Principal’s Weekly Update and Important Information- March 27, 2026

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As we head into Spring Break, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for a truly wonderful-and very busy-week at the school. It was uplifting to see so many families in the building over the past several days. Your presence, partnership, and support make such a meaningful difference. Our students had a great time participating in the many activities happening throughout the week, and we hope all families enjoy a restful and joy‑filled Spring Break.

We would also like to acknowledge that Ms. Autumn Steininger, our Grade 2 teacher, has now completed her term with us. We are grateful for her hard work, professionalism, and care for her students. We wish her all the very best in her new position.

At the same time, we are very pleased to welcome back Ms. Melissa McIsaac, a valued member of our school community. Ms. McIsaac is returning following a maternity leave and is genuinely excited to be back in her Grade 2 classroom.

As we move into the break, we are reminded of the words from Philippians 4:4:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

May this time bring rest, joy, and renewal to all. Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and refreshing Spring Break.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK …

Book Fair Week
“Guess the Candy Count” Fundraiser
Lost & Found tables
Advisory
Musical practices
Hot Dog/Subway Fundraising Lunch
Jump Rope for Heart Day
K-6 Student Led and Gr7-8/Specialists Parent Teacher Conferences
Staff Appreciation Day
Inservice/No School on Friday
BASC until 4 pm only on Friday

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK …

Spring Break – No School/No BASC

LOOK WHAT’S COMING UP …

Easter Monday: No School/No BASC
First day back to school after Spring Break is TUESDAY, April 7^th
230 pm Early Dismissal on April 9^th

VIP HOURS

Please ensure VIP hours are entered in a timely manner and check carefully to avoid duplicate submissions. Many families still have outstanding hours that have not yet been entered. If you are looking for volunteer opportunities check out the red links throughout the Update. They are also featured on our website. Here is the direct link to Parent Zone: www.stccs.ca

STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK

This week, our staff were incredibly grateful for the thoughtful gestures and generosity shown by our school community. Thank you to our Grade 1, Grade 2, and 5F families for providing a delicious lunch-it was truly appreciated. We also extend our sincere thanks to our parent representatives for coordinating and organizing these efforts so seamlessly.

In addition to the lunch, our staff were treated to a variety of extra surprises throughout the week, including gift cards, cupcakes, and pizza. These acts of kindness made our team feel valued and celebrated. Thank you to all families for your continued support and appreciation

SCIENCE FAIR

Congratulations to all Middle Years students on a highly successful Science Fair. Your hard work, curiosity, and commitment to excellence were clearly evident throughout the event. A special acknowledgment goes to this year’s award recipients.

Engineering Design Category

Third Place: William – Ice Cream Machine

Second Place: Alexandra – Ducky Boat Float

First Place: Hailey – Parking Lot Control System

Scientific Research Category

Third Place (three‑way tie):

Charlie – Now You See Me Now You Don’t

Paige – Relief Starts Here

Selina & Emily – Loaded Bears

Second Place: Rebecca – Light Sources and Vitamin C

First Place: Lincoln – The Shape of Speed

Thank you to all our volunteer judges. Your time, expertise, and support were essential to the success of this event, and we are very grateful.

GUESS THE CANDY COUNT Grade 8 Fundraiser

Our Easter “Guess the Candy Count” fundraiser was a great success, and we extend our thanks to everyone who supported the Grade 8 Farewell.

Congratulations to Audrey in Grade 1, whose guess of 798 was closest to the total of 800 candies. Well done!

CELEBRATING OUR LEARN TO SKATE PROGRAM

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to JP for leading this year’s Learn to Skate program. His organization, expertise, and genuine care for our students made the program an outstanding success. Students showed tremendous growth on the ice and looked forward to every session. We also heard wonderful feedback from parents and teachers about how well‑structured and engaging the program was. Below is a message from JP!

Dear Mrs. Prettie, Staff and Parents,

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to both the families and the school for allowing us the opportunity to work with your students during the Learn to Skate program.

