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General News

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Good Friday morning school community as we wrap-up the first week of instruction in April at JCS.  The week began with snow and ended with close to double digit temperatures, some sun in the middle and liquid sunshine at the end; a typical Canadian spring week. May our Heavenly Father continue to provide the students and teachers with all they need as they carry out their respective tasks to the honour and glory of His Name.  

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those in our school community who need Him in a special way whether it is because of a serious illness, grieving over the passing away of a loved one, or dealing with difficult family circumstances. We pray for Mrs. deVisser who continues with her chemotherapy treatments.  Mrs. Brandy Stieva, one of our bus drivers, had her brain surgery this week.  The surgeons were unable to complete the surgery so she will have to go in for a second surgery in the near future.  May the Lord continue to be near to her and her family during this trying time.  

A few items for your attention:

*We know that most of you do this so what follows is a reminder for those who have good intentions but forget.  Parents are requested to inform their child(ren)’s teachers when they are going to be away from home for a few days and what the arrangements are going to be for their children.  This will be helpful for the teachers if they notice that your son or daughter might be a little bit “off” when you are away.  Thanks for your consideration in this matter.

*The Spring Food Drive in support of West Lincoln Community Care continues until next week Wednesday, April 10.  Thanks to all who have contributed so far.

*Three students from Grades 7&8 (Luke Alkema, Evan Pierotti, and Brody Hordyk) will be participating in the annual Canadian Reformed Schools chess tournament next week Wednesday.  The tournament is hosted by Maranatha Christian School in Fergus.

*News and Views materials are due on Monday, April 8.

*Thank you very much JCS Ladies’ Auxiliary for the delicious pancake lunch we will enjoy today.  It was much appreciated by the students, teachers, and parents.    

*Reminder:  At the end of the day, when parents or grandparents come to the school to pick up their children they are reminded not to park their vehicles on the school side of the walkway.  That also includes the gravelled area along the driveway.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Reminders:

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

*An assembly to kick-off fundraising for the Hike of Hospice community event is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, April 9.

*Good Friday is on April 19 and Easter Monday is on April 22.

*The Open House for parents and grandparents/seniors is scheduled to take place on Friday morning, May 3 from 8:00-12:00.  Lunch for the grandparents/seniors will be provided for and served by the Ladies’ Auxiliary.  The same afternoon, the school is planning to participate in the community fundraiser walk (Hike for Hospice) in support of McNally House.  At the assembly on Tuesday, April 9, Ms. Amanda Black is planning to give us some information about the hospice and will be providing the students with pledge forms at the same time.  We encourage all participants that the pledge sheets be filled, and don’t hesitate to seek out the support of your neighbours—they are often quite willing to give to such a cause and in this way it doesn’t always come out of the same pockets.  Parents and grandparents are also welcome to join us on the hike, but no pets please.  The John Calvin School community has raised substantial sums for this cause over the past number of years and hopes to do so again.

*Please note: The Spring Membership meeting originally scheduled for May 22 has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, April 24.

*The ASC committee is organizing its annual spring meeting for Monday, May 6th at Covenant Canadian Reformed Church in Grassie beginning at 7:30 p.m..  The topic for the evening is a continuation of the theme, Belongingness, and the speaker once again will be Mrs. Sara Pot. 

                Have a good weekend and a restful Sunday.  Until next week Friday, D.V.             G. Hofsink

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Classroom News

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Kindergarten

This past week we could enjoy a pancake lunch on Thursday and Friday. Thank you to everyone who was involved with that! On Wednesday KA had the opportunity to go on a nature walk around the school yard. Although it was a windy day we managed to make the best of it by collecting rocks and painting them afterwards. We have finally booked our Superstore trip! It will take place on April 25th and April 26th. If you would like to come along please send me an email or a text! Next week we will jump from the Old Testament to the New Testament in preparation for Good Friday and Easter. Just a reminder to continue practicing the numbers 0-20 at home. We wish you a lovely weekend! NR&JB

