STAR Catholic Outreach

As we welcome the month of March, we enter a sacred season of reflection and renewal. Lent invites us to slow down, pray more intentionally, and refocus our hearts on what truly matters: faith, compassion, forgiveness, and growth. It is a time for meaningful sacrifice, acts of kindness, and renewed purpose as we strive each day to become the people God calls us to be.

This month we also celebrate St. Patrick, whose life reminds us of the power of courage, humility, and steadfast faith. His witness encourages us to share goodness, hope, and light with those around us — values we see lived out daily in our school community.

We are especially excited to share that our school is preparing for an inspiring new chapter. Beginning next school year, we will proudly transition to our new name: St. Maximilian Collegiate and Learning Centre. Inspired by the example of St. Maximilian Kolbe — a model of courage, service, and sacrificial love — our new name reflects our mission, our growth, and our commitment to supporting every student’s journey toward success. We look forward to celebrating this milestone together as a school community.

We are also thrilled to announce that Summer School will be offered this July, providing students with valuable opportunities to earn credits, stay engaged in learning, and continue progressing toward their goals. More information is shared below, so please watch for those details.

There is so much to look forward to this month, and we are grateful to walk this journey together.

May this Lenten season bring peace to your hearts and joy to your homes.

Grace & peace,
Mrs. Tracy Melnyk
Principal, STAR Catholic Outreach School

At STAR Catholic Outreach School, we believe in growing together — guided by faith, reflection, and community. Over the coming weeks, students and families will be invited to complete our school surveys. These are an important way for us to listen, learn, and continue improving how we support each learner’s journey.

Your feedback helps shape our programs, strengthen our supports, and ensure we are meeting the needs of our community with care and excellence. We are truly grateful for your time and participation — every response makes a difference.

Thank you for being an essential part of our STAR Outreach family!

You will find 2 links below; one is for PARENTS only and the other one is for students. Please take a moment to help us. YOU ARE APPRECIATED!

STAR Catholic Schools Parent Survey 2026

STAR Catholic Schools Secondary Student Survey 2026

March 9 - No School - PD Day for staff

March 16 - SUMMER SCHOOL REGISTRATION OPENS

March 30 - April 7 - ✝️ Easter Break - School Closed

April 24 - No School - PD Day for staff

After a thoughtful process of community engagement and discernment, we are thrilled to share that our new school name — St. Maximilian Collegiate & Learning Centre — has been formally approved by Archbishop Hero.

This new name reflects both our Catholic identity and our commitment to academic excellence, personalized learning, and student success. St. Maximilian Kolbe’s courage, faith, and selfless leadership serve as a powerful model for our school community as we continue to grow and evolve.

We are excited to officially transition to St. Maximilian Collegiate & Learning Centre for the 2026–2027 school year. This transformation marks an important new chapter in our story — one rooted in faith, hope, and a bold vision for the future.

More details about branding, school colours, mascot, and upcoming celebrations will be shared in the coming months. We look forward to this journey together!

FAITH AT THE CENTER, FLEXIBILITY FOR YOUR JOURNEY

At STAR Catholic Outreach, Summer School is an extension of our mission to serve students where they are; academically, personally and spiritually. Grounded in Catholic values, our program recognizes that each learner's journey is unique.

We are very excited to be offering online Summer School Programming starting summer 2026! Students will learn through teacher-led instruction with a faith-based approach that supports the whole student. Flexible online delivery adapts to individual needs.

Program Goals:

• Earn Alberta-approved credits that count toward high school graduation.
• Provides flexible pathways to success.
• Supports credit recovery and academic progress.
• Help students stay on track toward graduation.
• Encourage responsibility, independence and goal setting.

Requirements:

• Must pay non-refundable $50 fee to hold registration.
• Must be available to attend mandatory online meetings DAILY.
• Must have a Chromebook or laptop computer for school work. Phones and tablets are not adequate.
• FULL attendance is REQUIRED! You must be able to commit to the days outlined in your session.

Program Delivery Method:

• Teacher-directed and teacher-led instruction.
• Delivered fully online.
• Combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous learning.
• Hosted on the CANVAS learning platform.
• Ongoing connection with teachers and the learning community.
• Flexible structure to support individual student circumstances.

Please click here to see course offerings.

Registration opens March 16th, 2026. Please email outreach@starcatholic.ab.ca for more info.

Students and parents... PLEASE check your PowerSchool portal for your up-to-date grades. We are now mid-week in Module 2. Module 2 is due March 6 and Module 3 is due March 20th. Please reach out to your teacher(s) if you have questions.

HELP US HELP YOU!

Do you own a business or know an employer who could offer meaningful work experience for a student? We are always looking to connect with new partners who are passionate about mentoring the next generation of workers.

