Thunder News Flash – January 12, 2019

At school we are now turning our attention from the virtue of “faith” to the virtue of “hope”.  One of the most hopeful events for a family is the birth of a baby, and what greater symbol of hope than the birth of Jesus.  Jesus is the greatest gift that we could ever receive, and so Christmas is a season of great joy and celebration.  This living hope is the promise of eternal life, and the very reason why we have a merry Christmas and a year filled with hope.

St. James & St. Ann’s School will be hosting an Open House on January 30th from 6:00-8:00pm.  The Open House will begin with a general information session in the gym from 6:00-6:30pm where new families will be able to learn all about the school, the application process, and receive an Application Package.  Please call the school at 604-852-1788 to let us know that you are coming, or that you know someone who will be attending, so we know how many people to set up for.  From 6:30-8:00pm there will be interactive displays and activities throughout the school, as well as guided tours for new families.  While this evening is an opportunity for new families to come and experience what St. James & St. Ann’s School has to offer, we would also like to invite existing school families to come and see all the amazing things that are happening at our school.  We know this will be an exciting evening!

In anticipation of the school’s Open House on January 30th, we will be advertising to the families of St. James and St. Ann’s Parishes with student-led Masses.  

We need student volunteers to help do the readings, intentions, and ushering.  The Masses will be on January 20th at 9:00am at St. James and January 27th at 10:00am at St. Ann’s.  If your children are interested in helping, please email Brenden by clicking here to sign up.

Are your children considering making some extra money by babysitting?  Help set them up for success by registering them in the Red Cross Babysitting Course which will be held at our school on Mondays from 2:45 – 4:00pm on February 4th, 11th, and 25th and March 4th.  This course is available for students who are a minimum of 10 years of age by the start of the program, and we must have a minimum of 16 students registered for the program to go ahead.  The program teaches the basics of babysitting, rights and responsibilities, getting along with participants, holding, diapering, feeding, bedtime, toys and activities, accident prevention and handling emergencies.  The cost of the program is $60/student.  If you are interested in having your child participate in this program, please pick up a Registration Form at the school office no later than January 21st.  The program will be taught by Coleen Melsted, an instructor from the Red Cross, and Mrs. Filiatrault will be the teacher sponsor for the program.  

St. James & St. Ann’s School will be hosting a Parent Support Meeting entitled “Sexuality and Your Child” for all parents whose children are in Grades 4 – 7 on Wednesday, February 13th.  The meeting will begin with prayer and a brief opening session in the gym at 6:45pm, and then sessions with content specific to each one of the intermediate grades will take place in the classrooms with speakers from Signal Hill.  This is a mandatory meeting for parents only; however, we will be providing free babysitting for toddlers to school-aged children.  Please watch for more information to be sent home to families in the intermediate grades in the next few weeks.

Come and get a great start to this new year by praying the rosary with us for our school community at 8:30am every Thursday morning.  Please note that we meet each week in the school Library.  Small children and babies are welcome.

We are excited to announce that we are once again having a Hip Hop dance instructor come to the school this coming week and teach the students in all the grades as part of the P.E. program.  On Friday, January 18th we will be having a special presentation for the parents beginning at 1:15pm in the school’s gym where we will showcase what the students have been learning.  We hope to see you all there – you won’t be disappointed! 

Here are a list of some of the important events that are occurring in January:

• Work Bee – January 12th, 9:00am – 2:00pm
• No school – January 21st
• Open House – January 30th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
• Thunderwear Thursday – January 31st

Please see the calendar on the school’s website for a complete listing of important events that are taking place in January.