November 2025

Dear YCS Families,

What a busy and fantastic October we had across Yellowknife Catholic Schools! There was incredible energy, achievement, and faithful living in all our schools. From the loud excitement of the gymnasiums to quieter moments of prayer, our students and staff have truly embraced the spirit of the new school year with dedication. As we now move into November, a month that naturally calls us to remembrance and preparation, I'm looking forward to all the wonderful growth and activities ahead for our students, families, and staff.

The start of the school year saw our students jump right into action, celebrating both their athletic talents and our shared Catholic faith. Our high school athletes began the season strong in the Lawrie Hobart Volleyball Tournament (Oct 17th–19th), showcasing great skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship against teams from across the region. Our younger students weren't far behind, with the Junior Spike-It activities (Oct 23rd–26th) providing a wonderful introduction to the joy of competitive sport.

At the heart of everything we do is our Catholic identity. We cherished vital opportunities to gather as one faith community. The ESJS Mass on October 18th gave the community a peaceful moment of collective prayer. Our division-wide YCS Mass on October 25th brought all our schools together, strengthening the spiritual foundation of our YCS family.

Looking ahead, November promises to be just as busy and rewarding, with events focused on community, remembrance, and friendly competition.

We begin with a solemn and important recognition on November 8th: National Indigenous Veterans Day. This dedicated day is for honouring the sacrifices and unique contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people who have served in the Canadian military. It is a vital act of remembrance for our community.

This leads into Remembrance Day on November 11th. Our schools will hold special ceremonies on November 10th to ensure our students understand the importance of service, peace, and gratitude. We are also honoured that ESPHS will host the city's official Remembrance Day service on November 11th, and we encourage families to attend.

Beyond these solemn occasions, we have some fun events coming up! Mark your calendars, our senior athletes will compete in the annual Wade Hamer Challenge Cup to test their skill and teamwork on November 19th, and we invite everyone to come out and cheer them on.

As we continue through Ordinary Time in the Church's liturgical year, November gives us a profound spiritual focus with the Solemnity of All Saints (November 1st) and the Commemoration of All Souls (November 2nd). These two days offer a beautiful chance to reflect on our purpose. All Saints Day reminds us that the call to holiness is universal and it is for everyone. The saints teach us that we don't need to do extraordinary things to follow God; rather, they lived their ordinary lives extraordinarily well. This means our daily work, schooling, and interactions are the very places where we can pursue sainthood. We are grateful to Father Mick from St. Patrick’s parish, who continues to support our students' faith journey both in school and at weekly Masses. This month, let's encourage our children to reflect on how they can bring the light of Christ and the grace of the Saints into their classrooms, their homes, and their friendships. Let’s all strive to live our faith with courage and love every single day.

Thank you again for your continued support of Yellowknife Catholic Schools. Your partnership is invaluable as we work together to educate minds and nurture your children's spirits.

Blessings,

Adam Murray