Friday December 21. The 100 Voices and Kindergarten students will attend school on Thursday December 20 at the regular class times, and will not attend school on Friday December 21. These changes have been communicated to the Transportation Department and buses will pick up the students according to the revised times.

5 Christmas Concert December 13 at 6:30 PM Preparations for our annual Christmas Concert are in full swing! This year our concert will be on Thursday, December 13 at 6:30 PM. There will be a dress rehearsal on the morning of December 13, starting at 9:30 AM. This is a great opportunity for grandparents to come and watch the concert as space is limited for the evening performance. On the night of the concert please drop your child off at 6:00 PM in his/her classroom and proceed to the gym. The concert will be begin at 6:30 PM. Students are asked to come dressed for the concert. Please see the table below: Students 100 Voices and Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 5/6 Costumes Dress as Christmas Trees - green tops with dark bottoms Christmas best - black bottoms with red, white, green top OR dress Skaters - black bottoms, Christmas sweaters (or red, white or green), scarves, toques, mittens Christmas best - black bottoms with red, white, green top OR dress Christmas best - black bottoms with red, white, green top OR dress Christmas best - black bottoms with red, white, green top OR dress Students have been told to look up their character and match clothes as closely as possible style more so than colour. The Best Seats in the House Once again we will be selling tickets for a chance at front row seating for the Christmas concert. There will also be a raffle with a chance at some fabulous prizes. Tickets will be sold in the front entrance, with prizes and the draw boxes set up in the library. The tickets will be sold for $2.00 each or you can purchase 3 for $5.00. More information will be sent home closer to the date.

6 Share the Warmth Time to clean out your closets and Share the Warmth! The Grade 6 Leadership Team along with the We Day Committee will be doing a gently used winter clothing drive for the month of December. Students will be collecting any gently used jackets, mittens, hats and winter boots that families may have outgrown and have sitting in their closet. Donations will be first offered to students who may be in need at St. Vincent School and all remaining clothing will be donated to The Street Mission. All donations are greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance from all Grade 5 and 6 Students! Cereal Boxes and Popcorn/ Juice Sale On December 14, the grade 5 and 6 WE Day and Leadership students are going to sell popcorn and a juice box for $2.00. As a WE SCARE hunger project we are supporting the breakfast program at St. Teresa of Calcutta Elementary School. We are collecting cereal boxes and fundraising money for the milk the students will need. Families are welcome to send cereal boxes to school any time between December 1 and December 14. Thank you for your support! Advent Celebration Our Advent Celebration will take place on Friday December 19 at 10:30 AM. Father Dean from St. John the Evangelist Parish will be joining us. Parents and siblings are welcome to attend. Christmas Hampers As the Christmas season rapidly approaches we give thanks to God for all our blessings. With this in mind, we know that some of our St. Vincent families would benefit from a helping hand at this time of year. Students will be notified about the item they are requested to contribute, with collection taking place on December 13 until December 19. You are strongly encouraged to bring your item the evening of the Christmas concert. Volunteers will be required the day of December 20 to help organize the hampers. Thank you in advance for your donations of food and time. St. John the Evangelist Parish - Advent and Christmas Schedule Advent Penitential Celebration Will be on December 4 at 7:00 PM. Christmas Eve Mass will be held at 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 9:00 PM and Midnight. Christmas Day Mass will be at 10:30 AM only. New Year s Eve mass will be at 5:00PM, and New Year s Day at 10:30 AM.

