St. Edmunds Newsletter – May 2023
During the month of May, we reflect on Our Blessed Mother’s example of faith, courage, perseverance and fortitude. May God bless all mothers and give us the love and wisdom to raise and guide our families as our Blessed Mother modelled for us. We will continue to ask her to intercede for us and may we continue to rely on her example of patience, courage, and compassion, especially during these uncertain times. Our grade 3 class will be honouring our Blessed Mother with whole school prayer services at the beginning of each week this month. Thank you to Mrs. Oman and the students for their extra time, effort and reverence in leading the school in prayer.
Lastly, on behalf of Fr. Steny, Fr. Cannio and our staff, we would also like to take this opportunity to wish all mothers a wonderful Mother’s Day on May 14th.
Praying for all Mothers:
Loving God,
We thank you for the love of the mothers you have given us, whose love is so precious that it can never be measured.
Thank you, Lord, that you fill a mother’s heart with love,
That you have instilled in her very being the need to protect her children, if at all possible,
Thank you for giving her the gift of nurturing her children, of teaching them, of comforting them,
for feeding them and making a safe place for them.
For guiding them to be all that God has created them to be.
Fill every mother with love, wisdom, and endurance,
with strength and patience and joy.
Give them the ability to forgive again and again.
Enable her to rely on You and call upon You, because You will give her all she needs.
In Your precious and all-powerful name, Amen
Sacraments:
Our Grade 2 and Grade 7 continue to prepare for the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. Please keep them and their teachers in your prayers during this special time in their faith formation.
- Sacrament of First Holy Communion – Sunday, May 7st, 2:00 p.m.
- Rehearsal on Thursday May 4th at 7:00 p.m. (beginning in the small hall)
- Sacrament of Confirmation – Sunday, May 28th, 2:00 p.m.
- Rehearsal on Thursday May 25th at 7:00 p.m. (beginning in the small hall)
Congratulations!
… to Cassiano Ruelles de Assis Peres who advanced from our School Spelling Bee and participated in the CISVA Spelling Final on April 25th at Holy Cross Elementary. Cassiano successfully made it to the 8th round and we a very proud of his accomplishment!
… to all our intermediate students who participated in the annual North Shore Catholic Schools Speech Arts Festival at St. Pius during the week of April 17th . Thank you to our office staff and Mrs. Lorezca, as well as the parent volunteers who helped with the organization of this event.
PPP & extra volunteering
Thank you to all the parent volunteers who assist daily with the safety of our children and community. We still need volunteers. If you need participation hours or are able to volunteer extra time, we would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks as well to our Garden group for keeping our playground beautiful, safe and clean. You help make our school even more inviting!
Uniform Updates
It is the expectation that all students come to school dressed in full uniform every day. Summer uniform can now be worn. This is an option to our regular school uniform which can be worn all year. Boys have the option of wearing dress shorts and intermediate girls have the option of wearing the school skort. (Refer to our uniform policy for further information.) Hair accessories should be plain navy, black or the school tartan colour. Colourful hair bows and hairbands are reserved for non-uniform dress-down days and hair colour is to remain natural. Please ensure all articles of clothing are labelled with your child’s name. Please be sure to order your uniform for next school year by June 15th to ensure that you receive your order by September.
Fundraising & Walkathon
Thank you to all the families who donated to our annual Walkathon and also to those who have ordered Spring flowers. These funds go towards our technology upgrades and purchasing additional sports equipment for our gym and playground
We are very near to our $10,000 goal and are still accepting donations this week!
We would also like to thank our PAC parents and additional volunteers who organized our Hot Dog Lunch as a recognition for the children’s efforts in their walks around the neighbourhood
Calendar Highlights:
Mon. May 1 Early Dismissal (12:00 p.m.)
Start of Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3 9:00 a.m. Whole School Mass – prepared by Grade 5
Student Council attending Holy Childhood Mass
3:00 p.m. Art Club
May 4 7:00 p.m. Communion Rehearsal for Gr. 2 Students & Parents (beginning in the small hall)
May 5 Gr. 1 field trip to Presentation House
May 7 First Holy Communion Mass @ 2:00 p.m.
May 9 Spring Flowers (Fundraiser) – ready for pick-up @ 2:30 in front of gym
7:00 p.m. PAC meeting
May 10 9:00 a.m. Grade 6 Class Mass with Gr. 2 buddies*(costumes must be appropriate for mass)
Spring Concert Dress Rehearsal – students come in costume
May 11 11:00 a.m. Whole School Crowning of Mary Prayer Service – prepared by Grade 3
7:00 p.m. Spring Concert “A Day in the Life”
May 14 Happy Mother’s Day!
May 15 7:00 “Screenagers: Next Chapter” Presentation for Gr. 4-7 parents
May 16 Grade 3&4 BC Artifacts Presentation
May 17 9:00 a.m. Grade 1 Class Mass with Gr. 5 buddies
May 18 Grade 6 Immunization Clinic
May 19 NO SCHOOL – Pro-Day
May 22 NO SCHOOL – Victoria Day Holiday
May 23 7:00 p.m. PEC Meeting
May 24 9:00 a.m. Kindergarten Mass with Gr. 4 buddies
May 25 7:00 p.m. Confirmation Rehearsal
May 26 Dress Down Day (theme t.b.a.)
May 28 Sacrament of Confirmation @ 2:00 pm
May 29 “Bike to School” Week
May 30 7:00 p.m. New Kindergarten Parent Meeting
Special note: Prayers for Peace is every Thursday.
St. Edmund’s Committees:
Parish Education Committee (PEC) Elections
Notice is hereby given that elections to St. Edmund’s Parish Education Committee will take place on the weekend of May 27 & 28th, 2023
For the coming year, we need to elect (two) members from St. Edmund’s Parish for St. Edmund’s School Education Committee.
Eligible to nominate and to be nominated for election are all registered parishioners (Catholics living within our parish boundaries), over 21 years of age and Catholic non-parishioners who have been attending our parish upon written agreement of their proper canonical pastor. (Pastor Authorization Forms are available in the parish office).
Eligible to vote are:
- Parishioners 19 years of age and a registered member of St. Edmund’s Parish
- Your name must appear on the Parish list.
- Members of registered families, whose name is not on the list, must contact the office, or register under their own name before the day of elections.
Nomination forms must be received in the parish office no later than May 12th by 4:00 p.m.
St. Edmund’s Parent Support Group (PSG)
The PSG is a necessary Parent Support Liaison Group between the school and the B.C. Gaming Commission who are responsible for application and expenditure of gaming funds that directly benefit students.
We are grateful for the efforts of Ms. Lo, Ms. Spring and Ms. Brauer in leading this group and directing funds to pay for new team jersey and school buses for our student activities.