Madonna Catholic School News

Dear Families,

Happy April! It is wonderful to see the flowers starting to bloom and to hear the sounds of spring on our playground. As we move further into the Easter season, our school continues to grow in faith and friendship.

In our Gospel reading this past Sunday (April 19), we heard a special story from Luke 24. Jesus appeared to His disciples while they were talking. At first, they were a little scared! But Jesus showed them His hands and feet and even ate a piece of fish to show them He was really there. He said to them, "You are witnesses of these things."

Being a "witness" means seeing something important and sharing it with others. At our school, we see "witnesses" of God’s love every single day.

We see it when:

• A student helps a friend who fell on the playground.

• A classmate shares their lunch or a kind word.

• Teachers and students work together to solve a hard problem.

Just like the disciples, we are called to share the peace and joy of Jesus with everyone we meet. This week, let’s look for ways to be witnesses of kindness in our classrooms and at home.

Thank you for being such a vital part of our school community.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Fiona Wimmer, Assistant Principal

Cathy Hinger, Principal

April 22 - Jump Rope for Heart Launch

April 23 - 2N & 2/3O Gallery @501

April 24 - School Council Game Night

May 6 - Living Rosary 1:00pm in school gym

May 8 - Library Clean Up!

May 13 - FINAL School Council Meeting & AGM @ 6:30pm

May 21 - Jump Rope for Heart @ Madonna

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

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our student teachers who have spent the past few months with us. Whether observing or leading instruction in Grade 2 (Larose) and Kindergarten (Cholak-Fortier ECS), your dedication has truly touched the lives of our students and staff here at Madonna. Shout out to Ms Lablanc and Mrs. Paley!

As you return to your studies at Concordia University, we wish you continued good health and great success in your teaching careers. Thank you for making a difference!

The "Chick Headquarters"

Mrs. Cholak’s ECS class has taken on the very important role of "Nursery Leads." They are currently keeping the eggs safe, warm, and cozy in the incubator, ensuring everything is just right for our upcoming arrivals.

Learning in Action

While the chicks are housed in Mrs. Cholak's room, this is a team effort! All of our Kindergarten students are participating in this wonderful journey:

• Daily Visits: Students stop by every day to check on the progress.

• Growth Stages: We are observing the life cycle in real-time, learning exactly what happens inside the egg before a chick makes its grand entrance.

• Observation Skills: The children are practicing being quiet, gentle observers as we wait for those first tiny cracks to appear.

We can’t wait to share more "cheep" updates once our new classmates finally hatch! Stay tuned for photos of our feathered friends.

A million thanks to all of our participating families who came to Madonna last Friday to take part in our potluck dinner. Shout out to Mrs. Larose for her leadership and guidance.

Strathcona County has released their Parks and Recreation guide with all the spring and summer recreation opportunities not just for students but for the whole family. Everything from swimming lessons to summer camps are available.

Executive Positions

Chairperson - Co-Chairs: Elle Lyrette & Kanika Chadha

• Presides over meetings, maintains order, and ensures the council’s business is conducted efficiently.
• Acts as an ex-officio member of all committees and coordinates their formation, reporting, and dissolution.
• Prepares and provides an annual report to the board by June 15, which must include:
  • A summary of the year's activities.
  • A financial statement of handled funds.
  • Copies of all meeting minutes.
  • A summary of projected unfinished business.
• Note: The Chair may not make motions or debate while presiding. To participate in a debate, they must temporarily hand the chair to someone else before speaking from the floor.

Secretary - Elle Lyrette *looking to having someone replace her*

• Attends all meetings and keeps accurate minutes (or ensures a replacement does so if absent).
• Maintains a record of all council and executive members.
• Manages correspondence, sends necessary meeting notices, and maintains the official Minute Book at the school.

Treasurer - currently held by Krystin Senger *need a new parent for 2026-2027

• Receives and deposits all council funds into the designated financial institution.
• Maintains accurate records using acceptable bookkeeping methods.
• Provides detailed financial reports on receipts and disbursements whenever requested.
• Prepares financial submissions for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the School Board, providing a copy to the Secretary for council records.

Get Involved

Each of these executive positions becomes available at our Annual General Meeting. Please consider joining the team to help move our Council forward this year. If you have any questions, members of the School Council can be reached at madonnacses@gmail.com.

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