December 2024 Message
December 1 marks the First Sunday of Advent, a time of gratitude and joy for Edmonton Catholic Schools. December is also a time when our ECSD community has the opportunity to share feedback through various online surveys. In this monthly message, I will highlight these important events through the lens of goodness, truth, and beauty.
GOODNESS. I recently had the pleasure of joining Christ the King Catholic Elementary/Junior High School as they celebrated their Feast Day. The Feast of Christ the King marks the end of the liturgical year and celebrates Jesus patiently waiting for us in the Kingdom of Heaven. It was an uplifting opportunity for students to learn about our faith and to witness the acts of Catholic social justice embedded into the program that day.
TRUTH. As we mentioned in the November Message, in order for Edmonton Catholic Schools to be the best we can be, it is crucial to receive feedback from the entire ECSD community. To collect this feedback, staff, students, and parents/guardians will receive instructions over the next few weeks on how to complete the ECSD Annual Survey. In addition to the Annual Survey, staff will also receive instructions on how to complete the ECSD Systems Excellence Survey. Then, towards the end of December, teachers, students, and parents/guardians will be asked to share their feedback in the Alberta Education Assurance Survey.
We appreciate that it can be hard finding time to complete surveys, however, your opinion is very important. Within the Division Plan for Continuous Growth, there are processes which specify how survey results are used to set targets for improvement for the Division and individual schools. Therefore, we strongly encourage every member of the ECSD community to share your feedback. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
BEAUTY. As another Advent journey begins, each of us in the ECSD community joins together in prayer and reflection to prepare for the birth of Jesus. Each week of Advent is filled with liturgies and school-based celebrations where students share gifts and talents with their families. There are also wonderful Division events, such as our All-City Choir and Band Concerts. We are truly blessed to celebrate the beauty of our Catholic faith together as a Christ-centered community.
Christmas is always a joyous time for us as we celebrate the great gift of God’s love for us, incarnate in the baby Jesus. This year is extra special since Pope Francis will officially open the 2025 Jubilee on Christmas Eve by celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Square and then opening the Holy Door of the Basilica. The theme for this special Jubilee celebration of our faith is Pilgrims of Hope, which is a beautiful complement to our ECSD theme of People of Hope. You can follow the Jubilee activities by clicking here.
I wish you and your family a glorious Christmas season, filled with the hope that flows from the birth of our Messiah!
Lynnette Anderson
Chief Superintendent
- To see our upcoming Division events, visit ecsd.net/calendar.
- Read A Pilgrimage of Hope, written by Richard W. Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton