St. John Paul II Collegiate

Dear Parents and guardians,

As we welcome the month of October, our school community has much to celebrate and be thankful for. October is traditionally recognized as the Month of Mary, and this year we will place a special focus on the Holy Rosary in our homerooms and throughout our school community. The Rosary is a beautiful opportunity to slow down, pray, and reflect on Mary’s example of faith, humility, and trust in God. I encourage our students and families to embrace this opportunity to grow together in prayer and to allow Mary to lead us closer to her Son, Jesus.

October also gives us the privilege of participating in the Terry Fox Run, coming together as a school community to honor Terry’s legacy while supporting cancer research. It is a wonderful reminder of the difference we can make when we work together for the good of others. Events such as this remind us that being part of a school community extends beyond our classrooms and that we have a responsibility to care for and support others.

It is hard to believe how quickly the school year is moving! Learning is well underway, our clubs and extracurricular activities are active, and our athletic teams are representing our school with enthusiasm and pride. Our hallways and classrooms are full of energy, relationships, learning, and growth. There is a wonderful sense of momentum throughout our school, and it is exciting to see our students discovering new interests, developing their gifts, building friendships, and becoming more connected to our school community.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, may we pause and recognize the many blessings in our lives. Above all, I am especially thankful for the gift of Catholic education and the opportunity to journey together in faith, learning, and community. We are blessed to have a community where we can pray together, learn together, celebrate together, and support one another through both the joys and challenges of the school year.

May Mary continue to guide and pray for our school family throughout this month. May her example remind us to live with faith, kindness, compassion, and a willingness to serve others.

Happy October and Happy Thanksgiving!

Peace,

Jamie

Just a friendly reminder to families that JPII gym strip is available for purchase through your SchoolCash Online account. Students are expected to have the appropriate JPII gym strip for Physical Education classes. If you have not yet purchased your child’s gym strip, please take a moment to log in to SchoolCash Online and complete your purchase. Having the proper gym strip helps students come prepared, comfortable, and ready to participate safely in all of their PE activities. Thank you for your support!

Student Information Update Forms have been assigned to your School Engage account. Please make sure that you complete these as soon as possible to keep the school updated on current information, help information and consent forms.

School Engage is found through PowerSchool.

This year’s full-color yearbook is now available to order via School Cash Online! Take advantage of the EARLY BIRD price of $30 by ordering BEFORE November 30th.

• After November 30th, the yearbooks will be full price at $35 until ordering closes on January 31st, 2027.
• Yearbooks will be handed out in June 2027.

From October 17–23, we will join Catholic school communities across Alberta in celebrating Catholic Education Week and the gift of faith-filled education.

A few important dates for JP2 families:

• Sunday, October 18 — Catholic Education Sunday: We invite families to pray for and support Catholic education. This year, the Diocese of Calgary will provide a special one-time matching contribution to the Catholic Education Sunday Collection supporting Catholic school districts throughout the Diocese, including CTR Catholic.
• Thursday, October 22 — Wear Blue for Catholic Education: Students and staff are invited to wear blue as a visible celebration of and support for Catholic education.
• October 5 — CTR Apparel Deadline: Families wishing to order from the CTR Apparel Shop in time for Catholic Education Week should place orders by October 5.
  
  

Throughout the week, we look forward to sharing some of the many ways faith, prayer, service and belonging are lived each day at St. John Paul II Collegiate.

Anxiety is the most common emotional issue in children. Nearly one in three adolescents aged 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder (Truluck, 2019). In recent years, anxiety disorders in children and teens have risen as much as 20 percent. However, only one percent of youth with anxiety seek treatment, and symptoms can go untreated for years. As FSLW in our school, I am here to support stressed-out students by teaching coping skills to combat this rising concern. Anxiety disorders arise when a person develops an anxious response to things most cope with easily. Children can develop irrational fears and worries leading to avoidance of social situations and normal daily activities.

One of the first things I like to introduce to students is the anxiety-avoidance cycle and how it can result in an increase of symptoms over time. This cycle occurs when someone experiences a trigger, has an increase in anxious thoughts, feelings or sensations and then in order to avoid those unpleasant feelings, they avoid future triggers. Over time, this can increase anxiety symptoms as one’s nervous system misses out on the opportunity to adjust or practice managing feelings of discomfort.

One way to begin interrupting this cycle is to consider ways to experience a small, more manageable version of the stressor, with the addition of extra support or coping strategies. For example if someone is feeling nervous in a new social setting, setting a goal to not avoid it, but attend the setting for a shorter period of time, with their exit planned ahead of time and/or bringing a friend or support person. The goal being that our nervous systems experience some discomfort without becoming overwhelmed.

