OctoberN2014, Issue 1

St. Michael’s Catholic School 25 Maple Street

PO Box 640

Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0

(519) 674-3475 420 CREEK STREET

WALLACEBURG, ON

N8A 4C4

(519) 627-6762

http://www.st‐clair.net

1-866-336-6139

Director of Education:

D. Crawford

Superintendent:

L. Demers

Chair of the Board:

J. Van Heck

Board Trustee:

C. Bryden

Inside this issue:

Principals

Message

1

Art Auction

update

2

Flowerbed Pick

up

2

Good News 2

Track & Field

Day

3

Dress Code 3

Email & Win

Winner

3

Walking together in Christ’s light with parish and family, we are called

to build a safe and inclusive Catholic learning community, and to serve

as partners in the formation of life-long learners by:

Living our faith;

Promoting educational achievement and innovation;

Fostering stewardship, leadership and social justice.

May 2018—Issue 9

Principal’s Message

Dear Parents and Guardians,

May is a very special month for us in Catholic

Education as it begins with Catholic Education

Week. This year, Catholic Education Week’s theme

is aligned with this year of Jubilee and is “Renewing

the Promise”.

There are five sub-themes for each day of Catholic Education Week with a short de-

scription of some activities throughout the school . This is also Wellness Week so we

will be participating in Wellness Activities throughout the week.

Please also be sure to listen to the Principal Video Newsletter and reveal the secret

word to Mrs. Drew so that your son or daughter can receive a Lunch ordered in!

https://youtu.be/4YnuQQcjAA0

Yours in Catholic Education,

Mrs. Julie Knight

Operation Back

Pack

4

Focus on Faith 4

Climate Survey 4

Be sure to

call and let

us know if

your son or

daughter is

going to be

absent:

519 674-

3475 or by

email at

tammy.drew

@st-clair.net

Page 2 St. Michael’s Catholic School

School Council News Art Auction update…..Thank you to everyone who came out and supported

our Auction. It was a great evening. Congratulations to the winners of the

beautiful art pieces. I’m sure they will have a perfect spot in your home/office.

Thank you to our auctioneer Bill DeVries. We really appreciate your support.

It was a very successful evening!

The Flowerbed Fundraiser

Reminder orders will be ready for pick up on

Saturday, May 12 between 9-11am.

Connor D. Jordan H. Avery M. Blake S.

Reyer G. Hayden D. Jada S. Brooklyn K.

Selena D. Ramsey F. Connor G. Linkin S.

Hunter B. Terri S. Aidan F. Heath B. Keira M.

Luke V. Bridget K. Ayden B. Kiera D.

Kassidy D. Michael S. Ben K. Derek S.

Aisling T. Jesse W. Ainslie W. Carter V. Lidiah B. Lexi M.

Good News Assembly

During the month of April, the Catholic Virtue that we had been focusing on

was Peace. Academic recognition was given this month with regard to Oral

Communication. Please join us in congratulating the following students who

were recognized:

Peace Oral Communication

Track & Field Day

Thursday, May 17th

Page 3 St. Michael’s Catholic School

Email and WIN! Plus Save a tree!

April winner of the lunch is Yvonne Wierenga! Congratulations! Be sure

to listen to the Principal’s message—click the link in our newsletter to

hear how you can win!

IMPORTANT DRESS CODE UPDATE

Our School Dress Code has always been (and will continue to be) to dress modestly and

appropriate for the activities students will be participating in. This is the policy of the St.

Clair Catholic District School Board.

After requests for a more specific guideline and in consultation with Parent Council, Teach-

ers and student representatives, the following guidelines will be implemented beginning in

September.

Short length will be to your middle finger when your hands are at your side or half way

between your kneecap and your hip.

All shirts must have a strap of a least a 3 finger width.

