Wednesday 16 December 2015

December 16th, Journal 2015

The ICS Journal  

Wednesday, December 16th 2015


Breaking news! Our ICS Board approved updates to our mission statement at the Dec 9 meeting, to better reflect the type of Christian school we feel we are:
Mission:  Immanuel Christian School assists parents in raising children to follow Christ with an excellent elementary program and a focus on Christian character growth.

Upcoming Events

Dec 16 “Christmas Stories” 7:00pm
      17 Sub Lunch - order form see last week’s Journal
           Last day of school and skate 2-3pm
           LDCSS Christmas Concert 7:30pm
      18  PA Day - Expeditionary Learning - LDCSS has classes
      21 - Jan. 3 Holidays
Jan  8  Hat and Gum Day
      11-15  MAP Winter testing
      14  Hot Lunch, Skating 2-3pm   
      22  New Student Information Evening 7pm  
75 Caverly Rd, Aylmer, N5H 2P6
Telephone: 519-773-8476
Facebook: facebook.com/ICSAylmer       
Twitter:  twitter.com/ICSAylmer

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

From the Principal’s Desk:
Our teachers belong to an association called Edifide. It’s one distinctive of our model of Christian schooling that we have an association for teachers, not a union. We collaborate and work though issues, and we keep each other sharp about our purpose. As we break for Christmas, I wanted to re-print a December 7 Edifide Newsletter article written by Diane Stronks, outgoing Executive Director of Edifide, entitled, “Heaven is not my home: living in the now of creation.”
One of the reasons that I am so excited about schools moving into the direction of projects, expeditions or connecting learning to ‘real work that serves a real need for a real audience’ is the match between that kind of learning and the hope that we have for this good earth... Our work on this good earth is to be agents of God’s Kingdom just as the Lord’s Prayer states, ”your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”…. if we have been called to act as God’s agents, we are all (children and adults) called to DO something....
Our work in the classroom matters and so must our students’ work. Can we imagine work as play and play as work? Can we imagine loving this good earth and our neighbours (no matter where we find them) as the most important embodiment of our love of God and Jesus Christ? Can our learning in schools be faith-formational by connecting what we learn to how we serve? Can the hard work (the 10,000 hours of apprenticeship in whatever area of life) of our students be imagined in ways where students take leadership (of their own learning)? These are the questions that continue to intrigue and move me forward in my own thinking about Christian education.
As we pause for Christmas, let us be encouraged by what God is doing here, daily, in our children’s lives!
in Christian education, Keith Cameron, Principal and Chief Operating Officer
Praying for our families: Please join our staff as we pray for Andre & Janneke Kroondyk as well as Andy & Esther Kroondyk
Praying for our staff: Please pray for Ms. Buma

REMINDERS:
Tuition Reduction Incentive Plan (T.R.I.P): Pickup tomorrow. Next order payment to order form.
Cheese orders: Next order is attached. Due by Dec 16th with delivery on Jan 6th. Orders can be accepted up until Dec 29th by calling Keli-Lynn at 519-617-0779 or email keli.lockyer@hotmail.com
Meat & Baked Goods: Pickup tomorrow. Coolers with names on them can be dropped off ahead of time.

Christmas Stories logo.pngThe ICS Christmas program, “Christmas Stories” will take place tonight at 7pm. This is considered a mandatory event for all students. Students should be in their classrooms by 6:40pm. “Sunday best” attire. Parents, grandparents, friends welcome!

New Student/Family Information Night: The new year will start our 2016 registration season.
Our New Student Information Evening is Friday Jan 22nd at 7:00pm. We feel strongly that many of our prospective parents are attending churches in our local area. Advertising in our local churches is very important. We will be sending an advertising poster and postcards for our Jump into Kindergarten program home this week for selected families (our Church Ambassadors). If your family receives one and it’s alright with your church, we ask that you please post it in your church right after Christmas in time for the first Sunday of 2016.

Board Report: The ICS Board met Wednesday, December 9, 2015. There was discussion about the recent Membership meeting and our overall thoughts and possible changes that we would like to see at the Spring meeting. We continued to work on policy changes and engaged in a discussion about the Debt Reduction drive. We have been blessed with new families and growth in our student population and we feel that it is our responsibility as parents and as Members to support the drive and the efforts of Finance. As Board Members, we have all personally committed to financially support this request. The next board meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2016.
Policy updates: 1.01 updated Mission Statement (see top of Journal)
3.10 renewed 3.10 Teacher Evaluation
For board minutes and policies, see: http://www.immanuelchristianschool.net/policy.htm.

