750 Leger Way, Edmonton, Alberta, T6R 3H4 Phone (780) 471 – 4218 Fax (780) 471 – 1731

December 2017 Advent 2017

Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ~Matthew 24:42~

Advent is upon us, and once again, we feel that sense of preparation and excitement. We know that Jesus will arrive soon, and we are making our hearts, our schools, and our homes ready to receive Him. Our scripture passage counsels us to be alert as we wait for this precious gift from God.

Theologian Henri Nouwen shares with us: “It is this joyful expectation of God's coming that offers vitality to our lives. The expectation of the fulfillment of God's promises to us is what allows us to pay full attention to the road on which we are walking.”

We wish you a wonderful journey to Bethlehem in these next weeks; a journey filled with Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love!

School Advent Celebrations On December 4th at 1:00 p.m., all students and staff will celebrate the start of the Advent season in the gymnasium. We are blessed to have His Grace with us to celebrate the beginning of Advent. Weekly celebrations for the second and third week will be shared each Monday morning for individual classes to celebrate during the week.

Advent Reflection The Advent wreath is part of our long-standing Catholic tradition. The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. Even these evergreens have a traditional meaning which can be adapted to our faith. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ. Any pine cones, nuts, or seedpods used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior. Three candles are purple, and one is rose. The purple candles symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, representing rejoicing. The light again signifies Christ, the Light of the world.

Mark your Calendars… AJM Elementary Christmas Celebrations

Please plan to join us for our elementary Christmas concerts. Dec. 5 ~ Matinee 1:30 p.m. ~ Evening 6:30 p.m. - Grade K, 1B, 3A, 4/5, 5A Dec. 6 ~ Matinee 1:30 p.m. ~ Evening 6:30 p.m. Grade 1A, 2A, 2/3,4A, 6 *Doors open ½ hour before performance time. We look forward to getting you in the Christmas Spirit and sharing our students’ talents.

Sacrament of Confirmation Confirmation 2017: Congratulations to all those boys and girls from our school who celebrated the sacrament of confirmation at St. Thomas More Parish on Sunday, November 19th, 2017. We would like to thank the families, friends, volunteers, deacons and Bishop Gregory Bittman for all their support throughout the preparation of this sacrament, administering the sacrament, and being there to support the Confirmands for years to come!

Hour of Code All students of AJM will be participating in the Hour of Code event. Hour of Code is a global movement that is supported by Code.org with the purpose of reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries through a one-hour introduction to computer science and computer programming. Coding is a great way to develop literacy, numeracy, creativity, and thinking skills. We would like to thank Mrs. Tassone, Mr. Gonzalez-Rico, Mr. Rouleau, and Mrs. Cyr who offer coding and robotics to numerous students in grades 1-8.

ALBERTA LEGISLATURE PERFORMANCE – Gr. 3 & 4 Choir Friday, Dec. 15 – Student Performance at the Alberta Legislature in the Main Foyer. Performance 12:00 - 12:20 p.m. Please wear your choir wear to school that day (White Tops, Black Bottoms). All Parents and Grandparents are welcome!

As Christmas approaches, so does our school’s annual Christmas Concert. Our concert this year is titled “On This Very Christmas Night.” There will be two concert dates depending on the grade your child is in. The dates and times are as follows: Dec. 5 ~ Matinee 1:30 p.m. ~ Evening 6:30 p.m. - Grade K, 1B, 3A, 4/5, 5A Dec. 6 ~ Matinee 1:30 p.m. ~ Evening 6:30 p.m. Grade 1A, 2A, 2/3,4A, 6

