Newsletter February 2015

1|Page
February, 2015
Annunciation Catholic Elementary School
Edmonton Catholic School District - IB World School
9325–165 Street, Edmonton AB T5R 2S5
Phone: 780.484.4319 Fax: 780.484.3072
Email: [email protected]
Newsletter
February 2015
Administrators’ Message
To start off with this month, we’d like to congratulate Mrs. Trautman and her family! They have been
blessed with the safe arrival of beautiful Finn Robert who was born at the beginning of December.
We wish Mr. and Mrs. Trautman, big brother Liam and Baby Finn many blessings and are looking
forward to a visit from Finn very soon!
As you are aware, Mr. Edwards has assumed the position of acting assistant principal until Mr.
Estephan, our current assistant principal, returns from his medical leave. At this time, we have no
specific date as to when he will return; however, he is doing well in his recovery from his preChristmas surgery and greatly appreciates all of our thoughts and prayers. Because of the
unexpectedness of events, we did not yet have a replacement teacher in place for Mr. Edwards’
Grade 5 homeroom class. We are happy to announce that Miss Katherine Esposito has been hired
for the Grade 5A homeroom position for the remainder of Mr. Estephan’s medical leave. Miss
Esposito is a recent U of A graduate and has been teaching Grade 5 at St. Dominic Catholic School
since the beginning of the year. She is extremely hard working and so very excited about this
opportunity. We are very fortunate to be able to welcome such an enthusiastic teacher to
Annunciation School. Again, we wish Mr. Estephan all the best while he is on leave and we are
looking forward to his return.
Please be reminded that on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, all staff members will be involved in a
district-wide Faith Development Day at the Shaw Conference Centre. There will be no instruction of
students at school on that day. This year, our theme is: Life of Grace, Journey of Shalom. Catholic
education is an awesome vocation and responsibility. By being involved in the education mission of
the church, Catholic schools provide a hopeful response to the great mysteries of life in an
increasingly complex world. Faith Development Day provides staff, as a community of faith, with the
opportunity to become more deeply aware of the faith foundation of our lives and to find inspiration to
enter into our life’s work with deeper conviction. We are pleased to welcome Father Raymond Carey
as our guest speaker. We also welcome Bishop Gregory Bittman who will celebrate the Eucharistic
Liturgy with us.
This month, we also celebrate Valentine’s Day. A kind-hearted Roman priest, St.
Valentine aided young Christians who were being persecuted by Claudius II and
as a result was imprisoned. While imprisoned, he converted guards and their
families to Christianity. Upon discovering this, Emperor Claudius sentenced him
to death. St. Valentine is the patron saint of love, young people and happy
marriages. An interesting fact is that because of the abundance of St. Valentines
2|Page
February, 2015
on the Roman Catholic roster, you can choose to celebrate the saint multiple times each year.
Besides February 14, you might decide to celebrate St. Valentine of Viterbo on November 3. Or
maybe you want to get a jump on the traditional Valentine celebration by feting St. Valentine of Raetia
on January 7. Women might choose to honor the only female St. Valentine (Valentina), a young
woman martyred in Palestine on July 25, 308 A.D. Whenever you decide to celebrate, enjoy!
Random Acts of Kindness Week is being celebrated from February 9-15. Classes will be participating
in many activities to recognize the event. “When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only
makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.”
~The 14th Dalai Lama, Head Monk of The Gelugpa Lineage Of Tibetan Buddhism
During February, we start our planning for the next school year. We are now accepting new
registrations for the 2014-2015 school year. Our Open House is on Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30
pm. We appreciate you spreading the word about our great school to your friends and neighbours!
Jennifer De Stefanis-Dimas
Principal
John Edwards
Acting Assistant Principal
The Season of Lent – Letter from Archbishop Richard Smith
Dear Friends,
I seems as though we just finished celebrating the Christmas season. I pray that you had time to
celebrate the birth of Christ surrounded by family and friends.
