Community

Friday, January 29, 2016

write-a-thank-you-note

Thank you to all the families that attended our Parent Workshops: Silent Journey of Discovery. We hope you had an enlightening evening!

Both Primary and Elementary Workshops were intended for all Lions Gate parents and caregivers irrespective of whether your child is a preschooler or an elementary student. Your understanding of the use of the Montessori materials at any age can only benefit your child. We appreciate the overwhelmingly positive feedback and strive to make our parent presentations relevant and accessible, so please let us know if you have any suggestions for future workshops in the upcoming year (topics, best time/day, etc)!

Our general notices and back to school reminders are listed below. Don’t forget to check the new write-ups on our Full Monte blog, and our Facebook pages – there’s a great article on the Four Planes of Development.

Warm regards,
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori

GENERAL NOTICES

Upcoming Dates to Remember
Monday, February 8 – BC Family Day, Statutory Holiday, NO SCHOOL
Thursday, February 11 – Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for Kindergarten and Lower Elementary (permission slips and payments already recieved).
Wednesday, February 24 – Join us for Pink Shirt Day!
Friday, February 26 –  PD Day (NO SCHOOL for Students*)

Hot Lunch – March: March’s hot lunch order is due on Wednesday, February 24 deadline above must be followed without exception in order for Choices to organize themselves and deliver the correct number of lunches. There is, however, flexibility when ordering pizza. Please let us know by Thursday of any week for an upcoming Pizza Monday and we’ll be happy to add/modify your child’s/children’s orders. Kindly let us know if you are ordering a small (single slice) or a large (2 slices) for your child as well as the type he/she would like (pepperoni or mozzarella).

ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY
Friday, February 8th – Chinese New Year: Students at Anchor Point will be celebrating Chinese New Year on this day! They will be making traditional symbolic dishes to add to their lunch on Friday to ensure a happy and prosperous Year of the Monkey. The dishes will be organized by Ms. Lili. She has prepared a menu of delicious items to make with the children. Ms. Lili has also made beautiful wall decorations with the children to celebrate this festive day!

Friday, February 12th – Valentine’s Day:  Students at Anchor Point are invited to celebrate Valentine’s Day through an exchange of cards collected in the beautiful boxes that they have made for their friends. Each student participating in the event is responsible for decorating one box to give to one classmate that has been chosen from a random draw. The boxes are presented to their recipients in a special ceremony, and they are designed to hold students’ Valentine’s cards. Students are invited to bring Valentine’s cards for their classmates, if they wish. In order to promote inclusion and acceptance, we request that students bringing in cards make sure they create a card for each of his/her peers. Please feel free to refer to our School Directory 2015/2016 (sign-in required) for names of students should you wish to hand out personalized cards.

Hamelin – Friday, February 19th: After the success of our winter play “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, Elementary students as well as the Extended day and Kindergarten children will further their appreciation of theatre arts by attending the Axis Theatre Company”s play, “Hamelin” at the Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright Street) on Granville Island. This musical retelling of the “Pied Piper” promises to entertain us with live music, songs, and puppetry as well as delivering a strong message about the importance of “keeping your word”. We will be taking the Aquabus for this field trip, departing from Anchor Point at 9:50am. The show is approximately 50 minutes long, and we will return to the classroom at 12pm. Please check the weather on the day of the field trip so that you send your child to school with the appropriate clothing and footwear. Students will be eating lunch in the classroom later than usual, so please feel free to pack an extra snack for your child to have during this outing. Kindly submit the attached permission form no later than Friday, February 5.

Practicum Student at Anchor Point – Ms. Michelle Tsai: Please join us in welcoming Ms. Michelle Tsai back to our community for the next couple of weeks! Ms. Michelle is an AMI Primary trained teacher from the Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia and was one of our Casa teachers at Mole Hill. She is currently taking the Elementary Training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego and will be here for her practicum. The practice teaching experience is an important element of Montessori Teacher Training. It ensures that each new generation of Montessori Elementary teachers has had the opportunity to develop understanding and insight into the practical and philosophical demands that accompany a career in Montessori Education. Ms. Michelle Tsai will be working with the children and presenting lessons under the guidance of Ms. Michelle and Ms. Silvia.

