Thursday Thoughts

It’s been another busy and wonderful week at St. Mary’s! There’s always something happening around our school, and we’re looking forward to all that next week will bring! Please note the following upcoming events:

Thursday October 22

-Booster Club hosts their Halloween Community Dance tonight from 6-8pm at the school, with pizza slices available to purchase for supper! See their poster below for more details!

Friday October 23

- PD Day, No school for students while our staff focus on their own professional growth.

-Good luck to our JH Volley team who will be competing in tournament action in Beaverlodge!

Monday October 26

-There’s a mystery brewing at St. Mary’s! In a fun twist on our Halloweek celebrations, a school-wide game of CLUE is underway! Our Saints will be putting their detective skills to the test as they follow clues, solve mysteries, and uncover whodunit!

-We're excited to welcome one of our very own St. Mary's family members, who will be sharing an EMS presentation with our students, including an up-close look at an ambulance!

We're blessed to have such a supportive community helping our Saints learn and grow!

Wednesday October 28

-Cash pre-orders are due for hotdog day on Thursday.

Thursday October 29

- Hot dog day, thanks to the endless work of our parent-volunteer team! Be sure to check out their section in the newsletter below for other ways you can get involved!

Friday October 30

-full of creativity, costumes, and Halloween fun! We’ll celebrate with our annual afternoon Costume Parade, and can’t wait to see our Saints show off their creativity! Students who choose to dress up are encouraged to wear fun, life-affirming costumes that reflect our Catholic values. Individual classrooms may also host afternoon parties, so please watch for communication from your child’s teacher with any additional details.

Sun Nov.1- Booster Club Pizza orders due

Mon Nov 2- Staff Meeting, 2:30 dismissal

Tues Nov 3- School Winter plant order due online

Wed Nov 4- Nursing presentations gr 1-4/5

Fri Nov 6- Kinder, Booster Group's Paint Night fees due

Sun Nov 8- Indigenous Veterans Day

Tues Nov 10- Remembrance Day Ceremony and Virtue Awards

Wed Nov 11 - Remembrance Day. School Closed.

Thurs Nov 12- Hot dog day

Tues Nov 17 & Wed Nov 18- Parent Teacher Interviews.

Fri Nov 20- PD Day

Stay cozy this weekend!

Help Our Saints Grow Something Wonderful!

Our Winter Plant Fundraiser is underway! Add a little festive cheer to your home while helping us raise funds for the extras that make school life so memorable! These funds help us provide field trips, special presenters, fun activities and unique learning experiences for our students.

Browse a beautiful selection of holiday greenery, including wreaths, festive arrangements and more. Every purchase helps support our Saints!

Orders close November 3, 2026, with delivery scheduled for November 19, 2026.

🌿 Shop the Winter Plant Fundraiser here!

Thank you for helping us make great things happen at St. Mary's!

We enjoyed a wonderful week of faith, friendship and celebration at St. Mary’s! Throughout Catholic Education Week, our Saints have come together in prayer, activities and celebrations, reflecting on the gift of Catholic education and the faith that brings us together.

One of the highlights of our week has been creating a beautiful new feature wall collage in our gathering area, inspired by the words “God Said You Are…” Through this meaningful project, students explored the many wonderful qualities that make each of us unique, special and loved by God. Each of us is created with purpose, bringing our own gifts, talents and personalities to our school community.

We also celebrated our shared Catholic identity with a sea of blue, joining students and staff across our district and province in showing our pride in Catholic education and the faith, values and sense of belonging that unite us.

At St. Mary’s, Catholic education is so much more than what we learn in the classroom. It’s how we care for one another, celebrate our differences, grow together in faith and make room for everyone to belong.

Rooted in Belonging. Growing in Faith. We are blessed to be part of Catholic education!

Some of the best classrooms don't have four walls! This week, we participated in Take Me Outside Day, recognizing the many benefits of learning, exploring and discovering beyond the traditional classroom.

We're blessed with wonderful outdoor spaces that encourage curiosity, creativity and hands-on learning. From our outdoor classroom and gazebo to our playground, greenhouse, garden beds, orchard and nearby forest, there are endless opportunities for our Saints to explore, discover and grow.

These spaces are an important part of learning at St. Mary's, helping students build connections with nature, one another and God's beautiful creation!

A favourite parish tradition has a festive new feel! Immaculate Conception Catholic Church’s annual fall supper has evolved into a Christmas Soirée, bringing our community together for an evening of good food, fellowship and Christmas cheer.

Enjoy supper, a silent auction, door prize and dessert sales. Tickets are $30 or $75 for a family (2 adults + 4 children). All are welcome!

Bringing an evening like this together is no small feat, and they need our help! St. Mary’s families are invited to lend a hand with bussing tables, dishes, kitchen clean-up and event take-down. Click the SignUpGenius below, choose a spot, and mark your calendars to lend a hand!

St. Mary’s does not charge base fees for the academic year; however, some programs, activities, and extracurriculars do have associated fees.

Pre-K Fees:

Pre-K fees are due by the 5th of each month. As per district policy, unpaid fees may result in removal from the program. We understand that circumstances can arise, so please don't hesitate to reach out to the school office if you need to make payment arrangements. We're happy to work with you!

Junior High Option Fees:

Term 1 Junior High Option fees are now live and payable! Families can view and pay fees through the PowerSchool Parent Portal or in person at the school office. Statements will be emailed home soon, and will option fees for the full school year; however, only Term 1 (T1) fees are due at this time, as payment was due September 28th.

Extracurricular & Sports Fees:
Some extracurricular activities and school teams, such as volleyball also have associated fees. These fees are due before the first event for each team.

Fees can be paid easily online through the PowerSchool Parent Portal or in person at the school office.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the office if you have any questions, need help accessing PowerSchool, or would like to make arrangements for payment.

Email: stmarys@gpcsd.ca
Website: stmarys.gpcsd.ca
Location: 9001 103 St, Sexsmith, AB, Canada
Phone: (780) 568-3631
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMarysSX