Growing Together @ STL

Dear STL families,

It seems like we just got back and here we are saying goodbye again for our November Break! Please rmember that the school will be closed next week. We wish you a onderful week of relaxtion and safe journeys.

Thank you to all the parents who joined us for the Remembrance Day ceremony. We truly love having parents in the school.

This Smore is a long one. Please note there is information regarding reimbursement of fees, information on strategies on how we plan to catch up with the learning disruption from the strike, along with important dates for fundraisers and school activities.

Blessing to you and your families over the break and we look forward to seeing you on Monday, November 17th.

Blessings,

Krisie Phelan
Principal

We’re excited to announce the kickoff of our Dino Dogs Hot Lunch program — a monthly fundraiser hosted by our Grade 4 parents to help cover costs for the 2026 “Night in the Museum” field trip!

• Menu & Pricing:

• Hot Dog – $3 (or $6 combo with juice and snack)

• Corn Dog – $2 (or $5 combo with juice and snack)

Hot Lunch Dates:

• November 24, December 15, January 19, February 23, March 16, April 20, May 25 & June 15

Just like our regular hot lunches, pre-orders are available online now at
https://stlukeschool.hotlunches.net/

All lunches will be delivered directly to students in their classrooms.

If you have any questions or issues placing an order, please contact hotlunchstluke@gmail.com.

Thank you for supporting our Grade 4s — and helping make their Night in the Museum adventure possible!

Together with St. Luke Catholic School, the St. Luke School Council and Parent Association is thrilled to be a participating venue in Strathcona County's annual Christmas in the Country event! The funds raised from this event go directly back to our students and also provides volunteer opportunities within our school community.

Please join us on Saturday, December 6th from 10:00am-4:00pm. The day is made up by more than 50 tables to peruse for those hard-to-buy-for friends and family members, including our Young Entrepreneurs Maker Market, a Craft Corner to keep the kiddos busy while you shop and a concession featuring coffee, hot chocolate, hot dogs and other snack items.

As always, entry is free. There will be a box available for Food Bank donations and the tree will be ready to receive outdoor wear for our annual Mitten Tree (not just mittens). Donations of outdoor wear such as coats, scarves, hats etc will be dropped off to those in need.

Our main market is already fully booked but our Young Entrepreneur Maker Market is still growing. If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of our Young Entrepreneur Maker Market, please send an email to stlukecitc@gmail.com.

Looking for a way to add some outdoor or indoor holiday cheer to your home? The St. Luke Parent Association is pleased to be selling beautiful, locally grown holiday themed plants. Purchasing one (or many!) of these seasonal plants will help cover costs for programs, equipment and resources for St. Luke students. If you choose to purchase with this fundraiser, you will do so directly through the Growing Smiles website at https//stlukecatholicschool.growingsmilesfundraising.com/

Order deadline is November 24th at 12:00pm. Plant pick-up will be Thursday, December 4th at the school (cafeteria) from 3:00-4:30pm, giving you plenty of time to enjoy these beautiful arrangements.

This coming week, an invitation to participate in our annual raffle basket item collection will be sent home with each student. Each classroom has been given a different theme for items to collect. Raffle tickets will be available to purchase during our Christmas in the Country event. With our community's spirit of generosity, last year's raffle was a resounding success, raising more than $2,000 for student activities!

Our Parent Council can't do it all without your help! If you have any available time on Saturday, December 6th, please consider signing up to volunteer for Christmas in the Country this year. Half an hour of your time is worth so much to us!

Volunteer positions and times can be found here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D45A5A723A7F5C61-53039709-christmas#/

Are you a kid who has their own business or an idea for a business?

On December 6, 2025 the Young Entrepreneurs Maker Market is taking place at St. Luke!

You bring your best business ideas, displays, and products - We bring tips and tricks and an opportunity to showcase your talents at Christmas in the Country 2025 at St. Luke.

All you have to do to get started is send an email to stlukecitc@gmail.com and we will send you information on how you can join the Young Entrepreneurs Maker Market on December 6, 2025.

Are you already ready to participate? Click on our registration link https://forms.gle/Q4shkr8BgBur8cSm9.

November 10-14, 2025 - Fall Break

November 17, 2025 - Grade 6 Immunizations

November 20, 2025 - Picture Day!

In today's Gospel, we hear about Jesus being invited to dine with the Pharisees on the Sabbath. When He sees a man in need of healing, Jesus does not hesitate—He acts with compassion. Even though others are watching closely to see if He will “break the rules,” Jesus reminds everyone that love and mercy always come first.

This message is a powerful reminder for all of us, especially in a school community. Our days are often filled with structure, routines, and expectations—just like the Pharisees’ Sabbath rules. But Jesus calls us to look beyond the rules to see the people in front of us. He teaches us that kindness and care for one another should never wait for a more convenient time.

As parents and educators, we have many opportunities each day to show our children what compassion looks like: by listening with patience, by offering help when someone struggles, and by choosing love over judgment. When our children see these small acts of mercy, they learn what it means to follow Jesus’ example.

