Wolf Weekly

Please check our St. Francis Athletics Calendar on our school website for sports details!

School Division calendar for the 2024- 2025 school year.

St. Francis School Event Calendar

• Nov 18-22 International Education Week
• Nov 19 Junior Girls Volleyball City Finals @ St Joes
• Nov 21 Junior Boys Volleyball City Finals @ St Joes
• Nov 23 STF Basketball Camp (deadline to sign up is Monday Nov 18)

A quick reminder that the end of Term 1 is coming up soon! The last day of term is November 28, so please make sure all assignments are submitted no later than Monday, November 25, to give teachers time to assess and record them. Thank you for checking Schoology and encouraging our students to get their work in on time! See our website for Honour Roll criteria

At St. Francis of Assisi, we’re committed to creating an engaging, student-centered learning environment. This year, our focus is on enhancing student engagement through strategies that foster active participation and critical thinking. During Professional Development Days, teachers are building their toolkit with Total Participation Techniques (TPT), designed to involve every student in meaningful learning. Look for upcoming highlights of these techniques in action, with photos from our classrooms!

To Sign Up Please log into your PARENT Powerschool account then choose the School Fees and Froms option located on the left side of the page.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are excited to announce that our basketball season is just around the corner, and we are reaching out to parents, guardians, and community members who may be interested in volunteering as coaches! We truly value the experience, enthusiasm, and support that our school community brings to our sports programs, and we would love to involve you in making this an exciting and successful season.

To ensure a fair and balanced process, please note that coaching assignments will only be made after teams are selected. This approach helps protect both players and their parents, ensuring an impartial tryout process. Once teams are finalized, we will reach out to confirm coaching roles with parents whose children are placed on a team.

However, we are also open to having coaches who may not have a child on the team! If you’re a parent who would still like to coach even if your child is not selected, or if you know of a community member who would be a great fit, please let me know and have them complete the Expression of Interest Form. We welcome all enthusiastic and supportive volunteers willing to share their love for the game and help our student-athletes grow.

If you are interested in coaching, please complete the Expression of Interest Form linked here by November 29th. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out to Heather Chatwood at heather.chatwood@rdcrs.ca.

Thank you in advance for your willingness to support our program. Your involvement helps us create a positive and rewarding experience for all our athletes. We look forward to a fantastic basketball season…Go Wolves🏀🐺 !

With gratitude and team spirit,

Mrs. Heather Chatwood

Athletic Director
St. Francis of Assisi Middle School

Exciting Update: SMS Notifications Coming to SchoolMessenger on November 13th!

We’re thrilled to announce that starting November 13th, SMS notifications will be enabled in SchoolMessenger! This new feature will enhance our communication and ensure you stay updated with important announcements, event reminders, and emergency alerts.

Why Opt-In for SMS Notifications?

1. Stay Informed: Receive real-time updates directly on your phone. Whether it’s a school closure, schedule change, or special event, you’ll be the first to know.

2. Convenience: With SMS notifications, you can get important information quickly and easily, even when you’re on the go. No need to check emails or websites!

3. Engagement: Opting in means you’re connected and engaged with the school community. It helps us reach you more effectively and keep everyone informed.

How to Opt-In

It’s simple! Just text "Y" or "yes" to 978338 from your SMS-capable phone. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code provided in the attached Flyer.

We encourage everyone to take advantage of this feature to ensure you don’t miss out on any important information. Thank you for being an integral part of our school community!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Last week, our Grade 8 students had the opportunity to attend an insightful and informative anti-vaping presentation, led by students from Notre Dame. This presentation focused on the serious health risks associated with vaping, as well as the potential long-term effects on young people’s physical and mental well-being.

As vaping continues to be a growing concern among youth, it’s important to continue these discussions both in the classroom and at home. We encourage parents and guardians to engage with their children about what they learned during the presentations and to keep the conversation going.

To support you in continuing these discussions, we’ve gathered some valuable resources:

• https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/themes/health/publications/healthy-living/vaping-mechanics-infographic/talking-teen-vaping-tip-sheet-parents.pdf
• https://drugfreekidscanada.org/

We believe that by staying informed and having open conversations, we can help our students make better decisions and protect their health. If you would like more detailed resources or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your support in continuing this important conversation!

🌟 Calling All Parents! Supplies needed for our Alberta Exploration Day! 🌟

Our Skills Alberta Exploration Day is coming soon and we are looking for donations of reusable materials.

If you have any of the following items at home, we would greatly appreciate your contribution:

• Clean empty 2L pop bottles
• Clean empty water bottles
• Foam styrofoam sheets/panels
• Tin foil
• Bubble wrap
• Cork sheets/plugs
• popsicle sticks
• moldable clay/plasticine

Please have your donations in by November 18th. Together, we can inspire our students to innovate and explore!

Thank you for your support!

The 3rd Annual Edmonton Archdiocese ELEVATE Youth Retreat led by FacetoFace Ministries will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Sherwood Park on Saturday, January 25, 2026. OLPH Parish is located at 13 Brower Drive, Sherwood park AB.

Elevate is a Youth Retreat for grades 6-8! Come to encounter the Lord, have fun, and be empowered to become a modern-day saint!

The conference includes lots of fun, keynote talks, praise and worship, Adoration, and more.

