ST GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL SCHOOL 197 Invermere Dr., Chestermere AB T1X 1M7

Phone: 403-500-2110 Fax: 403-500-2310 www.cssd.ab.ca/stgabriel/

“A School Founded on Extraordinary Respect”

Junior and Senior High school

January Newsletter 2017

FROM ADMINISTRATION

May you have the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of His love this Christmas!

We wish you a very Merry Christmas It is our hope 2017 will be

a year filled with blessings and abundance for you and your families!

From the staff of St. Gabriel the Archangel

AND

Happy New Year to All of Our St. Gabriel the Archangel Community

As we return from our Christmas vacation, we do so with the hope that you and your family celebrated a very, blessed Christmas Season. It is always exciting to wonder what the New Year will bring! Many of our staff and students will take on the challenge of change as we set personal and academic goals to strive towards in the New Year. No matter what the personal or academic goal, our dedicated staff is here to support and help each individual achieve their personal best. Most New Year resolutions require the support of family and school community to ensure success. What structures could be implemented at the home level to support children and encourage and monitor personal learning goals? Establishing homework routines and quiet time for review each night will be one way to ensure improved academic success. Checking Brightspace each evening will also encourage students to stay on track with homework.

Social Justice: Reflecting upon the first half of the year we have much to celebrate. Our students have definitely supported our school District theme of Mercy: Be Merciful, just as your Father is Merciful as they have focused less on themselves and more on others as was demonstrated in the following areas:

• Movember raised -$1400.00 • Warm Feet for the Street • Terry Fox – $400.00 • No Stone Left Unturned – Remembrance Day Wreath • Veterans Food Drive

End of the Semester and Exams: High School students are busy finishing off assignments and preparing for final exams for semester 1. The exam schedules are posted on our school website and tutorial schedules can be found elsewhere in this newsletter. Students are encouraged to attend tutorials to better prepare for their upcoming exams. Parents are asked to check their child’s Brightspace to ensure assignments are completed and the final mark is not a surprise. High School students watch for information on Semester 2 schedules and course changes. Accountability Pillar Survey It is once again time for parents, and teachers to complete the Accountability Pillar Survey. As an annual check-up on the education system, the Accountability Pillar provides an opportunity for Alberta Education and school authorities to ensure that we’re equipping students for success. The Accountability Pillar uses a set of 16 indicators consisting of surveys of students, parents and teachers on various aspects of quality; student outcomes such as dropout and high school completion rates; and provincial assessments of student learning. From January to the end of February, Alberta Education will be conducting the annual Accountability Pillar Survey. In January, parents of our students in grades 7 and 10 will receive a survey from Alberta Education in the mail. Earlier, in the year our students completed the survey as a part of the Our School Survey. All teachers will be completing their surveys online at school. All surveys are anonymous and ask questions about experiences within the school. Your participation in the survey helps provide important information on the quality of education your child is receiving, so we encourage you to return your survey promptly. An additional reminder will be sent out at the end of January. Survey results will be available to school authorities in May 2017, and will be reported publicly as part of our 3-Year Education Plans and Annual Results reports. Please take a few moments to complete.

In conclusion: As a school community we look forward to the opportunity to continue to build strong relationships between home, school and parish. We encourage families to become involved in all aspects of the school, volunteer for school activities, join school council, support the fine and dramatic arts or cheer on our incredible athletes at our sports events! If you have any questions or feedback please let us know by emailing: mike.bolder@cssd.ab.ca On behalf of our staff @ SGA, we wish our families a very Happy New Year! M. Bolder S. O’Flaherty Principal Vice- Principal

Wishing all our SGA Families the Very Best This Christmas Season Below is one of my favourite stories. I share it as a reminder to us all no matter our role, be it as a student, parent, teacher, support staff member or administrator we all play a role in working with students in shaping their hopes and dreams. This truly is an amazing Christmas story.

Story of the Three Trees

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!” The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!” The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.” Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. “Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest. I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. “Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell. The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail on an ocean, or even a river; instead, she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. “What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God...” Many, many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. “I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world. One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth. One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world. The next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you. Source unknown

Tips for Application for Scholarships Awards and Bursaries

Make the most of your high school experience by working hard academically and showcasing your talents through community and school engagement. The opportunities to be successful begin in Gr. 10 by planning to develop your talents throughout your high school years. To optimize your scholarship opportunities keep the following in mind:

• Check for deadlines • Plan to spend one to two hours on each application • Use clear, assertive and succinct language • Be involved in extra-curricular and community activities • Volunteer at youth groups, at your parish, local hospitals and service organizations

**HIGH MARKS ARE OFTEN NOT ENOUGH. MOST SCHOLARSHIPS WILL REQUIRE STRONG LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. Check the following websites for other Canadian Scholarship Information: www.alis.alberta.ca, www.scholarshipscanada.com, www.studentawards.com www.canlearn.ca www.schoolfinder.com www.educationmatter.ca www.scholarships.com

Scholarship Opportunities

University of Alberta Entrance Scholastic Distinction Scholarship Competition Entrance Leadership Scholarship Competition

December 15, 2016 December 15, 2016

www.ualberta.ca

Schulich Leadership December 15, 2016

See Counsellor

University of Calgary Awards Prestige Awards Deadline: Awards Deadline:

December 15, 2016 March 1, 2017

www.ucalgary.ca/awards

Terry Fox Humanitarian Award February 1, 2017 www.terryfoxawards.ca

ReMax Quest for Excellence Bursary March 13, 2017 www.remax.ca

Gaspard April 7, 2017 www.keepcanadagreencontest.ca/about

SENIOR HIGH EXAMS We provide these dates to families early to ensure you are aware of semester one exam dates prior to scheduling winter vacations. Families in the past have requested students write exams at different times than the scheduled dates and times, however, we follow the same guidelines as used for Diploma exams. Diploma exam dates are set by Alberta Education and the provincial government and exams must be written on the date and time they are scheduled. Please avoid scheduling vacations on dates your child has exams.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL EXAM SCHEDULE JANUARY 2017

* RED above indicates DIPLOMA EXAMS*

• Teachers will announce dates (to the class) for the exams listed below

o Social Studies 10-1/10-2/10-4; Part A – will be done in class prior to exam break o English 10-1/10-2; Part A – will done in class prior to exam break o Religious Education 15 and Religious Education 25 – will be done in class prior to exam break.

DATE EXAM TIME Friday, January 13 LAST DAY OF REGULAR CLASSES

Monday, January 16 English 30-1/ 30-2 Part A English 20-1/20-2 Part A

9:00 am– 12:00 noon 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Tuesday, January 17 Social Studies 30-2 Part A (No Social Studies 30-1 this term) Social Studies 20-1/20-2; Part A

9:00 am– 11:30 am

1:00 – 3:00 pm

Wednesday, January 18 Religious Education 35 Science 10 Science 24

9:00 – 11:00 am 9:00 – 11:00 am 9:00 – 11:30 am

Thursday, January 19 Math 20-1/ 20-3 9:00 – 11:00 am

Friday, January 20 Social Studies 10-1/ 10-2/10-4: Part B 9:00 – 11:00 am

Monday, January 23 English 30-1/ 30-2; Part B

English 20-1/ 20-2/ 20-4 Part B 9:00 am– 12:00 noon

1:00 – 3:00 pm Tuesday, January 24 Social Studies 30-2 Part B

Social Studies 20-1/20-2/ 20-4; Part B 9:00 – 11:30 am 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Wednesday, January 25 Math 30-1 (No Math 30-2 this term) Math 30-3 Chemistry 20

9:00 am – 12:00 noon 9:00 – 11:00 am 9:00 – 11:00 am

Thursday, January 26 Biology 30 English 10-1/ 10-2; Part B

9:00 am – 12:00 noon 9:00 – 11:00 am

Friday, January 27 Chemistry 30 Science 14

9:00-12:00 noon 9:00 – 11:00 am

Monday, January 30 Physics 30 Science 30 Math 10C

9:00 am– 12:00 noon 1:00-4:00 pm

9:00 – 11:00 am Tuesday, January 31 START OF SEMESTER 2 8:55 am

St. Gabriel the Archangel Semester 1: Exam-Tutorial Schedule Available on BrightSpace and our school website: https://www.cssd.ab.ca/schools/stgabriel All of our high school teachers will be offering tutorials in the month of January in preparation for their subject exams. Please make sure you take advantage of this great learning opportunity.

Diploma Preparation Courses Courses provide students with critical insights into writing diploma exams and offer stress management techniques. Teachers have extensive experience with preparing students for diploma exams. Courses are open to CCSD students and students from other school jurisdictions. Small class sizes - maximum 30 students per teacher. Locations vary depending on course. Math 30-1 & Math 30-2: Jan 13, 17 & 23 ELA 30-1: Jan 10, 13 & 19 ELA 30-1 & ELA 30-2: Jan 11, 13 & 19 FLA 30-1: Jan 10, 12 & 16 Social 30-1 & 30-2: Jan 10, 12 & 20 Science 30: Jan 18, 23 & 25 Biology 30: Jan 16, 18 & 24 Chemistry 30: Jan 17, 20 & 24 Physics 30: Jan 19, 25 & 27 Cost: $75 per course / 12 hours instruction Visit www.cssd.ab.ca for specific times and course locations. To register, visit the website or phone 403-500-2012 ext. 412. Enrolment is limited.

Diploma and Final Examination Information Parents, Students and Teachers

In order to provide a secure examination environment, St. Gabriel the Archangel School reviews the examination policies at each sitting to ensure exam security and address conditions that would allow for the possibility of cheating that would provide some students with an unfair advantage. Academic integrity is of primary importance; therefore, every precaution has been taken to allow students to accurately represent their exam performance. Alberta Education Diploma Exam Security and Examination Rules state that: “Students may not bring any papers, notes of any kind… headsets, CD players, digital audio players, cell phones, pagers, or other electronic devices into the examination room. No hand-held electronic dictionaries and no electronic or paper templates and/or graphic organizers are allowed. Students must ensure that dictionaries, and references used for Part A of English Language Arts 30-1, English Language Arts 30-2, Social Studies 30-1, Social Studies 30-2, and all calculators are completely free of notes or study material.”

