News Archive

Merry Christmas from our St. Mary’s School 💚 As we celebrate the joy of the season, all of us at St. Mary’s would like to wish our students and families a very Merry Christmas. May your days be filled with peace, love, and time together, and may the joy of Christ’s birth be felt in every home. Thank you for being such a valued part of our school community ❤️

Our final week of Advent is here 💜 A time to slow down, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the joy of Christmas.

Wreathing you a Merry Christmas from the Grade 2 Team! 💚

See you in the Front Lobby for Pick Up TODAY!

Today we celebrated the Kindergarten students as they performed their very best and reminded us about the reason for the season. This was the last of our Advent concerts and we were so proud of the Kindergarten students and we are truly grateful for the hard work of our Kindergarten Teachers! God bless you all! Thank you Mrs. Creelman, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Jensen and Miss Pruitt.

Today we celebrated the Kindergarten students as they performed their very best and reminded us about the reason for the season. This was the last of our Advent concerts and we were so proud of the Kindergarten students and we are truly grateful for the hard work of our Kindergarten Teachers! God bless you all! Thank you Mrs. Creelman, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Jensen and Miss Pruitt.

These Grade 5 and 6 students participated in the University of Waterloo Beaver Computing Challenge, as part of our Enhanced Learning. Seven of our students finished with distinction. We had thirty students participate in total. We are so proud of their achievement.

A look back at Grade 4K’s PJ Day last week, complete with reading time to their favourite stuffies 🧸

Banana yogurt parfaits with 5S in Foods yesterday - delicious teamwork! 🍌😋

Grade 3L’s Snowman Building Challenge! ⛄️❄️ So much creativity (and snow) packed into one fun activity!

Our teachers and staff work hard, and Parent Council is pleased to put together an Advent Breakfast to celebrate everything they do for our children and families. If you are able to help out, please visit the link below to sign up to bring food or help with set-up and clean-up. Food may be delivered Wednesday Dec 17, or between 7:30-8:00 am on Dec 18. volunteersignup.org/EMRF8

Tonight we were treated to the Grade 6 Band Concert. All 4 classes had an opportunity to perform and we were so grateful to see such an appreciative audience. They called it the 5 Note Concert and all of the songs were based around the initials notes the students have learned. Thank you to Mrs. Pena who put so much heart and soul into the rehearsals, helping everyone be ready for tonight. Thank you to the Gr6 students and to the teachers for their support as well, and a special thanks to Miss Ralph from St. John Paul ll, for your guidance and support as well! Congratulations everyone on a successful evening!

And a huge thank you to Mrs. Boynton and all our parent volunteers who made our Scholastic Book Fair such a success! 📚🎉

St. Nicholas made a surprise stop this weekend in Kindergarten Creelman! Our kinder students were delighted to find little socks stuffed with goodies tucked in their shoes - a tiny reminder of kindness, generosity, and the magic of his feast day, celebrated every year on December 5th.

This Advent season marks our second year of St. Mary’s Mitten Tree! Aligning with our Catholic Social Teaching Preference for the Poor, Our Grade One classes are asking for new mittens, hats, or scarves to be donated. They will be warmly received by those in need, and donated to The Spirit of Christmas. We are collecting items until December 12th. We thank you in advance for our help with our Good Works Project! ❤️

Tonight many members of our St.Mary’s Living Nativity Choir made it out to St. James to brave the cold and to share the beauty of the Advent season through song. 🎶 🎵🎶 Bless you all for coming to experience this special event! Click on the picture to hear them sing!

Snow much fun at recess this past week! ☃️

Tonight we enjoyed a beautiful Advent concert from the grade 4 and 5 students! The music was so special and full of joy! Thank you Mrs Pena as well as the homeroom teachers who helped make this evening a night to remember! St. James church was filled with song and with the many families who came to see all of the hard work come to fruition! Thank you all!

A huge congratulations to our amazing Grade 1 students on their beautiful Advent Concert performance last night! Your hard work, big smiles, and joyful voices helped us welcome the Advent season in the sweetest way. Thank you to all the families who came to support and celebrate with us - your presence means so much. A special shoutout to our dedicated Grade 1 teachers for guiding our little performers, and to Mrs. Webber, our Division One music specialist, for her incredible work in bringing this concert to life. What a wonderful way to begin Advent together 💜🎶

‘The Lunch Kitch’ - Hot lunch ladies are busy cooking up a storm today! We have pancakes and sausage on the menu ( 888 Pancakes!!!) and the aroma is out of this world! 😊

A reminder that we have Living Books here tomorrow in the front foyer for our St. Mary’s Book Fair! Come visit for some faith based books!