Reminder that I am here to support students and help them work towards managing their worries in a constructive way, please reach out if your child is interested in accessing support at school.

Terry Fox is underway at St.JPII. Students have already raised $400 with their purchase of bracelets for the Rho-Sham-Bo competition and they will also be participating in the teacher dump challenge. Our school goal is $1600 and we need your help! Please click on the link, or scan the QR code to donate to our school page online, or you can send money with your child to donate at school. Thank you for your support!

The Rosary is a prayer deeply rooted in the Catholic Christian tradition, offering a simple yet profound way to strengthen spiritual life for people of all ages.

The Rosary is more than just a string of beads; it’s a pathway to deepening our relationship with God. It is a meditative prayer that occupies our senses to allow our minds to focus on the life of Jesus. The feel and colour of the beads, the crucifix on the pendant, and the medallion in the centre occupy our touch and sight. The sound of the prayers creates a rhythm for our ears to follow, and some rosaries even bear a floral scent to fill our noses. All of these help us to develop focus, patience, and a sense of peace so that we can enter into prayer more deeply.

Did You Know?

The word “Rosary” comes from the Latin word rosarium, which means crown of roses or garland of roses. Each prayer can be considered a spiritual rose offered to honour the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

October is dedicated as the Month of the Rosary, with the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary celebrated on October 7. This feast day was established in 1571 by Pope Pius V to commemorate the victory of the Christian fleet at the Battle of Lepanto.

The Rosary’s origins date back to the early centuries of Christianity when monks would recite all 150 Psalms as part of their daily prayer routine. Over time, laypeople who could not read began reciting the Lord's Prayer 150 times, using a string of beads to keep count. This eventually evolved into the Rosary we know today; a blend of the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and others.

The Rosary, as it is practiced now, was popularized in the 13th century by St. Dominic, who, according to tradition, received it from the Blessed Virgin Mary in a vision. The form of the Rosary was furtherdeveloped and spread by the Dominican Order, becoming a key devotion in Catholic spirituality.

Did You Know?

Praying a full Rosary means praying 15 decades, not 5! The full Rosary consists of 150 Hail Marys, divided into three sets of 50, which are further divided in five sets of 10 (a decade).

Traditionally, the Rosary is divided into three sets of Mysteries: Joyful (recited on Monday and Thursday, and Sunday from Advent to Lent); Sorrowful (Tuesday and Friday, and Sunday during Lent); and Glorious (Wednesday and Saturday, and Sunday from Easter until Advent).

In 2002, at the beginning of the Year of the Rosary, St. John Paul II provided the optional Luminous Mysteries as well to meditate on the Ministry of Jesus. He suggested praying the Joyful Mysteries on Monday and Saturday, and the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sunday year-round, leaving Thursday open for meditation on the Luminous Mysteries.

Praying the Rosary with your family can be a nurturing activity. Start by explaining the basic prayers and the significance of each mystery. Use resources like this one, or add books and videos to make the stories behind the mysteries come alive. Praying one decade each night before bed can make it a soothing end to the day. Over time, this can become a cherished family tradition, a moment of calm and connection in the midst of busy lives.

Praying the Rosary together teaches not only how to pray but also the importance of turning to God in all aspects of life. This powerful prayer can be a source of strength, guidance, and peace for everyone in the family.

Did You Know?

For those facing stressful times, the Rosary can serve as a source of comfort. Carrying a small, single-decade Rosary in a pocket, or wearing a Rosary ring, can be a reminder that prayer is always available, anytime, anywhere.

The Rosary holds a special place amongst devotions of the Church. A plenary indulgence can even be obtained by reciting the Rosary in a church or with your family!

Here are a list of dates for our Parent Council Meetings:

November 24

January 26

March 23

May 25 - Annual General Meeting

If you have any questions regarding parent council, please contact the school.

St. JPII has volunteer opportunities available. If you are interested in volunteering for Picture Day, Immunization Day or getting your name on our lists - email Trish Hanning at thanning@redeemer.ab.ca to be added.

Parents are encouraged to check their children’s marks frequently on PowerSchool.

Email: jp2-office@redeemer.ab.ca
Website: http://www.stjohnpaul2collegiate.ca/
Location: 53 Cimarron Drive, Okotoks, AB, Canada
Phone: (403) 938-4600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StJPII/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/st.johnpaul2collegiate/