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Principal Weekly Update Archives

Posted on March 4, 2025

Principal’s Update – February 28, 2025

PINK SHIRT DAY: A LESSON IN KINDNESS AND COMPASSION

This week, our school community came together to recognize Pink Shirt Day, a meaningful reminder of the importance of kindness, respect, and standing up against bullying. By wearing pink, our students and staff sent a powerful message: that we are committed to fostering a school environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and included.

As a Catholic school, we look to the teachings of Jesus to guide us in our daily actions. One of the most powerful lessons on kindness and compassion comes from the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). In this story, a man is attacked by robbers and left injured on the side of the road. Many pass by without offering help, but a Samaritan—a stranger, and someone least expected to assist—stops, cares for the man, and ensures he is safe. Jesus uses this parable to teach us what it truly means to love our neighbor: kindness is not just about words, but about action.

This message ties beautifully into the origins of Pink Shirt Day, which began when a student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. In response, his peers chose to wear pink as a sign of solidarity, showing that small acts of kindness can create lasting change. Their simple gesture sparked a movement, reminding us all that when we witness unkindness, we have a choice: to remain silent or to stand up for what is right.

At St. Charles, we strive to instill these values in our students each day. Whether it’s including a classmate in a game, offering a kind word, or speaking up when someone needs support, these small but meaningful actions reflect Christ’s love in our community. Let us continue to nurture a culture of kindness, ensuring that every child feels seen, heard, and valued.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us create a school where compassion and respect shine in all we do.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK …

  • Learn to Skate
  • Enrichment Classes and Hockey Enrichment
  • Grade 4 & 5 Track Meet at the University of Manitoba
  • Pink Shirt Colour Day
  • Subway/Hot Dog Fundraising Lunch
  • Holy Childhood Association Popcorn Sale
  • “I Love to Read Month” wrapped up!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK …

  • Learn to Skate on Monday
  • Music Festival on Monday for Grade 6-8 Choir
  • Enrichment and Hockey Enrichment on Tuesday
  • Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast on Tuesday, March 4th from 7-9 am in our Cafeteria – donations will be accepted and will benefit the Holy Childhood Association
  • PML Lunch Hour Recital on Tuesday, March 4th
  • Ash Wednesday Mass will be held on March 5th at 1030 am – ALL ARE WELCOME!
  • Wednesday Pizza Fundraising Lunch for those who have ordered
  • Music Festival on Thursday for Grade 3-5 Choir
  • 230 pm Early Dismissal on Thursday, March 6th
  • Friday, March 7th is an Inservice. No School!

LOOK WHAT’S COMING UP …

  • Learn to Skate
  • Advisory Groups and Enrichment Groups
  • Grades 7 & 8 Camp
  • Wednesday Fundraising Lunches continue
  • Monday, March 17th is a St. Patrick’s Day Colour Day!
  • Musical Bake Sale
  • Science Fair
  • Book Fair
  • Report Cards
  • Parent Teacher Interviews/Student Led Conferences
  • Staff Appreciation Day
  • Spring Break!!!

More detailed information can be found on the school website, in the calendar section under Parent Zone!

BASC

A few updates and reminders for BASC:

  • BLINE is on Monday and Wednesday.
  • Tuesday is the St. Patty’s Craft
  • Tennis starts Thursday.
  • Friday, March 7th is a full-day BASC with a field trip—We are FULL!
  • All March program forms were due –  there is room in Wood Burning only!
  • Friday, March 28th full day BASC closes at 4PM.
  • BASC forms and payments must be submitted before attending BASC.

📞 Last-minute BASC? If you need BASC or need to cancel on the same day, please text me directly at 204-880-8245. I provide the attendance list to teachers daily, so there’s no need to contact the office.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
Ms. Furutani

SUMMER CAMP applications are now available! If interested or have any questions, please contact Ms. Furutani.
For any questions, feel free to reach out:
kfurutani@stccs.ca 204-880-8245

OUTDOOR PLAY!

