April 28, 2023
Superintendent’s Update: Students, Parents/Legal Guardians, and Staff
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week is just around the corner, taking place from May 15th - 19th. This annual event is a time to celebrate and recognize the important role that Catholic education plays in the lives of students and communities across the country. This year's theme reminds us to "walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever” (Micah 4:5). Throughout the week, schools and communities will host various events and activities to celebrate the universal gift of Catholic education. Join in on the festivities and celebrate the importance of faith, community, and education during Catholic Education Week! To learn more about Catholic Education Week, please click here where you can also find a letter from the Bishops of Alberta.
Save the Date - Farewell to École Father Jan: One last look.
Save the date! On May 18th, we will be saying farewell to École Father Jan as we take one last look at the school before its closure at the end of June. Join us for a nostalgic evening of memories and reflections as we celebrate the legacy of this beloved institution. Whether you are a current or former student, staff member, or community member, we welcome you to participate in this special event. Let's come together to honour the history and impact of École Father Jan and say goodbye with gratitude and fondness. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details to come. A formal program will take place at 5:00 pm on school grounds.
GSACS Education Foundation monthly message
Thanks to those that attended, either in person or virtually, our Annual General Meeting (AGM) earlier this month. This meeting is a requirement of our bylaws and is where we vote on open positions within the executive committee, disclose our annual financial statements and provide some insight into our work. To summarize a few of the high points:
- We have several vacancies on our executive team. The Secretary position is a member of the senior directors and has oversight of procedural matters, document control, and records of meetings. If you are interested, please feel free to reach out. Typical, this is a 2-year term requiring 5 to 8 hours of commitment a month.
- We've voted to use our reserve funds to support student scholarships and the Futures Grants for schools for the coming year. Fundraising activities remain our focus, allowing us to offer these opportunities to our students and school communities.
- We have several initiatives on the books for the coming year. These include an update to our bylaws, which will be voted on in another AGM in the fall, some work to clean up our website and have more accessible information on who's who and what we do, requirements, etc. Lastly, we are also developing a policy framework and a few policies to fall under that. Our immediate policy priority is around the naming of funds.
In closing, we are only six weeks away from our first-ever Fundraiser Classic Golf Tournament. As we need to confirm our commitment to the Sturgeon Valley Golf and Country Club by mid-May, please register by May 10th if you are considering joining our tournament. We do not need payment immediately, and if your group is not fully established, just list yourself multiple times (form improvements for next year coming). We have a $10,000 hole-in-one prize, many other great hole prizes to win, and some very cool swag for our silent auction.
Thanks, and God Bless
Rob Akkerman, Chair GSACS Education Foundation
Blessings for the Month of Mary
May is traditionally dedicated in a special way to honouring and seeking the intercession of Mary as the Mother of God and Mother of the Church. This is particularly fitting as May is not only the month in which we honour Jesus’ Mother but all mothers, with Mother’s Day being celebrated this year on Sunday, May 14. I would like to offer a prayer to our beloved Mother Mary as we prepare to begin the month of May:
Dear Mother Mary, we turn to you in this month dedicated to your honour, seeking your intercession and guidance. May you bless our children and their education and inspire them to live a life filled with your virtues of humility, faith, and love. May you also bless our teachers, staff, and parents, who work tirelessly to provide our children with a nurturing and faith-filled environment. May we always look to you as our model of faith and love and strive to imitate your example in our daily lives. Amen.
May God bless you all as the weather turns warmer and the days grow longer as we draw closer to the school year's conclusion. And…go Oilers, go!
In Christ,
Dr. Clint Moroziuk
Superintendent