New Brand, new edition
e're thrilled to share another edition of our Alumni newsletter with you. We're particularly excited about this one as it comes with a brand new name: Ignite. As you may have noticed, our recent contest was a great success, with members of our community submitting their ideas. And the winning name, Ignite, was chosen by our PEC members in a blind selection process.
In this edition, we've got a special story about Flames – ever wondered why our school uses this word? Don't miss out on the Alumni Section for the scoop! Plus, we've got some heartfelt words from our priest for all our Alumni. And of course, we've rounded up all our recent activities and events for you to catch up on.
Calling all Alumni writers! If you're interested in contributing to our Alumni Section, drop us an email at sfdsalummnicommunity@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!
Editorial Team
Ignite MAY 2024- NUM: 2 - YEAR 1
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News and activities
Music Clinic
During the choir´s participation in the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival, the choir´s members had the opportunity to have a Music Clinic, guided by Kemuel Wong, the Principal Conductor of the Vancouver Oratorio Society Chorus and Chamber Choir, Assistant Conductor of the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, Music Director of the Folsom Singers and the Happy Melody Singing Group, and Artist-in-Residence at St. Patrick’s Regional Secondary School. Our children enjoyed the activity and received some advice for improving their singing technique.
Flamettes for Girls
Basketball Season
The girls of our school have a wonderful group call FLAMETTES. It was first founded eight years ago as a vision to create a space for SFDS’ intermediate girls to gather, share, pray and grow together as young women of God. The purpose is to journey together on a path to holiness through activities such as prayer, games, creative arts and community outreach. The most recent activity that Flamettes did was to create a handmade rosary to offer to Our Lady for the month of May. They not only created the rosary, but also planned which prayer to recite before placing it around the statue by the school office The girls enjoyed sharing this experience with the entire school.
OurGrade7boys'basketballteamexperiencedathrillingseasonwithourschool'sbest showingeverattheCISVAchampionship.Theirdeterminationburnedbrightly witheverydribble,everypass,andeveryshot,astheydominatedthegamestheyplayed in,securingawell-deservedsecondplacevictoryandilluminatingthecourtwiththeirskill andteamwork Thereweremanymomentsof purejoyandprideasouryoungathletes celebratedtheirhard-earnedsuccess.Congratulationstoourtalentedboys'team!Weare alsoveryproudofourgrade7girlsteamformakingittotheCISVAfinaleightforthefirst timeinschoolhistory!
Alumni Card
Alumni Community Network has created an ALUMNI CARD to identify every ALUMNUS in our network. This card will allow alumni to access the benefits and discounts designed for our alumni and their families.
If you want to be part of this great network, please email us at sfdsalumnicommunity@gmail com and indicate your interest.
And the winner is....
After a great contest result, we want to commend the efforts of all participants who shared their ideas with us. A special thank you to Melissa Chua, parent of Alumnus, the winner of the naming contest with the name IGNITE
Children Helping children
The members of the GIVERS Club attended Mission Day Mass, which was celebrated by the Archbishop of Vancouver, Michael Miller. They represented our school, showing support for the Holy Childhood Association
Our Alumni
“Flames”: An Origin Story and A Quiet Legacy
By. Lindsay Campbell (Oates) Alumnus 2004
To say my family talks about SFDS a lot is an understatement. This school and parish are very important to us, especially my grandparents, Andrew & Patricia Lindsay. SFDS is ingrained in our childhood memories and in how we have all been brought up My grandmother was the longtime secretary at the school where my mom, aunt, uncles, cousins, my sister and I all attended our elementary years. My Aunty Jen (Tatu) who still works at the school keeps us updated with the latest happenings at family gatherings, and as part of my application to become an elementary teacher myself, I reconnected with the school, volunteering with Mrs Wagner (my grade 2 teacher! She was Ms. Hewitt back then!). At our last family dinner, something came up about the SFDS Flames. I casually made a comment that I loved how SFDS still used “flames” as their team name
My aunt asked what I meant and I replied,
“Well me and Erika made up that name!”
I believe it was in grade 5 with Mrs. Wilson that Mrs. MacLaren announced there would be a school contest for students to come up with a team name and logo for the school Prior to this, SFDS was just that - SFDS! No team name, no mascot, no logo other than a cross and some doves. We could submit individually or as a group, an idea that could represent the school’s spirit - something to cheer for at volleyball games, track meets, etc.
