Edmonton Catholic Schools

February Administration Message

February is upon us and with the turning over of a new month we are excited about the days and weeks ahead. The month of January has given teachers and students great opportunities for sustained, uninterrupted learning, providing teachers and students the time for truly engaging teaching and learning experiences. As we continue our learning journey, parents are reminded that Edmonton Catholic School has moved to "On-Going, Outcomes Based Reporting" using Powerteacher Pro as the tool for parents to track their child's progress. No formal report cards will be provided however, once again in March, the school will host Demonstration of Learning for Elementary students and Interviews for Junior High students.

The Grade 6 students are starting to plan for their transition to Junior High, Grade 7. They'll be filling out a "passport" as they move to a new Catholic school, choosing options and preparing themselves for 3 fun years of working with a variety of teachers, exploring new subjects and trying new things. As well our Grade 9 students will also be looking to register for high school. The best advice is to make sure you visit our Catholic Junior High Schools and attend their open houses to make an informed choice. Please visit www.ecsd.net for more information about the various Junior and Senior High programs with Edmonton Catholic Schools.

Each year all staff of Edmonton Catholic participate in Faith Development Day at Shaw Conference Centre to renew their faith and inspire each of us to continue to work with our students in a faith-filled environment. On Feb. 4th , there will be no classes for students as we attend this day.

Family Day is on Monday, February 19th and there are many activities that families can partake in throughout the city. We hope you have the opportunity to reflect on how fortunate we are to have the people in our lives that we do.

As we journey through February, we move into the liturgical season of Lent unofficially beginning with Tlusty czwartek on Thursday, February 20, followed by Shrove Tuesday on February 25 and finally into Ash Wednesday on the 26^th. This special time of year prepares us for the coming of Easter through prayer, penance, and almsgiving.

Teachers have Teachers' Convention on February 27^th and 28th which allows them the opportunity to have 2 days of professional development. Speakers come to Edmonton from all around North America to share promising practices, new research and sessions to help us improve and support our teaching.

Finally, we wish to thank everyone who has made the start of the New Year a great success. We are looking forward to the many things that the months ahead have in store for us. On behalf of the whole faculty, wishing everyone, a very happy St. Valentine's Day.

Ken Pyra Gosia Beringer

Principal Assistant Principal