May 2016 - Edmonton Catholic Schools

Volume 6, Issue 9
École Monsignor William Irwin School
2629 Taylor Green, Edmonton AB T6R 3N8
Phone: 780-430-1121 Fax: 780-430-7742
MAY 2016 NEWSLETTER
Mother's Day Prayer
Loving God,
We thank you for the love of the
mothers we have,
whose love is so precious that it can
never be measured,
whose kindness seems to have no end.
May we see your loving hand behind
them and guiding them.
Whisper words of love to those mothers
who strive to be more patient and
understanding.
We ask you to bless them with your own
special love.
We ask this in the name of
Jesus, the Christ.
Amen.
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ADMINISTRATORS MESSAGE
A Mother’s love is something that no one can explain.
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain.
It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may.
For nothing can destroy it or take that love away.
It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking.
It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems.
It is far beyond defining it defies all explanation,
And still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation.
A many splendored miracle man cannot understand
Another wondrous evidence of God’s tender guiding hand.
~Helen Steiner Rice~
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in our community!
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the patron saint of our
district, is the greatest example of motherhood ever
known. She loved, protected, nourished, supported,
encouraged, and taught Jesus.
There is no greater gift than a mother’s love, and we see
that gift reflected daily in the faces of the children of our
school. We see children who treat others with
compassion by helping another come to the office for an
ice pack when they’ve fallen and scraped a knee; we see loyalty in our children when
they share friendship with another; we see children treat each other with fairness when
they ask someone feeling left out to play; we see respect when they greet guests to our
school with smiles and enthusiasm; we see empathy and understanding when they say,
“I’m sorry” to another student feeling hurt; all of the things that you teach, support, and
encourage your children at home to do and then wonder if they will remember, they do
at school. It is a joy to work with your children!
We celebrate the many blessings of being linked hand in hand with children.
Happy Mother’s Day—relax, enjoy and celebrate!
Mrs. Lang
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ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH NEWS
Home – School – Parish
ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH SACRAMENT NEWS
Following is a link to the St. Thomas More Parish website with
Parish news and the weekly Parish bulletin: stmparish.com
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SAC MAY 2
MONDAY, MAY 2 AT 6:30 PM
SAC MEETING – THE AGM
Please consider volunteering to support our school community on the School Advisory
Council for 2016-2017. Positions that need to be filled:
-
Secretary
Treasurer
On May 2, we are holding elections for these positions. Please consider nominating
someone or self-nominating. We need you and we need your vote!
Please plan on attending!
All parents are welcome!
All teachers request a Classroom Volunteer Coordinator to organize party volunteers,
contact parents for out-of-school field trips, in-school field trips, and coordinate
Scholastic book orders. Look for sign-up sheets in individual classrooms at our fall
“Meet the Teacher” evening.
EDUCATION WEEK MAY 2 TO 6, 2016
Alberta Education invites all of us to
celebrate Education Week 2016,
May 2 to 6, in schools and
communities across the
province. Education Week is an
opportunity to capture and promote
the amazing quality of education our
system provides each and every
day.
This year’s theme is “We Are TEACHERS.” From the Ministry of Education come the
following words of wisdom:



Today, more than ever, teachers are committed to creating an inspired future for every child.
Teachers and their professional organization, the Alberta Teachers’ Association, are working hard
with education partners to ensure that students have optimal learning conditions.
To be lifelong learners, students must have ingenuity, creativity, critical thinking skills, and
citizenship skills.
Students need a broad range of learning experiences that go beyond the basic subjects of math,
language arts, science and social studies. Schools, while preparing students for a diversity of
possible futures, must also ensure students experience the joy of learning while at school.
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AT LAST, GREETING CARDS ARE AVAILABLE!
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PROJECTED CLASSROOMS FOR 2016-2017
Please be advised that the following projection of classes is a preliminary plan only and
is subject to change. This present projection of classes is dependent on our enrolment
and may change with an increase or decrease in students.
English
K (am), K (pm)
1A, 1C, 1E
2A, 2C, 2E
3A, 3C, 3E
4A, 4C
5A, 5C, 5E
6A, 6C
French Immersion
K (am), K (pm)
1B, 1D
2B, 2D
3B, 3D
4B, 4D
5B, 5D
6B
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SHOULD REGISTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
Staffing for these classes will not be completed until the end of June once budget,
teacher positions, and contracts are finalized. Enrolment projections for next year put us
at about 650 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. See the website for Kindergarten
registration.
www.monsignorwilliamirwin.ecsd.net
THANK YOU MWI BUS DRIVERS!
This year, our bus drivers went beyond the call of
duty!
