Weekly Memo – Thursday, November 10, 2016

img_20161110_114809_editKind thanks to all families who contributed to our bake goods and poppy sales at Anchor Point and North Creek. We raised a total of $729.15!

Our students at Anchor Point commemorated Remembrance Day today with a presentation from third-year students, Christian, Isabella, Sabine and Mina followed by a rendition of “Last Post” on the trumpet by fourth-year student Neo, before observing our minute of silence. (A write-up of up their presentation is on our Full Monte page.)

This week, we posted articles about what we should expect from young children as well as a list of “homework” fit for elementary students on our Facebook page, so don’t forget to check those out!

In light of all the instabilities around the world, Remembrance Day is an ideal time to talk with your child/ren about the sacrifices people have made to protect our freedom and world from atrocities. Lest we forget.
– The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori

GENERAL NOTICES
Upcoming Dates to Remember
Friday, November 11th │ Remembrance Day (no school for students)
Monday, November 14th to Wednesday, November 16th │ Ms. Frances’s Observations at AP
Thursday, November 24th │ Parent/Child Workshop, Ms. Frances’s Students
Friday, November 25th │PD Day (no school for students)
Friday, December 9th │Parent Conferences (no school for students)
Wednesday, December 14th │Winter Performance Party and Craft Fair (no school for students)
Friday, December 16th │After School Club Winter Session Payment Due
Monday, December 19th to Monday, January 2nd │ Winter Break (no school for students)

To search further upcoming dates to remember, download an updated version of our “bird’s eye” calendar here. Make sure to log in first before clicking on the link.

Winter Performance Party and Craft Fair 2016│Wednesday, December 14th: This will be held at the Roundhouse Community Centre. There are no regular classes scheduled for students that day.  There is no fee for attending the Winter Party by seat requests are required. Initially, we are reserving 2 seats per family. On Monday, December 12, the week of the performance, we will know if there are additional seats available. Feel free to email us at  if you are interested in more seats.

CASA COMMUNITY (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)

Arts Umbrella Dance Company’s Mixed Nuts│December 16th: Kindergarten/Ex-Day students will be attending this classic holiday performance reinvented with a twist. Please read the information on the accompanying Permission Form and return it to school by Monday, November 28th.

Montessori Practicum Student: Ms. Betty Cao, a student from the Montessori Training Centre of BC, will be training in the AM classroom under the supervision of Ms. Julia for Observation and Practicum.
Practicum: December 5 to December 9, 2016
Practicum: February 27 to March 10, 2017
(Ms. Betty’s bio is displayed by the door.)

ELEMENTARY & ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY

Parent Observations & Parent/Child Workshop for Ms. Frances’s Students, Thursday, November 24th: The sign-up sheet is posted by the Anchor Point entrance. Please note this is a regular school day.  So pick up your child as usual and return at your scheduled time slot. If you are unable to attend and would like to reschedule, please email us. In addition, some parents have missed their Observation Week opportunity. For those parents, we are opening morning slots on Monday, November 14th; Tuesday, November 15th; and Wednesday, November 16th. We look forward to having you visit us! You will receive guidelines at the door with information as well as paper to write down your notes. Please read the guidelines carefully. Each parent’s observation session is 20 minutes. Kindly refrain from asking questions at this time. Ms. Frances would be happy to speak with you before or after school, in person or over the phone. The sign-up sheet for these slots is also posted by the Anchor Point’s entrance.

Upper Elementary│Hansel and Gretel Opera: The Upper Elementary children will have the amazing opportunity to attend the Hansel and Gretel Opera at the Vancouver Playhouse on December 7th at 12:30pm. Please submit the permission slip no later than Monday, November 21st.

Daily Physical Activity │A Requirement from the Ministry of Education: Outdoor activities are essential for your child’s holistic development. We have recently posted articles on Facebook that explains why. DPA (Daily Physical Activity) is a requirement from the Ministry of Education. According to their Prescribed Learning Outcomes on DPA, students up to and including Grade 7 are to be provided at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. Both our Lower and Upper Elementary students have at least 45 minutes of play outside to allow facilitated and non-facilitated vigorous activities, such as tag, relays, body games, running, spontaneous play and the like. Even if your child gets enough physical activity outside school hours, the fresh air is needed in order to reboot them for a new work cycle in the afternoon. Please note that if you wish your child NOT to attend his/her outside time, kindly send an email explaining the reason why your child should stay indoors. Thanks for your cooperation.

