The St. Luke Good News

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Dear St. Luke Families,

This weekend will be celebrating the 4th Sunday of Advent. We light the final purple candle which symbolizes Love to mark the final week of prayer and penance as we wait for the birth of our Savior. The "Angel’s Candle" reminds us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”

Our students have been busy learning about the true meaning of this Advent season and I am truly amazed by their participation. From Our daily Advent celebrations, the beautiful singing of our wonderful Worship team and the caroling from our students, the participation in our 12 Days of Giving and the Loonies for Lauana Shelter, to our amazing Advent concert the Christ filled spirit is alive in our school.

I am so grateful for all the hard work and dedication of our school staff for their time and energy.

We would like to wish you all a very safe, healthy, and Merry Christmas.

May the Peace of our Saviour fill your hearts and homes with hope, peace, joy and love this holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

Cathy Hinger

Principal

On behalf of all the St. Luke Staff members, we would all like to wish you and yours the Merriest of all Christmases.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your time, love, commitment and dedication to the students, staff and parents of the St. Luke Family. We are grateful for the time you shared with us. We value and appreciate you. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. May Christ always guide you along your journey.

In the New Year beginning on January 8 2024, there will be some changes to the teaching assignments at St. Luke. Madam Hayden will move from Grade 5 and will be teaching our Grades 7⁄8 students. We welcome to and back to St. Luke Mrs. Laura Tuiniga who will be teaching K-6 music and Ms. Laura Cormier will be teaching our Grade 5 students. Both of these teachers have been involved with our St. Luke community off and on for several years and we look forward to the many gifts and talents that they will bring and share with all of our students. Our mission is to ensure that every student experiences success in a creative learning environment centered on the teachings of Jesus and we all work diligently to ensure we carry out this mission.

Merry Christmas!!! See you after the Break on January 8th

• December 22 - Last day of Classes before Christmas Break
• December 23 - January 7 - Christmas Break
• January 8 - First day back after holiday
• January 9 - Girls Basketall - 2:45 - 4:00
• January 10 - Grades 1-6 - Swimming Lessons
• January 11 - Buddy Reading Program - Grades k-1-7/8
• January 11 - Girls Basketball - AWAY GAME @ Holy Redeemer - 4:00-5:00
• January 15 - Parent Council Meeting - 6:00 - 7:30
• January 17 - Grades 1-6 - Swimming Lessons
• January 18 - 20 - Tournament @ Holy Redeemer - Details to come
• January 19 - Friday Kindergarten
• January 24 - Grades 1-6 - Swimming Lessons
• January 25 - Buddy Reading Program - Grades k-1-7/8
• January 30 - Last day of Semester 1 - Report Cards home
• January 31 - PD Day - NO SCHOOL (This is a Wednesday)
• February 1 - Semester 2 begins
• Febryary 2 - Messy Art with Carleen Ross (k-6)
• February 2 - Kindergarten Friday

In the school fees section under the parent portal, we have set up a sponsor a student option. Times are very tough on many families right now across this nation. If you have a few extra dollars to spare through out the year and are feeling generous, please consider donating a denomination of your choosing to directly help sponsor and support our student's in need fund so we can continue offering all of the wonderful opportunities to all of our students at St. Luke.

With a heart of gratitude, we would like to thank Shannon and Julie Blyth for stepping up to volunteer with Yearbook creation this year.

These initiatives can not proceed with out the help and support of our parents and community members! Thank you Shannon and Julie!

See the scripture list below and click the image to read this week's scripture.

Please take a pause and watch Archbishop Smith's Christmas message below. Merry Christmas!

Congratulations to Henry in the Pre-K class on his Baptism this past Sunday.

A HUGE thank you to the St. Luke community for all of your generosity in supporting in our Annual Twelve Days of Giving as we support the Tofield Food Bank, The Lurana Shelter for women and children fleeing domestic abuse, and of course OLPH Catholic Parish as they will distribute winter clothing and attire to those in need.

