General News

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Good Friday morning everyone as we bring to an end the second week of instruction at John Calvin School.  This week, there were a large number of absences because of the cold bug that is making its way through families.  Hopefully it will make its way out over the weekend and we will be back to more usual attendance for this time of year on Monday.  As for the positive COVID test that was reported earlier this week, we are still waiting to hear about the testing results for the rest of the family.  Once we know, we will let you know.  May our Heavenly Father continue to bless the teaching and learning that takes place at school and at home on a daily basis, and that we may continue to be a support for one another in teaching his covenant children about his world and his Word.

A few items for your attention:

*The annual food drive for the West Lincoln Community Care Food bank is scheduled to begin next week Monday and continue until Friday, October 9.  At that time, the goods will be delivered to, or picked up by, Community Care located on Industrial Drive in Smithville.  Currently, the shelves at the bank are in need of replenishing, indicating that there is a need in this community.  Baskets have been set up in different locations in the school to collect non-perishable food items and other goods, e.g. disposable diapers, baby formula.  Thank you very much in advance everyone for your consideration and participation in this act of service for the broader community.

*We would like to remind everyone that when you come to school to pick-up or drop off your child(ren) that you continue to use the north driveway.  When dropping off your children please stay to the right of the driveway and once past the pylons you may drop off your children.  Once your children are dropped off, make your way down one of the lanes of the parking lot and then exit using the right side of the driveway.  When picking-up your children please park in the church parking and wait for your children there.  Please be on time when picking them up.  When leaving, please stay to the right.  Safety is of utmost importance.  Thank you for your cooperation.

*Also, with respect to drop-offs and pick-ups, we remind parents to come to the main office so that office staff can inform the classroom teacher via intercom of a pick-up or drop-off during the day.  A table has been set up in the foyer on which homework materials have been placed by teachers for parents to pick up.  After the before school drop-off, the rest of the entrances will remain locked until dismissal.  We also thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

*Included with today’s edition of the Chronicle is the September issue of the LRCSS magazine, the Link. Articles in this issue include a look at the relationship between private schools and the government of Ontario in the time of COVID-19, an overview of resources schools are using to support reopening, and a preview of a new CARE resource.

Reminders:

*Please note that the volunteer/class mom forms needed to be

 returned today.

*From the Library:  There are currently 156 overdue books (since March).  Teachers have sent notes home in the agenda of those students who have overdue books.  Please send the books back with your child/children as soon as possible.  The librarians will appreciate it.  While on the topic of the library, we thank all the ladies who volunteered their time, interest, and expertise to help students with finding books, checking out books, and re-shelving books, as well as helping out with the library lessons where and when possible. 

*Once again, we are participating in the Scholastic Reading Club.  This year, because of COVID-19, orders will be done differently.  Everything is to be done online, including payment, and the books that you order will be delivered to your home.  The school Teacher Class Code is RC242039.  If parents do not wish for the flyer(s) to be sent home, please let the school know and we will take you name off the list.

*We would like to remind parents that if they have any questions or concerns about the procedures and routines of the school to please contact the school either by telephone or by email as opposed to discussing questions and concerns via other means of communication, e.g. social media.  In this way, we can keep each other better informed about what is happening in and around the school.

*All medication, e.g. puffers, epi-pens, needs to be properly labelled. For those students who require oral prescription medication, Tylenol or Aspirin, the school has a form that parents will need to fill out so that the medication can be administered by the classroom teacher.

*Since the pattern is a downward trend in absences, we are going to go ahead with Picture Day on Tuesday, September 22.  If your child(ren) is absent on Tuesday, a retake day is planned for early November. In the event of multiple absences, class pictures could also be taken then. KA parents are requested to bring their son or daughter to the Kindergarten picture taking time slot scheduled for 8:15 a.m. You are requested to remain outside while your child’s picture is being taken. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

*The first Fire Drill is planned for Wednesday, September 23.

*Sadly, the annual Guido De Bres invitational cross-country meet for LCRSS elementary schools has been cancelled.

Have a good weekend everyone and a blessed day of rest and, the Lord willing, we’ll touch base again in a week’s time.

G. Hofsink

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Classroom News

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Kindergarten

Another week is complete in kindergarten.  Each day this week we had a number of students missing because of different illnesses, even I missed a day this week as I wasn’t feeling well either. Thank you to each parent who kept their child home even if it was just the sniffles!  It takes everyone doing their part to make sure we all stay healthy and safe. In Bible this past week, we learned about man’s fall into sin and the story of Cain and Abel. The students were shocked to hear that Cain killed his brother Abel because he hated Abel.  We talked about what we do when we are angry and how thankful we are that the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. Next week is a busy week for kindergarten.  We have picture day on Tuesday for both kindergarten classes.  Please look on SeeSaw for more information.  We also will be having our very first fire drill on Wednesday.  We will practice on Monday and Tuesday so that each class knows what to do if the fire alarm goes off at school. 

