General News

Good Friday morning supporting community as we bring another week of instruction to a close at John Calvin School.  Yes, tomorrow it will be December and with it we enter the time of Advent, during which we celebrate the coming to this earth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  May our Heavenly Father provide us with all we need during the final month of the calendar year.

May the Lord continue to be near to those in our community and the broader community who need Him in a special way.  We think especially of our colleague, Mrs. Inge deVisser, who is scheduled for a single mastectomy at the beginning of January.  May He continue to be near to her and her family.  We are thankful that Mrs. Simone Oosterhoff is willing to teach Grade 6B during Mrs. deVisser’s leave of absence.  Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all who need the Lord in a special way, in particular those who are dealing with difficult family circumstances.  We think of Tim and Alyssa Oosterhoff (members of Smithville Canadian Reformed Church and a niece to Mrs. Rachel Gansekoele, our Grade 2A teacher) whose daughter was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

It was good to see many of you at the fall membership meeting this past Wednesday evening to listen to various updates (including the Admission Policy update from the policy directory, Mr. Marc Rozema, and an update about the CCRTC including where it’s at with respect to accreditation) and reports, get an update and a cheque for $4000. from the Harvest Foundation (for which we are very grateful), have an opportunity to provide some initial feedback to the Board’s visioning project with Compass Creative, and vote in new board members.  We thank the outgoing board members (Mr. Mark DeBoer, Mr. Tom Linde, Mr. Harry Ludwig, and Mr. Brian VandenOever) for all the work they have done during their four year tour of duty and we welcome on board Mr. Kurtis Riesebosch (Lincoln), Mr. Dan Schulenberg (Smithville), and Mr. Rick Nordeman (Vice-Chairman).  May our Heavenly Father give these men the strength necessary for their task in representing the school community on the Board of Directors.

We congratulate John and Stephanie Ravensbergen with the birth of their son, Noah John.  His sisters (Chloe- 3A, Hannah- 1A, Emmaline and Rebekah- at home) are thrilled to have a baby brother in the family.  All is well with mom and baby, and dad too.  (“Our children all are gifts of God, our sons and daughters his reward—each one a blessing from the LORD, as heritage on us bestowed.”  Psalm 127:3, BoP)  May the Lord provide John and Stephanie with all they need as they raise their children in the fear of His Name.

Ontario Education Survey:  The Ministry of Education of Ontario is consulting the public regarding education in Ontario.  There is an online submission form found at www.fortheparents.ca to fill in and submit.  There is information on this website for telephone submissions as well.  Please participate. You have until December 15 to fill in the form or survey and make a change in the education system in Ontario.  Thanks.

A few items for your attention:

*See elsewhere in the Chronicle for a thank-you note from Mr. B. VanGoolen, the executive director of Anchor Homes.

*There is still some outstanding chocolate bar money (8 boxes x $90.00) that needs to come in.  Please get the money in as soon as possible.  It is well past the due date.

*Earlier this week Grade 3A was able to visit Anchor Home and Grade 7A was able to visit Beacon Home.  It was good that our students had this opportunity to sing and interact with our Special Needs brothers and sisters at the homes.

*Several Grade 8 students are planning to visit Shalom Manor this morning.  It is good for them to be able to participate in this act of service for the seniors in our community.

*Today, the three JCS teams are at the Triple Ball tournament hosted by Guido De Bres Christian high school.  The tournament is taking 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 team.  An email was sent home earlier this week with pertinent information for the parents of the participating athletes.  All the best at the tournament players and coaches (Mrs. Nikki vanBrederode, Mr. Breukelman and Mr. Hofsink).

*The fourth skating session at the Smithville arena is scheduled for Wednesday, December 5.  Grade 3 will skate from 12:15-1:15 and Grade 7 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 recommended to wear them.  Those playing hockey must wear them.

*Lost and Found:  Our lost and found box is filling up.  If you are at the school at some point and time during the next three weeks, please check through the bin to see if any of your child(ren)’s missing paraphernalia is in it.  Whatever is left in the box on December 21 will be taken to the GBF or Bibles for Mission.

