Snow Day

Happy snow day everyone! This week was filled with so much excitement and joy, beginning with the success of our Christmas concert - please congratulate your child on their very first performance! They all worked very hard to learn the words and actions- they sang beautifully and I am so proud of them!

For pajama day, many of them enjoyed hot chocolate and everyone enjoyed their bag of popcorn during the movie in the afternoon. Thank you to Mrs. Saharchuk for hosting all of the primary classes (KS, KO, 1, 2, 3) in her classroom for the viewing of Polar Express. By the way, Mrs. Saharchuk will be starting her maternity leave after the first week in January and we will be welcoming Mrs. Melissa Lemire into our CCS community.

 

Yesterday afternoon, our students participated in our Advent retreat which began outside in Mary's rose garden with a decade of the rosary. Afterwards, they rotated from classroom to classroom reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas and how they can prepare their hearts for Jesus' birth.

 

Candygrams were handed out at the end of the day and their Christmas crafts were sent home this week (edible Christmas tree, baby Jesus in manger, toy soldier from the Nutcracker) - unfortunately, their gift to you, parents, was going to be sent home today so you'll have to wait until January! Thank you to Gabriel for giving out Christmas pencils to every student and to Riley for sharing his Christmas treats with us.

I would like to wish each and every family a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year - it  has been a pleasure to teach your child and I can't wait until we begin again in January 2014! 

Third Week of Advent

Christmas Concert
For Monday and Tuesday, students will wear their school uniforms to school. There will be a dress rehearsal on Monday afternoon so please make sure to send your child's clearly labelled white/light-coloured angel clothes in a plastic bag (leave in their backpack.) They will change after lunch.

For the evening performance on Tuesday, students are asked to return to the Bushey Room (in the Parish Centre) by 6:30pm wearing their white/light-coloured clothes. After the concert, parents can pick up their child from the same room. 

Admission to the concert is a non-perishable food donation for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which assists families in need. Also, there will be beverages and baked goods for sale to support our Outdoor Education and Learning Assistance programs. 

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Final Uniform Clearance
Before our afternoon and evening Christmas Concerts this year we will be holding our final clearance sale of Unimax uniform pieces. Arrangements have already been made to send all unsold pieces to missions overseas. This will be your last chance to get uniform pieces at amazing discounts!

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Changes to the Hot Lunch Program
Please note that a new Hot Lunch program will begin in January.  Please read the information (if you haven't already done so) regarding the changes in ordering and with the provider. Parents will need to sign up, set up a profile, order and pay on line.  One of the biggest changes is that Hot lunch (starting in January) will be every 2 weeks and not every week.  

http://www.mavaliciouskidseat.com/ 

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Holy Childhood Boxes
Our annual Holy Childhood Advent Boxes went out a little late this year. These boxes are meant to be a way for students to contribute to helping children by making little sacrifices of their own. Due to the late start, we will collect those boxes in the first week back to school after Christmas break.

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Pajama Day/Movie Afternoon
On Wednesday, students are encouraged to wear their pajamas to school and enjoy a movie, in the gym, with the whole school.

There will be a popcorn and hot chocolate sale at first recess. Please send your child's money for popcorn and/or hot chocolate in a labelled ziplock bag in their blue homework folder. 

Note: There will be no hot lunch on that day. 

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Advent Retreat
On Thursday, our students will be participating in an Advent retreat among the primary grades. Similar to the stations for 50's day, they will placed in groups and change classrooms every 10 minutes. They will participate in making a craft, watch a video, listen to a story, prayer and Bible reflection. It will be a great reminder for the students to keep Jesus in their hearts during the Christmas season. 

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Last Day of School
Our last of day of classes before Christmas break is Friday, December 20th. Please join us for Mass at 9:00 am. We will be having a noon dismissal on this day.

