Thunder News Flash – June 11, 2022

As we move from Public Health Orders to being “Health Aware”, here are some important reminders:

• complete a daily health check with your child – please click here to see the most up-to-date information regarding this
• monitor your children regularly for symptoms of illness – if they are sick, they should stay home.  Please click here for information about testing for COVID-19
• follow all of the provincial restrictions that are currently in place – please click here for the latest information
• follow all of the travel guidelines put in place federally – please click here for the latest information
• if you would like your child to wear a mask at school, please ensure they bring at least one mask with them to school each day
• seek reputable sources of information about COVID-19, such as the BCCDC, including how to protect yourself, your family and your community, and what to do if you suspect you have the virus by clicking here

This is a reminder to please log all of your Parent Participation hours through the school’s portal.  This can be found on the school’s website by clicking here, or at the bottom of this News Flash.  Please note that June 15th is the deadline to complete your 20 hours of Parent Participation for the 2021-2022 school year.  If you are having difficulty completing your hours, please contact Mrs. Sask by email by clicking here, or please continue reading below for some opportunities to help.

Please read below for a number of tasks that require parent assistance:

• Outdoor Kindergarten still requires volunteer help to supervise the students to be able to go off site.  If you have a valid Criminal Record Check on file with the school, and you are available from 8:45 – 10:00am on school days, please contact Mrs. Di Palma by email by clicking here
• A beautiful promotional flyer has been created to help let people in the Abbotsford area know that we have some space available for next school year.  We would like the flyers delivered to local preschools, and to neighbourhoods around the school.  For more information, please contact Mrs. Sask by email by clicking here 
• The plaque is now ready to be installed near the beautiful dogwood tree in memory of Mrs. Ni Lorcain’s son – if you are available to help with digging a hole and cementing in the wooden beam the plaque is attached to, please come to the next Work Bee on June 11th at 9:00am, and let Mrs. Sask know that you are able to help with this by email by clicking here 

Thank you for your help with these volunteer opportunities.

The summer months are some of the hardest for those in need, as donations to food banks seem to slow down during these busy times.  St. James & St. Ann’s School will be collecting donations of non-perishable food items that we will give to support the homeless in Surrey, through NightShift, as well as the poor and migrant workers in Abbotsford, through St. Ann’s St. Vincent de Paul.  We are particularly looking for the following items:

• large jars of jam
• large jars of peanut butter
• bags of rice
• canned soups, vegetables, etc.
• cereal
• baking supplies such as flour, sugar, cake mixes, baking powder, etc.
• dry pasta
• Kraft Dinner

Please bring in your donations between Tuesday, June 14th and Friday, June 17th, and let’s make summer a time when those in need don’t have to worry about their next meal.

Even though the weather is rainier and the sky cloudier than we would like this June, the temperatures are definitely rising.  Many students are coming to school without refillable water bottles, and are asking for cups to get themselves a drink.  Unfortunately we do not have a large supply of disposable cups at the school, and we do not want to contribute to our overflowing landfills in this way.  Please ensure that your child comes to school each day with a refillable water bottle, and we are happy to supply as much water as they need to keep hydrated throughout their school day.

June continues to be a very busy month with many activities and events planned.  Here is some information to help you plan for the remainder of the school year:

Planning Day – Monday, June 13th:

There will be no school for the students on Monday, June 13th, as the staff gathers to plan for the 2022-2023 school year.

Celebration of Gifts – Monday, June 20th:

We are continuing the tradition that we started last year, honouring each one of our students for the gifts that they have, as well as their areas of excellence at school.  However, this year we are excited to let you know that we will be able to invite family members to be guests at this wonderful celebration.  Each class will come to the Gym at a specific time, and each child will be called up to receive their certificate.  Please note that the Grade 7 students will receive their certificates at the Grade 7 Farewell on June 23rd.  The schedule for the day on Monday, June 20th is as follows:

• 8:40 – Grade 1
• 9:25 – Grade 5
• 10:10 – Kindergarten
• 10:55 – Grade 4
• 11:40 – Grade 3
• 12:25 – Grade 6
• 1:10 – Grade 2

Parents are welcome to come for their child’s scheduled time, or for the whole day, as we know that our students deserve an audience as their gifts and areas of excellence are celebrated!

