Thunder News Flash – February 1, 2020

The Grade 2 class will be making a big difference for the homeless by continuing to sponsor a Winter Clothing Drive for NightShift Street Ministries.  The Winter Clothing Drive will continue until Monday, February 3rd, and the Grade 2 class is asking for you to support their efforts.  Please consider donating the following items:

• jackets, jogging pants, jeans, socks and hoodies for both men and women
• sleeping bags
• blankets

The Grade 2 class will gratefully accept either new or used items which are clean and in good condition.  Your support of this Winter Clothing Drive will go a long way to help the homeless people that NightShift Street Ministries serve.

Please note that we will have our next Early Dismissal Day on Wednesday, February 5th 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.

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.

The government is once again proud to recognize the enormous contributions of British Columbia’s exceptional teachers, administrators and support staff who are vital to the cultural, economic and social well-being of the province.  The Awards recognize all outstanding education professionals who have made exceptional contributions to benefit their school, their students and their communities.  Nominations are now open and are welcomed from all BC citizens, including students, parents, teachers, administrators, trustees and community organizations.  The deadline to submit nominations is April 30, 2020.  Additional information on the Awards, as well as nomination forms, can be found by clicking here.

The next Work Bee is taking place at the school on Saturday, February 8th from 9:00am – 2:00pm.  The long range forecast is showing that it will be a sunny day, so hopefully there will be both inside and outside work that can be done.  If you are scheduled to be at this Work Bee, we look forward to having you there.  Thank you for all of your hard work.

Our next Community Coffee will take place on Monday, February 3rd at 8:30am in the gym.  We hope to see you there!

There are a number of outstanding Absentee Notes dating back to as far as September 2019 that the school office requires as soon as possible.  If your child has been absent from school since this school year began, and you have not yet provided a written explanation of 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 that takes place 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.  Please ask your child if they received an Absentee Note for you to complete, or check their backpack if they are unsure.  Thank you for your attention to this very important matter.

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.

You are invited to the Open House at SJB on Thursday, February 6th.  This is your chance to come experience what SJB has to offer!  Meet the teachers, tour the school and see some of their programs in action.  Find out for yourself why this is where you want to be!

If you are interested in learning more about how you or your business can sponsor or donate to our upcoming Movie Night Fundraiser on Friday, February 21, 2020, please click here.

Information and order forms were sent home for the West Coast Seeds Fundraiser.  Orders can also be done online by clicking here.  For more information, please click here.  Orders are due on Wednesday, February 12th.