DECEMBER 2016-JANUARY 2017 KEY DATES December 1 22 22 23 Parent - Student - Teacher conference (1:30-4:30 and 6:00-8:00) Login to book your appointments: http://www.schoolinterviews.ca/ EVENT CODE: fmtjh Site was active as of Friday, November 25 Advent Celebration @ Corpus Christi (10:30 am) Full Instructional Thursday—Dismissal (3:00 pm) Renaissance Rally , Early Dismissal (12:00) Dec 26-Jan 6 ***Christmas Break*** January 9 16 26 Classes resume School Advisory Council Meeting Musical Showcase Evening 7pm February 6 7 9 14 20 Term 2 Bi-Semester Options Begins (G8 & 9)/Father Mike Mireau Youth Day (Gr.8) Faith Development Day - No School FMT Open House Evening 7 pm Valentine’s Day Dance in afternoon Family Day - No School Dear Parents/Guardians: This fall and winter has been a busy one for the students and staff of Father Michael Troy School! Student learning this term has focused on developing literacy and numeracy skills, increasing awareness of wellness choices, technology skills for learning, and of course, of FLEX. We are truly blessed to have such an energetic staff and such an engaged and enthusiastic supportive student body. They have all worked extremely hard to make this school a great place for students! As we approach this time of Advent, we reflect on the many blessings we have at the school and in our community. During the month of December our students will share their gifts of the Holy Spirit through their generosity and kindness in reaching out to others. As we approach the Christmas holidays and the celebration of the birth of Jesus, on behalf of the entire staff of Father Michael Troy School, we wish all of the families of our school community a joyous and blessed holiday season filled with the peace, joy and love that this Holy season brings. Our Faith in God and the love we share with one another—these are the things that mean the most. Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year, Wendy Robinson Principal Erin Winch Assistant Principal FRONT DOOR BUZZER You will notice that our front doors remain locked all day and that visitors will have to be buzzed in. This is not in response to any safety concerns; it is to ensure that we are fully aware of who is entering into our building. Safety of our students and staff are of primary concern, so we appreciate your support. STUDENT DROP OFF With the arrival of winter and colder temperatures, parents are reminded that our front doors do not open until 8:15 unless temperatures, including wind chill, drop below -20 Celsius. Thus, students dropped off before 8:15 ADVENT CELEBRATIONS As we enter the season of Advent, we take time to reflect on the coming of Christ and the Christmas story. It is a time to look within our hearts to discover joy and see if there is anything that stands in the way of Jesus’ coming into our lives. God comes to the poor in spirit, so that we may strive to witness the gospel virtues of caring, forgiveness and unity. At Christmas, our hearts should be open and ready to receive the many graces that God will send. Advent celebrations will be held during morning broadcast on Troy TV and our final Advent Celebration will be celebrated at St. Theresa Church at 10:30 on Thursday, December 22nd. Our students at Father Michael Troy will join in with the students of Holy Trinity High School and St. Kateri Elementary for this Advent Mass at the church. Parents are welcome and encouraged to join us as we celebrate! SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL 2016-2017 Our next SAC meeting will be on Monday December 12th at 7:00 in the Learning Commons. Thank you to the following people who are serving as our Parent Council Executive this year. Chair: Dawn Maddison-Eddy, Vice Chair: Shanon Warner Treasurer: Debbie Greenwood, Secretary: Jason Miller Fundraising Directors: Lisa Read and Debbie Greenwood A huge thank you to our Parent Council for purchasing new computers and equipment for our Maker Space (3D scanner and printers). Your generosity is much appreciated. As well, thank you to all the volunteers who worked our casino on November 24th and 25th. These funds enable us to purchase the extras for our students, so the gift of your time and commitment really makes a difference…thank you!! RENAISSANCE RALLY 2016 The Renaissance Program continues to celebrate and recognize the academic achievements of our students as well as the effort that this achievement requires. Our 13th Annual Renaissance Rally will be held on Friday, December 23, 2016 beginning at 10:30 and ending by noon. Parents are invited to join in the fun and entertainment as we celebrate our success and showcase the talent of FMT students at the Rally. Renaissance Team 2016-2017 Aleena Arasseril Kartikeya Arora Ashley Baldo Kelsey Carnell Jayden Bates Christine Catalan Holly Bodnar Janna Eslao Brooklyn Chantry Emily Fleck Hannah Cronin Hannah MacDonald Jordyn Deschenes Taona Mandara Ken Endozo Joanna Nicolas Ida John Josh Nixon-Salahub Bianca Lamen Erin Rees Angelica Monje Riya Rex Hailey Pelletier Gwenn Sabenano Emma Robinson Bianca Sabater Guiliano Santos Kyia Truong Maria Veloso Closed Campus In the interest of student safety, Father Michael Troy is a closed campus. All students must stay on campus during school hours. For parents who want their child to go home throughout the year for lunch, the school will require a written note indicating so. We need your help! Father Michael Troy is a proud Hockey Helps Kids School. We are one of four schools competing in the Charity Cup Challenge to win $25,000 for Sport Central, a charity dedicated to providing less fortunate children in the Edmonton area with equipment to participate in sport. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is our school's captain for the competition. January 17 we will be launching a two minute video produced by our students featuring the important work that Sport Central does in our community. All students in the school will be attending the video launch at Rogers Place! If our video receives the most votes, we win. Please remember to vote daily for Team Nugent-Hopkins January 17- February 16 at http://hockeyhelpskids.com/vote/ Counsellor’s Corner It has been an exciting first term with our children continually working through academic and personal challenges that will serve them as they transition into adulthood. With that, I am enthused at the response from our student’s openness to access supports for themselves or even on behalf of their peers. It has been a pleasure to share in their process with such vibrant young minds. With today’s booming social media trends, we see fewer face to face conversations among children dealing with peer issues. It is with this that FMT’s counselling services will be offering peer discussions during flex block throughout the year. These sessions will explore various topics young adolescents face each day such as coping with cliques, finding your grade 7 groove, friends: it takes two to tango, and organize me, to name a few. For more information or input on future topics, please contact Lindsay Brophy at [email protected] Sometimes it's difficult for us to access supports. It takes courage. In this spirit, feel free to look at the web-based resources below. Grip Magazine: Gr ip is an Alber ta magazine on mental health and addiction topics wr itten by youth for youth. To order this magazine for free, go to www.griponlife.ca ADHD Association of Edmonton: A website offer ing infor mation, suppor ts and r esour ces for those living with ADHD, http://adhdedmonton.com/ Mind your mind: A website for youth and emer ging adults to access infor mation, r esour ces and tools during tough times, www.mindyourmind.ca Blue Wave: A website wher e youth can find infor mation about mental health and get information about how to reach out for help, www.ok2bblue.com concerns, As always, I am available for contact by parents and students via phone (780-471-1962), email [email protected] or you can book an appointment through FMT’s Student Services Website http://lindsaybrophy.wix.com/fmt-student-services Warmly, Miss. Brophy NOT TOO LATE TO ORDER SCHOOL PHOTOS FOR CHRISTMAS Dear Parents, As Christmas quickly approaches, many of you may have forgotten to order your child’s school portraits. It’s not too late to order for Christmas delivery! If you have your proof sheets just go to mylifetouch.ca to order your portraits and take advantage of our wide variety of backgrounds and product offerings. If you lost your proof sheet, please call 1-800-473-5090 and one of our customer service professionals will help you with the ordering process. All orders received by December 7th will be delivered in time for Christmas. Thank you and Merry Christmas from Lifetouch! STAY Alert April 2015 December 2016 The Christmas Season The Christmas Season in upon us once again. This is truly a great time of year. We spend time with family and enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts. We want our children to have some of everything good. We tend to buy them the hottest gifts of the day. We find the newest and best cell phones, iPads, tablets and gaming systems. Our kids are filled with joy. We need to remember that with all these gifts comes great responsibility. These electronic devices write our history in public forever. Make sure to have the talk about language used, pictures taken, and words sent. Any device with a send key connects to the internet which records everything forever in public. Nothing sent over the ‘net’ is ever private. Once it is sent you lose control of who sees it and how it is used. Having these candid talks with our kids will help protect them. Have a joyous Christmas. The entire STAY team wishes you and your families all the best for 2017. School Team Advisors for Youth (STAY) Junior high schools in the Edmonton Catholic School District each have ‘School Team Advisors for Youth’ (STAY) which are comprised of retired Police Officers. The STAY role involves: Educating, mentoring, and