STAR new_NOV.indd - STAR Catholic School

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
HI-LITES
December 2009
CAT H OLI C
STAR NOTES
INSIDE
Page 2
Notre Dame vice principal slimed
for reading campaign
Page 3
STAR won’t gamble on
education funding
Trustee Sandra Bannard
was elected President of the
Alberta Catholic School Trustee’s
Association (ACSTA).
Farewell to Deputy
Superintendent
The Board hosted a Wine and
Cheese Reception in honour of
Linda Ellefson’s retirement.
Assistant Superintendent
Troy Davies
Board of Trustees
Sandra Bannard
Angela Greenidge
Arlene Hamilton
Jack Kelly
Reuben Konnik
Maria Lentz
Karen Richert
Charlie Swap
Kelly Whalen
SCH OOLS
Wards
Drayton Valley
Wetaskiwin
Leduc
Beaumont
Lacombe
Ponoka (Chair)
Leduc
Drayton Valley
Wetaskiwin
(Vice Chair)
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Assistant Superintendent Troy
Davies will begin his duties
at STAR Catholic on
January 1, 2010.
2008 – 2009 Audited
Financial Statements
The Board approved the
2008 – 2009 Audited Financial
Statements and they are available
on the Division website at: www.
faithinyourfuture.ca/division
reports-documents
The Board of Trustees would
like to take the opportunity to
commend Jeanne Fontaine,
Secretary-Treasurer and her staff
on a job well done.
STAR Catholic Central Office
and Outreach School
All conditions to the Board’s offer
to purchase the Leduc property
located at 4906 – 50 Avenue in
Leduc were removed. The STAR
Outreach School and Central Office administrative offices will
share space at the new location.
The Board approved a Consulting
Services Proposal by 007 Architecture and MWN Construction for
the provision of architectural and
construction services.
Registration Evening
Beaumont Catholic School
January 12, 2010
St. Vital Parish
4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
With STAR Catholic Outreach School occupying space in the Central Office, the Board
has agreed to host its upcoming meetings in communities throughout the Division.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING - 6:30 P.M.
WEDNESDAY, January 20, 2010
Meeting Location: Holy Trinity Academy
5749 – 45 Avenue, Drayton Valley
780.621.5735
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic - December 2009
Notre Dame vice principal slimed for reading campaign
Vice Principal Jordan Robinson got
slimed after students read over 1,000
books at Notre Dame School.
Reading can be a very rewarding experience, but for one Grade 3 student at Notre Dame School, there
was a bonus she never expected.
Avery Klak was one of the many students who read more than 10 books over the last month for the
school’s Book Busters program and since students read a total of 1,249 books — 249 more than their
goal — Klak was picked to do the special honour of pouring green and blue slime all over vice principal
Jordan Robinson.
The program was open to all students and challenged them to read 10 books each. Every student that
read at least 10 books submitted a pledge sheet to help reach the total. The students had an unusual
incentive — reach the goal and dump slime all over Mr. Robinson in front of the entire school.
“It’s a program we created to challenge Notre Dame students,” said Robinson. “We realize good readers
become good learners, not just going through school, but for their entire lives.”
The finale was a major success, with all the school’s students screaming and cheering not only for covering Robinson in blue and green goop, but also for making the reading campaign incredibly successful.
More than 100 students read at least 10 books
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic - December 2009
STAR won’t gamble on education funding
The St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Schools (STAR) supports Archbishop Richard Smith of the Catholic
Archdiocese of Edmonton proposed policy change to end fundraising for schools derived from casinos and
other forms of gambling.
The Archbishop has notified schools that a new policy will be coming forward restricting fundraising
through certain types of gaming, such as casinos, video lottery terminals and high-stakes bingo.
The school division already has a policy in place that is consistent with the direction Archbishop Smith is
taking.
“The Board prohibits any school related fundraising activities tied to casino gambling or the acceptance
of profit derived thereof,” the division’s policy reads.
“There is an old saying, ‘Casinos are not built by winners,’” says Maria Lentz, STAR Catholic Board Chair.
“The reality is that casinos prey on the vulnerable in society. We cannot promote social justice in our
classrooms while using equipment that could have been purchased from casino fundraising. We have to
lead by example.”
The division strongly supports Archbishop Smith’s position on this issue and agrees with the proposed
policy change.
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic - December 2009
Beaumont’s new school ready for registrations
Parents looking for faith-based education in Beaumont will soon have an option for their children. Saint
Thomas Aquinas Roman (STAR) Catholic Schools held an open house on November 3 where over 60
individuals heard the division’s plans for a new school. “As a division, we were encouraged by the level
of support we received at the meeting,” explains Superintendent Jamie McNamara. “It gives us the
confidence to go forward and have our school ready to open in September 2010.”
The proposed school could serve students from kindergarten to grade 4 and offer English and French
immersion programs. “The community’s response has been wonderful,” says Beaumont Trustee Jack
Kelly. “Everyone is eagerly anticipating our opening, especially parents with young children who see a
new school as a way to address overcrowding at existing schools. The Catholic community has been keen
to see Catholic education established in our town.”
Kelly points out that Beaumont’s population growth is staggering and it is one of the fastest growing
communities in Canada. A large proportion of the population of Beaumont is 17 and under. The numbers
of preschool children alone would make up a small town.
Opening a new school involves several steps from finding a suitable school location to hiring a principal
and staff and purchasing equipment to finalizing an official school name. A temporary school site has
been leased and plans are in place to construct a permanent school in the town. The permanent location
is on a 25 acre parcel of land in the northwest corner of town in the Montalet and Dansereau Meadows
neighbourhoods.
The next major step for families is registration.
On Tuesday, January 12, STAR will be hosting a
registration evening at St. Vital Parish from 4 p.m.
to 9 p.m. The event will have two parts. Registration
booths will be set up so parents can immediately
secure a space for their child in the new school.
For parents looking to learn more about the school,
several displays and speakers, including Superintendent McNamara and Trustee Kelly, will be available
to provide an overview on the school and answer any
questions parents may have.
“This is your chance to be part of a new school,”
says Trustee Kelly. “There is tremendous energy,
excitement, and anticipation…we can’t wait to open
our Catholic school. If you are looking for a faithbased and quality education that will make a
difference in your child’s life, this is the place
to be.”
Elementary School
CATHOLIC SCHOOL OPENING SOON
WHAT: REGISTRATION EVENING
WHERE: St. Vital Parish
p.m.
WHEN: Jan12, 2010 from 4 p.m. to 9
www.faithinyourfuture.ca
780-986-2500
CATHOLIC
SCHOOLS
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic - December 2009
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Separate Regional Division #38
4906 – 49 Avenue, Leduc, Alberta T9E 6W6
Toll Free:
Telephone:
Fax:
1 800-583-0688
(780) 986-2500
(780) 986-8620
www.faithinyourfuture.ca
C AT H O L IC
SCHOOLS
The Board of Trustees and Central Office staff wishes
everyone a joyful and peaceful New Year.
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