Mini 12: Trip Details

Attention: Grade 12 Mini Students! 

Schedule

Our trip to Sea to Sky Gondola is moving ahead as planned tomorrow on Tuesday, May 31st.  Students should arrive at the school no later than 7:15 AM as we will be leaving at 7:30 AM sharp. We will not be stopping for breakfast, so students should eat before arriving at school. We will be returning to school around 8:30 PM. Please arrange for a prompt pick up for your child.  

Clothing

Rain is in the forecast, so please bring waterproof clothing and footwear that is suitable for hiking in a mountain environment. It can get cold higher up so please bring an extra warm layer or two and remember to bring a water bottle. Bags can be left securely on the bus during the day so it may be a good idea to bring an extra change of clothes for after the hike or at dinner.  

Money for Dinner

While lunch will be provided, students will be responsible for purchasing their own dinner at Lonsdale Quay.  

Looking forward to a great trip!

– Mr. L. Haensel

Fees and Refunds

Fees for the Grade 8, 10, 11 and 12 spring trips have now been posted on School Cash Online. Please pay these fees as soon as you can.  

Whistler trip refund 

The majority of students will be getting a refund from the Whistler trip as the cost is projected to come under the $375 that was paid earlier in the year. We are still finalizing the billing with Whistler and once we do so, the refund will be issued through School Cash Online.   

Fees for next year 

The first instalment of next year’s fees will be due Wednesday, June 8^th and comes to $600. This fee should be available on School Cash Online towards the end of May.

Grade 8 Mini Spring Bike Trip

Attention parents and students of grade 8 Mini!

We have decided that the day biking trip will be on Thursday, May 26. This is based on the best weather projections that we can make at this time.   

The students will leave from school after class starts at 8:30 AM and will return around 4:00 PM. 

Students should be dressed for the weather that day and should have a way of bringing some water to drink and a small snack to carry students over to lunchtime. Lunch and an afternoon treat will be provided on the trip.   

Trip fees: To have continuity in the financial records, we are billing this trip separately from the Whistle trip.  There will be a $65 dollar charge on School Cash Online for this trip. This charge goes towards both lunch and an afternoon treat as well as covering the TTOC costs for the teachers who will be in attendance.

Timberline 2022 – Trip Photos

Timberline pictures are in! Courtesy Ms. D. Ozla and Mr. L. Haensel, we have some pictures of the grade 9 Mini students on Monday’s field trip for your viewing pleasure. See the Photos page for more!

Field Trip: Timberline Ranch!

Outdoor scene with equestrian on horse illustration

All good plans are fluid, and Mini School staff has made changes to previously announced schedules. See the latest Tuesday, April 19th update:

Grade 9 trip:

• Monday, April 25^th, 2022
• Departure Time: 7:15am (McNair Secondary School)
• Return Time: 5:30pm (McNair Secondary School)

Grade 10 and 11 trip:

• Monday, June 13^th, 2022
• Departure Time: 7:15am (McNair Secondary School)
• Return Time: 5:30pm (McNair Secondary School)

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McNair Mini School is pleased to offer a one-day Spring field trip for our 9s, 10s, and 11s to Timberline Ranch! Located in Maple Ridge, Timberline Ranch will challenge students in the following activities:

horseback riding	rock wall climbing	petting zoo
archery	team building challenges	game zone

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Destination: Timberline Ranch, 22351 144 Avenue, Maple Ridge, BC V4R 2P8

Departure time: Bus leaves at 7:15 — arrive at school by 7:00 am

Transportation type: Chartered bus

Cost: Included with Mini School fees

What to bring: Weather-appropriate clothing

Sponsor teacher: Mr. R. Young

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Field trip forms have been distributed today and are expected back latest by Tuesday, April 5^th. Please see details of the field trip in the letter home, alongside SD38’s field trip consent/waiver form and Timberline Ranch’s agreement and acknowledgement of risks form. Students will be filling the dietary allergy information form in class. Alternate arrangements will made for students with scheduling conflicts or other concerns.

Questions may be directed to Mr. R. Young.

Whistler Gallery Now Available!

Whistler photos from the last two day-trips are now available! See them in our Photos section on the blog.

