Friday, November 6, 2015

​​Thank you to all parents who took the time to come and observe our classes! We believe this is a wonderful opportunity to witness, first hand, your children at work and hope this has provided you with a greater understanding of the Montessori classroom dynamics. ​​Please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We hope you enjoyed your observation!

Our Upper Elementary students enjoyed a lovely concert at the VSO today! Thanks so  much to all who donned their hockey jerseys for this homage to Canada’s favourite past-time!

Wishing you a​​​ wonderful weekend,
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori

Remembrance DayGENERAL NOTICES

NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, November 11th: Remembrance Day.

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 accept​homemade items, expired food, products containing alcohol, and open packages of food. Thanks in advance for your support for such a worthwhile cause!

PHOTO DAYS:
Monday, November 9th, North Creek: Preschool, Kindergarten/Extended-Day and Siblings
Tuesday, November 10th: Anchor Point: Grades 1 to 7

IMMUNIZATION CLINIC for Kindergarten and Grade 6 students – Wednesday, November 25th:​ Immunizations are available for Kindergarten and Grade 6​students 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.​ You​ are also welcome to immunize your child/ren with​ your family doctor​ or at your local health clinic.

FLU SHOTS CLINIC – Flu shots are available as follows:
Nov 4 1pm – 4pm West End Community Centre 870 Denman St. 604-257-8333
Nov 19 1pm – 4pm Roundhouse Community Centre 181 Roundhouse Mews 604-713-1800
Dec 10 1pm– 4pm Three Bridges Community Health Centre 1292 Hornby St. 604-736-9844
Jan 7 1pm – 4pm Three Bridges Community Health Centre 1292 Hornby Street 604-736-9844

ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY

A Call for Donations: Our craft projects are underway and would appreciate donations for these items:  G​lass jars (clean​, small and medium sized​); Picture Frames (old, but in good shape and new)

​Band Update: Due to school closure for Remembrance Day this Wednesday, this week’s band class will be held on Tuesday, November ​10th.

​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!

Monday, November 9 – SIBLINGS PHOTO DAY: All Elementary students who have siblings enrolled in Casa will have their siblings photo taken on this day. A teacher will walk the siblings from Anchor Point to North Creek to meet the photographer.

Tuesday, November 10 – LOWER AND UPPER ELEMENTARY PHOTO DAY: All Elementary students will have their photo day on this day. The photographer will be at Anchor Point to take both individual and class photos.

Physical Education​ Update​: Physical​ activities​ ​held on Monday mornings ​at the Dance Centre. Kindly drop off your child as​ ​follow​s​:

Upper Elementary (Grades 4 to 7, Ages 9 to 13)​​ –  ​​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.

​Lower Elementary Group B – 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.

Lower Elementary Group A – Regular drop off at Anchor Point (9:00am).​

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)​​ ​

Monday, November 9 – PHOTO DAY: All Preschool and Extended-day students will have their photo day on this day. The photographer will be at North Creek to take both individual and class photos. Ms. Julia’s class will have their pictures taken in the morning and Ms. Kelly’s class will have their pictures taken in the afternoon. Casa students with siblings in Elementary are organized to have their pictures taken on this day too. A teacher will walk​siblings from Anchor Point to North Creek ​for sibling portraits.

Friday, November 13th – Make up French Lesson for Preschool and Ex-day Students: Mme Sonia, our French specialist teacher, was sick on Wednesday, November 4th and a make up class is scheduled for this 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.​

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

Body Worlds ​​– Animal Inside Out! @ Science World, Tuesday, November 3, 2015 – 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.

​Remembrance Day Ceremony & Parade​​ – Wednesday, November 11, 2015: The program begins with a performance by the Vancouver Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande starting at​
9:45 am. Led by the Vancouver Flag Party, the parade of veterans, military marching units and bands will arrive at Victory Square before the ceremony begins at 10:30am. At 11:00am the Last Post will be sounded. There will be Two Minutes of Silence, during which a 21-gun salute by the 15th Field Artillery Regiment will be heard from Portside Park. Rouse and Lament will follow. The RCAF will conduct a fly-past moments later, weather permitting. The enduring In Flanders Fields will then be sung by the Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande and wreaths will be placed at the Cenotaph. A feature will be a combined performance by the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service and the Regimental Pipes and Drums of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. The main parade will march Route 2, marching west along Hastings past the reviewing stand between Homer and Richards, turning right at Richards, east on Cordova, then south on Cambie. The veterans section of the parade will march Route 1, marching west along Hastings Street past the reviewing stand and disperse. Where: Cenotaph at Victory Square, West Hastings Street, between Cambie Street and Hamilton Street.

​​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.

Heart of the City Festival – ​​Wednesday October 28 to Sunday November 8, 2015: Featuring 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​. It 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​
much beloved​ late ​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​ is a ​twelve day ​feast of music, stories, songs, poetry, cultural celebrations, films, theatre, dance, processions, spoken word, panels, workshops, discussions, gallery exhibitions, multi media, art talks​ and walking​ history ​
tours​ created by 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​!​