ADMIN MESSAGE ST. MATTHEW SCHOOL. Dear Parents/Guardians,

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1 ST. MATTHEW SCHOOL Ave SE Calgary AB T2H 1N3 Phone : Fax: st.matthew@cssd.ab.ca website : THE BEARALD ADMIN MESSAGE Dear Parents/Guardians, Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illuminates their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets. Lumen Fidei As a school community, we lit the first Advent candle this week; symbolizing HOPE. We wait in hope for this light, Jesus Christ, who comes to fill our hearts with joy and peace. We look forward to the next 4 weeks of Advent, growing in our faith together as a community. Week 1: Hope Week 2: Love Week 3: Joy Week 4: Peace The main goal of the season of Advent is to reflect on ourselves and prepare our hearts for the coming of our Saviour. May we focus less on the hustle & bustle of the season, but on becoming instruments of hope, love, joy and peace into the lives of others. As my friend, Father Julian said in his homily at mass in November, preparing your homes with lights, gifts, food, activities, etc. is all good, but what is most important is preparing your heart for Jesus, by spending quiet time with him. The only thing that will matter, when we take our last breath, is our relationship with Christ. He is the greatest Christmas gift of all. When you believe that, you will begin to realize that Jesus light lives in you, and you will bring Jesus to everyone you meet. Three parents brought hope, love, joy and peace to our school last month. After sending out a call to all parents asking for volunteers to paint our Friendship Bench, 15 parents offered their services! Thanks to Mrs. White, Mrs. Prochownik and Mr. Bergman, we now have a bench that represents the gifts of Advent: Hope: a child has hope that he will have a friend to play with at recess Love: a child who is asked to play is filled with love Joy: this little colorful bench is bringing joy to our school Peace: a child is filled with peace from the presence of a friend We hope you can join us for our Elementary Advent Concert on Monday, December 12 th at 6:30pm. Our JH Band students and JH Choir will also be preforming at the concert. Please join us as we celebrate together the greatest story ever told: the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. On behalf of the entire staff and students of St. Matthew School, we wish you all a blessed Christmas. May the Bethlehem star that shines on our Saviour in the manger on Christmas Day, shine in your hearts and to others forever. In Christ, Mme Kitt

2 WRESTLING MEETS JH Wrestling Season is well under way with City Meets happening on Dec 9 th & 10 th at Notre Dame High School. Best of Luck to our St. Matthew Wrestling Bears. Ruyter S. Krisha N. Mikko B. Josh H. Stacey N. George G. Yannick P. Marcuz B. Oskar N. Peyton S. Anthony A. ELEMENTARY ADVENT CONCERT WITH JR HIGH CHOIR & BAND Our Elementary classes will be hosting it s annual Christmas Concert on December 12th at 6:30pm at the gym. Your presence will be highly appreciated. Elementary students need to be in their respective classroom by 6:00pm on that day. JH Choir and JH Band will be performing as well. GRACE 3 VIDEO COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS (AGES 12-19) Students are invited to create a 2-minute video highlighting how Catholic education has made a difference in their lives. For more information, visit G.R.A.C.E. 3 Video Contest. LEARNING COMMONS NEWS ALBERTA EDUCATION K-9 MATHEMATICS PARENT SUPPORT INFORMATION Important information to share with your parent community. ed_fs_differ_eng.pdf ed_fs_lookingforward_en.pdf _expect_number_facts.pdf The Learning Commons has been hosting a Scholastic Book Fair since November 29th to December 5th. This book fair will be open during parent teacher interviews as well as on Monday, December 5th morning.

