Thunder News Flash – June 10, 2023

Entrepreneur Fair – Wednesday, June 14th

We are so excited to be hosting our FIRST EVER Entrepreneur Fair on Wednesday, June 14th from 9 am – 3 pm. Students in Grade 6 and 7 have been working so hard to create, develop and refine products that they will offer for sale to students and families. Students will have the opportunity to come down to the gym during the day with their classes to purchase items that range from wooden crosses, sensory toys, bracelets, keychains, jewelry, dog treats and much, much more. Most items offered for sale will cost between $2-5. We are hoping that students in the school will be excited to purchase some items from the Entrepreneur Fair! Students should try to bring a reusable shopping bag in order to keep their treasures safe! Parents and families are also welcome to stop by the gym to make purchases as well. We appreciate all of your support!

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 2022-2023 school year.  If you are having difficulty completing your hours, please contact Mrs. Lee by email by clicking here

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 12th:

There will be no school for the students on Monday, June 12th, as the staff gathers to plan for the 2022-2023 school year.

Celebration of Gifts – Monday, June 19th:

We are continuing the tradition of honouring each one of our students for the gifts that they have, as well as their areas of excellence at school. This year, after careful consideration and discussions with our dedicated staff, we have collectively decided to shift the event to the classroom environment.  We believe this will enhance the experience for our students and allow for more personal interactions with their teachers and classmates. By moving the celebration to the classroom, we aim to foster an intimate and warm atmosphere that encourages close connections between students and their peers. It will provide an opportunity for your child to share their excitement and joy in a small group setting, allowing for individual attention and meaningful interactions.  Parents will receive the certificates that will be included in the third term Progress Report. Please note that the Grade 7 students will receive their certificates at the Grade 7 Farewell.  

Grab & Go Gratitude – Wednesday, June 21st:

The school staff would like an opportunity to thank all of the parents for the amazing support you have given us during this 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 22nd:

We will be celebrating our Grade 7 students with a special “farewell event” on Thursday, June 22nd, from 5:45pm – 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 celebration in the gym.

Step Up Day – Monday, June 26th 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.  A reminder that Grade 7’s will go home at noon on this day.

Rag & Bag Day – Tuesday, 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 – Wednesday, June 28th – dismissal at 11:30am:

Wednesday, June 28th is the last day of school as this 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!

Congratulations to all our winners at our Walkathon 2023 Prize Rally!  With more than 63% participation, we have raised $20,884.24, with a large portion of the money going toward creating more outdoor learning and fun spaces at our school. 

We want to give a huge thank you to all our prize donors.  The students were truly inspired to work hard at raising funds.  And an even bigger thank you to our school community – we couldn’t have done this without you!

The St. James & St. Ann’s Parent Fundraising Association (PFA) 

The Regional Education Committee has appointed Miss Sheena Lewis as the new Vice Principal, effective September 1st, 2023.  Please join us in extending our warmest congratulations to Miss Lewis on this appointment.

The next Work Bee will take place at the school today, Saturday, June 10th 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.  We are very grateful for all of your hard work around the school.