Friday Blast
Maple Ridge Elementary
Friday, Oct. 17th, 2025
THIS WEEK
The whole school participated in ‘Drill Week’ – three fire drills and the annual BC Shake Out earthquake drill. Practicing what to do in an emergency is one of the ways we work together to be prepared.
NEXT WEEK
Monday, Oct. 20th
Diwali – the Festival of Lights! (details below)
6:30 pm: PAC Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 21st
7:30 am: Triple Ball practice
2:20 pm – 3:30 pm Afterschool program: Yoga (for registered students)
3:00 pm: Triple Ball game vs. MRC @ MRE
Wednesday, Oct. 22nd
8:45 am – 11:15 am: Laity Pumpkin Patch – (Div. 20 & 21)
2:20 pm – 3:30 pm – Afterschool program: Tae Kwon Do (for registered students)
Thursday, Oct. 23rd
Laity Pumpkin Patch – 8:45 am – 11:15 am (Div. 12 & 13)
Laity Pumpkin Patch – 8:55 am – 11:45 am (Div. 17, 18 & 19)
PAC Treat Day – Cobbs Bread
2:20 pm – 4:00 pm Afterschool program: Art (for registered students)
Friday, Oct. 24th
Pro D Day (school not in session)
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Oct. 29th: Meadows Family Farm – 9:00 am -12:00 pm (Div. 10 & 11)
Nov. 5th: Skating Field Trip – 12:45 pm – 2:30 pm (Div. 1 & 2)
Nov. 8th: Quebec Trip Bottle Drive at MRE – 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Nov. 10th: Pro D Day (school not in session)
Nov. 11th: Remembrance Day (school not in session)
Nov. 18th: The Act- 12:00 pm – 2:15 pm (Div. 6)
| Nov. 24th: Kindergarten Dental Screening |
Dec. 4th: Student Led Conference – 11:30 am dismissal
Dec. 5th: Student Led Conferences – school not in session
Dec. 8th: Gr. 6 Immunizations
Dec. 16th: Winter Concert (AM & PM)
Dec. 19th: Last Day Before Winter Break!
MRE CELEBRATES DIWALI!
We’re excited to celebrate Diwali – the Festival of Lights! This vibrant occasion symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. It’s a time when families decorate their homes with lights and rangoli (colorful art made from powder or flowers), exchange sweets, and enjoy time together. On Monday, October 20th, we invite students to dress in South Asian clothing or bright, festive colours to honor this special day. Students will also have a chance to learn more about Diwali and take part in fun and meaningful activities. Wishing everyone a joyful, safe, and bright Diwali!
HALLOWEEN
With Halloween just around the corner, we wanted to once again take a moment to remind students, families, and staff about the need to be thoughtful and inclusive if selecting a costume to be worn at school. The choice of costume should always be respectful of the diverse cultural and lived experiences of all the members of our school communities and should align with the district’s stated commitment to inclusion, anti-racism, and equity.
Please keep the following two guidelines in mind as you and/or your child decide on a costume:
- Be kind and consider the school community: Choose costumes that are respectful and do not mock or demean someone’s gender identity, culture, race, religion, age, or ability. Avoid costumes that could be offensive or perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
- Be thoughtful and safe: Steer clear of costumes that depict violence, or substances like alcohol or drugs. Additionally, replica weapons (e.g., guns, knives, etc.) are not permissible at school.
The choice of Halloween costume should align with the expectations set out in school codes of conduct and our district Safe, Caring and Healthy Schools policy. We must always ensure our learning environments remain safe, welcoming, inclusive, and affirming for all students, families, and staff.
We appreciate your consideration and thank you for helping keep our schools safe, caring, and inclusive this Halloween.
MESSAGE FROM MME ALLIETTE
A huge thank you to all the families who donated recycled materials for our Glow Gallery! Your generosity helped us get creative and turn everyday items into glowing works of art.
I’ve received so many awesome materials and no further donations are needed at this time. Thank you again for your support and for helping make our Glow Gallery shine! Stay tuned to find out when you can come and view the art!
