OLMC News

December 1, 2025

As we embark upon this season of anticipation and joy, we extend heartfelt Advent blessings to each one of you. In this season of reflection and hope, may the warmth of love and the light of understanding illuminate your homes. 

During this Advent season, may you find moments of peace amid the hustle and bustle, and may the magic of the season wrap your families in a blanket of togetherness.

Wishing you all the blessings that Advent brings, and a joyous Christmas season filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories.

You can read Chief Superintendent Lynnette Anderson's December reflection on Truth, Beauty and Goodness as we begin our Advent journey by clicking here or by visiting ecsd.net/chief-superintendents-message .

There is so much coming up in December at OLMC, please read through the information for the next month. 

Festive Demonstration of Learning & Christmas Concert – December 3

We are thrilled to invite you to our Festive Demonstration of Learning on Tuesday, December 3rd! 

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to share their learning and talents with families and take part in the festive activities throughout the school along with our Christmas Concert that evening.

Throughout the evening, visit your child’s class and explore all of the learning they have been doing this far in the school year. Each class will be performing in the gym at specific times in the evening. When it is your child’s turn to sing on stage, please ensure that your child is in their classroom 15 minutes before their scheduled time. You can visit the classroom demonstration of learning before or after the performance time. 

Doors will open at 5:15 PM. Please use the front and back entrances. We kindly ask if all outdoor footwear is removed to keep our floors clean. 

Kindergarten students can go to the Music Room at 5:15 PM and gather for their performance. 

Performance Times: 

5:30 – 5:40 PM Kindergarten

5:45 – 5:55 PM Grade 1

6:00 – 6:10 PM Grade 1/2

6:15 – 6:25 PM Grade 2

6:30 – 6:40 PM Grade 3A & 3B

6:45 – 6:55 PM Grade 4 Leadership (Grade 4A Demo of Learning will pause at this time)

7:00 – 7:10 PM Grade 5 Leadership (Grade 5A Demo of Learning will pause at this time)

7:15 – 7:25 PM Grade 6 Leadership (Grade 5B Demo of Learning will pause at this time)

7:30 – 7:40 PM Hockey Academy      (Grade 6 Demo of Learning will end at this time) 

7:45 – 7:55 PM Hockey Academy      (Grade 6 Demo of Learning will end at this time)

8:00 – 8:10 PM Soccer Academy       (Grade 4B Demo of Learning will end at this time)

Grades 4 – 6 Skiing – Dec 8

We are looking forward to the first of two ski/snowboard trip planned for the grade 4 - 6 students on December 8. 

Field trip form and payment for the trip are due no later than November 30 in PowerSchool as the ski hill needs final numbers by Monday, December 1. 

Students not attending the field trip will remain at school with a partner class.

PowerSchool Hot Lunch – Dec 12 

The next PowerSchool Hot Lunch is up on for ordering! Thank you to our amazing parents and all of their dedication to making this possible! 

Annual Christmas Market – December 15–16

We are pleased to announce that OLMC will be hosting the Christmas Market again! This is a special event where students have the opportunity to shop for Christmas presents for their families. At the market, students select gifts from donated items which are then wrapped by volunteers and taken home for Christmas morning.  

OLMC families are asked to donate new or gently used items for the Market. There is no set limit on the amount you can donate; however it is suggested that you donate at least one item per person your child(ren) will be buying for. We will begin collecting donations the first week of December until Monday, December 15th. 

Donations of Christmas wrapping paper, tissue paper, bows, Christmas cards and gift bags are also greatly welcomed.  

Examples of items you can donate

For Moms: Jewelry, scarves, candles, mugs, bath products, kitchen gadgets.

For Dads: Tools, socks, hats, travel mugs, sports accessories, golf items (balls, tees, trinkets).

For Grandparents: Photo frames, puzzles, cozy blankets, tea or coffee sets.

For Baby Siblings: Board books, rattles, small toys, bibs.

For Older Siblings: Games, art supplies, headphones, water bottles.

General: Books, holiday décor, small electronics, stationery.

Wrapping Supplies: Gift bags, wrapping paper, tape, and tags.

We need helpers to assist students in selecting gifts and wrapping them at the gift station. Don’t forget to join our Parent WhatsApp Volunteer Group to sign up: Parent Volunteer WhatsApp Chat

Christmas Hampers – Food Donations

Our students are also collecting items for Christmas Hampers to support families in need. Here’s what we’re looking for:

- Canned fruit and vegetables

- Stove Top dressing

- Turkey gravy (packages or cans)

- Cranberry sauce

- Canned soup and crackers

- Real fruit juice

- Pasta and spaghetti sauce

- Tea, coffee, juice

- Christmas treats: nuts, candies, cookies

- Fresh produce: potatoes, carrots, Christmas oranges (collecting on December 15)

- Monetary donations (used to purchase meats and fill gaps)

At our Christmas Concert, we’ll have large collection boxes at both entrances. For every donation item you bring in, the night of the concert, you will be entered into a contest for a free giveaway at the end of the night. 

