St. Francis Xavier High School 9250 - 163 Street Edmonton AB TSR OA7 ee Tel: 780 489-2571 Fax: Dear Parents/Guardians In light of the tragedy that is unfolding in Fort McMurzay there has been a few changes to the graduation commencements and the banquet facilities. Northlands is the staging area for thousands of families coming down from Fort McMurray. ‘They are expecting up to 4,000 people to be accessing the facilities at Northlands. So our commencements for tonight have been moved to Hall E, We ask that all families please make their way to Hall E as soon as they arrive at Northlands, ‘The commencements will start at 7:00PM but we ate asking all geads to be there by 6:00PM. We know tonight may be quite chaotic as there are many displaced families presently at Northlands with a big contingent of emergency and volunteer services as well, so that is why we need to have everybody go to hall E immediately and get settled. Normally we bring the students down to the hall the morning of the commencements but that was not going to work today, so we will be through some last minute preparations tonight. ‘The banquet on Friday night has been moved to the Shaw Conference Center. Northlands had offered to make arrangements for us to do this and we felt as a schoo! that this was a better solution than holding the banquet at Northlands. This banquet is a time for our students and family to celebrate their graduation and felt a change of venue to the Shaw would be the respectful thing to do. It did not seem right that we would be dressing up and celebrating when so many families who have lost so much would be in the halls next to us. The banquet will start at 7:00PM but the hall will be open for 5:00PM and there will be lots of time to get photos with che beautiful river valley as your backdrop. ‘These changes although somewhat stressful are nothing compared to the stress that so many families are facing at this time. In light of that we will be having a collection after the commencements with all the money going to the Red Cross to help support the thousands of displaced families from Fort McMurray If there are any questions please feel free to call me at school at 780-489-2571 ‘Thanks Dan Donnelly Principal