Ms. Kenney's November 24 Newsletter
Dear Swift Families,
How is it almost December! Thank you for your continued support as we round out first term and begin second term – Learning Updates (the new name for Report Cards) will be coming home on December 8th.
Many parents have reached out to ask about our Christmas Concert this year – it will be on December 21st with an afternoon show at 1:00 and evening show at 6:00. More information will be available closer to the date.
Please be sure to stay up to date by reading the bi-weekly news and checking the school website! We keep the calendar as up to date as we can for school wide event!
December Festive Fridays!
Fridays in December are ‘festive Fridays’ – everyone is invited to come to school in their favourite festive outfits – hats, headbands, tights, sweaters, anything (school appropriate!) is welcome! December 22 will be PJ Day – so the option is there for everyone to come in PJs after the concerts the day before!
PAC News – Christmas Fun Day Volunteers, Night Market, Stocking Stuffer Pick Up, Raffle and Hot Lunch
We are excited for the return of “Christmas Fun Day”. This is the third year, and it’s becoming a bit of a tradition. Much work has been done behind the scenes, but to make the day a success, we need your help! There are MANY volunteer opportunities, and we would love to see you there helping with the festive fun! If you are interested and able to volunteer please complete the form found here. (Please note you must have a completed Criminal Record Check to volunteer.)
The evening of December 8th we are hosting our first “Night Market”. Come and shop with local vendors, enjoy some snacks and see the amazing raffle baskets in person. There will be a special “Night Market Exclusive Raffle” – 4 seats of your choice at the Christmas Concert and a parking spot! There will be one draw for the afternoon show and one for the evening show. Admission to the Market is a donation to the Food Bank. For more information, please see the website.
Our Annual Raffle Basket fundraiser is underway. Information was sent home last week and is available on the website. Donations will be accepted until November 29th. Tickets will go on sale the first week of December on the Hot Lunch site and will be available in person at the Night Market and Christmas Concert.
Thank you for supporting the “Stuff Your Stocking” fundraiser! It was a new idea, and a great success. Don’t forget to pick up your purchases after school on December 8th. They will be available for pick up by the doors at the bottom of the hallway ramp.
December Hot Lunch will be a White Spot lunch on December 15th. Orders and payment are due no later than December 6th. All information for hot lunch can be found here including the email address of the Hot Lunch Coordinator in case you have any questions! Thank you to all the volunteers who made our November hot lunch a success!
Cuddle Up and Read
Cuddle Up and Read is such a huge success thanks to the many who are already helping our little readers!
Mrs. Thurmer is always looking for more parents (or grandparents!) who would like to “cuddle up and read” with students. This is an opportunity to support some of our kids who need a little boost in reading or just some extra time supporting their reading development. If you are interested in helping, and have a completed Criminal Record Check, please email Mrs. Thurmer at gwen.thurmer@abbyschools.ca
Lost and Found – So many lost things!
Our lost and found is filled with many wonderful items looking for their home! Please head over to the website and check out what is there. If something looks familiar, please follow the instructions on the website. This list was created a few weeks ago. Anything that hasn’t found its way home since then might be in the blue lost and found bin. The items on the website currently will be donated over the Winter Break.
Strong Start – Schedule Changes Coming
Nature Thursdays will continue until November 30th. For the rainy winter months Thursdays will move inside returning to Bateman Park in April.
Child Care Survey
Please see the information below from the Ministry of Education and Childcare regarding a survey they are conducting about Childcare options for families:
Dear Parent/Guardian,
On behalf of the Ministry of Education and Child Care, we are sharing the survey information below to help inform the Province’s ChildCareBC initiatives:
We know that many families depend on school-age child care to ensure their children have a quality, affordable, and inclusive place to be during a parent’s full work day. That is why the Province’s ChildCareBC plan is working to expand access to child care for all families that want and need it.
The Ministry of Education and Child Care is conducting a parent survey to better understand the regional and provincial demand for school age child care.
While we know there is unmet demand for school-aged child care, there is no current provincial or regional data quantifying the demand. Your participation will help the Province plan for future school-aged child care expansions.
This survey is intended for all parents, regardless of the type of child care you currently use or even if you are not using any child care at all.
The survey results will be used to support planning for future initiatives under the ChildCareBC plan. All responses are voluntary and anonymous; you and your child will not be identified as a result of your participation in the survey. Information received will be combined and shared with your school and district as a summary.
The survey is now available online at: https://www.awinfosys.com/surveyfull3/minofed/main/SchoolAgeParents.asp?SchoolNumber=559 and is available in 18 languages. The survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete. Please only complete the survey once. The link is intended especially for your school. Please do not share the link with anyone else. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at ChildCareBC.Engagement@gov.bc.ca. If you encounter any technical difficulties, please contact the web survey provider (AWIS) at support@awinfosys.com.
We greatly appreciate your input and thank you in advance for your participation.
Dates to Remember for the next 2 weeks:
All dates are also posted on the school website calendar
27 – Fruit and Veggies – Mandarin Oranges
30 – Last Nature Thursday for Strong Start until April
December 1 – Festive Friday # 1 – come dressed in anything festive!
4 – Food Bank Bin arrives
6 – Raffle Tickets on sale on Hot Lunch site
7 – First Night of Hanukkah – Happy Hanukkah!
7 – Strong Start in the school on Thursdays starting today
8 – Festive Friday # 2 – come dressed in anything festive!
8 – Christmas Fun Day
8 – Learning Updates sent home
8 – “Stuff Your Stocking” pick up after school
8 – Christmas Night Market 5:30 – 8:30 in the gym