St. Cecilia Community Messenger

March 10 - 14, 2025

Week at a Glance

Mon, March 10 - Day 4

Guest Teacher Appreciation Week

Tues, March 11 - Day 5

Wed, March 12 - Day 6

Thurs, March 13 - Day 1

Fri, March 14 - Day 2

On the Horizon

March 20: School Council 6:30 PM

March 21: Deadline for Gr 4-5-6 parents to complete AEAM surveys

March 24: Readathon begins

March 24: Hotdog fundraiser

March 25: Lockdown Practice 10:00 AM

March 26: Parent Education Evening 6:30 PM in St. Cecilia School Gym. Please RSVP Here

March 27: Lenten Liturgy 10:30 AM

March 27: Evening PT Interviews

March 28: No classes PT Interviews

April 7: Book Swap

April 11: Pledges from Read A Thon Are Due

April 17: Holy Thursday Liturgy

April 18: Good Friday - Easter holidays begin

May 1: Asian Heritage Month

May 8: Spring Family Dance

May 15: School Council AGM

May 19: Victoria Day - No Classes

May 22: Marian Liturgy

May 28: ELA PAT - Gr 6 Students

May 30: Sacramental Recognition Liturgy - 10:30 AM

June 5: School Council Meeting - 9:30 AM

June 6: PG Day - No classes

June 12: Gr 6 ELA PAT Part B

June 13: Gr 6 Math Part A

June 18: Year End Mass

June 21: National Indigenous People's Day

June 25: Last day of classes for students

June 26: Last day for teachers

Greetings

School Council Meeting

Our School Council Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 20 at 6:30 PM here at St. Cecilia. School Council is an opportunity for parents to get involved in their child's education. As the primary educator of your child, St. Cecilia staff values the partnership and wants to work with parents on matters related to school life and the greater education system. All parents are members of school council and we strongly recommend all parents try to attend at least one school council meeting over the course of the school year.

The agenda for March 20 is attached below. We hope to see you there.

Hotdog Playground Fundraiser - March 24, 2025

Our School Council will host a special hotdog lunch on March 24, 2025. All proceeds from the sale of hotdogs will go to support the playground.

Kathy MacDonald - Cyber safety March 26, 2025, 6:30 PM.

Cyber Safety is About Being Diligent, Skeptical, and Kind Online

Please RSVP HERE

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelqh6iDo7sahTFk47qHrrww31HtVTFIDNHTDUwby1dSnM8wg/viewform

Kathy's presentation will help audiences acquire a better sense of safety and security for their children when they are online. She addresses concerns related to cyberbullying and online coercion and sexual exploitation and she offers an enlightening glimpse into emerging security threats including the Internet of Things (IoT).

This presentation includes discussion of social media, popular apps, privacy, and the laws that help to protect young people. It offers information about the positive use of technology and helps families respond promptly and effectively to a variety of online issues that could arise with their children. As a former police officer and online investigator, she shares first hand stories about fraud prevention, social engineering, and personal security. Her innovative style breaks down complex concepts of cyber security into smaller doable actions that can enhance the audiences ability to secure themselves in their everyday physical and virtual life.

Kathy's actionable advice reminds Internet users that security is everyone's business, and that it is vital to always be proactive online.

Bio

Kathy Macdonald is a retired police officer with the Calgary Police Service, with almost three decades of investigative and crime prevention experience. She recently published a book titled, Cybercrime: Awareness, Prevention, and Response. It is a comprehensive Canadian resource talking about how cybercrime affects individuals, businesses, governments, institutions, and organizations. https://emond.ca/CAPR

In 2009, the Governor General of Canada, invested Kathy with the Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, M.O.M., in recognition to her commitment to cybercrime prevention. Kathy was recently awarded one of the Top 20 Women in Cyber Security - Canada.

Student Success

Circle of Friends Survey

It will soon be time to begin thinking about planning for next school year. In order to help with planning student placements we invite all families to complete a survey by clicking on the link below.

Circle of Friends Survey For Class Placement Sept 2025

The screenshots below give a general description of the survey and its purpose.

Well Being

School Wellness Worker

Hello Families,

Co-regulation is a supportive process where individuals help each other manage their emotions and behaviour. The feelings and behaviour of people in close proximity to us, directly impact how we feel, and respond to our own emotions. When children become upset, if those around them stay calm and model regulation strategies, this will help the child as a result... it's like teamwork for feelings!

So, who can use co-regulation?

1. Parents and Caregivers: To help children learn to self-regulate their emotions through warm and responsive interactions. E.g. The parent stays calm, talks gently, and gives a hug.

