Thunder News Flash – January 31st, 2026

St. (Pope) John Paul II said, “Catholic education is above all a question of communicating Christ, of helping to form Christ in the lives of others.” 

Catholic Schools Week is a celebration of the excellence and impact of Catholic schools. Each year, Catholic schools observe the celebration through a variety of activities, emphasizing the importance of Catholic education.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our parents for their unwavering support of Catholic education and for entrusting us with the formation of their children. Your commitment to faith-based learning, academic excellence, and service helps create a community where students can grow spiritually, intellectually, and morally. Through your partnership, prayers, and sacrifices, you play an essential role in nurturing young people who live out Gospel values with compassion, integrity, and purpose. We are deeply grateful for the trust you place in our Catholic schools and for walking alongside us in this shared mission.

“Heavenly Father, Your light shines brightly in your children. You have inspired us to do good deeds in your name. Bless this school and all who work to make your will known in the world. We ask this in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

Book Fair – February 10, 2026

The Daughters of St. Paul will be visiting SAINT JAMES & ST ANN’s on FEBRUARY 10TH with a Catholic book fair. We look forward to spending time with your school community!  As Daughters of St. Paul, our mission is to proclaim the Gospel using the most effective media— including great Catholic books! Our Pauline Books & Media publishing house is just one expression of our mission to give Jesus Christ to the world in the spirit of Saint Paul. During our visit to your school, we will make available some of the award-winning books that our sisters have prayerfully written and/or published in collaboration with many talented Catholic authors and illustrators. We pray that these books will spark wonder, inspire faith, and help your family grow closer to Christ and each other.

The Pauline Book Fair will be open all day during school hours and after school on February 10.  To preview some of the books that we will have available for children, teens, families, and teachers, please see our School Book Fair list. Just click the following link:  8.5x14in CA updated bookfair flyer (1). Note that listed prices do not include tax. (For a comprehensive list of the books we publish, as well as the books from other Catholic publishers that we carry in our Pauline Books & Media Centre in Toronto, you can also visit us online at paulinestore.ca.  We can accept Visa, MasterCard, Debit Interac, and/or cash on the day of the book fair.

For more information about us and our Pauline Books & Media mission, please visit us at. daughtersofstpaul.com and pauline.org.

You and your family are in our daily prayers! 

 In Jesus our Way, Truth, and Life,

Sr. Gioan Linh Nguyen & Sr Joane Caritas Gepitulan

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we will be celebrating kindness, respect and friendship!  As such, the Grade 7 class will again be organizing a Candygram sale.  Candygrams are a unique way to show you are thinking of a special friend!

The Leadership Team as well as the Grade 7 class will be selling Valentine candy grams at lunch on Friday February 7th, Monday the 9th and Tuesday the 10th.  One candy gram costs $0.50, and $1 will get you 3 candy grams.

On Wednesday February 11 we will be having a colour day to celebrate Valentines day. We encourage the students to dress up in red, white, and pink. Please remember to bring a $2 donation. All the money collected will go to a Catholic charity.  We will also be having a sock hop at recess for primary, and at lunch for intermediate.

Family Respite Camp – February 13 – February 16, 2026

Registration now open – Register now to secure your spot.

Join us this Family Day long weekend for a special Family Respite Camp at Zajac Ranch — a unique opportunity for families to experience camp together in a supportive, inclusive, and medically-informed environment.

This program is open to existing Zajac Ranch camper families and welcomes new campers; including, children and young adults (ages 7-40) who are living with complex medical conditions, alongside their families!

Zajac Ranch is one of the few medical camp programs in British Columbia specifically designed to support children and young adults with complex medical needs. Through recent feedback from campers, families, caregivers, and staff, a clear need has emerged to extend our programming beyond the summer season. This Family Day Respite Camp is part of a project aimed at expanding year-round access to the therapeutic benefits of camp.

These special respite camps will:

• Provide meaningful camp experiences for returning camper families
• Introduce new families to Zajac Ranch and our facilities
• Support youth and caregivers through shared experiences, connection, and rest
• Help us thoughtfully expand services to better meet the needs of families across BC

Thanks to funding support from Disability Alliance BC, this program will be partially subsidized, allowing us to offer families a significantly reduced registration rate.

We look forward to welcoming families to experience the magic, connection, and restorative benefits of Zajac Ranch — even beyond the summer months.  

Running from February 13-16, 2026, Camp Zajac welcomes both new and returning Zajac Ranch families, including those whose needs align with the program’s focus.

Spaces are limited,  APPLY TODAY!

Call: 604 739 0444

Email: INFO@ZAJAC.COM

Visit: https://zajacranch.campbrainregistration.com/

The February Work Bee will take place at the school Saturday, February 21, from 9am-2pm.  Please note that this is a change in schedule.  The workbee has been delayed to the third Saturday of the month because of the Family Day long weekend. 

