General News

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” (Ephesians 4:1) Throughout the year, the teachers will be taking the theme text and weaving into it the six pieces of the Armour of God. We are engaged in a spiritual battle— all believers find themselves subject to Satan’s attacks because they are no longer on Satan’s side.  Thus, Paul tells us to depend on God’s strength and to use every piece of God’s armour to resist Satan’s attacks and to stand true to God in the midst of those attacks.  This week we pay attention to The Shield of Faith, the fourth piece of armour mentioned in Ephesians 6.  What we see are Satan’s attacks in the form of insults, setbacks, and temptations.  But the shield of faith protects us from Satan’s flaming arrows.  With God’s perspective, we can see beyond our circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours. (NIV Life Application Bible)

Good Friday morning readership as we bring another week, and the month of September to a close.  Seemingly just like that, 1/10 of the school year has been completed.  When we return on Monday, the month of October will have begun.  May the Lord continue to provide parents and teachers with all they need as, together, they instruct His covenant children about His Word and His creation.

A few items for your attention:

*The annual fall food drive for the West Lincoln Community Care Food Bank continues until next Friday, October 5 at which time the goods will be delivered to Community Care.  Currently, the shelves at the bank are quite empty, indicating that there is a need in this community.  Baskets have been set up at different locations in the school and are filling up.  That is great to see.      Grade 7 students have been diligent in reminding us of this venture.  Thank you again everyone for your consideration and participation in this act of service for the broader community.

*A good chunk of chocolate bar fundraising money is in; however, there is still quite a bit more that needs to come in.  Let’s strive to get that in by the end of next week so that we can wrap up the fundraiser before the Thanksgiving weekend.  Also, there are still 5 boxes of chocolate remaining to be sold.   It would be great if we could see them disappear by the end of next week as well.  Again, thank you to all the children in Grades 4-8 who sold chocolate for your hard work in this fundraising venture for your field/class trips.

*Earlier this week, Grade 4B could visit the residents of Beacon Home, Grade 6B could spend time with the residents of Anchor Home, and Grade 7A could interact with the residents of Kilean Lodge.  It is good for the children to be able to participate in these acts of service for our special needs brothers and sisters, and seniors in the broader community.

*Earlier this week, the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams played an exhibition game against Covenant Christian School. The girls’ game ended in a draw, 1-1, and the boys’ game ended 3-1 in favour of John Calvin.  The games were good preparation for tomorrow’s tournament.

The annual Canadian Reformed Schools Invitational Soccer Tournament is once again hosted by John Calvin School.  As in previous years, it will take place at two venues, West Lincoln Leisureplex (boys’ and girls’ divisions) and John Calvin School (co-ed division).  We hope to see many of you tomorrow to cheer on the school’s teams.  All the tournament games for the JCS boys’ and girls’ team will take place at Leisureplex.  Their schedules are as follows:

GIRLS                                                    BOYS

8:00        JCS vs ACRES                     8:00        JCS vs Rehoboth

10:10      Rehoboth vs JCS                 11:15      JCS vs Grace

1:25        JCS vs Maranatha               1:25        Heritage vs JCS

If either or both of the teams make it that far, the semi-finals take place at 3:45 p.m. and the final is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

*The students on the cross-country school team have one more training session (next week Tuesday) as they get ready for the annual Canadian Reformed Elementary Schools Meet scheduled for next week Friday, October 5 at Dundas Valley Conservation Area.  All the best runners!  Thanks again Mrs. Jenn Heemskerk for training the athletes for this year’s run. We are also considering sending a cross-country school team consisting of students from Grades 5-8 to the annual NACE meet held at Agape Valley on Thursday, October 11.  We participated in the inaugural event last year.

*Library Volunteers:  We are still in need of a few more Library volunteers.  If you (parents, grandparents, other members of our supporting community) would like to help out in the library by helping the children locate books or read them a story, please give the school a call.  We would love to hear from you.

