General News

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The purpose of John Calvin School is to assist and support parents in the education of their covenant children to the glory of God.  In accomplishing this mission, the vision of John Calvin School is to provide excellent Christ-centered education in service to God and our neighbour.

Hello again from the school everyone as we bring a short week of learning and teaching to a close.  Students and staff alike are looking forward to some rest and relaxation during the March Break.  May the Lord be near to us and keep us safe and in good health during the break, whether we are spending it at home or somewhere else on vacation.  It’s great that we are able, once again, to travel out of country to enjoy some warmer temperatures. 

May the Lord continue to bless the work of parents and teachers as, together, we instruct his covenant children in the fear of his Name, “Behold the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.  (Job 28:28, theme text for John Calvin School since its inception).  May he continue to provide for those in our community who need him in a special way; be it those who are sick, are dealing with difficult family situations, or those who are grieving the recent death of a loved one. 

Staffing news:  First, we thank Mrs. Jo-anne vanBrederode for stepping in and teaching Grade 1B during Mrs. VanEs’s absence due to sickness.  We very much appreciate her filling in for January, February, and half of March.  Mrs. VanEs hopes to begin teaching again on the Monday after the March Break.  We look forward to seeing her back in the classroom.  Secondly, Mrs. Meghan Spoelstra has been hired to take over Mrs. Glenda deSchiffart’s EA position while she is on leave, and she has been hired for next year’s full-time EA position that opened up because Miss Vis is going back to school.  We thank the Lord that another staffing need could be filled. 

It’s two years ago (pretty much to the day) that the coronavirus made its way into our part of the world.  Thankfully, we are seeing the end of covid with the lifting of many restrictions, including the mask mandate on March 21.  Looking forward to returning on Monday, March 21, maskless.  In addition to masks no longer required to be worn, cohorting and distancing will no longer be required.  Limitations on in-person gatherings and assemblies will also be removed, therefore we can look forward to not only regular assemblies but to a full school Easter concert.  We thank and praise the Lord that we can return to a more normal learning environment.  Also, I was able to pick up a large number of rapid tests from the Private and Independent School branch of the Ministry of Education.  If you would like a box or a partial box, please contact the school and arrange to pick one up.

A few matters for your attention:

*Mr. Darrin Bethlehem has one more week remaining of student teaching with Mr. Witten.  He will be wrapping up his practicum in Grade 7A the week after the March Break   

*This past Monday, the Grades 7&8 in-school speech and poetry recitation contest took place.  The 11 students (sadly, one speaker was sick) who participated did a great job, making it a difficult task for the judges to determine the top two speakers and top two reciters of poetry who would move on to the Regional Contest.  At the end, moving on to the regionals in speech were:  

Gabby A. “The Benefits of Owning a Pool”

Daeton H. “Hockey is the Best Sport”

Moving on to the regionals in poetry recitation were:

Laura D. “Goldilocks has Chicken Pox” by Erin Dealey

Rylee V. “Sick”  by Shel Silverstein

Congratulations and a job well done by all the participants.  Gabby and Daeton represented JCS in the speech component at the Regional Contest, and Laura and Rylee represented JCS in the poetry recitation component of the contest.  Thank you judges for adjudicating the in-school contest and Grades 7&8 teachers for organizing the event. 

The Regional Contest took place yesterday at ACRES.  Our students did a fabulous job at the contest, but unfortunately none of our students moved on to the provincial contest which is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 25.  

*Basketball practices for all three teams continue for the week following the March Break on Monday and Thursday from 2:50 – 4:00 and on Wednesday at lunch recess.  The week will culminate with the basketball tournament on Friday, March 25, location and final schedule to be determined by the host school, Guido de Bres Christian high school.  All the best players and coaches as you continue to get ready for the tournament.  

*The Toonies for Anchor campaign to raise awareness for the needs of the Anchor Association and to learn more about our Anchor Homes wrapped up today.  Thanks again everyone for your participation in the annual “Toonies for Anchor” campaign.  The envelopes will be passed on to the Anchor Association.

Reminders:

*The Journey Across Canada reading contest wrapped up today.  The final numbers are still being tabulated so stay tuned to find out whether or not we reached our final destination- Boundary Peak 187, Yukon.

*Just a reminder that the school is still collecting can tabs for wheelchairs.

*We would like to empty the lost and found box again so, if you get a chance, please look through it to make sure you child’s belongings haven’t taken up residence.  Thankfully, not too much has been collected since the beginning of January. 

*Daylight Savings Time kicks in on Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m.

*As school community, we are planning a Spring Drive in support of West Lincoln Community Care.  The food drive is scheduled to take place from Monday, March 21 to Thursday, April 14. 

*The first day back after the break is Monday, March 21. 

*The Easter Concert is scheduled for April 13 (matinee performance) and April 14 (evening performance), D.V.