7 News from St. John the Evangelist Parish Advent Reconciliation Service Tuesday, December 4 th at 7:00 p.m. There is a short service of a scripture reading and homily, followed by time for individual confession with eight priests available. If you haven t gone to confession for a while, check caedm.ca/confessions for resources. Priests welcome you no matter how long it's been since you have been to Confession, and no matter what you want or need to confess. Christmas Masses Christmas Eve - Monday, December 24 at 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:00 pm and Midnight. Christmas Day - Tuesday, December 25 at 10:30am Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, a Holy Day of Obligation in Canada Monday, December 31 st at 5:00 pm and Tuesday, January 1 st at 10:30 am Share Christmas Tree Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 8-9 St. John the Evangelist Parish is joining with other Churches in the West End to donate Christmas dinners to singles, couples, and families in need. This is a Christmas Bureau Project. If you would like to participate in this this wonderful St. John the Evangelist tradition, please write your name and contact information on one of the decorations from the tree in our entry on these weekends, and leave it with the Volunteer at the tree. Take the other part of the decoration home - it has information about what to buy for the size of family you have chosen. Hampers are to be taken to St. Francis Xavier High School on December 16 th and will be distributed on the same day by the Share Christmas volunteers. Candy Cane Lane starts Dec. 7. Stop by our life size outdoor Crèche and take a picture of your child/ren with the Holy Family! Simbang Gabi These Novena (9 days of prayer) Masses are at 7:00 pm from Dec. 15 to Dec. 23. Everyone is welcome to come to any or all Masses for spiritual preparation for Christmas. St. John the Evangelist Feast Day is Dec. 27. We will celebrate Mass at 7 pm 7:30 pm, then have a potluck social in the Hall. This day is part of the 12 days of Christmas so be counter-cultural and keep celebrating Christmas! Children s Liturgy of the Word Your children are invited to attend this Liturgy at the 10:30 am Masses. The children are called to the front of the Church and go to the lower hall after the opening prayer; they return to the Church during the Offertory Collection for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Parents are welcome to join their children, and help is always appreciated, especially when there are large numbers of children. The Senior group is for grades 2-6, and the Junior group is for age 4 grade 1 or 2. They hear and discuss child-friendly versions of the Mass readings and pray. The Junior group usually does a craft too. Younger children should be able to sit and listen to the Gospel, and respond to the Leaders. If your child is very active, please accompany them. You are especially welcome to be involved in this Ministry if you are a parent of a child coming to these Liturgies - new Leaders are always welcome. Liturgical resources are provided, and you will be trained and supported. Please contact the Parish Office for more information, or speak to the Leaders after Mass.

8 December 2018 Dear Friends, In December, we celebrate the event that changed history the birth of Jesus. On Christmas Day, we will hear these words from the Gospel of Luke. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (Luke 2:7). Last year in my Christmas message I offered you some opportunities to make room for Jesus in your hearts, by listening to the Word of God both at home and in your schools. I ask you to continue to make room for Jesus not only by listening but also by your actions. That is why I am very pleased that Edmonton Catholic Schools has chosen Walking Together in God s Love for its theme this year. This theme finds its source in the words of the prophet Micah. He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8) Children and youth who attend our Catholic schools are given an opportunity to practice the way of life outlined by the prophet Micah. Through the modeling that they receive from their parents, teachers and support staff they learn to live the Christian way of life. They are encouraged to act with justice in their dealings with all they meet, not only at home and school, but also on the field, court, ice, streets everywhere. In this way they are of service to others. Youth and children are fortified in their witnessing by the love of God, which leads them to act with kindness. Lastly, they are inspired to walk humbly with God through acts of worship. In our Catholic Schools, students are given the opportunity to learn about the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. They are introduced to the parish and to the life of worship. As Christmas draws near may we come, like the shepherds, to worship Christ! To all the staff, students and parents of the Edmonton Catholic Schools, I pray that you have a Blessed Christmas! Sincerely Yours in Christ, Richard W. Smith

9 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

10 on PowerSchool in Online Payments Only Starting January 2019, St. Vincent School will only be accepting payments online through the Parent Portal on PowerSchool. Parents will be required to set up their account order to have access to the payment system. If you have questions or concerns regarding this process, or if you require assistance in setting up your PowerSchool account, please contact Mrs. Selwood in the school office either by at or by phone at There is a computer available in the office that can be used to set up your Parent PowerSchool account. Thank you for your support in transitioning to the cashless system. Important Notice: Term 2 Report Cards Please note Term 2 report cards will be released on Monday, March 18, 2019 at 3:00 pm. This is a change from the previously stated date of Friday, March 15, Bus Passes Bothe ETS and Yellow Bus passes are available to the school office during the first week of the month. Please contact Mrs. Selwood in the school office if you require a bus pass. Please note that bus pass payments are due on the 1st of each month. IF you require alternate payment arrangements please contact Mrs. Selwood in the school office. Bus passes are not distributed until payment has been received or alternate arrangements made. Students who take the yellow bus will be sent home on the bus unless a change has been previously arranged by parents and the office informed. Cancellation of Yellow Bus Service 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 CJCA CBC CISN FM Shine FM CHFA (CBC Fr) CHUCK FM 92.5 TSN 1260 CFCW 840 INEWS 880 AM 95.7 CRUZ FM 96.3 FM CAPITAL Kiss FM 91.7 The Bear K Up! 99.3 SONIC HOT 107 FM Hot 107 FM TV STATIONS: CITY TV GLOBAL Edmonton CBC TV VIRGIN Radio FM CTV Edmonton Every effort will be made to have messages broadcast commencing no later than 6:30 AM.

