1 St. Vincent Catholic School

St. Vincent Catholic School 10530 138 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5N 2J6

Telephone: 452-4474 Fax: 451-6463 www.stvincent.ecsd.net

March 2016

Principal’s message

Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,

and abounding in steadfast love ~ Joel 2:13

This scripture passage truly tells the story of salvation history. Over and over

again, God proves how much He loves us. We only need to look at the many

covenants that He has made with us, and which we have broken, to see His

abundant forgiveness and compassion.

As we begin this Lenten season, let us reflect on God’s love, which is so deep and

abiding that He sent His son to die. Just as Jesus wandered in the desert to prepare

Himself to die for our salvation, let us prepare our hearts to receive the

magnificence of this gift by walking alongside Him on His journey.

May this Lenten season bring you even more deeply into God’s steadfast love!

During Lent we invite our families to join us in our Alms Giving Jar and Lenten

Calendar which was sent home on Ash Wednesday. During morning

announcements and in class we refer to this calendar and collectively attempt to

fulfill the services outlined for each day.

We are also encouraging our students to spend more time in prayer and reading the

Bible. We are thankful for our many blessings!

Mme Ghali

2 St. Vincent Catholic School

School closed on these dates

Please make note of these dates in March when the school will be closed:

Spring Break begins on Friday March 25. Classes will resume on

Monday April 4.

Thursday March 24 will be a half day of classes for students in Grades 1-

6, as usual.

There are no classes for 100 Voices and Kindergarten students on

Thursday March 24.

The school will be closed on Good Friday, March 25.

There are a few upcoming changes in our staff at St. Vincent. Mrs. Pointer has

moved to a new school in Windermere and we are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Simm

in the office. Mrs. Simm comes to St. Vincent with a wealth of experience, please

stop by and introduce yourself. Mrs. Dumanski and Miss Esposito will be working

with the morning Kindergarten students while Mrs. Bencz is on her maternity

leave. In addition, Mme Heck our French Teacher and Learning Coach will

increase her time at the school beginning February 29.

Report cards and Celebration of

Learning

Student report cards will be

available for viewing on Power

School at 3:00 PM on Friday March

11. Please be ready to login and see

your child’s progress.

Our Celebration of Learning will be

on Thursday March 17. Parents are

invited to come visit their child’s

classroom as well as other areas in

the school (especially our Chapel).

Your child will lead you through

recent assignments and projects.

The schedule for all our students will

be from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM and

6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with one exception. Mrs. Dumanski be available from

8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and then again from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. To make the

most of this time, we ask that siblings wait in the hallways; teachers will provide

books, magazine and/or puzzles for the waiting children.

3 St. Vincent Catholic School

Thank You

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Mr. Graham Neil for taking time to

work with our Grade 6 students on our morning video announcements. Mr. Neil

has come into the school to discuss effective use of the technology that we

currently have at the school as well as offer his expertise on writing a strong news

story.

Oil Kings

St. Vincent received tickets to the 7th annual Hockey Hooky

game on February 29. Miss Taylor and Mrs. Mclean will be

taking 18 students from Grades 1-6 to the game. We thank

Volvo for their generous donation which enables our students to

take part in this wonderful experience.

Way of the Cross

The Grade 5 students will be leading our students in a

reflective activity centered on the Stations of the Cross.

This will be a time for students to learn about and reflect on

a series of images and prayers which depict Jesus Christ on

the day of his crucifixion.

Ortona Gymnastics

The students in the afternoon Kindergarten and Grade 1 will be going to Ortona

Gymnastics on March 2. These fieldtrips will cover

all or most of the learner outcomes in our Physical

Education Gymnastics unit. Ortona Gymnastics

provides the students with trained gymnastics

teachers and a magnificent environment in which to

learn. In addition, it is a great fun!

Permission slips will be sent home as they usually

are for fieldtrips. Parent volunteers will be required.

The cost of these fieldtrips are subsidized by our

SAC – thank you, SAC.

4 St. Vincent Catholic School

Edmonton Eskimos

As a community-owned team, the Edmonton Eskimo Football Club strives to make

a positive and meaningful impact in our community. On Friday March 4, 2016,

players from our Grey Cup champions the Edmonton Eskimos will be visiting

students in Grades 4 – 6 to talk about the importance of

nutrition and active lifestyle. The students in Grades 1-

3 will be taking part in this presentation on April 8.

The Eskimos will be doing their presentation in the gym

on both dates from 1:00pm – 2:00pm. Students are

encouraged to wear green and gold to school on this day

to show our support the Esks. Go Eskimos Go!

Electricity workshop

On March 9 Mr. Ken Boyko from Science Consulting is

going to introduce the grade 5 students to electricity. We

are bringing in an expert to launch our project based unit.