The Church liturgical seasons of Lent and Easter are now upon us. These two important liturgical
seasons are best understood when celebrated in the light of the Easter Triduum, also known as the
Great Three Days. The Easter Triduum begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and extends until the
evening of Easter Sunday. The Church witnesses in a profound way to the Paschal Mystery of Jesus
Christ, His Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.
The season of Lent is a period of forty days before Easter beginning on Ash Wednesday, February
18, 2015, and ending on Holy Thursday April 2, 2015. During the season of Lent we are reminded of
the themes of penance, fasting, and almsgiving. These actions assist each one of us in our
preparation for Easter. The Easter season, which is celebrated for fifty days, begins on Easter
Sunday April 5, 2015 and ends with the Solemnity of Pentecost on May 24, 2015. The Easter season
allows us ample time to truly celebrate the Risen Lord, who is our Saviour and Redeemer.
May God continue to bless each of you during the holy seasons of Lent and Easter.
Sincerely,
Richard W. Smith
Archbishop of Edmonton
3|Page
February, 2015
Scholastic Book Fair
The Annunciation School library was transformed into a cavalcade of books during our bi-annual
Scholastic Book Fair. The book fair ran all week during the first week of December and many families
chose to purchase gift items as Christmas presents. The book fair profits for the school amounted to
$1850.00 which will be placed towards purchasing more print resources for the library. That is
WONDERFUL! Thank you to our entire school community for your generous support of this event. A
special thank you goes out to Mrs. Joy for her work in organizing and running the event.
Congratulations Grade 6 Annunciation Volleyball Team!
The Grade 6 volleyball teams have lots to be proud of! They participated in the St. Thomas More
volleyball tournament that was held on Thursday, January 29 and should be proud of their results.
Our mixed volleyball team won gold in the St. Mary tournament that was held on Saturday, January
31. What a great accomplishment for our students and what a proud moment for our whole
Annunciation community!!!! A very special thank you goes out to our very committed and proud
coaches, Mrs. Ostrowerka and Mr. Koper, for all of their time and dedication.
School Council
Annunciation School would like to thank our school council for approving funding for our upcoming
Artist in Residence Program which will be taking place in February and March. Karen McCullum, our
artist in residence, will address the art curriculum with specific reference to the skills objectives in all
grade levels using the medium of clay and sculpture. The results from the program will assist
teachers and students in acquiring skills and techniques which come from a person who is an expert
in this area.
Art offers the opportunity for children to problem solve. These skills can be applied to other subject
areas. It helps to develop kinesthetic abilities, spatial relationships and allows students an
opportunity for personal self-expression. Art is a creative way of building awareness that art is
important in society and a landmark of every culture.
Parents are always welcome to join us for our School Council meetings. Our most recent meeting
was held on Wednesday, January 28th at 6:30 pm in the staffroom. We invite you to attend our next
meeting which will be held on Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30 pm. School Council meeting minutes
can be found on our school website.
Thank You Mayfield Save-On-Foods!
January was a great month to try new things from Save-On Foods
at Mayfield! All students were able to try different kinds of "Dave's
Killer Bread". In February, Save-On is giving us different kinds of coconut water, kale salad and a
4|Page
February, 2015
specific deli cheese. Look for the display made up of pictures and decorations made by our students.
U of A and EA Practicum Students
In February, we are excited to welcome two U of A student teachers as well as four educational
assistant (EA) practicum students. We would like to welcome U of A student, Jenna Hunt, who will be
joining Mrs. Shevalier-Lavin’s homeroom and Emma Plante who will be joining Mrs. Jenning’s
Kindergarten class. These two student teachers are guaranteed to have a great field experience
under the expert guidance of Mrs. Shevalier-Lavin and Mrs. Jennings. Our four EA practicum
students will be joining the classes below for the entire month of February.
