Happy New Year! We hope that each of you enjoyed a restful Christmas holiday filled with

joy, peace and happiness.

In January, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as "Three Kings Day" and

"Twelfth Day". This is a Christian holiday commemorated on January 6. It falls on the twelfth

day after Christmas, and signals the conclusion of the twelve days of the Christmas season. In a

homily on the Feast of the Epiphany, Pope Francis said:

“Seeing the star of Bethlehem did not prompt [the magi] to embark on their journey but rather, “they saw the star because they had already set out. ...Their hearts were open to the horizon and they could see what the heavens were showing them, for they were guided by an inner restlessness. They were open to something new.”

The magi were open to the wonder and joy of encountering the Messiah in the person of the small, vulnerable infant born in the most humble of circumstances. We hope and pray that each of you is renewed by the light of faith as we begin this new liturgical year.

We are pleased to let you know that Mr. Ernest, our school chaplain will be hosting a series of parent sessions with important topics related to our Catholic faith. Please plan to join us on Wednesday, January 10 at 6:30 PM for our first session: How does a Catholic Read the Bible?

The start of the new calendar year brings with it a sense of renewed purpose and a commit-ment to providing an excellent education for each of our students. We are very excited to be exploring the possibility of offering International Baccalaureate Programming at Bishop David Motiuk School. Many of our families came to us from IB schools, so they are already familiar with the excellent quality of education IB programmes entail. A large Pre-K to 9 school such as ours, with IB as its only focus, is actually the ideal way to offer the programmes, since the Pri-mary Years Programme (Pre K- Grade 5) leads seamlessly into the Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-9) and offers a continuum of inquiry based education. Students finishing the Middle Years Programme with us would have the option of continuing their IB education at any of the district high schools that offer the IB Diploma programme, including Archbishop MacDonald, St. Joseph, Louis St. Laurent or Holy Trinity. Many of our staff members already have IB training, so if we have final district approval to offer the programmes, we anticipate being able to ap-ply for official authorization from the International Baccalaureate in one-two years.

Our school council meeting this month is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24 at 6:00 pm in our Learning Commons.

Ms. Volk Mrs. Fenton Mr. Cicchini Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal

Administrators’ Message

REGISTRATION & OPEN HOUSE STAFFING UPDATES BDM MASCOT

2

VACATION? PLEASE CONTACT US WHY ONLINE PAYMENTS? REPORT CARDS

3

SEVERE WEATHER & BUS CANCEL-LATIONS

4

CTBS FOR GRADE SIX FR MICHAEL MIREAU YOUTH DAY FAITH DEVELOPMENT DAY WELCOME ARCHBISHOP SMITH

5

OUR CATHOLIC FAITH: LITURGY THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENER-

OUS SUPPORT

6

PARENT FAITH SESSIONS 7

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE 8

CONSULANTS’ MESSAGES 10

STAY ALERT 12

JANUARY CALENDAR 14

AHS: DEPRESSION 13

January 2018 Inside this issue:

January Newsletter

Bishop David Motiuk Registration and Open House Dates

In February, we will begin accepting new registrations for the 2018-2019 school year

for all grades. Our Open House for all grades, including 100 Voices and Kindergarten

will be on Thursday, February 8 at 7:00 pm. We appreciate your spreading the word

about our great school to your friends and neighbours!

To register for 100 Voices, students must be 3 years old before September 30 of the

school year they register in. Registrations for 100 Voices are facilitated at the school and

coordinated through our District Early Learning Department, since some children qualify

for funding. To register for our Kindergarten program, children must be 5 years of age

on or before March 1, 2019. If you know of anyone who is planning to register their child

for 100 Voices or for kindergarten, please have them call the school office at 780-409-

2603 for more information or drop by to register after February 1.

As aforementioned, our Open House for all grades will be on Thursday, February 8 at

7:00 pm. We have limited spaces in most of our grades, so if your friends are planning

to register with us, please encourage them to do so at their earliest convenience begin-

ning February 1.

Our Open House will begin at 7:00 pm. It will include a very short general program, then

guests will be able to tour the school and take part in presentations for 100 Voic-

es/Kindergarten programs. We know that our best form of advertising is your sharing of

the good things that are happening at Bishop David Motiuk. We thank you for passing on

this information to any parents you know who may be considering our school for the fall.

Thank you for spreading the good news!

Congratulations to Mrs. Dak, who is now on maternity leave. We will be hiring an educa-

tional assistant to replace her. We will also be hiring an additional educational assistant

for our kindergarten classroom. We expect to have our new staff members in place in

early February. In the meantime, we will have temporary educational assistants in grade

one and in kindergarten.

Staffing Updates

We would like to thank all students who submitted entries for our BDM mascot. We had

a number of wonderful submissions. The votes are in and we are the BDM Wolf Pack!

Congratulations to Psyche V., who submitted the artwork for our winning entry!

BDM Mascot

January Newsletter

On occasion, we are asked why we limit payment options for Chromebooks, school fees

and activities to debit or credit through PowerSchool rather than accepting cash pay-

ments. There are a number of reasons for this. First, debit or credit payments are secure

and there are clear records of payments that are made in this fashion. This eliminates

situations where people believe they have made payments when they actually have not.

It also means that students do not have to bring cash to school. Second, we wish to have

our teachers concentrate on teaching students rather than counting and reconciling cash

payments for events and activities - which actually takes a great deal of time. Finally, if

we accepted cash payments, we would require additional personnel in the office. We

would simply rather focus our resources on our students. We understand that navigating

PowerSchool for online payments is challenging for some people and on occasion, some

parents have had difficulty with debit cards. If this is the case, then parents are invited

to drop by the school office. We are happy to assist with your debit or credit transac-

tions. Thank you for your understanding!

Why Online Payment Methods?

A number of our families have been going on vacations lately. We ask that if you are

going on vacation, that you please contact the school office at 780-409-2603 or by

email 1967web@ecsd.net to let us know.

As a reminder, our classrooms are dynamic learning environments that are fluid and con-

stantly changing. Work assigned is often project-based and is designed to promote criti-

cal thinking and a deeper level of student engagement. Worksheets and paper packag-

es of student work are increasingly rare in today’s classrooms, since research shows that

they do little to promote higher level thinking skills or achievement. Because our learning

environments are so dynamic, it can be very difficult for teachers to put together packag-

es for students who will be away for an extended period of time. Consequently, we rec-

ommend that families who book vacations during the school year contact the teacher(s) to

find out what general topics of study will be examined while the student is away. The

student will be expected to closely monitor work and assignments being posted to

Google classrooms and to do all applicable reading and research, with the understand-

ing that the student will likely have work to make up when he or she returns to school.

It is the responsibility of the student to see each of his or her teachers to find out what

work was missed during an absence and to complete all missed work, assignments and/or

exams. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Vacation? Please Contact the Office

Report cards will be posted to PowerSchool on Friday, January 26. Please feel free to con-tact any of our teachers or administrators with questions or concerns. A reminder will be sent through Swift K12.

Report Cards

January Newsletter

Severe Weather Conditions & Bus Cancellations

Our transportation system has an excellent record for service. However, given the possi-

ble extremes of Edmonton weather and the potential for unexpected mechanical difficul-

ties, it is impossible to guarantee buses will run on time or at all. A route can take 50%

longer in adverse weather conditions. Parents are advised that if a bus does not arrive

within twenty minutes of its scheduled time, they are to assume the bus is not coming. Par-

ents must ensure that their child knows to return home or to a pre-selected location. Par-

ents must then make alternate arrangements to get their child to school.

Parents should also ensure that:

Children are supervised at the bus stop

Children have a place to go in the event the bus does not arrive

Children have alternate arrangements for getting to school should the bus not arrive

Children are suitably clothed to withstand weather extremes

Transportation Services normal operational procedures for delayed transportation also

apply in severe weather conditions.