Service Projects for this Christmas Season
Food Drive (6209647308).Last Day! Food Drive for the Corner Cupboard: Dec 1st started the “The Food Under the Tree” drive. We will be collecting non-perishable food under the decorated Christmas tree located in the front entrance. These items will be picked up by the Corner Cupboard and distributed to needy families at Christmas time. Please help us by picking up a few extra items with your weekly groceries and send them to school with your child(ren).
- Dec 17: Cereal Thursday

Socks, Red, Foot, Clothing,Free vector graphic: Mitten,Hat/Mittens/Socks: 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. They both appreciate our school being involved in this project as well. Thank you!

Hat and Gum Day Fri Jan 8: This is an annual fun day held to raise funds for international Christian education through the EduDeo Ministries (www.edudeo.com).  Students may buy $1 licences to chew gum and wear hats in class for the entire day. Tickets are also sold for $1 each for fun activities in the gym (face painting, hair braids or washable colour, basketball shooting, bake sale, etc). Students may bring a small amount of money (no more than $5) to participate. Our grade 8s help run this, with parent volunteers. Can you come in on Friday Jan 8 between 8:30 and 10:45 and help in any way? Please call Chantelle Bakker  from Education Committee or the office.

ICS BIANNUAL GOODS, SERVICES AND TALENT AUCTION: SAVE THE DATE – JAN 30, 2016
The G.S.T. Auction is one of our biggest fundraisers at Immanuel Christian School and features live and silent bidding. This year our auction will be held on Saturday, January 30th, 2016 in the school gym.  If you are able to donate or would like to make a cash donation, simply fill out a form and drop it off at the school office or, alternatively, send an email to jtvannoord@amtelecom.net. Extra donation forms are available in the office.

Festive Fun at Aylmer Library- As the holidays approaches, Aylmer Library has seasonal fun and activities planned for kids of all ages. Until December 24th, please visit the library to make and take home a weekly seasonal drop-in craft. On December 21st at 6:30pm, we will be sharing the classic story “Polar Express” at our Evening Family PJ Storytime. All family members are invited to put on PJ’s and join us for stories, songs and a take-home treat!

Transportation - Since ICS has a PD day on Friday December 18th, the busing for LDCSS will be as follows: Mrs. Tesselaar’s bus will leave her home at 7:45am (students catching the bus at her house should be three by 7:40am)
           Stop at BURC (49823 Talbot Line) at 7:55am
ICS at 8:00 am
End of Forest & Elm at 8:04am
Hiemstra’s at 8:10am
Lyons at 8:15am
Kroondyk’s on Wilson line at 8:23am
       Manning Drive 8:30am
      The return trip home will be done in reverse
Mrs. Tesselaar`s bus will be leaving 30 minutes earlier in the afternoon, due to student council skating and school being dismissed at 2:30pm.

Auxiliary - The Ladies Auxiliary still have some beautiful outdoor Christmas decor pots available for sale. The prices are $15, $25, & $40. Stop by the school to see them for yourself, before they are gone

LDCSS - We invite you to join us for our 2015 Christmas Concert: Joy To The World! Thurs Dec 17th at 7:30pm. With alumni joining and special guests - A Christmas Celebration of our Musical History.

Intermediate Basketball Teams have been selected. Girls practice Tuesday, lunch recess and Thursday 3:30-5:00 pm. Boys practice Tuesday 3:30-5:00 and Thursday lunch recess. Coaches are Ms. Jones and Mrs. Friesen.

Electives: Winter electives programs offer a chance for grades 4-8 students to explore and develop skills found in our community. The program runs for 5 weeks on Friday afternoons from Jan 29 to Feb 26 from 1pm - 3:15pm. Each student needs to contribute $20 to cover costs. Students are requested to choose a first, second and third choice for electives. First consideration will be given to students who choose electives they have not previously done, and to those who promptly return the form with payment.  Deadline: 6 Jan 2015.

Classroom “Event Baskets” for the GST Auction. This year, we’re asking every student to be involved in helping to prepare for this important and fun fundraiser. Classrooms will be creating themed “event baskets” for the auction (a “movie night” package, a “games night” package, a “dinner out” package, etc). It will be most flexible if teachers coordinate purchases, so we’re asking each student to contribute $5 by Wed Jan 13 to allow for classes to produce the baskets.

FROM THE CLASSROOMS:

JR / SR KINDERGARTEN - Mrs. Penner (s.penner@immanuelchristianschool.net
Some of the things we have done in Kindergarten…..
Bible: The Wisemen (Matthew 2:1-23)
Letter and Sound: Review d, g, o
Review Numbers: 1-20
Science: Winter Wonders and changing seasons.
SK- Please remember to bring your book of letter sounds to school each day
       and your library books on Monday.
       Sight word: yes
       Counting by 5’s and 10’s
       Numeral recognition 50-100
       Math: Let’s Measure!
      We will continue to measure height or length?
JK - Jolly Phonics review the letters and sounds we already know:
                      S, A, T, N, I, P, R, H, C, K, D, G, O
       Math: We are working on understanding more, less, and same.
A reminder list of things to bring to school:
  • your skates, helmet, and gloves for school skate on Thursday

GRADE 1 - Ms. Pieters  (m.pieters@immanuelchristianschool.net)
img067.jpgPraying that you may have a joy filled Christmas and a blessed 2016.

Memory Work: for January will be a story for storytelling (Public Speaking)
As you read storybooks over the Christmas break lay some stories aside that you think may be great for storytelling. Bring them to school after the Christmas break for approval. Stories should be 3 to 5 minutes long. You may edit a story for appropriate words to use and also to make it the right length. More information about storytelling will be given after the Christmas break.
Spelling: words to learn for Thursday, Dec. 17
img066.jpgSpelling List for Unit 14: she, ship, shell, dish, wish
A reminder list of things to bring to school:
  • library books to return and an A.R. book you have read so you can do a quiz on any school day
  • a storybook you are thinking of using for storytelling
  • your skates, helmet, and gloves for school skate on Thursday
Christmas Reflections:
img069.jpgEthan Atkinson: The Lord sent baby Jesus down to the earth to be born. Jesus died for our sins. He loves us. I pray to God for my Grandpa.
Wyatt Bakker: King  Herod did not kill baby Jesus because God was keeping Him safe. Jesus taught us to love each other. Jesus loves us and He died on the cross to forgive us our sins. I love Jesus, God’s Son.


img071.jpgPancho Dyck: Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Wisemen came to the palace and asked where the new born king was. I like to pray to God and thank Him for keeping Jesus safe.
Gabriella Friesen: Baby Jesus was born to be King of Heaven and earth. I like to read the Bible. Jesus loves us. My gift to God is when I praise the Lord.

Temiah Guenther: Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus moved to live in a different place after He was born in a stable. We always celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and we remember that He came to die on the cross to conquer the grave.
Katelyn Janssens.jpgRachel Guenther: Mary and Joseph were going to the stable for the night because there was no room in the inn. My whole family sings Away In a Manger by our Christmas tree. Thank you for Jesus the King of the world.
Jayla Hibbert: Mary and Joseph had a baby, Jesus. I like singing Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.
Ezra Klassen: Mary and Joseph walked to Bethlehem.
Uriah Klassen: The wise men looked at the star and followed it to the Saviour that was born. We praise the Lord by celebrating his birth. I treasure Jesus’ love in my heart.
img070.jpgJonathan Redecop: God sent his Son Jesus to earth to wash away our sins. Satan can’t trick us when God helps us. I like that God loves us.
Elizabeth Voth: I like to go to church and sing We light a 1000 candles bright around the earth today and all the beams will shine across the heavens grand display.
Ethan Zylstra: Jesus is my Saviour. I love Him. I will follow His rules.
The artists of the six pictures in order are: Maxwell Bergen, Eve Sinke,
Deserae Rempel, Tyler Vis, Katelyn Janssens, and Colton Dykxhoorn

GRADES 2 and 3 – Miss Loewen (a.loewen@immanuelchristianschool.net)
A great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Rachel Cameron (Dec. 21)! Rachel is turning 7, and we wish her a great year ahead!
Memory Work: for January will be a story for storytelling (Public Speaking)
As you read storybooks over the Christmas break lay some stories aside that you think may be great for storytelling. Bring them to school after the Christmas break for approval. Stories should be 3 to 5 minutes long. You may edit a story for appropriate words to use and also to make it the right length. More information about storytelling will be given after the Christmas break.
Dictation Quiz on Thursday, December 17.
Spelling words grade 2: candy, went, sent, take, like, puppy, time, didn’t, by, my, Merry, Christmas
Spelling words grade 3: awful, called, falling, mall, small, straw, drawing, strongest, longer, song, along, bought, brought, rough, tough, Merry, Christmas
Accelerated reader: Many students are already exceeding or almost at their goal! Because you have been reading so much, I will be sending home adjusted goals in January.
We will have library class this Thursday, so please bring in your books!
Student of the Week: Our student of the week is Kahlen Hiebert (Dec 14-17). Our first student of the week when we return will be Phoebe Sinke (Jan 4 - 8).
Class Celebration: On Thursday, December 17, we will be having a class celebration before the holidays. Please remember to bring a finger food snack item to share with your classmates!
A reminder list of things to bring to school:
  • your skates, helmet, and gloves for school skate on Thursday
What does Christmas mean to you? Journal Reflection Highlights from Grade 2/3 :
  • “We call it Christmas because of the first six letters, Christ.”
  • “Christmas is God’s promise answered.”
  • “Christmas is about love, faith, and hope.”
  • “Christmas means that we can give gifts and make people happy.”

GRADES 3 and 4 – Ms. Buma (t.buma@immanuelchristianschool.net)
Thurs. Dec. 17 - Spelling Dictation, Unit 12 - Grade 3 words are: awful, called, falling, mall, small, straw, drawing, strongest, longer, song, along, bought, brought, rough, tough, shawl, soft
Grade 4 words are: anyone, however, everything, himself, birthday, herself, somewhere, afternoon, chalkboard, daydream, downstairs, grandparents, breakfast, outfield, scarecrow, nobody, dragonfly, keyboard, upside down, understand
Accelerated Reader: Students are now reading towards their Second Term goals. Be sure to set a steady, weekly reading pace, girls and boys, towards your next goal due date (which seems far off)...Wed. March 2!
Student of the Week: This week’s Student of the Week is Josiah Kroondyk. After the Christmas Break; Aryanna Lockyer.
Class Celebration: On Thursday, Dec. 17, we will be having a class celebration before the holidays. Please remember to bring your food item to share with your classmates.
A Reminder List of Things to Bring to School
  • library books that are due, and any completed AR books
  • a storybook (Grade 3) you are thinking of using for storytelling
  • a poem, minimum of 16 lines (Grade 4) you are thinking of using for poetry recitation
  • your skates and gloves for school skate on Thursday

Christmas Thoughts:
Gavin Hibbert - What I Like About Christmas Time
I like that it is Jesus’ birthday. And I like that we get to open presents. I like that we get to set up the Christmas tree and Christmas lights. I like all the different Christmas decorations. And I like going to my Grandpa’s and Grandma’s house for Christmas.
Dylan Rempel - Some Things We Do At Christmas
At Christmas time we decorate our Christmas tree. It is so fun. We put a star up at the top of the tree. Every year I get some presents. We enjoy Christmas together. My Dad and I put Christmas lights up. They’re white lights. I think Christmas is spectacular!
Eden Shelton - How My Family Celebrates Christmas
On Christmas Eve, my Grandpa and my step Grandma, my Mom and my sister, and my friends, Wendy and Ed come over. We have appetizers. And while we have appetizers, we read the story of Jesus’ birth. Then we play some games and then we open up our presents. I sing Silent Night and I play on the piano. I enjoy singing God’s Word. Merry Christmas to all!
Marcel Guenther - My Thoughts About Christmas
On Christmas Eve, we have a chocolate fondue. Our aunt and uncle come over . We have fun together. On Christmas Day, we go to the table and see what is in our stockings. And I know the real meaning of Christmas. It is that Jesus came into the world as a little human baby. One day he would grow up to become our Saviour. Merry Christmas!
Aryanna Lockyer - What We Do At Christmas
We all get one big present at Christmas and some stocking presents too! We also get presents for the kids at the doctor’s. I like to think about Christmas. It is a celebration. It is the birthday of Jesus. He is our Saviour. At Christmas, we give presents to each other because Jesus is a present for us. There is a rule that says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” It is a golden rule because it is for everyone. And I want to say to everyone, have a Merry Christmas!
Xavier Bergen - How Our Family Celebrates Christmas
At Christmas, we have to wait until everyone gets up. It drives me crazy. But it is fun, because we get presents. We get to decorate the tree and in the morning we make Christmas tree pancakes. They are very, very good! We take turns putting candles on top of the pancakes. It is fun to celebrate Christmas, when Jesus was born.
Noria Atkinson - What I Like About Christmas
What I like about Christmas is to open presents and to eat my Grandma’s dessert. But Christmas is much more than presents and dessert. It’s really about Jesus’ birth. Here’s a little bit about Christmas.
An angel appeared to Mary. The angel’s name was Gabriel. He said, “You will have a son named Jesus. He is the King of kings, King of heaven and earth!” Mary would be married to Joseph. Joseph had to go to Bethlehem because he had to be listed in the census from the emperor, Caesar Augustus. When they got to Bethlehem, it was dark. And there was no room in the inn. The innkeeper saw that Mary was pregnant so he offered them his stable. And the baby was born right there in the stable! They placed him in a manger because they had no bed for him. Jesus, the Saviour, is the reason why we can have Christmas!
Samuel Peters - Why We Celebrate Christmas  
We celebrate Christmas on December 25th. We are celebrating Jesus’ birth. He came to earth. He was a little boy who grew up to be our Saviour. He forgives us for our sins. He died on the cross to forgive us. We give presents to each other so we can remember that Jesus gave us his gift of forgiveness. We will not forget what he did for us. Merry Christmas!
*Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a fun and a safe holiday! See you in 2016!

GRADE 5 and 6 – Ms. Jones (k.jones@immanuelchristianschool.net)

Spelling: List 11 -  surrounded, skiing, swimming, loving, studied, traveling, carried, trading, bragged, worried, beginning, exciting, finished, laughed, quickest, weaker, tiniest, lonelier.
L.A.: Grammar worksheets due Wednesdays.
Christmas Exchange: Please plan to bring a small gift for a gift exchange by Thursday Dec. 17th.
Triple Ball Tournament: The Grade 6’s represented the school well with skill growth and attitude! Great work!!

GRADE 7 and 8 – Mr. TenBruggencate (e.tenbruggencate@immanuelchristianschool.net)

Please see our class wiki page (linked from the ICS website, https://immanuelchristianschool.wikispaces.com)


Memory Work: for January will be Public Speaking.
There will be a Mathematics test on Unit 5: Percent on Thursday, January 7th.
A representative from the East Elgin Secondary School Guidance Department was in last Friday to talk to those students in grade 8 interested in hearing more about EESS for grade 9 next September.   These students took home a course selection booklet and registration form.  For parents and students interested there will an open house help on Tuesday, January 12 at 7p.m. at the high school.  Registrations forms are due in our office by Tuesday, Jan 19th.
I wish the grade 7&8 students and their families a safe and joyous Christmas vacation. See you in 2016!
Please see the Aylmer Express for 4 other grade 7/8 Christmas compositions! One other is printed below:

What Christmas Means to Me        
Christmas is celebrated all around the world. It is the day that we celebrate Jesus’ coming into the world. To me Christmas means a lot. It means that a Saviour has come into the world. For others it may mean something else such as just hanging out with friends and family.
Christmas has many exciting aspects. One of my personal favourites is all the excitement that fills the air. People are in better moods and are constantly saying encouraging things like,”Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.” I also love to go caroling around our neighborhood.
But what is the meaning of Christmas? There are many different views on Christmas. Some prefer to not celebrate it at all. Others simply love Christmas. I’m sure that many of you if you were asked the true meaning of Christmas, you would reply without a hesitation, “Why, it’s about the birth of Jesus Christ.” We may say it, but we might not live it.
Christmas tends to bring people together, depending on what you do. If you use Christmas as an excuse to go shopping and spend time away from friends and family, you will not become closer, instead you will drift apart.
Christmas is the most important event in history. It’s the event that brings a Saviour into the world. But we shouldn’t focus just on Christmas. What happens after Jesus is born? Does He just lie in a stable for the rest of His life? No, He grows up and goes around the world, teaching and healing. When the time came, He gave up his life to save the entire world from a terrible destiny. Three days after being crucified, He rose from His grave and appeared to His disciples. When He went back to heaven, He instructed His followers to teach others the way that He had taught them.
That to me is the entire Christmas story! Jennifer Klassen grade 8