Community

Update for Week Ending February 20th

RE-REGISTRATION FOR PRESCHOOL, EXTENDED-DAY KINDERGARTEN & ELEMENTARY STUDENTS DUE: Forms are due on Monday, February 23rd.

Elementary Workshop for Parents by AMI Elementary Montessori Trainer, Greg MacDonald – Montessori Across the Planes: From Birth To Adulthood, March 2nd, 4:30pm: Join us for an afternoon of insights on child development with Greg MacDonald, Director of Elementary Training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego . Mr MacDonald will be delving into the four planes of development and how adults can aid children reach their fullest potential in each plane. RSVP office@lionsgatemontessori.org if you wish to attend. Child-minding is also available. This event for all Lions Gate community, including parents of children enrolled at North Creek.

Return-It School Recycling Program: Beginning this month, the Anchor Point students will be collecting drink containers as part of the Return-It School Recycling Program. All deposit refunds will be placed in the Student Enrichment Fund, to be used towards school enrichment activities. Furthermore, our school will have a chance to win bonus cash prizes! We invite you to contribute to this endeavour, by bringing in clean beverage containers (no dairy products) from your home or workplace. Please visit http://www.returnitschool.ca/students/ for more information on the program and a list of accepted containers. Log in as Anchor Point Montessori to track our progress and compare our efforts to those of other schools enrolled in the program. Thank you for your support, and for helping us reduce our school’s ecological footprint! Special thanks to Anchor Point Student President,Emma and her mom, Andrea for helping launch this program!

Anti bullying/Pink Shirt Day: Show your support for Anti Bullying 2015 by having your child/ren wear pink on Wednesday, February 25th. This is a very important initiative that many school districts, individual schools, groups and businesses are getting behind in order to stop bullying. For more information, click here.

ADOLESCENTS

Trip to Victoria – Friday, March 6th: We are currently planning a day trip to Victoria, BC. As the field trip will take place on the last day of school before spring break (March 6th), please let us know by e-mail to office@lionsgatemontessori.org if your child will not be attending.

Chinese New Year – Gong Xi Fa Cai! The students are excited to celebrate Chinese New Year at Lions Gate this year, and what better way than to engage in authentic Chinese cooking! This week, Ms. Lili plans to start the year off successfully by guiding the students in making many delicious dishes, such as dumplings. We are thrilled to discover what the Year of the Sheep has in store for us!

Farm Update: After plenty of research and thought, the students are beginning to decide which plants and trees they will grow at the farm school. So far, the group has planted garlic, mint and leeks, and are currently experimenting to discover the best conditions for successful growth of each. The students are looking forward to tending to their plants and watching them grow.

ANCHOR POINT

VSO Outing for Lower Elementary: Wednesday, February 25th: A reminder that t
he Lower Elementary students will be attending the Once Upon an Orchestra concert at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, February 25th at 10:00am.
Note that permission forms and payments were submitted earlier in the school year. Please note that the Grade 3 students in Upper Elementary will be attending as well.

Chinese New Year Celebration – Friday, February 27th: Children at Anchor Point will be celebrating Chinese New Year on Friday, February 27th! The children will be making a feast for lunch to celebrate the year of the sheep. This lunch will be conducted by Ms. Lili. She has prepared a set of delicious items to make with the children. A full menu of the items will be posted on the display window at Anchor Point.

Hip-hop Lessons – Upper Elementary: Upper Elementary will begin their dance lessons on Monday, February 23rd. The students walk together to the Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie Street, at Granville). To ensure students receive a full hour of class, please drop off your child/ren to school no later than 8:45am. Alternatively, you may also drop your child/ren at the Scotia Bank Dance Centre directly. Please be sure to send a water bottle with your child/ren and ensure they dress appropriately as it is quite warm inside the dance center.

VSO Outing for Lower Elementary: Wednesday, February 25th: A reminder that the Lower Elementary students will be attending the Once Upon an Orchestra concert at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, February 25th at 10:00am.

Chinese New Year Celebration – Friday, February 27th: Children at Anchor Point will be celebrating Chinese New Year on Friday, February 27th! The children will be making a feast for lunch to celebrate the year of the sheep. This lunch will be conducted by Ms. Lili. She has prepared a set of delicious items to make with the children. A full menu of the items will be posted on the display window at Anchor Point.

NORTH CREEK

Please return the work folders: Please be sure to return your child’s work folder to school so that he/she may carry their new work home inside the waterproof pocket.

VSO Outing for Extended Day Students – Wednesday, February 25th: A reminder that the Extended Day students will be attending the Once Upon an Orchestra concert at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, February 25th at 10:00am. Note that permission forms and payments were submitted earlier in the school year.

Punctual Arrival Reminder: Please make sure the punctual arrival during drop-off otherwise late arrival really becomes an interruption of the work for the whole class as an huge obstacle for our children’s development. Thank you for your cooperation.

