OCTOBER 2016 DATES TO REMEMBER
5, 7
10
13, 14
21
26
31
Jumpstart - Grade 7’s
Thanksgiving - No School
Staff P.D. Day - No School
Photo Retakes
WE Day in Calgary
Halloween Dance
CONCESSION OPEN OCT 5
Granola Bars/Snacks:
Beef Jerky $2.00
Kashi( Almond and dark chocolate) $1.00
Fiber One $1.00
Nature valley crunch (oats&honey) $1.00
Quaker Yogurt dipped $1.00
Praeventia $1.00
Quaker chocolate chip chewy $0.50
Welch’s fruit snacks $0.50
Fresh fruit & Fruit Cups:
Mandarins $0.75
Very cherry fruit cup $0.75
Dried Fruit $1.00
Snapea Crisps $1.00
Apples $0.25
Oranges $0.25
Bananas/ Pears/ Plums (when available) $0.25
Cheese and Yogurt:
Cheese and crackers (white or Babybel)
$0.50
Cheese Strings $0.50
Yogurt tubes $0.50
Bagels & cream cheese $1.50
(only 6/day)
Chocolate milk $1.00
Water
$0.50
Assorted Juice box $0.50
*Please note: The concession
items are intended to
supplement a healthy lunch
brought from home.
All items are subject to change.
SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL 2016-2017
Our first SAC meeting of the year took place on Monday September 26, 2016 and our new council is as follows:
Chair: Dawn Maddison-Eddy, Vice Chair: Shanon Warner
Treasurer: Debbie Greenwood, Secretary: Jason Miller
Fundraising Director: Debbie Greenwood
All parents are welcome to come out to our next meeting on
November 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the library.
CLOSED CAMPUS
In the interest of student safety, Father Michael Troy is a closed campus. All students must stay on
campus during school hours, and all guests to the school must report to the office upon arrival. Students
have permission to leave the campus if the parents have notified the office in advance in writing, by
email, or by phone.
For parents who want their child to go home throughout the year for lunch, the school will require only
one note indicating this request.
FIRE LANE ACCESS
In response to recommendations from the City of Edmonton Fire Department and the
Edmonton Police Service, and with student safety in the forefront, the fire lane at the front of the school will
only be accessible to emergency vehicles again this year. The fire lane entrance and exit will be available for
student drop off in the morning, but will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 10 am daily.
If you choose to pick your child up from school, please park on the streets adjacent to the school each afternoon, and obey the rules of the road when parking your vehicle and when exiting the area. As well, please
ensure that your child utilizes the crosswalk when crossing the street.
Please note that if your child is experiencing mobility issues at any point throughout the year that you can
contact the school to arrange for pick up at the front of the school.
Thank you for your understanding as we work together with the City of Edmonton Fire and Police Services
in making the entrance and exit of our students as safe as possible.
Renaissance Program at FMT
The Renaissance Program at Father Michael Troy is a program that affirms and recognizes the efforts and
academic achievements of students. We recognize students through the Wall of Fame recognition cards, Renaissance Rallies, The Spirit of Father Troy Awards, BUG OUT Program, Random classroom visits, and
Celebrations of Success.
Although we do budget for this program we always appreciate donations. Your donation goes directly to
supporting student recognition - prizes for draws, incentives and social celebrations that highlight student
achievement. If you can assist us or know of a business that would support Renaissance, please let us know.
COUNSELLING SUPPORTS AT FMT
Counselling supports at Father Michael Troy follow the Comprehensive School Guidance
and Counselling Program set out by Alberta Education. The main tenants of the program are
that it is designed for all students, focuses on educational, personal/social and career growth and
development. It responds to crisis situations and provides timely interventions for students with
concerns or serious problems.
The program can provide direct and indirect services to students, staff and parents. The
proactive component of the program addresses issues a multitude of mental health issues such
as bullying, anxiety, drug use, and the appropriate use of technology throughout the year.
Another important component of the program supports grade 7 students transitioning into junior
high as well as grade 9’s transitioning into high school. If you have any questions or inquires
regarding FMT’s counselling services please feel free to contact the school or Miss Brophy
directly.
RESOURCES:
FMT’s Student Services Website
This website was designed specifically for FMT. It further outlines Student Service’s role and
allows you to contact Miss Brophy directly through a confidential email to ask questions or set
up appointments.