•
•
•
•
Mrs. Szelewicki’s Kindergarten Homeroom
Mrs. Jenning’s Kindergarten Homeroom
Mrs. Esposito’s Grade 5A Homeroom
Mrs. Ostrowerka’s 6B Homeroom
Grade 6 Transition Passports
Students in grade six will be issued their Transition Passports for junior high on Monday, February 9.
The student ‘Transition Passport’ is a tool that indicates to the student’s current elementary school his
or her intentions related to registering for junior high school. It is not a registration document.
Parents are asked to complete the blue page in the passport, then return it to Annunciation School.
Completed passports are due on or before Tuesday, March 10, 2015. If a student wishes to attend a
school other than their designated junior high school, we will forward the passport to the indicated
school. Student Transition Passports will be sent to junior high schools by Friday, March 13, 2015.
The junior high principal will then indicate acceptance or non-acceptance.
Random Acts of Kindness Week:
February 9-15
We believe kindness creates conditions which lead to a caring
environment for students, teachers and community members. Everyone
benefits when individuals, schools, and communities embrace kindness.
For more information and resources regarding Random Acts of Kindness Week and how you can
support the event at home, please check out the following website:
https://randomactsofkindness.org/
Here are 15 ideas from the official website to get you started:
1. Year of Kindness Box: Create a New Year’s tradition. On the first day of the new year, start a
Year of Kindness Box. Throughout the year, fill up the box with: compliments you received,
5|Page
February, 2015
thank you notes, moments of kindness you witnessed, acts of kindness you did, inspiring
quotes, etc. Then after the year is over, review the contents!
2. Create a Gratitude Journal: A five-minute a day gratitude journal can increase your long-term
well-being by more than 10 percent. That’s the same impact as doubling your income!" From
Happier Human
3. Three Compliments: Compliment the first three people you talk to.
4. 52 Thank You Notes: Express your gratitude for the people in your life, write one thank you
note every week to a different person: Need a quick thank-you note format? Check out The
Five Minute Thank You Note.
5. A Kind Twist on Happy Hour: Invite a group of people you know (friends, family, coworkers)
to the happiest of happy hours and spend one hour doing acts of kindness for others.
6. Positive Sticky Notes: Carry a stack of positive sticky notes with you wherever I go. Post
them when you're somewhere that needs a little bit more kindness.
7. Morning Kindness: Before you get out of bed, focus on kindness. Think of a kind motto for
your day or text a positive good morning note to a friend.
8. Daily Positivity: Every day, think of a random person. Send them a positive message (text,
email, social media post, phone call, letter, etc.)
9. Volunteer: Think of a cause you care about or a group in your community that could use some
help. Volunteering has some serious health benefits too.
10. Beautify Your Surroundings: Spend 10 minutes picking up litter in your neighborhood, park
or other commonly visited locations.
11. Kind Body Image: Place positive body image sticky notes on dressing room mirrors.
12. Coupon Fairy: Save unused/unwanted coupons and put them next to relevant products next
time you're at the grocery store
13. Be Kind to the Earth: Research ways to be kind to the environment and reduce your carbon
footprint. Here are seven ideas to get you started.
14. Smile: According to an article from Psychology Today, "Each time you smile, you throw a little
feel-good party in your brain. The act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your
health and happiness."
15. Self-Kindness: Do one kind thing every week for yourself. Enjoy a treat you love, exercise, eat
a healthy meal, or do something you love and rarely have time to do.
Alberta Education 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 are 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 students in Grades 4, 7 and 10 received a survey from Alberta
Education. In February, teachers will be completing their surveys online at school and Grades 4, 5
and 6 students are completing the Tell Them From Me Survey. This year, the District is implementing
6|Page
February, 2015
a new survey to replace the Accountability Pillar Survey that was previously only taken by Grade 4
students at our site. The Tell Them From Me (TTFM) survey will help teachers and principals know
students’ feelings towards school, any problems that may be occurring at the school, and ideas for
making the school better. This is a chance for students to communicate what they think.
