St. Michael's News
December 1st, 2023
First Sunday of Advent
This Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season.
Advent is a time of preparation. We eagerly await the coming of Christ at Christmas. During this time, we use the Advent wreath as a centrepiece for classroom prayer, and devote extra time in the classroom to worship and praise.
Virtue of the Month
Our Virtue focus for December – Hope
During the month of December, we celebrate the virtue of Hope. We believe that God comes to us as a real human who can show us the way of life. God has given us the Advent season year after year in order to focus our minds and our hearts on the good all around us.
A hopeful person is....
† Optimistic
† Inspired and inspires others
† One who sees the good in the world
Sometimes in life, bad things happen to us that we cannot explain. During these times we may get mad at God for putting us through so much pain. We forget God is love, He is for us, and does not will our suffering. When you feel sad and alone, remember to never lose HOPE, pray to God for the grace to endure and trust in Jesus who understands our pain.
Let us pray for the grace and courage to be people of hope, people who can see, participate in, and contribute to God's goodness emerging around us. Amen
Thank you to the Grade 7 class for hosting the Advent Assembly this week.
Starting next week, the grade 7 class will be leading morning prayer for the whole school in the gym. Every Monday morning of Advent, the students will journey through the story of salvation history, The grade 7 class will use the Jesse Tree to tell the story of God in the Old Testament. The Jesse tree helps us connect the custom of decorating Christmas trees to the events leading to Jesus' birth. It thus helps connect the Advent season with the faithfulness of God across four thousand years of salvation history.
First Friday Mass - Outreach
A reminder that at every First Friday Mass (next one is tomorrow December 1st), we ask families of students in Grade K-2 to donate non-perishable food items to assist St. Michael’s Parish Food Bank. This is especially important at Christmas when families in need appreciate extras for the holidays.
Our students in Grades 3 to 7 are asked to donate to the food bank when it is their day for confession. When the Grade 2 students receive the sacrament of confession in January, they will then be placed in the Grades 3 – 7 rotation to donate.
Upcoming Events and Activities
Basketball Practice Schedule
If you need the permission form it can be found in the student section of our school website.
Family Mass - Breakfast with St. Nicholas
Our December family Mass will take place the Second Sunday of Advent - Sunday, December 10th at 8:30 AM. Choir members are encouraged to come and lead us in song and all families of the school are invited. Mass will be followed by a special pancake breakfast with St. Nicholas.
Save the Date
The school choir will also be singing Christmas morning Mass at 8:30 AM.
School Choir - Lougheed Mall
The school choir from grades 3-7 will be singing at Lougheed Town Centre for their annual ‘Christmas In Song’ event. The students will be performing on Friday, December 15 from 2-3 pm in front of London Drugs.
Skating Party - Save the Date
The Parent Association Skating Party will be happening Tuesday, December 19th. Permission forms with further information will be sent home next week.
Christmas Concert and 'Away in a Mango' T-shirts
Practices are well underway for our Christmas Concert “Away in a Mango”. We will have 2 performances on Thursday December 21st at 1:30pm and 7pm.
Thank you to those students and families who have purchased Christmas Concert t-shirts and raffle tickets. The funds raised help support the fine arts department here at St. Michael's School.
A reminder that these 'Away In A Mango', Christmas Concert t-shirts can be worn in replacement of the white school polo shirt or red school PE shirt. Other than the t-shirt students should be in full school winter uniform. We ask that these shirts NOT be worn on Fridays for Mass, and students wear their full school uniform as normal.
All students will be performing a musical number for the concert, and we are asking that they come in a tropical-style costume for the performance. The easiest option is for your child to wear an 'Hawaiian' shirt, with jeans and tropical accessories. If you do not have a 'Hawaiian' shirt, another option is for your child to wear his/her 'Away In A Mango' t-shirt, with jeans and tropical accessories. Remember, the key is to accessorize!
PEC News
Parent Participation Opportunities
We need help in the following areas and would encourage you to contact the school office or our Parent Participation Coordinator at your earliest convenience if you can help.
Auction Committee
Parish Groups
Maintenance Team
Stage Set up / Christmas musical costume and make up team
Hot Lunch - December and January CLOSED
December and January ordering has closed. Thank you for your support of the Hot Lunch program.
February and March will open for orders in January.
Purdy's Christmas Chocolate Orders CLOSED
Thank you for all those who helped support the school by purchasing Purdy's chocolates.
Reminder that the PICK-UP DAY is scheduled for December 13, 2023.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact fundraising@smeschool.ca.
Craft Night
The evening was a great success with lots of festive fun for everyone.
Thank you to Home Depot and Howard Go Catering for their donations to Craft Night.
A big thank you to everyone who attended, supported and volunteered to make it wonderful success. We hope to see more families out next year!
Auction
We are still accepting donations from any great Black Friday deals on exciting items for the Auction!
Some popular donation ideas are:
- Electronics
- Bottles of wine and fine spirits
- New items that can be sold
- Hotel and spa gift cards
- Sports tickets
- Gift cards in denominations of $25, $50, and $100
If you’re eyeing an item that’s out of your budget, team up with friends or fellow parents so you can all pitch in and get something awesome!
The auction committee is having a meeting on December 14th at 7pm. Anyone that would like to join could email rupa.marcus@gmail.com for details.
Auction Committee Meeting
Thursday, Dec 14, 2023, 07:00 PM
Community News
Flowers of the Holy Knight - Poinsettia sale CLOSED
Reminder that the pick-up day is Sunday, December 10th, at the St. Nicholas Pancake Breakfast following the morning masses.
Thank you for supporting the activities in our parish sponsored by our Knights of Columbus!
Dec 3rd: First Sunday in Advent
Dec 5th: Confession for Gr. 5 and Food Bank
Dec 8th: School Mass 9 am: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Dec 10th: Sunday School Mass 8:30 am; St. Nicholas Pancake Breakfast and Poinsettia pick up
Dec 12th: Confession for Gr. 4 and Food Bank
Dec 14th: Non-Uniform Day
Dec 15th: School Mass 9 am; Choir at Lougheed Mall 2-3pm
Dec 19th: PA Skating Party
Dec 20th: Dress Rehearsal
Dec 21st: Christmas Concert 1:30 pm and 7 pm
Dec 22nd: School Mass 9 am; Christmas Carolling Assembly 10:45 am; Dismissal at 12 noon
O Lord, as we enter this season of Advent, this time of waiting and anticipation, fill us with the hope of Christ. Help us to wait in great expectation for your great light to shine in this world, for all who are living in darkness to see the dawning of your light. This world can be so dark, so troubling, so full of despair, yet you are light and love. May your light fill all the darkest corners of this world. and all the darkest corners of our hearts. May your love conquer all despair and hate, leading us all to a better life in you. This is the hope of Christmas, that the birth of a baby – Jesus Christ, your Son – will change the world, and will work a change in our own lives. Lord, we pray to be filled with this hope that light will triumph over darkness, love will conquer evil, and Jesus will save us all. This we pray through your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.