ADMINISTRATION NEWS - Calgary Catholic School District

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ADMINISTRATION NEWS - Calgary Catholic School District
August 2020 Issue #1

ADMINISTRATION NEWS
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year at St. Mary’s High School. We are anticipating another great
year at St. Mary’s, full of memorable activities, enriching learning opportunities, renewing former
friendships, and making a new acquaintance.

The staff has been working diligently to ensure that our school opening is smooth and that we begin our
year-long journey focused on excellence in teaching and quality student learning. I look forward to
working with all staff at St. Mary’s. I would like to give a special welcome to our incoming grade ten
students and to all families new to the St. Mary’s Community! The information outlined in this
newsletter should clarify the School Opening Procedure as well as give you information regarding
schedule changes and important events throughout September.

I would like to encourage parents to attend the St. Mary’s School Council Meeting on Tuesday
September 8th at 5:00 pm.The School Council is tremendous forum for parents to become informed and
involved with school events, activities, and programs throughout the year. We look forward to seeing
you there.
                                                                                           Luigi Fortini
                                                                                               Principal

 The School office will be open on Monday August 17th, 2020 at 9:00 am.

Until further information comes from Alberta Education on the 2020-2021 school re-entry plan, please
look on our website or watch for e-mails regarding school updates.

Important Information for Parents and Students
Visible Student ID
Students and staff at St. Mary’s must have in their possession an I.D Card. Lost or damaged ID must be
replaced. Students may get a replacement ID card for $1.00 and purchase a plastic pocket for $2.00.
General school fees cover the cost of the first ID card issued at the start of the school year. To purchase
a lock replacement, it will be $8.50.
ADMINISTRATION NEWS - Calgary Catholic School District
Bus Passes
Senior high students residing more than 2.4 kilometers or more from their designated school may be
eligible to receive a rebate. In order to receive a rebate on the purchase of a monthly youth Calgary
Transit pass for September 2020 to June 2021, students must meet the eligibility criteria. For further
information, refer to cssd.ab.ca website and follow the Transportation link.

School Fees
Calgary Catholic School District uses an Online Fee Payment System for school fees. The fee
payments program is accessible via the school website https://www.cssd.ab.ca/schools/stmarys/
(home page, click on the “Online Fee Payment” tab) or at https://www.studentquickpay.com/cssd/.
We encourage everyone to use the online system, however payments will be accepted at the school
for those parents who do not have computer access, or parents paying IB Fees.
The 2020-2021 school fees can be viewed on our St. Mary’s home page.

Instrumental Music Grade 10 Welcome Camp
All Grade 10 Band students come join us on Tuesday, September 1st, from 10 AM to Noon, for a
morning of activities, games and getting to know each other! We will be outside the vast majority of
the event, playing and gathering in the football field to the East of the school. That considered, dress
for the weather and be ready for a morning a fun and friends! All is pending direction from AHS and
their recommendations in regard to groups meeting, and how we are to conduct ourselves regarding
social distancing and simply being in a group. Stay tuned for the confirmation or cancellation email in
late August.
I am looking forward to meeting all of you at this fantastic annual event! Jeremy Legault

Photo Days
September 2nd and September 4th, 2020 all day

Music Foundation Annual General Meeting (May change due to our circumstances)
Thursday, September 17th, 2020 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm (Gym-via social distancing) – for all Music
Students
*It is critical that one or both parents/guardians attend this meeting along with the student.

