Warm thanks to all the parents who took the time to join us last Saturday night for Greg MacDonald’s presentation on the Four Planes of Development! It was a wonderful night full of insightful conversations over wine and cheese!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori
GENERAL NOTICES
Upcoming Dates to Remember
April 5, 12, 19, May 3, 10, 17 | Swimming Lessons
May 12 | Mother’s Day Celebration and Quilt Raffle
April 20 – May 12 | NC Montessori Practicum Student
May 15 | LE Yaletown Pet Hospital Visit
May 18 & 19 | Parent/Child Workshops
May 22 | Victoria Day – NO SCHOOL
May 25 & 26 | LE Mini Police Academy
May 31, June 7, 14, 21 | Tennis Lessons
June 1 | LE Nature Detectives at Stanley Park
June 9 | Parent/Teacher Conference
June 16 | Father’s Day/End-of-Year Picnic
June 21 | Graduation
Yearbook Pre-orders: We are thrilled to present our 2016-2017 Yearbook! The Yearbook is comprised of class pictures and individual student photos from both North Creek and Anchor Point. It also includes pictures of special events such as field trips, performances, and guest visits. This yearbook will be a keepsake for your child as well as a great gift for grandparents. To place an order, please fill out the attached form and submit it with your payment no later than Friday, May 19th at 4:30 PM. The cost per book is $20.
Mother’s Day Performance Reminder: We ask parents of children who are performing in a group to please have them wear dark-coloured bottoms and light-coloured tops. Children with individual performances must have their costumes/outfits ready in school by Wednesday, May 10th.
Summer Program Registration: The Summer Program is divided into two three-week sessions (form attached). Students will continue to work in the Montessori environment with enriched activities in Arts and Crafts; Music and Drama; and Science and Nature. They will also participate in excursions to places and events that are related to the above themes. We intend to have both a preschool and an elementary program for 2 sessions as follows*:
Session 1 │ July 10th to July 28th
Session 2 │ July 31st to August 18th
*** We are pleased to offer Orton-Gillingham lessons during Session 1 of our Summer Program. This would be a great opportunity for your child to extend their OG learning throughout the summer. The Orton-Gillingham Approach is an intensive, sequential phonics-based system that teaches the basics of word formation before whole meanings. The method accommodates and utilizes the three learning modalities, or pathways, through which people learn—visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Please contact us if you have any questions!**
Hot Lunch – June Deadline, Thursday, May 25th, 3 PM: Online payment will be required. Please email us with any questions!
ELEMENTARY & ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY
Dress for the Weather Reminder: Kindly bring your child to school dressed for both, indoor and outdoor activities every day. Clothes and shoes should be washable, practical, and comfortable. We expect parents to provide children with appropriate clothing for safe and active indoor and outdoor activities during all seasons. As Spring is here and so is the rain; please make sure your child/ren has waterproof rain boots, waterproof jacket with a hood, possibly waterproof rain pants (always a good option to have, depending on the child), hat (for the sunny days) as well as a complete set of extra change of clothes (properly labeled and sealed in a large Ziploc bag) and indoor shoes.
April 5, 12, 19, May 3, 10, 17 | Swimming Lessons: Elementary students are participating in Swimming Lessons on these Wednesdays at 1:30 – 3:30 PM at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre. Please don’t forget to pack a bathing suit, towel, hairbrush, swimming cap, change of clothes, snacks, and water.
NOTE: On Swimming Wednesdays, all the children will be dismissed at the Aquatic Centre between 3:50 and 4:00 (unless your child is picked up earlier or staying for After School Club). We will leave the Aquatic Centre at 4:00 and will be back in school around 4:15. Children who are picked up after 4:00 will be dismissed at Anchor Point.
May 12 | Mother’s Day Celebration and Quilt Raffle: Mothers are incredibly special and they deserve to be celebrated, especially on Mother’s Day. Please save the morning of May 12th, Friday as we celebrate our dear moms, grandmothers, aunts, caregivers and everyone who have undertaken the incredible role of a Mom. Please join us in our annual Mother’s Day Celebration from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM at the Scotiabank Dance Centre. The students have a special Talent Show that they can’t wait to share with the ‘Moms’ in their lives. Finger foods and refreshments will be served following the performance up until dismissal. We look forward to seeing you all there!
