Week at a Glance
Monday, April 10
3:15 – 4:30 pm After School Work Out Club
Tuesday, April 11
11:00 am – 2:15 pm Grade 8 to 12 Track and Field Practice
3:15 – 5:00 pm Gr. 8 – 12 Volleyball
Wednesday, April 12
12:30 pm Chapel – Grade 9/10 Christian Studies Class
3:15 pm Gr. 6/7 Badminton Practice – Port Coquitlam Campus
3:15 – 5:00 pm Gr. 8 – 10 Badminton Practice – Pitt Meadows Campus
Thursday, April 13
Gr. 9 – 12 End of Third Quarter
Grade 8-12 Track Meet Permission Forms DUE
Friday, April 14
NO SCHOOL IN SESSION – Good Friday
Monday, April 17
NO SCHOOL IN SESSION – Easter Monday
Tuesday, April 18
Day 2
11:00 am – 2:15 pm Grade 8 to 12 Track and Field Practice
3:15 – 5:00 pm Gr. 8 – 12 Volleyball
Wednesday, April 19
12:30 pm Chapel – Guests, Grade 4B
3:15 – 5:00 pm Gr. 8 – 10 Badminton Practice – Pitt Meadows Campus
Thursday, April 20
3:15 – 5:00 pm Gr. 8 – 10 Badminton Practice – Pitt Meadows Campus
Friday, April 21
Grade 8-12 Track Meet @ Rotary Stadium, Abbotsford
- Shuttle Bus departure from Port Coquitlam campus to Pitt Meadows campus at 7:00 am.
- Bus leaves for Track Meet from the Pitt Meadows Campus at 7:30 am
Important: Grade 7 Parents must arrange transportation to Pitt Meadows Campus for this day.
Principal’s Post
I recently heard a controversial comedian talk about raising his daughters with respect to teaching them about religion. He echoed a very common false sentiment: All religions are basically the same and lead to God. However, he noted facetiously that, “Christianity is the best and that Christians are the ‘winners’.” He continues in his crass comedic style to emphasize the fact that our calendar is a constant reminder of Jesus Christ. The birth of Jesus Christ is embedded within our yearly measure of time and that is why he teaches his daughters that “Christians are the winners.”
Despite the extremely superficial and incorrect view of the Christian faith expressed by this comic, his point about our Gregorian calendar being accepted world wide is worth considering as we celebrate Easter this month. The Easter holiday marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The early Christian church used this calendar to set the dates for our Easter holiday based on the vernal equinox when the Northern Hemisphere transitions between the seasons of winter and spring.
Two of our world’s most celebrated holidays are based upon the fact that Jesus’ birth occurred about 2017 years ago and that his death is remembered on Easter Friday followed by his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Does this entail that Christians are the winners or that Christians have the best “religion.”? Not really. To often, the Christian message of Jesus Christ is talked about using religion as the theme. Christianity and the gospel message about Jesus is not a religion. Christianity is about a relationship with the one and only true God. I have heard this idea best explained like this: Religion is about humans’ attempts to please or gain favour with God; Christianity is about what God has already done for us through Christ Jesus.
During the last few weeks, students have been reflecting on Easter. Easter is about God the Father expressing his love for us through Jesus. Our world needs to deal with the fact that we are not perfect. Most other belief systems are based on the idea of the “things” we must do to be “good” in God’s eyes. Christianity is unique and exclusive in the fact that we can not do things because Christ has already done everything. Being “right” in God’s eyes is not based on the things we do; it is based on our relationship with Jesus Christ. Easter celebrates the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Christians are people who acknowledge that apart from Jesus Christ, we cannot earn any favour with God. Our world calendar reminds us each year that Christ was born, he died, and was gloriously resurrected. That is what we celebrate this Easter season.
Blessings on your Easter.
Dan Mathew – Principal, Pitt Meadows Campus
Parent Teacher League (PTL) News
- Call for Volunteers – The PTL is looking for parents who would be interested in volunteering in the 2017/2018 school year in the following positions:
- Treasurer – In this position you write cheques, deposit money into the PTL bank account, prepare Monthly Financial Reports and Bank Reconciliations, oversee the Parent Volunteer Hours program, and other bookkeeping duties. There is support and training available for this position.
- Secretary – In this position you would attend PTL Executive meetings and bi-monthly PTL meetings at the school. As Secretary, you record what happens in the PTL
- Meetings in the form of Meeting Minutes which are sent out to parents for their information. Middle-School Member-At-Large – In this position you support the PTL and represent the parents of middle-school students.
- Hot Lunch Coordinator – In this position you will assist in the set up of hot lunch next year, which is a very easy process and we have Hotlunches.net to give us a hand. You will also answer parent questions and monitor volunteer involvement. There is no cooking involved. Being available on Fridays for hot lunch would be an asset but is not required.
