Parent Assoc Meeting @ 7 pm

Mar 1st

School Mass 9 a.m. Mar 2nd

Exercise Class 5:45 pm Mar 3rd

Reading Link Challenge Mar 3rd

Rocks & Rings Curling Grades 1—7

Mar 4

World Youth Day “Market” in gym

March 5 10-5 pm

SPRING BREAK Mar 7-20

Parking Fundrasier @ Heritage Park

Mar 19

Parking Fundraiser @ Heritage Park

Mar 20

Gr 2—7 attend Mass Mar 23

Holy Thursday Retreat And NOON DISMISSAL

Mar 24

Good Friday NO SCHOOL

Mar 25

Easter Monday NO SCHOOL

Mar 28

Report Cards sent Home

Mar 30

PARENT SUPPORT MEETING FOR Parents of students in Grades 4-7 - 7 pm in Gym

Mar 30

Parish Education Committee Meeting

Mar 31

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

ST. MARY’S SCHOOL MARCH NEWS

Parent Association meeting TUESDAY, March 1st @ 7 pm in the staff room

We’ll be discussing Trivia Night, creation of a school garden and our Evening

in Monte Carlo Fundraiser. Come, relax for an hour, have a cup of coffee, and enjoy the company

of many other parents in the school. CHILDCARE will be provided! (Attendance at Parent Association meetings counts as parent

participation hours)

Hope to see you there!

2015 TUITION TAX RECEIPTS

Remember!!!!!! This is a tax credit and you MUST claim this tax credit under :

Charitable Donations *St. Mary’s is bound by Revenue Canada’s Tax laws

Calculations to determine amount eligible for tuition tax receipts are very complex. Each year, the school is audited and, based on the financial state-ments, our auditors calculate the religious and secular cost of education. We are pleased to announce that for 2015, you will be receiving a tax credit for 100% of tuition paid.

Registration for 2016/17 Before and After School Care

program must be submitted by March 31st. Space is limited.

**Even if you are planning on using the program on an “occasional use only” basis, registration package MUST be completed

There are still a few vacancies in our 3 and 4 year old preschool classes for next year. Registration forms are available from the school office.

If you know of anyone interested in finding out more about our school, please have them contact us to arrange a tour. You can also direct them to our WEBSITE: www.stmarysschoolchwk.com “About us”, or our FACEBOOK page “St. Mary’s School Chilliwack” and they can check out the video we presented for Catholic Schools Week.

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES April 7th & 8th

Scheduled time blocks are 20 minutes. Please be

on time and adhere to the timeline; During the first 10 minutes, the student shows his/

her progress and gives self-assessment. For the remaining 10 minutes, the teacher joins

the interview.

Some issues and concerns are not best supported in this meeting format; please arrange to made another appointment with the teacher. To arrange for an interview time, complete & submit enclosed form. A schedule of interview times will be sent home after Spring Break.

Parents Support and Information Meeting

For: Parents/Guardians of students in Grades 4, 5, 6 & 7

Date: Wednesday, March 30th Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Where: St. Mary’s Gym

A TIME OF PREPARATION: THE ADOLESCENT YEARS

Research tells that preparing our children early for the teen years will ease their transition into adolescence and probably lessen some of our anxiety.

Presenters: Chuck Luttrell—Keynote & Grade 6 Breakout Session Tia MacDougall—Grade 7 Breakout Session Michael Field—Grade 5 Breakout Session Michel Gloanec—Grade 4 Breakout Session We invite all of our parents and guardians to attend this meeting. Due to the

imperative nature of these issues, and our desire to have all our parents attend, we will be providing child-minding services for parents who need

young children looked after during the meeting. .

This meeting if not intended for children; parents/guardians only

ATTENTION: PARENTS OF GRADE 4, 5, 6 & 7 STUDENTS

ST. MARY’S PARENT ASSOCIATION NEWS

SHOPPING THROUGH OUR SCHOOL PROGRAM

The STOS Program is such an easy, no effort fundraiser for the school! Please consider purchasing gift cards for your weekly groceries and gas by picking up gift cards from the school office. Thank you for your on-going support of this fundraiser. (order form enclosed) Plans are underway for our 13th annual “Evening in Monte Carlo” fundraiser (April 16th) This is such a fun event—if you haven’t been to one before we hope you’ll come. If you HAVE attended a “Monte Carlo” night, we KNOW you’ll be back! Tickets are available from the school office.

School Mass in March

Wednesday, March 2nd—9:00 a.m.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE ST. MARY’S PARISH

March 24th—Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday) - 7:30 p.m.

March 25th—Good Friday: Liturgy of the Passion @ 3 p.m. March 26th —Saturday Easter Vigil—9:00 p.m.

March 27th— Easter Sunday Masses: 8 a.m. 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.

