Ready, Set Learn this Thursday, February 27

Remember that educator and children's author Vi Hughes will be visiting our school on Thursday February 27th at 11 AM. She will be reading from her books "Kaput!" and "Once Upon A Bathtime" as part of Ready, Set, Learn, an early learning initiative for 3 and 4 olds in the neighbourhood. Please arrive at 10:45 AM to register.

Kung Jaadee - today at 2 pm

Our students will be treated to a performance by Kung Jaadee, Haida storyteller, today at 2 pm in the gym. Parents and siblings are welcome to join us!

http://www.sharkhouse.ca/

VSB Proposed School Calendar for 2014-2015

The VSB is still looking for input on their proposed school calendar for next year. You can find the calendar and instructions to send comments at: http://www.vsb.bc.ca/draft-school-calendar-2014-15-and-key-dates-2015-16

Pink Shirt Day Wednesday, February 26, 2014

This year's Pink Shirt Day assembly will be at 11 AM on Wednesday. Come for a special surprise performance!

The origins of "Pink Shirt Day" are not a professionally-designed, educator-condoned, carefully-managed media campaign. The first "Pink Shirt Day" occurred in a high school in Nova Scotia in 2007, where a group of students conspired to wear pink one day to support a boy who was bullied for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. These students worked together to send a clear message: bullying, homophobic or otherwise, would not be tolerated at their school. Their message was so inspiring that Anti-Bullying Day, or Pink Shirt Day, is now recognized across the country.

At Dr. A. R. Lord, the message is ACCEPTANCE. According to a study by Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, a professor in UBC’s Faculty of Education, increasing peer acceptance is key to preventing bullying. By simply asking students to think about how they can act kindly to those around them, “teachers can create a sense of connectedness in the classroom and reduce the likelihood of bullying.”

Free the Rocks - THANK YOU!

Thank you to all attendees, donors, silent auction winners, helpers, and caterers for an extremely successful dinner dance and fundraiser on Thursday evening. What a fun time! We are getting much closer to freeing those rocks and making our natural playground a reality.

We would especially like to thank the local businesses and friends who donated merchandise and services to help make the event a success. Consider giving some of these involved members of our community your business in the upcoming months! Also watch for our raffle, coming soon, where we will offer up more excellent prizes.

Our supporters:

Biercraft

Black Rook Bakehouse

Choices Market

Dog Country

Veronica Doldea and Zija

East Village Bakery

Feet First Yoga, Janice Manfron

Janine Ferreira, Music Teacher

Fresh Slice Pizza

Mike & Shannon Harrison and Electronic Arts

Hastings Community Association

Hastings North BIA

Hastings-Sunrise Community Food Network

June Hunter Images

Italia Bakery

Linda Kemp

Melody Kurt, Potter

Laughing Bean Coffee

London Drugs

Joanne MacKinnon

MacTalla Cycles

Aviva Martin, artist 

Brian McGarry, photographer

My City Photos
Orazio’s Olive Oil

John O'Neill and Westin Hotels & Resorts
Platform 7 Coffee

PNE
Poplar Studio Pottery

Richmond Cabs and Helen Nguyen

Rio Friendly Meats

Riz Sushi

Ali & Dave Roling

Roundel Cafe

Rosina Santillana, artist

John Silver/VSB Auto Repair

Shane Simpson, MLA

Slocan Restaurant

Steam Tea House

Sweet Tooth Cafe

Tacofino

Preeya Tailor

Tamam Restaurant

Templeton Pool

Dawn Watson

Westcoast Auto Repair

Westcoast Guitars

Wheelhouse Seafoods

Zen Body Studio, Mona Bodalia

NO SCHOOL Friday, February 21

Please note that Friday, February 21st  is a Professional Development Day for teachers and there is NO SCHOOL for students on that day. See you on Monday!

Fruit & Vegetable Program

This week the students will receive another delivery from the BC School Fruit & Vegetable Nutritional Program.

Kindergarten to Grade 2 students will also be receiving cow's milk or a fortified soy beverage as part of the +Milk program. Here's scoop number six on MILK.

FUJI APPLES

Apples are grown on deciduous trees (Malus domestica) which reach a height of 3 to 12 meters (9.8 to 39 ft).

Tens of thousands of varieties are grown worldwide.

Apples are a pomaceous fruit, meaning they have extra or accessory flesh around the core of seeds.

For further information, fascinating facts and interesting history on this delicious fruit please read the SCOOP and DOUBLE SCOOP on apples.




Students will receive their delivery during class time. This snack is not meant to replace the foods students normally eat at school. Students can make their own decisions on whether to taste the fruits offered.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the PAC or contact the school administration at 604-713-4620.

