Thunder News Flash – January 18, 2020

We will be hosting an Open House on Thursday, January 23rd from 6:30pm – 8:30pm to showcase what an amazing school we have at St. James & St. Ann’s.  Please join us for exciting activities in each room of the school and to see all the amazing learning that takes place on a daily basis.  The Open House will begin at 6:30pm with a presentation about the school in the gym, and Application Packages will be handed out to new families who are interested in having their children attend St. James & St. Ann’s School.  Beginning at approximately 6:50pm senior students in the school will take prospective families on a guided tour of the school, and will share what they have enjoyed about their time at St. James & St. Ann’s School.  Whether you are hoping to join this school community, or have been here for many years, come and experience all that we have to offer!

Due to the school closure last week, the completed Hot Lunch forms will now be due at the school with payment on Monday, January 20th at 8:30am.  Please note that no late forms will be accepted.  We will be moving our Hot Lunch schedule ahead by one week, so please mark on your calendars at home the following revised Hot Lunch schedule:

• January 21st – hotdogs
• January 28th – Panago 
• February 4th – Kami Sushi
• February 11th – Quiznos

Make a New Year’s Resolution that is easy to keep!  Come and pray the rosary with us on Fridays at 8:30am in the school Library.  It only takes 20 minutes, but the benefits last much longer.  Help us pray for our schools, children, teachers, school staff and school families.  Everyone is welcome and there are toys for your little ones to enjoy while we pray.

Our next Community Coffee will take place on Monday, January 20th at 8:30am in the school gym.  Hope to see you there!

The monthly Hospital Mass will take place on Sunday, January 26th at 4:00pm at the Sacred Space in the Abbotsford Hospital.  Any students wishing to read, please meet Mrs. Wakely at 3:45 at the Sacred Space.  This is a wonderful outreach opportunity for our students and their families.

PROTECT YOUR KIDS – Practical tools and advice to keep your kids safe from pornography.

Join us for a special presentation by youth mental health counsellor, PJ Lewis, M. Ed., RCC, CCC, as he explains the very real risk to every child and adolescent who uses the internet.  How can we protect our kids from the dangers online, and support them if they have already been exposed?  PJ Lewis will equip us to address these concerns with confidence.  Testimonies from fellow parents on their choice of internet filtering software will also be presented.  Light refreshments will be served.  Childcare is available – please email by clicking here by Tuesday, February 4th if you require childcare.

Date:  Friday, February 7th, 2020

Time:  7:00pm

Location:  St. Ann’s Parish Centre, 33333 Mayfair Avenue, Abbotsford

PJ Lewis is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, and a Canadian Certified Counsellor having received his Master of Education degree in Counselling Psychology from Simon Fraser University.  One of the co-founders of Lifted Counselling and Consulting, PJ has particular expertise in providing individual, group and family treatment to high-risk youth and their families.  As a speaker and consultant, PJ has presented at numerous forums, workshops, and conferences locally, nationally and internationally providing skill-based trainings for parents, educators, counsellors, and health care professionals.

This is a reminder that we will be hosting the Red Cross Babysitters’ Course at our school.  The dates of the course are as follows:

• Monday, February 3rd
• Monday, February 10th
• Monday, February 24th
• Monday, March 2nd

The classes will run from 2:45 – 4:45pm each Monday, and will cost $65 per participant.  Students must be at least 10 years old when the course begins, must attend all four classes to receive a completion certificate, and we must have a minimum of 16 students sign up to take the course for it to go ahead.  Once again Mrs. Filiatrault will be the sponsor teacher for this course.  Registration forms are available at the school office for all those who meet the criteria and are interested in taking the course.  The completed registration form, with payment, is due back at the office by Friday, January 24th.

Here are some upcoming events that are taking place at St. John Brebeuf in the near future:

• Big Bear Classic – January 30th – February 1st – The SJB Gym transforms into Bear Country for the biggest, most exciting basketball tournament of the year!  Come cheer on the Bears – you won’t want to miss it!
• Open House – February 6th – Your chance to come experience what SJB has to offer!  Meet the teachers, tour the school and see some of our programs in action.  Find out for yourself why this is where you want to be!

Hello St. James and St. Ann’s School Parents.  Happy New Year to you!

This is a reminder to please log your Parent Participation Hours on the Parent Participation Portal ASAP.  You must complete at least 10 hours by January 31st to avoid having your first Parent Participation cheque of $200 cashed.

The Parent Participation Portal can be found on the school’s website and on the weekly Thunder News Flash emails (scroll down in this email).  If you do not remember your login information, please email Mrs. Dlugan by clicking here. 

If you have questions regarding completing your hours or logging your hours, please let Hannah know ASAP by email by clicking here. 

Information will be sent home this coming week on how you can participate in our next fundraiser:  West Coast Seeds.  West Coast Seeds provides non-GMO, high-quality, untreated seeds.  We sell them to you for regular price, but get to keep 40% of the profits for school fundraising!  Orders will be due February 12th and seeds will be ready to go home with you before Spring Break.