Principal: H. Wall ~ Head Teacher: H. Kimmie ~ Secretary: B. Walters Safe  Welcome  Responsible Bulletin #4 November 24, 2015 Dates to Remember … Wednesday, November 25 1:00 Assembly – Reading in the Dark Thursday, November 26 Girls Volleyball Playday, 3:30 – 5:00 at Burnaby South Friday, November 27 District Professional Development Day – school closed Wednesday, December 9 Christmas Concert dress rehearsal, 8:50 am Thursday, December 10 Christmas Concert, 1:00 pm Friday, December 11 Co-ed Volleyball Tournament at Burnaby North, 3:30-5:30 Tuesday, December 15 Breakfast With Santa First term report cards out Thursday, December 17 Choir to Mulberry, 2:00 Friday, December 18 1:00 Rock Band performance and Christmas sing-along Everyone welcome!

(See our website at morley.sd41.bc.ca for the full year’s schedule)

A Welcome Remembered 94 Years Later In 1921, my grandparents arrived in Halifax and if the same circumstances occurred today, they would be called refugees. They were coming from Russia where my grandfather’s wife and two oldest sons were killed because they were wealthy farmers and the nearby workers, encouraged by communist ideas, wanted to take their money and belongings. No longer safe on his farm in the Ukraine, built up by the family over the past 125 years, my grandfather escaped to the south with the nanny and his only remaining son. At the place they found to stay there were soon more escapees arriving and my grandfather was told he would have to share a room with his nanny so they were married that day. It was a marriage of circumstances. He was wealthy, with more than thirty servants for their home and the nanny was a Russian peasant. With the Red Army sweeping across Russia, they continued to go south and eventually ended up in Turkey, just as many Syrian refugees are doing almost a hundred years later. Together with other escapees my grandparents got onto a ship and headed for freedom in Canada. They arrived in Halifax and were interviewed by the Canadian officials. My grandfather was asked if he had ever been in jail and he said yes. At that point the Canadian officials were ready to deport them until they realized that he had been jailed because of his religious faith and not because he had committed a crime. The early years in Canada were very hard. My grandfather was a wealthy farmer who only knew how to make money through business dealings and overseeing workers. He didn’t know very much about doing the actual farming so their farm failed. Without the support of people in their community, they would not have survived. My grandfather died in 1958, before I was born, but I understand the trauma he went through. One of the few “treasures” my grandmother had been able to carry from Russia included a photo of about a dozen family and friends who had been shot and were lying on the ground together. My grandmother had the photo so that when she met with their family and friends they would know what had happened. My grandfather struggled with trauma for the rest of his life and it had a strong impact on my mother, his daughter. He was able to overcome his anger and grief only through the love shown through family, the community and his faith. Just as my grandparents needed financial and emotional support, so do the incoming refugees. At Morley we currently have over forty students that arrived in Canada as refugees. Fortunately, many of them do not have the trauma that my grandfather faced, but some of them do. It is our privilege at Morley to offer them a Safe place where they are Welcome. We also have a community of hope. The concept of Responsible that is a part of our motto means that it is not your circumstances that determine your success, it is your attitude and effort. I look forward to the arrival of refugees because our community has made a difference in the lives of refugees and because I have seen the impact of community on my own family. Through local organizations and donations, we at Morley have been able to help families with support for clothing, food and other financial needs. Our students have enthusiastically welcomed new students and shown them they are safe and welcome here. Through these opportunities I have seen students grow in their character, their social and emotional development. I again look forward to the arrival of more refugees. It will make our students stronger and make a difference in the lives of people in our community. We are a Safe, Welcome and Responsible school!

Breakfast With Santa Our annual Breakfast With Santa will be taking place on Tuesday, December 15. All students will be attending the breakfast with their class. We encourage all students to come in their pajamas and enjoy some pancakes with their classmates. We will also have a visit from Santa! Once again we will be collecting money for Parkinson’s Research. We are encouraging each student to bring in $2.00 to donate. We are also looking for help! Please sign up on the reverse side if you are interesting in helping out at this fun event!

