A Message from Our Director of Education, Domenic Scuglia

I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ~Joshua 1:9

We are all in this together. These are challenging times. This is an unprecedented situation. These are unchartered waters. Those phrases have been uttered so many times over the past several months; their meaning is beginning to fade away. We know that none of us have ever before experienced a pandemic. In these challenging times, we typically surround our isolated community members, letting our prayers lift them up. This has been a huge test of our faith.Despite the pandemic, education has continued and we did our part to help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 virus. All of us pitched in and made a difference, just as you do every June. Instead of the final assessments, end of year parties, graduation and farewell liturgies, and final hugs before summer break, we all stayed home. June has allowed some of us to slowly venture back out to our office, or classroom. Thank you for addressing the needs of

our students. I cannot express my pride in all you have done to lessen the impact of this frightening pandemic on our communities. Thank you.

So with meaning, let us take the above over-used phrases and change them to meet the last three and a half months; We are Regina Catholic Schools. Currently closed. Continually learning. Constantly praying.

I look forward to seeing you, virtually or in person, as we begin the 2020-2021 school year at Opening Mass on September 1st. I pray you are all blessed with a restful and healthy summer break.

God Bless, Dom

ContentsClass of 2020 2Grade 8 Farewells 3RCSD Tobacco Project 4Always a Guardian 4RHSAA Honours Award 4Virtual Heritage Fair 5

Holy Moments 5St. Maria Faustina 6STRIVE-ing past Graduation 6Nutrition 6Miss You Miller Message 7Tweets from Pope Francis 7

FCC Spirit Grant 7”I Love Band” Contest 8Summer at a Glance 8Can’t Stop the Feeling 8

Regina Catholic School Division Director’s Communiqué

events@rcsd.ca | www.rcsd.ca | Issue 105 | Summer 2020

“Let Your Light Shine”

Class of 2020With traditional graduations not fitting into the health guidelines, our high schools had to adjust the plans, then adjust them again, and again as rules changed. Thank you to all those who worked so hard to make grads happen safely!

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Grade 8 FarewellsOur focus on transitions from elementary to high school looked very different during the 2020 school closures. Thank you to all grade 8 families who participated in virtual farewells, and the staff who made them happen!

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RCSD Tobacco Project We have smudging happening in our buildings and we are growing and drying tobacco as well. Regina Catholic Schools Tobacco project has allowed its schools the opportunity to grow and harvest tobacco and now we will reseed.

How and why do we offer tobacco to an Elder or Knowledge Keeper? What is Smudging? Click on the link for Protocol and Smudging information. Video by Sylvia McAdam.

Once a Guardian Always a GuardianThanks to our students who took some time to write good-bye messages to the staff who are leaving our St. Gabriel and RCSD family. #onceaguardianalwaysaguardian

RCSD TOBACCO PROJECT

Protocol and Smudging (4min)

We have smudging happening in our buildings and we are growing and drying tobacco as well. Regina Catholic Schools Tobacco project has allowed its schools the opportunity to grow and harvest tobacco and now we will reseed.

How and why do we offer tobacco to an Elder or Knowledge Keeper? What is Smudging? Click on the link Protocol and Smudging for information. Video by Sylvia McAdam

RHSAA Honours Award WinnersEthan Ball (#10, pictured) of Riffel is a 2020 co-recipient of the prestigious Lorne Aston Scholarship. Dr. Paul Schwann Humanitarian Awards went to Hannah Foord (LeBoldus) and Brady Fiorante (Riffel). Other winners were Liza Donnelly of Miller (RHSAA Merit Award for Service), The George and Margaret Yeo Basketball Scholarships went to Kennedy Hollinger of Riffel (female). Congrats to All!

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Virtual Heritage FairStudents had the opportunity to showcase their learning in a new way this year – Virtual Heritage Fair! Grace Toogood (Grade 8, St. Josaphat School) received excellent feedback during her presentation. “My Heritage Fair project is called The Discovery of Insulin and explores the detailed events and complex research that Canadian scientists and biochemists performed nearly 100 years ago, in order to discover, invent and purify a hormone called insulin for assisting those with diabetes. I had a lot of fun creating my project over a few months, and ended up coming in the Top 10 Projects in Saskatchewan, and won the Science and Technology Award along with the Best Display Artifacts Award!”, shares Grace.

