Principal’s New School Year Update – September 13th, 2024
What a fantastic first week of school! Students and staff have been working diligently to establish the routines that are so vital for a successful school year. It’s been wonderful to see how quickly everyone is settling in and embracing the school spirit. From the moment students step onto the playground, they’re filled with excitement, playing with friends, and enjoying their time outside. The energy is contagious, and it’s clear the children are having a lot of fun reconnecting with one another.
Inside the classrooms, academics are already well underway. Our teachers have begun assessing students to understand their strengths and areas where they can grow. This will allow us to tailor our teaching to meet the needs of every child and ensure that they receive the support necessary for a successful school year. Every day, our students are arriving ready to learn. I want to take a moment to commend our parents for their incredible efforts in preparing their children for school each day—great job parents! Your partnership is vital to their success, and we appreciate everything you do to support their learning journey.
I would also like to encourage parents to stay connected by reaching out to your child’s teacher via email and regularly visiting the teacher websites, which are filled with valuable information, class updates, and important resources. You can easily find these websites on the Parent Zone page of our main website.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to see our community come together again for our Annual Meet the Teacher evening next week. This is a fantastic opportunity to tour the classrooms, meet the staff, and learn about the exciting plans we have in place for the year. Our entire staff will be present to welcome you, and we’re looking forward to sharing more about the curriculum and school programs. At the end of the evening, we will also be hosting a reception, giving parents and staff a chance to connect and build relationships.
I hope you enjoy the photos included in this update, which capture some of the joyful moments from our first week back. Thank you once again for your continued support. Together, we will make this school year one to remember!
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK …
- Chocolate and raffle ticket pickups were held again on Monday after school.
- Kinders kept the Gold and Blue staggered start going until today when they were all in their respective classrooms together with Mrs. Fliangos and Mrs. Laufer! Both classrooms were buzzing with excitement to have everyone in class at the same time!
- Classes began in our Computer Lab this week!
- PAC held their first meeting of the school year on Wednesday evening.
- This morning our Kinder parents met in the cafeteria for coffee and community. A lot of connections and conversations were had!
- We had our first 2 Fire Drills of the year this week! We must complete 10 drills each school year.
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK …
- Lifetouch Picture Day is scheduled for Monday, September 16th. A reminder that smiles are mandatory for this event!
- Private Music Lessons (PML) begin on Monday.
- Meet the Teacher is on Wednesday, September 18th starting at 630 pm in the school gym for a short presentation by the Administration and the Board. Afterwards, there will be time for classroom visits with staff and a reception in our Cafeteria.
- The final opportunity to pick up chocolates and raffle tickets is on September 18th from 5-630 pm. Then they will be released to other families to purchase.
- Friday, September 20th is Christian Service Day & Terry Fox Day complete with an assembly, the Terry Fox Walk/Run. It will also be our first Colour Day of the school year!
LOOK WHAT’S COMING UP …
- Kindergarten hearing testing will begin on Monday, September 23rd.
- Our first School Mass is on Tuesday, September 24th at 1030 am across the street at St. Charles Parish. All are welcome to attend!
- Friday, September 27th is Orange Shirt Colour Day in honor of the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation that falls on Monday, September 30th. There is no school on this National Day.
ALTAR SERVERS
I would like to announce that our new Grade 3 Altar Servers are Gabriella, Janice, Ava, Isaac, Sean, Rhett, and Victoria!
Loving Father, creator of the universe, you call your people to worship, to be with you and with one another at Mass. We thank you for having called our altar servers to assist others in their prayer to you. May they be worthy of the trust placed in them and, through their example and service, bring others closer to you. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Kindergartens: Making door hangers for the Metropolitan Kiwanis Courts on Ness Avenue
Grade 1-2s: Classes are making placemats for Meals on Wheels
Grade 3-4s: Classes are making activity placemats for Welcome Home
Grade 5: Created activity booklets for clients in Lodge 2 & 4 at the Deer Lodge Center
Grade 6M: Making Christmas Activity bags for Deer Lodge
Grade 6C: Painting of the school playhouse and playground clean up
Grade 7: Spending the morning at Siloam Mission
Grade 8: Spending the morning at St. Charles Parish
IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION
Reminder: There is no stopping on St. Charles Street to pick-up or drop-off students. Next week, please consider volunteering! If you would like to be a part of this initiative and give some of your time or are unsure, please email me and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. FREE BASC is being offered. Here is the direct link to sign-up!
PARKING LOT & LOADING ZONE PATROL \ Monday to Friday
PLANTS
We are looking for donations of house plants for our school. They will be used for curriculum purposes as well as added to our indoor green space area. Please bring plants to the front office.
BASC
- BLINE starts on Monday.
- Golf is on Tuesday.
October’s forms are coming with Baking classes and a Full Day Field Trip. Reminder no BASC on September 30th. Forms and payment need to be submitted before attending BASC.
Any questions or concerns contact 204-880-8245 or email kfurutani@stccs.ca
WEBSITE
All Volunteer opportunities are earmarked on the ParentZone main page for your convenience. This highlights all the current opportunities for parents to volunteer.
PAC
We had an excellent meeting on Wednesday – thank you to all the parents that attended.
At this time, I am looking for parents interested in being a Classroom Representative for the following classes:
- Kindergarten Fliangos
- Grade 1 Mrs. Barnes
- Grade 2 Mrs. McIsaac
- Grade 6 Ms. Chouzouris
- Grade 6 Ms. McEvoy
Please reach out to me at stccspac@stccs.ca if you have questions.
