Shining Bright @ Madonna!

And the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news

that will cause great JOY

for all the people."

Luke 2:10

What an amazing night to celebrate Advent and prepare for the birth of Christ! We express so much gratitude to you for joining us on this Advent journey, and celebrating the coming of the Light of the World.

Thank you for extending your gratitude to the children who brought the joy, staff who brought it all together, the OLPH Parish team for their collaboration, and you, moms, dads and extended family for entrusting your most precious children to the Madonna Catholic School community! We are truly blessed to live each day with our powerful partnerships!

You're invited to our our Christmas Mass this coming Friday, December 22, at 10AM, in the same Church! It will be a beautiful reverent way to celebrate our final Advent day together! See you there!

What a blessing to have the Advent Concert live streamed for all to see and enjoy! And you can watch it again, and again and again!! Click here for the link to all of the livestream videos at OLPH parish, and click on the video labelled: 2023-12-15 Madonna Catholic School Advent Concert! Blessings and gratitude to Bob Gerow for making the livestream and recording possible!

December

18- Monday

• Daily Advent Liturgy at 8:50 AM.

19-Tuesday

• Daily Advent Liturgy at 8:50 AM
• Teacher's in Collaborative Team Meeting to discuss common assessment practices
• Staff Lunch - Thank you to all parents who volunteered to supervise today!!

• MCS Prayer Club during first recess
• Daily Advent Liturgy at 8:50 AM
  

• Daily Advent Liturgy at 8:50 AM
• Art Club @ lunch recess
• 1S/W Polar Express Day

• Hot Lunch for those who ordered
• Daily Advent Liturgy at 8:50 AM
• Christmas Mass at 10 AM at OLPH Parish
• Christmas Movie at 1:15 PM - Gotcha Glowing Assembly just before the movie

Wishing you and your family a beautiful Christmas filled with

Christ's love, light, hope, peace and joy!

We also wish you a very Happy New Year!

Looking forward to seeing you in the new year,

bright eyed and bushy tailed on Monday, January 8th.

Our next Smore will be Sunday, January 7th

when we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord!

Thank you for your incredible generosity during our recent advent concert in support of the Strathcona Food bank. Thanks to your kindness we donated 242 pounds of food to those in our community.

Your contributions and willingness to give during this festive season are truly heartwarming. Please know that your thoughtful contributions will directly impact the lives of many, spreading hope and joy during this Advent season.

We are excited to invite you and your family to participate in a special daily Advent tradition called the Jesse Tree. This tradition is a wonderful way to journey through the anticipation of Christmas by exploring the lineage of Jesus Christ through various stories and symbols from the Bible. The school meets for daily prayer at 8:50 AM in the gym.

The Jesse Tree tradition involves daily readings, reflections, and the decoration of a symbolic tree with ornaments representing key events and figures from the Old Testament that lead up to the birth of Jesus. It's a celebration and recognition of how God planned and prepared for the coming of Christ. It's a fantastic opportunity for families to come together, reflect on the meaning of Advent, and deepen their understanding of the biblical story of salvation.

You are welcome and invited to join us every morning at 8:50am in the gym for our daily Advent Liturgy.

Each day Elk Island Catholic School posts messages on Social Media from students around the division. They share messages of Peace, Hope and Joy. If you missed them, you're invited to click here to access each one - and yes, the video of our two little MCS gems are there too!

Our next School Council Meeting (virtual) will be Wednesday, January 10 at 7:00pm.

It's an early dismissal day, with a school spirit theme of "Hat Day!"

See you then! We have big things planned for 2024! Come and join the fun!

Did you know that when you shop at Save On Foods on Wye Road and you bring your receipts to Madonna Catholic School, we receive a % of the purchases? Last year this fundraiser raised $1185!!!

Did you know that it also works on 15% off Tuesdays?

Did you know that Save On Foods will also Ad Match any advertised price?

Shop @ Wye Rd Save on Foods, save money & support Madonna Catholic School!

This season, fundraising for Madonna Catholic School is going to be so much easier with FlipGive, a free fundraising app.

We earn cash back on every purchase we make all year long! All you have to do is shop anytime with the brands you already love, like Home Depot, Walmart, Sport Chek, Indigo, Old Navy, Apple, Esso, and Loblaws. No more going door-to-door selling chocolate bars - it’s completely virtual and contactless.

There is no cost to parents or anyone that uses it (other than their own online purchases). Literally, by logging into the website and/or app, choosing your store and shopping, Madonna will receive a percentage of each purchase. There are many stores and services to choose from – even purchasing gift cards through this site earns the school rewards!

Join our team now and you’ll get a $5 bonus the first time you shop: https://flipgive.app.link/teams/join?joincode=WK2MXH

Or enter this code: WK2MXH

Login in online or download the FlipGive App. To start earning, search your favorite store through the app. Your purchase will earn our school money.

If you have any questions, please contact Kim Mahoney at kim@acappellacatering.com.

The first bell for children to enter school is at 8:33am.

When children are able to enter into their day following the gentle routines they are used to, children step into learning peacefully and calmly which sets their day up for success.

Thank you for your help ensuring your child arrives on time.

We are here to help. If it's a struggle to arrive on time, please feel free to reach out to the school leadership team, or our Family Wellness Worker, Mrs. Norrie.

Registration for

Mainstream Kindergarten to Grade 4 programs

&

COGITO Kindergarten to Grade 4 programs

opens February 1, 2024!

Thank you for being a Madonna Catholic School Ambassador and sharing far and wide how awesome our school community is. Remember, you are one of the many reasons why we are so awesome!! 💗 Thank you for welcoming others to join our Faith family!

New Families interested in joining Madonna Catholic School are invited to our January 30th Open House - Reserve Your Time to Visit! Bring a Friend! This Open House will be during the day and you will be able to see and feel our faith filled school environment it all it's joy and Glory!

Stay tuned! More details to come!

Registration for all Mainstream & COGITO Kindergarten to Grade 4 programs

open February 1, 2024.

February 22nd - Parent Information Evening for Mainstream & COGITO Programs

Mark Your Calendar and stay tuned! More information to come! This will geared for all families interested in joining MCS in either the Mainstream or COGITO Programs.

We are happy to answer any questions! Call, email or forward this S'More to all those wanting more information.

Families already enrolled at Madonna Catholic School do not need to register again - you're in!

If you are thinking about switching programs, thank you for contacting the Leadership Team at Madonna Catholic School - Mme Gravelle or Miss Podoborozny.

Sunday Mass: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 7:00 PM.

If parents have any questions, they can also contact the church by phone 780-467-5470 or email sacraments@olph.ca

January:

8th - Welcome back to school!

8th - Epiphany assembly @ 9:00 AM

10th - Early Dismissal @ 2:13 PM

10th - Spirit Day: Hat Day

10th - Virtual Parent Council Meeting @ 7:00 PM

11th - Cinderella Musical Theater Production @ 1:30 PM

13th - Grade 4 Bottle Drive

15th - Adoration Mass @ 9:30 AM

16th - All Kindergarten Students on Prairie Garden Field Trip

26th - Bingo Night for all Families @ 6:30 PM