It has been a pleasure being on the ice with such a great group of kids. Watching their confidence grow, their skills improve, and their enjoyment of skating has been incredibly rewarding for our entire team.

We truly appreciate the support from the school and the trust from parents in allowing us to be part of your child’s development and experience on the ice.

Thank you again for making this program such a positive and successful experience. We hope to continue working together in the future. Warm regards, JP Vigier

Thank you to JP and his staff for their dedication and for creating such a positive experience for our school community.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

Our Scholastic Book Fair was a great success and raised valuable funds for our school. Thank you to our amazing and dedicated coordinators for your effort, organization, and ongoing support, as well as to our parent volunteers for your time and commitment.

Every purchase helps us add new books to our classrooms and school library, directly supporting literacy for all students.

Congratulations to our contest winners!

SCCS LAPEL PINS

We are pleased to share that SCCS lapel pins are now available for purchase in the school office. If you have already placed an order, your pin is ready for pickup. Families who would still like to purchase a pin may do so in the office for $5 (cash). Please note that only a limited number of pins remain.

40 CANS FOR LENT

As part of our Lenten journey, our school community participated in the 40 Cans for Lent initiative. Donations were picked up on Friday, and we are grateful for the numerous boxes of food items collected. The generosity of our families was truly evident-faith and service in action.

Thank you for helping us make a meaningful impact this season.

MUSICAL

MAY 4: Tickets can be purchased in the school office. Tickets are $10

You can also support our Musical program by purchasing tickets for our musical basket raffle. Raffle tickets are $2 each and are available through the school office or at WAG on May 4.

This year’s baskets include:

Kids’ Basket – valued at $150
Couples’ Basket – valued at $300
Family Basket – valued at $375

PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF SAFETY REMINDER

We continue to see students getting in and out of vehicles in unsafe areas. This increases the risk of accidents. The problem areas continue to be:

The bus loop
Cars stopping on St. Charles Street (both sides)

For everyone’s safety, please use only the designated loading zone, parking lot, behind the church or any side streets for student drop-off and pick-up. Your cooperation helps keep all students and families safe.
We are looking for parent volunteers to assist with our parking lot and loading zone patrol. Please sign up using the link below:

2025-2026 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | PARKING LOT & LOADING ZONE PATROL

THE 26TH ANNUAL SCCS GOLF TOURNAMENT

In Memory of Robert Morrison & Chad Friesen
Our annual tournament is on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Breezy Bend Country Club.
Sponsorship packages and additional information are available on Parent Zone. Please help support this important fundraising event for the school!

Our golf tournament is just around the corner, and we are currently looking for a few coordinators to help support planning.
If you are interested and available, please contact fundraising@stccs.ca

BASC

As we return, please take note of the following important reminders and program updates:

There will be no BASC on Monday April 6.
Wednesday programming will include BLINE, and Thursday will feature Cheer, along with early dismissal.
K–2 Cookies and Grades 3–5 Donuts programs are now full.
The Grades 6–8 Dehydrating Food program still has available spots.
Both the Spring Craft and Mother’s Day Craft sessions also continue to have spaces available.
A new BASC program for May is being offered, with registration due April 10.
- This program is presented by WISE Kid‑Netic Energy and provides a hands‑on, curriculum‑based science experience.
The Cheer Recital will take place on Thursday, April 16.
BLINE testing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29.
May and June BASC programs, including golf and tennis, are now posted on the school website.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Furutani.

TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Our Bursary tuition applications are available online for the 2026-2027 school year. Please submit all completed applications to the school office by May 15, 2026. The forms can be found on Parent Zone under Forms & Programs.
Tuition assistance is available for families, and those wishing to apply must complete and submit all required documentation as part of the application process. We are committed to supporting families and encourage anyone with questions to contact the school office.

