Principal’s Post

What makes you leap out of bed in the morning?

That is the kind of question that CEOs are asking their potential employees during an interview. Another way to ask this is what motivates you? What’s your passion?

Much of the current leadership research shows that employees need three basic things:

• to feel valued
• to be able to use their skill set
• and to be challenged by new ways to exercise and use their skills

These basic needs also relate to children as they take on the job of learning. We intentionally chose BELONGING as our school’s first core value. It is important that all children feel like they belong and is a precursor to being ready to learn a new set of skills. Children also need to feel that they are valued by their parents, teachers, and principal. Learning goes beyond knowledge, and the recent curriculum changes recognize the importance of students being able to use skills in authentic, meaningful ways.  It is through being stretched to exercise skills in new ways that creates enduring understandings that will last a life time.

On Wednesday, Elementary students have an opportunity to participate in a Passion Project Fair. We have many children who are exuberant to share their passion with others. The excitement in some homes may be hard to contain as dancing and singing, experimenting and writing, drawing and building are consuming your child’s thoughts and minds. Isn’t that the learning that we aspire for? To be driven to read, experiment, attempt, fail, and retry as we pursue that which consumes our dreams.

By definition the word passion is described as a powerful and compelling emotion or feeling, or the object of such fondness or desire.

However, the origins come from the word compassion and refer to Christ’s sufferings on the cross. We just entered the church season called Lent. This season before Easter is a time that is set aside where we reflect on our sinfulness and are reminded of the compassion that Jesus had for us by bearing the pain of the world’s sin on himself, even suffering death on a cross so that we might live forever.

While Jesus was on earth he showed the passion that God has for people. He hung out with the sinners, people just like us. He loved them, he cared for their needs, he healed them, he taught them, he cried with them. He showed us in real ways how much God values us. Through his creativity and intention, He purposed each of us to have strengths in different areas.  He did not step away after our creation but continues to have an intimate knowledge of us and a promise for all people.

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

When we read, “I have redeemed you”- that is the good news at the end of the passion of Christ! It is the resurrection that Jesus experienced on Easter and the sure promise of the resurrection offered to all people. My deep hope is that our students, your children, uncover, develop and cultivate the passions that God has designed in them and that they are equipped to boldly proclaim the compassion that is found in our Easter Jesus.

In His Grip,

Susan Eisner

Parent Teacher League (PTL) News

PTL Meeting – The March PTL meeting was held Friday, March 3, at the Port Coquitlam Campus.  Please see the attached link for the minutes from that meeting:  MARCH 3 PTL MINUTES.

Volunteer Opportunity – Lunch time supervision.  Individuals wanting to help with Lunch hour supervision at the Port Coquitlam campus are to have an online Criminal Record Check completed.  Please plan to arrive and check in with the school office for 11:55 am.

Tax Receipts

Hope Lutheran Christian School 2016 tax receipts are available for pick-up from the Port Coquitlam campus office.

At least one parent’s signature is required to pick up the receipt, and a service fee will be charged for replacement receipts.

Scholastic Book Fair

Our school’s Scholastic Book Fair is this week, Monday, March 6 to Wednesday, March 8 after school from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. We will also be selling books during our Passion Project Fair on Wednesday, March 8 from 5:30 – 6:45 pm.

Each classroom will also have a wish list. We want to encourage families to add new books to your child’s classroom. Each teacher will have a “book wish list” with identified titles of books from the book fair that they believe would make great additions to their classroom libraries. Ask your student’s teacher for their wish list for the books they are excited about! Teacher wish lists will also be available at the cashier.

For every transaction, you can fill out a ballot and enter into a draw to win $25 in books for your family and another $25 in books for your child’s classroom. We are also looking for a few parent volunteers to help us with set-up after school on Monday, March 6 and take down on Thursday, March 9, after school. If you can help with this, please contact Mrs.Hussey at khussey@hopelcs.ca.