2. Teachers: To create a calm and supportive classroom environment, helping students manage stress and emotions. E.g."I see you're having a tough time with this problem. It's okay to feel frustrated. Let's take a deep breath together."

3. Peers and Friends: To provide mutual support in managing emotions during stressful situations.

E.g. Taking a walk, talking or playing together.

For more information, please click on the links below.

Take Care 🙂

https://drroseann.com/co-regulation-techniques-parents-and-kids/

Faith Formation

Faith Formation - March

March is the month dedicated to the devotion to St. Joseph, whose feast falls on March 19th. This year, in our own city, there will be a special event with the premiere musical performance of the Litany of St. Joseph at Jack Singer on March 17th. This original musical score commissioned by God Squad Canada will feature local talent including students from Bishop McNally High School! You can find out more and purchase tickets at: https://godsquad.ca/litanypremiere/ (Use code SQUAD10 for 10% off). Page 3 of this issue contains a highlight of St. Joseph and his role as the patron Saint of Canada!

We will spend almost the entire month of March in the liturgical season of Lent – it’s a great time for us to lean into the disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Check out Living the Church Year with Students on page 4 for a whole selection of ways to mark this season and make it transformational!

We invite you to continue to engage with the Jubilee Year! Page 2 has a section on the Jubilee of Hope and an excerpt from Pope Francis speaking on the need to appreciate all the members of the community around us. You can find our own Jubilee Year Calendar with student activities, challenges and a Saint highlight here: https://view.genially.com/67574d5c6b829f2d1aef5e9c/guide-jubilee-year-calendar
In the month of March, the universal Church will recognize a special Jubilee of Volunteers!

Please continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis and for all who need healing.

pdf

insert_drive_file

Faith Formation - March 2025.pdf

Download

2.6 MB

Ash Wednesday Discussion

- Who are the people in our lives who need our help? What are some things that could be done to help them?

- In the gospel reading, Jesus tells the disciples to do their spiritual practices in secret. How can a person actively live their faith and yet do it in secret?

- What are some of the ways that God shows his love for us?

- How have you experienced God’s mercy and how are you called to be merciful toward others?

- What are some of the prayerful practices that could be incorporated into the life of the daily classroom?

Catholic Education Assurance

Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories Vision/Mission Statement ENSURING QUALITY CATHOLIC EDUCATION SO THAT EVERY CHILD COMES TO KNOW, LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD JESUS

Calgary Catholic Mission and Vision Statement LIVING AND LEARNING IN OUR CATHOLIC FAITH SO THAT STUDENTS, CENTERED IN CHRIST , REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

This pilot emerged from conversations with the Catholic Superintendents in Alberta and the Bishops of Alberta. The purpose of this pilot is to demonstrate to our shareholders and communities that we are successful in the mission of Catholic Education.

Through collaborative engagement with schools via observation, surveys, and conversations, the assurance team will examine how our Catholic faith is being demonstrated and lived at our schools. The report will look at areas of strength as well as areas of growth as a means to improvement, growing in our faith, and better serving our communities.

To provide an accurate review of the Five Marks of Catholic School Identity, a variety of methods will be used to provide a ‘snapshot’ of current realities in each area. Reviews will provide school divisions with information for division/school planning purposes.

The following instruments have been selected for this purpose.

Survey—to gather perceptions of shareholders, appropriate to their roles in Catholic education (coming next week)
Observation Checklists—to gather key information from division and school contexts in an objective manner

Focus Group/Interview—to gather personal/professional experiences and themes, otherwise difficult to uncover.

Possible benefits arising from reviews which may prompt further actions and growth:

Continued development of common language, understanding, and alignment of Catholic School Identity—using resources already developed in Alberta, such as The Excellent Catholic Teacher and Leader to complement the assessment process and outcomes.

Opportunity for targeted professional learning to assist staff and students in their faith formation.
A rounded process to inform planning decisions beyond school divisions to help inform provincial direction, such as resource development and support.

Indigenous Education

School Results Commentary

School Improvement Plans

Each year Alberta schools are required to analyze data and make plans for continual school improvement. Our school plan flows from the School District plan and is framed around District Priorities which are; Faith Formation, Student Success, Well Being and Indigenous Education. Our school plan is housed on our school website at this link: Reports & Publications - St. Cecilia School.

Over the coming weeks I will include snippets of data from our AEM report and Student Voice Survey in this newsletter. Ongoing discussion, analysis will occur at the school level as the school year continues to unfold.

