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OUR LADY OF VICTORIES CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 7925 158 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5R 2B9

Phone # 780-489-7630 Fax # 780-486-7762

Website: ourladyofvictories.ecsd.net

June Newsletter

Father’s Day Prayer

Blessed is the Fatherwho lets the Lord be his guiding hand, whose faith brings his family courage,

whose wisdom comes from God,and whose children stand and honor Him.

(retrieved from St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic site)We are reminded in June to honour our fathers and to thank them for all they provide for us in our lifetimes. We hope that you have opportunities to connect with and spend time with the fathers, grandfathers, and other significant men in the lives of your families. June is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the significant role these men play in our lives.

It is with grateful hearts that we thank all our parents and guardians for the tremendous support of your children’s learning throughout the year. We appreciate the challenge remote learning has created for everyone and the dedication of families to persevere through these challenges.

As we bring this year to a close it is with a new appreciation that we recognize the loss of the opportunity to celebrate as a community the special events and year-end activities that normally take place during this last month. We want to take this opportunity to wish our grade sixes every success as they venture out into a new experience. We will miss your guiding light.

Our wish for you is that you have a safe and fun-filled summer and that we will be able to reconnect as a community at school in September. Please watch for updates that will be shared from our Edmonton Catholic Schools Division. Please enjoy our year in review.

Patricia Opyr Laurie Bonanni- McGeePrincipal Assistant Principal

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THE SEVEN SACRED TEACHINGSTo cherish knowledge is to know WISDOM;

To know LOVE is to know peace;

To honor all of the Creation is to have RESPECT;

BRAVERY is to face the foe with integrity;

HONESTY also means “righteousness”, be honest first with yourself – in word and action;

HUMILITY is to know yourself as a sacred part of the Creation,

TRUTH is to know all of these things.

http://empoweringthespirit.ca/cultures-of-belonging/seven-grandfathers-teachings/

During this challenging time, when we are distancing from our families, school and community, we can look at the Indigenous teachings to offer us peace and hope during these trying times.

We can also find comfort in scripture which reminds us to, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

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SEPTEMBERFirst Day of School

Reading Research Project

School Opening Mass with Father Dean

Teddy Bear Picnic in grade 1

Cross Country Run for Grade 3 - 6

Meet the Staff – Elections of new School Council Members

Social Justice Project – Cupcake sale for funds for groceries for sandwich making for Mustard Seed

Terry Fox Run

Erin Reid from Indigenous Learning Services creating orange day t-shirts and leading the blanket exercise with the grade 5/6 class

Orange Shirt DayOCTOBER

Custodian Appreciation Day – Thank you Mr. Connolly for all the hard work you do and for having the school sparkling clean every day!

Initial SAC meeting to set out plans for the year

Celebrating Teachers on World Teacher Day

Read In Week: Bringing Stories to Life – Volunteer readers from Telus arrive with book donations and

staff to read in each of our classrooms

Alberta Opera visits our school and entertains the students with their version of Sleeping Beauty

You’re on Camera – Picture Day

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Thanksgiving Mass with Father Dean – collection of food to be donated to St. Theresa of Calcutta

Grade 6 students attend the Student Leadership Symposium

K – Grade 1s begin skating lessons

Grade 5/6 attend Inquiring Minds City Hall School

WE Day is an exciting event for our Grade 5/6’s at Rogers Place where they had the opportunity to be inspired by some great speakers

Grade 4’s host assembly and teach us about respect (buffalo).

Our Lady of Victories Feast Day Celebration

Grand event of the month was Halloween where we got to share some terrific costumes

NOVEMBERGrade 2’s host a pumpkin party where they feature the story “The Big Pumpkin”

Mrs. McMillan spends the day with our grade 3-6 students at the Young Author’s ConferenceCatholic Education Sunday reminded us of the value of our Catholic faith and our communityAlberta Health Services hosts a free evening session at our school as part of their Caregiver Series. The session was Mindfulness: Benefits for the Whole Family and Ms. McGee and Mrs. Opyr came away from the session feeling very relaxed!Remembrance Day Celebration Teachers honour Metis by using their curriculum to highlight some of the important events in the history of our people.This month’s assembly reminded us of the value of honesty (Sabe – Sasquatch) and was presented by our grade two class. We also took the

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perfect opportunity to honour a family who had just gained their Canadian citizenship.

For the families in our community with Ukrainian ancestors it was important for us to recognize their losses on Holodomor Memorial DayGrade 5/6 spent the day at the legislatureCelebration of LearningFamily Oriented Programming provided to 100 Voices parents on Dressing for Outdoor Play (one of many programs hosted at our school for 100 Voices parents, thank you Mrs. Strelkov)Blessing of the Wreaths Liturgy as we prepared for AdventTense times for our grade 5’s as they received their immunizations

DECEMBER

Thanks to all the parents who helped us to have a Christmas Concert for a gym full of people. We could not have done this without Gina and Jen the two parents who took the lead.We celebrate mass at St. John the Evangelist Parish with St. Paul SchoolSanta pays a visit with treat in hand for all studentsEveryone enjoys a two-week break as they spend time with their families

JANUARY

We start out the month with Father Dean at our Epiphany CelebrationGrade 1’s begin their inquiring minds school experience at City Hall

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Grade 4-6 students are disappointed as the weather is too cold to go skiingJump Rope for Heart Kick Off inviting students to get pledges in support of Heart & StrokeGrade 2 enjoys Bricks for Kids as they make battery operated Lego vehicles Family Literacy Day End of Term Report Cards are finalizedGrade 3 leads this month’s assembly highlighting the importance of love (eagle) the perfect teaching to lead us into FebruaryTeachers have the opportunity to look at some new instructional resourcesWork continues in the library as we get it back up and running. Thank you to our parent volunteers Anastassia and Farrah for all your hard work in keeping our books organized

FEBRUARY

Grade 4-6 enjoy two days at the ski hillEdmonton Symphony Field trip for Grades 4-6Valentine’s Day celebrations in classroomsOur leadership club invited students to share their words of kindness on the “graffiti board” as part of Random Acts of Kindness Week Family Day for families to enjoy some extra time togetherJump Rope for Heart Event DayGrade 2’s visit the museum

Neighbours receive a card from students on their community walk

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On Shrove Tuesday, our amazing parent group provides us with a pancake breakfastLent begins and students participate in Ash Wednesday Mass at St. John the Evangelist ParishOur students show their commitment to supporting positive mental health by wearing their pink shirts

MARCH

Grade 2 students head off for their week at Telus World of Science for their Inquiring Minds School returning with excitement and the need to share their experiences and creations.Grade 2’s share their bus so that all of the other classes have the opportunity to take a fieldtrip to Telus World of Science that weekGrade 5/6 missed their opportunity to lead us in and assembly this month and teach us about humility (wolf)We take the opportunity to thank our replacement teachers during Substitute Appreciation WeekWhat a wonderful evening of sharing at our Demo of Learning. The perfect opportunity for a social justice group to sell their popcorn in support of our World Vision Foster ChildWe didn’t get the opportunity to check the traps from St. Patrick’s Day as school’s are closed in response to the anticipated pandemic. I think those leprechauns got away.

The week is spent with teachers planning what the new teaching experience may look like. The steep learning curve begins for staff. Soon to be followed by families as they navigate the different programs being used.

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Spring Break provides an opportunity for everyone to regroup as we anticipate the move to remote learning

APRILRemote Learning begins and some innovative learning takes place. Learning numbers for math could not be more fun than through a game of hopscotch! The parts of an insect formed by collecting available items in nature. Amazing!

The story of Easter is experienced in all classes through remote learning. A variety of videos, assignments and conversations happened to highlight this important of our faith

Earth Day was the perfect opportunity for teachers to highlight the importance of nature and appreciating the earth God gave us to look after

Administrative Assistant Day – Thank you Mrs. Schmitz for

stepping in for us this year and being so welcoming to our students and their families

MAY

Hats on for Mental Health Day/Week brought staff and students together. Families had the opportunity to drive/walk by the school as teachers kept their physical distance and shared

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messages and cheers as students went by. Even our neighbours enjoyed the event and supported us.

