JOURNAL
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Upcoming Events
Sept. 7 Back to School BBQ
10 School Photos for SK – gr. 8
11 School Photos for JK
12 Chapel 8:55
19 Chapel 8:55
19 Keith & Kristen Getty Concert, all
students at
Concert in
24 Immunization for gr. 7 & 8 students
25 WDCS Cross Country
(Oct. 4 raindate)
29 Ride for Refugee |
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Keith & Kristen Getty
Concert
Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 7:00
p.m.
Please email: gettyconcertaylmer@hotmail.com
or call Sharon @ 519 773 2894
Tickets are selling quickly!
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Back to School Barbeque
Friday, September 7, 2012
6:00 p.m. – Devotions 6:00 – 7:30 – Barbeque 7:00 – 8:00 – Class tours
Menu: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs
Potato
Salad, Macaroni Salad
Ice
Cream for Dessert
Juice
and Coffee
Cost: by donation!
Join us out behind the school (weather permitting), or else in the
school gym.
Everyone is welcome!
Enjoy good food, fellowship, meet the teachers and see the classrooms.
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
The Auxiliary is in need of helpers for the back to school barbeque, a set
up and a clean up crew. A great opportunity
for parents to start collecting volunteer hours and for the new grade nines to start
on their volunteer hours!! Please call
Paddi Vandendool if you can help out 519-773-2158.
From the
Principal's Desk:
Welcome
back to school! We have enjoyed and
benefited from the summer break.
However, a school without students is only a building, and it is good to
be a school once again! We were excited
to unveil our school theme at yesterday's chapel: Called to Love One Another,
from 1 John 4:7. Over the course of the
year, we will use our classroom subjects, drama, chapels and songs to draw
attention to our theme, and investigate what it really means to express
Christian love for each other. As
parents and society members, I would invite you to also pray and reflect on
what it means to intentionally express Christ's love in your everyday actions. How can we all show that more, and more
deliberately?
A
strength of ICS is a true sense of community between teachers, staff, our
board, parents and society members. We
need to work at that to keep it strong.
I encourage everyone to come out to our Welcome Back BBQ this Friday
evening. Try to meet someone new! Enjoy some good food! If not already committed, sign up for a
volunteer opportunity – playground supervisors for Thursday mornings, reading
volunteers, library volunteers, and many more (and if you need more
information, please speak with me)! I
look forward to seeing you Friday evening!
In
Christ,
//Keith
Cameron//
Welcome and Opps: I noticed a few names spelled incorrectly
on our class list in the JK/SK class! Names
are very important, and we apologize. Please
make note of the corrections. We give a special
welcome to our families
new to ICS:
Chris & Chantelle Bakker (Madyson, JK), Ryan & Annette Dykxhoorn
(Shane, JK), Frank & Rose Fehr (Presley, JK), Ryan & Jenn Meesters (Joshua , SK ), Darryl &
Krystal Schipper (Emma, JK) and Jeff & Katie Zylstra (Makayla , SK
From the Finance Committee: If you have not
submitted your 2012/2013 tuition cheques, please do so by the end of this week.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Reminder: Everyone who comes
into the building should report to the office. Even if you are making a
quick stop-in visit with your child, please pop your head into the office, so
we know who is in the building. Volunteers working with student, please
remember to sign in at the office.
Items due: T.R.I.P. Order:
due 9 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday the 6th! (Your order form was included in your Back to
School mailing.) Pick up date is Thursday, Sept. 13 for this
month only.
T.R.I.P. NOTE: We would like to remind you that gift cards
will be available for purchase Tuesday mornings and all day Friday at ICS. TRIP orders will be filled through the
co-ordinators and volunteers. TRIP will not be available for purchase through our administrative
assistant, Marie Smit, however, TRIP orders will be available for pickup only
at the office.
TRIP - Tuition Reduction
Incentive Plan
What is TRIP? It is a fundraiser where
you can earn money towards your next year’s tuition.