Have a blessed weekend.  JB/NV

Grade 1

What a week!  Thanks parents, for keeping sick children at home.  We had quite a lot of absences this week (including Miss Buist on Thursday).  Please feel free to get in touch with either of us about how to get work home if your child is home for an extended period of time.  For those of you, who need some help with Memory Work practice; check out Jane Oosterhoff’s youtube channel.  You and your child can sing along with her.  Please encourage your child to take home water bottles for regular washing.  Marked assignment pages that come home in the agenda bags, don’t usually have to be brought back to school.  The notes you send that tell us your child is being picked up and by whom are really helpful!

Memory work:  Psalm 105:3

Spelling words: in, it, is, that, you

Sight words: he, she, both, do, does

Grade 2

Phew! We finished week Two! We had quite a few students absent this week due to sniffles and sore throats.  Hopefully, they’re all recuperating and we will have full classrooms again next week.  The students have been busy learning about our skeletal system.  Ask them where the smallest bone in the body is?  What is cartilage?  Why do babies have more bones than adults?  They know it all!  We are amazed at how God created our bodies to move, protect and repair itself! Please continue to practice their Math Facts at home.  Practice makes perfect! In Bible, we are continuing with the Birth and Early Ministry of Jesus. Please remember to send your child to school with a labelled water bottle. We are looking forward to next week, have a relaxing weekend! LS/BV

Memory Work: Psalm 119:40; Text: Books of the NT

Spelling Words: are, like, colour, baby, make

Tuesday:  CLASS PHOTOS!!! Bring your smiles;o)

Thursday: Bible Quiz

Grade 3

Here we are again! We are so thankful to be back! The Lord is faithful to His promises. We finished our first unit of Bible with a test on Friday. Well done, grade three! We did this one together but the next one  will be done independently. In our Social Studies unit we are learning about pioneers. We heard about where they came from and why they settled in Upper Canada.  Ask your child all about it. Math is all about patterns. Ask your child about ordinal numbers. Next week Tuesday is picture day!  Can’t wait to see all your smiles. 😍 Just a reminder to practise your spelling words every night, grade three. That’s it for now.

J.B./M.P.

Psalm 17:1; Old Testament Books (two weeks)

Spelling Words:  have, into, off, people, said

Grade 4

We are already starting our third week of school. What a blessing that we can still meet as a class in school. Students can still be reviewing their math facts (addition and/or times tables) and reading regularly at home.

Spelling Unit 3: late, nails, paint, safe, saying, takes, wait, were, guns, past, hote, stayed, crayon, holes

Thurs: Science Quiz Light 4B

Fri: Bible Quiz Samuel Notes so far (review sheet to follow), spelling Unit 3 test

Memory work: Psalm 66:1, next week Memory text Psalm 32: 1-2, song Hymn 25:1

Grade 5

Our classrooms have been a little emptier than normal this week, but we were still able to get lots of work done, and we will continue to motor along next week. Hopefully things will settle down soon, but for now, since there is such a wide range of people gone every day, neither class will have set days for lunch devotions. All students will be prepared to do theirs, and we’ll figure out who will be leading each day’s devotions on that day. Next week’s Memory Work is Ps. 22:1. Have a wonderful weekend and a blessed Sunday. RK/KV

Grade 6

The students are reminded to bring leaves or seeds in a ziploc bag. Please remember to return library books on Monday in a bag. Some students have books to return from last school year. We pray that the students who were absent will be able to join us again next week. Have a blessed weekend. SO/CV

Grade 7A

Our first full week of Grade Seven has come to a close. We continue to make our way through the book of 1 Samuel as we see God’s mercy towards his people in providing a Judge and eventually a king after His own heart. Having finished our WLCC Food Drive posters and flyers, we’ll move on to short stories in Language Arts. Your child is in either the Math class, or the Accelerated Math class; be sure to ask him/her how they are managing. Having selected topics for our Independent Study, the next step in the process is to secure an adult, non-fiction book about the topic. This may involve visiting a local library in person during COVID, going onto the library’s catalogue system online and ordering the book, using the interlibrary lending system, or even purchasing a suitable book online; thank you for your assistance as parents. Please note that if your child is absent, work will be sent home; please use your parental discretion determining what your child’s at home work expectations will be. Enjoy your weekend.     

Grade 7B

In Bible History, next week we will be looking at how the Israelites ask for an earthly king, ultimately rejecting their Heavenly King. In Geography, we have begun looking at River and Ocean systems, with a heavy emphasis on rivers. In Language Arts, we are looking at short stories and will be looking at the story of “Kid at the Stick”. In Independent study, we have moved on to finding a good, non-fiction book. I encourage you to talk to your children about their topic that they have chosen and please be available to help them find a book! Enjoy your weekend!

Grade 8

This week was again filled with plenty of reviews and adjusting to routine! We experienced our first round of absences and sick days as a class. In a time of abundant caution regarding our health, we are thankful that our heavenly Father is watching over and protecting us, and pray that He allows our students and classmates to return to school in good health. time away! We continued discussing how God preserved His peoples during a time when prophecies seek, specifically while under Greek rule. We finished our math fact review today and will be starting the “real work” on Monday, continuing the pilot math project from last year. With introduction units ending in most classes, the real learning is about to begin! Parents will  have received an email about the “soup greens” fundraiser earlier this week. On Friday we sent home two letters re. Math and the Ottawa Trip – please let us know if you have any questions. Have a blessed weekend. Cheers, Mr. J and Ms. P