Superbee News December 2017 Beatitude for the month of December Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth. (Matt. 5:5). We present this Bee-Attitude to our students on Dec. 1 st at our Wreath Blessing December is Advent From the Catholic Encyclopedia we get an explanation of Advent. With Advent the ecclesiastical (Church) year begins in the Western churches. During this time the faithful are admonished to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love, thus to make their souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace, and thereby to make themselves ready for His final coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01165a.htm School Fees We thank those parents who have dropped off the school fees for the school year. As you know the Province of Alberta announced that there would be NO Basic School Fees (textbooks, photocopying, class materials eg. Smart boards, etc.) being charged tis year. The school fees that may be charged are called Supplemental Fees and they cover such things as the technology use in school and another school events not covered by basic fees. Please see our website under School fees as every fee and its use is outlined there. If you have questions or want to make some arrangements to pay these fees, please contact Mr. Rehman at 780 474-5208 and he would be happy to help. Reminders are being sent out through our K-Swift phone messages as well as through email.
WEATHER in December As we know the weather can be frightfully frigid as our early winter continues. The school website https://www.ecsd.net/schools/8022/pages/default.aspx now carries a button on the Home page that brings up Environment Canada's 7 day forecast for Edmonton. Please check this often to help you with clothing decisions for your child. District policy states that children will be outside for the morning and lunch recess if the temperature is 19*C. When the temperature hits 20* C, then the children will be kept inside. Please dress your child accordingly. If your child needs any mittens or toques, have them come to the office as we have received some very kind donations from our community. If your child is well enough to come to school then he/she should expect to go outside to get some activity and some fresh air during the recess breaks. Being able to play and operate in the winter weather is what truly makes us Canadian. DECEMBER 4-8 Hour of Code St. Gerard is a proud participant again in the Global Technology Week called Hour of Code. Students over the next two weeks will be learning about the skills needed to program, code, and create using technology in a fun and engaging way. The activities are quite varied and some involve a lot of technology and other activities involve less technology. Advent Celebrations At the beginning of every week in December, the school will have a morning announcement and a minicelebration where the advent candles are lit and prayers are said and songs are sung. This is a very special time as it helps our students begin to understand the reason for the season and that is the birth our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We will collect any Food Bank items you can donate as St. Gerard calls us to serve and honour the poorest in our city. We thank you in advance for any support you can give during this Advent season.
DECEMBER 13 CHRISTMAS FAMILY FUN NIGHT Once again, the St. Gerard will be hosting the Christmas Family Fun Night to celebrate the importance of coming together as family. From 6-8 PM on December 13 we will host a collection of crafts, treats, and even a sleigh ride (weather permitting) in our outdoor field. Superbee and Santa will be wandering the halls ready for pictures and a hug. NEW THIS YEAR, we will begin our night with a short presentation by our students in the gym. They will be singing Christmas songs they have been preparing in Music class. Save the date and be sure to join us! A separate note was sent home as well. Demo of Learning December 7 th Come and experience the joy of learning and celebrate with your child on December 7 th. The Demonstration of Learning occurs at two time periods to help fit into your schedule. The first session runs from 1-4:30 PM and the second session runs form 6-8 PM. Just drop in during those times and marvel at what your child shows you. Plan on spending about 20-25 minutes to go through the package of learning. As there will be several parents in the room at once, there will not be a chance to speak privately with your child s teacher. If you desire a more private conference with your child s teacher, please make arrangements outside the Demo and anyone on our staff would be pleased to have that talk. The Report Cards will be handed out after you complete the Demo of Learning. School Council News We have a new School Council and we meet most every month. The next meeting is Tuesday Dec. 5 th at 6:15. We have a Casino coming on December 15 and 16 th. Please consider volunteering. Contact the office and we will lead you to the right people. It s a fun way to help support your child s school society with all the important work they do in supporting the learning in our building.
