The Good News March 4th, 2026

Winter continues but brief glimpses of Spring fill us with hope. Tomorrow, our staff (along with staff from all of EICS) will be gathering for a dedicated Faith and Wellness Professional Development Day. This is a special time for our staff to pause, reflect, and nourish both their spiritual well-being and professional growth, ensuring they can continue to support your children with renewed energy and heart.

Reflections for the Lenten Season

As we continue our journey through Lent, we hope you also find time for "wellness" in its truest sense - whether it’s through a walk in nature, a shared prayer, or a simple act of kindness in the community.

Warm regards,

Mr. Dan Holden & Mrs. Erin Croft

St. John XXIII Leadership Team

• 3ET - Linking Generations
• Parent Council Meeting 6:30 pm

• Ringette Club Gr 1-3
• N1 SWC

• Parish Visit Gr 2
• Early Dismissal 2:08 pm

• Gr 1 Fitset Ninja
• KTF Hands on Science
• N2 SWC
• PI Day!

Looking Ahead:

March 17 - Saint Patrick's Day, Parent Teacher Interviews (4-7:30 pm)

March 18 - Parent Teacher Interviews (3-6:30 pm), No Kindergarten due to Interviews

March 23-27 - Spring Break

April 1- Lenten Cereal Domino Assembly

April 3 - Good Friday (No school)

April 6 - Easter Monday (No School)

As our student population continues to grow, so too does our staff. At this time, we have a limited number of parking spaces available for staff members and therefore the parking lot is for Staff parking only.

Although this messaging has been part of our weekly Smore newsletter for several weeks, we continue to have parents driving past the pylons, and dropping students off in the parking lot. Students are running through the parking lot which is concerning. We kindly ask for your cooperation in keeping designated staff parking spots available in the morning so that our staff have access to parking when they arrive for the school day. This small courtesy helps ensure a smooth and positive start to the day for those who work hard to support our students.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and we thank you for your continued support of our school community.

We will be celebrating this mathematical day on Friday, March 13th by bringing in mini apple pies for every student. The pies will be coming from McDonalds. If you know that your child is unable to have this due to allergies, or a sensitivity, please let your child's classroom teacher know. We will have fruit, nut free granola bars also available for students who are unable to have this.

*Our Monday/Thursday Kindergarten Students and our Pre K (AM & PM) will receive their pie on Thursday, March 12th.

3rd Annual Lenten Social Justice Project

Cereal Box Challenge for the Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank

During the holy season of Lent, we are called to grow closer to Jesus through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Almsgiving invites us to care for those in need and share the blessings we have received.

This year, our school community will live out almsgiving through our 3rd Annual Cereal Box Challenge in support of the Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank.

We invite students and families to donate new, unopened boxes of cereal or other boxed, non-perishable food items. Donations can be brought to school starting Monday, February 23rd.

As the donations come in, we will proudly display the boxes in the front entrance of the school. On the final day of our campaign, Wednesday, April 1st, we will come together to build a giant domino chain using all the boxes collected. As we watch the dominoes topple, it will serve as a joyful reminder that even one small act of kindness can grow into something powerful, just like God’s love spreading throughout our community.

Each item donated is a sign of compassion, generosity, and love in action. Together, let us be the hands and feet of Jesus and share hope with our neighbours.

Thank you for helping us make a difference this Lent!

Dear St. John XXIII Families,

As part of our commitment to living out our Catholic faith through love and service, we are excited to invite our students and families to participate in a special creative fundraiser in support of SCARS – Second Chance Animal Rescue Society.

At our school, we teach our students that all of God’s creation is a gift. Animals are part of that beautiful creation, and we are called to care for them with kindness and compassion. This is a wonderful opportunity for our children to use their God-given talents to help animals in need.

What Is the Project?

We are inviting students and families to create handmade art or crafts that can be donated and sold, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to SCARS.

Creations may be animal-themed (which would be wonderful!), but they do not have to be. Anything handmade with care and creativity that others would love to purchase is welcome.

All creations must be brought to the school by March 16.

Ideas to Get You Started

Simple, affordable, and fun ideas for all ages:

• Pet-themed paintings or drawings (framed or mounted)

• Paw print magnets (salt dough or clay)

• Friendship bracelets or “Love My Pet” bracelets

• Handmade bookmarks with animal designs

• Small clay animal figurines

• Handmade cards (birthday, thank-you, encouragement)

• Decorated treat jars (empty, for gifting)

• Simple sewn or felt animal ornaments

• Painted rocks with animal faces

• Animal-themed keychains

• Mini storybooks about caring for animals

• Canvas art with messages like:

  • “Love All God’s Creatures”

  • “Be Kind to Every Living Thing”

  • “Adopt, Don’t Shop”

Students can work independently or make it a special family project.