Foundation Skills Assessment (FSAs): Our grade 4 and 7 students have begun practicing the Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA), a province-wide test assessing students on reading, writing and numeracy. Please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Michelle should you have any further questions.

Physical Education Update: Our last lessons for Gymnastics and Karate classes are coming up! The last Gymnastics lesson is on February 1, the last Karate lesson is on Febrauary 2. Kindly drop off your child as follows:
Lower Elementary Group A – Directly at the Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie Street) at 9:00AM. If this is inconvenient for your family, please drop off your child no later than 8:45am at Anchor Point and a teacher will walk with them to the Dance Centre.
Lower Elementary Group B – Regular drop off at Anchor Point (9:00am).
Upper Elementary –  We will having our final Karate lesson on Tuesdays February 2 from 2:30pm to 3:30pm. Please send your child with appropriate clothes. We will be taking the bus to Denman Fitness, so if your child has a bus pass, please send it along as well.

Attention! Anchor Point Montessori is now a NUT FREE facility. Please refrain from packing any nut containing products. Thank you for your understanding!

CASA COMMUNITY (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)
Groundhog Day, Family Day, Lunar New Year celebrations, and Valentine’s Day: As we approach these days in the month of February, the students in the Casa environment will be enjoying different stories, songs, games, and discussions with reference to nature, culture, and geography to understand the meaning of each of these occasions. We invite you to present or share your knowledge on one of these occasions that is special to you and your child in the classroom. Please do not hesitate to let one of our teachers know!

Hamelin – Friday, February 19th: After the success of our winter play “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, the Anchor Point Elementary students as well as the Extended day and Kindergarten children will extend their appreciation of theatre arts by attending the Axis Theatre Company”s play, “Hamelin” at the Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright Street) on Granville Island. This musical retelling of the “Pied Piper” promises to entertain us with live music, songs, puppetry, and delivers a strong message about the importance of “keeping your word”. We will be taking the Aquabus for this field trip, departing from Anchor Point at 9:50am. The show is approximately 50 minutes long, and we will return to the classroom at 12pm. Please check the weather on the day of the field trip and send your child to school with the appropriate clothing and footwear. Students will be eating lunch in the classroom later than usual, so please feel free to pack an extra snack for your child to have during this outing. Kindly submit the attached permission form it no later than Friday, February 5th.

Emergency Cards: A gentle reminder to please return emergency cards along with a photo of your child as soon as possible!

Montessori Practicum Students: Ms. Vicky Liu and Ms. Soma Keo from the Montessori Training Centre of BC completed their first assigned practicum session in the classrooms under the supervision of Ms. Julia and Ms. Priscilla. Their next practicum session will be from February 22 to March 4.

COMMUNITY NOTICES Wondering what to do with your family over the weekend? Check these out!

ArtStarts – Saturday, January  30, 2016: Julie McIntyre’s printmaking workshop is designed for families to use basic equipment and ordinary materials around their homes to create professional prints. You’ll delight in capturing 2D impressions of 3D objects and the playfulness of the repeated, mirror image. Thes sessions are free and start at 11am and 1pm! No pre-registration necessary. ArtStarts on Saturdays is a monthly series for families, featuring free, fun, 45-minute arts workshops with some of the best children’s artists in our community.

Free Expressive Art Class @ Circus Play Cafe – Tuesday, February 2nd 2016: These Expressive Art Classes for babies and toddlers encourage the imagination and enrich the development of little ones through intuitive art-making, movement, story, and play. In these fun, lively, process-oriented classes, children can experience the joy of creation. Each class is centered on a theme or a concept, introduced by a story, which acts as a springboard to expressive creation and imaginative play. Caregivers and children will be partners in creation, play, invention, and exploration!