*Doors open ½ hour before performance time. We encourage families to attend the 1:30 p.m. performance if possible. All students should be in their classrooms around 6:00 p.m. on the concert evening. Concert Night Dress: (Please let Mrs. Sawchuk know if you do not have a black bottom or white top. We do not expect families to purchase special clothes.) Kindergarten: Sunday best Grade 1-4 Girls: White tops and Black bottoms, Dress or Skirt. Grade 1-4 Boys: White dress shirt, Tie or Bow tie, Black Pants Grade 5&6 Girls: White tops and Black bottoms, Dress or Skirt. Green and Red "Who ville" accessories for the Grinch Grade 5&6 Boys: White dress shirt, Tie or Bow tie, Black Pants Green and Red "Who ville" accessories for the Grinch Gym Seating - Seating for the concert will be on a first come, first serve basis. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Sign of Hope Collection at the Gym Doors during the Christmas Concert The Sign of Hope campaign offers many programs that benefit people in our community – they offer over 100 programs that help over 60,000 people each year. The generosity of countless individuals, business owners, corporations, and social organizations allows Catholic Social Services’ ministries to help people in need of all faiths (or no faith) and all cultures. Through your donation to the Sign of Hope, you can help Catholic Social Services create brighter futures. Thank you!

ATHLETICS at AJM We would like to thank our teacher coaches and teacher sponsors for their tremendous efforts in providing our students with the opportunity of gaining skills and confidence in the diverse team sports offered at AJM. Our coaches donate their personal time to build and foster character through sports for our students. A big thank you goes to the following coaches for their time and efforts! Junior Boys Volleyball – Mr. Fairfield and Mrs. Cyr Senior Boys Volleyball – Mr. Shinkaruk and Mr. Sharkey, and Mr. Knox (parent volunteer) Junior Girls Volleyball – Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Brudler Senior Girls Volleyball – Ms. Lis and Mrs. Grattan Junior Boys Basketball – Mr. Gonzalez-Rico and Mr. Ross (parent volunteer) Senior Boys Basketball –Mrs. Skeels, and Mr. Schipper (parent volunteer) Junior Girls Basketball – Mrs. Schooler, Mrs. Santos-Chaves, and Jennifer Crowley (parent volunteer) Senior Girls Basketball – Ms. Lis and Mrs. Arnold (parent volunteer) Curling – Ms. Gaborak and Mrs. Skeels

This time of the year is a busy time for Social Justice Activities across the city. The projects that AJM is presently supporting assist people in our school and our community. On behalf of the project coordinators and the recipients, we are appreciative of any support that you able to give. Thank you! God Bless!

Elves of Edmonton Christmas Social Justice Project 2017

Grade 8 students at AJM will once again participate in ‘Elves of Edmonton’ program. This is the seventh consecutive year that our school has partnered up with Kindergarten, gr. 1 - 3 at St. Francis of Assisi School. Grade eight students receive the name of a child from Kindergarten, grades one, two, or three from St. Francis of Assisi and some information about him or her. Students are then asked to go out and shop for their secret buddy. During the last week of school prior to Christmas Break, Grade 8 students from AJM, all dressed in RED and GREEN along with ELF hats will deliver their gifts and spend some time with their buddies. They will also spend some time getting to know their buddies by sharing Christmas gifts, talking, playing and reading a Christmas story. The visit concludes with sharing hot chocolate, singing Christmas songs, and being treated to a visit from Santa. This year’s event will occur on December 21st.

Thank you to our Junior High teachers and Mrs. Mackenzie for supervising this wonderful project.

Hello Parents and Guardians! Our names are Larissa and Sydney and we are Nutrition students in our fourth year at the U of A. We have been fortunate to have the opportunity to do 2 classroom presentations to the Grade 4 and 5 classes about Canada’s Food Guide, the food groups, sugars, and healthy snacks. We were able to give the students samples of healthier snack ideas, thanks to the generous donations by Dave at Magrath Save-on-Foods and Nimesh at Lendrum Sunterra Market. Thank you to these wonderful community partners! As we approach the holiday season, it can be hard to eat healthy. Holidays are a great way to spend more time with family, take a break, and enjoy some delicious treats. We all deserve it! With that in mind, there are lots of small tips you can do to make healthy food options more available, and focus on balance and variety.