Reminders:

*Parents, grandparents, and other members of our supporting community are welcome to join us for the Thanksgiving assembly on Thursday afternoon, October 4, at 1:45 in the gym.  It is on Thursday because the Decorating Committee needs to set up the gym on Thursday afternoon for a Friday wedding.

*Thanksgiving Monday is, of course, a holiday.  You are reminded that there is no PD Day on Tuesday, October 9.  It will be a regular day of classes.

*Due date for News and Views contributions is Tuesday, October 9.

*A head’s up for the students in Grades 7&8:  The annual ANCHOR WORK DAY is coming up in four weeks’ time.  The usual information about the event will be sent home next week.  Perhaps the students and parents can begin to think about the different jobs in which students can be involved.

Have a great weekend (perhaps we will see you tomorrow) and a blessed Sunday.  Until next week, D.V..

1. Hofsink

Classroom News

Kindergarten

Kindergarten has had some exciting times this week! We loved learning all about the letter A and the sound that it makes.  Next week we will be focusing on the letter T. On Thursday and Friday both kindergarten classes enjoyed Red Day! Thanks to our volunteers who brought in the most delicious red snacks! It should be noted that both KA and KB did a fabulous job reciting their memory work this week! It is so beautiful hearing children’s voices praising our awesome God. Well done! Our memory work for the next two weeks is Psalm 75:6.  We will also start memorizing our text Genesis 1:1.  It will be due at the end of the month. In math we will be wrapping up Unit 1 and start Unit 2 which focuses on patterns. We look forward to yet another week in Kindergarten! Have a blessed Sunday!

Grade 1

We enjoyed our trip to the Safety Village, especially driving the pedal cars.  Thanks to our bus driver and class moms for joining us on the trip.  We will be finished our Bible unit on Tuesday with a test to follow on Wednesday. Notes will be sent home on Tuesday.  We have started a new Science unit and have enjoyed investigating the properties of popcorn.  We have also completed our first Math unit and have written a test today.  We have noticed that a lot of students do not recognize the numerals 1 – 20.   Please practise the numerals 1 to 20, as well as counting forward and backward.  We will keeping practicing at school as well.  The list of words in the agenda are meant to be sight words.  Students do not have to spell them but do need to recognize them (out of order). Have a great weekend.

Memory Work for Friday, Oct. 1 – Psalm 131:3; Gen. 17: 7

Spelling Words:  are, on, for, he, was (same as last week)

Grade 2

Hello all! Another week has passed, and just like that, we have finished four weeks of instruction.  We have read this week in our guided reading about the leaves changing and pumpkins being harvested. As the seasons change, please put a pair of extra socks in your child’s backpack for those times when they get in a fight with a puddle. In this coming week, we will have another Bible test. The duotangs will come home the night before should you want to review with your child. Please remember to send them back on time. In Science, we continue to marvel at God’s amazing design of our bodies.  Have a blessed weekend! BB/RG

Memory work: Hymn 15:1; The 12 Apostles

Spelling: why, saw, family, came, have

Grade 3

Bonjour! Speaking French, reviewing the numbers and wonderful actions keeps us busy in French class. In Art, we have learned about Joan Miro, a Spanish artist who loved to use line and shapes to create modern pictures of people. Oh, what fun we had when creating some of our own modern art using dice, a game sheet, pencil and crayons. Ask us all about it. In our Pioneer unit we look forward to a visit from Mrs. Buikema who will teach about this topic.. We are nearing the end of our Church History unit on John Eliot and how the gospel was brought across the ocean. God also shows us He uses weak and sinful people to bring the Word. We are also nearing the end of our first novel study. All in all, routines are set, children and teachers are busy. We continue to covet your prayers. Wishing you a wonderful weekend and a blessed Sunday. MP/JB

Memory work: Hymn 53:2    Text: Genesis 3: 15 (two weeks)