School Council Meeting

Grade 12 Information Night (Grad Info and Post-Secondary)
(May change due to our circumstances)
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 at 6:00 – 8:30 pm (Cafeteria):
1. Career planning and Exploration
2. Post secondary school: process for applying to universities, colleges, and technical schools
3. Graduation rules, policies, and activities
4. Questions and or Comments

Volunteer Orientation Meeting
In order to volunteer in any capacity at St. Mary’s, all new and returning volunteers must attend an
orientation. Please call the school to make an appointment with Mr. Dreyfuss.
Grade 10 & 11 IB Parent Meeting
(May change due to our circumstances)
Tuesday October 13th, 2020 at 7:00 pm (Cafeteria/Learning Commons):
1. Course selections for options at University
2. Work experience (part time jobs, RAP)
3. Use of D2L Brightspace

Textbooks
All textbooks must be returned before the start of the new school year. They can be brought to the
office in August or on September 2nd. Parents able to volunteer with textbook distribution are asked
to call the school at 403-500-2024 and leave their name with the receptionist.

Public Transit and Student Parking at St. Mary’s
It is recommended that students make use of the very convenient forms of public transit. CTrains,
Bus 698 to and from West Side Rec Centre, and other bus services provide excellent access to the
school. St. Mary’s student parking availability at the school will be determined at the start of the
school year. The city of Calgary Parking Authority will ticket any students in Visitor Stalls and any
students parked without permission. Additional parking is available at Repsol Sports Centre. The
Repsol Parking Agreement Forms are available at the Repsol Sports Centre, once completed, the
forms and payment are to be returned to customer services at Repsol Centre. For more information
call 403-233-8393.

PowerParent/Pearson Parent View
PowerParent is operated through PowerSchool, a web-based application that facilitates student
information management and communication among school administrators, teachers, parents and
students. Parents have quick and easy access to view attendance records, marks, work habits and
comments. You must have two pieces of information to create an account for your child(ren). Your
child’s Calgary Catholic School District ID number (6 or 7 digit number) and your child’s birthday with
month, day and year (example: Jan 8, 1996 must be typed as follows: 181996 (month/day/year). Go
to St. Mary’s website, https://www.cssd.ab.ca/schools/stmarys/Parents/Parent-
View/Pages/default.aspx, click on “Parent View” to log in or create your account. For more
information please visit https://www.cssd.ab.ca/Parents/ParentView/

Chaplain News
As your new school Chaplain, I am blessed with the opportunity to get to know you and support you
in any way I can. I know we are all on our own individual spiritual journey and I am here to support
you through prayer, mentorship, support and opportunities to grow in your faith. I am here to serve
you and to build a community with you! I am excited to meet you all. Please come and introduce
yourself.

At St. Mary’s we are pleased to offer many opportunities for Faith Development for all our students.
The Grade 10 retreat is a great chance for the students to explore the motto of our school – “Teach
me Goodness, Discipline, Knowledge”. The retreat also allows Grade 11/12 students to practice
leadership skills and share their knowledge with the incoming students.
Our masses at St. Mary’s are student led, so we are always looking for students who would like to be
involved in the ministries, whether that is as altar server or lector. We also recruit student
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion for students who are known to the pastors in their
parishes.
This year students who have not yet received their Sacraments of Initiation will be given the
opportunity to be prepared for Baptism, Confirmation and/or First Communion. Students are
prepared in the school and then directed back to their parishes to celebrate the sacraments.

Faith Development also involves becoming more aware of Catholic Social Teaching and we take this
element seriously at St. Mary’s. There are many opportunities for social outreach from feeding the
hungry to helping build homes for Habitat for Humanity and more. Students interested in any of
these areas are invited to talk to me. Lacy Holle

Student Timetable
  Mon,
 Tues &         Time            Weds             Time         Friday         Time
  Thurs
                           Student
 ILO        8:25- 9:00     Assessment        8:25-9:18       ILO         8:25-9:00
                           Opportunities
 Warning                                                     Warning
            9:00           Warning Bell      9:18                        9:00
 Bell                                                        Bell
 Period 1   9:03-10:24     Period 1          9:21-10:42      Period 1    9:03-10:03
 TA         10:27-10:42    No TA             No TA           TA          10:06-10:21
 Period 2   10:45-12:06    Period 2          10:45-12:06     Period 2    10:24-11:24
 Lunch      12:06-12:36    Lunch             12:06-12:36     Lunch       11:24-11:54
 Period 3   12:39 -2:00    Period 3          12:39-2:00      Period 3    11:57-12:57
 Period 4   2:03-3:24      Period 4          2:03-3:24       Period 4    1:00-2:00

School Council News
The School Council of St. Mary’s High School would like to take this opportunity to welcome all
families, old and new, to the 2020-2021 school year! Another year is about to begin and we look
forward to all the excitement a new school year brings. The St. Mary’s council is made up of our
Principal, Mr. Fortini, a teacher representative, and parents who value their children’s education and
want to play a role in their future.