All surveys are anonymous and ask questions about experiences with the school. In addition to
English and French, the parent survey is available in Chinese, Punjabi, Arabic, Blackfoot, Cree,
Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Urdu.
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.
Survey results will be available to school authorities in May 2015, and will be reported publicly as part
of their 3-Year Education Plans and Annual Education Results Reports.
Annunciation Registration and Open House Dates
We are currently accepting registrations for new students for the 2014-2015 school year for all
grades. To register for Kindergarten, children must be 5 years of age on or before March 1st, 2016.
We once again are projecting two full-day kindergarten classes. If you know of anyone who is
planning to register their child for Kindergarten, please have them call the school office at 780-4844319 for more information or drop by to register.
Our Open House for Kindergarten to Grade 6 will be held on Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30 pm. We
have limited spaces in many of our grades, so if your friends are planning to register with us, please
encourage them to do so at their earliest convenience.
We know that our best form of advertising is your sharing of the good things that are happening at
Annunciation. We thank you for passing on this information to any parents you know who may be
considering our school for the fall. Thank you for spreading the good news!
Winter Walk Day – February 4
Schools, community groups and workplaces around Alberta are taking time
to walk at least 15 minutes outside during Winter Walk Day which is being
held on Wednesday, February 4, 2014. Annunciation students and staff will
be participating too! The event is being organized by Alberta Tourism, Parks
and Recreation SHAPE Program (safe, healthy, active people everywhere)
in hopes of encouraging people to find ways to keep active during the winter.
The total amount of minutes walked by Annunciation students, staff, parents
and guests will be logged in and added to the provincial total. We welcome
parents/guardians to join us!!! Just ask your child’s homeroom teacher when they will be conducting
their walk, and be ready to participate! We are going to try to beat our total of 5550 minutes from last
year.
7|Page
February, 2015
Kindergarten News!
The Kindergarten B students of Annunciation Elementary IB World School have been learning about
various shelters around the world. Our IB unit of inquiry focuses on the purpose of shelter and how
certain shelters are better suited for specific environments. The students worked in groups to build a
hut or an igloo. They were provided with various building materials such as Lego, wooden blocks,
foam blocks, straws and unit cubes. Some of the students shared their prior knowledge with their
group members. ``A hut has some sticks and mud to put it together. We can curve the straws to make
a roof.” After much cooperation and perseverance, the students used iPads to document their
structures and then drew what they had created. One student shared, "They got some squares. They
got some rectangles, triangles. We made an igloo. They have some rectangles. If you go inside it,
you freeze." The students are excited to inquire more about other shelters.
8|Page
February, 2015
9|Page
February, 2015
Grade 4 and Kindergarten Exhibiting the IB Learner Profile
Attribute of Caring and the IB Attitude of Being Cooperative
The grade four students buddied up with the Kindergarten students to assist them with snowshoeing.
The Kindergarten students were extremely grateful for the help they received from the grade four
students. The students were caring towards one another and realized the benefits of cooperating.
10 | P a g e
February, 2015
11 | P a g e
February, 2015
West Meadowlark Community League – Upcoming Events
February 4 - Winter Walk Day. Everyone is welcome to meet at the hall at 6 pm and walk around the
neighborhood until 7 pm. Hot chocolate will be served in the rink shack afterwards (side door of hall).
If the weather is below -20 C, the event will be cancelled.
February 21 - West Meadowlark Community Ski Day at the Edmonton Ski Club. Only West
Meadowlark members can benefit from the group rate. Memberships are still available for sale but
only to residents within West Meadowlark’s boundaries.
March 10 - Outdoor Soccer Registration at Doubletree Hotel (previously the Mayfield Inn) from 6-9
pm. All community leagues will be in attendance.
