Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are enjoying this special time with family and friends.
Let us take time to give thanks for all that our compassionate God has given us.
Father in Heaven, Creator of all and source of all goodness and love,
Look kindly upon us and receive our heartfelt gratitude in this time of thanksgiving.
Thank you for all the graces and blessings you have bestowed upon us,
including our food, shelter, and health, as well as our family and friends.
In Your infinite generosity, please grant us continued graces and blessings
throughout this school year.
This we ask this in the Name of Your Son Jesus,
Amen.
Morning and After School Routines
As we continue to develop student routines related to morning drop off and after school pick up, parents and guardians are asked to refrain from bringing in bicycles and scooters into the schoolyard and Kindergarten pen. This will support the safety of all students as they start and end their school day. Thank you for your cooperation!
Catholic School Council (CSC)
St. Mark’s CSC hot lunch program will soon begin! Please note that orders and payment will be submitted via School Day, so if you have not yet registered, visit https://www.school-day.com/. Information regarding our hot lunch program will follow in the upcoming week.
Terry Fox Run
Thank you to all families who gave generously to our school’s Terry Fox Run, either by an online or a monetary donation. We raised $1065! All donations will support the Terry Fox Foundation and its efforts to raise much-needed funds for cancer research. Well done St. Mark Lions!
In 1980, Terry Fox set the bar high for himself when he started his Marathon of Hope, saying, “Nobody is ever going to call me a quitter.” St. Mark CES is proud to have taken part in this year’s Terry Fox School Run to continue Terry’s legacy.
Active School Travel
St. Mark CES students are reminded that this month is IWALK month, and they are encouraged to participate in walking Wednesdays for a chance to win a special prize! Our goal is to see an increase in students walking over the course of the month.
Let’s get active and support the IWALK movement! GO LIONS!!
EQAO Webinar for Parents, Guardians and Caregivers of Elementary Students
Free Parent EQAO Webinar – Fall 2023
Register for a free live webinar and learn about the EQAO Grade 3 and Grade 6 assessments and highlights from the 2022–2023 assessment results (followed by a Q&A with EQAO staff).
Choose one of the following webinar dates:
– October 17, 2023, from 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm
– October 19, 2023, from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm
– November 7, 2023, from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm
Registration: https://eqao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RZfQnyoXTQq7IJC7iv9KtQ
St. Mark Parish Youth Ministry
St. Mark’s Parish is running EDGE, a youth ministry program for youth in Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8. EDGE sessions take place every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month, from 6-8pm at St. Mark’s Parish, starting on Friday, October 13th, 2023.
EDGE sessions feature a game or opening activity, a talk, group discussion, and a spiritual component that revolves around the EDGE theme for the year.
There is still time to register! For more information about the EDGE program, including registration, please visit: https://stmarksst.archtoronto.org/en/parish-life/ministries/edge-ministry-gr.-5-8/
Completed registration forms, with $10 fee, can be dropped off at St. Mark’s Parish office by October 13th.
Halloween
In anticipation of the fun and excitement, as well as the need for caution associated with celebrating Halloween at the end of this month, parents and guardians are asked to review the following information.
Culture is NOT Costume: Students are asked to refrain from wearing a costume that represents a cultural group or ethnicity.
Masks as Part of a Costume are Discouraged: Wearing masks that conceal one’s identity can compromise the safety of our community. We should always be identifiable in our community for the safety and comfort level of others in the community. Please have children leave masks at home.
Awareness of Costume Appropriateness is Important: Costumes that are not appropriate to the moral tone of our Catholic Schools are discouraged.
Awareness of Fear and Evil: Ghoulish costumes are discouraged as they can terrify younger students, students with special needs, or students with phobias.
We Must Be Trauma Sensitive: There may be members of our communities who have traumas that can be triggered by certain costumes.
When in Doubt, Think Saint: Halloween precedes All Souls and All Saints Days. Students are encouraged to dress as saints or religious figures.
We look forward to a fun Halloween Spirit week that will take place October 23-27. We will also have a Halloween Dance on October 31st. More information will be shared in our upcoming weekly update.
Next Week’s Activities and Events
Here is a look ahead to next week…
Monday, October 9th
– Thanksgiving (no school)
Wednesday, October 11th
– Catholic School Council Meeting, 6:30pm in the library
Upcoming Activities and Events
Monday, October 16th: YRPH Dental Screening – JK, SK, Grade 2, as well as other grades as requested by parents/guardians
Wednesday, October 18th: Students Pray the Rosary with the Rosary Apostolate
Friday, October 20th: PA Day (no school)
October 23rd to 27th: Halloween Spirit Week!
October 25th & 26th: Picture Day
Tuesday, October 31st: Halloween Dance
Closing Prayer
Let us close with our prayer to our Blessed Mother Mary.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
St. Mark, pray for us.
Wishing you a week filled with God’s blessings and graces!
Sincerely,
C. Quadrini, Principal