Student Voice Survey

Each year, students in grades 4-5-6 are asked to complete the Student Voice Survey. The SVS collects data on the District Board Priorities and students are asked a variety of questions.

Student Engagement Analysis and Commentary

1. "I look for interesting things to learn about."

- 48.04% of respondents strongly agree that they look for interesting things to learn about.

- 12.75% disagree with this statement.

- 3.92% strongly disagree.

This data suggests that a majority of students are intrinsically motivated and actively seek out learning opportunities, though a small percentage do not share this level of curiosity and engagement.

2. "I mostly go to class prepared."

- 27.45% of respondents strongly agree that they go to class prepared.

- 53.92% agree with this.

- 14.71% disagree.

- 3.92% strongly disagree.

The responses indicate that most students make an effort to come to class prepared, but there is still room for improvement in this area.

3. "I spend many hours studying or doing homework outside of schl..."

- 40.2% of respondents strongly agree that they spend significant time studying or doing homework outside of school.

- 36.27% agree with this.

- 15.69% disagree.

The data shows that a substantial number of students dedicate a considerable amount of time to academic work outside of the classroom, suggesting a strong commitment to learning.

4. "The things I learn at school are useful."

- 27.45% of respondents strongly agree that the things they learn at school are useful.

- 57.84% agree with this.

- 8.82% disagree.

The responses suggest that the majority of students perceive the content they learn at school as relevant and useful, which is a positive indicator of their overall engagement and investment in the learning process.

Overall, the survey results highlight several areas of strength in student commitment to learning, such as intrinsic motivation, class preparation, and time spent on academic work. While there is room for improvement in certain areas, the data suggests a generally positive outlook on the part of students regarding their commitment to learning.

Enrollment in A Catholic School for Non-Catholics

The Education Act requires the Calgary Catholic School District to prioritize resources and facilities for resident (Catholic) students. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the advancement of a non-resident (non-Catholic) student from one grade to the next in the same school or from elementary to junior and senior high school.

We do not reassess the enrollment priority of a non-resident student during a school year, but we may do this for a future school year. This may result in us informing you to seek enrollment at a different school in the Calgary Catholic School District or another school division for a future school year.

Please contact me at denis.fortier@cssd.ab.ca or by phone at 403 500 2063, if you have any questions about your child’s enrollment priority.

Board of Trustees Priorties

March 7, 2025

To view the Calgary Catholic Board Meeting Highlights for the Regular Board Meeting of March 5, 2025, as well as previous Highlights please access the following link: https://www.cssd.ab.ca/highlights-minutes

Useful Links

Faith Formation Links

Formed, AKA Netflix for Catholics

All About Shrove Tuesday

Student Success Links

My Child's Learning: A Parent Resource

Canadian Parents for French - CPF is an advocacy group whose aim is to promote French bilingual education.

St. Cecilia Student Handbook

K to 12 Education in Alberta: This link gives a broad overview of Alberta's K to 12 education system.

New LearnAlberta Parent Support Website: Contains an overview of grade level topics and is a good place to start for parents who are looking for ways to engage with their child's education.

Programs of Study: Links to K-12 programs of study as well as Tools for Parents.

Please click the links below to view the volunteer orientation and please make sure to complete the acknowledgement forms. These steps are very important in keeping you up to date as a school volunteer.

Volunteer Orientation: https://youtu.be/QaOxx2x3-eM

Acknowledgement Form: https://forms.gle/sDCD7aYau9PTGgSPA

Circle of Friends Survey for Class Placement Sept 2025

Indigenous Education Links

21 Things You May Not Have Known About the Indian Act

Indigenous Veteran's Day - Nov 8.

The Seven Sacred Laws Animated Web Series

RupertsLand Institute

Indigenous Elder Definition

Wellness Links

Action for Happiness Action for Happiness is a great resource to bring more positivity in our lives.

The Summit - The Summit program is an Alberta Health Services program that supports children and families experiencing mental health concerns that need to be addressed. They provide long term counselling as well as walk in’s.

CanLearn Society - A great resource for parents on how to manage mental health issues or concerns in the home.

Healthy childhood development through outdoor risky play: Navigating the balance with injury prevention.

Brief review about outdoor play

The importance of regaining outdoor PA

HealthyHunger.ca Healthy Hunger.

Bullying Prevention Resources for Alberta Government

Links for Playground Donations

For St. Cecilia School students/parents, please click below link to login school fee payment account to make the donation:

https://www.studentquickpay.com/CSSD/Default.aspx

For guest donors, please click below link to login and make the donation:

https://www.studentquickpay.com/CSSD/MyAccount/Main.aspx?webitemid=8670