OLMP Catholic School

Thank you to all the parents attending our Parent Teacher Interviews this week! We encourage you to continue to reach out to staff any time throughout the school year as needed.

As we move into the week prior to Fall Break, we all turn our thoughts to Remembrance Day. Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a moment of silence to honour and remember the men and women who have served, and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict and peace. Our school will recognize this important time during a school assembly this week.

A reminder that our Fall break is November 13 - 17, where the school will be closed. Enjoy this well deserved break! We look forward to welcoming students back on Monday, November 20th. The next newsletter will go out on November 19th.

We also celebrated Catholic Education Sunday at St. Francis Xavier this past weekend. OLMP participated in the 4pm Mass on Saturday.

God Bless,

OLMP Administration

Lifetouch Photography is excited to announce the launch of a new way to access photos online!

After much safety and security testing, Lifetouch developed a way for families to access their child’s photo using their student ID number.

Go to their website at www.mylifetouch.ca, click on Student ID, and follow the detailed instructions to view and order photos.

If you have any questions on this ordering process, please call the Lifetouch Customer Care Line at 1.866.457.8212 or access the live chat on their website, www.mylifetouch.ca

Please note: orders can also be placed by returning the Lifetouch order form to the school no later than November 10, 2023. Please refer to your child's forthcoming photo package for complete instructions.

👉 A reminder that Mr. Jamie Stacey will not be available for Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences until the week of November 20th. Please contact him directly at jamies@eics.ab.ca to book your appointment.

All other appointments can be booked here: https://schoolinterviews.ca/code/9w6wy

Insight is a group-administered test of cognitive abilities, which will be administered to all Grade 4 and 8 classes in EICS in the middle of November.

The assessment is designed to measure cognitive abilities including reasoning, comprehension, memory, and visual/auditory processing.

Students do not need to study for the Insight and the results do not impact their school grades. The results provide information about students’ cognitive strengths and areas of weakness to best support all learners.

For more information, please visit:

https://canadiantestcentre.com/cognitive/insight/

💻 Student absences can be reported through the Parent Portal on PowerSchool 💻

We’re excited to announce that the ability to submit student absences is available in PowerSchool!

PowerSchool can also continue to be used to view grades and report cards, pay fees, and update student information (including medical information).

You can view the EICS Parent Technology Handbook for further details on these items.

Our Elk Island Catholic Schools IT department is continuing to work on implementing additional features, so keep an eye out in our Smores for future updates!

To access PowerSchool, please click here.

For information on where to find the absence reporting function, please see below:

Please take a few minutes to complete your child's demographic forms, medical forms, and all yearly consents (FOIP, tech use, field trips) on PowerSchool.

It is important that this information be kept up-to-date every year, especially if there is a change in medical status, parent/guardian/emergency contact information, and/or address.

If you need assistance with using PowerSchool - including completing and submitting yearly consent and demographic forms online - please visit the main EICS website for instructions and helpful video tutorials.

🌟 Calling All Community Champions! 🌟

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Coaches,

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of our future leaders? Join us in a journey of inspiration, growth, and learning by becoming a valued volunteer at our beloved school!

📚 Ignite Learning, Foster Growth: As a volunteer, you'll have the unique opportunity to be an integral part of our students' educational and athletic journey. From field trip supervisors to coaches to tutors, your presence will light up their world and help them soar to new heights!

🌟 Unleash Your Superpower: Share your skills, passions, and expertise with our eager learners. Whether you're a sports superstar, a science aficionado, or great at helping supervise field trips, your knowledge will open up new horizons and ignite a love for learning.

👮‍♂️ Safety First - Our Pledge: To ensure the safety and well-being of our students, we kindly ask all volunteers to complete a Police Information Check, Child Intervention Record Check, and Volunteer Confidentiality Form. These simple steps help us create a secure environment for everyone.

🤐 Trust & Confidentiality: We hold your privacy in the highest regard. Rest assured, the information shared with us is handled with utmost care and only used for the purpose of enhancing the educational experience.

🌈 Building Bonds, Strengthening Community: Join hands with fellow parents, guardians, and community coaches in a shared mission to shape the future. Together, we'll create an inclusive, nurturing environment where every child feels supported and empowered.

🙌 Ready to Embark on this Journey? Complete your Police Information Check, Child Intervention Record Check, and Volunteer Confidentiality Form, and get ready to embark on a rewarding adventure with us!

