St. Martin's Catholic School

As we gather to reflect on Remembrance Day, let us take a moment to honor the courage and sacrifices of those who served to protect the freedoms we enjoy today. Remembrance Day is a time to reflect on the bravery and dedication of our veterans and soldiers who faced unimaginable hardships with hope and resilience. Their service reminds us of the importance of peace, compassion, and respect for others. As you wear your poppy, remember that it symbolizes not only their sacrifice but also our commitment to making the world a kinder, more understanding place. Let us be grateful and strive to carry forward the values they fought to preserve.

Other Highlights of this weeks Newsletter:

1. Ukrainian Dancing 💃👯🕺
2. Book Fair Fun 📖📚📘
3. Lunchtime Prayer Group 🙏🛐📿

🤩🤩🤩Enjoy your November Break... See you on Nov. 18th🤩🤩🤩

STMN Office Staff:

🦸🏻‍♂️ Mr. Darby Murphy (Principal)

🦸 Mrs. Melanie Sorochan (Ast. Principal)

🧙🏻‍♀️ Ms. Fronde Dubuc (Secretary)

St. Martin's gathered Friday morning to reflect on Remembrance Day, to take a moment to honor the courage and sacrifices of those who served to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.

Remembrance Day is a time to reflect on the bravery and dedication of our veterans and soldiers who faced unimaginable hardships with hope and resilience. Their service reminds us of the importance of peace, compassion, and respect for others. As you wear your poppy, remember that it symbolizes not only their sacrifice but also our commitment to making the world a kinder, more understanding place. Let us be grateful and strive to carry forward the values they fought to preserve.

Thank you to M. Cpl. Jillian Rae who spoke to our students about her service and the many others who have gone before her. Thank you as well to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 39 for their support providing poppies for our students to honour this special day. We will REMEMBER!

St. Martin's Catholic School was filled with vibrant sounds and colorful energy as the Gerdan Ukrainian Folk Singers and Dancers performed for our students. This talented group shared a beautiful array of traditional Ukrainian songs and dances, captivating students from start to finish. The performance offered a window into Ukrainian culture, as dancers in ornate, traditional attire showcased folk dances, and singers brought folk songs to life with passion and harmony.

The Gerdan ensemble also taught students about the history and significance of each dance and song, enriching their understanding of Ukrainian heritage. The event was not only entertaining but also educational, fostering an appreciation for cultural diversity and global traditions. We are grateful to the Gerdan Ukrainian Folk Singers and Dancers for bringing such an inspiring and joyous experience to our school community! A huge thank you to St. Martin's Catholic School Foundation and School Council for sponsoring this fantastic event at our school today!

Every Year St. Martin's likes to help fundraise for our local Legion branch. This year each student in our school will be receiving a Poppy Pin free of charge with the hope that our school community would think about a donation towards the Legion. The cost of a Pin is $2, but you are welcome to donate whatever amount you feel comfortable giving if you are able. If you are unable please do not feel the need to donate. There is a form in PowerSchool where the office will collect donations for the Poppy Campaign. Thank you so much for your support in this Remembrance Day fundraiser!

• Nov. 9-17: November Break (No School) 🔕
• Nov. 18: Quesada Hot Lunch 🌮
• Nov. 20: Photo Retakes Day 📸
• Nov. 20: Edo Japan Hot Lunch 🍜
• Nov. 22: Hotdog Friday🌭
• Nov. 25: Booster Juice 🥤
• Nov. 27: Cultural Empathy Presentation 👪
• Nov. 27: Subway Hotlunch 🥪
• Nov. 29: Hotdog Friday🌭
• Dec. 4: Early Dismissal - School is Done by 1:55 ⏰
• Dec. 4: BP's Hot Lunch 🍕
• Dec. 16: DIV 1 Christmas Concert 🎼
• Dec. 18: DIV 2 Christmas Concert 🎶

St. Martin's Catholic School recently wrapped up another fantastic Book Fair, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the wonderful support from our students and parents. Thanks to your enthusiastic participation and generosity, the Book Fair was a huge success! Every book purchased helps foster a love for reading in our students and contributes to valuable resources for our school.

