414 Pendygrasse Road
Saskatoon, Sk S7M 4M3
Phone: 659-7390 Fax: 659-2122
Principal: Mr. O. Fortosky
Vice-Principal: Mrs. T. Macknak
Office: Mrs. D. Moroz /Miss H. Meier
Community Coordinator: Miss T. Lynds
Prayers and Intentions - “I said a special prayer for you, As Christmas Day draws near, that God would bless you richly, throughout the coming year. I did not ask Him to send, you gifts of worldly wealth; but prayed that He would fill your life, with Peace, and Joy and Health.” (Author Unknown)
Let us pray for the safety of those who have to travel to be with their family. Let us remember our loved ones; those close to us, those far away, and those that have returned to God. Let us remember in prayer, that together we are a community.
“Loving God, help us remember the birth of Jesus that we may share in the song of angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven for Jesus’ sake.” By Robert Louis Stevenson
Last Day of Classes - Early Dismissal – Friday, December 22nd
Parents and Guardians are reminded that the last day of classes before the Christmas break is Friday,
December 22nd. Our Director of Education has approved an early dismissal of 2:10 p.m. on this day. Being that our recess falls at 1:55, students will be dismissed at recess.
Principal’s Message
As the month of December is coming to a close at St. Mark School. We would like to take this opportunity on behalf of our staff, to wish all of the families of our community a very blessed and joyous Christmas. We have much to celebrate as
we enter this holiday season, especially the valued partnership between the Home and School. It is our hope that this relationship continues to grow in the New Year. May God bless all of our students and families with peace, joy, and
safe travels as we celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
to our St. Mark School Community. Mr. O. Fortosky and Mrs. T. Macknak
PLEASE REMEMBER TO CALL THE SCHOOL AT 306-659-7390 IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK OR AWAY!
Microwaves are NOT Available at Lunch - Please plan your child(ren)’s lunches accordingly.
Staff Changes for 2018
We wish a fond farewell to Miss Haughian as she begins a new year and a new career in Ireland! We wish her well in her travels and her new endeavors! We welcome Mr. D. Snell as our Band Teacher in the New Year!
Kindergarten Registration in January
Thinking about kindergarten for this fall? Now’s the time to come in and register your child! Our school is friendly, safe, welcoming and ready to help each of our students reach their full potential. We nurture faith, encourage excellence in learning and inspire students to reach out and help others – at home and around the world. Children who will be five years old by January 31, 2019 can begin kindergarten in Fall 2018. You may also learn more at www.gscs.sk.ca. For more information about our school and/or how to register, please call St. Mark School at 306-659-7390.
Pre-Kindergarten Registration in January
St. Mark School is now accepting registrations for students who wish to begin Pre-Kindergarten in the fall of 2018. When your child turns three or four years of age, you are then eligible to apply for this program. Pre-Kindergarten is a subsidized program therefore there is a maximum of sixteen students in each class. Students are not selected by first come basis but are selected by application information. We hold four classes. Two classes on Monday & Wednesdays; two classes on Tuesday and Thursdays. Transportation may be provided. Those interested in this program are encouraged to call Mrs. Danyluk at 659-7778 or Miss Moldenhauer at St. Mark School at 306-659-7779.
At St. Mark School we find that our orientation evening is not always a convenient date for all parents interested in these programs therefore rather than having an orientation evening, we are available for parents to walk into the school at any time during the school day for a short orientation of either program.
Congratulations to the St. Mark Choir
The St. Mark School Choir consists of 53 fabulous voices that learned and mastered thirteen Christmas carols in a very short time. These students performed at TCU Place in the Noon Festival of Carols on Tuesday, December 5th and did a spectacular job. They performed at two of our many sponsors, Best Buy and Staples (Blairmore). Brighten your holidays; bring our music to your home; watch for GSCS choirs on Shaw 10 through the holidays. For a Youtube of the St. Mark Choir’s performance at TCU Place, view them on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KndkP-q8qLE
Parking - Thank you to all who are using street parking when dropping off your children. To ensure the safety of your children, please talk to them about using the safety patrols and the “crosswalk only” when you drop them off at the school. Remember that the parking lot is extremely hazardous for students to enter and is over capacity for our staff use therefore non-staff may be ticketed if they use the parking lot.
2018 Calendar – No School Days
Monday, January 29th – Professional Learning Day
Monday, February 19th – Family Day April 2nd – April 6th – Easter Break
Tuesday, Feb 20 – Friday, Feb 23 – Spring Break Monday, May 21st – Victoria Day
Monday, March 12th – Professional Learning Day Monday, June 11th – Professional Learning Day
Friday, March 30th – Good Friday Thursday, June 28th – Last Day of Classes
Friday, June 29th – School Closes for Summer
Fairhaven Registration for Winter Programs
Registration for Fairhaven Winter Programs will be held on Tuesday, January 9th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Fairhaven School and on Thursday, January 11th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Mark School. If you have questions or concerns regarding programming or your child’s registration, please contact the Indoor Program Coordinator at . Please note that we do receive funding for families who are not able to afford the entire cost of a class(es). All inquiries and applications are strictly confidential. We thank the Fairhaven Community association and their many members for their commitment and hard work! For more information on Fairhaven Community programs and information, please see the bulletin online with this newsletter.
No Child Without – Medical Alert – The Medic Alert Program – No Child Without is a program providing students (age 4 – 14) with access to MedicAlert 24/7 protection and emergency information services. Parents can be comforted knowing that your child’s MedicAlert ID can alert school staff, friends, coaches and others about your child’s medical condition should an emergency occur. Pamphlets are available at the school office if you would like to enroll for a free Medic Alert ID for your child.