We had many opportunities to highlight the importance of our faith through activities for the Month of Mary, Catholic Education Week and Pentecost this month.Mother’s Day Teachers were creative in their choice of activities in honour of Mother’s this month as there were some cute gifts created to let moms know how much they are loved and appreciated.

JUNE

Father’s Day – I hope the fathers of our school community enjoy the special projects their child has created for them. Thank you for entrusting us with your children. We know that you are a pillar of strength for your family and the hero in the life of your child.June brings us to the end of another school year and

with it some fond memories and some sadness. We have missed the children’s faces these last months and we hope that we will be back in school come the fall. We hope everyone has a restful and rejuvenating summer and look forward to some great learning in September.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

School Supplies for 2020-2021: This year, in conversation with our SAC we have decided to provide online access to purchasing school supplies. The company providing this service will be Write-On Stationary. Please watch for a message from the school providing more details on where to place your order with payment.

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RETURN PICK-UP OF SCHOOL MATERIALS

Return/Pick-up Plan of School Materials:

CLASSROOM COMPOSITION

Our classrooms have been organized into specific groupings to accommodate a wide range of learners. The best possible learning environment is one where we have mixed abilities, gender balance, distribution of behavioral needs and support systems in place. Teachers and administrators have worked hard at creating classroom configurations that work best for everyone involved.Friendships are an important part of each child’s life. Children do make new friends easily and have the opportunity to develop their social and emotional skills as new relationships develop. Teachers are sensitive to these needs and spend valuable time in September working within their classroom to foster a learning community that includes all children. Every teacher makes it their mission to develop strong relationships with their students as well as establishing an environment to bring out the highest potential in each of their students.

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We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and support during the opening days of school. We have your child’s best interests at heart!As always, class lists will be posted at the school entry on the first day of school.

YEARBOOKS

2019/2020 Yearbooks - Pre-order now available! $15.00 per copy with delivery in early September 2020. Orders and payments can be made online though Parent PowerSchool. If you would like to pay by cheque or cash, please visit our school https://www.ecsd.net/schools/8011/Pages/default.aspx to download the order form. Order forms and payments can be dropped off at the school during school hours or at our 'Learning Materials Return days: Tuesday June 23, and Wednesday June 24, 2020. We will be accepting orders up until June 29, 2020. We will also resume receiving orders in the fall when we re-open for the year. Order early to guarantee your copy!

LAST DAY OF SCHOOLJune 26 at 12:18 p.m.

CONGRATULATIONS

Thank you to all the students who continually put forth their best effort into their online learning. Parents we are grateful for your support in helping your child(ren) be successful in following through by joining meetings and submitting work. Many names got entered the draw each week and you are all winners. The recipients of the Amazon

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gift cards are: Ava in kindergarten, Bennett and Sebi in grade 1, Kacey in grade 2, Cooper in grade 3, Bryce in grade 4, Josie in grade 5 and Mason in grade 1. Those grade 1’s had all the luck.

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART

Jump Rope for Heart Prizes – The Heart & Stroke Foundation will be ordering the fundraising prizes for our students once schools reopen. We will be sure to get them to you once this happens.

SUMMER READS

For the adults in the house:

The Little Book of Lykke: The Danish Search for the World’s Happiest People by Meik Wiking recommended by Ms. Anna when you need some light reading.

Mrs. Santin recommends The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Mrs. McMillan wants to read: A Place for Wonder by Georgia Heard and Jennifer McDonough and How Do I Get Them to Write? by Karen Filewych

Miss Simpson offers some interesting titles to explore: When Breath becomes air by Paul Kalanithi, Summer of “69 by Elin Hilderbrand and the sun and her flowers by Rupi Kaur.

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For the children in the house:

Of course, Ms. Anna loves to sing and dance, so her book recommendation comes as no surprise for you students. We hope you look for Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Skinnamarink with Randi Hampson, illustrated by Qin Leng.

