Principal's Update

What a wonderful first week of school we have enjoyed! Everyone seems excited to be back and are enjoying their friends, teachers and the activities and learning that has been occurring already.

As we begin a new school year, I want to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to each of you. I believe that schools are at their best when they feel like family—places where everyone is known, supported, and inspired to grow. As we journey through the year ahead, I look forward to getting to know each student, staff member, and family, and building strong relationships based on kindness, openness, and mutual respect.

Our Division has chosen the theme Rooted in Joy as a theme for this year and we will be working as a school community with that theme throughout the year. I look forward to sharing our journey as People of Hope this year with you. Follow this link to enjoy the 2026-2027 ECSD video entitled Rooted in Joy.

May this school year be one of growth, grace, and great joy.

Happy Long Weekend to you all!

Mrs. C Peacher, Principal

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ~ Galatians 5:22

We welcomed Father Rijo and Deacon Arden to lead our School Opening Liturgies this week. We celebrated the new year, heard the Gospel and other readings encouraging Joy and how to Love Our Neighbor. It was a wonderful kickoff to our new school year!

It is so important for your child's education and well-being to be on time at school daily. Coming in late means that your child will miss valuable social interactions before school that set their day up for success. Additionally, they will have to enter their classroom late where their peers are already engaged in their learning. Please have your children here on time to give them the best start to their school day.

SCHOOL HOURS:

Grades 1- 9
Mon Tues Wed Fri 8:40am - 3:22pm

Thurs 8:40am - 12:22pm

Kindergarten *Regular classes start September 11
AM CLASS 8:40am - 11:46 am Mon Tues Wed Fri

PM CLASS 12:17pm - 3:22 pm Mon Tues Wed Fri

*There are No Kindergarten classes on Thursdays

Join us for our Meet the Staff on Thursday, September 10th, 5:30pm-7:00pm. We will begin in the large gym with a whole school address. There will be 2 - twenty five minute session in classrooms presented by your child's teacher. You will have the opportunity to attend the classrooms and hear about the year your child will have in their class.

Please note: this is an adult evening and while we love our students, we respectfully ask that they remain at home for this event.

Our staff will host a Drive Thru Coffee and Treat Appreciation morning on Friday, September 11th for our parents/guardians. Please come through to say hello, grab a coffee and treat!

**There will be no parking that day in the lot, only drive through to drop off quickly. If you need to park, we encourage you to do so on the roads surrounding the school.

We have an extremely busy school at the beginning and end of day. We ask all families to always choose safety over convenience. We have a pick up area along the sidewalk in the parking area that is not intended for parking: it is a stop and drop area. Please do not leave your vehicle parked in that lane at any time. Additionally, short term stopping is also available in a row behind staff cars, but must not be used for parking. There is NO parking or stopping in the middle row as this must be kept moving for the safety of our students and the movement of vehicles.

If you are entering this parking and pickup/dropoff zone, please be extremely careful about students who may be crossing to meet their family in a vehicle or crossing to walk out of the school property.

The staff parking lots are ONLY for staff parking and those who display a Disabled Placard. Please do not enter the staff parking lot to the southeast of the school at any time.

*Please note: right turns only are permitted out of the drop off/parking area during the hours of 7:30am and 4:00pm. Please do not turn left out of this area during these busy times.

There will be staff members outside daily to assist with parking and keeping students safe and we ask that you help us as we work to ensure the safety of all of our students.

I encourage families to check emails regularly for news and updates. Visit the website and calendars often and read your child's agenda messages to stay up-to--date and informed. Join our parent council to have an active voice in your child's school.

www.corpuschristi.ecsd.net

www.corpuschristi.ecsd.net/calendar

Our full staff will engage in Professional Development on Friday September 18. There is NO SCHOOL that day for students.

Remember: Be sure to check the Corpus Christi Calendar for updates and dates.

https://prairies.teachnutrition.ca/en/material-and-resources/products/school-lunch-tips/

Be sure to review the Student Handbook in the front of your child's agenda with them. This will help you and your child be aware of the structures and expectations of life at Corpus Christi Catholic School. You will find policies, guidelines and information on many aspects of your child's experience here. If you have any questions, please connect with your child's teacher or ask at the office.

On Monday, September 28, during the afternoon, our school will be participating in our annual Terry Fox Run.

This year is incredibly special. It marks 45 years since Terry Fox passed away, leaving behind his unforgettable dream to find a cure for cancer. To honour his bravery and keep his dream alive, Corpus Christi has set a big, exciting goal: we want to raise $4,500 for cancer research! 4500 for 45 years!

Here is how you can help us crush our goal:

• Bring a Donation: Every single dollar counts. You can bring loonies, Toonies, or online donations to help us reach that $4,500 mark!
• Run with Heart: On the afternoon of September 28, we will hit the field together to walk, jog, or run—just like Terry did.
• Show Your Spirit: Think about who you are running for. It could be a family member, a friend, or in honour of Terry himself.

