Our Pumpkin Patch annual visit was a success! Fall skies gifted us with a beautiful day and everyone had bushels of fun! Thank you all for joining us! Pictures of this and other events will be up on our Full Monte blog shortly! Also, don’t forget to also check us out on our Facebook page!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori
GENERAL NOTICES
PD DAY – Friday, October 23rd: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
After School Club on the day of the Parent/Child Workshop – Thursday, October 22nd: Due to the Parent/Child workshop, our After School Club that day will be held at “The Discovery” Community Room located at 1500 Howe Street. Entrance to the Community Room is to the east of the condominium’s main entrance. Kindly call 604-616-7738 should you have trouble finding us!
HALLOWEEN BAKE SALE, Friday, October 30th: Our elementary students are organizing a Halloween-themed Bake Sale on October 30th at Anchor Point to raise money for enrichment activities. All families are invited to contribute baked goods! If you are interested in contributing or volunteering, please let us know by email no later than Monday, October 26th with Bake Sale on the subject line. Kindly note that we respectfully request for you to drop off you contributions by 8:30am on the day of the Bake Sale (October 30th).
DRIED FRUIT & NUT FUNDRAISER: Back by popular demand! We are pleased to hold our annual Dried Fruit & Nut Fundraiser again this autumn. The students will be scooping the treats into beautifully decorated 1 lb or 2 lb bags that make these the perfect hostess gifts, Christmas gifts, family gifts – even client gifts. Keep some for your cupboard too, as they make great snacks for the children and when company comes. Kindly note that hygiene and food safe lessons will also be presented, and the the orders will be distributed in sealed bags and handed to parents directly! Items are available on a first come, first served basis… once they are gone, they’re gone! So if you want something badly, do order fast. Please join us in making this fundraiser a success! Kindly fill return your order form to school with payment no later than Friday, November 6th.
Recycling Unwanted Electronics: The Electronic Recycling Association is hoping we might be able to help with their mission for reducing electronic waste! A not-for-profit organization, they reduce electronic waste through the re-using and recycling of unwanted electronic/IT equipment. All kinds of equipment (computers, laptops, printers, telephones etc.) are collected, refurbished and then donated to various charities and other non-profit organizations. ERA representatives will be leading a drive to collect unwanted electronics from our community. If you would like to participate, please drop-offyour e-devices at your child’s respective location byThursday, November 5th. They also offer free of charge data wiping service with accompanying certificates of data wiping. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
Supporting Our School Through Amazon Purchases: Our book store page provides a direct link to Amazon! Any purchases that are made on the Amazon site through this link will generate revenue towards scholarships and our Student’s Enrichment Funds. This is true for any purchase (not just books!) so long as the entry is from our school’s link. Please let your friends and family know that they can help support our schools through their Amazon purchases through the link on our site as well! They can access the bookstore without needing to login to the site with a password.
HOT LUNCH PROGRAM: Our Hot Lunch Program is optional and available to Extended-Day and Elementary students attending our downtown North Creek and Anchor Point facilities. Information about the program, menu, caterer and how to order can be found here. Please note we can no longer accept orders for October but the site is now open for November until Thursday, October 29th at 5pm. Please note we have replaced the Seaweed Wraps for a delicious and hearty Vegetarian Chili for the cold months!
NEEDLE SAFETY PETITION – Our students, not unlike other children throughout the city, use public parks regularly. Sadly, we continue to find needles and other paraphernalia strewn on the grounds. Although we applaud our city’s efforts in providing safe needles to those in need, there is a lack of safe needle disposal units in places frequented by the most vulnerable – our children. Sign our petition for needle safety in Vancouver. Let’s keep our parks, beaches and playgrounds safe for all!
ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY
Lower Elementary - Tuesday, October 20th: The students are invited to attend a special performance by the Kenyan Boys’ Choir at 9 AM at Hornby Plaza. Students will be walking to the event; therefore, we ask all the students to arrive school earlier than usual – at 8:30AM. Teachers will depart with students at 8:30 AM from the school for this wonderful opportunity to see and hear a world-renowned choir, compliments of Free the Children. The choir is coming to Vancouver as part of WE DAY VANCOUVER 2015 festivities. Please email us with Kenyan Choir on the subject line if you are unable to drop your child off at the school by 8:30 AM that day, and would like to make alternate arrangements
Upper Elementary – WE Day, Wednesday, October 21st: This is a reminder that permission slips are now overdue. If you child is planning on attending this event, please submit the permission slip at your earliest convenience. On that day, kindly drop off your child/ren at 8:30am at Anchor Point
and pack your child a picnic lunch. If you prefer to drop-off/pick-up your child at Rogers Arena
(800 Griffiths Way) directly, please let us know.
“Evening of Inspiration”, October 20th, 4pm to 6pm, the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, 1133 W. Hastings Street: Student executive members attending this event with Ms. Michelle and Ms. Silvia will be escorted there directly from school and will be dismissed to parents at 6pm at the hotel. Please do not hesitate to call 604-616-7738 should you need to contact us.
Parent/Child Workshop - Thursday, October 22, 4:15pm to 6:15pm: This is a special time for your child to show you some of the work they have been doing at school. Sign-up sheets have been posted by the entrance. Kindly select the most convenient time slot for you. Don’t hesitate to email us with Parent/Child Workshop on the subject line if you are unable to attend, and need to re-schedule.
