St. Cecilia Community Messenger

March 24 - 28, 2025

Week at a Glance

Mon, March 24, Day 2

Tues, March 25, Day 3

Wed, March 26, Day 4

Thurs, March 27, Day 5

Lenten Liturgy - 10:30
Evening PT Conferences

Fri, March 28 - Parent Teacher Conferences, no classes

On the Horizon

March 20: School Council 6:30 PM

March 21: Deadline for Gr 4-5-6 parents to complete AEAM surveys

March 24: Readathon begins

March 24: Hotdog fundraiser

March 25: Lockdown Practice 10:00 AM

March 26: Parent Education Evening 6:30 PM in St. Cecilia School Gym. Please RSVP Here

March 27: Lenten Liturgy 10:30 AM

March 27: Evening PT Interviews - Please bring a non-perishable food donation

March 28: No classes PT Interviews - Please bring a non-perishable food donation

April 7: Book Swap

April 11: Pledges from Read A Thon Are Due

April 15: Gr 6 drama production - Please bring a non-perishable food donation

April 17: Holy Thursday Liturgy

April 18: Good Friday - Easter holidays begin

May 1: Asian Heritage Month

May 8: Spring Family Dance

May 15: School Council AGM

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 18: Year End Mass

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

Read A Thon - Starts March 24, 2025

Please open the attachment below to read about the read a thon. The goal of this activity is to raise money for the playground. You should have received information from your child's classroom teacher earlier this week or last week. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

School Council Notes and Information

We are in need 2 to 3 volunteer to coordinate the Spring Dance. The DJ is booked for May 8th if we cannot find volunteers by March 28th the Spring Dance will be cancelled. If you are interested please email school council stcecilia@schoolcouncil.cssd.ab.ca

Read a thon information : Please see read a thon information above. We hope you have seen this handout along with a bag to collect pledges as it was sent home with your child. All reading starts Monday, March 24 till Monday, April 7th. If your child has not received this handout or you have any questions, please let school council know at stcecilia@schoolcouncil.cssd.ab.ca

Book swap: St. Cecilia School Council will be running a book swap again April 1 to 4. Please see the attachment below. We are looking for volunteers April 1 to 3 for about an hour in the morning to collect books from the class rooms and then organize the books into groups. April 4 we need volunteers throughout the day to be in the room to help kids with finding books and restocking the tables. To sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094EA9A82BA4FBC70-55299623-book.

If anyone has time Monday March 24 from 1030 till 1220 to help with the hot dog lunch please come to St. Cecilia at 10 AM. This is our first foray into a hotdog lunch this year and so we ask for your patience and help to make it a success.

March 20th School Council meeting will have no minutes as not enough parents were present. Thank you to Mr. Kitoko Grade 3 teacher for doing a wonderful presentation for the teacher showcase.

pdf

insert_drive_file

Book Swap letter home - March 2025.pdf

Download

88.7 KB

Alberta Education Assurance Measures Survey - Deadline Extended

Thank you to all grade 4-6 parents who have completed the survey. We have received notification from Alberta Education that the survey deadline has been extended to March 28. If you have not yet had a chance to share your voice on educational matters at St. Cecilia you still have some time. Your voice as a parent is important and the data we collect helps to decide decision making and planning at the school level. Please do not miss this opportunity.

The Survey link is: https://public.education.alberta.ca/APOS/

Please use the Random Access Code that was sent home with your child.

Hop Into Spring with Our Easter Purdy’s Fundraiser! 🐰🍫

Dear St. Cecilia Families,

Time is running out! ⏳ Our Easter Purdys fundraiser closes on April 1st, so if you haven’t placed your order yet, now’s your chance!

With 25%–30% of sales going directly to our new playground, every purchase helps us get closer to our goal. Thanks to your support, we’ve made amazing progress — let’s keep the momentum going!

📅 Order Deadline: April 1st

🍫 Shop Now: https://fundraising.purdys.com/1952795-127661

Thank you for being part of this exciting project for our school. Let’s finish strong!

Warm regards,
Mallorie Peters

Kathy MacDonald - Cyber safety March 26, 2025, 6:30 PM.

Cyber Safety is About Being Diligent, Skeptical, and Kind Online

Please RSVP HERE

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelqh6iDo7sahTFk47qHrrww31HtVTFIDNHTDUwby1dSnM8wg/viewform

Kathy's presentation will help audiences acquire a better sense of safety and security for their children when they are online. She addresses concerns related to cyberbullying and online coercion and sexual exploitation and she offers an enlightening glimpse into emerging security threats including the Internet of Things (IoT).

This presentation includes discussion of social media, popular apps, privacy, and the laws that help to protect young people. It offers information about the positive use of technology and helps families respond promptly and effectively to a variety of online issues that could arise with their children. As a former police officer and online investigator, she shares first hand stories about fraud prevention, social engineering, and personal security. Her innovative style breaks down complex concepts of cyber security into smaller doable actions that can enhance the audiences ability to secure themselves in their everyday physical and virtual life.

Kathy's actionable advice reminds Internet users that security is everyone's business, and that it is vital to always be proactive online.