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART

So far, our school community has raised over $1,220 through Jump Rope for Heart! Thank you for your outstanding fundraising efforts and for continuing to follow the EASY healthy habits:

E – Eat fruits and vegetables
A – Active for one hour or more
S – Screens for less than 2 hours a day
Y – Yes to water, and no to sugary drinks

You should be very proud of the difference you are making in support of heart health and lifesaving research. We hope you enjoyed participating in our Jump Event and that you continue to stay active while practicing the EASY habits for a healthy heart and mind.

Our fundraiser remains open until April 8. If you would like to help us reach our $2,000 goal, donations can be made or shared through our school’s fundraising page: St Charles Catholic School – Winnipeg | Heart & Stroke Jump Rope for Heart

HOT LUNCH FUNDRAISER

Our Wednesday hot lunch fundraiser continues!

Reminder: All orders must be placed through Munch-a-Lunch at www.munchalunch.com ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE.
If you have questions, please contact fundraising@stccs.ca.
We also are in need and have many volunteer opportunities available: VOLUNTEER for WEDNESDAY FUNDRAISING LUNCHES 2026

Uniform fittings will take place in the small gym. Envision staff will be onsite to support families with orders and answer any questions. Sample garments will be available to try on. Next year, we are pleased to offer long‑sleeve polo shirts as part of our uniform options! Please visit: www.envisionuniforms.ca to view all available uniform items.

To help us manage busy times, we kindly ask families to book a fitting appointment. SignUp link: BOOK YOUR UNIFORM FITTING Thursday, April 30th, 2026 12-6 pm or Friday, May 1st, 2026 9 am-2 pm

And here is the link for families to volunteer to assist at uniform fittings: VOLUNTEER TO ASSIST WITH UNIFORM FITTING DAYS Thursday, April 30th & Friday, May 1st, 2026

BASKETBALL

The developmental girls’ team demonstrated a season filled with determination and growth. Over the course of practices and games, the players showed noticeable improvements in endurance, skill, and self-confidence. They consistently supported one another and showed a strong desire to better understand the game and improve their performance. Ms. Cascegna and Mrs. Van Helvert are incredibly proud of the team’s progress and dedication throughout the season.

This season, the developmental boys’ basketball team showed great effort and commitment from start to finish. The boys consistently tried their best, pushing themselves in practices and games while building confidence on the court. Throughout the season, they improved their skills and teamwork during games. They also improved their understanding of the game and how to support one another during play. Most importantly, the team worked well together, showing positive attitudes and learning the fundamentals of basketball. -Mr. Vechina

The Competitive Girls’ basketball team finished their season ranked 5^th in Tier 1 going into playoffs. The girls showed a lot of improvement over the season, and we are very proud of their hard work, sportsmanship and perseverance in some tough games! Thank you also to our volunteer coaches Edwin Esteban and Nikki Robert for sharing your time to help the team improve and refine their skills. Congratulations to the team on an excellent season! -Mrs. Chliboyko

The competitive boys’ basketball team had an outstanding season! They worked hard, improved their skills and enjoyed working together. They finished the regular season second in the league winning 7 games and losing 1. During play offs the boys played hard and ended up coming in second place! Congratulations Chargers! A special thank you to the parent volunteer coaches Edwin and Darren it would not have been possible without you! -Kelsey Copeland

2026 – 2027 SCHOOL KEY DATES

2026–2027 School Year Key Dates
First Day of School for students	September 9, 2026
Last Day Before Christmas Break	December 18, 2026
Students Return After Break	January 4, 2027
Spring Break	March 29 – April 2, 2027
No School / No BASC – Good Friday	March 26, 2027
No School / No BASC – Easter Monday (in lieu of March 29)	April 5, 2027
Last Day of School	June 30, 2027

TURF CAMPAIGN – FROM THE GROUND UP – HELP BUILD OUR PLAYGROUND

We are asking for your help! So far we have raised $108,095. Amazing!
You can track our progress on the school website. There is also an attached QR code in the brochure (see .pdf copy below).

Have an amazing SPRING BREAK!!

Aneta Prettie PRINCIPAL
St. Charles Catholic School
Phone: 204-837-1520 ext. 222

Link to .pdf version of Principal’s Weekly Update

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