Principal’s Update – December 6th, 2024
As we enter the season of Advent, we are reminded of its profound meaning—a time of preparation, hope, and joyful anticipation. Advent calls us to reflect on the coming of Christ, not just at Christmas but also in our daily lives.
At St. Charles, this sacred season holds special significance.
It is a time when we come together as a community to prepare spiritually through weekly prayer services in our grade-level groups, attending Reconciliation, celebrating St. Nicholas Day, participating in our Christmas pageant, and much more. These activities help guide our hearts as we await the arrival of Christ.
In the spirit of Advent, we are also engaging in acts of kindness, such as our hamper collection to support those in need, creating 306 Christmas cards for seniors, and making decorations to brighten the season for all.
Living the teachings of Christ is at the core of our school community. Each day, we strive to care for each student, ensuring that they feel valued, supported, and loved.
The school is already beaming with anticipation and preparation for Christmas, with festive decorations and Advent themes woven into fun and meaningful learning activities. This is what our teachers do—always engaging students with meaningful learning activities!
As we journey through Advent, may we continue to support one another in creating a school environment that reflects the light of Christ, preparing not only for Christmas but also for a deeper understanding of His presence in our lives. Wishing you a blessed Advent season!
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK …
- Advent Prayer Services
- Christmas Hamper Collections
- Advisory Groups and Hockey Enrichment
- PML Lunch Hour Recital
- PML Evening Recitals at OLPH
- Wednesday Hot Dog/Subway Fundraising Lunch
- Early Dismissal
- St. Nicholas Day Assembly
- Raffle Ticket draw
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK …
- Advent Prayer Services
- Christmas Hamper Collection
- Enrichment Classes and Hockey Enrichment
- Reconciliation: Wednesday, December 11th for Grade 5-8 students
- Wednesday Pizza Fundraising Lunch for those who have ordered
- Grade 6-8 Band Concert at St. Paul the Apostle on Thursday, December 12th at 630 pm
- K-8 Matinee & Evening Christmas Concerts at St. Paul the Apostle on Friday, December 13th at 130 pm and 630 pm
LOOK WHAT’S COMING UP …
- Christmas Spirit Week (No uniforms all week)
- Advent Prayer Services
- Enrichment Classes and Hockey Enrichment
- Holy Childhood Association Popcorn Sale
- Wednesday Hot Dog/Subway Fundraising Lunch
- Christmas Pageant & Caroling on Thursday, December 19th at 230 pm – JOIN US!
- Friday, December 20th:
- School Mass at 10 am
- Early dismissal at 1135 am
More detailed information can be found on the school website, in the calendar section under Parent Zone!
IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION
Thank you to everyone in our community for following the parking protocols and signage to help keep everyone safe. Reminder, there is NO STOPPING in the bus loop. This is also a NO IDLE ZONE.
We are ALWAYS looking for volunteers to help with this initiative. As a thank you, FREE BASC (Before and After School Care) is being offered to our volunteers. You can sign up directly here: PARKING LOT & LOADING ZONE PATROL | Monday to Friday
BASC
- There is BLINE on Monday.
- There is Curling on Wednesday.
- No BLINE is scheduled for Wednesday.
- There is no milk or lunch program on Friday, December 13th.
January forms are due December 20th before the break, as we need to make sure we know the numbers of students for the programs. Forms for these activities are available at the front entrance and spots are limited. Payments can be postdated.
New offerings in January include:
- Chocolate Cake Bake
- Apple Crisp Bake
- Sushi Rolling
- New Year Craft
- BLINE starting over.
Please note, there will be NO PM BASC on December 20th and NO BASC during the Christmas Break. Feel free to contact me with any questions at 204-880-8245 or email kfurutani@stccs.ca.
MUSIC PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS
We’ve been working diligently to achieve our musical goals and can’t wait to showcase our hard work and joy! With the concert just one week away, it’s crucial for all students to attend the evening performances to ensure full class representation.
Band Concert (All Grade 6-8 Students): December 12th @ 6:30pm @ St. Paul the Apostle, 2400 Portage Ave.
Please bring students to the front doors of the church @ 6:00pm (in school uniform). Students are responsible for bringing their instruments to the church.
Christmas Concerts (All K-8 students): December 13th @ St. Paul the Apostle, 2400 Portage Ave.
1:30pm Concert: Students will be bussed (in school uniform). Students are not to be picked up from the church as all their personal items are at the school. Students can be signed out once they are back at the school if leaving early.
6:30pm Concert: Please bring students to the front doors of the church @ 6:00pm. Students will be supervised by their teacher in the basement, and we kindly ask parents not to go downstairs during the performance. Once the concert has concluded, parents need to come downstairs to pick up their child.
BAND CONCERT HELP NEEDED Thursday, December 12, 2024
CHRISTMAS CONCERT HELP NEEDED Friday, December 13, 2024
SCHOOL FUNDRAISING
On behalf of the entire SCCS community, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to—Julie Pedersen, Lesley Kiselbach, and Michelle Barkley—for your incredible time and effort in organizing the school Christmas Craft Fair Market. Your hard work and dedication made this event a wonderful success, and we are so grateful for all the behind-the-scenes effort you all put in.
Your commitment to making the event enjoyable for everyone is truly appreciated, and we are so fortunate to have such amazing organizers. Thank you to all the parents that volunteered before, during and after the event as well. Thank you everyone for supporting SCCS!