Year of the Monkey Temple Fair at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden – Sunday, February 14, 2016: To celebrate traditional Chinese New Year, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden presents The Year of the Monkey Temple Fair, a one-day festival on Sunday February 14th, 2016. This is a community event based on the 4000-year-old Chinese tradition of the Spring Festival, the largest and most important festival of the year in the Chinese tradition. The Garden will present dynamic and engaging Chinese and multicultural events, including music and dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, traditional Chinese New Year customs, games and activities for the whole family. The festival is the opportunity for the Chinese community to share its cultural traditions and invite the wider public to participate in them. As for the sign of Monkey – it’s been said that people born under the sign of Monkey are highly adaptable and versatile. Enthusiastic about everything, they spend their time broadening their minds and are especially fascinated with art. They like refinement, originality and luxury. Inventive and intelligent, those born in these years can solve most problems quickly and skillfully, and are able to accomplish much in business.

The Robson Square Ice Rink and Plaza, Tuesday, December 1, 2015 – Sunday, February 28, 2016: The Government of British Columbia’s Robson Square Ice Rink, located in downtown Vancouver, will remain open through the end of February. Skating is free if you bring your own skates. Otherwise, rentals are available. The rink also features a concession stand with snacks and warm drinks.

BodyWorlds– Animal Inside Out! @ Science World, to Monday, March 28, 2016: Body Worlds creator and anatomist, Dr Gunther von Hagens takes you on an anatomical safari with Animal Inside Out! As you explore this captivating exhibition, you will experience the intricate biology, zoology and physiology of a variety of the world’s most spectacular creatures. Animal Inside Out contains more than 100 specimens that have been painstakingly preserved by the remarkable process of Plastination, invented by Dr von Hagens. Students will be able to examine the anatomical intricacies of familiar and exotic animals like giraffes, camels and octopuses. This exhibition is an unforgettable way for students to learn about animal science.

CommonGround: An Exhibition of Young People’s Art to Sunday, March 27, 2016: Common Ground is an exhibition featuring a variety of projects that present how students in schools across British Columbia explored their local landscape and its relationship with the people, animals and plants who live there. Dynamic environments and ecosystems became hubs for artistic investigations. Experiential learning provided opportunities for students to engage in diverse art forms such as drawing, weaving, felting, printmaking and embroidery. Students gained an enhanced understanding of native and invasive plant species as well as the animals that depend on them. They cultivated an appreciation of the relationships between natural resources and the traditions of local Aboriginal cultures that have maintained a strong connection to the land from ancestral times. ArtStarts Gallery is located at 808 Richards Street (at Robson) in downtown Vancouver. The ArtStarts Gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4:30pm. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 and held annually on January 27 to raise awareness for the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development. Even just 15 minutes a day can improve a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well. Check out Barbara Reid’s (Honorary Chair of Family Literacy Day) favourite recommendations here!

Upcoming Important Dates to Remember
Wednesday, January 27th: Casa Community Parent Workshop (RSVP needed)
Wednesday, January 27th: Family Literacy Day
Wednesday, January 27th: February Hot Lunch Orders Deadline
Thursday, January 28th: Elementary Community Parent Workshop (RSVP needed)
Friday, January 29th: PD Day (NO SCHOOL for Students)
Monday, February 8th: Family Day (NO SCHOOL for Students)
Thursday, February 11th: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for Kindergarten and Lower Elementary
Friday, February 26th: PD Day (NO SCHOOL for Students) *Please note, this date was not reflected in our original school calendar and has been added with permission from the Ministry of Education for teachers to learn more about the implementation of this province’s new curriculum, assessment, reporting and resources. For more information about the new curriculum standards, please visit: https://curriculum.gov. bc.ca/.