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No Letter of the Week & No Star of the Week
We will resume with the letter Nn and Star of the Week on the week of January 6th

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CCS Shopping Card Challenge
The Knights of Columbus are selling gift cards. Rather than going to two places, you can now pick up your child and get a gift card at the same time
(If doing so, please tell Miss Easterbrook and she can get the gift card for you). You can also stop by after every Sunday Mass and buy some then. It is a great opportunity to buy a gift card for someone for a birthday, special occasion or even Christmas.  The proceeds from this will go to the Church's building fund. Our challenge is to try to sell the most gift cards so our class can win a pizza party. 

http://ccsunited.ca/announcements/ShoppingCardChallenge.pdf

                   

Second week of Advent

Saint Nicholas
On Friday, we celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas and we talked about the connection between Santa Claus and St. Nicholas.  We also put one shoe in our hallway after recess-an annual CCS tradition-to did not see Saint Nicholas when he put a special treat in our shoes. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children so was a wonderful day to celebrate him and the joy of children.
 

Library
Last week was the last week for students to take out books before the Christmas holidays. All library books are due tomorrow.

Christmas Concert
There will be two shows, 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm, on Tuesday, December 17th. Our students will be on the risers on the right side of the stage so I would find seating on the far right side when you walk into the gym. Our class will be angels so please wear white or light-coloured clothing on that day. Admission to the concert is by food bank donation.

Letter of the Week: Mm
Please help your child collect any words or pictures that start with Mm-keep them in a ziplock and put in their blue folder.

Show and Tell 
Reminder that Tuesday, Dec 10th is our next show and tell day. December them is a family fun (special family trips, activities, games, traditions, etc). Your child may bring in a picture or a brochure from a special trip or a favourite game. 

Vision and Hearing Check
Fraser Health came in on Thursday to do their annual vision and hearing check of our Kindergarten students. Unfortunately, the vision machine stopped working so the nurses will return on Tuesday to finish the rest of the vision checks. If there are any concerns about your child's vision and/or hearing, they will contact you directly. 

Candygrams
Each year, our Christian Servers will sell candycanes for $0.50 and then the students can send them to anyone they want to in the school. Students often buy candygrams for classmates, buddies or sibling and they are sold every day at lunch until Dec 18th. Candygrams are delivered to students on the last day of school. If you would like your child to buy candygrams, write the names of the students who they would like to a candygram to and attach it with their money and I will help them fill our their candygram note. All money raised helps to go support our school's sponsor child in South America.

Parent Fundraising Group (PFG) Meeting
There is a meeting tomorrow at 7:00 pm in the Cenacle room at the Parish Centre. 

Parent hours
If you are looking for things to be sent home for parent hours, please send me a note. I am looking for a few parents to make play dough (various colours) during the Christmas holidays. 

Items Needed for crafts
-empty baby food jars and lids  
-metal juice lids (from frozen juice mixes)
       





 

 

December already?

Advent

The first Sunday of Advent is this Sunday.  We are beginning to discus the importance of preparing our hearts and minds for Christmas. On Thursday, your child brought home an Advent Chain to help count down the days so I would encourage you to help your child take a chain off each day and follow the message inside.  We often become very busy thinking about decorating, shopping and presents...it would be wonderful to take time thinking about the true reason for the season and spending our time in prayer and finding ways to give gifts to Jesus...both in our words and in actions.

 


No Sunday Gospel - sorry, I forgot to send it home this weekend.


Three Way Conferences
It was great to be able to meet with each of you and discuss goals to support your child!

Christmas Concert
Students may wear white or light-coloured clothing for that day-no wings please! We will be making their halos in class.

Tuesday, Dec 3rd
Show and Tell - December theme is
Family fun (special family trips, activities, games, traditions etc.)Your child may bring in a picture or a brochure from a special trip or favourite game.

Thursday, Dec 5th
Kindergarten Hearing and Sight Screening by Public Health.

Letter of the Week: Ll

Please help your child collect any words or pictures that start with Ll-keep them in a small ziplock and put in their blue folder.

Friday, Dec 6th
Join us for 9:00am Food Bank Mass and at 2:30pm for our Advent assembly in the gym 

Websites
Some parents were asking about websites to help their child learn about phonics.