“Any student in possession of materials not allowed in examination rooms will have his/her mark invalidated.”

Particular attention will be paid to personal, wireless electronic devices such as cell phones. Please note that Alberta Education may not permit students to rewrite a diploma exam for one year following a mark being invalidated. Transcripts may be withheld for a period up to one year, or their official transcripts may be annotated. Along with the above listed banned items, coats, jackets, purses, back packs will not be allowed in any of the writing centers. Please leave these items in school lockers.

Photo ID is essential for diploma exams. Students will not be allowed to write a diploma exam without this.

We request that students and parents review the exam schedule sent out in this newsletter, or found on our website, and that students be aware of their responsibility toward academic integrity and exam security, as they study and prepare for the exams. Any questions or concerns can be directed to Mrs. O’Flaherty, the Vice Principal responsible for exams at 403-500-2110.

GRADUATION 2017 – (Mrs. Baker)

Graduation Retreat will be held Thursday May 18, 2017 all day at the FCJ Centre downtown. Michael Chiasson will be our guest speaker. Graduation Mass will be held Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 7:00 pm in the School Gym and will be celebrated by Father Mariusz. There is no cost to this event. Everyone is invited. The Graduation Ceremonies will be held Friday, June 2, 2017 at 3:00 pm in the School Gym. This will involve the crossing of the stage in the cap and gown. There is no additional cost to this event except for the grad fee paid earlier in the year. Everyone is invited. The Graduation Banquet will be held Friday, June 2, 2017 at 6:30 pm at the Coast Plaza Hotel. There is a significant cost for this event as there will be a per ticket cost to attend the banquet (price to be determined at a later date).

For those students who may now feel they would like to purchase a graduation ring and missed the sales earlier in October, please contact Daryl Ellerston at Daryl.Ellertson@jostens.com for more information.

FEE PAYMENTS Fees are available to view and pay Online. We encourage parents to use the online fee payment system on the St. Gabriel the Archangel website at https://www.cssd.ab.ca/schools/stgabriel Payments can be made by credit card and debit card. The online payment system allows you to pay school fees applicable to each child.

INTRUMENTAL MUSIC - (Lisa Stelmack; Director of Bands) Upcoming Music Events 2017

• February 1 – 3 River’s Edge Band Camp Grades 7 – 12 • February AIBF Senior Concert Band and HS Wind Ensemble • March AIBF and CPA Festival • March Fine Arts Night TBD • April Potential High School Band Tour TBD • May 17 Final Spring Band Concert @ U of C

Parents, if you would be interested in offering the gift of your time and talents in chaperoning any of the above events, please email lisa.stelmack@cssd.ab.ca or phone 403-500-2110. Thank you for your continued support! We could not do it without YOU.

“MAKING MUSIC MAKES YOU SMARTER!”

Junior High Hockey Academy – (Mr. Iwanchuck and Mr. Campbell) The Junior High Hockey Academy Program recognizes a player every two weeks who exemplifies the qualities, both on the ice and during dry land training that Tim Horton possessed as a hockey player and a human being. He or she is then awarded a Tim Horton’s preloaded card for their efforts. We would like to congratulate this year’s first recipients for the month of December are Bryce Benfield, Carter Mytz and Tegan Skehar. Congratulations! DID YOU KNOW?

School District Calendars for 2017-2018 are now finalized. The following calendar documents can be found on the District’s Internet site at: https://www.cssd.ab.ca/Calendars/Pages/Default.aspx These documents will also be posted on our school website shortly, under the calendar tab: @ www.cssd.ab.ca/stgabriel Please note there will be minor revisions to calendar as we continue our pilot calendar or aligning our JH and SH professional days and parent teacher interviews. These changes will be shared in the spring. This only impacts our school. ST. GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL PARISH NEWS – (Fr. Mariusz Sztuk – Pastor)

Dear Friends

“God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son to us.” The story of Christmas is the story of love – God’s love. When we think, pray, contemplate and wonder about this mystery, first of all we need to give thanks to God who is not only born to us but at the same time constantly present, alive and active in our very midst in various ways. How to not rejoice and be glad that we are loved so much by our maker?

Let’s properly celebrate His marvelous entrance into the world or we have come to our King’s birthday empty-handed one more time. The problem is that when something becomes too familiar to us, we have trouble seeing it in a new way. Find the Christmas Season spirit in your heart. It feels warm, like a mother’s love for her child. You can’t buy it at any store, and you can’t get it from anybody else. We have to rediscover it.

At this time, let’s keep our hearts open to receive God’s love. Find Him in the poor and the needy. Find Him in the presence and suffering of sick, elderly and dying members. Find His presence when we come to rejoice and celebrate Sunday Masses, when we play and smile in our social events. Find Him when we exercise social justice and peace. Find Him in everyone you meet, no matter how difficult it may be. One thing for sure, you will find Him in the good times, and the bad times.

I ask God constantly to bless you and keep you in His loving care. May I also express my personal thanks, gratitude and appreciation to all of you. May God help us to continue to grow stronger and become a more loving parish community in the coming New Year of the Lord 2017