Message from ECACS Senior Administration
Christmas brings a wide range of memories, joy, emotions, and love. Often you will hear or see messages such as "Keep Christ in Christmas," and this phrase has a significant theme. Christmas has become a multi-billion dollar industry where the purchasing and giving of material gifts are expected. Keeping Christ in Christmas is a humble and gentle call to all of us to remember God's precious gift of His son Jesus Christ. As Christmas draws near, we need to remember that this time of year marks the important liturgical season of Christ's birth! Make and take time with family to pray, reflect, and share the nativity scene from so long ago. Build up the excitement of Jesus' birth and be sure to focus on giving the gift of our presence, money, food, and time to those who need it much more than we do. Around the world, our country, and in our towns and villages, many are lonely, destitute, hungry, and homeless during this time of giving. Christ, as our ultimate role model, has taught and shown us that "truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25: 40). During this Christmas and New Year celebration, let's honor Jesus' birth by serving one another. St. Teresa of Calcutta has two wonderful quotes that sum up this message. The two quotes read as, "At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others with God's love and concern." The second relevant quote is, "It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you…yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand." What tremendous words from a recent Saint that understood the true meaning of the Christmas season. We should all try to spend the four weeks of Advent giving to others and serving others instead of perhaps only focusing on providing materialistic gifts on Christmas day.
ECACS also extends to each of you a sincere wish of many joyous blessings upon you and yours. During this time of the pandemic, we pray that your year ahead is filled with safety and good health.
A Prayer of Reflection:
My Father Who is in Heaven, Hallowed be your name. I thank you for the caring and keeping of my heart, my mind, and my body this year. I know that many of the events that have transpired over the course of the year may have been a surprise to me, but none of them were a surprise to you.
I bless your name because you are holy and worthy of my trust. Therefore, I rest in your goodness and I ask that you would heal the parts of me that need it, and protect the parts of me that are whole and pure.
I walk into this coming year with open arms, knowing that you have a bright hope and a future for me. I leave this year knowing that you cause all things to work together for my good, because I love you and have been called according to your purposes.
Have your way, oh Lord and wherever you lead me, I will follow! For I pray this in your son Jesus’ precious and mighty name, Amen. (Britnee Bradshaw)
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Pandemic Management Updates
The Alberta Education 2021-2022 School Year Plan is found on the Alberta Education website. To support this Back-to-School-Plan has developed a Division 2021-22 Return To School Plan. The development of this plan was based on stakeholder feedback and the guidance provided by Alberta Education and Alberta Health Services.
School Year Plan 2021-2022 Alberta Education (August 13, 2021 edition)
Management of Outbreaks of Communicable Diseases in Schools
Guidance for Respiratory Illness Prevention and Management in Schools
Questions and Answers for School Administrators
NEW Alberta Health Daily Checklist (August 13, 2021)
Learning During COVID (Alberta Education)
Parent letter from the Chief Medical Officer of Health
Alberta Vaccination Information Updates
It is critical that everyone who is considering international travel continually review the evolving federal and provincial COVID travel guidelines.
https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories
https://travel.gc.ca/travelling
https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-travel-advice.aspx
Health Canada has approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. Yesterday, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health announced that Albertans can book appointments beginning at 8 a.m. today. You can watch the news conference here.
This is exciting news—as vaccines are highly effective and proven to protect Albertans and communities from COVID-19. The Canadian Pediatric Society is recommending that all eligible children get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Appointments for children aged 5 to 11 can be booked through the Alberta Vaccine Booking system, or by calling Health Link at 811. Appointments will be available primarily at Alberta Health Services clinics around the province as of November 26. Vaccines will not be available in schools at this time.
Parent or guardian consent is required for children to get their vaccine, and it can be provided with either in-person at the vaccine appointment or by a signed consent form. Parents and guardians are encouraged to seek out reliable and factual information to inform their decisions on vaccines for their children. We appreciate your support in sharing accurate information with families in your school communities.
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A New Year Prayer to You and Yours
Help me live the way I should as each new day I tread.
Give me gentle wisdom that I might help a friend,
Give me strength and courage so a shoulder I might lend.
The year ahead is empty, help me fill it with good things.
Each new day is filled with joy and happiness it brings.
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Important Dates
December 20 to December 31, 2021 - Christmas Break - Schools Closed
January 3, 2022 - First Day Back to School after Christmas Break
January 31, 2022 - PD Day - No school for Students
February 1, 2022 - Organizational Day - No school for students
February 2, 2022 - Start of Second Semester
February 17-18, 2022 - Teachers Convention - No school for Students
February 21, 2022 - Family Day - Schools closed
March 4. 2022 - PD Day - No School for Students
South Schools (TH & CK):
December 3, 2021 - PD Day no school for students
December 20 to December 31, 2021 - Christmas Break - Schools closed
January 31, 2022 - PD Day - No School for Students
February 1, 2022 - First day of Second Semester
February 17-18, 2022 - Teachers Convention - No school for students
February 21, 2022 - Family Day - Schools closed
March 11, 2022 - PD Day - No school for students
March 25, 2022 - PD Day - No school for students
March 29-April 1, 2022 - Spring Break - Schools closed
Parent New Curriculum Engagement Sessions
Parents and the public are invited to attend a virtual information session hosted by Alberta Education staff. Sessions with low registration may be cancelled. Registrants will be notified in advance.
Register now:
For more information click here and complete the Alberta Education online parent survey.