It is difficult to believe that there are only two weeks left before summer holidays.  This means less than two weeks to pack up all the books in the library to get ready for the Library renovations.  Before boxing up the books, I am weeding through as many as I can which gives me a chance to discard obsolete and damaged copies, to make room for new books and to replace worn favourites.
 L I B R A R Y   B O O K S                             

PLEASE RETURN ALL LIBRARY BOOKS!!! If you are unable to find overdue books, please send the money for lost items to the Library along with your child’s overdue notice.  Students' overdues are carried over to next September. If you have any questions, email me at ldelair@sd40.bc.ca The first class to return (or pay for) all their missing books will win delicious Tim Hortons donuts and a prize for their teacher.  The winning class will be announced at the year end assembly.
 

 C A N A D A                                  

Do you know Canada's longest river?  Do you know Canada's largest and smallest provinces?  Do you know who the first Europeans were to reach Canada?  McBride students are studying Canada and can answer these questions and more! The grade 1 and 2 students have focused on Canadian symbols while the senior students have had a crash course in Canada's history and geography. Here is a video about the War of 1812 that is entertaining and educational... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ety2FEHQgwM

 S C H O L A S T I C   B O O K   F A I R      

Many thanks to all of the students, parents and staff who supported the Book Fair and made it a great success.  Special thanks to our parent volunteers who took time out of their busy lives to help with the Fair.

We had excellent sales (thank you to all of you who waited patiently to purchase Book Fair items) and will be able to buy additional books and supplies for our newly refurbished Library. 

 M O N I T O R S                                                                                                     

Our dedicated Library monitors have provided an invaluable service this year.  These wonderful students gave up their lunch time to help keep the Library organized and tidy.  I really appreciate their hard work and dillegence and will miss them when they move on to Glenbrook.


T H A N K   Y O U                                    

Thank you so much for your support through out the past year.  We are so lucky at Richard McBride to have such a wonderful community of students and parents. Have a safe and relaxing summer and we’ll see you next September.

Oh my goodness, what a busy Spring!  I can not believe how fast the last two months have gone by...We finished our gerbil unit at the end of April and spent May studying May Day and the history of New Westminster. I am impressed with how much the students have learned about their community.

 S T A F F    L U N C H                                    

I would like to thank our wonderful parents for the delicious lunch.  What an amazing feast!  It took us two days to finish and it was worth every calorie.  It was very kind of you to take time from your busy lives to spoil us.

 B O O K   F A I R                                       

We are hosting our second Scholastic Book Fair from June 5 to June 7 in the Community Room. This is a great fund raiser for the Libary. You are invited to come by and have a look! 

Tuesday, June 5    

8:30 am - 10:00 am & 2:45 pm – 4:00 pm

Wednesday, June 6  

8:30 am – 10:00 am & 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Thursday, June 7   

8:30 am – 10:00 am & 2:45 pm – 4:00 pm

Tuesday, June 5 is Surf's Up, McBride Day.  Students are encouraged to wear their beachiest, Hawaiian, tacky tourist outfits to launch the Aloha Book Fair.

 J U N E                                                                            

All library books are due back June 7.  This gives us a chance to collect all of the year's overdues and go through the stacks for any missing books. If you are unable to find your child's books, please pay for them.  If these books turn up, please return them to the library for a refund.

 M A Y    D A Y                                                                                                       

I am impressed with how much our students have learned about their city and its culture this month. Each grade focused on a particular aspect of May Day and its connection to New Westminster history and the curriculum.

The tradition of May Day which began in 1870, serves to remind us of the value of our community, the value of our past and the value of our children. It is a time to gather together to celebrate all that is good in life and to acknowledge all that we have accomplished and endured.

May Day is a unique opportunity for all the students of NewWestminster to share a common purpose and experience and to take their place in history. Our students have such a sense of pride when they work together with their classmates to perfect the dance steps and perform in front of the crowds at Queen's Park Stadium. Many thanks to our teachers who do such a wonderful job teaching the dances!

Our district website now has a May Day section. Please check it out! http://district.sd40.bc.ca/may-day/about

Congratulations to Division Three who won a pizza lunch from Pizza Hut in the May Day Free Lunch Contest!

 A U T H O R S '    V I S I T                                                                                  

In April, Richard McBride was fortunate to be choosen by the BC Book Prizes to receive two authors' visits. On Thursday, May 3, we two BC authors visit our school.  The Kindergatens and grade ones were entertained by Robert Heidbreder, author of "Shake Awakes". A former kindergarten teacher, Bob had the kids up and dancing around.   Caitlyn Vernon, author of "Nowhere Else on Earth: Standing Tall for the Great Bear Rainforest," gave an amazing slideshow as she discussed her book with the grade fours and fives in the library. 

Caitlyn mentioned a story about a bear walking into a Subway in Kitimat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBiboVzi2VI as an example of the effects of human encroachment on animal habitat.  She also taught us that barnacles feed with their feet!

Through the Adopt-a-Library Programme, Richard McBride Elementary was adopted by Thrifty Foods.   Thrifty Foods donated $500 worth of 2012 BC Book Prize finalist books to our library. Many thanks to the manager Ray Mattison for the generous donation!