Wednesday 27 March 2013


Wednesday, March 27, 2013



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 Website:  www.immanuelchristianschool.net    519-773-8476
FacebookCheck us out on Facebook:   facebook.com/ICSAylmer      
         Twitter:  twitter.com/ICSAylmer

LDCSS Website:  www.ldcss.on.ca   519-455-4360
Christian Education Foundation (endowment fund): www.ldcef.org


Upcoming Events

March  27  Chapel 8:55 – Lent 6; 
                   Grade by Grade Chess Tournament
             28  Grandparents’ & Senior Friends’ Day
                   Meat and Baked Good pickup 2:30-4
             29  Good Friday – school closed
April      1   Easter Monday – school closed
                3   Chapel 8:55;  Battle of the Books (Strathroy)
               9  Gr. 5-8 to LDCSS Drama (leaving 10ish)
             10  Spring Membership Meeting
             12, 13, 19, 20 LDCSS Drama

From the Principal's Desk:

We are privileged to host our Grandparents and Senior Friends tomorrow - what a blessing to celebrate the gift of faith passed down through the generations!  We look forward to connecting with our grandparents, and reflecting on what has changed and what is still the same in elementary education.  As I've stated before, the core of who we are as a Christian elementary school will not change.  The context in which we operate will change: we use group work more extensively, "tech" is an area of study, we use blackboards, whiteboards and interactive white boards.  We are using Grandparents Day to focus on Easter as well, creating a presentation opportunity before a major holiday.  Our class presentations for the grandparents will focus on music or visual arts.  Many thanks to the Promotions Committee, the Ladies Auxiliary and our dedicated volunteers who are needed to make this day a success.

You will notice a "Protectors" brochure attached to this Journal. This serves to reinforce the core lessons we learned as a school when we taught the program school-wide. We do not want this to be a one-time effort!  We strive for a healthy school environment, and we are well aware of our sinful human natures.  As a Christian school, we realize that we are "called to love one another" on the playground, in the hall, in the classrooms, everywhere.  We intend to continue to reinforce the lesson that we are all called to be Protectors of those treated unjustly, and that we need to have the courage to be an Alongside Stander.  Ideally, you could talk about being a Protector with your child, and use a magnet to stick this brochure on your fridge!

May you have a blessed Easter as we commemorate Jesus' death on Friday and celebrate his resurrection on Sunday!

Yours in Christ,
Keith Cameron, Principal

Praying for our Families:  Last week we prayed for Keith & Ellyn Sinke and Dave & Leslie Vandenbrink.
Praying for our Staff:  This week we will pray for Mrs. Groeneweg and continued healing for Mr. TenBruggencate.
                Please pray for new families to consider enrolling their children in ICS and guidance and wisdom with those considering Christian Education for their children.
                 Prayer Request:  Please uphold Suzie Guenther’s brother, Jake Neufeld from Windsor, who underwent a major heart surgery yesterday in London.  Pray that the surgery was successful and for a complete healing.

Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’ Day – tomorrow, Thursday, March 28th.  The day will start at 11:00 with refreshments and fellowship, and visiting the classrooms, lunch and an assembly.  End time is approximately 2:30.  Looking forward to having you join us for a time of fellowship, a time to celebrate both the special people in our lives, and to celebrate the Easter season.

Meat and Baked Goods pick up tomorrow Thursday, March 28 between 2:30 and 4.  If interested in joining this work group and would like to see what is involved call Irene Versteegen-Buis 519-765-4766 or come out at 12.30 tomorrow and join us.

FRIDAY FAMILY FUN NIGHT hopes you had a great time at last week's KIDS NIGHT!  There were over 140 dinner guests and a lot of games were played - a fun and relaxing time for young and old!  $970 came in Friday night - which makes KIDS NIGHT the second most popular Friday Family Fun Night so far!  It was nice to see lots of familiar faces and some new faces too!
Thank you to all the volunteers on the preparation, kitchen and clean up crew; thank you to the Heritage Place residents for the 13 delivery orders and to the take-out 'customers'; and thank you to the ICS Fundraising Committee for another successful evening.
Congratulations to Kaylynn Mantel, Dylan Bergen and Jordyn Vandendool who won the Game Contestant Grand Prize draws! 

See you at next month's FRIDAY FAMILY FUN NIGHT on April 19th!  Mark your calendar, and think about a new friend or family that you could bring along for the fun...
  
Graduation is fast approaching, it will be here before you know it.  Irene Versteegen-Buis has volunteered to do the slide presentation for the graduates.  Graduates or parents could you please e-mail 4-5 pictures:  example, baby, kindergarten then a few fun life pictures to hank44@eastlink.ca or drop them off at the school where she will scan them and return them to you. She would love to get an early start on this project.    

Yearbook Time Again:  Time to think about creating our ICS yearbook.
  • If you would like to put a business ad in the yearbook or make a donation – please contact Amanda.                                    Ad costs:  Business Card $40, ¼ page $60, ½ page $100, Full page $160, Inside Cover $300
  • We are looking for photos of school events and kids – if you have some to share, please e-mail them to the school
  • If you would like to be part of the Yearbook team, please contact Amanda Cameron 519-550-7312 or e-mail keith.amanda.cameron@gmail.com
Junior Basketball: 
Girls’ practices will be held on Mondays, beginning on March 25, from 3:30 - 5, and Wednesdays and Fridays at noon.  Please arrange transportation home after the Monday practices.  Thank you!
Boys’ practices are Mondays at lunch and Wednesdays after school.
The tournament is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23.  Practices will on go till Monday, April 22nd.

