St. Edumnds Newsletter – November 2024

As we enter the month of November, we begin by celebrating two important feast days: All Saints’ Day on November 1st and All Souls’ Day on November 2nd. All Saints’ Day is a special time for us to honor the saints and martyrs who exemplified Christian faith in their lives, including our beloved patron, St. Edmund, whose feast day is November 16th. On All Souls’ Day, we also take time to remember and pray for all the faithful departed. We invite you to join us for our whole-school Mass on Wednesday, November 6th, which will be led by our Grade 5 class.

November is also a month of remembrance for those who have sacrificed for peace and for those who continue to work toward a more peaceful world. On November 11th, Canadians observe a moment of silence in honor of the brave men and women who have served, and who continue to serve, our country in times of conflict. In anticipation of Remembrance Day, our Grade 6 class will lead us in a special prayer service on Thursday, November 7th, as we reflect with gratitude on their sacrifices.

As a faith community, we are also called to remember and pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering in areas of conflict. May this time of reflection inspire us to be instruments of peace in our own lives, showing forgiveness, patience, and kindness in all we do.

Let us continue to lift our prayers to God, drawing strength from the communion of saints in Heaven and on earth.

Upcoming Events

November 3^rd Don’t Forget: Time to “Fall Back”!

This Sunday, we get an extra hour of sleep! Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour before bed on Saturday night. Enjoy the extra rest, and we’ll see you bright-eyed and ready for the new week!

Remembrance Day Assembly – Thursday, Nov. 7^th at 11am in the Gym

The Royal Canadian Legion, North Vancouver Branch 118 has again asked us to support our veterans this year. We will be accepting donations for poppies/stickers beginning next week and teachers will hand these out to students on Thursday, November 7^th when we will have a prayer service prepared by the Grade 6 class.

Holidays & Professional Days – No School on Fri. Nov. 8, Mon. Nov. 11 and Fri. Nov. 22

Please note that there is no school for students on these days.

Photo Retake Day – Thursday, Nov. 14th

A reminder that your child is required to bring their Artona card back to school for a retake. If your child was not at school on the original photo day (Oct. 7), they will have their school photo taken in the afternoon.

Christmas Brunch – Saturday, Nov. 30

“Join us for a festive start to the holiday season with our Christmas Pancake Brunch hosted by the St. Edmunds PAC! This ticketed event will be held on Saturday, November 30th (time TBD), bringing our community together for delicious pancakes, holiday cheer, and fun for the whole family. It’s the perfect way to kick off the festive season, and all proceeds will go towards supporting our school programs. Don’t miss out on this joyful tradition!”

Fundraising

St Edmunds School is fundraising with Purdy’s Chocolatier again, just in time for Christmas!

Stock up on beautiful Christmas gift boxes, classic Purdys Favourites, Himalayan Pink Salt Caramels, Sweet Georgia Browns and so much more.

All profits will go directly to St Edmunds Elementary Fine Arts Department and to will benefit YOUR child directly.

So, satisfy those cravings and get all your Christmas gift-shopping done while supporting a great cause.

The deadline to order is end of day December 1st.

What you need:

Campaign number: 22052
Campaign link: https://fundraising.purdys.com/1970486-120748

Once orders close, you can collect your delicious treats on December 10 at the St Edmunds Gym – Mahon Street entrance.

Acts of Charity:

CISVA Giving Initiative for the Catholic Men’s Shelter

St. Edmund’s School is joining CISVA’s giving initiative to support the Catholic Men’s Shelter, a longstanding ministry that has helped countless homeless men in Downtown Vancouver find stability. Your donations directly assist men in need, providing essentials and hope for a fresh start.

Items Needed:

Care Kits: Small (hotel-size) toiletries like toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, soap, shampoo, lotion, razors, earplugs, bandages, air fresheners, and Q-tips.
Clothing: Men’s jackets, jeans, hoodies, sweaters, t-shirts, dress shirts, shorts, toques, work boots, shoes, gloves, and belts. Both new and gently used items are welcome.

Donation Period: November 12–26

Thank you for your generosity and support in making a difference!

Extra-Curricular Programs:

Choir practice takes place for students in Grades 3 to 7 on Wednesdays at lunch hour under the direction of Ms. Maryna. They are busy preparing 11 songs for the caroling event at ICBC on Dec. 11^th. Preparations are also underway for the Christmas Concert, learning lyrics and lines under the direction of Ms. Maryna and Mr. Dotto.

The St. Edmund’s Student Council is a group of student leaders who collaborate to make a difference in the school community and the community around us. We help with Advent prayers and have clubs to shape the school culture. We also have food drives and fun fundraisers to raise money to support local charities, the less fortunate, and have in the past donated to natural disaster relief such as the floods in our local communities.

Join us for Prayers for Peace every Thursday afternoon from 3:00 to 3:15 p.m. in our church, led by Ms. Salituro. All students are welcome to come together to deepen their prayer life, lift up the needs of others, and strengthen their relationship with Jesus.

Fall Athletics:

As October winds down, our T-Bird volleyball teams have been busy competing in the CISVA playoff rounds, looking to advance to the Finals in November. Our senior girls team remains alive in their quest, after qualifying from the North Shore group. The team has a challenging road game vs perennial powerhouse St. Joseph’s to decide who advances to the “Bubble” (Harry Jerome Sports Complex). Our Grade 6 girls also qualified for the playoffs this season, and they were just edged out by OLGC in a close elimination game last week. Similarly, the Grade 5 girls also advanced through the North Shore Zone before falling to a very strong team from St. Jude. This year also marks the return of boys volleyball at St. Edmund’s after a 20 year hiatus, and our boys have looked very strong, starting the season with a 4-0 record. The boys league starts later and runs into late November, so stay tuned as we follow their progress.

All in all, it has been an unprecedented season for volleyball at St. Edmund’s, with all four teams qualifying for the playoffs despite a very competitive North Shore zone. Congratulations to all players and coaches!

Prayer to St. Edmund – Feast Day is Nov. 16th

God, who raised up St. Edmund to be father of the poor and patron of afflicted children, please grant that I may learn from St. Edmund’s example how to love all God’s Children, however poor or afflicted; that I may become, like him, eyes for the blind, feet for the lame and a friend to strangers in trouble; and that by his intercession I may be protected from all evil and distress.

I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

https://www.stedmundsrcprimaryschool.co.uk/

St. Edmund of Abingdon: A Model of Faith and Learning

St. Edmund of Abingdon (1175-1240) also known as St. Edmund of Canterbury and St. Edmund Rich, was an English saint known for his deep faith, wisdom, and dedication to education. Born in Abingdon, England, Edmund grew up in a loving Catholic family and developed a strong devotion to prayer and study. He later became a professor at Oxford University, where he inspired many with his teaching.

Edmund’s kindness, love for God, and commitment to living a holy life led him to become the Archbishop of Canterbury, one of the most important roles in the Church. Despite his high position, he remained humble and always cared for the poor and those in need.

St. Edmund is the patron saint of students and schools, making him a perfect example for us. He reminds us to work hard in our studies, treat others with kindness, and stay close to God through prayer. His feast day is celebrated on November 16th, and we honor him as a saint who shows us how to combine faith with learning.

We also ask that you keep our beautiful priests Fr. Steny and Fr. Jeevan in your prayers as they will be attending their annual study days from November 15-17.