At Parkside Elementary 3300 – 270th Street, Aldergrove. Office ph. 604-856-7775

School Website: http://parkside.sd35.bc.ca Louise’s Email: shangrila@telus.net

January 2016 Newsletter Monday thru Friday: Free Drop-In, 8:35am to 11:35am

Welcome 2016!! I hope you had a lovely Christmas holiday and a special time with your child/ren and family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of our group. Your

kindness and generous help to make our program homey and fun and run smoothly is from your support and help with snack prep, sweeping up, teaching your child to clean up, and playing with your child. Thank you sooooooo much for the unexpected and very kind and heartwarming Christmas gifts, I am so grateful for each and every one of you and your friendships and love. Registration Forms and Birth Certificates Both need to be handed in before you attend StrongStart. This is a requirement by the Ministry of Education for our program. Are yours in? Singing at a Nursing Home a Huge Success

Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you! Thank you for your generosity with your time and sharing your little ones with the seniors. I cannot thank you enough from the bottom of my heart how much it meant to me that you came and shared yourself, your time, your children, and your joy with these seniors.

Even though some of the residents were not able to speak or communicate with you, their heart was happy and their soul knew you were there! Your kindness will not be forgotten.

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar: Please mark the following dates on your calendar for easy reference: Mon. Jan. 4 - StrongStart closed for administration Tues. Jan. 5 - StrongStart re-opens - Welcome back! Fri. Jan. 15 - StrongStart Closed. Professional Development Tues. Jan 19 - Gingerbread Man bake and hunt. 9am start. Tues. Jan. 19 - Ready Set Learn! at Parkside 12:45pm. Must Register Wed. Jan 20 - Gingerbread Man bake and hunt. 9am start. Fri. Jan. 29 - Twisters Gymnastics Outing $5. Each child. 9am Wed. Feb. 3 - StrongStart Closed for Professional Development Fri. Feb. 5 - We celebrate Chinese/Asian New Year! Mon. Feb. 8 - Closed for Family Day Stat Holiday. What’s your family doing? Tues. Feb. 9 - Valentines Fun! Wed. Feb. 10 - Valentines Fun! Thurs. Feb. 11 - Fire Hall Trip 9:30am at Otter Hall

Thank you for SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER J Thank you to some very special families who have spent a lot of time, generosity and money to make others feel supported and cared for. They were showered with food and toys.

Thank you for being part of spreading the knowledge that our community cares, and help bring great joy and hope to struggling children and families over the holidays. Thank you for supporting and caring about our community of families here. I deeply appreciate your generosity. THANK YOU

Did you Lose a Ring? If you lost a ring at our Parkside StrongStart location, please see Louise or email me. Parent-Participation StrongStart StrongStart’s focus is parent-participation and interacting with your child. Thank you for having a wonderful time with your child! J It is important to accompany and supervise your child especially at the sensory bins (rice, sand, corn tables...) as well as the art/craft and play dough table as there are choking hazards. Your child also needs your guidance and support to handle any sharing or playing together skills. At circle time, please sit with your child, and lead by example. It is hard for me to manage 20 children and also read a book at the same time, so thanks for helping me out.

Beautiful Junk Needed There are some wonderful ‘recyclable’ things you use at home and throw away normally that could be valuable craft items for us at StrongStart. If you have any of the following Beautiful Junk items that you could share with us that would be great!

- Empty glass baby food jars with lids - Empty milk/creamo cartons 1 L and 473ml – washed and rinses well - Empty 2 L milk cartons – washed and rinsed well

Baking a Gingerbread Man – Tuesday, January 19th and Wednesday, January 20th We will be making and baking a gingerbread man together! For fun! Sure hope he doesn’t run away like last year!! Yikes! We will have to keep an eye on him for sure!! Fire Hall Outings

We will be going to the Otter Fire Hall #7 on Thursday February 11th and Friday, February 12, 2016 at 9:30am. 20 children per group. The Fire Department and I endeavor to develop fire smart children and save lives.

Oh and it is so fun to experience the fire trucks and have a seat in the action! A sign up will be available for first-come-first-sign-up. Chinese/Lunar/Asian New Year Our Celebration Will be on Friday, February 5th, 2016 This year Chinese/Asian New Year is on February 8th, 2016. I would love to celebrate on the 5th in a small way here at StrongStart. If any parents who are familiar with Chinese New Year and want to be involved in helping me with ideas on having a little celebration here at StrongStart please email me at shangrila@telus.net or see me in class. Email me at shangrila@telus.net Thanks so much. Art Work to Go Home Please make it a habit to check the box for your child’s art work to bring home. Their creations are piling up and it will get thrown out at the end of each month. They are in the coat room, alphabetized with your child’s first name.

January 2016 StrongStart at Parkside (Print at home for easy reference)

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sat.

January 1, 2016 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2

3 Theme: Dinosaurs

4 StrongStart Closed – Administration Day

5 - First day back J Welcome! - Isabelle – Community Support Worker here

6 7

8

9

10 Theme: Dinosaurs

11

12

13

14 15 StrongStart Closed – Professional Development

16

17 Theme: Gingerbread Man

18 19 Gingerbread Man baking. 9am start ____________ Ready, Set, Learn! 12:45pm. Register at office

20 Gingerbread Man baking. 9am start

21

22

23

24 Theme:

25 Dress for mess! FINGER-PAINTING FUN!

26 Pancakes for snack

27

28 29 sign up for OUTING! J Twisters Gymnastics 9am $5 each child

30

31 Theme: Valentines & Chinese New Year

February 1 2 -Dental Hygienist here

3 StrongStart Closed – Professional Dev.

4

5 Our Chinese New Year Celebration

6

7 Theme: Valentines

8 9 Valentine’s Fun! Sign-up

10 Valentine’s Fun! Sign-up

11 FIRE HALL TRIP 9:30AM

12 FIRE HALL TRIP 9:30AM

13

Kindergarten Registration Opens Monday, January 18, 2016 All children who will be five years old by December 31, 2016 (children born in 2011) are eligible for the Kindergarten program beginning September 6, 2016. Registrations received after March 31, 2016 will be considered late. Late registration may affect placement in your catchment school due to space limitations. The following documents are required at the time of registration: · Proof of Age (Birth Certificate). · Proof of Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status must be provided for the parent (Canadian Birth Certificate, Canadian Citizenship Card, Canadian Passport, Landed Immigrant documentation, Permanent Resident documentation/cards) · Proof of residence (Driver’s License, utility bill or Lease/Rental Agreement). For more information and registration times please contact the school. (from  Newsletter  at  Parkside  Elementary  2016)

Information About School Status During Inclement Weather Snow closures and power outages are an annual occurrence in Langley School District. So where do you go to get information about the status of schools during periods of inclement weather? If you are able to access the internet via computer or smartphone, current information about Langley schools can be accessed at www.sd35.bc.ca<http://www.sd35.bc.ca>. Click on “ News and Events” then “School Status Alerts”. We will also post updates to Twitter @LangleySchools and Facebook www.Facebook.com/LangleySchoolDistrict.<http://www.Facebook.com/LangleySchoolDistrict.> Current information is also recorded on the Langley School District's Information Hotline at 604-532-1453. Local radio stations are also informed of school status in Langley. Tune in to CKWX 1130 AM, CKNW 980 AM, Country Radio 107.1 FM or CBC 690 AM for updates (from Newsletter at Parkside Elementary 2016)

Outing to Twisters Gymnastics We are going to Twisters!! We have booked a private session at the Twisters Gymnastics for us to try a different facility that is not too far from home. Sign up and payment of $5 each participating child is due before we go.

Our session time is: Friday, January 29th, 2016, 9:00am

(snack to follow in the snack room) Meet at Twisters promptly at least 5 minutes before the session starts to get settled before we start. * I will provide snack and drinks in the bleachers for us to have after our session. They will introduce basic gymnastics. They allow the child to experience swinging, jumping, rolling & climbing. Parent participation. They have trampolines and the children get to have fun trying and learning the basics on the apparatus; bars, beam, floor, vault, tramp & foam pit

They are located at Gate #1 Tretheway St., Bldg #10 Abbotsford Exhibition Park. 32470 Haida Drive, Abbotsford, BC. Take the Clearbrook exit off Highway 1 and go north. Ph: 604.850.8500 twistersgym@telus.net Please sign in with me when you arrive atTwisters. Bare feet is required, so footwear and coats can be stored in cubbies at the front lobby.

Cost: They charge $5 per child/athlete participating payable at our classroom before the 29th. Payment is required when you sign up your child. Please do not write your child’s name down unless you have paid, so I know exactly who will be coming. There is limited space. It will be on a first come first serve basis. Our Classroom will be closed on this outing day.  Transportation: Meet at Twisters at 8:55am. If you need a ride, please see me or arrange someone to drive you. Valid car seats and insurance are required.

Together, creating wonderful

memories for your children!

Louise Menzies J Early Childhood Educator/ StrongStart Facilitator

(from    Mr.  Moorthy-­‐    Newsletter  at  Parkside  Elementary  2016)

(from    Newsletter  at  Parkside  Elementary  2016)

(from    Newsletter  at  Parkside  Elementary  2016)