Our Book Fair begins on Monday! 📚 If you would like to volunteer, please contact Mrs. Boynton - nboynton@redeemer.ab.ca

The Spirit of Christmas Dance was a night to remember, with fun times and friendship for all! Thank you Parent Council for organizing this evening of celebration!

Our Spirit of Christmas Family Dance is TOMORROW! We hope to see you and your families there! 🎄🕺🏼 If you’re wondering what items to bring for Magic of Christmas donations, here are some suggestions: - LEGO (very popular toy item) - Craft kits or Science kits - Gifts for 8-12 year olds - Cash - Gift cards for local grocery stores

Happy Halloween from St. Mary’s! We hope you had a fun & safe night & enjoy all your treats this weekend! We had such a blast celebrating with our school community yesterday! 🎃🧡

Mrs.Boynton’s STEM option class had free choice Bot Day with 5D! #stem #stemeducation #stemeducationforkids

Happy National Custodian Day! A huge thank you to Ms. Gricelda, Ms. May, and Ms. Jacquie for all the hard work, care, and dedication you bring to our school every single day. Our school wouldn’t be the same without you - we are so grateful for everything you do! 💙

Today our school was filled with orange as staff and students came together to honour Truth and Reconciliation Day. A powerful reminder that Every Child Matters - we remember, we reflect, and we commit to walking the path of reconciliation together 🧡

Our Terry Fox Walk began yesterday with an inspiring message of resilience from Ryan Straschnitzki - thank you for setting the tone for such a meaningful day, and reminding us that when one door closes, another one opens. Seeing our school community walk and run together in Terry’s memory was truly powerful, and together we raised over $6,900 for cancer research! Ensuring Terry’s legacy continues to make a difference. #TerryFox #Resilience #Community

Splashing for a cause! 💦 Our students bought raffle tickets to dunk their favorite teachers, raising funds for our Terry Fox fundraiser. Huge thanks to Mr. Harding and Mrs. Hughes for organizing this fun event, and to all the teachers who bravely took the plunge!

St. Mary’s Parent Council is running a fundraiser with Old Dutch Chips ahead of Halloween – a great way to stock up for trick-or-treaters, snacks, treats, and events! Feel free to take orders from family and friends to add to yours as well - the more the merrier! Order forms and details can be found at this link: https://forms.gle/39dQtM95SMoKDRF97 Order deadline is September 26. Note payment must be made by e-transfer (preferred), cheque, or cash. Details are in the link. Funds raised go toward Parent Council initiatives for 2025-26, including sound systems for the gym and drama program. Thank you for your support! Last day to order!

What an incredible day at our Cross Country Meet yesterday! Congratulations to all of our runners for their hard work, determination, and great sportsmanship out on the course. 👏 A huge thank you to our parents, families, and teachers who came out to cheer on our athletes - your encouragement means so much! #HuskyPride #CrossCountry #STM

6A and 6D on the “hunt” for the principles of Democracy last week!

Grade 5 STEM option fun with Mrs. Boynton! 🚗

Our Grade 5s kicked off Foods last week with a tasty start - homemade energy bites! Full of learning and deliciousness!

Happy Spirit Day! So great to see our classrooms and hallways filled yesterday with Husky pride! 💙💛

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Welcome Back Carnival & BBQ last night! 🎉 We are so grateful to our amazing Parent Council for hosting such a fun evening. It was wonderful to see children, families, and staff out playing games, sharing smiles, enjoying snacks, and making memories together. What a great way to kick off the year!

Today we gathered for our Welcoming Mass at St. James Parish - a beautiful way to begin the school year together. Students, staff, and parents joined in prayer and community, reminding us of the blessing it is to walk this journey of faith and learning side by side.

Ever wondered what it’s like to be in charge? Now’s your chance! Buy a raffle ticket for your shot at being Principal for the Day! ⭐️TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO BUY RAFFLE TICKETS ⭐️ We will announce who our new principal will be at our assembly next Friday! 1 🎟️ for $1 6 🎟️ for $5 13 🎟️ for $10 30 🎟️ for $20 All proceeds go towards our Terry Fox Fundraiser in support of cancer research. Together, we can keep Terry’s dream alive!