Starfall's Learn to Read with phonics
Tumblebooks - Animated Stories

Math 
This week, I introduced colour and shape patterns. If you would like to practice at home, here are some ideas:

  

 

Popcorn Sale this Wednesday

 

This Wednesday is Popcorn Day so if you would like your child to have popcorn, please send in $0.50/per bag by Wednesday morning.

 

Christmas Concert "The Legend of the Christmas King"

Christmas Concert
As December approaches very quickly it is that time to get organized for the Christmas Concert. There will be 2 shows on December 17th at 1pm and 7pm.
*Students will be dismissed from the CLASSROOM AFTER the 1:00 performance and are asked to return for 6:30 in our classroom for the evening performance.  Please note that entry will be a food bank donation. 


Grade KO, KS and Grade 1: Angels- students need to be in all white.

Report Cards
Report cards were sent home on Friday as well as your time for Three Way Conferences.

Three Way Conferences
Our 3 way conferences begin after school on Thursday Nov 28th and all day November 29th (No School).  Students need to come to school with their uniform- please wait outside our classroom until your scheduled time. Our meeting will be 10 minutes. 

Parish Bazaar, Sat Nov. 30th 9-2pm
Hope to see everyone there - it is an annual parish event. It begins with breakfast hosted by the Knights of Columbus, a lunch hosted by CWL, games, bake table, charity tree, white elephant tables, craft table, CCS student craft sale, used book sale and performances from CCS bank and choir. The choir will be singing at the Craft Bazaar on November 30, 2013 at 11:00 AM. 

Donations to the Philippines
Thank you to all those who brought cash donations on Tuesday (non-uniform day) as well donations in clothes and other items for the Philippines.  We have boxes and boxes of clothes, shoes, blankets to donate - way to go CCS!

Letter of the Week:Kk
Please help your child collect any words or pictures that start with Kk  

Warm Coat, Hat & Gloves
Please ensure that your child has a warm coat, a hat/toque as well as gloves for recess time. Also a reminder to label all of their articles of clothing. 
Here is the fundraising link for our Mabel's Labels page http://shop.mabelslabels.com/Microsites/fundie_landing/index.php
 

Volunteer Needed with Spreadsheet Experience

The school office is in need of a volunteer with experience in Excel. This task involves inputting information regarding an upcoming ski trip and would require the work to be completed during the month of December. For more information or to volunteer please contact the school office at 604-574-5151 or office@ccsunited.ca

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Families are asked to bring in jars (with candy, stickers, or small toys) for the jar game at the Parish Bazaar. Please have students bring them to the classrooms by next Thursday, November 28.

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Family Gym Time
At the parish auditorium on Sun, Dec 8th from 1-3pm. Come and spend some quality fun time with your children and other families from the parish.

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Parish Christmas Potluck Dinner
The Knights of Columbus invites all parishioners to come to a potluck supper on Sun, Dec 15th at 5pm. Bring a dish to share. After dinner there will be a Christmas Sing-a-long and presentation of the Christmas story. Bring your singing voice (or just come to listen) and get yourself in the Christmas spirit. KofC cash bar will be available.

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Our Lady of Guadalupe

You are invited to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Patroness of the Americas

Saturday, December 7, 2013

English/Spanish Mass 4:30 pm - Precious Blood Parish, Cloverdale 17475 59 Avenue, Surrey BC

Fun family reception to follow in the parish centre. Full Mexican dinner and dessert, music and piñatas. 

Knights of Columbus cash bar.

Tickets available at the Precious Blood Parish Office. Call 604 574-4363 or email pbparish@telus.net

Adults $15, Children (6-12 years) $10, $10 to reserve a table.

 

Brrr...it's cold!

Parents, please make sure your child has a warm coat, toque and or gloves - whatever they need to keep warm outside. As with all articles of clothing, please make sure each item is clearly labelled with their name.



Our Christmas concert will be held on the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, December 17th and our students will be dressing up as angels (all white clothing).

