Week At A Glance, November 10th to 14th

Monday, November 10th, 2025:

• Remembrance Day Assembly 10:50 am at Church Hall (Grade 3)
• Grade 5 & 6 (Grade 6 Last Practice Today) Boys Volleyball Practice 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm

Tuesday, November 11th, 2025:

• NO SCHOOL – REMEMBRANCE DAY

Wednesday, November 12th, 2025:

• Grade 6 Boys Volleyball Game at OLS at lunch
• Hot Lunch
• Photo Re-takes at 1:00 pm (Students must be dressed in their full winter uniform)
• Grade 5 (Last Practice Today) Boys Only Volleyball practice at 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm

Thursday, November 13th, 2025:

• Grade 5 Class Fieldtrip to Britannia Mines 
• Grade 7 Boys Volleyball Practice at 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm

Friday, November 14th, 2025:

• School Mass at 9:15 am (Grade 5)
• Grade 6/7 Boys Soccer Tournament at Notre Dame 
• Grade 5 Boys Volleyball Game at OLS at lunch
• Early Dismissal 2:00 pm

Saturday, November 15th, 2025: Work Bee 8:30 am

November – Remembrance Month:
In the Catholic Church, November is dedicated to honoring the dead and praying for the souls in purgatory. This is reflected in the calendar with All Saints’ Day on November 1st and All Souls’ Day on November 2nd, and it is a time for the faithful to pray for their deceased loved ones and for those who are otherwise forgotten. What is the difference between All Saints and All Souls? The Church set aside All Saints for all those who have died and are now in heaven. Some of these are canonized saints, but most are not. All Souls Day is for the faithful who have died, but are still in Purgatory. Our prayers help them and we are encouraged to pray, especially in the month of November. A common prayer for the dead is “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.” We invite you and your children to include prayers for deceased family members in our classroom daily prayer. Students are invited to bring the name(s) for whom you would like us to pray for. They can add these to their classroom prayer tables.

Remembrance Day:
On Remembrance Day, Canadians observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on November 11th to honor and remember those who have served and sacrificed in wars and peacekeeping efforts. This tradition began with the end of the First World War at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. During this time, people pause to reflect on the sacrifices made by servicemen and women and to recognize the importance of peace. Please remember to take a moment to reflect on Remembrance Day.

SFA Christmas Luncheon Tickets & Raffle Tickets:
SFA will be hosting a delicious Christmas luncheon at the Italian Cultural Centre on November 30, 2025. Tickets are now available for an old fashioned Christmas lunch at the Italian cultural centre on Sunday, November 30.  Tickets can be purchased online or at the school and parish offices. (Cash and Cheque only)   http://sfa-christmas-lunch.square.site/ 

A raffle draw will be part of the Christmas afternoon. Raffle tickets were sent home with each child this week. Please reach out to your family and friends to help support this endeavour. Thank you! 

First Prize: Whistler Getaway
Second Prize: $500.00 Shopping Extravaganza
Third Prize: East Vancouver Basket
Fourth Prize: SFA Parish Basket

Photo Day Proofs:
Students brought home their photos proofs this week. Please note all order are done online and the date to order by is November 20th . If you would like your child to have re-takes done please email your classroom teacher. All students having re-takes must be dressed in their full winter uniform.

SFA Open House:
Our Open House is on November 30th at 6:30 pm at the school. There will be a talk by Ms. Welsh and tours led by our grade 7 students. Please spread the word to your friends and family.

We Scare Hunger & Agape Candy Collection:
Thank you to everyone that donated food and candy. We collected over three large containers of food and two large containers of candy.

Christmas Concerts:
Please see below details for our Christmas Concert this year.

• PRIMARY PERFORMANCES: (Students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 & Grade 7 Performing)

         Wednesday, December 10, 2025

• 1:00 pm in the Parish Hall 

  • Only for families of Primary (Kindergarten, Grade One, Grade Two and Grade Three families), plus Grade 7 families

• 6:45 pm in the Parish Hall

  • Only for families of Primary (Kindergarten, Grade One, Grade Two and Grade Three families), plus Grade 7 families 

• INTERMEDIATE PERFORMANCES: (Students in Grade 4 to Grade 7 Performing)

         Thursday, December 11, 2025

• 1:00 pm in the Parish Hall 

  • Only for families of Intermediate grades (Grades 4, 5, 6 and 7). 

