May Newsletter

Hello MRE Families,

The sights, sounds and smells of spring are certainly welcome after the long periods of cold and rain.

Volunteers are key to a vibrant school community and MRE is lucky to benefit from so many of you who can help. We would like to show our appreciation by inviting you to the school for tea, a snack, and student entertainment on the afternoon of May 16th. Please see below for more information.

We are excited about the revitalization of the garden beds at the west side of the school. Mrs. Keats spearheaded a committee that was awarded a significant grant from the Ridge Meadows Educational Foundation. The PAC will contribute further funds to create an outdoor learning space in the future. You will have received a paper invitation to join the “work party”” on May 6th to clear the old beds. Perhaps you can help? Please call the school at 604 467 5551 for details.

Plans are well underway for the Carnival which will be held during the school day on June 16th. This event is a highlight of the school year! Parents, please consider volunteering for a shift or two to help with games or concession and joining your children for the rest of the time. Many volunteers will be needed and it’s easy to sign up at: https://signup.com/go/dgsaFVo.

At the end of this newsletter, you can find the calendar for the next school year and information from “Family Smart” about upcoming workshops and other community events and support for families.

Happy days,

Barbara MacKinnon Chelsea Lendvoy
Principal Vice Principal

Volunteer Appreciation Tea
Whether it is assisting with field trips, handing out lunches, or working with students in other ways, our volunteers make MRE an even better place! Students and staff invite anyone who has volunteered this year to a Volunteer Appreciation Tea. Please come if you can.

Tuesday, May 16th
From 1:00-2:20 pm
In the MRE gym

Please RSVP to mre_reception@sd42.ca by May 2nd, so we know how many MRE volunteers to expect.

Garden Project – Help Needed
Come be part of our School Garden Revival: May 6th at 9 am.

Volunteers are needed to clean out our school garden and shed. We will be dismantling the old beds to make room for new garden beds. Bring your muscles and tools to take apart the existing wood. We also need at least one volunteer with a truck to take the green waste to the Maple Ridge Recycling and Waste Centre at the end of the day.

Ready, Set, Kindergarten! May 9th
The Ready, Set, Kindergarten Event is a chance to share strategies and resources that make early learning through play a priority in the home and support children in a successful transition to school. This will be held on May 9th for students who are registered to begin Kindergarten at MRE in the fall of 2023. Information is sent to new families through the portal.

Current kindergarten students will be dismissed at 11:00 a.m. on this day.

Body Science
The MRE PAC is generously sponsoring Body Science Sexual Health presentations by Corinne Underwood of Choices for Sexual Health. Sessions are tailored for students in kindergarten to grade 7 and will take place on May 15, 16, and 17. (Information about the program was sent home on the parent portal on April 11th.)

There is an optional evening workshop for parents, on May 9th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the school library. Please register at: https://signup.com/group/47703560186256400.

Bike to School Week May 29 – June 2
Students are encouraged to use active transportation (walking, bikes, scooters, inline skates, etc.) to travel to and from school any day. BC’s Bike to School Week is coming up at the end of May. This has been a huge success in past years. Please consider participating.

• Bikes must be locked if they are left at school during the day
• Helmets are mandatory
• Once on the schoolground, students must walk their bikes/scooters

Calendar for the Coming School Year
You may find it useful for your planning to check out the calendar for the coming year. The district calendars for the next 3 years are posted at: District School Calendars | Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District 42 (sd42.ca)

The calendar with dates specific to Maple Ridge Elementary is posted near the end of this newsletter.

Please note that all elementary schools in the district will be welcoming students for a 12:30 p.m. start on the first day of school on September 5th, 2023. This is a similar schedule that was used last year, and it allows schools to have important staff meetings in the morning before welcoming students in the afternoon.

Spring Cross Country Races
The district Spring Cross Country races are coming up soon!

Students in grades 4, 5, 6 & 7 will run at Alouette Lake on Tuesday, May 16.

Kindergarten, 1, 2 & 3 students race at the Albion Sports Complex on Thursday, May 18. Information and sign-ups are posted on the portal.

May 9, 2023 Early dismissal – 11:00 – Kindergarten only
May 10, 2023 Non-Instructional Day Classes not in session
May 22, 2023 Victoria Day Classes not in session

Summer Learning
Are you interested in a summer learning program for your child?
Families can register through the Parent Portal (https://parents.sd42.ca) between noon, Tuesday, April 18 and 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 9. Registrations received after the deadline or once capacity has been reached will be waitlisted. Please note that priority will be given to SD42 students, followed by the registration time stamp. For more information, please visit:
https://www.sd42.ca/announcement/registration-summer-learning-starts/

Class Placements for the 2023-24 School Year
We are beginning to create our classes 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 discuss each child. Staff work together to consider the following criteria very carefully: social emotional skills and relationships, as well as learning styles, strengths, and needs. Our goal is to create safe and engaging 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 by May 31st, 2023. Please refrain from requesting specific teachers or peers by name.

Lost and Found

Missing a jacket? A sweater? A hat? A water-bottle? Chances are that it’s at the lost and found. We will continue to post photos of Lost and Found items on the MRE Facebook page and in the Friday Blast. We are pleased to see so many more items with names on them. This is great! We deliver them right back to their owners.

