COMMUNITY

We had a successful Bake Sale on Valentine’s Day at Anchor Point and North Creek. Warm thanks to all the families who contributed delicious baked treats to sell and for everyone who bought and supported our cause! It was also heartwarming to see our Anchor Point students exchange their special Valentine Box with their peers. Giving and receiving Valentine’s cards and treats were lovely too!

Congratulations to Maya and Evan from North Creek for winning $102.50 from our 50-50 raffle draw! Thank you to everyone else who donated to support the Students’ Enrichment Fund. We made $928.50 from the Bake Sale and Raffle!

Our warmest Congratulations to Mr. Hossein and his wife, Darya, for welcoming a healthy, beautiful baby boy into this world on Valentine’s Day nonetheless! Baby boy Radin Mousavi was born on February 14th at 12:24 PM weighing 8.2 lbs! Mom, Dad, and Baby are doing well and settling into their roles as new parents once again. We are very excited to see the newest addition to our community! It was indeed a week full of love, joy, and newborn goodness!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori

GENERAL NOTICES

Upcoming Dates to Remember
February 22 | Kindergarten Hearing Screening
Friday, February 24 │PD Day (NO FORMAL CLASSES) / Anchor Point Student-Led Conferences
Thursday, February 23 │ MMUN NYC Trip, Consent for Traveling Abroad Due
March 4 to 11 │ MMUN NYC Trip
March 7 | Call for Fabrics deadline
March 9 | What a Wonderful World VSO Concert
March 10 | HR MacMillan Space Centre
March 11 to 26 │ March Break NO SCHOOL
March 28 | LE Mike’s Critters

The Children’s Quilt Project – Call for Fabrics: Anchor Point and North Creek students will design and sew a handmade quilt from each campus for a school auction in May. The project invites each family to bring a square of meaningful fabric from home to contribute building the parts of the complete creations. Each square of fabric is required to be 20cm x 20cm. All fabrics must be received by March 7th for the teachers to organize and prepare the work for the next step. Our goal is to have both quilts finished and ready for auction in May

Community Directory: Our community is blessed with a number of talented family members! We’d love to help parents make connections with each other and are in the process of setting up a directory for this on our website. If you are interested in sharing your expertise, business, and skills, please send us your information to coordinator@lionsgatemontessori.org.

Hot Lunch: We are now able to accept credit card payments for Hot Lunch orders as well as payments through your personal PayPal accounts! Please log-in as usual follow the prompts at checkout. While we prefer online payment going forward, for the rest of this month (and including hot lunch orders for the month of March), we will continue to accept cheques.

For hot lunch orders for April and beyond, online payment will be required. Please email us with any questions! Kindly note our order deadlines below:
March Order Deadline: Wednesday, February 22nd, 3pm
April Order Deadline: Wednesday, March 29th, 3pm
May Order Deadline: Wednesday, April 26th, 3pm
June Order Deadline: Thursday, May 25th, 3pm

ELEMENTARY & ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY
MMUN Consent for Traveling Abroad: The attached form was sent out last to parents of students who will be traveling on their own, under the school’s supervision last weekend. Please submit the filled and notarized form to the school by Thursday, February 23. Thanks!

Constellation Craft: Dear Parents, Thank you for bringing in all the items for the craft. The children had a lot of fun making their planetarium projector. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time for everyone to finish the project. To finish it at home, your child can trace their plastic lid on the cardboard box and cut out that circle. They can find a constellation they would like to do online or in a book and draw it on the cardboard circle, then using a sharp tool (e.g., knitting needle, pen, scissors, etc), poke a hole on the constellation dots. They can then insert the circle under the plastic lid and shine the flashlight through the other end onto the ceiling or wall. They are welcome to create as many constellation circles as they desire. They can also cover their circles and the projector with black construction paper. If you have any questions, feel free to ask either Ms Olga or Ms Ashley.

Foundation Skills Assessment (FSAs): These have now been completed and full reports will be available at the end of the school term.

Student-Led Conferences │February 24: These will take place on our PD Day. They are a wonderful way for you to see and hear for yourself, your child’s perspective on his/her work at school. Students are given the freedom to self-edit and self-assess the work they choose to present. They look forward to receiving feedback directly from parents, facilitated by their teachers. Sign-up sheets have been posted by the front door. If you’re unable to find a time that is convenient for you, please email us and we will do our best to accommodate your scheduling needs.

