St. Nicholas News

• Sunday September 22 - First Day of Fall
  
• Monday Sept. 23 - ECS-4 School Pictures & Tuesday Sept. 24 - ECS tues/thurs School Photos
• Wednesday September 25 - Division Virtual CEPAC meeting 6:30 pm
• Friday September 27 - Orange Shirt Day
• Monday, September 30 - National Day for Truth & Reconciliation - No School
• Wednesday - October 2 - Early Dismissal (out at 2:10 pm)
• Friday, October 4 - PD Day - No School for students
• Saturday October 5 - OLPH Parish Potluck & Dance
• Tuesday October 8 - Ukrainian Bilingual Liturgy @ St. Basil's 9:45 am
• Monday October 14 - Thanksgiving - School is closed
• Monday October 21 - Parent Council Meeting in Library and Virtual Link available 6 pm
• Thursday October 24 - Face to Face Music Concert for students in Gym
• Thursday October 31 - Halloween Parade -12:30pm in Gym

Hot Lunch Information

PASTA PANTRY will be served for Hot Lunch on Friday, September 27th!

For those that are new to hot lunch, the kinder classes will alternate each hot lunch date so that both classes have the opportunity to participate. This month, Pani Dziwenko's Ukrainian Kinder class will be served! Ordering will begin Monday, September 9th and run until Friday, September 20th.

Please note that there may be food allergens or products that can cause sensitivities (peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, gluten etc) served by each vendor. Unfortunately, while we do our best to accommodate everyone's dietary needs, some vendors may not be able to offer menu items that are completely allergen free or have options that are dairy or gluten free. Please use discretion when ordering if your child has a sensitivity or allergy.

Please have payment sent in full via e-transfer to st.nicholaspac@gmail.com by the order deadline of the end of day, Friday, September 20th.

If you have any questions, concerns, or trouble with the website or the ordering process, please feel free to reach out to me at st.nicholaspac@gmail.com If you are able to volunteer to help on hot lunch day please click the volunteer box when ordering. It is appreciated!

Please follow the registration process to get started on Hot Lunch and PAC fundraisers!

Go to http://stnicholas.hotlunches.net

⦁ Click on "Click Here to Register"

⦁ Enter access code stnicholas2024

⦁ Complete the rest of the registration form, including the email address you will use to e-transfer payment with. This will link your e-transfer payment to your account.

⦁ Click the "Register Now" button on the bottom

⦁ Follow the instructions to add each child (including their class) in your family who attends St. Nicholas. Once your child(ren) are registered, click on "Orders"

⦁ Proceed to order hot lunch for your child(ren)

⦁ Payment is accepted via e-transfer to st.nicholaspac@gmail.com

Davison Orchard Apple Fundraiser

During the Month of September, Parent Council is going to be hosting our annual Davison Orchard Apple Fundraiser! There are 4 apple varieties available this year, which include Davison Honeycrisp, Okanagan Blend, Gala, and Ambrosia. Each variety is packed into a 15lb box and will be shipped to St. Nicholas for pick up on October 16th! Funds raised will go towards birthday books and the Grade 4 leadership t-shirts!

Ordering will begin Monday, September 9th and run until Tuesday, October 1st. You can order through the hot lunch website (http://stnicholas.hotlunches.net) and payments can be made via e-transfer to st.nicholaspac@gmail.com . If you have not registered for a hot lunch account, you will have to register an account before you are able to order apples! Family and friends are welcome to join in, so please feel free to share! If you have any questions, concerns, or trouble with the website or the ordering process, please feel free to reach out to me at st.nicholaspac@gmail.com !

"Hi everyone! My name is Pumpkin and I am so excited to be at St. Nicholas School most Friday mornings for the whole year! I am here to offer Animal Assisted Wellness for our students. I work alongside my dog mom, Miss Brittany. Many thanks to CAAWLS and our St. Nicholas School for making this opportunity possible. I love all kids, being read to, going for movement breaks, snuggling, and belly rubs. My favorite snack is Beef liver treats . I look forward to meeting you if you happen to be in on a Friday. If you have any questions about Animal Assisted Wellness, reach out to the School Office.
Ask your son or daughter about whether they have met me and what they think about having a dog at school!"

"Hello!

I wanted to tell you all a little bit about myself and give you all some of my favorite resources for this month.

I am a mother of two boys, with an education background of Child and Youth Care. I have 12 years of experience working with children and families with diverse needs, trauma and abilities. I love teaching and learning through play and finding what tools work best for each individual and family dynamic.

If you are having difficulties and require support I am here for your family! Please reach out to me and I will be happy to help.

Some resources I wanted to share are:

WeCan Food Basket Society: is a wonderful food resource that “provides the opportunity to purchase nutritious food at an affordable price.”

https://wecanfood.com/about-us/

Strathcona County Family Resource Network has a plethora of family oriented resources that can support a variety of needs. I'd like to highlight their Confident Kids and Emotions Academy in their Fall Programing this year.

https://storagecdn.strathcona.ca/files/files/cfw419-frn_program_booklet-fall24-digital.pdf

I hope these resources spark some interest for you and if you find yourself looking for something that is not here, please reach out and I can help you get started!"

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing away of one of our former staff members Irene Sombyk. Pani Somyk passed away peacefully on September 10, 2024 surrounded by family at the Foothills Medical Centre.

The Sombyk family has many connections within the community and we recognize that many people will feel the impact of this significant loss. It is a very sad day for our St. Nicholas community.

Pani Sombyk loved children and was a beloved preschool and kindergarten teacher for many years in our Elk Island Catholic Schools. She touched the hearts and minds of so many children and will forever be remembered as a gentle teacher who infused faith and the Ukrainian culture and language within our school community.

As a faith community, we will continue to hold the Sombyk family in our prayers and invite you and your family to also pray for them. May God's love and kindness of others bring comfort during this time of deep sorrow.

Memorial donations may be made online to the SPCA or a charity of one’s choice.

"Our Catholic School Family, embracing both English and Ukrainian Bilingual programs is dedicated to providing the best opportunities for learning while nurturing in our students' continuous personal growth.” Office# 780-467-3633