Thunder News Flash – November 30, 2024

Save the Date – December 19th (Matinee and Evening Performance)

You are invited to the greatest birthday bash ever! This energetic children’s Christmas celebration is overflowing with colourful characters, plenty of humour, a clever story, and a clear evangelistic message: what will you do when Jesus knocks on the door of your heart? Join skeptical news anchor Rod Stark as he covers a small story with a big message. The Best Christmas Present Ever! will delight audiences of every age.

We are excited to offer a special performance of the Christmas Musical this year for the Seniors of our 4 parishes and grandparents of the students in the school.  We will be offering a light lunch at 12:00, followed by a performance of our Musical at 1pm.  We are looking forward to welcoming our treasured seniors from our community to help us celebrate the Advent season.  This special lunch and performance is open to SENIORS ONLY.  Please RSVP by calling the school office at 604-852-1788 or email the office at office@stjameselementary.ca by December 9th.  No late RSVP’s will be accepted as we will be ordering the food based on the RSVP numbers.  Doors open at 11:45. Thank you!

We will be continuing our special school tradition of the Christmas Giving Tree this year.  Please consider donating a food item or gift card to those in need this Christmas.  All donations will gifted to Nightshift Street Ministries.   Our campaign will begin next week and will run until December 13th.  To indicate your donation item, we will be using the same process as when parents sign up for conferences.  You will simply go online and select the item you will be purchasing.  If you want to select another item, you simply have to add another item.  Once you have purchased your item(s), your child may bring them to the school in the morning and place them in the collection bins outside of the Library, and your child will be given an ornament to place on the Christmas tree.  Any gift cards that are purchased should be brought directly to the office by your child.  The link to the electronic sign up will be emailed to parents.

Donation items that we are looking for include:

• Superstore Gift Cards ($20 or more)
• Jam (large Costco size)
• Peanut Butter (large Costco size)
• Powdered Hot Chocolate (large Costco size)
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate Bars
• Individually Wrapped Candy
• Mini Chocolate Bars

Please remember that there is absolutely NO passing in the Pick Up and Drop Off Lane.  The safety of our students is of paramount importance.  Our school staff will continue to do our very best to keep cars moving safely; please follow their direction.  If your child is not ready to enter or leave the car, you may be asked to pull forward and park to wait for your child. 

Please remember that there are a lot of moving vehicles in the parking lot.  For safety, please be sure that you walk beside your children as they cross the parking lot.  Children are still learning important parking lot safety rules and they need your example right beside them.  As well, this will help prevent unfortunate accidents that could happen if children are moving in a space where cars are also moving.  Thank you in advance for your assistance with this.

Please be sure to pass this important information along to any family members who may be driving your children to or from school.  Thank You! 

We are saying Goodbye to 2 teachers – Ms. Papaianni and Mrs. Cobo.  Ms. Papaianni had her last day on Wednesday, November 27.  Mrs. Cobo’s last day will be December 6th.  We wish them both the best in their future endeavours.   

We welcome Ms. Ross, who will be our interim teacher in Grade 3.

St. Ann’s Parish, Knights of Columbus and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are combining their efforts to run the annual Christmas Hamper Program.  This year applications will go through the St. Ann’s Parish Office.  Submit your application by November 28th. 

If you or anyone you know would benefit from receiving one of our Hampers, please visit http://www.stannsabbotsford.ca for more information.  This year you will need to fill out an application to receive a Hamper.  If you have any questions, please call the St. Ann’s Parish Office or Mike Cecil at 778 241-7838.

St. James and St. Ann’s school offers a variety of fun sports and events. Please check the Newsflash each week for the most recent posts/ updates regarding the schedule of sports practices, games and events.  The dates of upcoming practices and games include:

VolleyBall

• • • • Monday, December 2nd – 7:45-8:20am – Grade 5
      • Tuesday, December 3rd – 3:00-4:30pm – Grade 5 Tournament @ MEI
      • Thursday, December 5th – 3:00-4:00 – Grade 5 vs Cornerstone @ St. James