Parent Prayer

A parent from the Port Coquitlam campus is organizing a once a month prayer time for parents/family members of Hope Lutheran Christian School:

Please join me to pray for our children, our families, the Staff and Teachers at Hope and our Community of Port Coquitlam. We will share and learn from one another, be inspired by Bible readings on prayer and of course – pray together!  Email Tina Goetz for more info: mylifeforhis@shaw.ca

Location: Please meet in the Narthex/Foyer of the Port Coquitlam Campus

Times:               

• March 7, 9:15-9:45 am                      
• April 4, 9:15-9:45 am
• May 9, 9:15-9:45 am                        
• June 6, 9:15-9:45 am

Passion Project Fair

Passion Project participants can bring in their projects Wednesday morning and place them in the gym.  There will be post it notes with student’s names on them to indicate where to go.  Students will go to the gym with their classes at some point during the day to share their projects with their classmates.  Students with performances will only perform once during the evening time (5:30 – 7:00 pm; an email is coming home to those families with more information regarding the staging, schedule, and other requirements).  Students will wear uniform during the school day, but it is not a requirement in the evening, as some participants are dressing in costume.  Any questions can be directed to Mrs. Watson at jwatson@hopelcs.ca.

KM Club

KM Club permission slips were sent home with your child Wednesday, February 22. More information on KM Club can be found on them.  Permission slips must be returned by Wednesday, March 8.

Parents or caretakers must be at McLean Park to supervise their child/children during KM Club.  Children in the Schola Bohemia After School Care are eligible to participate, but will need to confirm with Rita.

While supervising your child, you may want to run or walk yourself, or you can volunteer.  Volunteering for KM Club counts towards parent volunteer hours.  You can volunteer before, during and/or after KM Club.  Please see the following sign up link to volunteer:

KM Club: Sign up to Volunteer – KM CLUB VOLUNTEER SIGN UP

KM Club will start Monday, March 27. This is an 18 consecutive day 30 minute run, run/walk or walk around McLean Park. KM Club runs after school Monday to Friday weather dependent. Depending on accumulated distance completed, participants will receive participation ribbons, medals or trophies!  KM Club is open to all students, staff, parents, caretakers, and daycare children.  Refreshments will be sold for after KM Club for $1. Funds raised by the sales go towards the, ribbons medals and trophies.

Spring Break Parent/Child Badminton

Calling all shuttlers!  The Port Coquitlam campus gym will be open for parents and children on Wednesday, March 15, 2:00 – 4:00 pm.  Children must come with a parent who will also be playing together.  Spaces are limited due to the size of the gym. Please email jlok@hopelcs.ca to sign up if you plan to come.

Spring Musical

This spring, on April 26 & 27, our students will be performing a musical called “Good News From a Grave”.

If your child does not have a speaking role in the play, they will be required to wear a plain, solid coloured T-shirt (no design or logo), which can be any colour of the rainbow as well as a pair of blue jeans (just blue). If you need to purchase a T-shirt, please be aware that Michaels has plain T-shirts at a very reasonable price and often have 40% to 50% off coupons which you can apply to your purchase.

Cambridge Uniforms Fitting Day

Hope Lutheran’s uniform supplier, Cambridge Uniforms, will be holding a Fitting Day at the Port Coquitlam Campus on Friday, May 5.  More information, regarding booking a fitting time, will be released after Spring Break.

Hope Community Cookbook

Cooking tonight?  Don’t forget to take a picture and submit your favourite recipes for the Hope Community Cookbook.  Details can be found in the email from your class liaison.

Paid On-Call Position

Individuals interested in working on-call as a parking lot and/or playground supervisor at the Port Coquitlam campus are encouraged to submit their resume to Mrs. Eisner as soon as possible. Applicants require a thorough knowledge of traffic safety, strong communication skills, a good rapport with children, and the flexibility to work as needed. First aid is an asset. A clear criminal record check is required for this position. Training will be provided.