TOP PICKS FROM STUDENTS

Thanks to those students who completed the survey and shared their favorite BOOKS!!

101 Hockey JokesA Cuddle for Little DuckArmy BookBad KittyBailey School Kids: Aliens Don’t Wear BracesBailey School Kids: Mermaids Don’t Run BackBeauty and the BeastBonesBooks on MannersCaps for SaleCaptain UnderpantsCatbugChewy and ChicaComputer booksConner McDavid (Hockey Books)Dawn and the Impossible threeDinosaur BooksDog books

Dog ManDogman UnleashedDork booksDragon of Fortune and Animal ColmDragons love TacosElephant and Piggie booksFrog and ToadFrozen Book 2Geronimo Stilton, Pheonix of DestinyGhost Town at SundownGoosebumpsGuts Dog ManHarry PotterHockey Ruels,I Spy booksI Survived the Eruption of Mount Saint Helens 1980I Survived the Nazi Invasion 1944

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Jesus CallingJoke booksJudy MoodyKatie KazooKitty and the DragonKylie JeanLaser Mouse Look and find booksMagic Tree HouseMo WillemsMr. MenNational Geographic for KidsNon-fictionNotepad of DoomOok and GlukPaw Patrol BooksPete the CatPhoebe and her UnicornPig the ElfPrincess and the FrogPrincess Story booksRabbit Bok

Rainbow MagicRed Hat, Green hatSanta is Coming to EdmontonScience booksThe Gingerbread ManThe Giving TreeThe Gruffalo and the Gruffalo’s ChildThe Imagination StationThe Magic KittenThe Miraculous Journey of Edward TulaneThe One and Only IvanThe One and Only IvanThe Princess in BlackThe Sky is FallingThe Three Little PigsThe Wonky DonkeyThree Little PigsTrayaurus and the Enchanted CrystalUnicorn diaries: Bo and the Dragon Pup

MOST WANTED BOOKS

The most popular places to read from our student survey showed in bed and on the couch. Maybe in the summer it could be out in the back yard.These books were on the wanted listed:Army BooksDogmanWhere is Waldo

Fish BooksMusic Books Pokemon

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Fish booksBelieveCharlie and the Chocolate FactoryDora and the ExplorerSharksShadow MonstersMagicScienceAbout PlanetsThe Solar SystemEarthInteresting Facts about AnimalsPlaces and Funny BooksAdventureNational Geographic

Wonder Woman comicsCharlie Brown ComicsScaredy SquirrelJudy MoodyTitanicHardy BoysSpace Adventure BooksGraphic NovelsKitty MagicI Survived the TitanicI Survived Hurricane KatrinaMagic Tree House Bailey School Kids: Gremlins Don’t Chew Bubblegum

SUMMER BLESSINGS

Ms. Anna & Ms. ErinIt's time to say goodbye everyone.

Our time together is done.We read, we sang and danced so much

I hope you'll remember the fun!

We send you on to dance some moreWe send you on to sing

We send you on to read some moreAs this is truly the best thing.

You may have hard work aheadWith challenges all new,

All that we've learned together this yearWill support you through and through.

We wish you ALL well,We'll cherish you every day.Love your 100 Voices team

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Hippity Hip Hooray!

Ms. CorreiaMay we embrace the new things we have all learned, as well as appreciate how much stronger we have become while facing the many challenges we have had these past months. Thank you for the tremendous support you have given your child, as well as myself, in making remote learning possible. With the end of the school year quickly approaching, I wish my students and families a relaxing, safe, and enjoyable summer. Stay positive, smile, and laugh often. 

Mrs. Southwood

At the end of this school year we give thanks to God:For all the teaching and learning that has taken place in our school, both in and out of the classroom,

For the talents and gifts that have been shared and the challenges that have been faced.We give thanks for the friendships that have just begun and for those that have grown. 

May we rest and play peacefully and safely during the summer so that we might again return refreshed to be faithful students and staff once more. 

May your blessing be upon those who will not be returning to our school next year as they continue and grow in knowledge elsewhere.  

