Friday Blast
Maple Ridge Elementary
Friday, December 16th, 2022
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Wishing all members of the Maple Ridge Elementary community a safe and happy holiday season. We hope you enjoy memorable moments with friends and family.
If you are looking for a fun activity over the holidays, look no further than our school Winter Break Reading Challenge. Students who complete the challenge and return their form in the new year will receive a prize. Check out the challenge sheets attached to this edition of the Friday Blast.
We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2023!
HEALTH AWARENESS
In the new year we will be continuing to practice Health Awareness 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 if ill.
HOT LUNCHES ~ Upcoming PAC Hot Lunches in 2023:
January 13- Hot Lunch – Subway
ORDERS DUE January 5th
January 31- Snack Day- Tim Hortons Donuts
ORDERS DUE January 23rd
February 10th – Hot lunch – Pizza Pizza
ORDERS DUE February 2nd
March 3rd – Hot Lunch – Hot Dog Day
ORDERS DUE February 23rd
March 31- Snack Day- Booster Juice Smoothies
ORDERS DUE March 23
INTERESTED IN A CAREER AS AN EDUCATION ASSISTANT?
Education Assistants are valuable members of school staffs and learning communities. If you are interested in a career as an Education Assistant, then Ridge Meadows College may be the program for you! Read more below:
Program: Education Assistant
Length: 10 months (January to December 2023 with summer off)
Class Times: Evenings, 3 days per week and Saturdays
Cost: $8830 including all fees and books. Payment plans available
For more info or to apply: https://rmcollege.sd42.ca/program/education-assistant/
Prospective students with questions can contact our Program Chair: Marianne Garrison at Marianne_garrison@sd42.ca
A video about the program is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE8RRxx3cDs
Program description: Education Assistants work with K-12 students with unique physical, behavioural or learning needs. Ridge Meadows College Education Assistant Program will prepare you for supporting students in mainstream learning assistance, inclusive classrooms, support room, English Literacy, and alternate settings. There will be two weeks of Directed Observation during school hours, and a four-week practicum during school hours.
Graduates are all considered for an interview with SD42 upon completing the program and the vast majority do end up working for the district.
AFTER SCHOOL CODING PROGRAM
Is your Grade 4-6 child interested in learning about computer coding? If so, check out the flyer attached to this Friday Blast for how to register.
The workshops will take place on Fridays after school at MRE.
FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER 2023 OFFERINGS
If you are interested in the Family Education Center’s January 2023 offerings, please see the attachments below.
MRE GRADE 7 LEAVING CEREMONY BOTTLE DRIVE!!!
On Saturday, January 7th, 2023, Grade 7 students from Maple Ridge Elementary (MRE) will be in the neighbourhood collecting bottles as a fundraiser for their Grade 7 Leaving Ceremony.
If you are able to donate bottles, please leave them on your front porch by 9 a.m. on January 7th. You can also drop off donations in the drive-through at the front of MRE from 9:30 – 1:30 that day.
Alternatively, if you would like your bottles picked up on Monday, January 2nd you can email jenbrunet@hotmail.com to arrange a pick-up time.
WESTVIEW CHRISTMAS CONCERT
You’re invited to the Westview Winter Concert on January 23rd! See the flyer below for more information.
USED BOOKS WANTED!
Are you looking to pass on old books that no one reads anymore? Well, look no further! The PAC is planning the first ever USED Book Fair this Spring.
Drop off your gently used, good condition, kid and adult leisure reading books to the school and place in the bins near the office. Please no encyclopedias, dictionaries, or textbooks.
More details on the event will come closer to spring. The event will be dependent on how many books are received.
PLASTIC BAGS
If you have any single use plastic bags (ex. Safeway, Superstore, Walmart grocery bags) please consider donating them to the office. We have many ways to re-use these bags and would appreciate them!
EMERGENCY RELEASE – PARENT PORTAL FORM
If you have not yet completed the Emergency Release Form for your child, please log-in to the parent portal as soon as possible. These forms are required to release your child to a trusted adult in the event of an emergency such as a natural disaster.
UPCOMING DATES IN 2023
Tuesday, January 3 ~ Welcome Back To School!
Saturday, January 7 ~ Gr. 7 Bottle Drive
Monday, January 9 ~ Gr. 7 Leaving Meeting (6 pm), PAC Meeting (7 pm)
Friday, January 13 ~ Subway Hot Lunch Day
Monday, January 23 ~ Pro-D Day – school is not in session for students
Tuesday, January 31 ~ Tim Horton’s Treat Day
PAC UPDATES
PAC MEETING…
The next PAC meeting is on Monday, January 9 at 7:00 pm in the school library. All parents and guardians of MRE students are members of the PAC and are welcome to attend the meetings. We hope to see you there!
SANTA MALL THANK YOU!
Santa Mall was a hit with kids of all ages! Students were able to purchase heartfelt gifts for their family and friends. It was a joy to see students so thoughtfully browsing for just the right item for their loved ones.
Thank you to all the people who donated gifts, prepped beforehand, set up, volunteered on the day of and cleaned up afterward. A special thank you to Shortreed Elementary PAC, Devon O’Donnell, Favorite Finds, London Drugs and Haney Builders for their donations.
Jeanie Harmon’s last year on Santa Mall will be 2023 and she’s looking for an ambitious and eager individual to shadow her for next year’s Santa Mall (which really begins right after this Christmas…) with the goal of passing along this wonderful and fun event to them in 2024. If anyone thinks this is something they are interested in, please email jeanandjoshharmon@shaw.ca
Parents, guardians, and staff, please save your Christmas bags, tissue, bows and boxes from this Christmas and donate them to next year’s Santa Mall. There will be a bin in front of the office to collect donations for the first two weeks in January.
Thank you and until next year…Ho! Ho! Ho!
PAC INFO
Did you know that our PAC has a website? Don’t miss out on exciting upcoming dates and events happening at MRE. Register now!
- Go to mre.parentcouncil.net
- Click on “Click Here to Register”
- Enter Access Code MREPAC
- Complete the rest of the registration form.
*NOTE: By listing your email address when you register, you are giving permission to receive PAC notices by email. You may withdraw this consent at any time by responding to emails you receive with a request to unsubscribe from your PAC notice