Free Footie Soccer We have a grade 3 and 4 team as well as a Grade 5 and 6 team. They play every WEDNESDSAY after school at the Commonwealth Recreation Centre. Come and cheer them on! The coaches are Mr. Zenari (gr. 5-6 team), Miss Rhude and Miss Dicker (grade 3-4 team). Good luck to our students and coaches as they represent St. Gerard. They wrap up their season on Dec. 13 th and then they get to spend a great session with some Edmonton Eskimos on Wed, Dec. 20 th as a thank you for a great indoor season. Our teams are doing very well and currently sit in second place. DATES to Remember Thurs. Dec. 7- Demonstration of Learning and Report Card pick up Wed. Dec. 13 th - HOT LUNCH provided Free of charge by School Council. Family Fun Night 6-8 PM Tues. Dec. 19- Advent Mass at St. Alphonsus Church @ 10am Roman Catholic Parishes of Advent Penance Service: December 21 at 7:00pm (St. Alphonsus Parish: 11828 85 St.) Christmas Eve Mass: December 24 at 8:00pm (St. Alphonsus Parish: 11828 85 St.) St. Alphonsus and St. Clare Christmas Mass Times Christmas Day Mass: December 25 at 9:30am (St. Clare Parish: 6310 118 Ave.) Everyone is welcome! December 2017
Dear Friends, In December, especially in Edmonton, we notice that the hours, minutes of sunlight diminish. It is during this time of darkness that we begin a new liturgical year. The season of Advent is upon us. Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas. We prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World (John 8:12). The prophet Isaiah foretold this event when he wrote: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2) During this Advent season as we prepare for Christmas, I invite you to listen to Jesus, the Word of God and to be guided by the Word. As the Psalmist writes: Your word is lamp unto my feet and light to my path. (Ps 119:105) There are many ways to listen to the Word. In our Catholic Schools the Word of God proclaimed, studied and discussed. I invite you, as I have invited everyone in the Archdiocese, to hear the Word of God in three ways: 1. To prepare a prayer space in your home or classroom where a Bible takes the place of honour; 2. To pray a simple prayer before and after meals. I will assist you in this by offering a biblical verse to help you to hear the Word of God. These are available through the parish Sunday bulletin. 3. To discuss the Sunday homily as a family. With Christ as our guide, may you continue to let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matt.5:16) during the Advent season and throughout the liturgical year. I pray that you have a blessed Christmas! X Richard W. Smith Archbishop of Edmonton LIVING IN THE WORD OF GOD Creation of a Prayer Space in the Home In his recent Pastoral Letter, Living in the Word of God, Archbishop Richard Smith offers some thoughts as to how we, as members of this Archdiocesan family, can together listen carefully to the Word of God and, in a shared commitment, put it into practice. St. Paul teaches that faith comes from what is heard. This means that the first act of the disciple is to listen carefully to what God is saying to us in the words of Jesus. The hearing of Christ's Word demands a silent and attentive listening. This requires effort and determination. Living in a world of noise, we must be always
cultivating, with the help of God's grace, an inner stillness in which we are disposed to hear and be transformed by the Word of God. In the same way, Archbishop Smith invites families, too, to listen together to the Word of God. Through a careful listening to this Word, families encounter the Lord in their very midst and hear within the depths of their hearts his assurance of love and call to holiness and service. One way to make this happen is to create a prayer space in the home. I recall from my days as a parish priest the practice of one family that created a sacred space in their home by simply placing a candle in the corner of one room. They would gather daily around the lit candle to offer their spontaneous prayers to God for his blessing upon their day. We, at Edmonton Catholic Schools, invite you to heed the call of Archbishop Smith. As we approach the season of Advent, we are reminded that Advent is a time of great spiritual preparation as we ready our souls for the coming of Christ. Advent is an important season in which families can dedicate time each day to pray and to share the Word of God together, preparing in a powerful way for the coming of Christ. This Advent Season, like many of the past, will be filled with distractions and priorities which attempt to take away from our families spiritually during this crucial time. Consider creating a prayer space in your home by placing an Advent Wreath at the center of your dining table. As a family, gather around the Advent Wreath, before or after meals, to light the Advent candles, to offer spontaneous prayers, and to listen to the Word of God. During this Advent season, we hope that you will use these traditional tools with your family and that God will use them to benefit your family with grace and love. Sandra Talarico, Religious Education Consultant Celebration of Catholic Education Religious Education Parent/Guardian Engagement Evenings Feedback On November 1 and 2 the Trustees and Administration of Edmonton Catholic School District were pleased to host parent engagement evenings at St. Charles Parish and Corpus Christi Parish titled: Celebration of Catholic Education Religious Education Parent/Guardian Engagement Evenings. Each evening began with the celebration of the Eucharist followed by a presentation and an opportunity for reflection. We were delighted that Archbishop Richard Smith and Bishop Gregory Bittman were able to celebrate these evenings with us. They were joined at our Lord s table by the parish priests, deacons, and our District Chaplains. Additionally, we were pleased that, so many community members attended Mass and the program that followed.
