MCHS Newsletter

Dear MCHS Parents and Guardians,

Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools values your opinion. As part of our Assurance process, we ask that you share your perspective through our Division Assurance Survey at the link or QR code below. Results from this survey will be used to inform planning and make decisions at both the school and divisional level for the 2025/2026 school year.

• All parents and staff, as well as students in grades 4-12, will be given the opportunity to complete the survey. Surveys are completely anonymous.

• Families with children at more than one GSACRD school are asked to complete a survey for each site.

• The survey will remain open from Thursday, November 28, 2024 to Friday, December 20, 2024.

Please note: If you have a child in grade 4, 7, or 10, you may receive a similar survey from Alberta Education toward the end of January. If so, we would encourage you to complete both surveys. Our divisional survey is being administered earlier in the school year to avoid overlap and encourage participation.

We thank you in advance for sharing your feedback; your time is appreciated.

2024-2025 MCHS Parent & Guardian Assurance Survey

Throughout December, students and staff are invited to recognize and celebrate acts of “Respect” within our school community. We encourage students to nominate friends or classmates who embody this teaching. Nominations can be submitted to Student Services or the Star Spirit Lodge. Students who are nominated will be honoured with a Howls lunch.

MCHS's faith goal is to expand students’ awareness of the needs of those around them by connecting the teachings of Jesus to their daily lives. On Monday, December 2, student council members, Mrs. Ricioppo’s grade 9 leadership class, and Mrs.Wagner’s CALM class visited Aspen House to assist with setting up Christmas decorations and playing board games with the residents. The MCHS students proudly engaged in community service that reflects the Catholic Social Teaching of “The Common Good”. Through their selfless and caring actions, they brought smiles to the faces of many residents at Aspen House.

Leadership 9 students wrote 72 Christmas cards for Aspen House residents. What a wonderful way to bring cheer to residents for what can be a difficult time for some. Also, with the help of student council members, they decorated Aspen House just in time for the holiday! Way to go Wolves, we're very proud of you! Thank you Mrs Ricioppo for leading this initiative.

This month, our Grade 9 students visited the local elementary school to spend time with the Grade 5 students, sharing games, activities, and laughter. We are proud of our students for their leadership and for bringing joy to the younger grades, showing how small acts of kindness can make a big difference!

The Salvation Army St. Albert is looking for enthusiastic kids and youth volunteers to help fill kettle shifts this Christmas season! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to make a difference in their community, gain valuable experience, and even add glowing references to their resumes.

Why Get Involved?

• Make a Difference: Support families and individuals in need during the holiday season.
• Gain Volunteer Hours: Perfect for school service requirements or personal growth.
• Exciting Rewards: For every hour of volunteering, participants will earn an entry into a prize draw. Weekly prizes include movie passes and gift cards, and there’s a grand prize of an entertainment package!

How to Participate:

1. Kids under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
2. Contact the Kettle Office at 780-458-1937 or email sakettlensa@gmail.com to sign up or for more details.

Volunteering is a meaningful way to connect with the community and spread the joy of the season. Encourage your children to step up and take part in this exciting challenge—it’s a rewarding experience that’s sure to make a lasting impact!

Let’s work together to make this Christmas brighter for everyone. Sign up today and be part of the change!

We'd like to take the time to mention that we offer a range of counselling services at MCHS. Whether it be for academic purposes or reasons other than their school work, students can get help. See the contact information below for details.

COUNSELLING DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Learning Support Facilitator: Amanda Bulger

Counsellor: Vanessa Connell

GSACRD Voice (Wellness coach): Maddison Russo

Youth Success Coach: Mary Morin

Get ready for another amazing production put on by the Drama Llamas of MCHS! This year, Mrs. King and her wonderful cast are presenting The Drowsy Chaperone. Click on one the link below depending on which date you'd like to attend. Get your tickets fast, we HAVE sold out in the past!

December 11 link below

https://www.studentquickpay.com/GSACRD/MyAccount/Main.aspx?webitemid=1706

December 12 link below

https://www.studentquickpay.com/GSACRD/MyAccount/Main.aspx?webitemid=1707

December 13 link

https://www.studentquickpay.com/GSACRD/MyAccount/Main.aspx?webitemid=1704

Today at lunch, our school hosted a heartwarming event where students, staff, and community members brought gently used items to share freely with others as gifts to spread Christmas cheer. The event was a tremendous success, highlighting the importance of recycling while fostering care and generosity within our community. This initiative beautifully aligned with the following Catholic social teachings:

1) The Common Good - "In our actions and societies, we must consider not what is good just for us or for a few, but for all human beings and the planet. We must love our neighbour, locally and globally, above any commercial interest."