I vividly remember sitting at my grandparents’ dining table with my best friend, Erika Renteria, having one of my grandpa’s famous peanut butter sandwiches for an after school snack. We were brainstorming on what our submission for the contest would be
After a while we started talking about words related to faith. We focused on the
Holy Spirit but were having a hard time figuring out how to draw a logo. We then started rambling off words as if we were on a game show. “Church!”, “Prayer!”, “Communion!”, Bible!”, “Wine!”, “Doves!”, “Candles!”… Candles led us to Flames! We loved that candles were lit to represent the Holy Spirit and that flames are individual, ever changing and powerful. We drew a bunch of cartoon flames, picked a cute one that had a little face on it and submitted ours to the contest.
Back then, every year there was a contest to submit a design for the walk-a-thon tshirts. To our surprise, we won both the team and T-shirt contests together! However, the funny part is that I don’t think either one of us thought this was going to be a forever theme for the school. Just as the walk-a-thon t-shirt contest had been a yearly occurrence, we were under the impression this would be a repeating contest as well. The fact that SFDS still identifies as the flames has always brought a quiet smile to my face. This is why my family was shocked that I had never told this story since I left Gr. 7 in 2004 - 20 years ago!
The main reason I love that SFDS still use ‘flames' is because it is a part of Erika’s legacy. I can tell this story and relive all my Erika stories so vividly in my mind because that was my last year with her. Erika was my best friend, the kind of friend that is more like a sibling. Our mothers were both single (strong!) moms which wasn’t as common in the 90’s in a Catholic school. We connected through this shared experience and our moms became best friends as well.
We car pooled together with her little
brother C treet from one anoth ns, Irish dance classes, you name it - we did it together. Her mother, Lucy Iallonardo, was like a second mom to me. My grade 5 memories are crystal clear because I never want to lose them. I never want to forget their voices or her smile. And we smiled so much! Tragically, both Erika and her mom, Lucy, were killed in a car accident the summer before sixth grade.
Erika’s personality and spirit represented everything a SFDS flame should be She was a great friend, with a kind heart and an adventurous personality. I have always thought that she and her mom were like my guardian angels, and while I don’t think I will ever stop grieving them, it is a comfort to know she is still remembered in this way, all these years later.
When you walk by the big cross at the side of the school near the church parking lot that was put there in their memory, please keep Erika and Lucy in your thoughts and prayers so that their values of friendship, strength and faith can live on, burning brightly in the school spirit of the SFDS FLAMES.
Photo:FromPrivatefile
The Priest
Memories and Blessings
By. Fr. Mark McGuckin
Dear Alumni and friends, remember those days running around St. Francis de Sales School in Rene Memorial park across the street? Remember how those basketballs used to bounce off the brick walls in our beloved SFDS gymnasium? Remember the peaceful feeling you had as a young one, settling in to one of our church pews, basking in in the Presence of Our Lord during a school Mass? After almost two full years of being pastor at St. Francis de Sales, I've come to really value the rich heritage here at this historic parish and faith-filled school. And the future Our Lord has in store for us is really bright and blessed.
Please be assured of my prayers for you and all your loved ones. Those who live far away, the next time you visit the Lower Mainland, please swing by the parish. We'd love to see you. And those who live in the Lower Mainland, you may be living closer to another parish during this season of your life and that's okay (we're all part of one big Catholic family). And though we would never dream of poaching from other parishes, please know that if you ever decided to come back, we wouldn't turn you away.
Everyone is always warmly welcomed at our home-away-from-home ... St. Francis de Sales, Burnaby.
You'll always be part of this community. Just like the agents in the C I A you can never really 'leave' SFDS! - Haha.
Photo:YolandaCastellanos
Events
Alumni Community in Spring fair
On May 25th, the Alumni Community will be present at the Spring Fair. You can visit the booth where all alumni can fill out a form, leaving their personal information, and receive some prizes
Alpha Marriage Course
If you want to receive support and strengthen your marriage, join the 7night Alpha Marriage Course. This course will begin on May 30th, aiming to provide support to marriages that need to continue their process of growth For more information, contact
Spring Fair 2024
Spring Fair is coming. Do not miss this special and important event for our community On May 25th you can enjoy with your family and friends variety of activities, vendors and art performances.
Photoby www.freepik.com
WALL BUSINESS
In this edition, we celebrate the opportunity for our alumni and their families to receive a 10% discount at 1912 Amax Stationery Brand. If you want to avail yourself of this discount and other perks, please send us an email to obtain the Alumni Card
If you have a big, medium, or small company, you can participate in this section designed to offer services and products to our alumni and their families. In this space, companies will have a platform to promote and gain exposure for their products and services, and alumni will also receive additional perks If you are interested, please send us an email at SFDSAlumniCommunity@gmail.com."
