St. Martin's Catholic School

November 3, 2024

✍🏻 Office Information

Brief Message From the Office Staff

Parent Teacher Conferences are THIS WEEK November 6-7th. Parents can book for this event 2 ways:

1. Use this booking link https://schoolinterviews.ca/code/9csaw

2. Use the Booking QR Code Below

Other Highlights of this weeks Newsletter:

Halloween Parade Highlights 🧚🎃👻
MHCB @ St. Martin's 😂🧠👨🏻‍⚕️
Book Fair Nov 6-7 📖📚📘

👩🏻‍🏫 💬 👪See you soon at Parent Teacher Conferences!👩🏻‍🏫 💬 👪

STMN Office Staff:

🦸🏻‍♂️ Mr. Darby Murphy (Principal)

🦸 Mrs. Melanie Sorochan (Ast. Principal)

🧙🏻‍♀️ Ms. Fronde Dubuc (Secretary)

📸 Highlights of the Week

Happy Halloween from our Herd to Yours!!

Thank you to all of the parents and family that showed up for our Halloween Parade; it was a huge success. The kids had a blast showing off their costumes and celebrating the fun holiday. A special thank you to Mrs. Alicia Horvat for setting up our Halloween Backdrop for pictures; it was a beautiful touch to a fantastic afternoon! Check kout our Parade Video on our Facebook page!

🌟 Community Engagement

Dear STMN Parents and Families,

We are excited to announce that the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to St. Martin’s Catholic School! Choosing their own books not only empowers children but also inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. As always, every purchase made at the Book Fair benefits our school, helping us to continue providing enriching resources for all students.

The Book Fair will take place on November 6 and November 7 during school library hours, and it will also be open after school during Parent-Teacher Interviews until 7 p.m. For those who prefer to shop online, online orders will be accepted until November 10. The Book Fair will be held in our school library, and we accept cash, credit, and debit for all purchases.

We invite you to visit the Scholastic Book Fair website to explore the digital flyers and preview some of the wonderful titles that will be available:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.ca/bf/stmartinscathschool2

At St. Martin’s, we believe in fostering a love of reading within the context of our Catholic values. We see reading not only as an opportunity for academic growth but also as a way to deepen our understanding of God’s creation and His plan for us. Let us continue encouraging our children to explore stories that inspire, uplift, and educate them in their faith and learning. The countdown to Bookjoy is on!

Grade 5/6 Volleyball Game - Nov 5th @ AL HORTON (3:30pm)

Come Cheer on your Grade 5/6 SAINTS Volleyball Teams as they Play the AL Horton this TUESDAY, Nov 5th at AL HORTON. We can't wait to see the action!

Remembrance Day Fundraiser

Every Year St. Martin's likes to help fundraise for our local Legion branch. This year each student in our school will be receiving a Poppy Pin free of charge with the hope that our school community would think about a donation towards the Legion. The cost of a Pin is $2, but you are welcome to donate whatever amount you feel comfortable giving if you are able. If you are unable please do not feel the need to donate. There is a form in PowerSchool where the office will collect donations for the Poppy Campaign. Thank you so much for your support in this Remembrance Day fundraiser!

📆 Mark the Calendar

Nov. 3: Daylight Savings Time (Fall Back) ⌚
Grade 5/6 Volleyball Game @ AL Horton - 3:30 🏐
Nov. 6: Early Dismissal - School is Done by 1:55 ⏰
Nov. 6: Spirit Day - Sports Day (Wear your favourite team) 🏈
Nov. 6: BP's Hot Lunch 🍕
Nov. 6-7: Parent Teacher Conferences 🤝
Nov. 6-7: Book Fair 📚
Nov. 8: Remembrance Day Assembly @ 10:45am 🥀
Nov 8: Hotdog Friday🌭
Nov. 9-17: November Break (No School) 🔕
Nov. 18: Quesada Hot Lunch 🌮
Nov. 20: Photo Retakes Day 📸
Nov. 20: Edo Japan Hot Lunch 🍜
Nov. 22: Hotdog Friday🌭
Nov. 25: Booster Juice 🥤
Nov. 27: Cultural Empathy Presentation 👪
Nov. 27: Subway Hotlunch 🥪
Nov. 29: Hotdog Friday🌭
Dec. 4: Early Dismissal - School is Done by 1:55 ⏰
Dec. 4: BP's Hot Lunch 🍕
Dec. 16: DIV 1 Christmas Concert 🎼
Dec. 18: DIV 2 Christmas Concert 🎶

🏫 Learners and Learning

The Power of Kinesthetic Learning at St. Martin’s Catholic School

At St. Martin’s Catholic School, we recognize the importance of kinesthetic learning—learning by doing. This hands-on approach allows students to engage with concepts more deeply and develop practical skills that complement their academic learning.

In classrooms throughout St. Martin’s, students participate in a variety of interactive projects designed to bring lessons to life. Whether they’re building models in science, creating art that ties into literature, or acting out historical events, students are encouraged to use movement, touch, and active involvement in their learning. These experiences help students absorb and retain information, as kinesthetic learning taps into different senses and makes lessons memorable.

Our commitment to hands-on projects not only enhances understanding but also fosters a dynamic and engaging learning environment. By encouraging students to explore subjects physically, St. Martin’s helps nurture confident, inquisitive learners ready to tackle real-world challenges with creativity and skill.

Insight Assessment in November at EICS Schools

“Insight is a group-administered test of cognitive abilities, which will be administered to all Grade 4, 7, and 8 classes in EICS in the middle of November. The assessment is designed to measure cognitive abilities including reasoning, comprehension, memory, and visual/auditory processing. Students do not need to study for the Insight and the results do not impact their school grades. The results provide information about students’ cognitive strengths and areas of weakness to best support and program for all learners. For more information, please visit https://canadiantestcentre.com/cognitive/insight/”. If you have any questions, please contact your school's Collaborative Response Coordinator or Inclusive Learning facilitator (Mrs. Bridget Yaremko)

😁 Systemic Wellness

MHCB @ St. Martin's

Hello November!! Does anybody else feel like October flew by? St. Martin’s had a jam-packed October full of in-class mental health programming, World Mental Health Day on October 10th, Mindful Meetups for grade 4 students, Kindness Club, and Nature Photography. In alignment with World Mental Health Day’s annual theme, “It’s Time to Prioritize Mental Health in The Workplace,” staff were encouraged to consider their current work-life balance and take steps towards prioritizing their own mental health in the workplace. October was also AD(H)D Awareness month. To create understanding and empower some of our neurodiverse students, grades 4 through 6 received a presentation about Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder. Students asked questions anonymously in our “question box” and the presentation was tailored to answer things that they were curious about. Using a strengths-based approach, common myths were addressed, and the presentation focused on positive attributes of AD(H)D rather than solely concentrating on the words 'deficit' and 'disorder.'

For in-class programming, Grade 1B and 1Y are still participating in the “Worry Woo’s” program and have recently met the Monster of Innocence who lives in a bubble, the Very Frustrated Monster, and the Monster Who Wanted It All! They have learned strategies for facing fears about trying new things, identified what being frustrated means and how it affects their lives, and the importance of gratitude. Grades 2 through 6 are continuing in the “Open Parachute” program learning about resilience, self-awareness, social responsibility, and the importance of connection and systems of support. We have also been enjoying fun mindful activities such as animal concentration, nature walks, creating zentangle patterns, laughter yoga, and more! – Mrs. Scripture