2) Preferential Option of the Poor - "The moral test of any society is based on how the most vulnerable people are treated. God loves all people, but prioritizes and calls us to a unique concern for the poor."

3) Ecological Responsibility - The Earth is sacred. All of creation has its own intrinsic value. We have a responsibility to protect and cherish the Earth’s ecological diversity, beauty and life-sustaining systems. Together, we must care for and protect our common home for future generations.

4) Dignity of the Human Person - "The foundation of all Catholic Social Teaching is the inherent dignity of the human person, as created in the image and likeness of God. The Church, therefore, calls for Integral Human Development, which concerns the wellbeing of each person in every dimension: economic, political, social, ecological, and spiritual."

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who organized and supported this meaningful activity. We'd like to extend a special shout out to Mrs. Collins for spearheading this incredibly successful event. We’re excited to announce that it will take place again next Wednesday—let's continue to make a difference together!

*These descriptors were taken from The Development and Peace website.

See posters below for information about all the fun activities that your Student Council is planning!

The boys this past weekend won their first tournament in Westlock at R.F. Staples. Each game was played with all their might! We're so proud of you, boys, Go Wolves!

Congrats to the JV Boys Basketball Team for placing 3rd in their home tournament this weekend! They battled against St. Mary Catholic, won their second game against Hilltop 80-32 and finished the weekend by coming together as a team and winning their third game against JMHS 71-51.

Join us in congratulating the senior boys basketball for thier effort at Strathcona Christian Academy this past weekend. The boys lost to St Peter & Wetaskiwin before beating SACHS by 4 in their last game.

The Senior Girls Basketball Team had a big weekend at Strathcona Christian Academy, going up against some tough competition. They started the tournament with two hard-fought games against O’Leary and Edmonton Christian. Despite the losses, the girls showed incredible determination. In game three, they bounced back, crushing AOB with a 20-point win! They showed so much heart, worked hard, and gained tons of valuable experience along the way.

A huge shoutout to Abby Parsons for being named the team’s MVP of the tournament!

See the document below for important information about Grad 2025.

• La bataille de chansons d’hiver: Sports vs films 2024 (créé par Jasmine Currie 2022 Adapté par Matthew Makuch
• L'hiver c'est jamais fini - King Melrose

• 20 ways French Immersion parents can help embrace a love of language

Mathématiques

• MathLibres - Fiches d’exercices de Maths

Communication Jeunesse

• Numéro d’hiver - Qu’est-ce qu’on lit? (Magazine virtuel) - suggestions de lecture jeunesse

Histoire Canada

• Publications Kayak: Navigue dans l’histoire du Canada

For all students interested, Father Trini will be at MCHS on December 13th at 2:00pm for Reconciliation.

At MCHS, we strive to live our faith to the fullest. With the Catholic Social Teachings in mind, we organize charitable projects to help God's children who find themselves in the margains. The following is a list of the Catholic Social Teachings:

- Life and Dignity of the Human Person

- Call to Family, Community and Participation

- Rights and Responsibilities

- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

- The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

- Solidarity

- Care for God's Creation

Here is a list of what we have done so far at MCHS:

- Care-A-Van project for the unhoused

- Jessie's house visits and donations

- Yard clean up

- MCHS Environmental Club initiatives

- Visits to Aspen House

- Painting tiles for the community mural

- Crib tournament with seniors at MCHS

- Morinville Food Bank

- Bags for the imprisoned

Luke 3:1-6

2nd Sunday of Advent - Year C

https://youtu.be/moZRQ61xvO4

John the Baptist was cousin to Jesus. He was given, by God, the role of preparing the way for Jesus, announcing his arrival. Part of the announcing was to prepare people to meet Jesus. John cleared the path for Jesus so that there is a path inside of us that leads us to meet him.

Dec 11

Drowsy Chaperone - Opening Night

Dec 12

Drowsy Chaperone - Night #2

Dec 13

Drowsy Chaperone - Night #3

JH Basketball tournament @ MCHS

Father Trini at MCHS for Reconciliation - 2pm

Dec 18

Band Concert - 7PM @ MCCC and Art Show

Dec 19

December grad activity

Dec 20

Student-Teacher ball hockey game

Christmas Celebration @ MCHS

Dec 23 - Jan 3

Christmas Break

Jan 6

Classes resume

ADDRESS:

Morinville Community High School

9506 - 100 ave Morinville, AB, Canada

T8R1P6

(757) 259-3600

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/mchs.wolves/

WEBSITE: https://www.mchs.gsacrd.ab.ca/

INSTAGRAM: mchs.gsacrd