ABJ Scots Week at a Glance (SWAG)
October 19 - 23, 2026
Gospel Reading
Matthew 22:15-21
The Pharisees send their disciples to test Jesus with a question about taxes.
Background on the Gospel Reading
In today’s Gospel Jesus and the religious leaders in Jerusalem continue their tense exchange of questions and challenges. At this point the disciples of the Pharisees, together with the Herodians, try to entrap Jesus by their question about the payment of taxes.
Matthew sets up an unusual partnership between the Pharisees and the Herodians. The Herodians were supporters of Herod Antipas, a Jewish political leader who collaborated with the Romans. Such collaboration would have required a compromised observance of the Mosaic Law. The Pharisees, on the other hand, taught scrupulous observance of the Mosaic Law and opposed Roman occupation. Herodians favored the payment of taxes; the Pharisees opposed it. The Herodians and the Pharisees approach Jesus, asking that he take sides in their dispute. If Jesus answers with the Pharisees, he shows himself to be an enemy of Rome. If he answers with the Herodians, he offends popular Jewish religious sensibilities.
Jesus’ response to this attempt to trap him exposes the guile of his questioners. From his first words to them, Jesus shows that he is very much aware of what they are trying to do. He asks to see a Roman coin, which is readily provided to him. It may have come from the hand of a Herodian, but the Pharisees show themselves to be quite willing to accept this compromise. Jesus has already exposed the Pharisees as hypocrites.
Jesus takes his response one step further. He asks that his questioners examine the coin. Agreeing that it is Caesar’s image on the coin, Jesus tells them that it must belong to Caesar. Avoiding the question of lawfulness altogether, Jesus answers their question with simple logic. Then, going further still, Jesus tells them that their obligation is to pay to God that which belongs to God.
Jesus’ response to the Herodians and Pharisees suggests the ethic that Christians ought to adopt. It reminds us of the importance of keeping things in their proper perspective. Do we attach ourselves to worldly things at the expense of the love and honor that we owe to God?
What's Happening This Week:
Please see the athletics calendar above for all practice information.
Monday, October 19
- Day B
- Catholic Education Week (join us for Mass - Oct. 18th @ 7pm)
- Leadership Bake Sale - all day
- Referendum - ALL DAY (Parking lots will be busy throughout the day)
Tuesday, October 20
- Day A
- UpLift Prayer Group 8:30am Chapel
- Parent Advisory Council 6:30pm LLC
- *home game* Gr. 9 girls VB 3:30pm; Gr. 9 boys VB 5pm vs. Cloverbar
- Jr. Girls VB 5pm; Jr. Boys VB 6:30pm vs. St. Peter the Apostle
- Day B
- Early Dismissal 2:15pm
- Math 20-1 Tutoring 2:30 - 3:30 Rm 146
- Sr. Boys VB 6:30pm @ Edmonton Christian vs. MacDonald
- Day A
- Wear Blue for Catholic Education
- Grad Parent Meeting @ 6pm LLC
- BUCPS Meeting @ 6pm OLPH school
Friday, October 23
- Day B
- Open Gym BBall 3:15 - 5:45pm
- Jr. VB @ Jr Tri Volley tournament
UPCOMING EVENTS!
Oct. 28 - 3 Way Conference bookings open @ 8am (https://www.schoolinterviews.ca/ du4p8)
Nov. 4/5 - 3 Way Conferences
Nov. 6 - Remembrance Day Service
Organization of the SWAG
The newsletter is organized based on our four school assurance priorities for this year:
- Faith Integration
- Learners and Learning
- Systemic Wellness
- Operational Stewardship
Faith Integration
ABJ Faith in October
October is a month dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, and this year Pope Leo XIV has given it a special urgency. Speaking at Lourdes on 27 September, where Our Lady appeared to St Bernadette holding a rosary, the Holy Father invited every Catholic and every Christian community to pray the Rosary throughout October for an end to war and for peace among peoples in conflict.
It’s a fitting call from a Pope choosing to walk in the footsteps of Pope Leo XIII, who first dedicated October to the Rosary in 1884. Whether you pray alone, with your family or with your parish, why not take up the Holy Father’s invitation this month?
This month, we celebrate the feast days of many notable saints including St. Thérèse of Lisieux (Oct. 1), St. Carlo Acutis (Oct. 12), St. Theresa of Avila (Oct. 15), St. Luke (Oct 18), St. John Paul II (Oct. 22), and many others! October also brings along thanksgiving weekend, a time to gather together with our families and friends, in gratitude for our many blessings.
How can we pray and reflect this October?
Gratitude: What are you and your family most thankful for this season?
Peace: How can you bring peace and kindness into your community this week?