Visit: http://lindsaybrophy.wix.com/fmt-student-services
The Children’s Mental Health Centre is a community-based program that offers a full range
of Clinical Services for children, adolescents and their families which includes psychological
and diagnostic assessment services provided by multi-disciplined professional staff. Some of
the services offered include Individual or Family Counselling, Parent Support Groups, Group
Counselling for Teens and Group Counselling for Pre-Teen/Children. For more information and
fees call 780-482-1717.
The Family Centre is offering various courses and workshops from their Education Services
Department regarding raising teenagers, co-parenting, raising children in blended families and
more. For further detail on these courses, please contact The Family Centre for more
information and cost at 780-917-8205 or
www.the-family-centre.com
Positive Parenting website full of resources and parenting ideas for all stages of development
http://www.positiveparentingconnection.net/
OK FMT! LET’S GET
COLLECTING!!!!!!
OCT. 3 - 7
FMT THANKSGIVING FOOD BANK DRIVE
NEXT WEEK!!!!!
PLEASE DONATE THE FOLLOWING TO YOUR
HOMEROOMS:
Macaroni Monday
pasta, rice, potato or pasta side dishes
Turkey Tuesday
Canned turkey, chicken salmon or tuna, canned stew, baked beans, peanut butter
Wheatie Wednesday
Dry cereal, instant oatmeal, crackers, granola bars
Thirsty Thursday
Fruit juices, vegetable juices, skim milk powder, baby formula, soup
Fruity Friday
Canned Fruits and Vegetables, dried fruit
Homeroom Incentive: each item collected will count as a point. The
class with the most points will be awarded a free class and teacher
prep!
St Theresa’s – Corpus Christi
Annual Rummage Sale
October 15 and 16
7508-29 Ave (Basement)
Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
&
Sunday 10 am to 2:00 pm
COME FOR THE BARGAINS
ST. THERESA’S ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE
will be held in the Church basement on
October 15 & 16, 2016
IF YOU HAVE; CLOTHING, SHOES, TOYS, BOOKS, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, SMALL
ELECTRONIC ITEMS OR SPORTING GOODS, THAT ARE GENTLY USED AND CLEAN
WE ASK YOU TO BRING THEM TO THE CHURCH FROM
Tuesday, October 11 to Friday, October 14
between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
(Unfortunately, due to lack of storage space we cannot accept any donations prior to
October 11)
DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS, SPACE CONSIDERATIONS AND THE COST
OF DISPOSAL FOR UNSOLD ITEMS WE WILL NOT ACCEPT BEDS,
October 2016
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. ~ Psalm 107:1 ~
This hope-filled psalm, which is known as that of Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Many Troubles, reads like a
love story. It speaks of the many, many occasions and circumstances where God has shown his people that all things are
possible through his enduring love. It is an excellent example of hope and mercy, which are the pillars of our theme for
this year. Knowing that our God loves us so deeply is truly cause for giving thanks!
September was a month of newness and growth for Edmonton Catholic Schools. We now have over 41,200
students who have joined our Catholic educational community, and we opened two beautiful new schools to help make
room for those students. You can learn more about our new schools, as well as upcoming new school and modernization
projects, by visiting our website at https://www.ecsd.net/parentsstudents/parentresources/growing-andimproving/pages/default.aspx. The canonization of Mother Teresa on September 4th also brought some newness to our
community. In honor of this amazing Catholic role model and leader, her namesake school will now be called St. Teresa
of Calcutta Catholic Elementary School.
One World . . . One Centre, where students and families newly arrived in Canada are welcomed by Edmonton
Catholic Schools, has been extremely busy these past weeks. The centre, which was open all summer to assist families,
started seeing students and families for intake and assessment on August 9. In the three weeks before school started,
395 students, newly arrived in Canada, were registered and welcomed to our district at One World . . . One Centre. These
families, and others, have been invited back to the first New Canadians Parent Information Session on October 18, where
information about our District and schooling in Alberta is translated to other languages so that newcomer parents can
gain this valuable information. This session begins at 7 p.m. at the centre – 12050 95A Street, NW.
October brings many exciting events to our communities. As an example, our annual participation in Read-In
Week occurs from October 3-7. This is an excellent opportunity for us to put the fundamental skills of Literacy in
prominent focus for our students and community. We are very pleased to be holding a series of Parent Information
Sessions throughout the year on various aspects of the Inclusive Education model which we use to meet our diverse
students learning needs. The first session is being held on October 19. You can learn more about these sessions at
https://www.ecsd.net/news/pages/supporting-our-diverse-learners---parent-evening-series.aspx . Please join us!
We also have several opportunities to celebrate and grow in faith. Our schools will all take time to reflect on the
goodness of God through the celebration of Thanksgiving. The afternoon of October 20 will see all of our teachers focusing
on one of our 5 Marks of Catholic School Identity- Animated by a Faith Infused Curriculum, as they participate in our annual
Permeation Afternoon.
...2
Competencies are an interwoven set of attitudes, skills and knowledge that are developed over time and that
support successful learning, working and living. Alberta Education has refined the language of the original competencies
of the Ministerial Order on Student Learning (#001/2013) into a streamlined expression of eight competencies: critical
thinking, problem solving, managing information, creativity and innovation, communication, collaboration, cultural
and global citizenship and personal growth and well-being. Learn more about competency descriptors, indicators and
examples which assist educators and parents in identifying aspects of a competency that are evident within learning
outcomes, learning activities or assessments by visiting our website.
https://www.ecsd.net/ParentsStudents/ParentResources/ProfessionalLearning/PublishingImages/Pages/AlbertaEducation/competency-descriptions-indicators-and-examples-approved.pdf .
October 16 is the feast day of Our Lady of Schools. Many of our communities will celebrate this special feast of
Mary. Our grade 5 students will receive a special bookmark with a prayer to Our Lady of Schools, Mother of Knowledge,
a practice which we began a few years ago. I would like to share that prayer with all of you.
Have a wonderful October!
Mother of God,
Our Lady of Schools,
Teach us how to walk in the footsteps of Jesus,
Your Son and our brother,
So that He may always be the Light of our minds
And the Love of our hearts.
Amen
Our Lady of Schools, Mother of Knowledge and Love, pray for us.
Sincerely,
Joan Carr
Superintendent
Message from District Chaplain Father Dean
Do I believe in what I’m saying? Then SHARE IT!
The beginning of a school year is always a thrilling moment! Typically, we re-start and
re-focus on the classic ‘3Rs’ of “reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic” which are so much of our formal
education. Another component we should also review and renew is that of our conscience. A conscience
is often described as the inner feeling or ‘voice’ which acts as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of
our chosen behavior. Indeed, with and through a conscience we define who and what we are to become
in our life and for this world. Consequently, the proper formation of a conscience is absolutely critical
for a person to learn how to make the best decisions for a healthy self-awareness and self-esteem.
This type of focus and effort is not selfish; it is, rather, something selfless. This is because it
involves a critical self-reflection to develop a proper understanding of our neighbour. And such
reflection is always to occur in light of the Truth in conjunction with the common good. Why so? It is
because we understand how a conscience which is immature can be easily lead astray by the voice of
the crowd - especially when that voice is loud or proud. We know that there exist right and wrong
choices, just as there are good and evil acts within our world. We need to know how to the choose that
which is good, for the good of everyone. It is for this reason we teach children how to tell the difference
between vice and virtue.
Vice - aka bad behaviour, quickly shows us why it should be avoided: we realize how dishonesty
produces reprimand, how disobedience brings disgrace, and why mischief brings woe. Whereas with
virtue, we learn how industriousness breeds success, how courage brings reward, and why generosity
generates gratitude. These are simple yet incredibly profound connections - lessons that are taught and
learned from the time of early childhood. It is these which will help in the formation of a good
conscience which will develop a solid character for adulthood. Children who practice and understand
this will become the best of future citizens who are educated, mature, and above all, wise in their moral
choices.
This is why Catholic Education exists: to form our students in how to evaluate situations, how to
feel compassion, and therefore, how to respond with actions that are forever and always befitting of a
child of God. In turn, they will learn to live and give a witness to our society. Consequently, I am most
humbled so many parents have entrusted God’s children to our excellent teachers, administrators, and
support staff within Edmonton Catholic Schools. Together we will cooperate to provide the sure
direction of a moral compass calibrated to the Cross of Christ.
