Friday Blast
Maple Ridge Elementary
Friday, June 14th, 2024
THIS WEEK
Several primary classes kicked off the two-week countdown to summer break with the start of their “10 Days of Fun” program which include days at the park, days building forts, gardening, and STEM activities. Many students participated in the District Track and Field meets, go Ravens! A huge thank you to PAC and the parent community for organizing an amazing staff appreciation lunch, we were truly spoiled!
NEXT WEEK
Monday, Jun 17th
Rainbow Spirit Day
10:00 am – 2:15 pm: Gr. 7 trip to the Coquitlam Aquatic Centre
Tuesday, June 18th
Wednesday, June 19th
9:00 am – 2:00 pm: Whonnock Lake (Div. 9 & 18)
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Art Day
Thursday, June 20th
Movie Day
Friday, June 21st
All Day: Carnival!
PAC Hot Lunch – Pizza (for those who ordered)
Spring Group Photos Now Available Online!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are delighted to announce that the spring group photos for our school have been uploaded online and are ready for viewing and ordering. You can access the photos by visiting the following link shop.photoexpressions.ca and entering our school’s unique access code (MRELCG24) to gain access to the photo gallery.
To ensure prompt delivery, we kindly request that all orders be placed by Sunday, June 9th. Orders placed after this date will require shipping. We are offering two print sizes: 5×7 (priced at $6) and 8×10 (priced at $10).
It is worth mentioning that each child has been provided one free 5×7 copy of their class photo. However, if you wish to order additional copies, this is the perfect opportunity to do so.
Should you have any queries or require any assistance with the ordering process, you can contact Photo Expressions by email at studio@photoexpressions.ca or by phone at 604-477-7399
LOST AND FOUND
The lost and found is full of lovely clothing items! Please stop by and check before the end of the school year to see if any of your child’s missing items are here. We will be donating all remaining items on June 25th
COMBINED CLASSROOM COMMUNITIES
Frequently Asked Questions:
How can families support their children?
Regardless of their child’s class placement, families are encouraged to stay positive and interested in their child’s learning. Families can demonstrate support by encouraging open-mindedness, risk-taking, and principled learning. Families are also encouraged to monitor schoolwork and to communicate openly with the teacher around their child’s strengths, stretches, and learning goals.
Why do we use the term ‘combined’?
Combined grade classrooms have many names including split grades, multi-age, family grouping, etc. The term split grade sometimes becomes negatively associated with teachers splitting their time and attention between two distinct groups. The term combined class reflects a more holistic approach to learning that emphasizes whole group instruction, as well as opportunities for flexible groupings to meet students’ learning styles and needs.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
School supplies for students in grade K-3 are provided for a flat fee that can be paid in September.
$55 for kindergarten
$50-$60 for grades 1-3, depending on whether a planner is used.
If you experience financial hardship with the costs associated with purchasing your child’s school supplies, please contact the school for support.
For Intermediate Students Grade 4-7
Get ahead on your to-do list by purchasing your child’s school supplies for September now! See below for information on how to order a Creative Pack filled with all the teacher-approved school supplies your child will need. If you do not want to purchase a Creative Pack, supplies lists are also attached to this edition of the Friday Blast.
*Note: Gr. 4 FRIM students will pay the fee in September and do not need to order a Creative Pack or purchase supplies.
ARE YOU MOVING?
Schools are preparing for September 2024
If you know that you will be moving and not attending MRE for the 2024-25 school year, please visit the school district website https://www.sd42.ca/student-registration/ for registration and transfer information.
If your child is planning to attend school outside of SD42 for the current school year, please complete our withdrawal form on the Parent Portal. Withdrawing through the Parent Portal helps us ensure student records are transferred to the new school in a timely manner. If you are withdrawing more than one child, complete a separate request for each child. To complete a withdrawal form, log in to your Parent Portal account, click on the “Registration” tab, and under “New Requests” select the appropriate withdrawal period. Contact your child’s new school/school district to inquire about their registration process. Please note: A withdrawal cannot be used to request a different school within SD42. If your child is currently attending an SD42 school and you would like to request a transfer to a different school within our district, you will need to complete a transfer request. See the transfer request process tab above.
Grade 7 Leaving Event
The elementary school journey is ending soon for our Grade 7 students going off to high school! We have a great afternoon planned to celebrate our Grade 7s and we need volunteers to make this day happen. Below is a link to sign up for a spot to pitch in and help. Many hands make light work! Click the link below:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/30E0944A9AC2AA2FC1-49699033-grade
| 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
MRE is participating in the rotary club duck race this year and will be selling tickets. If you are interested in purchasing please contact pac.mre@gmail.com for now and stay tuned for other ways to buy!
EXCITING NEWS – MRE’S ANNUAL CARNIVAL IS BACK!
Our PAC is excited to announce we are hosting a Carnival Fun Day on Friday, June 21st for the students to end out the school year. Our traditional Carnival games and activities will be set up in the schoolyard as we have done in past years, and it is sure to be a fun day for all!
There will be a Pizza Pizza Hot lunch on this day which will be delivered to the classroom for the students to enjoy as with all our other hot lunch and snack days.
We will also be pre-selling concession treat items on a separate menu which the students will be given tickets to redeem outside during the carnival. Please note that hotdogs are part of the concession treat menu and will only be available outside during the carnival and not at lunchtime in class.
When placing your orders please ensure you click on both the hot lunch AND carnival treat menu should you wish to purchase both for your student.
We will have limited cash sales for concession items only on the day of the carnival but are hoping to process as many presales as possible to ensure we have enough supplies on hand so please place your orders early to ensure you do not miss out!
Dunk Tanks
Recently, the school district has become aware of the racist origins of some carnival games, and for this reason will no longer be permitting dunk tanks at SD42 events.
As an example, the dunk tank game has origins that were violent, racist, and targeted at Black people. Understanding that this harmful history may be retraumatizing for some of our community members, and not wanting to minimize the impact of this historical harm, we strongly believe that excluding this activity from district and school events is the right decision.
| IN OUR COMMUNITY |
BC Summer Games
The BC Summer Games are coming to Maple Ridge this summer! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit: https://bcgames.org/volunteer/ Volunteers of all ages and with varying skills are needed.
SUMMER READING CLUB
World of Curiosities! Join FVRL this summer to explore your curiosities by joining the 2024 Summer Reading Club. There’s a club for everyone! — kids, teens and adults — and it’s all absolutely free! Make reading fun this summer! Kids who read over the summer do better at school. Join SRC in person or online at www.fvrl.ca and track your family reading. You can read anything — novels, picture books, information books, graphic novels, magazines, audiobooks, ebooks, websites — it all counts! There are many ways to encourage your children to participate in SRC:
- Enter contests to win prizes
- See amazing performers
- Participate in fun activities online
- Earn a medal! There is so much to discover when you join 2024 Summer Reading Club and explore the World of Curiosities.
CONTACT: Liza Morris Community Librarian Maple Ridge Public Library
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.