Nikki Robert
PAC Chair 2024-2025
POWERSCHOOL – PARENT PORTAL
The Parent Portal is OPEN. The Parent Portal allows parents/guardians to access their child’s current grades, attendance and teachers can share information from their Gradebook with parents. If you have not applied for a Parent Portal account, you can do so from the ParentZone page. If you have any questions, please contact Linda at powerschool@stccs.ca.
FRONT OFFICE
PUFFERS / EPI-PENS / MEDICATIONS: If your child has an asthma puffer or an epi-pen or any other medication that needs to be here at school and is outlined on your child’s Medical Form, please ensure that you send your child with that puffer/epi-pen/other medication. Epi-pens MUST be always carried by the child in a fanny-pack/cross-body pack during his/her time at school; there are no exceptions. Asthma puffers must either be carried on the child in a fanny-pack/cross-body pack during his/her time at school or be left in the Front Office Medical Cupboard to be kept here during the school year should your child need to have it administered at some point. Puffers/epi-pens/other medications should not be held in backpacks/lockers/desks because should the medication be needed in an emergency; all school staff must have quick knowledge of whereabouts and access (on person or in Front Office) to your child’s medication for quick administration. If you would like to have an extra puffer/epi-pen at school for your child over and above what they are carrying on their person in their fanny-pack/cross-body pack, you are welcome to keep an extra here in the Front Office Medical Cabinet. There are times when fanny-packs/cross-body packs for puffers and epi-pens are forgotten at home or taken off at school and misplaced, and having a back-up in the Front Office Medical Cabinet can be lifesaving.
Should your child need medication administered at random times during the school year (anti-biotics for example), medications are to be brought to the Front Office by a parent/guardian, the child’s Medical Form is to be noted by a parent/guardian, and the Front Office will administer the medication as per the instructions left. Children should not have any oral medications (for example Tylenol, Advil, anti-biotics, medicinal throat lozenges, etc.) on their person or in their backpacks/lockers/desks; these medications should be brought to the Front Office to be administered.
HOW DOES THE CHILD ABUSE REGISTRY CHECK PROCESS WORK? When the school year begins, if you plan to volunteer with our school, it is the policy of the archdiocese that all volunteers have a cleared Child Abuse Registry Check (CARC) on file with our school. Families must apply each school year at St. Charles Catholic School; there is no cost to you. You must submit a CARC application complete with current and valid IDs to the Front Office if you plan to volunteer with us; there are no exceptions. Applications are collected, reviewed, and verified in the Front Office by Ms. Jaremowich and then the bulk of the applications are submitted to the CAR office in downtown Winnipeg some time in October, with the trailing submissions sent after that as they come into the Front Office. The process for the CAR office to do their checks and verifying takes anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks. Once the applications with them are completed, they are returned to us here at SCCS. Once the cleared applications are back at SCCS, a list of cleared and eligible parents is made, and those parents are now permitted to volunteer with us. If you are a new parent here at our school, you are unable to volunteer with us until your CARC is submitted, processed, cleared, returned, and on file with the Front Office. Existing families who have cleared CARC on file with us from the previous school year and a new CARC application submitted for the current school year, are able to volunteer right away as there is a short time of carry over from one school year to the next. It is important to submit your CARC application as soon as possible at the beginning of each school year so as not to delay your volunteering efforts.
CARC APPLICATIONS WERE already SENT HOME WITH all STUDENTS THIS WEEK.
ST. CHARLES PARISH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
On behalf of the St. Charles Night Committee. We are having our St. Charles Night on Saturday, November 2nd which will consist of dinner and entertainment. We are seeking volunteers. Student volunteers are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent.
Please contact, Gloria Anderson, Administrative Assistant of St. Charles Parish at 204-889-3248 by October 22. Thank you!
DONATIONS NEEDED!
On Friday, September 20th, the Grade 7 class will have the opportunity to visit Siloam Mission for an Educational Seminar and Tour for Christian Service Day.
Siloam Mission is in urgent need of toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss (satin) for the community members and families that they serve! If possible, Siloam Mission also requires men’s underwear (new).
Please drop off donations in the school lobby by the front doors.
Donations will be accepted up to and on September 20, 8:40 am.
PLAYGROUND/PLAYGROUND INITIATIVE FROM THE GROUND UP
Help build our playground! The turf is our first phase, with plans for further improvements to our space in the future as money allows. Please visit our School Website Donate section for further information!
TERRY FOX – NO MATTER WHAT, TERRY FOX SCHOOL RUN
St. Charles Catholic School is getting ready for the 2024 Terry Fox School Run! We’re super excited to take part in this annual tradition that supports cancer research while building school spirit. Please support our student’s fundraising efforts and donate today at: https://schools.terryfox.ca/StCharlesCatholicSchoolWinnipeg #terryfoxschoolrun #nomatterwhat @theterryfoxfoundation. Please join us on September 20th for a School Assembly at 12:30 and walk/run at 1pm.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6:
This passage speaks to the trust and faith required as students and staff adjust to the newness of a school year and learn to navigate their way through new experiences, trusting that God will guide them. Thank you for trusting SCCS with your child’s education!
Have a great weekend!
Aneta Prettie PRINCIPAL
St. Charles Catholic School
Phone: 204-837-1520 ext. 222