Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Mission:  The mission of Immanuel Christian School is to prepare students to meet the challenge of the world and culture they live in as young and growing Christians.  Thus, students are taught the skill of discernment in the light of God’s Word, the practice of stewardship for creation, the required commitment to a life of Christian service, and the beauty of witness through modeling God’s love in a broken world.

School’s email address:  immanuel@amtelecom.net

Principal’s email address: icsprincipal@amtelecom.net

ICS - Web: www.immanuelchristianschool.net Ph: 519-773-8476

LDCSS - Web:  www.ldcss.on.ca   Ph: 519-455-4360

Christian Education Foundation (endowment fund): www.ldcef.org

Upcoming Events

June 21  Last day of school for ICS, buses leave at 12:25

22-26  Teacher Work Days; LDCSS Graduation

July  18  Board meets

         13  Bill 13 –Parent Information Night – see note  

                                                             

Aug. 15   Board meets

                   20  Office re-opens         

                   27  Teachers back at school!

          Sept.  4  First day of school

        

 

From the Principal's Desk:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."  The season of school is ending with our grade 8 graduation celebration today, and we wrap up tomorrow at 12:25.  Congratulations to all for their hardwork over this school year!

For students, there will be a time to play, to learn new things in a different environment, and a time to spend more time with their families.  For staff it is a time of rest, but also a time to reflect on the past year and plan for the one to come.  As a staff, we will lay out next year's theme and how we want to weave it into our curriculum.  We will also attend training on the Mobi electronic classroom tablet, and a professional development course on Google Apps for Education in preparation for next Fall.  Throughout, we are thinking about how we will continue to build and shape Christian character in our students, as God guides and strengthens us.  Our curriculum, daily schedule and calendar all create the environment for this to happen.  Attached to the Journal, you will find a draft outline of next year's calendar, with the fine details to come in August.

Our office will be closed from the first week of July until the third week in August, though we will be available by appointment, and via email and telephone.  Should you know of anyone still deciding on enrolment for the Fall, it is never too late!  I will be pleased to speak with them at any convenient time.

God's blessings this summer,

//Keith Cameron//

Principal

Praying for Our Families at staff devotions this morning:  our 5 families leaving ICS – Ralph & Anne Brix, Georgie & Murray Rodenburg, Wilf & Joanne Saarloos, Kelvin & Rose Saarloos, Rudolph & Sharon Schipper.  We also prayed for Teus & AnneMarie Koevaar, Rob & Alice Kraan, John & Anna Krahn.

Any more items to hand in tomorrow:  Gift Hour forms,  Band Sign–up form, Band Shirts – we are still missing a few.  Please check if you have one and return it to school asap.  You don’t need to wash them, we will wash it for you.

Please keep saving the recycling items over the summer for us J.

Maintenance Community Workdays – Friday 22^nd, Monday 25^th, and Tuesday 26^th June

The teachers' work does not finish when school is done - they are working at school on Fri 22 Jun, Mon 25 and Tue 26 Jun.  Why not encourage our teachers and complete a small maintenance task or two while you're here?  The Maint Committee invites all who have time and energy to drop in at the school and choose a job (list and materials will be in the office and janitor's room).  Odd jobs include exterior door repainting, goal and basketball net painting, touch-up painting on the playground, rubbish removal from the NW classroom, weeding in the playground, eavestrough cleaning, [anything else?].  In July, the maint ctte will take on several larger tasks including wall reconstruction in the primary hall, interior painting in the gym and halls, and urinal replacements in the sr boys washroom.  Thanks for any time you are able to share in this project!

T.R.I.P.:  You will be able to continue purchasing No Frills/Valumart and Tim Horton cards at Aunt Kelly’s Deli, Clovermead Apiaries, or Family Flowers throughout the summer or give Theressa DeJong (519-765-3372) or Grace Schipper (519-866-3731) a call.  We will have a limited number of other popular selling gift cards in stock, but we will need a bit of notice in order to make them available to you for pickup. 

Yearbook:  We would like to thank our yearbook committee, Mrs. Amanda Cameron, Mrs. Wendy Abell, Mrs. Angie Bergen, Mrs. Theressa DeJong, Mrs. Georgie Rodenburg, Mrs Irene Versteegen-Buis, Miss Christy Rodenburg, Amy Rodenburg and Nicole DeJong for putting together another wonderful yearbook for each student to have and enjoy.  We are pleased to have such a special book of memories. 

