A cheerful back-to-school welcome to all our families! Many thanks to parents who took the time to attend our Phases of Development presentation this past Tuesday. We hope it was a helpful introduction to Montessori pedagogy.

The first week of school has been busy and filled with engaging activities. New preschool students are learning to adapt to their newfound independence away from parents while returning students are re-kindling friendships and establishing new ones. Our teaching staff members, too, have been busy assessing the students’ interests and paths of development in order to give appropriate reviews of old lessons as well as to present new ones.

Extended-day and elementary will participate in the Terry Fox School Run on Friday, September 28th at Sunset Beach. Parents are most welcome to join us! We’ll also be kicking off the Harvest Season with our annual school-wide outing to a local farm on Friday, October 12th. This year, we’ll be visiting Westham Island Herb Farm where we’ll pick our own pumpkins and learn about local farm life.

Below are important dates to keep in mind. Details can be found in our Weekly Email Memos.

Looking forward to having a great year filled with joyful learning adventures!
Riza Weinstein

UPCOMING DATES AND NOTICES

Monday, Sept 10 | Upper Elementary (Grades 4 to 7) trip to the library
Friday, Sept 15 | Lower Elementary (Grades 1 to 3) trip to the library
Wednesday, Sept 19 | Upper Elementary Field Trip to the Museum of Vancouver (Forms were sent home this week.)
Friday, Sept 21 | PD Day – No school for students
Tuesday, Sept 25 | Lower Elementary Stanley Park Leaf Album Project
Friday, Sept 28 | Terry Fox School Run
Tuesday, October 2 | MMUN (Montessori Model United Nations) Meeting for Grades 4 to 7 Parents @ 4:15 PM.
Wednesday, Oct 10 I National Geographic Live: Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous @ the Orpheum. Permission forms due on Oct. 1.
Friday, Oct 12 | Westham Island Herb Farm Visit for all Students. Permission forms due on Oct. 1. (Families will receive refunds for hot lunch ordered for that day.)
Monday, Oct 22 | Upper Elementary trip to the Port of Vancouver (Hard copies of permissions have been handed out.)
Wednesday, Oct 24 | Lower Elementary trip to the Pacific Museum of Earth, UBC
Thursday, Nov 22 I Upper Elementary participation at WeDay Vancouver

COMMUNITY NOTICES Wondering what to do with your family this week? Check these out!

Day At The Farm | Sept 8 | 10AM –4PM Bring your family and learn about the nature and importance of agriculture and non-market environmental services that it provides. The event will feature the very popular hay-wagon farm tours (led by 3rd generation farmer Gordon Ellis), as well as live local music talent show, live mini-auction, homemade food contest and much more!

ArtsStarts Gallery | Sept 8 | 11AM-12PM  This month is exploring to make our own dances. You can improvise entire dances with just a few rules that you decide for your dancing! 

Stanley Park Ecology Society | Sept 9 | 10AM-12PM Scouting the seaside: Enjoy long walks on the beach? Let it take on a new dimension as you meet the life forms along their shoreline home. Learn about the intertidal zone and how tides, sun exposure, and beach walkers like yourselves might affect this fascinating habitat! 

Coho Salmon Festival | Sept 9 | 11AM-6PM  The festival features famous Coho Salmon Barbecue, the Coho Garden, Stewardship Zone, Kids Park, Main Stage, the Squamish Nation Village. Come join the day starting with a Coho Run, Coho Swim, pancake breakfast and much more!

Petey’s Pumpkin Patch | Sept 1 – Oct 31 Over 5,000 square feet of indoor activities in addition to a covered wagon and train ride, perfect for rain or shine! New this year is authentic Southern style BBQ Ribs, brisket, pulled pork and more, so bring your appetite! Discover all the farm activities which include the fun maze, family fun zone with bounce rides including Petey the giant pumpkin, train or wagon ride out to one of the most picturesque Pumpkin Patches in the valley. For the brave of heart, one can do the boo tour of Reapers (lights on no scaring)

Bard on the Beach June 6 – Sept 28 The BMO Mainstage will host a joyous new production of As You Like It, set in Vancouver and filled with Beatles music; it will alternate with a powerhouse classic production of Shakespeare’s epic drama Macbeth.