Let us pray this week for hearts that are open and attentive—to see the needs around us and respond with the same gentle courage Jesus showed. May our homes and classrooms be places where love leads every decision we make.

Kristie Phelan

Principal

Thank you once again for your patience and support as we return to normal operations following the three-week labour stoppage. Our collective focus remains the same: ensuring every student has the opportunity to meet the necessary instructional outcomes and curriculum expectations for their current grade level.

Proposed School Calendar Amendments:

The Board of Trustees will be considering amendments to the 2025/26 school calendar, to add extra instructional days for students, and to provide teachers with extra time to complete instruction.

The Board plans to review following proposed changes which will be finalized at their November 18th, 2025 public board meeting:

For all schools:

• January 28th, 2026 - currently a Professional Development Day, will now become an instructional day for Semester 1

• January 29th, 2026 - will remain an instructional day, but in Semester 1

• January 30th, 2026 - will remain an instructional day, but in Semester 1

• February 2, 2026 - will remain an instructional day, and mark the start of Semester 2

Busses will be running on January 28th, which will follow the normal Wednesday (early out) schedule.

To support uninterrupted learning:

• Training and professional learning will focus on essentials—such as curriculum implementation and student support—while keeping classroom time as the top priority.

• We will seek to maximize student learning, while balancing student wellness

• Central Learning Services will minimize meetings to promote teacher/student time in classrooms.

• Schools are balancing the time committed to non-curricular school wide events to optimize student learning

• We have altered our Advent Concert schedule to lessen the interruption to instructional time

• Some schedules have been adjusted to create more remedial learning opportunities to address gaps in learning

As we return to regular learning routines following the recent disruption, we wish to share a few important updates and adjustments about assessment, reporting, and student support plans for this term. These adjustments are consistent with Alberta Education’s expectations and ensure that our assessment, reporting, and individualized support practices continue to meet all provincial requirements.

• Parent-Teacher Conferences: Fall conferences remain an essential opportunity to connect about your child’s learning. Schools will complete conferences between November 3 and December 12, either on original or rescheduled dates.

ST. Luke - November 25 (3:00-6:30) and November 27 (3:00-7:00)

• Evidence of Learning: Teachers will continue to share ongoing evidence of your child’s learning through work samples, classroom assessments, and conversations that reflect growth across subject areas. This ongoing communication provides parents with a clear picture of progress and achievement over time.
  
  

• Report Cards:

• Grades K-8: One formal report card will be issued in June 2025

All Alberta Education outcomes remain in effect. We are working divisionally to pace outcomes inways that are meaningful to optimize learning. Our focus is on prioritizing key learning outcomes.

As shared in the September communication, Elk Island Catholic Schools is implementing a new ISP process to better support students and strengthen collaboration with families. To allow for implementation training and meaningful parent engagement, timelines have been adjusted as follows:

PUF ISPs: December 10, 2025

K–12 ISPs: December 19, 2025

Flexible Pathways ISPs: finalized by January 30, 2026

Parents remain valued partners in the development and review of all Individualized Support Plans. If you have any questions regarding your child’s ISP, please contact your school.

We recognize that families and educators have faced significant change this fall. Through compassion, collaboration, and clear communication, we continue to live our divisional theme:
“Growing Together in Christ’s Love.”

If you have specific questions related to your child’s course load or schedule, please contact your child’s teacher, or the school.

School fee adjustments due to the stikehave been processed and will show on your PowerSchool account. An updated school fee statement that reflects all adjustments is avaikable now that the process is complete.

The following Fee Reimbursements were credited:

- Technology Fee

-Pre-Kindergarten Instruction

-ECS Supplemental Fee

Remaining fees for CTF courses and Activity Fees will be processed at the end of the year.

We are excited to announce a wonderful community partership with the Stratchona Food Bank to support our Breakfast Program and supplemental lunch cart! We thank them for their volunteerism and their commitment to supporting our youth in food security and nutrition and welcome a new partnership in connecting families with much needed supports. If you or someon you know could benefit from a connection to the Strathcona Food Bank please call their main line at 780-449-6413 or email info@strathconafoodbank.ca.

FACEBOOK - Join Us!

If you haven't already, please join our School Council and Parent Association Facebook Page! We are excited to offer this official space to share news and updates about events, fundraising, and more!

Questions or Want to Volunteer?

If you are interested in helping with Christmas in the Country or have questions for St. Luke's School Council, please email stlukeparentcouncileics@gmail.com

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

St. Francis of Assisi Parish is administered by Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sherwood Park. Please contact the parish for confession times and more information.

Clergy: Reverend Jim Corrigan, Pastor

Mass Time: Sunday 11:00

Email Address: StFrancisAssisi.Tofield(at)caedm.ca

5523 - 50 Street Tofield, AB T0B 4J0

See map: Google Maps

Principal

Email: Stl@eics.ab.ca
Website: stl.eics.ab.ca
Location: 22139 South Cooking Lake Road, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-922-5920
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stlukeeics
Twitter: @stlcs_EICS