The Good News December 10, 2023

This week we focus on the gift of peace that our Christian faith gives us. It is the gift God gave to all of us, the one whom He sent to restore peace to people everywhere- Jesus- the Prince of Peace. When He was here on Earth as one of us, Jesus taught us how to love, how to live, how to pray. He taught us how to forgive and be peacemakers. Jesus told his disciples to greet people with peace when they entered homes. He said, “My peace I give you… Let not your heart be troubled.”

Peace is God’s perfect, indescribable gift to each of us. As we continue to prepare the way to Christ, this second week of Advent, may our hearts and homes be filled with this gift of peace.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).

Monday, Dec. 11

• Second Advent Celebration 12:20, Families welcome!
  
• 9am cut off for Basket items

• Father Abraham visit (gr. 3 )

Wednesday, Dec. 13

• Hot Lunch
• Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal
  

• Advent Concert 1pm & 6pm, both Kinder classes are in attendance today
  

• Regular school day

Dec. 18 - Sock Toss

Dec. 19 - Advent Mass 10am at OLA Church

Dec. 20 - Tobogganing and Hot Chocolate

Dec. 21 - Christmas Sweater Day, Christmas Sing Along

Dec. 22 - Last Day of Classes, PJ and Movie Day

Our Christmas Advent Concert will be held in the school gym this Thursday, December 14th.

There will be an afternoon performance and an evening performance. The afternoon performance begins at 1:00pm, doors will open at 12:30 The evening performance begins at 6:00pm, doors will open at 5:30

We will be providing each family with 2 free tickets for both the afternoon and evening performances. Please note that siblings attending each performance will require a ticket.

There will be no paper tickets sent home. Staff members will have the list of tickets at the door.

Today is the last day for extra ticket requests. Additional tickets may be available but not guaranteed and will be available on a first come, first served basis. Please enter your request for extra tickets on this Google Form - Christmas Concert Tickets by Sunday, Dec. 10th

Remember to bring money for the Basket Raffle. Tickets are 1 for $2 or 12 for $20 Winning tickets will be drawn on Friday, December 15th and winners will be contacted. All money raised will be donated to Lurana Shelter.

Monday, Dec. 18th - Sock Toss

Tuesday, Dec 19th – School Mass (am) We will celebrate mass as a school at OLA church at 10 am. Our grade 2 classes will be leading. Families are welcome!

Wednesday, Dec.20th - Toboggan and Hot Chocolate Day! We will be spending parts of the day outside having some fun in the snow (if there is snow!). We will be tobogganing and having hot chocolate. Students need to bring their own toboggans (No Crazy Carpets) and helmets! Check with your bus drivers for rules with transporting toboggans on this day. If you do not want your child to toboggan, please let your child’s teacher know! Please make sure your child has snow pants and proper gear to spend an extended amount of time outside.

Thursday, Dec. 21st - Christmas Sweater Day, Buddy Bingo, Christmas Sing along

Friday, Dec 22nd – PJ and Christmas Movie Day! Wear your PJ’s for the day and bring your favourite stuffed animal. We have some cleaning to do in the morning and then our afternoon will be spent enjoying a movie. Students can bring ONE sandwich-size Ziploc bag full of a snack of their choice to enjoy during the movie.

This Advent, all of our EICS community, including St. John XXIII, is continuing to partner with Catholic Social Services to support women and children at the Lurana Shelter.

At St. John XXIII our goal is to raise enough money to purchase two Baskets of Blessing per class. The cost of each basket is approximately $100. To raise this money we will be creating themed baskets that will be raffled off at our Christmas Concert. You can also donate to the Basket of Blessings initiate online using our school link.

May God bless you and your family this Advent Season.

Last call for items for our classroom raffle baskets. Please drop off all items by 9am Monday, Dec. 11th. Volunteers will be wrapping the baskets so that they can be viewed on our social media.

Thanks again for your generosity in donating items tro create the baskets!

We recognize that this season can be a difficult time for some of our families within our community. If you or your family are struggling with finances, emotional or mental health, medical or physical needs, please reach out to someone within our school or parish community and we can respond. Everyone needs help sometimes, we are not meant to journey this life alone. There are many resources, agencies and people who have offered assistance and we can confidentially arrange for support, especially through this Advent season.

Kristine Willis Dengler, Principal kristinew@eics.ab.ca 780-998-7777

Eleanor Heesings, Family Wellness Worker eleanor.heesing @eics.ab.ca 780-995-9352

Please submit your child's absences in PowerSchool, and also notify your teacher with a Dojo message or a note sent with your child.

Please refer to the EICS Parent Technology Handbook for instructions on how to report you child's absence, early departure, leave & return or multiple day absence.

For any last minute Early Departures, please call the office before you arrive so we can make arrangements for your child to come to the office for pick up.

For accuracy and tracking purposes, absence coding in PowerSchool is to be submitted by parents, not teachers.

Email: stj@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stj.eics.ab.ca/
Location: 9526 89 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-998-7777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St.JohnXXIII
Twitter: @St_JohnXXIII