Parent Workshop, Montessori Silent Journey of Discovery: Join us for our Montessori Silent Journey of Discovery! This is a special opportunity to interact in our classrooms as your children do – using the materials and practicing the lessons. Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend both workshops:

Casa Community – Wednesday, January 27th from 4:30pm to 6:00pm
Elementary Community – Thursday, January 28th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm
RSVPs were due today. If you haven’t done so, please RSVP as soon as possible specifying which Workshop(s) you would like to attend and refrain from bringing your child/ren to the above workshops. We will be offering childcare options combined with our After School Club Program. Details on this will be sent out to registered families. Please let us know if you are interested in having your child/ren in childcare with Casa and/or Elementary Workshop on the subject line.

HOT LUNCH for FEBRUARY & MARCH: The deadlines below must be followed without exception in order for Choices to organize themselves and deliver the correct number of lunches. There is, however, flexibility when ordering pizza. Please let us know by Thursday of any week for an upcoming Pizza Monday and we’ll be happy to add/modify your child’s/children’s orders. Kindly let us know if you are ordering a small (single slice) or a large (2 slices) ​for your child as well as the type he/she would like (pepperoni or mozzarella).
​Orders for February – Deadline: Wednesday, January 27th 4pm
Order for March – Deadline: Wednesday, February 24th  4pm

ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY

“Hamelin” –  Friday, February 19th: After the success of our winter play “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, the Anchor Point Elementary students as well as the Extended day and Kindergarten children will extend their appreciation of theatre arts by attending the Axis Theatre Company”s play, “Hamelin” at the Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright Street) on Granville Island. This musical retelling of the “Pied Piper” promises to entertain us with live music, songs, puppetry, and delivers a strong message about the importance of “keeping your word”. We will be taking the Aqua bus for this field trip, departing from Anchor Point at 9:50am. The show is approximately 50 minutes long, and we will return to the classroom at 12pm. Please check the weather on the day of the field trip and send your child to school with the appropriate clothing and footwear. Students will be eating lunch in the classroom later than usual, so please feel free to pack an extra snack for your child for this outing. Kindly submit the permission form no later than Friday, February 5th.

Practicum Student at Anchor Point – Ms. Michelle Tsai: Please join us in welcoming former Mole Hill Casa Directress, Ms. Michelle Tsai, back to our community! She’ll be at Anchor Point from January 25th to February 5th . Ms. Michelle, an AMI Primary trained teacher from the Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia is currently taking the Elementary Training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego and will be here for her practicum. The practice teaching experience is an important element of the Montessori Teacher Training. It ensures that each new generation of Montessori Elementary teachers has had the opportunity to develop understanding and insight into the practical and philosophical demands that accompany a career in Montessori Education. Ms. Michelle Tsai will be working with the children and presenting lessons under the guidance of Ms. Michelle and Ms. Silvia.

​Foundation Skills Assessment (FSAs): Our grade 4 and 7 students have begun practicing theFoundation Skills Assessment (FSA), a province-wide test assessing students on reading, writing and numeracy and will begin testing at the end of the month. A separate email has been sent home to grade 4 and 7 parents about this. Please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Michelle should you have any further questions.

​​Attention! Anchor Point Montessori is now a NUT FREE facility. Please refrain from packing any nut containing products. Thank you for your understanding!

CASA COMMUNITY (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)

Coppelia – Wednesday, January 27th: The North Creek Kindergarten/Extended-Day students will be attending the Arts Umbrella Dance Company’s show Coppelia on Wednesday, January 27th2016. The show will be performed at the Roundhouse Community Centre’s theatre, located at 181 Roundhouse Mews (corner of Davie and Pacific). Students will watch the comic ballet originally choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon to the music of Léo Delibes. We will be walking to the Roundhouse for this outing, departing from school promptly at 9:40am and returning to school in time for lunch. The show starts at 10:30am and is approximately 1 hour long. There is no cost for this event. Please check the weather on the day of the field trip and send your child to school with the appropriate clothing and footwear. Kindly submit the permission form in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on the front by Monday, January 25th.