Indeed, if the beginning of the school year is a time to review the ‘3Rs’ of what we are to learn,
then it is also an excellent moment to renew our ‘3Cs’ of who we are to become as a family of Faith:
Catholics with a Conscience gathered together in Christ. The connection of through the Family, with our
Schools and in our Church is the essence of what we believe: yes, through Him, with Him, and in Him everything we profess in Mass each Sunday in the Eucharist.
May the Lord sincerely bless you all,
Fr. Dean Dowle
ECSD Chaplain
Amoris Laetitia - The Joy of Love
Beginning this month, we will be sharing articles on the post-Synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia - The
Joy of Love, on love in the family, signed on March 19th, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, which brings together the
results of the two Synods on the family convoked by Pope Francis in 2014 and 2015.
Introduction
The Apostolic Exhortation is striking for its breadth and detail. Its 325 paragraphs are distributed over nine
chapters. The seven introductory paragraphs plainly outline the complexity of a topic in urgent need of thorough
study. While the interventions of the Synod Fathers form a “multifaceted gem” whose value must be preserved,
the Pope cautions that “not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral issues need to be settled by interventions
of the magisterium”. Indeed, for some questions, each country or region can seek solutions better suited to its
culture and sensitive to its traditions and local needs. In his address at the end of the 2015 Synod, the Pope said
very clearly: “What seems normal for a bishop on one continent, is considered strange and almost scandalous for
a bishop from another; what is considered a violation of a right in one society is an evident and inviolable rule in
another; what for some is freedom of conscience is for others simply confusion”. Indeed, the Pope clearly states
that we need to avoid demands for change and the general application of abstract norms. He writes: “The debates
carried on in the media, in certain publications and even among the Church’s ministers, range from an immoderate
desire for total change without sufficient reflection or grounding, to an attitude that would solve everything by
applying general rules or deriving undue conclusions from particular theological considerations”.
Chapter One: In the light of the Word
Following this introduction, the Pope begins his reflections with the Holy Scriptures in the first chapter, which
unfolds as a meditation on Psalm 128: “Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. You shall eat
the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful
vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus shall the man be blessed who
fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion. May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May
you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel” (Psalm 128: 1-6). Because the Bible “is full of families, births,
love stories and family crises”, this impels us to meditate on how the family is not an abstract ideal but rather like
a practical “trade”, which is carried out with tenderness, but which has also been confronted with sin from the
beginning. Thus, the Word of God “is not a series of abstract ideas but rather a source of comfort and
companionship for every family that experiences difficulties or suffering for it shows them the goal of their
journey.”
STAY Alert
OctoberApril
2016 2015
Unhealthy Friendships and Internet Safety
Friendships are important for a child’s emotional and social development. As kids grow, friendships will become more and
more central to their lives. It is important to talk with your child about the signs of a healthy friendship and the signs of an
unhealthy friendship. Unhealthy friendships are unfulfilling and typically feel unequal. These relationships can be a great
source of stress, wearing kids down emotionally and physically. If you feel your child is in some unhealthy friendships, you
may want to talk to her/him about how s/he deserves to be treated. The following checklist may help start conversations
with your child about whether certain friendships are good for them or not.
Signs of an unhealthy friendship may include:
Threats — Do any of your friends use threats to get you to do things?
Rejection — Do any of your friends talk behind your back, laugh at or make fun of you?
Being bossy — Do any of your friends try to tell you what and what not to do? Do they get jealous or angry if you spend
time with other people?
Put-downs — Do any of your friend’s yell at you, put you down, use sarcasm or embarrass you?
Violence — Do any of your friends play rough with you (e.g. hitting, pushing, pinching, kicking, scratching or slapping)?
Ignoring — Do any of your friends ignore you if they haven’t gotten their way? Do they ignore you when you have
something important to talk about?
Rumors — Do any of your friends spread rumors about you or tell lies about things? Do they share with others private
information that you shared with them in confidence?
Guilt — Do any of your friends try to make you feel guilty if they don’t get what they want (e.g. “You had a friend over and I
was crying because you didn’t invite me.”)?
Ask your child what they think is a sign of an unhealthy friendship. Friends do not:






Embarrass each other.
Pressure each other.
Put each other down.
Encourage each other to do something that could be harmful.
Act nicely to each other only when they want something from their friend.
Reveal private information shared with them in confidence.
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.