How does it work? You purchase gift cards
from the school of which 80% of the profit goes towards reducing your tuition
(or someone else’s), 10% goes to ICS and the last 10% goes to coordinators who
administer the program. A family who spends $1000 on groceries would be able to
earn approximately $40 tuition reduction. You can increase this amount by
purchasing extra gift cards from the many that are offered in the monthly TRIP
order.
How do we get started? If you do not have a TRIP
number all you need to do is get a registration form from the office and fill
it out. You will be given a TRIP number that you use when ordering. You can
start buying cards the day you put in your registration form!
Where can I get the gift
cards? Once
a month a TRIP order form will be attached to the Journal. You will need to
return the order form the next week with your payment. The date is printed on
the order form. The following week you will be able to pick up your gift cards
at the school or if you choose you may have them sent home from the school with
your child. You may still buy gift cards at the school on Tuesday mornings, or
on Fridays all day (only when the school is open). Other locations include
Clovermead Apiaries, and our new location being Roszell’s Furnishings. These
locations are only carrying Presidents Choice and Tim Horton’s gift cards.
Family Flowers near St. Thomas
This
program is intended to give you the opportunity to earn credit towards your
tuition for the next year. We encourage you to use this valuable resource. Some
families have been able to get from $1000 - $2000 credit on their tuition with
getting their families involved buying the gift cards and putting it towards
their account. Many families have a credit of $500 - $1000 just by faithfully
buying gift cards for their grocery needs over a year. It adds up!
Any
questions please do not hesitate to contact the coordinators. Grace Schipper
519-317- 1518 or Theressa De Jong 519-765-3372 Or by email icstrip@live@ca
Lunches – With our new
daily schedule recess is at 10:25 and lunch is at 12:35. Please ensure your child has a good healthy
snack for snack recess. We are allowed
to set out only 9 bags of garbage each week. To keep within these limits,
but also to be stewardly with God's creation, please send lunches in reusable
containers. Uneaten food should also be packed back home.
Health Forms that may need updating. Please notify Mrs. Smit about changes to
addresses, phone numbers, places of employment, doctor/dentist, emergency
contact person, health card #’s, your child’s medical history and cell phones
for emergency purposes only. We can only
do our best to reach you in an emergency with the information we have on
file!
Things to Send to School:
Family Picture for our
school family picture wall - please identify your family members.
Attachments:
Transportation Communication List: Please
look it over carefully to see if your phone #’s are correct and keep near your
phone. How does it work? If there is a bus route disruption, the bus
driver will call the families that have their names bolded and underlined in
their route block. These families in
turn will call the block of people listed under their name. If there is a school cancellation Mr. Cameron
will call his underlined people in the walking students block. In case of illness or absence, if your child
will not be riding the bus in the morning, and it’s too late to call the driver,
please call the family before your pick up stop and their child can relay the
message to the bus driver. This may help to save on fuel costs.
Test of our
Communications List: We will test our transportation fan out list
Thursday evening. Expect a call!
Delays /
Cancellations.
Weather delays have in the past been much more difficult for parents to deal
with than have cancellations. To that end, our policy aims to avoid bus delays.
Our policy also considers both student and staff safety in traveling to school
in inclement weather. Snow creates
potentially dangerous road surface conditions, which impact both buses and
teachers. Fog creates reduced
visibility, which impacts students getting on and off buses safely. Fog, while
causing delays and requiring slower speeds and increased attention, is not seen
to create the same driving risks as snow. In inclement weather situations, our
delays or cancellations will be guided by Thames Valley School Board (Aylmer
a) TVDSB snow cancellation = ICS bus cancellation,
ICS closed *
b) TVDSB snow delay = ICS bus cancellation,
ICS closed
c) TVDSB fog cancellation = ICS bus cancellation,
ICS closed
d) TVDSB fog delay = ICS AM bus cancellation, ICS open, PM buses run
normally
A phone call will also follow to
confirm this.