These seven amazing, saintly, individuals so
efficiently (and compassionately) managed the task
of ensuring that our kindergarten students – who are
housed at Archbishop Joseph MacNeil School for
this year only – were picked up and delivered in a
safe and caring manner.
Thank you MWI bus drivers for your dedication and
tireless patience in driving all of our students on
Busses 311, 312, 314, 319, 322, 325, and 326.
You are all AWESOME! 
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FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES FOR THE GRADE 6 CAMPING TRIP
Here is a list of our upcoming fundraisers for the month of May.
Popcorn Days - $2/bag
Wednesday May 4th - Grade 1/2
Wednesday May 18th- Grade 3/4
Tuesday May 24th - Grade 5/6
Freezie Fridays -$2/ Jumbo Freezie
Friday May 6th - Grade 3/4
Friday May 13th - Grade 5/6
Friday May 20th - Grade 1/2
Hot Dog Lunch - $3/ 1 Hotdog & Juice box; $5/2 Hot Dogs & Juice box
Monday May 9th- Grade 1/2
Tuesday May 10th - Grade 3/4
Wednesday May 11th - Grade 5/6
Spring Concerts
3 Raffle baskets - 3 tickets for $5
Guessing Jar - 1 guess for $1 and 3 guesses for $2
50/50 - 3 tickets for $5
Concession Day for Grade 6
Monday May 2nd
HATS ON FOR MENTAL HEALTH DAY MAY 4
STAFF AND STUDENTS!!
On Wednesday, May 4th, please join us in wearing a HAT to school.
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WE ARE GETTING A BEE HOTEL!!
May 9 Bee Hotel Presentation
The Edmonton and Area Land Trust is giving us a bee
hotel for our school! A bee hotel provides a place for nonaggressive solitary bees to lay their eggs. Bee hotels are
a great teaching tool, for subjects including math,
science, social studies and more!
For more information about bee hotels, see this link:
http://www.ealt.ca/protecting-pollinators
SCHEDULE FOR GRADE 6 PROVINCIAL ACHIEVEMENT TESTS
Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) will be written by our Grade 6 students in May and
June 2016.
Parents can visit the Alberta Learning Website at www.education.gov.ab.ca for
information with regards to these provincial exams. This site has previous provincial
exams that parents can print to look at and practice with their children. Another great
site for parents and students is the Learn Alberta Site at www.learnalberta.ca. To get
into this site, the user name is LA12 and the password is 2953. Grade 6 students can
also visit the www.alberta.exambank.com. Students should see their classroom teacher
for a username and password for this site.
Teachers use the information from Provincial exams in setting goals and program
planning for students. These exams provide very important information to our school
and we want our children to perform their very best! Please ensure that your child
receives lots of rest the night before an exam and a nutritious breakfast on the day of
each exam. Thank you!
Students are expected at school at their regular time for attendance and then entry into
the gymnasium.
The schedule is on the following page.
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PROVINCIAL ACHIEVEMENT TEST SCHEDULE 2016
Tuesday, May 10
French language arts Partie A
Thursday, May 12
English language arts Part A
Tuesday, June 14
French language arts Partie B
Wednesday, June 15
English language arts Part B
Thursday, June 16
Mathematics
Friday, June 17
Science
Monday, June 20
Social studies
FATHER BILL DAY MAY 13
Monsignor William Irwin, or as he was affectionately known as - Father Bill - was born
in 1928 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. He entered St. Joseph's Seminary in 1948
and was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest on June 6, 1954.
Monsignor William Irwin was founder and Chief Executive
Officer of Catholic Social Services in Edmonton, which he
established in 1961 with a staff of one and a budget of
$5,000.00. He built Catholic Social Services into Canada's
largest multi-function social service agency and one of the
largest in North America with 1,200 staff, 1,800 volunteers,
more than 100 programs, and a budget exceeding $50
million.
Monsignor Irwin directly or indirectly touched the lives of
every Catholic in the Edmonton area, in our province and in the larger Catholic
community, both nationally and internationally. He was larger than life in his endeavors
to minister in healing and faith to those in need, wherever they were.
In 1995, Monsignor Irwin was appointed by the Governor General of Canada as an
Officer of the Order of Canada - the country's most prestigious citizenship award.
Monsignor William Irwin died in 2004 at the age of 76.
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BUILDING BETTER MATH BRAINS! JOIN PARENT NIGHT MAY 13
Please register for this free informational session for parents.
https://event-wizard.com/ECECGeriLorwayParents/0/register/
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SPRING CONCERTS MAY 16, 17, 18
Monday, May 16
Tuesday, May 17
Wednesday, May 18
GRADE 4
Dress Rehearsal 9:30 AM
Concert 6:30 PM
French Cultural Performance
1:15 PM
GRADE 5
Dress Rehearsal 9:30 AM
Concert 6:30 PM
GRADE 6
Dress Rehearsal 9:30 AM
Concert 6:30 PM
Students must arrive no later than 6:00 PM and go immediately to their classroom.
