Happy Spring! We enjoyed a wonderful first week back at school and loved listening to all the adventures our students shared with us. We look forward to an exciting and fulfilling rest of the school year.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori
GENERAL NOTICES
Upcoming Dates to Remember
April 3 | UE Reel2Real Film Festival
April 5, 12, 19, May 3, 10, 17 | Swimming Lessons
April 13 | Tenzin Bake Sale
April 14 | Good Friday: NO SCHOOL
April 17 | Easter Monday: NO SCHOOL
April 18 | UE Mock Trial Program at the Courthouse
April 26 | Museum of Anthropology
May 31, June 7, 14, 21 | Tennis Lessons
FOOD RECALL WARNING! Please check your pantry! Robin Hood brand All Purpose Flour, Original recalled due to E. Coli: Public Health Notice – Outbreak of E. coli infections under investigation: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/p hn-asp/2017/outbreak-ecoli-eng .php.
Canadians are advised not to use or eat any Robin Hood All Purpose Flour, Original sold in 10 kilogram bags with a code containing BB/MA 2018 AL 17 and 6 291 548 as these products may be contaminated with E. Coli. For additional recall details, please consult CFIA’S recall notice. Restaurants and retailers are also advised not to sell or serve the recalled product, or any items that may have been prepared or produced using the recalled product.
Recall date: March 28, 2017
Reason for recall: Microbiologoical – E. coli O121
Hazard classification: Class 2
Company / Firm: Smucker Foods of Canada Corp.
Distribution: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Extent of the distribution: Retail
NEW ADDRESSES: This is a reminder if you have moved recently or since September 2016, please send a quick email to office@lionsgatemontessori.org of your current address and all pertinent information. This is to make sure we have your most updated information on file.
Hot Lunch: We are now able to accept credit card payments for Hot Lunch orders as well as payments through your personal paypal accounts! Please log-in as usual follow the prompts at checkout. For hot lunch orders for April and beyond, online payment will be required. Please email us with any questions! Kindly note our order deadlines below:
May Order Deadline: Wednesday, April 26th, 3pm
June Order Deadline: Thursday, May 25th, 3pm
ELEMENTARY & ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY
Library Visit: The Lower Elementary students will be going to the library in the morning of April 7th, 2017, Friday. Please make sure your child has their library card with them. We will be leaving the school promptly at 9:15 AM.
Birthday Celebrations: A gentle reminder that we celebrate birthdays on the Friday of the child’s birthday week and families are invited to bring some treats for everyone to share. If you plan to bring treats, kindly bring enough for 42 students in the community. This is a special time for us to honour your child’s birth, so please feel free to send some pictures, especially of milestone moments in your child’s life to share with our community!
Real2Reel Film Festival | April 3 at 9:40 AM: Grades 3-7 students will be watching “Indigenous Spotlight” featuring some of the most interesting filmmaking around the world coming from the resilient Indigenous communities that are making themselves heard from the Andes to Canada. Students will also attend a storyboarding workshop. Warm thanks to the PSG for generously funding this activity for our children. Please return your child’s permission slip to the school as soon as possible.
Swimming Lessons | April 5, 12, 19, May 3, 10, 17: Elementary students will participate in Swimming Lessons on Wednesdays starting on April 5th (except April 26th) at 1:30 – 3:30 PM at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre. Please don’t forget to pack a bathing suit, towel, hairbrush, and change of clothes. Please return your child’s permission slip to the school by April 3, 2017 .
Tenzin Bake Sale | April 13: We will have a lovely Bake Sale for our Nepali foster child, Tenzin on April 13th at Anchor Point. All families are invited to contribute baked goods. If you are interested in contributing or volunteering, please let us know by email with “Bake Sale” on the subject line. We respectfully request that you drop off your contributions by 8:30am on the day of the Bake Sale. As always, our cheerful students will be manning the table with smiles. A sign-up sheet for your contributions will be posted by the Anchor Point and North Creek doors.
Mock Trial Program | April 18 at 10:15 AM: Grades 4-7 students will be attending a Mock Trial Program at the Justice Education Society. The students can learn the most about our basic justice system by experiencing it themselves in a simulated trial, call a “mock” trial. A mock trial is a definitive, dramatic, experiential learning opportunity. It develops advocacy skills and critical thinking in addition to providing knowledge about the law. Mock trials are good for all ages as they demonstrate how a trial works. Many thanks to Steve Yung (dad to Marie-Claire) and the Law Firm of Simpson Thomas and Associates for all the help and financial support for this going-out. Please return your child’s permission slip to the school.
Museum of Anthropology | April 26: Grades 2-7 students will visit the Museum of Anthropology at UBC on Wednesday at 9:45 AM – 12:15 PM. The students will be archaeologists for a day! Discover the rich 9,000 year history of the First Nations people in southwestern BC by learning their lifeways, tools and technologies. This behind-the-scenes program includes an introduction to authentic tools and materials used including the use of cedar bark for rope making. Students have a chance to make a rope bracelet from raffia using these techniques. Warm thanks to the PSG for generously funding this activity for our children. Please return your child’s permission slip to the school.