BOTTLE DRIVE
Support our Grade 7 students heading to Quebec by participating in our bottle drive fundraiser! Bring your refundable bottles and cans to the school on November 8th from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Every donation helps, and all proceeds will go towards the students’ trip. Thank you for your support! Or if you prefer, you can take your bottles directly to a bottle depot and donate them to the account 604 802-0314.
NEW DOWNREGULATING SPACE COMING SOON!
Our school is looking for donations for some gently used items to add to our downregulation room! Specific items we are looking for include:
-Small area rugs
-Kallax woodtone Ikea 2×2 cube bookshelf
-Lamps
-Comfy chairs or seats
-Calming toys or fidgets
-Magnetic blocks or shapes
If you have an item you’d like to donate, please reach out to Mme Lendvoy (chelsea_lendvoy@sd42.ca) or Mrs. Span (cassandra_span@sd42.ca)
SCHOOL PHOTOS
MRE SPIRITWEAR IS BACK & ONLINE!
REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES
Staying hydrated is important! We have a very limited supply of paper cups that are kept for ‘emergencies’. With the intention of limiting time spent out of the classroom refilling small cups, reducing waste, and avoiding slippery spills when cups are filled too high, families are encouraged to send their student(s) to school with a full reusable water bottle. Thank you for your support!
MRE BREAKFAST CLUB
Did you know that we have a breakfast club at Maple Ridge Elementary? Daily from 8:00-8:30 am, students can drop in for a delicious breakfast. If you have any questions about the breakfast program, please contact Mme Lendvoy: Chelsea_lendvoy@sd42.ca
MORNING ROUTINES
Peer and teacher connections are the foundation of learning, and we start our days with this in mind. Students are asked to line up at their classroom doors, or designated spots, each morning and not come through the front doors of the building. In addition to the benefits of following class routines, the office is very busy in the mornings, and it is helpful to staff if the area is kept clear. Thank you for your support.
FAMILY SIGN IN
All student family members and guardians are asked to enter the school via the front doors and sign in at the office. All visitors are required to wear a red visitor’s pass at all times, even during brief visits. Please walk your student to their outside classroom door or designated meeting spot and avoid walking through the inside of the building. Your support is appreciated.
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.
DROP OFF & PICK UP
The driveway at the front of the school is open in the morning for student drop off. This is the “kiss n’ go” option. Please pull over to the right (do not exit your vehicle) and allow your student(s) to exit your vehicle. If your student needs more time to say goodbye in the morning, or you need to exit your vehicle for any reason, utilize the “neighbourhood parking” option. Please avoid stopping to pick up your student(s) on River Rd. A photo of available local parking is attached for your convenience. Let’s work together to keep our children safe.
The driveway at the front of the school is closed to vehicles at the end of the day to prioritize student safety, except for buses and vehicles with an accessibility decal. Avoid stopping to pick up your student(s) on River Rd. Please do not park in either of the staff parking lots. Students are present in these areas after school and traffic needs to be limited for student safety reasons.
PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Happy Friday, MRE families!
🎃 HALLOWEEN DANCE – TONIGHT!
Friday, Oct 17th, 6PM – 8PM (doors open at 5:30 for pizza)
Join us for a spooky night of fun and dancing! All donations go toward Library Enhancements. PAC concession available at the dance. Don’t forget the pumpkin carving contest! Students must attend with an adult.
🙋♀️ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE HALLOWEEN DANCE!
We’re still short on volunteers for tonight’s event – if you can lend a hand with setup, supervision, or cleanup, please sign up or stop by early to help.
Without volunteer support, we may not be able to continue hosting special events like this in the future.
Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/dgsaFVo
📅 PAC MEETING – MONDAY, OCT 20TH
6:30PM in the school library – all are welcome!
We’ll have presentations by Big Brothers Big Sisters
Need babysitting? Email pac.mre@gmail.com to let us know.
You can find our meeting agenda and previous minutes on our Facebook group.
🍕 HOT LUNCH REMINDER
Don’t forget to place your orders! Visit mre.parentcouncil.net
Questions? Email hotlunchmrepac@gmail.com
🎨 ART CARDS FUNDRAISER IS BACK!
The program launches Monday, Oct 20th – teachers have received their art kits and are starting in-class projects.
