Thursday, December 4th

DAY 1

MORNING PRAYER

In life, we may not be able to do grand things, but we can all do little things to make this world a better place. Think about the things you are good at and challenge yourself to use your talents to make the world better. Throughout the Bible, we hear how we are to help those who are poor and vulnerable in our society. We are asked to help. We should look for ways to help, even in any small way, those who are struggling and hungry.   

Loving God,

May we always remember

that by serving the women, men and children 

who are most vulnerable to poverty and injustice, 

we are loving and serving You.

Help us to support, 

in whatever small way we can,

the poor in our community,

especially during this Advent season.  

Amen 

SCHOOL SUPERVISION

Main Entrance - Mr. Solomon

North Entrance - Mrs. Daniel-Minier

South Entrance - Ms. Buglass

CAFETERIA

Thursday - Beef Quesadilla $4.50

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPRING MUSICAL MEETING: Information Meeting

A meeting about the Spring musical (production at the EA Rawlinson Centre May 6^th – May 9^th) will be held on Friday, December 5^th at 12:30 pm in the Lecture Theatre. Any students who are interested in becoming involved either on-stage (actor) or off-stage (technician, costumes etc.)  are encouraged to attend.

SR. B GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Friday, December 5th

Saturday, December 6th

2026 WINTER GAMES: Team Lakeland Badminton Tryouts

The 2026 Winter Games will take place in the City of Meadow Lake from Sunday, February 15^th – Saturday, February 21^st. Badminton will be played from Wednesday, February 18^th – Saturday, February 21^st. Eligible players are those born 2008 or later. Players who are interested in participating must attend the tryouts at St. Francis School on Tuesday, December 9 from 6:00 pm - 9:00 and Sunday, December 14^th (if needed) from 8:30 am - 11:00 am. The cost is $35 for SBA members and $50 for all other participants. (All people in the PA Badminton Club are SBA members.) The top 5 boys and top 5 girls will be on the team. To register for the tryouts, or for additional information, please contact: Coach: Tony de Padua at adepadua@sasktel.net (Manager: Diana Schutte)

U of R: Half-Price Application Week 
Domestic students can submit their admission application for graduate and undergraduate programs from Monday, December 1^st – Wednesday, December 10^th and receive a 50% discount on the application fee. To apply, use the link: https://www.uregina.ca/admissions/apply.html and use the coupon code HALFPRICE when submitting your application to take advantage of this offer.  Please note: Domestic students are eligible to apply for admission to all U of R graduate and undergraduate programs during Half-Price Application Week, except for those applying to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as students must apply for admission through Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Prospective nursing students can still take advantage of the discounted application fee by applying to a second-choice program at the University of Regina.

NEW CLUB: Cultures Forged in Solidarity

This club opportunity will be an inclusive and safe space where students can express their culture through fun activities, events, social gatherings, and more! Come and bring your culture to the table! The first meeting will be Wednesday, December 10th at 12:30 pm in Mrs. Gareau's room (210). We can't wait to begin this new journey with our amazing student body! To sign up, use the following link: Cultures Forged in Diversity Application 

U of S: Best and Brightest Entrance Scholarships

Best and Brightest Entrance Scholarships are USask’s highest valued, renewable entrance scholarships and are awarded based on academics, leadership and contributions to school and community life. Five of these awards, known as the Circle of Honour Awards, are designated for Indigenous students. To be considered, students must complete an application for admission by Monday, December 1, 2025 and must fill out and submit the online application for Best and Brightest Scholarships by the deadline of Monday, December 15, 2025 in PAWS. For additional information, please see Mrs. Rapin or go https://admissions.usask.ca/money/scholarships.php

PA PUBLIC LIBRARY JOB OPPORTUNITY

A part-time Page position in Circulation Services at the Prince Albert Public Library is available for a high school student. The Page position involves shelving and organizing books, as well as other library materials. Interested applicants must submit an application (resume and cover letter) by email to jobs@princealbertlibrary.ca or bring a hard copy to the library addressed to Meghan O’Leary, Deputy Director. Additional information about PT Page position/requirements, as well as a job application is available at http://pa.pursueonline.com/index.php/community/

SMHS CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy some Christmas music on Tuesday, December 9th at 7:00 pm in the Lecture Theatre. Admission is by donation with all funds going toward the 2026 band trip.

