We enjoyed an amazing Thanksgiving Week! Our Bake Sale on Wednesday raised a total of $1047.65 – all by donation! Funds raised will be contributed to the Student Enrichment Program to cover future field trips. Thank you as well to Sandra Yee, mom of Tristan and Isabella (4th and 6th-year elementary students) as well as Jennifer MacNeil, mom of Felix (3rd-year elementary student) for their kind donations of an art easel to North Creek and art books to Anchor Point. The generous support from everyone in our neighbourhood and community is deeply appreciated.

Our School Directory is now online! Please log-in to our website to view or download. Kindly review your contact information and let us know if there are any corrections to be made. The directory is protected and information for families who have not given us permission to publish is omitted.

Wishing you all a restful and memorable Thanksgiving weekend,
The staff at Lions Gate Montessori

UPCOMING DATES AND NOTICES
Monday, Oct 14 | Thanksgiving Day I NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, Oct 15 | UE Library outing I Student library card required
Wednesday, Oct 16, 4:15 PM I Upper El California Experience Information for Parents I See note below.
Friday, Oct 18 | Preschool to Grade 7 Pumpkin Patch Field Trip I No school for those not attending. Please see notice below for detailed info.
Tuesday, Oct 22 | LE Library Outing I Student library card required
Wednesday, Oct 23, 10:15 am I Lower Elementary Writer’s Festival Outing I Payment is open on munchalunch
Thursday, Oct 24, 10:15 am I Upper Elementary Writers Fest Outing I Payment is open on munchalunch
Thursday, Oct 24 | 4:20 – 6:00 pm | North Creek Parent-Child Workshop
Friday, Oct 25 |  PD Day | No school for students
Tuesday, Oct 29 | LE Queen Elizabeth Park Outing | bring loaded compass card and bagged lunch | (LE should not order hot lunch) Please see form attached and return it by Monday, October 21st
Thursday, Oct 31 | Anchor Point Halloween Celebration | students can wear costumes
Monday, Nov 4 | North Creek Photo Day
Tuesday, Nov 5 | LE Library Outing I  Student library card required
Thursday, Nov 7 | Anchor Point Photo Day
Friday, Nov 8 | PD Day | No school for students
Monday, Nov 11 I Remembrance Day I NO SCHOOL
Friday, Nov 15 | UE VSO Elementary School Concert
Friday, Nov 15 | LE Trip to the Museum of Anthropology, Cedar Stories program | loaded compass card and bag lunch required | Payment on munchalunch is due by October 18th
Tuesday, Nov 19 | UE field trip to We Day | bagged lunch required | Permission due by October 30th
Friday, Nov 22 | Parent/Teacher Conferences I NO SCHOOL for Students
Monday, Nov 25 | LE Library Outing I  Student library card required
Monday, Nov 27- 28 | Elementary Parents workshop in the morning | see note below
Wednesday, Dec 4 | UE Field trip to Science World  | bagged lunch required  | Please see form attached. Online payment will open Nov 1.
Thursday, Dec 12 | Ex-d/K & LE | Mixed Nuts, a performance by Arts Umbrella at Vancouver Playhouse
Thursday, Dec 19 | Winter Performance Party @ the Roundhouse
Dec 23 to Jan 3 I Winter Break
Monday, Jan 6 I Back-to-school from Winter Break

NORTH CREEK COMMUNITY (PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN)
The casa community is super thankful for a wonderful Thanksgiving Friday. We harvested the sunflowers in our community garden, enjoyed a tasty stone soup, and shared another remarkable day together!

Friday, Oct 18 | Westham Island Herb Farm: All pre-school students attending by school bus arrive North Creek between 10:00 to 10:15 AM. School bus will depart school at 10:30 AM sharp. Regular school hours for Extended-Day/Kindergarten students. Families who drive will meet the rest of the school at the farm at 11:15 AM. The farm tour begins at 11:30 AM. We have lunch after the farm tour and follow to pick pumpkins in the field. The school bus leaves the farm at 2:00 PM and returns to North Creek at 2:45 PM. Dismissal for all pre-school students upon arrival. Seats for the school bus will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis with priority for the children. Please make sure your child attends the outing dressed appropriately for the weather (eg. boots for muddy fields, etc.)

Thursday, October 24th | Parent/Child Workshop: Your child has brought home an invitation to this special event. Please RSVP here. We look forward to your attendance.

SENSITIVITY ALERT! We have been notified that some children in our Casa community have a sensitivity reaction. The triggers are tomatoes, eggs, certain kinds of fruits, and lactose intolerance. Some children have a gluten and dairy-free diet. The school is aware of each child’s needs. We are following the VCH guidelines. All AM and PM Preschool and Extended Day are learning about it. North Creek is a nut-free environment. Teachers and students will be asked to wash their hands vigilantly and regularly, both at North Creek and in the Extended Day classroom at Anchor Point. Please take this opportunity to introduce your child to anaphylaxis awareness. Kindly inform the teachers of particular items or needs at the door. It will help us coordinate the classroom to protect all the children. For more information, please visit Food Allergy Canada. Thank you very much for your attention and assistance.