What a Wonderful World │March 9: The Extended-Day and Lower Elementary students will join the VSO on a musical trip around the globe! We will explore the sounds and musical traditions of many countries and cultures around the world to learn about what makes them unique, as well as what makes music a truly universal language. Permission forms and payment were collected earlier in the school year.

HR MacMillan Space Centre | March 10: The Lower Elementary students will visit the HR MacMillan Space Centre for a Planetarium Show, GroundStation Canada, Workshop & Cosmic Courtyard Gallery. Permission forms will be sent out next week.

Mike’s Critters | March 28: Mike’s Critters will be visiting the Lower Elementary students. Mike’s Critters is a collection of over 300 animals from about 70 species. Reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, arachnids, crustaceans and mammals populate this fascinating collection of weird and wonderful creatures from around the world. The PSG has generously funded this activity for our children. Permission forms have been sent out.

CASA COMMUNITY (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)
Thank you to all our families for the amazing warmth, colourful gifts and thoughtful words that have been brought to school for celebrating Valentine’s Day. Your kindness is very much enjoyed and cherished by all the children and teachers!

Kindergarten Hearing Screening│February 22, 9:15 am: All kindergarten students will take part in the Hearing Screening Program at school. This will be done by VCH public health staff as part of a province-wide screening program. The goal is to find and help children who may have possible problems which can affect their learning. If you have any questions or do not wish to have your child screened, please call Community Audiology Centre at 604-659-1100

Montessori Practicum Student: Ms. Betty Cao, a student from the Montessori Training Centre of BC, will be returning to the AM classroom under the supervision of Ms. Julia for 2 weeks of Practicum, from February 20th to March 3rd. Her bio will be displayed by the door.

ANAPHYLAXIS ALERT! We have been notified that a child in our Casa community has a life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) reaction to dairy. The school is following the VCH guidelines, the family is working with the school, and all AM and PM Preschool and Extended Day are learning about it. Starting in January 2017, teachers and students will be asked to wash their hands vigilantly and regularly, both at North Creek and in the Extended Day classroom at Anchor Point. Please refrain from bringing dairy to the school environment as you introduce your child to anaphylaxis awareness. If dairy is not avoidable, please inform the teachers of the items at the door. It will help us coordinate the classroom to protect all the children. For more information, please visit www.foodallergycanada.ca.

COMMUNITY NOTICES Wondering what to do with your family over the weekend? Check these out!

Upcycled Ocean Creatures Craft | February 17 – 19: Join us at Make for a Pacific West Coast-inspired craft made with upcycled materials! Get swept up with inspiration at Make as we help you create an awesome octopus and sea anemone made with upcycled t-shirts and multicoloured yarn. Fun button-making will be happening too! Make is hosting this free interactive activity for all ages around our big craft table. Come join in!
Time and Cost: 12pm – 4pm | Free
Location: Granville Island

Face Painting | February 18 – 19: Illuminate your face with art!
Time and Cost: 10:30am – 4:30pm | Free
Location: Granville Island

Maple Syrup: From Tree to Table | February 18 – 19: Maples’ Sugar Shack presents the Art of Maple Sugaring on the west coast. Learn the process of turning sap into maple syrup with free workshops, tapping demonstrations and onsite sap boiling. Enjoy a cup of hot mapley sipping chocolate, sap tea or make your own maple taffy candy, Canada’s oldest tradition of maple syrup on snow!
Time and Cost: 10:30am – 4:30pm | $2 – $5
Location: Granville Island

The Myrtle Family Band | February 18 – 19: The Myrtle Family Band puts the awwww back in “awkward” with old-time music, sister harmonies and tap-dancing! The Myrtle Family Band is a collaboration of professional and award-winning East Vancouver inter-arts performers presenting high quality theatre, clown, dance and music. They engage and delight audiences of all ages with their porch stompin’, wash-tub bass bouncing jug-time traditional jazz, their twinkling-tap numbers, and, of course, their unstoppable charm!
Time and Cost: 3:30 & 4:10 | Free
Location: Granville Island

Ready to rock! Bubble Guppies Live! | February 19: The Bubble Guppies are getting ready to rock n roll with some totally fin-tastic tunes, but when a special band member goes missing, the show can’t go on! With a little help from Mr. Grouper and giggly little fish, Molly, Gil, and the whole gang embark on an adventure as they search every corner of their underwater world for their missing friend!
Time and Cost: 2:00pm | $14.19 w/service fee – CA$42.39 w/service fee
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Pink Shirt Day 2017 | February 22: Today we encourage everyone to practice kindness, and wear a CKNW Orphans’ Fund Official Pink Shirt, button, or pin to symbolize that you do not tolerate bullpink-boysying. While we wish we could take credit for this idea, Pink Shirt Day has its roots in Nova Scotia, started by two incredible high school students.