The Carrier is responsible for notifying the School and the Transportation Services office

when a route is running late.

Parents then have access to 3 different resources (by calling either the school, the Trans-

portation Services office, or directly contacting the carrier) to get an update on the status

of a particular route.

CANCELLATION OF YELLOW SCHOOL BUS SERVICE FOR ALL PROGRAMS The following radio and TV stations will carry announcements with respect to transporta-

tion cancellations due to inclement weather conditions:

RADIO STATIONS:

TV STATIONS:

CITY TV CFRN TV GLOBAL TV CBC TV

Every effort will be made to have messages broadcast commencing no later than 6:30

a.m.

630 CHED SHINE 105.9 FM INEWS 880 AM The Bounce FM 91.7 K97 97.3

AM 930 The Light CJCA CHFA (CBC Fr.) The Bear 100.3 FM UP! 99.3 FM 104.9 VIRGIN Radio FM

CBC FRESH FM 92.5 LITE 95.7 SONIC 102.9 FM HOT 107 FM

CISN FM 103.9 TSN 1260 CFCW 790 CAPITAL FM 96.3 102.3 NOW! Radio

January Newsletter

Faith Development Day

On Tuesday, February 6, 2018, all staff members will be involved in a district-wide Faith

Development Day at the Shaw Conference Centre. There will be no instruction of students at

school on that day. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for the staff of Edmonton

Catholic Schools to come together to celebrate the gift of faith and the freedom of its expres-

sion. Our theme this year is: Rooted in Jesus . . . Hearts to Love, Hands to Serve. We are

pleased to welcome Fr. Richard Leonard as our keynote speaker. We also welcome Bishop

Gregory Bittman who will celebrate the Eucharistic Liturgy with us.

The formation and education of children is a tremendous vocation and responsibility. By being

involved in the education mission of the church, Catholic schools provide a hopeful response to

the great mysteries of life in an increasingly complex world. This hope is for all people of the

world, not just Catholics. Faith Development Day provides staff with the opportunity to be-

come more deeply aware of the faith foundation of our lives and to enter into our life’s work

with renewed conviction. For more information, please feel free to call our school office.

Welcome Archbishop Smith

On February 5, grade eight students will be taking part in the third annual Father Mi-

chael Mireau Youth Day. Father Mike wanted this to be a day for grade eights, since he

felt that they are often the overlooked, middle children in our junior high schools. This is

truly a special day for our grade eight students. The keynote speaker for the day is Jes-

se Manibusan, who is a celebrated Catholic speaker and musician. Our grade eight stu-

dents, along with grade eights from across the archdiocese, will be treated to a wonder-

ful day of faith and fun. Thank you to Mr. Ernest for coordinating this great event!

Fr Michael Mireau Youth Day

We are very pleased to welcome Archbishop Smith to Bishop David Motiuk School on

Thursday, January 18. Archbishop Smith will visit classrooms, lead us in a Liturgy of the

Word and will speak with our older students on Discipleship in the 21st Century.

Grade six students will be writing the Canadian Test of Basic Skills in January. These

standardized tests are important indicators of a student’s overall ability when examined

over a period of time with the results of similar exams. All grade six students in Edmonton

Catholic write these exams.

CTBS for Grade 6 Students

January Newsletter

Our Catholic Faith: Liturgy

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines “liturgy” as, “the participation of the

People of God in the ‘work of God,’ continuing the work of our redemption in, with and

through his Church.” Liturgies take different forms and rituals but are always in the ser-

vice of salvation. We commonly call our Sunday liturgy, “the mass” at which time, the

community of the faithful gather as people in need of redemption, praying for one an-

other, united in worship. Our very witness serves as the sign that we all need, recognizing

the action of God, who comes to change us into God’s Holy People. There are two dis-

tinct parts of our liturgical action: We begin with the penitential rite, in which we

acknowledge our need for God’s intervention and guidance, and recognize our own sin-

fulness and shortcomings. We then move to the Liturgy of the Word in which we hear

God speaking to us of how our story as a people connects with the loving actions of God

throughout history. We hear God’s Word proclaimed and calling us to be people of

faith in the midst of our own story of sin. From there, we move to the altar where we cel-

ebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We re-enact and commemorate the sacrifice of our

Lord, who when he broke bread at the Last Supper, called his disciples to “do this in

memory of me.” The symbols of bread and wine, are transformed and become, in the

words of institution, “the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ” for the salvation of all.

