Week at a Glance

Monday, December 15

• Advent Week 3 - Joy

• Choir with Mrs. Cuellar Grade 1-4 during lunch recess

Wednesday, December 17

• Advent Concert - Afternoon Performance 1:00-3:00

Thursday, December 18

• Advent Concert - Morning Performance 9:30-11:30

Friday, December 19

• M/W Kinders
• Theme Day- Christmas PJ Day
• Hot Lunch- Mr Mikes

Upcoming Events:

• January 9: Hot Lunch- BP's
• January 9: Epiphany Liturgy 9:00-10:00
• January 13: School Council Meeting 1:30-2:45
• January 19: Theme Day -"6-7" Math Day
• January 21: WWJD Awards: M/W Kindergarten, Gr. 3, Gr. 4
• January 22: WWJD Awards: T/T Kindergarten, Gr. 1, Gr. 2
• January 27: Theme Day- Literacy Day/Reading Buddy -Book Character Day
• January 29: Winter Walk -Grade 1
• January 30: No School-PD Day

As we begin the season of Advent, our school community is embracing a time of hope, peace, joy, and love through acts of service and community learning. This is a special opportunity for our students to put their faith into action and truly support our neighbours.

A Tree of Hope: Food Drive for Our Community

We are inviting all students to participate in building a literal Tree of Hope in our school! Your generosity will directly support our local Food Bank and Community Pantry.

• Please send in non-perishable food donations with your child between now and December 16th.

• Every item helps stock the shelves and provides essential support to families in need right here in our community.

🎟️ Advent Concert Fundraiser: Win VIP Treatment!

Would you like to win VIP parking, skip the line, and enjoy VIP seating at the ÉOLR Advent Concert with your family? Then check out our exciting Advent Fundraiser!

• Entries are $2 for 1 or $5 for 3.

• You can send cash with your child to their teacher from now until December 15th.

• We will do a draw for each concert performance, and the winners will be announced on December 16th. Good luck to everyone! The funds raised will support local families

Thank you for partnering with us to make this Advent season a meaningful time of both giving and celebration. Your support truly lights up our school!

Each year, our Grade 4 parents/families participate in a bottle drive to help support the cost of Grade 4 swimming lessons. Our School Council generously funds swimming lessons annually, but the funds raised from the bottle drive are essential to offset expenses—especially as costs continue to rise. Although the funds benefit our grade 4 students each year, all families are welcome to contribute.

This year, we are hoping for an especially successful “Friends and Family” Bottle Drive. We kindly ask that you begin setting aside any refundable bottles and cans to support our Grade 4 students.

Collection dates and times are currently being coordinated and finalized. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!

For now, please save those bottles! Your generous support is greatly appreciated and helps ensure our students can continue to enjoy this wonderful opportunity!

The 2025-2026 RDCRS Student Information Update Form is required by your child's school and will take approximately 2-3 minutes to complete. It can be accessed by logging in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal account. Please complete this form immediately.

How to Access:

• Log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal from a PC, Mac, or Chromebook: Click Here

• If you are unsure of your password, use the "Forgot Username or Password?" link to reset it, or feel free to contact your child's school for assistance.

• In PowerSchool, select the "School Engage" button (scroll down to the last button on the left-hand side)

• In School Engage, click the Students tab, then select your child’s name.

• Look for the 2025-2026 RDCRS Student Information Update Form on the right-hand side of the screen.

• To open the form, click the blue, "Open" button under 2025-2026 RDCRS Student Information Update Form

• After opening the form, navigate through the form by clicking the right arrow button on the top right of the form. Please fill in the mandatory fields highlighted in red and check or update other information shown on the form.

• Complete the process by clicking the Submit button at the bottom of the last page

Please feel free to contact the school if you have any questions or concerns regarding the form.

Thank you,

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools

This is a reminder that School Fees are now due. Please log in to your Parent PowerSchool Portal to complete payment.

1. On the bottom left side, click on the “School Fees and Forms” tab.
2. Here you will be able to view a detailed breakdown of any outstanding fees, including Activity Fees, Agenda Fees, and Bussing Fees.
3. Click on shopping cart at the top right side of the screen.
4. Pay fees with Credid Card.

If you are having difficulties, please call the office or come into the office and we will be happy to assist you with the process.

DID YOU KNOW?

Schools are considered to one of the safest places in our community. However, in reality, emergencies do happen. Red Deer Catholic Schools have developed a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan called "Hour Zero." In the coming weeks, we will be using this space to help parents understand our Hour Zero procedures better, so that you are prepared in the event of an emergency situation. This week, we are focusing on EVACUATIONS.

An EVACUATION requires all students and staff to leave the school and go to an alternate location. This may mean only going outside and away from the building until it is safe to re-enter the school. In other cases, students and staff may need to go to a designated evacuation centre. Parents would be informed of the alternate location through the school’s messaging systems. We understand that if an emergency evacuation were to occur, parents will be worried and want to be reunited with their child as quickly as possible. To ensure every child’s safety and the safety of staff, parents would be asked to adhere to the parent-child reunification procedures listed below.

Please understand that the following processes will take time requiring patience when parents arrive at the evacuation center/Parent-Child Reunion Area.

Student Release: Parent-Child Reunion Procedures

1. A Parent-Child Reunion Area will be established. Parents will be notified at the time of the emergency of the Reunion Area’s location. The location may not be at the school — the location will depend on the specifics of the emergency.

2. You will be required to fill out a Student Release Request Form. This ensures all students are accounted for at all times and students are only released to authorized individuals.

3. Students will only be released to an individual designated as legal guardian or emergency contact on the student's Emergency Card, which is completed at time of school registration. Please be sure to keep this information current with your school, as the school will only release a child to someone listed as an Emergency Contact — there will be no exceptions.

4. Valid identification is required to pick up your child. This is required to protect your child from any unauthorized individuals attempting to pick up students. Even if school personnel know you, you must still present I.D. as the school may be receiving assistance from other schools or outside agencies.

5. You will be required to sign for the release of your child. This is extremely important, as it ensures your child, along with other students, is accounted for at all times. Please do not just take your child from the school or evacuation center without signing for his/her release.

6. Once you have been reunited with your child, please leave the area immediately. This is for your own safety and that of your child. If you are unable to pick up your child, he/she will be kept at the Parent-Child Reunion Center until alternate arrangements can be made. Your child will be supervised at all times.

For more information on Hour Zero and how we are keeping your kids safe, please refer to our school website. https://www.olrschool.ca/parents-students/emergency-response-plan

To help you stay informed and engaged, School Council invites you to complete their permission to contact form below. By filling out the form you will receive updates from School Council on:

• Upcoming School Council meetings
• Special events and activities
• Volunteer opportunities
• Other important parent information

Your participation ensures you won't miss out on opportunities to connect, be heard and be part of our school community.

Permission to contact form https://forms.gle/89fvBk85NXMx2S9N7

Also new this year is a School Council Facebook page. Please follow ÉOLRS School Council

The Central Alberta Lacrosse League (CALL) is excited to offer a FREE Try Lacrosse program this January for female players ages 10–16 from across Central Alberta.

This program is designed for new and returning female athletes who want to experience lacrosse in a fun, supportive environment. No experience is required, and equipment can be provided for beginners at request.

Program Details
Where: Collicutt Centre, Red Deer
When: Four consecutive Mondays — January 5, 12, 19, 26 - Come to one or come to ALL
Cost: FREE for all participants

Times by Age Group:
U11–U13 (ages 10–13): 6:00–7:00 PM
U15–U17 (ages 14–16): 7:00–8:00 PM

Register online: REGISTER HERE for FREE