Hamelin – Friday, February 19th: After the success of our winter play “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, the Anchor Point Elementary students as well as the Extended day and Kindergarten children will extend their appreciation of theatre arts by attending the Axis Theatre Company”s play, “Hamelin” at the Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright Street) on Granville Island. This musical retelling of the “Pied Piper” promises to entertain us with live music, songs, puppetry, and delivers a strong message about the importance of “keeping your word”. We will be taking the Aqua bus for this field trip, departing from Anchor Point at 9:50am. The show is approximately 50 minutes long, and we will return to the classroom at 12pm. Please check the weather on the day of the field trip and send your child to school with the appropriate clothing and footwear. Students will be eating lunch in the classroom later than usual, so please feel free to pack an extra snack for your child for this outing. Kindly submit the permission form it no later than Friday, February 5th.

Emergency Cards – A gentle reminder to please return emergency cards along with a photo of your child as soon as possible!

​Montessori Practicum Students: Ms. Vicky Liu and Ms. Soma Keo from the Montessori Training Centre of BC completed their first assigned practicum session in the classrooms under the supervision of Ms. Julia and Ms. Priscilla. Their next practicum session will be from February 22 to March 4.

COMMUNITY NOTICES Wondering what to do with your family over the weekend? Check these out!

Winter Wander 2016 @ Vanier Park: This January bring your family down to Vanier Park for a day of music, science, history and art – plus, enjoy local food vendors, entertainment, and have the chance to win great prizes. This year’s Winter Wander will take place on January 23, 2016! For only $5 (children 5 and under are free) you can enjoy 5 attractions including:
– Museum of Vancouver
– H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
– Vancouver Maritime Museum
– Vancouver Academy of Music
– City of Vancouver Archives

ArtStarts – Saturday, January 30, 2016: Julie McIntyre’s printmaking workshop is designed for families to use basic equipment and ordinary materials around their homes to create professional prints. You’ll delight in capturing 2D impressions of 3D objects and the playfulness of the repeated, mirror image. Sessions start at 11am and 1pm and it’s free! No pre-registration necessary. ArtStarts on Saturdays is a monthly series for families, featuring free, fun, 45-minute arts workshops with some of the best children’s artists.

The Robson Square Ice Rink and Plaza on until February 28, 2016: The Government of British Columbia’s Robson Square Ice Rink, located in downtown Vancouver will remain open through the end of February. Skating is free if you bring your own skates. Otherwise, rentals are available. The rink also features a concession stand with snacks and warm drinks. Find more about this great opportunity here.

BodyWorlds, Animal Inside Out! @ Science World on until Monday, March 28, 2016: Body Worlds creator and anatomist, Dr Gunther von Hagens takes you on an anatomical safari with Animal Inside Out! As you explore this captivating exhibition, you will experience the intricate biology, zoology and physiology of a variety of the world’s most spectacular creatures. Animal Inside Out contains more than 100 specimens that have been painstakingly preserved by the remarkable process of Plastination, invented by Dr von Hagens. Students will be able to examine the anatomical intricacies of familiar and exotic animals like giraffes, camels and octopuses. This exhibition is an unforgettable way for students to learn about animal science.

CommonGround, An Exhibition of Young People’s Art on until Sunday, March 27, 2016: Common Ground is an exhibition featuring a variety of projects that present how students in schools across British Columbia explored their local landscape and its relationship with the people, animals and plants who live there. Dynamic environments and ecosystems became hubs for artistic investigations. Experiential learning provided opportunities for students to engage in diverse art forms such as drawing, weaving, felting, printmaking and embroidery. Students gained an enhanced understanding of native and invasive plant species as well as the animals that depend on them. They cultivated an appreciation of the relationships between natural resources and the traditions of local Aboriginal cultures that have maintained a strong connection to the land from ancestral times. ArtStarts Gallery is located at 808 Richards Street (at Robson) in downtown Vancouver. The ArtStarts Gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4:30pm. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.