Concert dress is black top and bottom. Please, no logos or white stripes on the pants or
on the top. Boys may wear suits if they wish. Dresses and skirts are fine for the girls, but
not if they play cello. If your child has black shoes, she/he can wear them; otherwise,
they can wear the nicest shoes they have.
There will be a lot of equipment and instruments in the gym. It
would be greatly appreciated if small children stay with parents
and do not touch the instruments or run around.
The concerts will not be long. Please stay until the end. The
last group needs an audience just as much as the first group.
At the evening concerts, each group will remain onstage for a few minutes for parents to
take photos. Thank you for supporting the music program.
FRENCH CONCERT MAY 17
The French Concert will be performed on May 17, 2016 at
1:15 PM and is open to any family who would like to
attend.
All of the French Immersion students will be attending. This
is a mixed-grade concert with an orchestra, choir, and
liturgical dancers.
Please join us!
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MAY 27 PARENT APPRECIATION
Just know that we are so appreciative of your support for this wonderful school! You
make us who we are!
MAY 27 SCHOOL PHOTO
On Friday, May 27, first thing in the morning, we are taking a school photo. Students
need to be on time for registration.
We are creating yet another great memory!
LOVE THOSE HEELYS BUT NOT AT SCHOOL
Parents – please don’t make your child’s outdoor shoes HEELYS!
These shoes with one or two wheels under the shoe create
problems for playing at recess and on the tarmac.
We respectfully request that they don’t make an appearance on
school grounds.
ADD THIS TO YOUR MEMORIES – DID YOU ORDER A YEARBOOK?
This is a friendly reminder about ordering a yearbook if you haven’t
ordered one yet!
It’s not too late! Send $25.00 to the office and the name of your
child.
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APRIL ACTIVITIES AT MWI
BOOK FAIR THANK YOU’S
The Book Fair held in March resulted in a total profit of $9091.00. The
school received $5,315.00 in Scholastic credits and purchased Lego
Simple Machines Kits, Lego building sets for Grade 1 centres and Grade 3
mathematics, as well as non-fiction books for Division 2, and much more.
Our appreciation is so vast! We love that parents share the same profound
love of literacy that staff at MWI do.
Mrs. Ostashevska would like to thank volunteers Deanna Morrison, Dawn Palmer,
Emma McNally, Michelle Kralt, and Jill Bryks for their help in unpacking, setting up,
selling, and tearing down. As well, thanks go to Jenna H., Marie, Sabrina, and Zoe.
APRIL 7 EASTER CELEBRATION
We enjoyed our Easter celebration and the many decorations that popped up around
the school.
This mosaic was made by Grade 3E students working with squares.
Wow!
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SCIENCE INVESTIGATION
In April, all Grade 6 students participated in a ‘Hands On’ in school fieldtrip based on
their Science curriculum, “Evidence and Investigation” unit.
Working in small groups and using their "investigative kits," students were taught
various techniques which are used by actual crime scene investigators. The students
observed a mock crime scene, read the "incident report," and used the skills they
learned at the five evidence analysis stations, to attempt to solve the crime. The skills
that they learned included fingerprinting, chromatography/handwriting analysis, track
and soil analysis, hair and fibre analysis, and observation/identification.
Featured are 6B students acting as ‘investigators’.
APRIL 14 FAMILY DANCE
The School Advisory Council is so very
grateful to the many sponsors who provided
fabulous items for the Family Dance!
These wonderful donations came from the
following vendors:
Vines (Terwillegar)
Save On Foods
(Terwillegar)
Safeway (Windermere)
Famoso (Terwillegar)
Chuck E Cheese (South
Common)
Cora's (Gateway Blvd)
Forever Young
(Terwillegar)
Modern Sole (Windermere)
La Poutine (Whyte ave)
Tommy Gunns
(Windermere)
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Chatters (Windermere)
Mastermind Toys
(Windermere)
Cloud Nine ( Windermere)
Indigo (South Common)
The Knot Shop (Gateway
Blvd)
EARTH DAY APRIL 22
We are had a Garbage-less Lunch on Friday April 22, 2016 on Earth Day.
A Garbage-Less Lunch is when you have no garbage after eating your lunch or snack.
We did this because the more garbage we produce, the more we hurt our environment.
Here are some suggestions you can do for a garbage-less lunch day:
•
•
•
Bake items and put them in reusable hard plastic containers
Reuse baggies and Ziplocs
Put juice box and milk carton in the recycle
Remember don’t just do this on Earth Day; try to do this every day!!!!