Mr. Boyko will provide information, safety tips and

materials that will bring electricity to life. The students

will be introduced to circuit boards. The grade 5 students

will participate in making open and closed circuits. We

are looking forward to making lights glow, buzzers beep

and motors move!! The students will draw and make circuits of their own design.

This is a great kick off to our new unit.

Telus World of Science

The Grades 1/2 class and the Grade 2 class will be

attending a field trip this month to the TELUS World

of Science. The grade 1's will be participating in hands

on activities based on the Science unit on Building

Things. The Grade 2's will be completing activities

based on the Hot and Cold Temperatures unit in

Science. Both classes will also see the IMAX "Born to

Be Wild in 3D, which coincides with both grade 1 and grade 2 Science outcomes.

Thank you to our SAC for subsiding a portion of the cost of this field trip! The

students are looking forward to this event!

5 St. Vincent Catholic School

St. Patrick’s Day

We always look forward to celebrating St. Patrick’s

Day each March 17. On this day, everyone wants to

be Irish. Let’s show our spirit for the day by dressing

in green. We might even have a leprechaun visit.

Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test

During the first week of March, students in Grade 3 will be writing the CCAT test.

This is an ability test and students do not need to study.

March Parent Night – 100 Voices and

Kindergarten

Did you know that the Easter egg is a

symbol of the Risen Christ? Just as a chick

breaks the shell when it is hatched and

begins life, so Our Lord comes forth living

from the tomb. All families in 100 Voices

and Kindergarten are invited to the school

on March 21 from 3:30-6:30 to decorate

Easter Eggs with their children. This is a

wonderful opportunity to connect with one

another at a very special time in our Catholic

Faith.

Bread Lady

On Tuesday March 22, The Bread Lady will be

visiting the Grade 1 classroom. The students will

learn about healthy cereal ingredients and the benefits

of whole grains. They will learn about Pysanka and

the meaning of the symbols that are put on Ukrainian

Easter eggs. They will then make Paska or Easter

Bread and will decorate eggs, just in time to celebrate

Easter with their families!

6 St. Vincent Catholic School

Easter celebration

On April 4 at 1:15 PM we will come together as a Faith

Community to celebrate Easter. Christ went through his

passion and death to bring us new life; he shows us the way to

the greater meaning of life. We welcome all of you to come

and celebrate with us!

SAC/PAC Please join us at our next Parent Council meeting – this

meeting will be on Monday April 11 at 6:30 PM in the

staffroom. All parents of St. Vincent school are

welcome to this important component of school

planning.

New Registration

We have started registration for new

students wishing to register for the

2016-2017 school year. Next year,

our 100 Voices and Kindergarten

will once again be run as two

separate programs. We will be

accepting 3 and 4 year olds to our 100 Voices program. Children registering in the

100 Voices program must 3 years of age on or before September 30, 2016.

Children registering for Kindergarten must be 5 years of age on or before March 1,

2017.

We have seen growth in our school population this year and we hope this

continues! As parents, you are our best advocates.

Please tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers and family about our wonderful

school!

7 St. Vincent Catholic School

Shrove Tuesday It was a wonderful day at St. Vincent School.

Under the leadership of our Special Events

Committee, our Grade 6 students, volunteers

from St. Mark School and many parents who

spent the day at school preparing for our

Pancake Lunch. It was a great success and we

couldn’t have done it without those wonderful

volunteers – Thank you!

I would also like to thank our PAC for

supporting our luncheon, Albert’s restaurant for

the cooking those delicious pancakes and our

cooperate sponsor: The Toy Hutch.

Basketball Free Throw

Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 have been practicing their

basketball skills. These students participated in the

Knights of Columbus sponsored tournament on Sunday

February 21 at St. Mark School. Two of our students

have advanced to the next level of the competition which

will be held on March 6. We wish them both good luck!

37th Annual Running Room Indoor Games

Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 participated in the Edmonton Indoor Games on

February 16. The relay team was successful in advancing to the mixed team semi-

finals on March 12. The teachers and parents look forward to the upcoming race

and wish our runners good luck. If you would like to come cheer on our runners,

we will be at the Butterdome on Saturday March 12.

Intramurals

Intramurals will continue in grades 4, 5 and 6 for the month of March. The

students will play on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at lunch recess. The

students are supervised by Ms. Taylor, Ms. Ciezki and Mrs. Matthews. The

students will play Badminton. We congratulate all of the students for their good

sportsmanship and commitment to their teams!!

8 St. Vincent Catholic School

Safety over convenience

The streets around our building are always busy before and after school. For

everyone’s safety, please do not allow your children to embark or alight your

vehicle in the middle of street. We have recently had a few close calls, especially

with the slippery roads. Please also be mindful of parking too close to the corners,

limiting drivers’ view.

Terrific Kids

This month our Terrific Kids focus is Independence. Once again we celebrate our

students who show outstanding effort in demonstrating this characteristic. Our

monthly assembly will be on Wednesday March 23 at 10:30 AM. Please join us.

School Fee Payment Reminder

We are half way through the school year and we kindly

ask those families who have not paid their school fees to

do so in as soon as possible. If you have any questions

about fees, please contact the school office at

780 452 4474.

The fees for all students are: $140.00.

Illnesses

Children who are not well find it difficult to achieve at school. They may also

become a source of infection for others in their classroom and on the playground.

Sick children need rest to heal their bodies!

Although we have a cot and a “sick” room in the office, it is used primarily for

emergencies. It is difficult for us to supervise children who are not quite ready to

be full participants in the classroom and who should be outside at recess. Your

assistance is needed as we head into the next round of cold and flu season. Keep

sick children at home until they are healthy and rested.

Lunch Expectations

It is a privilege to be able to stay for lunch at St. Vincent School and each child

needs to abide by the lunch rules. Students are expected to:

o Stay seated while eating

o Use an inside voice while talking to classmates

o Be polite to the student monitors

o Clean up their eating space before going out for recess

Thank you to the students in Grade 6 who serve as leaders, every day! It is

impressive to see how these lunchtime monitors show guidance and demonstrate

kind-heartedness toward the younger children.

Thank you Miss Ciezki and students!

9 St. Vincent Catholic School

March 2016

Then He took a loaf of bread, and when He had given thanks, He

broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is

given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ ~ Luke 22:19 ~

This scripture passage, which comes from Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples,

shares the foundation of our faith. This first Eucharist, the sharing of the body and

blood of Christ, is at the heart of our Church. When we gather together to share in

the Eucharist, it is a memorial of the gift of love that God, through the person of

Jesus Christ, gave to us for our salvation. In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, we are

particularly reminded that the salvation that we realize as followers of Jesus is because

we have a merciful Father who shares his abundant love and forgiveness with us. We,

in turn, are called to show this love and forgiveness to others; we are called to that

same mercy.

March always brings many celebrations of student learning at the school and

District level. Parents will have the opportunity in the next several weeks to attend

Demonstrations of Learning at school to have their children show them their great

growth over the past months. At the District level, there are many events that

highlight the fine arts in particular. Our annual Spring into Art exhibit, which runs

from February 29 to March 13 at Enterprise Square, showcases the art work of

students throughout the District. The display includes everything from expressive,

colourful images created by students in our early learning classes to highly

sophisticated, polished works by students in our High school Art programs. Band

Share Day on March 7 provides students from across the District the opportunity to

play on stage at the Winspear. March 17 is our annual Heart of Glee concert at the

Myer Horowitz Theatre. It is an amazing celebration of song which raises funds for

the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Please visit www.ecsd.net to learn more.

One of the innovative ways in which we meet student needs is through an

alternate school year calendar. Three of our schools, Mother Teresa, St. Alphonsus,

and St. Catherine offer a year round schooling calendar. One of the many benefits of

year round schooling is that the learning is spread out more evenly through the

calendar year. Students in year round schools have a shorter summer break and then

have a fall break, the same Christmas break, and a 2 week Spring Break, which starts

on March 21 this year.

10 St. Vincent Catholic School

Our District is excited to be running the second annual Numeracy week which begins on

March 14th (Pi day). Numeracy is an on-going process, and this week provides students with an

opportunity to explore the understanding that numeracy is for life. This year’s Pi Day is special

in that if we were to round 3.1415926… to the 4th decimal position, we would produce 3.1416

which can be thought of as 3rd month of the 14th day of 2016. Students across the District will

engage in many exciting activities, some involving pie, in this celebration of math in everyday life.

It takes ongoing, intentional work to create and sustain a school culture that recognizes,

emphasizes and reinforces a cross-curricular approach to numeracy. Many sessions have been

delivered to District staff this year exploring numeracy through the 7 Mathematical processes.

Within these professional learning sessions, purposeful connections have been made to other

curriculum and content areas, thus empowering staff to highlight that numeracy is foundational

to all learning.

I would like to share a tweet from Pope Francis on February 16 that speaks to the essence

of Catholic education, which provides students with a daily encounter with Christ. He shared that

“In Jesus, I have met the one who is able to bring out the best in me.” Truly, that is what we

offer our students!

I wish you all a blessed Holy Week and an Easter filled with the joy to be found in the

Risen Christ!

Sincerely,

Joan Carr Superintendent

11 St. Vincent Catholic School

March: a Month of Mercy for Lent + Easter

"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (Mt

25:40)

Pope Francis declared 2016 the Jubilee Year of Mercy; he encourages all of us to practice the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. The works of mercy give Christians ways to live according to Jesus’ Great Commandment; they are more than gestures or obligations, rather they are genuine acts of love for our neighbor. Here are 31 ways to practice mercy and celebrate Easter this March:

1. Tell someone that you appreciate them; give them a hug

2. Live simply today; turn the TV or computer off and go for a walk outside with

God.