The WMCL is forming a Civics Committee - We are looking for volunteers who would like to
represent the community at Councillor Andrew Knack's monthly meeting. This committee would
address specific neighbourhood concerns like pedestrian and traffic safety. The committee would also
provide a voice for community views on issues ranging from planning and development to
neighborhood safety. Contact WMCL at 780-484-6132 or email [email protected]
Information for Parents with Young Families – Parent Link
Parent Link Centre is a Free Drop-in Centre for parents with young children or new mothers. They
also offer registered programs. You can find more information at www.jasperplace-cfrc.com. They
are located right here in West Meadowlark at the Cabrini Centre, 16811-88 Ave (the tower behind the
Misericordia Hospital). Not only do they have programs, they offer parent education and
developmental screening. They also can help find the right services and information for your family.
They offer family support, such as:
Clothing Exchanges - The next one is on March 2-6, 2015
Bread Day - Donated bread can be picked up in their main lobby on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Coats for Kids and Families - If you need a winter coat, they can be picked up from their lobby.
Car Seat Installation Support - Make an appointment with their trained car seat technicians to ensure
that your car seat is installed correctly.
Call 780-489-2243 for more information on these services.
Annunciation All-Stars Reading Program
Our monthly draw for our Annunciation All-Stars was held on January 30 and
we are pleased to congratulate our lucky winners who will enjoy lunch with
Mrs. De Stefanis-Dimas, Mr. Edwards and Ms. L’Hoir on Friday, February 6,
2015.
•
•
Kindergarten: Nicholas and Heleck
Grade One: Cesar and Max
12 | P a g e
•
•
•
•
•
February, 2015
Grade Two: Sofia and Lucrecia
Grade Three: Kenna and Sandy
Grade Four: Justin and Gabriel
Grade Five: Justine and Tristen
Grade Six: Jeremy and Andrew
Thank you to Ms. L’Hoir for coordinating our Annunciation All-Stars Reading Program, and thank you
to our parents for encouraging their children to read and participate!
Congratulations Mrs. Lisa Ground ~ Mrs. Canada Globe Classic 2015!
One of our parents, Mrs. Lisa Ground, was recently appointed the title of Mrs. Canada Globe Classic
2015 (http://mrsglobe.com/pageants_mrsglobeclassicparticipants.htm) and was at Annunciation
School to volunteer with our January hot lunch. Since 1996 the Mrs. Globe pageant has been
producing one of the most recognized and celebrated international pageants for misses in the world.
It is a celebration of beauty, culture, and charity for women. Congratulations, Mrs. Ground!
IB News February 2015
Our Learner Profile this month is caring. Caring people show a sensitivity
towards the needs and feeling of others. They have a sense of personal
commitment to action and service.
Curriculum Connections with the learner profile:
13 | P a g e
February, 2015
•In language – Caring people show responsible, caring attitudes toward the use of language and they
value literature for the insight it gives into the feelings of others.
•In mathematics – Caring people recognize and value the power of mathematics as a way of
understanding & solving problems and as a way of appreciating the beauty & fascination of the
subject.
•In science and technology – Caring people treat their environment with sensitivity and respect. They
are conscious of the power of science to sustain or damage the environment and they are developing
a sense of responsibility regarding the impact of their actions.
•In social studies – Caring people demonstrate empathy for others. They participate in solving
classroom, school, family, local, and global social problems.
How can parents help to develop students who are caring at home?
•Role model the caring behavior you would like to see in your child all the time. Your child has big
eyes and ears and notices everything you do. Using kind words, helping people without being asked,
being an active listener all show your child that you care about people. Even a simple thing, like
holding a door for someone, shows your child that you are aware of others around you and want to
help them.
•Think about how your family can get involved with community organizations.
•Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. Sometimes this can be challenging, but make the effort to establish
these habits in your home. By developing children who care about the environment, you are helping
the future of the globe.
•Smile.
•After reading a book, spend some time considering how the people in the book acted. Was
someone in the book caring? All of the time or just some of the time? Were all of the characters in
the book caring or just some of them? Some books to consider:
•
•
•
•
Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
As always, we welcome questions about the IB programme in our school. Sarah L’Hoir is the
coordinator for our Primary Years Programme (PYP). She can be reached at 484-4319 or at
Sarah.L’[email protected].
