October 2022
St. Augustine School
Newsletter
Principal's Message
What a wonderful first month of school! I hope you share the same sentiment with me as September comes to a close and the “busy-ness” of the school year kicks in.
In this month of Thanksgiving, which is also the Month of the Rosary, as we work towards recognizing that all our joys come from God, let us begin to seek Him in all things and be grateful for all the blessings in our lives, not only in our homes but also in the common home that we share - our school. Let us pray for those less privileged and be an example of Christian gratitude, service, and love and a source of joy for others.
A Thanksgiving Prayer
O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer,
And, in remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency,
Bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help,
By word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.
Amen.
IN GRATITUDE
During this month of THANKSGIVING, it’s most appropriate to express our immense gratitude to the entire community of St. Augustine’s Parish and School for every big and small effort that has contributed to this time in our school’s history. It has been over two years since the onset of the pandemic, and, now that we are on the other side of it, there is much to celebrate and an equal number of exciting things to look forward to this coming school year.
We are all working hard – students, parents and staff alike - and we are all so extremely grateful to every member of the teaching and support staff for the incredible time, energy, and commitment that is taking place to meet expectations, requirements, and serve the needs of the students in their care. Thank you!
We are also so very grateful for our pastor, Father Andrew, who will be leaving us early next month. After 8 years serving St. Augustine's Church and school, Father Andrew has accepted a position with the Oblates in Ottawa. He leaves early November.
Join us for a weekend to say "farewell" to Father Andrew.
Please, join us the weekend of Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16 to say goodbye! Cake, coffee and light refreshments will be served in the Parish Hall following each mass, both days. A basket will be set up for cards and correspondence.
In addition, the parish is creating a Tribute video montage for Father! We'd like to invite you to take part by filming and uploading your messages and well wishes as we create a unique gift for Father to take with him and remember our faith community.
The deadline for the Tribute video is October 10th. Here's the link to take part: https://www.tribute.co/fr-andrew-stendzina/
We are grateful for his spiritual guidance, his wisdom, his kindness and generosity, and his friendhip.
WALKATHON
WALKATHON
We are a week away from our 2022 SAS Walkathon! As mentioned in our Walkathon pledge and information Package, our Walkathon will be held Friday, October 7, and it will be in-person after a 3 year hiatius. We will be leaving class by class from school and walking down to Kits beach and along the seawall, returning to school for a noon dismissal.
Some important points to note:
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Students must wear weather-appropriate clothing. Check the weather forecast.
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Although it may rain, rubber boots may not be the most comfortable footwear. Runners are a good option.
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We are walking rain or shine!
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We are trying to make it a “green” event again this year. Parents and students, please bring your own pre-filled water bottles.
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Students are dismissed at the end of the walkathon only when they have signed out with their teacher from their classroom. Our walkathon ends at the school this year.
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Walkathon donations can be made exclusively online. You can send the following link for our Walkathon campaign to all your friends and family across North America: SAS 2022 WALKATHON ONLINE DONATIONS
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Friends and family anywhere in Canada and the USA can donate online. Tax receipts are emailed to you immediately (within Canada only).
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Please, also remember that you do not have to bring in your collected pledges prior to the Walkathon. Pledges are not due until October 24. This allows SAS families to see other friends and family during the Thanksgiving long weekend and following weekends who might be interested in supporting our school fundraising endeavour.
Important Dates
ST. AUGUSTINE FALL CAMPAIGN
We continue to believe that our Faith is our greatest gift at St. Augustine School. We know we have a good school, but being a great Catholic School is our central goal. Thank you to all the parents who share this vision, and by their devotion and commitment to the Church, link their lives to our work here. For three weekends in the fall, students host roles as commentators, lectors, altar servers, greeters and ushers. We are so proud of them all and are grateful for their willingness to serve and be witnesses of Faith to our broader community in the Parish. Thank you in advance to all the parents for their help practicing with the students, bringing them to mass early and to those who have offered their service as well. The Fall Campaign will run every weekend from October 29 to November 13.
Although students from grades 5 to 7 are pre-selected for specific roles, all students across all grades can contribute and
support our Fall Campaign by wearing their school uniform to mass over these weekends as we continue to raise the
necessary money needed to finance the completion of our new school. We are so very blessed to be in the new building, but we are not yet done as we look forward to completing our final phase: the gym and relandscapting of the couryard! Thank you for all you have contributed already and for your continued support of Catholic education at St. Augustine School!
Enjoy a little video montage of what's been done and what's left to look forward to:
KINDERGARTEN/ NEW PARENT EVENING (OCTOBER 13)
We will be hosting a follow-up Kindergarten and New Parents Evening & Social on Thursday, October 13. Parents,
thank you for filling out the online invitation which was sent out the first weekend of October. We hope many of you
can join us.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL
This year, our Hallowe’en Carnival fall on Monday, October 31. This annual event allows our students both to have fun as well as to think of the less fortunate at the same time. The money collected will be sent to the Holy Childhood Association, which supports children in the Third World. EVERYONE is invited to wear a costume to celebrate HALLOWE’EN, remembering to
keep the costumes violence-free and school appropriate. (Thank you in advance for ensuring your child adheres to this expectation). STAFF and PARENTS are also invited to ‘dress up’ --- please remember, in helping your child
choose a costume, that they will be in it throughout the day – and that might mean simplifying what they wear to school. More details about the “carnival” will follow!
COACH’S CORNER
October is a very busy month with volleyball league play for grades 5, 6, & 7. The CISVA Cross Country Meet is scheduled for Wednesday, October 5. We have an amazing team of cross-country enthusiasts in our 8th year of competition! Practices and games for all teams are posted in the gym corridor and the Athletics Calendar on our school website. Stay tuned!
On the P.E. front, running shoes with laces and a strong arch support will protect your child from foot and ankle problems now and in the future. If your children have long hair, please, ensure they bring a hair tie for PE.
IMPORTANT DATES
OCT. 5 - CISVA Cross Country Meet
OCT. 7-Walkathon
OCT. 10 -THANKSGIVING: NO
SCHOOL
OCT. 12 - School Mass at 9:15am
OCT. 13 - New K and new families follow-up Social
OCT. 13 - Individual Student Photo Day (full uniforms, please!)
OCT. 20 - Mid-term Conferences (details to follow)
OCT. 12 - NO SCHOOL (Pro-D)
OCT. 26 - EMERGENCY EVACUATION & STUDENT RELEASE DRILL
OCT. 29-NOV.13 - Fall Campaign
OCT. 31 - Halloween Carnival
LITURGICAL CALENDAR
MONTH OF THE ROSARY
By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a certain devotion. The month of October is dedicated to the holy rosary, one of the best known of all Catholic devotions. October includes the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7). The best way to celebrate the month is, of course, to pray the rosary, but these additional prayers can be incorporated into our daily prayers during this month, too.