3. Encourage someone who is having a tough time.

4. Pray for someone who is sick or struggling with a problem.

5. Be positive; refrain from using sarcasm.

6. Call, or better yet go visit, someone you know who is lonely.

7. Write a sorry letter and ask for forgiveness.

8. Spend an extra 7 minutes with God today; read a Bible story or scripture.

9. Show humility and admit that you’re wrong.

10. Listen to a Christian song (105.9 Shine FM) and contemplate the message.

11. Write down 3 things you are grateful for. If any of them includes a person, tell

them.

12. Invite your child to cook lunch or supper with you; let them choose the recipe.

13. Smile, greet or chat with someone who is new to you at Church or not in your

social circle.

14. Forgive yourself. Write it down and burn the paper, offering your prayers up to

God.

15. Show acceptance and do something kind to someone who challenges you.

16. Offer to babysit for a busy mom so she can have a couple of hours to herself.

17. It’s St. Patrick’s Day; celebrate the Trinity. Buy a shamrock plant: pray to God,

Jesus & the Holy Spirit.

18. Write a letter or send a card to someone you miss.

19. Buy toothbrushes, toiletries and a small treat for the homeless.

20. It’s Palm Sunday; celebrate your faith by spending an extra 5 minutes praying

after Church.

21. Put down your cell-phone and really listen to someone, with eye contact.

22. Appreciate your freedom; go for a long walk in the sunshine.

23. Show patience with someone who is slow or messy.

24. It’s Holy Thursday; talk about Jesus and the Last Supper during family meal time

today.

12 St. Vincent Catholic School 25. It’s Good Friday; spend some quiet time with God today…He is sad that His son

died.

26. Spend extra time with someone, doing something they are interested in or play

a board game.

27. It’s Easter! Celebrate life! After Church go do something fun outside.

28. Visit the graves of your passed loved ones; pray for all the souls in the cemetery.

29. Show the earth you love her; plan a garden & go buy some seeds for planting,

even lettuce.

30. Offer to do an errand for a homebound person or a busy parent.

31. Acknowledge someone for doing a good job; celebrate their success!

Janice Stefancik, Elementary Religious Education Consultant

13 St. Vincent Catholic School Mercy and Race Relations – Part of our Lenten & Easter Journey Pope Francis calls us to live this Jubilee Year of Mercy in all aspects of our lives. "Human beings, whenever they judge, look no farther than the surface, whereas the Father looks into the very depths of the soul," writes Francis. One of the worst ways that we can “look no farther than the surface”, is through the sin of racism. March 21 is designated by the United Nations (UN) as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Racial discrimination can be defined as judging a person or group of people based on the behavior of some members of the group. Am I a racist? I certainly hope not! I never use those derogatory names for people of different races. I don’t allow or forbid actions based on the color of the skin of the person making a request. I avoid jokes that make fun of visible minorities. On the other hand, racism can be so subtle; sometimes I get caught up in it without even noticing. “That car cut me off - Oh, what planet did they learn to drive on?” Sometimes it even seems logical to be racist or prejudice if we’ve had a number of experiences with a certain group of people and they have all ended with a similar result. I recall talking with a friend of mine who is a member of a visible minority group when we met up at Teachers’ Convention. He told me about a story that he had told some students when discussing racism. He asked the students in the class who were wearing jeans to stand for a moment, and then proceeded to tell them that he did not like people who wore jeans. His reasoning was that when he arrived in Canada a couple of years earlier, he asked the first person he saw in the airport for directions. That person was wearing jeans and was not helpful at all to him. He then asked another person wearing jeans and they ignored him completely. He received assistance from a person wearing khaki pants. This pattern continued and the first six people with whom he spoke who were wearing jeans were all difficult and not helpful. He concluded, quite logically, that people who wear jeans are not nice people. There were two reactions from the students in the class. One person wearing jeans was very upset and felt that she was being judged unfairly based on the actions of others. Another student, not wearing jeans, said that he could relate to my friend and definitely understood why he had reached that conclusion. Let’s take a few minutes in our families and talk about how we feel about racism - not only the blatant, in-your-face kind of racism, but the more subtle, seemingly

logical kind as well. When we find ways in our daily lives to allow mercy to take action, this leads us closer to a meaningful Lenten experience. If we can live a meaningful Lent, then Easter becomes a truly glorious and amazing celebration of the love of God made visible in the death and resurrection of Jesus for our sake. A Holy Lent and a

Happy Easter to all!

Ed Jean, Secondary Religious Education Consultant