OLMP Royals Report

We are thrilled to welcome you to another wonderful week of learning and faith as we celebrate Catholic Education Week! This special week allows us to give thanks for the gift of Catholic education and celebrate our vibrant school community where faith, knowledge, and service unite. In their annual pastoral letter, our Bishops remind us that our Catholic schools are places where Christ is known and loved, calling us to be a community where faith and learning come together through the power of the Holy Spirit. Please take a moment to read the Alberta Bishops' letter for Catholic Education Week, Oct. 17-23.

As we look forward to a fantastic week for our students, we also want to share an important logistical update regarding an event taking place on our school grounds this Monday.

On Monday, our school gym will serve as an official polling station for the election. Our top priority—as always—is the safety, security, and well-being of our students and staff. We want to assure all parents and guardians that comprehensive planning and logistics have been finalized to ensure our school remains completely safe and secure throughout the entire day while the gym is open to the public.

To ensure student safety and the smooth operation of election activities, please take note of the following changes to our parking and drop-off/pick-up routines on Monday:

• Staff & Election Officials Parking: Staff and election personnel will be using the lot where parent drop-off and pick-up typically take place.

• Voter Parking: Members of the public visiting the gym to vote will be directed to park in the North Lot.

• Parent Drop-off & Pick-up: We kindly ask all parents to exercise extra caution and patience during drop-off and pick-up on Monday due to the changed traffic flow and increased activity around the school.

Please rest assured that our regular student routines, classroom learning, and Catholic Education Week celebrations will proceed seamlessly.

We appreciate your cooperation, support, and vigilance in keeping our school community safe. We are looking forward to a meaningful, safe, and joyful week ahead for all of our students!

Important Reminders:

• Wear BLUE for Catholic Education on Thursday.

• October 19: Elections in OLMP Gym Parking will be tricky.
• October 21: School Wide Bus Evacuation Practice 11:00 am
• October 21: Gr. 5-7 & Performing Arts 8 Field Trip to 500 Words and Peter & Jeanne Lougheed
• October 22: Wear Blue for Catholic Education
• October 23: PD DAY ~ No School for Students
• October 29: 7-1 Class Mass @ St. Francis Xavier 9:00 am
• October 30: No School
• November 4: Picture Retakes
• November 4: Parent Teacher Interviews 4:00-8:00 pm
• November 5: Parent Teacher Interviews 4:00-6:00 pm
• November 5: 7-2 Class Mass @ St. Francis Xavier 9:00 am
• November 5: Option Change for Gr. 5 & 6
• November 6: Wednesday Schedule
• November 9-13: Fall Break ~ School Closed
• November 17: School Council Meeting: NEW TIME! 3:30pm
• November 19: 7-3 Class Mass @St. Francis Xavier 9:00 am
• November 23-26: 5-1, 5-2, & 6-3 Start Swimming Lessons This Week

Please visit our website to view the full school calendar.

History:

Catholic Education Sunday and Catholic Education Week, formerly observed separately, will be celebrated together starting October 2024. Traditionally, the first Sunday in November marked the celebration of Catholic Education Sunday, while Catholic Education Week took place in May, coinciding with World Catholic Education Day. However, recognizing the importance of a unified approach, a movement emerged to merge these events. Consequently, it was agreed that both Catholic Education Sunday and Week would be consolidated into a single, impactful celebration held during the third week of October. Commencing with Catholic Education Sunday, this week-long celebration culminates with a special activity led by Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association (ACSTA), The Council of Catholic Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA), and the Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education (GrACE), dedicated to honoring the profound impact of Catholic education.

Why wear blue to celebrate?

Blue symbolizes constancy, fidelity, genuineness, and aspiration, with a special association with the Blessed Virgin Mary. As October is traditionally recognized as the month of the rosary, it is fitting to adorn blue attire during Catholic Education Week. This serves as a visible celebration of publicly funded Catholic schools in Alberta and across Canada, honoring their invaluable contribution to education and faith formation.

When do we wear blue? Catholic Education Week/World Catholic Education Day (May)

During Catholic Education Week, expressing solidarity through wearing blue attire is encouraged. While you're free to sport blue any day of the week, your school division likely designates a specific day, often Thursday, for this purpose. Additionally, on World Catholic Education Day in May, marked on Ascension Thursday, wearing blue becomes a formal gesture of support. This day, occurring 40 days after Easter, holds particular significance as a global celebration of Catholic education.

HOW DO I ORDER HOT LUNCH?

• To Order, please log into PowerSchool.
• Click on Forms & Fees
• Click on Student Fees & Field Trip Forms
• Click on your child's name.
• Click on the Hot Lunch September button.

Please be sure to contact Mrs. Baker at chrissy.baker@eics.ab.ca or call the school at 780-672-2975 BEFORE 11:00am on hot lunch days if your child is not at school. If your child is not at school on a Hot Lunch day, please make alternate arrangements to pick up the order as NO REFUNDS will be issued. Please note that we are unable to accommodate food allergies. Thank you.

October Hot Lunch Dates:

• October 21: Domino's
• October 28: Skyway

November Hot Lunch Dates: ( Available to order in PowerSchool on October 5th)

• November 4th: Eastside Mario's
• November 18th: Boston Pizza
• November 25th: Wok Box

Keep an eye on the weekly Royals Report for updates on how OLMP is

🤜crushing🤛

these goals!

FAITH INTEGRATION: Our students, staff, and EICS community will be provided a faith integrated environment through worship, witness, and service.

LEARNERS AND LEARNING: Our students and staff will develop to their fullest potential through multiple pathways.

