General News

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“Who has felt the nails upon His hands?

Bearing all the guilt of sinful man

God eternal, humbled to the grave

Jesus, Saviour, risen now to reign.”

Behold our God seated on His throne

Come, let us adore Him

Behold our King—nothing can compare

Come, let us adore Him

Greetings John Calvin School community as we bring this short week of instruction to completion in His service; a special week as we reflected on the events of the Passion Week that led to the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of our Saviour.  May the Lord continue to provide students and teachers with all they need for their daily work during the busyness of the second half of the second term.  

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those in our school community who need the Lord in a special way.  We continue to pray for Mrs. deVisser who was scheduled to receive her third chemotherapy treatment today. Mr. Hofsink will not be at school from Tuesday to Thursday of next week. He hopes to be at school again at sometime on Friday morning. He is travelling to BC as decisions need to be made regarding the long term care for his father who, earlier this year, was diagnosed with dementia.

Parents, grandparents and other members of the JCS supporting community are invited to join us for the Easter assembly this afternoon from 1:30-2:30.  Miss Buist and Grade 8B will be leading the assembly.  The theme of the assembly is Behold our God.  Lyrics of one of the stanzas and the chorus for the song by the same title are included above.

Next week Wednesday is Secretary/Administrative Assistant’s Appreciation Day.  We very much appreciate the work of our office administrator, Mrs. Nancy Elgersma, for all the work she does on a daily basis at John Calvin School.  We are not sure if that day extends to secretaries of committees of school societies but we know that they do a lot of valuable work as well.  So, on Wednesday, take a moment and tell them how much you appreciate them.

                Hope to see you all at the Spring Membership meeting next week Wednesday, April 24 beginning at 8:00 p.m..

A few items for your attention:

*Next week Friday, April 26, progress reports will be made available on a needs basis.  If you would like a report of your child’s progress at the mid-point of the second term, please call the school or email your child’s teacher and one will be provided for you.  The deadline for parent requests is Tuesday morning, April 23.  This progress report is designed in the same way as the one you received in November. If you would like a follow-up conference with your child’s teacher, please contact the teacher and she/he will arrange one with you for one day after school.

*April 23 – 26 is Home visit week for students at JCS.  Grade 1A is planning to visit Anchor Home next week Wednesday afternoon.  We wish them a good visit with our special needs brothers and sisters. Grade 3B is scheduled to visit Kilean Lodge next week Thursday morning, and Grade 1B is scheduled to visit Shalom Manor on Friday morning.  We wish both grades an enjoyable visit with the residents of the lodge and the manor.

*Baseball practices continue next week Thursday after school.  Mrs. N. VanBrederode and Miss A. Linde are coaching the girls’ team.  Mr. Hofsink and Mr. Mans are coaching the boys’ team.

*One further reminder about parking at the end of the school day:  When parking, please leave a wide enough space for buses to drive in or out.  At times, it is a pretty tight squeeze.  Thank you.

Reminders:

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

*May 3 is a Guido De Bres Christian high school PA Day.  That means that our buses will be running their afternoon routes in reverse for the morning run.

*The Open House for parents and grandparents/seniors is scheduled to take place on Friday morning, May 3 from 8:00-11:45.  Lunch for the grandparents/seniors will be provided for and served by the Ladies’ Auxiliary beginning at 11:30.  The same afternoon, the school is planning to participate in the community fundraiser walk (Hike for Hospice) in support of McNally House.  We are looking forward to the McNally House Hike for Hospice in two week’s time. We pray for good weather so that we can hold our walk.  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. Those who are participating in the walk are encouraged to wear their John Calvin School t-shirt or a McNally House t-shirt received from a previous walk. Parents and grandparents are also welcome to join us on the hike, but no pets please. Those who are planning to participate in the walk are requested to write a note in their child’s/grandchild’s agenda to let the teacher know which class they will be walking with that afternoon. The John Calvin School community has raised substantial sums for this cause over the past number of years and hopes to do so again.  I believe this is the eleventh year that JCS will be participating in the Hike of Hospice.

*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. 

*Dental screening on May 6 & 7 for students in Grades K, 2, 4, 6, and 8.  Parents do have the option to opt out.  Please contact Niagara Health and let them know if you choose to opt out of the program.

The staff and students of John Calvin School wish you a blessed Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  Enjoy the long, Easter weekend and we’ll touch base again next week Friday, D.V..

                                                                G. Hofsink

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Classroom News

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Kindergarten

Although this week was a short week, we still managed to get a lot done! During Bible we learned about Jesus’ death on the cross for all of our sins. However, it didn’t end there. Three days later Jesus rose from the dead! Our Saviour is alive! In math class we have started a new unit that focuses on addition. All of the students have enjoyed this so far and are beginning to understand the concept. Over the past we have talked a lot about God’s creation. It’s hard not to when you hear the birds chirping and see the sun shining (at times). On Wednesday and Thursday the students had an opportunity to make a bird feeder out of pine cones. On Thursday afternoon we could partake in a beautiful assembly. Thank you Miss. Buist and the Grade 8 class for making it so enjoyable. We wish you all a lovely long weekend! NR&JB

Words of the week: that, brown

Blends: ie, ee, or

Memory Work: Concert Songs

Grade 1

We have finished our Bible unit today and notes have been sent home.  We will do a review with a test to follow on Tuesday. We are busy learning the s blends, r blends, and l blends in phonics.  Our program songs are coming along nicely. Keep up the good work with the Spelling and agenda words! Wishing you a blessed Easter weekend as we remember the death and resurrection of our Saviour! 