This change is known as the doctrine of Transubstantiation. Where we differ from other

Christian communions is that we believe the bread and wine is ontologically changed; in

outward appearance they resemble bread and wine, but their interior character has

been changed. Other Christian communions see the bread and wine as symbolic actions.

The Eucharist is our source and summit for living in hope and faith. We approach the Eu-

charist with reverence, humility, and gratitude and in so doing, we open ourselves to let-

ting grace flow from the Sacrament of the Eucharist; strengthening us, giving us courage,

and taking us to new depths of knowing our loving God.

- Kevyn Ernest

Thank You for Your Generous Support Thank you to Mrs. Petersen, Mrs. Oleksiw and our leadership team for organizing won-

derful fundraising activities in support of our ECSD Foundation in the weeks leading up to

Christmas. These included our movie day, candygrams and many other activities. Thanks

to your support, we raised over $4100.00 for the ECSD Foundation! This money will go

towards programs that support children and families in need in our schools.

Thanks also to everyone who brought food items in for our Christmas food drive. We

were able to put 30 hampers together for families in neighbouring schools. A big thank

you to Mrs. Snihur for coordinating our hamper drive and to all of you for your generous

support.

All sessions are held at the school 6:30-8:00 P.M.

All Parents are Welcome. No pre-registration required

Session I: Wed Jan 10, 2018

“How does a Catholic Read the Bible?”

Session 2: Wed Mar 14, 2018

“The Mass: What are we doing Here?”

Session 3: Wed May 2, 2018

“The Sacraments: Living the Life of Grace.”

January 2018

To celebrate Mary as Mother of God and our mother at the beginning of the new year means recalling a certainty that will

accompany our days: we are a people with a Mother; we are not orphans.

(Pope Francis, Homily, January 1, 2017)

Each year, January 1 marks the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. As Pope Francis shared, turning our gazes to Mary as the new year begins fills our vision of the horizon in front of us with a model of perfect love. We see the example of faithful love for God when we think of her “yes” in response to His call. We see the example of parental love in the mother who tenderly nurtured her Son, walking alongside Him through His life and to His death. We see the example of selfless, humble love in her willingness to be the instrument of bearing Salvation into the world. As we contemplate our plans and aspirations for the new year, let us take inspiration from Mary!

We are always so excited to spread the great news of the amazing things that take place daily in our schools. We want everyone to know that Catholic education offers rich and vibrant opportunities for students to learn and grow in a Christ centred environment. We have launched a new hashtag, #ECSDfaithinspires, which beautifully portrays how our Catholic faith guides every aspect of our schools as we live out our District vision to learn together, work together and pray together in answering the call to a faith-filled life of service. We encourage all our staff, students, and ECSD families to use this new hashtag and help us share the good news of how faith inspires our daily lives at Edmonton Catholic Schools!

We are so pleased with the participation in our Hour of Code Week last month. This week, which saw 25,804 of our students engage in a variety of coding based activities, brought so much excitement and creativity into our classrooms. Special thanks to our EmTech team for their drive and passion in ensuring that our students have the skills that they need to navigate our digital world.

The month of January brings the end of the semester for our high schools. One of the enhanced services that we are pleased to offer our students who will be writing Diploma Examinations is Diploma Prep courses. These courses provide an excellent structure for students to review the content of their exam courses so that they can approach them with greater confidence. Visit www.ecsd.net and click on the Diploma Prep banner for more information.