Open Gym cancelled this Thursday

Please note that the open gym scheduled for this Thursday, February 20 has been cancelled to make room for preparations for the Free the Rocks event taking place that evening.

If you would like to attend Free the Rocks, tickets are still available from the office.

Nature Walks in Hastings Park

When you're thinking about the outdoors, don't forget about the Hastings Park Sanctuary, our park right next door. The Hastings Park Conservancy holds nature walks once a month or more, year-round. Most walks meet at the west entrance to the Sanctuary, directly east of Pandora St. off of Renfrew. The next scheduled walk is February 22 at 9 AM. Check their schedule for details:

http://www.hastingspark.ca/birdwatching-in-hastings-park/nature-walks-in-hastings-park/2014-nature-walks/

PAC Meeting Minutes January 16, 2014

The minutes of the PAC meeting held on January 16, 2014 can now be found online here. Please contact the PAC with any questions or clarifications.

Less than a week left to buy FREE THE ROCKS tickets

There's less than a week left to buy tickets for FREE THE ROCKS, our  fundraiser dinner/dance at the school on February 20. The deadline for tickets sales is Monday, February 17. Come and enjoy a night of dinner and dancing, a silent auction, and fabulous door prizes!

REMINDER: PAC Meeting Thursday, February 13th

PAC Meeting
Date: THURSDAY, February 13th

Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: School Library



As a parent of a child at Dr. A. R. Lord, you are part of the PAC! As such, all parents are welcome to attend our upcoming school PAC meeting.

Free childminding will be provided.

For further information please contact the PAC Executive by e-mail or with a letter to the PAC Box in the school's front office.

"Paint the Rink Pink" Flash Mob a Success!

Congratulations to our students who participated in the acceptance flash mob at today's Vancouver Giants game. Check out the video of 2,800 Metro Vancouver students - including families from Dr. A. R. Lord - dancing to "Shooting Star" by Owl City.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/flash-mob-busts-a-move-at-vancouver-giants-hockey-game-1.2531546

Here's another video from Global, with close-ups of our own families:

http://globalnews.ca/video/1141023/2nd-annual-giants-hockey-flash-mob

Identifying and Preventing Anxiety in Children and Youth: Presentation at Lord Nelson February 24

The Lord Nelson Elementary PAC has invited us to this free presentation on childhood anxiety, February 24 at 6:30 PM. Dr. Lynn Miller is a professor at UBC and is an expert in childhood anxiety. ''

RSVP at lordnelsonpaclynnmiller.eventbrite.ca.

Café Ético coffee and tea orders due Tuesday, February 11

Remember that our Café Ético coffee and tea fundraiser is ongoing monthly! The PAC raises money for our school for every bag we sell, and the company itself is run by a non-profit organization who works to uphold human rights in Central America.

Orders are due this month on Tuesday, February 11th to the PAC box in the office. Order forms are available at the front counter, or you can print one here.

NO SCHOOL Monday, February 10

Please note that Monday, February 10th is BC Family Day and the school will be closed. See you on Tuesday!

Feb. 14 Talent Show - earlier start time & Food Bank donation

Due to a crazy huge amount of talent at our school, the start time for our February 14 Talent Show has been changed to 10 AM.

The Student Council will be collecting donations of non-perishable food items for the Food Bank at the door.

We can't wait!

FREE THE ROCKS! Fundraiser Dinner/Dance February 20

Many of you have seen the small boulders in the rear of the school, "imprisoned" behind temporary fencing. They were procured last year for our natural playground/outdoor classroom project. All we need to go ahead with the project is some more funding. Help us "free the rocks" and come to this fun event! There will be a catered dinner, door prizes, a silent auction, and dancing. Invite your friends and family. Tickets are available from Mimi in the office.

Starry Nights @ SFU: Supernova Star Party Tuesday February 4

Want to get your family interested in astronomy and the night sky? SFU hosts frequent "Star Parties" at its Burnaby Mountain campus where you can have the chance to look through a number of high-powered telescopes. There will be a Supernova Star Party tonight, Tuesday February 4, to mark the supernova in the relatively nearby Cigar, or M82 galaxy. They will start at 7:30 PM and wrap up around 10.

Check out the Starry Nights @ SFU website here, where you can sign up for their e-mail list to hear about future star parties, which are usually held on weekends and start earlier for younger family members!

Hot Lunch Reminder - February 7

This is a reminder to students that Friday, February 7th is Hot Lunch Day!  Students who have pre-ordered will receive rice or noodles, along with milk or water, a side of vegetables, and a tasty dessert.

Social and Emotional Learning: for Parents of Children Grades 6-10 February 17

Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl will be speaking at Van Tech on February 17 and at Tupper on March 11, exploring predictors of academic success in youth, and how social and emotional well-being can have long-lasting effects.