Artwork will be sent home by Tuesday, Nov 4th, and orders are due by Wednesday, Nov 12th.
Products will arrive the week of Dec 1 – 5, just in time for the holidays!
💪 VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED!
Cross Country went ahead this week, but it was challenging to support due to very few volunteers. To keep these great activities and events running smoothly, we need more helping hands – even one hour makes a huge difference!
Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/dgsaFVo
Questions? Email us at pac.mre@gmail.com or find us on Facebook: Maple Ridge Elementary PAC
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.
NEXT WEEK
Monday, Oct. 20th
Diwali – the Festival of Lights! (details below)
6:30 pm: PAC Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 21st
7:30 am: Triple Ball practice
2:20 pm – 3:30 pm Afterschool program: Yoga (for registered students)
3:00 pm: Triple Ball game vs. MRC @ MRE
Wednesday, Oct. 22nd
8:45 am – 11:15 am: Laity Pumpkin Patch – (Div. 20 & 21)
2:20 pm – 3:30 pm – Afterschool program: Tae Kwon Do (for registered students)
Thursday, Oct. 23rd
Laity Pumpkin Patch – 8:45 am – 11:15 am (Div. 12 & 13)
Laity Pumpkin Patch – 8:55 am – 11:45 am (Div. 17, 18 & 19)
PAC Treat Day – Cobbs Bread
2:20 pm – 4:00 pm Afterschool program: Art (for registered students)
Friday, Oct. 24th
Pro D Day (school not in session)
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Oct. 29th: Meadows Family Farm – 9:00 am -12:00 pm (Div. 10 & 11)
Nov. 5th: Skating Field Trip – 12:45 pm – 2:30 pm (Div. 1 & 2
Nov. 8th: Quebec Trip Bottle Drive at MRE – 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Nov. 10th: Pro D Day (school not in session)
Nov. 11th: Remembrance Day (school not in session)
Nov. 18th: The Act- 12:00 pm – 2:15 pm (Div. 6)
| Nov. 24th: Kindergarten Dental Screening |
Dec. 4th: Student Led Conference – 11:30 am dismissal
Dec. 5th: Student Led Conferences – school not in session
Dec. 8th: Gr. 6 Immunizations
Dec. 16th: Winter Concert (AM & PM)
Dec. 19th: Last Day Before Winter Break!
MRE CELEBRATES DIWALI!
We’re excited to celebrate Diwali – the Festival of Lights! This vibrant occasion symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. It’s a time when families decorate their homes with lights and rangoli (colourful art made from powder or flowers), exchange sweets, and enjoy time together. On Monday, October 20th, we invite students to dress in South Asian clothing or bright, festive colours to honour this special day. Students will also have a chance to learn more about Diwali and take part in fun and meaningful activities. Wishing everyone a joyful, safe, and bright Diwali!
HALLOWEEN
With Halloween just around the corner, we wanted to once again take a moment to remind students, families, and staff about the need to be thoughtful and inclusive if selecting a costume to be worn at school. The choice of costume should always be respectful of the diverse cultural and lived experiences of all the members of our school communities and should align with the district’s stated commitment to inclusion, anti-racism, and equity.
Please keep the following two guidelines in mind as you and/or your child decide on a costume:
- Be kind and consider the school community: Choose costumes that are respectful and do not mock or demean someone’s gender identity, culture, race, religion, age, or ability. Avoid costumes that could be offensive or perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
- Be thoughtful and safe: Steer clear of costumes that depict violence, or substances like alcohol or drugs. Additionally, replica weapons (e.g., guns, knives, etc.) are not permissible at school.
The choice of Halloween costume should align with the expectations set out in school codes of conduct and our district Safe, Caring and Healthy Schools policy. We must always ensure our learning environments remain safe, welcoming, inclusive, and affirming for all students, families, and staff.
We appreciate your consideration and thank you for helping keep our schools safe, caring, and inclusive this Halloween.
MESSAGE FROM MME ALLIETTE
A huge thank you to all the families who donated recycled materials for our Glow Gallery! Your generosity helped us get creative and turn everyday items into glowing works of art.
I’ve received so many awesome materials and no further donations are needed at this time. Thank you again for your support and for helping make our Glow Gallery shine! Stay tuned to find out when you can come and view the art!
