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.

Today, we can receive encouragement from Isaiah 41:10, a text that was shared with me by a student, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (NIV)

We need not fear because God is with us, he has established a relationship with us, and he gives assurance of his strength, help, and victory over sin and death.  Take time each day to realize all the ways God has helped us.  

Greetings readership, on what’s shaping up to be a beautiful Friday, as we wrap up week four of learning and teaching remotely at home and at John Calvin School.  We thank the Lord for his many blessings during the course of this week and we pray that he will continue to bless the work of parents (especially the moms for all their work teaching at home while still carrying out their regular at-home responsibilities; we continue to be very appreciative and thankful for all that you do), teachers, staff, and students.  May our Heavenly Father continue to bless parents and staff with the wisdom, patience, and the stick-with-it-ness required to carry on with their respective tasks into week five and until such a time as are able to return to in-school instruction.  With yesterday’s announcement of the stay-at-home order being extended to June 2, we are looking at the possibility of schools reopening on June 7, D.V..

 I continue to encourage you to do the best that you can, especially as we get closer to the end to the school year and focus and motivation become more of a challenge.  We thank God for good cooperation as we, parents and teachers, work together to instruct His children.  Keep up the great work you are doing, today and every day!  Parents, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your child(ren)’s teacher.  If you have any questions of a general nature about at-home learning, please don’t hesitate to contact the principal.  Please continue to pray for the staff as they continue to pray for you. 

This week is National Nursing Week in our country.  We give thanks to all the nurses in our community, especially during these covid times, for their hard work in providing care for those in hospital, long-term care facilities, and other places where their services are required.

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 or in hospital perhaps because of the virus, who are dealing with difficult family situations, or those who are grieving the death of a loved one.

Yesterday we could celebrate Ascension Day, remembering the ascension of our Lord and Saviour into heaven where he remains seated at the Father’s right hand until the day of his return.  How does Christ’s ascension benefit us?  First, he is our Advocate in heaven before his Father.  Second, we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, our Head, will also take us, his members, up to himself.  Third, he sends us his Spirit as a counter-pledge, by whose power we seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, and not the things that are on earth.  (H.C., Lord’s Day 18, Q&A 49)

A few matters for your attention:

*It’s that time of year again, so when you are outside please continue to be wary of ticks and mosquitoes. 

*Just a reminder that, if any of the students currently attending school 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 continue 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 once again drop-off and pick-up materials next week Friday, May 21.  The next drop-off and pick-up day is scheduled for June 4 (hopefully not🙂).  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.

*Kindergarten registration reminder:  Kindergarten and Grade 1 registration forms as well as the kindergarten readiness form were sent out last week.  Please return them to the school as soon as possible, either by email or snail mail.  The deadline is Friday, May 28.  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 selected date.   

*This past Wednesday, the students in Grades 7&8 participated in the online Gauss Math Contest; a first in the history of the contest.  We should be the receiving the results by the middle of June.  

*Hike for Hospice:  The Lord willing, we will be hiking in a virtual way on Friday, May 28.  What this means is that families will be able to hike as a family in their neighbourhood or on a local hiking trail for a minimum of one hour.  Just a reminder that fundraising is done online.  Steps for the online fundraising page are outlined on one of the forms included with the pick-up package most of you picked up last week Friday.  Each child should have his/her own fundraising page, just like in previous years when each child had his/her own pledge form.  The pledge forms that you are picking up from school are for use in the event that people who would like to donate aren’t comfortable with donating online.  If you need more flyers, please go ahead and make your own copies.  There are still a number of Hike packages that need to picked up so for those who didn’t get an opportunity to pick up their package or forgot when they were in the school, when you have a moment please pick it up.  It’s great to hear that a number of families are already planning their hike and collecting sponsors for this important cause.  Thanks again for your attention to this matter and have fun hiking on the 28^th. 

*Included with today’s Chronicle is the Protocol for Class Re-distribution.  Please read through the document carefully.  Class lists for the 2021-2022 school year will be developed in early June from the considerations, criteria, and procedures included in the document.  The class lists will be emailed to  parents on Friday, June 25. 

*Just a reminder that the school is still collecting can tabs for wheelchairs.

*Victoria Day on Monday, May 24

                Have an enjoyable weekend everyone and a blessed Sunday.  We’ll be in touch again in a week’s time, the Lord willing.