Letter of the week: Qu /qu

Blend of the week: ar

Memory Work: concert selections

Grade 1

Memory Work for Friday, April 12:  Ps. 140:4; Rev. 7:17

Spelling Words:  run, tell, us, went, why

We are enjoying our Mapping unit a lot. Ask us about what we have learned so far. We have started a new unit on fractions this week in Math. We have learned about wholes, halves, thirds and fourths. This Thursday we will wrap up our Bible unit with a test.  Notes will come home on Wednesday.  We have finished our unit on long vowels and have written a test today.  Check your child’s school bag for the results.  Keep practicing spelling and agenda words on a daily basis; it really helps.  Have a great weekend.

Grade 2

This week in Grade 2, we have been learning about Augustine and his writings to defend God’s Word. We will complete this with a quiz on Tuesday. After that, we will complete this unit by studying the last character in the unit, John Calvin. In Science, the students have been busy learning about solids, liquids, and gases. In our Novel Study, we learned about Harriet Tubman and her brave exploits in seeking freedom for herself and other slaves. Have a great weekend! BV/RG

Memory work: Hymn 81:1,7; Text: John 14:6

Spelling: it’s,  only,  junk,  little,  gym

Grade 3

Grade three had a productive week in God’s service. We will have a Bible test on Thursday. Don’t forget to study, Grade 3!  We finished our geometry unit and now move on to multiplication again. Keep practising multiplication tables at home too. This will help you in the future! We live in communities. Ask us in what type of community we live. We hope to do a project related to this next week. Stay tuned! Art is all about visual texture. Ask us about “Where the Wild Things Are.” On Friday we were treated to a yummy pancake lunch. Thanks to the Ladies’ Auxiliary for this treat of the week! In our gym classes we are busy turning ropes and jumping to a rhythm!  Perhaps you can all do some skipping at home too! Have a blessed week.  J.B./M.P.

Psalm 65:1; Exodus 20:7-11

Words: another, confusion, I’m, it’s, its, question, that’s, threw, through, vacation, we’re, wear, where, with

Library books on Tuesday.

Gym clothes on Monday and Thursday.

Mission $ and Dictation on Friday.

Grade 4

Grade 4A continues to work on preparing their Canada presentations. So far, they are looking great! Grade 4B will be finishing presenting their Canada projects this week. Some excellent work so far; we are looking forward to seeing the rest! Please make sure you are studying the times tables (gr. 4B will be tested on the 7 times table on Friday). Spelling Lesson 27 words: lesson, presents, blossom, sign, secret, it’s, person, science, biggest, sudden, present, bottom, picnic, that’s, favourite (4B extra words: curtail, dejected, digress, heirloom).

Tuesday: 4B French ER verb endings

Wednesday: 4B Bible Quiz Unit 6 Lessons 1-10, 4A Science Quiz: Light

Thursday: 4B Math Quiz Double Digit Multiplication

Friday: 4A Bible Quiz Unit 6 Lessons 1 -10, Spelling Lesson 27, Memory work (Hymn 6:2, Phil. 2: 8b – 11)

Next weeks memory work is Psalm 6: 6

Grade 5

We are wrapping up a number of units right now. On Thursday, Grade 5B will be having our third and final quest for Ancient Egypt in Social Studies. 5A will have the quest on Friday. It will be about religion, death & the afterlife, and architecture in Ancient Egypt. Work on the pyramids will also be wrapping up this coming week. On Thursday, 5A will be having a Bible test for Unit 5, and 5B will be having the test on Friday. After this, we will be moving on to Church History. Duotangs will be coming home a couple days in advance. Have a great weekend and a blessed Sunday. RK/KV

