Friday Blast
Maple Ridge Elementary
Friday, Dec. 1st 2023
THIS WEEK
December has officially arrived and despite a busy term of working with routines, engaging in academic activities, building friendships and participating in student-led conferences, staff and students are energized by the holiday feeling that’s in the air! Donations for our Santa Mall and gifts for the Christmas Hampers are arriving daily, you can hear sweet voices coming from the stage as students rehearse for our upcoming concert, and festive decorations and artwork are beginning to line the hallways. Thank you to all the families, teachers and students who dedicated the time to connect with each other in celebrating and supporting student learning and growth during conferences. These partnerships are important, and we know they don’t just happen on their own!
NEXT WEEK
Monday, Dec. 4th
Santa Mall (all day)
Tuesday, Dec 5th
Santa Mall (all day)
Wednesday, Dec. 6th
Thursday, Dec. 7th
12:00pm-2:00pm: Div. 14 Skating
Friday, Dec. 8th
12:00 pm: PAC Hot Lunch – Pizza Pizza
9:30am-11:45am: Div. 20 Library
A MESSAGE FROM MR. H
Mr. H sends his thanks to everyone who sent inside shoes to school. The wetter weather brings a lot of dirt and mud into the school, and it makes a slippery mess of the gym floor. He really appreciates the effort made to keeping our gym clean and safe.
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
Staff and students are excited to present a winter concert on Tuesday, December 19th entitled “Light up the Night”. We will be collecting donations of cash, coins or non-perishable food items and all proceeds will go to Maple Ridge Elementary. There will be donation boxes at the entry, but donations are optional. Please choose only one concert, as seating is limited, and we want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to see the performances.
SANTA MALL
Santa Mall will be taking place on Monday, December 4 and Tuesday, December 5. Please check with your child’s teacher to see which day their class will be attending. Students will be able to choose up to 2 gifts for a friend or family member. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to demonstrate their care for another person and practice giving to another person. The recommended donation for Santa Mall is between $1-$5, but if students forget or are unable to donate they will still be able to choose gifts.
RAFIKI BRACELETS
The Grade 7 Leadership group will be selling beaded Rafiki bracelets on December 12, 13 and 14 at recess and after school. The bracelets will be sold for $5 and would make a great Christmas gift. There are many different colours and patterns. The money we raise will be used towards a legacy gift for the Grade 7 group to leave for the school.
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.
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 dolls, action figures and Barbies. If you have any new, unwrapped items 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
Visit our Facebook page Maple Ridge Elementary PAC and subscribe to the PAC calendar for current events and news.
Want to get involved, we are always looking for volunteers! Check out opportunities and sign up at https://signup.com/group/47703560186256400 or reach out to pac.mre@gmail.com anytime!
The next PAC meeting will take place on Monday, January 15th at 7:00 pm in the library. There will be a Grade 7 Leaving Planning meeting at 6:00 pm in the library before the PAC meeting. All Grade 7 parents are encouraged to attend. There will be no meetings in December.
HOT LUNCH SCHEDULE
Dec 8 – Pizza Pizza
**Orders now closed
FUNDRAISING
ART CARDS
Thank you to everyone who supported our Art Cards fundraiser! Artwork has been submitted and orders will be delivered back to the school the week of Dec 18th.
PURDY’S
The Purdy’s fundraiser is live, check it out and order your chocolate goodies at https://fundraising.purdys.com/1888322-111677
SANTA MALL
Ho Ho Ho! It’s that time of year again! Santa Mall is coming to MRE one last time (unless someone is willing to take this over). Dates are Monday Dec 4th and Tuesday Dec 5th.
Volunteers are needed Dec 4th and 5th between 8:30 – 2:15pm (am and/or pm spots available) https://signup.com/group/47703560186256400
Thank you in advance and let’s make this final Santa Mall one for the kids to remember!
IN OUR COMMUNITY
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/
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.