Three Way Conference forms are due TOMORROW

Please send in your three way conference forms by tomorrow Nov 19th so that we can send a confirmation of your time by Friday. It was sent home last week with the oldest child.

Thanks!



 

50's Day on Monday and other reminders

Monday
Students are encouraged to dress up in 50's clothing (see blue sheet for ideas) as we are celebrating in the afternoon with different stations such as hula hoop contest, 50's crafts, limbo contest and lastly a sock hop with soda floats!

Tuesday
Last week, Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, the worst hit was the province of Leyte. Thousands are left homeless and loved ones are still missing. Until now, relief and aid are slow to trickle in.
On TUESDAY NOV 19, we will have Toonie Tuesday. Bring $2.00 and participate in non-uniform day.
   For every dollar we donate, the government will match it!

Wednesday
Hot lunch - Tim Horton's

Friday
Term 1 Report Cards are sent home

*Three Way Conference forms were sent home today with the oldest only.  Please fill the form out for your family and return to the school.
 
*No School on Friday, Nov 29th due to Three Way Conferences 

**Does anyone have a CD player that they are not using? I am looking for one to use in our classroom. Please let me know...

Have a great weekend!  

Hot Lunch order with no name

Parents,

There is one hot lunch order that has no name on it so the hot lunch committee can not process the order. The order was for 2 beef hot dogs and the total was $5.00. The payment was in cash. Please let me know asap if this is your child's order.

Thanks,

Geraldine

This week

Reminders for this week:

Letter of the Week is Ii-encourage your child to bring in any pictures or words that start with the letter Ii

Blankets-please wash your child's blanket and return to school on Tuesday

Hot lunch on Wednesday by Goode Eats 

Top Marks Fitting and Exchange on Wednesday from 145-245 at the Parish Centre

School Mass on Friday at 9am-please join us if you can!

Upcoming Events

1. Poinsettia Orders are due Monday, Nov 18th 
2. Both Kindergarten classes and Grade 1's are celebrating 50th day together on Monday, Nov 18th. Students are encourage to dress up in 50's attire.
3. Report cards will be sent home on Friday, Nov 22nd
4. Three way conferences: Thursday evening on Nov 28th and Friday (all day) Nov 29th. A notice will be coming home soon regarding setting up conference times.
5. Parish Bazaar & Poinsettia pick up on Saturday, Nov 30th from 9-2pm 

We Remember

Last week ended with a fun All Saints Day Party with all the primary students going from station to station, during the afternoon. Thanks to all the parents who helped their child get dressed as their favourite Holy Hero - it made the day more enjoyable as we watched all the different Saints walking around!


Also on Friday, Sister Mary Bethany's students presented a Saints Museum in which we heard from 8 students and some interesting facts about their Saint. For example, one student explained the history of St.Valentine and gave out a tattoo to each student.

 


Another student who shared how St. Marie Rose Durocher (from Quebec, Canada!) cured her Dad's illness. She was generous enough to give each student a prayer card!







Reminders for this week
*Letter of the Week: Hh  Please send in any pictures of Hh words

*Poppies will be sold (by donation) at lunchtime- if you'd like your child to wear one at school, please put your donation in your child's blue folder

*Parish Bazaar Craft: Tuesday from 1-2pm, our class will be making their craft for our annual Parish Bazaar but we need parent volunteers in order to complete the craft. Volunteers can contact Lily Sebellin, student craft co-ordinator at lilysebellin@shaw.ca   If you have your own glue gun, please bring it to our classroom Tuesday afternoon.

*Join us for our Remembrance Day Assembly on Wednesday @ 1:30 pm in the school gym

*If you have any 'Agape' candy and 'We Scare Hunger' food bank donations, please send them in as Thursday will be the last day

*Mon, Nov 18th: We will be celebrating the 50th day of school and students are asked to dressed in 50's clothes

*Friday is a Professional Day and Monday is Remembrance Day - enjoy the long weekend!