Prayer: Consider setting aside a few quiet minutes to pray a Hail Mary, a decade, or a whole Rosary.
For more information about the Rosary, watch this video by Fr. Mike Schmitz: Where Does the Rosary Come From?
The Religion 9 Class of Mr. Siaotong did their usual Walking Wednesday (as part of wellness), with a twist. The class was divided into groups and acted out the five glorious mysteries of the rosary (October is the month of the holy rosary) and assigned prayer leaders for the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and Fatima Prayer, while walking.
Learners & Learning
Grade level administrators
For any questions or concerns related to your child, please contact their specific grade level administrator:
Grade 9 - Nadine Diogenes nadined@eics.ab.ca
Grade 10 - Daniel Holden daniel.holden@eics.ab.ca
Grade 11 - Dustin Malony dustinm@eics.ab.ca
Grade 12 - Nicole Baker nicole.baker@eics.ab.ca
Need a Tutor?
Looking for a TUTOR to start off the year on the right foot academically?
Check out the ABJ Tutor List attached below.
Grade Level Google Classrooms
Students are encouraged to join their specific grade level Google Classroom. Please enter the following code to join:
Grade 9 = qjff4u4n
Grade 10 = gzmsg7yn
Grade 11 = j7ymiqr6
Grade 12 = bhaqmz3o
Gr. 12 and Post Secondary Information
Gold Book - gr. 12s
Gold Book will be assigned to the Grade 12 Google Classroom on Wednesday September 16th! Each student will be assigned their individual copy as a Google Doc able to be completed and submitted through the classroom under This serves as your Grad check to ensure that you have everything you need to earn your Alberta High School Diploma and to support your individual plan for after High School. Not only that, it also serves as your ticket to getting on the 2027 ABJ Grad List!
If you have any questions feel to reach out to Mrs. Glass!
You will require a myPass account to complete the Gold Book, so if you do not have one, please come by Student Services to see Mrs. Glass to get yours set up!
A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR ALBERTA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
The Scholarship Essay Playbook
Less is more. Make every word count.
A focused guide to writing scholarship essays that help selection committees see your strengths, character,potential, and fit.
The goal: Don't try to sound like the perfect student. Show, with specific evidence, why you are a strong candidate for this particular award.
Guide linked HERE!
UBC at ABJ!
On Tuesday October 27th, a recruiter from UBC will be coming to ABJ to run an information session for those that have interest in attending UBC or their Okanagan Campus, UBCO.
It will take place in the Library Learning Commons
during Block 3 from 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm.
Learn all about their campuses, their programs, their admissions! See if the UBC might be the right place for you!
Please sign up HERE to attend. Mrs. Glass will communicate with your teachers that you will be in attendance!
DISCOVERY DAY AT THE U OF A!
Registration for this year’s Canadian Medical Hall of Fame’s Discovery Day in Health Sciences, hosted by the University of Alberta on Friday, November 20th 2026 is now open.
Initially we were only able to register four students and those spaces have been filled.
However, if you were not able to secure a spot, on October 28th at noon, the limit per school will be adjusted to 25 students and you will be able to register until November 13th or when all spots have been taken.
For a successful registration, please read thoroughly:
To register on October 28th, click on this link.
During registration:
- Make sure that for the Question: “Is the above named a teacher/counsellor?” the answer is NO. If the answer they submit is YES, the student will NOT BE REGISTERED as the system does not count it as a valid registration.
- Your students will need to upload a previously completed and signed copy of a CONSENT FORM and will have to select a morning workshop and an afternoon workshop from the WORKSHOP CATALOGUE (only workshops with available spots will be shown in the list.
See Mrs. Glass if you have any questions!
Systemic Wellness
Upcoming Events!
Cafeteria Menu
MONDAY
ASSORTED PIZZA
BREAKFAST SANDWICH
DEEP FRIED PICKLES
TUESDAY
TACO IN A BAG
GRILLED CHEESE
CRISPY CHICKEN BACON RANCH WRAP
WEDNESDAY
CHICKEN FINGERS AND FRIES
CHICKEN QUESADILLA
THURSDAY
BEEF BURGER
CRISPY CHICKEN BURGER
ONION RINGS
FRIDAY
FRENCH FRIES
POUTINE
GRILLED HOT DOG
Operational Stewardship
BUCPS Meeting (Bilingual Ukrainian Catholic Parent Society)
- BUCPS Meeting - October 22, 2026 @ 6:00pm
- Zoom and at OLPH in the St Jerome Room
- We encourage all parents from the program to attend!
With your help, we are able to "promote, advocate, support and foster cultural and educational opportunities for our students in the Ukrainian Bilingual Program."