Intramural Dodge ball Wrap-Up:   We had a fun season with both Primary and Junior Teams participating in exhibition games, Mondays during morning recess, (Junior) and Thursdays, at lunch recess. (Primary)
                Thank you to our Primary Refs, Matthew Cameron and Austin VandenBrink, and to our Junior Refs, Tyler Kaastra and Ben VanderDeen for overseeing the season!  Thank you also to all of the players for coming out to our fast-paced, fun-filled games!
                Our champion Primary team was Team D, with winning players, Gracie B., Selina K., Josh V., Hayden G., and Ben W. Congratulations, Team D!
                Our champion Junior Team was Team F, with winning players, Cody B., Grace V., Jessica F., Dean R., Caleb K. and Dylan V.  Congratulations, Team F!  With Tournaments played, our intramural dodge ball season has come to a close.  See you next year!

Help Wanted!  ICS is hosting a Touch A Truck event June 1st on the school property.  We are also combining this event with an open house so that people in the community get to know us a little bit better.  We would like a few extra people on the committee to help out with planning this community event.  If interested please email Dean Mantel, dmantel@eastlink.ca.  We are meeting once a month for a few hours to plan the event and you would be asked to help out the day of the event (10a.m-3p.m)

It’s not too early to think SPRING!!!  We still have 16 trees left from our annual Sweets, Treats, and Treasurers sale ready to be planted in someone’s backyard!  We have 5 4”-5” large soft needle blue spruce and 11 3”-4” small soft needle blue spruce.  Please contact Christine Janssens @ 519-269-3305 or cjansssens@execulink.com for more info.

LDCSS Drama club presents “Flowers of Algernon” on Friday April 12, Saturday 13, Friday April 19 and Saturday, April 20th.  Show time starts at 7:30, tickets are $12 each and are now available.  There is a Seniors matinee on Wednesday, April 17 at 1 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased through Mr. Clarence Wassink (cwassink@ldcss.ca), or LDCSS students may purchase them during their lunch break. 

Come celebrate 50 years of 'God's Faithfulness Through the Generations' to Immanuel Christian School, Oshawa at our Open House April 27, 2013 from 11 AM to 4 PM at the school and a 10 AM service of celebration April 28, with alumnus guest speaker, at Hebron Church in Whitby.  Our theme is based on Psalm 78:4, 6 & 7, ‘…will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD. …so the next generation might know them…-that they in turn might teach their children. So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.’ (NLT)


FROM THE CLASSROOMS:

JUNIOR / SENIOR KINDERGARTEN – Mrs. Groeneweg

Some of the things we have done in Kindergarten:
                Bible: Easter Story
                Letter and sound: X
                JK: Tracing numbers and letters 
                SK: Printing 1-20 and colour words
                Nursery Rhymes:  One, Two, Buckle My Shoe; There Was an Old Women Who Lived in a Shoe

GRADES 1 and 2 - Ms. Pieters

Memory Work: for Wednesday, April 3 All Glory, Laud, and Honour verse 2                        ccli#1443206
The company of angels is praising you on high; and we with all creation in chorus make reply.
The people of the Hebrews with palms before you went; our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present.
Spelling: Spelling Dictation for Thursday, March 28
Grade 1: day, may, stay, play, away, boat, coat, toad
Grade 2: why, try, trying, eat, mean, read, sunny, fly, treat, each
Field Trip: Thank you to Mrs. Bettina Poortinga who helped us on our visit to Chateau Gardens today March 27.
Scholastic Book Club: The April book order flyers went home today. If you would like to place an order for April please have your child bring the order form with the payment (cash or cheque) to school by Thursday, April 4, 2013. Thank-you.
Thank-you: to Mrs. Jennifer VanBerkel for helping out from 12:35 to 1:25 on Grandparent's Day.



GRADES 3 and 4 – Ms. Buma

Happy Birthday:  We would like to wish Holly Cameron a very Happy Birthday.  Holly will be turning ten years old on Thursday, March 28, Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’ Day!  Happy Birthday, Holly!  May God richly bless you in your new year of life!
Thurs. March 28 – Spelling Dictation:  Grade 3 words are:  aren’t, partner, hard, chart, farm, start, large, more, before, horse, north, morning, care, stare, warning, report, score
Grade 4 words are:  frighten, flight, brighter, flashlight, mighty, delight, tighten, nightly, brought, ought, thought, fought, sight, caught, daughter, taught, naughty, fault, right, sought
Memory Work:  Wed. April 3 – Song:  Lord, I Want to Be a Christian
1.  Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.
2.  Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart…
3.  Lord, I want to be more holy, in my heart, in my heart…
4.  Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart…
From Songs for Life, #40
Words and Music:  African – American spiritual     ccli#1443206
Student of the Week:  This week’s Student of the Week is Jocelyn Shelton.  Next week:  Ben Weesjes

GRADE 5 and 6 – Mrs Drop


Happy Birthday to Michael Drop who turns 11 years old tomorrow.
Memory Work:  Matthew 28:7
The next spelling dictation will be on Fri., April 5.
Art:  Finish the two art projects: Optical Illusions and Facial Expressions for tomorrow.
Science: your child will bring home details for their kite project on Thursday.  The weekend is ideal for making plans and gathering supplies.  We will have some class time for building next Tue and Wed, and students will need to source their own building materials suitable for their designs.  The kite presentation will be due in class Mon Apr 8. We will go on a field trip from 8:30 - 11 to St Thomas airport on Thu Apr 4, and I'm after 2 parent volunteers to accompany - can you help?