• 6:45 pm in the Parish Hall

  • Only for families of Intermediate grades (Grades 4, 5, 6 and 7). 

Christmas Market:
Mark your calendars for your favourite event of the season! The 2nd Annual Christmas Market returns, Sunday November 23 from 10-4pm at the church hall. There will be even more vendors than last year, more food and drinks (including keg beer), pictures with Santa from12-3 in his newly renovated space, kids area with face painting, crafts and more!

Please email: Sfachurchevents@gmail.com if you are available to help.

**We are looking for a little more help. (Posting flyers in the neighbourhood, espresso bar, payment taker, take down)

**We are looking for anyone who wants to donate baked goods for the bakery table (no loaves please) To be dropped of Saturday November 22 by 12pm to the church kitchen. 

**If you have any outdoor decorations you could loan us to make the garden feel magical. Please drop them off Friday November 21 or before 10am on Saturday November 22. Pick up Sunday November 23 at 5pm.

Grade 7 Purdy’s Chocolates: 
It’s hard to believe that the Christmas season will soon be upon us. In preparation for the holidays, the Grade 7 Class is hosting a Purdy’s Chocolate Fundraiser. Get ahead on purchasing Christmas treats for your family and friends (and maybe a little something for yourself) by clicking on this link: https://fundraising.purdys.com/2176479-132325
By doing so you’ll be helping the Grade 7 class raise much needed funds to go towards their end of the year grad celebration. 

The fundraiser will be running from Monday, October 20th until November 16th, 2025. Pick up of your orders will be on Monday, December 1st from 3:30-6:30pm at the Parish Hall. There will also be at least one other date for pick up offered during the first week of December but this is still TBD. If you can not make the planned pick up dates or times, no problem! You can contact me at cnmiller604@gmail.com or text 604-761-3548 and we can arrange another time for pick up.

Interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith?
Beginning the first Wednesday in December, Father Lucca will lead RCIA classes at the parish for any adult interested in learning more about the Catholic faith or who is interested in becoming a full member of the Catholic Church.  RCIA classes will be held from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm.  If you would like more information please contact the parish office at 604-255-8855.  Thank you.

UPCOMING DATES:

Nov 17th – No Before & After School Bus, Grade 5 & 6 Boys Volleyball Practice 3:15 p to 4:00 pm

Nov 18th – No Before & After School Bus, Grade 7 (Last Practice Today) Boys Volleyball Practice 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm

Nov 19th – Grade 7 Boys Volleyball Tournament at St. Patrick’s School 8:30 am to 3:00 pm

Nov 20th – Last day to return raffle tickets, Grade 7 Pizza Lunch Fundraiser, Grade 7’s Visit Notre Dame, Open House 6:30 pm at the School

Nov 21st – NO SCHOOL – PRO-D DAY

Nov 23rd – Parish Christmas Market 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Church Hall

Nov 28th  – School Mass 9:15 am (Grade 7)

Nov 30th – First Sunday of Advent, Old Fashioned Christmas Luncheon at the ICC (Doors open at 11:45 am)

Dec 10th – Primary Christmas Concerts at 1:00 pm & 6:45 pm (Kindergarten to Grade 3 & Grade 7)

Dec 11th – Intermediate Christmas Concerts at 1:00 pm & 6:45 pm (Grade 4 to Grade 7)

Dec 19th – Last Day of Classes, Noon Dismissal, No ASC

Dec 22nd to Jan 5th – NO SCHOOL – Christmas Break

Jan 6th – School Re-opens at 8:40 am

Jan 8th – Grade 7 Pizza Lunch Fundraiser

Jan 9th – Rosary (Grade 6)

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Office | St. Francis of Assisi School
870 Victoria Drive, Vancouver BC V5L 4E7

Tel: 604-253-7311
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