Tennis Lessons |May 31, June 7, 14, 21: Elementary students will participate in Tennis Lessons on Wednesdays starting on May 31st at 1:00 – 3:00 PM at David Lam Park, East Tennis Courts. Please return your child’s permission slip to the school.
Lulu Island and Stanley Park Visits: Grades 4 to 7 students will begin visitng Lulu Island starting Monday, April 10th. Please ensure your child(ren) come to school that day with his/her compass card. In addition, they will also be enjoying excursions to Stanley Park every Friday (weather permitting).
HEALTHY SNACK REMINDER: Active and engaged students do better eating wholesome foods, please refrain from sending sugary or highly processed foods to school.
CASA COMMUNITY (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)
Lost & Found: We have found a rectangular plastic lid for a snack/lunch box on the Extended-day children shelf.
Labeling Belongings: Please remember to label your children’s shoes, rain gear, hats, jackets, and food containers. Thank you!
COMMUNITY NOTICES Wondering what to do with your family over the weekend? Check these out!
Fun & Games at the Market | Friday, March 17, 2017 – Saturday, April 1, 2017: Stop by the Market between 10AM to 4PM from March 17th to April 1st and play board games with a view! A wide range of games including Jenga, Monopoly Deal, Twister, Uno and Checkers will be available at the Visitor’s Center located on the Market Level.
B. C. Bear Day | Saturday, April 1, 2017: Parents and children of all ages are invited to attend Capilano University’s 2017 B.C. Bear Day celebration, co-sponsored by the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, the North Shore Black Bear Society and CapU EarthWorks. The Free event will run from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 1st at the Cedar Courtyard of Capilano University. Music, a puppet show, storytelling, fish printing, face painting and presentations focussing on bear safety, and interpretive walks highlighting the natural history of bears will be accompanied by a host of organizations dedicated to preserving bears and their habitats both locally and globally.
Creative Cafe | Sunday, April 2, 2017: Explore ways to express your love of nature in different art forms or simply be inspired by the work of others. FREE. Drop by anytime.
LEGO Store – Monthly Mini Build: LEGO Baby Chicken | Tuesday, April 4, 2017 – Wednesday, April 5, 2017: Come build this LEGO® Baby Chicken model and take it home for FREE after! Please note that you are registering for a building event. Guests must participate in the event to receive the free set. Guests will not be permitted to collect the set and immediately leave and may not pick the set up at a later date or time. Quantities are limited to approximately 120 per store per night and time reservations are on a first come first serve basis. Models are not for sale and cannot be purchased. One registration with a maximum of 4 children per household. One free set per child. Due to safety restrictions, this event is open to children ages 6-14 only.
Peppa Pig is Coming to Vancouver | Friday, April 7, 2017: Peppa Pig’s Big Splash is an action-packed live show featuring your favorite characters as life size puppets and costume charaters! Come join Peppa, George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and more in an all singing, all-dancing adventure full of songs, games and muddy puddles! Get tix to this exciting musical theatre performance.
Easter Egg Hunt at City Square Shopping Centre | Saturday, April 8, 2017: Hippity Hoppity Easter is on its way! Join our annual Easter Egg Hunt for children and families! Rain or Shine. Free admission.
Easter Hops into Wesbrook Village | Saturday, April 8, 2017: As always, we’ll be celebrating Easter in style at Wesbrook Village, with a true egg-stravaganza. Festivities including an Easter egg scavenger hunt*, little bunnies friendly walk and run, and a meet and greet with a life-sized Easter bunny (be sure to bring your camera)! It’s sure to be a hare-raising event, and not something you want to miss. Note: You must be a subscriber to the Wesbrook Newsletter to participate in the scavenger hunt. (Must register on the day of the event.)
Stanley Park Train Easter Preview | Saturday, April 8, 2017 – Sunday, April 9, 2017: Can’t make it to the Stanley Park Train Easter Fair or just want to avoid the crowds? Join us April 8 & 9 for early bunny rides on the Easter Train. Enjoy the sounds of Easter and catch glimpses of bunnies and spring blossoms decorating the landscape. Don’t miss out on this unique all-ages Easter event! Reserve your seats at www.vancouver.ca/Easter-Train. Limited seats available.
Sakura Days Japan Fair | Saturday, April 8, 2017 – Sunday, April 9, 2017: Experience the special ritual of the Japanese tea ceremony, culinary demonstrations, enjoy Japanese festival food, sample premium sake, guided Tree Talks and Walks to the cherry trees, and enjoy haiku readings. Experience Japan with hands-on workshops and try your hand at calligraphy, origami and other Japanese arts and crafts demonstrations. Special Feature: This year we will be holding a Lantern Parade at 6:30pm from Cherry Stage to Plaza so don’t miss out!
Easter Eggstravaganza | Sunday, April 9, 2017: Join us for Eggciting activities, an indoor egg hunt and the Easter Bunny on April 9th! Event will be held in the Gymansium and is suitable for ages 0 to 8 years. Please pre-register in advance at $5/child. Call our centre for more details or visit our website douglasparkcc.org. We’ re super egg-cited to see you there!