We are so happy that the weather has allowed for outdoor play again!Please pack extra uniform clothing, including an additional pair of socks, in your child’s backpack. This will ensure they have a dry change of clothes if they get wet while playing outside.

IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION

Parking & Loading Zone Reminder:
Thank you to everyone in our community for following parking protocols and signage to help keep our students safe!

  • Reminder: There is NO getting out of your vehicle in the Loading Zone. Your child must be able to exit the vehicle independently. I’m always happy to assist in the morning to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
  • Volunteers Needed! We are always looking for extra hands to support this initiative. As a thank you, FREE BASC (Before and After School Care) is offered to our volunteers.
  • Sign up for Loading Zone Patrol (Monday – Friday) on ParentZone!.

WISE KID-NETIC ENERGY

Grade 7 students explored Indigenous Structures, learning about traditional designs, forces, and stability while creating their own models. Grade 8 engaged in an Optics dissection, examining the parts of an eye in a fascinating, hands-on activity.

Grade 6M explored the origins of Métis dot art, examining various examples to deepen their understanding of Indigenous culture and nature’s significance. They also applied their knowledge of mathematical triangles to design their backgrounds. Fantastic work, 6M!

As part of our Lenten journey, we are participating in 40 Cans for Lent, a food drive rooted in Catholic values of compassion and service. This initiative encourages us to give to those in need by collecting non-perishable food items for Winnipeg Harvest.

Starting next week and continuing until Easter, students can bring donations to their homeroom teacher’s collection boxes. Together, we can make a difference by living out our faith through generosity and kindness. Thank you for your support!

I LOVE TO READ MONTH

  • Contests
    • Bookmark Coloring Contest Winners:
      • KF – Jovie, KL – Everly, G1 – Alik, G1-2 – Liam, G2 – Briar, G3 – Ashlyn, G3-4 – Addison, G4 – Liam, G5 – Victoria, G6C – Dane, G6M – Addy and Rayala (tie), G7 – Maria, G8 – Kaitlyn.
    • Find the Book Character School Hunt Winners: Grade 1-2 and Grade 4 Classrooms
  • Activities
    • “Read to Us” Teacher Swap promotes a love for reading by exposing students to different teachers, storytelling styles, and book choices.
    • Flash Reading Mob is a fun and spontaneous event that promotes enthusiasm for reading, builds a sense of community, and encourages peer learning.
  • Colour Days
    • In January, Project 11 held a contest for Manitoba teachers to win a class set of Pink Shirt Day T-shirts, and Ms. Copeland was fortunate to be selected as a winner—a digital draw determined Mrs. Froystad’s Grade 5 class. On Wednesday, the students proudly wore their pink shirts! Thank you, Project 11!

IMPORTANT OFFICE REMINDER

For the safety of all students and effective school management, all parents must check in at the school office upon entering the building.
Parents are not permitted to go directly to classrooms for drop-off or pick-up, at ANYTIME.

MUSICAL BAKE SALE

Support our school musical by indulging in some delicious treats!

On March 17th, we will be holding a bake sale to help raise funds. Students can purchase a variety of baked goods, with all proceeds going toward costumes, props, and other musical expenses.

Thank you for your support—every treat helps bring our show to life!

SCCS GOLF TOURNAMENT

Save the Date! This year’s Golf Tournament is Thursday, May 22, 2025 @ Breezy Bend Golf Course, please mark it in your calendars! We need help from the entire St Charles community to make this a success.

Golfer Registration Form: GolferREGISTRATION2025PDF Document · 197 KB
Sponsorship Form: SCCSSponsorshipPACKAGE-2025PDF Document · 193 KB

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART

  • Our school is participating in Jump Rope for Heart – a fundraiser that will encourage our students to get active, build healthy habits and give back.
  • Support heart health with Jump Rope for Heart.
  • Our school’s fundraising page link is https://jumpropeforheart.crowdchange.ca/84810
  • THANK YOU to the many supports who have already donated!!!