From Daniella, Reyona and Anissa from 3E M.W.I
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APRIL 24 TEACHERS PRESENTING
So proud we are! Three MWI teachers
presented at an international conference in
Banff during the last week of April. Their
sessions highlighted the experience of two
teachers collaborating to improve student
learning through on-going multi-grade projects
that promote 21st century learning while
meeting student outcomes. Grade 1 teacher
Ms. Szorenyi and Grade 3 teacher Ms.
Paulson shared these exciting possibilities for
enhancing teaching practices that lead to
increased student engagement and learning!
Grade 6 teacher Mr. Freeman presented on a
framework that integrates language instruction
within content teaching to increase English
language proficiency and student achievement in
all content areas. The program he has been
working with for the past three years is called
Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol
(SIOP) and the strategies are effective not only
for English language learners but hold enormous
benefits for all of his students.
We are doing great work here with your kids!
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6A AT CITY HALL APRIL 19
Learning to become good citizens!
GRADE 6 STUDENTS ACCEPT CHEQUE
Thank you to Dr. Bob Turner for being the messenger with a $10,000.00 cheque
towards our technology needs. These monies came from the Community Initiatives
Program grant. We are grateful!
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GRADE 1 BUILDERS
Using a lot of glue, imagination, and ingenuity, these Grade 1 students first planned and
designed, then created their buildings. Hotels, skyscrapers, and schools were among
the featured structures.
A BUDDY BENCH! FOR US!
A Buddy Bench from Home Depot Windermere was delivered April 27 to our school! We
are very excited to be the recipients of such a well-constructed, artistic, and useful seat!
Thank you!
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CALENDAR – ACCESS THE FULL CALENDAR AND UPDATES TO EVENTS
THROUGH THE WEB SITE
MAY
Monday, May 2
Grade 6C to the Legislature all week
Concession Day – Grade 6
Education Week – We are Teachers!
Grades 3D and 3F to Multicultural Center
SAC tonight at 6:30 PM – Join us for the AGM!
Marian Mass 7:00 PM St. Thomas More
Wednesday, May 4
Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Thank you!
Hats ON for Mental Health Day
Popcorn Grades 1 and 2
Grades 3B and 3E to Multicultural Center
Celebration of the Arts Winspear
Thursday, May 5
No school in the afternoon
Yes, karate!
Friday, May 6
Freezie Friday Grades 3 and 4
Grades 3A and 3C to Multicultural Center
Music Field Trip for multiple grades
Monday, May 9
Bee Hotel Presentation
Hot Dog Lunch Grades 1 and 2
Deadline for Greeting Card Orders
Tuesday, May 10
Hot Dog Lunch Grades 3 and 4
Grade 6 PAT French language arts Part A
Wednesday, May 11
Hot Dog Lunch Grades 5 and 6
Thursday, May 12
Grade 6 PAT English language arts Part A
Grades 1A and 1E Family Event
No school in the afternoon
Yes, karate!
Friday, May 13
Freezie Friday Grades 5 and 6
Grade 5C to Bennett Centre
Parent Evening at MWI 7:00 PM BUILDING BETTER MATH BRAINS!
Monday, May 16
Grade 4 Spring Concert: Rehearsal 9:30 AM and Evening Performance at 6:30
PM
Grades 5A and 5E to Bennett Centre
Tuesday, May 17
Gr 6A to Miquelon Lake
French Concert 1:15 PM
Grade 5 Spring Concert: Rehearsal 9:30 AM and Evening Performance at 6:30
PM
Wednesday, May 18
Popcorn Grades 3 and 4
Grade 6 Spring Concert: Rehearsal 9:30 AM and Evening Performance at 6:30
PM
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Thursday, May 19
Grades 1C and 1G Family Event
No school in the afternoon
Yes, karate!
Friday, May 20
Freezie Friday Grades 1 and 2
Grades 5B and 5D to Bennett Centre
Monday, May 23
Victoria Day – no school
Tuesday, May 24
Popcorn Grades 5 and 6
Wednesday, May 25
All French Immersion students to Greg Laroque!!
Thursday, May 26
Care for Creation Mass at STM 10:00 AM
No school in the afternoon
Yes, karate!
Friday, May 27
School Photo – all students and staff
Parent Appreciation Day – Thank you parents!
Wednesday, June 1
All Grade 5s to Miquelon Lake
All Grade 2s to John Janzen Nature Centre
Thursday, June 2
No school in the afternoon
Yes, karate!
Friday, June 3
Evergreen Theatre Presents at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM (rescheduled)
LUNCH WITH THE PRINCIPAL
Fill out and return this form (by May 6, 2016) for your child to enjoy lunch with
the principal!
I give my child permission to have lunch with the Principal.
Child’s name and class – please print
Parent signature
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