Wolf Weekly February 17-28, 2025

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

• February 17: Family Day - Holiday No School
• February 18: SPIRIT DAY - Throwback Tuesday
• February 19: SPIRIT DAY - Style Switcheroo
• February 19: Grade 6 Greek Day
• February 19: STF Alpha Program at lunch
• February 20: Teachers' Convention (No School)
• February 21: Teachers' Convention (No School)
• February 25: P.O.D Camille - Honey I Shrunk the kids
• February 26: Pink Shirt Day
• February 26: Ski/Snowboard Club - Canyon

Did you know..... St. Francis is the Patron Saint of Ecology? But he wasn't just some nature-lover from long ago. His ideas are more relevant than ever today! He understood that everything is connected. If we hurt the Earth, we hurt ourselves. He saw the beauty in the smallest flower and the power in the largest storm. He reminds us that caring for the Earth isn't just a good idea, it's a spiritual responsibility. So, let's ask ourselves: What would St. Francis do? How can we live more simply? How can we protect the amazing planet we call home?

This week, our Grade 8 students had the wonderful opportunity to connect with younger peers at Holy Family School, sharing their creative “Common Good” stories with the Grade 2 and 3 classes. The event was an inspiring and heartwarming experience, where the older students read aloud their thoughtfully crafted stories about kindness, community, and helping others.

The “Common Good” stories were part of an ongoing project designed to encourage Grade 8 students to reflect on their roles in fostering positive change within their communities. Through their stories, students explored various themes of collaboration, empathy, and the importance of working together for a better future. The stories were written with the intention of helping the younger students understand the power of kindness and how everyone can contribute to making the world a better place.

For the Grade 2 and 3 students, this was not just an opportunity to hear stories, but also to engage in meaningful conversations about what it means to care for others. The little ones were especially captivated by the creative illustrations and unique characters in each story. Some of them even asked insightful questions about the characters’ choices and actions, demonstrating their growing understanding of the value of working towards the common good.

The event fostered a sense of unity and mentorship between the older and younger students. It was a delightful exchange that demonstrated how stories can bring people together, regardless of age, to learn and grow.

We are incredibly proud of our Grade 8 students for their hard work and creativity. Their passion for storytelling not only entertained the younger students but also served as a reminder of the positive impact we can all have on each other and our communities. We look forward to future collaborations and hope to continue nurturing these valuable connections between our students.

#wayofthewolf #wolfpack #inspiredtoserve

St. Francis along with School Council is planning to serve pancakes and sausages to all students and staff, during lunch hour on Tuesday, March 4th. We are looking for parent volunteers to join us to assist our school cafeteria with cooking pancakes and serving our students. Please use this volunteer sign up link if you are able to come for any part of the morning.

Grade 6-8 parents/guardians have received the STF 2025-2026 Student Intention Form to confirm their child's enrollment at St. Francis of Assisi Middle School for the 2025-2026 school year. Thank you for your cooperation as we prepare for another great year! This form is due by March 1, 2025.

Planning is underway for our year-end field trips! To ensure we can provide the best possible experience for our students, we kindly ask that all school fees, including the $35 School Council Fee, be paid through RYCOR.

Our School Council allocates a significant portion of this fee to field trips, helping to reduce the need for our parents to do fundraising. The remaining funds also support school-wide events, including our upcoming Shrove Tuesday pancake and sausage meal for all students and staff.

We’re excited to share that 80% of families have already paid their School Council Fee—we’re almost there! Thank you for your continued support in making these experiences possible for our students.

If you haven’t yet completed your payment, please do so at your earliest convenience. Your contribution directly benefits all students, and we appreciate your partnership in creating meaningful learning opportunities!

Connect with the school @ 403-314-1449 to start the volunteer process. Everything is done online and is very easy.

Planning for the year-end Grade 9 Farewell has begun. Sign into your PowerSchool Parent Portal to make your payment of this fee ASAP Payment is due no later than March 1, 2025.

As we approach the end of the school year, we want to share some important updates regarding our final exam schedule and gather your feedback.

This will help us create a schedule that works best for everyone.

Please take a few moments to fill out the questionnaire. You can access the form by clicking the link below:

2024-2025 Final Exam Schedule Feedback Request

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!

This week, we’re highlighting Mrs. Melenchuk and the work she is doing with 7-3 Social Studies!