ANCHOR POINT COMMUNITY (GRADE 1 & UP)
We enjoyed a scrumptious Thanksgiving lunch with thanks to all of our families for their contributions! A special thanks to Sandra (mom to Tristan and Isabella) for surprising us with delicious hot chocolate to go with our desserts!

Wednesday, October 16, 4:15 PM I California Experience Information for Parents: See attached information/registration. A total of $654.77 has already been allocated towards reducing payment for this trip (fees for teacher chaperones have been built into the cost). Please attend if you have any questions about the trip and would like more details. RSVP to teachers@lionsgatemontessori. org with Cali 2020 on the subject line to confirm attendance.

Friday, October 18 I Pumpkin Patch field trip: Next Friday will be our trip to the Pumpkin Patch. It is a regular school day and students will be leaving Anchor Point by 10.05am to get in the buses at North Creek. Departure from North Creek is planned for 10.15 am. If you are coming with your child and would like to meet us there, we are scheduled to arrive at 11.30 am. We will be meeting in front of the farm before the tour starts. Please make sure your child attends the outing dressed appropriately for the weather that day. If your child is bringing back a pumpkin they can bring a bag big enough to carry it.

Monday, Nov 27- 28 | Parents’ Workshop: Come and let your child show you how we learn at Lions Gate Montessori! Students will decide on a specific work they want to present and you can just sit down and let your child be your teacher for a little while… sign up sheets will be posted at the door by November 4th so you can register for a time slot that fits conveniently in your schedule. The workshop session will last 15 minutes and you will have sessions available from 9am to 11.30am on both mornings.

Dance Lessons: Students have participated in their first dance lessons already. These are mandatory Physical Education lessons that all students are expected to participate in. Students who do not participate must submit an excuse note from a parent/guardian. Upcoming lessons are on: November 1st, November 15th, November 29th, December 6th, and December 13th.

ANAPHYLAXIS ALERT! We have been notified that a child in our elementary community has life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) reactions. The triggers are walnuts and pecans. The school is following the VCH guidelines, the families are working with the school, and all Extended Day and Elementary students are learning about it. Teachers and students will be asked to wash their hands vigilantly and regularly at Anchor Point. Please refrain from sending these foods to school. Instead, this is an opportunity to introduce other foods for snacks and lunches to the school environment as you introduce your child to anaphylaxis awareness. For more information, please visit Food Allergy Canada. Thank you very much for your attention and assistance.

COMMUNITY NOTICES   Wondering what to do with your family this week? Check these out!

Cranberry Festival | Oct 12 | This one-day-only event kicks off with a pancake breakfast at 8:30am. Throughout the day over 100 marketplace vendors line Glover Road displaying their wares, 16 popular food trucks offer something for everyone.

Turkey Trot | Oct 13 | Run, jog, walk or waddle your turkey-stuffed body (or your pre-turkey body!) down to Granville Island and take part in the annual Turkey Trot Run.

Courtyard Planting Event | Oct 17, 4 – 6 pm | Join the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) and Vancouver park staff to plant the Indigenous garden in the museum’s courtyard. Park board will provide gloves, tools and light refreshments!

Apple Festival | Oct 19 & 20 |  A family event for all ages, UBC Apple Festival celebrates one of BC’s favourite fruits. From learning about the diversity of apples to tasting rare and unusual varieties, Apple Festival is a great opportunity to discover more about this delicious fruit.

Harvestland | From Oct 10 to Oct 20 | This ‘All Things Harvest’ with a German Oktober Fest bent has plenty of fun for families including a Bavarian village, a woodland maze (including axe throwing and a lumberjack show) a Kinder Farm (can you say pony rides and tractor pull?) and amusement rides with a harvest twist.

The Halloween Pumpkin Express I Oct 5 until Oct 31 on Saturdays | This is a kid-friendly ride that runs during the day at Bear Creek Park until Halloween and includes craft activities and a Halloween treats and a pumpkin for each child.

Go for a walk | See a list of 5 places to go for a fall walk with your family in Vancouver and enjoy nature.

Fun on the Farm | Fall 2019 | See the many options across the Lower Mainland for taking the children out to the pumpkin patch, winding your way through the mile-high corn fields, picking apples, and saying hello to the animals.