We are happy to share some of the feedback and comments we received following each presentation. Included below are corresponding links to more information and resources as well as highlights from the presentations. A. We asked participants: What is one thing from this evening s presentation that you enjoyed most? 1. The experiences and opinions of the children in the video; they are the principle role in this story. I enjoyed the video and how the young students understood their Catholic faith and expressed themselves with confidence. The video, Growing in the Spirit, was a collaborative effort between Learning Services Innovation and many students from across the school district. It focused on asking students to express their thoughts on what Catholic Education meant to them. Growing in the Spirit Video 2. I enjoyed learning about the new curriculum and resources available for parents, teachers and the parishes. Knowing what my children will be learning enables me to help them grow in their faith. Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ, the new Religious Education program approved by the Catholic Bishops of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories and developed in collaboration with Catholic educators from across Canada, exemplifies the discipline and rigor with which the program is delivered. Pearson Canada, the publisher, has developed a school, a home, and a parish website that helps to integrate the faith into everyday life. Pearson Canada Student-Home Website Username: ecsd99 Password: Student99 3. I really appreciate how the Competencies formed through Catholic education are permeated from Kindergarten to Grade Twelve and that teachers are receiving professional development in this area. We know that Catholic education means that students are given the opportunity to encounter Christ in all aspects of their learning day, not just in Religion class. This means that our Catholic faith is permeated throughout all subjects and all activities. The Learner Competencies Formed through Catholic Education reflect the Alberta Programs of Study from a Catholic education standpoint and change the way that we approach permeation. Learner Competencies Formed Through Catholic Education 4. I was pleased to see the Archdiocese s Sacramental Education Initiative. I have children who are passed their sacraments, so this is a document with which I am unfamiliar. The Standards for Preparing Children and Youth for the Sacraments in the Archdiocese of Edmonton are the result of the Sacramental Education Initiative set forth by the Archdiocese and the Catholic school boards chairs and superintendents from our Archdiocese. The Standards have been developed after four years of wide consultation with priests of the Archdiocese, pastoral assistants, religious consultants, parents, principals and teachers in our Catholic school districts. We invite you to contact your local Catholic parish for more information about Sacramental preparation. The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton Sacramental Preparation B. We asked participants: What is one thing you wonder about or would like to learn more about? 1. I am anxious to know if Religious Education is mandatory from Kindergarten to Grade Twelve.
