June Update for our Neighbours

Good Day from GNS,

First off, thank you to those who came out to last month’s PW Renewal Open Houses held at St. Matthias Church on May 15 and 22. It was good to see you and great to meet some new neighbours too. As well, thank you to those who came out to the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association Land Use Committee Meeting on May 27. We appreciate hearing all the feedback and it is important for your voices to be heard by the Committee as well.

1. Well, it’s the last week of school! Things at GNS are now winding down, but there are activities taking place this week about which we want you to be aware:

• Tuesday, June 11 – Night of the Gryphon – The Middle and Senior School Athletic Awards will take place in Denford Hall from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. We are expecting a full house for this event – both students and families.
• Wednesday, June 12 – Senior School Closing Ceremony – The official wrap up of the school year for students in Grades 9, 10 and 11 is from 9:00 – 10:30 AM.
• Wednesday, June 12 – Annual Grade 8 Goose Chase – From 7:00 – 9:00 PM, this annual tradition marks the celebration of Grade 8 students ‘flying up’ to the Senior School. The Goose Chase will welcome the students and their participating families to join faculty and staff back at Pemberton Woods at its conclusion on the turf, where there will be a final activity, as well as refreshments. 
• Thursday, June 13 – Middle School Closing Ceremony – The official wrap up of the school year for students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 is from 9:00 – 10:30 AM.
• Friday, June 14 – Grad Class of 2024 Graduation Ceremony – The Graduation Ceremony will take place in the Thorau Gymnasium from 3:00 – 6:45 PM, followed by the Head’s Reception which will take place just outside the Dining Hall and Courtyard. Photo stations will also be in this area, except for the GRAD sign which will be located on the turf. THe Reception and photos will end about 90 minutes after the Graduation Ceremony ends. 
• Saturday, June 15 – Graduation Dinner and Dance – this event is off site at the Victoria Convention Centre and Crystal Gardens.

2. Out of school hour rentals. We have received some complaints from neighbours over the past two weekends about people using GNS rental facilities and not abiding by parking signs and being disrespectful when asked about it. This is not OK. It is also a frustrating situation for the school as within their rental contracts there is a clause specifying to not park in Residential Parking Only zones. In anticipation of some potentially busy events the third week and end of June, we will send out a reminder to the organizations. 
Denford Hall is rented on the following evenings in June:

Arabesque Dance – June 19
Flamenco Victoria – June 22Pacific Design Graduation – June 28

3.  2ND ANNUAL GONZALES LANTERN FESTIVAL
We STILL need your empty milk (no oat milk) and juice containers! GNS is proud to support the 2nd annual Gonzales Lantern Festival – a family event set to take place in September, but organizers are busy getting ready now! They are looking for donations of clean (please rinse them out!), empty 2 L milk and juice cartons to use in lantern kits for children to decorate. The goal is to collect 400 cartons! We also need 2 L clear plastic pop bottles. All cartons and plastic bottles can be dropped of at 234 Beechwood Drive on the porch in the boxes outside. Thank you for your support in making this event a great success! 

If there is any more information or updates to be shared before the beginning of July, we will be sure to reach out. Also, if you have a question, please don’t hesitate to reach out by responding to this email.
Thank you in advance and we wish you all a pleasant June!

Kind regards, Shannon