Thunder News Flash – January 2-6

This Thunder News Flash will be arriving in your “inbox” on January 1st, so we would like to wish all of you a very happy new year.  We hope that 2017 will bring many blessings in the year to come.  While we are entering a new calendar year, we will return to school still in the Christmas season according to the liturgical calendar.  Let us remember that the Christmas season in the Church lasts until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 9th. 

We hope that the children are still enjoying all those gifts that they received for Christmas, but are remembering that there are many children around the world who are not nearly as fortunate as they are.  Let us remember those who are in need far away from where we live.  We are hopeful that with your encouragement your children will be willing to donate a few dollars of any Christmas money they may have received to help purchase water systems to help those who can only dream of clean water.  Through Chalice the cost of a water system for a village is $600.  Please encourage your children to bring in a portion of their Christmas gift money, and on Friday, January 6th we will count up all the money in our “gifts” jar and see how much of an impact we have made with their generosity.  Together we can make big things happen! 

What wonderful news – the first day back is a Hot Lunch day!  School reopens on Tuesday, January 3rd with Hot Lunch from Quiznos.  However, if you did not place a Hot Lunch order back in December, please remember to pack a lunch for your child.

If you already have children in the school, and would like to have a sibling come into Kindergarten or any other grade for the 2017-2018 school year, you must complete an Application Form.  The Sibling Application Form will be available at the school office starting on January 3rd, and they must be filled out and returned to the school office with all the required supporting documents no later than January 27th.  We will be having our information session for new families on Wednesday, February 8th and we would like to be able to tell the new families approximately how many spaces are available in each grade.  

Please join us for our first school Mass of the 2017 calendar year on Wednesday, January 4th at 9:00am at St. James Church.  This Mass will be led by our Grade 5 class.

Once again we will be selling DVD copies of our Christmas Musical, Wrapping All The Way, for $10 each.  If you would like to order a copy, simply email the school office by clicking here and requesting a copy.  Please let us know the family name and the number of copies you would like.  We will let you know when the copies are available, and will collect the money for the DVD when you come to pick it up.

While we know that weather forecasting is difficult to do, especially in the Lower Mainland, the most recent long-range forecasts are calling for quite a bit more snow in the second week of January.  This is a good time to remind everyone about our procedures for school closures.  If the weather is bad, please listen to Star FM 98.3 or CKNW 980 AM, or watch Global News.  Please do not call the school.  Also, please check our website for updates on school closures, as weather related closures will be posted by 6:30am at the latest. This is also a good time for another reminder about making sure that your children are dressed suitably for outside recess – hats, mitts and boots, and a good winter jacket!

There will be a meeting for all Grade 7 Confirmation Sponsors on Wednesday, January 11th at 6:45pm at St. Ann’s Parish Centre.  If your child’s Sponsor is unable to attend this meeting, a parent must come in their place as it is mandatory that one adult represents each child being confirmed at this meeting.

We will be hosting a New Parents’ Information Session on Wednesday, February 8th from 6:45pm – 7:30pm in the Library at St. James & St. Ann’s School.  This will be an opportunity for new families who are interested in enrolling their children at St. James & St. Ann’s School for the 2017-2018 school year to come and learn all about the school, the application process and have a guided tour of the school.  If you are aware of any families who are interested in having their children attend our school for 2017-2018, please encourage them to attend this meeting.