11 Students leaving early If you are picking up your child early please meet him/her in the office and sign them out. Parents are also required to sign their child in when they return. This process ensures that the student has safely left and returned to school. As well, if you are dropping off something for your child - forgotten homework, lunch, etc., please leave it in the office and we will make sure that the items gets to your child. Thank you! Student Absence Please ensure that you inform the school if your child is going to be absent for any reason illness, appointments, vacation, etc. Please try to coordinate appointments and vacations with early dismissal and school breaks. Absences of four or more consecutive days are proven to have a negative impact on student learning. Fire Drills and Lockdown Practices As part of our District's safety practices for our students, we will be conducting a number of Fire Drill and Lockdown practices during November and December. These drills are done to ensure our students know what to do in case of an emergency. Teachers will review the procedures with their classes to ensure that students feel confident and at ease. School Fees School fees are now due. The fee for students in Kindergarten is $30.00, and the fee for students in grades 1-6 is $ Payment may be made online or in the school office. Healthy Habits Hand Washing With the cold and flu season now upon us it is very important that we all do our part to keep ourselves healthy and stop the spread of infection. At St. Vincent we have had the Public Health Nurse do an in-service with our staff about proper handwashing techniques. Teachers have shared this with our students and will continue to guide them on the importance of this healthy habit. Illness If your child isn t well, the best place for him or her to recuperate is at home, or with a caregiver. If your child has had a fever, or has experienced vomiting or diarrhea, please ensure that these symptoms have been absent for at least 24 hours before their return to school. Children who are healthy enough to attend school are expected to go outdoors during breaks. There may be rare occasions when a child is returning to school from an extended illness when he or she will need to be accommodated indoors during the recess breaks upon doctor s orders A Partnership All of us recognize that our role is one of service and that the school exists for students. Our school is a place where parents are recognized as partners and they are welcome at all times. A special on -going invitation is extended to all parents to attend assemblies, liturgies or special celebrations. Participating on the School Council (SC) is another way of being involved. Thank you to all the parents who give so generously of their time and talents

12 December 2018 Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, JM Neale translator) Advent is upon us as we begin the month of December, and it is a time filled with joy and promise. The activities in our schools mirror the sentiments of the Advent season as we excitedly prepare for the celebration of Jesus birth. Although our activities are vastly different today, this anticipation links us back to the Jewish people all those years ago. Our Messiah is soon to arrive, and it is a time of hope for the future! Each fall, many of our schools and our staff participate in the We Care Challenge. This outstanding endeavor raises significant funds for two Catholic organizations, the Edmonton Catholic Schools Foundation s Dreams for Kids campaign and Catholic Social Services Sign of Hope campaign, that have tremendous impact on our ECSD community and beyond. Special thanks to our students, staff, and families for participating in this endeavor. As I am writing this newsletter, we are preparing for the presentation of our 2018 Audited Financial Statements and our Three Year Strategic Education Plan and Annual Education Results Report at our November 27 Public Meeting of the Board. After that meeting, you can click on the links above or visit to view those reports. Our All-City Choir is having their Christmas Concert on December 3 at 7:30 pm at McDougall United Church (10086 MacDonald Dr NW). The All-City Band s Christmas Concert is on December 12 at 7:00 pm at the Myer Horowitz Theatre ( St NW). Tickets are $5 at the door, and these concerts will be amazing! The District Satisfaction Survey will run from November 26 - December 7. Every household will receive one parent survey per child enrolled in an Edmonton Catholic School. Please respond to each survey separately from the point of view of each child's educational experience. You can either return your parent survey to your child s school or use the postage paid envelope and Canada Post. If you don t receive your survey, or if you would like more information about a question as it relates to your school, please phone the principal.... 2

13 This year s Hour of Code event takes place from December 3-7. This is the fifth year that Edmonton Catholic Schools will be participating. Hour of Code is a global movement that is supported by Code.org with the purpose of reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries through a one-hour introduction to computer science and computer programming. We live in a world surrounded by technology, and we know that whatever fields our students choose to explore as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly depend on understanding how technology works. This is a great time to introduce our students to computer programming and for them to see how coding is part of the way the world works. Coding and Computer Science also help to enhance literacy and numeracy skills through computational thinking, collaboration, and problem solving. Our goal is to have 27,000 student and teacher coders participate! As 2018 comes to a close, I wish you many opportunities to spend time with your family and friends reflecting on the many graces and great love that God has shared over this past year. In 2015 at the World Meeting of Families, Pope Francis shared the following thoughts on the gift of Jesus to the Holy Family: And His Son, where did He send Him? To a palace? To a city, to start a business? He sent Him to a family! God came into the world in a family. And he was able to do this because this family was a family that had its heart open to love, that had the doors open to love. (09/27/15) Have a blessed Advent and Christmas season! Sincerely, Joan Carr Superintendent