Shining Bright @ Madonna!

MCS News - September 24th, 2023

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

God's love is so abundant. He is incredibly generous with all that he has.

God gives all he has to those who come to him, whether you come to Him at a young age through Baptism or later in life through RCIA or accept God as your Father in your seasoned years. God offers all no matter when you open the door to Him. And He calls us to be equally generous with our joy, love, compassion, mercy, peace, comfort, humanness.

Learning about the Parables as the stories Jesus tells us helps us to understand how to live our lives and spread the light of Christ. The Grade 4s at their Leadership Retreat last week received their bibles during a very special mass. They learned from Father Jim what BIBLE stands for: "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth." It is a "How To" guide to live our lives so that we can spend eternity in the joy, light and love of God.

We saw abundant joy and love this past week as we celebrated Terry Fox and the legacy he gifted us in the fight for cancer. Madonna staff and students remembered and honoured all those who fought cancer and are currently navigating it. We also witnessed joy as we ran and walked together as a community, loving and learning together! Way to go, Madonna!

On Monday this week, we have our first GOTCHA virtual assembly where we celebrate all children who have made great choices to Go Light Our World! We look forward to celebrating more and more children and staff as they spread light and love every single day!

So Go Light Our World sharing your gifts from Christ to all you encounter!

#GLOWEICS

Mme Gravelle

Principal

zoom_out_map

This Week @ MCS

September:

25 - Monday

School Photos! Say Cheese!
GOTCHA Assembly

26 - Tuesday

Another great day of Learning!
Mme Gravelle and Miss Podoborozny at Division Leadership Meeting.

26 - Wednesday

A glowing day of learning!

27 - Thursday

Great day of Learning!

28 - Friday

Orange Shirt Day! Wear Orange today!
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Assembly @ 1pm - All are welcome!
Hot lunch for those who ordered - please send snacks in your child's lunch.

Monday, October 2 - No School to honour Truth & Reconciliation Day

Note to our COGITO families - Spirit Days, Special Wear Days and Swimming Days are uniform-free days. Children are encouraged to participate in the special day wear.

zoom_out_map

Our FIRST GOTCHA Assembly!

As discussed at our School Council meeting last Wednesday, our first GOTCHA assembly is tomorrow!

What is a GOTCHA?

It's when students and staff catch others "GLOWING" by doing something kind and helpful to others. It's a great way to celebrate fantastic choices such as helping another student, being a great helper in class, spending extra time playing with someone who is shy.

Whenever children do something that makes Jesus proud, we recognize and celebrate these amazing choices. Children get a GOTCHA ticket that is entered into the class' monthly draw. Each month, in each class, two tickets are drawn and they receive prizes for these great choices!

These celebrations and assemblies are done virtually at school and prizes are handed out that day too! When children receive their prizes they also receive a GLOW stick to celebrate how they chose to "Go Light Our World!" #GLOWEICS

When your child comes home and proudly shares with you that they received a GOTCHA ticket, thank you for celebrating their amazingly fantastic choices!

zoom_out_map

Picture Day

Madonna Catholic School is having their school pictures on Monday, September 25th. Students will be asked to come with their class throughout the morning for their picture!

We are looking for 2 volunteers to help! These volunteers will help bring classes down to the Multi-Purpose Room and get them organized. It is also helpful to teachers to have a volunteer get student's photo ready! If you are able to help, please email mcs@eics.ab.ca.

For Kindergarten in the T/TH class, students are invited to come between 9:30-10:00 for their photo. There is no obligation to come, but students are invited to join us.

zoom_out_map

Your Help is SO Appreciated!

A special thank you to our amazing Angels - you know who you are - who donated safety vests to help keep your children safe, and sidewalk chalk that kids are loving! Thank you for your donations! Thank you also to the families who attending the School Council meeting and heard the call for some GOTCHA prizes! Thank you!

Throughout the year we will invite our community to donate materials and equipment that are in need at Madonna Catholic School. Your support and help is always so appreciated!

Single Use Forks, Spoons & Cups

While it is always encouraged that students bring their own forks and spoons for lunch, as well as their own water bottles, occasionally they are forgotten. It is appreciated to have a collection of these items for those occasions. We appreciate donations of wooden or biodegradable single use spoons and forks as well as paper cups. Thank you for bringing them to the office, or having your child deliver them for you.

