News Archive

From tiny backpacks to graduation caps. The first kindergarten class in St. Francis of Assisi Academy history returned to where it all began, passing their caps to our youngest learners as a symbol of hope, legacy, and the beautiful journey still to come. May those who follow in their footsteps continue to belong, believe, become, and bless. 💙🎓

After celebrating Mass and blessing our Grade 9 graduates, our farewell festivities continued with a BBQ shared in community. 🌭☀️ A heartfelt thank you to our incredible parent volunteers who spent the morning preparing everything while we were at St. James Parish for our closing Mass. We are so grateful for the village that surrounds our Storm students. 💙⚡️

Today, at our Closing Mass at St. James Parish, we offered one of our most cherished Grade 9 traditions: a blessing over our graduates as they prepare to leave the halls of St. Francis of Assisi Academy. As a faith community, we prayed over them with gratitude for who they have been, pride in who they have become, and hope for all that lies ahead. May they go forward knowing they are deeply loved by God, supported by this community, and called to be a blessing to others wherever life leads them 🫶🏻

Congratulations to our 2025–2026 Female and Male Athletes of the Year! 🏅🌩️ Through talent, determination, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to their teammates, these athletes exemplified what it means to represent Storm with pride. We are so proud of all they have accomplished this year, both on and off the field of play. Congratulations on this well-deserved honour!

One team. One Storm. 🌩️🏅 A look back at the incredible athletes, coaches, and teams who represented St. Francis of Assisi this year. Thank you for your dedication, teamwork, and school spirit. We are proud of each and every one of you! Cross Country Flag Football Volleyball Basketball Badminton Track & Field It was a year of Champions! 🏆

Tonight, we celebrated the dedication, teamwork, and heart of our Storm athletes at our Athletic Banquet. 🏅⚡ Congratulations to all of the student-athletes recognized with Coach’s Awards, 3D Awards, and Most Valuable Player honours across our sports teams this year. Your commitment, perseverance, leadership, and sportsmanship have made us proud to be Storm. Thank you to our coaches, staff, and families for the countless hours of encouragement and support behind the scenes. Athletics is about so much more than wins and losses—it teaches resilience, character, and what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Congratulations to all of our athletes on an incredible year. Once a Storm, always a Storm. 💙🌩️

This student will never forget the laughter and memories made while “messing around” in Grade 8 Religion class—moments that brought joy and friendship to the school day. His advice to younger students? Elementary students: have fun and enjoy the journey. Junior high students: never stop trying, even when things get difficult. Grade 8 Foods was his favourite class because it was where he formed a lasting friendship with Felipe, proving that some of the best recipes in life are the friendships we make along the way. He’s especially proud of earning marks that made his mom proud, recognizing the effort and perseverance behind his accomplishments. Through his time at St. Francis of Assisi Academy, he’s learned a valuable lesson: you don’t need to prove yourself to anyone else—the person you need to make proud is yourself. In ten years, he hopes to be living in Finland, working as a lawyer, and surrounded by family and friends who matter most. Can you guess who this thoughtful and determined graduate is? 🎓✨🇫🇮👨‍⚖️ #STFAGuesstheGrad

A huge thank you to all the staff who rolled up their sleeves (literally!) and to our incredible students and families for your support. Your generosity is helping make an unforgettable experience possible for our students travelling to Peru this Easter! What a fun way to come together for something meaningful! #WeAreSTFA #STFAPeru2026

In this Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, our community is slowing down and leaning in. Together, staff and students will journey toward a deeper, more intimate understanding of St. Francis—not just as a patron saint, but as a person whose life, faith, and choices continue to guide us today. This year invites us to go deeper than we ever have before, allowing his spirit of humility, peace, and love for all creation to shape how we learn, lead, and live together. #WeAreSTFA

💗 On Wednesdays, we wear pink. 💗 Pink Shirt Day is happening February 25th and we’re excited to collaborate with our local partner @beanandbear.co to make it extra special! Order a custom Pink Shirt Day tee featuring our school logo, and show your support for kindness, belonging, and community. Even better—a portion of every shirt sold comes back to support our school. 🗓 Order deadline: February 10 👕 Wear it: February 25 Let’s come together, wear pink, and advocate for a place where everyone belongs 🩷 🔗 Link to purchase in our bio!