Grab & Go Gratitude – Thursday, June 23rd:

The school staff would like an opportunity to thank all of the parents for the amazing support you have given us during the 2021-2022 school year.  From 8:00am – 8:30am we will be stationed in the Drop Off Lane, handing out coffee and homemade treats to all the parents – our small way to say that we appreciate everything you do for your children and all of us.  Just like a drive through, without the window!

Grade 7 Farewell – Thursday, June 23rd:

We will be celebrating our Grade 7 students with a special “farewell event” on Thursday, June 23rd, from 6:00pm – 8:30pm.  This evening is for the Grade 7 students and their families, and will begin with Mass at St. James Church, followed by a dessert celebration.

Step Up Day – Friday, June 24th in the afternoon:

Students who will be in Grades 1 – 7 next school year will have the opportunity to “step up” to their new grade for the afternoon.  This is always a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn a little bit about their future grade, meet next year’s teacher and participate in some fun activities.

Rag & Bag Day – Monday, June 27th:

Each student is asked to come to school on June 27th with a rag and a sturdy bag.  They will use the rag to wash down their desk and chair, and help to clean up their classroom.  The bag will be used to pack up and bring home all of their belongings, as the school year comes to a close the next day.

Last Day of School – Tuesday, June 28th – dismissal at 11:30am:

Tuesday, June 28th is the last day of school as the 2021-2022 school year comes to an end.  We will attend Mass as a school, and we invite parents to join us for this special celebration where we send off our Grade 7 students, ask our Grade 6 students to take over the leadership role at the school, and say goodbye to a number of staff members and families who are leaving the school.  After Mass we go back to the school to watch our yearend slide show, and then the students return to their classrooms to collect their final Progress Reports.  It is always a bittersweet day at school, but we look forward to the many adventures that are to come!

While we had a very successful re-registration of our existing students, and will be welcoming many new students to the school in September, there are still some spaces available for the 2022-2023 school year.  If you know of any families who are considering sending their children to St. James & St. Ann’s School, we have a few spaces available in Kindergarten and Grades 5 and 6, and limited space in Grades 2 and 7.  The Application Package can be found on our school’s website or by clicking here. 

The Abbotsford Judo Club will be celebrating their 40th anniversary this summer on Saturday, July 16th.  They will be having an open house style event with free Judo classes, Judo demonstrations, outdoor activities, food and more.  For more information, please see their poster by clicking here. 

The next Work Bee will take place at the school today, Saturday, June 11th from 9:00am to 2:00pm. This is a great way to earn five hours towards your Parent Participation commitment.  Hopefully the weather will be good, so please bring gloves for both indoor and outdoor work, as well as any small cordless garden tools that you have.  Please remember to complete a daily health check before coming to the Work Bee, and stay home if you are unwell.  We are very grateful for all of your hard work around the school.

Do you have school uniform pieces that your children have outgrown, and you don’t know what to do with them?  Please consider donating them to the school to go into our consignment cupboard.  We will be having a huge sale of used uniform pieces on June 23rd and 24th – some items will be marked down to very affordable prices, and other items will be for sale by donation.  As you do your spring cleaning, we will happily take uniform pieces that are clean and in good condition.  You can simply drop them off at the school office and we will take care of the rest!

There are two positions available on our Regional Education Committee (REC) for parishioners from Sts. Joachim & Ann Parish, as well as one position available for parishioners from St. Joseph’s Parish, Mission.  These positions are for two year terms, and fulfill your Parent Participation hours.  If you are interested in learning more about becoming a member of the REC, please contact our Chairperson, Tasha Mijinke, by clicking here.  

Have you experienced the joys (and exhaustion!) of welcoming a new baby into your home and would like to help a young family as they walk that journey?  We are gathering a list of people who would be willing to bring a dinner to a family from St. Ann’s Parish in the first few weeks of bringing home a baby.

How does it work?

When a baby is born, we will send out a notification to the list of volunteers and then you can pick a day that suits your schedule to cook or buy a dinner for the family.  You would then deliver the meal to their front door during a time frame that suits you and them (i.e. between 3-5pm).  There should be no need for you to go into their home, so for those who are still taking precautions for COVID, it is quite low risk.

If you are able to bless a young family during this special time in their lives, please contact Angela Veters & Maria McHugh by email by clicking here or calling 778-982-1353 and we will add you to the list.