Bio

Kathy Macdonald is a retired police officer with the Calgary Police Service, with almost three decades of investigative and crime prevention experience. She recently published a book titled, Cybercrime: Awareness, Prevention, and Response. It is a comprehensive Canadian resource talking about how cybercrime affects individuals, businesses, governments, institutions, and organizations. https://emond.ca/CAPR

In 2009, the Governor General of Canada, invested Kathy with the Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, M.O.M., in recognition to her commitment to cybercrime prevention. Kathy was recently awarded one of the Top 20 Women in Cyber Security - Canada.

Bottle Drive in Support of the Playground

Our Education Society will hold a bottle drive on March 30th in support of the playground. If you have cans and bottles starting to pile up, please consider donating to the Foundation. If you cannot make it on March 30, feel free to drop them off anytime and we will store them in the courtyard until March 30.

St. Cecilia Playground Community Bottle Drive – Volunteers Needed!

We’re excited to launch our community bottle drive to support the building of our playground! We are urgently seeking volunteers for:

Bottle Collection (March 30; 10am-12pm OR 12pm-2pm) – Assist with collecting bottles on drive day. We will need those with vehicles that can transport bottles from the community to the school. We will be stationed at the school to distribute mapped areas, and you can sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4CAAA82DA2FB6-55592613-stcecilia

Your help will make all the difference in reaching our goal. If you have any questions or want to connect, text Elyse (403-966-3331). Sign up today!

Student Success

Monk Lunch

Monk Lunch hit its first bump on Monday, March 17. Some students abandoned the fast on talking and engaged in noisy, boisterous behavior during the eating portion of lunch.

When we falter in keeping our Lenten promises, Jesus invites us to respond with humility, repentance, and trust in His mercy. Lent is a time of reflection, sacrifice, and spiritual growth, and while our intentions may be sincere, failure is a natural part of being human. Jesus doesn’t expect perfection from us—He understands our struggles and weaknesses.

Instead, He calls us to acknowledge our shortcomings, seek forgiveness, and continue striving to grow closer to Him. It's an opportunity to lean on His grace, remember why we made our Lenten commitments, and renew our efforts with love and gratitude. He values a heart that desires to return to Him, even after stumbling, far more than rigid adherence to rules.

As part of our service to others, we are now collecting food donations for St. Vincent de Paul. Students are invited to bring a non-persishable food item to school to donate.

Well Being

Jump Rope for Heart

Just a reminder that our Jump Event will be taking place on March 26th! Students have been learning new skills and pushing themselves to beat their personal records. If you haven't already registered online to donate, there is still time! Click the link to register to our school's event page: https://jumpropeforheart.crowdchange.ca/80767 .

School Wellness Worker

Hello Families,

Spring is a wonderful time to engage in mindful activities with your children! Here are some ideas to help you connect with nature and each other:

1. Nature Walks: Explore local parks or trails, paying attention to the sights, sounds, and smells of spring. Encourage everyone to notice the details, like creepy, crawly insects, blooming flowers or chirping birds.

2. Gardening: Plant flowers, vegetables, or herbs together. Gardening can be a relaxing and rewarding activity that teaches patience and care.

3. Picnics: Prepare a healthy meal and enjoy it outdoors. Use this time to practice mindful eating, savouring each bite and appreciating the flavours.

4. Bird Watching: Set up a bird feeder and observe the different species that visit. You can even keep a journal to note the birds you see and learn more about them.

5. Crafting with Nature: Collect leaves, flowers, and other natural materials to create art projects. This can be a fun way to express creativity and connect with the environment.

6. Cloud Watching: Looking at the clouds is an excellent way to observe nature, relieve stress, and free your imagination! It can be fun and relaxing to recognize shapes in the sky like animals, people, and objects.

7.Stargazing: On clear nights, lay out a blanket and watch the stars. It's a peaceful activity that can spark interesting conversations about the universe.

Which of these activities will you try together?

Take Care 🙂

Faith Formation

Second Week of Lent

As we finish the second week of Lent we invite our community to reflect on the following:

- What scripture passages remind you of God’s forgiveness?

- Who are some of the people in need of God’s mercy? Commit to praying for them each week during Lent.

- Who has shown you mercy and how did they do it?

- How does Daniel’s prayer inspire my own prayer life? (Prayer below)

Student Activities

Continue to practice daily prayer.

See student Lenten activities recommended here: https://www.thereligionteacher.com/lent-activities/

Preparing Our Hearts for Jesus

Read scripture each day.

As you interact with people this week, strive to consciously allow God’s love to flow through your words and actions. Also, make plans to take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the coming weeks. Use the following link to find out when the sacrament is made available in your parish: catholicyyc.ca

Continue with the commitment to support, pray for, and learn about the people served by the social justice organization selected earlier in Lent.

Catholic Education Assurance

Parents, please complete the Catholic Assurance Survey.

St. Cecilia Parish Bulletin

Hello everyone, please open the bulletin and related attachments below.

pdf

insert_drive_file

11 Lent 3 March 22-23.pdf

Indigenous Education

Enrollment in A Catholic School for Non-Catholics

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.

Board of Trustees Priorties

March 20, 2025

To view the Calgary Catholic Board Meeting Highlights for the Regular Board Meeting of March 19, 2025, as well as previous Highlights please access the following link: https://www.cssd.ab.ca/highlights-minutes

March 20, 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 March 5, 2025, and the Special Board Meetings of March 12, 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