SFDS Flames Alumni Community Newsletter #1

NewsLetter

#1

mni u l A S D F S

S

FEBRRUARY 7 2024

Welcome to a New Channel

tarting today, we aim to maintain a connection with all our alumni through a new channel: a newsletter designed to provide brief updates about our school, allowing you to stay connected with SFDS School—the place where everyone was warmly welcomed and spent significant years of their lives. This newsletter comprises five sections: General Theme, News, Our Alumni, Events, and a special section for companies which want to offer products and services within our community.

In our inaugural edition, our team invites you to participate in a significant Alumni Newsletter Naming Contest. Engage your creativity and leave your mark by suggesting a name for our upcoming newsletter. Share your ideas and be part of shaping the identity of our community. This exciting opportunity invites you to propose a name for this newsletter to make it more identifiable.

Alumni from around the world are encouraged to participate, and the selected name will earn a special surprise prize.

Enjoy this inaugural edition, and do not forget to share your feedback with us at SFDSAlumniCommunity@gmail.com .

Editorial Team

News and activities Developing values In December, the SFDS grades 3, 4, and 5 carolers spread Christmas cheer at New

GIVERS Club

Vista Care Home, delighting many elderly residents with wonderful Christmas songs.

They were divided into two groups going on different days and led by Ms. Walmsley music teacher.

The SFDS School has started a group for children in grades 5 to 7 called The GIVERS. This club has been formed to model and demonstrate the Catholic values of charity, stewardship and to embody the Gospel of Christ. The goal of the club is to encourage students to lead charitable causes and to cultivate and practice intentional leadership. The club promotes teamwork and fun. The participants understand that they will be modelling all these values.

Photo: by Naomi Panganiban

Fundraising activities

Through the year, there are many Fundraisers and activities where you can join and donate to the school and Parish.

Walkathon, Purdy´s, Christmas with Santa, Readathon and others. We encourage all our Alumni to stay up to date with all activities and participate in them.

Photo: "On December 11, 2023, GIVERS representatives presented a donation of $400 towards Burnaby Neighbourhood House (BNH) Food Hubs"

Alpha Program Alpha is a parish tool for evangelization based on hospitality, sharing and open conversation. The same Alpha program is run all over the world by Christians of all traditions and provides a common expression of proclamation, service and

Business on Alumni Newsletter

witness. Millions of people have experienced Alpha in 112 languages in 169 countries around the globe.

If you have a big, medium or small

St Francis de Sales Parish has had 2

section designed to offer services and

programs: the first one in Summer 2023 and the second one is running this winter.

If you are interested in participating in it, call to Parish office 604 4341328

company, you can participate on our Wall products to our alumni and their families.

In this spot, the companies will have a network to promote and exposure to products and services and also the alumni will receive extra perks.

If you are interested, send us an email to SFDSAlumniCommunity@gmail.com .

Newsletter Naming Contest Mark the start of this new beginning together by joining our Alumni Newsletter Naming Contest. Engage your literary creativity and suggest a name for our newsletter.

Send your suggested name(s) to SFDSAlumniCommunity@gmail.com by March 15, with your full name and graduation year. Selected name will have a special prize.

Photo: by Freepik.com

General Theme

Photo: Parish file

Celebrating and Remembering our Cherished St. Francis de Sales School!

By. Irene Wihak School Principal

As we come to the realization that our parish turned 90 years old this past December, it’s a good idea to look back and reflect on some history of the ‘daughter of the parish’, namely St. Francis de Sales School.

This brick building, lovingly cared for by our amazing Mr. Trevor Bencze and his assistant Mr. Peter Timbang, was founded in 1954 - a year when the Soviet Union ceased to demand war reparations from West Germany, the first mass vaccination of children against polio began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bill Haley & His Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock" helping to initiate the rock and roll craze, Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four minute mile in England, the United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously that segregated schools are unconstitutional, The Fellowship of the

Ring was published in London and the first Godzilla film premiered in Tokyo.

Here in Burnaby, our Catholic school first opened its doors to Grade 1 students in the basement of the parish’s rectory - at that time located on Kingsway - and Grade 2 students in the basement of the church. It can’t be forgotten that the original school building was lost to fire in 1967, with the construction of our current structure starting the year after. During this time of rebuilding, students had to attend school in classrooms all over Burnaby, including 12 Ave. Elementary School, a basement room in Burnaby South High School, and Maywood School among others. Luckily, St. Pius X Parish loaned their school bus for the year to SFDS, so children could be transported in shifts to their respective school class locations.

