THE CHARGER F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 A L U M N I N E W S L E T T E R

ROBYN’S VIEW

PRINCIPAL’S UPDATE

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2

WHAT’S GOING ON

NEW GRADS

OUR SYMPATHIES

GRADS FROM THE PAST

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4 & 5

SCHOOL RENOVATIONS 6

UPCOMING EVENTS

ROBERT

MORRISON GOLF TOURNAMENT

SEUSSICAL JR

MUSICAL

HOW CAN I HELP?

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7

MEMBER

SUBSCRIPTION

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

There is an equilibrium that I see while managing the school. On one side I am reminded of long ago tradi-tions that spanned over several decades, while at the same time I see before me new traditions from a brand new generation of students. There are times where in order for St. Charles to stay at the forefront of the educational world, the school must be flexible and needs to be able to change and adapt when

needed to update itself and stay current. And then there are the mo-ments when the past and the present collide. I experienced one of these moments at the December school mass, the second last day of school before the Christmas Break. This collision came to me in the form of a song.

Here I was sitting towards the back of the church, I could feel the buzz from the kids as they could barely contain themselves being so close to Christmas Break. The church was almost full. There were students and teachers in the front and side pews while parents and siblings sat to-wards the back. The violin group was off to the side with the grades 3 & 4 choir poised and prepared to perform. I sat in the pew taking it all in when the Opening Hymn began…”Sing a New Song”.

Wow, did that take me back more than 25 years to memories that were so vivid…back to before the renovation/addition was made to St. Charles Church. I was propelled into a daydream where Sister Pierrette Caron was at the front of the church leading the school through each hymn. Two of those hymns were and still are my personal favourites “Sing a New Song” and “Sing Hosanna”. I remember how loud we as a school would sing with Sister Pierrette conducting us louder and stronger with each verse.

I flashed back to the present, sitting in that pew towards the back of the church, listening to a completely different group of St. Charles students that was just as loud, just as strong and just as memorable. I wonder, how many of those students will have a similar past and present collision in 20 or 25 years from now? 3-2-1 Chargers! Robyn Powell (deBeer) ‘82-90, Alumni Rep, Board of Directors

ROBYN’S VIEW

P A G E 2

Principal’s Update - Dr. A. P. Penny

Dear Alumni,

What a fantastic year this has been so far! There have been some exciting develop-ments with programming, staffing and facility upgrades. Please do take time to check out our newly updated website (www.stccs.ca) with all of the details.

For the past three years, SCCS has been hosting workshops for educators seeking certification in administration. Each session was facilitated by experts in the field, educators with experience, success, and passion. Fr. Mark Tarrant and Mrs. Laura Carreiro facilitated a session this year entitled “The Role of the Pastor” in an inde-pendent school. As they spoke, I looked around the room, and noticed that everyone was riveted. Participants from both non-Catholic and Catholic schools were equally engrossed in the message: that the most important gift a Pastor can give his school community is that of his presence. The daily act of giving of oneself, modeled by our priests and the religious sisters who live their faith in simplicity and kindness, serves as the foundation for our unique school cultures. How true! Please join us this up-coming Founders’ Day, June 7th as we take time to give thanks for our Pastors, our Sisters and all the wonderful people who have made SCCS the school it is.

The school goals for 2012-2013 embraced once again our commitment to academic excellence, spiritual growth and character development among the students and staff. Our theme of “we will know and embrace the essentials for our journey with Christ” also encouraged us to actively participate in the Year of the Faith proclaimed by His Holiness last Fall. All of the students spent time this year learning the updated dialogue for the Mass. The Grades 6-8 students hosted a fantastic Science Fair with some complex projects. And, the Grade 3 students just finished their annual “Country” projects complete with food samples from Italy, Australia and Vietnam.

The music department has grown to include a second music teacher, Mrs. Kathleen Lalonde. Mrs. Lalonde, an experienced clarinettist and choral teacher, is teaching some choral and instrumental classes as well as coordinating the private lessons program. The Christmas concert this past December reflected this infusion of new vibrancy, and was a quality production involving choirs and ensembles from all grade levels. In March, the junior choir participated in the Winnipeg Music Festival where they placed first in their class with a gold rating. The clinician’s comments started with “Bravo” and ended with “A lovely way to end. Thank you!”. Later this spring, on April 22nd and 23rd, the school will be performing “Seussical the Musical” at the Win-nipeg Art Gallery. Tickets may be purchased through the school office (204-837-1520). This is a great opportunity to see students at the onset of their acting careers.

Congratulations to Mrs. Sherlock (formerly Ms. Mann) who gave birth to her first child, Brendan, and to Mrs. Angela Klassen (formerly Reimer) who gave birth to a daughter, Sophia.

Please keep us in your prayers as we wind up this school year. Thanks to our entire community and your ongoing support, we look forward to “graduating” another stellar group of young men and women this June.

Estote Fidelis! Dr. A. P. Penny, Principal

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P A G E 3

Our Recent Alumni... Welcome!

