Sister Annata Brockman

Dear Sister Annata Brockman Families,

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. […] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

During this Advent season, we invite you to take time to reflect on and celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. At Sister Annata Brockman School, we will gather for our celebration of the second week of Advent on Tuesday, December 9, at 1:00 p.m. Parents and guardians are always welcome to join us for this special occasion.

December is a joyful and busy month filled with Advent and Christmas activities. We look forward to sharing in the excitement and wonder that this season brings!

Wishing all of our families a safe, blessed Advent and a very Merry Christmas!

Warm regards,
Alicia Fenton
Principal

Karoline Irlbacher

Elementary Assistant Principal

Katherine Stewart

Junior High Assistant Principal

December 4: Demonstration of Learning @ 12:30 - 5:30 pm

December 5: Picture Retake Day @ 8:15 - 12:00 pm
December 9: Advent Celebration @ 1:00 pm
December 12: Hot Lunch Day (Order deadline is Sun, Dec 7)

December 18: Full Day of Classes
December 19: Early Dismissal
December 20-January 4: Christmas Break (No School)
January 5: Classes Resume

January 8: Epiphany Celebration (in Classrooms)
January 16: Hot Lunch Day (Order deadline is Sun, Jan 11)

Please visit our website for our most comprehensive calendar.

As a reminder, students will be outdoors if the temperature is warmer than -20. Please ensure that your children come to school prepared to be outdoors. When students arrive in the morning , if the weather is -20 or colder, they will be permitted to wait indoors. Students should still enter through their designated doors.

In order to showcase our music program, we will be hosting a Spring Concert in lieu of a Christmas Concert this year. With more thorough preparation, your children will be better prepared to share their talents. Please stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

Grades 4, 5, and 6 students will be skiing at Snow Valley on Friday, January 30 and Friday, February 13, 2026.

Field trip forms have been/will be sent home with a return date of December 12, 2025. Your child's height, weight, and shoe size must be entered on the form in your PowerSchool account. This information is required from the ski hill.

Parents wishing to volunteer are required to have a Police Information check and an Intervention Record Check. Please call the office if you require further information.

Our Kindergarten and Grade 2 students will be participating in skating lessons at Terwillegar Quad Arena (2051 Leger Rd NW) on Wednesdays — November 19, November 26, December 3, and December 10.

Students will need properly fitted skates, a CSA-approved helmet, and sturdy gloves or mitts to go on the ice.

Lesson Times:

• Kindergarten A & B — 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.

• 2A & 2B — 10:15 to 11:00 a.m.

• Kindergarten C & 2C — 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.

We are looking forward to a fun and active skating season!

Parents looking to volunteer for upcoming field trips in K - 9, please call the office to add your name to our volunteer list. If you have updated Police or Intervention Record Checks, please email them to samah.kassab@ecsd.net.

Hello Sister Annata Brockman Families,

The season of Advent is here! In November, we held our Remembrance Day service, where each student reflected on the blessings they enjoy thanks to the sacrifices made by others. These reflections were written on poppies and assembled into a wreath, which was displayed in the gym during the ceremony.

We also celebrated the Grade Four Bible Celebration, where students received a special Bible to help bring them closer to God through His Word. In addition, we were able to hold our annual Sister Annata Brockman Memorial Mass in the school gym on November 25th. Both of these events were rescheduled due to the teacher strike, and we thank God that we were still able to hold these important celebrations.

As we enter December, our Advent celebration will take place on Tuesday, December 9th, at 1:00 pm in the SAB gym. All are welcome to join us!

Throughout the season, we will reflect on the meaning of Advent as a school community. In the second week of Advent, we will light the Bethlehem Candle, symbolizing the faith and trust we place in God as we await Christ’s birth. In the third week, we will light the Shepherd’s Candle, representing the joy and anticipation of Christ’s coming. Finally, in the last week of Advent, we will light the Angel’s Candle, encouraging us to share the peace that Christ brings as we approach Christmas.

In January, we will celebrate Epiphany on Thursday, January 8th, in our classrooms, offering a more intimate setting for reflection. Students will work together across grades to deepen their understanding of the meaning behind the Epiphany.

Families wishing to register their child for sacraments this year are invited to take part in the winter registration for First Eucharist/First Reconciliation and Confirmation, now open through Good Shepherd Parish. Classes will begin in January, and more information, including registration, can be found on their website: Good Shepherd Sacraments Link Here.

We are also beginning to collect the names of students who receive sacraments throughout the year. This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage students to grow in their faith. Please fill out the following form to provide us with your child’s name and photos of the sacrament when it was received, so that they can be added to the sacrament board.

Thank you and wishing all our SAB families a wonderful Advent season.

pax Christi vobiscum!

Daniel Moisan

SAB Chaplain

As we all prepare for the Christmas season and the chilly winter months there are many fun and safe activities that you and your family can participate in. Here are some of the options:

Zoominescence: December 5-January 4, 2026, Edmonton Valley Zoo, prices vary by age. https://www.buildingourzoo.com/events/%20zoominescence/

Canadian Tire Magic of Lights: November 20th-January 3, 2026, Castrol Raceway $35 for a carload. https://radraceway.com/magic-of-lights/

Leduc Country Lights: Nov. 29th – Dec. 30th, 2025, Kinsmen Club of Leduc admission is $3 per person https://leduccountrylights.ca/

Candy Cane Lane: December 12-January 2, 148 Street, cost is a food bank donation https://yegcandycanelane.com/

Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival: January 17-18, 2026, Alberta Avenue, Free https://www.deepfreezefest.ca/

During the holidays and into the new year we want everyone to have the support they need to take care of themselves and their families. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. Here are some resources you may find useful:

Adult Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642

Distress Crisis Line CMHA: 780-482-HELP (4537)

Kids Help Phone: Phone 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 https://kidshelpphone.ca/

211: Call or Text 211, https://ab.211.ca/

Kickstand Connect offers free virtual mental health supports for children and youth: https://mykickstand.ca/

Additional supports and resources can be found on the ECSD website https://www.ecsd.net/page/34296/mental-health

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Our next school advisory and council meeting will be held on January 14 at 6:00pm. It will be held at Sister Annata Brockman school. An agenda will be sent out prior to this meeting. The meeting will only address items that are on the agenda, so if you would like to add an item, please email me as soon as possible. We would love to see Parents/Guardians at the meeting to share their opinions and feedback on agenda topics.

Sincerely,

Nancy Brennan

Sister Annata Brockman

School Advisory Society and Council Chair

Nancybrennan11@outlook.com

We are excited to announce that The SAB Blaze newspaper club has just begun! Our enthusiastic grade 4 to 6 students are eager to learn the skills of real journalists as they explore interviewing, writing, photography, and layout design. This talented group is ready to share the stories, voices, and events that make our school community shine. Stay tuned for the first issue coming soon!

Picture Retake Day is Friday, December 5. This will be the opportunity for individual photos retakes. After Picture Retake Day, pictures can be ordered on mylifetouch.ca using your Portrait ID and Access Code which can be found on your Picture Day order form.

School fees are available for payment on your Parent PowerSchool. If you need assistance logging into your Parent PowerSchool, please call the school office.

If your child is going to be absent or late, please report it to the school by using SchoolMessenger or calling the school at 780-444-0250 and press 1. Please do not e-mail the absence to our general e-mail account. If you fail to report it, an automated phone system will call you until you are contacted. Your contact information is critical. Please keep it updated through the year.

SchoolMessenger

Edmonton Catholic Schools is using a program called SchoolMessenger to send out school emails, phone calls, and texts. Not only is SchoolMessenger an easy way to report your child's absences, but you can also find all of the previous emails stored there in case you accidently delete one.

1. Log into Parent PowerSchool using your existing account.
2. Click on the SchoolMessenger Icon on the left-hand menu to sign into the SchoolMessenger website.
3. Select the Attendance Menu to Report an Absence or Inbox to view previous emails, texts, or phone calls.
   

There is also a SchoolMessenger app that can be downloaded through your phone's app store.

For any issues with the busses, please contact Transportation Services at 780-441-6078. Hours: 7:15am-5:00pm. The sooner they are aware of an issue, the sooner it can be resolved.

Bus Delay Notifications

Transportation Services sends late bus notifications via the Division website and BusPlanner Delays App. The App is available for both Android and iPhone.

1) Download the free BusPlanner Delays App through the respective App Store on your phone.

2) Open the App, select the wrench at the top, select Edmonton Catholic Schools, and click next.

3) For alerts, select “My Child’s Bus.”

4) Select the school(s) you would like to receive notifications and click “+” after selecting each

school. Once you finish selecting schools, click “Next.”

5) Select the applicable bus route(s) and click “+.” If you wish to receive notifications for more than one route, repeat the process for each bus route. Once you finish, click “Done,” and the App will return to the main screen.

6) Please make sure notifications for the BusPlanner Delays App are turned on within your phone settings. Also, please ensure your phone software is up to date. Note: Data usage and rates will occur while using the BusPlanner Delays App.

Website: sisterannatabrockman.ecsd.net

Phone: (780) 444-0250

355 Hemingway Road, NW

Edmonton, AB

T6M 0L7