The Good News - August 25, 2023

Welcome Back to School! St. John XXIII August 25, 2023

Leadership Message

Welcome Back to School!

It is with great joy and gratitude that we welcome you and your children to our St. John XXIIII community for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

Our theme for this year: "Go Light Our World" is based on Matthew 5:16: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." With this theme, we will to encourage kindness, compassion, and positive actions guided by our faith.

Imagine a candle lighting up a room. Just like that, our actions can brighten the lives of those around us. Every act of kindness, big or small, becomes a little light that brings warmth and hope.

Together, we can help students learn the joy of making a positive impact. Our theme will unite us, strengthen our faith, and continue to foster a caring community.

Thank you for your support. Let's make this year GLOW!

Blessings,

Kristine Willis Dengler

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First Day of School/First Week Back... What to Expect

We are excited to welcome our students back to school on Thursday and Friday for staggered entry and then the whole school for Tuesday after the long weekend. Some important information for the first day:

1. Our Bell rings at 8:40 am. Your child's teacher and staff members will be outside to meet and greet your child and family. Look for the numbered balloons to see where your child's door is.

2. Dismissal is 3:10 pm.

3. Please see information below re: parking, drop off, pick up, bus.

4. Lunchtime : students will play first (11:25 - 11:45am) and then eat (11:45-12:10pm). Teachers this year will once again build in two snack breaks, am and pm, prior to or after recess. We are encouraging students to have their nutritious snacks inside rather than out so they can focus on their movement and play during recess. This also assists with safety (choking and wasps) and care for our environment (less waste in our playground).

5. Welcome Back Assembly Tuesday, September 5th 12:15 pm

Staggered Entry: August 31st & September 1st

Staggered Entry for grades 1-4

August 31st: Staggered Entry Students with last names A-L

September 1st: Staggered Entry: Students with last names M-Z

Staggered Entry for Monday/Wednesday Kindergarten:

- Child’s last name starting with A - C, orientation will be on Friday, September 1st, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am

- Child’s last name starting with D-J , orientation will be on Friday, September 1st from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

-Child's last name starting with K-P, orientation will be on Wednesday, September 6th from 9am - 11 am.

- Child's name starting with Q-Z, orientiation will be on Wednesday, September 6th from 12:00 pm - 2:00pm (note this time has changed due to early out Wed. and staff meeting)

Staggered Entry for Tuesday/Thursday Kindergarten:

- Child’s last name starting with A - C orientation will be on Thursday, August 31st from 9:00 am to 11:00 am

- Child’s last name starting with D - J, orientation will be on Thursday, August 31st from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

-Child's last name starting with K-P, orientation will be on Tuesday, September 5th from 9am - 11 am.

- Child's name starting with Q-Z, orientiation will be on Tuesday, September 5th from 1:00 pm - 3:00pm

First day of classes for all Kindergarten students: September 7th (TR group) 8th (MW group)

Nature Kindergarten starts Thursday, September 7th

PreK staggered entry September 11th, 12th (more details to follow)

*We have also created some grade level pencils for photo ops for you that will be near your child's entrance doors in the fields* Please send in any photos you are willing to share in our Smore and social media to Mrs. Willis Dengler kristinew@eics.ab.ca

Staffing Update

Pre- K: Kim Frey

1-4 Pathways: Kim Frey

Nature Kindergarten: Sarah Balla

Kindergarten: Emmalee Kruse

Grade 1 Team: Kristen Menzak & Kathy Forslund

Grade 2 Team: Jenna Parks (Lockhart) & Rhonda Ganes

Grade 3 Team: Lesley Holt, Gail Greene and Amanda McAra

Grade 4 Team: Jennifer Maynard, Angela Marple and Sarah Balla

Music: Sarah Schaub

Early Learning Music: Melanie Doderai

Collaborative Response Coordinator: Lesley Holt

Family Wellness Worker: Eleanor Heesing

Chaplain: Rhonda Ganes

Assistant Principal: Gail Greene

Principal: Kristine Willis Dengler

Secretary: Barb Potter

Library Tech: May-Lee Buban

Custodians: Lee Trainor, Moises Pineda

Educational Assistants:

Kersten Morris

Michelle Mudry

Roxanne Kellogg

Adrienne Little

Gwen Manca

Jacqueline White

Chantelle Bennett

Nicole Kelly

Shelly MacLeod

Student Support Team: Kristine Willis Dengler, Gail Greene, Eleanor Heesing & Lesley Holt

Learning and Growing Together: What will we learn this year?

As Catholic educators, we commit to providing learning opportunities in the context of Gospel values, where each student is celebrated and nurtured. Every day at Saint John XXIII, your child will connect with and experience how much God loves them through relationships with staff, peers, and parish members. In addition to our connection to Christ, staff will work with your child to achieve specific learning outcomes as outlined by Alberta Education.

To be partners on your child's learning journey, we invite you to click on the link below:

https://curriculum.learnalberta.ca/home/en

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New 2023-2024 Bell Schedule

First bell rings at 8:40 am and dismissal is 3:10 pm. Morning supervision begins at 8:25 am. Please do not drop off students earlier than 8:25 am.

If you arrive after 8:45 am, please take your child to the front door and ring the doorbell to contact the office

Message from EIPS Transportation: New Bus Status App

We've given the Bus Status App a major update. The new App is faster, more reliable, and better optimized for school districts and the families that rely on Bus Status. Bus Status 3 has been removed from the App and Google Play Stores. Parents should download Bus Status 4 and choose their preferences to continue to receive Bus Status notifications. On September 29, Bus Status 3 will be retired and users will only receive Bus Status notifications on Bus Status 4.

Learn More About Bus Status 4

Parents should go to the App or Google Play stores starting today and download the new Bus Status 4 App. It will be the only Bus Status App available to download. They can delete the Bus Status 3 App from their devices once they have the new app installed.

Both Bus Status 3 and 4 will continue to receive Bus Status notifications until September 29. On September 29, Bus Status 3 will be retired and users will no longer receive notifications.

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Looking Ahead

Mon. Sept. 4 - No School
Tues. Sept. 5 - First Assembly
Wed. Sept. 6 - Early Dismissal 2:10pm
Wed. Sept. 13 - Meet the Staff 5:30-6:30
Fri. Sept 15 - Terry Fox Run
Thurs. Sept 21 - Opening Mass

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New - Sacramental Prep Offered In School 2023-2024

We are so blessed to be able to have our school and parish work together to walk with you and your child on their Sacramental Journeys. Father Carlos and our Sacramental Prep team will be offering Sacramental Prep classes at St. John XXIII after school from 3:15 - 3:45 on the following dates:

First Reconciliation Prep Classes

September: 11,12,18,19,25,26 ( At STJXXIII)

October 4 at 6:30pm (At OLA Parish) - Tour of the Church and short Adoration

First Holy Communion Prep Classes

Oct: 11,12,18,19,25,26 ( At STJXXIII)

November 1 at 6:30pm ( At OLA Parish) -Teaching Mass and short Adoration

Celebrations:

First Reconciliation Nov 18th at the Church OLA at 2pm

First Holy Communion Nov 19th at the Church OLA at 2pm

More information can be found at https://www.olafortsask.caedm.ca/Sacraments

E-mail registration forms to: olangels.ftsask@caedm.ca (We accept e-transfer of fees to the same email address.)

First Reconciliation First Eucharist Registration Form

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Parking Lot Protocols: Parking, Drop off, Pick ups: Our students' safety is number one priority

For the safety of all St. John XXIII students, there are a few very important parking lot protocols to follow.

*Most important* Please do not allow students to cross the parking lot at any time. Encourage use of the sidewalks adjacent to the lot and crosswalks. Our students are little and are hard to see when people are backing up. We had some near misses last year and need your cooperation with this. Modeling and reinforcing pedestrian safety is key for young children. It’s always best to walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Every child is different, but developmentally, most kids are unable to judge the speed and distance of oncoming cars until about age 10.

Our kinders line up beside our parking lot, please do not park in front of the basketball area or double park. Help us keep all students safe.

Visitor parking spaces: We have 15 visitor parking stalls (identified with the Visitor parking sign). These spaces are closest to the road. These stalls are available on a first-come, first serve basis and we would like to encourage our families to try to be courteous and leave these spaces for our families with infant children or our families with children with complex needs. If these spaces are full, please do not come into the parking lot to drop off your child.

Park and walk: As has been a familiar practice for most of our SJXXIII families, please make a plan with your child for a meeting spot, park down the street or around the corner. This keeps kids active and safe and greatly reduces the congestion in between the two schools. Some parking is available across the street. Please do not park in a numbered stall as these are reserved for our friends at Win Ferguson.

Walking School Bus: A fantastic practice in other schools is the Walking School Bus. Parents who live near one another make a plan to walk to school along a route, picking up kids along the way. Find out who lives by you and make a safe and active plan to walk to school!

Thank-you for your cooperation and commitment to keeping our kids safe. Remember, student safety will always trump convenience.

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2023-2024 Supply Lists

For the 2023-2024 school year, you will be required to purchase or supply basic school supplies for your child, including a one-to-one technology device for students in grade 4. Enhancement programming costs such as field trips etc. will be posted to your PowerSchool account in the fall. You will receive an email when the fees have been posted.

Staples is offering special pricing for parents from Elk Island Catholic Schools. You may choose to get your school supplies from Staples or from another retail store, click the button below to access the school supply lists provided by our school and by Staples.

2023-2024 St. John XXIII Supply Lists