If you or someone in your network can provide a supportive and educational workplace, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us to learn how to get involved and help shape the future workforce.

tracy.melnyk@starcatholic.ab.ca

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the collection of principles the Church offers to guide how we live out our faith in society. Rooted in Scripture and Church tradition, these teachings remind us that following Christ isn’t only about private prayer but also about how we treat one another and care for the world.

AT STAR Outreach, we will be focussing on each of the Catholic Social Teachings. This month, we focus on the social teaching of "Peace". God calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for each other demands that we promote peace and justice whenever and wherever we can.

5pm Saturday Evening

9am and 11am on Sunday

Welcome back! Here’s how you can access your Canvas account to get started with your courses:

1. Go to Canvas

   • Open your web browser and go to: https://starcatholic.instructure.com

2. Log in with your STAR Catholic account

   • Enter your STAR Catholic email address (the same email you use for all school accounts).

   • Enter your STAR Catholic password.

3. Access your courses

   • Once you are logged in, you’ll see your Dashboard.

   • Click on your courses to get started.

👉 Tip: If you have trouble logging in, make sure you’re using your STAR Catholic email (not a personal email). If you forgot your password, contact the school office and we’ll help you reset it.

Please see below regarding wonderful opportunities for our Métis students.

The Alberta Innovates High School Youth Researcher Summer Program (HYRS) offers paid, six week summer research experiences for Grade 11 students interested in health research and innovation, including priority areas in applied health research, health systems, digital health and data-driven systems, and One Health.

In addition to gaining first-hand research experience, HYRS students also participate in a range of skill development and career exploration activities. This program is ideal for students who have an interest in science and health, and are looking to explore careers in health research and innovation. Please note: The HYRS program is a health research and innovation program, not strictly a "laboratory sciences" program. While some biomedical projects may involve lab work, HYRS placements encompass a broad range of activities and research methods, not all of which are lab-based.

We would appreciate it if you could help promote this opportunity to interested students. Attached, please find a short slide deck you can share with your classes, as well as a digital poster you can share via your school portal.

Call for HYRS student applications - deadline March 13!

The HYRS program at the University of Alberta is currently accepting applications from Grade 11 students who reside in central or northern Alberta (in or north of Red Deer), for our summer 2026 program, which is scheduled to take place (in-person) July 2-August 13, 2026.

More information about the HYRS program, including student eligibility and application requirements is available at www.uab.ca/hyrs.

HYRS Application Info session - February 26

We will be offering a virtual info session for potential HYRS applicants (via Zoom) on Wednesday, February 26, 2026, from 4-5pm. Interested students can register here.

Call for Teachers for HYRS Selection Committee

We are also seeking high school science teachers to assist with this year's HYRS student selection process. Teachers involved in the review process will receive a package of HYRS applications in late March, will score applications according to a rubric, and provide feedback that will assist the HYRS selection committee in shortlisting students for the HYRS program. The adjudication process and meetings will take place virtually. If you are a high school science teacher interested in participating in this year's selection committee, please submit your name here by March 13, 2026.

Create a MyPass Account

All students require a MyPass account to obtain diploma marks, transcripts and so much more. If you have not created an account, please click on the link below and follow the instructions on how to do so.

Create a MyPass account

Watch the video below on how to get your MyPass Account!

Please view the December GrACE Newsletter by clicking here.

It is also available on the STAR Catholic website.

https://www.starcatholic.ab.ca/division/school-board/board-highlights

We are excited to share that the STAR Catholic Central Office has officially moved to a new location in Leduc!

New Location: 6547 Sparrow Drive, Leduc, AB T9E 7C7

Need to get a hold of us?

Call us at STAR Catholic Outreach 780-980-0955

Mrs. Jennifer Nelson - Administrative Assistant

780-980-0955 ext: 1

outreach@starcatholic.ab.ca

jennifer.nelson@starcatholic.ab.ca

Mrs. Tracy Melnyk - Principal & English Language Arts

780-980-0955 ext: 2

tracy.melnyk@starcatholic.ab.ca

Mr. Brandon Geiger - All things Math & Science!

780-980-0955 ext: 3

brandon.geiger@starcatholic.ab.ca

Mr. Daniel Hughes - Social Studies, Religion, Off Campus & Options

780-980-0955 ext: 4

daniel.hughes@starcatholic.ab.ca

📱 Stay Connected with STAR Catholic Outreach!

We love sharing the great things happening in our STAR Outreach community. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @staroutreachschool and on FACEBOOK by searching STAR Catholic Outreach School or tapping the link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BmmpEgXxF/?mibextid=wwXIfr to see highlights, important reminders, celebrations, and updates from our school.

For the most current and accurate information—including calendars, announcements, and program details—please continue to check our website regularly at https://or.starcatholic.ab.ca/.

Thank you for staying connected and supporting our STAR Catholic Outreach family! 💙✝️