The new year brings much new information and opportunity for our students and families. This is always reflected on our District website. Watch for our new Guide to Schools as well as information on registration for 2018-2019, Open Houses, and our upcoming session on Breaking the Cycle of Anxiety from our Mental Health Caregiver series. The newest information is always highlighted in the rotating banner at www.ecsd.net for your convenience.

. . . 2

The Government of Alberta is seeking the input of Albertans as they begin to shape their upcoming provincial budget. You can complete a brief online survey at https://www.alberta.ca/budget-consultations.aspx. This is an excellent opportunity for your voice to be heard!

The week of January 18-25 is the Week of Prayer For Christian Unity. I will leave you with a thought from Pope Francis: “…unity is achieved by journeying, to recall that when we journey together, that is, when we encounter each other… when we pray together and collaborate together in proclaiming the Gospel and in the service of others, we are already united.” (Papal Audience, 10/11/2016)

Many blessings as you begin the journey of a new year! Sincerely, Joan Carr Superintendent

Putting the Word of God into Practice – A Reflection In Archbishop Richard Smith’s Pastoral Letter: Living in the Word of God: A Call to the Clergy and the Lay Faithful of the Archdiocese of Edmonton, His Grace asks us to consider what it means to follow Jesus. Here, the question can be answered rather simply. It is a matter of listening and doing; an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ is one who first listens to his Word and then puts it into practice. Throughout the history of the Church, the Christian response to God’s love revealed in Christ has been threefold: worship, witness and service. Worship “In all of Scripture, the words of Jesus likely most familiar to Catholics ears are these: “Do this in memory of me.” Spoken by the Lord at the Last Supper, these words have always been understood by the Church as his command to repeat in his memory what he did with his disciples the night prior to his crucifixion. This is why we gather for Sunday mass, the sacrament of the Eucharist, and why the Church insists that doing so is a sacred obligation. At mass, enabled by the Holy Spirit we offer our lives to God the Father, through Jesus his Son, as an act of joyful praise and heartfelt thanksgiving for God’s saving love” (Archbishop Richard Smith). From our awareness of this wondrous gift that is the Eucharist, and of the Lord’s command that is celebrated in his memory: Do we consciously make the Eucharist the heart of our lives? Witness “Saint John writes these beautiful words at the beginning of his first letter: ‘We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete’ (1 John 1:1-4). Here St. John is expressing what we know from experience to be true. When we have encountered Jesus Christ and been transformed by his mercy and love, we naturally want to tell others about it and invite them to be one with us in a community of joy” (Archbishop Richard Smith). We give witness by making known to others what God has done for the world in Jesus Christ, and for each of us in our own individual lives. The most effective way we can put the Word of God into practice is by the way we live our lives: What message do we communicate to others by our way of living, patterns of thought and speech, and modes of behavior? Service “On the night of the Last Supper, after Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, he taught that by this action he was giving us an example to follow, and then spoke this command: ‘I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’ (John 13:34-35). Putting the Word of God into practice means serving our brothers and sisters in love. To love as Jesus loved means that we make sacrifices daily for the good of the other” (Archbishop Richard Smith). We serve others by using God’s gifts according to his purpose and in keeping with our identity as disciples of Jesus Christ. We consider: What use do I make of time? Do I set aside time for prayer, for Sunday mass, for the enjoyment of family? Am I able to dedicate some time to volunteer in the parish, our schools, hospitals or charitable organizations? The call to give of ourselves relates not just to the direct support of our parishes and Catholic organizations, it pertains also to the embrace of our baptismal call to be missionary disciples. Each of us is sent into the world in service so that it be transformed with the power of the Gospel of our Lord. ~Sandra Talarico, Religious Education Consultant

The Wondrous Gift of Epiphany

During the Christmas season we celebrate with our families and friends with the giving and receiving of various gifts. Perhaps the greatest gift we receive, as Christians, takes place during Epiphany, when our Lord makes his first public appearance.