Christmas Concert Please mark Thursday, December 10th, 1:00 pm on your calendar!

Food Drive Once again we will be collecting canned goods and non-perishable items for our annual food drive. Please send your donations to the school beginning the week of November 30th.

Report Cards First term report cards will be going home with students on Tuesday, December 15. Please take the time to go over the report card with your child. Talk about what is going well and what is not going well. Have your child suggest plans for building on strengths and improving weaknesses. Let your child know that you will support and help with the plans. As usual, if you have any concerns, please contact your child’s teacher.

Student-led conferences will be taking place on Thursday, February 18th. This will give your child an opportunity to share what they have been learning. Watch for further details. Winter Weather Closures As winter weather approaches, we want to remind everyone about Burnaby School District weather related school closure announcements.

All schools will remain OPEN, unless there is heavy snowfall, damage or other circumstances (eg. Power outage) that make it impossible to operate safely. The district will do its best to communicate school or district-wide closures and bus changes or cancellations by 6:30 am. This information will be posted on the front page of the district website. Closure information will also be provided to the media (radio and tv stations). PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE THAT SCHOOLS ARE OPEN.

Parents are responsible for their child’s safe travel to and from school. Please walk children to the door of the school if you are uncertain whether the school is open or not. If, for any reason, you feel that your child cannot travel safely to school then you should notify the school that your child will be absent.

Student safety is a shared responsibility. With your cooperation and support related to winter weather procedures, we can achieve safe conditions for all.

Students are reminded to dress appropriately for the weather. Children need fresh air and exercise daily so they are expected to go outside at recess and lunch. Warm, waterproof jackets and appropriate footwear are necessary to keep students warm and dry. We have an undercover area for play on rainy days. Only during extremely wet weather will students be kept inside at recess and/or lunch.

Community Information Christmas Bureau 2015 Registration is taking place now at the old Eastburn Community Centre, 7252 Kingsway Avenue (across the street from McDonalds). They are open Monday – Saturday, 10 am until 4 pm. Qualified applicants will receive new toys for their children (16 years and younger). You are eligible if:  You are a Burnaby family with children 16 years and younger.  You are a low income senior.  Your family is receiving income assistance or you have a low-income. Working families must provide a C-Print for EACH adult. To get one please call 1-800-959-8281. Press * to speak to an operator. If you are on Income Assistance a print-out from your Ministry Office will replace the C-Print. If you have questions or concerns, please contact MJ at 604-292-3902.

Christmas with the Horses Burnaby Horsemen’s Association is holding their 14th Annual Open House on Sunday, December 6, 10 am – 3 pm. Entrance is by a donation of non-perishable food items to be donated to the Burnaby food Bank. Horse demonstrations will be taking place throughout the day, lead line pony rides, displays and craft tables. Concession and raffle tickets are cash only.

Burnaby Art Gallery For ages 7-12 years, $16.00 per session, Thursday, November 26 – Geometric Shapes; Thursday, January 21 – Abstract Portraits. Art Nights are all about socializing and meeting new people, experimenting with art materials and having fun while learning about art and artists in a new way. Pre-registration is required.

In the BAG: A FREE family event: Sunday, December 13, 1-4 pm – Layering Colour. Come and make art! Get your minds humming with a visit to the gallery and then the studio for a family-friendly art project. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Breakfast With Santa  Yes, my child will be attending the Breakfast With Santa. Enclosed is $2.00 to donate to Parkinson’s Research.

Student name: ______Teacher: ______ Yes, I am able to help with the Breakfast With Santa on Tuesday, December 15. I am able to help with:  Set up (8:00 – 9:00 am)  Serving (9:00 – 10:30 am)  Clean up (10:30 – 11:00 am)

Name of volunteer: ______Phone: ______