GRADE 7 and 8 – Mr. TenBruggencate / Ms. Jones


History - Read Chapter 23 (Willy Jay Roams...)
Spelling Test on Thursday
Bible - Proverbs assignment
Le Français:  Test – jeudi le 4 avril




Wednesday 20 March 2013


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

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 Website:  www.immanuelchristianschool.net    519-773-8476
FacebookCheck us out on Facebook:   facebook.com/ICSAylmer      
         Twitter:  twitter.com/ICSAylmer

LDCSS Website:  www.ldcss.on.ca   519-455-4360
Christian Education Foundation (endowment fund): www.ldcef.org

Upcoming Events

March   21  Science Fair Projects due – viewing in p.m.
             22  Friday Family Fun Night Dinner 5-7:30 p.m.
             23  Chapel 8:55 – Lent 6; 
                   Grade by Grade Chess Tournament
             28  Grandparents’ & Senior Friends’ Day
                   Meat and Baked Good pickup
             29  Good Friday – school closes
April      1   Easter Monday – school closed
                3   Chapel 8:55;  Battle of the Books (Strathroy)

From the Principal's Desk::
Welcome back from March Break!  While the students began March Break early, we took one more day as staff to review our phys ed curriculum.  Our conversation focused on how to better link our primary and senior skills, and on best practices for safe instruction in gym class and in sports.  We have some good guidance for both staff and parent coaches. 

As we resume classes, we're in the third term already!  We're completing our Lent chapel series, highlighting the school theme of "Called to love one another."  Pastor John Twinem of Springfield Baptist spoke to us this morning, and Pastor Brian Morris from AEMC will speak to us next week.  Our Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’ Day next Thursday will also help to highlight the celebration of Easter.  More than just "doing school," it is our hope as staff that we can create routines which in and of themselves, point to Christ and create peaceful, joyful relations with each other.  My own experience as a student told me that what was important was Christmas and summer!  Our Advent and Lent chapel series, and our Christmas and Grandparents'/Senior Friends’ Day programs serve, we hope, to highlight a routine of Christmas and Easter.  

Lastly, I continue to urge you to talk up ICS!  Positive word of mouth is our most effective advertising.  We have room for new enrolments (in all grades), and we're after new families to replace those who "graduate" along with their children this coming June. Think about how you would clearly express why Immanuel is your school of choice...

Yours in Christ,
Keith Cameron, Principal

Praying for our Families:  Last week we prayed for Stu & Janine Shelton, Keith & Ellyn Sinke.  
Praying for our Staff:  This week we will pray for Mr. Cameron and continued healing for Mr. TenBruggencate.
Please pray for new families to consider enrolling their children in ICS and guidance and wisdom with those considering Christian Education for their children.

Reminder:  Job Posting - ICS Janitor
Interested applicants should submit a resume, 2 references and an example of similar work performed to a high standard, to Mr Cameron by 28 March.  A full job description may be obtained at the ICS office.

Kid's Night! This Friday's Family Fun Night is all about the kids: pizza for dinner and ice cream sundaes for dessert!  And an evening of family friendly games and fun!  Treat your family this Friday, March 22 from 5pm-7:30pm in the school gym.  Cost is Adults $8 and Children (12 + under) $5 and all proceeds go directly back into the school! Delivery to Heritage Place and Takeout will also be available. 
If you haven't been to a Friday Family Fun Night yet, this is one you won't want to miss (or won't want to hear your kids complaining that they missed)!

Meat and Baked Goods pick up next week Thursday, March 28 between 2:30 and 4.  Coolers with names on them would be great. 
Meat & baked goods is looking for a volunteer.  If you may be interested call Irene Versteegen-Buis 519-765-4766 or come out at 12.30 on March 28th and see if its something your interested in.

Cheese Orders for April are attached.  Orders are due on Wednesday, March 27th.  Delivery on Wednesday, April 3rd.

Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’ - you are invited to attend our ICS Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’ day to be held next week Thursday, March 28th.  The day will start at 11:00 with refreshments and fellowship, and visiting the classrooms, lunch and an assembly.  Each class as well as our band and “winter praises” choral group will have an arts-themed presentation.  End time is approximately 2:30.  We look forward to sharing a time of fellowship and a time to celebrate both the special people in our lives, and to celebrate the Easter season.

