*** Special Request… Do we have a parent with a truck????  Vancouver Kidsbooks has graciously donated a bench and some chairs to our library.  We need to pick the furniture up by February 21st.  Are there any parents in our school community who could help us get the furniture?  If you have a truck and can help us, please email Mr. Evans or Ms. Tornroos at pevans@vsb.bc.ca  or ltornroos@vsb.bc.ca
Thank you :)

 Principal’s Message

Dear Parents,
It’s been a busy week at Maple Grove.  FSA testing is wrapping up, Satisfaction Surveys will be starting up, and today, we had our annual school Spelling Bee.

This event featured a number of students going head-to-head in a sudden death elimination spelling event.  Congratulations to all the participants for demonstrating excellent spelling knowledge and fantastic sportsmanship.  Special congratulations to Jonathan (Division 2) for being our school top speller.  Also, congratulations to Areeb (Division 1) for being runner up.  Special thanks to Mrs. Humeniuk for sponsoring and organising the event.  Also, thanks to Mrs. Tornroos (our pronouncer), and to Ms. Sleep and Mr. Evans for being judges.

Teachers will be busy writing report cards over the next few weeks.  Please note that due to the new Ministry Curriculum Implementation days on March 4th and April 15th, our Report Cards will go home on Monday, March 7th.  Conferences will still be on March 9th and 10th (watch for notices from individual classroom teachers regarding conferences).

Enjoy your weekend!
Mr. Evans

   Here’s a quick update that was mentioned in last week’s blog.  VSB 2021 is a process to develop a strategic plan.  It is part of the VSB’s ongoing efforts to meet the needs of our unique district and ensure student achievement and well-being. The new strategic plan will provide a clear framework for action over the next 5 years. Over the next 6 months, a wide range of students, families, teachers, staff and stakeholders will share their ideas for the future of our District. Key questions include:

• How can we make sure that all students have equal access to quality education?
• How can we engage our students to reach their full potential?
• What role should our schools play in their communities?
• How do we set priorities and use resources most efficiently?

For more information; to sign up for updates and to complete the online survey, please go to www.vsb.bc.ca/vsb2021 and look for the corresponding links.  Please find attached a copy of our poster promoting next week’s 1^st public engagement event – Ideas Fair at Prince Of Wales School.

School Calendars for the coming years

Draft School Calendar for next school year – and for 2017-18 & 2018/19

The proposed draft calendar for the 2016-17 school year has now been posted on the VSB website. There is also a proposed draft calendar for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years. These can be viewed at https://www.vsb.bc.ca/calendars-events.   Parents, if you’re interested in providing feedback, please do so by emailing  calendar@vsb.bc.ca before February 26th. The final school calendar(s) will be approved and published before the end of March, 2016.  Thank you.

MAPLE GROVE FAMILIES!
Your PAC / Grade 6 camp committee is rolling out yet another NEW and exciting fundraiser!

We will be selling fresh locally grown and harvested veggie baskets for the next 3 weeks!
You can support your school AND local growers at the same time!!!
This is a student-led fundraiser so please encourage your student to sell as many of these baskets to their friends, family and neighbours!!!! These baskets will be sold for $20 from now until spring break and then distributed during the weeks of May 2 -15 ( we will let you know closer to the date ).

Please see the attached poster and order form.  Basket content and details are found on the poster. Please don’t hesitate to email Estelle Dufresne (estelle_dufresne@telus.net) or myself at ckbogart@shaw.ca if you have any questions!
Please use cash or cheque (payable to Maple Grove PAC) and bring complete forms and payment to the office by March 9th.   Proceeds will be shared by PAC and the Grade 6 camp committee.

Poster

ORDER SHEET

Magee Massed Band Concert – Thursday, March 3rd at 7pm

Our band will play a concert at Magee Secondary with McKechnie’s band and possibly another elementary band.  These schools are feeder schools for Magee and it is an opportunity to hear some of the secondary bands at Magee and for our bands to perform and hear each other.  Tickets are $3.00.  Half the money goes to Maple Grove and half goes to Magee to pay for the guest conductor and other expenses.

Pink Shirts Available for Pink Day February 24th

Thank you to all the Maple Grove families who got their orders in on time!  Pink Day is so popular this year that our supplier has run out of the colour we chose.  We will be getting a very similar colour for all the youth sizes. The adult sizes will be the same colour as the samples that we were given (see photo).

Lots of families have been supporting Anti-Bullying and Acceptance by purchasing PINK wear. We’re expecting delivery by February 22nd.  Each year, schools around the world recognize amazing acts of Acceptance in standing up for children who have been bullied.  Of course we strive to have social responsibility as one of our core values on a daily basis, but we join other schools across the country in February by celebrating a true act of acceptance that happened in Nova Scotia. (see last week’s blog for more info).

   Upcoming Events:

February 12- Spelling Bee (1-3) gym (parents welcome)
February 17 – PAC Meeting (Montessori Parent Ed)
February 26 – PAC Movie Night- doors open at 6:00.  Movie at 6:30
March 4- BC Curriculum Implementation Day- No School for students
March 7th- Report Card Day
March 9+10- Parent/Teacher or Student-led Conferences
March 11- Last day of school before Spring Break
March 29- School Re-opens