Regina Catholic School Division Director’s Communiqué

[email protected] | www.rcsd.ca | Issue 89 | March 2019 “Let Your Light Shine” A Message from Our Director of Education, Domenic Scuglia

With her “yes”, Mary became the most influential woman in history. Without social networks, she became the first “influencer”: the “influencer” of God. ~Pope Francis

Let’s all continue to say, “Yes.” Like Mary, we are all influencers. Not on social media, but in our classrooms, in our hallways, on our playgrounds, and in our meeting rooms. Each of us has the capability to influence others, beginning with our students. Every meeting with a child, gives us a chance to share the Good News and show the joy of being a Christian. Thank you for sharing your stories and talents within our division. I am confident there were many wintery activities provided for our students during a short month and a break! I hope each of you was blessed with some time to recharge your batteries during the February break. “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.” ~Ezekiel 9:4 With March here, we are ready for Ash Wednesday, and for Lent to begin. By literally wearing a sign of our commitment to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel on our foreheads, we are declaring our beliefs and sharing with the world the love of Jesus Christ. We step into the 40 days of reflection, fasting, and prayer as we wait for the single most impactful death in our history, followed by the miracle of the resurrection of Christ. This journey we take, together with our students and families, is a blessing to experience together. Thank you for your dedication to journeying with your students. I look forward to the growth spring will bring to our schools, and I pray for continued success in each of you, and in each of our students.

God Bless, Dom

Contents Parents as Career Coaches 2 Chalice Helps 5 Tweets from Pope Francis 8 Bursary Presentation 2 Tidy Shoes 5 Chairs for Charity 8 To Warm You 3 Alumni Success 5 Red Cross Day of Pink 9 GRIT to GRAD 3 Storytelling Project 6 Month at a Glance 9 Art with Heart 4 All About French 7 Patrol of the Month 4 Consecrated Life 8 www.rcsd.ca Parents as Career Coaches by Gordon Heidel, RDIEC The challenge for families to fund their child’s post-secondary education is not getting any easier. Once again the Regina District Industry Education Council (RDIEC) hosted its fifth annual Parents as Career Coaches evening at the Regina Trades and Skills Centre (RTSC) January 22, 2019. The focus of this year’s event was again “Funding your child’s education”. The evening began with a presentation from PVSD Counsellor Jen Bieber outlining the steps involved with applying for student loans and TCU Financial Group representatives explaining education lines of credit and credit ratings. The event brought together representatives from GTI [Gabriel Dumont Technical Institute], RTSC [Regina Trades & Skills Centre], SIIT [ Indian Institute of Technology], Saskatchewan Polytechnic, U of R [, SATCC [Saskatchewan Apprenticeship & Trade Certification Commission], and the CAF [Canadian Armed Forces]. Parents and students participated in breakout sessions covering applying for scholarships, applying for band funding, apprenticeship, post- secondary funding options (U of Regina / Sask. Polytech / GDI) and the Regina Trades and Skills Centre. The evening ended with everyone gathering together complete the draws for door prizes and the two $500 bursaries sponsored by TCU Financial Group, Regina Chamber of Commerce and the RDIEC. Congratulations to Taryn Williams, from Sheldon Williams Collegiate, who will be receiving the $500 bursary from the Regina District Chamber of Commerce and the RDIEC. Also congratulations to Haley Meger, from Riffel High School, who will be receiving the $500 bursary from TCU Financial Group. Both young women will be attending the U of R in the fall. With over 110 parents and students in attendance the event has grown in popularity substantially over previous years. Feedback from the parents in attendance was incredibly positive. Thank you to all the partners that made this evening possible and the Regina Trades and Skills Centre for allowing us to host the event at their facility.

Bursary Presentation On January 22, the Regina District Industry Education Council, a partnership organization that represents Regina Catholic, Regina Public and Prairie Valley School Divisions, hosted an evening for high school students and their parents to learn about possible careers. At the event, TCU Financial sponsored a $500 bursary, which was won by Haley Meger, a student at Michael A Riffel Catholic High School. Haley’s happy mother is pictured with Tracey Laturnas (right) and Lori Ann Kirby (left) who are both from TCU.

March 2019 | 2 www.rcsd.ca

GRIT to GRAD Sacred Heart Community School has had the fortune of having two excellent motivational presentations for our students recently. Nicole Cook (C.O.O. of Hope’s Home) shared her inspiring story of how she came from a rough childhood and how she has flourished in her career as one of the founders of Hope’s Home. She left a large impression on our students and staff. Kendall Netmaker, founder of Nechie Wear, author and sought after motivational speaker across North America, shared his rise from poverty to stardom. He spoke to the kids about goal setting, resilience, being driven, overcoming obstacles, encouraging students to share their stories with their teachers and to find mentors and role models in their lives. Both speakers demonstrated how they showed GRIT in their lives and the school staff used this to reinforce their GRIT to GRAD campaign.

To Warm You Congratulations.... after the draw, we are “mugging” the following people: Melodie Wark Carrie Vany Gilles Dauphinais Brian Fahlman Shelley Scheibel Amy Bladyko Thanks for entering! Next month we’ll have another giveaway to celebrate spring’s arrival.

March 2019 | 3 www.rcsd.ca

Art with Heart Art? STEM? ELA? Religion? Mathematics? All of the above! At St. Josaphat School, Ms. Mahajan and her grade 4/5 students recently installed this stunning art piece. This piece is not only aesthetically pleasing but also offers positive messages of kindness and gratitude to all St. Josaphat Staff members. If you look closely enough, you may also see a Valentine’s joke or two. Thank you to Ms. Mahajan and her crew for sharing their gifts and talents with our community.

