St. Martin's Catholic School

October 20, 2024

✍🏻 Office Information

Brief Message From the Office Staff

We were blessed with a shorter week that was still full of the joy and excitement of learning. Classes are in full gear, with classroom routines in full swing and laughter in the hallways. This week we get to celebrate the unique school impact of Catholic Education; we are so thankful each week for the privilege to work with wonderful colleagues, parents and kids and especially to do so in a Catholic setting through service of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! This Thursday we invite you to wear BLUE to celebrate with us!

Catholic Education Week 📿💙⛪
Library Literacy: Foundational Learning 📖📚📘
Lectio Divina: Nurturing Faith and Well-Being 🙏📿🧎

🏈⛳🥅 THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED HARVEST BALL! 🥍🏀🏒

STMN Office Staff:

🦸🏻‍♂️ Mr. Darby Murphy (Principal)

🦸 Mrs. Melanie Sorochan (Ast. Principal)

🧙🏻‍♀️ Ms. Fronde Dubuc (Secretary)

📸 Highlights of the Week

🌟 Community Engagement

Catholic Education Week is October 19-25, 2024

We offer joyful thanksgiving for the gift of Catholic education, which has served nations for centuries by teaching students in their faith. The 2024 theme of Catholic Education Week in Alberta is Testify! Share the reason for your Hope!

“But in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15)

St. Martin's Catholic School's mission is to provide a Catholic education that inspires students to learn and prepares them to live fully and to serve God in one another.

In Alberta, we acknowledge with deep gratitude and embrace with unwavering resolve the gift of publicly funded Catholic education. Read more about Catholic Education Week and access resources from the Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association here.

We are pleased to also share letters from the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories:

Catholic Education Sunday - Sunday, October 20

Catholic Education Sunday is a special day for us to come together in celebration of the gift of Catholic education. Traditionally observed on the first Sunday in November, this year we will celebrate on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

On this day, we reflect on the many beautiful aspects of Catholic education is that it is grounded in the partnership between the school, the home, and the parish. Together, we all play a role in the nurturing of our children in mind, body, and spirit. Catholic Education Sunday provides us with an excellent opportunity to celebrate our very special relationship.

Wear Blue for Catholic Education - Thursday, October 24

Join us on Thursday, October 24, by wearing blue to celebrate Catholic Education! Blue is a powerful symbol of constancy, fidelity, genuineness, and aspiration. It also holds a special connection to the Blessed Virgin Mary, making it a fitting choice during October, the month of the rosary.

By wearing blue, we recognize and celebrate the vital role publicly funded Catholic schools play in shaping both education and faith across Alberta and Canada. Let’s come together to visibly show our support and pride in Catholic education!

Catholic Education Week 2024 Prayer

Heavenly Father,
you are the source of our hope and joy.

During Catholic Education Week,
help us to be brave in sharing
the reasons for our hope with others.

May our words and actions reflect
Your light and inspire those around us
to seek and find the hope You offer.

Amen

Question's about School Photos?

Lifetouch Customer Care Contact:

Questions about fall photos? Package status, errors, how to place orders, etc,

Please call Lifetouch Customer Care at 1.866.457.8212 or visit the Lifetouch ordering website www.mylifetouch.ca to access the online LIVE chat agent.

HOW TO access your child’s images online:

After much safety and security testing, Lifetouch developed a way for families to access their child’s photo using their student ID number.

Here are the quick and easy steps to access photos online by using your child’s student ID number:

Go to mylifetouch.ca
Click on “Student ID”
Enter in your school's city, province and school name
Follow the instructions to view and order your child’s photos

If you have any questions on this ordering process, please call the Lifetouch Customer Care Line at 1.866.457.8212 or access the online LIVE chat agent.

Parents can still access their photos online by using their child’s portrait ID and access code. By enabling the option of using your child’s student ID number, it gives people another way to access photos if they lose their proof sheet.

Dear STMN Parents and Families,

We are excited to announce that the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to St. Martin’s Catholic School! Choosing their own books not only empowers children but also inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. As always, every purchase made at the Book Fair benefits our school, helping us to continue providing enriching resources for all students.