BOTTLE DRIVE
Support our Grade 7 students heading to Quebec by participating in our bottle drive fundraiser! Bring your refundable bottles and cans to the school on November 8th from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Every donation helps, and all proceeds will go towards the students’ trip. Thank you for your support! Or if you prefer, you can take your bottles directly to a bottle depot and donate them to the account 604 802-0314.
NEW DOWNREGULATING SPACE COMING SOON!
Our school is looking for donations for some gently used items to add to our downregulation room! Specific items we are looking for include:
-Small area rugs
-Kallax woodtone Ikea 2×2 cube bookshelf
-Lamps
-Comfy chairs or seats
-Calming toys or fidgets
-Magnetic blocks or shapes
If you have an item you’d like to donate, please reach out to Mme Lendvoy (chelsea_lendvoy@sd42.ca) or Mrs. Span (cassandra_span@sd42.ca)
SCHOOL PHOTOS
MRE SPIRITWEAR IS BACK & ONLINE!
REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES
Staying hydrated is important! We have a very limited supply of paper cups that are kept for ‘emergencies’. With the intention of limiting time spent out of the classroom refilling small cups, reducing waste, and avoiding slippery spills when cups are filled too high, families are encouraged to send their student(s) to school with a full reusable water bottle. Thank you for your support!
MRE BREAKFAST CLUB
Did you know that we have a breakfast club at Maple Ridge Elementary? Daily from 8:00-8:30 am, students can drop in for a delicious breakfast. If you have any questions about the breakfast program, please contact Mme Lendvoy: Chelsea_lendvoy@sd42.ca
MORNING ROUTINES
Peer and teacher connections are the foundation of learning, and we start our days with this in mind. Students are asked to line up at their classroom doors, or designated spots, each morning and not come through the front doors of the building. In addition to the benefits of following class routines, the office is very busy in the mornings, and it is helpful to staff if the area is kept clear. Thank you for your support.
FAMILY SIGN IN
All student family members and guardians are asked to enter the school via the front doors and sign in at the office. All visitors are required to wear a red visitor’s pass at all times, even during brief visits. Please walk your student to their outside classroom door or designated meeting spot and avoid walking through the inside of the building. Your support is appreciated.
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.
DROP OFF & PICK UP
The driveway at the front of the school is open in the morning for student drop off. This is the “kiss n’ go” option. Please pull over to the right (do not exit your vehicle) and allow your student(s) to exit your vehicle. If your student needs more time to say goodbye in the morning, or you need to exit your vehicle for any reason, utilize the “neighbourhood parking” option. Please avoid stopping to pick up your student(s) on River Rd. A photo of available local parking is attached for your convenience. Let’s work together to keep our children safe.
The driveway at the front of the school is closed to vehicles at the end of the day to prioritize student safety, except for buses and vehicles with an accessibility decal. Avoid stopping to pick up your student(s) on River Rd. Please do not park in either of the staff parking lots. Students are present in these areas after school and traffic needs to be limited for student safety reasons.
PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
📅 PAC MEETING – MONDAY, OCT 20TH
6:30PM in the school library – all are welcome!
We’ll have presentations by Big Brothers Big Sisters
Need babysitting? Email pac.mre@gmail.com to let us know.
You can find our meeting agenda and previous minutes on our Facebook group.
🍕 HOT LUNCH REMINDER
Don’t forget to place your orders! Visit mre.parentcouncil.net
Questions? Email hotlunchmrepac@gmail.com
🎨 ART CARDS FUNDRAISER IS BACK!
The program launches Monday, Oct 20th – teachers have received their art kits and are starting in-class projects.
Artwork will be sent home by Tuesday, Nov 4th, and orders are due by Wednesday, Nov 12th.
Products will arrive the week of Dec 1 – 5, just in time for the holidays!
💪 VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED!
Cross Country went ahead this week, but it was challenging to support due to very few volunteers. To keep these great activities and events running smoothly, we need more helping hands – even one hour makes a huge difference!
Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/dgsaFVo
Questions? Email us at pac.mre@gmail.com or find us on Facebook: Maple Ridge Elementary PAC