Principal Weekly Update Archives

Principal’s Update – November 29th, 2024


As we wrap up another exciting week at St. Charles Catholic School, I want to take a moment to share how incredibly proud I am of our students. This week, we had the opportunity to send several classes on field trips, and I received such positive feedback from all our teachers about our students’ behavior and engagement. The students not only followed expectations but also truly embraced the chance to learn and explore outside the classroom. It’s a lot of work and planning that goes into these events and seeing how much the students enjoy them makes it all worthwhile.

This week has also been filled with remarkable leadership moments. Our choirs came together to rehearse with our musicians, and the sound is incredible! It’s a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, especially the 200 voices of our 3-8 choir. I am so excited to see them perform their final piece on December 13th.

Additionally, our ambassadors put in so much effort preparing for the Kinder Open House. The event was a success because of the teamwork and leadership of both the students and staff. I truly appreciate everyone’s support in making this such a special occasion for our school.

As we embrace the cold weather this week, especially with some extremes in the mornings, I am reminded of the warmth our school community brings. It is always a great start to my day to see the smiling faces and hear the warm greetings as I stand in the loading zone. I truly enjoy helping ensure everyone’s safety, and I appreciate all the drivers who do their part to make that happen.

Thank you also for your patience as the work on our foundation continues. This week, they finished the excavation, and next week, they will be waterproofing the area and closing the foundation. We are looking forward to getting our front entrance back very soon!

Thank you all for contributing to such a wonderful week. I am continuously inspired by the leadership and enthusiasm shown by our students and staff.


  • Musical Candy Cane-Grams Fundraiser!
  • Advisory Groups and Hockey Enrichment
  • Kinder Open House
  • Grade 1-2 Manitoba Museum field trip
  • Wednesday Pizza Fundraising Lunch
  • SCCS Christmas Craft Market is tomorrow, Nov 30th!
  • Advent begins on Sunday, Dec 1st, 2024
  • Advisory Groups and Hockey Enrichment continue Tuesday
  • PML Lunch Hour Recitals on Tuesday, Dec 3rd
  • PML Recitals at OLPH on Wednesday, Dec 4th and Thursday, Dec 5th at 630 pm
  • Wednesday Hot Dog/Subway Fundraising Lunch for those who have ordered
  • Early Dismissal on Thursday, Dec 5th 230 pm
  • Raffle Ticket draw on Friday, Dec 6th at 1 pm – get your tickets into the Front Office!
  • St. Nicholas Day is on Friday, Dec 6th Assembly at 115 pm!
  • Grade 6-8 Band Concert at St. Paul the Apostle on December 12th at 630 pm
  • SCCS Matinee & Evening Christmas Concerts at St. Paul the Apostle on December 13th at 130 pm and 630 pm
  • Enrichment Classes and Hockey Enrichment
  • Reconciliation for Grade 5-8 Students
  • Christmas Spirit Week – watch for details!
  • There is NO MILK or LUNCH program on December 13th or 20th.

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

Thank you to everyone in our community for following the parking protocols and signage to help keep everyone safe. Reminder, there is NO PARKING in the loading zone. It 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

Happy December! Please be sure to submit your forms if your child will be attending BASC this month.

  • BLINE will be held on Monday and Wednesday.
  • Early dismissal is on Thursday.
  • There are still a few spots available for Christmas Craft.
  • New offerings in January include:
    • Chocolate Cake Bake
    • Apple Crisp Bake
    • Sushi Rolling
    • New Year Craft
    • BLINE starting over.

Forms for these activities are available at the front entrance and spots are limited. 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.

Most Child Abuse Registry (CAR) Checks that were submitted in September 2024 have been returned to us here in the SCCS Front Office. Any CARC applications that were submitted in October or November are still being processed by the CAR office in downtown Winnipeg. If you would like to inquire to see if your CARC has been cleared and is on file in the SCCS Front Office, please email reception@stccs.ca. Thank you to all the parents who filled out this paperwork!

Please note that we have a change in location for our Annual Christmas Concerts, along with the addition of a new concert this year. Please save the dates! It is important that all students attend the evening concerts to ensure full class representation. We have been working hard on these performances since September, and we’re excited to share them with you!

Private Music Lessons Recitals: December 4th and 5th @ 6:30pm @ OLPH, 4588 Roblin Blvd. Students to arrive @ 6:00pm.

Band Concert (All Grade 6-8 Students): December 12th @ 6:30pm @ St. Paul the Apostle, 2400 Portage Ave. Students to arrive @ 6:00pm (in school uniform).

Christmas Concerts (All K-8 students): December 13th @ 1:30pm and 6:30pm @ St. Paul the Apostle, 2400 Portage Ave.

1:30pm Concert: Students will be bussed (in school uniform)

6:30pm Concert: Students need to arrive @ 6:00pm

BAND CONCERT HELP NEEDED Thursday, December 12, 2024

CHRISTMAS CONCERT HELP NEEDED Friday, December 13, 2024

At our school, we are proud to have two key leadership groups comprised of Grade 6-8 students.

The first is our Student Ambassadors. These students play a vital role in welcoming prospective families and students to St. Charles Catholic School. They lead interactive tours, sharing the school’s history, important facts, and personal experiences. By answering questions and offering their unique perspectives, they serve as outstanding representatives of our student body.

The second group is our Wind Ambassadors. These students are passionate about music and eager to take their talents beyond the classroom. They enrich our school community by performing at assemblies, Open House events, concerts, and festivals. Their dedication allows them to tackle advanced musical pieces and contribute to the vibrant culture of St. Charles.