Tina Vyn will have her books and cards set up on that day. “Purchase an adult fiction book for $5.00 and donate it back to your church library.  I will keep the books and pass them on to your church libraries at the end of the book sale.  What a great way to get more reading material into our church libraries. Libraries can exchange books if there are duplicates.  20% of total sales will go for Nancy Robinson, our school librarian, to choose books for Immanuel Christian School library.  This way churches benefit and Immanuel benefits.”

Each family was given two invitations.   Did you send them out to your Grandparents and/or Senior Friends?  Help yourself to more from the office counter if you need them.
And so, it is time again to update our school data base with our Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’ list.  Please let me know if there was an address change in the last year or two.  All our new families from September, please take a minute to fill out the form at the end of the Journal and return it with your child to their teacher.  I would like to add the Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’ to our data base.  Thank you.  Mrs. Smit

Graduation is fast approaching, it will be here before you know it.  Irene Versteegen-Buis has volunteered to do the slide presentation for the graduates.  Graduates or parents could you please e-mail 4-5 pictures:  example, baby, kindergarten then a few fun life pictures to hank44@eastlink.ca or drop them off at the school where she will scan them and return them to you. She would love to get an early start on this project.    

Yearbook Time Again:  Time to think about creating our ICS yearbook.
  • If you would like to put a business ad in the yearbook or make a donation – please contact Amanda.                                    Ad costs:  Business Card $40, ¼ page $60, ½ page $100, Full page $160, Inside Cover $300
  • We are looking for photos of school events and kids – if you have some to share, please e-mail them to the school
  • If you would like to be part of the Yearbook team, please contact Amanda Cameron 519-550-7312 or e-mail keith.amanda.cameron@gmail.com

Hockey – The 2013 ICS hockey team was blessed with the opportunity to participate in the 42nd Annual District Christian Hockey Tournament in Strathroy on Wed. March 6th.  After playing five exciting games, in the small schools’ division of the tournament, we are happy to report that the ICS team was able to take home the finalist banner.  Well done, team!
Thank you to all the parents who drove to the early morning practices, to the exhibition game, and/or to the tournament.  Thank you, also, to all the other fans.  Your support and words of encouragement were greatly appreciated.  A special thank you goes out to the three coaches: Mr. Steve Vandersleen, Mr. Jeff Vannoord, and Mrs. Sheri  Weesjes.  God bless!

Help Wanted!  ICS is hosting a Touch A Truck event June 1st on the school property.  We are also combining this event with an open house so that people in the community get to know us a little bit better.  We would like a few extra people on the committee to help out with planning this community event.  If interested please email Dean Mantel, dmantel@eastlink.ca.  We are meeting once a month for a few hours to plan the event and you would be asked to help out the day of the event (10a.m-3p.m)

It’s not too early to think SPRING!!!  We still have 16 trees left from our annual Sweets, Treats, and Treasurers sale ready to be planted in someone’s backyard!  We have 5 4”-5” large soft needle blue spruce and 11 3”-4” small soft needle blue spruce.  Please contact Christine Janssens @ 519-269-3305 or cjansssens@execulink.com for more info.

Library News:
1. After a break we always have a large number of books needing to be returned.  ALL LIBRARY MATERIALS 
TAKEN OUT BEFORE THE BREAK ARE NOW DUE.  Please check slips and send everything back (
renewals are allowed if there is not a waiting list).
2. You may have noticed that the overdue slips sent out had very tiny print up until now.  A recent update to the management program means the overdue lists are much easier to produce and read.  Our policy is that if 
students have overdue books, they will not be allowed to take more materials out.  RED SLIPS placed over 
their barcodes will start next week, limiting their ability to checkout materials if they have overdues.  There 
should be a date due slip in the book pocket indicating when an item needs to be returned.  If you and your 
child have searched and not found the book listed on his/her slip please send a note or email to Mrs. 
Robinson n.robinson@immanuelchristianschool.net. 
3. BATTLE OF THE BOOKS is coming up soon!  This year we will meet in Strathroy on Apr.3.  Our Junior 
and senior teams have been busy reading and studying and we are looking forward to a good day.  Team 
members, remember to study your questions and return them on practice days. 

FROM THE CLASSROOMS:
JUNIOR / SENIOR KINDERGARTEN – Mrs. Groeneweg

Some of the things we have done in Kindergarten:
                Bible:  Easter Story
                Letter and sound: Q
                JK: Tracing numbers and letters 
                SK: Printing 1-20 and colour words
                Math:  SK- All About Number: 14 (fourteen, tally, count, number before and after 14..)                                                                       
                            counting by 2's
                            JK- All About Number 6
                Show and Tell:  SK - Friday, March 22
                                        JK - Monday, March 25
Grandparents' Day:  One volunteer is requested to have lunch with the JK class on Thurs., March 28 from 12:35 - 12:50, followed by yard supervision from 12:50 - 1:25 (if possible).  The teachers will be eating lunch with the grandparents in the gym.  Please send a note with your child(ren) if you can help out on that day.   Thank you!
Reminder for all parents of JK students.  The Eye See…Eye Learn program deadline is June 30, 2013.  JK students are encouraged to have a comprehensive eye exam with a participating Doctor of Optometry and if needed, will be provided with a free pair of eyeglasses.  For more information see Mrs. Smit. 