ICS is looking to fill the position of a Band Leader:  If you are interested or know of anyone interested please check out our job posting add at http://www.immanuelchristianschool.net/jobpostings.htm for more details.

Private Music Lessons:  Not every school is blessed with 5 experienced musicians interested in providing music lessons during the school day!  These teachers are not part of the ICS staff; we simply make a room available to them.  These teachers take students from their classrooms to have private lessons right at school.  If you would like to make arrangements for private lessons at school, contact the teacher at the following information:

    Mrs. Paula Richardson on Tuesdays (piano) – 226-289-1941or kendallpaula@rogers.com

    Mrs. Emily Schuurman on Tuesdays (piano) – 510-877-2320 or schuur7@execulink.com

    Mrs. June Elley on Wednesdays (violin, voice, guitar and piano) - 519765-3316 or jb_elley@yahoo.com

    Mr. Derrick Drover on Thursdays (piano, guitar) - 519-765-4990 www.derrickdrover.com

    Mrs. Amanda Cameron on Thursday (piano) – 519-550-7312 or keith_amanda_cameron@yahoo.ca

Staffing: As we close out one school year, many plans are in place for the 2012-2013 school year.  Teachers and home rooms are as follows:  Mrs Groeneweg - SK on Mon, Wed, Fri (11 students)

                          - JK on Tue, Thu (9 students, 2 full-time SK)

Ms Pieters - Gr. 1/2 (14 students)

Ms Buma - Gr. 3/4, school theme coordinator (13 students)

Mrs. Drop - Gr. 5/6, Gr. 7/8 French and Music (20 students)

Mr. TenBruggencate - Gr. 7/8, Gr. 5/6 PE, & Vice Principal (19 students)

Mrs. VanderHoek – Resource, Gr. 7/8 Geography

Mr. Cameron – Principal, Gr. 5/6 Social Science, Gr. 3 through 8 Tech

Mrs. Robinson Library, Gr. 1 through 8 first term library skills classes 

In the office we have Mrs. Smit (Administrative Assistant), Mrs. Janssen (Financial Administrator), Mrs. Leinie Hartemink (Friday Secretary).  Our Band Director is currently vacant as we search for a replacement.

Summer Shopping School Supplies: (please amend as per handwritten notes)

JK and SK

-  Resting towel or blanket

-  Indoor “non-marking” footwear (no laces, please).  This footwear will be used in the gym so they should have non slipping shoes

For all students for GRADES 1 – 8

-  Indoor “non-marking” athletic shoes.   Parents please be reminded that when you purchase new footwear please make sure that they are:  -  White soles or non-scuffing or black marking.  Shoes that leave a black mark will be sent home. 

                -  Pencil case (no pencil boxes, please)

                -  Individual pencil sharpeners that catch shavings (the plastic cylinder shape with metal sharpener inside works very well)

                -  Markers

                -  Pencil crayons (Laurentian seems to sharpen best without breaking)

                -  Pencils (HB works best)

                -  Glue stick

 -  PE clothes:  ICS Athletics t-shirt (on sale through the office) will be required for PE.  Gr. 3-8: shorts or track pants  

    as well

Please check your grade level below for additional items.

Reminder:  for all grades – no liquid paper (white-out)

Grades 1 – 4

-  A pack of 24 Crayola or Prang wax crayons

-  Markers (with fine tips for tracing and outlining), no ball point pens, please

-  Crayon erasers (white ones work well)

Grade 3/4

 - No binders please.  We will use duo tangs instead that will be provided by the school. 

Grades 5-8

- Only one 1” binder please.  The larger sizes take up too much space in the desks and so end up on the floor

- Calculator and math set.

-  2 glue sticks

-  blue or black ballpoint pens

Speaking Out Against Abortion:  This is you chance to speak out by writing letters to the P.M. of Canada.  The goal is to reach at least 100 000 letters by the day of voting on Motion 312 (sometime this month) which would open a discussion and have parliament study and update the definition of a ‘human being’.  A form letter can be found at www.letters4life.ca.  We strongly urge you to write your own asap and address it to the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, 80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A2.  For your letter or e-mail to be recognized by Parliament, include your home address.  Postage is free.  If possible, please also send a letter to your Member of Parliament.  You may write as many letters as you like.  Please encourage relatives and friends to write as well.  For the sake of the unborn, for the sake of justice, for the sake of Canada let us all continue to fight for and uphold the basic human right of the most vulnerable and most innocent ones of our society. 