IB Learner Profile Attribute Certificates
The IB learner profile is the IB mission statement translated into a set of learning outcomes for the
21st Century. These values infuse all elements of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and serve to
inspire, motivate and focus the work of the students and teachers, uniting them in a common
purpose.
14 | P a g e
February, 2015
There are 10 learner profile attributes, and our school focuses on one each month. For the month of
January, our focus was on the learner profile attribute of being BALANCED. Students are asked to
reflect on their growth of each learner profile attribute monthly, once at the beginning on the month,
and a second time at the end of the month. To recognize students for their efforts and growth, the
teacher selects students to receive a certificate. Below is a list of our award recipients for the month
of January:
January – Balanced
Learner Profile Attribute
Certificate Recipients
KA Gabriel
KB Crisbal
1A Sonovia and
Tyrell
1B Abigail,
Suzanne and Steev
2A Breanna,
Alexis and Harold
3A Joaquin and
Kenna
2B Luke, Dayle,
Hamare and
Anthony
3B Shelton, Mikale
and Sweet
4A Amelia, Ira
and Deo
4B Kirstein and
Rozagen
5A Eric, Matthew
and Olimpia
5B Juliane and
Ethan
6A Alaisa, Aubrey
and Anna
6B Aisosa, Ralph
and Erine
15 | P a g e
February, 2015
February 2015
Sunday
1
Monday
2
Tuesday
3
Wednesday
4
Thursday
5
Faith Development
Day for Staff
10
11
12
14
Wear Red for
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day
19
20
21
25
26
27
28
Anti-Bullying Wear
Pink Day
Teachers’
Convention
Teachers’
Convention
Hot Lunch
No School
No School
16
17
18
Family Day
Shrove Tuesday
Ash Wednesday
No School
Artist in Residence
Program Begins
Mass at
Annunciation
Parish at 9:00 am
Breakfast for Students
at the Parish
22
23
Grade 4-6 Ski Trip
24
7
13
Random Acts of
Kindness Week
Feb. 9-15
15
6
Saturday
Annunciation
Reading All-Stars
Lunch
No School
9
Friday
We Are One – Zumba
Anti-Bullying Program
Annunciation Reading
All-Stars Draw
*Please note that specific classroom events will be communicated to parents through the classroom teacher. As well, please be aware that other
events may arise over the course of the month.
February 2015
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you
shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. ~ Isaiah 58:11
This scripture passage is one that speaks to us deeply as we begin the Lenten season. As Jesus enters into the desert to
prepare for His death, He knows that God is with Him. He is taking this journey, difficult as it is, with love in His
heart. Isaiah tells us clearly that when we undertake the fasts in our lives with love and in the pursuit of justice, our
rewards are immeasurable.
There are so many events in addition to the beginning of Lent that will take place this month. February marks the
beginning of our Open House season. If your child is transitioning to a new level, looking for a focus program, or if
you are moving, this is an excellent opportunity for you to visit schools and learn more about program options. Visit
http://www.hrs.ecsd.net/open_house/ to learn more.
Our entire staff is gathering on February 3 to listen to the wisdom of Father Raymond Carey and to celebrate the
Eucharist. Many schools will participate in Random Acts of Kindness week, which begins on February 9. All teachers
in the greater Edmonton area will come together on February 26 and 27 to engage in sessions that address a broad
spectrum of topics relevant to teaching and learning in Alberta schools. All members of the public are invited to join in
this learning opportunity by listening to speaker Carl Honoré, author of In Praise of Slow. This session takes place on
Thursday, February 26 from 6:45 to 8:45 pm in Hall D of the Shaw Conference Centre.