Why We Are Doing This

Through this project, we are helping our students:

• Practice generosity

• Use their talents to serve others

• Care for God’s creation

• Live out our faith through action

As Scripture reminds us:

“The righteous care for the needs of their animals.” – Proverbs 12:10

We are so proud of the compassion and creativity within our school community and cannot wait to see the beautiful creations our students make.

Let’s work together to make a difference — one craft at a time!

Parent-Student-Teacher conferences will take place on Tuesday, March 17th from 4 - 7 pm and Wednesday, March 18th from 3 - 6 pm . The first 2.5 hours of each night will be in person conferences, and the last half hour will be virtual via Google Meet.

An email with all of the details about how to book your interview was sent Thursday, March 5th - check your email!

Please visit our website for more information on registration for the 26-27 school year. Here are some helpful links:

• Pre-Kindergarten registration at Elk Island Catholic Schools is a 3 step process. Please visit the Pre-K page of our website for details.
• Kindergarten - please visit the Kindergarten page for the kindergarten calculator, program information, boundary maps and much more.
• Nature Programs - please visit the Nature Programs page on our website.

All current St. John XXIII students are required to fill out the Next Year Intentions form (and not a new registration form) in PowerSchool so that we can plan accordingly for next year. Please log into your PowerSchool account and fill out the Next Year Intentions form. Please click the link in the top orange alert bar on the front page of PowerSchool.

Please refer to the PowerSchool page on our website for more information.

Policy Overview:

• School Hours and Property: From 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and while on school property, students are not permitted to use any digital devices unless they are part of instruction led by the teacher (Chromebooks and laptops). The only exceptions are for students with a diagnosed medical condition or identified inclusive educational needs coordinated with the school.
• Encouraging Disconnection: We strongly encourage students to leave their personal devices at home. However, if a student brings technology to school, it must be stored securely in their backpack and remain powered off during school hours.
• Communication Protocol: All communication with parents, including absences, illnesses, and pick-up arrangements, must go through the school office. To maintain our focus on learning, we ask parents to refrain from texting or calling their children during instructional time. In case of an emergency, please contact the office directly.
• Policy Violations: If a student violates this policy, the device may be confiscated, and parents will be notified. Repeated or severe infractions may result in further disciplinary action.
• Device Responsibility: St. John XXIII Catholic School does not assume responsibility for the safety, security, loss, repair, or replacement of personal devices brought to school.

Now that students are well into their routines and know where their classrooms are, we kindly ask that if your child arrives late, you allow them to walk to their classroom on their own. If you are picking up your child early, please check in at the office and your child will meet you in the office.

Once classes have begun, extra adults in the hallway or at the classroom door can create a disruption for students and teachers. Thank you for helping us keep the learning environment calm and focused.

Due to the high volume of calls we've been receiving at the end of the school day, we kindly ask that dismissal and transportation plans be arranged before students arrive at school each morning. Last-minute changes create challenges during our busiest time of day and may lead to missed messages or confusion for students.

If an unexpected change arises, please ensure the school is notified at least 15 minutes before dismissal so we can communicate with your child in time.

Thank you for your support in helping us keep students safe and ensuring the end of the day runs smoothly for everyone.

Does your child have medical information, a condition the school should be aware of or require medication? If so please complete a B.2) 2025-2026 Medical Status Update/Request for Medical Treatment form located in your Parent Portal . This form is required yearly. We use this important information to alert any staff members, including substitute teachers, of any existing medical needs we need to be aware of. If your child requires medication at school you must fill out the medical form with all relevant information related to the medication.

If your child requires use of an EpiPen, please make sure this is filled out immediately. If your child no longer has a medical condition, you are required to update the form accordingly.

Please note:

• All medications, even over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Benadryl etc. require a label from the pharmacy
• the submission of a Medical Form is required prior to medication being sent to the school

If you need assistance, please click the Medical Form link found on our website.

If you wish to register your child for the bus or change your current route, please contact the Student Transportation Department of EIPS at (780) 417-8151 or st@eips.ca.

Mark your calendars! Our next School Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9th, at 6:30 PM. We encourage all parents and guardians to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!

Order your child's hot lunch conveniently through MunchaLunch. Simply visit https://munchalunch.com/schools/stjohnXXIII to register or log in.