empowering students. Educating and mentoring parents on the realities their children face each day by raising parent awareness on these issues. Educating and mentoring staff on the realities that students face each day. Working in partnership with the administration of the school to develop action plans for safety and health of all students. Stay Advisors in our junior high schools make a difference in the lives of our youth by encouraging them to “STAY” in school. The STAY teams work hard to ensure our youth succeed in life. JANUARY NEWS MUSICAL SHOWCASE January 26 @ 7:00 p.m. Help us bring some warmth to a blustery January evening as we celebrate the artistic talents of the students of FMT. Please join us at our Musical Showcase on Thursday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. Our celebration will feature all 7, 8 and 9 Band students as well as our Jazz Band and Choir. Please bring a donation of hockey tape or skate laces to support Sport Central and our Hockey Helps Kids Campaign. FATHER MICHAEL TROY - OPEN HOUSE Registering a student for Grade 7 ? Join us for our Open House on Thursday February 9th at 7:00 PM. Come and learn about the programs and learning opportunities at Father Michael Troy Junior High School. Students entering into Grade 7 are encouraged to attend along with their parents. RENAISSANCE NEWS Our B.U.G. Out (Bring Up Your Grade) Challenge has been launched and will culminate with a luncheon for successful students in March. Renaissance also has a challenge to our parents. We could use your support of our Renaissance Program. If you can help us meet our goal of recognizing the academic achievements of our students by donating a gift card, providing a coupon, movie passes or making a small financial donation it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact either of the Renaissance Coordinators: Mr. North or Mrs. Bodmer-Hoff if you can help out. December 2016 “Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come... And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” ~ Mark 13:35-37 The month of December is joyous for many reasons in Edmonton Catholic Schools. Our schools enter the exciting time of Advent, which has us anticipating the birth of Jesus. This scripture passage is one which is often used during Advent. Jesus is giving his disciples a message of hope about the coming of the Messiah, assuring them that they should keep faith in God’s promise, even during challenging times. It calls for us to be alert and to prepare a place for Jesus in our daily lives. Classrooms will be abuzz with activities that help students to prepare just such a place in their lives for Jesus and explore the great gift of love that our Father has given us in the person of His Son over the four weeks of Advent. In this year where We are Called… to be Leaders of Hope and Mercy in Edmonton Catholic Schools, we are reminded of what hope truly means as we prepare for the birth of our Savior. Our schools and sites also turn their attentions to mercy through their many social justice projects. Our annual We Care Challenge is one way in which this occurs. Many of our schools and sites carry out a variety of engaging activities to raise funds for the Edmonton Catholic Schools Foundation and Catholic Social Services’ Sign of Hope Campaign. Other schools will collect socks and mittens, build hampers, and raise funds for the many organizations in Edmonton and beyond that help people in need. We have several exciting enrichment opportunities for students who are passionate about music through our All-City Choir and All City- Band Programs. These highly committed students come together regularly to hone their skills as ensembles. There are several occasions for people to enjoy these spectacular groups at their Christmas concerts. The concerts start at 7:30 pm: All City Choir @ St. Joseph’s Basilica- Dec. 5, Junior All City Band @ John L. Haar Theatre (MacEwan)-Dec. 7, Senior All City Band @ U of A Convocation Hall – Dec. 13. Our Council of Elders hosts a Sacred Pipe Ceremony four times a year to welcome and honour each new season hosted at a Nehiyaw Pimatisiwin (Way of Life) School. The winter ceremony will be held at Our Lady of Peace School on Thursday, December 15. This is a time to celebrate friendships, welcome new friends to the circle, and to ask God/Creator for his blessings. If you are interested in attending the Sacred Pipe Ceremony, please contact The Council of Elders office at 780-471-2360. ...2 There are many times where we report our accountability to the public. There are two major reports of this nature which will be presented at the November 29 Public Board of Trustees Meeting, our A udited Financial Statements, A ugust 31, 2016 and the combined Annual Education Results Report 2015-2016 and Three-Year Education Plan 2016-2019. Once approved by the Board of Trustees, the reports will be posted on our public website on the Annual Reports and Results page at https://www.ecsd.net/AboutUs/ annual_reports/Pages/default.aspx. As we turn our eyes towards Christmas and the birth of Jesus, we also reflect upon the willingness of his mother, Mary, to humbly serve our God. Her incredible faith, echoed in her joyous acceptance of the news that she was to give birth to the Messiah, reminds us that God calls on us, too. Pope Francis shared the following thought on Twitter - “Mary is the woman who says yes, a yes of surrender to God, a yes of surrender to her brothers and sisters. May we follow her example.” (02/13/16) Mary’s ‘yes’ changed our world! I wish you all a blessed Advent and a Holy Christmas as you turn your eyes towards a lowly manger in the town of Bethlehem and the precious gift of love to be found there! Sincerely, Joan Carr Superintendent Advent Advent has a twofold nature: It prepares us for Christmas, when we recall Christ’s first coming among us, and it is also a time when we look forward to his second coming at the end of ages. Advent is a season of joyful expectation. Advent, the Church's new year, is an invitation to wake up! This can be a turn-around time for us. Now is the time to understand ourselves more completely. Now is the time to improve our relationships with peers and with God. Before Jesus came, the people of Israel waited and prayed for the Messiah, who would free them from foreign rulers. During Advent, the Scripture readings tell us about Israel’s desire for the Messiah promised by God and about the Church’s yearning for Jesus to come again as he promised. The Advent wreath is a sign of our waiting. Its green branches, shaped into a circle, are a sign of life. The three purple candles remind us to make our best preparations for Jesus. The pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent shows our joy that Jesus’ birthday is almost here. The lighted candles represent Jesus, the Light of the world. With great joy we receive him after an Advent of waiting. Another, now somewhat commercialized, symbol of Advent is the Christmas lights that we see lighting up our houses and places of business. Although not all of us who put up these colorful lights may realize their significance, what they are saying is “We are Christians waiting for Jesus”. It can be very comforting to know that there are so many people that are sharing in our Advent journey. It can also; however, be quite discomforting to realize that when I put up my Christmas lights, it is supposed to mean more than a desire to promote pretty decorations. How do I show through my actions and words that I am truly and joyfully waiting for Jesus to come into my life in an ever deeper and more loving way? During Advent we are waiting for Jesus. It is equally true that Jesus is waiting for us. He has been waiting all along, we just need to welcome him. Ed Jean, Secondary Religious Education Consultant A message from Tim Cusack, Assistant Superintendent, Learning Services Innovation Amoris Laetitia Chapter 3 Looking to Jesus: The Vocation of the Family As a member of two music ministry groups, I am fascinated with the many ways that the themes found in favorite hymns and songs celebrate the ‘Word of God.’ Whether Sing to the Mountains, Sing a new Song, or Go Tell it on the Mountain, the message of God found in each musical piece touches the heart of the Gospel message we proclaim. Pope Francis opens this chapter by reminding us that the core of the Gospel message, the Kerygma, “is what is most beautiful, most excellent, most appealing and at the same time most necessary.” (58). Pope Francis outlines the need for us to enter more deeply into the Word of God “which we must hear again and again in different ways, and which we must always announce in one form or another.” (58). Very much like how I hear a similar message via different hymns and songs, I can learn more and interpret nuances differently because of the various styles of music. As for the message our Pontiff states: “nothing is more solid, profound, secure, meaningful and wise than that message.” (58). This chapter explores in great detail, through many illustrative scriptural examples, the Church’s teachings on marriage and the family. “Our teaching on marriage and the family cannot fail to be inspired and transformed by this message of love and tenderness; otherwise, it becomes nothing more than the defence of a dry and lifeless doctrine.” (59). Echoing the call for a pastoral approach to deepening our understanding of family and marriage encountered in chapter 2, Pope Francis posits that “the Christian family can be fully understood only in the light of the Father’s infinite love revealed in Christ, who gave himself up for our sake and who continues to dwell in our midst.” (59). Through sharing beautiful examples of Christ’s love, mercy, and compassion, the chapter goes into great detail about how marriage and family life is to be viewed as ‘a gift’ from the Lord. In reminding us of God’s divine covenantal love for all of humanity, our salvation history, we recall that “through his Church, Christ bestows on marriage and the family the grace necessary to bear witness to the love of God and to live the life of communion.” (63). In several examples such as: the miracle at Cana, friendship with Lazarus and his family, and sympathizing with grieving parents over the loss of a child, Jesus “demonstrated the true meaning of mercy, which entails the restoration of the covenant.” (64). Jesus models ‘gratuitous love’ in the face of sin and in doing so models how we are called to do the same in our relationships. Pope Francis reinforces this point through recounting the nativity narrative where “the incarnation of the Word in a human family, in Nazareth, by its very newness changed the history of the world.” (65). Mary said ‘yes’ to have the Word conceived in her womb. Joseph too said ‘yes’ in naming Jesus and watching over mother and son. We witness the struggles and toil of a family, who despite the harshness and challenges life can sometimes bring, such as exile, persecution and humiliation, hold their communion with God with humility and love. “The covenant of love and fidelity lived by the Holy Family of Nazareth illuminates the principle which gives shape to every family…on this basis, every family, despite its weaknesses, can become a light in the darkness of the world.”(66.) This is truly a hope-filled message. From the example of the Holy Family, we next examine several documents of the church, such as Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution, Gaudium et Spes, which promotes the dignity of marriage and family. We learn that in marriage “Christ the Lord makes himself present to the Christian spouses in the sacrament of marriage and remains with them.” (67). Through the incarnation, Jesus “assumes human love, purifies it and brings it to fulfilment. By his spirit, he gives spouses the capacity to live that love, permeating every part of their lives of faith, hope and charity.” (67). This is central to the foundation of the Christian family. Pope Frances cites the work of Blessed Paul VI (Humanae Vitae) which brings out the “intrinsic bond between conjugal love and the generation of life: married love requires of husband and wife the full awareness of their obligations in the matter of responsible parenthood…“the exercise of responsible parenthood requires that husband and wife, keeping a right order of priorities, recognize their own duties towards God, themselves, their families and human society.” Pope Francis furthers his views through citing Saint John Paul II’s Familiaris Consorto which “defined the family as ‘the way of the Church…how spouses, in their mutual love, receive the gift of the Spirit of Christ and live their call to holiness.” (69). This is echoed by excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI’s Deus Caritas Est, where he states “marriage based on an exclusive and definitive love becomes an icon of the relationship between God and his people…God’s way of loving becomes the measure of human love.” Further, in Caritas in V eritate, Benedict XVI stresses the importance of love in society “as a place where we learn the experience of the common good.” (70). The message is consistent in all cases: love is at the heart of our existence. Marriage and the family are rooted in love; a love that is radiated and witnessed through Jesus. The chapter progresses to a detailed examination of marriage including the nuptial mystery, sexuality, imperfect situations, the ministry of marriage, procreation, and the sanctity of life. The message of the “Church’s teaching is meant to help couples experience in a complete, harmonious and conscious way their communion as husband and wife.” (82.) The chapter then explores the role of family and the Church. Pope Francis asserts that “the Church is a family of families, constantly enriched by the lives of all those domestic churches…the church is good for the family and the family is good for the Church. The safeguarding of the Lord’s gift in the sacrament of matrimony is concern not only of individual families but of the entire Christian community.” (87.) Pope Francis assures us that “the experience of love in families is a perennial source of strength for the life of the Church.” (88). Examples of the beauty of marriage, the value of family and the profound sense of God’s covenant of love with humanity are abundant in this chapter. Just as a song sounds better when others join in and lend harmony, Pope Francis’ shared wisdom on marriage and family life in this chapter is succinctly captured in his closing words: “The beauty of this mutual, gratuitous gift, the joy which comes from a life that is born and the loving care of all family members – from toddlers to seniors- are just a few of the fruits which make the response to the vocation of the family unique and irreplaceable, both for the Church and for society as a whole.” (88). What a wonderful song these words would make!
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