Friday Blast
Maple Ridge Elementary
Friday, Nov. 24th, 2023
THIS WEEK
In anticipation of student-led conferences next week students have been busy building their portfolios and writing, drawing, or discussing reflections of their work with the Core Competencies: Communication, Thinking, and Personal and Social. Our Sensory Room was transformed into an enchanted forest for Bookfair where students were able to buy books, browse, create wish lists, and enter fun book draws. This was a wonderful, inclusive experience that promoted literacy and our school community. Thank you, PAC and all of the volunteers, for providing this experience for our students.
NEXT WEEK
Monday, Nov. 27th:
Tuesday, Nov. 28th:
2:30 pm – Explorations Program for registered students
Wednesday, Nov. 29th:
8:30 am-12:00 pm – Bookfest field trip to Westview Secondary School
Thursday, Nov. 30th:
11:30 am – Early dismissal for student-led conferences
Friday, Dec. 1st:
School not in session for student-led conferences
HEALTH AWARENESS
We are continuing to practice Health Awareness this year for everyone entering our school – this includes staff, students, and visitors. Health awareness includes checking regularly for any symptoms of illness (including, but not limited to, COVID-19 symptoms) and staying home when sick.
ATTENDANCE
If you know that your child is going to be late or absent from school, please let us know through either the parent portal, by calling us at 604-467-5551 or by emailing mre_reception@sd42.ca. If you know your child will be absent multiple days in a row you can enter them all at once so that you do not need to update it each day.
REMINDER – STUDENT LED CONFERENCES
Your child’s teacher has sent out, or will be sending out soon, a reminder to sign up for your child’s student led conference. Once again this year, conferences can be in person, or by Zoom. These conferences are an opportunity to celebrate your child’s learning and growth so far this year, and to set collaborative goals to work towards. See below for instructions on how to sign-up for your conference:
WESTCOAST RECESS AND LUNCH – DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
A reminder that MRE students play outside even when it is cold, rainy, or snowy. Only on rare occasions will we keep students inside. We would ask that you send your student(s) to school dressed for the weather (boots, coats, mitts, umbrella, etc.). Please send an extra set of clothing if you know your student gets wet playing on the slides or in the field.
CHRISTMAS HAMPERS
This year our school will be collecting donations for the Christmas Hampers that will be donated to families in our community and the Hamper Society. Each week we will be collecting donations based on a “theme.” Next week’s theme is something cozy. Think toques, scarves, and mittens! If you have any new, unwrapped items that you think a teenager would enjoy please consider donating them. There is a green bin in front of the office for donations.
If you have other donations that do not match the themes, we will still collect them and donate them to families.
GRADE 7 QUEBEC TRIP
Looking for a Christmas gift for someone special? Or for yourself? The French Immersion Grade 7s are selling pounds of coffee and hot chocolate for $17.50. Money fundraised will be going towards their upcoming Quebec trip. Purchased orders will be sent home with your child on December 15th. You can order online through: www.globalcoffeefundraising.ca/mre When ordering make sure to include your child’s name, teacher name and grade, in order for us to deliver your order. Feel free to share the link to anyone you know but make sure that they include your child’s name, teacher name, and grade. Your child will come home with any friend’s or family’s purchases. Thank you for your support!
PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
There are several ways you can support MRE by getting involved with PAC!
Maple Ridge Elementary Facebook Page: Check out PAC’s calendar of events and learn more about PAC information.
The next PAC meeting will take place on Monday, January 15th at 7:00 pm.
Sign up to help:
https://signup.com/group/47703560186256400
HOT LUNCH SCHEDULE
Dec 8 – Pizza Pizza
**Orders Due Nov 30
FUNDRAISING
ART CARDS
Your student’s art will be sent home by November 27th complete with instructions on how to order products online. Thank you for supporting MRE!
SANTA MALL
Ho Ho Ho! It’s that time of year again! Santa Mall is coming to MRE one last time (unless there’s a person/team willing to take this over…).
Our dates are Monday, December 4th and Tuesday, December 5th. A bin will be available by the office for donations. Please, if you can, drop off something new or gently used when you come to the school for your child’s parent teacher conference. Hunt through your bins, boxes and closets and pass along all of your unwanted jewelry, candles (unburned), bath stuff (unopened), tableware, clothes (new w/tag), artwork, and holiday themed items etc. We used up all of our wrapping paper, tissue, bags and boxes last year so those are much needed. Please watch for the link to the sign up to volunteer. Set up will be Friday and volunteers are needed to help for Dec 4-5 at the event. Thank you in advance and together let’s make this final Santa Mall one for the kids to remember!
New District Community Supports Page
The district has published a new page on its website underneath the “Parents” tab that lists a directory of community-based food security and other resources for families in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Christmas supports offered in the community this year are also listed on this page, with registration information: https://www.sd42.ca/community-supports/
IN OUR COMMUNITY
FOUNDRY NEWS
The Foundry provides mental health care, substance use services, physical and sexual health care, youth, and family peer supports, and social services to youth aged 12-24 years of age. It provides drop-in counselling as well as various social events that your child can attend. This is a great way to build positive connections with others within the Maple Ridge community.