This Week at École OLPH School

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School

Our Lady of Perpetual Help school is committed to quality education in both official languages fostering in our students respect for life and learning as Christ taught us.

Dear Parents and Students of Our Lady of Perpetual Help,

As we enter the season of Lent, we are reminded of its call to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—a time to draw closer to Christ and reflect on His sacrifice for us. It can be a very fruitful season in a sense, an opportunity to look inward and reflect on our failings while working and praying to prepare ourselves for Easter. Families, may this season be one of spiritual growth for our school community and for your families.

Also, please find attached the proposed school calendar for 2026-27. Many suggested to the division that knowing our calendar an additional year ahead would be useful, so here it is! We invite you to review it and share any thoughts or concerns by emailing olph@eics.ab.ca. Your input is always appreciated.

In Christ,

Mr. Johnson

Principal

École OLPH

Monday, March 10, 2025

• Gr. 5B & 5O - Swimming Lessons at Kinsmen Leisure Centre - 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon)

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

• Regular Day

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

• Gr. 5B & 5O - Swimming Lessons at Kinsmen Leisure Centre - 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon)

Thursday, March 13, 2025

• Parent Teacher Interviews - 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - See booking information below.
• Linking Generations - Clover Bar Lodge - Family Meet & Greet - 11:50 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Friday, March 14, 2025

• Regular Day

Monday, March 10, 2025

• Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. - Proverbs 4:23

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

• Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

• Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one's flesh to the spirit. - St. Augustine

Thursday, March 13, 2025

• I have strength for everything through him who empowers me. - Philippians 4:13

Friday, March 14, 2025

• Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! - Psalm 31:24

Saturday, March 15, 2025

• God doesn't require us to succeed, he only requires that you try. - Mother Teresa

Sunday, March 16, 2025 - Second Sunday of Lent

• For nothing will be impossible for God. Luke 1:37

Please click here for all important dates at École OLPH.

Dear Parents,

As part of our Lenten commitment to service and compassion, a group of grade 7/8 students are organizing a Teddy Bear Drive to support Lurana Shelter. We invite all students and families to participate by donating NEW Teddy Bears, which must be placed in a sealed plastic bag for hygiene purposes.

In addition, donations of new children's and ladies pajamas, as well as, new hard soled slippers or shoes for both women and children would be greatly appreciated.

Donations will be collected from March 17 to 20, 2025 and can be dropped off at the front foyer of the school in the designated house team bins.

At the end of the week, the house team with the most teddy bears will be awarded house points!

This initiative reflects the spirit of Lent, reminding us of the importance of giving, kindness, and serving those in need. Thank you for your generosity and support in making a difference in the lives of families at Lurana Shelter.

God Bless

Dear Parents,

More than 600 French Immersion students from École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School and Archbishop Jordan High School, came together for the first time to celebrate Carnaval!

On Tuesday, students were paired into mixed-school groups to enjoy traditional festivities, including la tire, hockey, sledding, sack races, and Indigenous games. This joyful gathering was a wonderful way to celebrate French culture while building friendships across our school communities.

Plus de 600 élèves d'immersion française de l'École Our Lady of Perpetual Help, de l'École Père Kenneth Kearns et de l'École Archbishop Jordan se sont réunis pour la première fois pour célébrer le Carnaval ! Mardi, les élèves ont été répartis en groupes mixtes pour profiter de festivités traditionnelles, notamment la tire, le hockey, la luge, les courses en sac et les jeux autochtones. Ce joyeux rassemblement a été une merveilleuse façon de célébrer la culture française tout en renforçant les amitiés au sein de nos communautés scolaires.

In addition to Carnaval on Tuesday, our students enjoyed a delicious pancake feast, thanks to the incredible generosity of our @olphschoolcouncil volunteers! This special tradition reminds us of the importance of community, service, and preparing our hearts for the Lenten season.

A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers for their time and effort—we are so grateful for you!

God Bless

Dear Parents,

On Thursday, March 13th and Tuesday, March 18th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the École OLPH teachers will be conducting Parent Teacher Interviews in person at École OLPH to discuss your child’s growth and learning since September.

Please use the School Interviews program to book a time convenient for your family. The website to book the interview will open on Thursday, March 6th, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. and will close on Wednesday, March 12th, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.

Please note that all conferences will be booked on a first come first serve basis. Each meeting will be scheduled for a 10-minute time slot. It’s important to note that the smooth running of Parent Teacher Interviews relies on each family keeping to the timetable. If you need more time with a particular teacher, you are welcome to arrange a separate meeting or phone call.

To schedule your Parent Teacher Interview, complete the following steps:

1. Go to the school booking site: http://www.schoolinterviews.ca

• Enter the following access code: perph
• Enter your child’s name, contact email and phone number.
• Enter your child’s teachers name.
• Select the appointment time that suit your family best.

2. When you click FINISH your selected bookings will be emailed to you immediately.

Please keep this email for future reference.

· If you do not receive an email, please check your junk-mail, or enter the event code again and check your email address spelling.

On both evenings of Parent Teacher Interviews, Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Smith, our school administration team, will be available to speak with if you have any questions or concerns that you would like to discuss. Please feel free to schedule an appointment with them reach them by phone 780-467-5631 or via email at stefanj@eics.ab.ca or ciara.smith@eics.ab.ca.

Parents wishing to change their conference times after the closing date should contact our school secretary, Mme Winland in the office at 780-467-5631. Additionally, if you do not have access to the internet, please contact Mme Winland and she can assist you in booking your interviews.

Regards,

Mr. Johnson

Principal ~ École OLPH

stefanj@eics.ab.ca 780-467-5631

Dear Parents,

This year the École OLPH Scholastic Book Fair will be held during the dates listed below. Students and parents will have the opportunity to purchase books to add to their home libraries.

Monday, March 17

8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Tuesday, March 18

8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 19

8:45 a.m. 12:00 p.m. (noon)

Would you like a way to send money with your child without their debit card or cash? Scholastic has a new way to help you.

Scholastic has teamed up with MYDOH. You can get a card and load it with how much you would like your child to spend. If this interests you please follow this link :

https://www.mydoh.ca/mydoh-scholastic/

This is a fundraising event for the library where up to 60% of purchases will come back to the library in the form of new books for the students to enjoy. Thank you for your support.

If you have any questions, please contact Mme Heather at heatherc@eics.ab.ca.

God Bless

THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM SCHOOL COUNCIL NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION:

Our current chair, Krystal Gaudet, will be stepping down at the end of this year after being with us for the past 3 years. Our Vice-Chair, Jenelle Potyondi, is also stepping down (as she also serves on Council at another school).

It is absolutely imperative that we find replacements for Chair and Vice Chair. Our council runs smoothly because we have so many wonderful systems in place, which means that even if taking on the task of Chair or Vice Chair may seem daunting, it actually isn’t! With an excellent team of executive members on board and our supportive parent community, the roles aren't as challenging as they may seem! This is THE time to take over the role as Krystal and Jenelle will still be at OLPH for a few more years and can pass on every tidbit of knowledge throughout your first year on Council.

Heather, our current Treasurer, is also interested in passing on the books to a new Treasurer. As she will still be in our school community for one more year, she will be there to support and teach the new Treasurer (you could be Co-Treasurers during the transition year!) Again, we have the systems in place and the budget and spreadsheets are easily filled in from one year to the next.

It is SO IMPORTANT to have an active and involved School Council at OLPH. (Not only is it important but School Councils are legislated under the Education Act and are MANDATORY for all schools in the public education system).

If you are interested in becoming a member of our council or should you have any questions or concerns please contact parent council at olphschoolcouncil@gmail.com

So many events that your child has the opportunity to participate in during the school year are funded or organized by OLPH School Council and Fundraising Association:

• These events are Hot Lunch, L’Epluchette (corn roast), Shrove Tuesday pancake breakfast, Break the Rules, Pool Parties, end of year BBQ, Hot Dog Days (Grade 8 fundraiser, but coordination assisted by Council), and more....
• We fund new projects such as playground re-builds, recess equipment (each class has a basket of sporting goods that students can sign out for recess use), and others (as requested by school administration).
• We plan a Teacher Appreciation Lunch and continually offer support to our teachers and admin as requested.
• We are the organization behind The Community Corner which feeds students every single day and supports many of our families during the holiday seasons.

School Council provides the community spirit that makes OLPH such a special school but it takes volunteers to step up to be the guiding force behind the scenes.

Our Annual General Meeting doesn't take place until April, but we wanted to give as much notice as possible. We will be looking to vote in new members to our Council at our AGM.

Without a Chair or Vice-Chair, all the events listed above cannot happen. There would be NO hot lunch, no Corn Roast, no Break the Rules Day, no Shrove Tuesday pancake breakfast, no End of Year BBQ, etc.

Please consider joining our School Council and Fundraising Association as an executive member to help lead a group of wonderful volunteers so that we can continue to offer all these wonderful activities and events to our students.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, January 22nd @ 7pm.

God Bless,

Krystal Gaudet (she/her)

Chair / President

OLPH School Council & Fundraising Association

Treaty 6 Territory - amiskwacîwâskahikan (ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ)

Dear Parents,

Please click on the link below for the OLPH Parish Bulletin for Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Insert Link Here

God Bless

Dear Grade 6, 7, & 8 Parents,

Preparation Classes for the Sacrament of Confirmation start THIS WEEK at OLPH parish! Please click on the link below to complete the fillable registration form, which includes all the instructions and details.

Confirmation Registration

God Bless