Memory Work: Hymn 27:1,2,5; Text (for April 19): John 14:1-3

Devotions: 5A – M. Hannah, Tu. Caiden, W. Micah, Th. Jude, F. Jacob

5B – M. Kaden, Tu. Tabitha, W. Nate, Th. Theo, F. Gabrielle

Grade 6

Welcome April. This week started off with a few jokes and some unexpected snow. Things continue to move along nicely in Grade 6. In our Bible classes we are spending time with stories of the Israelites after their freedom from Egyptian slavery and how the Lord uses these stories to teach all His children about His might and majesty. Faith and trust…something that was a struggle for the Israelites, can still can be a struggle for us today! In Science we have been busy with matter and both classes have had fun making molecules out of jujubes and toothpicks. Next week we will continue our investigating, with comparing states of matter.  In Math we have now completed our unit on fractions and are looking forward to working with integers.  There have been some issues, as of late, with the sportsmanship and attitudes of a large portion of the Grade 6 boys at recess time. Mom and Dad, we would really appreciate it if you could talk to your son and encourage him to be a part of the solution to this situation. Thanks so much! Have a wonderful weekend and a blessed Sunday. SO/CV

Grade 7A

This past week marked the beginning of a new month as well as the beginning of new units in Grade 7A. We transitioned from Bible History to Church History; as we continued with a study of the Reformation. We’ve learned about Luther in Germany, Zwingli in Zurich and now Jean Cauvin in France and Geneva. We’ve seen how the LORD prepared Calvin for his work as a Reformer through his childhood and education. Our first chapter of, “Foundations in Personal Finances”, introduced us to saving and budgeting and the three things God wants us to do with His money; save it, spend it and give it. In Language Arts students wrote a biography of an individual they know well; ask your child who they chose. Next in our “non-fiction” unit will be historical/adventure essays. Next week we’ll start our new Science chapter, “Methods of Thermal Energy Transfer”. By this time your child has received approval to contact an expert/professional regarding their Independent Study topic for the purpose of interviewing them. Please ask your child how they are progressing. Enjoy your weekend. 

Grade 7B

It has been a busy week for Grade 7. We have begun our Church History unit on John Calvin where we will see God’s providence in the life of our school’s namesake. In Math, we have worked our way through Chapter 1 in “Foundations in Personal Finance”, and will be tackling Chapter 2 next week, looking at Credit and Debt. In History, we are moving into the construction phase of our War of 1812 project. In Independent Study, we have come up with our Interview Request email/telephone call script using our template. Please have it signed and returned by Tuesday. Devotions – Karlee J. Have a great weekend!

Grade 8A

This week in 8A we began again….or so it seemed. Nevertheless we reminded ourselves, “to push on towards the goal to win the prize.” In Science we discussed how our God of order designed our cells to specialize in different tasks. Again we were reminded of Paul’s message to the Corinthians, we are part of one body with many parts, each with a unique task and gift to offer. In History, students began working on their CPR project. Each group working to create a product to teach others. Some are making a book, others a skit, still others their very own board game. Very cool! Don’t forget that our food drive lasts until Wednesday. Have a blessed weekend. Cheers, Mr. J

Grade 8B

We will be looking carefully at the Presbyterian form of Church government as it was developed in the church during the reformation in Scotland. Students can expect a Church History quiz near the end of the week.  Some of the students have really been struggling to master using the passe compose in French (past tense). We will continue to work on it, but a certain amount of studying and memorizing will need to be done. There will be a history test on Wednesday on the material covered in chapter 9 Trouble at Red River. We hope to write a Science quiz on the use of microscopes and the structure of cells on Thursday.  We hope to have enjoyed a pancake lunch today.  Students should also expect to do a little more work at home with respect to their PBL projects in the next weeks. I am trying to update our writing blog regularly. Students have submitted a lot of work to be uploaded. I am very proud of their writing. The blog is worth looking at. (although, one day I will have to learn how to format it more attractively.)  If you’ve lost the link, e-mail me and I will send it to you again.