Friday Blast – Feb. 9

Friday Blast

Maple Ridge Elementary

Friday, Feb. 9^th, 2024

 THIS WEEK

We are officially halfway through the school year and there are definitely some hints of spring! There are also signs of kindness and thoughtfulness visible throughout the school. Students are engaging with stories and projects about Black History. Many classes are participating in our fun ‘door hugging’ activity, where classes decorate each other’s classroom doors with artwork and messages of friendship and appreciation. Students are making plans to share kind words and sweet treats to celebrate Valentine’s Day and plans are underway for our student-driven schoolwide assembly. Busy busy!

 NEXT WEEK

 Monday, Feb. 12^th

12:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Div. 1 Walking Field Trip – Westview SS, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

3:00 pm: Boys T2 Basketball Game @ Highland Park

7:00 pm: PAC Meeting

Tuesday, Feb 13^th

7:30 am: Boys T1 Basketball Practice

Div. 15 skating

12:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Div. 12 &14 -Walking Field Trip – Westview SS, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’

2:30 pm-4:00 pm: Coding Program (for those who registered)

3:00 pm: Girls Basketball Game @ MRE

Wednesday, Feb. 14^th

12:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Div. 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 &17 Walking Field Trip – Westview SS, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

3:00 pm: Boys T1 Basketball Game @ MRE

Thursday, Feb. 15^th

7:30 am: Boys T2 Basketball Practice

12:00 pm – 2:20 pm: Div. 1 Swimming

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Girls Basketball Practice

3:00 pm: Boys T1 Basketball Game @ Hammond Elementary

Friday, Feb. 16^th

12:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Div. 6, 7, 8, 15, 16 &19 Walking Field Trip – Westview SS, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

2:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Drama Program (for those who registered)

PACK IN/PACK OUT

This is a great opportunity for students to take care of their school community. We have noticed an increase in litter around the school recently. Please join us in encouraging students to take home their snack and lunch garbage. Thank you for your support!

GRADE 7 QUEBEC TRIP FUNDRAISER

Do you like candy and popcorn? Or both? The Grade 7 French students going to Quebec will be fundraising and hosting a candy jar guessing game on Monday, February 5^th through Friday, February 16^th. Students who would like to participate and submit their guesses can do so at lunch. Each guess will cost $1. The student who guesses the right amount will take home the candy on February 16^th!

If you have more of a savoury tooth, the Grade 7s will be selling bagged popcorn for $2 during lunch for the next two weeks (excluding Feb 13^th). Thank you for supporting the Grade 7 Quebec Fundraiser!

GRADE 7 LEAVING COMMITTEE FUNDRAISING

Did you know that you can continue contributing to the Grade 7 Leaving Event by donating your cans and bottles?  The Maple Ridge Bottle Depot has an account under the number: 604-467-5551.  When you donate just mention you’d like the funds to go to this account.  The Grade 7s thank you in advance for helping to make their Leaving Event an awesome day!

If you would like to support our Grade 7 leaving celebration an account is up and running at the Maple Ridge Liquor Store at the corner of 207 and Lougheed. Patrons just must mention MRE grad, and a portion of your purchase will be donated back to the school and used for the Grade 7 Leaving Event. Thank you!

DIVISION 6 FEBRUARY SOCK DRIVE

Division 6 Sock Drive for the Homeless continues through the month of February! We are hoping that the MRE school community will help us deliver a big pile of NEW SOCKS for the Salvation Army to distribute to the needy in our own town. Socks are much needed in this wet and chilly weather. You can bring your donations of new socks into the box in the school foyer, or to Mrs. Haavisto’s classroom. Thank you for your support, and a heartfelt thank you to those who have already donated!

VISITORS

A reminder that if you are visiting the school to please come to the office and check-in. We require all visitors and volunteers to wear a “visitor pass” in order to ensure the security of staff and students.

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.

PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Want to know what PAC is up to? 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 is Monday February 12^th 2024, 7 pm in the MRE library.

January MRE PAC Meeting Minutes 

FEBRUARY 23- SNACK DAY – COBS BREAD

** Orders due February 15

BINGO NIGHT!

