General News

Celebrate1517: Solus Christus – During the months of November and December, we are focusing our attention on the second pillar of the Reformation: In Christ Alone. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)In their rallying cry of Christ Alone the reformers spoke against the church’s tendency in their time to add requirements for salvation. On the basis of Scripture the reformers declared that the power to save comes from Christ Alone— and not from anything else in addition to Jesus Christ. A single route to salvation may sound strange, if not arrogant, to many in our world today. The assertion solus Christus, can provoke resistance and even scorn- That’s just your opinion. How arrogant! How narrow-minded! But we who have new life in Christ Alone know that arrogance plays no part in this declaration. It’s all about humility, recognizing that we can do nothing to save ourselves. We depend totally on Jesus Christ for salvation.

We cannot prove to an unbeliever that salvation can be found in Christ alone, but we can demonstrate the joy and humility that only salvation in Jesus Christ brings to our lives. The foundational teaching of Christ Alone is not about religious superiority but about our utter inability to solve our sin problem without Jesus Christ. He is the only one by which human-kind can be saved. Though we can’t argue others into receiving Jesus as their Saviour, we can humbly witness with our words and our actions that only His love has saved us.

Hello again everyone as we bring another week, albeit a shorter one, of learning and teaching to an end at John Calvin School. Tempus fugit! At the end of next week we will see the calendar flip from November to December. We thank and praise the Lord for His many blessings and we pray that he will continue to provide for the needs of the students and staff during the next four weeks leading up to the Christmas Break.

The extra big smile and the joie de vivre surrounding Mrs. Oosterhoff this week was because she became a grandmother for the first time. Her daughter and son-in-law received a healthy son, Jack Wyatt Dantuma, on Tuesday of this week. We thank and praise the Lord for this blessing.

Last week Saturday began and ended with heavier rainfall. Thankfully, when the school and surrounding community were enjoying Winterfest, it remained relatively dry so activities could carry on pretty much as planned. Once again the school was a beehive of activity with many hundreds of people coming out to participate in the event, whether it was eating breakfast or lunch, purchasing products from the Farmer’s Market or the different rooms, bidding on items at the silent auction, playing laser tag, or just enjoying fellowship with fellow Winterfesters. The parking lot was filled to capacity (it was great that we could also use the Turkstra parking lot) as were many of the rooms. The school was given the green light by the Winterfest committee to share with the community that over $42,200.00 was raised for the school. Wow! We humbly thank the Lord for this wonderful blessing. Thank you also to everyone for participating in this event and making it such a big success. We especially thank the committee members for the many hours they put into making Winterfest the success that it was. We also thank the volunteers who helped out during the day in various capacities. Once again the school program will benefit greatly and with much thankfulness.

It was good to see many of you at the fall membership meeting last night to listen to various reports, get an update from the Teachers’ College and the Harvest Foundation (we are very thankful to the foundation for the gift of $4000.00), and vote in a new board member. We thank the outgoing board member (Mr. Albert Breukelman) for all the work he has done during the past four years and we welcome on board Mr. Dan Huizinga, who is being groomed to take over as treasurer in a year’s time. May our Heavenly Father provide him with all he needs to carry out his task in representing the school community on the Board of Directors.

Tomorrow, the teachers will be professionally developing themselves as they work with and incorporate the information/material they received from the workshops that they attended at the Teachers’ Convention, along with other P.D. activities. Students (and parents) may enjoy a three day weekend.

A few items for your attention:

*I believe that pretty much all the money from the Anchor Work Days has been brought in. With much thankfulness we can report that $3650.00 was raised in support of the Anchor Association. Well done all participating students, and a big thank-you to all those in our community who “hired” the students to work for them.

*Money has been returned from the chocolate sales. The final profit for the school was $6382.00. Thanks again to all those who participated in this worthwhile fundraiser for school trips.

*Grade 5B had a good visit to Kilean Lodge today. It is good that our students have this opportunity to sing and interact with the elderly and the shut-ins at the Lodge.