- Emergency Preparedness Coordinator – In this position you are responsible for sorting the comfort kits at the beginning of the school year, updating the classroom emergency bags, updating Student emergency name tags, and purchasing necessary emergency items as needed. This job is perfect for more than one parent volunteer as it can be broken down into smaller jobs.
- Events Coordinator – Do you love to plan fun events? We would love to hear from you. If you have an idea for an event that you would like to plan, please let us know.
Graduation Scholarship – Scholarship applications are now being accepted until the first Friday in June, end of school day at hopelutheranptl@hopelcs.ca. The scholarships will be awarded at Convocation in June. Questions, contact the PTL. Please see the following link for the scholarship guidelines:
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.
Worship Service Invitation
A warm welcome is extended to our school families and friends to attend the Holy Week worship services at Hope Lutheran Church:
- Thursday, April 13, Maundy Thursday at 7:30 pm
- Friday, April 14, Good Friday at 8:00 pm
- Sunday, April 16, Breakfast at 9:30 am and Easter worship at 11:00 am (Family friendly worship service for all ages)
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.
Educational Showcase
Tuesday, April 25, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, all grade 7 to 12 students will present projects on this event-filled evening. Please plan to attend. Student participation is mandatory.
Students must arrive at 6:15 pm to finalize project set up.
Bard on the Beach
Once again, Hope is excited to offer an optional field trip to Bard on the Beach on the evening of Saturday, June 10.
This year’s play is “Much Ado about Nothing.” The event is open to students in grades 1 to 12 and to all parents at a cost of $22/person. Grade 1 to 4 students that attend must be accompanied by a parent; please note that Bard on the Beach does not allow children under age 6.
Permission slips were posted on Edmodo on Friday, April 7. Please print and complete a form for each child that is attending. Return completed forms and exact payment to the school no later than April 27. If you have any questions, please contact Miss Friesen at nfriesen@hopelcs.ca.
Pitt Meadows Campus Sports
Badminton
- Grade 8 Badminton Tournament, April 28. Fee for badminton is $10 per athlete.
- Calendar Update: Jr (Gr.9-10) Badminton Tournament has been changed to Friday, May 5. Fee for badminton is $10 per athlete.
Track & Field
- Practice days – 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, April 11 &18. Transportation will be provided to and from the track. Permission forms were due April 7.
Grade 8-12 Track Meet, April 21 – ALL Students must participate.
- Students need to complete the Google Form on the Middle/High Edmodo Page to sign up for an event prior to April 11.
- Each student must participate in a minimum of one event
- Depart Pitt Meadows Campus at 7:30 am arrive back at Pitt Campus by 5:00 pm
- Rotary Stadium, Discovery Trail, Abbotsford
- Permission Forms due April 13, 2017
After School Workout Club Mondays
Youth Unlimited will be participating with us. ALL staff and Hope students in grades 7-12 are welcome to come and get their sweat on
Summer Camps
Hope Lutheran School is excited to launch its summer camps this year. Don’t miss your chance to join the action this summer. All details can be found on our school website by clicking on the summer camp banner. Online registration is open. Spaces are limited and registrations are taken on a first come first serve basis. Act now to receive an Early Bird Discount. Invite a friend and get a further discount! Click on the following link to take you directly to the Summer Camp information:
SUMMER CAMPS INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
Cambridge Uniforms Fitting Day
Hope Lutheran’s uniform supplier, Cambridge Uniforms, will be holding a Fitting Day at the Port Coquitlam Campus on Monday, May 8. More information, regarding booking a fitting time, to come.
Pitt Meadows Day – June 3
Our school will be hosting a tent for games and crafts at Pitt Meadows Day at Harris Rd. Park on Saturday, June 3 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This is a community event and we need parent volunteers to help with set up, arts & crafts and clean up. Please contact Mr. Mathew in person or through email at dmathew@hopelcs.ca, to volunteer for this event.
Parent Prayer
A parent from the Port Coquitlam campus has organized 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
NEW TIME: Parent Prayer will be at 9:05 – 9:35 am for May and June
- May 9, 9:05 – 9:35 am
- June 6, 9:05 – 9:35 am
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.
Pitt Meadows Spring Plans
We have exciting plans to start gardening and environmental sciences programs at the Pitt Meadows campus.
- We are seeking help in building the raised beds needed to start the gardens. Donations of lumber 2 x 4 would be greatly appreciated so that we can start to plan the garden beds.
- Our field is growing grass! We need a riding lawn mower. If you know of a good source are willing to donate funds for this please talk to Mr. Mathew or Mr. John Lok – Development Director.
