JANUARY 2021
St. Augustine School
Newsletter
Principal's Message
Happy New Year, St. Augustine School! I hope that everyone’s Christmas holidays involved both rest and spending quality time with loved ones. It is important to remember that, in Christian tradition, Christmas, just as Easter, is celebrated as a period of time, a season of the Church year, rather than just a day. Christmas begins with Christmas Day December 25 and lasts for twelve days until the Epiphany, January 6, which looks ahead to the mission of the Church to the world in light of the Nativity. As we ring in 2021 and continue to navigate the pandemic, let us work to keep Christmas alive in our hearts the entire year. With this, I share with you a post- Christmas reflection:
Long after the angels disappear into the heavens, the shepherds return to their flocks, the magi journey home,
and the great star sets,
Jesus remains.
The Child in whom we rediscover God’s great love for humanity
becomes the adult Redeemer who challenges us to imitate his selflessness and compassion
in order that we might transform our world in love.
May we allow the miracle of Christmas to continue long after the holiday trappings have been packed away;
May we welcome the adult Messiah and his challenging Gospel to recreate our lives,
making the peace, justice and hope of this holy season
a reality in every season of the new year.
Happy New Year once again! All the very best for a safe, faith-filled, and healthy 2021! God bless!
Mr.Yaptinchay
WALK WITH JESUS, OUR LIVING HOPE!
By December 18, St. Augustine School delivered your generous donations in support of the Sancta Maria House, families in need, and our Parish Refugee Programme. What a fantastic and wonderful way to celebrate Christmas by continuing to walk with Christ to continue his mission and the work of the Church! More details will follow.
Thank you to all who so generously donated to our Advent Giving initiatives!
As we begin this new year, we want to continue, our call to serve as a faith community to bring HOPE into the world through acts of charity. Our post-Christmas work will involve the collection of non-perishable food items for the Food Bank towards the end of January and into February. Details to follow.
There is NO SCHOOL Monday, January 4.
The staff will be on its annual winter retreat.
The FIRST DAY back from Christmas Break is Tuesday, January 5.*
*As there will be no extended break or remote learning per the most recent Health Order, please, be sure your children bring back their materials and supplies this first day back.
OPEN HOUSE and INFORMATION EVENING (Wednesday, January 13, 2021)
We are hosting our annual Open House/ Information Evening Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 7:00pm on ZOOM for new parents interested in Kindergarten for September 2021. Thank you for helping spread the word. Please, pre-register for the evening to receive the zoom link here: St. Augustine School Open House.
ADVENT CONCERT EVENING OF SONG AND PRAYER
Though our evening took a virtual form this year, if you were in attendance December 14 on the Parish YouTube Channel, we are certain you would agree that this was once again a beautiful Advent Evening of Song and Prayer that our school and parish celebrated.
Our "virtual church" was once again packed with close to 500 households tuned in to the parish channel! It was so beautiful to hear our children’s voices as they sang so passionately! Congratulations to Mr. Logan for his wonderful work preparing the songs, harmonies, and melodies with the students! A special thank you to all grades for their beautiful singing and to our teachers and staff, in particular Mr. Yaptinchay, Mrs. Patzer, and Ms. O’Hara for their work planning, coordinating, and producing the event.
A special thank you to Father Andrew and the Oblate Fathers, as well as to all the teachers, students, families, friends, and alumni from around the world who took time out of their busy pre-Christmas schedules to celebrate this special evening with us, even if only virtually.
Thank you to the following parishioners and parents for their help making the filming possible: Peter Allen (music and sound), Chermaine Wu (videography), Raymond Chow (photography), and Bien Matute (photography). The live stream of pre-recorded sessions came together beautifully! Enjoy the video of the evening, as well as a selection of photos from the filming of the songs below.
Photos of the classes during filming can be found here: ADVENT EVENING OF SONG AND PRAYER 2020 PHOTO ALBUM
The video of the evening can be seen here: ADVENT VIDEO 2020
COACH’S CORNER
As we await the January 8 deadline for the Provincial Health Orders, be on the lookout the first week of January for an update on our extra-curricular program.
FAMILY LITERACY AND DRESS-UP DAY (JANUARY 29)
Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy- related activities as a family. We are working on what this will look like this year. Traditionally, there are organized activities for parents and their children in the Learning Commons, which will not be possible this year. Stay tuned for details.
One thing that can happen the same day is our fifth ’’Literature Dress-Up Day’' at SAS! As part of our literacy initiatives, all students are asked to dress-up as his/her favourite author or character from a book. Along with a costume, please, bring in a copy of the book that inspired the costume choice. Costumes must be school appropriate and violence-free. This is a non-uniform day!
SNOW DAYS (OR SCHOOL CLOSURE)
In case school is closed due to snow, the school will notify you by email. Please, also check the school website, as well as CKNW AM980 and Global News. This announcement will be made by 6:30am at the latest.
If the school is open despite snow falling, you will also be notified by email regardless. If you find it is unsafe to come to school in the morning, please, make the decision to stay home. We do not want anyone to risk injury or an accident if you feel it is not safe to drive to school from where you live.
WINTER CLOTHING
As we weather another cold Vancouver winter, we ask that all children be sent to school with proper rain/ snow and cold weather attire, which includes boots, winter jacket (hoodies don’t count!), mitts/gloves, and hats or toques.
THE EPIPHANY
Epiphany, also known as "Three Kings Day" and "Twelfth Day," is commemorated on January 6. It falls on the twelfth day after Christmas. The feast celebrates the manifestation of God in the form of human flesh through Jesus Christ, his Son.
The word epiphany means “manifestation” or “revelation" and is commonly linked in Western Christianity with the visit of the wise men (Magi) to the Christ child. Through the Magi, Christ revealed himself to the gentiles. In Eastern Christianity, Epiphany puts emphasis on the baptism of Jesus by John, with Christ revealing himself to the world as God's own Son.
JOIN US Wednesday, January 6!
We will be celebrating our third annual Epiphany Mass Wednesday, January 6. This special bilingual mass is prepared by Mme McLean and a selection of students across grades. We hope you can Join us at 9:15am Wednesday on the Parish YouTube Channel as we celebrate the Epiphany and the last day of the Christmas season.
IMPORTANT DATES IN JANUARY
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JANUARY 4 - NO SCHOOL (STAFF RETREAT)
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JANUARY 5 - FIRST DAY BACK FOR STUDENTS
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JANURY 6 - SCHOOL "EPIPHANY" MASS AT 9:15AM ON PARISH YOUTUBE CHANNEL
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JANUARY 8 - DRESS-DOWN DAY (Student reward for reaching our Fall Campaign Goal): Where is the first place you want to travel or go when the pandemic is over? Dress in an outfit you would wear to celebrate when the pandemic ends (ex: Hawaiian shirt and shorts, Canucks jersey, birthday party outfit, etc.)
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JANUARY 13 - ZOOM OPEN HOUSE AT 7PM
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JANUARY 16 - GRADE 2 PARENTS ZOOM SACRAMENTAL RETREAT (9AM TO 11:30AM): Zoom link to follow
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JANUARY 29 - FAMILY LITERACY DAY & LITERACY DRESS-UP DAY (Stay tuned for more information)