General News
Greetings and salutations everyone on this sunny Friday morning as we wrap up another week of instruction at John Calvin School. Being the last day of May, we are on the cusp of entering another month, the last month of the school year. We thank the Lord for the many blessings we could receive during the course of this week and pray for His continued blessing through the remaining three weeks of the school year.
Yesterday afternoon we could enjoy a beautiful performance of our Ascension/Pentecost concert, The Return of the King. The students did a great job as did our director, the accompanists, the student musicians and the descant singers. It was great to see such a large group of parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and members of our community in attendance to enjoy the matinee performance. May the Lord again bless the efforts of everyone at tonight’s performance.
For tonight’s concert, parents are reminded to bring their children to the school by 7:20 p.m., and pick them up again from their respective classrooms immediately after the concert. It would also be good for students to wear short-sleeved shirts for the evening concert as it will be quite warm at the front of the church. We also have a request for Grades 6-8 dads to help bring the risers from the church into the school gym after Friday evening’s concert. The students will look after putting them away in the storage room on the Monday thereafter. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in these matters.
A few items for your attention:
*In between bookend thunderstorm, it was a beautiful day at last week Saturday’s baseball tournament. The girls’ team finished with a two win and one loss record. Their loss to Rehoboth prevented them from moving on to the finals. Great effort girls! The boys’ team won two games and tied one which meant they moved on to the final against Rehoboth Christian School. In a very well-played game, our boys were done 1-0 when lightning struck and the torrential rains fell. As a result, we are planning to replay the game in its entirety on Monday, June 10 at West Lincoln Leisureplex. The boys’ team will have a practice on Monday, June 3 from 2:50-4:00. Thank you coaches (Mrs. N. VanBrederode, Miss A. Linde, Mr. R. Mans, and Mr. G. Hofsink) for preparing the teams for the tournament.
*Kindergarten Day: Next week Wednesday, June 5, is Kindergarten Day. The new Kindergarten students will be coming to school either in the morning from 8:30-10:30 (KA) or the afternoon from 12:30-2:30 (KB) based on the class lists that were sent home earlier this month. First time Kindergarten parents will also have an opportunity to participate in a new to the school welcome session, a new venture spearheaded by Mr. M. Joosse (V-P) and Mrs. N. Ludwig.
*Year End Trips: Tomorrow begins the month of June and all of what that month represents on the school calendar. One of the exciting events is the annual year end trips. This year, Grade 7 is once again planning on an overnight stay at Fort George on Thursday, June 13 before heading off to Niagara Falls the next day (a letter will be coming home for Grade 7 parents with details about Fort George and the cost for that part of their trip).Grades K-6 are planning to visit Marineland on Tuesday, June 18. For both venues, there are enough complimentary passes to cover teachers only. Therefore, all parents (including class moms and classroom volunteers) will need to pay the group rate which is $29.00 for the Grade 7 trip (Niagara Falls only) and $16.00 for Marineland. Payment for all trips must be sent to the JCS office, clearly marked with your name on the envelope. Parents need to email the office (office@johncalvinschool.com) to book their spot on the trips. Please do not contact your child’s/children’s teacher(s). The last date to sign up for the Marineland trip is Friday, June 7. The last day of payment for the Niagara trip was yesterday.
As per usual, the Student Fund kicks in a significant portion of the cost of the K-6 trip but cannot carry it all. Thus we ask that each child contribute $10.00 to a maximum of $30.00 per family (this cost is the same as last year). The contribution should be brought to the school on or by June 14th. Beyond that, there is no need for students to bring any spending money. This year we would again ask that all students wear JCS t-shirts on the trip.
Parents are reminded of the protocol for class trip volunteers (for those who may have missed it last week, it’s included with this edition of the Chronicle). Parents who wish to join the trips may not take along their pre-school children. All parents who come along will be assigned a group of students to chaperon for the grade they wish to accompany. If there is no room for parents on the buses, they will have to car pool to the venue.
For the Marineland trip, the buses are scheduled to return at around 5:00 p.m.. Parents are requested to pick-up their children from the school at that time.