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Mrs. Bezubiak

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Mrs. McMillan

May God bless you this summer with the time to reflect on the journey you’ve successfully endured this school year.

Keep your mind on God. Remember to pray often and to celebrate your faith.

Keep your faith in God. Let all the joys of summer remind you of God’s goodness. Never forget that God is always with you, no matter what.

May God keep you safe and happy this summer and always.

May each day of summer bring more joy and more peace so that you can bring your happy hearts with you when you enter the next school year. Amen

Miss SimpsonMay you walk with God this summer in whatever you do and wherever you go. May your home be a place of relaxation, love, peace, and safety. Let us be considerate, generous, and patient with ourselves and those around us as we enjoy the many blessings of summertime. This year has been filled with grace, opportunities, joy, and new challenges. May God give us the rest and refreshment that we need this summer to return to school with a new spirit and energy next year.

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Although we never got to have our first day in the classroom together, it has been an absolute pleasure being your teacher over the past few months. I am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to get to know each and every one of you. Parents, thank you for your continued support as we navigated the online learning environment together. I appreciate all of your hard work and patience over the last few months. I hope that you students have an amazing summer exploring new places, growing in your relationship with God, and making memories together with your families.

Miss WhiteLord, Thank you for the gift of teaching. Equip me to teach with wisdom and truth and empower me to teach with vision and with love for all. Amen.I have been so blessed this year to work with students in every grade. This year has gone by so fast I cannot believe we are already in June! Thank you, parents, for all your support especially with online learning and helping your children. I feel so thankful and blessed that I was able to get to know your children and have wonderful conversations with them, especially at school. Have a wonderful June grade 5’s and keep up the great work online.

Mrs. Santin

Lord, I pray that you fill our students with love and joy this summer. May they know You and how much You love them and care for them. Keep them safe and healthy. Help them to grow and mature. Prepare them for a new year with an open mind and new ideas. Lord, I pray our students know how much we, teachers, love them and care for them. Bless them today, tomorrow and every day.

Amen

Mrs. McGeeJesus, Thank you for the gift of our school year, our children, and our families. Thank you for the gift of the long summer days ahead. May the light and warmth. and gifts of nature remind us of all the beauty that surrounds us. Fill us with Your grace so that we may look back at our year and the days ahead with a grateful heart. Amen.

Mrs. SchmitzThank-you for welcoming me to Our Lady of Victories!! I have enjoyed all the smiles and laughs and have loved learning alongside all of you! Thank-you for always making me feel so welcomed and appreciated!! I look forward to

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seeing all your smiling faces back in September!! May your summer days be filled with friends & family, good times and drippy ice cream cones!

Mrs. VitaleRemember Jesus wants us to “Love one another.”Always take the road less travelled as your adventures will be unending! Make some great memories this summer - and always have fun!

Mrs. Nedev"May God bless you with a relaxed and enjoyable summer with your friends and family and may He keep you safe and guide you everywhere you go!"

Ms. Tess

"Don't just count your blessings but be the blessing other people count on."

Mrs. Opyr

What an adventurous year it has been. It has been so much fun getting to know all of you. Even though a large portion of staying connected was through online learning it was great to check in with groups once in awhile and see the smiling faces of students. I loved the day we had our Hats on for Mental Health Drive By day when everyone was so excited to see their teachers out front of the school. I hope that summer is rejuvenating for all of you and I hope to see you in the fall.

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COUNSELLOR’S CORNERIdeas for mental health support:ABC Life Literacy Canada:https://abclifeliteracy.ca/family-literacy/

Alberta Family Wellness:https://www.albertafamilywellness.org/brain-story-tookit

Alberta Health Serviceshttps://www.albertahealthservices.ca/amh/Page16759.aspx

Child Mind Institute:https://childmind.org/

Kyokan Connections:https://www.kyokanconnect.com/#/

Homewood Health:

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https://homewoodhealth.com/individuals

Institute of Child Psychology:https://instituteofchildpsychology.com/

Understood:https://www.understood.org/

YEG Family Counselling:www.yegfamilycounselling.com