Madonna Catholic School News

Dear Madonna Families,

It has been a vibrant and bustling week at our school! Seeing our hallways filled with the energy of in-school field trips and the active engagement of our community reminds us how blessed we are. As our school continues to grow, we remain rooted in our division theme: “Growing together in Christ’s love.” This growth isn't just about numbers; it’s about the strength of the bonds we build as a faith community. This weekend as we listen to the Gospel of Mark 9:2-10, we hear the story of the Transfiguration. Just as Peter, James, and John witnessed the glory of Jesus on the mountain, we are called to recognize the divine light within our own community. As we grow together, this Gospel reminds us to "listen to Him." By listening to Christ and to one another, we transform our school into a place where every child feels the warmth of His love.

We want to extend a sincere thank you to the many parents who have stepped up this past week:

• Volunteer Support: Thank you to those who assisted with our recent in-school field trips. Your presence makes these enriched learning experiences possible for our students.

• School Council: It was wonderful to see new and familiar faces at our recent meeting. Your voices are essential in shaping the direction of this invaluable advocacy group.

Madonna is powered by the passion of our families. We are currently looking for more hands to join an amazing group of parents who have found a unique way to work together as a team to support our school's mission.

How you can help:

Detailed information on upcoming volunteer roles, specific projects, and team opportunities can be found in the section below. Working together doesn't just benefit the school—it sets a beautiful example for our children of what it means to serve others with a joyful heart.

Thank you for all you do to support our students,

Fiona Wimmer

Assistant Principal

Volunteering at MCS/Cogito Academy Checklist

Looking to come in from time to time to support your child's class on a fieldtrip or perhaps support some in-class learning?

See the attached PDF and complete the following:

- The EICS Volunteer Confidentiality Form

- The Criminal Record Check (Edmonton & Strathcona County Letters attached)

- Child Intervention Check

If you are unsure if you have already completed these forms, or need assistance, please contact Mrs. Gaudet at 780-467-7972 or mcs@eics.ab.ca

• Please complete the A.5) EICS Pre-K/PUF Transition Form.

• Note: This form will be assigned to you on the morning of February 2nd. You will receive a notification once it has been made available.

February 16 - FAMILY DAY - SCHOOL CLOSED

February 17 - Shrove Tuesday

February 18 - Ash Wednesday Mass at OLPH Church @ 12:15pm

February 23 - Gr 4 fused art project (in-school fieldtrip) & Lego Club meet at lunch

February 24 - Taanishi Circle at lunchtime

February 26 - Gr 2 in-school Science learning program

February 27 - Reckie Lloyd visits Madonna

**Reminder that every Wednesday the school dismisses @ 2:13pm

Shout out to Mrs. MacLean & Mrs. Odiobala for their leadership in supporting our newest club at Madonna. Embracing her Metis heritage, Mrs. MacLean shared a children's story , showed the group the Metis flag and explained the significance of the Metis sash. We meet again in two weeks!

During the last two assembly gatherings the Grade 2N class invited the school to write on hearts and express how they can show love to one another. We have a small sample of those hearts below. As well, our Grade 4 Faith team was able to spend some time reflecting on the Gospel and explaining in their own words what it means to them. Bravo to our 2N team and our Grade 4 Faith leadership squad for sharing their faith understanding with all of us.

Thank you to Lacrosse Alberta for sending Coach Reece to spend the day with us at Madonna. His passion and knowledge for this sport was evident in the many sessions he led.

Thank you to Mrs Murphy, our Religious Education Consultant who came to our school to read to our grade 2 students today. As we honor Read in Week it is indeed a privilege to have guest readers come and meet with our students. Thank you Mrs. Murphy!

Our school office is currently seeking donations of new or gently used clothing items to help support students who may need a change of clothes during the school day.

At this time, our greatest needs are:

• Pants (sizes 6–9)

• T-shirts

• Socks

These items allow us to care for students quickly and discreetly when spills, accidents, or unexpected messes happen.

If you are able to help, please bring donations directly to the school office. Your kindness and generosity make a meaningful difference in ensuring all students feel comfortable and supported while at school.

Thank you for your continued support of our school community—we truly appreciate it.

The 2026 Inclusion Alberta Family Conference is a time for individuals with intellectual disabilities, their families, allies and support staff as well as those working in the disability and education fields to come together and learn from keynote speakers and other experienced families. The Conference is the largest and longest standing of its kind in the world and offers fully-inclusive onsite child and teen care so parents and guardians can enjoy the Conference worry-free. Click here for full conference details.

On January 22nd, 2026, Elk Island Catholic Schools emailed a link to provide your input on how we are doing as a Catholic School Division.

Thank-you to those families that have already taken the time to provide feedback.

If you are the parent or guardian of multiple children who are attending EICS schools:

• We recognize that their experiences may be different and wish to obtain a greater understanding of these differences in the survey.

Please take the time to reflect on each child’s individual school experience and fill out a survey for each child. If you have not yet completed the survey, please follow the link: EICS Parent Education Assurance Survey To ensure your feedback is received, all surveys must be completed by Friday, February 13th, 2026.

Thank-you for sharing your voice with EICS.

OLPH (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish)

Masses at OLPH will be livestreamed. Please join using this link. https://www.facebook.com/olphsherwoodpark/videos/

Visit OLPH Website for more information about the parish and in regards to sacramental preparation.

Visit www.facebook.com/olphsherwoodpark