Special thanks to Kayree R. for sending in her pictures!

Whistler – Day 2

Mini School students will embark on a follow-up Whistler trip this Thursday, March 3rd. Please see below for important particulars:

• Arrive by 5:45 AM at the front of the school
• Busses leave promptly at 6:00 AM
• Arrive dressed in ski clothes
• Eat breakfast before arrival
• Bring a bagged lunch (for levels 1-3)

Like last time, the expected return time can be anywhere between 6:00-6:30 PM. We advise students to text parents/guardians when they are in Vancouver or on the Vancouver-Richmond bridges to provide a more accurate ETA.

Students are reminded to double check posted information outside Mr. Haensel’s classroom to ensure accuracy. They should also speak to their teachers and make arrangements for missed work prior to the Thursday departure date.

Whistler Update

The first of two Whistler trips is scheduled for next Wednesday, February 16th! Refer to this equipment list to see what needs to be packed.

Due to COVID-19 precautions and staffing, we have just learned that some restaurant facilities at Whistler are not currently operating. This means that all students in lesson levels 1-3 will not have the option of eating at a restaurant facility. They will need to bring their own bagged lunches to eat at the ski lodge.

Students in levels 4 and above will be given a lunch voucher for food as their lessons will be operating in different areas of the mountain where restaurant facilities are available. 

Like you, we are disappointed in this latest update, and we share in your frustration for students who have to make an extra effort to ensure this trip is still possible. We wanted to assure all parents that trip costs will be adjusted accordingly.

Please discuss this with your child as they will know which requirement applies to them. Information regarding bus lists (which bus a student has been assigned) and lesson types/levels (to determine whether one needs to bring a bagged lunch or not) are now posted outside Mr. L. Haensel’s door outside room 103 for all students to see.

As always, students should discuss with their teachers regarding plans to address any missed work for Wednesday, February 16th.

We look forward to the first Mini trip since February 2020 and encourage all students to partake in an outdoor activity that is certain to push their boundaries.

– Mini School Staff

Applications for Grades 9-11 open!

Applications to join McNair Mini School for grades 9-11 in the 2022/2023 school year are now open! See spots available:

Grade 9 class: 1 spot
Grade 10 class: 2 spots
Grade 11 class: 8 spots
Grade 12 class: Full

If you or someone you know are currently in grades 8-10 and wish to join Mini School the following school year, please complete an application form and return to VP Ms. R. Lacoumentas.

Whistler 2022

Dear Mini School students and parents,

Finally, a Mini School Trip! 

The Mini School staff is excited to announce that we are moving forward with planning for two upcoming day trips to Whistler. Please accept our apologies for the delay in this announcement. There is still a level of uncertainty and things can always change, but based on the current situation, we feel confident that these trips will go ahead.   

Trip dates are February 16^th and March 3^rd  

The dates of the trips are Wednesday, February 16^th and Thursday, March 3^rd. Students will be expected to arrive at McNair before 5:45 am and will be returning the same day around 6:00–6:30 pm depending on traffic. Students should be dressed in their mountain clothes and should eat breakfast at home before leaving. A detailed letter outlining trip details along with waiver forms that will need to be signed will be sent home with students on Tuesday February 1^st.   

Proof of Vaccination Required by Whistler 

Whistler’s condition of attendance is that students must be vaccinated. The ski and snowboard instructors will be checking vaccine status at the beginning of each day. Whistler will not let anyone who does not provide proof of vaccination to participate in their program. Students will also be required to wear masks at all times during the bus ride to and from the mountain.   

Forms are due February 4^th  

We would like to confirm the numbers for this trip soon, so please complete the paperwork in a timely fashion. Waivers for both trips will be collected Friday, February 4^th.  If for some reason a student is unable to attend, please let Mr. E. Liao or Mr. L. Haensel know by February 4^th. The reason for lack of attendance will not be necessary–we just need to know how many students can attend each trip. 

Questions about the trips can be forwarded to Mr. E. Liao or Mr. L. Haensel.

We are looking forward to seeing you all up on the slopes. Fingers crossed for some fresh snow!

Sincerely,  

The Mini School Team