November 23, 2018
Dear Urban Academy Families,
Thank you to our guests who joined us on Tuesday night for our Community AGM. The audited financials were shared for the last fiscal year as well as the Board’s Annual Report and we were able to thank and acknowledge Board directors who have served and are now stepping down. Their service to our community is deeply appreciated. The new directors serving on the Board at Urban Academy are Abi Shu (Chair), Jaki Laga (Vice-Chair), Rory Langran (Treasurer), Joanne Ward (Secretary), Elizabeth Fletcher, Ben Marsolais, Deborah McKenzie, Karim Merali, and Mike Vint, all Members-at-Large. Thank you to all of them for their willingness to lead and guide our school. As your Head of School, it is an honour to work with such a fine Board that is so focused on the health and future of the school.
The cold weather seems to be settling in and in this email we have provided the information you will require should we have an unexpected and heavy snowfall. Fortunately, there has been little of this in recent years and the cold weather has not shut schools or roads, but it is best to be prepared. We have also included information on outerwear for students that only changes once temperatures dip below 4 degrees Celsius.
Chief Rhonda Larrabee of the Qayqayt Nation was our guest at Uptown this week and shared her story, Tribe of One. We are so pleased to begin to establish a relationship with Chief Rhonda and to have our students learn about the local First Nation and their unique story in New Westminster. Please click on https://www.nfb.ca/film/tribe-of-one/ to learn more about Chief Rhonda, her work and the Qayqayt Nation.
Tomorrow is a Professional Day at Urban Academy and an important one for us. As staff move closer to Google classroom services and programs for students, we need to undertake training ourselves. We have an experienced facilitator in G Suite and the Google classroom joining us to take staff through the applications that are appropriate for each grade group. It promises to be a very rewarding day.
Thank you for your attention to the tickets for the Winter Concert and the plans for your youngest children for that evening. We are down to a handful of families who have not purchased tickets yet. It promises to be a wonderful concert.
Preparations for our Hats Off Gala in March are well under way and it is shaping up to be another spectacular evening. Our annual Gala is the biggest fundraiser of the year within our school community, and a wonderful event for parents come together with friends and family to celebrate the exciting journey our school is on. Your Gala Committee is working to create an event focused on experiences and adventures, and they have been reaching out to families and businesses in our community to collect items for the silent and live auction portions of our event. If you, or someone or company you know, are able to donate an item to include in the auction, please complete the charitable donation form attached to this email and return it with the item to the Administration Office at either campus. Your support is always appreciated and the funds raised from the event go directly towards your students’ learning experiences.
Have an enjoyable weekend.
Mrs. Cheryle Beaumont
Head of School