Girls Learning Code – Game Making with Scratch for girls ages 8-13 | February 25: Bring a special girl in your life to this workshop and learn to create a website together from scratch! Note: this workshop is BYOL so each parent or guardian/youth pair is required to bring one laptop on the day of the workshop as well as their own nut-free snack.
Time and Cost: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Price is by donation
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Snow Cave Adventure | Available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday throughout the winter: Snowshoe your way to a pre-made igloo that serves as a source of inspiration as your group begins building your own snow cave or igloo. The experience lasts four hours and includes a celebratory hot chocolate.
Dates & Times:
Bookings available starting February 3, 4, and 5.
Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the winter.
(May be available other days by request.)
Afternoon (12pm-4pm)
Evening (5pm-9pm)
Full Moon Drop-in Experience
Friday February 10th – Evening tour (5:00-9:00pm)
Sunday March 12th – Evening tour (5:00-9:00pm)

Rates:
Member Rate – $88 per person*
Non-Member Rate – $110 per person*
Includes: Skyride Alpine Experience Ticket, snowshoe rentals, required equipment for cave construction, headlamps and hot chocolate.

Moms & Tots Workshops | Rocky Mountain Flatbread Main Street is hosting a series of Moms & Tots Workshops on Tuesdays from 11 am – noon. At each workshop, the kids will enjoy a two of the following activities: Story Telling, Dance, Creating Healthy Snacks, or Creative Crafts. is hosting a series of Moms & Tots Workshops on Tuesdays from 11 am – noon. At each workshop, the kids will enjoy a two of the following activities: Story Telling, Dance, Creating Healthy Snacks, or Creative Crafts.
February 21st – Story Time + Frozen Honey Yogurt Bites
February 28th – Dance + Create Your Own Calendula Healing Salve
Classes are designed for 0 – 5 years with their mom, dad or caregiver. No drop off.
Suggested donation: $4 per child
Space is limited. To reserve your spot call 604 566 9779 or e mail info@rockymountainflatbread.ca

After School Nature Explorers | February 8th- June 7th (Except March 15th, 22nd, and May 3rd): Fuel your child’s natural curiosity with VanDusen’s NEW Afterschool Nature Explorers program! With an engaging blend of hands-on activities, dissections, crafts, and games, afternoons will be spent both outside and indoors. Kids will explore the Garden, and use tools to further investigate their garden discoveries using the microscopes and our classroom SmartBoard. Sign up for a single session, or buy a 5 session pass.

Register here or contact the Education Department at 604-718-5898 for information.
Wednesdays, 4 – 5:30 pm (drop off available from 3:45pm)
Upcoming programs:

February 22nd, Flowers in the Winter: Have you ever seen blossoms in the snow? Search for fascinating winter flowers, and uncover why these plants bloom during the coolest season. Then, use your dissecting skills to study flower parts under a microscope.

Coming Home, Chinese New Year Exhibition | January 17, 2017 – February 24, 2017: Family is at the core of Chinese New Year, and the rituals and customs of this traditional celebration are expressed through colourful symbols and lively stories that awaken the senses. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden presents its first full Garden exhibition, Coming Home: Traditions of Chinese New Year, to connect you with the practices of one of the oldest and grandest observances in Chinese culture, the lunar new year Spring Festival. With interactive and educational displays throughout the Garden, you will learn about the meanings behind important cultural practices and how they have endured from antiquity to today.

Admission: Exhibit included with Garden admission; festival by donation Recurring daily

Recurring daily
Times: From: 10:00 AM to 04:30 PM

Quantum: The Exhibition | January 19 – February 26: Visit the first-ever traveling show on quantum information science & technology. The exhibit, created by the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, will introduce visitors to the ways researchers are merging quantum mechanics and information technologies. The results of the experiments will revolutionize the 21st century. Best of all, many Canadian researchers are at the forefront of this emerging field.

FlyOver Canada, China│Now to February 26, 2017, 10am to 9pm Daily: FlyOver Canada is proud to bring back Flight of the Dragon. For a limited time, guests will get to experience Flight of the Dragon and FlyOver Canada back-to-back for the regular FlyOver admission price!

