St. Rose School Newsletter

Administrator's Message

Dear St. Rose Families, Recently, Pope Leo has reminded us of the impact of our words, noting that unkind language can wound deeply, while respectful and loving words have the power to heal, build community, and reflect Christ’s love. His message calls us to be mindful that what we say matters, even when spoken casually or in moments of frustration. At school, we have noticed an uptick in students using hurtful language. While we know that children and adolescents are still learning, this recent trend is concerning and does not reflect our shared values as a faith community. Words that demean or exclude others are not acceptable and are inconsistent with our call to see the dignity of Christ in every person. As educators and families, we share the responsibility of teaching our children that kindness, respect, and empathy are non‑negotiable. Throughout the month of May, staff will be reinforcing expectations around respectful language and helping students understand the real impact their words can have on others. We ask parents and caregivers to partner with us by continuing these conversations at home. Together, let us turn to Mary as our model and guide, praying that she helps our students grow in compassion and use their voices to uplift rather than harm. May Mary watch over our school community and lead us closer to her Son through love, mercy, and peace.  

Erin Winch, Principal

Kyle Pisani, Assistant Principal

Many of the activities our students enjoy at school, such as sports teams, drama productions, band, and a variety of clubs, are possible because of teachers, staff, and community members who generously volunteer their time. They often give their evenings and weekends to make these opportunities happen. Extracurricular activities are not part of the regular school day but are still an important part of learning and growing. These experiences help students gain confidence, develop interpersonal skills, and build a sense of belonging. Our school and Edmonton Catholic Schools are grateful to all our teachers, staff, and community members who volunteer their time in various ways, including organizing, supervising, conducting, directing, coaching, and refereeing. Working together, we can show respect for the teachers, staff, and community members who volunteer their time outside of regular work hours.

On May 6, we will participate in the Hats On For Mental Health Campaign. We encourage students to wear hats to show their support for mental health awareness. Our beloved FSLW Belinda is always available to provide support to our students and their families. If you feel your child would benefit from meeting with Belinda, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the school office.

Solidarity Club News

This May, our Solidarity Club is focusing on allyship and the right to wellbeing, grounded in our call as a Catholic community to uphold the dignity of every person and to act in love, justice, and compassion. We will be recognizing Red Dress Day and participating in the Moose Hide Campaign, acknowledging the ongoing impacts of violence against Indigenous women and girls. The Moose Hide Campaign also calls on all of us to foster healthy masculinity within our young men and make a personal commitment to end violence against women and girls. Together, these initiatives invite both awareness and action, including a pledge to do better in how we support, respect, and protect one another. We are also celebrating Asian Heritage Month by honoring the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Asian communities in Canada. As part of this celebration, we are grateful to have students lead morning prayer in their Asian languages, sharing both faith and culture with our school community in a meaningful and inclusive way. We will also be hosting a Healthy Hunger lunch from Oodle Noodle. Throughout the month, we are committed to educating our school community on safe, meaningful ways to be an ally; learning how to listen, uplift, and amplify voices with respect and humility. In doing so, we live out the Gospel message to “love your neighbor” and work toward a more just and compassionate world for all.

Join us for a movie night to celebrate Asian Heritage Month

The St. Rose Leadership Committee is hosting a family movie night on Thursday, May 7, from 6 - 8 p.m. to celebrate Asian Heritage Month. We are going to be watching Ponyo in the gym. The movie will be free, but we are going to have a paid concession stand serving drinks and snacks. We will have mats, but we recommend you bring your own items for comfort, such as blankets, pillows, or lawn chairs. We encourage you to bring family members of any age. We’re looking forward to seeing you on May 7! 

Language Arts Final Exam - Part A

All our students will be completing the written portion of their Language Arts final in May. Our grade 9 students will be writing on Thursday, May 21, starting at 8:30 am. Students will write the exam for a minimum of two hours. The grade 7 and 8 students will have regular classes on May 21.

The grade 7 students will write their English Language Arts Written final on Tuesday, May 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The grade 8 students will write on Wednesday, May 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Regular classes will occur for all students throughout the day when they are not writing their exams.

Fine Arts Evening May 28

On May 28, St Rose is pleased to invite you to our Annual Fine Arts Gala. This Gala will feature student progress and achievement in arts, music, foods and fashion. We have a staggered band performance. Grade 7 performances will be at 6 PM while grade 8 and 9 performances will be at 7 PM.  We ask that the grade 7 band students arrive at school for 5:45 to set up their instruments and line up in order for their performance.  We ask that the grade 8 and 9 band students arrive at school for 6:45 to set up their instruments and line up in order for their performance.  Dress Code: All Black or as close to black as possible. The theme of our Gala is "A Night at the Oscars." We are hoping to host a more formal, red-carpet type event.  Students who are performing are only required to attend for their performance and are not expected to stay for the entire event. Once their performance is complete, they may depart so they can continue their other extra curricular activities. If your son/daughter cannot perform in the band performances, please Email Mr. de Freitas at simon-marc.defreitas@ecsd.net so this performance can be exempt from their final grade. 

Grade 9 Farewell

Grade 9 Farewell will be at St. John the Evangelist Parish on Friday, June 5. Watch for more information which will be sent home closer to the date. Thank you to our planning committee which has begun to meet. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact the school office or Mrs. Rakowski or Mrs. Zvonkovic-Muniz for information.

School Council

Our next school council meeting will take place Monday, May 11, at 6:30 pm, in the school Learning Commons. All are welcome to join us!

Annual Ben Calf Robe Traditional Pow Wow

You’re invited to the Ben Calf Robe Traditional Pow Wow! Taking place on Saturday, May 9 at Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre Indoor Field House, this free, family-friendly event is open to all. The event features Indigenous culture and history, with performances by diverse dancers and drummers. Attendees can also explore a variety of artisan, craft, and food vendors. Everyone is welcome! For more details, visit:

Updated 2026–2027 School Year Calendar

Edmonton Catholic Schools has updated the 2026–2027 Division school year calendar. While the total number of instructional and operational days remains the same, a few dates have changed. For most ECSD students, the first day of school will be Wednesday, September 2, 2026. There will be no classes for all ECSD students on Monday, October 19, 2026, as the province conducts a scheduled referendum and Elections Alberta has requested that schools not be in session that day.

Junior Achievement Option Advertisement

Vivid Visuals is a Junior Achievement business bringing a fun and affordable way for students to capture their favourite school memories. We offer high-quality instant Polaroid photos for $3, felt keychains for $4 (+1$ for custom designs), and a variety of stickers for a $1 or less. We can be found on the main floor during the first half of lunch, where students can stop by, take photos, and leave with a stylish keepsake. We encourage students to take part in this creative initiative and support our company!