Today we were blessed to have Gr.9 Band student from St.John Paul II come over after school to help our Gr.6 students get acquainted with their new instruments. It was a beautiful thing to see and hear! Thank you Miss Ralph and thank you to all of the students. We are so grateful!

Get your Halloween chips from Old Dutch! All proceeds go toward Parent Council initiatives for 2025-26, including sound systems for the gym and drama program. The order form and info can be found at https://forms.gle/39dQtM95SMoKDRF97. Deadline is Sept 26. Parent Council thanks you for your support!

5D learning to use the draw coding web app with the Sphero mini robot in their STEM option with Mrs.Boynton!

Grade 1 Rattee celebrated International Dot Day inspired by The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds! ✨ We explored dot-themed literacy and numeracy activities - writing stories that began with just a dot, connecting the dots to practice our counting skills, and most importantly, celebrating creativity and individuality. Through our learning, we also connected to our faith, remembering that we are each unique children of God, making our own special mark on the world. 🌍❤️ #DotDay #MakeYourMark

The Welcome Back Carnival & BBQ is on Thursday, Sept 18 from 5:45 - 7:30! Parent Council has an exciting evening of carnival games, concession, and fun for families! Admission is by donation (debit/credit or cash accepted). Come get your passport and have some fun playing carnival games with your family and friends!

St. Mary's Parent Council is excited to host the annual Welcome Back Carnival & BBQ on Sept 18. We need volunteers!! If you're able to help out with the concession or carnival games, please reach out to chair Krista Conrad at krista.conrad3@gmail.com

On September 26th, our school will take part in the Terry Fox run - rain or shine! Together, we keep Terry’s dream alive and continue the fight against cancer. Families can support by donating directly to their child’s classroom fundraising page. Every step and every dollar makes a difference! 🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️

5B and 5D shared their “Me Museums” yesterday. Students shared items and people that are special to them and got to learn about each other and build community!

Grade 6 Voices Leading the Way! Created by our Grade 6 students, these goals and words of encouragement are meant to motivate not only themselves, but others in our school to dream big, work hard, and believe in themselves.

Today we celebrated Mary’s birthday with joy in our school community! Through prayer and beautiful artwork, our students honored her with love and creativity. 💙 #WeAreCTR #ctrcatholic

Mrs. Boynton’s Grade 5 STEM option with 5D! In groups they had to come up with a group name, build it out of paper so it was 3D. They also learned about a few accidental inventions in real life. Then as an extra challenge, each group got to pick 2 cards and make a new invention out of those 2 items by drawing their invention, giving it a name and explain what it would be used for! Creative collaboration and fun!

Playground apparatus complete and asphalt going down now! So exciting seeing our inclusive playground take shape!

We hope you are having an awesome summer and look forward to seeing you on August 20th for the Grand Opening of our NEW inclusive, accessible playground! Thank you to all of the crew at BDI who continue to work through the rain to bring it all together! We are so grateful!

It’s starting! 🪏🔨🛝 Ground has been broke on new inclusive, accessible playground! Stay tuned for updates!

We hope you are all enjoying the start of your summer holidays! ☀️ If you are interested in helping with our Rise & Shine program in the fall, please reach out!

Our final Grades 4–6 Enhanced Learning session wrapped up with an exciting science fair! Over the last 6–7 weeks of school, students explored their curiosity by designing and completing their own science projects - dedicating time both in class and at home. From brainstorming questions to presenting their findings, they put their understanding of the scientific method into action in creative and thoughtful ways. Well done, young scientists!

Kindergarten celebrated National Indigenous History Month by playing Waltes, a traditional Mi’kmaw game; reading Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox by Métis author and artist Danielle Daniel, which introduces readers to the Anishinaabe tradition of totem animals; and learning how to Powwow dance with Deanne Hupfield!

Grade 4s enjoying a nature walk the last week of school!

Happy last day of the school year! It’s hard to believe it’s already here, and as sad as we are to say goodbye to our students, we’ve had the best year learning, growing, & creating memories together! 💙💛 Have an amazing summer break St. Mary’s! ☀️

Congratulations to Eric and Brynn who were honoured at the Tablets and Doorposts celebration last week! Their writing pieces, along with students from across the division, will be published in CTR’s 2025 Tablets and Doorpost Anthology.

Keeping it fresh with Glow in the Dark math in 3L and buddies with KW!

