We are entering our second week of Lent and getting closer to spring each day. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) are pleased to introduce Journey Through Lent, a new video series that offers reflections on Gospel readings for each Sunday in Lent. As Canadian Catholic faithful continue to experience the pandemic’s challenging realities, this series is meant to be a source of deep spiritual solace and insightful pastoral preparation for Easter.

The school division will be engaging in the new Alberta Assurance Framework over the next school year. The Assurance Framework provides a collaborative opportunity to develop the guiding principles and domains centred around a culture of continuous improvement to enhance public trust and confidence that East Central Catholic is meeting students' needs and students are successful. (Domains - Quality Catholic Education, Student Growth & Achievement, Teaching & Leading, Learning Supports, Governance, Local Societal Context)

ECCS will be exploring a variety of strategies to engage stakeholders that align with fundamental assurance guidelines such as:

• Fostering a collaborative process to engage all stakeholders to voice their unique perspectives to create a shared responsibility for student growth and achievement.

• Building organizational capacity and a commitment to continuous improvement aligned with evidence from various sources to ensure responsive and transparent decision-making.

• Identifying and utilizing local and societal contexts, enabling innovative and flexible responses in classrooms, schools, divisions and the government.

• Recognizing the unique learning needs of students and foster equitable and inclusive learning environments.

Stay tuned to school and division communications for an opportunity to participate in assurance feedback sessions and surveys. We are looking forward to developing a shared vision for the future of education in the East Central Catholic School Division.

We teach; we share; we learn; we care. We grow in Christ, believing that together we can make a difference."

North Schools

(St. Thomas Aquinas, Blessed Sacrament, Blessed Sacrament Outreach, St. Jerome's, School of Hope)

March 5 - Professional Development Day - No School for Students

April 2 - Good Friday - Schools Closed

April 5 - Easter Monday - Schools Closed

April 6-9 - Easter Break - Schools Closed

South Schools

(Christ-King School, Theresetta School)

March 5 - Professional Development - No School for Students

March 29 to April 1 - Spring Break - Schools Closed

April 2 - Good Friday - Schools Closed

April 5 - Easter Monday - Schools Closed

Mandatory restrictions - Province wide - Effective Feb. 8

Games are not allowed.

Access to change rooms must be limited, including accelerated arrival and departure, emergencies (for example, first aid) and washroom use.

Children’s performance activities are permitted if related to school activities, such as music class.

East Central Alberta Catholic Schools - https://www.ecacs.ca

Blessed Sacrament School - https://bss.ecacs.ca

Blessed Sacrament Outreach - https://bso.ecacs.ca

St. Jerome School - https://stj.ecacs.ca

St. Thomas Aquinas School - https://sta.ecacs.ca

Theresetta School - https://theresetta.ecacs.ca

Christ-King School - https://ck.ecacs.ca

*Reach out to your school administration to ensure you are receiving your the new Smore Newsletter updates.

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Student voices are critical to our education system and I am committed to listening to the 700,000+ students in our province. I am proud of how the 41 members of this year’s Minister’s Youth Council are sharing their diverse views with me and contributing to Alberta’s education system. While facing the challenges of COVID-19, these hard-working youth have been meeting on Zoom – a change from the in-person meetings in normal times – and continue to have many meaningful and fun experiences as they learn about and share their perspectives on topics like leadership, the education system, government, mental health, post-secondary and much more.

Looking to next year, I am excited to announce the start of recruitment for the 2021/22 Minister’s Youth Council. We are looking for approximately 40 junior and senior high school students, ages 14 to 19, with diverse interests, identities, backgrounds and perspectives from all regions of Alberta. Of those 40, we will be accepting up to eight returning council members and at least 32 new members. The council will continue to give students the opportunity to make an impact on education, build their leadership skills at the provincial level and leave a legacy that will last well into the future.

Students can apply until March 24, 2021. For more information and instructions on how students can apply, I invite you to visit alberta.ca/student-engagement.aspx. Also attached for your information, and to share with students as appropriate, are a poster and postcard.

I look forward to working with students on continuing to improve our education system.

Sincerely,

Adriana LaGrange

Minister of Education