Friday Blast
Maple Ridge Elementary
Friday, May 31st, 2024
THIS WEEK
It was another busy week for MRE staff and students! Both intermediate and primary groups participated in the district cross-country events. We would like to extend our appreciation to families for braving the rain and making this exciting experience a reality for our students. Our entire school community enjoyed a celebration of song and story at our assembly and many classes began preparations for Bike to School Week next week with a fun bike program.
NEXT WEEK
Monday, Jun 3rd
Bike Program: Skills – bikes needed (Div. 1, 2, 3 & 4)
Tuesday, June 4th
Bike Program: Trivia – bikes not needed (Div. 1, 2, 3 & 4)
12:40 pm: Bunnies Musical
Wednesday, June 5th
Bike Program: Neighborhood Ride – bikes needed (Div. 1, 2, 3 & 4)
Thursday, June 6th
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Optional District Track Practice – Relay
Friday, June 7th
All Day – Kilby (Div. 10 & 11)
PAC Lunch – Hot Dog Day (for those who ordered)
BIKE TO SCHOOL WEEK
MRE’s Bike to School Week is June 3rd to June 7th
Ride your Bike, Walk, Scooter, Skateboard or rollerblade to school!
We also have our Ride the Road Bike Program for Jones, Ritchie, Halfnights, and Pajak’s classes on May 30th, May 31st, June 3rd, 4th, and 5th
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’s 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
COMBINED CLASSROOM COMMUNITIES
Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District No. 42 (SD42) is committed to creating balanced classes that focus on a student’s individual learning strengths and the needs of the whole child.
The school district often organizes combined classes, which group together students from different grades (e.g. Grade 2 and Grade 3). Combined classes are common in British Columbia and are the most common class configuration in SD42. This means that your child will likely be in a combined grade class at some point during their elementary years.
Combined classes give educators more flexibility in the class organization process, as they consider and address factors such as shifting enrolment, class size and composition, and school staffing.
It is important to note that combined classes have a number of advantages. As an example, a child in a combined class is likely to have the same teacher for two or more years, which in turn helps form deeper relationship between the teacher, the student, and the family. Many studies have also concluded there are social emotional benefits for students in combined classes, including greater leadership skills, increased self-esteem, increased social responsibility, and more positive peer interactions.
That said, all classrooms – whether single-grade or combined – include students with a range of developmental levels. Teachers are skilled at student-centered learning and at teaching to each student’s ability. By using a combination of assessment strategies, teachers can effectively evaluate student learning and progress in combined grade classes, while also promoting a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students.
If you would like any further information on combined classes, please visit our website at: https://www.sd42.ca/combined-classes/
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 don’t 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 making preparations 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
SUMMER LEARNING |
Summer Learning registration is open until May 9. Here is the link to information and course options (including elementary French and English, grade 7 to 8 transition ADST and Fine Arts, Literacy/Numeracy 8 and 9, English First Peoples 11 and 12, BC First Peoples 12, English Language Development 10 and 11, Culinary Arts 10 – 12, French 10 – 12 and more!):
https://www.sd42.ca/program/summer-learning/
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 don’t miss out!
ORDERING OPEN NOW – ALL ORDERS ARE DUE BY JUNE 6TH, 2024. mre.parentcouncil.net
SANTA MALL
Santa Mall 2024 is looking for new and gently used items. The donation bin is located by the office. Thank you!
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.