St. Cecilia Community Messenger

Easter Edition

Week at a Glance

Mon, April 28, Day 1

Classes Resume
Election Day

Tues, April 29, Day 2

Wed, April 30, Day 3

Thurs, May 1, Day 4

Asian Heritage Month begins

Fri, May 2, Day 5

On the Horizon

April 22: Last chance to order plants for spring flowers fundraiser

May 1: Asian Heritage Month

May 7: Hats on for Mental Health

May 8: Spring Family Dance - Cancelled

May 15: School Council AGM

May 16: PG day, no classes

May 19: Victoria Day - No Classes

May 22: Marian Liturgy

May 28: ELA PAT - Gr 6 Students

May 30: Sacramental Recognition Liturgy - 10:30 AM

June 5: School Council Meeting - 9:30 AM

June 6: PG Day - No classes

June 12: Gr 6 ELA PAT Part B

June 13: Gr 6 Math Part A

June 19: Year End Mass 1:00 PM, Gr 6 Farewell following the Mass. (Changed from previous date, please note correction)

June 21: National Indigenous People's Day

June 25: Last day of classes for students

June 26: Last day for teachers

Circle of Friends Survey for Class Placement

Circle of Friends Survey For Class Placement Sept 2025

Greetings

Happy Easter

We would like to wish all students and families a Happy Easter and a restful holiday. We will see everyone back at school on April 28, 2025.

School Council Notes and Information

St. Cecilia Fundraising Feedback Request

St. Cecilia Council and St. Cecilia Foundation would like to gain your input regarding which fundraisers you are most likely to participate in. As you are aware, the playground area at St. Cecilia is scheduled for removal in summer 2025. Replacement costs can be $350,000 and responsibility to raise these funds lies solely with the users of the play area, thus St. Cecilia families and neighbours.

Council and Foundation are attempting to determine which fundraising opportunities appeal most to St. Cecilia families. We would like for you to consider the following options, indicate your likelihood to participate, and your willingness to make attempts to involve neighbours, family, and friends in your efforts.

If you have fundraising ideas that you do not see on this form, but would like to put forward your idea, please contact Council at stcecilia@schoolcouncil.cssd.ab.ca or Foundation at stceciliafoundation@gmail.com

Hotdog Lunch Fundraiser Update

The Hot Dog Healthy Hunger raised $741.09 towards the playground. Thank you to Jenna and Andrew Lyster for organizing the event and donating the hot dogs. Thank you to Cobbs Bread Willow Park for donating the hot dog buns.

April School Council Minutes

The minutes to the April meeting are in the attachment below.

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April Minutes 2025.pdf

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80.3 KB

Well Being

School Wellness Worker

Hello Families,

This spring break, let nature be your guide to mindfulness and rejuvenation. By immersing ourselves in nature and learning from its lessons, we can return from spring break with a renewed sense of mindfulness and appreciation for the world around us.

Embrace the beauty of imperfection. In nature, nothing is perfect, yet everything is beautiful. The asymmetrical patterns of flowers, the ruggedness of mountains and the uniqueness of each tree teach us that imperfections can be sources of beauty. As we spend time in nature, let’s learn to embrace our imperfections and appreciate the beauty of our individuality. Sitting under a tree and focusing on the space between the leaves can expand one’s perspective.

Practice patience. Nature operates on its own timeline. Seeds take time to sprout, flowers take time to bloom and rivers take time to carve their paths. By observing the patience of nature, we can learn to cultivate patience within ourselves. Let’s use this spring break to slow down, be present in the moment and practice patience. A walking meditation is one way to slow down as we listen to sounds around us.

Find balance. Nature demonstrates the importance of balance. From the delicate balance of ecosystems to the rhythmic cycles of day and night, nature reminds us that finding balance is essential for our well-being. During spring break, let’s take the opportunity to reflect on our own lives and seek a better balance between work, school, rest and play. With your child, focus on looking at a point of interest in the distance (could be a plant or a tree, for example), stand on one leg and keep staring at the focal point. How long can they balance this way?

Stay adaptable. Nature is constantly evolving and adapting to its surroundings. Trees sway with the wind, animals change their behavior to survive and plants adjust to different climates. Observing nature’s adaptability allows us to be more flexible and open to change. Let’s use this spring break to embrace new experiences and adapt to different situations with grace and resilience. Play a wonder game — asking questions helps feed curiosity and curious kids and parents are more adaptable to change.

Be grateful for the simple things. In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we often overlook the simple wonders of nature. The warmth of the sun, the sound of birds chirping and the beauty of a blooming flower are all gifts that nature offers us. Let’s use this spring break to cultivate gratitude for the simple things and find joy in the present moment. (Anthony Cupo, TMF)

Wishing you all a Peaceful Easter.

Take Care 🙂

Simple ideas for a Mindful Easter

https://neatmethod.com/inspiration/organizing-tips/a-mindful-easter-simple-ideas-for-a-more-sustainable-celebration

Mental Health Resources for kids in Calgary

https://www.mentalhealthresearch4kids.ca/find-support

Faith Formation

Easter Message

As we celebrate the joy of Easter, let us reflect on the profound meaning of this sacred season. Easter reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who brings hope, renewal, and eternal life to all who follow Him. It is a time to embrace the light and love that Christ offers us, and to share that love with one another.

In this season of renewal, may we find inspiration in the example of Jesus to live lives of compassion, kindness, and faith. Let us also take this opportunity to celebrate the blessings of our Catholic school community—our students, staff, families, and all who contribute to making our school a place of learning, growth, and spiritual nourishment.

May the joy of Easter fill our hearts with gratitude and strengthen our commitment to living out the teachings of Christ. Wishing you and your families a blessed Easter filled with peace, love, and hope.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

(Written with the assistance of MS Co-Pilot)

St Cecilia Parish Bulletin

Please see the bulletin in the attachment below.

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15 Easter Sunday April 19-20.pdf

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4.9 MB

Indigenous Education

Board of Trustees Priorties

Calgary Catholic Board Minutes

April 17, 2025

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 of April 2, 2025, and the Special Board Meetings of April 9, 2025, well as previous minutes, please access this link: https://www.cssd.ab.ca/highlights-minutes.

Useful Links

Faith Formation Links

Formed, AKA Netflix for Catholics

All About Shrove Tuesday

Student Success Links

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

Circle of Friends Survey for Class Placement Sept 2025

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

Wellness Links

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