Festive Dress Up Week: Dec 15 - 19

During the last week of school before the holidays students can dress up for each theme day. 

Monday, December 15                 Winter Wonderland – wear blue and white! 

Tuesday, December 16                Rocking around the Christmas Tree - rock all your Christmas colors!

Wednesday, December 17           Christmas Sweater (the sillier the better!)

Thursday, December 18               Jersey Day for OLMC Classic Hockey Game

Friday, December 19                    Christmas PJs and Christmas Socks 

OLMC Classic – Dec 18

On December 18th is the annual OLMC Hockey Classic where students in the Hockey Academy showcase their skills on ice through a friendly team vs team game and the whole school will be joining to cheer on their classmates! 

The game will be happening from 9:30 – 11:30 AM at George Hughes Southside Arena, 10525 72 Ave NW. 

Families are welcome to come and join in on the fun! 

In lieu of admission for the classic, we are going to be collecting toys that will be donated to the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital, a wonderful organization right in the heart of the Queen Alexandra neighborhood. 

Save the Date – Family Dance!

We are excited to announce our Family Dance Night on Wednesday, February 5! Mark your calendars for an evening of music, fun, and community celebration. More details will follow soon!

Upcoming Important Dates

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School

www.ourladyofmountcarmel.ecsd.net | 780.433.1062 | ourladyofmountcarmel@ecsd.net | Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @OLMCschoolECSD

November 14, 2025

Dear OLMC families, 

As winter approaches, we pray for warmth, safety, and joy for all members of our school community. May God’s love guide us through this season and bless our families with peace and health.

Parking, Drop-Off, and Pick-Up Reminders

We know construction around the school has made things a little tricky, and we truly appreciate your patience! I’ve spoken with the construction crews, and they’ve agreed to do their best to keep large machinery off the road during busy times.

While this temporary disruption continues, please help us keep everyone safe by:

• Driving slowly and showing courtesy to oncoming traffic.
• Avoiding the bus lane for parking.
• Using the “Kiss and Go” zone as intended—a quick drop-off spot. Please stay in your vehicle so traffic can keep moving.
• Parking is also available along 76 Avenue in the visitor lot. If students arrive before 8:25 a.m., they’ll need to walk around to the north side of the building, as supervision is only at the back of the school.

Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility in getting students to school safely.

Hot Lunch: Pizza Day - November 28

Our next hot lunch is coming soon!

Orders are now open in PowerSchool for Pizza Day on November 28. Please place your order by November 26.
A huge thank you to our amazing parent volunteers for making these lunches possible!

Merry Christmas Celebration of Learning - December 3

We’re excited to invite you to our Merry Christmas Celebration of Learning on December 3, 2025, starting at 5:30 p.m. This special evening combines our Demonstration of Learning and Christmas Concert into one festive celebration.

Throughout the evening, families can visit classrooms and chat with teachers, explore the wonderful learning that’s happened so far, and enjoy holiday cheer in the gym as classes perform their Christmas songs.

Performance Order for the evening:

• Kindergarten
• Grade 1
• Grade 1/2
• Grade 2
• Grade 3A & 3B
• Grade 4 Leadership
• Grade 5 Leadership
• Grade 6 Leadership
• Hockey Academy
• Soccer Academy

Our School Council will also host Christmas activities to make the evening extra joyful. Stay as long as you like—this is a celebration of learning and family fun!

Note: Kindergarten’s Celebration of Learning will be on December 4, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. in the gym.

Book Fair Update

Our Book Fair has been rescheduled to February 9–13, 2026 to accommodate these changes. 

Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm!

www.ourladyofmountcarmel.ecsd.net | 780.433.1062 | ourladyofmountcarmel@ecsd.net | Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @OLMCschoolECSD

November 1, 2025
 

Dear OLMC Families,

As we return to our regular school routines following the recent strike, we want to begin by expressing our heartfelt gratitude for your continued patience, understanding, and support. Your partnership has been invaluable during this time of transition. We offer a simple prayer for our students and their learning:

“Lord, bless our school community with peace, wisdom, and resilience. May our students be guided in their learning, protected in their growth, and inspired to reach their full potential. Amen.”