Canuck’s Autism Family Festival | Sunday, April 9, 2017: The Canucks Autism Network (CAN) will host the 6th Annual CAN Family Festival at Jack Poole Plaza, in celebration of Autism Awareness Month. The CAN Family Festival, emceed by Breakfast Television Host Riaz Meghji, will include live entertainment by David Morin and a surprise guest, a local artisan market, food trucks, a skate park, face painting, a ball hockey tournament featuring Vancouver Canucks Alumni, and much more. 10:30 AM – 2:30pm.
Stanley Park Railway Easter Fair | Thursday, April 13, 2017 – Monday, April 17, 2017: Hop on the Stanley Park Train for an egg-citing Easter ride through Stanley Park. After the train ride, purchase carnival strip tickets so your kids can enjoy fun activities including:
Mini golf
Face painting
Hunting for eggs
Meeting the Easter Bunny
Planting a posy
Adults can join in the fun too! Don’t miss out on this unique all ages Easter event. Limited seats available.
Spring Lights | Friday, April 14, 2017 – Saturday, April 15, 2017: This event goes from dusk (8:15pm) to ~10pm. After a long winter, we invite you to experience illuminations, performance, and community; all under a canopy of cherry blossoms. This is a time to appreciate the ephemerality and beauty of nature.
Hfour has been illuminating cherry blossoms in Vancouver for five years. It’s the first event of it’s kind in the world. This year, Hfour will be illuminating a city park in Vancouver with vibrant projections, lighting, and light sculptures creating a unique immersive experience. This year, we’ll be featuring dance performances choreographed by Heather Laura Gray, and a musical soundscape by adham shaikh. Best of all: it’s free!
Easter Market | Saturday, April 15, 2017: Celebrate Easter at the Market! There will be local foods, crafters and artisans from the Lonsdale Artisan Farmers’ Market, as well as local vendors including Funky Air Bear, Lunch Apparel and more! An egg decorating workshop will be offered for a small fee.
VanDusen’s 9th Annual Great A-Maze-ing Egg Hunt | Sunday, April 16, 2017: Bring your kids to experience the 9th Annual Great A-Maze-ing Egg Hunt at VanDusen Botanical Garden on Saturday, April 15 or Sunday, April 16! Enjoy an outdoor egg hunt around the hedge maze, kids crafts and activities, and tasty treats from on-site food trucks. Please note that tickets are required for egg hunt participation and are only available online. This popular event sells out each year so make sure to buy tickets early. Choose between 3 sessions per day – 10am, 11am and 12pm. More info at www.vancouver.ca/VanDusen.
Earth Day at Everett Crowley Park | Saturday, April 22 2017: A fun day for the whole family. All ages, Free. The Everett Crowley Park Committee, with support from the Champlain Heights Community Centre and the Park Board, will host a community Earth Day celebration including educational and environmental groups from across the City. Activities for all ages.
Easter Swim | Wednesday, April 26, 2017: FREE with Easter treats and games.
Kerrisdale Village Carnival Days | Friday, April 28, 2017 – Saturday, April 29, 2017: Free events for the entire family, music, clowns, face painting, rides and amazing sidewalk sales.
2017 Ocean Concrete Open House | Saturday, April 29, 2017: Come down to Ocean’s open house event for plant tours, live music, wildlife presentations by Earth Rangers, a giant sandbox and more.
ArtStarts presents Cut, Paste, Action! Family Arts Workshop with Kate Henderson | Saturday, April 29, 2017: In this lens-based workshop, families will be introduced to art works that investigate human form, movement and gesture. The first half of the workshop will focus on the work of pioneering photographer Eadweard Muybridge and his studies of motion in the human body. The second half of the workshop will focus on Dada artist and her use of found images of faces, eyes and hands. Families will experiment capturing their own bodies in motion and will be cutting and pasting these images along with found photographs from magazines and newspapers into their very own layered collages. This event is part of Vancouver’s Capture Photography Festival. ArtStarts on Saturdays is a monthly series for families, featuring free, fun, 45-minute creative arts workshops with some of the best children’s artists. Sessions at 11am & 1pm. Free!
Haiku Invitational | March 1 – June 1, 2017: Canada celebrates its 150th birthday in 2017. Vancouver will contribute to this anniversary by celebrating the country’s strength, pride, and freedom. Accordingly, the theme for the 2017 VCBF Haiku Invitational will be freedom. Please write your cherry blossom haiku in a context of freedom in all its manifestations. Please submit your 2017 Haiku Invitational entry here.
ELMACON 2017 | Saturday, May 6, 2017: Students from grades 5, 6, and 7 compete in separate divisions. Each division is comprised of three rounds Sprint, Target (both written) and Countdown (a verbal one-on-one competition). The top 25 participants in each grade are acknowledged and the top ten participants from each grade advance to the CountDown Round (oral contest).
Registration for the ELMACON is now open and will close on April 7th, 2017. The registration fee is $25 per student.