St. Rose School Newsletter February 2026

Administrator's Message

Dear St. Rose Families, February is a month that invites us to reflect on love, compassion, and our shared responsibility to care for one another as members of our Catholic school community. As we continue our journey through the school year, we are reminded that our faith calls us to live the Gospel each day through kindness, service, and respect for the dignity of every person. This month, our school will be focusing on Random Acts of Kindness, encouraging students to look for simple, meaningful ways to show love and compassion to others. Whether it is offering a kind word, helping a classmate, or including someone who may feel left out, these small actions reflect Christ’s love in powerful ways. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home and to model kindness in everyday life. February is also Black History Month, a time to honour and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Black Canadians and Black communities around the world. Through learning, reflection, and dialogue, our students are growing in understanding and appreciation of diversity, while being reminded of our Catholic call to uphold justice, equity, and the dignity of all people. As we look ahead, we are preparing our hearts for the sacred season of Lent, a Catholic liturgical season consisting of forty days of fasting, prayer, and penitence, beginning with Ash Wednesday on February 18. Our students will participate in a liturgical celebration at 12:45 p.m.The placing of ashes on the forehead reminds us to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. Ashes should be worn proudly on this day as a public witness of our faith. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, may we grow in faith, kindness, and love as we prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.

Erin Winch, Principal

Kyle Pisani, Assistant Principal

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast - February 17

On February 17, all students will participate in our Shrove Tuesday pancake breakfast. We would love to have parent volunteers to help serve the food to our students. Please email Franco.Cimino@ecsd.net if you are able to help from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Thank you!

January Summary Report

January Summary Reports for students in Grades 1 to 9 were available in PowerSchool on January 27 at 4:00 p.m. To help families understand what the report includes and how to access it, we have created a webpage with step‑by‑step instructions and additional support. Please visit our January Summary Report page to learn more. 

Intentions for Next Year

Planning is already underway for the 2026-2027 school year, and we need your help! Sign into your PowerSchool account and click on "Pre-Enrolment for Next Year" to let us know if you will be returning to our school or where you will be attending as you move into high school. The pre-enrolment process lets us know how many students to expect in September 2026 and helps us plan for staffing, class sizes, and programming. You can find more information about pre-enrolment on our website. If you are having trouble completing the form, please contact us at the school.

Grade 9 students are encouraged to attend the Open Houses for the high schools that they are considering. Use the link below to find the dates and times.

Student Solidarity Team Update

This February, our school community joins the nation in recognizing Black History Month, a time to honour the history, achievements, and contributions of Black Canadians. In 2026, Canada marks 30 years of celebrating Black History Month, with the official theme: “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.” This theme encourages us to reflect on the legacy of those who helped shape our country, celebrate excellence today, and imagine the possibilities of tomorrow’s leaders and innovators. Our Solidarity Team is proud to spotlight the voices and accomplishments of Black authors, athletes, artists, and trailblazers—especially those whose work has shaped Canadian culture and inspired young people. Throughout February, we will:

  • Feature Black Canadian authors in our school library displays and reading recommendations, highlighting works from fiction to poetry that explore identity, resilience, and belonging.
  • Spotlight athletes who have broken barriers and lifted up communities with courage and leadership.
  • Showcase artists and creatives, from painters and sculptors to musicians and filmmakers, whose art celebrates both heritage and innovation.
  • Share stories of trailblazers, past and present, whose contributions have helped shape Canada’s social, cultural, and political landscape.
  • These highlights are part of our commitment to fostering understanding, respect, and celebration of diverse histories and voices in our school community.

Why It Matters Black History Month invites us not only to celebrate achievements but also to deepen our understanding of the challenges that Black communities have faced and continue to confront. By learning, listening, and honoring these stories, we strengthen our solidarity and commitment to equity and belonging for all. We encourage students, families, and staff to join us in learning and celebrating throughout the month. Whether through reading, conversation, or participation in school events, there are many ways to engage and reflect. Keep your eye out for the events happening in the city by checking out the City of Edmonton Events page.

Reminder: students are not permitted to sell items in the school

We’d like to remind all students that selling items at school is not permitted. This includes—but is not limited to—3D‑printed items, candy, pop, chips, or any other goods. Students interested in entrepreneurship will have a chance to develop and apply these skills in Junior Achievement (JA) during the Grade 9 option, which is the only approved opportunity for selling products within the school. Thank you for helping keep our school safe, focused, and fair for everyone!