In the spirit of June’s Catholic Social Teaching theme of Solidarity, Mrs. Edwards’ and Mrs. Romaniuk’s Kindergarten classes are proud to support the Northern Birthday Box Project. This initiative sends birthday supplies to children living in remote northern communities across Canada, where the cost of everyday items can be especially high. We believe that all people are created equally by God and are called to care for one another, standing together in unity and working for the common good. As we learn about kindness, generosity, and justice, we are reminded that every child deserves to feel loved, valued, and celebrated. We send our warmest wishes and a very Happy Birthday to the special recipients of our birthday boxes!

In the spirit of June's Catholic Social Teaching theme of Solidarity, Mrs. Edwards' and Mrs. Romaniuk's Kindergarten classes are proud to support the Northern Birthday Box Project. This initiative sends birthday supplies to children living in remote northern communities across Canada, where the cost of everyday items can be especially high. We believe that all people are created equally by God and are called to care for one another, standing together in unity and working for the common good. As we learn about kindness, generosity, and justice, we are reminded that every child deserves to feel loved, valued, and celebrated. We send our warmest wishes and a very Happy Birthday to the special recipients of our birthday boxes!

Camp Day in Grade One! We read by the fire, made s’mores, got cozy in our tents, and played camp themed numeracy and literacy games! 🏕️

What an incredible showcase of talent, creativity, and courage! From singers and dancers to magicians and comedians, our young performers lit up the stage with their amazing acts and big hearts in our Division One Talent Show. We are so proud of every brave student who stepped into the spotlight! ⭐️ A huge thank you to Mrs. Weber, Miss Pacione, and Mrs. Bolechowsky for organizing and running this unforgettable event. Your hard work and encouragement made it all possible!

3 Lacroix just enjoying another normal day together! Grateful for these last few days with our students 💛

Last day with our Rise & Shine crew! A huge thank you to all our volunteers, students, & staff that helped make this program such a success this past year! ☀️ WE ARE IN NEED OF A VOLUNTEER TO RUN OUR RISE & SHINE PROGRAM THIS FALL ☀️ This includes running daily breakfast, organizing food, & helping to ensure all our little tummies are full at St. Mary’s! We will have supports in place to help assist. If you are interested in running this program, please send us a message or email Mrs. Gustafson as soon as possible! (sgustafson@redeemer.ab.ca)

A buzzing thank you to Katie from The Honey Merchants for visiting our Grade 2 classes this past week! The students had an unforgettable time learning all about bees, exploring real life hives, trying on beekeeper gear, and getting a sweet taste of what it means to care for these important pollinators 🐝🍯

Our Grade 5 students took a step back in time during their field trip to Calgary’s Heritage Park yesterday! Rides, sweets, exploring historic buildings and learning about pioneer life, it was a day full of hands-on history and unforgettable memories!

Our grade 1’s had so much fun at the Calgary Zoo earlier this week! Our little explorers had a day full of wonder, learning, and animal encounters they won’t forget! (and a snoozy bus ride home!)

Mrs Boynton brought ozobots to 3Pena! Using colour coding, the Grade 3s made their own path, while thinking of what coded actions they would like their robot to do!

Grade 1 performed a sound story and song based on the book Moongame by Frank Asch for parents and kindergartens using a variety of instruments. They were all amazing and put on a great show!

A shimmy a day keeps the year end blues away! Last few weeks with our students and enjoying all the end of year fun!

This past week, 2B got mini robots from Mrs. Gustafson to celebrate finishing their robot stories! Then with their Grade 5B buddies, they read their stories to them, enjoyed a rocket popsicle together and played on the playground together!💞🤖

Kindergarten Teachers - part teachers, part collectors of stuff!? Need 37 empty yogurt containers? They got ‘em. Toilet paper rolls? A whole collection. Rocks that look like potato’s? You bet. However, they’re not hoarders but rather curators of magnificent treasures for future art, play, & classroom learning and we love them!!

Our Grade 2’s had a blast at Granary Road yesterday! From farmyard fun to hands-on learning, it was a day full of adventure, play, and discovering Alberta’s agricultural roots!

A Standing Ovation for Our Grade 6 Band! 🎶👏 What a fantastic performance at our Grade 6 Year-End Band Concert last night! Our talented students amazed us with their music, teamwork, and growth - and it was all made possible by the incredible leadership of Mrs. Amsterdam. Thank you, Mrs. Amsterdam, for your passion, patience, and unwavering dedication. Your love for music has inspired our students and brought such joy to our school community all year long. Bravo to our young musicians - you’ve ended the year on a high note!