• Make holiday baking healthier! Use whole-wheat flour instead of white flour, substitute fats and oils for applesauce or Greek yogurt, or cut back on the amount of added sugars in the recipe. You may be surprised at how good the desserts still taste! Read more at: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-healthier-bakes

• Have fruit and vegetables ready to go: preparing produce in advance (like washing and slicing apples, pears, carrot sticks, broccoli, snap peas, and more) are an easy snack to have around for your children when they are off school. Just reach into the fridge, and they are ready to eat!

• Use the Healthy Plate trick for Christmas dinner: fill half of your plate with vegetables (like carrots, Brussels sprouts, and more), one quarter of your plate with meat and alternatives (like turkey) and one quarter of your plate with grain products (like a dinner roll). This is a great way to eat in a balanced way from all food groups!

Mark your Calendars Full Day on Thursday, December 21, 2017 Santa’s Breakfast December 22, 2017 - School Council is hosting Santa for breakfast on our

last day of classes before the Christmas break for all students Grades 1-8. Early Dismissal Friday, December 22, 2017 CLASSES RESUME – Monday, January 8, 2018

December 2017

O come, divine Messiah; the world in silence waits the day When hope shall sing its triumph and sadness flee away.

(O Come, Divine Messiah, S.J. Pellegrin)

The season of Advent is upon us. It is a sacred time of prayer, reflection, and preparation for the coming of Jesus. There are so many ways that families can share in the joy and anticipation of the birth of our Saviour. Archbishop Smith shares how we can bring the Word of God more deeply into our classrooms and homes in his message to us this month. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, as we light the candles on our Advent wreaths, we can also reflect on the hope, peace, joy, and love that is to be found in the gift of Jesus Christ. There are many special events that are being held in our parishes and schools; evenings of Advent song, the preparation of hampers for families who would benefit from extra support, extra opportunities to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, to name a few.

The Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories released a supplementary letter just before Catholic Education Sunday. In it, they gave a call to Catholics to join in and spread the great news of Catholic education. They share, “It is important that everyone be ready to stand up for our faith and for our schools. Please be prepared to speak out in support of our Catholic schools whenever you can. We are proud of who we are as Catholics.” You can read the entire letter at https://goo.gl/cauRBf. We will be proudly sharing the story of the richness of Catholic education in Edmonton Catholic Schools using the hashtag #ECSDFaithInspires in the upcoming months, and we encourage you to help us spread the message that Catholic education is an outstanding and important choice for families to guide our children and youth as they learn and grow in mind, body, and spirit. We are embarking on a legacy project and would like to be able to capture the journeys of families who have 3 or 4 generations that are able to share their story of Edmonton Catholic Schools. If your family is interested in participating, please email a brief overview of your generations to marketing@ecsd.net . The response to our Celebration of Catholic Education Evenings in November was tremendous! We have included the responses to the questions which people shared with us as part of the feedback sheets. Edmonton Catholic Schools is excited to participate in the Hour of Code, once again this year. This is the fourth year that we will be participating, and this year’s event will be the best one yet! Hour of Code is a global movement that is supported by Code.org with the purpose of reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries through a one-hour introduction to computer science and computer programming. Coding is a great way to develop literacy, numeracy, creativity, and thinking skills. Last year we had over 22,000 students participate and this year we are hoping for 25,000! Our goal is to have a <Bit of Code> In Every School. In his Sunday Angelus to mark the beginning of Advent last year, Pope Francis shared the following message: “In this season of Advent, we are called to expand the horizons of our hearts, to be amazed by the life which presents itself each day with newness.” I wish you all an Advent that fills you with this amazement! Sincerely, Joan Carr Superintendent

