In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the beautiful story of Jesus appearing to His friends after His resurrection. Even though Peter had made mistakes, Jesus didn’t give up on him. Instead, Jesus forgave Peter and reminded him of his important mission: to love and care for others.

Just like Peter, we are all called to be followers of Jesus. At our Baptism, we were given a mission too—to share Jesus’ love by the way we treat others. Sometimes we make mistakes or forget to follow Him, but Jesus is always ready to forgive us and invite us back. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we experience that forgiveness and are reminded that we are never too far from God’s love.

This week, let’s remember that we are disciples of Jesus—chosen to love, forgive, help, and care for one another.

Monday, May 5

• Regular school day

• NK TPet
• Peer Mentors visit

• Early Dismissal 2:10, Hats on for Mental Health

• Library Day Gr 1-4
• Peer Mentors visit
• Gr 1 Muttart trip

Friday, May 9

• Assembly (1:26)

Looking Ahead...

May 12 - N1 & N2 SWC in class

May 13 & 14 - Spring Photos

May 13 - Volunteer Appreciation, Hot Lunch, KTR TPet

May 14 - Gr 2 Winspear, KMW TPet

May 19 - No School (Victoria Day)

May 21 - Gr 3 Harbour Pool, N1 & N2 TPet

May 22 - Gr 4 visit to JPII, Gr 1 Clay Guy

May 23 - N1 & N2 SWC

May 26 - Rapunzel Theatre production, School Council meeting 6:30

May 28 - Alien In Line Skating, Hot Lunch

May 29 - Alien In Line Skating

May 30 - Talent Show 1 pm

During the month of May we focus on both Mary and her role in our church as well as use this month to pray to her. Her prayer, The Hail Mary, leads us to direct our focus on the spiritual tool for meditation that is the rosary.

If you are interested in learning more about how to pray the rosary, please explore this How to Pray the Rosary infographic. The free app Laudate is a simple, yet spectacular, resource you may wish to explore.

Whether you pray the rosary or simply pray from your heart, God hears all prayers.

On Monday, May 5th, we celebrate School Bus Driver Appreciation Day and give a heartfelt thank you to our amazing bus drivers! Each day, they safely transport our students to and from school, playing a vital role in our school community. Their dedication, patience, and positive spirit do not go unnoticed.

Driving a school bus is no small task—it takes skill, care, and a whole lot of heart. We are so grateful for the commitment our drivers show in ensuring students arrive safely, ready to learn.

Thank you for all you do!

A big thank you to all the families who joined us for our Math Games Night! It was such a joy to see students and parents learning and laughing together through hands-on games and activities. Your enthusiasm and participation helped make the evening a fun and memorable one. Events like this remind us how powerful learning can be when we do it together.

Our RSVP link has closed for the volunteer appreciation event. We look forward to celebrating our wonderful school volunteers on Tuesday, May 13 at 9 am.

We are thrilled to announce that The Servant Leadership Squad is hosting the 12th annual school wide talent show! All students are welcome to share the gifts and talents that God has blessed them with during this show. A Dojo message was sent this past week, with all of the details and the paper consent form was sent home as well. Please return the consent form to the school by Tuesday, April 22nd.

If you have misplaced the letter, please refer to the document linked below.

"St. John XXIII’s Got Talent” will take place on Friday, May 30th at 1:00pm in the gym.

PreK, KTR and Gr 1-4 students will have the opportunity to have an individual picture taken on Tuesday, May 13th and for our KMW class, on Wednesday, May 14th. Anyone who is absent on Tuesday can have their photo taken on Wednesday.

The St. John XXIII Yearbook Committee has been working hard to make this year’s yearbook special - featuring a student-designed cover, fun interviews with our kinder and grade 4 students, and snapshots of the moments that made this school year unforgettable. It’s more than just a book—it’s a keepsake your family will treasure for years to come.

How to Order:

Order online through your Munchalunch account.

Sales close Monday, May 5 at noon.

Cost: $30 — a small price for memories that last a lifetime.

Thank you for your continued support!

Your input and ideas are crucial to making a positive impact at St. John XXIII. Come be a part of the conversation and help shape the future of our school!

We're excited to offer our remaining Big Box of Cards sets! Each box contains 35 handcrafted cards for just $36.32. Choose between the All Occasion box or the Birthday box set—perfect for any celebration!

Hurry, as these sets are available on a first come, first serve basis and quantities are limited. You can order as many boxes as you'd like from our available stock, so be sure to stock up for all your upcoming events! Payment is quick and easy through MunchaLunch, and must be made at the time of order. Don’t miss out on this fantastic deal!

Spring means new life, growth, and time for new adventures around the corner. While this year's staff and students work diligently to honour the current year we are in, administrators have been in the planning stages for next year since January.

There are many ways in which we plan for and support student transitions from grade to grade and school to school.

As part of this planning, please let the office know if your family is moving and won't be attending St. John XXIII for the next school year. Please log into your PowerSchool account and fill out the Next Year Intentions form. This form is located on the left hand side, above the Grades and Attendance dropdown.

At St. John XXIII, we are committed to creating a Christ-centered, distraction-free learning environment that nurtures the well-being of all students. To support this, personal digital devices (cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, and gaming devices) should remain at home or stored in backpacks and powered off during school hours (8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.) unless used for teacher-led instruction. All parent communication during the day should go through the school office to minimize classroom disruptions. Thank you for helping us foster a focused and faith-filled learning space!

The REAL (Religious Education Activities for Life) Foundation is once again asking for your support for our 22nd annual golf tournament on Wednesday May 21, 2025 at the Broadmoor Golf Course. This tournament raises funds to support Catholic education in the Elk Island Catholic Schools. These funds enable students to be inspired by Catholic speakers, attend faith-based retreats and leadership activities along with the goal of providing student scholarships in our high schools and parishes. This strengthens the Catholic education of Elk Island Catholic School students from kindergarten to Grade 12 in Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan, Camrose and Vegreville.

A jubilee is a special celebration, renewal, and forgiveness period rooted in religious and secular traditions. In the Christian tradition, a Jubilee Year, or Holy Year, is a time of special spiritual significance declared by the Pope, often held every 25 years (or during extraordinary jubilees). It offers Catholics a unique opportunity for renewal in faith, repentance, pilgrimage, and the reception of special graces or indulgences. The jubilee concept symbolizes mercy, justice, and restoration, inviting people to reflect on forgiveness, equality, and spiritual growth.

Full article below.

Email: stj@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stj.eics.ab.ca/
Location: 9526 89 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-998-7777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St.JohnXXIII
Twitter: @St_JohnXXIII