At Father Leduc Catholic School our vision is that ALL students will learn at high levels surrounded by Christ's love. Our mission means that our caring staff will collaborate with your child to create a school environment where they can engage in ways that will optimize their learning.

This week we celebrated the spirit of love, kindness, and friendship which continues to be important every single day. As we celebrate 2025 as a Jubilee Year, a time for renewal and reflection as declared by Pope Francis, we are reminded of the foundation of love, compassion, and peace that has always been at the heart of our education. Catholic schools in Alberta have long blended faith and learning, ensuring that Christ’s presence is at the center of both the spiritual and academic growth of students. Jesus taught us to love one another, to be kind even when it’s difficult, and to forgive as He forgives us.

As we look at our school community, let’s remember that love is not just something we celebrate on special days like Valentine’s—it’s something we practice every day. Whether it’s through a smile, helping a classmate, or showing kindness to those who may feel left out, we are all called to spread the love that Jesus taught us. This Jubilee year is the perfect time to renew our commitment to following His example, making our school a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and loved.

Let’s carry the love and kindness of Pink Shirt Day throughout the entire year, as we continue to grow in faith and love together, following the path Jesus set for us.

Enjoy the beautiful weather this week,

Mr. Fountain, Principal

Mrs. Lobkowicz, Vice-Principal

Mme Donna Hayden, Vice-Principal

Monday, March 3

• Gr. 8 Boys Bball 7am
• Gr. 7 Girls Bball 3:15pm

Tuesday, March 4

• Gr. 5/6 Badminton 7:30am
• D.A.R.E. 8:45 am
• Shrove Tuesday- Pancakes will be served by Knight of Columbus

• We are looking for 8-10 parent volunteers for our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast on Tuesday, March 4th, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. If you are able to volunteer, please reach out to our School Council Volunteer Coordinator, Tracey Berry, at dtberry@telus.net.

  Thank you for your support!

Wednesday, March 5

• Gr. 8 Boys Bball 7am
• Ash Wednesday Mass 10:30 am
• March 5- Grade 6 and 7 attend play at Christ the King High School

• Gr. 8 Girls Bball 3:15pm

Thursday, March 6

• Gr. 8 Girls Bball 7am
• Lockdown Drill at 9:30am
• Gr. 7 Bball practice 3:15pm
• Gr. 5 Badminton Tournament

Friday, March 7

• Gr. 5 Badminton Tournament

March 4- Shrove Tuesday

March 5- Ash Wednesday Mass 10:30 am, Please join us in our school gym

March 5- Grade 6 and 7 attend play at Christ the King High School

March 6 & 7- Gr.5 Badminton Tournament

March 10- PD Day NO SCHOOL

March 10- Babysitter Training 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

March 14- Final Ski Club 4-9pm at Rabbit Hill

March 17-30- Read A Thon for our school library

March 17- Gr.6 Field Trip to U of A

March 18 & 19- Gr.4 Overnight at Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, AB

March 18- Gr.5/6 Badminton wrap-up Pizza Party

March 20 & 21- Goota Desmarais Inuit presentations to each class

March 20- Celebration of Learning 4-7pm

March 21- JH assembly presentation

March 24-28- Rocks & Rings (indoor curling) for all grade during phys. ed.

March 27- Open House for in-coming grade 7 students

Father Leduc Catholic School is thrilled to offer Babysitter Training by Educaid Training at the school on Monday, March 10, 2025, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Students are asked to bring their own snacks/lunch, water bottles, and writing utensils. All other course materials and equipment are provided. The cost for the workshop is $65 plus GST. Payment is due at the time of registration. $10 from each registration will be donated back to the school's fundraising society. Here is the Registration Link.

• Course Description →This course is appropriate for young persons (in Grade 6 OR at least 12 years old) eager to learn more about responsible independence, taking care of siblings or other children, and/or starting their business. This course includes a detailed look at accident prevention, identifying hazards, what to do in an emergency, and basic first aid (including hands-on CPR and choking protocols for infants and children).

CTK Production of "Emma! A Pop Musical": Grade 6 & 7 students attending on March 7th. Please complete payment and permission form through SchoolCash Online.

Ski Club: Last date of the season, Friday, March 14th. Sign up through SchoolCash Online

Cost: $5.50

1 drink per student, snack size (355ml)

Flavour options are:

• Strawberry (strawberries, passion fruit, guava, and yogurt)
• Pineapple Chill (pineapples, strawberries, and bananas)*dairy-free option

Delivery will be:

• Tuesday, March 25th for ESC T/TH and Grades 1-3
• Wednesday March 26th for ECS M/W and Grades 4,5,6,7A,7B
• Thursday March 27th for 7C,7D,7E,7FI, all grade 8's

The order deadline will be March 14th.

Funds raised will be used to rent a ninja course for our school-wide Faith and Wellness Day.

Get Ready for the Grade 4 Overnight at the Museum in Drumheller!

The excitement is building as our Grade 4 students gear up for their amazing Night at the Museum adventure in Drumheller! But before they pack their bags, we're raising funds to make this trip unforgettable – and we need YOUR help!

Hot Dog Lunches Coming Your Way!

As part of our fundraising efforts, we’re hosting 2 Hot Dog Lunches on March 6th and March 13th! It’s the perfect chance to enjoy a tasty lunch while supporting our students on their journey to Drumheller. Every hot dog you order helps make this special field trip a reality!

Ordering is open NOW on the hot lunch website, so don’t wait—secure your delicious meal and support a great cause today!

Let's make this trip a huge success and give our Grade 4s an experience they’ll never forget!