ICS/LDCSS
Directory has
been updated.
Student
Health Insurance: If
you wish to receive the coverage offered, complete and mail directly to the
company.
The Meat and Baked Goods Fundraiser Thanksgiving
Order is attached. Our suppliers, Maple
Lodge Farms Bulk Products, The Oegema Turkey Shoppe, Johnson Meats and
VanStraten Bakery are ready to fill our orders.
Stock up your freezer for the fall.
Our next order usually goes out for your Christmas shopping/freezer
needs. Please have your order in by Thursday, Sept. 20. (fax # 519-773-8315). Pick up is Thursday, Oct. 4 from 2-4 p.m. NO
LATE ORDERS! If you wish to drop of
your coolers ahead of time please put your name on them.
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Student Agendas published by the
Bible League have been distributed to students in gr. 5-8. Parents are urged to
oversee and encourage their children to make good use of this tool as students
plan for projects, complete homework and write reminder notes.
Student Activity Fee/Chocolate Bar Sales –
We are now selling World’s Finest
Chocolate bars! Each Choc Box
contains a mixed variety of 30 peanut free items @ $2.00 each. The whole box is worth $60. The varieties are: chocolate covered almonds, caramel whirls,
bars of milk chocolate with caramel filing, milk chocolate with rise crisps,
and milk chocolate with almonds. Funds
raised from our chocolate bar sales and student fees cover student expenses for
field trips, school skating, special guests, sports tournaments, etc. If you are not selling chocolate bars then
your Student Activity Fee is due. $20
per student, $10 for JK or SK student.
Cheese
orders: The first cheese order for the year came in
today. Anyone who ordered cheese back in June or during
the summer will find their order in their
child's backpack today, or it will be in the fridge in the kitchen. Thank you!
Band Information: Welcome back to another exciting year at
ICS! There are lots of plans in the works for our band program with Mrs.
Cameron as our band conductor this year.
We are going to open the band program to grade 5 students as well. Please pick up a sign-up sheet from the
office and return as soon as possible. Band rehearsals will be Tuesdays after
school from 3:30 until 5:00PM beginning Tuesday, Sept. 11. Be prepared to hear the Band Room erupting
with 'joyful noise' in the next few weeks!
Band
fees are now due -$50
(if you own your instrument), and $150 (if you are renting from the
school). Please pay your fee to Mrs. Smit in the office.
Volunteers are Always Welcome! A volunteer sign-up list was included in
your back to school mailing. Please look
it over, see
where you fit in and return the form to the office. We will
pass your name on to the different work groups involved. A sign-up sheet will also be available at the
Back to School BBQ for your convenience.
Cross Country Running: Friday, September 7th
will be the first practice for Cross Country Running. Practices will take place
on Tuesdays, and Fridays gr. 1 through 8.
They will start after the arrival of the last bus at 8:30 am and run
until 8:55 am. Please ensure that your
child has proper running shoes if he/she is planning to participate. Athletes on the boys and girls soccer teams
must attend the practices as well!
Boy's
Soccer: If
you’re in Grade 6, 7 or 8 you are invited to sign up and tryout for the I.C.S.
boys' soccer team. The first practice will be this Friday after lunch. Please
come prepared with shin pads, socks, soccer shoes, shorts and t-shirt. We are
thankful that Mr. Eric Schuurman in once again willing to coach the boys team.
The Woodstock District
Christian School
soccer tournament will be in Clinton
Girls’ Soccer: We welcome Mrs. Helen Friesen as coach of the
2012 ICS Girls’ Soccer Team. The first
tryout practice was held today. The
Woodstock District Christian Schools Soccer Tournament is scheduled for
Tuesday, October 2, in Clinton
Intramural
Soccer: Interested students in grades 3, 4 and 5 are
invited to sign up this week for intramural soccer. Games will be played during the noon-hour
recess.
