Welcome to the 2018-2019 School Year

A welcome back message, with important information on the first few weeks of school.
I hope your summer has been wonderful with lots of time for rest and rejuvenation. We hope you are as excited for the year ahead as we are. We have been busy making preparations for the start of another year at LFA and invite both parents and students to read this update and to visit the school’s website to facilitate a smooth beginning.
 
I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest Angels and a huge welcome back to our returning Angels. As we begin our school year, students will be introduced to our school wide objective of “Connect with Compassion” and the Catholic School theme “What Do You Want of Me, Lord”. Students will be encouraged to find opportunities to be truly present with one another and to listen.  Through this, we will foster a culture of acceptance, love, and compassion.  Students and staff will be challenged to remember, during this journey, the importance of treating ourselves with the same acceptance, love, and compassion that we are called to show others.
 
All parents are also invited to our Recognition Assembly on Thursday, September 6th at 8:30am. During this assembly, we will celebrate the academic achievements of students during the 2017- 18 school year. Parents are invited to stay for coffee and tea after the assembly.
 
Parents of Grade 8, 9 and 10 students are invited to Walk in Your Daughter’s Footsteps on Wednesday, September 12th at 6:00pm. This evening gives Grade 8 and 9 parents an opportunity to visit classrooms, meet teachers, and hear a little about the year ahead. Our grade 10 parents will have an opportunity to hear about the BC Graduation Program. At the conclusion of this event, all parents new to LFA Athletics will be invited to a meeting with the Athletic Director who explains LFA’s athletic policies and gives information about our teams. A letter with further information will be distributed to your daughter in homeroom on the first day of school.
 
Parents of our Grade 11 and 12 students are invited to a Parent Information Meetings on Monday, October 1st at 5:30pm. Grade 11 parents will meet in the library and Grade 12 parents will meet in the dining hall. These meetings will be followed by presentations from Corpus Christi College and the University of British Columbia. The post-secondary presentations are open to all families and will take place in the auditorium at 6:00pm.
 
Information on all of these activities is available when you log on to the school website. I encourage all families to regularly log on and check out the calendar, announcements, and updates on school events and activities.
 
Welcoming New Staff
LFA is so pleased to be welcoming a number of new staff to our school community.
Mr. Darren Yanko will be teaching English 10 and Religion 8. Mr. Yanko comes to us with teaching and administrative experience from Vancouver College and St. Anthony of Padua.
 
Ms. Tiffany Qi will be teaching Mathematics 8-10. Ms. Qi received both her BA (Mathematics) and her BEd (Secondary Education) from the University of British Columbia. Her enthusiasm for mathematics and inquiry-based education will surely be appreciated in her classroom!
 
Ms. Gabriela Oteiza will be joining our community as the Director of Finance and Facilities Management. Ms. Oteiza is an alumna of LFA and brings a wealth of accounting experience in both the private and public sector. While Ms. Oteiza has remained connected to LFA through alumnae activities, it wonderful to be welcoming her back to LFA as a member of our staff.
 
Summer Facilities and Technology Projects
This summer, we completed a number of facility upgrades. We must give a huge thanks to Mr. Cannon, Mrs. Duffy, Mrs. Bedard, Mr. Chow, and many parent volunteers who worked tirelessly over the summer to complete the facilities projects. In addition we would like to again thank all those whose gifts afford us these opportunities. These projects would simply not be possible without the extraordinary community support of the LFA Foundation and Annual Fund.
 
  1. STEAM Lab
    This summer was Phase II of our STEAM lab build. We replaced all of the furniture in the STEAM lab, installed an improved ventilation system, and refinished the floor. While this required a huge effort to pack up and relocate all of the materials and equipment in the room, the Herculean effort was well worth it. The newly upgraded lab provides a healthy and flexible learning environment conducive to creativity and collaboration. We are exceptionally grateful to the support that has allowed us to build this space which empowers students to acquire technology skills while they imagine, create, innovate, and explore. This multi-year project has not just been about building a new facility, but the facility has allowed us to transform the way students learn and interact in the classroom. We are so proud of this initiative and thank Mr. Chow who has spearheaded our cross-curricular, inquiry-based approach to technology education. Be sure to pop into the lab during one of parent events.

  2. Library
    Over the summer, we continued to transform the library into a flexible learning space that provides students a place to lose themselves in a good book, collaborate with classmates, or access information to support their individualized learning. The largest of the summer projects included packing up the entire fiction section of the library, removing the institutional metal racks, installing custom wooden shelves that surround the Convent fireplace, and then organizing all of the books back on the shelves. The smaller projects included installing 4 new iMacs and putting the finishing touches on the second seminar room. Enormous thanks have to be extended to Mrs. Bedard and Mrs. Duffy who have helped shape the vision for the future of the library. In an era or replacing books with devices, and speech with texts, we have endeavoured to ensure that students have opportunities to understand the power of words and the gift of imagination.
New Bell Schedule
A new bell schedule was published last spring, but after the lazy days of summer, we thought it prudent to remind families of our new dismissal time. The first bell will continue to ring at 8:15am. each morning. However, the final bell of the day has been adjusted slightly with dismissal at 2:45pm.
 
To accommodate faculty meetings, school starts at 9:27am once every month. Faculty meetings are usually held on the first Wednesday of the month; however, some adjustments have been made to accommodate Ash Wednesday and special community events. The dates of all staff meetings are available on the school calendar posted on the website. On the staff meeting days, the dining hall is open to students who want to arrive at their regular time. 
 
Schedule for the Frist Week of Classes
  • Tuesday, September 4 (students not required to wear uniform)
    Grade 8 student orientation (12:00 – 2:30pm)
    Grade 9 – 12 new student orientation (1:30 – 2:30pm)

  • Wednesday, September 5 (students required to wear uniform)
    Day 1 classes begin for all students

  • Thursday, September 6
    Day 2 classes begin for all students
    Academic Recognition Assembly (8:20am)

  • Friday, September 7
    Welcome BBQ, hosted by the Parents’ Auxiliary (5:30pm)
I thank you for choosing Little Flower Academy for your daughter’s education. Together with parents, the school will strive to help every student reach her potential. I invite parents and students to get involved, ask questions, and enjoy the years at LFA. We ask for God’s continued blessings on our school community.
 
Diane Little
Principal
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4195 Alexandra Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 4C6
Tel: 604-738-9016
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