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!

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                                                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: ____________________________                           
___________________________________                                             
___________________________________