The Good News March 16, 2025

Today is the halfway mark of the Sundays of Lent. This Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday it is a Sunday of joy.

At St. John XXIII we find joy when we embrace every student as a child of God with unique and amazing skills, gifts and talents. We look for and see what every child brings to our community as they grow and develop into young leaders with ideas and hopes for our world.

Specifically, in grade four, we target building leadership capacity in each student as they belong to our Student Leadership Squad. The students work together with staff on developing those skills that help students to see themselves as faith-filled, capable, responsible and ethical leaders who can make a difference.

Monday, March 31

• Student's first day back after Spring Break
• 3F at Share and Care program

• Peer Mentors visit

• Early Dismissal

• Library Day Gr 1-4
• Peer Mentors visit

Friday, April 4

• NK SWC

Looking Ahead...

April 9 - Gr 3 Harbour Pool

April 11 - Cereal Box Challenge

April 14 - N1 SWC, School Council Meeting 6:30

April 16 - N2 SWC

April 18 - Good Friday, no school

The big Cereal Box Domino Event has been postponed to Friday, April 11 at 11:00 AM in the gym! 🎉

If you haven’t brought in your cereal boxes or boxed non-perishable food, there’s still time! Let’s keep stacking up kindness for the Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank.

Don’t forget to send in your donations by Tuesday morning! Let’s make this domino chain (and our impact) as BIG as possible!

Our School Council values your input and encourages you to share your suggestions on how funds from our school fundraisers should be allocated. We are dedicated to ensuring these funds benefit all students inclusively. Your feedback is vital to us and will be discussed at our monthly School Council meetings. Please click the link to share your ideas with us. https://forms.gle/qqDazTubZ65GUKv89

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 want to hear from you! Mark your calendars for our next School Council meeting on Monday, April 14th, at 6:30 PM. Your input and ideas are crucial to making a positive impact at St. John XXIII. Come be a part of the conversation and help shape the future of our school!

All current St. John XXIII students are required to fill out the Next Year Intentions form (and not a new registration form) in PowerSchool so that we can plan accordingly for next year. Please log into your PowerSchool account and fill out the Next Year Intentions form. This form is located on the left hand side, above the Grades and Attendance dropdown. Please refer to the PowerSchool page on our website for more information.

Nature Kindergarten

Looking for a full-time kindergarten option that nurtures curiosity, independence, and a love for the outdoors? Our Nature Kindergarten program offers an enriching extension to regular kindergarten, operating on Mondays, Thursdays, and some Wednesdays, allowing children to attend five days a week.

This curriculum-aligned, play-based program immerses students in nature, fostering learning through hands-on exploration that engages the body, mind, and spirit. Children spend a large part of their day outside, developing confidence, resilience, and a deep connection to the world around them.

The cost for this full-time kindergarten experience is $350 per month

Nature Program – Grades 1 to 4

Imagine your child exploring forests, discovering wildlife, and learning through hands-on experiences—all while covering the grade-level curriculum in a dynamic outdoor setting! Our Nature Program provides students with two half-days of outdoor learning each week, where they develop physical literacy, independence, and a deep connection to the natural world. This unique, curriculum-aligned program turns science, math, social studies, and literacy into real-world adventures, making learning more engaging and meaningful.

The cost for this enriching experience is $60 per month—an investment in curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.

If your child is currently attending St. John XXIII, and you would like to register in one of our Nature Programs (K,1, 2, 3, 4) please submit a B.3) Supplemental Program Registration form

Please visit our website to access the Nature Programs Parent Handbook, found in the Quick Links

At St. John XXIII, we are committed to creating a Christ-centered, distraction-free learning environment that nurtures the well-being of all students. To support this, personal digital devices (cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, and gaming devices) should remain at home or stored in backpacks and powered off during school hours (8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.) unless used for teacher-led instruction. All parent communication during the day should go through the school office to minimize classroom disruptions. Thank you for helping us foster a focused and faith-filled learning space!

Did you know that you can support EICS by directing your property taxes to Catholic education? Please read this letter from EICS Board of Trustees Chair Le-Ann Ewaskiw to learn about this meaningful opportunity to strengthen Catholic education for our students.

Nominations are now open for the upcoming Municipal and School Board Election, October 20, 2025.

Information and nomination forms are available on our division website:

• EICS Catholic School Trustee Election Information

• Division Blog Post - Nominations are Open for the 2025 Election

Thinking of Trusteeship? This handbook provides essential information about the role of Catholic school board trustees, and the unique mission of publicly funded Catholic education. Please click here:

• 2025 Municipal Election - Handbook for Prospective Candidates

A jubilee is a special celebration, renewal, and forgiveness period rooted in religious and secular traditions. In the Christian tradition, a Jubilee Year, or Holy Year, is a time of special spiritual significance declared by the Pope, often held every 25 years (or during extraordinary jubilees). It offers Catholics a unique opportunity for renewal in faith, repentance, pilgrimage, and the reception of special graces or indulgences. The jubilee concept symbolizes mercy, justice, and restoration, inviting people to reflect on forgiveness, equality, and spiritual growth.

Full article below.

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