**Holiday Hampers**

The Charles Dickens Annual Holiday Hamper program is here again!

In the spirit of the season, the PAC is asking for help from the Dickens Community to create unique Holiday Hampers for families in need. Your donations will be greatly appreciated by the participating families! 

There are a few ways you can get involved, and helping out is easy! 

1) Look for the Giving Tree in the main hallway of both the Main school and the Annex, starting Monday, November 26. 

• Choose a tag from the Giving Tree to provide a suggested gift.
• Select a tag from the tree (with details about the child’s age/gender.
• Purchase the item*
• Bring the item (and the tag) to the school, unwrapped.
• Place your item in the drop boxes next to the tree.
• *Please ensure clothing items include gift/return receipt.

2) Provide a Gift Card from one of the following stores:

• Buy-Low
• No Frills
• Superstore
• Walmart
• Save-On-Foods

3) Donate Cash (or Cheques) at the school office

• Donations over $50 are eligible for a tax receipt. 
• Please pick up a form from the office and return it with your donation.
• Please make cheques payable to Charles Dickens PAC.

Drop off your gifts and/or donations by Friday, December 14, 2018

Thank You - all support is greatly appreciated.

Charles Dickens Book Fair – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We are still in need of more volunteers for our bi-annual school Book Fair to work the following shifts during the week of the Parent-Student Conferences at the Main School:

Wed, Dec 5 (shift times)

• 1:50-3:00pm 
• 3:00-4:15pm 
• 4:15-5:30pm
• 5:30-6:30pm

Thu, Dec 6 (shift times)

• 8:20-9:10am
• 1:50-3:00pm

Friday, Dec 7 (shift time)

• 8:30-9:40am (Packing Up the Fair)

You are welcome to bring your kids if you'd like to do so. Please email jacquithomas@gmail.com if you're able to volunteer for any of these shifts.

What you will do 
Process payments for books as kids/parents come to the counter to purchase; this involves taking cash, cheques or setting up payment through visa machine. 

The school librarian, Miranda, or parent working the shift prior to you will show you what to do, including how to work the visa machine. And you have to be able to do some simple math too. 

Shift parents will also write 1 to 2 slips for books that have run out, but can still be purchased if prepaid. Miranda then orders the books. 

Guest Speaker this November: Living in Community

Presentation on Social Emotional Learning at Tyee Montessori Elementary

Mara St. Onge will be speaking about Social Emotional Learning on Wednesday, November 21 from 7:30-8:30pm in the Tyee Gym. 

Mara is the Creator of Blingja Concepts Ltd. Blingja is a multi-sensory social emotional learning resource that supports curriculums. The Blingja Lesson Plans are designed to help people feel calmer in stressful situations. Without judging themselves, children learn to recognize their emotions and feel powerful in every situation.

She is an award winning youth/child program developer, long-term educator with the Vancouver School Board, child advocate, entrepreneur, author and mother of two. Visit Blingja.com for more info.

To attend, tickets can be purchased for $5 at Eventbrite: https://maraattyee.eventbrite.com

If you have any questions, contact Tyee PAC Co-chairs, Jeni Haskett or Kyenta Martins at tyeemontessoripac@gmail.com

Glen Drive Community Gardens - Can you assist?

This past summer, many Dickens parents and community members came together to help repaint the "Rainbow Road" (our Glen Dr. Community Street) between 17th and 18th Avenues. 

We are fortunate to have such an amazing space that can be enjoyed by our entire community!

Our next project is getting the community gardens at both ends of the Rainbow Road ready for the spring. 

Can you assist with planting?

Plants and bulbs (and even a tree!) donated by the City of Vancouver will be delivered next week.

If you feel you would be able to help out with the planting, please join us on the Rainbow Road on Tuesday, November 13 from 1:30pm onwards.

Remember to bring a pair of gardening gloves, a trowel and yes, that good ol' community spirit!

Thank you

..and happy gardening!

Dickens PAC