The purpose of John Calvin
School is to assist and support parents in the education of their covenant
children to the glory of God. In accomplishing this
mission, the vision of John Calvin
School is to provide excellent Christ-centered education in service to God and
our neighbour.
“But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting
on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath
but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake
or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build
each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
I Thessalonians 5:8-11 (NIV)
As you near the end of a long race, your legs
ache, your throat burns, and your whole body cries out for you to stop. This is when friends and fans are most
valuable. Their encouragement helps you
push through the pain to the finish line.
In the same way, Christians are to encourage one another. A word of encouragement offered at the right
moment can be the difference between finishing well and collapsing along the
way. Look around you. Be sensitive to others’ need for encouragement,
and offer supportive words or actions.
Greetings everyone as we bring to a close week
two of remote learning, and bring to an end the month of April. This means that there is only 20% of the
school year remaining. We pray
for the Lord’s continued blessing and guidance as we carry on with remote
learning and teaching, at least until the Victoria Day weekend by the sounds of
things. Motivation is probably our
biggest challenge so let’s continue to support one another as best we can; send
an encouraging email, phone call, text message to a staff member, parent,
family member, friend, child/student.
May these words of I Thessalonians 5 provide for us motivation,
encouragement, and support to keep on going.
May our good and gracious God grant
us health, strength and wisdom for our respective tasks as we continue to navigate
our way through round three.
Our thoughts and
prayers continue to be with those who need the comfort, encouragement and
guidance of our Heavenly Father in a special way;be it those who are sick, who are impacted by the virus, who are
dealing with difficult family situations, or those who are grieving the death
of a loved one.
It was good to meet as
membership this past Wednesday evening, even if it were by livestream. We are thankful that the budget could be
passed and words of appreciation could be spoken for seven staff members-
teachers, support staff, and bus driver- who achieved milestones in their
careers. May the Lord continue to bless
them in their work, retirement, or new vocation. We hope and pray that we will be able to
meet in person at our next membership meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December
1.
A few matters for your attention:
*Next week, the Learning Resource students will
be joining those Kindergarten and Grade 1 students who have already been receiving
support. If any of the students have
been exposed to individuals with COVID-19, they will not be able to participate
in the in-school instruction until their isolation period is over. Also, while in school, the students need to
follow the same protocols that were in place prior to the break and the subsequent
switch to remote learning.
*Grades K-8 parents have an opportunity
to drop-off and pick-up materials next week Friday, May 7. Details are as
follows:
- Parents
will be able to carry out the exchange between 9:00 and 3:00. Please note that we are not giving
designated church times. This gives a
little more flexibility to parents.
- Parents
may go directly to their child(ren)’s classroom(s). Grades K, 1 and 4 parents please use the west
doors (opposite the church) and Grades 2 and 3 parents please use the doors by
the stairs. Grades 5&6 and Learning
Resource parents may use the main entrance, while the Grades 7&8 parent are
able to use the north doors by the Grades 7&8 classrooms.
- Parents,
please make sure your child’s name is on the submitted materials.
- Parents
must wear a mask and sign in upon entering the school. You only need to sign in once.
*Week #5 is completed for the student teachers, Miss Jongbloed, Miss Tenhage and Mr.
VanGameren, and that means the end of their practicum session at JCS. Indeed, it was an unusual practicum but we
hope and pray that it was still a great learning experience for them. We wish them the Lord’s blessing as they now
head off to their first teaching assignment (Miss Jongbloed and Miss Tenhage)
or back to the college for one more year of training (Mr. VanGameren).
*Due to the uncertainty of when we will be
returning to in-school learning, the Kindergarten Day planned for May 26 has
been postponed to either the second or third week of June, D.V. Stay tuned for the posting of the chosen
date. More information for prospective Kindergarten
families will be sent to them next week, including registration forms and
kindergarten readiness forms.
*Hike for Hospice: We are still planning to participate in this annual
event. We will be making a decision on
Friday, May 7 as to what the hike will look like. Stay tuned.
*It’s that time of year again, so
when you are outside please continue to be wary of ticks and mosquitoes.
*As mentioned previously, financial support is once again available
for families. The OCCB (Ontario Covid-19
Child Benefit) began on April 26. For
more information, click on the following link:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-ontario-covid-19-child-benefit
This time around, an expanded COVID-19
Child Support program is providing:
$400
for each child/youth up to Grade 12, and;
$500
for each child/youth up to age 21 with special needs.
If you have previously applied for
the COVID-19 Child Support, the $400/$500 will be sent to you directly; there
will be no need to re-apply.
Enjoy
your weekend everyone and have a blessed day of worship. The Lord willing, we’ll touch base again in a
week’s time.
G. Hofsink