Our Sympathies... To the Pelletier & Schafer Families

Back Row: Connor O’Hara, Charles-John (CJ) Harrison, Michael Feld-schmid, Cameron O’Hara, Dane Bumstead, Nicholas Murray. Middle Row: Ana Paula Garcia Güereṅa, Joseph Reidle, Joshua Muloin, Zachary Rawluk, Dylan Thiessen.

Front Row: Claudia Fer-nandes, Claudine Calaguian, Tatiana Za-grodnik.

Missing: Hadrian Bourdon, JoHannah Minty

We were fortunate to have Mr. Rick Jones from Nanaimo BC (Godfather to Rose-mund R, Gr 5F) do res-toration work on some of our time-worn stat-ues. The transformation breathed new life into our beloved icons.

The Alumni Association wishes to extend condolences to the Pelletier and Schafer families on the passing of their loved ones...

Jeanine Pelletier ‘48 - 54’

Anne Marie Schafer (nee Hummel) '44-49’

P A G E 4

Grads From the Past...

L-R: Betty Mead, Joan Funk, Linda Roberts, Eileen Gaudry, Bonnie Small

1st row: Barbara Chisholm, Louise Gendreau, Paulette Cahill, Diane Kristjansson 2nd row: Valerie Collins, Barbara Smith, Ingrid Heatley, Sarah Noonan, Valleryn Musgrove, Maureen McMullen

1st row: Danya Gensiorek, Cara Desimpelaere, Sean Cody, Harlynn Chuback

2nd row: David Milliner, Celina Blandford, Christine Deverdenne, Melissa Elias

3rd row: Corie Milliner, Julie Southam, Colleen McFee, Jeremy Kozicki, Chris Melynk

4th row: Keith McLandress, Kryia-kos Bilias, Michael Halgren, Jona-than Boehm, Giuseppe Aletta

Missing Mark Durant, Jamie Mistri, Kevin McCormick

P A G E 5

... Grads From the Past 1st row: Andrew Lang, Ronald Arseneault, Mike Sitko, Douglas Dick, Raymond Landygo, Jackie Treffers, Darlene Weber, Mme Shirley Sylvestre

2nd row: David Ramey, Kerry Richardson, Bernadette Demong, Kelly Farrell, Lisa Wawryk, Maelynn MacLean, Candace Ib-bott, Jason McRae, Reetu Bharadwaj

3rd row: Lisa Walker, Michael Brugger, Morgan Porath, Sean Caesar, Brenda Nor-ris, Jonathan Devlin, Ian Boyd, David Ludwick

Missing: Ian McPherson, John Novak

N.B. There was no grade 9 class for this school year, thus, the grade 8 class.

1st row: Andrew Dunford, William Frazer, Paul Wierzbicki, Stepha-nie Underwood, Amy Tremblay, Chris Kucey, Sara Brotherston, Fabio Fiorentino, James Barton

2nd row: Meg Fergusson, Myra Mackie, Derrik Ross, Aylssa Mymko, Nikolas Nucci, Ben Thompson

3rd row: Andrew Phan, Emily Connon, Kyle Smale, Jenna Beaudin, Joey Ingrilli

P A G E 6

Many of us have memories (some more predominant than others) of when the pool was operating. Due to significant costs for upgrades and operating costs the pool was forced into closure in 1983.

Since that time the pool area has primarily been used as a much needed storage space.

In the fall of 2010, the Board of Directors was faced with a requirement to meet a fire regulation and in turn, put some long-awaited plans in motion to convert the pool area into useable space.

In the summer of 2011, stage 1 of the ‘recreation’ of the pool area began...a floor was constructed over the pool.

This fall stage 2 moved forward with the cutting in of a second egress and the stairs will be con-structed in the near future.

School Renovations

P A G E 7

Upcoming Events

How Can I Help?

St. Charles Catholic School believes that every child should have the option of benefiting from a Catholic education. Thanks to our Student Bursary fund, we are able to welcome families from all circumstances. Last year, the school sponsored $40,000 in bursaries to families in the school. A collection was also taken up at our Christmas Concerts this year with enough money donated to sponsor an entire tuition! Donations of all amounts are greatly appreciated and will ensure the Bursary Fund’s ability to assist. Donations over $20.00 will receive a tax receipt and can be forwarded to:

St. Charles Catholic School

331 St. Charles Street Winnipeg, MB

R3K 1T6

Robert Morrison 13th Annual Texas

Scramble Golf Tournament Monday, May 27th, 2013

Breezy Bend Golf & Country Club

For more information, contact the school office 204-837-1520, or

visit the school web site www.stccs.ca.

At the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)

Production Dates: April 22nd and 23rd

St. Charles Catholic School presents our spring musical

Performance Tickets $8.00. available in the office

P A G E 8

St. Charles is a K-8 school, offering full day, every day kindergarten, a violin enrichment program, K-8 French, a hockey skills development program, arts and drama, as well as before and after school care. Academy Kids Daycare is also located on the premises. For more information, please call St. Charles Catholic School at 837-1520 or visit our website at www.stccs.ca.

Quality Education that is

Intellectually Challenging and

Faith Filled

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RETURN ADDRESS: 331 St. Charles Street

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R3K 1T6