• Our students donated $200.00 to the Lurana Shelter. How amazing, this generosity!
• We were able to deliver TWENTY full boxes to the Tofield Food Bank! Outstanding work, kids!
• We collected FIVE boxes of winter clothing for the parish and will deliver over the Christmas break.

If you missed out on donations and would still like to contribute to shelter, please click here to donate online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-sign-of-hope-society-archdiocese-of-edmonton/p2p/eicsd-bless-our-women-and-children/

Here is an awesome Indigenous Advent Calendar that the students are learning at school. Feel free to do this at home too! :)

https://alignab.ca/indigenous-christmas-online-advent-calendar-for-kids-families/

Learning from the Land - This month, we learn that the traditional peoples of this area refer to the month of December as pawâcakinisîsipisim - Pronounced, "pah-wa-chug-inah-see-see-pee-sim" which translates to the FROST EXPLODING TREE MOON. This is explained by the warm tree sap freezing and expanding which causes the trees to snap and crackle in the cold of winter.

Watch the video below which discusses learning with the land as seasons change.

Our Pre-K Students doing "tree Bark" rubbings

Our Pre-K students embarked on a full scavenger hunt seeking that evasive gingerbread man! Where did he go? What treat did he leave behind for his friends?

Gosh, fresh crisp, beautiful air and sunshine in the middle of December! Wowzer!

Our whole school participated in a fun Christmas music dance party during the last block on Wednesday.

Feeling festive and cosy by the "fire place" in the Grade 1 Classroom

Our Grades 5-8 Students enjoying some good old fashioned Canadian winter fun skating around at Millenium Place this week. Thank you to the Parent Council Association for sponsoring the transortation costs of this field trip.

Our whole school participated in mixed age board games together while enjoying the festive spirit and building new friendships and mentorships along the way.

• Girls basketball - Parents, please keep an eye on your email. A basketball schedule and detailed fee information was emailed over from Mrs. McCann this week. - Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your continued support of the following local organizations this Advent Season:

• Lurana Shelter
• OLPH Parish
• Tofield Food Bank

Please see a Christmas greeting below from the REAL Foundation. The REAL Foundation is a non-profit fundraising foundation that works to raise awareness and advocacy towards Catholic Education and is the primary fundraiser for religious educational opportunities for the students and staff of EICS. Each year, the REAL Foundation makes a monetary donation to EICS to sponsor student scholarships, the purchase of bibles and provides the funding for many faith-filled learning opportunities for students and staff such as Face to Face Ministries. With out the help and sponship of the REAL Foundation, many of these wonderful opportunities would not exist.

Please consider supporting or donating to the REAL Foundation. They hold an annual GOLF Tournament each year which is a sucessful driver in fundraising endeavors. In addition to donations, tournament sponsors are always welcome as well. Tax receipts are of course provided.

To connect with or get involved with the REAL Foundation, please contact the Board Chair, Mr. Dave Kornder at kornder@telusplanet.net

Thank you for your support - More information to come next week.

No new information to share this week

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

many blessings, and happy reading!!

Mrs. Scoggins

tracy.scoggins@eics.ab.ca

Masses at OLPH will be livestreamed. Please join using this link. https://www.facebook.com/olphsherwoodpark/videos/

Visit OLPH Website for more information about the parish and in regards to sacramental preparation.

Read the latest bulletin from OLPH or visit www.facebook.com/olphsherwoodpark

St. Francis of Assisi Parish is administered by Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sherwood Park. Please contact the parish for confession times and more information.

Clergy: Reverend Jim Corrigan, Pastor

Mass Time: Sunday 11:00

Email Address: StFrancisAssisi.Tofield(at)caedm.ca

5523 - 50 Street Tofield, AB T0B 4J0

See map: Google Maps

Phone: 780-467-5470

Mrs. Cathy Hinger

Principal

Email: Stl@eics.ab.ca
Website: stl.eics.ab.ca
Location: 22139 South Cooking Lake Road, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-922-5920
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stlukeeics
Twitter: @stlcs_EICS