Week at a Glance

Monday, January 22:

• M/W Kindergarten attend
• School Council Meeting - 1:30 pm

Tuesday, January 23:

• T/Th Kindergarten attend
• Pre-K 3 year old program attend
• No Secrets Parent Information Session (via Zoom) 6:00-7:00 pm

Wednesday, January 24:

• M/W Kindergarten attend
• Pre-K 3 year old program attend
• No Secrets Presentation (Kindergarten, Gr. 2, Gr. 4)

Thursday, January 25:

• T/TH Kindergarten attend
• Pre-K 3 year old program attend
• Grade 4 bottle drive
• No Secrets Presentation (Kindergarten, Gr. 2, Gr. 4)
  

Friday, January 26:

• T/TH Kindergarten attend
• Theme Day - Book Character Day
  
• Shelter in Place Safety Drill
• Papa Johns hot lunch for those that ordered
  
• Deadline for ordering February hot lunch
  
• Grade 4 bottle drive

Upcoming Events:

• January 30 - French Immersion Parent Engagement Session - 5:00 pm
  
• January 31 - Virtue Awards: Love - 2:00 pm
• February 2 - PD Day - No school for students
• February 7 - Carnaval
• February 8 - Carnaval
• February 13 - Shrove Tuesday
• February 13 - Valentine's Day Celebrations
• February 13 - Theme Day - Red & White Day
• February 13: Literacy Night for Parents
• February 14 - Ash Wednesday
• February 19 - Family Day - No School
• February 20-23 - Winter Break - No School
• February 26 - Classes Resume

Registration is now open for the Kindergarten and Pre-K 2024-25 school year. Please click below to view the Parent User Guide, and register. A reminder, if you currently have a child attending Pre-Kindergarten at ÉOLRS, you must still submit a registration form for Kindergarten.

Are you interested in learning more about the new English Language Arts curriculum and how best to support your child at home with reading? All parents are invited to a Literacy Engagement Night on February 13 from 5:00-6:00 pm at our school.

Our teachers are very excited to explain the changes to the curriculum and to lead you through the new approaches to teaching reading empowering you to support your child at home. It will be a fun and engaging night for parents to learn first hand more about literacy! Please join us!

Get ready to embark on a captivating journey with us at the French Immersion Parent Engagement Session! Our upcoming gathering is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30th, from 5 pm to 6 pm, right in the heart of the ÉOLRS gathering area.

Throughout the year, we have planned a series of monthly parent engagement sessions designed to boost your confidence in actively supporting your child's learning journey in the French immersion program. Our goal is to have you fully engaged in your child's education while deepening your knowledge on various education-related topics.

In our next session, we'll delve into the fascinating world of reading in a French Immersion context and explore how you can play a pivotal role in supporting your child. We will navigate through recent changes in the curriculum, helping you understand what they mean for your child. Plus, you'll gain valuable insights into ways you can foster your child’s literacy development. No prior French language experience is necessary – we invite everyone to join us and discover the beauty of ÉOLR’s French Immersion program and its vibrant community.

If Tuesday, January 30th doesn't fit into your schedule, don't worry! We'll make sure to share the presentation slides on our website, allowing you to catch up at your convenience.We're thrilled to have you on board!

At École Our Lady of the Rosary School, we strive to ensure a safe, caring and supportive

environment for your child. We are offering the No Secrets presentation to

kindergarten, grade 2, and grade 4 students which is available through the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Center (CASASC). This program focuses on teaching children personal safety as a supportive skill and tool in the prevention of child abuse. Parent permission is required for students to participate in this prevention program.

We want all parents to know that Red Deer Catholic School Division has an administrative procedure which must be adhered to for all school presentations. Administrative Procedure No. 227 is in place to ensure that outside presentations are linked to the Alberta Education Program of Studies as well as align with the values and goals of a Catholic school. This administrative procedure was followed with due diligence in regards to the No Secrets presentation.

There are concerns around a resource, Ressie the Unicorn, which may be used as a supporting material within the presentation. In the program outline, it indicates that Ressie is referred to with a gender-neutral pronoun. This element of the program has previously been addressed at the divisional level with the CASASC, with the directive being that this element of the program will not be part of the presentation in Red Deer Catholic Schools.

The personal safety of children is a collaborative effort between school and home. With this

objective, we are offering a virtual parent information session on January 23, 2024 from

6:00-7:00 pm. This session by CASASC will provide valuable information and support for

parents. We will send out the Zoom link for this information to our parent community next week. Although the information will be most pertinent to the parents of students participating this year, all of our parents are welcome to attend.

The French Immersion team is excited to announce our upcoming annual Carnaval, and we are on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers! Carnaval is a lively French winter festival brimming with sports, snowy activities, French history, delicious treats, and snowmen.

Our ÉOLR Carnaval is scheduled for February 7th and February 8th. On the 8th, the Grades 2, 4 students along with the Thursday French and English kindergarten will be participating, while on February 7th, it will be the turn of Grade 1, 3, and Wednesday English Kindergarten. Your participation as a volunteer from 10 am to 3 pm will be invaluable in making these days memorable for our students.

We greatly appreciate your consideration and understanding that your involvement is a crucial part of making enjoyable events like Carnaval possible.