Our meetings are excellent communication forums where ideas, suggestions and concerns can be
raised and solutions arrived at together. You will be able to find out about things that are happening
at our school, at the board level and provincially. They are generally an hour to an hour and half in
length. Meetings will be held in the Learning commons at 5:00 pm on the following dates:

Tuesday, September 8, 2020     Tuesday, November 10, 2020          Tuesday, April 6, 2020
Tuesday, October 6, 2020       Tuesday, January 12, 2020           Tuesday June 8, 2020 (Annual
                               Tuesday, March 9, 2020              General Meeting)

We look forward to seeing you and wish you and your children all the best at St. Mary’s High School in
2020 – 2021 Kim McManus School Council Chair
From the Counselling Department
The Counselling Department is losing 3 very important people to retirement this year: Louise Vant
Erve (30 plus years with CCSD), our tireless Counselling Coordinating Teacher; Leah Moore (33 years
with CCSD), our cherished counsellor; and Carmen Delgado (23 years with CCSD), our invaluable
Office Administrator. The loss of their extensive expertise, experience and insight will be felt deeply at
St. Mary’s. Mary’s adjusts to new personnel in counselling. We would like to thank Mrs. Vant Erve,
Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Delgado for the dedication and energy they brought to St. Mary’s High School
every day, and for the love and care they gave to the students, and to all of the St. Mary’s community.
May retirement treat them kindly and may God bless them and give them good health as they
continue in their journey.

The Counselling Department would like to welcome Mr. David Kieser as the new Counselling
Coordinating Teacher, and Mrs. Karen van Vlaanderen as the new Office Administrator. Both Mr.
Kieser and Mrs. van Vlaanderen have experience in other schools in their designated roles and are
excited to contribute in any way possible to the already wonderful atmosphere and reputation of St.
Mary’s High School. They look forward to meeting and working with both students and staff.
If students have other concerns or questions, please see below for possible resources that are
available over the summer. Enjoy summer vacation.

If students have other concerns or questions, please see below for possible resources that are
available over the summer. Enjoy summer vacation.

Community Services
· 2-1-1 (call or text): Community and Social Services Help Line (for basic needs, financial support, food,
housing information, etc.)

· 8-1-1 (call): Health Link

· Access Mental Health: 403-943-1500

· Calgary Counselling Centre: 403-691-5991 Please note that only telephone and online counselling
are available

· Catholic Family Service: 403-205-5295 Please note that only telephone services are available

· Children’s Link: 403-230-9158 services for families of children with special needs

· Community Resource Team (CRT): 403-299-9699 Please note that community visits are suspended,
but CRT is still available through telephone, text and chat

· Distress Centre: 403-266-4357 Please note that the call centre is closed, with staff working remotely.
Support is still available 24/7.

· Eastside Family Centre: 403-299-9696 Please note that only telephone and e-therapy services are
available
Student Schedules 2020-2021

Starting Monday, August 17, 2020 students can access their schedules via the Parent/Student View. Please
follow these instructions:

    •   Log into Parent/Student View at https://sis.cssd.ab.ca/public/home.html . This link is also available on
        the St. Mary’s webpage under Useful Links.
    •   Your username is the same as your Brightspace (AKA D2L) login. If you are new to the Calgary Catholic
        School District, please call the school starting August 17 to ask for your login information.
    •   Your password is the same as it was last school year. Please go here to get information to manage your
        password password.cssd.ab.ca
    •   Look for the “My Schedule” tab on the menu.

