Newsletter

LGCA News
Written By Heather Roex
 
 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18

When I think back to my childhood in the 70s and remember playing in the backfield, riding dirt bikes, and playing crokinole with my family it’s a far cry from how my daughters are being raised now in the 21st-century. It’s nothing to see a parent hand their child a phone just like one would with a pacifier to a baby to calm them down. Nearly every child has a technology device that may be intended for education, but is often used for distraction. And now the two letters: AI send a shiver down the spine of many parents and educators. At LGCA, we are positioned well in the fact that we know AI isn’t going away so our goal is to empower students to effectively use technology, but not be used by technology.  In regards to AI, it can often provide a good starting point for a student who is stuck on a writing topic. In the workplace, it can provide a variety of options to then build upon. However, if students are using AI as their homework completion tool without shaping and recreating it themselves, that is not adhering to our standards for academic integrity and is, in fact, plagiarism.

 

As the ever changing technology landscape evolves, we are doing our best to equip your children with learning skills and strategies that will see them well into their post-secondary career. We have also partnered with a company that is helping us use the metadata of documents that are being handed in by students to help determine if the work is “student created” or “AI created”. I realize this article may actually be off putting to folks who are very technologically advanced in the fact that AI may be seen as “the next great thing”. However, as a few scholars I work with mentioned, just like we don’t want to get all of our news from one source, you would not want to get all of your ideas from AI. You can imagine that if we are taking everything that AI presents to us as the “gospel”, then we will simply be nothing more than animated robots perpetuating the “intelligence” of AI, which is becoming more self-aware and learning day by day. Thank you for partnering with us to train up your children to use technology responsibly as they continue to capitalize on the many blessings that God has instilled within them. 

 

Adam Reid - Principal  

Winter Reading Extravaganza January 29th – February 2nd

K-7 students will enjoy a fun-filled week celebrating all things BOOKS! Some of the events and activities will include: three author visits, book talks, book cover art, reading BINGO, and some exciting classroom reading activities.

Please look for BINGO sheets in your child’s backpack this Friday- these are due Thursday, February 1st and will be entered into our big prize draw.  (Please see attachments)

Please email ccahill@lgca.ca if you have any questions or want a digital version of the BINGO sheet.

This also happens to land during Family Literacy Week and our local public libraries have some great ideas for family reading at home.

Chapel

Parents are invited to attend Chapel on Fridays. Elementary chapel (Grade K-Grade 5) starts at 8:50am and Grade 6 & 7 and High School chapel starts at 9:50am in the ES gym.

Please note commencing this term the Grade 6 and 7s will join the HS chapel.

 REMINDER: Re-Registration packages for 2024-2025 school year

Re-registration forms were mailed out at the beginning of January. Please ensure that you complete the re-registration forms and return them to the office by Wednesday, January 31st, 2024, in order to secure your child’s spot. Please note that if we do not receive your

re-registration by January 31st, 2024, your child’s spot cannot be guaranteed. If your child is not returning to LGCA, please send us an email to let us know of your intentions. If you did not receive a package or have any questions, please contact the office.

Please note: if you have a child entering Kindergarten, please email the office at office@lgca.ca to request an application package. 

 Non-Uniform Days for Students K-Grade 12

LGCA typically has a couple of non-uniform days per month so students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 can wear casual clothing (respectful and modest) instead of their uniform.  These themed and non-themed non-uniform days are intended to be a fun day for students and help boost morale.  Please see attached non-uniform document with the dates and themes for the remainder of the year.

Tomorrow, Friday, January 26th  is our next non-uniform day for students in Kindergarten to grade 12 if they choose to participate. Elementary School: Sports Theme;

High School: No Theme

Please note: These non-uniform days are optional. If students wish not to participate, they are welcome to wear their uniforms.

Red Cross Youth and CPR – First Aid Course

Dr Tiberio will be offering a Canadian Red Cross Youth Leadership Course in Babysitting and would like to invite your families with students in Grades 5+ (Gr 5-8 is the target audience). The course is on the February 16 Pro D Day before Family Day long weekend in West Vancouver at Christ the Redeemer Church, next to St. Anthony's School. Students and parents love this fun and educational safety leadership course and especially on the Family week Pro D Day. Please see attached poster for further information. 

 Open House

Thursday, February 8th is the LGCA Open House from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for new families.  If you know of families who are interested in LGCA, please encourage them to attend.  Word of mouth is our best advertisement.  Thank you!   Please see attached flyer.

  Procedure for School Closure due to inclement weather/power failure

In case of school closure due to inclement weather or other emergencies such as power failure, the following steps will be followed: 

  • An email will be sent to you advising you of the closure.

  • A voice mail will be left on the school answering machine.

  • Please listen to the radio -  News 1130 am, CKNW, City TV Breakfast Show.

  • Parents:  please note that we will make the best decision possible regarding closure. However we realize that parents live in different areas and, therefore, parents have the final say as to whether they feel it is safe to bring their child/ren to school.

 Pro D Days/Early Dismissal/School Closure Days:

  • Friday, February 16th                         PRO D Day -  No School for Students

  • Monday, February 19th                     Family Day – No School for Staff and Students

Looking Ahead:

January:

Fri        26        Non-Uniform Day – K-7 Sports Theme; Grade 8-12 No Theme

Mon     29        Chess Club Grade 1 & 2

M-F    Jan 29-Feb 2  Winter Reading Extravaganza (K-7)

Wed     31        Grade 4/5 Ice-Skating

 February:

Fri        02        K-7 Multicultural lunch

Heather Roex