A raffle draw will be held for two handmade quilts that the children from North Creek and Anchor Point have patiently worked on for the past weeks! You can purchase raffle tickets after the Talent Show or at North Creek and Anchor Point doors during dismissal. There will be separate draws for the two locations. The quilts will be displayed for a week starting on Friday, May 12th and the two winners will be drawn on Friday, May 19th.
May 15 | Yaletown Pet Hospital Visit: The LE students will be going out to Yaletown Pet Hospital on Monday, May 15th at 9:30 – 11:30 AM. We will leave the school promptly at 9:15 AM. Yaletown Pet Hospital is a full-service veterinary clinic and is currently the only veterinary clinic south of Granville Street serving the downtown core of Vancouver. This going-out is free.
May 18 | Parent/Child Workshop: Anchor Point students will hold their Parent/Child Workshops on Thursday, May 18th. This is an opportunity for your child to show you some of the work they have been doing at school. While regular dismissal at 4 pm is in effect, each family is invited to return at their assigned time slot for the event. Each session is 20 minutes. As it is otherwise a regular school day, please pick up your child as usual and return to your scheduled time slot. A schedule with assigned time slots for the Lower Elementary families is posted at the Anchor Point door. Upper Elementary families are welcome to choose a time slot on the sign-up sheet at the door. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you are unable to attend the Parent-Child Workshop and would like to reschedule.
May 25 & 26 | Mini Police Academy: The LE students will be going out to the Vancouver Police Museum for a Mini Police Academy activity on Thursday and Friday, May 25th & May 26th at 10:00 – 11:30 AM. They will be divided into 2 groups: Grade 1’s will go on Thursday while Grades 2-3’s will go on Friday. This program combines a museum discovery scavenger hunt, show and tell to introduce youngsters to policing, dress-up time in police uniforms, and art activities. Please return your child’s permission slips to the school.
May 31, June 7, 14, 21 | Tennis Lessons: Elementary students will participate in Tennis Lessons on Wednesdays starting on May 31st at 1:00 – 3:00 PM at David Lam Park, East Tennis Courts.
June 1 | Nature Detectives at Stanley Park: The LE students are going out to Stanley Park for a Nature Detectives program on Thursday, June 1st at 10 AM – 11:30 AM. Discover the hidden secrets and stories of the forest in this sensory journey through nature. Awaken your senses as you explore the temperate rainforest. Find tiny life forms with magnifiers, meet bugs, feed trees, and transform into a bat while learning how all of these forest elements are connected. There is a small fee of $12 per child to participate in the activity. Please return your child’s permission slips to the school.
June 9 | Parent/Teacher Conference: Our Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place on Friday, June 9th. Please note that there is no school for the children on that day. There will be sign-up sheets posted at North Creek and Anchor Point doors to book your appointment.
June 16 | Father’s Day/End-of-Year Picnic: As the end of the school year is approaching, we would like to confirm the dates for Father’s Day and End-of-Year picnic celebrations. Details will follow soon.
June 21 | Graduation: The ceremony for children graduating from Kindergarten and Grade 7 will be at North Creek and Anchor Point respectively. The times for these events will be announced soon.
Lulu Island and Outdoor Excursions: Grades 4 to 7 students will begin visiting Lulu Island starting Monday, April 10th (weather permitting). Please ensure your child(ren) come to school that day with his/her compass card. In addition, they will also be enjoying outdoor excursions every Friday (weather permitting).
HEALTHY SNACK REMINDER: Active and engaged students do better eating wholesome foods, please refrain from sending sugary or highly processed foods to school
CASA COMMUNITY (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)
Montessori Practicum Student: Jackie Booth, a student from the Montessori Training Centre of BC has been appointed to come in the AM classroom under the supervision of Ms. Julia for 3 days of observation and 3 weeks of Practicum, from April 20th to May 12th. Her bio is displayed by the door.
