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Principal Weekly Update Archives

Posted on February 7, 2025

Principal’s Update – February 7, 2025

The Power of Reading: Opening Doors to Imagination and Growth

At St. Charles, we believe that a love of reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. Books have the power to spark imagination, deepen understanding, and build empathy by allowing readers to see the world through different perspectives. Whether it’s a favorite bedtime story, an exciting adventure, or a book that challenges us to think in new ways, reading helps children grow both academically and personally.

Developing strong reading habits is about more than just decoding words on a page—it’s about fostering curiosity and a lifelong love of learning. That’s why, during I Love to Read month, we encourage students to explore a variety of books and discover the joy of storytelling. Teachers make reading engaging by incorporating read-alouds, book discussions, and creative activities that bring stories to life. Families can support this at home by setting aside time for shared reading, visiting the library, or simply talking about books together. Even a few minutes each day can make a difference in building confidence and enthusiasm for reading.

One of my favorite memories is reading to my own children. There is something special about sharing a story, turning the pages together, and getting lost in a book’s world. If there’s one piece of advice I can offer, it’s this—read to your children for as long as you can. One day, it stops. They grow up, and bedtime stories fade into memories. But the love of reading, the connection you build through stories, and the lessons learned from books will stay with them forever.

At St. Charles, we are committed to nurturing a reading culture that extends beyond the classroom. Whether students are exploring faith-based stories, historical accounts, or tales of adventure, our goal is to help them find books that ignite their passion for learning. Because when a child discovers the joy of reading, they gain a skill that will serve them for a lifetime.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK …

  • Learn to Skate
  • Wednesday Pizza Fundraising Lunch
  • PML Lunch Hour Recital
  • Early Dismissal
  • Middle Years Exams
  • “I Love to Read Month” assembly!
  • BINGO Night is being held at St. Paul the Apostle tonight at 7 pm! Come join us! No tickets or reservations needed.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK … NO Uniforms! Colour Week!

  • Catholic Schools Week runs all week and will be filled with a lot of activities!
  • There is no PML during Catholic Schools Week.
  • Learn to Skate continues on Monday
  • The Middle Years Ski Trip is CANCELLED due to the weather!
  • School Mass on Tuesday, February 11th at 1030 am – ALL ARE WELCOME!
  • Tuesday, February 11th
    • Grade 7 & 8 Siloam Mission presentation
    • Kinders will celebrate Valentine’s Day
    • Grade 6 Girls are attending Women & Girls in Science Symposium
  • Wednesday, February 12th
  • Subway/Hot Dog Fundraising Lunch for those who ordered
    • K-2 Bowling field trip
    • Grade 5-6 Westwood Band presentation
  • Thursday, February 13th
    • K-2 100 Day Celebrations
    • Grade 5 & 6 Indoor Beach Volleyball field trip
  • Friday, February 14th there is no school and no BASC. Staff are attending a Catholic Schools Day Professional Development Day

LOOK WHAT’S COMING UP …

  • Louis Riel Day is on Monday, February 17th – there is no school
  • Tuesday Advisory and Hockey Enrichment continue
  • Musical Bake Sale – Tuesday, February 18th
  • Grade 3-4 Fort Whyte Field Trip – Wednesday, February 19th
  • Wednesday Pizza Fundraising Lunch for those who have ordered
  • Grade 7 & 8 MB Museum Field Trip – Thursday, February 20th
  • Jump Rope for Heart Kickoff Assembly – Friday, February 21st at 11 am
  • RE-REGISTRATIONS ARE DUE BACK TO THE FRONT OFFICE BY END OF DAY ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21st
  • Grade 4 & 5 Track Meet – Tuesday, February 25th
  • Pink Shirt Colour Day – Wednesday, February 26th
  • Holy Childhood Association Popcorn Sale – Friday, February 28th

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 scheduled for Monday.
  • No BASC on Friday.
  • Building Access: A fob is required to enter the building. If you need one, please contact the front office.
  • Early Dismissal: 2:30 PM. If your child was not picked up, please submit payment.
  • March & April Forms: Available in the front entrance and will be posted on the website soon.
  • NO BASC on Friday, February 14th and Monday, February 17th.
  • Limited spots available for March activities: Wood Burning, Tennis, Baking and a Craft. Forms will be available in the front entrance next week.

Summer Care 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

SCCS BINGO NIGHT

Bring your friends, co-workers or family to join the fun! Friday, February 7th, 2025 @ St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2400 Portage Ave. Doors open @ 6:00pm – Bingo starts @ 6:30pm. A night for fun: Bingo games; Silent Auction; Canteen. DON’T FORGET YOUR DAUBER!!

Volunteer Opportunity: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A094CA5AB22A4F49-54480483-bingo

For more information, see the Principal’s Update .pdf at the bottom of this post.

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!.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED – BOOKFAIR

The Book Fair committee is looking for an interested person/people willing to execute our Book Fair plans with the coordination of volunteers and Staff Liaisons (Ms. J and Mrs. Senderewich), to ensure the volunteers know what is expected of them for the smooth operation of the fair, setup and decoration, and take down of the fair along with the volunteers.

      If you are interested in volunteering as the Coordinator or a Volunteer Lead for the Book Fair, please send an email to stccspac@stccs.ca. Nikki will be delighted to discuss what the position entails and any questions you may have. 