March 28th—Easter Monday—Mass at 7 p.m.

Chess Club The Kindergarten class recently celebrated 100 days of School!

HOT LUNCH FORMS FOR APRIL/MAY/JUNE ARE ENCLOSED

PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THE FORMS BY MARCH 23rd

A HUGE thank you to our hot lunch volunteers—your commitment to this program is much appreciated by

students, staff and parents!

PARKING FUNDRAISER AT HERITAGE PARK Saturday—March 19th AND Sunday March 20th

This is a two day event and we are looking for additional people to help with parking (directing traffic to vacant park-ing spots). Contact Rhonda Sexsmith (Parent Participation Coordinator) to find out about available shifts: rsexsmit@telus.net. (A great way to get your parent participation hours in!)

MORE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!!

HAVE YOU ORDERED YOUR YEARBOOK?

DEADLINE TO ORDER IS APRIL 25TH

If you are not sure if you already ordered one , please call the school office.

Cost is $35/book.

PREPARE EASTER TREATS WITH CHEF SIAN!

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016 6 p.m. in the gym kitchen

Cake Pops, Cream Puffs and Marshmallow Peeps!

A Fun Take On Homemade Easter Treats.

Learn tips and tricks to delicious cake pops, how to make profiteroles and adorable personalized marshmallows to dazzle and

wow your loved ones on Easter Morning.

Cost: $25/person Class will be 2.5—3 hours

Class will accommodate 8—10 people

Pre--registration is required— Email the school office to reserve your space: psymes@stmarysschoolchwk.com and stop into the office to pay before or after

Spring Break.

CARDIO CLASS AND CORE-STRENGTHENING/STRETCH CLASS SCHEDULE FOR SPRING BREAK

Monday Night and Thursday night exercises classes

will continue throughout Spring Break

Classes are from 5:45—6:45 Drop-in Fee is $5.00

St. Mary’s 13th Annual “Evening in Monte Carlo”

Date: Saturday, April 16th Time: 6:30 p.m.—Midnight Where: St. Mary’s Gym Blackjack, Roulette, Texas Hold’em Poker Professional Dealers

“Monte Carlo” Décor Cash Bar Complimentary Snacks

Free Draws/Door Prizes/Silent Auction/Live Auction $1000 worth of “desert dollars” to start your evening

( NOTE: Desert Dollars are play money and have NO CASH VALUE—cash in your “desert

dollars” throughout the evening to enter FREE draws for FABULOUS prizes!)

TICKETS ARE $25/person—Tickets will NOT be sold at the door.

St. Mary’s Alumni: $20 (IF PURCHASED BY March 31st)—regular prices apply after that date)

Sorry, NO MINORS—must be 19 yrs and over to attend.

Payment for tickets may be made with cash, debit, VISA or MASTERCARD. Tickets available from the school office or call 792-7715 to reserve tickets.

Some of the prizes received so far! Box Seating (for 14 people) at Chilliwack Chiefs Game for 16/17 Season, Dinner for 2 in the Copper Room @ Harrison Hot Springs Resort, Restaurant Certificates, Tickets to Bard on The Beach production, Karate Classes, Spa Certificates, Passes to Greater Vancouver Zoo, High Tea, Fitness Club Memberships, Golf passes, Vancouver Harbour Tour for 6 people, Season Passes to Hells Gate, His & Hers Nixon Watches.

The prizes keep rolling in!

Purchase your tickets now! - This is definitely an evening you won’t want to miss!

THEME BASKETS FOR MONTE CARLO NIGHT Our Evening in Monte Carlo Fundraiser is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year (next to the walkathon) and it is just around the corner (April 16th)! We are in the process of purchas-ing items for the theme baskets and have been collecting $5 from each family. If you have any items at home that you could donate, that might fit in one of these theme baskets, please send them in. Items should be NEW. (they could even be things that don’t fit any of these basket themes but could be used to create another basket!) The theme baskets really are the heart of our Silent Auction and your generous donations can make them outstanding!!

“GRILLED TO PERFECTION” BASKET Grilling Tips”, barbeque utensils, barbeque sauces, checkered tablecloth, sun-screen, spices, apron, marinade recipes, skewers, gift certificate to Fraser Valley meats, salad bowls/spoons, citronella candles, screen “lid” to cover food, wine cooler, chef’s hat, meat thermometer, vegetable grilling basket.

“DEATH BY CHOCOLATE BASKET” Could be ANYTHING of a “chocolate” colour; stationery, brown napkins /tablecloth, cozy brown blanket, hot cocoa, chocolate-making supplies, cream or brown candles etc. Gift card to Dairy Queen? Be sure to include chocolates! Perhaps a chocolate fondue and “fixings”?