Mother’s Day Celebration – Friday, May 12th:
AM Preschool Mother’s Day Tea will be served at 11:15am
PM Preschool Mother’s Day Tea will be served at 3:00pm
Extended-day/Kindergarten Mother’s Day Performance/Tea will be held in Faris Family Studio at Scotiabank Dance Centre, from 9:00-11:00am (program details will follow)
Urban Safari Rescue Society visits North Creek!: There is a small fee of $7 per child (Preschool & Extended-day) to participate in the activity to bring USRS to the classroom. Information is on the attached permission form. Please return the completed form with payment to North Creek by Wednesday, May 17th. USRS will be coming on Friday, June 2nd to both morning & afternoon classrooms with animals to present to our students.
Extended-day and Kindergarten Outings: “Going-Outs” play a significant role in the education of extended-day children as they are beginning to enter their next stage of development. Please see the attached permission form for details and return it to school by Wednesday, May 7th.
Parent/Child Workshop – Friday evening, May 19th: Parent/Child Workshop is an after school event. Please return to school with your child to share this special moment with him/her. Your child will show you some of the work he or she has been doing at school in a more personal setting. Each session is 20 minutes. A schedule with assigned time slots is posted by the North Creek doors. Please let the teacher(s) know if you wish to switch to a different time to fit your schedule. You are welcome to reschedule if necessary. Please email to northcreek@lionsgatemontessori .org.
Dress for the Weather Reminder: Although Spring has arrived and some days seem to be warmer than others, please make sure your child(ren) has a proper jacket when they come to school.
Label Your Children’s Shoes: Please remember to label all your children’s clothing, water bottles and food containers. Thank you.
COMMUNITY NOTICES Check these out!
Made in Canada, Inspiring Creativity and Innovation at Science World | Friday, April 21, 2017 – Monday, September 4, 2017: Celebrate Canadian creativity and innovation, with Science World’s original exhibition, Made in Canada, presented by YVR — where you drive the creative process! Get hands-on and build the fastest bobsled, construct a stunning piece of Vancouver architecture and create your own Canadian sound mashup, to share with friends.
O.W.L.’s annual Open House | May 6th & 7th, 2017: Get behind the scenes look of one of the busiest raptor rehabilitation centres in Canada. Come meet your local raptor species and learn what we do at O.W.L. Admission is by donation in cash or cheque only. Please leave your pet at home for this event.
Star Wars May the 4th Celebration at Toys “R” Us! | Saturday, May 6, 2017: Calling on LEGO® Star Wars Fans – May the 4th be with you! Make and Take! Build a Mini LEGO® Princess Leia, the most iconic Princess in the entire galaxy! Scavenger Hunt! Explore “R” store collecting the necessary code and Master your “Force” in the scavenger hunt! AND Don’t forget to take home a collector’s poster. Available in-store only. Event for children ages 4 years and up. One model per child.
Playland at the PNE | Saturday, May 6, 2017 – Friday, September 15, 2017: Playland opens May 6 with three new family rides! Spin your way through a magical land on the new coaster ride, Bug Whirled, peddle your way to the clouds flapping your wings on The Flutterbye, then take the plunge on the marvelous mechanical Dizzy Drop. All three rides will accommodate the entire family, so get ready to share even more memories and screams this coming spring and summer.
Free Early Bird Garden Entry | Monday, May 8, 2017 – Friday, May 12, 2017: To celebrate Vancouver Bird Week, we’re offering free admission to VanDusen Botanical Garden from 7am to 9am between May 8 and May 12. Enjoy a quieter morning experience in the garden where you can spend some time with your local feathered friends for free!
Foundational Language: Meaningful Communication from Birth | Saturday, May 13, 2017: Guided by AMI Assistants to Infancy Director of Training, Maria Teresa Vidales, please join her in the beautiful model of the specially prepared Home and Infant Toddler Centre environments to explore the critical importance of the quality and quantity of language that surrounds the newborn and infant. Please bring your own lunch to this wonderful charity event as we give back to our community!
Location: AMI Assistants to Infancy Campus, 1410 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver
Date: May 13, 2017
Time: 10 am to 3pm
Cost: register by donation through eventbrite, or donation at the door.
All proceeds to benefit the Neonatal Care Unit at BC Children’s Hospital, or the MTCBC Student Scholarship Fund.
RSVP: angela@mtcbc-ami.org