December 2017 Dear Friends, In December, especially in Edmonton, we notice that the hours, minutes of sunlight diminish. It is during this time of darkness that we begin a new liturgical year. The season of Advent is upon us. Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas. We prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World (John 8:12). The prophet Isaiah foretold this event when he wrote: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2) During this Advent season as we prepare for Christmas, I invite you to listen to Jesus, the Word of God and to be guided by the Word. As the Psalmist writes: Your word is lamp unto my feet and light to my path. (Ps 119:105) There are many ways to listen to the Word. In our Catholic Schools the Word of God proclaimed, studied and discussed. I invite you, as I have invited everyone in the Archdiocese, to hear the Word of God in three ways:

1. To prepare a prayer space in your home or classroom where a Bible takes the place of honour;

2. To pray a simple prayer before and after meals. I will assist you in this by offering a biblical verse to help you to hear the Word of God. These are available through the parish Sunday bulletin.

3. To discuss the Sunday homily as a family. With Christ as our guide, may you continue to let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matt.5:16) during the Advent season and throughout the liturgical year. I pray that you have a blessed Christmas! Richard W. Smith Archbishop of Edmonton

LIVING IN THE WORD OF GOD

Creation of a Prayer Space in the Home

In his recent Pastoral Letter, Living in the Word of God, Archbishop Richard Smith offers some thoughts as to how we, as members of this Archdiocesan family, can together listen carefully to the Word of God and, in a shared commitment, put it into practice. ” St. Paul teaches that faith comes from what is heard. This means that the first act of the disciple is to listen carefully to what God is saying to us in the words of Jesus. The hearing of Christ's Word demands a silent and attentive listening. This requires effort and determination. Living in a world of noise, we must be always cultivating, with the help of God's grace, an inner stillness in which we are disposed to hear and be transformed by the Word of God.”

In the same way, Archbishop Smith invites families, too, to listen together to the Word of God. “Through a careful listening to this Word, families encounter the Lord in their very midst and hear within the depths of their hearts his assurance of love and call to holiness and service. One way to make this happen is to create a prayer space in the home. I recall from my days as a parish priest the practice of one family that created a sacred space in their home by simply placing a candle in the corner of one room. They would gather daily around the lit candle to offer their spontaneous prayers to God for his blessing upon their day.”

We, at Edmonton Catholic Schools, invite you to heed the call of Archbishop Smith. As we approach the season of Advent, we are reminded that Advent is a time of great spiritual preparation as we ready our souls for the coming of Christ. Advent is an important season in which families can dedicate time each day to pray and to share the Word of God together, preparing in a powerful way for the coming of Christ. This Advent Season, like many of the past, will be filled with distractions and priorities which attempt to take away from our families spiritually during this crucial time. Consider creating a prayer space in your home by placing an Advent Wreath at the center of your dining table. As a family, gather around the Advent Wreath, before or after meals, to light the Advent candles, to offer spontaneous prayers, and to listen to the Word of God. During this Advent season, we hope that you will use these traditional tools with your family and that God will use them to benefit your family with grace and love.

Sandra Talarico, Religious Education Consultant

ENGAGEMENT FEEDBACK 1

Celebration of Catholic Education Religious Education Parent/Guardian Engagement Evenings Feedback

On November 1 and 2 the Trustees and Administration of Edmonton Catholic School District were pleased to host parent engagement evenings at St. Charles Parish and Corpus Christi Parish titled: Celebration of Catholic Education Religious Education Parent/Guardian Engagement Evenings. Each evening began with the celebration of the Eucharist followed by a presentation and an opportunity for reflection. We were delighted that Archbishop Richard Smith and Bishop Gregory Bittman were able to celebrate these evenings with us. They were joined at our Lord’s table by the parish priests, deacons, and our District Chaplains. Additionally, we were pleased that, so many community members attended Mass and the program that followed.

We are happy to share some of the feedback and comments we received following each presentation. Included below are corresponding links to more information and resources as well as highlights from the presentations.

A. We asked participants: What is one thing from this evening’s presentation that you enjoyed most?

1. “The experiences and opinions of the children in the video; they are the principle role in this story. I enjoyed the video and how the young students understood their Catholic faith and expressed themselves with confidence.”