Safety Reminder: For safety reasons, please be cautious during drop-off and pick-up and encourage your child to walk and not run on the sidewalk.

General Parking Reminder: Please be alerted that parking in front of the school is metered. Ticketing officers are quick in giving out tickets during drop-off and pick-up times!

Labeling Reminder: This is a friendly reminder to please label all of your child’s clothing, including scarves, mittens, hats, jackets, and shoes. Thank you!

COMMUNITY NOTICES
Wondering what to do on weekends with your children? Here are some ideas below:

Home Depot Kid Workshop: Build a Heart Box – Saturday, February 14th at 10am: Kids will learn how to build a heart box with easy to follow step-by-step instructions. Held at the Cambie Home Depot (2388 Cambie Street), this is a great free activity for children aged 4 to 12. For more details, click here.

10th Annual Winterupption Festival 2015 at Granville Island – Thursday, February 19th to Sunday, February 22nd: Granville Island is hosting their 10th Winterruption with a wide range of events. Head to the Kids Zone, where Aché Brasil’s high-flying acrobatics and dazzling costumes will delight all ages. Create a head-dress with the Vancouver International Children’s Festival and join the Carnival procession through the streets. The False Creek Community Centre caters to the 5-and-under set with fun, free games, while MAKE (Duranleau St) invites you to create Yarn-aments & Yarn-imals. For full details, please visit their website.

LunarFest at the Vancouver Art Gallery – Friday, February 20th to Sunday, February 22nd: Lunar Fest is an event designed to celebrate the Year of the Sheep. For more details, please click here.

Spring Break Camps at Van Dusen Gardens: Van Dusen Gardens is offering multiple Spring Break Camps for children of varying ages, with programs ranging from Botanical Art to Rainforest Adventure. Please visit their website for more details.

Robson Square Ice Rink Open for Free until February 28th, 2015: The rink will be open all through the Christmas Holidays, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Skating is free with your own skates, otherwise, rentals are available. The rink also features a concession stand with snacks and warm drinks. Click here for more information.

Dwellings – From Seabeds to Cityscapes: This exhibition of young people’s art explores where we live and how we inhabit space shapes our experiences, our culture, and even who we are. Investigate how creatures in different habitats interact with the spaces they inhabit, envision the human body as a dwelling space, imagine habitations for people in the future, and delve into many other creative contemplation on where we dwell. The exhibition will take place at 808 Richards Street until March 25th, 2015. For more information visit ArtStarts in Schools.

Update for Week Ending February 13th

Reminder: No School on Friday, February 20th for a Professional Development Day

RE-REGISTRATION FOR PRESCHOOL, EXTENDED-DAY KINDERGARTEN & ELEMENTARY STUDENTS DUE: Forms are due on Monday, February 23rd.

Wine-and-Cheese “Young at Art” Auction: Evening of February 13th, 5pm to 8pm: Kind thanks to all who attended this event!

Return-It School Recycling Program: Beginning this month, the Anchor Point students will be collecting drink containers as part of the Return-It School Recycling Program. All deposit refunds will be placed in the Student Enrichment Fund, to be used towards school enrichment activities. Furthermore, our school will have a chance to win bonus cash prizes! We invite you to contribute to this endeavour, by bringing in clean beverage containers (no dairy products) from your home or workplace. Please visit http://www.returnitschool.ca/students/ for more information on the program and a list of accepted containers. Log in as Anchor Point Montessori to track our progress and compare our efforts to those of other schools enrolled in the program. Thank you for your support, and for helping us reduce our school’s ecological footprint! Special thanks to Anchor Point Student President Emma and her mom, Andrea for helping launch this program!

Hot Lunch Program: Our February menu is now up! you have never tried the hot lunch program, why not order a few meals to check it out? Food is supplied by #e Food, a local eatery that prides on healthy cuisine with ingredients that are locally sourced and sustainable. Each meal comes with a side salad or soup. 2 sizes – Small $5, Large $7.50. Tax included

Kindly note that orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance. Just a reminder that hot lunches can be ordered anytime during the month. Please make payments as soon as you have a confirmed order. To order online, please visit https://lionsgate.hotlunch.com/plogin.php. If your child has recently transferred from Mole Hill/North Creek to Anchor Point, please remember to update your profile to ensure that lunch is delivered to the right location. If you have any questions, please let us know.

ADOLESCENTS

As a result of hard work and patience, the students completed 30 beautiful digital art pieces. They were very proud and honoured to submit these works to the Art Auction. With one project completed, the students have moved onto their next challenge: This year’s school yearbook! Preparations are officially underway and the group is working diligently with Ms. Christine to develop a creative visual representation of our year at Lions Gate Montessori.

Student-Led Conferences, February 20th PD Day – In keeping with our goal of guiding your son or daughter toward effective introspection and a strong sense of personal value, we have implemented a Student-Led Conference this year to complement Mid-term Reports. The conference will be held on our upcoming Professional Development Day on Friday, February 20th. A sign-up sheet will be posted by the front door or you may email us letting us know your preferred time block.

