Superintendent Message: Jan. 6 - 11

Inspired by Christ on a Journey to Encounter, Nurture, and Serve.

Inspiré par Dieu dans une Aventure à Découvrir, Grandir, et Servir.

January 6 - 11, 2025

Good morning,

Happy New Year and welcome to 2025 with memories of a Christmas break filled with rest, relaxation and connections with family and friends. As we step into this new year, we hope you are renewed and energized.

Welcome as well to the Jubilee Year 2025! On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, marking the start of this special year centred on the theme "Pilgrims of Hope” as he beautifully said, "We must fan the flame of hope, helping all to find strength and certainty while looking to the future with an open spirit, trusting heart, and far-sighted vision."

This year marks a sacred time of grace and renewal. The theme, "Pilgrims of Hope," invites us to reflect on the profound impact of hope in our shared journey of faith, education, and service.

As educators, you are beacons of hope for your students and their families, inspiring resilience, curiosity, and growth. This Jubilee Year encourages us to nurture academic success and the values of compassion, understanding, and reconciliation.

As we embark on this Jubilee journey together, may we remain rooted in hope, guided by grace, and committed to making a difference in the lives we touch.

Blessings,

Kathleen Finnigan, Superintendent

Starting January 6, 2025, ASEBP will be launching an enhanced Sick Leave Support Program (SLSP) for all new medical leaves that begin in January. This new program is designed to offer comprehensive support for employees during their medical leave and assist with their return to work.

What You Can Expect:

• Reporting Your Absence: If your medical leave exceeds 14 days, we will submit a notification to ASEBP regarding your absence, just as we do currently.
• ASEBP Contact: After this, ASEBP will reach out to you to complete a Contact Request form. This will help them understand how they can support you during your absence and assist with your successful return to work.

Why You Should Participate:

• Specialized Support: ASEBP will coordinate access to medical specialists and treatment options to help facilitate a quicker diagnosis and more effective treatment.
• Assistance for Those Without a Family Doctor: The program is especially valuable for individuals without a family doctor, as ASEBP will help navigate the healthcare system to ensure you receive the care you need.
• Gradual Return to Work: Participating in the SLSP allows ASEBP to assist you with a gradual return to work, which is not available without participation. The benefit of a gradual return is that it extends your 90-day elimination period—the more hours you work, the longer this period lasts.
• Coverage of Medical Expenses: ASEBP will cover any expenses related to requesting medical information from your healthcare provider.

Key Differences:

The Sick Leave Support Program (SLSP) is a significant enhancement over the previous Early Intervention Program (EIP). The new program offers access to more specialized treatment options and facilitates the opportunity for a gradual return to work. Unlike the EIP, which had stricter eligibility criteria (e.g., requiring a reduction in work hours of at least 30%), the SLSP is available to all employees covered by ASEBP’s income replacement benefits.

This program aims to provide more comprehensive support, ensuring a smoother recovery process and a more manageable return to work.

Grade 1 and 2 Social Justice Project - Supporting Mason and the Seward family

The Grade 1 and 2 students of Maryview School embarked on a wonderful and heartwarming initiative to support their classmate Mason. Their project demonstrates remarkable empathy and understanding of their friend. Mason is a grade 2 student who has been a part of the Maryview School community since pre-kindergarten. Mason has SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) Type 1. The project aimed to raise funds to support Mason and his family with specific upgrades to improve his accessibility and independence, such as a new motorized wheelchair and a wheelchair-accessible van. The project had multiple aspects to engage the school community in supporting this important cause, such as a bake sale, and a raffle draw with various prizes. Incredible participation from students, parents, and staff made this project overwhelmingly successful with a total amount raised of:

$2070.55!

On December 18, 2024, Maryview School came together as a community and recognized Mason and his parents, Madison and Blake, with the presentation of the check. Mason provided the school with a demonstration of all the things his new chair can do. He said his favorite part of the chair is being able to raise himself to hug the big people in his life! Students also were able to celebrate with a glow-in-the-dark dance party which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The fundraising continues as Blindman Brewing is donating a portion of the proceeds from their New England Pale Ale to the Seward family! So if you are in the Lacombe area going for a beverage, stop in and support Mason and his family!

Brandon Heck, Maryview School Principal

The Notre Dame Blendations Coffee Co. had the opportunity to take its successful business on the road on December 17th, serving Montfort staff pre-ordered beverages and treats, and spreading Christmas joy! Our coffee cart program continues to provide students with a hands-on learning experience, helping them develop valuable life skills and prepare for future success.

To scaffold their learning, students apply for and interview for roles, including delivery people, inventory specialists, baristas, bakers, and clean-up crew. Students earn an e-salary, deposit their pay into an online account, and manage their "bills” (locker rental, wifi, etc), offering a real-world lesson in personal finance.

After duties are allocated, students gain skills in customer service, baking, barista techniques, money management, grocery shopping, and more. They take on responsibilities like counting money, managing customer tabs and credits, designing promotional posters, and maintaining hygiene standards—skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

The Notre Dame Blendations Coffee Co. has been a great success, providing our Foundations and Blended students with real-world experience in a supportive environment. We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of Notre Dame staff, who continue to be our loyal and enthusiastic customers to whom we are currently serving around 50 beverages and treats each Thursday!

We look forward to the continued growth of this program and thank everyone involved for their dedication to its success!

• Indigenous Education Services
  
• Upcoming Events

We’re thrilled to announce that early bird ticket sales for the 2025 Transforming Practices Conference are now open!

This year’s conference promises to be our most exciting yet, with an incredible lineup of speakers who will inspire and transform how we approach Child Advocacy and those impacted by child abuse. Save the date: Thursday, May 29th - Friday, May 30th, 2025 Red Deer Polytechnic.

Act now to take advantage of early bird pricing—available only until January 31st. Additionally, we’re offering group discounts for 10 or more registrants! Contact us at info@transformingpractices.ca to receive your exclusive discount code.

Click the above image or this link to register.