Bringing 2024 Holiday Cheer to Our School Community

As the holiday season approaches, it's a time for celebration, joy, and togetherness. This year, the magic of the holidays came to life at our schools in a delightful way!

Drop Off and Pick Up Holiday Festivities Engage Community at John Maclure Elementary

Inspired by the festive spirit witnessed at the Chilliwack Christmas parade, Principal Fay Christie brought a touch of winter wonder to our students—many of whom have never experienced snow due to their diverse backgrounds. 

John Maclure proudly hosts 390 children, and with that, many students come to the inevitable hustle and bustle during drop-off and pick-up times. Recognizing families' challenges, the admin team introduced a new initiative to ease wait times in the parking lot and foster community engagement. The response was overwhelming, as we witnessed an outpouring of joy on the first day of our festive greeting. Seeing happy parents smile as they dropped off their children brought immense joy to everyone. 

Janet Bauer, Vice Principal at John Maclure, noted how wonderful it is to see families actively participating and engaging with the school community. "The family buy-in is what truly puts a smile on my face," says Janet. She relishes the moments spent with parents, creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere. 

Dana, a parent, echoed these sentiments. She believes that the principal's efforts to make the school environment festive significantly uplift the students' spirits and start everyone's day with a smile. Here's to more smiles, laughter, and holiday cheer at John McClure Elementary!

A Young Philanthropist at Jackson Elementary Helping with Holiday Fundraiser

Meet Ashton, a remarkable Grade 5 student with a heart of gold and a mind brimming with creativity. At just 10 years old, Ashton demonstrated an inspiring blend of compassion and ingenuity by using his 3D printer to design and create one-of-a-kind toys. Ashton decided to sell them on Facebook Marketplace, turning his passion for innovation into a force for good. His goal? To raise enough money to brighten the holidays for 15 students from his school who would be receiving Christmas hampers this year.

Ashton’s selflessness and determination remind us of the incredible impact young people can have when they pair their skills with empathy. His initiative not only provided thoughtful gifts for his peers but also set a powerful example of how generosity can be woven into everyday activities. By combining cutting-edge technology with a giving spirit, Ashton embodies the potential for meaningful change that lies within our students. We’re excited to see how his kindness and creativity continue to inspire those around him and shape his future endeavors.

Mountain Elementary's Cereal-ously Fun Food Drive Success

The recent food drive at Mountain Elementary was a resounding success, featuring a creative twist focused solely on cereal. Principal Anita Heitz drove the initiative to encourage fun interactions among students and address a critical need in the community. Local food banks are feeling this pressure from an increasing need this season.

Heitz challenged the school to bring in enough cereal boxes to create a massive domino train stretching from one end of the school to the other. A friendly competition was held among classes to spark excitement, with the winning class enjoying a special cereal lunch. Congratulations to a class of 21 third graders who brought in an impressive 63 cereal boxes and won the competition! 

The school collected over 400 boxes for the Abbotsford Food Bank (Archway Community Services). The holiday food drive showcased the incredible spirit of generosity in the community, as the school has a student body of 240.

This December, the overwhelming number of charitable and community-driven events, including Christmas gift wrapping, school band concerts, holiday treat fundraisers, and more, has sparked a sense of joy and excitement for staff and parents in the school district. You can read more about the staff sentiment from our Superintendent's perspective by reading his blog. We can't wait to see what 2025 bears for us.