Dear Parents,

Thank you to all pre-school and kindergarten families for joining our Parent/Child Workshop at North Creek this week! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you missed the workshop and would like to schedule a makeup session on Monday, October 28th, from 4:15 to 4:30 pm. Elementary Parent/Child Workshops is on November 27 and 28. A sign-up sheet will be posted on November 4th. We look forward to seeing you at our school events!

Great News! We are now able to order the School Spirit wear for all members of the family on-line from French Toast. This is an easy way to comply with our dress code while helping raise funds for our school, which will allow us to receive a 5% cashback from all sales. It’s a great way to easily identify members of the school community, particularly outside of the classroom, at the park, or on field trips.

Wishing you all a very warm and lovely Diwali Weekend,
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori

UPCOMING DATES AND NOTICES
Monday, Oct 28 | 4:15 – 4:30 pm | Make-Up Session for North Creek Parent-Child Workshop
Tuesday, Oct 29 | LE Queen Elizabeth Park Outing | bring loaded compass card and bagged lunch | (LE should not order hot lunch) Permission was due on October 21st
Thursday, Oct 31 | Anchor Point Halloween Celebration | Students can wear costumes, see note below
Monday, Nov 4 | North Creek Photo Day | pre-school individual, siblings, and casa group photos
Tuesday, Nov 5 | LE Library Outing I  Student library card required
Thursday, Nov 7 | Anchor Point Photo Day | Extended-Day/Kindergarten and Elementary individual, group and siblings photos
Friday, Nov 8 | PD Day | No school for students
Monday, Nov 11 I Remembrance Day I NO SCHOOL
Friday, Nov 15 | UE VSO Elementary School Concert
Friday, Nov 15 | LE Trip to the Museum of Anthropology, Cedar Stories program | loaded compass card and bag lunch required | Permission and payment was due on Oct 18th
Tuesday, Nov 19 | UE field trip to We Day | bagged lunch required |Form due October 30th
Friday, Nov 22 | Parent/Teacher Conferences
Monday, Nov 25 | LE Library Outing I  Student library card required
Wednesday, Nov 27- 28 | Elementary Parents workshop in the morning | see note below
Wednesday, Dec 4 | UE Field trip to Science World  | bagged lunch required  | Online payment will open Nov 1.
Thursday, Dec 12 | Ex-D/K & LE | Mixed Nuts, a performance by Arts Umbrella at Vancouver Playhouse
Thursday, Dec 19 | Winter Performance Party @ the Roundhouse
Dec 23 to Jan 3 I Winter Break
Monday, Jan 6 I Back-to-school from Winter Break

Gently Used Student Trumpet for Sale – $30. Is your elementary child interested in learning to play the trumpet? Consider purchasing a gently used from one of our students. Please contact Alexandra at alexandrakutrovits@hotmail.com for more information.

HOT LUNCH | Elementary, Extended-Day/Kindergarten, Pre -school Language Students
Online ordering for December Hot Lunch is now open. Pizza Wednesdays from Rocky Mountain Flatbread are a student-led fundraiser. Net proceeds are retained by the Students’ Enrichment Activities Fund and are used to supplement costs for field trips and workshops.

NORTH CREEK COMMUNITY (PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN)

Tardiness is extremely important in your child’s development at school. Please arrive at school on time. For the morning program, school starts at 8:45 am. For the afternoon program, school starts at 12:45 pm. Thank you.

Thursday, October 31 | The fun-filled tradition of Halloween is coming up! North Creek will observe with activities and lessons related to the cultural, geographical and history of Halloween. So please refrain from wearing costumes to school or bringing sugary treats, as we would like to focus on the subject of people, land, and their stories that bring us together. We deeply appreciate your attention. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this.

Photo Day | November 4 & 7 | If your child will be absent for Photo Day, please send us an email as soon as possible and we will coordinate a possible option to do a re-take.

SENSITIVITY ALERT! We have been notified that some children in our Casa community have a sensitivity reaction. The triggers are tomatoes, eggs, certain kinds of fruits, and lactose intolerance. Some children have a gluten and dairy-free diet. The school is aware of each child’s needs. We are following the VCH guidelines. All AM and PM Preschool and Extended Day are learning about it. North Creek is a nut-free environment. Teachers and students will be asked to wash their hands vigilantly and regularly, both at North Creek and in the Extended Day classroom at Anchor Point. Please take this opportunity to introduce your child to anaphylaxis awareness. Kindly inform the teachers of particular items or needs at the door. It will help us coordinate the classroom to protect all the children. For more information, please visit Food Allergy Canada. Thank you very much for your attention and assistance.

ANCHOR POINT COMMUNITY (GRADE 1 & UP)

WeScare Hunger: As part of our community work, elementary students will be asked to look at what they have at home and come up with contributions on their own as to what types of healthy food their respective families may be able to contribute. Please include your child in the gathering items for donation and also discuss the option of donating funds online to our drive. Please drop off donations by November 1.