Yesterday, during our beautiful Year-End Mass, we gathered as a school community to celebrate and bid farewell to our Grade 6 students. It was a time of gratitude, reflection, and prayer as we marked the end of their journey at our school and looked ahead to the new paths they are about to follow. As part of this special celebration, each Grade 6 student received a Mary Medallion, lovingly presented by their teachers. This small but meaningful gift symbolizes our hopes that they carry the values of faith, kindness, and compassion with them as they move on to new adventures. To conclude, the entire school community extended our school blessing, surrounding our graduates with support, love, and prayers for a bright and meaningful future. Though we are sad to see them go, we are excited to see all that they will achieve. Go forward with courage, faith, and joy - your St. Mary’s family will always be cheering you on! 💛💙

St. Mary’s is so excited to celebrate for the first year our Heart of Mary Award. The Heart of Mary Award honours a student who lives their faith with humility, devotion, and a heart for service - quietly leading others and strengthening the connection between home, school, and parish. This year, we are proud to recognize Michael Heller. Congratulations, Michael!

Each year, three Grade 6 students are presented with the Citizenship Award, sponsored by the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the teachers of Christ The Redeemer Local #29. This award recognizes students who consistently live out the St. Mary’s Way through their words and actions, demonstrate leadership and service in both school and community, and are active in clubs, teams, and volunteer efforts. Congratulations to this year’s deserving recipients: Erica Sherry, Laine Dafoe, and Shianne Matwychuk!

Our Kindergarten explorers had a blast at Telus Spark yesterday! From hands-on experiments to discovering the wonders of their world around them, their curiosity was in full force!

Last Night our St.Mary’s School Choir in conjunction with the St. James Children’s Choir performed at The Living Nativity at St.James Catholic Church in Okotoks. It was an incredible evening. Thank you to the students, Mrs. Bolechowsky , Mrs. Weber and Mrs. Rorke (Holy Spirit Academy) for your time and talent. The students sang so beautifully- enjoy a little sample of the joy they shared! # stmfaith

A big thank you to all volunteers who helped to make the book fair such a success! 40 children won books and prizes, teachers got to shop and add to their libraries due to the book fair’s success! A huge thank you to our St.Mary’s families for their support!❤️

Thank you for joining us for our Grade 3 Advent Sampler! Our hearts were filled with Christmas cheer as our Grade 3 students performed festive songs, skits and readings to celebrate this season of hope and love.

A huge congratulations to St. Mary's talented choir for their incredible performance at the Lethbridge this week! 🌟 Their dedication, harmony, and passion for music truly shone, and we couldn’t be more proud. It is wonderful to see you nurture and share your special gifts from God with such joy and grace. .🎤💖 Thank you to Mrs. Weber and Mrs. Amsterdam for making this experience possibel and for practicing, supporting and encouraging our students along the way—your hard work has inspired us all. Bravo, choir! 👏✨ #StMarysChoir #ProudMoment

We are very excited to share the Grade 3 Advent Celebration with you! DOORS OPEN AT 6 and we begin at 6:30pm!

Thank you to all our families who joined us for our Advent Liturgy! Our Grade 1 Students and Father Valentine reminded us of the blessings of hope, peace, and love. We are so grateful for moments like these that fill our hearts and prepares for the coming of Jesus!

The BookFair starts tomorrow! Parents are welcome to shop until 4pm Monday-Thursday. Student Wish Lists will be coming home over the next couple of days. Did you know that Teacher’s have Wish Lists too? ☺️

A huge thank you to St. James CWL who are hosting their Christmas Bake sale with proceeds going to our St. Mary’s inclusive, accessible playground! Please stop by to support this great cause after all Masses this weekend!

Grade 5 Spackman is hitting the ground running in math this week! They’re practicing place value with a game called Pickle. They had a blast competing against their partners.

St. Mary’s Admin Team Welcomes You Back!

Hello St. Mary’s Students and Families!! We hope you had a beautiful summer vacation! We have been preparing for your return and can’t wait to see you!

We’re getting ready for another great school year! Join us Tuesday August 27th from 2:30-4:00 for meet the teacher, and the first day of school is Wednesday August 28th. Parents are welcome to join us for a welcome back coffee at 8:00 am on the Wednesday. If you haven’t already gotten your school supplies, please make sure to place an order on the school start website. We can’t wait to welcome you all back for another fantastic year! Enjoy the rest of your summer everyone!

Get to know our wonderful teachers! Here is Mrs. Miller

2B had an awesome time learning how to colour code with Evo the Oxobot!