*Attention School Community:  Post-Confession/John Calvin School Lecture on December 12, 2018

Bringing up our children to love and serve the Lord is a serious calling of Reformed parents. The curriculum taught in our schools is increasingly challenged also by those in authority over us.   Mr. Andre Schutten, lawyer with ARPA, will address this concern speaking on the topic: “Train up a child in the way he should go:  increasing pressures on teaching Reformed curriculum in our Christian schools.  How do we react and how can we withstand this development?”  We hope to see many parents and teachers attend in order to discuss this important issue.  We plan to start at 8:00 pm in the Smithville Canadian Reformed Church.

Reminders:

*Please continue to collect tabs for cans for Jude VanVeen so he and his family can get a wheelchair for his sister Anna.

*For the Dutch folk in the community— Happy Sinterklaas on Wednesday of next week.

*Scholastic orders are due by December 7th so that the order can be received before the Christmas holidays.  Please make sure your cheques are payable to John Calvin School.

*An EA and TA conference is scheduled for Friday, December 7th.  Several staff members will be attending the conference taking place at our Teachers College.

*News and Views material is due on Monday, December 10.

*The final skating session at the Smithville arena is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12.  Grade 8 will skate from 1:15-2:15.

*The Ladies Auxiliary is planning a Pizza Lunch (which will include a drink, fruit, and a snack) for Thursday, December 13.  In the words of our friend, Wodney Wat:  Woot! Woot! Wooty-toot-toot!  No lunches to make.  For those children with 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!

Have an enjoyable weekend and a blessed Sunday.  The Lord willing we’ll touch base again in a week’s time.

1. Hofsink

Classroom News

Kindergarten

It was an enjoyable week for kindergarten! KA had the opportunity to go skating on Wednesday afternoon, it was a fun experience for everybody. In math class we continue to learn the numbers 0-10, please take the time to review them at home, many children struggle to write the number 5 and extra practice would be helpful. Starting last week we have had the pleasure of going upstairs to the Special Needs room to listen to our bible story so that one of the special needs students can join us. Kindergarten enjoys this immensely and loves spending time with the older students. Please remember to look inside your child agenda bag to take out the sight word books that are sent home at least once a week. Have a wonderful first week of December everybody!

Letter of the week: Mm

Words of the week: can, green, four

Memory work: Psalm 100:1 & Matthew 1:21

Grade 1

Congratulations to Hannah Ravensbergen and her family with the birth of their first son/brother, Noah John.  Grade 1A had a lot of fun skating this week.  Thanks to all those who came out to tie/skate with their children.  A big thank-you to our Grade 8 helpers as well as our bus driver.  We have started our unit on Investigating Living Things in Science and are really enjoying it.  Keep up the good work in practicing the words at home.  It has been rather wet this week and many students have come in from recess with wet socks.  Please send along an extra pair of socks for your child.  Thanks.  Have a great weekend.

Memory Work for Friday, Dec. 7 – Psalm 12:4; Ruth 1: 16, 17a

Spelling Words:  an, each, there, use, which

Grade 2

This week was a fun and busy week for Grade 2! We all really enjoyed our skating trip on Wednesday! Thank you to all the parents who came along to help tie laces and for going skating with us. In Science we have just completed our unit on Investigating Health and Safety and will be moving on to our Social Studies unit on Nunavut! Please continue to practice math facts at home as well as spelling words. This coming week we will be reviewing all of our spelling words that we have learned so far and are looking forward to practicing them in fun ways! Have a blessed weekend! BB/RG

Memory Work: Hymn 51:1

Spelling Words: Review

Wednesday: Bible Quiz

Grade 3

We had a regular but busy week, with tests, reviews and yes, we had fun as well. We are turning to Bible History again and will pay attention to Isaac and Jacob. In Guided Reading, we are gathering information on penguins. In Math, we are busy with multiplications. Thank you for practising the math facts at home! Henri Matisse used scissors to paint; ask us all about our Art classes. Grade 3A went to Anchor Home and enjoyed singing, and reading to the residents; it was fun. Thanks to Mrs. Trudy VanLuik for driving us to and fro. We are slated to go skating next week Wednesday, Dec. 5 (Sinterklaas). Come join us from 12:15 – 1:15; we love the help as well. Children MUST wear a helmet for safety. Congratulations to Chloe and her family for receiving a wonderful gift from God, a son named Noah. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.We wish you a wonderful weekend and a blessed Sunday. MP/JB

Memory work: Hymn 20:1,2 ; Text: Gen. 49:10 (two weeks)

Spelling words: anyone, are, can’t, don’t, everybody

Monday and Thursday P.E. clothes, Tuesday: Library, Friday: Mission $

Grade 4

Grade 4 has a Bible Test on Tuesday, December 4! Please study with your children as there are a lot of names to know!

