The Good News December 1, 2024

Today marks the beginning of a new liturgical year starting with a four-week celebration of Advent. Advent is our season of waiting for Jesus. Waiting is not something we are accustomed to in today’s world. Everything is at our fingertips, a click away from immediate gratification.

Yet, as every parent knows, waiting for the miracle of new life takes much needed time. Time to prepare, to hope, to wait with joyful anticipation, and most importantly, to love.

To love, regardless of what challenge or messiness we encounter. It is more about how we wait--with faith--with joy--with love, rather than the external preparations. Let this season of Advent be a time of change in our hearts as we wait for Jesus. Let us prepare with love and trust. Let it be a time of joy and hope for all of us.

• Advent Week One Celebration at 10 am

• Priest visit - Gr 3

• Early Dismissal 2:15, Christmas Spirit Wear/Buddy Bingo

• KTR TPet
• Hot Lunch
• Poinsettia pickup

• St. Nicholas Day
• NOON deadline for Advent Concert tickets

Dec. 9 - Advent Concert dress rehearsal

Dec. 10 - Advent Concert (1 pm & 6 pm)

Dec 11 - KMW TPet

Dec. 13 - Gr 1 Fort Edmonton Park, Gr 2 Ukrainian Village

Dec. 16 - Sock Toss

Dec. 17 - Advent Mass at OLA church

Dec. 18 - Hot Lunch, Toboggan and Hot Chocolate Day

Dec. 19 - Christmas Sweater Day, Buddy Bingo, Christmas Sing-along

Dec. 20 - PJ and Christmas Movie Day, last day of school before Christmas break

Our St. John XXIII Advent Concert is less than 2 weeks away! Our students have been working hard to share the light of the season with our St. John XXIII Community. We hope that all of our students are able to participate in this year's concert. If your child is unable to attend, please let their classroom teacher know as soon as possible.

Please check you email for ticket information that was sent Friday, December 29th. Deadline to request all tickets is Friday, December 6th at NOON.

Hello Parents/Guardians!

We are very excited to come together as a school community as we prepare for Jesus’s birth and have some fun during this Christmas season. We have planned several fun activities for our students to enjoy in the days leading up to Christmas break. Some days will require your child to bring certain things for the activity of the day.

This Advent, all of our EICS community, including St. John XXIII, is continuing to partner with Catholic Social Services to support women and children at the Lurana Shelter. At St. John XXIII our goal is to raise enough money to purchase two Baskets of Blessing per class. The cost of each basket is approximately $100. To raise this money we will be creating themed baskets that will be raffled off at our Christmas Concert.

Lurana is a 21 day domestic abuse emergency shelter. The women and children who stay there have nowhere else to go because their own homes are unsafe. They may have left their home with only the clothes on their backs. When the women arrive at Lurana Shelter, they receive a ‘Basket of Blessings’. Each basket is tailored to the specific needs of each woman and her children. A typical adult basket may include soap, toothbrushes and other toiletries, feminine hygiene products, make-up, hair brushes/combs and other basics. A typical children’s basket may include necessities like soothers, a rattle or other small toy, a book, a small blanket.

May God bless you and your family this Advent Season.

We will be creating baskets for a fundraising draw during our Christmas Concert, on Tuesday, December 10th. Baskets will be displayed and raffle tickets will be sold at both the afternoon and evening Christmas Concerts. Winning tickets will be drawn on Wednesday, December 11th. All money raised will be donated to Lurana Shelter.

We are asking students in each homeroom class to bring items related to a theme. Homeroom teachers will be sending descriptions of the various baskets, and what items can be purchased. Please have your student bring their item to their homeroom by Wednesday, December 4th, and we will collect the items for the baskets there. If you have larger baskets to donate as well, please send those along with your child.

Thank you for your generosity!

We recognize that this season can be a difficult time for some of our families within our community. If you or your family are struggling with finances, emotional or mental health, medical or physical needs, please reach out to someone within our school or parish community and we can respond. Everyone needs help sometimes, we are not meant to journey this life alone. There are many resources, agencies and people who have offered assistance and we can confidentially arrange for support, especially through this Advent season.

Kristine Willis Dengler, Principal kristinew@eics.ab.ca 780-998-7777

Eleanor Heesings, Family Wellness Worker eleanor.heesing @eics.ab.ca 780-995-9352

Pick-up at the school will be on Thursday, December 5, 2024, between 1:00-3:00pm or 6:00-8:00pm.

Thank you for your support and helping make this holiday season extra special!

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!

We are looking for volunteers to help with various Christmas advent activities at the school in December. If you're interested in lending a hand, please sign up for any events you'd like to be part of. https://signup.com/go/ZPfsFZC

If you have any questions or need more information, please send an email to the School Council at st.johnxxiii.psc@gmail.com. We appreciate your support and look forward to celebrating the season together!

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