General News
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,… You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23, 24b
We were welcomed into the new year with an assembly led by Mrs. Gansekoele. It was good to be reminded that we are a Chrisitian school that confesses His name. This was tied back to the recent change in our school name to John Calvin Christian School. With the new year we had the joy of being reminded that we can also work heartily for him in the year of our Lord 2023.
We continue to pray for Miss B who is on medical leave. Mrs. Van Brederode continues to cover the grade 3a classroom during her time of convalescence. We pray that in good time the LORD will restore Miss B back to the classroom.
We mourn with Mrs. Boersema and her family the passing of their aunt Julie Lindhout. We pray that God will surround and care for her family during this time of loss and burial. We are comforted with the joy of the risen Christ who has assured us of eternal life in perfection.
As I am typing up this Chronicle we see that we have been blessed with a good dose of snow. The white definitely cheers things up as I look out the office window. I’m sure the students will enjoy some time sledding on “Mount Calvin”.
This brings me to the topic of snow days. We are working on a system that will send you a text alert when we have called a snow day. The system is not working yet as we have to jump some hoops in regard to Canada’s anti-spamming legislation. They have to confirm that we are a legitimate entity and not in the business of spamming people. You will receive an email before our next test run. This should happen in the next week or so. With this system in place, you should be able to receive notifications in an easier fashion. Until we have told you that it is fully in place continue to use the usual means of the school’s website and Instagram page.
I believe that is all for this week. May God continue to bless and strengthen us in the upcoming week. JVI
Classroom News
Kindergarten
Praise God from whom all blessings flow that both students and teachers alike could return back to school this past week! It has been so wonderful to be back together and to share stories with each other about what we did over the Christmas holidays. We are thankful to God for watching over us over the duration of the break. Students are adjusting to being back to school once again. Many of the students are tired and seem to be hungry all the time. If you could please pack one or two extra snacks for your child’s lunch that would be greatly appreciated. Also, another reminder to please send extra clothes for your child especially if your child has taken home wet clothes. Playing in the snow often leaves the students with wet socks and pants! Here’s a look at next week:
Monday – SH: Keaton
Tuesday – SH: Lucas
Wednesday – Library day
Thursday – SH: Mckenna
Thursday – Teddy Bear Picnic/PJ day
Friday – SH: James
Friday – Teddy Bear Picnic/PJ day
Have a great weekend everyone, JB/SV
Grade 1
Happy New Year from grade 1! Both grade 1’s are starting new units in math, social studies and CKLA. The students are excited about our mapping unit and already know the compass rose well. Ask them how they remember the directions! We’ve also started long vowels in phonics. We encourage you to keep reading with your children at home. The excitement is brewing in grade 1 as 100 day is only 22 days away. It looks, as of right now, it will land on February 16. We will keep you posted on our plans for the day.
Memory work: Psalm 142:1, Matthew 7:12
Spelling words: her, like, make, some, would
Have a blessed week, KK/EG
Grade 2
We had a great week back in Grade 2! It’s nice to settle down into routines again for both the students and teachers. This week we continued with Jesus’ ministry in Bible class with a few new parables and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In Math class we have focused on telling time and working with clocks. Next we plan to learn about coins and money. Please continue to practice math facts! Have a great weekend and a blessed Sunday! RG/BV
Grade 3
Welcome back, parents and readers. We pray that our Lord will continue to supply us with all we need to teach and learn in the year of our Lord, 2023. Mrs. Gansekoele led us in a beautiful assembly talking about the blessings of John Calvin who advocated for Christian schools; and our name change to Christian School. Both grade 1B and grade 2A sang a wonderful song for us. We have come to the end of the Bible unit called Joseph. We hope to have a test next week Tuesday. Study hard, boys and girls. In Science, we have turned to Forces and what a great way to start with lots of experiments using a ball, paper, and a skipping rope. Ask your child about it. If you have a strong magnet at home, may we borrow it for classwork next work? Thank you so much. Division keeps us busy in Math class; and we have turned to reading from Stone Fox again. It would be good to practise the two and five times table as well as the spelling words on a daily basis at home. Thank you for being willing to be of assistance, parents. Wishing you a great weekend and blessed Sunday.
Memory work: Ps. 139:13 Text: Prov. 3:9, 10
Spelling words:about,especially,except,friendly
Thursday is library day
Friday is mission $ day
Grade 4
What a beautiful week back at work in our classrooms! It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces fill up the classrooms again. Grade 4 has been hard at work learning multiplication and division in math. Students are getting quite fast at math drills, they might even be able to beat their older siblings soon! In science, both classes are working on a “Rocks and Minerals” unit. Next Tuesday, 4A can expect a Church History Test on VanRaalte, including a maps quiz, as well as a small review quiz about music note names and values, to help with recorder practice. On the same day, 4B will have a Church History Test on the work of William Carey, missionary pioneer.
Memory Work: Isaiah 40:28-29; Hymn 6:1
Spelling Words (Topic: Syllables and Stress) calf, pups, squirrel, dinosaur, colt, beaver, shark, visit, chipmunk, trout, quick, chicken, sheep, mare
Grade 5
It has been a good week back in the classroom after a restful Christmas break! In Grade 5A we have started playing the recorder and the students are asked to bring their recorders in, if they have not done so already. We could also use more Kleenex boxes; we are dangerously close to having to use our sleeves 😉
Grade 5B has started a new science unit learning about cells after having completed the Nutrition unit. They will be writing a French quiz on the -er verbs on Thursday. The devotions for the week are as follows: 5A (M) Ashleigh, (Tu) Avery, (W) Caleb, (Th) Camryn, (F)Cooper and for 5B: (M)Addison, (Tu) Claire, (W) Eddie, (Th) Seth, (F) Holden. Enjoy your weekend! RK/KVL
Grade 6
This first week back has gone by very quickly. We started off hearing a well explained reason why our school is called John Calvin Christian School by Mrs. Gansekoele. New topics have been started namely, geometry, the novel ‘Underground to Canada’, the immune system, and 1 point perspective. In doing so, we have discovered that slavery has been around a long time. In our discussions we have focused on loving our neighbours as ourselves, treating everyone equally, and that we have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Have a blessed weekend. TB/CVA
Grade 7
After a time of restoration and rejuvenation, it was good to return to our work. Regarding the Science Fair, students were reminded to include pictures of the various stages of their projects, add to their journals, create graphs and tables; please ask your scientist how their work is progressing. This past week we tested our bridges and determined their structural efficiency, our next unit will be on Thermal Energy and Heta Technology. We have learned what a Loyalist is in history and we will learn next where they settled in Upper Canada and the difficulties they faced. Our Church History unit on Martin Luther is coming to a close, we will return to King Solomon and the kingdom of peace. In P.E. we will play low order cooperative games. Enjoy your weekend.
Grade 8
After a much needed break grade 8 has picked up right where it left off in December. In History, we have now turned our attention to the London Conference and the structure of Canadian government. In Bible history, the focus has shifted to the Sermon on the Mount and students have spent a few lessons on an assignment specifically studying a smaller section of the sermon. In Science, attention has shifted to the rapidly approaching Science Fair while in Geography we have started chapter 4 and are looking at the ways we can make our settlements more sustainable. In and amongst all of this is ongoing practice for the school play, the beginning of chess team practices and the continuation of hockey practices. Have a blessed weekend! Cheers, Mrs. Ludwig, Mrs. Tesfaye, and Mr. J
Heads up, February 23rd is going to be our ‘Dress up as a Book Character Day’.