We recognize that this has been a challenging time for many, and we remain committed to ensuring that OLMC continues to be a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment for all. We appreciate your understanding as we navigate the changes to our school year and will keep you informed as plans evolve.

Staff Professional Development Day – Cancelled

The PD Day originally scheduled for November 7 has been cancelled and will be rescheduled in the new year. More information will be shared once a new date is confirmed.

Remembrance Day Service

Our Remembrance Day Service will be held on Wednesday, November 6 at 10:45 AM. Families are welcome to join us as we honor those who have served and continue to serve our country.

Students that are in Cadets, Scouts, or Guides are welcome to attend in their uniforms. Poppies are available in the office, and donations to the Veteran’s fund are welcomed.

Winter Procedure

As the weather cools, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for outdoor activities. Unless the temperature drops below -20°C with windchill, students will be outside for recess. Proper winter gear includes boots, snow pants, coats, gloves, toques, and scarves.

If your child is too ill to go outside, they should remain at home until they are well. Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy school environment.

November Break

Please note the updated November Break dates: there will be no school from November 10 – 12. Classes will resume on Thursday, November 13.

Picture Retake Day – November 13 (Morning Only)

Picture Retake Day has been rescheduled to Thursday, November 13. Retakes are available only for students who missed the original photo day or are not satisfied with their September photos.

Due to the labour disruption, Lifetouch has a limited number of timeslots available and cannot reschedule this date to better accommodate our school.

Kindergarten families: Since retakes fall on a Thursday morning, parents will need to bring their children to school between 9:00 and 11:00 AM for retakes.

If you have an issue with your photo package, please do not send it with your child. Instead, contact Lifetouch directly for assistance.

Demonstration of Learning

In light of the recent strike, we will be rescheduling our Demonstration of Learning. We will share updated information and new dates with families as soon as they are confirmed. Thank you for your understanding.

School Council Meeting

Our next School Council and Fundraising Society Meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 20 at 5:30 PM in the Learning Commons. Parents are welcome to attend in person or join virtually. A link for the virtual meeting will be emailed the morning of the meeting.

Christmas Concert Update

Due to the reduced time available for rehearsals, we will be adjusting our plans for the Christmas Concert. More information will be shared once we have finalized the new format. Our priority remains on supporting student learning and curriculum outcomes.

Christmas Market

Our beloved Christmas Market returns for its third year! Students will have the opportunity to purchase gifts for loved ones, which will be wrapped and sent home before the holiday break. Donations of gently used items, wrapping paper, tissue, tape, small bags/boxes, and Christmas cards (even used ones) are welcome starting the week of November 24.

Yellow Bus Communication

We understand that there have been challenges and delays with yellow bus transportation due to route changes and traffic conditions. These delays may increase as winter weather and snow begin to affect road conditions. We kindly ask for your continued patience and understanding as Transportation Services works to navigate these challenges.

If you have concerns about your child’s bus route or service, please contact Transportation Services directly at 780.441.6078.

If you plan to pick up your child at the end of the day instead of them taking the yellow bus, please notify the school office as early as possible. This helps us ensure that buses are not held up while staff search for students who are no longer riding.

Important Dates

• November 6 – Remembrance Day Service at 10:45 AM
• November 10 – 12 – November Break (No School)
• November 13 – Picture Retake Day (AM only)
• November 20 – School Council Meeting at 5:30 PM (Learning Commons or Virtual)
• November 26 – Grade 6 Immunizations (Rescheduled date)

Thank you and have a wonderful Halloween,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School

www.ourladyofmountcarmel.ecsd.net | 780.433.1062 | ourladyofmountcarmel@ecsd.net | Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @OLMCschoolECSD

September 19, 2025

Happy Friday OLMC families!

We have a few important updates to share with you:

Lockdown Drill 

Our school carried out a lockdown drill earlier today. This exercise is an important part of our ongoing commitment to ensure the safety and preparedness of our students and staff in the event of an emergency.

When a school is in lockdown, the doors are locked and students and staff remain quiet in their classrooms with the lights off. The drill was completed successfully, with everyone involved demonstrating maturity and calmness throughout the process.

The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority. We will continue to practice the lockdown procedures and fire drills throughout the school year.

Hot Lunch – September 26

Our School Advisory Council (SAC) is generously providing a free hot lunch for all students on Thursday, September 26. There is no cost for families.

We kindly ask that you complete the order through PowerSchool so we can plan accordingly.

• To participate, please log in to PowerSchool and select the Hot Dog option for your child.
• You will be able to choose between a regular or vegetarian hot dog.
• A gluten-free bun option is also available if needed.

