St. Cecilia Community Messenger

Mon, Jan 20 Day 4

• No classes for Kindergarten students

Tues, Jan 21, Day 5

• No classes for Kindergarten students

Wed, Jan 22, Day 6

Thur, Jan 23, Day 1

• Progress Reports Issued electronically

Fri, Jan 24, Day 2

Jan 27: Coco Brooks and Spolumbo's fundraiser begins

Jan 30: PT Conferences Evening

Jan 31: PT Conferences - No classes

Feb 1: Black History Month begins

Feb 13-14: Teacher's Convention

Feb 20: School Council Meeting; 9:30 AM.

Feb 24: Last day for Coco Brooks and Spolumbo's

Feb 26: Pink Shirt Day

March 1: Francophone Month

March 4: Djembe drums

March 5: Ash Wednesday Mass

March 6: Pick up Spolumbos and Coco Brooks

March 20: School Council 6:30 PM

March 24: Readathon begins

March 25: Lockdown Practice 10:00 AM

March 27: Lenten Liturgy 10:30 AM

April 7: Book Swap

April 11: Pledges from Book Swap Are Due

April 16: Holy Thursday Liturgy

May 1: Asian Heritage Month

May 8: Spring Family Dance

May 15: School Council

May 19: Victoria Day - No Classes

May 22: Marian Liturgy

May 28: ELA PAT - Gr 6 Students

May 30: Sacramental Recognition Liturgy - 10:30 AM

June 5: School Council Meeting - 9:30 AM

June 6: PG Day - No classes

June 12: Gr 6 ELA PAT Part B

June 13: Gr 6 Math Part A

June 18: Year End Mass

June 21: National Indigenous People's Day

June 25: Last day of classes for students

June 26: Last day for teachers

We would like to express appreciation for our educational assistants here at St. Cecilia. Our dedicated team of EAs, Mme Megan, Mme Lesley, Mme Sallie, Mme Kathy and Mme Melanie work hard on supervision duty, one on one support and classroom support as well.

We value their support and service to our students and teachers and they are an integral part of the staff here at the school. They can be counted on to go the extra mile and they never hesitate to pitch in and help when needed. On behalf of the community, THANK YOU !!

Further information, as well as candidate videos can be found here: cssd.ab.ca/news/trustee-by-election-20241021163321.

Hello everyone and thanks to all parents who attended our meeting on Thursday evening. Suzanne Kitt's presentation was very heartfelt and inspirational.

I have attached the minutes of the meeting and a budget update in the attachment below. We are happy to announce that our Playground Committee recently received a grant of 50 000 dollars from the Calgary Parks Foundation. This is incredibly exciting news as it brings our fundraising total up to about 87 000. This means that we will soon be able to apply for the matching community grant which will allow us to build a playground in the summer of 2026. Thank you to everyone for your support on the new playground!!

Dear Parents, Friends, and Families of St. Cecilia,

The Countdown is On—Don’t Miss This Night of Fun and Fundraising!

The St. Cecilia Foundation invites you to our Pub Night & Silent Auction Fundraiser in support of our new playground project.

Event Details:

• Location: Canadian Brewhouse – Mahogany (7 Mahogany Plaza SE #700, Calgary)
• Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025
• Time: Doors open at 7 PM, Silent Auction starts immediately
• Tickets: $10 per person (includes one drink valued at $7.99). Food and additional drinks can be purchased from the menu.

Why Attend?

• Support Our Students: Every dollar raised helps build a playground for St. Cecilia kids.
• Amazing Silent Auction Items:
• $350 Pasta Dinner Voucher
• Signed Flames Jersey #96 Andrei Kuzmenko
• Flames Tickets
• Women’s Bicycle
• Gift Baskets, Mini Golf Passes, Laser Tag Passes, Jump Passes, and more!
• On-Site CASH 50/50 Draw: Your chance to win big while supporting a great cause.
• Community Connection: Meet fellow parents and friends in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

Silent Auction Schedule:

• Round 1 Closes: 9:15 PM
• Round 2 Closes: 9:45 PM
• 50/50 Winner Announced: After 10 PM

Get Your Tickets:
Email stceciliafoundation@gmail.com with your name and ticket count. We’ll confirm your order and send e-transfer details. Seating is limited—act fast!

