St. Cecilia Community Messenger

Mon, Dec 2, Day 4

• First week of Advent
• Book Fair leaves

Tues, Dec 3, Day 5

• Advent Liturgy 1:15 PM - Parents welcome

Wed, Dec 4,. Day 6

Thurs, Dec 5, Day 1

Fri, Dec 6, Day 2

Dec 12: Lockdown Practice (Parent info below)

Dec 13: Student Faith Day - Face to Face Ministries

Dec 19: Art Walk Evening event Details TBA

Dec 19: Last day of classes before Christmas break

Dec 20: PG day - No classes

Dec 20 - Jan 6, School closed for Christmas holidays.

Jan 6: Classes Resume, Epiphany

Jan 13: New Year's Liturgy

Jan 16: School Council Meeting 6:30 PM.

Jan 17: Educational Assistant's Day

Jan 23: Progress Reports Issued

Jan 27: Coco Brooks and Spolumbo's fundraiser begins

Jan 30: PT Conferences Evening

Jan 31: PT Conferences - No classes

Feb 13-14: Teacher's Convention

Feb 20: School Council Meeting 6:30 PM

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

Feb 26: Pink Shirt Day

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our School Council Executive and our Foundation Executive for their enthusiasm and dedication. A lot of the heavy lifting, fundraising, fun lunch organization, discussion, and parental involvement is done by a small group of dedicated volunteers, and their efforts are truly appreciated. Thanks to all families for their support of recent service projects, coat drive, St. Vincent de Paul and Family Supports. (Details below in Faith Formation section)

Our main vehicle for this work and communication is through monthly school council and foundation meetings. Much of the communication comes through meeting minutes, this newsletter, notes sent home, and word of mouth.

As announced, our playground is scheduled for removal next summer. While we will miss it dearly, this gives us a wonderful opportunity to create a new and exciting playground. I am happy to report that early fundraising and the reassessment of priorities have brought us to around $23,000 raised so far. With recent efforts and school fun lunches, we hope to reach around $30,000 by the end of this school year. Thanks very much to all members of our community who have purchased Christmas greenery from our recent Growing Smiles fundraiser. Funds raised from this activity will go to the playground fund.

Many hands make light work, and we need everyone's ideas and contributions to make the new playground a reality within the next year or two. Our next school council meeting is scheduled for January 16, and I hope to see some new faces at the meeting. Together, we can create a fantastic new playground for our children to enjoy for years to come!

Students at St. Cecilia will write Provincial Achievement Tests for Maths, Pt A and B and English Language Arts Pt A and B. The province has suspended French Language Arts and Science. Our grade 6 class is piloting the new Social Studies exam and so students will be exempt from that test. More information will be provided as the school year continues to unfold.

Thanks very much to all parents and teachers who attended parent teacher conferences this week. These meetings which are held 4 times each year provide a formal process for teachers to report to parents on the progress students are making in class. As the primary educator of your child, you may contact your child's teacher to discuss progress at any time.

Progress reports will be issued at the end of Jan and there will be another opportunity to meet with your child's teacher at that time. Please take a look at the attached document below. The attachment is a breakdown of the different sections of the progress report.

On Dec 12, Calgary Police Services will be on site to help with a lockdown practice. Please note the letter in the attachment below.

Dear Families,

This week, we are focusing on the power of positive reinforcement and how it can help encourage good behavior and create a positive environment for everyone.

Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool that can be used both at home and in the classroom to motivate and inspire.

What is Positive Reinforcement?

Positive reinforcement involves rewarding a behavior to increase the likelihood that it will happen again. When we recognize and reward good behavior, we encourage more of it. This can be done through praise, rewards, or other forms of acknowledgment.

Benefits of Positive Reinforcement

• Boosts Self-Esteem: When children receive positive feedback, it helps build their confidence and self-worth.
• Encourages Good Behavior: By focusing on what children are doing right, we can encourage them to continue those behaviors.
• Strengthens Relationships: Positive reinforcement helps build trust and strengthens the bond between children and adults.

How to Use Positive Reinforcement

Here are some tips for effectively using positive reinforcement:

1. Be Specific: When giving praise, be specific about what the child did well. Instead of saying "Good job," try "I really liked how you shared your toys with your friend."
2. Immediate Feedback: Provide positive reinforcement as soon as possible after the desired behavior. This helps children make the connection between their behavior and the reward.
3. Consistency: Be consistent with your reinforcement. Regularly acknowledging good behavior helps reinforce the message.
4. Variety of Rewards: Use a variety of rewards to keep things interesting. This can include verbal praise, stickers, extra playtime, or a special activity.

Examples of Positive Reinforcement

• In the Classroom: A teacher might give a student a sticker for completing their homework on time or praise a student for participating in class discussions.
• At Home: Parents can praise their child for helping with chores or reward them with extra screen time for good behavior.