A special thank-you goes out to Mrs. Halina, our amazing librarian, for her hard work in organizing the event. Her dedication to bringing quality books and learning opportunities to our students truly shines. From setting up eye-catching displays to helping students find the perfect book, Mrs. Halina’s efforts made the fair a memorable experience for everyone.

Thank you once again to all who participated. Your support helps make a lasting impact on literacy and learning at St. Martin’s!

“Insight is a group-administered test of cognitive abilities, which will be administered to all Grade 4, 7, and 8 classes in EICS in the middle of November. The assessment is designed to measure cognitive abilities including reasoning, comprehension, memory, and visual/auditory processing. Students do not need to study for the Insight and the results do not impact their school grades. The results provide information about students’ cognitive strengths and areas of weakness to best support and program for all learners. For more information, please visit https://canadiantestcentre.com/cognitive/insight/”. If you have any questions, please contact your school's Collaborative Response Coordinator or Inclusive Learning facilitator (Mrs. Bridget Yaremko)

Hello November!! Does anybody else feel like October flew by? St. Martin’s had a jam-packed October full of in-class mental health programming, World Mental Health Day on October 10th, Mindful Meetups for grade 4 students, Kindness Club, and Nature Photography. In alignment with World Mental Health Day’s annual theme, “It’s Time to Prioritize Mental Health in The Workplace,” staff were encouraged to consider their current work-life balance and take steps towards prioritizing their own mental health in the workplace. October was also AD(H)D Awareness month. To create understanding and empower some of our neurodiverse students, grades 4 through 6 received a presentation about Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder. Students asked questions anonymously in our “question box” and the presentation was tailored to answer things that they were curious about. Using a strengths-based approach, common myths were addressed, and the presentation focused on positive attributes of AD(H)D rather than solely concentrating on the words 'deficit' and 'disorder.'

For in-class programming, Grade 1B and 1Y are still participating in the “Worry Woo’s” program and have recently met the Monster of Innocence who lives in a bubble, the Very Frustrated Monster, and the Monster Who Wanted It All! They have learned strategies for facing fears about trying new things, identified what being frustrated means and how it affects their lives, and the importance of gratitude. Grades 2 through 6 are continuing in the “Open Parachute” program learning about resilience, self-awareness, social responsibility, and the importance of connection and systems of support. We have also been enjoying fun mindful activities such as animal concentration, nature walks, creating zentangle patterns, laughter yoga, and more! – Mrs. Scripture

At St. Martin's Catholic School, our lunchtime prayer group gathered this week for a meaningful session centered on the "Button Prayer." Students took a moment during their day to reflect, connecting each button to a specific intention or prayer, making for a simple yet powerful way to focus on gratitude, forgiveness, and hope.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our chaplain, Mrs. Sorochan, for organizing this beautiful prayer experience. Her guidance and support continue to enrich the spiritual life of our students, providing them with opportunities to connect with their faith in creative and reflective ways. Thank you, Mrs. Sorochan, for helping our students grow in their relationship with God!

The 3rd Annual Edmonton Archdiocese ELEVATE Youth Retreat led by FacetoFace Ministries will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Sherwood Park on Saturday, January 25, 2026. OLPH Parish is located at 13 Brower Drive, Sherwood park AB. Elevate is a Youth Retreat for grades 6-8! Come to encounter the Lord, have fun, and be empowered to become a modern-day saint!

The conference includes lots of fun, keynote talks, praise and worship, Adoration, and more.

Registration fee includes lunch, all supplies and activities and covers the cost to bring in FacetoFace Ministries.

PARISH EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

(Weekday Divine Liturgies are celebrated Mon.-Fri. at 8 AM)

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St. Martin's Catholic School

Principal: Mr. Darby Murphy

Asst. Principal: Mrs. Melanie Sorochan

Main Office: Ms. Fronde Dubuc

Email: stmn@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stmn.eics.ab.ca/
Location: 4314 - 54A Avenue, Vegreville AB T9C 1C8

Phone: (780) 632-2266
Facebook: stmartinscatholicschool