We’ve had an active first two weeks back at school!
Last year, our school was involved in a PH.D. research project with the University of Oxford. This term, we have been approached by the UBC Early Development Research Group to participate in another. Please find attached, pertinent information about the project. Our school enjoys wonderful, collegial relationships with a variety of higher institutions and encourage families to participate in research that sheds light on understanding child development and other educational studies.
We endeavour to keep families informed with posts we think might be of interest to members of our community on our Facebook page, so don’t forget to check it out!
Wishing you a cheerful weekend,
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori
GENERAL NOTICES
Upcoming Dates to Remember
Thursday, January 19│Re-registration 2017/2018 School Year Deadline
Thursday, January 26 │February Hot Lunch Orders Deadline
Friday, January 27 │PD Day (NO SCHOOL for students)
Monday, February 13 │Family Day (NO SCHOOL for students)
Tuesday, February 14 │♥ Valentine’s Day Bake Sale ♥
Play Date Cards: We have exciting news! Mothers and members of our Lions Gate Montessori’s Parent Support Group are working on a very special project. Marketer and Designer Erika Pantages (mother of Spiro and Tallulah Pantages, grades 1 and 4 respectively) of Pillow Fight and Illustrator Katie Reynolds (mother of Mina Reynolds, grade 3) of Red Kat Creative have teamed up to create “play date cards”. There are 7 whimsical designs to choose from to create your custom cards. When customizing, your child’s name appears on top and all parent contact information on the bottom. Cards come in a set of 50 – beautifully boxed and gift-wrapped. These cards are a great way for parents to connect with other parents both at school and in our community. It is also fun for children to pass along to a new friend for a play date. This month, the ladies are donating $20 from each set sold to the MMUN and Students’ Enrichment Fund. To view and purchase the cards visit: www.pillowfightfactory.com and click “Play”. At checkout, enter code “school” to avoid shipping costs. Once the cards are ready, you’ll be notified and they will be at school for pick-up! To view more of Red Kat Creative illustrations and work visit, www.redkatcreative.com; To view a great article on the play date cards from Daily Hive visit, http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pillow-fight-play-date-cards. Let’s support these two amazing artists and members of our community!
Re-registration 2017/2018 School Year: Please find attached, the Re-Registration packages for the 2017/2018 School Year. Please note that the due date for submission is Thursday, January 19th. After that, your child will be placed on the wait list with the prospective students seeking admission.
Hot Lunch:
Orders for February – Deadline: Thursday, January 26th, 3pm
Order for March – Deadline: Thursday, February 23rd, 3pm
ELEMENTARY & ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY
Lost & Found: We have numerous articles of clothing and shoes in our lost and found. Please take a look over the next week if there are any items that belong to your child/ren. After next week, we will do a free pick. The week after, we will donate what is left.
Foundation Skills Assessment (FSAs): Our grade 4 and 7 students have begun practicing the Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA), a province-wide test assessing students on reading, writing, and numeracy and will begin testing at the end of the month. A separate email has been sent home to grade 4 and 7 parents about this.
CASA COMMUNITY (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)
ANAPHYLAXIS ALERT! We have been notified that a child in our Casa community has a life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) reaction to dairy. The school is following the VCH guidelines, the family is working with the school, and all AM and PM Preschool and Extended Day are learning about it. However, this will not affect the Anchor Point location at all. Starting in January 2017, teachers and students will be asked to wash their hands vigilantly and regularly. Please refrain from bringing dairy to the school environment and introduce your child to anaphylaxis awareness. If dairy is not avoidable, please inform the teachers of the items at the door. It will help us coordinate the classroom to protect all the children. For more information, please visit www.foodallergycanada.ca.
COMMUNITY NOTICES Wondering what to do with your family over the weekend? Check these out!
STOMP │ January 13 – 15, 2017: The international sensation that started as a street performance in the UK, is returning to Vancouver. STOMP has toured more than 50 countries and performed for more than 24 million people. So what exactly is all the noise about? What is STOMP? Rather than using traditional percussion instruments the performers turn to found objects. Items that are part of our everyday lives are turned into musically percussive sound creators. Get ready to be awed by the amazing sounds from a garbage can, trash can lids, brooms, inner tubes & more. The production is a multi-media show where 8 performers go full-out to dazzle the audience. Tickets are available from Tickets Tonight and range in price from $55 – $82 (service charges included).