GRADES 1 and 2 - Ms. Pieters

Memory Work: for Wednesday, March 27 All Glory, Laud, and Honour by Theodulph (760-821) This text is more than a thousand years old! “Laud” means praise and “hosanna” is a Hebrew word expressing praise and prayer to God.
All glory, laud, and honour to you, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the King of Israel and David's royal Son, now in the Lord's name coming, the King and Blessed One.
Spelling: Spelling Dictation words for Friday, March 22
Grade 1: fast, last, nest, must, most, step, stamp, still
Grade 2: this, then, thing, thank, bank, with, wish, think, sing, these
Field Trip: We are looking forward to visiting Chateau Gardens on Wednesday, March 27 from 1:30 to 2:30. We will need one volunteer to help us. We plan to walk there, leaving I.C.S. at 1:15 and returning around 2:45.
Grandparents' Day:  One volunteer is requested to have lunch with the grade 1/2 class on Thurs., March 28 from 12:35 - 12:50, followed by yard supervision from 12:50 - 1:25 (if possible).  The teachers will be eating lunch with the grandparents in the gym.  Please send a note with your child(ren) if you can help out on that day.   Thank you!

GRADES 3 and 4 – Ms. Buma

Happy Birthday:  We would like to wish Cody Bergen a very Happy Birthday.  Cody turned ten years old today, March 20.  Happy Birthday, Cody!  May God richly bless you in your new year of life!
Fri. March 22 – Spelling Dictation:  Grade 3 words are:  word, work, world, were, first, girl, turned, learn, bird, fire, here, nurse, jury, stirred, wear, thirsty, cure
Grade 4 words are:  enough, tougher, fifty, pharmacy, alphabet, nephew, trophy, paragraph, telephone, photograph, giraffe, forest, figure, refrigerator, draft, phrase, traffic, chief, pharaoh, furlough
Fri. March 22 – Math Quiz:  Grade 3 – Division with one-digit quotients – No remainders.  Example:  (24 ÷ 6 = 4) and (9 ÷ 9 = 1)
Grade 4 – Comparing and ordering decimals, and adding and subtracting decimals to tenths without regrouping.  Example:  (0.1 = 0.8 = 0.9) and (0.7 – 0.3 = 0.4)
Memory Work:  Wed. March 27 – Song:  Make Me a Miracle
Refrain:
Take these few fish and crumbs of bread.  It’s all that I can do.
But most of all, Lord take my life and make me a miracle too.
Refrain:
1.  The world’s so full of hungry souls I’ve little left to give.
Could it be I might feed a few, by the simple life I live?
Refrain:
2.  Multiply these gifts, so few and feed your thousands, Lord.
For in Your hand I lay my life it’s what You gave it for.
From: Close Your Eyes So You Can See
By: Michael Card © 1996      ccli # 1443206
Student of the Week:  This week’s Student of the Week is Braden Vandersleen.  Next week:  Jocelyn Shelton
Tech: Parents, you should receive a letter regarding our trial of "Timez Attack" in class over the next 8 weeks.  We are assessing whether this game-style program (students escape from the Dungeon of Ignorance by correctly reciting their times tables up to 12) is a motivating and effective way to increase math fact recall.  
Grandparents' Day:  One volunteer is requested to have lunch with the grade 3/4 class on Thurs., March 28 from 12:35 - 12:50, followed by yard supervision from 12:50 - 1:25 (if possible).  The teachers will be eating lunch with the grandparents in the gym.  Please send a note with your child(ren) if you can help out on that day.   Thank you!

GRADE 5 and 6 – Mrs Drop

Science:  We are beginning a science unit on “Soaring like Eagles: Flight.”  In this unit, we will examine how God designed the properties of air to create flight, how we are awed by God’s creativity, and how we humans use our God-given creativity to design and build flying devices.  I invite you to enquire with your child - ask about science class at the dinner table!  During the course of the unit, we will visit the St Thomas Airport and we will build kites as the final project.  We will construct a small demonstration kite in class, and construction of your child’s individual kite will be a homework project.  Check out the design ideas on our Wikispaces page!
Health: We have completed "Growing and Connecting."  Please look over your child's work - class conversations were good, with the students demonstrating maturity with sensitive, important subjects.  Notebooks have been sent home for signature
Memory Work:  Matthew 28:  5 & 6
Music:  Please practise the recorder selections, "Gently Sleep" and "O When the Saints..." in preparation for the practice tomorrow and the practices next week.  Bring your recorder to school each day. 
Math:  There will be a quiz on data management on Fri., March 22. 
Grandparents' Day:  One volunteer is requested to have lunch with the grade 5/6 class on Thurs., March 28 from 12:35 - 12:50, followed by yard supervision from 12:50 - 1:25 (if possible).  The teachers will be eating lunch with the grandparents in the gym.  Please send a note with your child(ren) if you can help out on that day.   Thank you!