*Library Books: Today was the last library day for the Grade 8 students. They have two weeks to return all library books. The last library day for Grades K-7 is Friday, June 7. They will then have two weeks to return their library books.
*Lost and Found: The tables are filled up again so when you are in the school please take a look on the tables in the short hallway of the 2016 addition. All remaining items will be taken to the GBF or Value Village at the end of the month.
Reminders:
*Please continue to collect tabs for cans for Jude V. so he and his family can get a wheelchair for his sister Anna.
*It’s that time of year again, so please continue to be wary of ticks and mosquitoes. Included with today’s Chronicle is a reminder flyer from Niagara Public Health.
*Regional Track and Field Meet in Hamilton on Friday, June 7. The athletes will be brought to Mohawk Sports Park by bus but parents will have to pick them up after their child’s events are completed.
*News and Views materials are due on Monday, June 10.
*Grade 7 overnight trip at Fort George and their Niagara Falls tour are on June 13&14.
*Local field day on Friday, June 14. This is also a Guido pre-exam day so Guido buses will not be running. This means that our buses will be running the afternoon routes in reverse with all that means for timing at the morning stops.
*Grades K-6 year end trip to Marineland is on Tuesday, June 18.
*Grade 8 trip is from June 17-21.
Have a good weekend and a restful Sunday. We’ll touch base again next week, D.V. G. Hofsink
Classroom News
Kindergarten
Another week has come and gone for kindergarten! On Thursday afternoon we were able to witness an amazing concert performance by the school. At the time of writing we are anticipating watching another concert on Friday evening. Next week Wednesday is kindergarten day. This means that both KA and KB have the day off! In Bible class this week we listened to a Bible story about Christ’s ascension into heaven. Next week we will look at the story of Pentecost. In math class we hope to wrap up our unit on subtraction in the next week or so. The next few weeks of June will be review weeks where the students will have the opportunity to work in learning centers. If you would like to volunteer for the year end trip please contact the office! Have a lovely weekend! NR&JB
Words of the Week: Review
Blends of the Week: Review
Memory work: Hymn 78:1
Grade 1
We have had a busy week practicing for and performing in the concert. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed performing for you. The students are quite tired at this time of year (esp. after 2 concerts) and could use a few early nights. We have finished our Bible unit and will review on Monday, with a test to follow on Tuesday. Notes will be sent home. In our new Bible unit we will be covering the stories about Esther. Please take the time to check the Lost and Found box to claim missing clothes. Have a great week!
Memory Work for Friday, June 7: Hymn 72: 3
Spelling Words: car, jump, quit, night, rain, teacher
Grade 2
On Monday morning, we arrived in the classrooms to see our chrysalis all still hanging in the butterfly house. However, by the time our morning devotions had been completed, butterflies had started emerging! We were able to enjoy the butterflies all week, and released them in Friday. What a great experience! Thank you for coming to our concert performances. The students worked very hard to learn each song and all the words to go with it. To God be the glory! Next week we hope to study media literacy in our language arts. As part of our studies, we will also talk about the internet, and how to be safe with it. That’s all for this week! Have a great weekend! BV/RG
Memory work: Hymn 9
Grade 3
Hello again! Who was Joshua? We are so thankful the LORD continues to care for His covenant people. Ask us about His glorious deeds of salvation. Grade 3 was ready for Thursday’s performance and looking forward to Friday’s concert! May the LORD receive all the glory and praise. In Math, we are adding fractions! Yes we are! We are ready for grade four! We are busy with track and field activities! High jump, long jump, 100 meter race and much more! Looking forward to June 14! Just a reminder to bring in the monies for the Marineland trip. Thanks so much. The Lord ascended up on high, the Lord has triumphed gloriously, in power and might excelling. The grave and hell were captive led when He went up, our glorious Head, to His eternal dwelling. Hymn 40:1 Book of Praise. The Grade 3B students had a wonderful time singing with Mr. Darryl Lof who came and played guitar in class. We loved it! Thank you, Mr. Lof! Have a blessed weekend!