Please remember

to follow

St. Michael’s Cath-

olic School on

twitter

@SMRCardinals

and Facebook at

“St Michael

School Council”

Business Tagline or Motto

We’re on the Web!

http://www.st-clair.net/MRI/

Page 4

SAVE THE DATE

June 3—YES Mass

June 5—2018 JK 2nd

Visit

June 6th—Amazing Race

Day at Healthplex

June 7th—County Track

and Field

June 8th—PD Day

No school for students

June 15th—Gr. 8’s to

Niagara Falls

June 22nd—Grade 2-4 to

Skah-na-doht

June 21st—Grade 8

Grad

June 25th—Report

Cards go home

June 28th—Last Day of

Classes

Operation BackPacks – United Way Chatham-Kent

We are gearing up for the 2018 OPERATION BACKPACKS Program.

This community-building initiative offers a brand new backpack filled with

BASIC school supplies to help your child begin the new school year with a

great start. This program is intended for students who require assistance.

Please visit our web-site at OperationBackPacksCK.ca to access the on-line

referral link. At this web-address you will find links indicating Supplies

Provided by Grade Level and information regarding where and when you

can pick up your requested backpacks. Questions can be forwarded to

Mary Symons, the program coordinator at goodneighbours@uwock.ca

Focus on Faith

There is a saying that comes directly from the monasteries founded on the Rule of St. Benedict. “Let all

guests who arrive be received as Christ”. This hospitality is evident in many of our school secretaries

who know each student by name. I do not know how they do it but they do.

I have heard stories of how awkward students gain a sense of purpose and improve their attendance, just

because they were invited to shadow a kind custodian at recess.

I have seen child and youth workers and classroom educators help students to tear down the walls that

students have built for themselves - in a small way, they have set prisoners free.

I have seen principals and parents work together to teach students to seek and grant forgiveness when

they have wronged someone. They are fostering the Christian value of forgiveness.

I see the kind workers in the field of Catholic education and Catholic school parents as recognizing Christ

within each individual. I suspect most days you do not name it in that way. I think in many ways, you

cannot see the forest for the trees. I think you are so much in the thick of teaching your children how to

live out the values of Jesus that it becomes automatic for you and you are blind to it. Many of you are so

busy doing the right things for your children, that you might not even recognize how you awaken passion

and purpose in those who watch you and learn - including me.

Whether it is raising funds for people in need or bolstering self-esteem through God’s love and God’s

Word; or whether it is simply your kind example of bringing in clothing or food for others - your children

and other adults in your presence are learning how to be people who find their passion and purpose in

trying to live like Jesus.

I see it regularly. I do have the vantage point of being just separated enough from each school and family

that I can see the wonder and grace of it all. I am hoping this Easter season has given you a chance to step

aside a little and to gain perspective so you can see the beautiful ways that you so marvelously bring glory

to God in your day to day lives.

May 2018

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The St. Clair Catholic District School Board will conduct a school climate survey, from Monday, April 16th to

Friday, May 25th. School boards in Ontario are mandated by the Ministry of Education to conduct these sur-

veys of students, staff and parents every two years. They are an important tool in helping the Board to assess

perceptions of school safety and in helping to build and sustain positive school environments. They also assist

the Board in making informed planning decisions about programs, which help promote safe and inclusive

schools and good mental health.

A good response to the survey is vital to obtaining reliable data. The surveys are anonymous and will take on-

ly a few minutes of your time. If you haven’t already done so, there are three ways in which you can complete

the survey between April 16th and May 25th.

Visit your school website – go to www.st-clair.net and click on “Schools” in the top menu bar; then “Visit our

Schools” and select your school. Finally, click on the School Climate Survey link on your school web page.

Or, you can go to the following link to complete the survey: https://www.questionpro.com/t/ANluHZbkzJ A third option is to pick up a paper copy at your school office, fill it out and hand the completed copy back in. As an added incentive this year, the Board is offering $10 Tim Horton’s gift cards, which will be distributed to randomly selected survey participants. I would encourage you to have your say and to assist us, as we work together to make our school environ-ments the best they can be for the health and safety of all students and members of our staff. The results will be published in a report, which will be posted to the Board’s public website next fall. If you have any questions, please contact your school principal. Sincerely, Lisa Demers Superintendent of Education