GRADE 7 and 8 – Mr. TenBruggencate / Ms. Jones

Welcome to Mrs Georgie Rodenburg, teaching LA and Bible from recess to lunch daily!  Mr TenBruggencate is awaiting MRI results on his knee and a surgeon's assessment on whether a final surgery will be required.  He is healing well, please keep his continued recovery in your prayers.
Tech: We are starting an online unit on social media communication, specifically blogging.  You are encouraged to be in discussion with your child about their use of social media; use of texting, Facebook (including multiple profiles) and blogs are all good topics.
Bible:  We have begun a new Bible unit on Proverbs.  As part of the unit the students have begun an assignment which requires them to read one chapter of Proverbs each day and write out one verse from that chapter into their booklet.  They also need to write down their reasons for choosing that verse.  The due date for this devotional assignment is April 17.
Geography:  There will be a test on Climate in the Tundra on Tuesday, March 26th.
Science fair projects set-up in the board room Thursday morning.  They will be on display from 2:45 – 3:30 with the students, 3:30-5:00 p.m. without the students.  The displays will stay up until Friday 3:15 for additional viewing time.  Feel free to stop in check them out.
Grandparents' Day:  One volunteer is requested to have lunch with the grade 7/8 class on Thurs., March 28 from 12:35 - 12:50, followed by yard supervision from 12:50 - 1:25 (if possible).  The teachers will be eating lunch with the grandparents in the gym.  Please send a note with your child(ren) if you can help out on that day.   Thank you!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’                     Feb. 2013

__________________________________________________________________________________
Student(s) last name – all children’s first names

The address of my Grandparents’ and/or Senior Friends’ are:

Grandparent __  Senior Friend ___(please check off)                   
Name:  ______________________________                          
Address: _____________________________                           
____________________________________                                           
_____________________________________                                         

Grandparent __  Senior Friend __ (please check off)                   
Name:  _____________________________                          
Address: ____________________________                           
___________________________________                                             
___________________________________       


Grandparent __  Senior Friend ___(please check off)                   
Name:  ______________________________                          
Address: _____________________________                           
____________________________________                                           
_____________________________________                                         

Grandparent __  Senior Friend __ (please check off)                   
Name:  _____________________________                          
Address: ____________________________                           
___________________________________                                             
___________________________________                                                                 

Wednesday 6 March 2013


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

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 Website:  www.immanuelchristianschool.net    519-773-8476
FacebookCheck us out on Facebook:   facebook.com/ICSAylmer      
         Twitter:  twitter.com/ICSAylmer

LDCSS Website:  www.ldcss.on.ca   519-455-4360
Christian Education Foundation (endowment fund): www.ldcef.org

Upcoming Events

March   7   P.D. Day – no classes for students
              8-15 March Break
             18  classes resume
             19  Dairy Presentations in a.m.  
             20  8:55 Chapel-Lent 5
                   Gr. 1/2 Dental Presentation
                   AR Goal Sub Lunch for grades 1-8
             21  Science Fair Projects due – viewing in p.m.
             22  Friday Family Fun Night Dinner 5-7:30 p.m.

From the Principal's Desk::
Monday was a busy parent-student-teacher conference night.  I was pleased to see some students attending, and some parents using the connection form we'd enclosed with the report card.  It's all about helping our students begin to take ownership of their own learning.  I'm also studying (an online Masters level philosophy of education course from Calvin).  As principal, I vainly thought there'd be lots of time to read and write my weekly online post around my scheduled appointments...  no chance!  I made myself visible to parents coming in and out, chatted with them, touched bases with teachers... However, I was struck by an immediate connection between my readings and the interviews - both were about making real connections, whether in the classroom or in the wider school community.  Those connections are an important part of who we are at ICS!  Keep "talking up" our school, especially to those who are considering Christian education for their children...

Please read this Journal carefully, noting the activities which will be running right after March Break.  The book of Ecclesiastes declares that, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." In this case, there is a time for school and a time for vacation.  Happy March Break!

Yours in Christ,
Keith Cameron, Principal

Praying for our Families:  Last week we prayed for Rudolf & Sharon Schipper and Eric & Emily Schuurman.  
Praying for our Staff:  This week we will pray for Mrs. Robinson and continued healing for Mr. TenBruggencate.
                Welcome to Mrs Georgie Rodenburg as a part-time teacher gr 7/8 Language Arts and Bible while Evert continues his convalescence.  Mrs Rodenburg will teach gr 7/8 from 10:50 to 12:35 Mon to Fri after March Break, and initially until 12 Apr.   Ms Jones had requested the schedule adjustment, and she is looking forward to continuing to teach the remainder of the gr 7/8 subjects and gr 5/6 phys ed.
Please pray for families who are still struggling with the decision of Christian education.

Reminders:   CEAF:  March 21 is the deadline for all CEAF donors to submit response letters.  See last week’s Journal.

                Transportation Notice for all High School Students.  Because I.C.S. has a PD day tomorrow, Thursday, March 7 and we start our March Break holiday on Friday, March 8 the bussing for L.D.C.S.S. on those 2 days will be as follows:  Mrs. Rita Tesselaar’s bus will leave her home at 7:45 a.m. (Students catching the bus at her house should be there by 7:40.)  She will stop at Carter Road at 7:50 then to the school, leave I.C.S. at 8:00, stop at Hiemstra’s at 8:10, and stop in Lyons at the Fire Hall at 8:15, stop at Hwy 74 and Wilson Rd. at 8:20 then on to L.D.C.S.S.  Return trip done in reverse. 