Bill 13-What’s Next?  Understanding and Responding to Recent Changes in the Education Act.  The Springfield Baptist Church invites you to a Parents’ Information evening on Friday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Springfield Baptist Church, 12471 Whittaker Rd, Springfield.  If you are concerned about the early sexualization of children and agenda driven education policy and practice please come to this evening for more information on Bill 13 and a discussion of education options for your family.  These options will be explored by a panel representing various approaches to education for Christian families.  Pastor Twinem will speak on parental responsibility and public education, Chris Hiemstra will speak on why we do Christian Education and Pastor Jeff and Beth Rockwell will represent Home Education. There will be a question and answer period as well.  For more information call 519-688-7734 or pastorjeffrockwell@gmail.com

TOWN OF AYLMER 125 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS:

           The Town of Aylmer has recognized the importance of the churches to this community and invited all of us to be a part of their 125^th Anniversary celebrations the July 1^st weekend. Specifically they have asked the Aylmer CRC to host the kickoff event for the community celebration and so we invite the entire school family to join us.

            On Thursday, June 28 from 5:00pm – 7:30pm, EVERYONE is invited to an OLDE FASHIONED CHURCH PICNIC at the Aylmer Christian Reformed Church (194 South St. West). There will be all sorts of games for all ages including mud pit tug o’wars (get your youth group, family, business, Bible Study, etc. team together), nail hammering competition, fake and real beard/moustache competition, egg on a spoon race, cross cut sawing, human buggy pulling races, seed spitting fun, potato sack races, pie eating contest and much more. IT’S ALL FOR FUN AND IT’S ALL FOR FREE. In addition there will be food a very reasonable prices (pulled pork sandwich, baked beans and salad all for $5.00 and all drinks and ice cream for $1.00). So bring out your entire family, have a bite to eat, participate in the games and have fun fellowshipping together as part of God’s family.

Library News:

Ø      Thank you to those who helped with Inventory.  We were able to go over all the shelves and check the status of our collection.  We found that some books are missing i.e., not on the shelves and not signed out to anyone.  If you find ICS books at home over the holidays, please send them back in September (books purchased from the book sale have the bar code removed and an X on the pocket.  We don't want those back!). 

Ø      Bills were sent out to students who have lost or damaged books.  Please submit payment this week. 

Ø      Summer Sign-out books need to be returned the first week of school.

Ø      Make time to READ this summer.  Visit your local public library and get involved in their Summer Reading Program.  Reading over the summer helps children keep up the skills they need to ease back into school in the fall.

FROM THE CLASSROOMS:

                                                     JUNIOR and SENIOR KINDERGARTEN

 Wishing all students and parents a safe and wonderful summer holiday!  God's blessings!

GRADES 1 and 2 – Ms. Pieters

Each student brought joy and happiness to our classroom. It has been a blessing to lead them in God's truths. Enjoy reading with your child over the summer. May the Lord bless you with great family time. In Christian love, Ms. Pieters

Happy 8th Birthday

to

Megan Friesen

Thursday, August 9, 2012

“May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 115:15

Happy 7th Birthday

to

Mariah Rempel

Sunday, August 12, 2012

“May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 115:15

Happy 7th Birthday

to

Joshua Vannoord

Sunday, August 12, 2012

“May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 115:15

Happy 7th Birthday

to

William Mantel

Monday, August 20, 2012

“May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 115:15

GRADES 3 and 4 – Ms. Buma

Enjoy playing in God’s creation this summer girls and boys!  Take time to read some good books, and have fun with family and friends. It has been a pleasure teaching you all this year!  Ms. Buma

GRADES 5 and 6 – Mrs. Drop

Wishing you God's blessings as you spend time with family and friends this summer!  Enjoy God's beautiful and wonderful creation.

Happy Birthday to Correy Mantel land Ben VanderDeen today. 

Summer Birthdays:  Happy Birthay to: Luke Schuurman (July 1), Amanda DeJong (July 6), Kameron Guenther (July 29), Ryan Kroondyk (Aug. 9), and Tyler Kaastra (Aug. 13).

GRADE 7 and 8 – Mr. TenBruggencate

Thank you parents for the privilege of teaching your children this school year and, grade 7&8 students, for being so teachable and respectful.
To the grade sevens: Have a refreshing summer and see you in September for your "finishing lap".
To the grade 8's:  I wish you God's blessings. Allow Him to use your many talents as you continue to serve Him in highschool.

 Mr "T"