MUSICAL

St. Charles Catholic School is performing Dot & the Kangaroo Jr. at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on May 5thwith a matinee and evening show.
Tickets are available in the school front office or please contact Ms. Furutani.
There are also three gift baskets to win, and tickets can be purchased in the front office and on May 5th.
Thank you for your support!

TRACK & FIELD

On Tuesday, our Grade 4 and 5 students had the exciting opportunity to participate in an indoor track and field relay meet at the University of Manitoba. This event brought together teams from both Independent and Public Schools, creating a spirited and competitive atmosphere.

Throughout the meet, they demonstrated determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship, giving their best effort in every event.

Beyond their athletic performance, our Chargers stood out for their enthusiasm and support for one another, cheering on their teammates and celebrating each other’s successes. It was wonderful to see their energy and school spirit on display.

TRACK & FIELD RESULTS

  • GRADE 4 GIRLS
    • 4X200M Relay: Addison, Eleeza, Sadie, and Maya placed 10th out of 50 teams.
    • 8x40m Shuttle Relay: Mary, Valentina, Ava, Zoe, Addison, Eleeza, Sadie, and Maya placed 12th out of 34 teams.
    • Shot Put Relay:
      • Team A (Addison, Eleeza, Sadie, Maya) placed 6th.
      • Team B (Sable, Summer, Augusta, Yadel) placed 8th.
  • GRADE 4 BOYS
    • Shot Put Relay:
      • Team C (Jack, Jacob, Paul, Xander) placed 10th out of 51 teams.
  • GRADE 5 GIRLS
    • Shot Put Relay: Rose, Meera, Isabella, and Sarah placed 11th.
  • GRADE 5 BOYS
    • 8X40m Shuttle Relay: Andy, Wesley, Grayson, Lucas, Amen, DJ, Johan, and Aldo placed 8th out of 28 teams.
    • Shot Put Relay:
      • Team A (Andy, Grayson, Johan, Lucas) placed 3rd, contributing to the Grade 5 Boy’s 7th place overall in the event.

Way to go, Chargers! 💙💛

SCIENCE WORKSHOP

This week at SCCS, the KID-NETIC program returned, bringing hands-on learning and teamwork to our students. Grades 7 & 8 partnered with Grade 3 to create bird feeders, blending science with buddy time. Students worked together by following instructions, helping one another, and enjoying a fun, educational experience. They were excited to take their feeders home—just in time for the warm weather we’re having!

POWERSCHOOL

Some families have received an email from PowerSchool regarding the cybersecurity breach. If you have any questions or concerns, please call 833-918-7884, Monday through Friday, 8:00am through 8:00pm Central Time (excluding major US holidays). Please note that St. Charles does not store personal information, such as SIN numbers, in PowerSchool as we do not have access to that information. THANK YOU everyone for your support and understanding.

LUNCH ORDERS

Reminder if your child is away or going on a field trip to receive a lunch credit you must text Ms. Furutani by 9am. 📞 204-880-8245

PIZZA FUNDRAISER

Support Our School & a Local Business! 🍕 Stock up on delicious, easy meals while supporting both our school and a local business! All proceeds go toward the Turf Campaign, helping us improve our school grounds.
Order today on Parent Zone and make a difference! 🍕✨
Link to order: Permission Click.

If you would like to share the Pizza Fundraiser poster, here is a .png version, Archie’s Pizza Fundraiser.
ORDER BY FEBRUARY 28

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

We are asking for your help! So far we have raised $72,020. You can track our progress on the school website. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!

This week’s generous sponsors are:
The Mutcher Family
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
Thank you for your generosity and support!

Here is a video preview link of the turf project completed by Venture Landscaping:

https://listings.uncutcreatives.com/videos/0192fdf4-eaae-71a9-afcc-7624693d82bb

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
-Colossians 3:12-14

As we prepare our hearts for Lent, this passage reminds us to embrace virtues that bring us closer to Christ—kindness, patience, and love. It is a time to practice forgiveness and unity as we journey toward spiritual renewal.

Have a wonderful weekend ahead!

Aneta Prettie PRINCIPAL

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

Link to .pdf version of Principal’s Update.