U of R: CHANCELLOR’S SCHOLARSHIP

The Chancellor’s Scholarship is awarded annually to 14 undergraduate students who meet a variety of criteria, including a minimum admission average of 95%. This scholarship is being offered to students directly from high school, or high school graduates who have not completed any post-secondary course (other than those completed while the student was still in high school, such as the High School Accelerated Program). One award is reserved for Indigenous applicants and one award is reserved for out-of-province applicants. The recipients will receive $10,000 a year over four years, plus on-campus housing for the first year. The value of each scholarship is just over $46,000.  An application is required and includes a written statement, resume, reference letter, and referee. The deadline to apply is December 15, 2025. Additional information is available at https://www.uregina.ca/cost-aid/funding/undergraduate-scholarships/entrance-awards/chancellors-scholarship.html

MODEL UN ASSEMBLY: December Session

In preparation for the Model UN Assembly in the spring, there will be a a mini Model UN Assembly on Tuesday, December 16^th from 3:45 pm to 6:30 pm in the Lecture Theatre. Staff and students who want to watch must contact Mr. Joncas, as there are limited spots. St. Mary students will compete alongside students from Carlton and Shellbrook WP Sandin.

NATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST: Gr 10-12 French

If you are a student in grades 10, 11, or 12 (Secondaire IV, Secondaire V, or Cégep in Quebec), you could win one of 100 scholarships to continue your studies completely or partially in French after high school! In total, $388,000 will be distributed between two categories: French as a first language and French as a second language. Enter the National Essay Contest for a chance to win a scholarship between $1,000 and $28,000 to study at one of our 15 partnering post-secondary institutions all over the country. It's your chance to invest in your future, en français! “What is more important: Doing, Listening or Talking?” In this 750-word essay, in French, we’re asking you to reflect on what the theme means to you. The deadline to submit the essay is Friday, December 19th. Additional information about the contest is available here.

IDW 2026 CLASSROOM ART CONTEST: K-12

This year’s IDW Classroom Art Contest challenges classrooms to get creative and inspire others through art. Add your voice - and your classmates’ voices - to the global movement toward building a better, more inclusive world. All entries must be submitted by Friday, January 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. (CST) Additional information, including contest rules and guidelines, is available here.

DRIVER EDUCATION 2025 - 2026

Students who are interested in the 2025 - 2026 driver education program are to register online through Microsoft Forms: Driver Education Registration 2025 - 2026 (This link is also posted in Edsby.) Mr. Bourdon will then place students into groups on Edsby. A reminder that spots fill up quickly, so it is important for students to select their two top options to best accommodate each student. 

The start dates for session are as follows:

Session 2: Oct. 7 - Oct. 28 (3:30 pm - 5:30 pm) 

Session 3: Oct. 20 - Dec. 2 (12:15 pm - 1:10 pm) 

Session 4: Nov. 12 - Dec. 3 (3:30 pm - 5:30 pm) 

Session 5: Jan. 5 - Jan. 23 (3:30 pm - 5:30 pm) 

Session 6: Feb. 2 - Feb. 27 (3:30 pm - 5:30 pm) 

Session 7: Mar. 3 - Apr. 22 (12:15 pm - 1:10 pm) 

Session 8: Mar. 9 - Mar. 30 (3:30 pm - 5:30 pm) 

Session 9: Apr. 13 - May 1 (3:30 pm - 5:30 pm) 

Session 10: May 4 - May 26 (3:30 pm - 5:30 pm) 

Session 11: July 2 - July 10 (9:00 am - 1:00 pm) 

Please note the following:

• Students must be 15 years old by the start of the session.
• Sessions will be in the Room 246.
• All sessions begin at 3:30 pm and end at 5:30 pm. (except for the summer/lunch sessions).
• During your driver education class, you will need:
•  your birth certificate
• a pencil/pen and notebook
• your MYSGI account number. (needed on the first day of class)
• Students must go to SGI to get their MySGI customer number.

