General News
“Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Eph. 6:11
With the grade 8 students back in the building after some fantastic field trips to African Lion Safari and Canada’s Wonderland, we have completed the final week of the school year. I have heard that Canada’s Wonderland was a particular highlight, with many attractions and areas to explore, even for those who are not especially fond of rides.
As we reach the end of the school year, we also say several farewells.
First, farewell to Mrs. VanAndel, who has served our school in various capacities for more than 30 years. We wish her a happy retirement. I am sure things will feel different in the fall when you do not have to pack your bags and prepare for another school year. Perhaps you will be packing your bags for some travel instead.
We also say farewell to Mr. Witten, whose daughter Sophia is graduating from JCCS this year. While it took Sophia nine years to complete her journey at JCCS, Mr. Witten dedicated a solid 26 years to our school community. May you continue to be a blessing to the students at Guido.
We also bid farewell to Miss Oosterhoff. Over the past five years, she has faithfully served in grades 3 and 4, capably and professionally caring for her students and responsibilities. We wish her the Lord’s blessings as she heads to ACRES.
Mrs. D’Addazio will also be leaving us. We cannot thank her enough for all her work, especially when she stepped up in such a significant way after Mrs. Elgersma was seriously injured in her accident a few years ago. We wish you God’s blessings as you take on a slightly slower pace of life—though I am not entirely sure you know what that means yet.
Mrs. McKenzie will also be leaving us as she and her husband await the arrival of their first child. May God continue to richly bless you as you embark on the beautiful task of raising a covenant child.
Finally, we say farewell to Miss VanderLaan. In just two short weeks, she will be married and moving to the Owen Sound area. We will miss her greatly. She has done an excellent job keeping Mr. Joosse and me on track as we sought to provide the best leadership possible for the school. May God richly bless your marriage and your future endeavours.
Class lists will be distributed today, along with the Class Redistribution Policy. A great deal of thought and effort went into creating balanced class lists, and our teachers worked diligently within the framework of this policy.
Graduation will take place on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Smithville Canadian Reformed Church. We warmly invite all of you to attend this special event. Following the ceremony, graduates and their parents will attend a post-graduation celebration at the Helder residence.
If you still have any library books that have not been returned, we will be at school for the first few days of next week. Please bring them in so they can be sorted and prepared for the beginning of the next school year.
Once again, it has been a pleasure to serve this community over the past year. I thank you for your continued support and trust. May you all be refreshed and rejuvenated over the summer months. May God continue to protect and sustain each of you, and we look forward, the Lord willing, to seeing you on September 8 as we begin the 2026–2027 school year.
JVI
Classroom News
Kindergarten
That’s a wrap on the school year! We finished the year off with a great trip to African Lions Safari on Tuesday for a fun filled day. Thank you to all our parents who helped us out. This week we got to enjoy some buddy reading with Grade 7 and 8 as well as some extra time spent outside with other classes. Your child will come home today with their binder full of art and photos, we hope this is a nice keepsake to look back on in years to come. We are proud of all the work and progress the children have made this year and thank all of you for your continued support. We are so thankful to God for blessing us this year and we pray that everyone enjoys their summer! MV/DV
Grade 1
Here we are—the last day of school. What a wonderful and special week the Lord has given us. On Tuesday, the children had the privilege of visiting African Lion Safari. They enjoyed riding the bus through the safari area, watching the animals in their habitats, and taking in the animal and bird shows. And of course, the splash pad was a favourite. A heartfelt thank‑you to our bus drivers for bringing us safely there and back, and to the many parent volunteers who helped keep the children safe throughout the day. On Wednesday, the Grade 8 students joined us to help the children make their Father’s Day cards. Today we wrapped up the year with ice cream day activities—and with it, the final day of grade 1. As grade 1 staff, we want to extend our sincere thanks to you, parents, for your support and prayers throughout the year, as well as your encouraging words and the thoughtful gifts this past week. All thanks be to our heavenly Father, who has blessed the children and teachers with everything they needed. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Grade 2
Wow! What a fun final week we’ve had in Grade 2! We enjoyed buddy reading. an afternoon of baseball, and a fun field trip to African Lion Safari. It has been a wonderful year, and we are going to miss our Grade 2 students! It has been a joy getting to know and teach them. Wishing you all a safe and relaxing summer!
Grade 3
As another school year comes to a close, we thank the LORD for His faithfulness in granting us another year of Christian education and for the many blessings He has given our school community.
We also bid farewell to Miss Oosterhoff as she leaves to begin her work at ACRES. We thank her for her years of dedicated teaching and service. She will be greatly missed. May the LORD bless her and keep her in His care as she begins this new chapter.
May God grant us all a restful and blessed summer, and may He be glorified in all that we do.
Grade 4
Congratulations, Grade 4!
Congratulations on completing another school year and taking yet another step in your educational journey. It has been a blessing to have the opportunity to work with each one of you through both the highs and the lows. We have enjoyed watching you learn, grow, and develop throughout the year. Thank you to all the parents for your continued support and encouragement. We are humbled to have the privilege of teaching and spending time with each student. It has truly been a wonderful year. “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!”
We pray that each of you has a safe, restful, and joyful summer. We look forward to hearing about your adventures and experiences when we return in September.
See you around next year!
Mr. Reinink & Miss Jes
Grade 5
We had a great week wrapping things up, playing/watching baseball, spending a day at Canada’s Wonderland, and more. And just like that, it’s the end of another year! Praise God for His guidance and care throughout the year. Thank you for all your support over the past year. We’ve enjoyed teaching your children tremendously! Have a fantastic summer! CDV/KV
Grade 6A
Grade 6A
What a fun-filled last week of school! As we reflect on this past year, we are thankful to our faithful Heavenly Father providing us with health and strength to do our task of teaching His covenant children. We are also appreciative of the support of parents, board members, and staff as we seek to assist the parents in their task. We wish you all a safe and enjoyable summer vacation. CVA MJ
Grade 6B
What a busy week it has been! We managed to finish up some final topics in social studies, math, and Church history. With all of this in the rearview, the summer awaits, looming ahead of us. Enjoy it, going forward in the Lord’s strength! See you next year!
BK
Grade 7A
“Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” By God’s grace we could make our plans and go about our work under His care. May God bless our efforts and bless our recovery and rest as we prepare for where He places us in September. Enjoy your summer.
Grade 7B
Have a great summer!
Grade 8
It is always a bittersweet moment approaching the end of another school year in Grade 8. It was wonderful to enjoy a time of fun and fellowship with the class in Ottawa, as well as during this final week of school. We wish all of our students a restful summer and a blessed beginning as they transition to Guido! TB/RT