Poinsettia Plants

The Grade 6 students will be selling poinsettia plant to raise money for their October Education Program. In your child's blue folder tonight, you will find the order form. Feel free to ask your family, friends and neighbours to purchase their poinsettias from CCS. Poinsettias can be picked up on Saturday, Nov 30th at the Parish Bazaar in the gym at the parish centre.

Please return the form with payment by Monday, November 18th. All cheques are made payable to Cloverdale Catholic School.

Parents invitation to sing in the Christmas Choir

All parents are invited to participate in Christmas Choir this year.
Practices are Thursday nights at 7pm and we are doing the 6:30pm mass on Christmas Eve. Also, the time spent at choir practice counts towards volunteer hours. Its a fun way for parents to do their service hours.

 

Volunteers Needed for Tuesday, Nov 5th 1-2 pm

I'm looking for at least 4 volunteers to help with the student's craft that will be sold at the Parish Bazaar on Nov 30th. If you are able, come to the classroom on Tuesday afternoon 1-2 pm and bring your glue guns (if you have any).

Volunteers can contact Lily Sebellin by email at lilysebellin@shaw.ca 

We Remember Cross

In your child's blue homework folder, you will find a red cross that your child can cut
out and return back to school as soon as possible. Please add any family member or friend's name (full name) that have passed away and we will be praying for the in the month of November. Sunday, Nov 2nd is All Souls Day so we would like to acknowledge all of our loved ones who are already in heaven.

Our First Popcorn Sale - tomorrow

Popcorn: We will have our first popcorn sale tomorrow October 30th.  Popcorn goes on sale at first recess for 0.50 cents.

                                               
50s day: We will be celebrating the 50th day of school on November 18th. Students in Kindergarten and Grade One can wear 50s clothes and we will be doing some fun activities on this day.  You will receive a note about this soon.

               

Food Bank Mass - this Friday

Thursday - Non uniform Day

Bring $1 and wear Filipino flag colours (red, white, blue and yellow) in support of Holy Cross students that will travel to the Philippines for their mission trip.

 

Thanks to the Tamis family for a memorable field trip!

Thank you to those who were able to drive to our field trip on Thursday to Rondriso farms-we couldn't have done it without you. Also, thanks to Pam and Ron Tamis for your generosity in hosting our wonderful field trip. Thanks to those families who sent in food donations which will be given to the Food Bank in the Tamis' name.

Reminders for this week 'Missions Week'
 
-Letter of the Week: Gg please bring in any words or pictures of Gg words

-Join us on Wednesday at 1:30pm in the gym for our Living Rosary

-Friday is our Primary All Saints Party and students are encouraged to dress up as a Saint of their choice. Please fill in the Saint sheet and return it on Friday so your child can share with the class who they are. 

*I'm looking for someone who can bake 2 dozen cupcakes for our celebration on Friday and it will be used for our cupcake walk. Please let me know and it can be counted for your service hours. 

-We are collecting candy for the Agape Street Ministry as well as non-perishable food items for the Food Bank. 

This Friday's Mass is a Food Bank Mass. 

No more Beyblades and toys at school

Update: I have decided that all toys (including stuffed animals and Beyblades) need to stay home. There have been many issues that have arised from bringing toys from home especially the fact that the students are not being physically active during their recess time.

Changes to Show and Tell

I have to decided to still have Show and Tell on Tuesdays but it will now be for all the students (Tables # 1-4). This should reduce any confusion but please continue to follow the theme of each month.


November - Special person (why are they special, how you know them, show pictures etc).

December - Family fun (special family trips, activities, games, traditions etc.)

January - “Look what I did, Look what I made!” 

February - A Collection

March - Guess what’s in the Mystery Box? (Your child brings in a mystery item in a paper bag.  Ask him/her to make up 2 or 3 riddles or clues for the item and we will try to guess what it is.  YOU may want to jot down the clues for me to read in case your child forgets what to say.)

April- Animal stories (tell about a real animal; wild, farm, or pet )

May-Favourite game

June-Favourite toy