January 2026
SCHOOL NEWS
IMPORTANT DATES
- January 7 – Recreational Leadership at Ice Bikes
- January 12 – Oilers’ Blue and Orange Team read to 3A and 3D
- January 12 – Oilers’ Jersey Day for all Oilers fans
- January 13 – St. Joseph High School presentation for 9A and 9B
- January 14 – Recreational Leadership at Edmonton Food Bank
- January 16 – Pizza lunch for all patrollers – a thanks for their service
- January 19 – Indoor Running Room preliminaries for Grade 6 Running Team
- January 20 – YRCA (Young Readers’ Choice Awards) Library presentation for Grades 4-6
- January 21 – Junior High Hot Lunch: Cobbs
- January 21 – Recreational Leadership at Hot Yoga
- January 22 – Alberta Musical Theatre: Pinocchio at 9:30 – Elementary Students
- January 22 – Band Concert: Grs 6 students & 7– 9 Band students – see info below
- January 22 – Sr. Boys’ Basketball at McCaffery Tournament
- January 23 – Elementary Hot Lunch – Opa
- January 23 – Sr. Girls’ Basketball at McCaffery Tournament
- January 24 – Sr. Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball at McCaffery Tournament
- January 25 – St. Rose Accelerated Program Presentation for 6A and 6B
- January 27 – Summary reports available on PowerSchool
- January 28 – Teacher’s Pet In-School Field Trip for Grade 3
- January 28 – Recreational Leadership at Batting Cages
- January 28 – Last Day Semester One for Junior High
- January 29 – Professional Development Day – NO SCHOOL FOR ALL STUDENTS
- January 30 – Semester Two for Junior High begins
- January 30 – Snowflake Family Dance at 6:30 pm – see info below
- February 5 – STJ Open House!
SNOWFLAKE DANCE
Get ready for a family night of fun!
We will have our Annual Family Dance on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 6:30pm – 8:30pm.
This year we will celebrate the theme of Snowflakes
The dance is a great way to connect with old friends and make new ones in the school community. The dance is for all ages. Bring your partners, children, cousins, and enjoy the evening.
In 2025 we had almost 400 attendees and raised approximately $3000 for the school.
Tickets should be purchased on Eventbrite ($5 each, or a family of 4 and more for $20). We will also sell tickets at the door (cash only) for $8 each, $30 for a family.
Find tickets at our Eventbrite link: Click here to buy your tickets
There will also be cash sales of snacks, drinks, and glow products to add to the fun. Sales start at $1.00. Cash only.
To make the dance run smoothly, we ask for volunteers in set up, sales, and clean up. Volunteer with a group of friends and keep the fun rolling! Please sign up for a short volunteer shift: Click here to volunteer
BAND CONCERT
All STJ families are invited to attend our Winter Band Concert on January 22 at 6:30 PM at West Meadows Baptist Church.
Here are the details:
Concert Date: Thursday January 22, 2026
Concert Location: West Meadows Baptist Church (9333 199 Street NW, Edmonton, AB)
Student Arrival Time: 5:00PM
Seating Open to Families: 6:00PM
Concert Start: 6:30PM
Other information: All students in grade 6 and all Band students in grades 7-9 are expected to attend and perform. Parents are expected to attend and enjoy the concert, dropping off students and leaving is not permitted. Beverages are only permitted in the lobby of the church and not in the main area/auditorium.
Students must be at West Meadows Baptist Church at 5:00PM for a dress rehearsal and sound check before the concert begins. This dress rehearsal will ensure that each student has a spot on stage for their concert performance. Students need to wear appropriate concert dress consisting of all black attire or black with a white shirt.
STUDENT ABSENCES
If your child will be away from school for more than two days due to illness or travel, it is very important that you email your child’s classroom teacher directly in addition to entering the absence in Message Sender.
While Message Sender is an useful communication tool, teachers do not always have access to it first thing in the morning. A direct email helps ensure they are aware of your child’s absence in a timely manner and can plan accordingly for instruction and student support.
ECSD ANNUAL SURVEY
You have received your ECSD Annual Survey, which runs from January 5 to 23. Thank you to the families who have already returned their completed survey. Given ECSD’s goal of continuous improvement, we use the information collected from surveys to determine not only areas of strength but also areas for growth. Students in Grades 4–12 will complete the student survey at school. Teachers and parents/guardians are also asked to complete a survey. Elementary and Junior High students will bring the parent/guardian surveys home for completion. Families of High School students should receive a copy of the parent/guardian surveys in the mail. If you require more information about the survey, feel free to contact your school.
JUNIOR HIGH FOOTWEAR
All Junior High students are required to have two pairs of shoes for school: one pair of outdoor winter footwear (preferably boots) and one pair of indoor shoes. Students will be expected to remove their outdoor shoes immediately upon entering the school and change footwear on the entrance mats.
Many of our Junior High students and all our Elementary students already have two pairs of shoes for school. It is important for keeping our floors dry and helping students keep their socks dry throughout the day. This expectation will now apply to all Junior High students.
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.
PRINCIPAL’S CHALLENGE – January
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. During winter and with challenging road conditions, it is especially important that we all remain vigilant and follow the rules to keep every child safe.
DREAMS FOR KIDS – OUR SCHOOL’S SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
Thank you for your support in our Advent project. We raised $1460.89 for the ECSD Foundation, Dreams for Kids.
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 January message
ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH NEWS
Here is the latest bulletin from our church: January 1
For Children Aged 7-11
Registration for Spring Cycle 3 – 2025-2026 1st Reconciliation & 1st Holy Eucharist is OPEN
February 10: 6:15 – 7:15 pm – Parent Orientation
February 17: 6:15 – 7:30 pm Class 1
March 3: 6:15 – 7:30 pm Class 2
March 7: 11 am – 1:00 pm First Reconciliation
April 14: 6:15 – 7:30 pm Class 3
April 21: 6:15 – 7:30 pm Class 4
April 28: 6:15 – 7:30 pm Class 5
May 3 at 4:30 pm (First Eucharist Celebration)
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