Hymn 82:1; Psalm 32:1,2 (text)
Words: Canaan, Joshua, strong, courageous, ascension
Gym clothes on Monday and Thursday.
Library books on Tuesday.
Mission $ and Dictation on Friday.
Grade 4
We look forward to our Medieval Feast which is scheduled for Thursday, June 6th! Please remember to bring/send along the food that you signed up for. On Friday, June 7th, we look forward to a special presentation about agriculture in the Middle Ages compared to agriculture today. We continue with our work in the other subject areas. In Reading, we have begun our final novel study: “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White.
Memory Work: Psalm 27:1/Revelation 21: 1-2 (Friday, June 7)
Next Memory Work: Psalm 76:1/Revelation 21: 3-4
Grade 5
What a beautiful concert we had yesterday! We are really looking forward to tonight’s concert as well. We appreciate all the hard work put in by everyone involved, and we are thankful for this opportunity to glorify God with our singing! In Church History, we are finishing up talking about the fall of Jerusalem, and we will be having a test on Lesson 5 on Tuesday. In Language Arts, we have finished working our way through the World of Literature textbook, and we are starting the last novel study, Mystery at Cranberry Farm. Hope to see many of you tonight! Have a wonderful weekend, and a blessed Sunday. RK/KV
Devotions: 5A – M. Rylee, Tu. Kiera, W. Maddy, Th. RaeAnna, F. Landon
5B – M. Nate, Tu. Theo, W. Gabrielle, Th. Mya, F. Isaac
Grade 6
Next week the students will start their last novel study on Island of the Blue Dolphins. We will also start a short unit on explorers. The students will be working on another native related art project, namely a picture story using native symbols. It was good to see so many come out to enjoy our concerts. May all praise and glory have gone to our ascended king. Have an enjoyable weekend and blessed Sunday. SO/CVA
Grade 7A
Our Bible History study moves from divided kingdoms to an unholy alliance between Judah and Israel. In this unit we’ve seen how the office bearers of the Old Testament did not shepherd the flocks in their care, and the results that followed. Measurement in Math will move on to capacity, weight and temperature. Students have tried out for specific events in their division and have been placed accordingly; we’re all set to go for the L.C.R.S.S. Track and Field Meet Friday, June 7. From Grade 7A two students have decided not to compete; that Friday will be a regular school day. The culminating activity in Independent Study is our “visual component”; a slide show highlighting what we learned. By this time the monies for the Niagara Trip, Thurs/Fri June 13/14 have been collected; thank you to all who have volunteered to come along. Enjoy your weekend.
Grade 7B
In Bible History, we continue looking at the Divided Kingdom, looking at the reign of Ahab in Israel. In Math, we continue looking at converting measurements of distance, weight, and volume. In Language Arts, we are working our way through “The Hobbit”. As we come to the end of Independent Study, we are wrapping things up with a slide show presentation of what we learned through this process. We also look forward to the Regional Track and Field meet on Friday as well. Devotions – Ava W. Have a great weekend!
Grade 8A
As we wind down another week of learning it is getting harder and harder to ‘ignore’ the closing of the year. Grad discussions are happening left and right, Ottawa forms are being asked of us, and just generally things like the concert are in our rear-view mirror and track and field is on the horizon! In and among all of this are the PBL projects! Regardless of whether these projects are 100% completed by the students, some really great initiatives have shed light and are cause for good reflection here at JCS. Well done students! Have a blessed weekend! Cheers, Mr. J
Grade 8B
We are really truly in the thick of last weeks of schools activities. A few of the special events include a fundraising barbecue at Turkstra lumber for one of the PBL groups. Wow! What a crowd. We have begun work on our graduation project. Finishing PBL activities will have our attention as well in the next weeks. Students have been practising for and are looking forward to the Regional Track meet next Friday. We will resume our Memory work activities in the next weeks now that the program is completed. Nice job students and organizers.
© 2015 Canadian Reformed School Society of Smithville and Surrounding District