Wednesday, February 18th – Photo Retakes: Our photographer will be in on Wednesday, February 18th to take photos of students who have signed up for re-takes. Please let your child’s teacher know if your child is to have his/her picture retaken.

Swimming: The last day of swimming lessons will be this coming Wednesday, February 18th.

ANCHOR POINT

Photos for January Starts and Retakes, Wednesday, February 18th, 2014: Our photographer will be in on Wednesday, February 18th to take photos of new students who started in January as well as students who have signed up for re-takes

Swim Lessons: We started our first swimming lesson on Wednesday. Swimming will continue every Wednesday until February 18th, 2015. Please be sure your child brings a winter hat to wear on the walk back to school.

Hip-hop Lessons: Hip-hop Lessons for the Lower Elementary starts on Monday, January 19th at 9:00 a.m. The students will be walked together to The Dance Centre. Hence, please drop off your child/ren no later than 8:45 a.m. to ensure a full hour of class with Mr. Yoshi Hisanaga.
Yoshi is a versatile and innovative dancer who brings a fresh and energetic flavor to dance where ever he goes. Yoshi is a passionate teacher who believes in passing down his knowledge to the next generation and giving back to the Vancouver hip-hop dance community. He focuses on old school hip-hop basics and fundamentals. His classes include everything from popping, bboying, locking, to street jazz. His passion and dedication to the art has caught the attention of the renowned hip-hop group, Over the Influence, which Yoshi has become the latest member of. He also embraces the competitive element of hip-hop. He is an award winning choreographer who specializes in a unique and abstract blend of hip-hop and break dancing. He was the choreographer and dancer for the 2005 Senior Canadian National Dance Competition Champions, and the choreographer for the 2005, 2006, 2007 Junior Canadian National Dance Competition Champions (Elktrik). He also represented Canada at the Hip-hop International Championships in the summer of 2007 in L.A and 2008 in Vegas.

Wednesday, February 18th – Photo Retakes: Our photographer will be in on Wednesday, February 18th to take photos of students who have signed up for re-takes. Please let your child’s teacher know if your child is to have his/her picture retaken.

Student-Led Conferences – Friday, February 20th: In keeping with our goal of guiding your son or daughter towards effective introspection and a strong sense of personal value, we have implemented a Student-Led Conference this year to complement Mid-term Reports. The conference will be held on our upcoming Professional Development Day – Friday, February 20th. Please be advised that due to the conferences, school is not in session on this day. A sign-up sheet is posted by the front door or you may email us letting us know your preferred time block.

NORTH CREEK
Tuesday, February, 17th – Photos for January Starts and Retakes: Our photographer will be in on Tuesday, February 17th to take photos of new students who started in January as well as students who have signed up for re-takes.

Kindly asking for donation of eggshells: We are in need of eggshell donations for Crushing the Eggshell exercise. It is one of the most beloved exercises by the children, and is important in the preparation of the hand for writing. If you have extras at home, please wash the eggshells, dry them and send them in with your child. We appreciate your cooperation.

Safety Reminder: For safety reasons, please be cautious during drop-off and pick-up and encourage your child to walk and not run on the sidewalk.

General Parking Reminder: Please be alerted that parking in front of the school is metered. Ticketing officers are quick in giving out tickets during drop-off and pick-up times!

Labeling Reminder: This is a friendly reminder to please label all of your child’s clothing, including scarves, mittens, hats, jackets, and shoes. Thank you!

COMMUNITY NOTICES
Wondering what to do on weekends with your children? Here are some ideas below:

Flea Market & Japanese Book Sale -Saturday, February 14th from 10:30am to 4:30pm: Someone’s GARAKUTA (junk) is another’s OTAKARA (treasure)! Visit the Nikkei national museum and cultural centre this weekend (6688 Southoaks Crescent,Burnaby) for their 9th annual flea market – join the hunt and find YOUR treasure! Thousands of secondhand items available, including Japanese books, comics and magazines, all for amazing bargain prices. Also craft vendors, a Kids Zone, and local food trucks and vendors serving up delicious delights. Free admission! For more details, please visit their website.

Winter Games Legacy Celebration – Sunday, February 15th from 1:30pm to 3:30pm: Celebrate and commemorate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games at the Creekside Centre in the former Olympic and Paralympic Athletes Village! This is an all ages event that will feature big screen play back of Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Events, games and craft stations for children and much more! This event is FREE and all ages are welcome, pre-registration is not required

The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – January 17th to February 14th, 2015: This is the fifth year of the popular event that has local cafés and restaurants serving up all sorts of varieties of the chocolatety cold weather treat. For 29 days, 24 participating “chocstars” will have a combined 57 crazy hot chocolate flavours available for purchase. For a list of participants, please click here.

Platypus Theatre and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra bring you this musical adventure. For more information click here!