Sir John Thompson Weekly Updates – March 2021Friday March 19th, 2021Hello everyone and a most sincere positive Friday to you and your family. This week you are all aware of the media reporting that it has been one year since our collective world has changed from the global pandemic. I want everyone to know that our ability to stand together and support one another is appreciated by everyone in our whole community. I am reminded of the famous proverb ‘Nana korobi, ya oki’ which you may better know as ‘fall down seven times, stand up eight’. This proverb comes to the world from Japanese culture post World War two. The meaning is that life will knock you down many times and it is our challenge to get up one more time than we fall. For many of us our friends and family provide this support on an ongoing basis when we need it most. Our school community has shown this support for one another daily for all our children. Finally, our faith remains with us all as is shown in one of my favorite poems.

One night I dreamed a dream.As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it."Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave youNever, ever, during your trials and testings.When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."May God bless you all…….Kelly L. Kaup – Principal Sir John Thompson

Important dates in March*Student Leadership events in GREEN.March 19th - Flashback Friday 2 of 2 - A tribute to the 90s and 2000sMarch 25th Thursday – Full Day of classesMarch 26th Friday – AM classes only 12:17 dismissal.March 26th - Movies are so DONE, so... Let’s do ILearn, Covid style.March 26th – ALL next year student option forms due.March 27th – April 6th – Spring BreakApril 2nd – Good FridayApril 5th – Easter MondayApril 6th – School Resumes

Marking one year since isolation

Below is an excellent message and video from our ECSD Mental Health Team. I encourage you to watch the video below. I have also attached a document from AHS with outlines some of the support services offered to our families and children.

After a week of battling “time change”, feeling 'blah', fatigue, languishing emotionally, we need to call this spade a spade. Your body and emotions, are responding to a ‘REAL' issue right now. This week is ONE year since we went into lockdown, not knowing what the future would hold for ourselves, families, students and communities. Our bodies are 'remembering' therefore causing many to be feeling 'blue', on edge, a harshness perhaps? I know I could use some emotional sandpaper 😉

Maybe you have watched this video from Kevin Cameron already, or put it on your to-do list when you have time. Take the less than 3 mins to watch it when you can. We will get through this too. Sending a virtual, socially distanced hug to you. #bettertogether

https://vimeo.com/517332276

Take care and keep hope! Wishing you a wonderful and restful weekend!

ECSD Mental Health Team

Intentions for next year - updateThank you to everyone for completing your intentions for next year. Our Administrative support team has been busy this past week calling and assisting families with this process. We thank you for your support in making this difficult decision for next year. Planning for next year will be in full swing following Spring Break.

Should you have any questions, please contact us at the office and we will be happy to help.

2021-2022 school year Student Option Selection – Grade 8 and 9 Thank you everyone for turning in your option forms for next year! We have received a constant stream in the office from our in-school students and via email from our online students. Just a reminder that the option forms are due by March 26th at the latest.Complete details and instructions are included on the form. Please ensure that your child’s selections reflect their interests as well as preparation for High School and Post-Secondary. To this end, Music and French are considered excellent courses for University Preparation. These courses can be used for University entrance and for scholarships. For students attending in-person learning, completed option forms are to be handed in at the office. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at the school and we will be happy to help.

On-line learners are asked to email their completed forms to our Assistant Principal Karen.Molyneux@ecsd.net

Return of Lake TritonThis past week we have seen the return of Lake Triton. Lake Triton is an annual occurrence in our west field. I encourage you to check out the pictures below and see our students out having fun. I even told them that it was stocked with fish if you are wondering why groups of students can been seen staring at the pond! We even had a flock of geese land there the other day. A true mark of Spring!

Hello from one of our parents!On Wednesday one of our parents Ken Smith provided some ariel supervision at lunch time for Sir John Thompson. Thanks, Ken, for sending these pictures!