To help students prepare for their upcoming Chapter 5 test, Mrs. Melenchuk facilitated an interactive review using whiteboards. This strategy allowed her to conduct a formative assessment in real time, checking student understanding and providing immediate guidance to support their learning.Check out the questions and student responses in the pictures below! 📸👏 We also saw Mrs. Wasylik implementing a Quiz, Quiz, Trade review strategy with 7-2 Language Arts, that had students up moving around and working with a variety of partners to help review for an upcoming assessment. All students provide evidence of that they are participating at deep levels of cognitive engagement.

#WolvesAtWork #StudentEngagement

Upcoming Dates

• February 26
• March 5

We look forward to sharing another wonderful year of skiing with you all. See you on the hill! 🏔️⛷️

Congratulations to the Senior Boys Basketball Team for earning Bronze and the Senior Girls Basketball Team won Consolation at the Hunting Hills Basketball Tournament this past weekend.

If you do have any of the materials listed that you would be willing to donate, please drop it off at the office or contact Mr. Christensen to arrange pickup. If you have any questions, please call or email Blair Christensen (403-314-1449) blair.christensen@rdcrs.ca).

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) and the Alberta School Councils Association (ASCA) are partnering to host a Joint School Council meeting on Wednesday, February 26, from 6:00 - 7:30 pm at St. Joseph High School in Red Deer. This collaborative session aims to strengthen the partnership between school councils, trustees, and senior administration within RDCRS.

The meeting will focus on a number of key areas:

• Defining School Council: Clarifying the role of School Councils and the relationships between trustees, senior administration, and the Division.

• Consultation Areas: Identifying and discussing areas where School Councils can effectively contribute through consultation at both the school and Division levels.

• Council of School Councils: Examining the "Council of School Councils" model and exploring its potential development within RDCRS.

This joint exercise underscores the Division's commitment to building capacity and supporting the ongoing learning and development of its School Councils.

Click here to register. This event is open to everyone.

Are you passionate about Catholic education? Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) is seeking dedicated individuals to serve as Trustees. Be a voice for Catholic education in our community!

What do Trustees do?

Trustees shape the future of Catholic education within RDCRS. They are elected representatives responsible for:

• Vision & Strategy: Setting the division's direction, aligned with Catholic teachings and values.
• Policy & Budget: Creating and approving policies, and overseeing responsible resource allocation.
• Advocacy: Representing the division's interests to the government and the broader community.
• Accountability: Ensuring responsible use of public funds and strong division performance.
• Leadership: Hiring and evaluating the Superintendent.

Who can be a Trustee?

You must be a Canadian citizen, 18 years or older, a resident of the school division, and a Roman Catholic.

Qualities of a Trustee:

A commitment to Catholic education, a focus on student well-being, strong communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to collaborate effectively, a willingness to listen and consider diverse perspectives, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and ethical conduct.

Why become a Trustee?

Make a real difference in the lives of students, contribute to the future of Catholic education, develop your leadership skills, and engage meaningfully with your community.

Interested?

Visit https://www.rdcrs.ca/.../becoming-a-catholic-school-board... or contact our main office at (403) 343-1055, or via email at info@rdcrs.ca.

The website includes information on important dates, the nomination process, and a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Nominations are now being accepted until Monday, September 22, 2025 at noon. Election day is Monday, October 20, 2025.

Please prayerfully consider this important opportunity to serve.

Hello Community Partner,

As a valued organization in our community, I am writing to share information about the Mayor's Recognition Awards.

The Mayor’s Recognition Awards recognize outstanding Red Deer individuals, groups or teams who have brought honour and recognition to our community in one of five categories:

• Athletics
• 
  
• Fine and performing arts
• 
  
• Distinguished voluntary service
• 
  
• Community builder

Mayor’s Special Award (for humanitarianism, exceptional achievement, or an act of heroism or bravery)

Nominations are now open, and we invite you to consider nominating a deserving individual or group who meets the criteria for this awards program.

Please feel free to contact Legal and Legislative Services at 403-342-8132 should you require any further information or details regarding the award categories or the nomination process for this year’s Mayor’s Recognition Awards. Or visit reddeer.ca/MRA for more information.

Thank you for the efforts of your organization in building community in Red Deer.

Sincerely,

Ken Johnston

Mayor