General News
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.
Greetings and salutations school community on this beautiful Friday morning, the last day of instruction at John Calvin School for the 2021-2022 school year. We thank the Lord for all that he has provided during the course of another school year; a complete, 39 week school year. Thank you, parents, for your continuing support throughout the school year (also during the week of at-home learning in January). It was much appreciated by the students and staff. May our Heavenly Father continue to bless the work we do together in providing instruction for his covenant children. As you read through the class submissions, you will encounter many expressions of thanks from the teachers, and appropriately so.
This morning we could have our year end assembly where we sang songs of praise and thanksgiving, reflected on our theme for this year, reflected on the year that was, and enjoyed a slide show of the year in pictures. We also said farewell to the Grade 8 students (in absentia) who are graduating, and to the students and their families who are leaving JCS- Mikenna, Lauryn, and Chloe DeJong, and Elijah and Ezekiel Knegt. We wish the students all the best in their new learning environments. We also said farewell to a number of staff members: Miss Buist, Mrs. VanEs, Mrs. Fledderus, Mrs. deVisser, Miss Vis, Mrs. deSchiffart, Miss Bontekoe, and Mr. Hofsink. We wish the departing staff members all the best and the Lord’s blessing as they move on from JCS. This summer, one of our new teachers, Miss Vandenberg, is getting married to Mr. Dave VanGoolen. We pray for the Lord’s blessing on their special day.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those who need the comfort, encouragement and guidance of our Heavenly Father in a special way; be it those who are sick, are dealing with difficult family circumstances, or who are grieving the recent passing away of a loved one.
A few matters for your attention:
*Class Lists: Later today, the 2022-2023 class lists will be emailed to the parents. Putting the students in these classes was not an arbitrary matter. There are many factors to consider when putting these lists together and teachers have put much thought and time in coming to the final product. The Class Re-Distribution Protocol, shared with you on a couple of occasions earlier this term (and once again included with today’s Chronicle), gives further explanation as to the considerations, criteria, and procedures followed by the teachers for these lists.
*Unfortunately, we have not received the Regional Track and Field results from the hosting school so we are unable to share them with you.
*Year End Trips: Students, staff, and chaperons had a beautiful day at Safari Niagara and Wet ‘n’ Wild. The weather was wonderful for the activities for the day; whether it was checking out the animals or spending time in the water or on water slides. We thank and praise the Lord for the great day.
*Library News: If you find some “straggler” library books in your home over the next few days, you can still drop them off at the school as there will someone here until at least 12:00 p.m. on Thursday. Once again, the librarians thank you for your cooperation.
*Lost and Found: As of today, all remaining items will be taken to the GBF or Value Village.
*Included with today’s Chronicle is the final issue of the Link, the LCRSS newsletter, for the 2021-2022 school year (I forgot to attach it last week. Oops!). In this issue, John Wynia (the League Coordinator) writes about being ‘Confessionally Grounded’, the High School Committee shares an overview of the trades/tech/and co-op programs in our Member High Schools, and the Professional Development Committee expresses their appreciation for the work of the Convention Committee over the past number of years — and looks ahead to the future.
Reminders:
*Please continue to be wary of ticks and mosquitoes as you go about your summer activities.
*There are still a number of rapid test kits at the school. If you would like a box or a partial box for during the summer, please contact the school and arrange to pick one up or be sent home with one of your children.
*The JCS golf tournament fundraiser takes place tomorrow at Peninsula Lakes Golf Club. It looks like a beautiful day for the event.
*Graduation is on Monday, June 27. The itinerary is as follows: pictures with the graduands at 4:30 at the school; ceremony at 6:30 in the Smithville Canadian Reformed church building (there will be an opportunity to congratulate the graduates after the ceremony); graduation after-party for the graduates and their parents at the Alkema residence.
*The staff is expected to be in school from Monday-Wednesday (12:00) of next week. Some may be at school on Thursday as well.
*School Cleaning: Please note that the school summer cleaning is planned for July 26 and 28 and August 2 and 4. A note will be placed in the church bulletins and/or church mailboxes reminding parents, grandparents, and other school supporters of the cleaning days and encouraging them to participate in this community activity.