Online students – Yearbook photosWe are asking our online students to send us a photo of them working from home for our yearbook. Please email your pictures to Mrs. Molyneux at karen.molyneux@ecsd.net

Pictures from around the school

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Friday March 12th, 2021

Hello everyone and Happy Positive Friday to you all. I want to thank our amazing community for your prayers and support as we approach spring in this unique COVID year. Spring truly is a sign of hope and renewal for everyone, as we continue our journey in the Lenten season toward Easter. I learned today that the term ‘Lent’ comes from the Old English word for spring! The themes of renewal and rebirth certainly are in my mind each day. My parents recently received their COVID vaccine and the sound of excitement in my mom’s voice was a true pleasure to hear. So, I wish everyone a safe and holy journey on your Lenten path and hope you share with me the feeling of hope for us all and a return to normal here at school and in our lives soon.

May God bless you all.Kelly Kaup – Principal Sir John Thompson

Important dates in March*Student Leadership events in GREEN.February 22nd – March 22nd – School Intention Screen available in PowerSchool.March 12th - Flashback Friday. A tribute to the 70s and 80sMarch 16th PAC meeting 7:00 pm via TeamsMarch 15 to 17 - St. Patrick’s Pot of Gold Scavenger HuntMarch 17th - St. Patrick’s DayMarch 18th Division Faith Formation Day – No classes for studentsMarch 19th - Flashback Friday 2 of 2 - A tribute to the 90s and 2000sMarch 25th Thursday – Full Day of classesMarch 26th Friday – AM classes only 12:17 dismissal.March 26th - Movies are so DONE, so... Let’s do ILearn, Covid style.March 26th – ALL next year student option forms due.March 27th – April 6th – Spring BreakApril 2nd – Good FridayApril 5th – Easter Monday

Intentions for next year - updateOur families are well underway filling in the Intention Screen in PowerSchool for next year. As of Thursday, we have 258 / 400 of our current students having declared their intention. The deadline for declaring your intention is Monday, March 22nd. We will be reaching out to our families late next week to assist them in completing this. The link below is an excellent tutorial to help you complete this important step for next year’s registration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPMC3FY7yDo&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=EdmontonCatholicSchoolsECSD

If you are having difficulty with navigating this process, we are happy to assist you. Should you have any questions, please contact us at the office and we will be happy to help. 2021-2022 school year Student Option Selection – Grade 8 and 9 Thank you everyone for turning in your option forms for next year! We have received a constant stream in the office from our in-school students and via email from our online students. Just a reminder that the option forms are due by March 26th at the latest.Complete details and instructions are included on the form. Please ensure that your child’s selections reflect their interests as well as preparation for High School and Post-Secondary. To this end, Music and French are considered excellent courses for University Preparation. These courses can be used for University entrance and for scholarships. For students attending in-person learning, completed option forms are to be handed in at the office. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at the school and we will be happy to help.

On-line learners are asked to email their completed forms to our Assistant Principal Karen.Molyneux@ecsd.net

Virtual Parent Teacher InterviewsThank you to our families for utilizing the conference manager to book an interview with your teacher yesterday. Our staff were very grateful to all our parents for taking the time to meet with our teachers. We want to thank everyone for your support and effort in helping us in having a successful afternoon and evening virtually. We certainly look forward to returning to in-person interviews next year!

Parent Council – 2020-2021Tuesday – March 16th – 7:00pmNext week we have a Parent Council meeting. Any parent is welcome to attend our meetings and does not have to hold a position. If you are interested, please give Mr. Kaup a call at the school for more information and a Teams invite will be sent to you.Please check our website for all Parent Council information.Final Year end meeting - Tuesday – May 11th – 7:00pm Thank you to our amazing group of parents!

Chair – Jennifer Harvey Vice Chair – Anita Petrovic Secretary – Lisa Savill Treasurer – Elaina Babij Casino – Sandra Symbaluk

Member at Large – Erin PlumeMember at Large – Deb DixonMember at Large – Cheryl WilliamsMember at Large – Stephanie Liew

Pictures from around the school

Friday March 5, 2021

Hello everyone and Happy positive Friday to you all. This is the time of the year that our grade 9 families are registering for their High Schools and our incoming grade 6 students are registering for Sir John Thompson. There have been many changes to the process due to COVID restrictions and new Division level ‘Intention Screen’ processes. Our High Schools have been making information available on their websites and stand ready to take any calls you may have to assist you in the process. Our next year Grade 6 families are filling in their intention screens in PowerSchool and the numbers for next year are starting to come in. So far it looks very positive for our school. Thank you for spreading the good word! If you know of any families who have any questions regarding programming for next year or our EAP program, we encourage them to call us here at the school and we would be happy to assist them.

