Dear DRBS Families,

Gratitude focus for the week:

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them” – Henri Matisse

Take a moment to appreciate a small success. Every moment is sacred.

 

Thank You/Reminders

• Grade 4 participated in an amazing Mobile Escape Residency this week – thank you parent Council for helping support this great learning opportunity

 

Holiday Giving

This year as in the past 2 years we have decided as a school staff to work with our community and support the following charities as we approach the season of celebration and giving.

 

Christmas Store at Catherine Nichols Gunn School

Every year at Catherine Nichols Gunn, they open our Winter Store in the last week of school before our winter break. Classes will be invited to the grade 6 classroom for students to purchase items as gifts for their families. The items are gently used, and the purchase price of each item is whatever kids can afford.  The collected proceeds are used to support other charitable acts throughout the school year. No student will be turned away from this event regardless of ability to pay. 

 

This event provides students an opportunity to experience the joy of giving. Students will only be allowed to purchase items for their immediate family and will be asked to refrain from purchasing for friends and teachers. If students are not sure who to purchase for, a personal shopper (a grade 6 leadership student) will help them shop for items and the items will be wrapped by the grade 6 students and volunteers and then delivered to students to take home on December 21, 2022.  

 

To make this possible, families from Dr. Roberta Bondar have a drive for gently used items to be donated and then "purchased" by students at Catherine Nichols Gunn as gifts for their family members. Children choose items for their parents and siblings only. The following items are quickly chosen as children are most eager to give gifts to their parents and may provide some ideas of the types of items to donate: 

 

Dishtowels, placemats, dishes, small appliances, utensils, candles, flashlights, screwdrivers and other tools, soap dishes,  home decorations and accent items, plant holders, 

 

ladies and men's unsized clothing items (scarves, gloves, hats), costume jewelry, 

 

For their siblings, children like to give toys, puzzles, books, and games. 

 

Additionally, as this is a gift-giving event, any additional wrapping paper you might have would be appreciated- especially neutral wrapping papers as some children will not be gifting as part of a Christmas event.

 

Totes for Hope for The Alex

We will be compiling Totes for Hope again this year for The Alex youth centre.

More info to follow next week.

 

Tuesday December 5

• Fun Lunch

• Lockdown drill

Friday December 8

• No School for students – Staff professional development day

 

Upcoming Dates:

o   December 11 – 15 Mobile Escape residency Grades 5 & 6

o   December 15 Mobile Escape Residency Showcase Grades 5 & 6

o   December 19 Kindergarten Gifts of December presentation (time to be determined)

o   December 19 1:45 Grades 1 & 2 Gifts of December presentation followed by parent visit to classrooms

o   December 20 1:45 Grades 3 & 4 Gifts of December presentation followed by parent visit to classrooms

o   December 21 1:45 Grades 5 & 6 Gifts of December presentation followed by parent visit to classrooms

o   December 22 Pajama and winter sweater day

School Council News

 

Thank you volunteers! - Thank you to all the volunteers that helped with the Book Fair and brought in meals for the staff. The book fair raised over 5k for new books for the library and classrooms. The staff was so appreciative of the delicious food to fuel them through conferences!

 

Work Bee - There's still some spots left in the December Work Bee! Sign up now for Work Bees held on the last Thursday of every month. Work Bee volunteers help our amazing teachers with tasks/classroom jobs (ie. cutting and gluing materials for assignments, activities and so much more). Police Clearance Required. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F48AFA92BABF94-44501797-work#/

Contact Jennifer at drbsworkbee@gmail.com with any questions. 

 

Art Cards - Art Cards are expected to arrive within the next week. Stay tuned for more information about when/where to pick up your order. We will also be needing some volunteers to help with hand-out, so watch for the sign-up genius on social media and email. Contact Sadaf at drbsfundraising@gmail.com with any questions. 

 

Yearbooks - Yearbooks have arrived! If your child has not received a yearbook that you have ordered, they will be available from the office until the last day of school in December.

If parents have any questions, they can email the yearbook coordinator at DRBSyearbook@gmail.com