Thank you for your support!

Due to the cold temperatures, the Grade 4 bottle drive was postponed until January 25th and 26th. Please drop off your bottles during the following times:

Thursday, January 25 - 12:30 - 2:30

Friday, January 26 - 10:00 - 12:00

If you are unable to drop off during that time, please feel free to drop off either of those mornings and leave them in the corner by the portables (to the left, when facing the large garbage bin). Do not leave them near the garbage bin or near any doors.

We appreciate you donating your bottles and helping the Grade 4s to support their swim lessons and Grade 4 hoodies.

Thank you to our parent council who have offered their assistance! If you have bottles you'd like to donate, but are unable to bring them to the school, please contact Stephanie Bugbee at eolrschoolcouncilchair@gmail.com to arrange pick up. If you'd like to assist our parent council with these pickups, please also email Stephanie Bugbee at the same email.

We thank everyone for their support and assistance with this.

Currently, we have indoor recess when the temperature reaches -20° with the wind chill based on the Weather Network app. At 20°, we also open our doors to students at 8:09.

You may have noticed that this year, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine's Day. Given the significance of Ash Wednesday for our Catholic Faith, and under the guidance of the Archbishop, we want to ensure that we maintain the sanctity of Ash Wednesday. As a result, Valentine’s Day activities will take place on February 13th, and February 14th will be reserved for Ash Wednesday liturgical celebrations and reflections. More information will be shared as we move into the month of February.

Calling all Artists!

The contest for next year's Division Theme Poster is now open. Deadline for submissions is March 8, 2024.

This year's winning poster will be included in an art exhibition in the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton Assembly Hall, so we are calling for submissions earlier than usual.

Entries should highlight the third focus of our three-year division theme: being inspired by Christ to serve others. Please see the attached document for full contest details.

All age levels are encouraged to participate. Please send submissions to Jo-Ann Kelly at Montfort Centre by March 8th, 2024.

If you have any questions, please email Jo-Ann at joann.kelly@rdcrs.ca.

Click here to download a copy of the contest details.

Do you have a passion for fundraising, interested in volunteering and supporting your school community? We would love it if you would consider serving as the Fundraising Lead on the School Council. A large portion of this position can be done remotely while staying in close contact with and receiving support from the Council Chair (and other members). It involves organizing the upcoming fundraisers (already chosen) and coordinating sub-committees to help plan school events for the kiddos. Please let Stephanie (eolrschoolcouncilchair@gmail.com) know if you are interested in helping in this capacity. We would love to have you!

HOT LUNCH:

January

GRADE 3 Parents - we are calling on you for help with our January Hot Lunches. Please contact eolrshotlunches@gmail.com if you are available to help or have any questions. If you'd like to help cook chili and soup on Jan 19 or help with delivering pizza on Jan 26th, we would welcome the extra hands and smiles!

February

GRADE 4 parents are being asked to help with February hot lunches. If you are able to help drive, deliver, and/or hand out lunches please contact Priscilla at eolrshotlunches@gmail.com.

Orders are open for February hot lunches. Please submit your orders online at: hotlunches.net. Orders CLOSE January 26! If signing up with a new account the password is OLRS.

Check out next month's menu:

Feb 9, Pizza Pizza - Cheese or Pepperoni pizza with a drink

Feb 16, Mr. Mike's - Cheese burger, chicken quesadilla, or tomato pasta with a side of raw veggies

FUNDRAISING:

Planning for additional fundraisers and events is underway. If you would like to help in any capacity or are curious as to what's being planned, please reach out to eolrschoolcouncilfundraising@gmail.com. We will continue to post volunteer opportunities for the upcoming events here!

NEXT MEETING(S): Everyone is Welcome!

School Council regular Meeting, January 22 at 1:30 PM hosted at OLR. Please consider joining us for our meeting on Monday. Mrs. Gringhuis (Principal) will be walking through the School Improvement Plan with the Council and answering any questions that we may have. This is an important Plan that unveils the current and future goals of OLR. Your feedback and inquiries are welcome!

Feel free to reach out to our Executive Council members with any questions, concerns, suggestions, or interests! Every parent/guardian of a child at EOLRS is eligible to vote and participate on Council. Please consider joining us!

YOUR EXECUTIVE:

Chair, Stephanie Bugbee (eolrschoolcouncilchair@gmail.com)

Vice Chair, Nancy Vallee-Moore (eolrschoolcouncilchair@gmail.com)

Secretary, Marie Legare (eolrschoolcouncilsecretary@gmail.com)

Treasurer, Emilie Fleck (eolrschoolcounciltreasurer1@gmail.com)

Fundraising Lead, VACANT (eolrschoolcouncilfundraising@gmail.com)

Hotlunch Lead, Priscilla D'Mello (eolrshotlunches@gmail.com)

Faith Representative, Leatta Jungwirth

ABC Life Literacy Canada once again has a variety of free resources available for download on the FamilyLiteracyDay.ca website. Access bookmarks, activities, posters and more at the direct links below:

• Activity Book
• Activity Sheet
• Poster (8.5 x 11)
• Poster (11×17)
• Bookmark
• Barbara Reid Tip Sheet
• Event Guide
• Print PSAs
• Web banners
• Social media guide and images
• Stories + images