Holy MomentsSt. Peter School celebrated Catholic Education Week with “Holy Moments.” This Holy Moment really spoke about the face of God and who brings God into the life of the students who prepared this. Kean’s message (pictured) was in response to a request from staff member Carey Dziaduck for pictures, stories, messages or quotes which speak to students. This was a wonderful way to recognize Catholic Education Week while we were living through supplemental learning.

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St. Maria Faustina With a new school name, St. Maria Faustina School student Olivia shared her thoughts on the new name with the media. The former Jean Vanier School, which educates students with intensive needs, is now St. Maria Faustina School. Pope Saint John Paul II canonized St. Faustina in 2000. She was known for her visions of Christ including that which led to what is known as the Divine Mercy Image, a globally known painting of Jesus in white robes showing two rays coming from his chest, one red and one pale.

STRIVE-ing past GraduationGraduating STRIVE member Jerico Sampang of Archbishop M. C. O’Neill Catholic High School picked up a parting gift at CEC. He was excited to share with us his future plans to become a teacher, preferrably back here at home with Regina Catholic Schools.

NutritionThank you to our support staff members who spent much of their time during supplemental learning to help others. The Nutrition Program team at Archbishop M. C. O’Neill Catholic High School filled hundreds of hampers to help make grocery money stretch a bit further during the pandemic forced closures. Click here to read about the help provided by RCSD thanks to funding from Nutrien and the Breakfast Club of Canada.

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Miss You Miller MessageMarsha Compton and Angie Harding shared this message on the Miller library windows, and it speaks for all our staff. We missed our school communities!

FCC Spirit GrantCongratulations to St. Gregory School, which is gaining an outdoor learning space thank to FCC! The Regina Spirit Grant will cover the cost of a community garden filled with learning opportunities, and a circular bench to provide a new place for outdoor discussions and projects. Thanks for the community spirit, FCC!

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Tweets from Pope Francis @Pontifex“There are two Christian responses to escape the spiral of violence: prayer and the gift of self.“

“Let us ask for the grace to approach everyone as a brother or sister, and never to regard anyone as an enemy.“

“The Lord urges us to remember, repair, rebuild, and to do so together, never forgetting those who suffer.“

“God knows how weak our memory is, so He has done something remarkable: He left us a memorial. He left us Bread in which He is present, alive and true, with all the flavour of His love.”

“Only those who see with the heart see things well, because they know how to “look into” each person: to see a brother or sister apart from his or her mistakes, hope amid difficulty. They see God everywhere.”

“Let us begin anew from the numerous examples of generous, freely-given love, which in these months have shown us how much closeness, care, and sacrifice are needed to nourish fraternity and civil coexistence. In this way, we will emerge from this crisis stronger.”

“The Lord cannot enter into hard or ideological hearts. The Lord enters into hearts that are like His: hearts that are open and compassionate.”

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”I Love Band” ContestThe Sask. Band Association has announced the winners of their “I Love Band” video contest and Israel Oyelami [Archbishop M.C. O’Neill High School] won 2nd Place! Plus Hope & Faith Adebogun [O’Neill] & Shannon Andreas [LeBoldus] & Alumni Kiera Ghiglione [LeBoldus] received Honourable Mentions. Also, Congratulations to Dr. Martin LeBoldus High School for winning in the “Nominated School” draw!All the video can be seen here!

Can’t Stop the FeelingWhen school went to a virtual setting back in March, the “That’s Possible Theatre Company” from Michael A. Riffel Catholic High School decided they weren’t going to let that stand in the way from doing their final performance. Led by their teachers Jaclyn Kilkenny, Jake McGeough, and Patricia Pilon, they have been working hard for the past few months to get their show ready to go. Their show entitled, “Can’t Stop the Feeling” premiered on YouTubeon June 18th at 7:30 pm on the Michael A. Riffel Catholic High School’s Channel.

At the core, this group values diversity, inclusion, and adaptability. This program shows time and again that teamwork is so important, that song and dance are huge mood-boosters, and that joy is contagious. They can’t wait to celebrate and share their hard work with their virtual audience.

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Summer at a Glance

Wednesday, July 1 - Canada Day Stat

Saturday, July 18 - Nelson Mandela Day

Monday, August 3 - Civic Holiday Stat

Sunday, August 9 - International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

Wednesday, August 12 - International Youth Day

Saturday, August 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Wednesday, August 19 - World Humanitarian Day

Friday, August 21 - Feast Day of St. Pius X

Friday, August 28 - Feast Day of St. Augustine

Tuesday, September 1 - Opening Mass

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