You may want to bring gloves for outside work. It would also be greatly appreciated if you could bring any small gardening tools, particularly a rake.  Please also bring a lunch for the mid-day break.  Thank you once again for all of your hard work to keep our school well maintained and beautiful!  

All remaining Work Bee dates for this year have been uploaded to the School Calendar. 

Friday, February 27 – Movie Night! 

We will be presenting the classic Iron Giant this upcoming Movie Night! It’s the perfect way to relax and enjoy a movie night with our amazing school community.

• Date: Friday, February 27
• Time: 6:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
• Location: School Gymnasium
• Cost: $5 per person | $25 per family (5 or more)
• Refreshed Concession Menu: Offering popcorn, hot dogs, candy and soda

Sponsors: Want to Sponsor our event and be advertised? Email Jasmin at 8617jcl@gmail.com

Stay tuned for more exciting details coming soon! 

Join the Outdoor Adventure Club! There are three hikes scheduled for Winter/Spring 2026. Anyone in Grades 4-7 are welcome to attend. Mark your calendars and listen for announcements for further details. 

Parents are requested to participate in some transportation and gentle hiking during the season. 

Pick up times vary between 4-5:30pm, depending on the hike. Information will be stated on each permission form. 

• Feb 6: Upper Maclure Trail  
• March 6: Aldergrove Bowl 
• May 1: Steelhead Falls

 *no drivers needed for Feb. 6 as we will depart from St. James on foot. We will need 2 parent volunteers to hike with us. 

Basketball Schedule for January 26-29, 2026

• Monday, Feb. 2 – 7:45 – Boys 6/7 Practice 
• Monday, Feb. 2 – 12:15 – Grade 5 Boys & Girls practice 
• Monday, Feb. 2 – 3:00-4:00 –  Girls 6/7 game vs. Abby Christian  @ St. James
• Tuesday, Feb. 3 – 7:45 – Grade 5 Boys & Girls practice 
• Tuesday, Feb. 3 – 2:45-4:00 – Girls 6/7 Practice 
• Tuesday, Feb. 3 – 3:00-4:30 – Boys 6/7 game vs. Cornerstone @ Cornerstone
• Thursday, Feb. 5 – 2:45-4:00 – Boys 6/7 Practice 
• Thursday, Feb. 5 – 3:00-4:30 – Girls 6/7 game vs. Cornerstone @ Cornerstone

St. Ann’s Parish would like to invite you to a special family and friends Spagetti Night dinner and dance!   See the attached poster for more information:  Spaghetti Night

Date:  February 13th   

Doors Open 6:30pm

Dinner 7pm | Dance 9pm – 11pm

Adults (13+): $25 | 6-12: $20 | Under 6: Free

Summer at Zajac Ranch is more than just camp, it’s a place where everyone belongs.

From first-timers to returning campers, children to young adults, our summer programs are thoughtfully designed to create a safe, inclusive, and empowering experience for individuals of all abilities.

Our goal is to ensure that all children with special medical needs in British Columbia and across Canada can participate in a camp experience. Mindful that many families with children or young adults with medical conditions are burdened by significant expenses for specialized care, treatment, and education for their child, we established the Zajac Camper Allowance to help families in need of support. This Allowance offsets the cost of registration and is made available to all campers. Our long-term goal is to someday be able to offer a camp experience to any child, regardless of medical condition or financial situation, free of charge.

Whether it’s our ASD Camp, Mixed Medical Camp, or Young Adult Camp, participants get to enjoy classic camp adventures like horseback riding, canoeing, ropes courses, climbing, and swimming, all within a supportive, sensory-aware, and fully accessible environment. With experienced, compassionate staff and programs adapted to individual needs, campers build confidence, independence, and genuine connections while being celebrated for who they are.

Ready to create a summer filled with joy, fun and friendship!  Registration is now open and space fills up quickly!  Register Roday!

Follow this link for more information or to register: APPLY TODAY!  Or go to our Website:  https://zajacranch.com/camps/schedule/ 

The Royal Soccer Club, a registered non-profit organization that has been delivering high-quality summer soccer day camps for children across Canada since 1993. Today, we are proud to be the largest grassroots summer soccer camp program in the country.

We are preparing for our upcoming summer day camps for children ages 5 to 13, running at a nearby location throughout the summer. Our programs focus on skill development, teamwork, confidence-building, and fun in a positive, supportive environment.

A brief overview of our program:

• Program Name: Royal Soccer Club Summer Day Camps
• Ages: 5-13 years old
• Dates: Weekly sessions from June 29 to September 4, 2026
• Locations: Click here for our Langley location details
• Activities: Life and social skill development, soccer skill development, team games and more
• Registration: Now open at https://royalsoccerclub.com/registration/

If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact us at info@royalsoccer.com or 1-800-427-0536.