Library
news: Welcome back to school! I'm looking
forward to seeing you in the library on Monday and Thursday mornings.
Book
exchanges will start this week.
Parents, please help your children
find a secure space to store library books so they are out of the reach of
younger siblings yet easy to pick up and enjoy. All library materials are
on a 2-week loan. The date due slip found in the front pocket is a
valuable reminder of when it needs to come back. Students who want longer
than 2 weeks for a book need to bring it in so it can be renewed (as long as
there is not a long waiting list). Let's keep our Overdue List
short!
Please
return Summer sign-out books to the library any time this week.
Library
volunteers are welcomed and needed. If you would like to work with Mrs.
Robinson one Thursday morning a month, please contact her. You will be
helping with books check-ins and check-outs, shelving, and processing new books
as well as sharing the joy of reading with our students. No previous
experience necessary.
Remember: We are a peanut-free facility!
FROM THE
CLASSROOMS:
JUNIOR / SENIOR KINDERGARTEN – Mrs. Groeneweg
Welcome Back!
Bible: Introduction to the Bible, Creation
Letter and sound this week: s
Please provide some extra clothing for your child
for any potential little accidents (pants, socks and underwear).
On Monday, Sept. 17th, the SK class will visit our
library for the first time. Mark on your
calendars: Monday is library day.
Sound Books: SK students will be bringing home a
Sound Book every day showing which letter of the alphabet we have been working
on. This enables parents to practice the letter and the sound at home.
Please ensure the Sound Book travels back to school with your child each
school day. Thanks!
GRADES
1 and 2 - Ms. Pieters
Welcome back to a new school year boys
and girls. May we together enjoy learning about God’s world.
This
year in Creation Studies we will start with the unit called, Naming the World
God Made. In this unit we will discover how maps:
- Can show us Where Am I
in God’s World?
- Can show us how to…
Find My Way in God’s World;
- Can show us where I
can…Meet My Neighbours.
We
will explore how God gave Adam the privilege of naming the animals and
assumedly all parts of his world. In the same way, God challenges us to name
our world as we explore and map his gift of creation.
Throughout
the unit, our confession will be that Our World Belongs to God. It is for us to
name not to claim. This means that unlike explorers who have been known to use
maps to seek out and claim new territories for their homelands, we recognize
that we don’t own this creation. Instead we are to share God’s gift of the
Earth with our neighbours nearby and far away.
Happy 8th
Birthday
To
Xavier Bergen
Monday, September 10, 2012
“May you be blessed by the
Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 115:15
Bible: This year we will begin to
enjoy our new Bible curriculum called Walking With God and His People. We will
start by studying the Book of James. Your child will bring home an activity
sheet for each of the six lessons. At the bottom of each page there is room for
you and your family to fill in more suggestions for Christian living. Please
consider discussing these wise ways to live and then have your child return
his/her page back to school.
Memory Work: Each Wednesday your child will
be given a scripture verse or a song to learn from memory. Please review this
selection often throughout the week to help your child know it from memory the
following Wednesday. Memory work for Sept. 12, 2012 is our theme verse for this
year.
Dear friends,
let us love one another, for love comes from God. 1 John 4:7
Field Trip: Thursday, September 20
from 11:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: we look forward to participating in a safety
program offered at the YMCA Children’s
Safety Village in London. This program will help the students recognize
safety risks and safe practices. At least one volunteer is needed to help on
this field trip. We are planning to leave I.C.S. 11:15 a.m. and return back to
school at 3:00 p.m. Please send a note to school if you are able to help.
Thank-you.
Kleenex Boxes: Please send a box of
Kleenex with your child for our classroom’s yearly supply. Thank you.
Spelling: Each Friday we will have
spelling dictation. Weekly word lists will be sent home at the beginning of the
week. Please have your child review the list words a few minutes each day. Here
are the words the students should know for Friday, Sept. 7, 2012.