3 COLD WEATHER INFO Parents/guardians are cautioned to take extra care with students traveling to and from school during winter weather conditions. Please note the following: All students should be well prepared for conditions caused by low temperatures and high wind chills and should not be left unattended at bus stops or spend any extended period of time outdoors under any circumstance. Parents should form an emergency plan with their children so they have clear instructions about what to do if the bus does not arrive. Cold weather or heavy snowfalls can result in bus schedules being unavoidably delayed. Buses will run as close to schedule as possible but delays do occur and should be expected. SCHOOL WEBSITE St. Matthew School Website informs parents more than ever!! We have an electronic School Calendar with all upcoming events. It is updated on a regular basis. Please visit at Also, you can follow us on And PARKING REMINDER! Parents, do not use the west lane that separates the school from the local businesses. There are many students who come across that lane after being dropped off by city bus. Please use 83 ave as a drop off area. STUDENT SAFETY FIRST! ONLINE FEE PAYMENT Did you know that you can pay your child s school fees online? Our fee management and online payment system is an easy and secure way to pay school fees from the comfort of your home or office. Payments can be made by credit card or debit. Thank you! Children should be dressed appropriately for the cold weather. Unexpected mechanical problems causing buses to cool off very quickly may occur more frequently at this time of year. All CSSD schools located within the City of Calgary limits will remain open to provide a safe, warm and secure environment for attending students. As is our normal protocol when temperatures drop below -18 degrees including the wind chill, children will be kept indoors during lunch hour and scheduled breaks. Parents /guardians are advised to listen to local media for updates on weather, transportation and school closures.

4 FRIENDSHIP BENCH/BANC D AMITIÉ FRIENDSHIP BENCH BLESSING CEREMONY This bench brings our faith theme to life Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. St. Mat- the Friendship Bench Ceremony at St. Mat- Father Paul, of St. Cecilia Church, will perform thew would like to say Thank you to Mrs. White thew School on Thursday, December 1st at and Mrs. Prochownik & Mr. Bergman, our parent 2:00pm. volunteers for designing and painting the bench. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY FOOD DRIVE Advent is our time to become more involved, more caught up in the meaning and the possibilities of life as a Christian community. Each year, St. Cecilia s St. Vincent De Paul Society provides Christmas food hampers to needy families in the communities of Acadia, Fairview, Willow Park, Maple Ridge and Southview. The success of this program relies on the generosity of the community. St. Matthew School has always been a strong supporter of this very important program, and this year, we hope to continue our support. Please send non-perishable food items to the school with your child and we will see that it is delivered to St. Cecilia.

5 PRAYER CORNER PROPER OF THE SEASON FIRST PART OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR THE CHRISTMAS CYCLE (MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION) SEASON OF ADVENT (from the First Sunday of Advent November 27, 2016 to December 24, 2016) The liturgical texts used during the four weeks of the season of advent remind the faithful of the absence of Christ. Therefore, the Collects of Advent do not end with, through our Lord Jesus Christ, as during the rest of the year. In a spirit of penance and prayer we await the Mediator, the God-Man, preparing for His coming in the flesh, and also for His second coming as our Judge. The Masses for Advent strike a note of preparation and repentance mingled with joy and hope; hence, although the penitential violet is worn and the Gloria is omitted, the joyous Alleluia is retained. The readings from the Old Testament contained in the Introit, Gradual, Offertory, and Communion of the Masses, taken mostly from the prophecies of Isaias and from the Psalms, give eloquent expression to the longing of all nations for a Redeemer. We are impressed by repeated and urgent appeals to the Messias: Come delay no longer. The Lessons from St. Paul urge us to dispose ourselves fittingly for His coming. The Gospels describe the terrors of the Last Judgment, foretell the second coming, and tell of the preaching of St. John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord. In Advent, the Greek Church celebrates particularly the ancestors of our Lord all the Patriarchs and Prophets of the Old Testament, but especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Latin Church also mentions them often in this period. In the Breviary, many texs are taken from Isaias (Introit of the Second Sunday, Communion of the Third Sunday). The idea of Advent is Prepare you for the coming of Christ. Therefore the very appeals of the Patriarchs and Prophets are put in our mouths in Advent. Prepare for the coming of Christ the Redeemer, Who comes to prepare us for His second coming as Judge. When the oracles of the Prophets were fulfilled and the Jews awaited the Messias, John the Baptist left the desert and came to the vicinity of the Jordan, bringing a baptism of penance to prepare souls for the coming of Christ. The world took him to be the Messias, but he replied with the words of Isaias: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of the Lord. During Advent we make straight for Christ the way to our souls and behold, our Lord will come at Christmas.