*JCS is hosting a mini-exhibition tournament involving our school and Bellstone Christian School this afternoon. The last practice before next week Thursday’s tournament is on Monday afternoon. The tournament is scheduled to take place at the Arcelor-Mittal Dofasco Center located on First Road East in Stoney Creek. A bus will be bringing the athletes to the tournament but parents will need to pick up their children from the venue at the end of the tournament which will be determined by the success of the teams. Players will be receiving a tournament schedule either today or on Monday. All the best at the tournament athletes (Grade 8 students), and coaches (Mrs. Eleanor Schulenberg, Mrs. Nikki VanBrederode, and Mr. Breukelman).

*The next skating session at the Smithville arena is scheduled for Wednesday, November 29. Grade 5 will skate from 12:15-1:15, and Grades KA and 1B will skate from 1:15-2:15. In the interest of safety and concussion prevention, students in Grades K-3 must wear helmets when on the ice. They can be either hockey helmets or bicycle helmets. Students in Grades 4-8 are encouraged to wear them. Those playing hockey must wear them.

Reminders:

*Para-educators (EAs and TAs) conference on Friday, December 1st.

*Grades 2 and 7 are scheduled to go skating on Wednesday, December 6.

*Scholastic orders for December are due on December 6th so that the order can be received before the Christmas holidays. Please make sure your cheques are payable to John Calvin School.

*The Ladies Auxiliary is planning a Pizza Lunch (which will also include a drink, fruit, and a snack) for Friday, December 15. Hurray! No lunches to make. For those children who have allergies, the Ladies Auxiliary will look after heating up/preparing the food that they bring for lunch that day. Thank you very much Ladies Auxiliary!

May our Heavenly Father continue to refresh us physically and spiritually over the course of the weekend and we hope to touch base again next week Friday.   G. Hofsink

Classroom News

Kindergarten

We start out next week with Blue Day! Bring on all things blue! One of our class moms will also bring a blue snack for us to enjoy that day. On Wednesday, KA looks forward to skating in the afternoon (1:15 to 2:15). All students must wear helmets on the ice. Please don’t forget gloves, splash/snow pants, and skates either! Skating aids are also welcome. We would love to have help with skating and tying skates, so any parents/grandparents who are willing to give us a hand are welcome to meet us at the Smithville arena before 1:15. In Language, our letter of the week will be Mm, and our sight word is “and”. We have been learning the numbers 0-5 in Math, and we hope to wrap this unit up next week. Please check if your child knows what the numerals are called, what they mean, and how to print them. We have finished learning about Joseph in our Bible stories and will be moving on to Moses. It has been exciting to watch God’s plans unfold in caring for Jacob and his family. Now God will continue to care for His people and bring them to another stage of the covenant. Our new memory work is Psalm 100:1, and our text will be Matthew 1:21. NR & FVI

Grade 1

The students thoroughly enjoyed Winterfest last Saturday. Thanks to the Winterfest committee for all their hard work to make it such a success. Well done! A Bible test was written this week and the students will have taken them home already. We have started our new unit and have seen how God continues to care for and bless His covenant children. Grade 1A had a great time skating on Wednesday afternoon. Many thanks to the Grade 8 students, teacher and all the parents/grandparents who came out to help us. In Math we are busy learning our addition and subtraction facts to 12 and hope to have a test in the coming week. Our reading is coming along nicely; it is evident that parents are working with their children and reviewing the vocabulary words in their agendas. Thanks again for your help in this area. This coming Wednesday, Grade 1B will be going skating from 1:15-2:15. Please send along helmets, mittens, splash/snow pants and skates. We would love to have parents/grandparents join us. Have a blessed Sunday.

Memory Work for Friday, Dec. 1 – Hymn 7:1; 1 Sam. 16:7b

Spelling Words: can, said, we, when, your

Grade 2

Next week is sure to be a busy week with two tests: a Bible test on Tuesday, and a Science test on Thursday. We will send the notes home prior to each test. Please remember to study with your child and return the duotangs the following day! Grade 2 is praying for Kensi who will be having surgery on Tuesday. We will miss her and we hope that her surgery and recovery goes well. Enjoy the long weekend! RG & JA

Spelling: shook, once, about, goes, many

Memory Work: Psalm 150:1, Deuteronomy 6: 4,5

Grade 3

Bonjour et ca va? A short and sweet week has passed! Grade 3A finished their LEGO stories and presented them to the class! Fantastic work, grade three! In our gym lessons, we began a new unit on catching and throwing. Perhaps you can practise this at home with family and friends! In our Bible lessons, we continue to hear how the LORD keeps His covenant with Abraham even though he, too, was a weak and sinful man, just like us. How thankful we must be for His faithfulness. Our ocean scenes are finished! Ask us about warm and cool colours and how we used balance and movement. Looking good, grade three! Have a blessed weekend! J.B./M.P.

