Wolf Weekly

Please check our St. Francis Athletics Calendar on our school website for sports details!

School Division calendar for the 2024- 2025 school year.

St. Francis School Event Calendar

• Nov 11-15 Safe and Caring Week
• Nov 12-18 Metis Week
• Nov 11 Remembrance Day
• Nov 12 Board of Trustees Engagement Sessions
• Nov 13 Board of Trustees Engagement Sessions
• Nov 13 World Kindness Day - wear your cardigan inspired by Mr. Rogers
• Nov 15 Rock Your Mocs Day

A quick reminder that the end of Term 1 is coming up soon! The last day of term is November 28, so please make sure all assignments are submitted no later than Monday, November 25, to give teachers time to assess and record them. Thank you for checking Schoology and encouraging our students to get their work in on time! See our website for Honour Roll criteria

At St. Francis of Assisi, we’re committed to creating an engaging, student-centered learning environment. This year, our focus is on enhancing student engagement through strategies that foster active participation and critical thinking. During Professional Development Days, teachers are building their toolkit with Total Participation Techniques (TPT), designed to involve every student in meaningful learning. Look for upcoming highlights of these techniques in action, with photos from our classrooms!

Exciting Update: SMS Notifications Coming to SchoolMessenger on November 13th!

We’re thrilled to announce that starting November 13th, SMS notifications will be enabled in SchoolMessenger! This new feature will enhance our communication and ensure you stay updated with important announcements, event reminders, and emergency alerts.

Why Opt-In for SMS Notifications?

1. Stay Informed: Receive real-time updates directly on your phone. Whether it’s a school closure, schedule change, or special event, you’ll be the first to know.

2. Convenience: With SMS notifications, you can get important information quickly and easily, even when you’re on the go. No need to check emails or websites!

3. Engagement: Opting in means you’re connected and engaged with the school community. It helps us reach you more effectively and keep everyone informed.

How to Opt-In

It’s simple! Just text "Y" or "yes" to 978338 from your SMS-capable phone. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code provided in the attached Flyer.

We encourage everyone to take advantage of this feature to ensure you don’t miss out on any important information. Thank you for being an integral part of our school community!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Please watch your emails our new system's contact account is broadcasts@schoolmessengermail.com. If you find that you are no longer receiving emails please contact stf@rdcrs.ca.

💥💥💥Your Input is Needed!💥💥💥

Join us for the RDCRS Board of Trustees Engagement Session and help shape the future of RDCRS! Choose which session to attend below: online or in-person.

Online: November 12, 2024 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Register Here: Zoom Link

In-Person: November 13, 2024 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Location: St. Thomas Aquinas Middle School Learning Commons
Register here: In-Person Registration
Registration closes November 12 at 4:30 PM

Share your thoughts on:
Classroom priorities
Budget considerations
Culture
The future of RDCRS

Don’t miss this chance to make your voice heard!

#WeAreRedDeerCatholic #CommunityEngagement

🌟 Calling All Parents! Supplies needed for our Alberta Exploration Day! 🌟

Our Skills Alberta Exploration Day is coming soon and we are looking for donations of reusable materials.

If you have any of the following items at home, we would greatly appreciate your contribution:

• Clean empty 2L pop bottles
• Clean empty water bottles
• Foam styrofoam sheets/panels
• Tin foil
• Bubble wrap
• Cork sheets/plugs
• popsicle sticks
• moldable clay/plasticine

Please have your donations in by November 18th. Together, we can inspire our students to innovate and explore!

Thank you for your support!

The 3rd Annual Edmonton Archdiocese ELEVATE Youth Retreat led by FacetoFace Ministries will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Sherwood Park on Saturday, January 25, 2026. OLPH Parish is located at 13 Brower Drive, Sherwood park AB.

Elevate is a Youth Retreat for grades 6-8! Come to encounter the Lord, have fun, and be empowered to become a modern-day saint!

The conference includes lots of fun, keynote talks, praise and worship, Adoration, and more.

