Madonna Catholic School News

Dear Madonna Families,

As we journey through February, we celebrate our Saint of the Month, St. Valentine, who reminds us that love is shown through kindness, patience, and care for one another. In our school community, we live this call to love when we support our families, encourage our children, and reach out to those who may need extra care. Simple acts—helping a friend, saying thank you, offering a prayer—are powerful ways our students can spread love each day. Thank you to 2N for sharing their learning about this special saint this week at assembly.

In that same spirit of community and support, we would like to share an important update. Our beloved Principal, Mrs. Hinger, will need to be away for a period of time while she supports her family. We hold Mrs. Hinger and her family in our thoughts and prayers during this time. During her absence, Mrs. Waldner will continue to be in the Grade 4HW classroom each morning, and I will serve as Acting Principal until Mrs. Hinger returns. We are grateful for your continued support and understanding as we work together to ensure a smooth and caring transition for our students and staff.

We would also like to remind families that we are currently in survey season. Your voice truly matters, and we respectfully ask that you take a few moments to share your thoughts through the Assurance Survey sent out by EICS (please see the link below). Your feedback helps guide important decisions that shape our school community.

Additionally, Parent Council welcomes YOUR voice as we move toward upcoming budget decisions. Please consider joining us at our next meeting on February 11 at 6:30 pm. Your perspective and participation make a meaningful difference.

Thank you for being such a supportive and loving school community. Together, inspired by St. Valentine, may we continue to grow in faith, kindness, and care for one another. 💕

Mrs. Fiona Wimmer, Assistant Principal

• Please complete the A.5) EICS Pre-K/PUF Transition Form.

• Note: This form will be assigned to you on the morning of February 2nd. You will receive a notification once it has been made available.

February 9 - Classes get to learn some new skills with instructors from Alberta Lacrosse

February 9 - Gr 3 & 4 Brick by Brick Noon Hour Club

February 10 - Grade 1B in-school fieldtrip

February 10 - Taanish Circle (see parent letter)

February 11 - School Council Meeting @ Madonna 6:30pm **see agenda below**

February 12 - Grade 1SW & 1M in-school fieldtrip

**Reminder that every Wednesday the school dismisses @ 2:13pm

In the Catholic Church, the month of February is a special time to honour the Holy Family — Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. During this month, we think about how we can show love, faith, patience, and kindness in our own families and in our school community.

The Holy Family was not perfect, and their life was not always easy. They faced hard times, made sacrifices, and did not always know what would happen next. Even so, they trusted God and cared for one another. Their story reminds us that being holy does not mean being perfect. It means loving others, helping each other, and staying strong during both happy and difficult times.

February also reminds us that we belong to many different families. These include our families at home, our friends, our teams, our classrooms, and our school. Each of these “families” should be places where everyone feels welcome, respected, forgiven, and cared for.

As a Catholic school, we pray that our community continues to grow as a loving family. We are called to show Christ’s love through kindness, understanding, and helping others.

The Holy Family teaches us that love is shown in small, everyday actions. During February, we are invited to practice this in simple ways:

• At Home: Spend time together by sharing a meal, a conversation, or a short prayer.

• At School: Say thank you to teachers, staff, or classmates who help you.

• With Friends: Check in on a friend who may be having a hard day and offer kind words.

• In the Community: Look for ways to help others through acts of service or kindness.

• In Prayer: Think about how Jesus, Mary, and Joseph trusted God during challenges and how you can do the same.

Prayer to the Holy Family

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,

CHALLENGE: The Firm Foundation

The Bible Connection: Matthew 7:24-27

The Story in a Nutshell: Jesus told a story about two builders: one who built on shifting sand and one who built on a solid rock.Your Mission:

• Build the tallest house you can that can survive a "Table Earthquake."

• It must have at least one door and four windows.

• It must stand on a "foundation" (a baseplate or a layer of sturdy bricks).The Faith Reflection: What are some "solid rocks" we can build our lives on? (Example: Being kind, praying, or telling the truth).

On January 22nd, 2026, Elk Island Catholic Schools emailed a link to provide your input on how we are doing as a Catholic School Division.

Thank-you to those families that have already taken the time to provide feedback.

If you are the parent or guardian of multiple children who are attending EICS schools:

• We recognize that their experiences may be different and wish to obtain a greater understanding of these differences in the survey.

Please take the time to reflect on each child’s individual school experience and fill out a survey for each child. If you have not yet completed the survey, please follow the link: EICS Parent Education Assurance Survey To ensure your feedback is received, all surveys must be completed by Friday, February 13th, 2026.

Thank-you for sharing your voice with EICS.

Looking to come in from time to time to support your child's class on a fieldtrip or perhaps support some in-class learning? See the attached PDF and complete the following:

- The EICS Volunteer Confidentiality Form

- The Criminal Record Check (Edmonton & Strathcona County Letters attached)

- Child Intervention Check

If you are unsure if you have already completed these forms, or need assistance, please contact Mrs. Gaudet at 780-467-7972 or mcs@eics.ab.ca

Our partnership with this newcomer group is so rewarding for our students and families. Helping them feel more at ease in their new home country contributes to their social, emotional and academic success. This week the grade 1/2 and 3/4 groups met with Jeerecah and played a vocabulary "Charades" game. Winter clothing and items were the focus - there were certainly alot of laughs in our comical gestures! Thank you to Mrs. Larose for coordinating these opportunities for our Madonna students.

OLPH (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish)

Masses at OLPH will be livestreamed. Please join using this link. https://www.facebook.com/olphsherwoodpark/videos/

Visit OLPH Website for more information about the parish and in regards to sacramental preparation.

Visit www.facebook.com/olphsherwoodpark