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☎️Phone: (780) 449-6463 💻https://silc.eics.ab.ca

🎉Principal's Message🎉

Extraordinary Generosity

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of a landowner who hires workers at different points throughout the day. When evening comes, everyone receives the exact same full wage; even those who worked for only one hour. To our human ears, this feels unfair! But Jesus isn't giving a lesson on economics; He is showing us what God’s love looks like.

God doesn’t measure us on a scorecard, and His grace is never something we have to "earn." He offers His total love and mercy to every single one of us, no matter when or how we arrive.

This week, how can we move away from comparison and celebrating who is "first," and instead practice radical kindness toward everyone in our school community?

Faith Integration

Our Home Parish

God Bless!

Find us online at:

www.facebook.com/olphsherwoodpark

https://www.youtube.com/@olphparishsherwoodparkab/streams

Sunday September 20, 2026 Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

📚 Learners and Learning 💻

Dr. Damur's Presentation on Mastering Study Skills & Focus

🎨📚🎉Grade 1 to Grade 6 (Elementary School Info)🎨📚🎉

Tips for Supporting Your Online Elementary Student

1. Create a Dedicated Workspace

Set up a specific, clutter-free area that signals it’s "time for school." While it doesn't need to be an entire office, it should be comfortable, well-lit, and away from high-traffic zones or the television. Let your child personalize it slightly to make it inviting, and keep all their supplies (headphones, pencils, paper) within arm's reach.

2. Establish and Post a Visual Routine

Consistency reduces anxiety. Work with your child to create a daily schedule that mimics a normal school day. Post a visual calendar near their workspace that includes wake-up times, online class blocks, independent work time, and meals. Treating the schedule like a series of appointments helps elementary students transition between subjects.

3. Be a "Learning Coach," Not the Teacher

Resist the urge to do the work for them. Your role is to motivate, monitor progress, and help them organize. If they get stuck, encourage them to review the instructions or ask their teacher before you step in to provide the answer. Helping them practice self-advocacy builds independence and problem-solving skills.

4. Build in Frequent Movement Breaks

Elementary students are not wired to sit at a screen for hours. Schedule short breaks to stretch, grab a healthy snack, or step outside. Incorporating physical activity between assignments helps reset their focus, reduces stress, and burns off excess energy.

5. Keep Communication Open with Teachers

You are part of a team. Familiarize yourself with the platforms your child is using (like Google Classroom or D2L) and stay in touch with their educators. If your child is struggling with a concept or losing motivation, reach out early to ask for guidance or accommodations.

6. Prioritize Social Connection

Distance learning can be isolating. Since they are missing out on recess and cafeteria chatter, help them find ways to connect with peers safely. Schedule virtual playdates, encourage them to chat with classmates outside of instructional time, or enroll them in safe online or community extracurriculars.

SILC Elementary Calendar

Learn More About the Reading Tool Amira - Not a Chat Bot

😃📚Junior High Information (Grades 7-12) 📚😃

Setting Up for Success

Supporting a junior high online learner requires a shift from hands-on management to guided independence. At this age, the goal is helping them develop executive functioning skills and self-advocacy while safely navigating more complex social and academic pressures.
1. Upgrade the Workspace (and Manage the Phone)
A junior high workspace needs to be functional and, crucially, free of digital distractions. At this age, the biggest obstacle is often the smartphone. Establish a firm rule that personal devices charge in another room during active class or study blocks.
2. Shift to Digital Organization
Transition away from visual wall schedules and teach them to use digital tools. Show them how to block out their day on Google Calendar, use phone alarms for class start times, or manage tasks in a digital planner or spreadsheet. Learning to track their own deadlines is a core middle school skill.
3. Pivot from "Coach" to "Accountability Partner"
Stop checking every assignment before it's submitted. Instead, ask open-ended planning questions in the morning: "What are your top three priorities today?" or "Do you have any large projects due this week?" Let them take the lead on managing their workload, and allow them to experience the natural consequences of minor failures so they learn to adjust their habits.
4. Require Student-Led Communication
When they hit a roadblock, do not email the teacher for them. Walk them through drafting a polite, clear email to their teacher or encourage them to stay in the virtual classroom for office hours. This builds essential self-advocacy and professional communication skills.
5. Redefine "Breaks"
For teens, a break often just means switching from a school tab to YouTube or TikTok. Help them understand that true mental recovery requires looking away from screens entirely. Encourage brief walks, grabbing a snack, interacting with a pet, or stretching.
6. Validate Their Digital Social World
For junior high students, online gaming, group chats, and social media are their primary social lifelines when learning from home. Rather than strictly banning screens after school, set healthy parameters around their use. Encourage a balance between online socializing and family time or offline hobbies.

Important Dates for School Work

Note: Junior High Google Meet starts: (Please print and post near your work space)

Google Meet links are found on the homepage of your course

Grade 7- Aug 31

Grade 8/9 - Sept 2nd

Term 1 Due Dates (Junior High)

💻Please print and post these dates near your workspace

Textbook Pick Up Schedule

High School Information

Supporting High School Online Learners

Create a Dedicated Workspace: Choose a specific, organized area—preferably near natural light to boost concentration—and use it consistently to signal to your brain that it is time to work. Minimize external distractions by putting your phone in airplane mode or using website blockers during study hours.

Implement Time-Blocking: Rather than working from a basic to-do list, assign specific time blocks to each task. Dedicate 45 to 60 minutes for reading assignments, 60 to 90 minutes for math or science problem sets, and treat live virtual classes as non-negotiable appointments.

Use Advanced Study Frameworks: Adopt the Cornell Method for structured note-taking by dividing your pages into questions, main notes, and summaries. For online discussion boards, use the "3C+Q method"—offer a compliment, add a comment, make a connection, and ask a question—to ensure your contributions actively advance the conversation.

Prevent Burnout with Structured Breaks: Combat mental fatigue by utilizing the Pomodoro technique, which involves 25 minutes of focused studying followed by a 5-minute break, taking a longer 15- to 30-minute break after four cycles. Regular screen breaks are also essential to avoid eye strain and headaches.

Establish External Accountability: Share your academic goals and track your progress with a trusted friend or family member who can hold you accountable. Maintaining a physical planner or calendar can also help solidify deadlines and keep you organized across different online platforms.

Semester 1 Due Dates

Please print and post near your workspace for easy reference

Course Change or Add Request Form

Textbook Pick Up Schedule

Mark Your Calendars: Key Dates

Please note the following important dates for the 2026-2027 school year:

August 26, 2026: First day for teachers.
August 31, 2026: First day for students!
September 7, 2026: Labour Day (School Closed).
September 30, 2026: Truth and Reconciliation Day (School Closed).
October 12, 2026: Thanksgiving Day (School Closed).
November 9 - 13, 2026: Fall Break.
December 21, 2026 - January 1, 2027: Christmas Vacation.
February 1, 2027: Semester 2 Starts.
March 22 - 26, 2027: Spring Break.
June 28, 2027: Last day for students.

🗓️ EICS Division Calendar: Need to review all PD days and holidays? Click below to access the full division calendar. 👉 https://www.eics.ab.ca/download/492673