Tuesday, Oct 29 | LE Queen Elizabeth Park Outing: This trip for grades 1 to 3 is a full day trip. Please make sure your child has a loaded compass card as well as a bagged lunch and a snack.

Thursday, Nov 7 | Photo Day: If your child is scheduled to be absent for Photo Day, please send us an email as soon as possible and we will coordinate a possible option to do a pre-take.

Wednesday, Nov 27- 28 | Parents’ Workshop: Come and let your child show you how we learn at Lions Gate Montessori! Students will decide on a specific work they want to present and you can just sit down and let your child be your teacher for a little while… sign up sheets will be posted at the door by November 4th so you can register for a time slot that fits conveniently in your schedule. The workshop session will last 15 minutes and you will have sessions available from 9 am to 11.30 am on both mornings.

Thursday, Oct 31st | Halloween Celebration: Elementary students will be celebrating Halloween and are allowed to come to school dressed up either as a historical character or a character from a book. They can also prepare a small presentation about their character explaining who they are and why they chose them.

Dance Lessons: Students have participated in their first dance lessons already. These are mandatory Physical Education lessons that all students are expected to participate in. Students who do not participate must submit an excuse note from a parent/guardian. Upcoming lessons are on: November 1st, November 15th, November 29th, December 6th, and December 13th.

ANAPHYLAXIS ALERT! We have been notified that a child in our elementary community has life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) reactions. The triggers are walnuts and pecans. The school is following the VCH guidelines, the families are working with the school, and all Extended Day and Elementary students are learning about it. Teachers and students will be asked to wash their hands vigilantly and regularly at Anchor Point. Please refrain from sending these foods to school. Instead, this is an opportunity to introduce other foods for snacks and lunches to the school environment as you introduce your child to anaphylaxis awareness. For more information, please visit Food Allergy Canada. Thank you very much for your attention and assistance.

COMMUNITY NOTICES   Wondering what to do with your family this week? Check these out!

Diwali Fest | Oct 26 | This is the 16th Annual Celebration of Diwali Downtown Vancouver. This multicultural event features South Asian music and dance performances by local artists. The beloved Rangoli room will be back again – join us to create a mosaic artwork!

Family Day, Hidden Structures | Oct 26 | Drop in at Contemporary Art Gallery for a creative workshop based on Ingrid Koenig’s exhibition Navigating the Uncertainty Principle. Using a variety of materials, we will explore the wonders of physics and movement through dynamic approaches to drawing. Free.

VRRA Rabbit Festival | Oct 26 | The Vancouver Rabbit Rescue and Advocacy (VRRA) is hosting its 15th Annual VRRA Rabbit Festival. The festival will include demonstrations from bunny athletes from the Vancouver Rabbit Agility club, contests, raffles, drinks, and snacks.

Vancouver Public Library Book Sale | Oct 26 | Vancouver Public Library is holding a huge book sale from October 24 to 26, in the Alice McKay Room, at the VPL’s main branch at 350 West Georgia Street. More than just books, however, the sale will also feature CDs and video games among the offerings. All sales are final, and attendees are asked to bring their own bags to carry their new finds home in. Prices start at just 50 cents for some items, and anything that remains unsold by Saturday will be half price.

ArtBreakers Illustration Market | Oct 26 & 27 |  The market will feature a diverse roster of artists, including award-winning children’s book authors and illustrators, art directors, and magazine illustrators. Over 45 of these top-tier professionals will be gathered at Heritage Hall to showcase and share their personal projects and wares with the public.

Birds of a Feather: Far-Flung Fliers | Stanley Park Ecology Society | Oct 27 | Though we dread the coming weather, our relatively warmer waters are positively tropical for seabirds touching down from the north. Welcome these winged travelers and learn about what makes Stanley Park great wintering habitat or a good stop along the way.

The Halloween Pumpkin Express I Oct 5 until Oct 31 on Saturdays | This is a kid-friendly ride that runs during the day at Bear Creek Park until Halloween and includes craft activities and a Halloween treats and a pumpkin for each child.

Fun on the Farm | Fall 2019 | Here is a listing on the many options across the Lower Mainland for taking the children out to the pumpkin patch, winding your way through the mile-high cornfields, picking apples, and saying hello to the animals.

Halloween flight with flyover Canada | Oct 17 to Nov 3 | Join Broomelda at the Haunted Witches Academy for a spellbinding virtual flight across Canada. This event includes the following activities: Broomelda’s Witches Academy Themed Pre-Show, your very own Official Witch Academy Diploma to take home, Halloween theming and spine-tingling decorations, witches and Wizards of all ages are encouraged to dress up!

Vandusen Glow in the Garden | Oct 17 to Oct 27 | Another season of festive enchantment with a walk through a new light show with unique features and magical moments.