SYSTEMIC WELLNESS: Staff and student well-being, in mind, body, and spirit, will be supported through programming and education.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: EICS provides enhanced opportunities to support student success through communication, engagement, and partnership.

Each week Father Kris will meet with a new class to speak about the mass. Then in the next two days, that class will go partner up with their "parish parents" to attend mass as a class.

• October 24: Girls Dev. Volleyball Tournament Bawlf
• October 30: ECKS JH Volleyball Tournament

Please allow up to one business day for a response from our team.

We do our very best to reply as quickly as possible, but responses may take time and will not happen outside of school hours. Please know that you and your child matter deeply to us, and your thoughts and questions are always valued. We promise to get back to you with care and attention as soon as we are able.

Thank you for your understanding and support—it means so much to us.

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Coaches,

Are you interested in helping laminate and cut posters? Can you use a cricket to help design bulletin boards? Would you and a friend like to come put up bulletin boards? Would you be willing to help sort hot lunch for one hour a week? Would you like to coach a sports team? Please fill out this I WOULD LIKE TO HELP google form, letting us know some ways you can help our school.

Be Part of OLMP’s Story!
Volunteers make a real difference in the lives of our students. From field trips to coaching to tutoring, your support helps them grow in learning and faith. Please fill out this I WANT TO HELP google form, letting us know some ways you can help our school.

Share Your Gifts: Whatever your skills or passions—sports, academics, or simply a willingness to help—there’s a place for you.

Safety First: To keep everyone safe, volunteers complete a Police Information Check, Child Intervention Record Check, and Volunteer Confidentiality Form.

Respect & Trust: Your information is kept private and used only to support our students.

Stronger Together: Join parents, guardians, and community members in building a caring school family where every child feels supported.

Ready to help? Contact the OLMP office at olmp@eics.ab.ca or 780-672-2975.

With heartfelt gratitude,

This means students cannot use their phones between 8:00-3:35. Please note that smart watches are also on the list of devices the government has deemed as PCD's. This means they cannot be in the classroom either. They are to be locked in their lockers.

To ensure a safe environment for all, OLMP doors will remain locked throughout the day. Upon arrival, please ring the doorbell and wait to be admitted by the office staff. We kindly ask that all parents and guests sign in at the school office. Visitors may not travel into the school beyond the office without a visitors pass. Please refrain from using side doors to enter classrooms or the gym unless it is during an authorized after-hours event.

This helps us maintain an organized environment, keep track of who is on campus, and ensures we can assist you promptly.

Thank you for your support and understanding as we prioritize the safety of our school community.

Please make alternate plans for a pick-up/drop-off location as our staff parking lot is no longer available as an option. This area has become far too congested in the past and is an extreme OH & S concern. Also, to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and bus drivers, PLEASE STAY CLEAR OF BUS LANES AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF OUR DAY.

Please follow the flow of traffic in the student parking lot on the south side of our building. You will notice that there is no longer a "turn left" option (right turns only) when you exit the parking lot.

Alternatively, please also look at streets/locations other than the alleys that are close to our school where students can safely access our school site.

While we understand that this takes away some convenience, we are concerned about the safety of your children.

Thank you for your attention to this.

Fees can be viewed and paid through the parent portal in PowerSchool under “Forms and Fees”. If your child is on a sports team, your fees for that are posted now. We will be posting fees by the end of this week. Should you require the fee waiver for this school year, please complete the fee waiver form for the 2026-2026 school year. The deadline to apply for to have your fees waived is December 12, 2025.

Please access your child's account periodically to view any additions or changes to course fees.

Thank you.

OLMP School is a 1:1 technology school.

This means students from grades 5 - 8 should have a fully charged Chromebook available daily.

As stated in the handbook:

Students should bring their devices to class with the following criteria:

• 6 hours of battery life

• Internet access with Chrome Browser installed

• Google apps for education downloaded

• Minimum screen size of 7 inches and physical keyboard

Thank you for supporting their learning by reminding your child to charge and bring their technology daily.

Please take a few minutes to complete your child's demographic forms, medical forms, and all yearly consents (POPA, tech use, field trips) on PowerSchool.

It is important that this information be kept up-to-date every year, especially if there is a change in medical status, parent/guardian/emergency contact information, and/or address.

If you need assistance with using PowerSchool - including completing and submitting yearly consent and demographic forms online - please visit the main EICS website for instructions and helpful video tutorials.

Just a reminder: Ministerial Order #14/24 is still in effect.

Please ensure that cellphones/PCDs remain in student lockers during class time. If students are caught with their cellphone/PCD during class time, the following will occur:

1. First infraction: The student’s cell phone/PCD will be confiscated and taken to the office, and the student can pick it up at the end of the day.

2. Second infraction: The student’s cell phone/PCD will be confiscated and taken to the office, and the student can pick it up at the end of the day. ADDITIONALLY, administration will make a phone call to the parent(s)/guardian(s) to make them aware the cellphone/PCD has been confiscated a second time.

3. Third infraction: The student’s cell phone/PCD will be confiscated, and the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be contacted and required to pick the device up at the office themselves.

Thank you for your continued support with this.

Student absences can be reported through the Parent Portal on PowerSchool:

PowerSchool can also be used to view grades and report cards, pay fees, and update student information (including medical information).

You can view the EICS Parent Technology Handbook for further details on these items.

Our Elk Island Catholic Schools IT department is continuing to work on implementing additional features, so keep an eye out in our Smores for future updates!

To access PowerSchool, please click here.

OLMP Catholic School

Email: olmp@eics.ab.ca

Website: https://olmp.eics.ab.ca/

Phone: 780-672-2975