Throughout the ages, Christians have celebrated Christmas, including the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany, which falls on January 7. The season begins with the Nativity of our Lord, and ends with the celebration of His baptism, and His manifestation ("Epiphany") as Messiah of Israel and Son of God. This extraordinary gift calls for us to open our hearts and minds to God through His son, Jesus, who came to us as man, to live and suffer in the same way His lay people would.

Another one of the extraordinary gifts we receive is our ability to praise and worship the Father through the Holy Spirit, as a result of the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Knowing Jesus is the Body of Christ, we, through our Baptism, enter the Body of Christ as members of our faith community. Through this union, we are able to share in the cleansing of sins, and essentially, our re-birth.

The gifts of the eastern Magi, allow us to remember that they offered what little they had (Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh), and in return, Christ gave them Himself. This ‘exchange’ of gifts takes place for us whenever we celebrate the Eucharist, by the glorious power of the Holy Spirit!

Throughout the holy Christmas season, God fills us with joy and hope! By celebrating Epiphany and these wondrous gifts bestowed upon us by the Christ-child, may we, in-turn, use them to take a step closer to the Kingdom of God, in unity with His one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.

Susanna Kaup and Kathleen Nguyen Religious Education Consultants

STAY Alert

April 2015

Be Aware

Welcome back to school after the amazing Christmas break. I hope everyone had an enjoyable time away from school. This addition of the STAY Alert is about being aware about how we use our devices:

1. The new Christmas device is brighter, sounds better, and works faster than the old. The device can be so good it attracts all your attention. This is okay at home when lounging around but when you are walking to school this can become a disaster. Walking into the path of a stationary sign really gets one’s attention. Walking into a standing person causes conflict. Walking into the path of a moving car is a trip to the hospital. Be aware when you are moving from place to place, and try to keep your head up.

2. Students want to share their holiday adventures with their friends. Messages and pictures being sent are relaying every detail. Be aware that messages and pictures are never private. Remember when you send a message it is to everyone, not just the intended recipient.

3. Finally, be aware Christmas 2018 is only 12 months away!

Your STAY team welcomes you back to school. We wish you all the best in 2018.

School Team Advisors for Youth (STAY) Junior high schools in the Edmonton Catholic School District each have ‘School Team Advisors for Youth’ (STAY) which are comprised of retired Police Officers.

The STAY role involves:

• Educating, mentoring, and empowering students. • Educating and mentoring parents on the realities their children face each day by raising parent awareness on

these issues. • Educating and mentoring staff on the realities that students face each day. Working in partnership with the

administration of the school to develop action plans for safety and health of all students.

Stay Advisors in our junior high schools make a difference in the lives of our youth by encouraging them to “STAY” in school. The STAY teams work hard to ensure our youth succeed in life.

January 2018

Children, Youth and Families Addiction and Mental Health - Edmonton Zone

Revised: July 2017

Sadness Sadness is an emotion and a natural part of life. It is a feeling usually connected to a difficult, hurtful, or disappointing experience. Sadness typically lasts a short while and does not significantly impact an individual’s daily routine. Sadness may be viewed as a helpful emotion, as it can remind us as to what matters most in our lives.

Depression Depression is different than sadness. Depression is a type of mental illness called a mood disorder that can affect a person in how they think, feel and act.

Depression can occur in children, youth and adults. A person with depression may feel down or find they can’t enjoy things they used to like. They may feel sad, irritable or a sense of numbness. These changes can last weeks, months or longer if not treated. These changes can cause significant distress for the individual and interfere in their everyday activities. Unlike sadness, there may be no identifiable trigger or event to explain the reason for this change. http://www.cmha.ca/

What to look out for Recognizing depression in young people can be difficult because young people experience many changes as they grow and develop. Kids and teens may not want to talk about their feelings or may give other reasons to explain their experiences.

Consider whether you see a combination of these changes in your child over a period of time and whether these changes are different from before. Ask yourself whether these changes are causing difficulty in your child in their home, school or social activities.

