Thunder News Flash – October 5, 2019

As we continue to examine our archdiocesan theme, this month the quality we will be focused on is being “thankful”.  There are so many things that we have that we should be thankful for, but we often take these things for granted because we have always had them – food, a home, our clothes, the things that entertain us, our friends, our family, etc.  There are so many people in our world who have so much less than we do, and yet often they seem to be happier than we are.  Is the secret that having less means that you don’t need so many “things” in your life to make you happy?  We need to be truly thankful for all the gifts we have in our lives, as well as understand the difference between “wants” and “needs”.  This month the Grade 7 class will help us do this by sharing the story of the migrant workers who come to BC to work so that they can send money home to their families.  Join us on October 23rd for our assembly where we will learn about being thankful for what we have by hearing about the migrant workers.  You can also help us focus on being thankful by donating some food items to create a “mountain of miracles” for the migrant workers.  From October 15th to October 24th we will be collecting non-perishable food items at the school to share with the migrant workers through St. Ann’s Parish.  We hope that by being thankful for what we have, we will give with a generous spirit to those who have so little, and collect so much food that we create a mountain of items in our hallway!

Please note that we will have our next Early Dismissal Day on Wednesday, October 9th for our staff meeting.  The students will be dismissed at 12:55pm.  Students should bring a snack and lunch with them to school that day.  The Thunder Club is available for those parents who are unable to pick up their children at 12:55pm, and if your children are picked up by 2:30pm the charge will be the same as the morning drop in rate.

Please see below for important details regarding the Regional Education Committee elections to be held at St. James Parish and St. Ann’s Parish on October 5th and 6th.

Information on the candidates nominated for the Regional Education Committee can be found posted around each parish as well as in the parish bulletins.

When and Where:

Regular Polling

• St. Ann’s Church, October 5th and 6th for one hour following each Mass
• St. James Church, October 5th and 6th for one hour following each Mass

Who can vote:

• All registered parishioners of St. James and St. Ann’s Parishes, over the age of twenty-one at the time of voting

Candidates for election:

St. Ann’s Parish:

• Brenden Lochhead
• Tasha Mijinke
• Heather MacDonald

St. James Parish:

• Stephen Scharff
• Jake Turek
• Marcus Van Noort

If you are available to volunteer as a scrutineer (election official) at any of the times listed below, please sign up on the link below.  Parent Participation hours are available for this event.

• St. Ann’s Church, October 5th and 6th for one hour following each Mass
• St. James Church, October 5th and 6th for one hour following each Mass

Please sign up by clicking here or contact Erika by email by clicking here for questions.

Our difficulties with our Library’s computerized database continue, but hopefully they will be solved early next week.  Unfortunately that means students will still not be able to take out any new books, or sign any of their current Library books back into the Library, until the database is fixed. 

By now you should have received proofs of your child’s school picture.  If you are unhappy with your child’s photograph, if your child was absent on picture day or if you are new to the school since picture day, our retake day will occur on Friday, October 18th.  If you are having a retake, please send your child to school with the proofs to return to the photographer.  It is always a good idea to let the photographer know what you are unhappy about with the proofs that you received, and for younger students sending a note would be ideal.

If your child was absent from school during the month of September, and you have not yet sent in a note to explain this absence, a note was sent home with your child on Friday.  We must have a note to let us know the reason for each absence for our attendance audit at the end of the school year.  The simplest way to do this is to go to the school’s website, and under the “Parents” tab you simply click on “Absentee Note” and fill in the online form.  This emailed absentee note will satisfy our auditors, and if you send this in the morning of the day your child is absent it will also serve to let the school know that your child will be away.

On Thursday, October 24th, St. James & St. Ann’s School, St. John Brebeuf High School and St. Ann’s Family Group will be jointly hosting a very special screening of the movie Screenagers.  The parents whose children are in the intermediate grades at our school received a letter regarding this movie, as their attendance at this screening is mandatory to fulfill their obligation to attend a Parent Support Meeting.  However, since this is such a well done movie and it is important for all of us to see, we are opening up this screening to all school parents, grandparents and teenagers as well.  Screenagers is an award-winning film that probes into the vulnerable corners of family life and depicts messy struggles over social media, video games and academics.  Screenagers reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance.  

The movie will be shown in the gymnasium at St. John Brebeuf High School starting at 7:00pm and a facilitated discussion will follow the movie.  Light refreshments will be served and babysitting is available for children ages 5 and up.  If you require babysitting, please email St. Ann’s Family group by clicking here so that arrangements can be made.  If you plan to attend this screening, please RSVP to help us plan for this event by clicking here.  If you do not RSVP you may still attend the event.  Please note that while it is free to attend the screening of the movie Screenagers, your donations at the door will be greatly appreciated to help us cover the costs of this presentation.

Please join us for our next school Mass on Monday, October 7th at 9:00am at St. James Church.  The Mass will be led by our Grade 5 class and we will be celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Thunderwear Order Forms were sent home this past week.  We will accept order forms and payment until Monday, October 7th at 8:30am.  This is your only chance this year to order Thunderwear!

Come and watch Toy Story 4 on our big 16×9 Movie Screen on Friday, October 18th in the school gym.  Doors & Concession open at 5:30pm and the movie starts at 6:00pm.

$5 per person or $25 per family.  An info package will be sent home this coming week with all the details, including how you could win the VIP couch seating area!

For a movie review from a Christian perspective, please click here or click here.  Please note the movie is rated G in Canada.

Thank you to our Sponsor:  Westlynn Meats & Seafood!

Sponsorship opportunities are still available.  Please click here for more info.