Wolf Weekly

God of all love,
Thank you for loving us. Thank you for the Advent and Christmas season, which reminds us of how to love others as ourselves.
Be with all of our friends who live on the streets and in our shelters, and reveal to them through us that they too are loved.
Amen.

As we celebrate the gift of Christmas, we want to take a moment to wish each of you a Merry Christmas filled with joy, peace, and the love of Christ. May this holy season bring warmth to your home and blessings to your heart. We are deeply grateful for the support of our school community and the opportunity to walk this journey of faith together. May the New Year bring new hope and continued blessings as we grow in faith and love. Enjoy this special time with your loved ones!

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all parents for trusting us and for the many words of support and kindness we received this week following the threat late Sunday evening. We recognize that this was a challenging situation, and we are truly grateful for how we worked through it together as a community. Your understanding, patience, and partnership during that time meant so much to us. We feel blessed to work alongside such a supportive parent community. Please know that your child's safety remains our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining a secure environment for all.

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

• December 21 - January 5th School closed for the Christmas Holidays
• December 22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
• December 29 - The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph & Holy Family Feast Day
• January 1 - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
• January 4 - St. Elizabeth Seton Feast Day
• January 4 - National Ribbon Skirt Day
• January 6 - School Resumes & Cafeteria will be closed

This Friday, we bid farewell to a truly remarkable teacher who has been an integral part of St. Francis of Assisi Middle School since we opened our doors in 2003. 🐺✨

For 21 years at St. Francis of Assisi, Ms. Toeckes has dedicated herself to not only teaching but also guiding our students on their spiritual journeys. Her faith-filled approach, wisdom, and care have inspired countless young minds and hearts, helping to nurture a vibrant spiritual community within our school. 💛✝️

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Toeckes on a well-deserved retirement and thanking her for her years of service. Let’s celebrate this incredible milestone and the legacy she leaves behind at St. Francis.

Congratulations on your retirement—you will always be part of the Wolf Pack! 🐾🎉

We believe that nurturing our students' spiritual growth is just as important as their academic development. That's why each week, during our morning announcements we dedicate a spot called Faith Fact Friday, where our students learn and reflect on key aspects of their faith.

The fourth Sunday of Advent will be on December 22nd this year. On this day, we will light all four candles in our Advent Wreath. We think about the Peace that Jesus brought to the world and our hearts. This fourth candle is also called the Angel's candle, and reminds us of the Angel's message to us: "Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards all men (women)" On December 24, we will also light a white candle in the middle of the wreath, called the Christ candle, representing Jesus's life. The color white is symbolic of purity - because Christ is considered our sinless, pure Saviour. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We are thrilled to announce that our ski club is officially full for this season! Thanks to the overwhelming interest from both returning students and new faces, we’ve reached our maximum capacity. This is a great testament to the sense of community, fun, and excitement that our club continues to bring to skiers of all levels.

We are excited for the upcoming season, which promises to be packed with thrilling slopes, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories.

We look forward to sharing another wonderful year of skiing with you all.

See you on the hill! 🏔️⛷️

Last Friday our staff spent the morning serving our community at The Mustard Seed, Red Deer Food Bank, Aspen Ridge and CAWES. As a school community, we are focused on serving this school year under the theme #InspiredToServe. With the season of Advent upon us, we are embracing the opportunity to serve in our broader community as a staff and are inviting our school community to join us. Our school division’s faith theme, Inspired by Christ to Encounter, Nurture, and Serve, is guiding us in this mission to make a positive impact on those in need. Check out our Facebook page or Instagram for more pictures!

This week, we embraced the Christmas spirit in so many joyful ways! From festive Christmas songs in the gathering area, caroling to teachers, and beautiful performances with musical bells, to dressing up for Spirit Week, our Christmas Assembly, and Wolf Pack activities, the excitement was everywhere. We also shared sweet treats with Candy Grams, and last week, students enjoyed our Christmas Dance.

Amid all the fun, we were reminded of the true meaning of Christmas during our Advent Mass, which brought our community together in faith and reflection.

January 8, 9 & 10

Doors at 6, shows at 7.

Ticketing has changed this year ...

Get yours online at https://reddeermemorialcentre.net/events, or pick them up in person at the Red Deer Memorial Centre's Box Office, open Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tickets will NOT be sold at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre.

Seating is assigned this year, so act fast to get your favourite spot!

Tickets are the same price and have the same packages available, but Memorial Theatre service fees will apply.

To buy tickets for each day, click the links below!

Wednesday - https://www.showpass.com/kwnc251/

Thursday - https://www.showpass.com/kwnc252/

Friday - https://www.showpass.com/kwnc253/

Wednesday & Thursday - https://www.showpass.com/bffwedthu25/

Wednesday & Friday - https://www.showpass.com/bffworldtourwedfri/

Thursday & Friday - https://www.showpass.com/bffworldtourthufri/

Tickets for all 3 nights - https://www.showpass.com/73pp3nightspkg2/

The Healthy Living Expo is excited to share complimentary tickets for the expo which is held on Saturday January 25th, 2025 at Westerner Park. The Expo is family-friendly, offering a wide range of activities, live demonstrations, and health-focused exhibitors. It’s a fantastic chance for students and parents to explore the latest in health and wellness while having a fun day out together.

Opening of the Year of Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope

Official Website: Jubilee 2025

Opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter's Basilica: December 24, 2024 (iubilaeum2025.va)

Vatican Media Live: Vatican Media Live

The Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 is an opportunity for all people to enter into a pilgrimage of hope. Whether we celebrate locally (in our dioceses, cathedrals or Canada’s National Shrines) or make a pilgrimage to Rome, we are called to search for signs of hope and be signs of hope in our families, for our neighbours, the imprisoned, the sick and dying, the young and old.

Indeed, hope does not disappoint!

"Oh Father, in Your mercy, hear Your children's pleas. As we prepare for the Jubilee of 2025, renew our faith, increase the virtues of hope and charity in us, and help us be witnesses of Your love in the world."

Reminder that statements for school fees have been emailed out.

1. Access PowerSchool through the Parent Portal.

2. Sign in using your POWERSCHOOL Username & Password.

3. Click on the link "School Fees & Forms" located on the left-hand side

4. Methods of payment include Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard and Debit MasterCard only.

Mandatory School Fees:

CTS/Options Fee - $20 This fee supports the delivery of Option Classes for all grade levels

School Council - PAC (Parent Council) Fee - $35 This fee supports year-end field trips, activities, and special projects etc. for all grade levels to support student life

Lockes & Lockers Fee - $5 This fee covers the locker and 1 lock rental. Non-refundable. If the lock is lost and needs to be replaced there will be an additional fee charged

Grade 9 Farewell Fee - $10 (Grade 9 students only) This fee supports the celebration of our graduating Grade 9 students

Band Instrument Maintenance Fee - $150 (Grade 7-9 only)

Extra-Curricular Fees:

Athletics

Badminton - $30

Cross Country Running Club - $30

Sports Development - $25

Jr Teams - $75

Sr Teams - $175

Ski Club

Canyon - $110-$310 (Depending on Package Selected)

Nakiska - $120-$130 (Depending on Package Selected)

The 2024/2025 RDCRS Student Information Update Form has been sent out to all parents. This form needs to be completed every year, even if there are no changes. This is a legal document that is required by Alberta Education. Please check your email for the link or go to your PowerSchool account using the web browser and click the SchoolEngage tab. The link for PowerSchool can be found on our St. Francis website. If you are not able to sign into your PowerSchool account please get in touch with the school and we can reset your password.