St. Evan January Monthly Update

Heavenly Father,

As we begin this new year, we thank You for the gift of fresh starts and new opportunities. Bless our students with curiosity, joy, and perseverance as they learn and grow each day. Guide our parents with wisdom and patience as they nurture and support their children. May our school community be filled with kindness, respect, and a spirit of cooperation.

Help us to face challenges with courage and celebrate successes with gratitude. Keep us safe, healthy, and united in Your love throughout this month and beyond.

Amen.

Self-control is a gift from God that helps us make choices that honour Him and show love to others. When we pause and pray before acting, we invite the Holy Spirit to guide our decisions. Choosing what is right—even when it’s hard—shows that we are following Jesus’ example. This month, let’s remember to stop, think, and ask God for help before we speak or act.

Representatives from the Rosary Apostolates continue to bless us with their presence once a month throughout the entire school year. Their commitment to praying the rosary with our students offers a beautiful opportunity for spiritual growth and reflection, helping to deepen our students’ understanding of prayer and devotion. We are truly grateful for these inspiring community leaders who bring such meaningful faith-filled experiences into our school, fostering a strong connection between our students and the traditions of the Catholic Church. Special thank you to Mrs. Brandolino and Ms. Faye for organizing this for our school.

St. Evan Catholic School Council is proud to be a vibrant part of our school community, working together to support student success and foster a welcoming environment for all. We are especially grateful for our dedicated parent representatives, whose time, insight, and care make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and staff. Our next meeting will be held on January 21st at 6:00 PM in the Library — everyone is welcome to attend and be part of the conversation!

***Approved Minutes are all posted on our school website.

Thank you to each member for your continued support and dedication!

Last month the Kindergarten team organized a beautiful liturgy that welcomed parents and grandparents into our school community. It was a heartfelt celebration of faith, filled with prayer, song, and joy, reminding us of the importance of coming together as one family in Christ. This special gathering strengthened the bond between home, school, and parish, creating a moment of grace and gratitude for all who attended.

The St. Evan Christmas Concert for Grades 1–4 was a truly wonderful showcase of talent and holiday spirit! Our students filled the stage with joyful songs, heartfelt performances, and festive energy that brought smiles to everyone in attendance. Families, staff, and friends were treated to an unforgettable celebration that highlighted the creativity and hard work of our students and teachers. It was a beautiful way to share the joy of Christmas and bring our community together in faith and music.

Spirit Week was full of excitement and festive cheer as our students and staff came together to celebrate! From cozy Christmas Sweater Day to the fun rivalry of Team Elf vs. Team Santa, everyone showed their holiday spirit with creativity and joy. We sparkled on Christmas Accessory Day and wrapped up the week in style with Green, White, and Blue Day. It was a wonderful way to spread laughter, unity, and Christmas joy throughout our halls!

The YFA and Healthy Schools Team extend their heartfelt gratitude for the generous donations made in support of Family Transition Place and Santas for Seniors through our Holiday Helpers Drive. Thanks to your kindness, families in need and isolated seniors experienced comfort, joy, and relief during this Christmas season. St. Evan’s contributions truly reflected the spirit of giving and compassion, reminding us of the power of community. We are also deeply thankful to our Catholic School Council for their support in making this initiative possible. Your generosity continues to inspire us and demonstrates the care and commitment that make our school community so special.

EQAO Math Night for Parents and Guardians

Join us for a free live webinar where EQAO staff will discuss math questions that Ontario students encounter when they participate in Ontario’s large-scale assessments. These assessments are taken by all Ontario students in Grades 3, 6 and 9.

During the webinar, EQAO staff will show how these math questions help assess the skills students are learning in their math classes. Staff will also share valuable insights from EQAO research into assessment results, which can help parents and guardians support their children’s math learning.

Next available session: January 28, 2026 12:30-1:30 pm ET (offered on multiple dates, a recording will be provided to registrants).

Registration: https://eqao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5puRqI8uQJypIaHgBYoBMw#/registration

EQAO will be offering additional webinars throughout the year for families, administrators, and teachers.

Please check our website regularly for an updated list of upcoming sessions.

https://www.eqao.com/school-outreach

If you haven't set up your parent portal to access report cards and other important information. Please follow the instructions below, by clicking on the links.

​'Parent Portal Parents Did Not Receive Access Id and Password'​.

Looking for help with PowerSchool?

Explore our easy-to-use PowerSchool Help Resources right here.

We would like to remind all families that food delivery services (such as Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, DoorDash, etc.) are not permitted at the school.

For safety and security reasons, as well as to minimize disruptions to the school day, deliveries from outside vendors will not be accepted for students. If a student forgets their lunch, parents or guardians may drop it off at the main office, clearly labeled with the student’s name and grade, and we will ensure it is delivered at an appropriate time.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we continue to maintain a safe and orderly environment for all students.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mr. Amodeo & Mrs. Holyk

We are happy that your child is part of the St. Evan community. As a new school year is underway, it’s a fresh start and a good opportunity to set up new routines and habits to support daily attendance and being on time for school.

We know that arriving on time for school and being ready to learn is a building block to learning success. When kids can start their day alongside their peers and participate in the morning procedures at school, it can help them to feel more connected to their classroom community and at school. We know that this is helpful for overall student wellbeing and mental health.

Ideas to boost on time attendance at school:

· Establish a consistent bedtime schedule on school nights.

· Remember that school age kids need approximately 8-9 hours of sleep each night.

· Get organized the night before including backpacks, completing any homework tasks/filling out forms and even getting lunch items ready.

· In the mornings, try to give yourself enough time (without being rushed) to go through your routine.

· Have conversations with your child(ren) about why arriving at school on time is important and if they have any ideas to help achieve that goal.

· Plan for vacations and holidays during scheduled school vacation times where possible.

Parents are important partners in joining with us to promote on time arrivals and everyday attendance at St. Evan. Thank you for your support.

If you are planning to sign your child out during the school day, please keep in mind the scheduled recess times listed below. To ensure a smooth and efficient departure, we kindly ask that you arrive approximately 10 minutes before recess begins. Signing out during recess can be more challenging, as students are outside and not easily accessible. Your cooperation helps us maintain a safe and organized environment for all. Thank you for your understanding and support.

School Hours

​Morning Bell​ 8:15am

Supervision begins at 8am. Please DO NOT DROP your child off before 8am because there is no supervision in the yard.