Friday Blast – May 2

Friday Blast

Maple Ridge Elementary

Friday, May 2^nd, 2025

 

THIS WEEK

Students, staff and families enjoyed some wonderful events, including the French Immersion musical “Les lapins”, the Young Entrepreneurs’ Fair and Track and Field. We want to give a huge shout-out to our dedicated staff who make these memorable learning experiences happen.

We would like to thank all our MRE families who have supported our student safety-driven drop-off and pick-up procedures. We realize that finding alternative parking adds an extra layer of planning to what we know are busy times of day for everyone. Things are running smoother, and our students’ safety needs are being met.

 

NEXT WEEK

Monday, May 5^th

Gr. 7 French Immersion students in Quebec all week

Red Dress Day

Spirit Day – Star Wars

9:30 am Lockdown drill

Track & Field

Tuesday, May 6^th

9:00 am – Fire drill

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

Wednesday, May 7^th

10:00 am – Fire drill

Booster Juice PAC Treat Day (for those who ordered)

Thursday, May 8^th

9:00 am – 11:45 am – Eagle Acres Visit (Div. 12, 13, 19, and 21)

9:00 am – Crimestoppers Presentation (Gr. 7)

1:45 pm – Fire drill

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Tennis (for those who registered)

Friday, May 9^th

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Archery (for those who registered)

 

SCOOTERS

Please help us remind students to walk their scooters on school grounds. All students are expected to enter and exit the school via their classroom door or the nearest outside door. Limited foot traffic through the front doors and office area reduces congestion and helps our staff start and end the day more effectively. There has been an increase in scooter use with the warmer weather, which is fantastic, however, students should not be walking (or riding!) their scooters in the hallways. Thank you for your support! 

  

NOTICE FOR CURRENT KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS

On Tuesday, May 13^th our school will be hosting the annual Ready, Set, Kindergarten event.  This event welcomes next year’s Kindergarten’s to our school.  On this day current kindergarten students are dismissed early at 11:00 am. If you have a child currently in Kindergarten, please arrange to pick them up, or have them picked up at 11:00 am.  If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher for further clarification.

 

LOCKDOWN DRILL

On Monday, May 5th our school will participate in a lockdown drill. A “lockdown” is a situation where all staff and students stay in a secure location with doors locked and windows closed. Lockdowns may be necessary where there is an internal or external threat to the safety of the school occupants.  As with fire drills and other safety programs, the hope is to familiarize students and staff with a procedure that they will be able to follow quickly, effectively, and safely.

During the lockdown drill an announcement will be made asking staff and students to clear the halls and report to the nearest available classroom where they are to remain out of sight and stay as silent as possible. The drill will last approximately 10 minutes.

 

CLASS PLACEMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2025

We will soon be beginning to create preliminary class lists for next year. Please be assured that staff devote considerable time, care, and attention to this process. This very complex and lengthy responsibility occurs over several weeks and continues into September when class placements are finalized.

Throughout the year, there have been many opportunities for parents and teachers to observe, discuss, and get to know the students. Staff work together to consider social-emotional skills and relationships, as well as learning styles, strengths and needs as placements are made. Our goal is to create safe, engaging, and inclusive classrooms that balance these factors as equitably as possible.

If you feel there is further information to consider about your child, you may submit input to the principal (chelsea_lendvoy@sd42.ca) by email before May 30th, 2025. Please refrain from requesting specific teachers or peers by name.

 

 YEARBOOK

Yearbook orders are live! Use the link below to order your child their 2024-2025 yearbook by May 23rd. **GRADE 7 STUDENTS WILL BE RECEIVING A COMPLIMENTARY YEARBOOK FROM THE MRE PAC, YOU DO NOT NEED TO ORDER** Yearbooks will be automatically delivered to your child’s class, unless you choose a different shipping option.  https://plicbooks.ca/go/XXF43T

  

PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Our next meeting is Tuesday, May 12th at 6:30 in the MRE library.  All are welcome!  If childcare is needed, please reach out to pac.mre@gmail.com or via our facebook page.

PAC executive nominations are open, if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about or taking on a role within PAC let us know at nominatemrepac@gmail.com

Don’t forget to order hot lunch as our final schedule is posted: https://mre.parentcouncil.net

Sushi Hot Lunch May 23 (orders due May 15)

TCBY Treat Day June 6 (orders due May 29)

Carnival!! Save the date! Friday June 20th. Planning is underway and volunteers are needed!

Sign up to help: https://signup.com/mobileweb/2.0/vspot.html?groupkey=47703560186256400#group_page

Our Neufeld fundraiser is live!  Check out the goods at https://app.neufeldfarms.ca/fundraising/2025-maple-ridge-elementary/ref/sm

 

SD42 NEWS

2025 Summer Learning Options

The Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District is offering the summer learning options below for 2025:

Elementary – English and French Immersion (up to and including Grade 6)

• Location – English: c̓əsqənelə Elementary (24093 – 104 Avenue, Maple Ridge)
• Location – French Immersion: Laity View Elementary (21023 – 123 Avenue, Maple Ridge)
• Schedule: Wednesday, July 2 – Friday, July 18, 2025 (9 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.)

Grade 7 to 8 Transition Explorations – Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies (ADST) or Fine Arts (Drama, Art)

• Location: Thomas Haney Secondary (23000 – 116 Avenue, Maple Ridge)
• Schedule: Wednesday, July 2 – Friday, July 18, 2025 (9 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.)

Grade 8-9 Literacy and Numeracy Skill-Building

• Location: Thomas Haney Secondary (23000 – 116 Avenue, Maple Ridge)
• Schedule: Wednesday, July 2 – Wednesday, July 23, 2025 (8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Grade 10-12 Courses Leading to Graduation

• Location: Thomas Haney Secondary (23000 – 116 Avenue, Maple Ridge)
• Schedule: Wednesday, July 2 – Wednesday, July 23, 2025 (8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Families can register through the Parent Portal (https://parents.sd42.ca) between noon, Thursday, April 17 and 3 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 2025. Waitlist registration period runs between May 14 and June 20, 2025. Please note that priority will be given to SD42 catchment students, followed by the registration time stamp.

For more information about these offerings, please go to the summer learning webpage, review our flyer, or contact the continuing education department (ce@sd42.ca or 604.466.6555, extension 1).

Afternoon camps for elementary summer learning students

The district also offers afternoon camps for elementary summer learning students. Learn more about these camps under the Afternoon Camps (Elementary Summer Learning Students) tab on the summer learning page.

 

Late French Immersion

There are still spaces available for students to register for Late French Immersion for the 2025/26 school year. Registration for this district program is open on the Parent Portal. To learn more about creating a Parent Portal account, please visit: https://parents.sd42.ca. For additional information about this program and the registration process, visit https://www.sd42.ca/student-registration/.

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 2025 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.

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.