Time: 2pm & 3pm matinees & 8:00pm evening shows
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Address: 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Website: www.ticketstonight.ca
Cloudspace Comics in the Clouds │ Friday, January 13, 2017 – Friday, March 3, 2017: FREE program for youth! Comics are an exciting storytelling medium combining the elements of writing and drawing. Learn to find your own voice and tell your story! Join Cloudscape Comics and artist Vanessa Kelly for a fun series of classes on making, publishing and promoting your own comic stories! Students will draw and produce their own mini-comics, as well as create one-page comic art that will be displayed at a final gallery exhibition hosted in partnership with Artquake. Cloudscape Comics is part of the Vancouver Park Board’s Artist Studio in the Fieldhouse Program, held at MACC. No drop ins, all participants must register. Click on the link below for more information.
VSO Symphonic Encounters Open Rehearsal: Ein Heldenleben│ Friday, January 20, 2017 10am to 12:30pm: VSO’s open rehearsal program, Symphonic Encounters, takes you behind the scenes to discover what it takes for the musicians, conductors, and production team of the Vancouver Symphony to prepare for a world class concert. Open rehearsals are open to school, homeschool, community and seniors groups. Tickets are $7.50 per person. Students must be in grade 6+. For more information and to order tickets, please click on the link above.
Skate at Robson Square Ice Rink │Thursday, December 1, 2016 – Tuesday, February 14, 2017: This winter, renew a classic Vancouver tradition and enjoy some old-fashioned fun. Robson Square’s outdoor skating rink is open, so celebrate winter in style with skating in the heart of downtown Vancouver. It’s a magical place to enjoy the holidays with your friends, family and loved ones.
Hours of Operation:
SUNDAY to THURSDAY: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
FRIDAY and SATURDAY: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
*Skate rental ends 30mins prior to close
Rates
$2.00 Admission Fee
$4.00 Skate Rental Fee
Cash only
Snow Tubing at Mt Seymour │Saturday, December 3, 2016 – Tuesday, January 31, 2017: The Snow Tube Park guarantees fun and laughter with your friends and family. Besides the thrill of sliding down a hill in one of our specially designed tubes, you’re sure to enjoy the easy ride back up by our custom tube tow. Enjoy the best tubing Vancouver has to offer at Mt Seymour! New to Snow Tube Park is the Enquist Lodge. The Lodge offers a warm seating area where you can relax by the fireplace, take in the views, or enjoy a light snack in Harold’s Cafe. Please note: Participants must be 48″ (122cm) or taller to use the SnowTube Park. Please note: Hours of operation are subject to change based on weather conditions. Call Guest Services at 604.986.2261 to confirm our hours of operation.
Family Literacy Day│Friday, January 27, 2016: For the 16th year in a row, the province of British Columbia has proclaimed January 27 as Family Literacy Day. Local libraries have a host of terrific events lined up to celebrate Literacy Day. Bring a flashlight, grab a book, and snuggle in a fort! The Vancouver Public Library is going old school to celebrate this important day. Who doesn’t love to read in the dark? Family Fort Night is happening at the following branches:
Britannia Branch Library (1661 Napier Street) on January 23rd, 2017 from 4:45 – 5:45pm
Terry Salman Branch Library (4575 Clancy Loranger Way) on January 23rd, 2017 from 6:30 – 7:30pm
Central Branch (350 West Georgia Street) on January 23rd, 2017 from 6:30 – 7:30pm
Marpole Branch Library (8386 Granville Street) on January 24, 2017 from 3:30 – 5pm
Hastings Branch Library (2674 East Hastings Street) on January 24th, 2017 from 3:45 – 4:45pm
Kitsilano Branch Library (2425 MacDonald Street) on January 24th, 2017 from 4 – 5:30pm
Mount Pleasant Branch Library (1 Kingsway) on January 25th from 5:30 – 6:30pm
Fraserview Branch Library (1950 Argyle Drive) on January 25th from 6 – 7pm
Oakridge Branch Library (191 – 650 West 41st Avenue) on January 25th from 6 – 7pm
West Point Grey Branch Library (4480 West 10th Avenue) on January 25th from 6 – 7:30pm
Dunbar Branch Library (4515 Dunbar Street) on January 25th from 6:30 – 7:30pm
Renfrew Branch Library (2969 East 22nd Avenue) on January 25th from 6:30 – 7:30pm
Kensington Branch Library (1428 Cedar Cottage Mews) on January 26th from 4 – 5pm
Joe Fortes Branch Library (870 Denman Street) on January 26th from 6 – 7:30pm
Kerrisdale Branch Library (2112 West 42nd Avenue) on January 26th from 6 – 7pm
Champlain Heights Branch Library ( 7110 Kerr Street) on January 26th from 6:30 – 7:30pm
South Hill Branch Library (6076 Fraser Street) on January 27th, 2017 from 3:30 – 4:30pm