St. Edmunds Newsletter – February 2023
This month we celebrate our students and Catholic Schools. We are proud that St. Edmund’s provides opportunities for personal excellence in educational academic and extracurricular activities. With our philosophy of educating the whole child, the spiritual development of the children is integrated into all areas of the curriculum.
This month, we will also be focusing on the virtues of love & friendship. “Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love”. (1 John 4:8) The week of February 12th is Catholic Schools’ Week in the Vancouver Archdiocese. We thank you for your commitment to Catholic education and for your continued support of our school.
We also thank you for sharing the good news about St. Edmund’s as we begin to meet new families who are looking forward to joining our special community in the upcoming school year.
Lastly, on behalf of my family, I would like to thank you all for your kindness and prayers for the repose of my mom, Maria. Your support has given us strength and comfort and we are blessed for this community of faith.
Catholic Schools Week – February 12-18th
This annual event was started as a means of recognizing the importance of Catholic Education. Our CISVA schools offer our children many opportunities to explore their talents – spiritually and academically, as well as in the fine arts and athletics.
During this week, our students will be completing activities focusing on celebrating Catholic schools. We are reflecting on our blessings to be a part of a community working together to “share, pray, encourage, learn, care and worship”. Please continue to pray for our students here at St. Edmund’s as well as at our high school St. Thomas Aquinas.
On Tuesday, January 31st, you received your child’s progress report which communicated your child’s personalized learning strengths in core, curricular and content competencies as well as areas for further growth and your child’s own self-assessment.
Progress reports will be followed up by our student-led conferences which will be held on Monday, March 6th. Please stay tuned for information to set up your appointment time. All our students having been reflecting on their learning and will have the opportunity to lead you through their accomplishments and goals for the next term. Your teachers will be with you at this time, but it will be your child leading the presentation and applying their communication and critical thinking skills.
Catholic Educator Conference – Feb. 16 & 17 (No classes for students)
Catholic educators from the Vancouver Archdiocese as well as other BC dioceses will be gathering in person for this year’s conference. This annual tradition is not only an opportunity for the professional development of our staff but also a reminder of our shared participation in the evangelizing mission of our schools and Church. With this year’s CISVA theme focus, “Seeking Truth, Healing and Reconciliation” the conference highlights include sessions from dynamic and inspiring speakers such as Steven Point, Carolyn Roberts, Len Pierre, Fr. Matthew Schneider (to name a few) as well as our very own Archbishop Michael Miller who will be celebrating mass.
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 22nd
On February 22nd, we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Lent, the forty days leading up to Easter in the Christian Calendar, is a time for prayer, penance and works of almsgiving and charity for others. During this time, we recognize our need for God’s forgiveness and seek to deepen our relationship with him. The important thing is to find something that will help us focus more on God and what he wants for our lives.
May this upcoming Holy season of Lent be a time for all of us to reflect on what is good in our lives and invite God to help us put right what is wrong and to remember just how much He loves us.
Let us take the time to reflect with our children the true meaning of this season, so that we may focus on the power of Christ in our lives and strengthen our resolution to follow Jesus even more closely.
Praying for Others:
Lenten Prayers for the Seminarians – Your children will be receiving mite boxes to help support our Seminarians. These young men, with God’s grace, will one day serve as priests in our Archdiocese. We ask that you continue to pray for them and for vocations. Lenten mite boxes can be returned after Easter.
Our Grade 2 and Grade 7 classes have begun preparing for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation. Please keep them and their teachers in your prayers during this special time in their faith formation.
Uniform Reminders
It is the expectation that all students come to school dressed in full uniform every day. Please ensure that your child has their school sweater and black school shoes. St. Edmund’s spirit wear (hoodies and jogging pants) may be used in gym class but does not replace our regulation daily uniform. Remember that you can order uniform pieces online at Cambridge or call the office to enquire about items we may have that are available for donation. Please also ensure that your child’s uniform is labeled with their name! Thank you for your support and adherence to our uniform policy.
Annual General Meeting – February 28th at 7:00 pm
For all St. Edmund’s parents
To the families of St. Edmund’s the PEC and Principal look forward to sharing information about our year to date as well as information regarding the upcoming school year.
A G E N D A:
- Welcome & Opening Prayer
- Pastor Report
- Chairperson Report
- Principal Report: Year in Review
- Treasurer Report: Financial Overview, Tuition & Fundraising
- Facilities Report
- Parent Participation
- Acknowledgments & Adjournment
Parent Participation
Thank you for volunteering your time and talents and for your continued support of our school. Your efforts help maintain our school safety as well as build community. Please ensure you are well on your way to completing your required 25 hours of participation. If you still need hours please check the portal for new activities posted, link attached, https://portal.onvolunteers.com/Default.aspx. If you have any questions, please contact the office.
Basketball Season
Thank you for your support of our basketball program. Our fabulous T-bird students and coaching staff are working hard to develop and refine basketball skills while continuing to focus on personal best, sportsmanship and having fun! We are ever grateful to our parent drivers who are helping to transport our teams to away games, and to all our supporters and fans who have come out to cheer our teams on!
Winter Weather and Snow Info
Please ensure that children come to school with appropriate winter clothing (warm coat, scarf, toques, mittens, gloves) daily. Unless it is raining heavily or it is unsafe due to ice or snow, students will be going outside during recess breaks. Therefore, it is important that students are prepared every day.
In the event of a school closure due to snow, all families are asked to check their email. Every attempt will be made to get this information to you as early as possible in the morning (approximately 7:15 am). You may also listen to CKNW 980 AM for information regarding closures. Please do not call the school. As conditions vary depending on where you live, please use your judgment in regard to driving and whether or not you decide to send your child to school. Remember to email the school if your child will be absent.
Morning Drop-Off Procedures
Please ensure students are ready to exit the car (jackets on, backpacks on their laps) as we want drop off to run as smoothly as possible. Parents, please do not get out of your cars and please do not U-turn on Mahon Avenue. We are extremely grateful to our crosswalk/traffic volunteers who are keeping our children safe at the intersections.
A reminder that the school day begins at 8:45 a.m. If your child arrives after 8:45, they will need to enter through the main school door entrance and will be marked late. Thank you for your cooperation.
Calendar Highlights:
1st – Class Mass ( Grades 4 & K )
1st – Sacramental Parent Meeting (Gr. 2 & 7) 6:30pm
4th – Parish event “All About Love”
6th – Early Dismissal at Noon
8th – Class Mass ( Grades 6 & 2 )
10th – Grade 1 Field Trip
10th – Gr. 7 Bridge Building competition at STA
12th – 18th – Catholic Schools Week
16th -17th – No School: Catholic Educators’ Conference
20th – No School – Family Day
21st – Tennis Week (K-7) begins
22nd – Ash Wednesday ( no Hot Lunch)
School Mass 11am – Led by Grade 3
24th – Dress Down – Pink Shirt Day.
24th – Gr. 7 Basketball Tourney @ STA following placement test
27th – Dance Week (K-7) begins
28th – AGM Presentation (7 pm) for all parents