Farm Update: Please note that the farm’s grounds are still very wet and with the weekend forecast with rain, we will spend the next Monday at Anchor Point. Thank you!

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

Commemorating Remembrance Day: Recognize the contributions our Veterans have made and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of Canada tomorrow:

The City of Vancouver Parade and Ceremony at Victory Square Park
Where: Victory Square Cenotaph
Time: Starts at 9:45am
Address: West Hastings and Cambie Street
Chinatown Memorial
Date: November 11, 2016
Time: 12:30pm
Address: Keefer at Columbia streets

CRAB Park Remembrance Day Ceremony
Date: November 11, 2016
Where:CRAB Park
Time: 10:55
Address: East Waterfront and Main Street

Grandview Park Remembrance Day Ceremony
Where: Grandview Park
Time: 10:45am
Address: 1200 block of Commercial Drive

Japanese Monument  Ceremony
Where: Japanese War Monument in Stanley Park
Time: 10:40
Address: Near the Stanley Park Pavilion

Royal Vancouver Yacht Club Ceremony
Where: Royal Vancouver Yacht Club
Time: 10:30 am
Address: 3811 Point Grey Road (can be viewed from Hastings Mill Park)

South Vancouver Veteran’s Council Ceremony
Where: South Memorial Park
Time: 10:30 am
Address: 41st Ave and Windsor Street

University of British Columbia Remembrance Day Ceremony
Where:UBC War Memorial Gym
Time: 10:45
Address: 6081 University Boulevard

Hyde Creek Salmon Festival │Sunday, November 13th 11am to 3pm: 2016 marks the 17th annual Hyde Creek Salmon Festival. This FREE family-friendly event combines education and fun. From demonstrations and dissections to crafts and performances this event will keep everyone entertained. Come hungry as there is a delicious salmon BBQ too. Over 5,000 visitors attend each year for a day of exploring, experiencing and learning about the salmon and wildlife in the fish-bearing watershed which the cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam call home. Highlights of the Festival will include:
– Fisheries and Oceans Canada displaying live salmon (up close!)
– Orphaned Wildlife Society (OWL) exhibiting a live eagle
– Salmon dissections and microscope investigations
– A gigantic “blue fish” with live storyteller and interactive costumes
– Face painting and cookie decorating for the young-at-heart
– Looking for local flora and fauna on a guided nature walk
– Visit an operating salmon hatchery
– Opportunity to win exciting raffle prizes
– 36 environmentally-motivated Exhibitors

Soar Over America at FlyOver Canada │Now until Wednesday, November 23, 2016: For a limited time only, experience America like never before with FlyOver America. Soar over 10,000 miles across some of the United States’ most beautiful landscapes including Hawaii, Alaska, New York and more! Like FlyOver Canada’s ride film, FlyOver America was shot over all four seasons from coast to coast. The complete FlyOver America experience will last between 20 – 25 minutes, and includes:
·FlyOver America, an exhilarating 10-minute flight ride experience
·FlyOver America themed pre-show.

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.

Moscow Ballet: Great Russian Nutcracker│Sunday, November, 13 2016: The biggest Christmas experience of the year! The original, direct from Russia, Great Russian Nutcracker. Enchant the whole family with larger than life magical props, a 60 foot growing Christmas tree and spectacular Russian-made costumes and sets. For more info and tickets, click on the link above.

Diwali Fest │Now until November 30th: Diwali Fest is an annual South Asian arts & cultural festival that marks its 13th year in Vancouver. The festival showcases the best & brightest South Asian talent, through FREE (or very reasonably priced) performances across the city.

Zoom Into Nano – Explore the Invisible at Science World │Now Until January 2, 2017: Zoom into Nano at Science World Snow until January 2, 2017explores the world of nanoscience—a world that is too small to see with the naked eye. Nanoscience and engineering explore methods of manipulating materials on the molecular scale to create very, very small structures and devices. The exhibition lets you zoom into tiny structures and devices to see the amazing beauty of natural and man-made objects. Immerse yourself in models of atoms and molecules that are enlarged to 100 million times their actual size and check out the full body interactives!