Spelling Words: hunting, learned, heard, climbing, dreamed, reading, stuffed, watching, passed, thinking, watched, talking, started, falling (Grade 4B) compass, atmosphere, collide, criticize

Memory Work: Psalm 54:1 (December 7) Psalm 52:1 (December 14) John 3:16-18 (December 14)

Grade 5

Hello parents!  We have completed another Bible unit on Jesus’ early ministry in which we have learned about the compassion and grace God has shown.  We continue to marvel at the mercy he extends to us, His sinful and undeserving people! In the coming week, we hope to begin a unit on fantasy stories in our World of Literature program. Memory work for Friday is Psalm 61: 2, 3, as well as the text, Matt 22: 37 – 40. Devotions for 5A: M: Landon, Tu: Teagen, W: Merrit, Th: Hannah, F: Caiden. And for 5B: M: Morgan, Tu: Joel, W: Eden, Th: Mason, F: Reuben.  Have an enjoyable weekend, refreshed by the preaching of the Word and the gathering with fellow believers!  RK/KV

Grade 6

This week we discussed how we were like Abraham in that we, too, are foreigners and sojourners.

We will gain a greater understanding of how we have been fearfully and wonderfully made as we start  the unit on our immune system. In L.A. we will be reading current event stories that tie in with topics that we have been discussing. In music we will be singing a variety of Christmas carols. Have a blessed weekend, IdV/CVA

Grade 7A

We carry on in Grade 7A as we transition from November to December. The first few groups have taught us their Phys. Ed. class; combined groups from 7A/B were each given a low order cooperative game to teach the class. Ask your child to show you their lesson plan. England has conquered New France and know they have a new internal conflict within the Thirteen Colonies. Would you remain loyal or would you join the revolution? In Bible History we continue with the reign of King David; although he is a man after God’s own heart, he cannot be the Messiah. Bridge building continues in Science; next step, group evaluation. Enjoy your weekend.

Grade 7B

We have come to the end of our Martin Luther unit and we look forward to coming back to Bible History and looking at David, the King after the LORD’s own heart. In Math, we continue to look at fractions and decimals. In Phys. Ed., the students are presenting their Low Order Cooperative Games to the class, getting a taste of what being a teacher and being a leader is like! In Independent Study, we have come to the end of our documentary resource and will be moving toward the journal article, where we will be really trying to focus our topic down. Devotions – Leah R. Have a great weekend!

Grade 8A

This morning three tripleball (volleyball) teams are off to the Dofasco Centre for the annual tournament. In class we have spent time discussing Sustainability and Stewardship in light of our cultural mandate. In History we have wrapped up the in-class portion of the project and now are preparing for presentations next Thursday. Finally we have begun working on our new unit on rational numbers. Have a blessed weekend. Cheers, Mr. J

Grade 8B

Students are working hard to complete various projects.  They’ve received their last opportunities to work on History and Music projects in class. Music projects need to be submitted by December 12.  History projects are due before then.  We are also working on a culminating activity in Geography.  We’ll use two class periods to work on it at school.  After that, it becomes a homework or spare time project.  It will be due at the end of the week.

Memory work:  Hymn 40: 1, 3  Romans 3: 21-26

Devotions:  Zach, Caleb, Jeremy, Leah, Avery

Dear Students, Parents and Supporters

On behalf of the Anchor Association, we would like to thank you all for your tremendous efforts during the Anchor Work Day. The final tally is in. We received a total of $3,368 which we would like to dedicate towards the new patio at Anchor Home. So next time you visit, check it out! Wishing you all a blessed year end.