Thunder News Flash – May 25, 2019

At our school assembly in November we talked about how prayer is an essential part of our faith.  This past week we had the opportunity to participate in the Living Rosary as a school.  What a beautiful example of communal prayer, and a wonderful way to celebrate Mary, our mother.  The rosary was led by our Grade 3 class and their Grade 6 buddies, and as always the students were very reverent.  This was once again an opportunity to remind ourselves how lucky we are to be in a school where we can openly express our faith and share in moments like this.

Please note these important dates in May and June:

• Wednesday, May 29th – Confirmation Mass at St. James Parish
• Thursday, May 30th – Thunderwear Thursday
• Tuesday, June 4th – Community Coffee
• Tuesday, June 4th – Early Dismissal Day – 12:55pm
• Friday, June 7th – Sports Day – dismissal at 12:15pm
• Monday, June 10th – Planning Day Pro-D – no school for students
• Tuesday, June 11th – Neat Uniforms Fitting Day – 2:00-7:00pm
• Thursday, June 20th – Thunderwear Thursday
• Thursday, June 20th – Grade 7 Farewell
• Monday, June 24th – Step Up Day
• Tuesday, June 25th – Grab & Go Gratitude
• Wednesday, June 26th – Celebration of Excellence
• Wednesday, June 26th – Rag & Bag Day
• Thursday, June 27th – Last day of school – dismissal at 11:30am

More information about some of these events will be included in the News Flash in the future, and can also be found on the school’s website calendar.

We are very excited to tell you that we are making a few changes to our Sports Day this year.  The students will stay with their grade, and will be divided up into four different colour groups – the Red Team, the Blue Team, the Yellow Team and the Green Team.  Each class will then move from station to station with their Classroom Teacher, and participate in a variety of “old fashioned” Sports Day games led by the Grade 7 students.  The students will come to school dressed in either their gym strip or their Thunderwear, but they may accessorize to represent their colour team.  This could mean some face paint, or hair colour; this could mean a bandana in their hair or on their arm; this could mean coloured laces in their running shoes – the possibilities are only limited by the imagination of the students and their parents.  However, please do not feel that you need to spend lots of money on these accessories, as each team from each grade will be creating a poster at school and there will also be a cheer for each colour team created by our Grade 6 students.  Please note that Sports Day will go ahead rain or shine, so the students need to be dressed for the weather.  The students will be provided with a treat at the rest station, and a hotdog lunch that day.  Further information will be sent home either through emails or the News Flash as needed, and teachers will be letting their students know which colour team they are on shortly.

One of our classrooms is in need of a four-drawer, letter-sized filing cabinet with a working lock with keys.  Since this is the time of year when many of us are engaging in some spring cleaning, we thought that before buying a new one we would ask if anyone has a cabinet that they no longer need.  If that is you, please call the school office at 604-852-1788 and we will happily help you find a new “forever home” for your filing cabinet.

The final hot lunch form for this school year went home on Thursday, and is due back by Friday, May 31st at 2:40pm.  No late order forms will be accepted.  The last hot lunch day will take place on Tuesday, June 11th, so please make sure to send your children to school with a lunch on the remaining two Tuesdays of June!

Why not celebrate the Easter season by joining the Parent Prayer Group in praying the rosary for our school community at 8:30am on Thursday mornings.  Please note that they meet each week in the school Library.  Small children and babies are welcome.

As you may have heard, St. Mary’s School in Chilliwack tragically lost their Grade 5 teacher last week.  John Mills passed away in his sleep during the night of May 13th.  He leaves behind his wife Seana, and their 10 year old son, Liam.  Unfortunately John’s wife had just undergone surgery so she was off work, and this is leaving John’s family in a very challenging financial situation.  A Go Fund Me campaign has been set up to help his family, and if you can help in any way please click here.

A revised copy of the Parent Handbook is now on the school’s website.  Please pay particular attention to revisions and additions regarding screen time, learning resources, student use of school-based technology, school functions, and the uniform policy.  However, please note that changes that were made and shared with parents at our Annual General Meeting through the Re-Registration Package are for the 2019-2020 school year and will be updated in the Parent Handbook in August.

On June 1st Advokate will be sponsoring the 30th annual Walk for Life at Mill Lake Park.  Money raised from this fun, family activity will go to support several Advokate initiatives including the Hope for Women Pregnancy Services.  Brochures with more information were sent home with the oldest child in each family last week.

The monthly Hospital Mass will take place tomorrow, Sunday, May 26th at 4:00pm at the Sacred Space in the Abbotsford Hospital.  Any students wishing to read, please meet Mrs. Wakely at 3:45 at the Sacred Space.  This is a wonderful outreach opportunity for our students and their families.