We are excited to announce MRE PAC Adult Only BINGO Night! Event Date: March 1, 2024.  Tickets now available!

GRAND PRIZE: $500 CASH!

Entry tickets include a Full Bingo Card Booklet, a complimentary drink voucher and an entry into the door prize for $30.

~ One Entry Ticket per person. ~

The evening includes a concession, $5 drinks, 50-50 tickets, fun games and of course BINGO to fill the night!

Space will be limited, so buy your tickets today!

All tickets will be WILL CALL and available for pick up at the on-site registration desk.

Doors Open at 6:00 pm.
Event: BINGO NIGHT
Date: Friday, March 1, 2024
Location: Maple Ridge Elementary School
Time: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

This event is 19+. Please ensure you bring along Government Issued Photo Identification. Please Plan a Safe Ride Home.

https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSebMpwBs10…/viewform…

SD42 NEWS

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS & HOMESTAYS

Follow the link to find out more about English classes:

https://ce.sd42.ca/programs-courses/

Learn more about hosting a student:

https://www.sd42.ca/district-highlight/international-homestay-graduation/

FRENCH IMMERSION PARENTS INVITATION

We are looking to get the Canadian Parents for French (CFP) chapter restarted in SD42. An information night has been scheduled on Zoom for February 26th @ 7 pm. This information night would be open to all parents of French immersion students so please share it out to anyone that wishes to attend. Restarting this chapter would come with some funding available to support the French Immersion students in our district.

 

Information Nights: Wheelhouse & Late French Immersion

Information nights are coming up for the following district programs. Registration for both programs opens on the Parent Portal at noon on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. For additional information about these programs and about the registration process, visit https://www.sd42.ca/student-registration/.

Wheelhouse Program

The Wheelhouse is a supportive and nurturing classroom for Grade 6 and 7 students. The program fosters a caring classroom community that helps students develop independence, leadership skills, and a community-focused mindset. In this enriching environment, students not only ignite their passion for learning but also strengthen these foundational qualities.

Program highlights include the following:

• Weekly field study days during which students learn outside the regular class setting;
• A classroom of care and discovery that is well supported by staff, parents, and community mentors;
• Leadership activities that improve confidence, citizenship, and social responsibility;
• A strong focus on building individual skills to be successful learners.

For more information, including a more in-depth look at the program, dates and times for student interviews, and details on how to become a Wheelhouse student, please visit The Wheelhouse online at https://wheelhouse.sd42.ca/.

 Registration

Registration for The Wheelhouse opens online at noon, Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Registration will be via the Parent Portal. Please ensure you have created a Parent Portal account and have familiarized yourself with the platform well in advance of the registration date and time. To learn more about creating a Parent Portal account, please visit: https://parents.sd42.ca.

The program runs out of Alouette Elementary (22155 Isaac Crescent, Maple Ridge).

Late French Immersion

The SD42 Late French Immersion program is an excellent opportunity for students who want to learn French as another language and are looking for a challenge. Students learn French while learning all subject areas of the curriculum. Students who are currently in Grade 5 are eligible to begin Late French Immersion in September 2024, at Golden Ears Elementary. This two-year elementary program continues at Maple Ridge Secondary School until Grade 12, when students can graduate with a dual Dogwood.

To learn more about our French Immersion program, watch our French Immersion informational video: https://youtu.be/m-K1X3kA6Lo

For additional information, please contact Laura Brandon, Principal of École Golden Ears Elementary at Laura_Brandon@sd42.ca or Jennifer Simon, Principal and Coordinator of French Programs at Jennifer_Simon@sd42.ca.

Registration

Registration for Late French Immersion opens online at noon, Wednesday, February 14, 2024, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on February 23, 2024. Registration will be via the Parent Portal. Please ensure you have created a Parent Portal account and have familiarized yourself with the platform well in advance of the registration date and time. To learn more about creating a Parent Portal account, please visit: https://parents.sd42.ca.

The Late French Immersion program runs out of Golden Ears Elementary (23124 118 Avenue, Maple Ridge).

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 terrific way to build positive connections with others within the Maple Ridge community.