Spelling words: city, community, countries, exciting

Tuesday: bring library books in a bag, on Monday and Thursday bring gym clothes

Friday: Spelling dictation, mission $

Grade 4

We have begun a unit on Church Life in Church History. This includes a study of the Reformed Seminary, the Teachers’ College, our special needs members and the elderly. In Math, we continue on with addition. Both Grade 4 classes have a math Test on Friday, October 5th. The Grade 4B class (Mrs. Lemstra’s) has a french quiz on Thursday. There will be a French quiz every other week! In Science, we continue studying living things and their habitats. Thank you to all those who came with us to St. John’s Conservation Area!  It was wonderful to study God’s creation and the pond habitat!

Spelling Words: alive, bikes, kids, drive, tie, seat, till, tied, life, cried, went, wide, die, hike (Grade 4B) precious, sluggish, discussion, advance

Memory Work: Hymn 13:1,2 (Oct. 5) Psalm 130:2 (Oct. 12) 1 Samuel 15:22 (Oct. 5)

Grade 5

This past week Grade 5 continued on with our units and we hope to wrap up a few of them this coming week.  We will be having a math test on Tuesday, a Bible test on Thursday, as well as a Social Studies test on Friday.  The current World of Literature theme will wrap up as well and we will embark on our first novel study, “Call it Courage”.  Memory work for the week is Psalm 29:1.  Devotion leaders for Gr. 5A: M. Kiera, Tu. Madison, W. Vanessa, Th. RaeAnna, F. Landon.  Gr. 5B: M. Nate, Tu. Theo, W. Gabrielle, Th. Mya, F. Isaac.  Have a great week! RK, KV

Grade 6

We look forward to our class trip next Wednesday to the Warplane Museum. No volunteers are needed as this is a guided tour. Please no microwave food and bring a loonie for the bus. The students are doing a great job helping their peers and being a support for each other. Our math facts are improving so keep practicing. Have a blessed weekend. IdV/CVA

Grade 7A

We had another productive week in Grade Seven “A”. Students were given class time to read their independent study books; it was interesting to witness a class of students reading books they chose, based on topics they chose. They’ll have to fill in a book report based on what they’ve read as well as conference with their teacher regarding their reading progress. We learned about the counter-Reformation and the Jesuits in History, and the R.C.C. attempts to spread Roman Catholicism in North America. In Science we’re learning about forces as they apply to structural strength and stability; we hope to conduct some hands on activities accordingly. Enjoy your weekend.

Grade 7B

Week four has come and gone in Grade 7B! Where does the time go? In Bible History, we are coming to the end of our unit on Samuel and Saul. In History, we continue to look at the beginning of Canada’s history and how the crown takes charge of developing New France. We will be wrapping up reading our books for independent study next week! I encourage parents to have conversations with their students about what they learned from their non-fiction books. The next step for our personal projects is looking at documentaries. Devotions – Eli DV. Have a great weekend!

Grade 8A

Ownership. This was a word used quite often in reference to our own work our own study. We have to have ownership of our work. It’s our responsibility. Didn’t get the results you wanted on that test? Maybe revaluate your study strategies. Need extra help? Seek it out. At this point we have covered some quizzes and one smaller test. Have a chat with your child to see how it’s going so far. Maybe help them identify any areas they know they can improve on. Overall it was an enjoyable week in the 8A classroom. We are looking forward to an exciting day on Saturday. Have a blessed weekend! Cheers, Mr. J

Grade 8B

We have almost reached the end of our Math unit.  The students should look forward to having a test on Wednesday.  They will be tested in Geography on Thursday. Many of us are looking forward to the excitement of the Soccer Tournament.  Hopefully many of you are able to come out to watch the students play for some of the time. Spelling quizzes always happen on Thursdays.  Please encourage the students to bring a donation for our food drive. Memory Work:  Psalm 27:6  (John 1:8-14 —- October 12)