Student Absences
If your child will be away from school, please let the office know at by entering the absence on the portal, emailing mre_reception@sd42.ca or leaving a message at 604 467 5551.

Ready for the Warm Weather?
A friendly reminder to dress appropriately for the weather, to wear sunscreen and bring a water bottle. Hats are a great idea (please write a name inside). As always, students need proper footwear for sports and active play.

Student Information
Please remember to let the school office know if any of your child’s information changes, e.g., home phone number, cell phone number, work phone number, address, emergency contact information, email address, etc. It is very important that the school has up-to-date information about your children in case of emergency. Thank you.

Are you Moving?
Although it may seem early, schools are beginning to make preparations for September 2023.

If you know that you will be moving and not attending MRE for the 2023-24 school year, please visit the school district website https://www.sd42.ca/student-registration/ for registration and transfer information.

Transfers
Due to space limitations, most schools are only able to consider students within their catchment. Proof of address is required. Visit the district website at https://www.sd42.ca/student-registration/
for information and transfer deadlines.

PAC News

UPCOMING HOT LUNCH DATES
To order go to https://mre.parentcouncil.net)
• Friday May 5 – Snack (Tim Hortons Donuts)
• Friday May 19 – Hot Lunch (Subway)
• Friday June 2 – Snack (TCBY – frozen yogurt)
• Friday June 16 – Hot Lunch/Carnival (Pizza Pizza)
UPCOMING MEETINGS
• PAC AGM meeting May 8th in the library – 7:00 p.m.
– Nominations for PAC executives can be submitted to nominateMREPAC@gmail.com.
– Positions include:
– Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, DPAC, Members at Large – see descriptions of the roles below
• Carnival planning meeting: May 17th at 6:30 in the library.
• Body Science Parent session May 9th, 6:30 – 8pm, MRE library.

BINGO NIGHT!
Adult Bingo Night is coming to MRE!

Purchase your BINGO Night tickets at https://mre.parentcouncil.net
Click on “Students” to add each adult attending.
Select the “Parent” class
Click on “Orders” to order your Bingo Night items.
*email pac.mre@gmail.com for help with ordering.
Please note, this event is for adults only.
NEUFELD FUNDRAISER
• pick up of items on May 10th at 6:30pm.
CARNIVAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
• Carnival planning is in full swing, and we need your help! We are looking for people to help first thing in the morning for set up and multiple shifts between 8:30am – 1:30pm. Volunteer opportunities include concession, assisting with stations, rides, and helping ensure everyone has a great time! Parents of kinders are encouraged to come out and join/assist their own child as they explore the event! Please sign up at https://signup.com/go/dgsaFVo
ONLINE RAFFLE & FUNDRAISER
MRE PAC is participating on the SD42, check out the prizes and buy your tickets at https://haneyrotarysd42dpac.rafflenexus.com/a/mre (Poster below)
INTERESTED IN JOINING PAC AS AN EXECUTIVE?
We are happy to announce that nominations for PAC executive positions can be made until our May 8th AGM / election meeting.
Please email the nominating committee, (nominateMREPAC@gmail.com), to submit a nomination for yourself or someone else you know who is looking to join the executive team.
POSITIONS INCLUDE:
Chair:
-conduct monthly meetings
-may be the spokesperson for the organization
-prepare the agenda for monthly meetings
-appoint committees where authorized to do so by the membership
-liaise with and support healthy relationships with within the school and community partners.

Vice Chair:
-support the chair and assist the council when necessary
-may be appointed to conduct meetings
-all duties of the chair can be conducted by the vice chair

Treasurer:
-prepare monthly finance reports
-report on the bank balances at monthly meetings
-distribute funds as voted on by the membership
-complete deposits at bank when necessary
-maintain proper financial records
-assist in drafting the annual budget
Secretary
-record distribute and file minutes for all PAC meetings
-keep an accurate and up-to date copy of the constitution and bylaws
-assist in filing and record keeping as needed.
DPAC
-attend monthly DPAC meetings representing the council
-liaison between DPAC and council
-provide reports from DPAC to council
-vote on the behalf of the council at DPAC meetings and DPAC executive elections

Member At Large
-Serve in a capacity on projects and events to be determined by the executive throughout their tenure as the needs of the council requires.
 

 
Community News

Curious Minds Preschool
Located in the portable behind Maple Ridge Elementary

Our Morning Preschool Class 9am – 1pm
2 days/week (Tues & Thurs) = $200/month
3 days/week (M-W-F) =$275/month
5 Days/week =$375/ month
+ $50 registration fee
******SUBSIDY WELCOME *******

www.curiousmindslearningcentre.com
curiousmindslearning@shaw.ca
Phone: Ms Sarah 604-315-3240

Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Here are some resources you may find useful:

• The Foundry
• ERASE
• FamilySmart
• Canadian Mental Health Association
• First Nations Health Authority
• Adult National Crisis text line – 741741

On May 5th, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirited Peoples takes place. Here are a few resources that can support our learning of these continued tragedies, including the history of the Red Dress movement.