November 28, 2025
SCHOOL NEWS
IMPORTANT DATES
- November 28 – Elementary Hot Lunch – Bar Burrito
- November 30 – First Sunday of Advent
- December 1 – Week One Advent Celebration – in class
- December 2 – 12 Days of Christmas starts – see below
- December 1 to 12 – Advent Project – Conquer Hunger – see below
- December 1 – Immunization for Grades 6 and 9 students
- December 3 – First Aid for Rec Leadership students
- December 4 – Skating continues for Grade 3
- December 5 – Junior Achievement for 5A and 5B
- December 8 – Week Two Advent Celebration – in class
- December 8 – MADD presentation for JH students
- December 10 – First Aid for Rec Leadership students
- December 12 – Elementary Hot Lunch – Rice Bowl Deluxe
- December 15 – Week Three Advent Celebration – in class
- December 16 – JH students are the Elves of St. John – trip to St. Gerard
- December 17 – JH Hot Lunch – Edo
- December 17 – Vertically Inclined field trip for Rec Leadership
- December 18 – Full Day of classes – Kindergarten students at school
- December 18 – Grades 1 -5 Christmas Concert – see below
- December 18 – Junior High Dance – in the afternoon
- December 19 – No Kindergarten classes, Early dismissal at 12:00 pm, Christmas holidays start!
DREAMS FOR KIDS – OUR SCHOOL’S SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
As we enter this season of sharing and supporting those in need, we are excited to launch a special initiative to help make a difference in the lives of children through the Edmonton Catholic Schools Foundation’s Conquer Hunger Fund.
The Conquer Hunger Fund provides financial assistance so schools may offer healthy school lunch and/or snack programs to students in need.
Every day there are thousands of children and youth who go to school hungry, wondering where their next meal will come from. Children who face this reality are often powerless to do anything about it.
This Advent season, our small actions can become ripples of hope. We will be Angels of Hope by working together we can support students in our broader community who need the most help.
Our initiative will run from Monday, December 1 to Friday, December 12, and we are inviting students to bring a donation of a Loonie, a Toonie, or a five-dollar bill. To make this meaningful, we suggest families have students earn their donation by doing an extra chore or act of service at home.
Each student who donates will receive an angel ornament to write their name on, which will be used to decorate the trees in the school entrance creating a beautiful display of generosity and community spirit.
ELVES OF ST. JOHN –ANNUAL JUNIOR HIGH SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT
Our Junior High students will be working as elves for our annual Elves of St. John XXIII Project. This is a tradition at our school where Junior High students prepare and deliver shoebox gifts for the students at St. Gerard School Elementary School.
Students will work alone or in pairs, to create a gift by filling a shoebox for a student at St. Gerard. In the shoebox they are to place a book, which they will read to the student when we visit on December 16, small articles of clothing, games, or toys as well as a handwritten Christmas wish for the student. The total cost of items in the box should not exceed $30.00. Please only add new/unused items.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT – RE-IMAGINED
This year, we will be celebrating the Christmas season with a different style of Christmas concert. Instead of hosting an evening performance for Grades 1–5 at an off-site venue, we will be holding our concert titled A Day of Christmas Blessings here at the school on the morning of Thursday, December 18th. All students in Grades 1–5 will participate, and we look forward to sharing a joyful and uplifting morning together as a school community. Due to space limitations, we will be welcoming parents one grade at a time to watch their child’s performance. This approach will ensure that parents can enjoy the concert while keeping the event safe and manageable. Reminder: Thursday, December 18th is a full day of school, and on Friday, December 19th, dismissal will be at noon.
JH DANCE
Our Junior High students will celebrate the Christmas season with a Winter Dance on the afternoon of Thursday, December 18! Hosted by Student Council, this formal event is a highlight of the year, giving students the chance to dress up and enjoy an afternoon of music, dancing, and holiday cheer. We are all looking forward to seeing our students come together to share the joy of the Christmas season in a fun and festive atmosphere!