The video, Growing in the Spirit, was a collaborative effort between Learning Services Innovation and many students from across the school district. It focused on asking students to express their thoughts on what Catholic Education meant to them. Growing in the Spirit Video

2. “I enjoyed learning about the new curriculum and resources available for parents, teachers and the parishes. Knowing what my children will be learning enables me to help them grow in their faith.”

Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ, the new Religious Education program approved by the Catholic Bishops of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories and developed in collaboration with Catholic educators from across Canada, exemplifies the discipline and rigor with which the program is delivered. Pearson Canada, the publisher, has developed a school, a home, and a parish website that helps to integrate the faith into everyday life. Pearson Canada Student-Home Website

Username: ecsd99 Password: Student99

3. “I really appreciate how the Competencies formed through Catholic education are permeated from Kindergarten to Grade Twelve and that teachers are receiving professional development in this area.”

We know that Catholic education means that students are given the opportunity to encounter Christ in all aspects of their learning day, not just in Religion class. This means that our Catholic faith is permeated throughout all subjects and all activities. The Learner Competencies Formed through Catholic Education reflect the Alberta Programs of Study from a Catholic education standpoint and change the way that we approach permeation. Learner Competencies Formed Through Catholic Education

4. “I was pleased to see the Archdiocese’s Sacramental Education Initiative. I have children who are passed their sacraments, so this is a document with which I am unfamiliar.”

ENGAGEMENT FEEDBACK 2

The Standards for Preparing Children and Youth for the Sacraments in the Archdiocese of Edmonton are the result of the Sacramental Education Initiative set forth by the Archdiocese and the Catholic school boards chairs and superintendents from our Archdiocese. The Standards have been developed after four years of wide consultation with priests of the Archdiocese, pastoral assistants, religious consultants, parents, principals and teachers in our Catholic school districts. We invite you to contact your local Catholic parish for more information about Sacramental preparation.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton – Sacramental Preparation

B. We asked participants: What is one thing you wonder about or would like to learn more about?

1. “I am anxious to know if Religious Education is mandatory from Kindergarten to Grade Twelve.”

Religious Education is a scholastic discipline and not a complementary course; nor is it a supplement to other disciplines, but underpins the educational activity of Catholic schools. Students are required to participate in and complete Religious Education courses each year of their schooling with Edmonton Catholic Schools. In high school, students typically complete nine credits in Religious Education within a traditional classroom setting. Under some circumstances, and to accommodate special learning needs, Religious Education is also delivered in alternative modes such as PASS (Part Time Alternative Self-Paced School) or Revelation Online.

2. “What is ECSD doing about the alternative curriculum for sexual education in our schools?”

We have, and continue to teach the outcomes of the existing curriculum. To clarify, it should be noted that the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA) did not submit a parallel curriculum proposal to the government. CCSSA is working closely with Alberta Education in supporting the curriculum development, and seeks to create a supplemental resource that ensures a Catholic lens is provided for our learners. Our District has teachers participating in the working group that is developing the new health and wellness curriculum.

3. “I appreciate that teachers and administrators continue their faith journeys in meaningful professional development opportunities.”

Teachers and administrators have many opportunities to develop and grow in their faith. This includes School Opening Mass, Permeation Afternoon, Faith Formation Afternoon, Father Michael Mireau Youth Day, Faith Development Day, Grace for the Heart and Soul, Student Faith Development Days, District-Wide Professional Development sessions on the RE Curriculum, as well as Social Justice Initiatives; Religious and Moral Education Conference through the ATA; SPICE and Blueprints through the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association; Dinner and a Course through St. Joseph’s College; and the Treasures of the Faith, the Certificate in Catholic Studies, and the Master of Religious Education through Newman Theological College.

Included below are two links from the Alberta Bishops in their support of Catholic Education:

Catholic Education Sunday Bishop’s Letter Catholic Education Sunday Supplementary Statement

We thank those who were able to attend the parent engagement evenings and for sharing their comments.