LOGGING VIP HOURS

The VIP Coordinators need your help to ensure the smooth tracking of volunteer hours. Please keep the following in mind when logging your hours in Permission Click:

  • Submit only ONE Permission Click entry per volunteer session. We are receiving multiple duplicate entries, which are time-consuming to process.
  • Ensure accuracy when entering your information. If an entry is unclear and cannot be interpreted, it will be deleted from the system, and you will not receive credit for those hours.
  • Skating volunteer hours: Parents may claim 1.5 hours per class for assisting with skating. If you are claiming more than 1.5 hours, please provide a rationale in the comments (e.g., tied skates for KL and Grade 2).

We have noticed that many families have not yet logged any hours in Permission Click. Please remember that if you have opted into the VIP program, you are required to complete 20 hours by the end of the year to avoid being invoiced. If you need any assistance, please reach out to vip@stccs.ca

I LOVE TO READ MONTH

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher.

  • Contests
    • Bookmark Coloring Contest: Starts Feb. 3
    • Find the Book Character School Hunt: Starts Feb. 4
  • Activities
    • Book Joke/Riddle every Friday – read over the announcements. 
    • Flashlight Friday on Feb. 21: Please bring a flashlight from home!
    • Guest Classroom Readers: Westwood Library, Mr. Mann, Mrs. Gair.
    • Wednesday, Feb. 26: “Read to Us” Teacher Swap.
    • Friday, Feb. 28: Flash Reading Mob at 2:15.
    • Buddy Reading all month.
  • Colour Days
    • Friday, Feb. 21: Dress as a Book Character Day

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Attention Parents! Stay informed and never miss out on important updates! Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram for valuable information about BASC, Music, and more.
Follow our pages:

Visit Parent Zone on our website to access our calendar and set up reminders sent directly to your phone. Follow us today to stay in the loop! If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help!

CARPOOL FORUM

On our website, we have a dedicated Carpool Forum located in the Forms & Programs section. This forum is designed to help parents connect with others in their area who are interested in carpooling. We encourage you to visit the forum, share your availability, and see if you can find a match with other parents. By participating, you can help each other with transportation needs, reduce traffic congestion, and build a stronger community. Check it out today and start making valuable connections!

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

GRADE 7 & 8 EXAMS

At St. Charles Catholic School, our exam procedures are an essential part of a student’s academic growth. Beyond measuring their understanding of key concepts, exams help develop important skills like time management, critical thinking, and effective test-taking strategies.

Students review material learned since September in Math, English, Social Studies, and Science and write a test in each subject. They are guided through the process of studying and preparing for exams, receiving review booklets and strategies to help them succeed. Throughout this experience, they learn how to approach different types of questions, including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, short answer, and essay questions.

To support focus and reduce stress, students write one exam per day in a structured and supportive environment. Rather than just a test, exams serve as a meaningful learning experience that builds confidence and encourages students to take ownership of their education. By fostering a positive and structured approach, we help them develop the skills they need for future success.

ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY – LET’S STAY ON TRACK!

We appreciate your support in keeping our school days running smoothly! Here are a few friendly reminders about attendance and punctuality—because chasing down missing students isn’t our favorite morning workout.

Reporting Absences & Early Pickups

If your child will be absent, please let us know—otherwise, we’ll have to start our detective work, calling every home to track them down. If you’re planning to pick up your child early, please give both the school office and their homeroom teacher a heads-up. You can email reception@stccs.ca or call and leave a message at 204-837-1520.

Punctuality & Late Arrivals

We’ve noticed an increase in students arriving late, and while we love a dramatic entrance, the classroom is not the place for it!

  • Student drop-off begins at 8:15 AM (with supervision outside or inside if it’s chilly).
  • The first bell rings at 8:25 AM, signaling students to enter.
  • All students should be in their classrooms by 8:40 AM
  • Anyone arriving at 8:40 AM or later is officially late (and trust us, the late slip collection is not something to brag about!).

Thank you for helping us keep things running smoothly—your cooperation makes a world of difference. And remember, the early bird doesn’t just get the worm; they also get a stress-free start to the day!

REGISTRATION FOR 2025-2026

Re-Registration Reminder
This week, Re-Registration Envelopes were sent home with all students. These envelopes contain important forms that must be completed and returned to the school by February 27th.

📌 If your family is not returning next year, please indicate this on the form and return it to the office.

Your prompt attention to this helps us plan effectively for the upcoming school year. Thank you for your cooperation!

ROYAL CITY SOCCER CLUB SUMMER DAY CAMPS

SISTERS OF THE HOLY ROCK

An evening of Nun-Stop Fun! Saturday, March 22, 2025. Doors open: 6:30pm, Show 7:00pm. Prairie Spirit United Church, 207 Thompson Dr Winnipeg. Admission $28.
For tickets https://StCharlesSisteroftheHolyRock.eventbrite.ca
For more information/tickets, call Florence 204-889-4941.
SPONSORED BY ST. CHARLES PARISH.
Join us for a night of divine comedy and angelic voices!

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

We are asking for your help! So far we have raised $69,020. You can track our progress on the school website. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!

Thank you!

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

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

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” –
-Psalm 119:105

This verse highlights the power of words – both scripture and stories – to guide, inspire, and illuminate our journey. Just as God’s word provides wisdom, reading helps children grow in understanding, curiosity, and compassion.

Have a wonderful weekend ahead! Remember – NO UNIFORMS next week! COLOUR WEEK.

Aneta Prettie PRINCIPAL

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

Link to .pdf version of Principal’s Update.