Today at 4:00 pm our booking system opens for you to book an appointment for next Thursdays March 11th Parent Teacher interviews. We encourage you to look at your child’s PowerSchool marks and book an appointment. I have attached the instructions once again this week for you.

I would encourage all parents to log into their Parent PowerSchool portal and complete the ‘intention screen’ as soon as possible. I have repeated the information for you from last week for your convenience. If you have any questions about this, please give us a call at the school.

Enjoy the great weather this weekend and may God bless you and your families.Stay safe!

Kelly Kaup – Principal Sir John ThompsonImportant dates in March

*Student Leadership events in GREEN.February 22nd – March 22nd – School Intention Screen available in PowerSchool.March 12th - Flashback Friday. A tribute to the 70s and 80sMarch 16th PAC meeting 7:00 pm via TeamsMarch 15 to 17 - St. Patrick’s Pot of Gold Scavenger HuntMarch 17th - St. Patrick’s DayMarch 18th Division Faith Formation Day – No classes for studentsMarch 19th - Flashback Friday 2 of 2 - A tribute to the 90s and 2000sMarch 25th Thursday – Full Day of classesMarch 26th Friday – AM classes only 12:17 dismissal.March 26th - Movies are so DONE, so... Let’s do ILearn, Covid style.March 27th – April 6th – Spring BreakApril 2nd – Good FridayApril 5th – Easter Monday

From the SJT officeDear Parents, when picking up students for appointments or anytime your child must leave the building, please call the office. If you simply call and let us know, we can have your child sign themselves out and ready to meet you outside. The office needs to be able to keep track of all our students at any given time and with communication from you as parents this really helps. Thank you for your support!

*IMPORTANT information – repeat from last weekAll Parents / Guardians – Intentions for Next Year declaration 2021-2022On Monday February 22nd, our school division sent out a letter to all families outlining the requirement for all families to identify and select their intention for their child for the 2021-2022 school year. This ‘intention screen’ is available on the Parent PowerSchool Portal from February 22nd to March 22nd. Families will have the opportunity to choose an online option offered centrally by our school division or to choose in-person learning at a school they plan on attending. Please select the link below to assist you in navigating this process.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPMC3FY7yDo&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=EdmontonCatholicSchoolsECSD

This ‘intention screen’ marks the beginning of our planning for next year here at Sir John Thompson. This year we were able to offer online learning within our school, with Sir John Thompson teachers, as a temporary solution for our students. It is important to note that for next year ECSD is creating an online delivery model for families who choose this as an option for

their child. This option would remove students from Sir John Thompson and enroll them in the ECSD Online Junior High School that will operate separately from Sir John Thompson with separate staff, programs, and supports.

I realize that this decision can be a difficult one for each family to consider. We believe that the best place for learning is physically within our school with students interacting with each other and with our staff every day in the full complement of core and options programming that we can offer. I do appreciate and understand that the COVID pandemic has created circumstances in each family in which learning from home is the best choice for your child and that this circumvents all other considerations.

As a family, you must choose what is best for you and your family’s individual circumstances. The decision to choose online through a different Catholic Junior High School or to be in-school at Sir John Thompson, is one that you need to make. Families who have chosen online learning will be allowed to return to Sir John Thompson at one entry point only on February 1, 2022. Please bear in mind that option choices upon the return to Sir John Thompson will be based on availability rather than on student preference. Please read the Division letter carefully for more detailed information. I have attached it once more for your convenience.

As a thriving Junior High School of choice in the North end of Edmonton we are hoping and planning to return to as near a level of normal as possible next year. We have learned to accept the fact that we cannot project the progress of this pandemic on a weekly basis but are committed to providing the best educational opportunities we can for our community everyday. The start of next school year could see some aspects of the COVID protocols remaining in place for our school, but I hope and pray that with vaccines becoming more prevalent that this is indeed the beginning of the return to normal operation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the school and we will be happy to assist you with your decision.