Want to Donate to the Auction?
We’re still accepting contributions! Email stceciliafoundation@gmail.com to help make a difference.

Spread the Word:
Invite friends, family, and neighbors! Let’s make this playground a reality for our kids.

This is more than a fundraiser—it’s a chance to build community, have fun, and leave a legacy. We can’t wait to see you there!

Sincerely,
The St. Cecilia Foundation Team

Each year the Alberta Government provides a 500.00 grant to through ASCA (Alberta School Council Association). This grant can be pooled with other schools or can be used on its own to engage parents on relevant educational matters. For example, our school council may plan an evening presentation with a speaker or an expert to provide information to parents.

Our school council is asking for your input on what type of speaker we should seek. We ask that all parents complete the survey at the link below to share your preferences on a speaker. The survey will take less than a minute to complete and will help to narrow the topics to facilitate planning an engaging event for our families.

Parent Education Night Speaker

Please consider supporting the Calgary Catholic Education Foundation raffle which is currently underway. The CCEF supports Catholic Education by providing grants to schools for things such as playgrounds and technology upgrades. You may purchase your ticket at this link: 2025 CCEF ANNUAL 50/50 RAFFLE | Rafflebox

Or, scan the QR Code.

Thank you for supporting the CCEF!!

Hello Families,

Last week, we looked at activities to beat the winter blues and this week I would us like to focus on using mindfulness to do just that...especially since it's going to be really chilly this weekend.

Practicing mindfulness can be especially soothing during cold weather. Here are some mindfulness activities you and your children might enjoy:

Indoor Activities

1. Cozy Meditation: Find a quiet spot, wrap yourself in a warm blanket, and focus on your breath. You can use a guided meditation app if you prefer.

2. Mindful Tea or Hot Chocolate: Prepare a warm drink and savor each sip, paying attention to the taste, warmth, and aroma.

3. Gratitude Practice: Take a few minutes to reflect on things you're grateful for. Writing them down can enhance the experience.

4. Mindful Reading: Choose a book and immerse yourself in the story, paying attention to how it makes you feel.

Outdoor Activities

1. Mindful Walk: Bundle up and take a walk, focusing on the sensations of the cold air, the crunch of snow underfoot, and the sights around you.

2. Snow Activities: Engage in activities like building a snowman, making snow angels, or even just watching the snow fall and appreciating its beauty.

General Tips

· Body Scan Meditation: This practice involves mentally scanning your body from head to toe, noticing any sensations.

· Mindful Listening: Listen to calming music or the sounds of nature, focusing on each note or sound.

Which of these activities sounds most appealing to you?

Wishing a warm and mindful weekend to you all.

Take Care 🙂

The article at the link below provides some interesting information about exercise, the immune system and general health.

https://www.goget.fit/pa-blog/2018/12/2/exercise-and-the-immune-system

January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. Check out Symbols of our Faith on page 2 to learn about the Holy Name of Jesus, sometimes abbreviated by the letters IHS.

Although Christmas has come and gone, we are still in the Christmas season, which concludes with the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus. In our first week back, we have the opportunity to celebrate the Epiphany with our school communities.

When we are once again with our students, our Church will have begun the Year of Jubilee with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”. Page 1 includes the opening message of hope from the Papal Bull that begins the Jubilee. Let us be inspired by the opening phrase “Hope does not disappoint”!

Each year Alberta schools are required to analyze data and make plans for continual school improvement. Our school plan flows from the School District plan and is framed around District Priorities which are; Faith Formation, Student Success, Well Being and Indigenous Education. Our school plan is housed on our school website at this link: Reports & Publications - St. Cecilia School.

Over the coming weeks I will include snippets of data from our AEM report and Student Voice Survey in this newsletter. Ongoing discussion, analysis will occur at the school level as the school year continues to unfold.

Each year, students in grades 4-5-6 are asked to complete the Student Voice Survey. The SVS collects data on the District Board Priorities and students are asked a variety of questions.

1. Can you think of any occasion this school year when you were treated unfairly?

- 12.75% strongly agree they can think of an occasion when they were treated unfairly.

- 18.63% disagree they can think of an unfair occasion.

- 18.63% strongly disagree they can think of an unfair occasion.