ST. NICHOLAS DAY ASSEMBLY
St. Nicholas, also known as Nicholas of Myra, was a 4th-century bishop famous for his generosity, care for the poor, and love for children. His feast day, celebrated on December 6, honors his legacy as a model of Christian charity and kindness. His life teaches us about the importance of generosity, humility, and love for others, especially the less fortunate. At St. Charles Catholic School, the feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated with joy and reflection:
- Assembly and Prayer Service: Students come together to pray and learn about St. Nicholas’ life and virtues.
- Shoes Out and Candy Inside: In a nod to tradition, students leave their shoes out, and small treats, are placed inside, symbolizing the saint’s generosity.
- Visit from St. Nicholas: A special guest, dressed as St. Nicholas, visits the students to remind them of his story and inspire them to follow his example.
PML RECITALS
Two wonderful evening recitals featuring nearly 100 talented performers are a remarkable accomplishment we take great pride in at SCCS. These events beautifully showcased the talent, hard work, and dedication of our students and their instructors. A heartfelt thank you to all our instructors and to Melissa Gingrich for her outstanding coordination of the PML program and both recitals. Your commitment and expertise are deeply appreciated!
RECONCILIATION
Reconciliation is an important sacrament in our Catholic faith and a time for spiritual reflection and growth. At St. Charles Catholic School, this experience is offered to our Grade 5-8 students, with the support of our sponsoring parish priests, who take the time to meet with each student.
Catholic students are guided on how to participate in the sacrament of confession, deepening their understanding of forgiveness and grace. For students who are not Catholic, this is a meaningful opportunity to learn how to receive a blessing and reflect on values like kindness, respect, and humility.
This shared experience fosters a sense of community and supports the spiritual development of all our students. Reconciliation will take place on Wednesday, December 11th, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM at St. Charles Parish.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT WEEK
As we head into the final week before Christmas break, let’s make it festive and fun! Students are not required to wear uniforms during this time, so feel free to dress up and show your holiday spirit.
Whether it’s wearing your favorite Christmas sweater, festive colors, or dressing up in something cheerful, let’s celebrate the season together and end the year on a joyful note!The toques have arrived and have been distributed to students who ordered them. If you still need to make a payment or pick up your order, please contact the school.
Please see the Weekly Update .pdf at the bottom of the page for a listing of dress for each day of Spirit Week.
Learn-to-Skate REMINDER
The Learn-to-Skate program for kindergarten to Grade 2 students will begin on January 6th, 2024. An email with all the necessary details will be sent out next week. If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
DOORS IN GYM
We are excited to have our new gym doors, which arrived on Tuesday and were installed promptly. These doors enhance both security and soundproofing for our school. They will be painted during the Christmas break to complete the upgrade.
GRADE 2 NEWS
Mrs. McIsaac, our Grade 2 teacher, will be starting her maternity leave, with her last day being December 20th. We wish her all the best as she prepares to welcome her new little one—baby blessings to her and her family!
We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Tricia Schulz will be covering her maternity leave and will officially begin on January 6th, 2025. Welcome, Mrs. Schulz!
GRADE 6M SCIENCE
We explored the diversity of living things, focusing on arthropods. Students learned about the characteristics, diets, habitats, and adaptations of crustaceans, myriapods, insects, and arachnids.
Using their knowledge, 6M designed and created their own unique arthropods using household items. Each project was accompanied by a detailed brochure and a lab report outlining their scientific design process. The completed projects were then showcased in the library, allowing all students to admire their creativity and effort.
Great job, everyone!
CANDY-CANE ORDER
To help raise funds for the Musical.
You can order a special candy-cane for $1 for your child, friend, classmates, or teachers.
Each will have a special Christmas tag attached to it.
Candy-Canes will be distributed on Tuesday, Dec. 17th to each classroom.
All orders must be in by 6:00 pm on Thursday, Dec. 12th.
Please use the Permission Click link TO PLACE YOUR ORDER:
https://permission.click/7EeJg/ca
FOOD HAMPERS
We are collecting food items for two different families from one of our local parishes. Each class is asked to contribute specific items. Here is the list:
| KF/KL: jello, rice, canned tuna | Gr. 1: mac and cheese, tea |
| Gr. 1-2: cookies, stuffing | Gr. 2: gravy mix, peanut butter |
| Gr. 3: canned spaghetti, oatmeal | Gr. 3-4: jam, canned fruit, scalloped potatoes |
| Gr. 4: coffee, syrup, canned vegetables | Gr. 5: cereal, pancake mix |
| Gr. 6C: sugar, canned soup | Gr. 6M: cranberry sauce, bagged candy |
| Gr. 7: spaghetti sauce, pork and beans | Gr. 8: fruit juice, cake mix |
TURF CAMPAIGN – FROM THE GROUND UP – HELP BUILD OUR PLAYGROUND
THANK YOU to our SCCS community for your generosity and support on Giving Tuesday. We are currently compiling the donations and will share an update with you next week. Visit our link for more information. Thank you in advance 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
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
-Matthew 5:9In Advent, we are called to prepare our hearts and lives to welcome Christ, the Prince of Peace, by striving to be peacemakers in our own families, communities, and the world.
Have a great weekend!
Aneta Prettie PRINCIPAL
St. Charles Catholic School
Phone: 204-837-1520 ext. 222
Link to .pdf version of Principal’s Update.