Our prayers are with friends and family affected by the recent Paris attacks. Having spent the past couple of weeks remembering those who have courageously sacrificed their lives for peace, both our veterans past and present as well as volunteers seeking to help humanity like Médecins Sans Frontières, this has been yet, another sobering reminder that peace in many parts of the world is a tenuous condition. Let us all be grateful for the warmth experienced here in our fair city and country.
Wishing all a safe weekend,
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori
Important Dates to Remember:
Friday, November 27th – PD Day (no school for students).
Friday, December 4th – Parent/Teacher Conferences (Progress Reports will be handed out for students in Kindergarten and up.) There is NO SCHOOL for students.
Thursday, December 10th – Winter Performance and Craft Fair (no school for students).
Friday, December 18th – Last day of school.
Monday, December 21st to Friday, January 1st – Winter Holidays.
Monday, January 4th – First day back at school.
More important dates to remember can be found in our calendar (log in required).
Winter Performance and Fair 2015 – Thursday, December 10th, 1:00pm – 4:30pm, Roundhouse Community Centre: There will not be any regular classes for students that day. Please find more information and the seat reservation form (log in to website required).
Invitation to Share Experiences and Expertise: Families – We’d love for you to come in and share your experiences and expertise with our students at all levels! Our students are keen to learn about different cultural traditions, professional skills, and even your travel adventures. Telling stories, showing photographs, or demonstrating a skill are just some of the simple ways you can share your wisdom. Please feel free to email us or speak with your child’s teachers if you have some time to come for a visit!
Local Outreach Winter Food Drive – November 16th to December 4th: Once again, we are participating in a Winter Food Drive for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Please bring in non-perishable food items and place them in the marked box in the entrance at both locations. The most wanted items are high protein, whole grain, lower sodium, lower sugar items such as canned fish or meats, canned beans (kidney, black, chickpeas), 100% nut butters, pasta and rice, canned vegetables and pasta sauces, canned fruit, packed in its own juice or water, whole grain breakfast cereals, hearty sops, stews and chili. Please note, due to health and safety issues, the Food Bank is not able to accepthomemade items, expired food, products containing alcohol, and open packages of food. Thanks in advance for your support for such a worthwhile cause.
IMMUNIZATION CLINIC for Kindergarten and Grade 6 students – Wednesday, November 25th: Immunizations are available for Kindergarten and Grade 6students on November 25 from 9 am to 10:30 am at Lord Roberts Annex. Consent forms from our local health nurse with information on what immunizations are recommended have been sent home with your child/children. If you would like your child to be immunized, please return the consent forms to the school by Monday, November 23rd. You are also welcome to immunize your child/ren with your family doctor or at your local health clinic.
ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY
A Call for Donations: Our craft projects are underway and would appreciate donations for these items: Glass jars (clean, small and medium sized); Picture Frames (old, but in good shape and new).
Physical Education Update: There are NO LESSONS on Monday, November 16th. Please drop off your child at Anchor Point, 9am. Lessons will resume the following Monday, November 23rd.
Snack Policy Reminder: This is a friendly reminder that the school provides healthy and nutritious snacks (organic, where possible) such as seasonal fresh fruits, vegetables, rice cakes, and crackers, as well as filtered water for your child. However, you are welcome to pack your child his/her own snack. We ask parents to refrain from sending sugary and non-nutritious snacks such as chips, chocolate, candy, etc. Thank you!
Heritage Christmas Celebration, Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Ave., Friday, December 11th: Extended-Day and Elementary students will participate in the “Heritage Christmas” program. They will be touring all the exhibits in the museum and riding on a vintage carousel. This program is a wonderful way for students to learn about different aspects of life in a 1920’s urban community. Please prepare a bagged lunch and a light snack for this outing. Again, please check the weather on the day of the field trip and send your child to school with the appropriate clothing and footwear. We will be taking a school bus for this field trip. We may have a few extra seats available for parents who are interested in coming along on this trip. Please let us know if you would like to join us. Kindly return the permission form back to school with payment no later than Monday, November 30th. We would like to send a special thank you to our Parent Support Group for generously funding the transportation to the museum.