For more information and to kickstart your volunteering journey, contact the OLMP office at olmp@eics.ab.ca or 780-672-2975.

Let's make a difference, one smile, one field trip, one child at a time!

With heartfelt gratitude,

OLMP Catholic School

• November 6: Grades 6 and 9 immunization follow-ups
• November 7: Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences starting at 4:00 p.m.
• November 9: Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences starting at 4:00 p.m.
• November 10: Formal Day (all day) and Remembrance Day Service (10:30 to 11:15 a.m.)
• November 13 to 17: Fall Break
• November 21: Photo retakes (morning) and Parent Council Meeting (7:00 p.m.)
• November 22: Raising Resilient Children: An Evening with Dr. Russell (6:30 to 7:30 p.m.)
• November 24: School closed

There are two dates to mark on your calendar:

November 15, 2023: Registration opens on Facebook. Be in the first 30 registered to get a prize!

November 22, 2023: Be here to bring together the village.

We encourage you to bring a fellow coach, teacher, parent, or friend. Let's be the Village!

WISEST presents the SET Conference (a Science, Engineering, and Technology experience) for young women and gender-diverse students in Grades 10 – 12 who are curious about careers in science, engineering, and technology (SET).

• Gain insight into different career paths in science, engineering, and technology (SET) and related University of Alberta programs.
• Explore SET through lab tours and activities
• Get access to role models and mentors to learn what it is like to pursue science, engineering, or technology.

Click here to register.

December Hot Lunch is now available to order through the Parent Portal of PowerSchool under Forms and Fees -> Student Fees until November 21st!

We will offer a beverage/snack on early dismissal Thursdays.

Upcoming Hot Lunches:

November 9 - East Side Marios

November 16 - No hot lunch today (school closed)

November 23 - Dominos Pizza

November 30 - Skyway

Capturing a second-place finish in league play, your Royals have earned a bye to the semi-final round of playoffs. The Royals will be hosting this game on Friday, November 10th, at 5 p.m. on Harry Andreassen Field. There will be a concession at the game organized by the player's parents. Bring a blanket and come out to support the Royals as they make a charge towards the league championship.

LET’S GO ROYALS!!!

Photo credit: Jaycel Hernando

Congratulations to the JH 'A' Boys and Girls teams for qualifying for the Regional Volleyball Championship this Tuesday!

The boys won silver, while the girls captured the gold at home in exciting fashion!

Go Royals! 🥇🥈

Also a reminder that all parents are welcome to attend all games, and to ensure your child is picked up by 5 pm! Thank you!

Upcoming games:

November 6 @ OLMP (playing Jack Stuart)

Go Royals!

We are practicing every Wednesday at lunch break.

It has been a real struggle to arrange games for the grade 6 team! We are looking at playing some intersquad games after school (after the break), and possibly one game out of town.

Stay tuned, we will send forms home when we know more!

There are 10 spots still available, and the trip is now open to Grade 9 students as well!!

(⬆️ Don't worry folks - he's okay! The face "injury" is part of his Halloween costume 🎃)

Fees have now been added to student accounts.

Fees can be viewed and paid through the parent portal in PowerSchool under “Forms and Fees”. If you have any questions, please contact the school or email lorindatw@eics.ab.ca

Families that need financial assistance can apply for our fee waiver program. Deadline to apply is December 11, 2023.

Fee Waiver Program Application 2023 - 2024

Dear Parents,

Please make alternate plans for a pick-up/drop-off location as our staff parking lot is no longer available as an option. This area has become far too congested in the past and is an extreme OH & S concern.

*PLEASE STAY CLEAR OF BUS LANES AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF OUR DAY*

Please follow the flow of traffic in the student parking lot on the south side of our building. You will notice that there is no longer a "turn left" option (right turns only) when you exit the parking lot.

Alternatively, please also look at streets/locations other than the alleys that are close to our school where students can safely access our school site.

While we understand that this takes away some convenience, we are concerned about the safety of your children.

Thank you for you attention to this.

Attention Families,

St. Francis Xavier Parish is offering Sacramental preparation for those wanting to receive their first reconciliation, first communion, and confirmation.

Please see the information below for more details, and visit our website to learn more about Sacramental Preparation and to download a short intro video from Father Kris.

If you have any further questions, please contact Mr. Stang or Mrs. Petiot for more details.