I would like to share my great appreciation for the partnership of our parent community that has been clearly evident in
two recent areas. Thanks to all of the parents who participate in our online budget survey. The feedback from 1929
families, our highest participation rate ever, provided invaluable opinions on what our budget priorities should be in the
upcoming year. As well, thanks to the generosity and support of students and families in our schools and departments
and to our staff through payroll deductions, the Edmonton Catholic Schools’ Sign of Hope and the We Care Challenge
raised $132,592.38 to support the important work of Catholic Social Services!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
~ Romans 15:13
1
Alberta educators are focused on growing students’ competencies to be Engaged Thinkers, Ethical Citizens with an
Entrepreneurial Spirit. Alberta Education is now posting school stories of how school communities across the province
are achieving this goal. To see these stories, go to Alberta Education’s Inspiration in Action website:
https://inspiring.education.alberta.ca/inspiration-in-action/.
As part of our Transform professional development
program, we are contributing our classroom and professional development stories to this site. Although we are
continually submitting stories to this website, presently, there are examples from H.E. Beriault and Louis St. Laurent
under “Engaged Thinker” and St. Augustine for “Entrepreneurial Spirit”.
Here is some valuable information on Terms of Use of websites your children may be using. When your child creates
an account on a website they may be using, they are subject to the Terms of Use of that website. These terms are
typically written in legal language and may be difficult to understand. Knowing what you as a parent should look for
when considering allowing your child to create an account on a website they’re using can help you decide if you’re
comfortable with your child using the site. Here are some things to look for in the Terms of Use, often found as a link
at the bottom of the main site page:
1) Age restriction: Many (but not all) sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and other social media sites have an age
13 restriction for users to create an account, or permission from a parent. Other sites such as Prezi have far more
restrictive terms of use which state that the site is intended for users 18 and older.
2) Personal Information: What personal information is the site requesting from your child, and are you comfortable
with your child sharing this information? A good rule of thumb is to never share more personal information than
is required by the site, and to create ‘nicknames’ wherever possible instead of providing a real name.
3) Public Gallery: Some sites (e.g. GoAnimate) give users access to a public gallery of works that other users have
created. In some cases, the content of these sites may not be considered appropriate.
In his Ash Wednesday homily last year, Pope Francis shared the importance of Lent for us as Catholics. “Lent comes
providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy”. As you begin your walk through the desert with Jesus,
who journeyed for our salvation, may you be ever mindful of the state of the world around you and of your ability to
effect positive change.
Sincerely,
Joan Carr, Superintendent
2
A Bite of Health
Annunciation Catholic
Elementary IB World
School
February, 2015
Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice
Choose Like a Champion!
The beverages that your child
drinks have an effect on his or her
health. Children need plenty of
fluids to prevent dehydration and
provide nutrients for good health
and growth. Having healthy
options available before and after
sporting events can help your child
choose like a champion!
What are some healthy choices?
What beverages would the
champions drink? Offering your
child milk or fortified soy beverage
will help your child get enough
calcium, vitamin D and protein to
perform like a champion! Water is
also an excellent choice when your
child is thirsty.
Making it easy!
Making sure that kids have a
personal water bottle (for sanitary
reasons) when they are playing,
involved in sporting activities, in
school or traveling can keep them
alert, active and hydrated! Did you
know most healthy beverages
come in a to-go option? This
makes it easier to grab a healthy
beverage and get active!
Don’t forget to reuse or recycle
plastic water bottles. Or better yet,
use a refillable, stainless steel
water bottle. The environment will
thank you!
Do you know who this
famous football player
is? Choosing milk is
choosing like a
champion!
Taken from www.packersnews.com
Adapted from Alberta Health Services Sugar Shockers.
Water is best
when it comes to
quenching your
thirst!
Milk or Juice?
Registered Dietitians recommend you serve milk
for many reasons:
1) Milk has less sugar than juice
2) Milk has vitamin D for healthy bones
3) Milk products provide up to 16 essential
nutrients
http://www.dietitians.ca/Nutrition-Resources-AZ/Factsheets/Grains/Marvellous-Milk-Products.aspx
WHAT ABOUT SPORT DRINKS?