Arts Umbrella Dance Company – Mixed Nuts, Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton St., Tuesday, December 15th: Elementary students will attend this very special interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”. Not limited to ballet, this twist on the holiday classic will have a variety of dance styles including Hip-Hop, and Ballroom Dance. We will have an early lunch at the school and walk to the venue. We will be departing from school at approximately 11:30 am. As always, please check the weather on the day of the field trip and send your child to school with the appropriate clothing and footwear. Elementary students have raised enough funds for the entire class to attend, so no payment is needed. Congratulations students! Kindly submit the permission form no later than Monday, November 30th.
CASA COMMUNITY (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)
Heritage Christmas Celebration, Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Ave., Friday, December 11th: Extended-Day and Elementary students will participate in the “Heritage Christmas” program. They will be touring all the exhibits in the museum and riding on a vintage carousel. This program is a wonderful way for students to learn about different aspects of life in a 1920’s urban community. Please prepare a bagged lunch and a light snack for this outing. Again, please check the weather on the day of the field trip and send your child to school with the appropriate clothing and footwear. We will be taking a school bus for this field trip. We may have a few extra seats available for parents who are interested in coming along on this trip. Please let us know if you would like to join us. Kindly return the permission form back to school with payment no later than Monday, November 30th. We would like to send a special thank you to our Parent Support Group for generously funding the transportation to the museum.
Arts Umbrella Dance Company – Mixed Nuts, Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton St., Tuesday, December 15th: Kindergarten/Extended-Day students will attend this very special interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”. Not limited to ballet, this twist on the holiday classic will have a variety of dance styles including Hip-Hop, and Ballroom Dance. We will have an early lunch at the school and walk to the venue. We will be departing from school at approximately 11:30 am. As always, please check the weather on the day of the field trip and send your child to school with the appropriate clothing and footwear. Elementary students have raised enough funds for the entire class to attend, so no payment is needed. Congratulations elementary students! However, since the Kindergarten/Ex-day students are planning on taking public transit to the venue, the total cost for this field trip is $3.50. Kindly return the permission form with payment no later than Monday, November 30th.
Casa Parent Discussions @ North Creek – Thursday, December 3rd, 4:30 to 5:15pm, hosted by Ms. Priscilla, Topic: Inner Sensibilities: Have you ever wondered why certain materials in the environment are placed there and when are they to be presented to the student? We invite all parents to join us at our second Casa round-table discussion. Kindly RSVP us by Tuesday, December 1st with Casa Discussion on the subject line if you plan to attend. We look forward to learning together! We will also be offering along with the Parent Support Group child care for that evening. When RSVPing, kindly add that you will need child care for your child(ren). Childcare will be provided at our Anchor Point facility.
COMMUNITY NOTICES Wondering what to do with your family over the weekend? Check these out!
Eastside Cultural Crawl - Thursday, November 19 to Sunday, November 22: A four-day visual arts, design and crafts festival receiving more than 20,000 visitors to 400+ artists in their studios across 78 buildings in the area bounded by Columbia Street, 1st Avenue, Victoria Drive and the waterfront in Vancouver, Canada. Pillow Fight Factory, a company started by our very own elementary student, Tallulah Pantages and her mother, Erika, will be taking part in this event. You can visit them at 829 Union Street where they will have their new collection on display and for sale.
L A M P Lantern Making Workshop with Windy & friends – Saturday, November 14, 2015: 2nd Annual L A M P Workshop for KIDS teams up with Windy & friends to create a fun filled morning for youngsters making their own LED Paper Lanterns! Kids of all ages will follow the basic diy instructions to make their lanterns and are then given freedom to explore their own decorating techniques. Registration fee covers the cost of materials, a L A M P tote bag, a snack & a download of the “Sunny’s Dark Night” – the groundbreaking stop-motion animation app by Windy & friends. Click here to register. Parents of children under 5 must stay through the workshop to help provide supervision. Workshop is limited to maximum 30 kids. Location: 505 Railway Street, Vancouver, BC
Common Ground: An Exhibition of Young People’s Art – Saturday, October 17, 2015 – 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. 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.
Body Worlds – Animal Inside Out! @ Science World, Tuesday, November 3, 2015 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.
KOOZA Cirque du Soleil – Sunday, November 1, 2015 – Sunday, December 27, 2015: KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world. KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: It combines two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.