MunchaLunch makes ordering and payment (credit, debit-credit, Google/Apple Pay) simple. After adding your children, click "Order Lunch!" to get started.

Ordering Information:

Online ordering for March Hot Lunch is open.

Wednesday, March 18th - Canadian Brewhouse

Tuesday, March 31st - Boston Pizza/Cotton Candy Shoppe

Important Reminders:

• Orders will be accepted up to 7 days before the hot lunch date.

• If your child is ill or absent on a hot lunch date, you’re welcome to pick up their lunch order by 11:30 AM. If you’re unable to do so, please consider it a donation for a child in need.

• Please note that we are unable to issue refunds. We appreciate your support of our hot lunch program, as the prices include costs associated with running the program and help raise funds that benefit the student experience at our school. Thank you for your understanding!

If you need assistance with ordering, please contact our hot lunch coordinator Brandy at Hotlunchstjohnxxiii@gmail.com

Mark your calendars! Our next School Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9th, at 6:30 PM. We encourage all parents and guardians to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!

Our program depends on the help of our wonderful volunteers! When you’re logged into your account, you’ll find a volunteer page where you can indicate your availability to help distribute hot lunch to the classrooms. If you’ve marked that you’re able to volunteer, the hot lunch coordinator will reach out with a schedule.

Our St. John XXIII School Council is excited to announce a new spring fundraiser, made possible by Bonnie Doon Flowers Garden Center just in time for Mother’s Day!

Each pansy bowl is 12” in diameter and 5” deep. The cost of the pansy bowl is $30 each. Tomato plant varieties are Early Girl and Roma and come in 6” pots. The cost of the tomato plants is $15 each.

How to Order:

• Orders can be placed through your Munchalunch account starting March 1st

• The deadline for orders is April 4th at 2pm.

• Pansy Bowls & Tomato plants must be picked up at the school on Friday, May 8, 2026, between 3-6pm.

Don’t miss out—order yours today!

3...1...4... It’s almost Pie Day! We’re celebrating the best way possible… with PIES!

We’re excited to partner with The Kitchen Witches to bring you their amazing Fifendekel pies — handmade, hearty, and absolutely delicious. Whether you’re a savoury lover or have a sweet tooth, there’s a pie for everyone!

Ordering Opens: March 13 - orders can be placed through your Munchalunch account
Ordering Closes: March 20 at 4pm

Pickup details will be shared after ordering closes on March 20.

Savory Pies:

Family Size – $32.72 each
• Chicken
• Beef

Individual Size – $9.49 each or Gluten Free Individual Size - $11.65
• Chicken
• Beef
• Vegetable

Sweet Pies – $25.16 each
• Apple
• Blueberry
• Cherry

Don’t miss out on these incredible pies — stock up your freezer, grab dessert for family dinner, or treat yourself (because it’s Pi Day after all).

Thank you for supporting our fundraiser!

We're excited to offer our Big Box of Cards sets - your choice of the All Occasion box or the Birthday box set—perfect for any celebration! Each box contains 35 handcrafted cards for just $36.32.

Quantities are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis, so be sure to grab yours before they’re gone! You’re welcome to order as many boxes as we have in stock—perfect for stocking up for upcoming events.

Payment is quick and easy through your Munchalunch account, and must be completed at the time of order.

Thank you to all those families who have brought in cereal for our school wide Almsgiving Project. Lent is a time to pray, fast and give. All of the cereal will be donated to the Fort Saskatchewan Food bank.

Our kindergarten students learning how to subitize numbers. Subsidizing is a rapid, accurate skill that allows students to instantly recognize a number of items in a small group (usually 1-10) without counting them one by one. Using a dice or a deck of cards is a great way to practice this skill at home.

A couple of pictures from our very popular ringette club that is being run by Ms. Pidhirniak and Ms. Yockey. Thank you to both of these teachers for sharing their time with our students to improve their overall wellness by being active at lunch hour!

A special thank you to Mrs. Ekdhal, Ms. Kamstra and Mrs. Ganes for sharing their passion for Numeracy and literacy with families on Wednesday evening. Our Literacy and Numeracy evening was a great opportunity for families to come and learn more about how they can support their children with Numeracy and literacy at home.

Our grade 4 students had the opportunity to visit the Edmonton Symphony at the Winspear this week.

Email: stj@eics.ab.ca
Website: https://stj.eics.ab.ca/
Location: 9526 89 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-998-7777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St.JohnXXIII