The Good News September 1, 2024

On behalf of all our Saint John XXIII Staff I want to share our excitement and joy, and welcome you all back to school!

We are very blessed to have an amazing Saint John XXIII Team. The amount of work, energy, love and care that this staff poured into the last couple of weeks to ensure that each SJXXIII child felt welcomed, safe, loved, and excited to begin this new year was AMAZING! You can feel assured that your littles are in good hands, creative minds, and faith-filled spirits.

• No School

• First day of classes for all Grades 1-4 students
  

• Early Dismissal @ 2:15pm - wear blue and yellow!

• First day of class for KTR and Nature K

• First Assembly 1:20pm
  
• First day of class for KMW

Looking Ahead...

Sept. 11 - Meet The Staff Night 5-6:30pm

Sept. 13 - Terry Fox Run

Sept. 16 - School Council Meeting

Sept. 26 - Opening Mass

Sept. 27 - Orange Shirt Day

Sept. 30 - Truth and Reconciliation Day (No School)

School is out at 2:15pm on the first (in school) Wednesday of each month.

For September's early dismissal the theme is School Spirit: Sport your school wear and/or school colours (blue and yellow)

M/W Kindergarten:

Wednesday, Sept. 4th

Time: 9am - 11am Students with last names K - P

Time: 12pm - 2pm Students with last names Q - Z

T/R Kindergarten:

Tuesday, Sept.5th

Time 9am-11am Students with last names K - P

Time 1pm-3pm Students with last names Q - Z

In order for your child to be permitted to use technology in school and participate in field trips, parents must digitally consent by filling out the 2024-2025 Yearly Consent forms.

Please log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account and complete each of these consent forms by September 4th, 2024.

Here is a link to an instructional video, which can be found on the Parent Technology Handbook - PowerSchool for Parents page on the EICS website, if you require further assistance.

All returning students are required to fill out the 2024-2025 Demographic Validation Form. Having the most up-to-date information about our students ensures that we receive all available funding to support your child's learning as well as current information to reach you during the day if necessary.

If you have not already done so, we ask that you please complete this form in PowerSchool

You can follow these steps to access, review and submit the form:

1. Log into PowerSchool at https://eics.powerschool.com/

2. Under the “Forms & Fees” menu click “School Engage Student Forms”

3. Students - Select your child’s name (please complete one form for each child)

4. Click on the word “New” beside the form name A.8) 2024-2025 Demographic Validation

Video tutorial link (**from 2021-2022) on how to complete the form https://www.eics.ab.ca/parents-and-students/powerschool-log-in

Thank you in advance for completing these forms so your child experiences the full learning benefits at St. John XXIII Catholic School.

Please contact our office at 780-998-7777 if you have any questions.

Does your child have medical information, a condition the school should be aware of or require medication? If so please complete a B.2) 2024-2025 Medical Status Update/Request for Medical Treatment form located in your Parent Portal . This form is required yearly. We use this important information to alert any staff members, including substitute teachers, of any existing medical needs we need to be aware of. If your child requires medication at school you must fill out the medical form with all relevant information related to the medication.

If your child requires use of an EpiPen, please make sure this is filled out by September 3rd, 2024. Please submit all other medical forms by Friday, September 6th, 2024. If your child no longer has a medical condition, please update the form accordingly.

Please note:

• All medications, even over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Benadryl etc. require a label from the pharmacy
• the submission of a Medical Form is required prior to medication being sent to the school

If you need assistance, please click the Medical Form link found on our website.

Thank you for doing such an amazing job keeping the parking lot safe for our students on the first few days of staggered entry. It makes a difference when we work together.

If you are registered for busing next year, your child's first day of school as per the above information will be their first day of busing. If you wish to register your child for the bus or change your current route due to changing schools, please contact the Student Transportation Department of EIPS at (780) 417-8151 or st@eips.ca.

2023-2024 outstanding fee statements were emailed on Friday, August 23rd.

Instructions for paying school fees are located on the bottom of every newsletter.

Please contact the school office if you have any questions or concerns. 780-998-7777

St John has an incredible connection between home and school; one way you can be a part of that connection is by participating in our parent council.

If you have a child enrolled in our school, you are automatically a part of the parent council, so congratulations!

That means you are welcome to attend our parent council meetings, where you can partner with teachers and administration to help in decision-making, fundraising, and learning about your child’s school experience here at St John.

It is also a great way to connect with other parents within the school.

Our meetings are held monthly in the evenings.. You are welcome to attend all or any meetings. Your commitment to parent council is up to you. We do have executive positions that are voted on in the fall, and we also have those parents who simply choose to attend when their schedule allows it.

One of the great things we do on our parent council is support the programming at St John with our fundraising. Our parents organize the hot lunch program, the school yearbook, and special events such as our Halloween dance, hot dogs on fun days, and our year-end community events.

We are always looking to have new faces around the table. We really hope that you will consider joining us at our School Council Meetings.

The Archdiocese has set up a special fund to collect donations in support of the Our Lady of the Lourdes parishioners who were affected by the Jasper wildfire.

Please read letter from the Archbishop to find out more.

Donations can be made by cheque to the "The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton – Jasper Fund" or via

the donation button marked Jasper Fund on the Archdiocesan website:

https://caedm.ca/donate-to-the-jasper-fire

We are so blessed to be able to have our school and parish work together to walk with you and your child on their Sacramental Journeys. Father Carlos and our Sacramental Prep team will be offering Sacramental Prep classes at St. John XXIII after school from 3:15 - 3:45 on the following dates:

First Reconciliation Prep Classes

October 3, 7,8,9,10,11,15 and 16 (At STJXXIII)

First Holy Communion Prep Classes

October 17, 21, 24, 25, 28, 30 (At STJXXIII)

Celebrations:

First Reconciliation Nov 2nd at the Church OLA at 10:30am

First Holy Communion Nov 3rd at the Church OLA at 3:00pm

More information can be found at https://www.olafortsask.caedm.ca/Sacraments

E-mail registration forms to: olangels.ftsask@caedm.ca (We accept e-transfer of fees to the same email address.)

Check out the Fall 2024 What's On! Guide for details on what's happening at the Library this season.

From early literacy programs like Saturday Storytimes, children's programs like STEM Sundays, tween and teen programs like After School Gaming Club, and lots of adult programs from Podcasting 101 to Genealogy programs, we think we've covered just about everything this season!

Classes fill up quickly, but don’t hesitate to join the waitlist. If you are on a waitlist, you'll be notified as soon as a spot opens up! And, waitlists let us know what's popular - when possible, we will add even more amazing programs! Find the PDF on fspl.ca.

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