Thunder News Flash – November 7-11

Just a reminder to parents from the Hot Lunch crew to please ensure that you complete the Hot Lunch forms properly, with all the details that are required at the top.  Include the last name and first name of each child, their grade and your phone number.  If there are any issues that need to be checked on and the form is not completely filled out, it makes it difficult for these volunteers to take the required action.

Please note that other than inhalers for asthma, or epi-pens for anaphylactic reactions, students may not have medication with them at school.  If there are children who require daily medication, whether this is ongoing or for a specific period of time, or those who require occasional medication, this medication must be kept at the office.  Parents need to complete an “Administration of Medication” form, which must be on file at the school, and all medication must be administered by an adult staff member or the parent themselves.

Please note that trading cards of any kind are not to be brought to school by students.  This has been a problem in the past, as younger students have been taken advantage of with unfair trading.  As a result of this if trading cards are brought to school they will be confiscated, sent to the school office, and parents must pick them up at the end of the day.  They will not be returned to students.

If your child has been absent from school and you have not sent in an absentee note, on Friday the office sent one home for you to fill out.  Notes are required for all absences to comply with our yearly Eligible Student audit.  If you receive one of these notes, please return it to the school office explaining the absence as soon as possible.  When your child is absent from school you can go onto the St. James and St. Ann’s website under the Parents’ tab and fill out the absentee note.  The school will then receive an email which serves two purposes – it informs the office that your child will be away, and it satisfies the requirements of our audit.  You can find this absentee note by clicking here.

On Thursday, November 24th we will have our first term Parent/Teacher Interviews from 1:00pm – 8:00pm.  Please be advised that there is no school that day for students, and these interviews are for the parents and teachers only.  The forms are due back at the school by November 10th, although many of the time periods are already full, so please return your form as soon as possible.  Time slots were scheduled on a “first come first served” basis.  

Our next Work Bee will take place at the school on Saturday, November 19th.  If you are scheduled to help at the Work Bee on that date and you have a leaf blower, please bring it to help clean up the school grounds.  This will be most appreciated!

We continue to receive many donations of money from students for chores they have done, or gifts they have received as we collect money for Chalice this year with our “Give Without Getting” philosophy.  So far this year we have collected $101.75 in our chores jar and $42.96 in our gifts jar, for a total of $144.71.  Thank you to all those students who have donated so far this year, but we know that we can do even better!

How much do you know about the digital world your kids are living in?  Probably not enough!  Jesse Miller will be presenting a parent workshop called “Social Media and Digital Literacy – Become an Active and Engaged Parent” on Monday, November 14th at 7:00 – 8:30pm in the gym at St. Mary’s School, Chilliwack.  Jesse will cover a number of current concerns pertaining to youth and social media use.  He will discuss a positive approach to technology while reflecting the parental, school, and community concerns associated with social media abuse and technology distractions.  If your kids don’t have access to digital devices, they soon will.  If you think your kids are too young, they won’t be for long.  Social media and the digital world provide outstanding opportunities for growth and connectedness, but also provide never before seen dangers.  Are your children ready to face this?  Are you ready to help them?  This presentation is free to all parents, however donations will be gratefully accepted at the door to defray costs of the presentation.  

There will be no school on Friday, November 11th, as we are closed for the Remembrance Day holiday.  Please take time on November 11th to stop and remember all those soldiers who have fought for the peace that we enjoy today.  We will have a Remembrance Day assembly on Wednesday, November 9th at 8:45am in the school gym, and all are welcome to attend.