Psalm 15:1; Text: Genesis 49:10

Words: their, there, they’re, went, when

Grade 4

Grade 4B – We are starting a unit on Solomon in Bible. Science: Grade 4A – Test on Wednesday (November 29) Grade 4B – Test on Friday (December 1)

Spelling: said, know, too, off, because, friend, where, chief, piece, surprise, write, please (Review Lesson) Due December 1

Memory Work: Psalm 5:1 (Dec. 1) Psalm 54:1 (December 8) Text: John 1:1-4

Grade 5

After much waiting and anticipation, Mrs. Oosterhoff is finally a grandma! Jack Wyatt Dantuma was born on November 21st, weighing in at a hefty 10lbs, 11oz. The students have had lots of time to work on their Punic War booklets in class, and they are due Monday. If the students have not finished them in class on Thursday, they must complete them at home over the weekend so they can hand them in Monday morning. We will then be starting our first Science unit on Nutrition. On Wednesday, we will be going skating. We would love to see as many parents as possible come and skate with us. Please jot a note down in your child’s agenda if you are coming. Students are allowed to play hockey, but they must bring a helmet if they would like to play. Have an enjoyable long weekend! SO/KV

Wednesday: Grade 5 goes skating!

Memory Work: Ps. 61:2,3

Devotions: 5A M. Kendra, T. Noah, W. Owen, Th. Thomas, F. Violet

5B M. Natasha, T. Josh, W. Danya, Th. Lukas, F. Jordan

Grade 6

The students have learned who the sons of Abraham are, how God showed that He would keep His covenant, and the promises given to Hagar about her son. We plan to finish the novel study and SS unit in the coming week. The students enjoyed a session of singing together and listening to a story told by Mrs. deVisser. Have a blessed weekend.

Grade 7A

Students have collaborated with their group members and agreed on a design for their Science bridges. Their work stations are all set up and ready to go; ask your child what makes their bridge unique. We’ve been introduced to our “Everyday Life in New France” History project. Students have four project options and may work with others; ask your child which option they chose. We’re coming up to the Peasant War in Church History where the true motives for Reformation in Germany will be revealed. Independent Study has students choosing someone, an expert or professional on their topic, to interview. This will require scheduling and a face to face conversation; please help your child with the important skill of arranging a meeting and conducting an interview. Enjoy your weekend.

Grade 7B

After a short week in 7B, we look forward to a long weekend to be physically refreshed from our daily schoolwork! We continue to move along in all subjects. In History, we have started a new project that allows for some group work and some hands on activities. In Geography, we are coming to the end of our Climate chapter so we look forward to a test next week. In Independent Research, we are beginning to look at who we are going to interview for our projects and how we interview. Devotions–Rachel T. Have a great weekend.

Grade 8A

In 8A this week we wrapped up our Ch. 2 study of Settlements and the Environment in Geography. We spent some time evaluating why some people choose to live in areas of the world that are regularly affected by events like volcanoes, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc. In History we studied the role of political cartoons and even spent some time creating one ourselves. In Church History we started looking at the 1500s and inspecting what the situation in Europe looked like before the Reformation. Have a blessed long(er) weekend!

Grade 8B

Another week has come to a close, leaving us with only four weeks of school until the Christmas holidays! On Tuesday we are going to have a Geography Quiz on chapter 2. We have started a new unit in Church History speaking about Europe on the eve of the Reformation. In Math we are struggling to learn about the Greatest Common Factors and Lowest Common Multiples. The Independent Research Project will continue next week after two Fridays of not working on it due to Winterfest and the P.D Day. Have a blessed weekend. KG