Plain, cool water is the best source of fluid during sports or other activities
that last less than one hour. Fluid replacement beverages or sport drinks
can be used during intense sports or activities that last more than one
hour. Keep in mind that these drinks are high in sugar and shouldn’t be
offered when your child is not active. Fight dehydration (or a lack of fluid)
by encouraging your child to drink water before during and after sport.
Give your children a water bottle to sip from when they are not active.
Encourage your children to bring a water bottle to all exercise or sporting
activities. Remind them to take a break every 10 to 15 minutes when
they’re exercising to drink. Make sure that water is available after games
or practices.
http://www.healthyalberta.com/682.htm
MILK MUSTACHE RECIPE!
Take 2 teaspoons of vanilla
yogurt and 1 teaspoon of milk.
Stir together to make a thick,
yummy paint. Paint mustache
on upper lip. Try at home and
have a family milk mustache
contest! Who can have the
thickest, weirdest or coolest
mustache?
Annunciation
Catholic
Elementary IB
World School
A Bite of Health
FEBRUARY 2015
Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice
RATE YOUR SUPER SNACKS
The food rating system is a
simple way to separate
healthy foods from the less
healthy foods. This rating
system puts all foods into
three categories, based on
specific nutritional criteria. The
three categories include:
Choose Most often
These foods should be consumed
daily, and in amounts and
appropriate portion sizes, based
on age category. These foods are
all recommended as healthy
choices in Eating Well with
Canada’s Food Guide.
Choose Sometimes
No more than three servings from
the Choose Sometimes category
are recommended per week.
Foods in the Choose Sometimes
category may still provide
beneficial nutrients, but they tend
to be higher in added sugar,
unhealthy fat and sodium (salt).
Choose Least Often
Eating these foods is not
recommended. One serving could
be eaten once a week.
Be sure to check out
the school bulletin board to
see what snacks fit in each
category!
Taken From: Alberta Health Services
“Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children
and Youth—An Overview
TZATZIKI (cucumber
and yogurt dip)
What you need
WHAT FOODS FIT?
Check out the lists below to get an idea of
what foods fit in the “Choose Most Often”
category for each of the four food groups. Try
some of these snacks at home or in your
lunches for work or school!
Vegetables and Fruit
Fresh, frozen or canned vegetables or fruit
without added salt or sugar
Fruit canned in juice
Unsweetened 100% fruit juice
Grain Products
Whole grain bread, naan, pita, wrap, pasta or
rice
Unsweetened whole grain hot and cold
cereals
Small, low fat whole grain muffin or cookies
Lower fat unsalted whole grain crackers
Plain popcorn
Milk and Alternatives
Low fat milk (skim, 1% or 2% MF)
Unflavoured fortified soy beverage
Low fat cheese (less than 20 % MF)
Plain yogurt (fat free, 1% or 2% MF)
Meat and Alternatives
Skinless chicken and turkey
Broiled, baked or canned fish without sauce
Lean sliced luncheon meats (chicken, beef,
ham)
Tofu
Eggs
3
Cucumbers
1 tsp or 5 ml Salt
2 cups or 500 g Plain yogurt, low fat
2-3
Garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp or 15 ml Vinegar
1/2 tsp or 2 ml Lemon juice
2 tbsp or 30 ml Olive oil
1/4 tsp or 1 ml Dried mint
1/4 tsp or 1 ml Dried dill
To taste
Pepper
How to cook:
1. Peel cucumbers and
scoop out seeds.
2. Grate into medium bowl.
3. Sprinkle salt over
cucumbers and mix well.
4. Allow to sit for about 30
minutes. Squeeze out
liquid.
5. Mix cucumbers with
remaining ingredients.
Chill in refrigerator.
6. Serve with whole grain
pita, whole grain bread or
fresh vegetables for
dipping.
For this and more healthy recipes,
visit:
http://www.healthyalberta.com/recipe
s.html