Patriot Post

Monday August 26th

• School Operational Staff Day (No school for students)

Tuesday August 27th

• School Operational Staff Day (No school for students)

Wednesday August 28th

• Division Opening Day (No school for students)

Thursday August 29th

• Staggered Entry. First Day of School for Students LAST NAMES A-L ONLY

Friday August 30th

• Staggered Entry. First Day of School for Students LAST NAMES M-Z ONLY

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Upcoming Dates:

• Sept. 2nd: NO SCHOOL LABOUR DAY
• Sept. 3rd: School for ALL Students
• Sept. 4th: Early Dismissal @ 2:00pm
• Sept 10th: Meet the Staff Night from 5:00pm-6:30pm + School Council Meeting @6:30pm
• Sept 19th-20th EIAA Volleyball Tournament
• Sept 23rd: Bus Evacuations
• Sept 30th: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Welcome to St. John Paul II Catholic School!

On behalf of the entire staff, I would like to formally welcome all of our students and families to St. John Paul II Catholic School for the 2024-2025 school year. Whether you are returning, transitioning from one of our feeder schools, or joining us for the first time, we want you to know that St. John Paul II Catholic School is a dynamic and nurturing school community that has much to offer.

As we gather once again in our vibrant school community, we are excited to embrace our theme for the year: "Rooted in Christ," inspired by John 15:5-8 where Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches...bear much fruit, and become my disciples.” This year, let us reflect on the importance of staying deeply connected to Christ, our true source of strength and inspiration. Each of us plays a vital role in creating a flourishing community where the teachings of Christ guide our actions and decisions. As we embark on this journey together, let us remember that being rooted in Christ empowers us to face challenges with grace, to support each other in times of need, and to celebrate our achievements with gratitude. May this school year be filled with opportunities to deepen our faith, strengthen our bonds, and make a positive impact in the world.

With that being said, the first days of school are exciting and emotional for everyone, in addition to being busy and hectic. To alleviate some of the "busy-ness" we kindly ask that parents "drop-off" students in the parking lot rather than accompanying them into the school on the first day. We will have over 200 students plus all staff on each of the staggered entry days and need to be mindful of the already bustling nature of the day. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this request. We promise that your kids will be in good hands! There will be many welcoming and smiling faces as your child(ren) enter our building. We encourage you to attend our Meet the Staff evening on Tuesday September 10th at 5:00 pm to meet the teachers and see our school.

Homeroom placements will be available on PowerSchool by Wednesday August 28th by noon. Class lists will also be posted on the walls inside our school gymnasium as students enter the school on their specified staggered entry days as noted above.

If your plans have changed over the summer and your child(ren) WILL NOT be attending school at ST.JPII, please notify the front office immediately. It is imperative that we have an accurate student count so that we can finalize class lists, determine spaces in option courses, and plan activities for the year. We can be reached at 780-992-0889.

In closing, thank you in advance for your support and partnership in making this school year a success. Together, let us embrace the opportunities that lie ahead with an open heart and a spirit of optimism. Here’s to a wonderful year ahead, filled with faith, joy, and countless memorable moments!

Blessings,

Mrs. Tiffany Tomlinson

Principal

Hi everyone, my name is Tiffany Tomlinson, and I am extremely honored and excited to be joining the team at St. John Paull II Catholic School. Firstly, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our former principal, Mr. Robert Stecyk, on his new role as division principal at central office. His dedication and leadership have made a significant impact on this school, and I have no doubt that he will bring the same level of excellence and vision to his new position. He will certainly be missed. Thanks Mr. Stecyk!

As we embark on this new school year, I look forward to leading alongside a wonderful staff, at a school renowned with a rich history and vibrant student body. I believe that education thrives on strong partnerships between the school, students and parents, built on meaningful relationships, a dynamic curriculum and exceptional instructional practices.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of taking on various administrative, leadership and teaching roles in both Elk Island Catholic Schools and Buffalo Trail Public Schools. These include principalships, athletic director roles, mentoring, directing drama productions, and coaching numerous sports teams over the span of my career, to name a few. My teaching specialties are secondary English language arts, social studies, physical education and foods. As an educator, I am passionate about providing quality instructional practices that create exciting learning opportunities for both students and staff to grow academically, socially, and spiritually. Beyond school, I enjoy traveling, music, fitness, playing sports, chauffeuring my son around to his various endeavors, and cheering on those Oilers!

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and your children. I look forward to positively contributing to the thriving school culture at St. John Paul II Catholic School, a culture that meaningfully blends spiritual purpose with quality educational opportunities. And, I look forward to meeting and connecting with all of you!

Take care and God bless,

Mrs. Tiffany Tomlinson

Principal

1. Entrances/Exits

• Dedicated entry/exit doors for each grade will continue as follows:
• Grade 5: Doors by the bus loop (West)
• Grade 6: Doors by the portables (East)
• Grade 7: Front doors (South)
• Grade 8: Door between gym and construction lab (South East)
• Any student arriving late or leaving early may use the front doors.
• All guests/visitors/parents need to use the main front doors of the school.
• Doors will be opened at 8:15 am and will be locked at 8:45 am.