                A.R. Goals:  Wed., Mar. 20th, the students in grades 1-8 will have their sub lunch.  Please send along a drink for your child.

Telephone List Change: Andrew & Keli-Lyn Lockyer – no longer use a land line - please use 519-617-0779 to contact them.

Job Posting - ICS Janitor
Mr and Mrs Coto have recently announced that they will be leaving their position as our janitors.  We thank them for their years of faithful service and their servant hearts!
We will have an opening for a janitor as of 30 April.  This is a contract, part-time position involving about 3 hours daily after school hours, with a more thorough cleaning once weekly, and special cleanings at Christmas, March and Summer breaks.  Position is salaried, with 4 weeks of vacation.  Applicants must demonstrate: an ability to work independently; an ability to work in a small team; an ability to make purchases within a budget; an ability to perform minor, unskilled maintenance; an eye for detail; and, a high standard of cleanliness.  As a member of the staff occupying a position of respect by our students, all applicants must be able to conform to ICS' moral code for our employees.  Interested applicants should submit a resume, 2 references and an example of similar work performed to a high standard, to Mr Cameron by 28 March.  A full job description may be obtained at the ICS office.

Congratulations:  We would like to extend our congratulations to Megan Friesen who placed first at the Public Speaking and Storytelling Zone Contest, March 2nd, at the St. Thomas Royal Canadian Legion Lord Elgin Branch #41.  Megan’s story was called, The Wolf at the Door, by Nick Ward.  Megan received her award from Mr. Paul Rochon of the Korean Vets Association.  Megan’s next level of competition is at the Public Speaking and Storytelling District Contest on April 6, hosted by Branch # 261 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Tecumseh. Congratulations, Megan!

Kid's Night! This month’s Friday Family Fun Night is all about the kids: pizza for dinner and ice cream sundaes for dessert!  And an evening of family friendly games and fun!  Treat your family on Friday, March 22 from 5pm-7:30pm in the school gym.  Cost is Adults $8 and Children (12 + under) $5 and all proceeds go directly back into the school! Delivery to Heritage Place and Takeout will also be available. 
If you haven't been to a Friday Family Fun Night yet, this is one you won't want to miss (or won't want to hear your kids complaining that they missed)!

To All Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’:  You are invited to attend our ICS Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’ day to be held on Thursday, March 28th.  The day will start at 11:00 with refreshments and fellowship, and visiting the classrooms, lunch and an assembly.  Each class as well as our band and “winter praises” choral group will have an arts-themed presentation.  End time is approximately 2:30.  We look forward to sharing a time of fellowship and a time to celebrate both the special people in our lives, and to celebrate the Easter season.

Tina Vyn will have her books and cards set up on that day. “Purchase an adult fiction book for $5.00 and donate it back to your church library.  I will keep the books and pass them on to your church libraries at the end of the book sale.  What a great way to get more reading material into our church libraries. Libraries can exchange books if there are duplicates.  20% of total sales will go for Nancy Robinson, our school librarian, to choose books for Immanuel Christian School library.  This way churches benefit and Immanuel benefits.”

Each family was given two invitations this past Monday to send to their Grandparents and/or Senior Friends.  If you need more please have your child stop by the office.  They will be on the counter, students can help themselves.  And so, it is time again to update our school data base with our Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’ list.  Please let me know if there was an address change in the last year or two.  All our new families from September, please take a minute to fill out the form at the end of the Journal and return it with your child to their teacher.  I would like to add the Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’ to our data base.  Thank you.  Mrs. Smit

2012 Graduate Survey:  thanks to the parents and gr 9 students who completed our graduate survey!  Your input is valuable in helping keep our educational program focussed on our graduate expectations.  Congratulations to Mrs Rose Saarloos (our parent draw winner, with a $20 Timmies card) and Janae Saarloos (our student draw winner with a $10 Timmies card).  We'll repeat the survey at the end of second semester too - if the students don't make Mr Cameron chase them, the cards will be of equal value!

Hat and Gum Day 2013.  Thank-you to the ed committee (Emily Schuurman, Georgie Rodenberg, Ray Kaastra and Randy Poortinga), our adult volunteers and our grade 8 class for their efforts to make Hat and Gum Day a fun success!  We raised over $350 for Christian curriculum development, and had a lot of fun.  The gr 8s also organized a winter carnival at lunch, while the gr 7s led their school families through the events, building inter-age camaraderie - well done!

Graduation is fast approaching, it will be here before you know it.  Irene Versteegen-Buis has volunteered to do the slide presentation for the graduates.  Graduates or parents could you please e-mail 4-5 pictures:  example, baby, kindergarten then a few fun life pictures to hank44@eastlink.ca or drop them off at the school where she will scan them and return them to you. She would love to get an early start on this project.    

Help Wanted!  ICS is hosting a Touch A Truck event June 1st on the school property.  We are also combining this event with an open house so that people in the community get to know us a little bit better.  We would like a few extra people on the committee to help out with planning this community event.  If interested please email Dean Mantel, dmantel@eastlink.ca.  We are meeting once a month for a few hours to plan the event and you would be asked to help out the day of the event (10a.m-3p.m)

It’s not too early to think SPRING!!!  We still have 16 trees left from our annual Sweets, Treats, and Treasurers sale ready to be planted in someone’s backyard!  We have 5 4”-5” large soft needle blue spruce and 11 3”-4” small soft needle blue spruce.  Please contact Christine Janssens @ 519-269-3305 or cjansssens@execulink.com for more info.


