It is nice to see that our temperatures here are expected to rise a bit over the next few days.  We will always make decisions regarding indoor/outdoor recesses according to what is happening at that time, but wherever it is safe and possible, children WILL go outside - so please have them dressed accordingly.  If you are in need of warm weather items, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.  We have supporters of the school who are always wanting to help with family needs and can easily help you in this area.  We also keep a "borrow bin" at school for children who do not have, or forget to bring, their mittens, etc.

Please do keep in mind that our recesses are an "all out or all in" situation.  We simply do not have the capacity to have some students supervised inside and others outside.  Our teachers and EAs have short break times which they need for eating (and are often used in preparing for the activities ahead or sponsoring a club).  If your child is not well enough to be outside in normal winter weather, he or she is probably not well enough to be at school.

In the case of extreme weather, safety of students and staff will always take priority.  In the event of significant snowfall or freezing rain, the school may close.  We take our lead from School District 33 and in consulting with other independent schools.  Closures will be announced through email, on our parent Facebook group and on the school website (we also contact Star 98.3).

THANK YOU

• to the lectors, choir members and gift-bearers for our school-led Mass this morning.  What a great turnout we had!  I think it's gotten better and better as the year has progressed!  It's great to see the school represented so well.

• to those who have returned their brown envelope, students verification form and permission form. We had many come back in the first two days!

• to the Knights of Columbus for sponsoring the Coats for Kids program (as well as always praying for and providing for St. Mary's School!)

INFORMATION

• Talent Show auditions take place this week - your child should have received notification regarding the time/date of his/her audition

• this week in PE we will have a guest dance instructor.  We are hoping to showcase what the students learn in an assembly next Monday afternoon (near the end of the day).  Stay tuned for information about that.

REMINDERS

• to the cast of our school musical:  please be sure to arrive at 7:30 for rehearsal

• your child(ren)'s permission slip for our Musical field trip must be received (preferably by tomorrow) or he/she will not be able to attend.  We cannot accept verbal permission.

• if you've not yet returned your brown envelope, please do so tomorrow

MONDAY

TUESDAY

• Whole school field trip to CSOPA's performance of Disney's Descendants.  Please remember to send a non-messy snack that fits in your child's coat pocket, as we will have those snacks during intermission.  Lunch will be eaten when children return to school.

• Grade 7 Field Trip - Curling (following the musical performance)

• Grade 4/5 Girls' Tripleball practice, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

• School Mass, 1- 7, 9:00 a.m.  All families welcome!

• Hot Lunch:  chicken burgers

• Gr. 4/5 Girls' Tripleball at Cheam Elementary (9895 Banford Rd), depart St. Mary’s at 2:20 pm - please remember that parents are responsible for transporting their children to and from the game.  If you have made an arrangement for your child to go with another family, please contact the coach or the office.

THURSDAY

• Grade 4/5 Boys' Tripleball practice, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

FRIDAY

• Grade 7 to swimming

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

LOOKING AHEAD

• Wednesday, January 24:  PEC Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

• Friday, January 26:  Colour Day; Talent Show

• Monday, January 29 - Friday, February 2:  Spirit Week (special events and dress-up days) - more information to follow

• Tuesday, January 30:  Meeting for families of First Communion candidates (even if not in Grade 2)

• Friday, February 2:  Whole school to go skating

• Wednesday, February 7:  School Annual General Meeting - all families to send at least one representative - 7:00 p.m.

• Sunday, February 11 - February 17:  Catholic Schools Week - Sunday Mass, special dress-up days

• Wednesday, February 14:  Ash Wednesday

• Thursday - Friday, February 15/16 - Catholic Educators' Conference - NO SCHOOL

• Monday, February 19 :  Family Day - NO SCHOOL

• Friday, February 23:  Ready, Set, Learn! (for families of preschoolers)

Have a wonderful week - stay warm!

-Mrs. Sallos