Ecole St. John XXIII School News

November 2026

SCHOOL NEWS

IMPORTANT DATES

• November 1 – All Saints’ Day
• November 2-16 – Sharing our Halloween Candy School – see poster above
• November 1 to 26 – Purdy’s Fundraiser – order by November 26 – see poster and online catalogue below, catalogues will be sent home on November 2.
• November 4 – Take your Kid to Work Day for Grade 9 students
• November 5 – Skating lessons for Grade 3 students
• November 6 – MLA Ip visits Grade 6 students
• November 9 – Clay for Kids for Grade 1 students
• November 10 – Remembrance Day Peace Ceremony – 11:15 for JH and 1:15 for Elementary
• November 11 to 15 – Fall Break – NO SCHOOL
• November 16 – School Council meeting – 6:30 at school and on TEAMS
• November 16-19 – Book Fair – see information below
• November 19 – Celebration of Learning 1:30 to 5:00 and 6:00 to 7:30 – details below
• November 20 – Staff Professional Development Day – NO SCHOOL for all students
• November 24 – Junior High Hot Lunch – Opa
• November 25 – Rec Leadership students take candy donations to the Edmonton Food Bank
• November 26 – STJ Junior Volleyball Tournament
• November 27 – Elementary Hot Lunch – Mucho Burrito
• November 27 – Kindergarten – Fused Glass in school field trip

CELEBRATION OF LEARNING

Please mark your calendars! Our Celebration of Learning will take place on Thursday, November 19th.

Beginning Monday, November 9th, families will receive an email with a SignUp Genius link to schedule individual meetings with their child’s teacher(s). Meetings will be either 10 or 15 minutes, depending on class size. Families with children in multiple classes will need to select a meeting time with each of their children’s teachers.

These meetings provide an opportunity for parents to hear directly from teachers about their child’s academic progress, learning, and areas of growth.

Students are expected to attend these meetings with their parents.

PURDYS FUNDRAISER

Here is a link to the catalogue:

BOOK FAIR

Our Book Fair will open on the morning of November 16. Students will have access to view the Book Fair items and make purchases during the school day. Student purchases are cash only. Parents are welcome to visit the book fair! For your convenience the Book Fair will remain open for 30 minutes after dismissal. The hours are as follows:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – 1:00 PM to 3:15 PM
• Thursday – 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

STAY HOME WHEN SICK

The health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff remain Edmonton Catholic Schools’ first priority.

Staying home when sick is one of the most important ways we can protect our school communities. Students and staff need to monitor for symptoms daily before coming to school. Anyone who is exhibiting symptoms of illness, including fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, new or worsening cough, or shortness of breath, should remain at home until their symptoms have improved and they have been free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, and they feel well enough to resume normal activities. If your child becomes sick at school, please come and pick them up as quickly as possible. Keeping illness out of our schools is a shared responsibility. Please inform us if your child will not be attending for any reason.

ECSD continues to follow the guidance and direction provided by Alberta Health Services, Alberta Health, and Alberta Education to support our schools in reducing the risk of transmission of illness and maintaining safe and healthy learning environments for our students and staff.

STJ DIFFERENCE

Each month, our students and staff will focus on a different way we can live out the teachings of Jesus and make a positive difference in our school and in the lives of those around us. Through simple acts of kindness, compassion, gratitude, service, courage, and faith, we will be reminded that being a follower of Jesus is not just about what we believe; it is about how we live. Each monthly focus will give us an opportunity to grow together as a Catholic school community and to make The St. John XXIII Difference in our community.

SCHOOL FEES/JUNIOR HIGH COURSE FEES/BUS FEES

School fees and Junior High course fees are now posted on PowerSchool and are due October 30. 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. Bus fees are already posted on PowerSchool and can be paid in advance or on the first day of each month.

Technology Fees at STJ

Technology fees at École St. John XXIII help support the digital tools, resources, and educational platforms that enhance student learning throughout the school year. These fees contribute to the provision and maintenance of school Chromebooks, digital subscriptions, and other online learning resources used to support instruction across all grade levels. Chromebooks are provided to students to facilitate access to digital learning opportunities, educational programs, and online resources. In addition, students in Grades 5 to 9 will use the Government of Alberta’s Vretta platform to support their learning and preparation for the Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs). Access to this platform is available on division devices only and is particularly important, as its use is now mandatory for students writing the Grade 6 and Grade 9 PATs. These technology resources help ensure that students have opportunities to develop their digital skills, engage in meaningful learning experiences, and become familiar with the online tools they will use for provincial assessments.

Online Subscriptions for St. John XXIII 2026-2027

CELEBRATING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: ST. JOHN XXIII HONOUR ROLL

At St. John XXIII, we are proud to recognize and celebrate students who demonstrate dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence in their learning. Students who meet our Honours or Honours with Distinction criteria will be recognized four times throughout the school year, with their names shared with our school community.

• November 19
• January 29
• March 11
• June 15

Honours
Students who achieve:

• 81–90% in all core subjects: Math, Science, ELA/FLA, Social Studies, and Religion
• A Proficient standard in all other subjects
• No NHIs (Not Handed In) assignments or outstanding work

Honours with Distinction
Students who achieve:

• 91–100% in all core subjects: Math, Science, ELA/FLA, Social Studies, and Religion
• A Proficient standard in all other subjects
• No NHIs (Not Handed In) assignments or outstanding work

We look forward to celebrating these achievements while continuing to encourage every student to grow, persevere, and strive for their own personal best throughout the school year.

SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS

SCHOOL COUNCIL

School Council – November 16 at 6:30 in person and on TEAMS

Meet your new STJ School Council:

• Chair – Stella
• Vice Chair – Ochuko
• Secretary – Lindsay
• Treasure – Gill
• Member at Large – Tobi

We invite all parents and guardians to join us on Monday, November 16 at 6:30 pm for our next School Council. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and get involved in supporting our school community.

We hope to see you there!

Stay Connected!

ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH NEWS

Here are two messages for all families from our Church.