The Book Fair will take place on November 6 and November 7 during school library hours, and it will also be open after school during Parent-Teacher Interviews until 7 p.m. For those who prefer to shop online, online orders will be accepted until November 10. The Book Fair will be held in our school library, and we accept cash, credit, and debit for all purchases.

We invite you to visit the Scholastic Book Fair website to explore the digital flyers and preview some of the wonderful titles that will be available:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.ca/bf/stmartinscathschool2

At St. Martin’s, we believe in fostering a love of reading within the context of our Catholic values. We see reading not only as an opportunity for academic growth but also as a way to deepen our understanding of God’s creation and His plan for us. Let us continue encouraging our children to explore stories that inspire, uplift, and educate them in their faith and learning. The countdown to Bookjoy is on!

📆 Mark the Calendar

Oct. 20-26: Catholic Education Week 📿💙⛪
Oct. 23: Subway Hot Lunch 🥪
Oct 24: Wear Blue for Catholic Education 🙏 🙆🏻‍♂️💙
Oct. 24: Parent Access 52 Event in Sherwood Park 🧑🏻‍🤝‍🧑🏻👬👪
Oct. 25: FREE Hot Dog Lunch Day 🌭
Oct. 30: Booster Juice 🥤
Oct. 31: Halloween Parade - More details to come 🤖🎃👻
Nov. 6: Early Dismissal - School is Done by 1:55 ⏰
Nov. 6-7: Parent Teacher Conferences 🤝
Nov. 6-7: Book Fair 📚📗📖

🏫 Learners and Learning

The Importance of Reading at St. Martin's: A Foundation for Lifelong Success

At St. Martin's Catholic School, we place a strong emphasis on reading as a cornerstone of early childhood education. Research consistently shows that children who develop strong reading skills at a young age are more likely to succeed academically and continue a lifelong love of learning. Studies have found that children who are read to by their parents from birth to age five are exposed to 1.4 million more words than those who are not. Furthermore, reading with children just 20 minutes a day has been linked to higher literacy skills, better academic outcomes, and improved cognitive development.

At the heart of our reading program is our incredible librarian, Mrs. Halina. Her passion for books and dedication to fostering a love of reading in every student is truly remarkable. Mrs. Halina has created a welcoming and engaging library environment where students are encouraged to explore new worlds through literature. She works closely with teachers to provide resources that align with classroom learning and helps students find books that spark their imaginations.

We are deeply grateful to Mrs. Halina for her commitment to enriching the reading experiences of our students. Her efforts, combined with parental involvement at home, lay the groundwork for academic success and a lifelong passion for reading. Parents, let’s continue to support our children by reading with them daily and encouraging their love for books!

😁 Systemic Wellness

Introducing Lectio Divina: Nurturing Faith and Well-Being

At St. Martin's Catholic School, we are committed to nurturing not only the academic growth of our students but also their spiritual development. One beautiful practice we introduce to our children is Lectio Divina, an ancient method of prayerful Scripture reading that helps students listen to God’s Word and reflect on its meaning in their lives.

Lectio Divina, which means “divine reading,” is a simple but profound way for children to connect with Scripture. It involves four steps: reading (lectio), meditating (meditatio), praying (oratio), and contemplating (contemplatio). Each step invites children to slow down, focus on a passage from the Bible, and open their hearts to what God might be saying to them personally.

In addition to nurturing their faith, prayer practices like Lectio Divina can have a profound impact on children’s mental health and well-being. Prayer encourages moments of quiet reflection, which can help reduce anxiety and stress. By fostering a habit of stillness, students learn to manage emotions and develop mindfulness—skills that are crucial for emotional resilience.

Research has shown that regular prayer and meditation can lower levels of stress hormones and promote a sense of peace and calm. For children, this can mean improved concentration in school, better emotional regulation, and an overall sense of well-being. Lectio Divina not only invites students to build a deeper relationship with God, but it also offers them a way to center themselves and find comfort during difficult moments.