 Have an enjoyable March Break everyone, and we’ll touch base again in a fortnight, D.V..      G. Hofsink

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Classroom News

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Kindergarten

The students worked very hard this week and are ready to enjoy a March break with their family and friends. Well done kindergarten on your reading of books at home with your moms and dads or brothers and sisters! In Math this week, we finished off our unit on addition. After the March break, we will learn all about teen numbers. In our Bible unit, we are switching from the life of Joshua and the Israelites to the time of the judges. The students were amazed at the display of God’s power when the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Praying that everyone has a safe and relaxing March Break and the Lord willing, we will see everyone after the break. JB/SV

Grade 1

We made it to the March break!  Hooray!  Many of the children are ready for a nice long break.  Hopefully during the week off they can rest up and get over the various sniffles, colds and fatigue that many are suffering from in our class.  We hope that you can practise singing the two verses of the Memory work during the break.  There is one more verse of the Hosanna song.  We have also been working on “How Deep the Father’s love for us”.  If you could sing that a few times with your children during the break, it would go a long way toward helping them memorize it for the Easter program.  It was wonderful to have Mrs. VanBrederode working with us in grade 1B for the last seven or so weeks.  We are so thankful that she was able to pitch in.  We are also really looking forward to seeing Mrs. VanEs again after the March break!  

Memory Work:  Hosanna in the Highest

Spelling/Sight words:  check the agenda

Grade 2

Grade 2 has been busy this past week with wrapping up our Nate the Great novel study. On Wednesday we had Detective Day, complete with a pancake lunch and some mystery activities. Ask your child who our mystery guests were!  Please check your Google classroom to see pictures of our fun! 

In Church History, we learned about Polycarp and his work with the congregation at Smyrna. 

Grade 2B has begun a Science unit about Matter. This promises to be a fun unit! Grade 2A will begin this unit sometime after the break. 

We hope you all have a fantastic break! BV/RG

Grade 3

In Bible, we could hear how God’s people became slaves, and how Moses was saved from death so he could become a leader who would lead the people, under God’s guidance, to the promised land. God is so gracious and merciful to His people. In Science, we learned about the states of matter and what happens when heat is added or subtracted. We are truly enjoying learning with the help of experiments. In Language Arts, we have wrapped up a classic story,  “Alice in Wonderland”, and hope to turn to another classic, “The Wind In the Willows”. The children have been introduced to working with modeling clay and Barbara Reid in Art. In P.E., we are having lots of fun learning about basketball. Wishing you a wonderful March Break. May God keep us all in His care. Until we meet again.

Memory work: Hymn 33:1,4; Text: Ex. 20:7-11 (2 weeks + March Break)

Spelling words: another, confusion, I’m, its, it’s

Thursday: Library books in a bag

Friday: Mission $ and spelling test

Grade 4

Grade 4A is putting the final touches on their Canada slide shows and we hope to present them in the weeks following the break. Both Grade 4s hope to move on to a new science unit all about organisms and their habitats.Both Grade 4s hope to begin learning how to play recorder after the March Break as well. If they have an instrument that is available to borrow from a sibling, that is fine, but the school is able to order recorders as well. If you’d like to order one, please let either of the Grade 4 teachers know.

Spelling words: ready, build, weather, wouldn’t, dead, built, full, they’re, early, heaven, we’ll, warm, war, course, should

Memory work: Psalm 42:2; Upcoming memory work: Hymn 35:4

We wish you a restful and safe March Break and we hope to see everyone back at school again on March 21, DV.

Grade 5

This past week was busy for the students as they concluded Unit 4 in Bible History with a test. They also wrote a Social Studies Quiz. There will be much more to learn about Ancient Egypt when we return from the break! Our focus in math is shifting to geometry; 5A has been busy with it for a few days already and 5B will begin on Monday. We also hope to start the highly anticipated bucket drumming! The devotions schedule is as follows: 5A – Noah(M), Paige(Tu), Thomas(W), Judy (Th), Audrey (F).  And for 5B: Jasmine (M), Ryder (Tu), Brooke (W), Ben (Th), Reanne (F).  Have an enjoyable March Break! RK/KVL

Grade 6

We have been busy completing various units this week. We hope to start some new ones after the break in Science-Matter, in L.A.- Lost in the Barrens, and in Church History- Islam. We hope that you have a safe and enjoyable break. IdV/CVA

Grade 7A

The past week we started our novel study, “There and Back Again”; be sure to ask your child how they are enjoying it. We were introduced to our History project; in groups we will choose a battle to study and eventually present from the War of 1812. We’ll wrap up our study of King Solomon and after the Break we’ll transition to Church History as we carry on with our study of the Reformation, this time in the Swiss Confederation. Enjoy your Break. 

Grade 7B

The Public Speech and Poetry contest is in the rearview mirror and our unit on Bedrich Smetena and The Moldau is completed. Much progress has been made on our study of Rivers and Oceans in Geography, the War of 1812 in History, and our novel study of The Hobbit in L.A. Have a blessed break and see you all again on March 21st D.V.! Cheers, Mr. J and Mrs. Ludwig

Grade 8

Have a great March Break!

RT/MV