Memory Work for Friday, April 26 – Ps. 99: 1&2; Rev. 17:7

Spelling Words:  after, am, play, ride, where,

Grade 2

This week in Grade 2 we have finished up our unit on people from all times and places in Church History. We have started with Bible stories again beginning with Pentecost. In Guided Reading we have finished up reading The Drinking Gourd for our novel study. We are looking forward to spending time acting out a scene from the book! Students will be asked to take in props and costumes for their characters. Please continue to practice subtraction math facts! Have a blessed Easter weekend! BV/RG

Memory Work: Hymn 49:1; Text: Psalm 25:4-5

Spelling Words: other, pretty, sometimes, than, right

Grade 3

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also with Him graciously give us all things?”  Romans 8:  31-32 Praise be to God for His wonderful plan of Salvation for us! In our Bible classes we are hearing about the tabernacle and how God is pleased to dwell with His people.  Multiplication with regrouping keeps us busy in Math. We are working in groups in putting together urban, rural, and suburban posters. Looking good so far, Grade 3! On Thursday, Miss Buist and her grade eight class led us in an Easter Assembly. We thank the LORD for the gift of life in Jesus, Christ our LORD! Have a blessed Easter weekend! J.B./M.P.

Words:  impossible, independent, weather, whether

Psalm 43:1; Text:  Exodus 20:12-17

Gym clothes on Monday and Thursday; Library Books in a LIBRARY BAG on Tuesday; Mission $ and Dictation on Friday

Grade 4

We wish you a restful long weekend as we remember the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour. Here are a few things to keep in mind for next week: Spelling List 29: minutes, girl, hours, wall, guys, turned, cousins, hello, first, told, both, owner, bats, months, grams (4B extra words: brawl, germinate, classify, tedious)

Thursday: 4B Science Quiz (Topic: Light) // 4B Bible Quiz (Topic: Unit 6, Part 2 – Kings of Judah)

Friday: 4A/B Spelling Test // 4A/B Memory Work: Song: Hymn 22:2, Text: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Next Memory Work: Psalm 79:1

Grade 5

After diving into our unit on space for the first week, we are even more excited about all the things we are going to learn. Project sheets have been handed out and gone home, and from the sounds of it, a number of students already have a good start on it! Parents, you are allowed to HELP your child, but please do not do the project for them:). As we prepare for Easter, we are recalling what we’ve just learned in Bible about Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, and we stand in awe at the love of God! Have a blessed long weekend as we remember the sacrifice and victory of our Lord Jesus Christ. RK/KV

Memory Work: Hymn 43:1-3

Devotions: 5A – Tu. Lani, W. Rylee, Th. Kiera, F. Maddy

5B – Tu. Joel, W. Eden, Th. Mason, F. Reuben           

Grade 6

As we are writing this, the weather outside is lovely. We will enjoy this while we can since the forecast for this weekend is not exactly dry. As we remind our students…and ourselves…all weather is a gift from our Lord. Work in the classroom is continuing at a fast pace. Hopefully by the end of today all the state projects will be completed. Many students are almost done their beanbag art project. We are excited to display this for you at  our open house. We have begun our novel study on Lost in the Barrens. What an interesting story!  Please remember to drop us a note if you’d like to walk with our classes for the McNally hike. Have a fabulous long weekend. SO/CV

Grade 7A

What a blessing to work in such a supportive community. We welcomed Mr. John Joosse into our math class this past week.  He spoke to us about budgeting, giving, and personal finances as it applies to the work of the deacons. We also welcomed Mr. Nick VandenOever who spoke to us about entrepreneurship. Also in Math, students researched their own potential career, be sure to ask your child what career they chose. In Science students have designed a thermal energy transfer system. The challenge is to raise the temperature of water using a tea light candle. We’re using linoleum cutters and tiles as we are creating our own intaglio prints. By now students should have sent off their interview requests to their topic professional/expert; ask to see if they’ve received a response. Enjoy your long weekend.

Grade 7B

In Church History, we continue looking at John Calvin and his work that he completes for the Reformation, as well as why our school is named after him. In Math, we had 2 guest speakers come in and talk to us about the role of the deacons in the church and entrepreneurship. We continue next week looking at investing, insurance, and identity theft! In Language Arts, we continue spending time looking at our digital footprint and cybersecurity. Next week we begin our presentations on our War of 1812 projects. Most of the students have sent their interview requests out, and some have already booked their interview date! If your child(ren) have not sent out their request, please do as soon as possible. Devotions – Jordan L. Have a great long weekend remembering the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Grade 8A

This week, as our attention returns to Easter, the students in 8A worked through the final week of Christ’s ministry. We saw the humble but triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the institution of Lords Supper during the ‘Last Supper’ with his disciples in the upper room on Thursday evening. This all culminated in a well orchestrated assembly lead by Ms. Buist. In Math we were able to complete our Mid-Unit Test on Wednesday. In History we continued working on our CPR projects. Have a blessed long weekend and may we all be edified by the preaching of the word. Cheers, Mr. J

Grade 8B

We spent a lot of time and (nervous) energy preparing for our assembly today.  The students did a fine job of stepping up to the plate and taking some leadership in participating in the planning and execution of it.  Many thanks also to Mrs. Holtvluwer and Mrs. Jansen and Miss Hoeksema for helping us to learn and practice songs.  Also thanks to the 8A class for helping us to sing them. Math and Science and History tests were returned this week. Ask about the results. Students also did a great job writing and presenting French stories. We hope to watch a video about the Covenanters in Scotland next week and will probably be ready to write a test about the Reformation in Scotland later in the week.  Have a blessed Easter!