Thunder News Flash – January 19, 2019

Often when we use the word “hope” we might say things like “I hope the Blue Jays win the World Series this year” or “I hope the Winnipeg Jets win the Stanley Cup this year”.  I know that for me, those are things that I wish might happen, but I am not certain of the possibility of these outcomes.  But when we use the word “hope” as a Catholic, we are referring to a virtue that is not based on a chance or a wish, but is based on a trust and an assurance that the promises of God will be fulfilled.  Hope is not an opinion or an attitude, but is a gift of the Holy Spirit.  

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.” (CCC 1817)

God gave each of us a heart that desires and longs for true happiness.  The virtue of hope helps us to know that we can only find this true happiness by placing our trust in God.

St. James & St. Ann’s School is blessed to have an absolutely amazing staff – if you agree with this, why not consider nominating exceptional teachers, principals and support staff for a chance to win one of the 2019 Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Education.  These awards were launched last year, and no independent school staff members were nominated.  We hope you will consider changing that for 2019!  The Awards recognize all outstanding education professionals who have made exceptional contributions to benefit their school, students and their communities.  This year, Awards will be given in the following categories:

• Community Engagement
• District Leadership
• Extracurricular Leadership
• Indigenous Education
• Outstanding New Teacher
• Outstanding Support (School Community)
• Outstanding Support (Teaching Assistant)
• School Leadership
• Social Equity and Diversity
• Technology and Innovation

Nominations are now open and are welcomed from all BC citizens, including students, parents, teachers, administrators, trustees and community organizations.  The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2019.  For more information, please see the poster on the Parent Board at the school, or visit the website, where you can also find the nomination forms, by clicking here.  

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.

On Monday, February 11th we will be having a Jeans Day to raise money to support the following archdiocesan charities – the Men’s Hostel, the Prison Ministry, Refugee Sponsorship, and The Door is Open.  We hope that all students and staff will participate in this fundraiser, and wear jeans to school on February 11th.  This is a dress down day and students who participate do not have to wear any pieces of their uniform; however, the jeans and tops that they wear must be appropriate.  That means no jean shorts, no ripped or torn jeans, no tops with inappropriate sayings and no spaghetti straps.  Students who are not participating in this fundraiser need to come to school in their school uniform.  Students and staff who participate in this Jeans Day are asked to bring a loonie or a toonie to donate to these very worthwhile charities.  If you would like more information about how these different charities support those in need, please click here.  We hope everyone will participate!

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 week.

How do we stick to our monthly budget?  How can we manage debt?  Do you really need a will?  Join St. Ann’s Family Group on Thursday, February 7th at 7:00pm in St. Ann’s gym for a presentation regarding finances and estate planning – information that every family should be aware of.  Joseph ven der Buhs (Certified Financial Planner) and Emily Anderson (Lawyer at Linley Welwood LLP) will offer advice and support for families in this area.  Q and A will follow their presentations and refreshments will be served.  Join us for a night of fellowship as we learn how to set our families up for success.

Admission is free.  Childcare is available – kindly rsvp if you require childcare.  For more information, email us by clicking here.  We hope to see you there!

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.

St. John Brebeuf High School’s Open House is Thursday, February 7th from 6:00-8:00pm.  Come spend your evening exploring their campus, talking with staff and students and see what exceptional education within a Catholic setting looks like at the high school level.  Application packages for the 2019-2020 school year are now available through the grade 7 teacher or SJB’s website.  Application forms are due back to SJB by February 13, 2019.  St. John Brebeuf High School is located at 2747 Townline Road, Abbotsford.  For more information, please visit their website by clicking here, or call them at 605-855-0571.

St. John Brebeuf is looking to compile a list of inclusive businesses in our community.  Students with special needs working towards a school completion certificate, the Evergreen Certificate, are required to complete multiple unpaid work experiences from Grade 10 to 12 with supervision and support.  If you are a business owner or know a business owner in the area who would be willing to accept students participating in a work experience program, please send an email by clicking here.  Thank you for supporting all of the students at SJB!

New this year!  We will be participating in the West Coast Seeds Fundraiser.  Look for more information and order forms coming home with your kids this week.  But in the meantime, check out their website by clicking here to start planning what seeds you are going to buy from this fantastic supplier!  What an easy way to support our school!

If your children are in Grades 5 – 7, and if after receiving your child’s Progress Report for Term 1 and attending your child’s Parent/Teacher Interview you still feel you would like to receive letter grades for your child, you may request them from your child’s teacher.  Letter grades may be requested for the following subjects – Christian Education, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science.  To access the Letter Grade Request Form, please click here.  Please print the form, fill out the information at the top of the form, and submit the form to your child’s teacher.  For Term 1 you may submit this form from January 21st – 25th; for Term 2 you may submit this form from April 1st – 5th; for Term 3 you may submit this form from June 17th – 21st.  The classroom teachers will then complete the form by recording the letter grade they have assigned to your child for each of those subjects, and will return the form to you through your child the week following your request.  

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

• 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.

Our Winter Movie Night is coming up on Friday, February 8, 2019.  Is your business interested in sponsoring our event?  We have different levels of sponsorship available which provide great advertising opportunities to our school community, leading up to and during our event.  We are also looking for donations, which may be eligible for a tax receipt.  Check out our Sponsorship Levels for more information by clicking here.