“TEA TIME & JAVA JOLT” BASKET Teapots, tea cups, fancy napkins, petit spoons, specialty tea bags (David’s Tea?), tea cozy, tea strainer, shortbread or biscotti, stationery, book marks, a good book, cozy blanket, “tea time” plaque, small serv-

ing plates, coffee press, fancy mugs, specialty coffee, vanilla flavouring, reci-pes for fancy coffees, chocolate shavings etc.

“HOUSE WARMING BASKET” Chocolate, Wine Glasses, candles, table cloth/napkins, popcorn, movie tickets, picture frame, cozy blanket, Department store gift card, grocery gift card, cleaning supplies, plaques, bath towels, tea towels, pottery, miniature tool set, refrigerator magnets, coasters.

“IT’S TIME TO CLEAN BASKET” Glass cleaner, furniture polish, Sham WOW cloth, Lysol wipes, Kitchen cleaner, dust mitt, tile/bath cleaner, rubber gloves, sponges, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, toilet bowl cleaner, scrubbies, floor cleaner, bucket, mop, swiffer etc.

“AN EVENING UNDER THE STARS” Camping chairs, fleece throw, lantern, cards or board game, plastic table-cloth, mesh “lid” to cover food, flashlight, cocoa, ingredients for Smores, matches, batteries, bug spray, Lysol wipes, marshmallow roasting sticks, small broom and shovel, garbage bags, dish towels, plastic wine glasses, canned food such as tuna and beans, ice packs, Fraser Valley Meats gift card,. Instead of a “basket”, everything could be put in a cooler!

MORE IDEAS?

Love to cook? We would like to create an auction item called “Meals for a

Busy-Mom-on-the-go”. This auction item will consist of a dozen, frozen, home-made meals (enough to feed a family of 4) If you would like to cook a meal, please contact the school office.

Prepare a will free of charge? Prepare a resume? Do some housecleaning? Are you a painter, carpenter, plumber or electrician? We could create a

“Handyman basket” of various services. Do you have a vacation home you could donate for a weekend? Are you an artist and could donate a painting? Do you own a business that could provide a service? We also have opportu-

nities for businesses to sponsor a table a Monte Carlo Night (call Mrs. Symes in the office for details).

Farmer for a day? Join a farm family during harvest. Are you a fisherman? Could you offer a day of fishing on the Fraser (or other

favourite fishing spot?) Kyaking for a day? ATVing for a day? Riding lessons? Dog sitting? Ballroom dance lessons? Could you host a champagne brunch or host a BBQ by your pool? Cooking lessons? Cake decorating lessons? Family Portrait?

The possibilities are endless! Working together, we can make this

our most successful “Evening in Monte Carlo” yet!

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

REQUEST FOR STUDENT-LED CONFERENCE

FAMILY NAME: ___________________________________

CHILD__________________________ GRADE ___________ CHILD__________________________ GRADE ___________ CHILD__________________________ GRADE ___________ CHILD__________________________ GRADE ___________

We would like to arrange an interview on:

Thursday Evening, April 7th Friday Day-time, April 8th

PARENT PARTICIPATION HOURS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY

FAMILY NAME: __________________________________________

DESCRIPTION Number of hours ____________________________________ ___________ ____________________________________ ___________ ____________________________________ ___________ ____________________________________ ___________

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARENT PARTICIPATION HOURS COMPLETED FOR

FEBRUARY 2016 ________________________

St. Mary’s “Shopping Through Our School ORDER FORM Payment may be made with cash, debit card, or credit card.

Contact the school office if you have any questions regarding ordering or payment options

GROCERY QUANTITY TOTAL

Save-on Foods/Price Smart $25

Save-on Foods/Price Smart $50

Save-on Foods/Price Smart $100

Safeway $25

Safeway $50

Safeway $100

Superstore $25

Superstore $50

Superstore $100

Fraser Valley Meats $25

COFFEE:

Starbucks $25

Starbucks $50

GAS:

Esso $25

Esso $50

Esso $100

PetroCan $25

PetroCan $50

PetroCan $100

Chevron $25

Shell $25

Shell $50

Shell $100

TOTAL THIS PAGE

$

Tim Horton’s $50

Tim Horton’s $10

Tim Horton’s $25

See reverse for additional cards

FAMILY NAME: ________________________ PHONE _______________

St. Mary’s “Shopping Through Our School ORDER FORM (continued)

RESTAURANTS

Greek Islands $25

Homer Restaurant $20

TOTAL THIS PAGE

$

Total Page 1 And 2

Shoppers Drug Mart $50

Shoppers Drug Mart $25

PHARMACY:

QUANTITY TOTAL

FAMILY NAME: ____________________________

Payment must accompany order. (If you would like to pay via debit, VISA or

Mastercard, please stop by the office.)