Patrol of the Month Congratulations St. Theresa School for being chosen as the Safety Patrol of the Month for February 2019! CAA Saskatchewan recognised the safety patrollers at St. Theresa on Monday, February 25th at an assembly. There were representatives from CAA, the Regina Police Service, and the U of R women’s soccer team. The students received certificates, ‘swag bags’, and a Pizza Hut lunch. Then the patrollers played dodgeball with the adults. Thank you, Jackie Peat, Cst. Kim Carroll, and St. Theresa School Patrollers for all you do to keep our school zones safe. This whole story shows the importance of Safety Patrols in our schools. To all who put in the extra time and effort to help students learn to set good examples and lead within their communities, we are blessed by your work.

March 2019 | 4 www.rcsd.ca

Chalice Helps RCSD students have long been raising funds to support Chalice. This charity provides help and hope for folks living in conditions we here is Canada sometimes struggle to imagine. Through this fundraising, lives are changing. This article tells the story of a mother living a better life thanks to the generosity of our students. While we give without reserve, it does feel good to learn about the difference our donations make.

Alumni Success Congratulations to former St. Pius and Leboldus student Larissa Bezo (nee Lozowchuk) who was just named the new President and CEO of CBIE, the Canadian Bureau for International Education! The Canadian Bureau for International Education is the national organization dedicated to the internationalization of education and the expansion of educational partnerships between Canada and countries around the globe. CBIE’s pan-Canadian membership comprises 150 colleges, institutes, cégeps, universities, school boards and language schools.

Tidy Shoes St. Pius X boys basketball team showing respect, responsibility, best effort! Keeping our school neat and tidy before morning basketball practice.

March 2019 | 5 www.rcsd.ca

Saskatchewan Indigenous Storytelling Project , in partnership with Regina Public Schools and , is responsible for organizing Indigenous storytelling programs for public libraries and schools during the week of February 11-15, 2019. These storytelling programs are funded by Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples (LSSAP) and its sponsors. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures have long passed on knowledge from generation to generation through oral traditions, including storytelling. Storytelling is a traditional method used to teach about cultural beliefs, values, customs, rituals, history, practices, relationships, and ways of life. First Nations storytelling is a foundation for holistic learning, relationship building, and experiential learning. Since 2003, the Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples Inc. (LSSAP) has taken the lead in managing the Saskatchewan Indigenous Storytelling Project, held throughout the province in February of each year to promote First Nations and Métis oral traditions and the use of public libraries. The winter timing of Indigenous storytelling observes the First Nations traditional time for storytelling. Elders and Indigenous storytellers demonstrate the cultural and historical value of storytelling and partnerships are fostered through joint planning with libraries, schools, local agencies and Indigenous based organizations throughout the province. The goals of the Saskatchewan Indigenous Storytelling Project are: • To celebrate Indigenous culture by promoting, preserving and enjoying the Indigenous oral tradition. • To encourage the love of reading and literacy activities • To foster cooperation between schools, public libraries and community organizations

March 2019 | 6 www.rcsd.ca

All About French French as a Second Language Education Week was celebrated from February 4 – February 8! The theme this year was Learn French… feed your brain! “Apprennez le français…nourrisez votre cerveau!”. This is an important week for RCSD French Immersion schools and students because we are able to take the time to be thankful for the gift of language. École St. Mary staff and students celebrated diversity by rejoicing the French language and culture through many different activities. They began the week singing O Canada in French at the Regina Pats game! On Monday, a French Liturgy was lead by Mme Céline Turmel’s grade 7 students. Lucie Anderson and Twylla West visited to read books in French to the Pre-k, Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 classes. During Carnaval d’hiver, students circulated throughout indoor and outdoor stations such as le hockey, les courses au toboggans, la danse folklorique, les chansons françaises, les cuillères à bois, la tire sur la neige and le tournoi roche, papier, ciseaux. Roland Bibeau even came to perform a French concert.

March 2019 | 7 www.rcsd.ca

Consecrated Life RCSD Trustees hosted a luncheon on January 31, 2019 to honour Consecrated Men and Women. More of these dedicated disciples attended this year than ever before. The guests filled Holy Rosary Cathedral’s basement to pray, break bread and celebrate the many people who answer God’s call.

Chairs for Charity St. Peter School partnered with Deveraux Homes to build eight Adirondack chairs on February 27. This was organized by Jessi McCulloch, Grade 7/8 teacher, and principal Bill Weir. Seated is Tanner Hope, project manager at Deveraux; Jessi is in between two of his staff. The chairs are part PAA and part Christian service project, and are intended to be auctioned off with proceeds to help St. Peter Parish recover from their recent break-in. Jessi’s class was divided into 8 groups, each supervised by an adult volunteer. Tweets from Pope Francis @Pontifex “Consecrated life is a living “Detachment from worldly “If we practice seeing with the eyes encounter with the Lord in his appearances is essential to prepare of Jesus, we will always be able to people. It is a call to the faithful ourselves for heaven.” recognize those who need our help.” obedience of daily life, and to the “If you believe in God you must “Love of God and love of neighbour unexpected surprises from the Spirit. try to live justly with everyone, are inseparable. They are two sides It is a vision of what we need to according to the golden rule: “Do of the same coin: lived together they embrace in order to experience joy: to others whatever you would have are the true strength of believers! “ Jesus.“ them do to you” (Mt 7,12). “ “God’s love is the only power capable of making all things new. “

March 2019 | 8 www.rcsd.ca

Red Cross Day of Pink - Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Month at a Glance - March 2019

Saturday, March 2 - United Way Mardis Gras Cabaret March 6 - April 15 - Lent Monday, March 4 - Public Board Meeting 5:00 Friday, March 15 - TPD/PLC/Staff Meeting Day, No School for Students Wednesday, March 6 - Ash Wednesday

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