SMHS RESOURCES EDSBY GROUP: Students/Parents/Staff

All staff, students and parents are encouraged to select and SIGN UP for the SMHS Resources Edsby Group. It contains information pertaining to the Ecole St Mary High School website (morning prayer, daily announcements, cafeteria menu etc.), the Learning Resource Centre website (Book Promotions, Library Search, Ministry databases etc.) and SMHS Career Planning website (Blog entries for scholarships/events, high school graduation credits, post-secondary requirements etc.)

HOMEWORK CLUB
Need a quiet spot to focus on your homework, use a computer, study for an exam, or simply to enjoy your lunch in peace? Then come join us in Room B20 (Mr. Kirilenko's classroom)! Homework Club runs Monday to Friday from 12:14 pm to 1:14pm. All students are welcome to attend!

ART CLUB 

Art Club is every Thursday from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm in the Art Room. Drop-ins are always welcome! 

GAMES CLUB 

Games Club is every Tuesday and Thursday in the Lecture Theatre at lunch. Drop in and play some board games or test your skills on the Switch. 

YEARBOOK CLUB 

Help capture school memories! A camera is supplied! No experience is needed! Students who are interested should contact Mrs. Janay Cantin.

INDIGENOUS ART CLUB 

Students will begin to enhance their skills by working primarily with beads. Artisan trainees will start learning to bead using the 2-needle applique method during the following meeting times: Monday to Friday from 8:00 am - 8:45 am and lunch hour, as well as Wednesday: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm, unless otherwise posted for special event teachings. All participants will be asked to log their hours. The expected time that a project may require ranges from 4 to 30 hours or more. Sessions will enhance students’ skill levels, enabling them to confidently participate at regional, provincial and national levels of Skills Canada competitions. Students will be able to compete at the school level, city and provincial levels this year based on performance and dedication to the skill required. See Mrs. Longjohn-Constant in room B26 for more details. 

FREE FEMININE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS

École St Mary High School has received free feminine menstrual products to support our students. Students can go to the main office for their free products (box of tampons and a box of pads). Menstrual Equity in Saskatchewan Schools is a three-year initiative. 

EDSBY SUPPORT

Information and instructional videos are available at https://pacsd.ca/our-students/edsby-for-students/

FREE MICROSOFT 365 FOR STUDENTS

Students enrolled in the Prince Albert Catholic School Division have the opportunity to install Microsoft Office 365 on their desktops, laptops and mobile devices. Instructions and additional information is available at http://pa.pursueonline.com/index.php/community/

COMMUNITY

PRINCE ALBERT PUBLIC LIBRARY (PAPL)
Find out about all the FREE print and digital access to novels, graphic novels, music, movies, comedy shows, crafts, book clubs and more that is available at the Prince Albert Public Library. For detailed information visit https://princealbertlibrary.ca/ 

PA PUBLIC LIBRARY: Transparent Language Online

With over 100 languages to choose from (aboriginal languages, ESL programs, American Sign Language etc.) Transparent Language Online is a simple and effective way to learn a new language from the comfort of your own home. Available for desktop or mobile. (A Public Library card is required.) Please see the Information Desk at the public library for a handout on how to download the Transparent Language Online mobile app for Android or iOS.

PA PUBLIC LIBRARY: Fiero Code

Fiero Code is a web-based computer-programming education resource for kids (ages 8+), teens, and adults. Learn how to code using Code Blocks, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, and much more. This educational resource will teach users how to create video games, apps, websites, animations, programs, etc. Fiero Code provides courses, tutorial videos, contest events, and more. From beginner to advanced, there is something for everyone with Fiero Code! (A Public Library Card is required.)

CAFETERIA

Monday - Crispy Chicken & Fries $4.50 

Tuesday - Pizza $3.50 

Wednesday - Honey Garlic Meatballs & Rice $4.50 

Thursday - Beef Quesadilla $4.50

Friday - Fish & Chips $4.50