CASA COMMUNITY (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)
Montessori Practicum Student Observation: We will be welcoming two practicum students from the Montessori Training Centre of BC this school year. Vicky Liu will be in the AM classroom and Soma Keo will be in the PM classroom. As practicum students, they will have Observation and Practicum weeks with their assigned classes supervised by our Lead Directresses. Their first observation schedule is from October 18th to 23rd. A photo of Vicky and Soma and their bios will be displayed by the door when their practicum schedule commences.
University of Oxford, PhD Research Project: PhD candidate, Ms. Hanako Shimamura has started to prepare her research work at North Creek Montessori. Ms. Hanako is a certified AMI (3-6) Montessori teacher who completed her training at the Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia. Her research topicis Schooling Effects on Promoting Children’s Self and Social Emotional Development. Ms. Hanako needs your consent to work with your four-year old child. Kindly complete the Parent/Guardian Consent Form if you would like your child to participate. Ms. Hanako deeply appreciates your willingness to allow your child to participate in her study!
Extended-day Students – Tuesday, October 20th: Extended-day students are invited to attend a special performance by the Kenyan Boys’ Choir at 9 AM at Hornby Plaza in downtown as part of WE DAY VANCOUVER 2015 festivities. Students will be walking to the event, therefore we ask all Extended-day students to arrive at Anchor Point earlier than usual – at 8:30AM. Teachers and students will depart from Anchor Point at 8:30 AM for this wonderful opportunity to see and hear a world-renowned choir, compliments of Free the Children. Please email us with Kenyan Choir on the subject line if you are unable to drop your child off at the school by 8:30 AM that day, and would like to make alternate arrangements.
Parent/Child Workshop – Thursday, October 22nd: This very special event is held in the evening at the North Creek facility for Preschool students and Anchor Point facility for Extended-day students. Please check the schedule posted by the door and on your
personal invitation for details. If you are unable to attend as scheduled, and would like to alternate arrangements, please email us or notify a teacher at the door. We would be happy to oblige!
Children who bring snack or lunch to school: The school provides snack, but for those who prefer to send children to school with their own snack, kindly note that according to Child Care Licensing guidelines, food such as boiled eggs and grapes eaten by children should be cut into bite-sized pieces to prevent choking. Please ensure to send your child to school with snack prepared in this manner. Thank you for your understanding!
COMMUNITY NOTICES Wondering what to do with your family over the weekend? Check these out!
UBC Botanical Garden Apple Festival – Saturday & Sunday October 17th & 18th 11am – 4pm: A family event for all ages, the UBC Botanical Garden Apple Festival celebrates one of BC’s favourite fruits with tastings, demonstrations, activities and sales of tasty apples and apple trees. Admission $4 (cash) includes free Garden entry. Children 12 and under free. Please leave dogs at home. 604-822-4529.
Night Science for Kids @ VanDusen Gardens – Friday, October 23 6pm – 7:30 pm: Explore VanDusen Gardens in the evening, when an entirely new host of creatures come out to welcome you. Learn about our resident barred owls, visit the bat houses and tour the gardens with the help of your guide looking for signs of nocturnal life. Experiment with collecting and identifying nocturnal pollinators like the moth and learn which plants you can grow to invite these pollinators to your own backyard.
Vancouver African Children’s Festival - Saturday, October 24, 2015: Come discover Africa through different artistic performances which include dances, storytelling, and a fashion show and enjoy activities such as games, food, dancing for kids and artwork.
ArtStarts presents a Free Workshop for Children – Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 11am and 1pm (2 sessions): Did you know bees help plants make seeds? Did you know seeds help make plants that feed bees? Join artist and beekeeper Lori Weidenhammer to explore the fascinating world of seeds and seedpods. Make seedy care packages for the bees in your garden or as a gift for your favourite gardener. Use your imagination to create your own inspiring seed packet designs to celebrate and feed the bees!
Heart of the City Festival – Wednesday October 28 to Sunday November 8, 2015: Featuring over 90 events at over 25 locations throughout the Downtown Eastside, the annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival is a cultural and heritage event that serves as a high impact, bridge building force that gives voice to the Downtown Eastside and its low income residents, cultural communities and neighbourhoods. The Festival takes inspiration from the words of the late much beloved Downtown Eastside poet and activist Bud Osborn: Our purpose is to live in community, and community is care, care for one another, care for those least able to care for themselves, care for all, care in action. The 2015 Festival features a feast of twelve days of music, stories, songs, poetry, cultural celebrations, films, theatre, dance, processions, spoken word, panels, workshops, discussions, gallery exhibitions, multi media, art talks, history walking tours, and a diverse array of artists.
Diwali Fest – November 3rd to November 15th: Diwali Fest (formerly Vancouver Celebrates Diwali) is an annual South Asian arts & culture festival celebrating the universal light that exists in everyone. Each year’s festival engages dozens of artists in events across the city, the majority of which are open and free to the general public, by suggested donation, or at very affordable ticketed prices. Click here for this year’s events!
LEAP – Mid-November 2015 to April 2016: “LEAP is a dynamic, interactive program for young playwrights. Participants learn the basic principles of playwriting, share their work with classmates, and provide feedback for one another in a safe and supportive environment. Students also receive feedback from theatre professionals and have their plays workshopped and presented to the public in staged readings.” LEAP offers 3 different courses for students at diferent levels. Any student with an interest in writing of any kind is encouraged to apply. The program is designed both for those interested in theatre-making and those with a creative writing background who want to learn to write in a different genre.