• Archbishop Smith has been appointed Archbishop of Vancouver. A new Archbishop for Edmonton has not been announced yet.
• To read Archbishop Smith's letter to us here in the Archdiocese, open the letter below.
• You can read the announcement from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops HERE.

Hello!

My name is Erin Barrett and I am a grade five teacher at Father Leduc. Another position I hold at our school is Lead Teacher for Indigenous Education. Our goal is to ensure that all staff and students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous histories, cultures, and contributions. Indigenous Education is an essential part of our curriculum, aligning with our values of respect, diversity, and reconciliation. Through this initiative, we aim to provide students with meaningful learning experiences that honour Indigenous traditions. This includes incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing into various subjects, celebrating Indigenous cultural events, and inviting local Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers to share their wisdom and stories with our students.

On June 10, 2025, we will be spending the day celebrating Indigenous cultures. Please consider volunteering at the school on June 10. We will have all students participating in a variety of activities and will need many volunteers to make this day a success. There will be more information to come but I wanted to give you the heads up that we will need your help. If you have any cultural knowledge or traditions that you could share please contact me.

We believe that learning about Indigenous cultures benefits all students by fostering respect, empathy, and a sense of shared history. By engaging with these important teachings, students will develop a more comprehensive understanding of Canada’s diverse heritage and the ongoing journey toward truth and reconciliation.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to reach out to me at erin.barrett@starcatholic.ab.ca. Thank you for your support in this important initiative.

Mrs. Erin Barrett

March 11, 12 & 13 Afterschool-5:00 pm CTS Foods Lab

This is an optional, after school art experience for students in Gr.6-8. The older grades were chosen due to the age appropriateness of the activity. Students who sign up need to be able to commit to at least 2 sessions, work independently and follow written instructions. This is a more complex project that requires strong fine motor skills. The first 20 students who pay on SchoolCash ($10.00) on the morning of Monday, March 3rd, will attend the classes. This is a 3 day session and at least 2 days need to be attended in order to complete their eggs. It will be assumed that students will be picked up by parents at 5:00 pm each night. If there are other arrangements please email dawn.fereday@starcatholic.ab.ca. For example, we need to know if they have permission to walk home.

Students will have the opportunity to learn about the traditional Pysanka symbols and create 2 Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs). The first egg will be a step-by-step to learn the process and they will design and create their second egg with the symbols and colour meanings learned.

Thank you,

Mrs. Dawn Fereday and Ms.Wang.

Your feedback is essential in helping us create the best possible learning environment for our students. To assess our school’s strengths and identify areas for growth, we invite you to complete the 2025 Division Parent Survey.

Your insights will help guide our Division’s future direction and ensure we continue to meet the needs of our students and families. Please take a few moments to complete the survey by clicking the link below:

STAR Catholic Parent Survey 2025

The survey will be open from February 4th to March 17th.

Thank you for your time and valuable input! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Father Leduc School Council and what we have been up to!

We started off the school being able to welcome all the students back and provide popsicles, even though it was a cooler day. On our list of needed items carried over from last year were new sports jerseys. Our first fundraiser of this school term and some of last year’s funds were put together to purchase 48 new sports jerseys in various sizes. Thank you for the time and effort from Miss Hughes and Nadine Schmidt creating the best option for our sports teams. With the addition of new school leadership has come new ideas and activities. Donna Hayden brought forward and spearheaded the Winter Carnival event for the end of February and the School Council was able to offset half the cost for this event. Excited to see all the winter activities and sticky faces from this school wide activity. As a team we are able to carry forward and provide additional experiences and events for our children and students.

Thank you,

School Council Chair

We are looking for 8-10 parent volunteers for our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast on Tuesday, March 4th, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. If you are able to volunteer, please reach out to our School Council Volunteer Coordinator, Tracey Berry, at dtberry@telus.net.

Thank you for your support!

Popcorn Fundraiser Success! 🍿

A HUGE thank you to our amazing school families for supporting our recent popcorn fundraiser! We sold an incredible 634 bags of popcorn, raising a total profit of $1902!

🙌 Your generosity and enthusiasm will go a long way in reducing costs for our upcoming field trips, making them more affordable for everyone.

Together, we’re making great things happen! Stay tuned for more exciting ways to get involved.

Thank you once again for your support!

Popcorn Pick date is Tuesday, March 4 after school

Here are the top 5 contributors to our fundraiser. Congratulation to each of you.

• Dawson Radkie 2B, 50 bags
• Zander Rose 5B, 41 bags
• Kyler Lovin 3A, 35 bags
• Charlotte & Nicole Mass 7&8 FI, 35 bags
• Jordan & Hayden Hemmings 6B & 2A, 32 bags

They will receive a $40 Leduc cinema gift card that was generously donated by KGW Kettle Corn.
Thank you all for your support and look forward eating popcorn with you all.

We’d love to see parents involved in our school community! Volunteering is a great way to make a difference and show your support. Whether it’s helping out in the classroom, assisting with special events, or lending a hand during lunch, every bit of time makes an impact. We also encourage you to attend School Council meetings, where you can have your voice heard and play an active role in shaping the direction of the school. Together, we can create a strong, vibrant environment for our students to thrive! If you are interested in helping out, please email Tracey at dtberry@telus.net.

We’d love to see parents involved in our school community! Volunteering is a great way to make a difference and show your support. Whether it’s helping out in the classroom, assisting with special events, or lending a hand during lunch, every bit of time makes an impact. We also encourage you to attend School Council meetings, where you can have your voice heard and play an active role in shaping the direction of the school.

Together, we can create a strong, vibrant environment for our students to thrive! If you are interested in helping out, please email Tracey at dtberry@telus.net.