2. Closed Campus

• For the safety and security of our students, ST. John Paul II Catholic School will continue to be a "closed campus." This means that students WILL NOT be permitted to leave school property on their own at anytime throughout the course of the day.
• Students ARE NOT permitted to leave the school to purchase food at nearby fast food restaurants. As such, we are continuing to operate our school cafeteria where students can purchase healthy food choices at lunchtime as well as throughout the day.

3. Parents/Visitors

• In the interest of the safety and respect for all our students and staff, ALL PARENTS/VISITORS MUST report to the office upon arrival at our building.
• We realize that sometimes student lunches and school materials get forgotten at home and need to be dropped off at school, therefore we kindly ask that parents complete these drop-offs at the office, or check in for further instructions. For the safety of our school, we do not want visitors or parents wandering around without our consent or knowledge. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
• If you have any concerns, or need to speak with a staff member or administration, please call the office ahead of time to make an appointment. Thank-you for your understanding and cooperation in this regard.

Aceron, Kaiden / Teacher

Bennett, Emma / Teacher

Bjornstad, Jodie / Teacher

Bolen, Nikki / Assistant Principal

Budinski (Chizawsky), Karly / Teacher

Combo, Annabelle / Night Custodian

D'Mello, Ashwini / EA

Demorest, Chelsea / EA

Dube, Lee / Family Wellness Worker (FWW)

Earle, Natalie / Teacher

Gagne, Diana / Day Custodian

Hackett, Dana / EA

Hebert, Matthew / Teacher

Horiachka, Kari / Teacher

Johnston, Michelle / Pathways EA

Latreille, Cynthia / Pathways

Leeson, Lavonne / Teacher, Chaplain

Morin, Shari / Inclusive Learning Facilitator (ILF)

Reist, Kendra / EA, Library Tech.

Riess, Roxanne / Teacher

Ritz, Kim / EA

Sanderson, Korah

Selte, Lynne / Teacher

Smadis, Jennifer / Teacher

Stocker, Fiona / Teacher

Swan, Monique / Secretary

Thompson, Kimberly / Teacher

Tomlinson, Tiffany / Principal

Walker, Meagan / Cafeteria Manager

Woitas, Sarah / Pathways Teacher

Zazula, Rhianna

EICS Demographic Confirmation and Consent Forms are available on your PowerSchool ParentPortal. Please take a moment to visit your PowerSchool ParentPortal account and complete these forms; one for each child you have attending school with EICS.

Alberta Education requires that we obtain a detailed update of student demographics on an annual basis. School funding from Alberta Education is conditional on us receiving these updates and including them in your student's record. More importantly, these forms ensure that we have the most current contact information if we need to reach you in the event of an emergency.

We certainly appreciate you taking the time to complete these forms. Should you have any questions, or require assistance, please contact Mrs. Swan in the office at 780-992-0889 and she will be happy to help.

School fees and fieldtrip fees will be available on PowerSchool Parent Portal shortly. We encourage these fees to be paid online through your PowerSchool Parent Portal, or you are welcome to pay by cash or cheque. Please make cheques payable to Elk Island Catholic Schools. If you require assistance logging into the ParentPortal, please call the school and we will be happy to help.

Mrs. Reist is our Library Tech.

Information pertaining to our school library will be posted in this section.

https://fsl.h1.hotlunchonline.net/

Please join us for our first School Council Meeting of the year which is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10th @ 6:30pm. The meeting will take place after our Meet the Teacher Night being held from 5:00pm-6:30pm.

This is an excellent opportunity to receive the latest school updates from our administration team and teacher representatives, as well as upcoming School Council supported activities and events.

ZOnce again, we would like to welcome back Mrs. Lee Dube as our School Wellness Worker. Please stay tuned for her updates in this section.

Service Delivery

Each school is staffed with a Family Wellness Worker (FWW), who works under the direction of their School Principal and the Assistant Superintendent of Faith & Wellness. FWW's receive clinical guidance from a Registered Psychologist.

The primary function of the Family Wellness team is to provide social and emotional support to students and families. Family Wellness Workers meet with students and parents to assess needs, set goals, identify required supports, and plan appropriate interventions.

They collaborate with school system staff and community resources to build a “village” of support around students/families who are struggling.

Referrals

Parental consent is required for FWW services.

Referrals to the Family Wellness Program may be made by students, parents/guardians, school administration, teachers, or other school staff (e.g. school counsellor or collaborative response coordinator).

Parents and guardians can access these services by speaking with the Principal or contacting the school's Family Wellness Worker directly.

Stay tuned for our next issue which will include information on:

• Linking Generations
• Chaplain's Corner
• Wellness Corner

Email: stjp@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stjp.eics.ab.ca
Location: 9975 93 Avenue, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-992-0889
Twitter: @stjp2cs