- 50% strongly disagree they can think of an unfair occasion.

2. Can you think of any occasion this school year when you were treated unfairly?

- 11.76% strongly agree they can think of an occasion when they were treated unfairly.

- 10.78% disagree they can think of an unfair occasion.

- 21.57% agree they can think of an unfair occasion.

- 55.88% strongly disagree they can think of an unfair occasion.

3. I spend a fair amount of time on technology for personal use (e.g. Gaming, Social Media).

- 13.73% strongly agree they spend a fair amount of time on personal technology use.

- 34.31% disagree they spend a fair amount of time on personal technology use.

- 43.14% agree they spend a fair amount of time on personal technology use.

- 8.82% strongly disagree they spend a fair amount of time on personal technology use.

The Education Act requires the Calgary Catholic School District to prioritize resources and facilities for resident (Catholic) students. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the advancement of a non-resident (non-Catholic) student from one grade to the next in the same school or from elementary to junior and senior high school.

We do not reassess the enrollment priority of a non-resident student during a school year, but we may do this for a future school year. This may result in us informing you to seek enrollment at a different school in the Calgary Catholic School District or another school division for a future school year.

Please contact me at denis.fortier@cssd.ab.ca or by phone at 403 500 2063, if you have any questions about your child’s enrollment priority.

January 16, 2025

To view the Calgary Catholic Board Meeting Highlights for the Special Board Meeting of January 15, 2025, as well as previous Highlights please access the following link: https://www.cssd.ab.ca/highlights-minutes

Formed, AKA Netflix for Catholics

All About Shrove Tuesday

My Child's Learning: A Parent Resource

Canadian Parents for French - CPF is an advocacy group whose aim is to promote French bilingual education.

St. Cecilia Student Handbook

K to 12 Education in Alberta: This link gives a broad overview of Alberta's K to 12 education system.

New LearnAlberta Parent Support Website: Contains an overview of grade level topics and is a good place to start for parents who are looking for ways to engage with their child's education.

Programs of Study: Links to K-12 programs of study as well as Tools for Parents.

Please click the links below to view the volunteer orientation and please make sure to complete the acknowledgement forms. These steps are very important in keeping you up to date as a school volunteer.

Volunteer Orientation: https://youtu.be/QaOxx2x3-eM

Acknowledgement Form: https://forms.gle/sDCD7aYau9PTGgSPA

Indigenous Education Links

21 Things You May Not Have Known About the Indian Act

Indigenous Veteran's Day - Nov 8.

The Seven Sacred Laws Animated Web Series

RupertsLand Institute

Indigenous Elder Definition

Action for Happiness Action for Happiness is a great resource to bring more positivity in our lives.

The Summit - The Summit program is an Alberta Health Services program that supports children and families experiencing mental health concerns that need to be addressed. They provide long term counselling as well as walk in’s.

CanLearn Society - A great resource for parents on how to manage mental health issues or concerns in the home.

Healthy childhood development through outdoor risky play: Navigating the balance with injury prevention.

Brief review about outdoor play

The importance of regaining outdoor PA

HealthyHunger.ca Healthy Hunger.

Bullying Prevention Resources for Alberta Government

Links for Playground Donations

For St. Cecilia School students/parents, please click below link to login school fee payment account to make the donation:

https://www.studentquickpay.com/CSSD/Default.aspx

For guest donors, please click below link to login and make the donation:

https://www.studentquickpay.com/CSSD/MyAccount/Main.aspx?webitemid=8670

Aug 26-Sept 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/8n1cr

Sept 9-13, 2024 : https://secure.smore.com/n/at85k

Sept 16-20, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/uaxp4

Sept 23-27, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/kb635

Sept 30-Oct 4, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/kuvsr

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Oct 28-Nov 1, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/d01564

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Nov 11 - 15, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/9qev8

Nov 18 - 22, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/dh3q1

Nov 25 - 29, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/8fae1

Dec 2 - 6, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/7zygut

Dec 9-13, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/emyb5

Dec 16 - 20, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/n4u801

Dec 12, Christmas Edition: https://secure.smore.com/n/s9b4mq

Jan 13 - 17, 2025: https://secure.smore.com/n/brsmh

Jan 20 - 24, 2025: https://secure.smore.com/n/6w5tue