Thunder News Flash – December 12-16

We are happy to announce that our Book Fair was a great success, and we exceeded our goal!  This means that we have received over $1,900 in product rewards to help provide our school with some great books and resources.  A big thank you to everyone who supported our Book Fair and helped to make it as successful as it was.

Come join the Christmas Eve Children’s Choir at St. Ann’s!  Practices are Wednesdays at 7:30pm in the Church, or come after PREP.  They will be singing in the Christmas Pageant before Mass and in the choir for the 5:00pm Christmas Eve Mass.  For more information, please contact Kristina by email by clicking here  or by phone at 604-773-1446.

Parent Participation reminder:  on January 31st any family who has not completed and entered 10 hours will have the first cheque of $150 cashed.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Shannon Maddalozzo Tou by email by clicking here.

As we get closer to Christmas, and we think about what would be our perfect Christmas gift, let us remember those who are in need far away from where we live.  For about the price of one piece of electronics such as the latest gaming console, an entire village in a third world country could be provided with a water system to give them clean water.  Through Chalice the cost of a water system for a village is $600.  The students in our school are very generous, and if they would consider giving some of the money they may receive as a gift this Christmas as a donation to Chalice, this would have a big impact on the lives of many.  With 225 students in the school, if each student were to donate even $5 of their Christmas money we could raise almost enough to provide two villages with clean water.  If each student donated $10 we would have almost enough to buy four villages systems to provide clean water.  What a difference we could make in the lives of many! 

While it is wonderful for us to be thinking about those in need who are far away, there are also many people in need right in our own neighbourhood.  We have one more week to collect items for St. Vincent de Paul to include in their Christmas hampers.  Here are some suggestions of some much needed items that you could donate: 

• Canned items such as vegetables, fruit, soups (especially the favourites like mushroom, tomato and chicken noodle), canned fish, meats and beans
• Pasta and sauces, macaroni and cheese, rice
• Cereals (basic ones like Cheerios, Shreddies, Corn Flakes, etc.), oatmeal packages, pancake mixes and syrup
• Juice boxes or bottles of juice, fruit cups, pudding boxes or cups, granola bars and breakfast bars, packages of cookies
• Coffee, tea, Coffee Mate or whitener, hot chocolate, apple cider packs, powdered milk
• Christmas candy is always a nice treat

It is also nice to put gift cards into the hampers so that the recipients can treat themselves later, or buy items for their family when things go on sale after Christmas.  They do not have to be large, even $5 or $10 is a wonderful gift to give someone.  If you are planning on donating gift cards, please do not put them in the classroom baskets, but instead send them straight to the school office so that they do not get misplaced.  Your generosity is most appreciated at this time of year.

This year we are once again inviting seniors from the four local Catholic parishes, and the grandparents of the students in the school, to attend a special lunch on Wednesday, December 14th, followed by a performance of our Christmas Musical. Doors will open at 12:00pm with lunch served at 12:15pm, and the special performance of our musical Wrapping All The Way will begin at 1:00pm.  Entrance is by donation, however we would ask that anyone attending please R.S.V.P. by calling the school at 604-852-1788 by Monday, December 12th so that we know how many people to prepare for.  Please encourage the seniors that you know in the area to attend this wonderful event.

It has taken a little longer than expected, but the revised Parent Handbook should be posted on the school’s website by the end of next week.  There have been significant updates to this edition of the Parent Handbook as a result of many policy revisions from the Superintendent’s Office.  The majority of the changes occur in the sections on field trips, student behaviour expectations and discipline, as well as student health, however small changes occur throughout the document, so please read through it carefully.

The last day of school before we break for the Christmas holidays, is Friday, December 16th.  Please be aware that the students are dismissed at 12:45pm on December 16th.  This will be a fun-filled day, and since this is a short month with no Thunderwear Thursday we would encourage the students to dress in Christmas colours to help make this day a celebration.  This will be a dress down day, and students do not need to wear their uniform, but as always please be aware that the students must be dressed appropriately.  The students may not wear torn jeans, short shorts, or tops with spaghetti straps, and if they are wearing t-shirts any logos, pictures or sayings must be appropriate, with no bathroom humour.  If it is determined by school administration that a student’s clothes are not appropriate they will be asked to put on their gym strip.  

During the day we will be watching the movie Blizzard.  This is a G rated movie full of family values, positive messages about friendship, and has a story that can be watched and enjoyed by those young and old.  We know the students will have a great day!