SCHOOL FEES
A reminder that school fees are now due. All Junior High option fees have been posted. We kindly ask for your prompt attention to this important matter, as these fees help us continue to provide excellent learning experiences and fun opportunities for our students.
LET’S STAY HEALTHY TOGETHER
Check your child’s health before sending them to school, especially if they have been unwell overnight.
Recently, we have had instances where children with gastrointestinal symptoms attended school despite falling ill the night before. To foster a healthy environment within our school, we kindly request your cooperation in evaluating whether your child is fit for attendance.
Consider the following recommendations:
- Observation: Take a moment to observe your child’s well-being in the morning if they were unwell overnight.
- Gastrointestinal Symptoms: In light of recent incidents, pay special attention to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. If your child has experienced any of these symptoms, we recommend keeping them at home until fully recovered.
- Rest and Recovery: Ensure your child has ample time for rest and recovery. Sending a child to school prematurely may impede their own recovery and pose a risk to others.
Let’s work together to maintain a healthy and supportive learning environment for all students. Your collaboration is vital in preventing the spread of illness within our school community.
STUDENT SAFETY – TRAFFIC
We need your help to keep our students safe during arrival and dismissal times. We’ve observed several concerning traffic patterns that put children at risk:
- Cars stopping on crosswalks
- Vehicles traveling on the wrong side of the road
- Students being dropped off on the street side rather than at the curb
- Cars blocking bus lanes or bus access to our parking lot
- Vehicles remaining in the drop-off zone instead of pulling forward immediately
These situations have led to a few close calls and create unnecessary congestion for everyone.
Please remember:
- The staff parking lot is off-limits for parent drop-off, pick-up, and through-traffic.
- U-turns are not permitted in front of schools.
- Keep traffic moving by pulling away promptly after your child exits the vehicle.
Your children’s safety depends on all of us working together and making responsible choices during busy school times. Thank you for your attention to these important safety measures and for doing your part to support safe and smooth drop-off and pick-up routine. With winter approaching and road conditions becoming more challenging, it is especially important that we all remain vigilant and follow the rules to keep every child safe.
PURDY’S FUNDRAISER – SWEET SUCCESS!
Thank you for your incredible support of our Purdy’s fundraiser! We sold $9379.75 of chocolates, raising over $2650.00. The chocolates will be available for pick up December 10-12. Watch for a message from the school with specific pick-up details.
Thank you again for making this fundraiser such a success!
Merci beaucoup!
BOOK FAIR
Thank you for supporting our Book Fair. We sold $8063.55 of books and merchandise and made a profit of $4031.78 back in books from Scholastic. A huge thank you Mrs. Hampton and all our WONDERFUL parent volunteers.
PRINCIPAL’S CHALLENGE – December
Each month, I will be inviting students, families, and classes to take part in a special challenge designed to support physical health, mental well-being, personal and spiritual growth, and academic success. These challenges will be simple and fun, and we encourage you to support your child in participating as much as possible. We would also love for you to share photos of your child/family taking part—our goal is to create a monthly collage that celebrates the wonderful efforts and achievements of our students.
SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS
SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS
School Council Meeting – Join Us!
Our next School Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 10 at 6:00 pm. We welcome all parents and guardians to attend—your voice and involvement truly make a difference.
Stay Connected!
DIVISION NEWS
Chief Superintendent’s Message
You can read Chief Superintendent Lynnette Anderson’s December reflection on Truth, Beauty and Goodness as we begin our Advent journey.
Click here for December message
ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH NEWS
Here is the latest bulletin from our church: November 23
We welcome Archbishop-Designate Stephen A. Hero
To be installed January 23, 2026
A Prayer for the New Archbishop
O God, eternal shepherd,
who governs Your flock with unfailing care,
grant him in Your boundless love
the strength and vision to be a faithful shepherd,
a wise teacher, and a compassionate father,
dedicated to the pastoral care of Your people.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide the Church in Edmonton via Archdiocesan Administrator Fr. Paul Kavanagh during this time of transition.
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