To Request Changes to your Schedule

 Students who wish to request a change to their schedule will fill in a Google form. Please follow these
instructions:

    •   Be sure to log into your Google Learn account. Go to learn.cssd.ab.ca (or any other method you like to
        use to log in to Google) and use the same login information as your Brightspace (D2L) but add
        @learn.cssd.ab.ca. For example, JohnXZ1@learn.cssd.ab.ca. Your password will be the same as it was
        last school year. See below for instructions if you are having problems logging in to your Learn
        account.
    •   Once logged into your Learn account, you can access the Google form to request a schedule change
        here: https://forms.gle/h5WVpZJ2zMuyWWrC7
    •   Our counselors/IB coordinator will be working hard to complete schedule changes before school
        starts, so please be patient. The evening before school starts, check your schedule to see if changes
        have been made.
    •   If your schedule still needs adjustment you will be able to see a counselor/IB coordinator to request
        changes during the first 2 weeks of school.

Having trouble logging into your Learn account?

You may be having issues because you have a personal Google account and it is interfering with your attempts
to log into your Learn account. If you get a message saying you do not have access to this form and need to
request permission, then you are not logged into your Learn account. Please DO NOT click the button to
request access to the form.

An easy way to avoid this is to use a Chrome Incognito browser. Hover your mouse over the Chrome icon and
right click. Select “new incognito window”. It will open a page of Chrome that does not use saved login
information and you should have no problems following the above instructions to log into your Learn account.
You can follow the same instructions with Internet Explorer and select InPrivate browsing.
St. Mary's Staff
Last Name    First Name   Department                       Last Name   First Name   Department

Bagni        George       Science                          Juneau      Pierre       Extended French - Social

Beauregard   Michelle     Vice Principal                   Kieser      David        Counsellor

Burke        Marian       Religion                         Lang        Megan        Physical Education

Cant         Frances      English                          Legault     Jeremy       Instrumental Music/Religion

Carels       Curtis       Science/ ELL                     Lurol       Etienne      French Second Language/PE

Cawood       Charles      Science                          MacLean     Stephanie    Counsellor

Czyzewska    Adela        English                          Marchuk     Nathan       Social Studies

Dittrich     Pamela       Cosmetology                      Marra       Vince        Physical Education

Dreyfuss     Gilbert      Vice Principal                   O'Donnell   Brad         Math

Drouin       Sophie       Extended French - FLA            Pineda      Larry        Construction/Fabrication/Mechanics

Erixon       Candice      Math/Science                     Pollard     Jacqueline   Science

Esposito     Fiorina      Foods/DL                         Prosciak    Chris        Technology

Fortini      Luigi        Principal                        Proulx      Martin       Extended French - FLA/SS

Gagnon       Paul         Transitions                      Quiambao    Michael      Physical Education

Gayle        Nicole       Art                              Sciore      Vini         Social Studies
                          Success Teacher/Social
Gillespie    Bruce                                         Sieben      Mitchell     Social Studies
                          Studies
Gonsalves    Nicole       English                          Slobodian   Roberta      Vice Principal

Haggard      Andrea       Extended French - Math           Stinson     Jeff         English

Harradence   Catherine    IB CT/Italian/Social             Tomcala     Mary Jane    Science

Hayden

Hayden       Michelle     Diverse Learning CT              Valente     Gisella      Math

Hedley       Shanna       Drama                            Vernon      Natalie      Science

Hnatiuk      Monica       Choir/Religion                   Walsh       Sarah        Science

Holle        Lacy         Chaplain                         Walsh       Colin        ELL

Hulse        Teresa       Diverse Learning/ELL             Watson      Carter       Math

Huvenaars    Susan        Career Practitioner              Weed        Sherri       Off Campus Teacher

Izienicki    Margaret     Math                             Wouts       Adrian       Social
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