Final Fast Facts

Dear St. Mary's Families,

As we wrap up another wonderful school year, I want to thank each of you for being part of our St. Mary’s community. It has been a year full of learning, growth, and meaningful memories—where fun and education went hand in hand.

Our students embraced a wide range of learning experiences this year, both inside and outside the classroom. Through our dynamic MicroSociety program, students stepped into real-world roles—launching businesses, managing services, and taking on leadership positions that allowed them to problem-solve, collaborate, and develop essential life skills. This hands-on learning brought the curriculum to life and helped students see themselves as capable, creative members of a larger community.

Students also challenged themselves in new ways—on ski trips, in swimming lessons, camps and during team-building experiences that stretched their confidence and courage. They explored their faith through service and prayer, showcased creativity in the arts, and built foundational skills across all subject areas. Whether through classroom projects, field trips, athletics, or community events, they made the most of every opportunity to learn and grow.

We are truly grateful that you’ve chosen St. Mary’s and entrusted us with your children. It’s a privilege we don’t take lightly.

As summer begins, I hope you find time for rest, adventure, and moments that turn into lasting memories with the ones you love. Enjoy the sunshine, the togetherness, and the joy this season brings.

Our school office will reopen for the 2025–2026 school year beginning on August 19th, and students will return to class on Thursday, August 28th. We look forward to welcoming everyone back then!

Wishing you a safe and happy summer!

~Danialle Squires

Principal

We recently celebrated our senior Saints — our remarkable Grade 8 students. It was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on their growth, their accomplishments, and their final moments at St. Mary’s as they prepared to take their next steps forward.

Families joined us in marking this milestone, and staff helped make it extra special by beginning the day with a joyful fiesta de style breakfast for the grads.

As they left St. Mary’s, we reminded them: You were created perfectly, just as you are. You are capable of doing hard things. You make a difference. And no matter where life takes you, you will always be part of the Saints family.

We sent them off with pride, love, and best wishes for the journey ahead.
Once a Saint, always a Saint. 💙

We gathered as a school community to recognize the incredible achievements, growth, and spirit of our students.

Each grade honoured three students for Outstanding Christian Spirit, Most Improved, and Top Academic Achievement. Students in Grades 1–6 were also recognized with Reading Achievement Awards, celebrating their growth and dedication in literacy.

Several special school awards were presented to students who went above and beyond in leadership, service, and character.

Congratulations to all of our award recipients!
Your hard work, perseverance, and faith truly shone this year. We are so proud of you! 💙

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for people."
— Colossians 3:23

Students who received the Holy Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.

🎉 MicroSociety Awards Celebration

We wrapped up another exciting year of MicroSociety with a special awards celebration, recognizing the strength, creativity, and growth of our student-run agencies and ventures. From standout customer service to eye-catching marketing, from innovative ideas to strong community connections—our students truly brought their businesses to life in meaningful ways.

Awards were presented across a wide range of categories, highlighting everything from leadership and teamwork to professionalism and entrepreneurial spirit. It was a powerful reminder of what students can achieve when they take ownership of their learning and work together toward shared goals.

Congratulations to all of our young entrepreneurs and leaders—you’ve set the bar high and made us incredibly proud!

We can't wait to see what next year will bring to Saints' City!

Our year-end gathering gave us the opportunity to express our love and appreciation to several valued staff members who will not be returning in the fall.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Stewart, who is retiring after a full and successful lifetime of teaching—leaving behind a legacy of kindness, dedication and funny jokes.

We also thank our incredible support staff who will not be returning at this time: Ms. Angela, Mrs. Howard, Mr. Beck, Ms. Jordan, Ms. Brianne, Ms. Shauna, (not pictured: Ms. Tara and Mrs. Maure). Each of you has made a meaningful impact on our students, our staff, and the spirit of our school.

We are deeply grateful for your service and care, and we sincerely hope your path leads you back to St. Mary’s soon!

Once a Saint, always a Saint!

Hello! My name is Mrs. Amanda Olivier. The 2025/2026 school year will be my 23rd year of teaching. My job here at St.Mary's will be the first job I've had in a regular public school in a long time. I have spent the last 16 years teaching grades 1-9 on hutterite colonies, 14 at Birch Hills Colony. Multigrade teaching certainly kept me busy and on my toes, and I loved it! I am very creative and always thinking of new things to make or do. When I do have time to relax, I enjoy reading out in the sun and walking my three dogs. I am so excited to join the group here at St.Mary's and to meet all of the kids!

Welcome Miss Kenna!

Miss Kenna, born and raised in Grande Prairie, joins the St. Mary’s team after spending several years at Mother Teresa School as an Educational Assistant and Pre-Kindergarten instructor. She is excited to continue in the Pre-K role and to be part of the St. Mary’s community.

She values being part of the Catholic school district, where she now works alongside many of the teachers who once inspired her. She feels blessed to now support and guide young learners in return.

Outside of school, Miss Kenna enjoys coaching gymnastics, spending time with loved ones, baking, and relaxing with a good TV show. Welcome to St. Mary’s!

All library books are now past due.

All library books were due and have now been invoiced through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Payments can be made online. These fees will carry over into the next school year, as all balances follow students from grade to grade and between GPCSD schools.

Our library resources have played a vital role in supporting student learning and success. Invoicing helps ensure the timely replacement of missing items so that our collection remains strong and accessible.

Please note that any outstanding balances may result in limited access to library resources in the fall.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for supporting a well-stocked library for all students!

Ready to start planning for fall?
Our School Supply Lists are now available! You can find them on our website at stmarys.gpcsd.ca to help you get a head start on back-to-school prep.

While St. Mary’s does not charge base fees for the academic year, some programs do have associated costs.

• Junior High CTS fees have been invoiced and emailed—these are now past due.

Payments can be made online through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you have any questions or need to make payment arrangements, please email the office at stmarys@gpcsd.ca.

https://gpcsd.powerschool.com/public/

St. Mary's Catholic School is located on the beautiful lands of Treaty 8 Territory. We respectfully honour the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples who have lived on and cared for these lands since time immemorial and who continue to do so today.

Email: stmarys@gpcsd.ca
Website: stmarys.gpcsd.ca
Location: 9001 103 St, Sexsmith, AB, Canada
Phone: (780) 568-3631
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMarysSX