Wednesday 27 November 2013

Wednesday, November 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
Check 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

Nov. 28  Fall Membership Meeting at LDCSS
          30  Aylmer Christmas Parade 2 p.m.
Dec.     2-18  Food collection for the Corner Cupboard
            4   8:55 Chapel
            7   Springfield Christmas Parade 1 p.m.
          11   8:55 Chapel; Hot Lunch; Spirit Day; Board meets
          17   Joy Notes for Christmas afternoon matinee 1:30
          18   8:55 Chapel; Joy Notes for Christmas 7:30
          19   AR goal @ 50%?;  1:30 Students carolling in town
                 LDCSS Christmas Concert 7:30
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, January 24, 2014 for the ever popular ICS GST Auction!       

From the Principals’ Desk:

Well, the snow came early! Only last week, I reassured our custodians, Mrs Bergen and Mrs Friesen that they could easily wait until early December for the grade 5/6 science class to present recommendations regarding ice and snow removal! While the science class recommendations may come slightly after the first snowfall, God reminds us in so many ways that He holds our futures in His hands. Our task as a Christian school is to continually retell that Biblical story (of which we are participants) to our students.

I'm taking an online Masters-level curriculum course with the Institute of Christian Studies in Toronto. I formally become a student on Tuesdays (my day "off"), and I often find my readings influencing the Principal's Desk. This week's readings coupled contemporary work in education (Understanding by Design) with a 40 year old convention address to Christian teachers. We acknowledge the role of teaching as uncovering (not "covering the curriculum") and interrelating the meaning of things. But Christian schooling is neither functional training (though we try to build real skills) nor "armchair" thinking (though we cultivate reflection). Rather, our aim is training and equipping for every good work (2 Ti 3:17). The emphasis is on right action and character. For that, God's presence is needed, and should be prayed for. Intriguingly, the author relates teaching to prophecy, to interpreting the world. Ever thought of your child's teacher as a prophet?

in Christian education, Keith Cameron, Principal


CEAF 2013 Tax Receipts: You may have received these in the mail recently, and be hesitant about claiming them. OACS contacted Revenue Canada and asked the question. Their response: "Non-parents who made a donation in January 2013 to CEAF will have a legitimate tax receipt and should expect CRA to honour it as charitable gift.  Parents who made a donation to CEAF in January 2013 through the School  Support Program will also have that charitable receipt honoured by CRA provided that the school does not use the January 2013 CEAF grants in their cost per pupil calculations (ICS does not use the grants in our cost per pupil calculations for the 2012 and 2013 years). Due to the small size of the amount of donations CEAF received in 2013 and the large number of donors involved in making those donations, CRA has apparently decided not to pursue a challenge to them provided the schools are not using CEAF grants in their cost per pupil calculations." The same does not apply to the 2012 tax year, sadly.

Promotions: Every parent is a potential school advertiser! In conversation, in email, on Facebook, talk up the gift that we have in ICS! Ms Wall, our ECE candidate, found out about ICS using Google and Facebook, and liked what she saw - our electronic promotions worked in her case!

Praying for our Families:  Last week Thursday morning we prayed for Ray Kaastra, Lois Hardman and Darrell & Helen Klassen.
Praying for our Staff:  This week we will remember Ms. Pieters in prayer.

 Reminders:  Christmas Meat & Baked Goods pick up is on Thursday, Dec. 12th, 2:30 – 4 p.m.  Coolers with names are welcome!

Well this is it, the Christmas Parade is this Saturday! Promotions committee would like to thank all those who graciously lent us their ethnic costumes for the school’s float. We are now just looking for students in grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 to ride in the Aylmer and Springfield parades.  We ask that you meet us at the Aylmer Fair Grounds at 1:30 Saturday afternoon.  We will end the parade back at the school for hot chocolate. Please complete the permission slip below and we hope to see you there!

This year we will be presenting a musical evening for our Christmas program. “Joy Notes for Christmas" is an evening where your child(ren) can showcase the talents and abilities God gave them. Please encourage your child(ren) to sign up on the bulletin board if they wish to participate!  We will have individual, class, choir and band participation.  Please mark Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 1:30 for an afternoon matinee and Wednesday, December 18th for an evening performance on your calendar.

Left over dishes from Grandparents’ Day.  A pan and 2 plates.  A dark red with lime green, and a clear plastic plate.

Baked Goods:  A HUGE thank-you to all families who donated baked goods for the Sweets, Treats and Treasures Sale.  The sale raises funds for the Ladies Auxiliary, which funds many of our school special events (theatre trips, for example)!
By golly, THANK YOU to all who braved the Friday Family Fun Night Redneck Roadkill Café!  The 'coon kabobs', 'frog legs' and 'squirrel brains' were a hit for over 125 people, and brought in $1115!  A huge holler out to the wonderful rednecks who set up, served, delivered, collected money and cleaned up!  It was one of the most talked about dinners yet :-)  The next Friday Family Fun Night will be on February 14th - and will have a lot of romance in the air... save the date, find a date.

Electives: Education Committee is lining up some very interesting electives for grades 4-8 in Jan & Feb. They may include badminton, puppetry, archery, woodworking, model building, photography, personal grooming, stop-animation, winter survival, small engines, baking / cake decorating, etc. Once again, we would plan on our grade 3s completing the Red Cross Swim to Survive program. Committee members will be making calls to possible adult volunteer leaders. If you would like to run an elective (for the first time, or once again), please call the school to let us know! We are looking for name ideas for the model-building elective - anyone know an avid model-maker who connects well with children?  Also looking for a baker!

Building and Maintenance:  Competitive quotes are sought for the replacement of the remaining asphalt roof on the school with steel roofing. The committee recommends completing the project in Spring 2014 on the entire South Wing and the north side of the North Wing. Contractors within or known to our community are encouraged to put in an estimate by 30 November, for selection by the committee. Estimates should be submitted to the office

Our Service Projects for this Christmas Season:               
Food Drive for the Corner Cupboard:  Monday December 2nd is the start of the collection of non-perishable food under the decorated Christmas tree in the front hall.  These items will be picked up by the Corner Cupboard and will be distributed to needy families at Christmas time.  So please help us by picking up a few extra items with your weekly groceries and send them to school with your child(ren). 
Hat/Mittens/Socks for the Optimist Club:  We will try to bless the less fortunate in our community by collecting new hats, mittens, or socks to put under the tree. The Optimist Club works together with the Corner Cupboard and both appreciate our school being involved in this project as well. Thank you!

Basketball:  Sr. boys’ basketball next tryout is Friday at Lunch recess.  Practice times will be announced once team is selected.

All families are invited to the Direction for Families Conference hosted by Shayne Wyler and Seven Clarity. This conference is for anyone 13 years old and up and will teach those who participate to lead the other family members how to deepen their relationships, be on mission together and steward resources wisely.   There are provisions provided for nursing mothers and their babies, so that husbands and wives are able to attend together.  Light refreshments will be served through out the day, but lunch will need to be brought or sought off-site. Shayne and Seven Clarity are known to us through contacts with the SALT homeschool group which meets in Springfield. We share many common aims as we pursue Christian education in different manners. 
We here at Seven note the need for families to come together and be strengthened in growing, Christ-centred relationships. As families are being torn a part, we have responded to provide simple and life changing tools, centred in Christ, with this one day conference.  This conference includes a workbook for all who participate and printed and online follow up materials to ensure our families have what they need as they return to their homes, churches, work and other places where they serve in Christ. I invite you to visit our site at www.sevenclarity.com/family.html to find out more about our next conference happening: Saturday, December 7, 2013, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at Eastwood Fellowship Baptist, 400 Wellington St., St. Thomas, ON, N5R 5T3 Price - $50 per family or $45 per family with a non-perishable food donation

Please mark your calendar for May 1st, 2014 for a Keith & Kristyn Getty concert to be held in the Aylmer Christian Reformed Church.  Tickets will be available in early December for Christmas gift giving.  The school office also has 3 of their CD’s available:  Joy, An Irish Christmas; Keith and Kristyn Modern and Traditional Hymns and for the children, Songs That Jesus Said.  A great Christmas gift at $12 each! 

Derrick Drover, one of our piano teachers, is holding a Christmas Concert (with his band) at the Richmond United Church on Friday, Dec.6th at 7 p.m. in Richmond.  All are welcome to enjoy an evening of praise and worship celebrating the Christmas season. 

Book Week: Thank you to everyone who participated in the dress-up portion of Book Week.  A winner was chosen from each grade to receive a coupon for $4.99 from any Scholastic Book club order this school year.  Winners received a copy of their prize which can be submitted to Mrs. Robinson with their book request.  Congratulations to Connor Mantel, Phoebe Sinke, Sarah Janssens, Josh Vannoord, Ben Weesjes, Holly Cameron, Matthew Ypma, Dylan Vandersleen and Matthew Cameron!  A big thank you also to Mrs. Vyn who so willingly handles the sales of Living Books.  Sales from various sales this fall enables us to get $200 worth of books for our Library!

FROM THE CLASSROOMS:
JUNIOR / SENIOR KINDERGARTEN – Mrs. Groeneweg
Some of the things we have done in Kindergarten....
               
Bible: Moses ( plaques)
                Letter and sound:  m

GRADES 1 and 2 - Ms. Pieters
Memory Work: Memory work for December 4
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5
Spelling: Spelling dictation is on Friday, November 29
Spelling List 11 for Grade 1: cats, pigs, beds, bugs, tops
Spelling List 11 for Grade 2: candy, puppy, went, sent, take, like, time, didn't, by, my
Scholastic Book Club: If you wish to place an order for December please fill out the form on the flyer and return it to school by Dec. 5 with the payment (cash or cheque). Thank you.
Creation Studies: We have begun a new unit called The Sky Declares...
The heavens declare the glory of God; The skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1-2
We will be doing a lot of sky watching in this unit. We will be studying the sun and the atmosphere as well as their relationship to day, night, and the seasons. We will also explore the various components of our weather; the sun, clouds, rain, snow, and the wind. Our thoughts will be directed to God, the Creator. We will recognize and marvel in God's designs and appreciate the repetition of his work through the seasons, in day and night, the water cycle, etc. Truly God is a pattern-maker! God is dependable. We can count on his provision in our lives.
Chateau Gardens/Grand-Pals: Chateau Gardens is a nursing home which students in Grades 1 and 2 have enjoyed visiting each year. We hope to do that again some time this year. We started this month with a pen-pal program also known as our Grand-pals. Seventeen of the seniors wrote letters to our class. After the students listened to their stories they each chose a Grand-pal with whom they wanted to correspond with. The students had fun choosing. Some similar connections were: lived on a farm, had cows, had horses, liked playing sports, had a pet cat, or lived in a big family. The students are now busy writing to their Grand-Pals. We hope to send them our mail soon.

GRADES 3 and 4 – Mrs. Drop

Star Student next week will be Jocelyn Shelton, followed by Lily Sinke.
There will be a math test on numeration and place value on Tues., Dec. 3.
Spelling Dictation:  Fri., Nov. 29
Grade 3 Spelling Words:  children, search, teacher, reached, think, together, with, where, everywhere, short, push, finish, sure, who, whole, everyone, thought
Grade 4 Words:  across, alone, among, brother, again, front, banana, appear, compass, pedal, given, heaven, mountain. ocean, cousin, purchase, often colour, bandana, forehead
Memory Work:  Psalm 145: 3 & 4:  Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.  One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. 
Fri. Nov. 29 - French Numbers Quiz, (les numbres) from:  0 – 12 (zéro à douze).  Be able to translate and to spell the numbers in French (en français).  

GRADE 5 and 6 – Ms Buma


Spelling Dictation:  Fri. Nov. 29 – Unit 10
Friday Morning Devotions (Nov. 29) – Jordyn Vandendool
Memory Work: Wed. Dec. 4 - Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Bible Studies Test:  Friday, Nov. 29 – Esther:  A Story of Divine Providence – Read over your notes and refer to the Study Guide that you brought home yesterday, everyone.
Accelerated Reader:  Continue reading steadily and complete the quiz  soon after you finish reading each book.  You need to have reached 50% of your goal by Thurs. Dec. 19.  Keep up the good work!  AR Reports will be sent home this Fri. Nov. 29.
Science: We have made "icy sidewalks" and continue to test applications of sand, salt and combinations in reducing slipperiness and enhancing melting. Talk to your child as he or she learns to "think like a scientist."
Library / Tech: Mrs Robinson and Mr Cameron have covered how to access the valuable online encyclopaedias through the Oxford Country or Elgin County library sites. These are especially useful for class research projects, and require that every child has access to a library card. If your family does not have one, they're free at your nearest library branch! Your child is completing a "how to use the site" poster to help with future research projects.

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


There will be a test this Thursday in mathematics on Chapter 4: Probability
Science Unit test this Friday on Measurement (Chapters 1&2)
Memory Work Habakkuk 1:3-4
Geography:  Test on Food Chains, Major Biomes and Controls of Climate on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
LA Short Story response presentations this Thursday and Friday.
     Thursday: Dyllon B., Matthew C., Megan Y., Caleb K., Nicole F., Cole V.
      Friday: Amanda D., Jessica F., Kiley D., Correy M., Kameron G., Dean R., Tyler K., Kira S., Ryan K., Luke S., Ben V., Dylan V.,
                   Lindsay V.
Spelling Quiz is postponed until next week.
History: Please have tests signed and returned by this Friday. The class average was 80% - well done!
Tech: we are moving on to discuss safe and healthy online habits, using materials from CommonSenseMedia.org and the OPP's CyberCops game. By understanding dangers (the example used in class is online stalking) and discussing them with your children, you can help realize the positive potential of the Internet while minimizing its inherent risks. Our class lessons should help you to:
1. Establish a set of rules for your child(ren) to follow when using the Internet that includes amount of use, how to interact a
    appropriately online, and what to do if they feel uncomfortable or in danger.
2. Supervise children’s computer usage. Do not rely on filtering software to do the work.
3. Talk to your children about Internet safety and ethical behaviour on the Internet. Participate with them online. If they know more
     than you, let them teach you.
4. Encourage your child(ren) to come to you if they receive a message that makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. The
    Internet should not be used to spread gossip, bully or threaten others. If this occurs, please contact the school immediately to help
    ensure it is addressed.


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Christmas Float Parade Participation

The Town of Aylmer theme for 2013 year is “Our Favourite Christmas Carol” so we are featuring Joy to the World.

___________________________________________________________________, will be able to participate in the Aylmer parade on Sat., Nov. 30th.  Meet at fairgrounds at 1:30, parade starts at 2:00, pick up student at end of parade at the school parking lot.

___________________________________________________________________, will be able to participate in the Springfield parade on Sat. Dec. 7th at 1:00 p.m.  Meet at John & Marie Smits’ farm, (51524 Ron McNeil Line) at 12:30, parade starts at 1:00, pick up student at end of parade at the Smit farm.  
                                                                                Parent’s Signature _____________________________

Please return permission slip to your teacher for the office as soon as possible so we know who many students wish to be involved.
Please contact Carrie Vis- cjvis@amtelecom.net or Annette Dykxhoorn- radykxhoorn@execulink.com