Helping in the faith formation of our

indomitable (and musical) Mrs. Cecilia McLaren who collaborated so well with the City of Burnaby to ensure the construction of our Early Learning Centre behind the main school building.

Students were also blessed with the presence of many incredible teachers Photo: published by BC Catholic NewsPaper

students, past alumni may remember the various pastors in SFDS history: Rev. Peter McQuire, Msgr. J.E Brown, Rev. John Swinkels, Rev. Nick Boomars, Rev. Ken Bernard, Rev. Anthony Boniface, Rev. Gary Franken, Rev. Terrance Bileski, Rev. Thomas Smith, and Rev. Mario Marin. The school and parish are particularly blessed with our current pastor: Rev. Mark McGuckin and his assistant, Fr. Medard.

School leadership in the form of principals included the intrepid Mr. Chuck Luttrell (who came to work by boat with his children from his cabin near Camp Jubilee), warm hearted and motherly Mrs. Marg Parsons, and the

over the years, including Mrs. Margaret Goyarzu who sadly passed away from cancer and the now retired Mrs. Gina Luongo and Mrs. Denise Fawcett.

As our school continues to grow and develop, with the intention of building a brand new structure in the not too distant future, we invite all our alumni to stay connected in order to help share their memories and maintain strong ties that began within our corridors and its blue student cubbies for storing coats, lunches and bags. Social media makes this so much easier nowadays, and we hope alumni will keep in touch with our community through Facebook and Instagram. Your stories matter, and you are forever more a part of our SFDS School family!

Photo: Parish file

Our Alumni Alumnus Reflection By. Joachim Wu Alumnus Prom 2001

It´s been 23 years!!!

St. Francis de Sales was an instrumental part of my life. As a new immigrant knowing little English, my teachers and friends were more than willing to help.

But SFdS was more than just a school to me; it was a family. I would go to school looking forward to meeting my friends and teachers everyday. A few of these teachers helped me discover my love of teaching and led me to eventually becoming a piano teacher.

Most of the class went onto St. Thomas Moore, but I ended up at Vancouver College. Ending up in a new school and

Photo: from private file

knowing nobody else was a challenge.

Thankfully, Facebook came along a few years later and I had an opportunity to reconnect with some old friends.

school 23 years later. I can't wait until they get to be taught by my favourite

Over the past 20 years, I've been

teacher Mr. Penney!

fortunate enough to help facilitate a Children Choir at Chinese parish, and

If you are an alumnus of the school,

help coordinate a youth and young adults

always feel free to reach out to our

camp for 10 years. My life as a dad has

Alumni network.

pulled me back from these commitments a bit, but it led me back to SFdS more consistently.

If you are alumnus and want to St. Francis de Sales is still an integral part of my life. When I left SFdS as a Grade 7 grad, I had no idea that my children would come back to the same

participate in this section, please email us at sfdsalumnicommunity@gmail.com expressing your desire to write a free article for this newsletter.

Events Recap of Christmas Concert Magic!!!

Save the Date for Spring Fair

As we bid farewell to winter, we eagerly anticipate the blossoming of spring and the upcoming highlight of our community calendar – the Spring Fair! Scheduled for The joy of the holiday season brought us all together in spirit. Our last Christmas concert on 14th Decembre 2023 with all the students at the school was a magical celebration of music and talent. Children

May. This event promises a day of fun and entertainment for all ages. It's also a perfect opportunity to revisit the familiar grounds of the school since the fair will just be across from it.

worked so hard beside the amazing music teacher, Ms. Walmsley, who projected her charisma, emotions, love and professionalism during both shows.

Business in Spring Fair Nostalgia at the Parish Potluck

Our recent potluck gathering was a delightful feast of flavors. We hope you'll take a moment to recall the shared meals, laughter, and the sense of community that has been a hallmark of St. Francis de Sales School and Parish. Your contributions, past and present, have played a significant role in shaping the community.

If you are a small businesses owner you are invited to participate in this special and important event. You can elevate your business and social media presence, before and during the event.

For details and information send an email to springfair.sfdsburnaby@gmail.com

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