Wednesday 30 June 2010

And the Year is Done!

Well, it's been quite a fun and exciting year for our wonderful neighbourhood school!

There were so many amazing projects and events this year - the staff, students and families should be incredibly proud of all they accomplished!

Recorder festivals, track meets, science shows, raising butterflies and salmon, family movie nights, the 1st annual walk-a-thon, the Olympic concert, fields trips to Hastings Park and the Serpentine Wildlife Area, Sports Day, and the year-end BBQ’s – and these are only a portion of all the fantastic things our kids got to do this year at Dr. A.R. Lord Elementary School.

In the fall, our kids will start another great year – welcoming a new group of Kindergarten students, a new Vice Principal and having all students together in the Lillooet Building. Next year will also see some exciting new programs for our school. We are thrilled to announce the school has been accepted as part of the BC Fruit & Vegetable Nutritional Program. Students and school staff will receive a fresh, locally grown fruit or vegetable snack weekly, free of charge. The PAC is also looking forward to installing a community garden and hopes to implement a school milk program. We will be hosting more fun family movie nights, community BBQ’s and many other projects to support our teachers and children.

On behalf of the Parent Advisory Committee, we’d like to wish everyone a relaxing, sunny and fun summer. We’ll see you all on Tuesday, September 7th!

Thursday 17 June 2010

Upcoming School Events

The end of the school year is always a busy time - wrapping up class projects, wishing goodluck to our graduating Grade 7 students and saying special goodbyes to our staff that are moving on.

Thursday, June 17th
Grade 7 Graduation Dinner 6pm, Gymnasium

Monday, June 21st
Staff Appreciation Lunch 11:30am - 1:15pm, Library

Tuesday, June 22nd
Year-End Awards Assembly 1:30pm, Gymnasium

Wednesday, June 23rd
School Staff Leaving Assembly 9:15am, Gymnasium

Friday, June 25th
Year-End School Barbeque @ New Brighton Park

Tuesday, June 29th
Last day of school for students
Report Cards

For further information regarding these events, please contact the school at 604-713-4620.

Tuesday 15 June 2010

Year End Family BBQ Celebration!

Date: FRIDAY, JUNE 18TH, 2010
Time: 4:00-7:00pm
Location: School Grass Field & Playground

The Dr. A.R. Lord PAC would like to invite all parents, guardians, families, teachers, neighbours, friends and supporters to a year-end potluck BBQ celebration!

Let’s get together and share a meal and a laugh before the summer begins! Bring your beach blankets, soccer balls and baseball mitts.

Feel free to bring a finger-food dish to share (enough for 6 ppl. max), plus any plates, cutlery or glasses you’d like to use. The PAC would like to be as ‘green’ as possible for this yummy, fun event.

There will be some delicious Columbus Meat Market bbq products available by donation. The PAC will also be serving tea, coffee and juice.

Sincere thanks to Columbus Meat Market for their generosity and support.

VSB Public Consultation Meeting

Date: THURSDAY, JUNE 17th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Mt. Pleasant Elementary School gymnasium
Address: 2300 Guelph Street

We strongly encourage and invite every parent, guardian, neighbour and supporter to come to this meeting at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School. Let's show them how much we care about the future of our school!

The PAC is happy to help organize carpooling to ensure as many people as possible can attend.
Please contact the PAC with any questions or thoughts.

Thursday 10 June 2010

A.R. Lord PAC Speaking at VSB Meeting

Date: MONDAY, JUNE 14TH, 2010
Time: 5:30pm
Location: Room 114, 1580 West Broadway, Vancouver

An opportunity for all parents/guardians, neighbours and friends to show your support for our school and its unique Primary Building at this Vancouver School Board Trustee meeting.

Dr. A.R. Lord’s PAC has been invited to speak to the trustees about the budget proposal to close our Primary Building. We think the trustees need to look at cost-saving solutions instead of closure. Our goal is for the trustees to remove the Georgia Building from the closure list.

We encourage everyone to attend. Show your support for our school and community!

Monday 7 June 2010

Hastings Park/PNE City Planning

The City of Vancouver is currently undertaking a Master Plan and consultation process to guide the long range redevelopment of Hastings Park and the PNE. The plan will re-think Hastings Park and the PNE as a greener, more active, year-round destination, one that is better connected to the waterfront and surrounding community. Renewal ideas for the annual Fair and Playland are also key parts of the plan.

Upcoming Open Houses
The City is committed to hearing from residents of Vancouver their thoughts and responses to the ideas and plans that are developed for Hastings Park. This feedback has been gathered in many ways and the consultation process will be on-going for the duration of the Master Plan process. Information gathered at open houses will help inform the Master Plan process ensuring that it reflects the needs ands aspirations of City residents.

Visit one of the following open houses to review concept plans and give your feedback. Input from these open houses will help guide the final completion of the Master Plan which will be considered by City Council this fall.

Hastings & Slocan Street
June 10 & 11: 11am – 7pm
June 12: 10am – 3pm
Beside the Laughing Bean Cafe

For further information, visit http://vancouver.ca/pnepark/.

PAC Fundraising Meeting

**** REMINDER *****

Date: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9TH, 2010
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Dr. A.R. Lord Elementary School Library

This meeting is an opportunity for all parent/guardians to participate in discussion and decisions about the PAC events/fundraisers to be held in the fall 2010.

Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting, whether you have specific event/fundraising ideas or would like to provide your input and vote on the PAC’s fall schedule.

We encourage all parents/guardians to participate in creating a thriving school community by volunteering in any capacity for these events/fundraisers.

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO CHILDMINDING AVAILABLE FOR THIS MEETING.

For further information contact the PAC Executive at arlordpac@gmail.com.

MLA Shane Simpson to Meet with Parents

Date: FRIDAY, JUNE 11TH, 2010
Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Room 202B, Lillooet Building, Dr. A.R. Lord Elementary School

An opportunity for all parents/guardians to meet with NDP MLA Shane Simpson and discuss concerns about our school and community.

All parents and guardians welcome to attend. No childminding will be available.

Wednesday 2 June 2010

PAC Meeting Minutes 05-18-2010

View or download the PAC Meeting Minutes from May 19th, 2010.

Any questions or concerns, please contact the PAC Executive for clarification or copies.

Tuesday 1 June 2010

Building Closure Makes the News

PAC Member, Shannon H., was interviewed Monday, May 31st by CTV's Maria Weisgarber regarding the possible closure of our primary building.

Concerned parent, Sherry B. further discussed the building closure with our school's trustee, Jane Bouey on the
CBC Early Edition on Wednesday, June 2nd. To give feedback or comment on this story, please call their Listener Talk Back Line:(604) 662-6690 - comments are often replayed during their morning show so let's keep this topic HOT.

An article about the proposed closure at Dr. A.R. Lord Elementary School will be appearing in this Friday's Vancouver Courier newspaper, so please pick up a copy! You can also check out their story online at http://www.vancourier.com/.