SCCS has a unique opportunity to connect with our parishes through our annual chocolate and raffle ticket sales.  It’s an excellent way to bridge the connection between each parish and our school. It is also a great opportunity for our students to develop social and math skills, as well as good customer service, showcasing our great community. We have heard from families that cost is a concern, as is unsold product.  Moving forward, families are permitted to take a box of chocolates and a raffle booklet to sell at Parish Masses at no cost, simply pick up on Friday from reception and return any unsold chocolate/raffle tickets on Monday. VIP hours will remain at 1.5 hours for each mass.

RAFFLE TICKETS

If you still have raffle tickets to hand in, please get them into the Front Office by Friday, December 6th in time for the 1 pm draw!

Are you interested in earning VIP Hours? Can you sell more raffle ticket booklets? Earn 1 VIP Hour for each additional raffle ticket booklet you sell. Please see the Front Office for details!

This week, we conducted two emergency practice drills on Thursday afternoon. The first was a Hold & Secure Drill, followed by a Lockdown Drill. Our staff and students did an excellent job, following all safety protocols. Teachers prepared their students in advance with age-appropriate discussions to ensure everyone felt informed and comfortable with the process.

We will hold these drills again in the spring as part of our ongoing commitment to safety and preparedness.

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.

If you’re interested in purchasing a toque, we have extras available in the school office—don’t miss out!

This Wednesday, Grade 1, 1/2, and 2 classes enjoyed an all-day field trip to the Manitoba Museum. Students were placed into small groups and participated in a variety of engaging activities throughout the day.

A heartfelt thank you to all the parent volunteers who joined us—you made this day possible, and your support was greatly appreciated! As you can see from the photos, the students had an incredible time exploring and learning through the various activities included in this day.

Congratulations to the Developmental Girls’ volleyball team who had a great season this year. Each player worked hard to improve their skills and grow as a player each practice and game. We are very proud of the girls and how far they have come this season. They should be very proud of the growth they have achieved as athletes. Thank you to all the players and parents who supported the team this season! Way to go Chargers! Miss McEvoy and Mrs. Froystad

Congratulations to the Developmental Boys’ volleyball team on their season. They made so much progress in their skills, communication, and teamwork. The boys had several very close, nail-biting games where they were challenged to work as a team, keep a positive attitude and learn from their mistakes. They were able to implement the drills we practiced and take feedback on the court to come out with the win in two games and win several more sets in other games! We are very proud of you all and your hard work! Go Chargers! Mrs. Chliboyko

The Competitive Girls’ volleyball team had an excellent season this year! They finished the season with 6 wins and 2 losses. Every game was played with determination, positivity and teamwork. Throughout the season all the players improved their skills. The girls’ team was very proud to make Tier 1 playoffs this year but unfortunately lost both hard fought playoff games. They finished the season in 7th out of 17 teams.
It was certainly a season to be proud of! Mrs. Boughton

The Competitive Boys’ volleyball team had a great season! They have worked hard mastering certain positions, working on overhand serves and playing as a team. This season every single athlete improved and learned a ton. They worked together and played some strong games. The athletes did great during the regular season finishing 7th out of 15 teams. The boys played well in playoffs including enjoying the large St. Paul’s courts. The boys are passing the volleyball off to next year’s competitive team as all athletes played their last SCCS volleyball game. Congratulations on the amazing season!
3 – 2 -1 Chargers! Ms. Copeland 

Last Friday, the Grade 3, 3-4, and 4 classes had the opportunity to visit the Manitoba Children’s Museum for a fun-filled day of exploration and learning. The students thoroughly enjoyed exploring the museum exhibits, engaging in hands-on crafts, playing, and learning together in a dynamic and interactive environment.

As part of the visit, each group participated in two educational sessions that tied directly into our Social Studies and Science curriculums. These sessions covered fascinating topics such as Teepees, the Land & Us, where students learned about Indigenous perspectives and connections to the land, Tracks and Scats, which provided insight into local wildlife and their habitats, and This New House, an exploration of structures and the science behind them.

A special thank you goes out to our parent volunteers who joined us on this trip. We are so grateful for your time and support!

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

On Monday, myself and 4 Grade 6 students attended the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools Reception at the Manitoba Legislature Building. We were warmly welcomed by our Superintendent, Mr. Praznik, and Mrs. Narynski, who is a member of the MFIS Board of Directors.

We also had the chance to meet our MLA, Mr. Oxenham, who expressed interest in visiting our school this year.

The students enjoyed some delicious refreshments and were treated to two fantastic performances: a dance by Freedom School and a song by St. Aidan’s School. The Minister of Education also spoke, reaffirming the government’s support for Independent Schools. Overall, it was an incredible experience, and I was so proud of each of my students. They were confident, engaged, and eager to connect with students from other Independent Schools.

Our Christmas food hamper drive kicks off next week! 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 tunaGr. 1: mac and cheese, tea
Gr. 1-2: cookies, stuffingGr. 2: gravy mix, peanut butter
Gr. 3: canned spaghetti, oatmealGr. 3-4: jam, canned fruit, scalloped potatoes
Gr. 4: coffee, syrup, canned vegetablesGr. 5: cereal, pancake mix
Gr. 6C: sugar, canned soupGr. 6M: cranberry sauce, bagged candy
Gr. 7: spaghetti sauce, pork and beansGr. 8: fruit juice, cake mix

We are asking for your help! Visit our link for more information. So far, we have raised $43,920. You can track our progress on the website. 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

Winter Wonderland Dance @ St. Mary’s Academy. More information is available in the Principal’s Weekly Update linked below.

Make sure to visit our Christmas Craft Fair this weekend. All handmade items, prizes, treats, cocao cabana bar, a visit from Santa!

We are also looking for some helpers. Do lend a hand! Sign up using the link below:


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.