St. Mark’s Community School Collective Kitchen Are you looking to learn how to cook healthier and more nutritious meals?Learn new kitchen skills and recipes and meet new people? This cooking group is for you. Whether you are new cook, or a veteran, we've got room for you. If you are interested in taking home tasty meals for your family, learning new recipes, making new friends and saving money on your food budget, please call Chantalle at 306-280-4212. All caregivers of St. Mark’s School children are welcome that includes grandparents, aunts and Dads as well. Space is limited.
Join Us at Parent and Tot – St. Mark School – TUESDAYS from 9:00 – 11:00 am
This free program is for families and their children aged 0 – 6 years. The program runs til end of June. Come for free play, stories, songs, craft and a snack in the first hour. Second hour has childcare for the kids so the parents can enjoy a warm coffee and support. Everyone welcome! For more information, contact Shellee Plysiuk-Neufeld at 306-716-8271 or . Or search us on Facebook!
St. Mary’s Clinic Available to You
Parents should be aware that there is a free clinic available at St. Mary Elementary School. Dr. Mehtar is
available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You may reach the clinic by telephone at 659-7837 or walk in to the clinic at 327 Avenue N South.
St. Patrick Parish – 3339 Centennial Drive – Saskatoon, Sask. 384-1100
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM FR. GERARD
My Dear Friends in Christ,
Every Advent my heart turns towards this humble prayer composed by Blessed John Henry Newman as I prepare to encounter once again the great gift of the divine life that is both opened and shared with us during the days of Christmas. So intimate is our Savior’s coming that we can share his divine love with one another. As you come before the humble presence of the Nativity Scene to see the Savior of the world and hear his Word proclaimed to every nation, may you experience the gift of communion in your heart with the living God:
“Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go. Flood our souls with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess our being so utterly that our lives may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through us, and be so in us that every soul we come in contact with may feel your presence in our souls. Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus! Stay with us, and then we shall begin to shine as you shine; so to shine as to be a light to others. The light, O Jesus, will be all from you, none of it will be ours; it will be you shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise you in the way you love best: by shining on others through us. Let us preach you without preaching, not by words but by our example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what we do, the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to You. Amen (John Henry Newman)
Blessings and Prayers in the Divine Light of Christ,
Father Gerard Cooper
Merry Christmas and Blessings in the New Year from all the staff at St. Patrick Parish!
ST. PATRICK PARISH CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday December 24 Mass at 7 :00 pm & 9:30 pm
Monday December 25 Mass at 10:30 am
Thursday January 1 Mass at 10:30 am
Weekend masses at St. Patrick Parish are Saturday, 5:00 P.M. and Sunday, 8:30 A.M. & 10:30 A.M.
Rev. Gerard Cooper and St. Patrick Pastoral Council
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
(Matthew 1:23)
Community News
Fairhaven Indoor Programs – Please contact www.fairhavencommunity.ca for more details or if you missed fall registration and you are interested in registering for any of the programs.
PLEASE SEE FAIRHAVEN’S NEWSLETTER FOR PROGRAM DETAILS
The Health Bus - Mobile Primary Heath Centre – Saskatoon Health Region
Who are we? Nurse practitioners and paramedics providing a mobile primary health center that creates health equity and closes the disparity gap for people who are geographically, socially, economically and/or culturally isolated. For more information or to contact someone providing health services, phone 306-380-1000 or 1-877-999-6363
The Health Line – The Health Line is a confidential toll-free 24 hour health advice line that is staffed by Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and Social Workers. Health Line services are offered in English with translation available in over 100 languages.
Note: The Health Line is NOT for emergency situations. Call 911 if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
Residents with speech or hearing difficulties - Call 1-888-425-4444
Need to Learn English? FREE Adult English Classes – Saskatchewan Intercultural Association
The Stage 1 & 2 English Program is for newcomers to Saskatoon. It offers free Adult English classes for learners who are at CLB (Canada Language Benchmark) levels 1 to 6.
For more information, please contact the Newcomer Information Centre, 106 – 129 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, S7K 2H4, 306-343-8303. Free child-minding services available at all locations!
Office Address: Room 405, 230 Avenue R South, Saskatoon, SK S7M 2Z1
Mailing Address: 1702 – 20th Street West, Saskatoon, SK S7M 0Z9
Phone: 306-978-1818 ext 219 Email:
READ SASKATOON – Learn, Play & Grow together! – FREE CLASSES
Help prepare your preschooler for school success with games, tips, activities, and more!
Wednesday mornings from 10:00 – 11:45 a.m. - #2 – 706 Duchess Street, Saskatoon, SK
January 10th to March 28th, 2018 For children ages 3 – 5 and their parent or caregiver
12 weeks – NO COST to you! Register online at READSaskatoon.com/events or call 306-652-5448
MEND: A Healthy Lifetyle Program for Families!
MEND is a free, fun program for families with children 7 – 13 years of age who are above a healthy weight. For further information and program location, call toll free at 1-844-899-6363 or
Email: Web: kinesiology.usask.ca
Student Accident Insurance Plan – 2017/2018
Supplementary insurance coverage for accidents throughout the entire year, both on and off school grounds. Covers costs not normally covered under employer plans, such as private tutoring while your child is recovering from an accident. Comprehensive coverage for as little as $14.50.
Online Application is available at kidsplus.ca/apply or by phone at 1-800-556-7411