I would like to take this opportunity to say farewell. I have thoroughly enjoyed my 10 years at John Calvin School. I will leave in a couple of weeks or so with many fond memories. I thank and praise the Lord for the health and strength he provided me to complete 38 years of teaching/principalling in our League of Reformed Christian schools. I am extremely thankful for a supportive wife and family, and very thankful for supportive communities, in particular the John Calvin School community. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
May the Lord grant everyone an enjoyable and safe summer, and the office admin will touch base again via the pages of the Chronicle, the Lord willing, on Friday, September 9. I leave you with these words from Moses, the Lord’s servant and inspired by the Holy Spirit, as found in Numbers 6:24-26, “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” G. Hofsink
Classroom News
Kindergarten
Praise the Lord for his continual blessings over this past school year! The kindergarten students and teachers alike spent time reflecting on how the Lord walked with each and every one of us over this past year of kindergarten! The blessings are too numerous to count! How faithful and loving is our God. The kindergarten students have grown by leaps and bounds. Many of the students are reading, can count to 100 and can identify all the sounds in the alphabet! Way to go kindergarten! As kindergarten teachers, we encourage parents to continue to read with their child over the summer months! This will help them remember all of the concepts learned in kindergarten. Praying that everyone has a safe, fun, relaxing holiday! Also thank you for all of your support and for the gifts that we received over the past year! SV/JB
Grade 1
Wow, the year has flown by and here we are at the end of June. Thanks for a wonderful year; we wish you a great summer!
Grade 2
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! We have completed the 2021-2022 school year with another week full of adventures and learning! Our countdown this week included an extra recess, a treat to take along on our field trip, a classmate bingo game and a popcorn/movie afternoon! We are very thankful that we could also catch a break from the heat on Wednesday by staying home! This year has been a joy and a blessing! We’ve seen such remarkable growth in the students’ knowledge and skills under God’s guidance and care. We are thankful that we could be a part of your children’s lives this year, and thank you for all your support and encouraging words! Thanks so much for a wonderful year; have a fantastic summer! BV/RG
Grade 3
What a beautiful trip we had on Tuesday. The wonderful animals, ‘train ride’, playing on so many different playgrounds, climbing, bouncing and the splash pad kept us busy all day long. We were blessed with beautiful weather. How we may thank God for His awesome creation, as well as safety on the roads. Thank you bus drivers and leaders, for all you have done to make this day special for the children. Here we are, the last Chronicle. Miss B. and I are truly thankful for all your support throughout the school year. We are so thankful to God, it is He who helped us serve and teach God’s covenant children this school year. May it have been to His glory. Thank you for all the best wishes, parents and children. We are going to miss you all. Have a wonderful summer; go with God. Praise the LORD! Ps. 150.
Miss B. and Mrs. Poort
Grade 4
Thank you for all your support and encouragement this school year. We are truly blessed by our heavenly Father and can see His guidance throughout the work we did this year. Wishing each and every student and parent a happy and safe summer. YF/ KO
Grade 5
The end of the school year has arrived! We had a great year with both of the Grade 5 classes, and we are so thankful that we could spend the vast majority of the year in school! Thank you very much, parents, for your support over the course of the year, and all the ways that you’ve expressed that. We hope and pray that you all have a wonderful summer and we will see you again next school year, D.V. RK/KV
Grade 6
So this is the end of a blessed year. We have prayed at the beginning of this school year, in September, that we would be allowed to have a blessed year under God’s excellent care. The Lord has heard our prayers and granted us His favour. We thank Him wholeheartedly. We are very thankful to you as parents who have supported us in the daily task we had towards the students.
We also thank the students: we both had a great group of “beginning teenagers” and we enjoyed them all very much. May the Lord grant us all an enjoyable and safe time this summer and we hope that the students will be back, safe and sound in September. We are very happy to know that Mr. Witten will love these boys and girls too. May they all do well in the hands of our gracious God. With hearty greetings, CvA/IdeV
Grade 7
By God’s grace we could complete the school year. This was done without any serious injuries or setbacks; his was also done despite our shortcomings and inadequacies. May God add His blessing to our work. It was a pleasure getting to know each student and working with them. Enjoy your summer vacation.