To donate
https://schools.terryfox.ca/137817

The Alberta Government has created a policy outlining the use of student cellphones and SMART devices in schools last year. No Cellphones, SMART watches and devices and Airpods are permitted to be used in the school during school hours or in the building before and after school. Students who choose to bring devices are required to store their cellphones in their lockers or backpacks or the entire day until they are completely out of the school building. Cellphones should be turned off and not turned on until students have left the building entirely.

Should you or your child need to communicate during the day, those calls are managed through the office. SMART Watches should not be worn to school. If they are, students will be asked to remove them and have them stored in a locking box throughout the day in the principal's office for pick up at day's end.

The school is not responsible for the safety of these expensive items and we always recommend that they remain at home.

You can report your child's absence with SchoolMessenger using one of the following methods —24 hours a day, seven days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time.

To create your account, please use the same email address and phone number that you use for PowerSchool.

Using your existing PowerSchool Parent

1. Log into the PowerSchool using your existing account.
2. Click on the SchoolMessenger Icon in the left-hand menu to sign into the SchoolMessenger website.
3. Select the Attendance Menu, then Report an Absence.

On your mobile device:

1. On your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store, the Google Play Store, or by clicking here.
2. When you open the app for the first time, select Sign Up to create your account,
3. Select Attendance, followed by Report an Absence.

Using the SchoolMessenger website directly:

1. Click on the SchoolMessenger website. Upon your first visit, select Sign Up to create your account.
2. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.

By telephone:

1. Call 1-833-788-7662 to report an absence using the automated phone system.

It is essential that we have correct phone numbers to reach parents and other emergency contacts. In the next few weeks, registration information will need to be confirmed on-line by parents and guardians, and this is a good time to make sure emergency contact numbers are updated. During the school year, please make sure that any changes to telephone numbers and emergency contact numbers are sent to the school.

Extended Vacations Many families take their children away from school for extended vacations of two, three or more weeks which is something that can seriously disrupt student learning during the school year. It would be best if students can attend school each and every day of the school year without interruption. Please know that if you are planning on taking your children on an extended vacation, you must advise the principal for an extended absence from school registration. Children are required to be in school during scheduled periods and we ask that this be considered when making vacation plans.

Many of our grades write Provincial, Divisional or School Based Exams and are required to be in attendance for those. We do not encouraged extended vacations during the school year.

We are a community with many members who have severe allergies to foods, environmental items and often unknown materials. We are a NUT AWARE school. Please ensure that the foods you are sending with your child to school do not contain nuts or nut products. Often, it is difficult to know if some items contain, so we ask that you pay special attention to the items your child brings to school. Some items that are often brought to school that contain nuts and could cause a severe reaction are:

Nutella

Certain Chocolates

Trail Mix and some Granola Bars

Some cereals and Grain Breads

Thank you for helping us to keep all students and staff safe at school.

Birthdays are important!

Corpus Christi School and our students who are celebrating their big day will be honored with a small gift of a birthday pencil and wishes for a happy birthday on our Student-Led video broadcast. If you wish to bring in any birthday items for your child, we ask that only cupcakes or cookies or a small treat such as that are brought in. These must also have an ingredients lists, whether homemade or store bought to ensure we are not introducing allergens to the classroom. Please do not bring in lunches, food items or large meals for students. Finally, all requests for bringing in a birthday treat must be arranged with the classroom teacher prior to the day.

The Parent Council offers a wonderful opportunity to positively support your child's school. By giving a small amount of your time, a big impact is made! We invite all parents and guardians consider joining this very important committee. Our Parent Council meetings approximately 5 times in the year in the evening and discusses matters of importance to the education of our children and the opportunities available in the school. It provides our families with the platform to be involved and consultive members of our school administration.

We hope you will consider the small amount of time that it takes to participate on this very important committee. The time investment is minor compared to the major impact on your child's educational experience. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call the office at any time. More information about including a date for the General Meeting of the Parent Council will be shared as soon as it is set.

All bus riders should have the Bus Planner App downloaded at the start of school. This app is critical for informing parents of bus delays and any applications that you may need such as bus cancellation, replacement passes.

Please visit this link to access the app:

https://www.ecsd.net/yellow-bus-delays

Any questions or information that you may require can be found on the ECSD website under Transportation or by emailing transportationservices@ecsd.net.

Edmonton Catholic School’s One World…One Centre is inviting newcomer families to a special information evening on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Lumen Christi Catholic Education Centre (9405 50 Street).

This event is a great opportunity for families who are new to Canada to learn more about Edmonton Catholic Schools and the supports available.

They will receive information on:

· Intercultural Services

· Community Partnerships

· School Procedures

· PowerSchool

· Busing

· Resources for English Language Learners

Community partners will share resources and parents can attend breakout sessions with Intercultural Liaisons on topics critical for new families to integrate into schools - available in 10 languages: Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Filipino/Tagalog, French, Spanish, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served, and on-site childcare from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Please register by September 11, 2026, by clicking here or by calling 780-441-6060.

For more information visit Newcomer Information Night

The Sacrament of Confirmation is an occasion opens a new incredible door in their life where the light of Christ shines powerfully for our students. For other Sacrament Opportunities, please see the following link:

https://www.corpuschristi-edm.ca/sacraments

Website: corpuschristi.ecsd.net
Location: 460 Watt Blvd SW, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-409-2606