Registration fee includes lunch, all supplies and activities and covers the cost to bring in FacetoFace Ministries.

Early Bird Registration Deadline with payment is Friday December 13, 2024. (Early Bird price $40, After December 13 price is $50)

Doors open for check in at 9:15 am

Retreat 9:30 am - 4:15 pm

(Parent/Guardian/Group Leader must sign child in and out)

Options for payment are:

• EFT to OLPH.etransfer@caedm.ca with "Child's Name - Youth Conference" typed in the note.
• Pay in person with Cash/Cheque/Debit/Credit Card at OLPH Parish Office.
• Mail cheque payable to OLPH Parish to 13 Brower Drive, Sherwood Park AB, T8H 1Y7 (write "Child's Name - Youth Conference" on the bottom of cheque)

Sign up link: https://ourladyofperpetualhelpsp.flocknote.com/signup/151904

Directed by the creator of 'The Chosen' -

Welcome the snow and get into the Christmas Spirit. See the Christmas movie getting rave reviews!

Now Playing at Galaxy Cinemas in Red Deer! See website for showtimes.

Watch the trailer here.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries are at it again!

On November 14th, if you dine at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 20% of your purchase will go toward building our Inclusive Playground!

This is a perfect opportunity to have a night off from cooking supper while supporting a playground where ALL of our students can play together.

Just show them this graphic or tell them you are here to support St. Teresa! Thank you for your support—every bite makes a difference!

Thank you to Five Guys and those of you who joined us in September, where we raised over $630.

Variety - the Children's Charity of Alberta

As we approach the holiday season, we’re excited to kick off once again our annual Giving Tree Christmas Project in support of Catholic Social Services.

With the help of several dedicated RDCRS schools, some of whom have been partnering with CSS year after year, this project continues to thrive. Thanks to the unwavering support of the community, we are able to reach countless families, spreading holiday joy and bringing the true spirit of the season to those in need.

This year, with an even greater demand for assistance, we are asking for your support to buy gift cards that will allow families the freedom to choose what suits their needs best, making a meaningful impact on their lives.

Walmart gift cards of $25 or $50 can be dropped off at the school by December 6, 2024.

For the first time, we are also very thrilled to offer the option for digital donations, where you can select your participating school! Please use the following link: Giving tree link

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Let’s work together to make this Christmas a season of hope and joy for every family we serve.

We’re thrilled to share some wonderful news! The Lending Cupboard™ Society of Alberta has been selected as the charity of choice for Tim Hortons' 2024 Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign in Red Deer! Starting November 18 to November 24, you can purchase festive Smile Cookies at participating Tim Hortons locations across North America, with 100% of proceeds going to charity.

In Red Deer, half proceeds of each Smile Cookie sale will directly support The Lending Cupboard™, while the other half will benefit Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a difference in our community!

Each Holiday Smile Cookie is a festive treat made with red and green sugar dough, filled with white chocolate, and decorated with a cheerful icing smile. Last year, this campaign raised an incredible $9.8 million across North America, directly supporting local charities and Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. We’re excited to make an even bigger impact together this year!

To make it easier for our supporters, Tim Hortons is now accepting bulk pre-orders! Simply complete the attached Bulk Order Form and return it to a local participating Tim Hortons in Red Deer. By ordering in advance, you ensure that your family, friends, or workplace can enjoy these delightful cookies while supporting The Lending Cupboard™.

Thank you in advance for purchasing Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookies and supporting our mission. Please consider sharing this information with your network as every cookie sold makes a difference in your community! Your belief in our work allows us to continue providing essential medical equipment loans to individuals and families across Central Alberta.

With Sincere Gratitude,

Reminder that statements for school fees have been emailed out.

1. Access PowerSchool through the Parent Portal.

2. Sign in using your POWERSCHOOL Username & Password.

3. Click on the link "School Fees & Forms" located on the left-hand side

4. Methods of payment include Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard and Debit MasterCard only.

Mandatory School Fees:

CTS/Options Fee - $20 This fee supports the delivery of Option Classes for all grade levels

School Council - PAC (Parent Council) Fee - $35 This fee supports year-end field trips, activities, and special projects etc. for all grade levels to support student life

Lockes & Lockers Fee - $5 This fee covers the locker and 1 lock rental. Non-refundable. If the lock is lost and needs to be replaced there will be an additional fee charged

Grade 9 Farewell Fee - $10 (Grade 9 students only) This fee supports the celebration of our graduating Grade 9 students

Band Instrument Maintenance Fee - $150 (Grade 7-9 only)

Extra-Curricular Fees:

Athletics

Badminton - $30

Cross Country Running Club - $30

Sports Development - $25

Jr Teams - $75

Sr Teams - $175

Ski Club

Canyon - $110-$310 (Depending on Package Selected)

Nakiska - $120-$130 (Depending on Package Selected)

The 2024/2025 RDCRS Student Information Update Form has been sent out to all parents. This form needs to be completed every year, even if there are no changes. This is a legal document that is required by Alberta Education. Please check your email for the link or go to your powerschool account using the web browser and click the SchoolEngage tab. The link for powerschool can be found on our St. Francis website. If you are not able to sign into your powerschool account please contact the school and we can reset your password.