Standards of Student Dress

Along with the Student Code of Conduct found at the front of your child’s agenda, we ask that all parents take a moment to review our Standards of Student Dress at OLMC. These expectations are in place to ensure all students are dressed appropriately for school and to help us create a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment for everyone.

APEGA STEM Family Night – October 16

We are excited to invite all families to our upcoming APEGA Science Family Night on Wednesday, October 16, from 6:00–8:00 PM. APEGA will be setting up a variety of engaging, hands-on activity stations for families to enjoy together.

This fantastic event is open to all OLMC families, and we encourage you to join us for an evening of fun and learning. To help APEGA prepare, please let us know if your family will be attending by completing this form: APEGA Science Family Night

Have a wonderful weekend, 

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School

www.ourladyofmountcarmel.ecsd.net | 780.433.1062 | ourladyofmountcarmel@ecsd.net

September 1, 2025

Dear OLMC families,

What a wonderful start to the school year! It is such a blessing to walk through the halls and see so many smiles from the students, new and returning! Their joy truly speaks of the welcoming environment our staff strives to create at OLMC. We hope you all enjoyed the first week as much as we have!

As we begin this school year, here is some important information to share with you for the month of September. 

OLMC News & Communication

The OLMC news is sent out at the end of the month with news and upcoming events for the month ahead. Classroom teachers will send out their own homeroom communications directly through email in addition to the school’s monthly news.

All school events and important dates are up on our website calendar at https://ourladyofmountcarmel.ecsd.net/calendar. You can subscribe to the calendar on your Android or iOS device to keep up to date with all that is happening at OLMC!

Community Walk Field Trip Form

Your child will be bringing home a field trip form to sign today that we ask are returned to their homeroom teachers by Friday, September 12th. This form will permit students to walk with their classes through the Queen Alexandra Community and will include our walks to St. Anthony Parish for masses throughout the school year.

We are only sending the parent consent form to be signed. Please read the parent information portion of the field trip form carefully, which contains detailed information about the field trip Community Walk Field Trip Information 

The only form that is required to return to school is the Parent Consent by September 12.  

School Fees

School fees will be available September 15th in your parent PowerSchool account. We ask that all parents and guardians check that your log in works before the 15th. If you have any difficulties logging into PowerSchool, please contact Mrs. Kenney in the Main Office at 780-433-1062.

Parent Pick Up/Drop Off 

We have quite a few yellow buses that will be parking along 77 Avenue on the south lane. We ask that parents please keep the bus loading zone clear. This is a City of Edmonton bylaw zone, to avoid a ticket, please use the north side of 77 Avenue or the visitor lot at the front of the school on 76 Avenue. The staff parking lot is not available for drop off/pick up, please do not enter this lot as children may be walking in this area.

Meet the Teacher & Family BBQ 

Reminder that our annual Family BBQ and Meet the Teacher evening is on Thursday, September 11th. The BBQ will be in our courtyard starting at 5:30 pm with the formal part of the evening starting at 6:30 pm in the gymnasium. After a general school overview from administration, you will be able to visit your child’s classroom and meet with individual teachers.

If you are planning to attend, please fill out this Family Feast RSVP Form so that our SAC has an idea of how many delicious hot dogs, chips and drinks need to be prepared!

Hot Lunch Program

Our Hot Lunch program is ready to go! Attached are instructions on how to create an account and place orders through Healthy Hunger. We will email out a schedule of the lunch options, dates and order deadlines soon so you can plan ahead. Some hot lunches will be available for order through Healthy Hunger and some through PowerSchool. Check the Our Lady of Mount Carmel School website calendar for the dates. Huge thank you to our amazing parents for organizing and coordinating this for our students!

Picture Day 

Pictures will start first thing in the morning at 9:00 AM, starting with our Kindergarten class. Classes will be called down one at a time. After pictures are taken, LifeTouch will send proof pictures to the school and you will be able to order directly on the LifeTouch website. Instructions for ordering will be on the proof package. Please do not send money for pictures to school, it will be returned.

Davidson Apples Fundraiser 

Our SAC is running the first fundraiser of the school year with Davidson Apples. These fresh apples can be ordered through PowerSchool and will be delivered to the school for easy pick-up. See the attached flyer for apple types and pricing. Order deadline is October 1. Delivery date to the school is October 15.

Davison Apple Fundraiser Order Information 

Upcoming Important Dates

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School

www.ourladyofmountcarmel.ecsd.net | 780.433.1062 | ourladyofmountcarmel@ecsd.net | Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @OLMCSchoolECSD