6 A CHRISTMAS HYMN 1. Adéste, fidéles, * Læti triumphántes; * Veníte, veníte in Béthlehem; * Natum vidéte * Regem Angelórum: * Veníte adorémus, * Veníte adorémus, Veníte adorémus Dóminum. 2. Deums de Deo, * Lumen de Lúmine, * Gestant puéllæ viscera: * Deum verum. * Génitum non factum: * Veníte adorémus, * Veníte adorémus, Veníte adorémus Dóminum. 3. Cantet nunc Io! * Chorus Agelórum: * Cantet nunc aula cœléstium. * Glória, glória in excélsis Deo! * Veníte adorémus, Veníte adorémus, Veníte adorémus Dóminum. 4. Ergo qui natus * Die hodiérna, * Jesu, tibi sit glória: * Patris ætérni * Verbum caro factum! * Veníte adorémus, Veníte adorémus, Veníte adorémus Dóminum. 1. O come, all ye faithful, * Triumphantly sing! * Come, see in the manger, * The Angel s dread King! * To Bethlehem hasten, * With joyful accord; * Oh, hasten! Oh, hasten! * To worship the Lord. 2. True son of the Father, * He comes from the skies; * The womb of the Virgin * He doth not despise; * Not made but begotten, * The Lord of all might, * True God of true God, * True Light of true Light! 3. Hark! To the Angels, * All singing to heaven, * To God in the highest * High glory be given. 4. To Thee, then, O Jesus, * This day of Thy birth, * Be glory and honor, * Through heaven and earth! * True Godhead incarnate, * Omnipotent Word, * Oh, hasten! Oh, hasten! * To worship the Lord. Source: Roman Catholic Daily Missal. pp 135, 136 and 193.

7 ST. MATTHEW SCHOOL DECEMBER 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 DAY Parent-Teacher 4:30pm 7:30pm Parent-Teacher 9:00am 11:30pm Book Fair NO CLASSES FOR STUDENTS Book Fair 4 5 DAY 6 6 DAY 1 7 DAY 2 8 DAY 3 9 DAY 4 10 Bus Pass Scanning Book Fair Gr. 9 Quebec Trip 2 nd Payment due Bus Pass Scanning Grade 9 Bishop Carroll HS 9:00am to 12:30pm Bus Pass Scanning Wrestling Weigh Ins Purdy s Chocolate order pick-up at 3:30 to 6:00pm JR High Girls Wrestling City Notre Dame 3:30PM JR High Boys Wrestling City Finals DAY 5 13 DAY 6 14 DAY 1 15 DAY 2 16 DAY 3 17 Elementary Advent Concert St. Matthew 6:30pm Sr. Basketball Try-outs 7:15 am 3:15 to 5:00pm Pick-up by St. Society at 9:00am-10:00am Sr. Basketball Try-outs 7:15 am 3:15 to 5:00pm Sr. Basketball Tryouts 7:15 am 3:15 to 5:00pm DAY 4 20 DAY 5 21 DAY 6 22 DAY Candy- grams Sale each 0.50$ Candy- grams Sale each 0.50$ Candy- grams Sale each 0.50$ Festive Sweater Day Last day of Classes before Christmas Break Holiday Pajama Day K- 9 Gr. 5 & 9 Vaccination Advent Liturgy at the 1:00pm Holiday Holiday Holiday Holiday Holiday

8 December 2016 Happy December! As the calendar year comes to a close, on behalf of St Matthew s Parent Council, I want to wish all our families a blessed and joyful Christmas season. Fundraising Update Purdy s Chocolates are arriving soon! Thanks to everyone who purchased these treats. Don t forget to pick them up on December 8th. Next Council Meeting Wednesday, January 18, 6:30 pm, St. Matthew School Learning Commons Library Please come out for snacks, refreshments, and good company, and find out what s happening in your school. This is a great opportunity to become more involved in your child s education.

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