First, follow a mythical dragon as you soar over some of China’s most spectacular landscapes and scenery including the Great Wall of China, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the city of Shanghai and more during Flight of the Dragon. Then, stay seated and take off again to experience FlyOver Canada, a thrilling flight ride that takes you from east to west across Canada. The complete experience will last between 20 – 25 minutes and includes:

A celebratory Chinese New Year themed pre-show
Flight of the Dragon, a unique 6-minute flight ride experience over China
FlyOver Canada, a thrilling 8-minute flight ride experience coast-to-coast over Canada.
Children must be at least 102cm (40″) to participate on the ride. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult or guardian aged 14 years or older.

Cloudscape Comics in the Clouds │ Now to Friday, March 3, 2017: FREE program for youth! Comics are an exciting storytelling medium combining the elements of writing and drawing. Learn to find your own voice and tell your story! Join Cloudscape Comics and artist Vanessa Kelly for a fun series of classes on making, publishing and promoting your own comic stories! Students will draw and produce their own mini-comics, as well as create one-page comic art that will be displayed at a final gallery exhibition hosted in partnership with Artquake. Cloudscape Comics is part of the Vancouver Park Board’s Artist Studio in the Fieldhouse Program, held at MACC. No drop ins, all participants must register. Click on the link below for more information.

Skate at Robson Square Ice Rink │Now to Tuesday, February 14, 2017: This winter, renew a classic Vancouver tradition and enjoy some old-fashioned fun. Robson Square’s outdoor skating rink is open, so celebrate winter in style with skating in the heart of downtown Vancouver. It’s a magical place to enjoy the holidays with your friends, family and loved ones.
Hours of Operation:
SUNDAY to THURSDAY: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
FRIDAY and SATURDAY: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
*Skate rental ends 30mins prior to close
Rates
$2.00 Admission Fee
$4.00 Skate Rental Fee
Cash only

Sign up your child/ren for fun and exciting Spring Break Camps. Register early as spaces are filling up fast!

Jump Gymnastics Full-day or Half-day Camps: Stories, games and play for the under-eight crowd. Daily themes include robots, winter sports, Arctic animals, knights and castles, mini chefs, fun on the farm, and pirates. Half- or full-day options available.

ArtsUmbrella | Intensive art experiences for children ages 3-19: Half- and full-day programs include classes in dress-up drama, creative movement, drawing, painting, acting for the camera, hip hop dance, Shakespeare, computer arts, show choir, classical animation, and more. For a preview of our Granville Island programs view our Spring Break 2017 Guide!

Spring AquaCamps | Children ages 5-12: learn about local and exotic animals through hands-on activities, animal observations, crafts and indoor and outdoor play.

Camp Fun at the Circus! Kids ages 5-14 learn how to juggle, ride unicycles, jump on trampolines and build human pyramids. Camp concludes with a showcase for friends and family.

City of Vancouver Camps: Vancouver’s 24 community centres offer an array of half- and full-day programs for the Spring Break period.

Culinary Camp: Young chefs get an introduction to world cuisine thanks to the fine folks at PICA. Each day is themed around the cuisine from a different region, including Italy, South America, France, and Southeast Asia. Also included: a tour of the Granville Island Public Market, lunch at Bistro 101 and an Iron Chef Challenge. No need to pack a lunch: participants will work together to cook the entire meal.

CSI Kids Camp | CSI Junior Detectives Camp: is a three-day crime-solving camp which features unique and exciting opportunities for youth to get involved in criminal investigation and forensic science activities. Designed especially for Junior Detectives aged 9-12, CSI Camp offers the chance to get involved in a series of hands-on forensics investigations, following a trail of clues to solve exciting mysteries. Highlights of the program include learning from Museum experts, trained VPD officers, and others who follow crime clues in real life!

YMCA Camps: At YMCA camps, the emphasis is on play. Through fun physical activities, kids ages 6-12 learn about themselves and grow in self-confidence as they develop new skills and meet new friends.

KiddoButtons Camp: Five-day camp encourages playful imaginations and active bodies through yoga, crafts, stories and games. For kids ages 2-8.

Vancouver Performing Stars Camps: In this intensive “create-a-musical” full day camp, students will be immersed in the world of musical theatre. Sing, dance, act with our energetic instructors leading the way to create a mini production. Students will create their own costumes and props for friends and family performance on the last day. For kids ages 7-14.

Weekly Memo – Friday, February 17, 2017

Weekly Memo – Friday, February 10, 2017