Ash Wednesday takes place this week. This day is the beginning of our Lenten journey as we prepare for Easter, the greatest feast of the Church year.
Let us reflect upon the changes we need to make in our lives so that we can better reflect a life of Christ.
Dear God,
As we begin the season of Lent,
grant us perseverance in our journey of
fasting, alms giving and prayer.
Please renew our commitment
towards a life full of Christ.
May this season bring us the
blessing of Your forgiveness
and the gift of Your light.
Amen.
Kiss and Ride
The safety of our students, parents/guardians, caregivers, and daycare families using our Kiss and Ride loop is of the utmost importance.
There are growing concerns regarding vehicle speed through the Kiss and Ride on the eastside of the school, as well as continued parking along this fire route which impedes bus mobility and the flow of our Kiss and Ride. In order for the Kiss and Ride loop to remain open and accessible to parents/guardians and caregivers so that they may drop off and pick up children, vehicles must not be parked at any time along the Kiss and Ride loop, and vehicle speeds must be reduced to ensure the safety of all.
Please adhere to the guidelines (see map below) for using the Kiss and Ride loop. Parents and guardians who wish to park their vehicle are asked to use the westside parking lot. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Pump Your Heart Dance-A-Thon Fundraiser
We thank our Catholic School Council for hosting the PUMP YOUR HEART Valentine’s Day Dance-a-thon fundraiser. Thank you to all parents and guardians who assisted with planning, set up, supervision, clean up, accounting of donations, and/or ballot writing. We also appreciate all families who donated to this fundraiser. We look forward to sharing updates regarding funds raised and prize winners.
Parent Evening Session with Dwyane Morgan
It’s not too late for parents and guardians to register to attend a virtual evening presentation by Dwayne Morgan on Tuesday, February 21st, 2023 at 7:00pm. Mr. Morgan will discuss race and our children, and raising resilient students. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Dwayne Morgan Parent Evening Presentation – Feb 2023
Register using the link: Dwayne Morgan Registration
We thank St. Paul CES for hosting this virtual presentation and extending an invitation to our elementary family of schools in Newmarket.
Report Cards
Term 1 report cards will be delivered electronically on Wednesday, February 22nd, after 4:00pm via the Parent Portal.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to sign-on to the Parent Portal in advance to ensure that your username and password will allow access. Please note that the Multimedia area of the Parent Portal is not visible until report cards are available electronically.
To access this portal, please visit our school’s website, https://sns.ycdsb.ca/ and click on the parents link in the top banner. From the Parents page, you will find a link to “Maplewood Parent Portal ConnectEd” on the right hand side.
For detailed instructions on registering, using the portal, and to seek support, please visit: https://sites.google.com/ycdsb.ca/ycdsbparentportal .
Shrove Tuesday
We begin preparing for our Lenten fast on Shrove Tuesday, February 21st. We thank St. Nicholas’ Catholic School Council for providing all students with a pancake snack in celebration of ‘Pancake Tuesday’, the traditional feast day before Ash Wednesday. Gluten free and vegan waffles will be available as an alternative. Please see the ingredient information below for pancakes, waffles and syrup provided by the Lunch Lady.
Ingredients list for whole grain pancakes: Whole wheat flour, water, whey, buttermilk, enriched bleached wheat flour (niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), sugar, eggs, sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate, soybean and/or canola oil, dextrose, salt, soy lecithin.
Ingredients list for syrup: Corn syrup, glucose-fructose, water, brown sugar, artificial & natural flavour, caramel, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate.
Ingredients for gluten-free and vegan waffles: Water, brown rice flour, potato starch, corn flour, soy oil, tapioca starch, cane sugar, potato flour, soy lecithin, baking powder, pear juice concentrate, natural vanilla flavour, sea salt.
Anti-Bullying and Friendship Week
This year Pink Shirt day takes place on Wednesday, February 22nd, the same day as Ash Wednesday. Given that this is a day of reverence, and marks the beginning of the Lenten season, our school will defer the celebration of Pink Shirt Day to Monday, February 27th, which will kick start our anti-bullying and friendship week. Students and staff are invited to wear a pink shirt on this day to show their support for taking a stance against bullying and promoting kindness.
We look forward to sharing more information in our next weekly update regarding the activities planned in support of anti-bullying and the continued building of friendships at St. Nicholas CES.
Humanitarian Appeal to Help Turkey and Syria
The York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) is partnering with the Archdiocese of Toronto to raise funds to help the people in Turkey and Syria. Schools throughout the YCDSB are coming to the assistance of those who were affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Thousands of people in Turkey and Syria are now homeless in winter weather conditions after some of the largest earthquakes in the past 100 years destroyed buildings across the region.
Donations are urgently needed for medical, rescue and humanitarian efforts across the region.
On Friday, February 24th, St. Nicholas CES, will be hosting a “Loonie/Toonie Day” to live our faith by helping those affected by the earthquakes.
Thank you for donating whatever you can, as every gift will help sustain life, and give hope. We invite you to join us in sending a message of love and compassion to those most in need.
Your support of this important humanitarian relief effort is appreciated.
Next Week’s Activities and Events
Here is a look ahead to next week…
Monday, February 20th:
– Family Day (no school)
Tuesday, February 21st:
– St. John Chrysostom Pastoral Class Visits, Grades 4/5 to 8, 8:45-11:15am, in the Library
– Pancake Tuesday snack pancakes (or waffle alternative) provided to students by CSC
– Girls Intermediate Basketball game at St. Nicholas CES, 3:30pm
Wednesday, February 22nd:
– Ash Wednesday service and distribution of ashes at 9:00am, in the gymnasium; all parents/guardians are welcome to attend
– Report cards available via the Parent Portal, after 4:00pm
– Parent EQAO Webinar, 6:30-7:30pm; registration: bit.ly/eqao-ycdsb-webinar
Friday, February 24th:
– Loonie/Toonie Day in Support of Turkey and Syria
Closing Prayer
Throughout the month of February we will close with the Serenity prayer:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.
St. Nicholas, pray for us.
Wishing you a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
C. Quadrini, Principal