Our annual Cereal Drive began on January 28 and will continue until February 10, 2026.  This year, we are supporting the Breakfast Program at St. Benedict Catholic Elementary School by filling their shelves with healthy cereal boxes. Please drop off any cereal donations to your homeroom by Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

Math on Mondays is back!

Every Monday, a math teacher is on site and ready to help your child tackle tricky concepts, boost confidence, and strengthen their skills. Whenever you need a little extra support — we’ve got your back! Here are the dates and locations for February:

  • Feb. 2: Mrs. Johnson — Room 213
  • Feb. 9: Mrs. Wheeler — Room 114
  • Feb. 23: Mrs. Johnson — Room 213

Everyone is welcome — come learn, practice, and enjoy math together!

Get ready for an amazing day on the slopes!

St. Rose is heading to Marmot Basin on Friday, March 13, and we’d love to have your child join the fun! If your child came with us on the Rabbit Hill ski trip in January, they’re welcome to sign up for this exciting mountain adventure. All the details—payment deadlines, field trip forms, and everything you need to know—are posted in your child’s Google Classroom. If anything comes up or you have extra questions, feel free to reach out to Mr. McGrath at brian.mcgrath@ecsd.net.

SCIENCE OLYMPICS

Our Science Olympics team will be competing at the APEGA Science Olympics later this month! They’ve been hard at work designing and building an automated soccer shooter for a foosball-style game. We wish them the very best as they head to the University of Alberta to compete against schools from across Alberta. Good luck, team!

ECSD SCIENCE SHOWCASE 

The Accelerated Science 8 students will be showcasing their Science Fair projects at Lumen Christi later this month! They have been hard at work applying the scientific method and developing experimental procedures, collecting data, and drawing conclusions. This event will give them the opportunity to present their projects to students from other schools, teachers, ECSD staff, and superintendents. We’re excited to see their curiosity and creativity on display! To see the digital program for the day, please see: https://bit.ly/3SqrRLe

School Council Meeting - February 9

All community members are encouraged to join us for our next School Council meeting on Monday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Pink Shirt Day - February 24

On February 24, we ask everyone at St. Rose to wear Pink Shirts to mark Pink Shirt Day, a day to promote greater acceptance, respect, kindness, and inclusion for everyone.

The Eagles Store Is OPEN — Time to Gear Up! Spring is on the way, and it’s the perfect time to refresh your Eagles Spirit gear! From hoodies to tees and everything in between, the Eagles Store has all the gear you need to soar into the new season. Don’t miss out — grab your favorites and show off that Eagles pride!  Shop the full collection here:

Grade 9 Farewell - Save the Date

Our grade 9 Farewell will be taking place on Friday, June 5 at St. John the Evangelist Parish. Please add this date to your calendars.

Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Tests 2026

All grade nine students must write the Provincial Achievement Exams at the end of the year. This assessment is part of the final mark which is submitted to high schools and will affect final grades. Below are the dates of the exams. Please note that they occur late in the month of June.

Language Arts Part A May 21

Language Arts Part B June 9

Math Part A June 16

Math Part B June 19

Social Studies June 22

Science June 23

February Dates

February 2 Pre-enrolment for 2026 - 2027 school year opens on PowerSchool February 5 St. Rose Open House at 6:30 p.m. February 6 St Francis Xavier visit for grade 9 students February 9 School Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m. February 13 Valentine's Dance p.m. February 16 Family Day - no school February 17 Shrove Tuesday pancke breakfast February 18 Ash Wednesday Liturgy 12:45 p.m. February 20 Science Fair for Gr 8 Accelerated Science Students February 24 Pink Shirt Day February 25 Faith Development Day for all ECSD staff - no school for students February 26 - 27 Teacher's Convention - no school

Credits:

Created with images by Selvam - "Ash Wednesday themed watercolor artwork showing a simple ash cross on a textured purple background, minimalist and evocative, hand-painted watercolor" • Umar - "happy black history month wishing card and social media post background" • Eleanor - "Stop Bullying.,Anti-bullying day illustration on pink background." • Kara - "cross of ashes with border of palm fronds and crown of thorns on a dark purple background"