GOTCHA Prizes

We are in need of GOTCHA prizes for children and for staff (yes, staff can get them too!). What kinds of prizes are great prizes? If your child gets excited about something, chances are other kiddos at school will too! Things like Squishmellos, colouring books, minecraft toys etc are great ideas. Those are great prizes! Any kind of self care products, or special treats for staff are great prizes for their prizes. Thank you in advance for donating GOTCHA prizes!

Sports Equipment

We and the kids are always looking for great toys to play with at recess, and a hot item for kids are the balls - soccer balls, basketballs, footballs....regular sizes ones and the mini sized ones.

Water Bottles

Water is such an important part of children's learning and when kids are hydrated, they can learn and process better. We have children who do not have water bottles or forget them at home. It would be great to have a collection of them to hand out (and write their names on) so they can have a water bottle throughout their day.

Thank you in advance for ALL of your support!!!

Your children are in exceptional hands!

Joining the MCS Catholic means that your children are supported, loved and served by staff with abundant education, skills and knowledge. Take a look at just some of degrees, certificates and diplomas held by the Madonna Catholic School Educational Team!

Opportunities to Be Involved

Looking for Opportunities to be volunteer and be involved in your child's community?

Nutrition Grant

At our School Council meeting last week we celebrated that Madonna Catholic School received a Nutrition Grant. As we begin the planning to the implementation of the grant, we are seeking parent feedback in this planning. If you are interested in joining the conversation, please email mcs@eics.ab.ca with your contact information and thank you in advance.

Have a Green Thumb?

We are calling on green thumb parents who are interested in helping to maintain the gardens and flower beds at Madonna Catholic School. The beds and garden boxes can use a fall clean up, spring planting and maintaining. Please email mcs@eics.ab.ca with your contact information.

Speak Another Language?

On October 23 at 9:00am we will be celebrating our Patron Saint Mary, the mother of God with a Living Rosary Service in the gym. We have a beautiful life-sized wooden Rosary and we pray it together. We also share the Hail Mary and the Our Father prayers in all of the languages & cultures represented at Madonna Catholic School. We are calling parents who are interested in joining our celebrating and leading a prayer in a language they speak. If you are interested, please email mcs@eics.ab.ca with the your contact information and the language you are comfortable to lead a prayer in.

zoom_out_map

School Start Time

We know that you want to set your child up for the greatest success possible.

Making sure your child arrives at school before to the start of school is the best way to start your child's day and have them transition into their school day peacefully with their friends. The children's doors will open and your child's teacher will meet them at their entry doors at 8:33am. Having your child arrive on time also ensures less disruption for their fellow classmates. If arriving on time is difficult, please call us at the school and we can explore ways together with you to support a prompt arrival for your child's greatest learning success.

Please ensure your child arrives at their door between 8:33am and 8:38am.

If your child takes the bus to school, they will arrive perfectly on time!

zoom_out_map

Arriving between 8:38am and 3:13pm?

For children's safety, all exterior doors are locked between 8:38am and 3:13pm. If you are arriving to the school after the start of the school day at 8:38am or before 3:13pm, please proceed to the main front door entrance and press the silver doorbell button to communicate with the office.

If you and your child arrive late it is very important that children check in at the office and connect with Mrs. Roberts so that children can be accounted for, and we know who is coming into the buidling. The same is for all parents, please go immediately to the office to check in when you arrive to the school, especially is someone opens the door for you and welcomes you to Madonna Catholic School, please head directly to the office.

Thank you for your continued partnership to keep our children safe!

Fee Waiver

If returning to school is a stressful time for your family, you may be eligible to have your school fees waived. Please read more about the EICS fee waiver policy and complete the following form if applicable. 2023-24 Fee Waiver Application.

Fee Waiver Application

zoom_out_map

Bus Status 4

Download the Bus Status 4 App

Bus Status has a new App, just in time for the new school year! Ensure you download the new App from the App Store or Google Play Store and select your preferences before September 29 to continue to receive notifications.

The new App has improved speed and reliability. It will look and function the same as the current Bus Status app.

The Bus Status app currently installed on your phone will not update automatically to the new version of the app. You must go to the App Store or Google Play to download the new app to receive notifications after September 29.

Don’t know how to download the app? Step-by-Step Instructions here!