Spelling
List for Grade 1: an at and am a
Spelling
List for Grade 2: on not but at had in
did get red hot
Scholastic Book Club: The September flyers were
sent home today. If you wish to place an order please fill out the form on the
back and return it to school by Sept. 13 with the payment (cash or cheque).
Highlights Magazine: Please take a moment to read through the Highlights
Magazine offer that your child took home today. We are able to receive free
educational items for our classroom even if you don't want to order the
magazine. All you need to do is sign the order form, mark either “Yes” or “No”
and send it back to school by next Friday, Sept. 14.
Chickadee Magazine: This year you may place
your Chickadee Magazine order
online. Please note: I set up an account for our classroom however I could only
select one grade so if you are signing up online please mark your child as being
in grade 2 even if your child is in grade 1. November 15, 2012 is the due date
to place an order.
GRADES 3 and
4 – Ms. Buma
Welcome
girls and boys to Grades 3 and 4! We are
looking forward to the new year ahead, and are ready to learn and find many
ways to apply this year’s school theme, Called
to Love One Another.
Wed. Sept. 12 Memory Work: School Theme Verse – Let us love one another,
for love comes from God.
(1
John 4:7)
Friday, Sept. 7: Spelling Dictation – Grade 3 words are: said,
ask, stand, catch, eight, afraid, away, always, playing, waved, takes, than,
great, they, prey, command, awake
Grade 4 words are: bridge, gravity, hungry, eclipse, secret,
applaud, laundry, trouble, attract, twilight, between, describe, snowflake,
freedom, slimy, glance, burglar, switch, edge, attach
Student of the Week: We will begin our student of the Week program
starting next week. The students will be
taking home an envelope with the necessary information inside. We will proceed alphabetically through the
class list. Next week, Sept. 10 – 14,
the Student of the Week is Daniel Abell.
Cody Bergen follows, and is scheduled for the week of Sept. 17 – 21. Parents, if you have any questions regarding
this program, please feel free to contact me.
The students will receive their envelopes this Friday, Sept. 7.
Scholastics: The first Scholastic Book Order was sent home with
your child today. If you would like to
place an order for September, please have your child return it to school by
Friday, Sept. 14.
Gym Foot Wear: Classes are scheduled for two afternoons per week,
Monday and Wednesday, and for one morning per week, Friday. Although the students may have their indoor
running shoes, please ensure that your child’s outdoor shoes on those days are also
running shoes. Thank you!
Kleenex Boxes: We need to build up our Kleenex box supply again at
the start of this new school year. Thank
you for sending along any contribution to our supply.
GRADE
5 and 6 – Mrs Drop
Welcome
back! We're off to a great start learning with the school theme,
"Called to Love One Another."
Birthday
greetings are extended to Lindsay VandenBrink (Sept. 1st), Matthew Ypma
(Sept. 6), Dean Rollins (Sept. 7), and Grace Vording (Sept. 9)!
Agendas: The class received
their agendas today. The students will be keeping track of their
activities and assignments daily. Activities and assignments may also be
found on the school's wikispace. The link is on the school's
website. Parents, please sign your child's agenda daily to ensure
that homework is being completed. Thank you!
Time Tables: Students have a copy
of the class' time table. Mr. Cameron (social science and health)
and Mr. TenBruggencate (physical education) will also be teaching the
class.
Bible: We will be studying the
book of Colossians in Bible class. The unit helps to instil within students an
appreciation of Paul's loving spirit and of its source in Christ. Memory for
Wed., Sept. 12 is Colossians 3:12: Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and
dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience.
Spelling begins next week.
Remember to bring a chapter book to
read for independent reading time.
Math: Please review
the multiplication facts (times tables) in preparation for our first
unit.