Temporary tattoos. Permanent impact. 💛 Help fund our students’ Peru trip this Easter by sponsoring a teacher sleeve tattoo on an arm or leg! Participating staff include: • Mrs. Bilawchuck • Mr. Walton • Mrs. Avramovic • Mrs. Sziva • Mrs. Olynyk • Mrs. Gatto • Mrs. De Mederios • Mrs. Groger • Miss. Riccio • Miss Behm • Mr. Paul • Ms. Riccio • Ms. Showalter • Mrs. Benassi • Mrs. De Orbe

📝 Division 1 Spell-A-Thon is happening this Thursday! Our youngest learners are putting their spelling skills to the test and have been encouraged to gather sponsors as they work toward their goals. More information has been shared by homeroom teachers. Thank you for supporting our students and celebrating their hard work! 💙📚

Our February Newsletter is here! Inside, you’ll find important dates, upcoming events, highlights from our school community, and ways to stay connected throughout the month. We invite you to take a few moments to read and stay informed as we journey through February together. 🔗 Link in bio!

⚠️Just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow! This week, we are excited to kick off Literacy Week—please be sure to check agendas and teacher communications for grade-specific activities and details. A special thank you to our Grade 4 and Grade 7 families: please take a few moments to complete the AERR Survey and the CTR Faith Survey that were shared with you last week. Your voice is an important part of our ongoing growth and reflection! Thank you for your continued partnership and support 🫶🏻

Christmas Eve. ✨ Did You Know? Over 800 years ago, St. Francis of Assisi created the first Nativity to help people see, feel, and fall in love again with the humility of Christ’s birth—God choosing simplicity, closeness, and love. This manger scene, drawn by Aria in Grade 5, reminds us of the Nativity as St. Francis of Assisi first helped the world imagine it — real, human, and anything but silent. Contrary to popular belief, that night was likely noisy, crowded, and uncertain. A newborn crying. Animals shifting. Tired parents. Very little comfort. And yet, this is exactly how God chose to enter the world — not in perfection, but in the middle of mess, movement, and humanity. May this Christmas Eve remind us that even in the noise, the waiting, and the full hearts — God is with us. 🕊️

Today we gathered for our final Pace e Bene of 2025 🤍 Together, we reflected on our call to live with compassion, generosity, and love—especially through our focus on the preferential option for the poor. From our Adopt-a-Senior initiative to the joy and purpose behind our Kids’ Christmas Market, our students showed us what it looks like to see dignity, respond with kindness, and act with open hearts. We also shared a heartfelt goodbye to Ms. Cives, who will be beginning an exciting new chapter in New Zealand. She will be deeply missed! At the same time, we look forward with joy to welcoming Mrs. Austen back to our community in the new year following her maternity leave! As we close this year, we are grateful for a community that truly lives peace and goodness—not just in words, but in action. #WeAreSTFA

Holiday mode: ON! 🎉 Jumping into Christmas break with excitement… and hearts full of gratitude for Jesus, the reason we celebrate. Wishing all of our families a Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year! ✝️ 🎄

Our first-ever Kids’ Christmas Market, a joyful twist on a traditional church bazaar—where families donated items for children to shop for their loved ones, not themselves. Watching our students carefully choose the perfect gift for a mom, dad, or sibling was pure joy. Thoughtful hearts, generous spirits, and so much excitement filled the room! A huge thank you to Lexi in Grade 9 for leading the charge with gift wrapping—she’s been busy all week alongside a wonderful team of Grade 9 elves! 🎁✨ This will now be an annual tradition 🤍 If you’re thinking of donating items, please consider holding onto them and saving them for next year’s bazaar—we can’t wait to do this again!

Sprinkles, smiles, and thoughtful details — Grade 3 Behm focused on decorating and making each creation their own. #WeAreSTFA 🎄

Ms. Cives’ class building North Pole stations and elf cottages!