Community

Friday, October 16, 2015

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 w​e​ ​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. ​A​ll 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, p​lease drop-off​your e-devices ​at your child’s respective location by​Thursday,​ 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 Fund​s​. 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 Wa​​y) ​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 ​topi​c​is 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 6​pm​ – 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.

​​

Friday, October 9, 2015

We enjoyed festive Thanksgiving​ lunch​ celebrations with our​​ extended-day and elementary students – ​B​logs for this will be up soon​ on our ​Full Monte​ ​page! We ​have also​ been updating our Facebook site on a regular basis with thought-provoking articles and insights on education in Montessori and beyond, so don’t forget to​ check in!​

Wishing you a wonderful ​long ​weekend​ and a Very Happy Thanksgiving​​!​
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori

GENERAL NOTICES

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12th: NO SCHOOL –  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

​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. ​A​ll 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, p​lease drop-off​your e-devices ​at your child’s respective location by​Wednesday,​ ​21st. 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 Fund​s​. 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.​​

​SCHOOL DIRECTORY​: There have been recent updates to the school directory. Please find the updated directory here. (Log in to the website required.)​  Kindly look through your listing and let us know if there are any misprints!​​​

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 and December orders.​

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​

Parent/Child Workshop -​​ Thursday, October 22​, 4:15pm to 6:15pm:​ Mark in your calendar! ​
This is a special time for your child to show you some of the work they have been doing at school. Sign-up sheets will be posted by the entrance​ on Tuesday, October 13th, when we return from this Thanksgiving long weekend​. Kindly select the most convenient time​ slot​ for you. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if you need to re-schedule another date and time for this if necessary!

​Extra Set of Clothes: Please send an extra set of clothes placed in clear, ziploc bag with your child’s name labelled in front to school by Tuesday, October 13th for your child/ren if you have not done yet. The set should contain the following labelled items: t-shirt, pants, socks and underwear. Thank you! Also, make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather!

Pumpkin Patch – Friday, October 16th: Elementary students will be visiting the pumpkin patch at Richmond Country Farms (12900 Steveston Hwy, Richmond) on Friday, October 16th, 2015 as well as Richmond Nature Park. The school bus will depart at 9:00am sharp, so please ensure your child is dropped off by 8:45am. Don’t forget to pack a picnic lunch for your child that day!

Upper Elementary – WE Day, October 21st: Our Upper Elementary students (grades 4 to 7) are invited to attend this year’s WE Day on October 21st at Rogers Arena. WE Day is an educational program that empowers young people to become active local and global citizens. An unparalleled stadium-sized experience, WE Day brings together world-renowned speakers and performers with stands packed with young social innovators to honour their contributions and kick-start another year of change. Thanks t​o​ generous sponsors, the event is free for schools enrolled in the WE Schools Program.​ The show starts at 9:15am. 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 Wa​​y) ​ directly, please let us know. Kindly return the permission form as well as a copy of the We Day Media Release Form to the school no later than Thursday, October 15h.​ ​For more information, click here​.​​

Physical Education​: Our physical​ activities​​ held on Monday mornings are underway! Kindly drop off your child as the follows:

​Lower Elementary (Grades 1 to 3, Ages 6 to 9): Directly at the Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie Street) 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.

Upper Elementary (Grades 4 to 7, Ages 9 to 13): Regular drop off at Anchor Point (9:00am).

​​CASA COMMUNITY​ (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)​

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 ​topi​c​is Schooling Effects on Promoting Children’s Self and Social Emotional Development.
​​
​Casa ​Parent Discussions​ @ North Creek, Thursday​, October 15th​, ​4:30 pm to 5:15 pm​, hosted by Ms. Priscilla​,  Topic: Festivities and Celebrations​: ​Have you ever wondered what’s behind our approach to festivities and celebrations? One’s coming up soon! We invite all parents to join us a​t our first Casa ​round-table ​discussion​. Kindly RSVP us by Tuesday, October 13th with Casa Discussion on the subject line if you plan to attend. We look forward to learning together! We will also be offering child care for that evening, thanks to the PSG. When RSVPing, kindly add that you will need child care for your child/ren. Childcare will be provided at our Anchor Point facility.

Pumpkin Patch – Friday, October 16th: Students will be visiting the pumpkin patch at Richmond Country Farms (12900 Steveston Hwy, Richmond) on Friday, October 16th, 2015 as well as Richmond Nature Park.  Our bus is scheduled to depart at 9am, so please ensure your child arrives at school on time!

Preparation for Emergency: North Creek asks each family to prepare a personal letter for your child to be kept in our emergency kit.  In case of an earthquake, a letter from home will be a very special and personal item to have in hand for comfort.

Please bring containers for leftovers on the days when your child has ordered a hot lunch​ –Thank you​!​

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 to 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 6​ pm to 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: 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 diferrent 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.