Social Studies: We are beginning a unit on our Global
Neighbours. Picking up on our school
theme, I expect that students will learn to understand and celebrate our
neighbour countries, and by doing so, we get to know God, our neighbour and
ourselves more fully. Your child will
need to complete a Country Portfolio Assignment by Wednesday 26 September. Your child will present his / her portfolio
to the class (5 minutes), and you would be invited to attend the presentation
if you desire! We look forward to
learning together.
Tech: Your son / daughter will be bringing home an
agreement on Acceptable Technology Use.
Please review this with your child and sign with him / her. The sheets are to be returned by Thursday
September 6, after which students will receive their log on details for Google
Apps. Google Apps for ICS includes an
email address (initial.lastname@immanuelchristianschool.net),
as well as access to Google's online word, spreadsheet and presentation
programs. Our webpage links to Google
Apps for Education. As a discerning
parent, you may ask your child to share their password with you only. As a school, we can monitor and restrict
access if necessary, though we expect a high Christian standard of behaviour.
Congratulations to Caleb
Krahn!
His short story, "Vinko's Quest", was selected to advance in the
Canadian Schools Creative Writing Contest. Further judging will occur in the
fall. Terrific work!
GRADE
7 and 8 – Mr. TenBruggencate
Welcome back. I am looking forward to a good year with a
great class!
REMINDER: check Wikispaces for homework, assignments
and tests due dates. Mr. T.
Reminder to
Parent/Guardian(s) of all Grade 7 Students and Grade 8 Female Students
Elgin
St. Thomas Public Health will be offering free voluntary school-based
immunization clinics to:
All Grade 7 Students for Meningococcal (Men-C-ACWY)
vaccine and Hepatitis B vaccine
All Grade 8 Female Students
for Human
Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
Consent
forms will be sent home this week and are due Friday September 14, 2012. If
you have any questions, please contact Elgin St. Thomas Public Health at
519-631-9900 or visit our website at www.elginhealth.on.ca.
Tech: Your son / daughter will be bringing home an
agreement on Acceptable Technology Use.
Please review this with your child and sign with him / her. The sheets are to be returned by Thursday
September 6, after which students will receive their log on details for Google
Apps. Google Apps for ICS includes an
email address (initial.lastname@immanuelchristianschool.net),
as well as access to Google's online word, spreadsheet and presentation
programs. Our webpage links to Google
Apps for Education. As a discerning
parent, you may ask your child to share their password with you only. As a school, we can monitor and restrict
access if necessary, though we expect a high Christian standard of behaviour.
Volunteer
Opportunities
What are your
talents? How could you serve? Browse the opportunity list and let us know
what you would like to be involved with.
q
Library helpers, ½ day once a week
(questions? – call Nancy Robinson)
q
Serve for hot lunches, generally once a
month
q
Grocery Voucher team, monthly
(questions? - call Grace Schipper,
Theressa DeJong)
q
Morning playground supervisors (800-8:30
Thursday) or other times as available, how many times/month, what day? _________________________________________________________________________________________
q
Reading Partners (have a student read to
you, 8:35-8:55, 1 or 2x per week)
q
Coaches – all sports team, which sports: Run
For Joy, Boys & Girls Soccer, Boys
& Girls Volleyball, Boys & Girls Basketball,
Boys and Girls Badminton, Track and
Field
_______________________________________________________
q
Babysitting in my home while someone else
volunteers at school
q
IT volunteer to help with routine maintenance
on school systems
q
Special Event Days e.g. Hat & Gum,
School Spirit, etc.
q
Electives – Friday afternoons for 5 weeks
starting in January. Introduction to
life skills and hobbies for grades 4-8
What skill or hobby would you like to
share:
_______________________________________________________
q
Serve on a committee (Education, Finance,
Building & Maintenance, Transportation, Promotions, Fundraising,
Membership, Computer or Library, Auxiliary.)
Please indicate your interest, and note that committee membership is by
selection.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
q
School Health Team (Lice checks), Sept. and
Jan.
q
Worship Team, help mentor student musicians
and vocalists with weekly Chapels
____________________________________________
(Name)