• Feelings of sadness, irritability, anger, worthlessness, or guilt.

• Physical changes in their weight, eating habits, sleeping patterns, or aches/pains that can’t be explained. They may feel fatigued, sluggish or express a loss of energy. Alternatively, some kids may feel physically agitated.

• Thinking patterns that are negative towards themselves or their view of life. They may have a hard time concentrating. In some cases, they may have thoughts of death or suicide.

• Behaviours that show a withdrawal or lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities like sports, games, or friends.

Depression should be diagnosed by a trained professional. It is important that health professionals rule out other reasons for the child’s concerns, as some of these changes listed above may be a sign of something that is not Depression.

http://www.cmha.ca/

Stigma A person with Depression can’t “just snap out of it” or “choose to be happy”. This misunderstanding of Depression being “just in your head” can make the person with Depression feel worse.

Treatment Children, teens, and adults can recover from depression. Early identification and treatment is essential to decrease the length and severity of depressive episodes and prevent new episodes from happening. Treatment interventions depend on each individual and typically it includes a combination of the following options:

• Education & Support (community, school, and family support) • Psychological treatments/“talk therapy” • Medication

http://teenmentalhealth.org/

What can Parents do? • Get informed. Learn about the signs and symptoms of

Depression. Talk to professionals about the types of treatment and supportive strategies to help make an informed decision.

• Establish and maintain regular contact with all caregivers and professionals supporting your child. Share your concerns, as your child may not be able or willing to describe what they are experiencing. Ask questions and let your needs be known. You know your child better than anyone else. You are a valuable part of the treatment team.

• Assist your child to follow their treatment plan. Due to Depression, your child may be resistant or unmotivated and may need additional support in their care. Ensure your child takes their medication and makes their appointments, even if they feel better. Never stop medication unless their doctor monitors them closely.

• Be a positive support by identifying and promoting the strengths of your child. Help by modeling optimism and a positive attitude through your language and actions.

• Promote a healthy eating, sleeping, and exercise routine at home. Consider what demands are on your child and reduce any unnecessary stress while they are recovering. Incorporate relaxation and calming strategies into their day. Encourage positive social activities with friends and family.

• Continue to watch for changes in your child as 70% of children and youth with Depression will experience it again within five years.

• Take care of yourself. Consider your own needs and your own mental health. Reach out for support.

http://keltymentalhealth.ca/

References & Resources for Depression:

http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/children-and-depression

http://keltymentalhealth.ca/mental-health/disorders/depression

http://teenmentalhealth.org/learn/mental-disorders/depression/

Phone Numbers: Call Health Link Alberta: 811

CYFAMH Intake: 780-342-2701

Youth Addiction Services Edmonton: 780-422-7383

Mobile Response Team: 780-427-4491

Call 211 – Alberta Community resources

Catholic Social Services: (780) 432-1137

The Support Network, Edmonton Distress Line: 780-482-HELP (4357)

Kids Help Phone: 1 800 668 6868

Depression: Information for Parents

January 2018 Sun  Mon  Tue  Wed  Thu  Fri  Sat 

  1  

2  3  

4  

5  6 

7  8 School Resumes 

9  

10 Gr 4 Catapult  

Workshop 

Parent Faith Session @ 

6:30 PM 

11 JH Food Bank Trip 

12  13 

14  15  16 St. FX Gr 9 Visit 

17  

18 Archbishop Smith 

Visits 

19  20 

21  22  23  

24 School Council 

Mee ng 6:00 PM 

25  26 Backwards Day 

Report Cards Posted 

27 

28  29  30  31 Gr 8 & 9 Mini Band 

Share 

Feb  1 JH Nursing Home 

Service Trip 

2  3 

855 Lewis Greens Drive| Edmonton, AB | T5T 4B2

Phone: 780-409-2603 | Fax: 780-444-4291

E-mail: 1967web@ecsd.net

Bishop David Motiuk Elementary/Junior High School