Virtual Parent Teacher Interviews – March 11 th - Repeat from last week On Thursday March 11th, we are having our Virtual Parent Teacher interview day. We thank all parents and guardians for their patience in supporting this format. We certainly hope that it will give everyone the opportunity to connect with their child’s teachers. If for any reason you are unable to book an appointment with the teacher of your choice, please reach out to them via email and they will be happy to find a convenient time to connect with you to discuss your child’s progress. The booking system opens Friday, March 5th, 2021 at 4pm and closes on Wednesday March 10th at 4pm. The format will be similar to what we did in November. This will allow for parents to schedule times to ‘meet’ with their teachers. Interviews will take place from 1:30 – 5:00 and again from 6:00 – 8:00pm on March 11th. Parents will be able to book time and connect with up to four teachers. Parents will indicate on the booking system their

preference for a phone call or a Microsoft Teams meet via Video Chat. Full step by step instructions are attached to assist you in booking times. It is important to regularly view your child’s PowerSchool grades. There you can see any missed assessments or notes the teacher has added to explain any marks.

Student Option Selection – Grade 8 and 9Student option forms for next year’s grade 8’s and 9’s will be sent home with your child early next week and are due back to the office on or before March 26th. Complete details and instructions are included on the form you will receive. Please ensure that your child’s selections reflect their interests as well as preparation for High School and Post-Secondary. To this end, Music and French are considered excellent courses for University Preparation. These courses can be used for University entrance and for scholarships. For students attending in-person learning, completed option forms are to be handed in at the office. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at the school and we will be happy to help.

On-line learners are asked to email their completed forms to our Assistant Principal Karen.Molyneux@ecsd.net

SJT Food DriveThank you to all our amazing students and their families for your contributions to our annual food drive. The way we come together as a community to help those in need truly is amazing.Special thanks to our leadership students and Mrs. Corbett for all their efforts in making this a fun experience for the entire school!

Upcoming Student Leadership ActivitiesOur amazing student leadership team is hard at work coming up with creative ideas for our school. See below for upcoming events.Friday March 12 - Flashback Friday 1 of 2. A tribute to the 70s and 80s

We will have a Time Machine Photo Booth There will be a prize for Best Outfit in each grade. Each homeroom will need to select their best outfit. Then the overall winners will be voted via the Google Classroom

Wednesday March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day Wear green Dress like a leprechaun Dress like a Rainbow

Activity - March 15 to 17 - St. Patrick’s Pot of Gold Scavenger Hunt There’s GOLD at the End of the Rainbow, Scavenger hunt 5 clues will be given Monday - 5 winners 3 clues will be given Tuesday - 3 winners 1 clue will be given Wednesday - 1 winner

Friday March 19 - Flashback Friday 2 of 2 - A tribute to the 90s and 2000s We will have a Time Machine Photo Booth There will be a prize for Best Outfit in each grade. Each homeroom will need to select their best outfit. Then the overall winners will be voted via the Google Classroom

March 26 - Movies are so DONE, so... Let’s do Ilearn, Covid style. Each class will get to choose 4 sessions from a list of options (developed

by Student Leadership students, Easter themed). Gym type sessionswill be awarded via lottery.

Snow shovelling on Global News!This has been an exciting week for SJT in the news. A TV crew came out to our school to interview Mr. Chasse and Mr. Pisani about our PE snow shoveling project. Thank you to all our families who donated shovels to make this amazing project happen! Check out the link below!https://globalnews.ca/video/7671121/snow-shovelling-angels-caught-on-edmonton-womans-doorbell-camera?fbclid=IwAR1_ItJW9YbjXsI_2LxjhMwNtWBjwZo3rGDS7W_Iu_j1dzk1eisIaKI6eE0

SJT Hoodies are on saleWe are submitting a school order of hoodies. Your choice is either the black hoodie or the gray hoodie, or both if you like. Each hoodie is $30. If you would like to purchase a hoodie, students can see Mrs. Riva or Mrs. Funnell in the office, where they can look at the sample sizes and receive an order form (students will be unable to try on samples - due to COVID restrictions). We have attached the order form for you as well. Simply have your child return it to the office. Order forms have instructions for payment. Parents and other family members are also welcome to purchase a hoodie too. For online students, please email an order form to anita.riva@ecsd.net or kimberley.funnell@ecsd.net. The order form will also be posted on our website. All orders need to be submitted by Friday March 19, 2021.

Pictures from around the school