Creating a Positive Environment

Positive reinforcement is not just about rewards; it's about creating a supportive and encouraging environment. Here are some ways to foster positivity:

• Model Positive Behavior: Children learn by watching adults. Model the behavior you want to see in your children.
• Encourage Effort: Recognize and praise the effort, not just the outcome. This helps children understand that trying their best is important.
• Celebrate Successes: Take time to celebrate achievements, both big and small. This helps children feel valued and appreciated.

By using positive reinforcement, we can help children develop good habits, build their self-esteem, and create a positive and supportive environment for everyone.

For more information, please click on the link.

https://www.parents.com/positive-reinforcement-examples-8619283

Take care 😊

Colder weather is upon us and as such it is a good time to review our administrative procedure for Inclement Weather. I have attached the document below and I invite all families to look at it in preparation for spending time outside when it is cold. Our guidelines recommend -20 as the cutoff for keeping students indoors.

On cold days school staff check the weather conditions online from a variety of sources and we also look at the actual conditions outdoors to compare the meteorological reports with the actual conditions in the school yard. If it is close, students may be expected to go outdoors. For example, if the temperature is -21 but the sun is shining brightly and there is no wind, students might go outdoors.

We provide alternate recess activities when students stay inside their classrooms for recess. For example, students may play card games, board games, read or catch up on school work when they cannot go outdoors.

Staying indoors for a day or two when it is cold is not harmful, however in the long run we quickly start to notice patterns of dysregulation amongst students during extended cold snaps and for this reason, we do not make the decision to keep students indoors lightly. We feel it is important for students to face challenges such as cold weather and to prepare for them accordingly. This helps students to develop resiliency.

Please have a look at this link from Dr. Peter Rawlek that provides a guide to dressing comfortable for outdoor activities. https://www.goget.fit/pa-blog/the-best-material-and-way-to-layer-for-the-cold

Thanks very much to all families who have donated gently used outerwear. The recent cold weather is a reminder of how essential a warm coat is in Calgary.

Thanks very much also for the ongoing donations of food for the food drive. We will continue to accept donations until Dec 10.

Family Support

As part of our service projects for this school year, St. Cecilia has committed to helping to support several families from the Castleridge Community and John Paul II school.

Here are a few details on the families for whom we are collecting donations. As a school community and as a teaching opportunity for our students we are requesting alms (cash donation, we suggest a toonie per child) for these families. Families may submit a small donation to the office and we will keep the donations until Dec 20 when it will be delivered to St. John Paul II.

• Family 1: Philippines-Guatemala. 8 family members.
• Family 2: Israel. 3 family members
• Family 3: Eritrea, 4 family members
• Family 4: Ethiopia, 6 family members

Catholics are encouraged to give alms during Advent as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. This practice is rooted in the tradition of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which are key components of both Advent and Lent12.

Almsgiving during Advent serves several purposes:

1. Witness to Charity: It is a way to show love and compassion towards those in need, reflecting the fraternal charity that is central to Christian teachings3.
2. Act of Justice: Almsgiving is seen as a work of justice that pleases God, helping to address the inequalities and needs within the community3.
3. Spiritual Preparation: By giving alms, Catholics prepare their hearts and minds for the coming of Christ, both in the celebration of His birth and His eventual second coming2.

This tradition emphasizes the importance of caring for others and living out the values of the Gospel in everyday life.

(Courtesy of MS Co Pilot)

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.

Key observations from the data:

1. There is at least one adult at my school who listens to me when I need to talk:

- 33.33% of students "Strongly Agree" with this statement.

- 53.92% "Agree" with this statement.

- 10.78% "Disagree" with this statement.

- 1.96% "Strongly Disagree" with this statement.

2. There is at least one adult at my school who really cares about me:

- 28.43% of students "Strongly Agree" with this statement.

- 58.82% "Agree" with this statement.

- 9.8% "Disagree" with this statement.

- 2.94% "Strongly Disagree" with this statement.

Overall, the data suggests that the majority of students (over 80%) feel that there is at least one adult at their school who listens to them and cares about them. However, a significant minority (around 10-12%) do not feel this way, indicating a need for further support and attention to ensure all students feel championed and cared for by the adults in their school environment.

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.

November 28, 2024

Just a reminder that the schedule of the Board Meeting dates is posted on the district website and can be accessed through this link: https://www.cssd.ab.ca/meeting-schedule

To access the Calgary Catholic Minutes for the Regular Board Meeting November 6, 2024, Special Board Meetings November 12, 2024 and November 13, 2024 well as previous minutes, please access this link: https://www.cssd.ab.ca/highlights-minutes.

November 29, 2024

To view the Calgary Catholic Board Meeting Highlights for the Regular Board Meeting of November 27, 2024, 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

Oct 7-11, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/kaxy90

Oct 14-18, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/t5dgy

Oct 21-25, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/knphv

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

Nov 4 - 8, 2024: https://secure.smore.com/n/9ntu5p

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