FROM THE CLASSROOMS:
JUNIOR / SENIOR KINDERGARTEN – Mrs. Groeneweg
Some of the things we have done in Kindergarten:
                Bible: Through the Roof, New Kingdom
                Letter and sound: Y
                JK: Tracing numbers 1-10, SK: Printing 1-20
                March 4 - New Unit : Shoe Store.  The shoe store provides opportunities for exploring math concepts and practicing social skills.  Activities and discussions about measuring, matching, sizes, left/right, shoes in different seasons, different occupations, tying shoes, pairs.  Students can bring a pair of shoes for the shoe store.           
               
GRADES 1 and 2 - Ms. Pieters

Happy Birthday
to
Claire Vording
Thursday, March 7, 2013
“May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 115:15

Memory Work: for Wednesday, March 20
Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop...
But what was sown on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.
He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:8, 23
Spelling: Spelling Dictation words for Monday, March 18
Grade 1: went, sent, ant, bend, find, mind, kind, want
Grade 2: boy, toy, oil, soil, other, mother, sister, boil, brother, father

GRADES 3 and 4 – Ms. Buma

Happy Birthday:  We would like to wish Randall Drop a very Happy Birthday.  Randall will be turning 9 years old on Friday, March 8.  Happy Birthday, Randall!  May God richly bless you in your new year of life!
Wed. March 6 – Spelling Dictation:  Grade 3 words are:  city, cereal, face, could, guess, huge, age, danger, goose, gone, coast, clean, guard, giant, carton, column, granite
Grade 4 words are:  voice, oyster, voyage, annoy, choice, avoid, appoint, enjoy, moisture, noise, drown, amount, fountain, crowded, southwest, thousand, flour, pronounce, employ, decoy
Student of the Week:  This week’s Student of the Week is Micah Schuurman.  After the March Break (March 18 – 22) Jocelyn Shelton.
Swim to Survive Program:  While students in Grades 4 – 8 were participating in our I.C.S. Electives Program, Grade 3 students attended swimming classes at the Family YMCA of St. Thomas – Elgin.  Their instructor was Mr. Richard Broer, aquatic supervisor at the YMCA, alumnus of Immanuel Christian School!
The students were able to complete a 5 week program that covered the 3 main elements from the Lifesaving Society’s Canadian Swim – to – Survive Program Standard:  treading over time to an accumulated hour, 50m swim and rolls into the pool.
Students could be tested in PFD’s (personal flotation devices) or with no help. 
In addition to the required skills, other areas of instruction included: boating safety, boating experiences using a foam canoe and boat, retrieving sinking items from the bottom of the pool at different depths, stroke development and correction, ice safety, pool rules and water safety, and different pool entries.
The students enjoyed ten minutes of free time at the end of each session, and were able to use the jump in rope, diving board and canoes. The final session was a free swim.
Congratulations, Grade 3, with the completion of the Swim – to – Survive Program and the achievement of your certificates!
A big thank you goes out to our instructor, Mr. Richard Broer, and to our willing volunteer drivers, Mrs. Ann and Mr. Doug Walters, Mrs. Tammie and Mr. Jeff Vannoord and Mrs. Helen Friesen!  We have been able to develop new skills, and have benefited from our involvement in this program!
Enjoy your holidays, everyone!  Ms. Buma

GRADE 5 and 6 – Mrs Drop
Spelling Dictation will be on Fri., March 22
Memory Work:  1 John 5:5 
Enjoy the March Break!

GRADE 7 and 8 – Mr. TenBruggencate / Ms. Jones

Own topic essays due Tuesday March 18
Art: Fraction Drawing art assignment due Wed., March 6th
Math: 6 instructions due Wednesday March 6th
Health: The Skeletal System: http://www.neok12.com/Skeletal-System.htm
Science Fair 2013.  Projects are due in school on Thursday March 21.  We will have 2 judges from our community to conduct interviews, and we look forward to high-quality investigations displaying Christian insight!  We will host a gallery walk for the students, and parents are invited to check out the projects from 2:45 - 3:30 (with students present) and 3:30 - 5 (just projects).  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                Grandparents’ and Senior Friends’                     Feb. 2013

__________________________________________________________________________________
Student(s) last name – all children’s first names

The address of my Grandparents’ and/or Senior Friends’ are:

Grandparent ___  Senior Friend ___ (please check off)       Grandparent ___  Senior Friend ___ (please check off)
Name:  ________________________________             Name:  _____________________________
Address:  ______________________________               Address: ____________________________
       __________________________________                          _______________________________
       __________________________________                         ________________________________

Grandparent ___  Senior Friend ___ (please check off)       Grandparent ____ Senior Friend ___ (please check off)
Name:  _______________________________               Name:  _____________________________
Address:  _____________________________                Address: ____________________________
     __________________________________                           _______________________________
     __________________________________                           _______________________________