Registration fee includes lunch, all supplies and activities and covers the cost to bring in FacetoFace Ministries.

Early Bird Registration Deadline with payment is Friday December 13, 2024. (Early Bird price $40, After December 13 price is $50)

Doors open for check in at 9:15 am

Retreat 9:30 am - 4:15 pm

(Parent/Guardian/Group Leader must sign child in and out)

Options for payment are:

• EFT to OLPH.etransfer@caedm.ca with "Child's Name - Youth Conference" typed in the note.
• Pay in person with Cash/Cheque/Debit/Credit Card at OLPH Parish Office.
• Mail cheque payable to OLPH Parish to 13 Brower Drive, Sherwood Park AB, T8H 1Y7 (write "Child's Name - Youth Conference" on the bottom of cheque)

Sign up link: https://ourladyofperpetualhelpsp.flocknote.com/signup/151904

As we approach the holiday season, we’re excited to kick off once again our annual Giving Tree Christmas Project in support of Catholic Social Services.

With the help of several dedicated RDCRS schools, some of whom have been partnering with CSS year after year, this project continues to thrive. Thanks to the unwavering support of the community, we are able to reach countless families, spreading holiday joy and bringing the true spirit of the season to those in need.

This year, with an even greater demand for assistance, we are asking for your support to buy gift cards that will allow families the freedom to choose what suits their needs best, making a meaningful impact on their lives.

Walmart gift cards of $25 or $50 can be dropped off at the school by December 6, 2024.

For the first time, we are also very thrilled to offer the option for digital donations, where you can select your participating school! Please use the following link: Giving tree link

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Let’s work together to make this Christmas a season of hope and joy for every family we serve.

Reminder that statements for school fees have been emailed out.

1. Access PowerSchool through the Parent Portal.

2. Sign in using your POWERSCHOOL Username & Password.

3. Click on the link "School Fees & Forms" located on the left-hand side

4. Methods of payment include Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard and Debit MasterCard only.

Mandatory School Fees:

CTS/Options Fee - $20 This fee supports the delivery of Option Classes for all grade levels

School Council - PAC (Parent Council) Fee - $35 This fee supports year-end field trips, activities, and special projects etc. for all grade levels to support student life

Lockes & Lockers Fee - $5 This fee covers the locker and 1 lock rental. Non-refundable. If the lock is lost and needs to be replaced there will be an additional fee charged

Grade 9 Farewell Fee - $10 (Grade 9 students only) This fee supports the celebration of our graduating Grade 9 students

Band Instrument Maintenance Fee - $150 (Grade 7-9 only)

Extra-Curricular Fees:

Athletics

Badminton - $30

Cross Country Running Club - $30

Sports Development - $25

Jr Teams - $75

Sr Teams - $175

Ski Club

Canyon - $110-$310 (Depending on Package Selected)

Nakiska - $120-$130 (Depending on Package Selected)

The 2024/2025 RDCRS Student Information Update Form has been sent out to all parents. This form needs to be completed every year, even if there are no changes. This is a legal document that is required by Alberta Education. Please check your email for the link or go to your powerschool account using the web browser and click the SchoolEngage tab. The link for powerschool can be found on our St. Francis website. If you are not able to sign into your powerschool account please contact the school and we can reset your password.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SCHOOLS CONDUCT TRAINING AND DRILLS to help better prepare students and staff for possible emergency situations.

Schools conduct drills throughout the year to rehearse emergency procedures. These exercises prepare

students and staff to act quickly and help to minimize a child’s fear during a real emergency. For more information please visit our Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools Website

Whether you're inspired by the beauty of nature, the vibrancy of urban life, or the emotions captured in a candid moment, we encourage you to let your imagination run wild and capture the world through your lens.

Spread the word and share this opportunity with your fellow students. Let's make this contest a celebration of creativity and talent within the Alberta student community!

For more information and to submit your entries, please visit edgeimaging.ca/alberta. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.

We can't wait to see your submissions!