Religious Education is a scholastic discipline and not a complementary course; nor is it a supplement to other disciplines, but underpins the educational activity of Catholic schools. Students are required to participate in and complete Religious Education courses each year of their schooling with Edmonton Catholic Schools. In high school, students typically complete nine credits in Religious Education within a traditional classroom setting. Under some circumstances, and to accommodate special learning needs, Religious Education is also delivered in alternative modes such as PASS (Part Time Alternative Self-Paced School) or Revelation Online. 2. What is ECSD doing about the alternative curriculum for sexual education in our schools? We have, and continue to teach the outcomes of the existing curriculum. To clarify, it should be noted that the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA) did not submit a parallel curriculum proposal to the government. CCSSA is working closely with Alberta Education in supporting the curriculum development, and seeks to create a supplemental resource that ensures a Catholic lens is provided for our learners. Our District has teachers participating in the working group that is developing the new health and wellness curriculum. 3. I appreciate that teachers and administrators continue their faith journeys in meaningful professional development opportunities. Teachers and administrators have many opportunities to develop and grow in their faith. This includes School Opening Mass, Permeation Afternoon, Faith Formation Afternoon, Father Michael Mireau Youth Day, Faith Development Day, Grace for the Heart and Soul, Student Faith Development Days, District- Wide Professional Development sessions on the RE Curriculum, as well as Social Justice Initiatives; Religious and Moral Education Conference through the ATA; SPICE and Blueprints through the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association; Dinner and a Course through St. Joseph s College; and the Treasures of the Faith, the Certificate in Catholic Studies, and the Master of Religious Education through Newman Theological College. Included below are two links from the Alberta Bishops in their support of Catholic Education: Catholic Education Sunday Bishop s Letter Catholic Education Sunday Supplementary Statement We thank those who were able to attend the parent engagement evenings and for sharing their comments.
December 2017 O come, divine Messiah; the world in silence waits the day When hope shall sing its triumph and sadness flee away. (O Come, Divine Messiah, S.J. Pellegrin) The season of Advent is upon us. It is a sacred time of prayer, reflection, and preparation for the coming of Jesus. There are so many ways that families can share in the joy and anticipation of the birth of our Saviour. Archbishop Smith shares how we can bring the Word of God more deeply into our classrooms and homes in his message to us this month. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, as we light the candles on our Advent wreaths, we can also reflect on the hope, peace, joy, and love that is to be found in the gift of Jesus Christ. There are many special events that are being held in our parishes and schools; evenings of Advent song, the preparation of hampers for families who would benefit from extra support, extra opportunities to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, to name a few. The Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories released a supplementary letter just before Catholic Education Sunday. In it, they gave a call to Catholics to join in and spread the great news of Catholic education. They share, It is important that everyone be ready to stand up for our faith and for our schools. Please be prepared to speak out in support of our Catholic schools whenever you can. We are proud of who we are as Catholics. You can read the entire letter at https://goo.gl/caurbf. We will be proudly sharing the story of the richness of Catholic education in Edmonton Catholic Schools using the hashtag #ECSDFaithInspires in the upcoming months, and we encourage you to help us spread the message that Catholic education is an outstanding and important choice for families to guide our children and youth as they learn and grow in mind, body, and spirit. We are embarking on a legacy project and would like to be able to capture the journeys of families who have 3 or 4 generations that are able to share their story of Edmonton Catholic Schools. If your family is interested in participating, please email a brief overview of your generations to marketing@ecsd.net. The response to our Celebration of Catholic Education Evenings in November was tremendous! We have included the responses to the questions which people shared with us as part of the feedback sheets. Edmonton Catholic Schools is excited to participate in the Hour of Code, once again this year. This is the fourth year that we will be participating, and this year s event will be the best one yet! 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. Coding is a great way to develop literacy, numeracy, creativity, and thinking skills. Last year we had over 22,000 students participate and this year we are hoping for 25,000! Our goal is to have a <Bit of Code> In Every School.
In his Sunday Angelus to mark the beginning of Advent last year, Pope Francis shared the following message: In this season of Advent, we are called to expand the horizons of our hearts, to be amazed by the life which presents itself each day with newness. I wish you all an Advent that fills you with this amazement! Sincerely, Joan Carr Superintendent