Wednesday 20 December 2017

December 20th Journal, 2017


The ICS Journal

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Wednesday, December 20th, 2017

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  20th - ICS Christmas Celebration of Art & Music 8:50am & 7:00pm       
        21st - Hot Lunch - Pizza day
                  School Spirit - Pajama Pants day
                  School skate  2-3pm
       22nd - Jan 7th - Christmas Holidays   
Jan    8th - Return back to school
          9th - Girl’s Basketball Practise 3:30 - 4:45pm
        10th -  Chapel - Pastor Peter Barbour (changed)
                   Hot Lunch - Pizza day
        12th - Bluewater Science Challenge Workshop Day - LDCSS
                 - School skate 2-3pm
                - Girl’s exhibition games at LCES
        16th - Girl’s Basketball Practise 3:30 - 4:45pm
        17th - Chapel Gr 7/8 & Mrs. Ann Walters view from Israel
        19th - School Spirit Day - Summer Hawaii Day
                  New Family Information Night 7:00pm
       22nd - LDCSS study day (no classes)
       23rd - LDCSS exam day
                - Girl’s Basketball Practise 3:30 - 4:45pm
        24th - Chapel Gr 5/6
                  LDCSS study day (no classes)
       25th - LDCSS exam day
       26th - Early dismissal @ 2:00pm PA day - Art curriculum review
                  LDCSS marking day
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

Christian Schools Foundation (endowment): www.christianschoolfoundation.ca
From the Principal’s Desk:
Our ICS Christmas Celebration of Art & Music will take place
tonight at 7:00pm. We look forward to seeing our students as
school tonight at 6:30pm in their “ Sunday best” attire. Come
join us as we unwrap the “pieces of the nativity” with Jesus being
the best present of all.
I see parallels between the magi bringing their gifts to Christ, and our students using their gifts in visual art and music to glorify their God! I also note that gifts are meant to be shared, to be using in service, building God’s kingdom. Please invite guests to experience what ICS has to offer. That may be bringing a someone tonight. That may be inviting a friend to attend our New Family Information Night on Friday January 19th. God has blessed us as a community centred around Christian education, let’s let His light shine!

Blessings as you celebrate Christmas.

Yours in Christian education, Keith Cameron, Principal and Chief Operating Officer
Each week, during staff devotions we join in prayer for our parents and staff members. We invite you to do so as well.
Praying for our parents: Please pray for Bill & Sara Loewen as well as Lydia Loewen (currently in Belize visiting her parents)
Praying for our staff: Please pray for our Gr 2/3 Teacher, Ms. Amanda Loewen.

Hello Membership and ICS Community!  We want to update you on the Principal/COO search.  We are working to ensure that the Cameron family has a smooth transition as they finish up the school year with us, and working to ensure that our school, staff, families and students have a smooth and well thought out transition as we enter into the hiring process for a new COO.  All while keeping our vision of "building partnerships for the future of Christian education" in the forefront.  We trust God to guide us through this process and we thank God for the man he has brought forward and provided us as the COO for the past seven years, and for the heart of Amanda, as a staff member and a school advocate.  An ad for the available position has been posted - this is part of our due diligence and public awareness that yes, ICS has an opening for Principal/COO.  If you or someone you know is interested in applying for the Principal/COO position at ICS, please email search@immanuelchristianschool.net .   At this time, we ask you to pray for the important and timely process of building the Principal Search Committee (PSC).  Please pray that the proper individuals for the PSC will be chosen and are willing to consider this opportunity.  It is a full and exciting time to be a Board member here at the school right now!  We thank you for your support and the confidence you have trusted to each of us to complete this task.  We will continue to keep you updated on the search and thank you for your support through this adventure!
On behalf of the ICS Board, Jacklyn Versnick j.versnick@immanuelchristianschool.net

REMINDERS:
T.R.I.P: The next order will be sent out Jan 11th.
FYI - No Frills gift cards will no longer be accepted at the gas bar after December 31st.
School skate: Tomorrow Thursday Dec 21st 2-3pm. SK, gr. 1 and 2 students are required to wear helmets. All students are required to wear mitts or gloves. Parents are welcome!
Food Drive: Wowsa! The Missions Team wants to say a great big THANK YOU to everyone for their overwhelming support of this year's food drive. We were able to collect more items than any other year to help our local community! It was awesome to see how God can use us ALL to make a difference. Also, Thank you for all your donation of hats and mitts. Our tree was covered and overflowing with them! The winning classes will be announced before Christmas break.

Attention all Interior Key Holders: Effective Dec 22nd, we will be arming the office alarm after hours. Please see Keith or Tracey for the 2018 alarm code, or return unneeded keys.

Do you believe in the mission and vision of Immanuel Christian School?  Do you want to see this organization grow?  Do you often find yourself considering the best interest of ICS? If you, or someone you know answers YES! please submit your name(s) for nomination for the ICS Board of Directors.  Selected candidates will have a three year opportunity to be directly involved in the the future of Christian education in Aylmer and its surrounding area.  Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month, from 8p-10p.  It is an honour that as a Board member, the ICS community believes in you and your skill set enough that you will ultimately make a positive impact on the organization!  Contact h.friesen@immanuelchristianschool.net for more information or to submit nominations.
Sincerely, your current Board members: Dean Mantel, Tina Hiebert, Suzie Guenther, Chantelle Bakker, Keith Cameron, Rose Fehr, Helen Friesen, Carrie Vis, Jacklyn Versnick.

Chess: Gr 3-8 are invited to sign up for the Chess team right after 

Christmas. Practices will start on January 15th from 12:05-12:55pm.

Transportation for all High School Students: Since ICS has no school on Friday December 22nd, the bussing 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 there by 7:40am). The return trip home will be done in reverse leaving from the Dorchester arena after their school skate.
Corner of Hwy #3 & Carter Rd at 7:50am
ICS at 8:00am
End of Forest & Elm at 8:04am
Lyons at 8:15am
Andre Kroondyk home at 47000 Wilson Line at 8:25am
Belmont Arena 8:28am
Manning Drive 8:30am

*Transportation note - if you are texting your bus driver to report an absence, please make sure to include your childrens names.

Winter 2018 Electives Registration - Winter electives are programs for students in grades 4-8 that offer a wide range of activities for students to begin to explore and develop skills found in our community. The program runs for 5 weeks on Friday afternoons 1pm-3:15pm from Feb 2 to Mar 2. Each student needs to contribute $20 to cover costs. Students are requested to choose a first, second and third choice. 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. Forms will be sent home the first week in January.

Jump into Kindergarten! Children entering JK & SK are invited to experience the Kindergarten classroom at ICS. Children can enjoy the morning leaning letters, shapes, and numbers in a Christian setting. New families to ICS are welcome to attend 2 mornings and existing families may attend 1 morning. The program runs Feb 6, 8, 27th & March 1st from 8:30-11:30am. Please share with anyone who might be interested. Call to reserve a spot!

New Family Information Night: The new year will start our 2018 registration season. Our New Student/Family Information evening will be held on Friday Jan 19th 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 home an advertising poster and postcards for our Jump into Kindergarten program for selected families (church ambassadors). If your family has received 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 2018. Do you know any families interested in ICS? Invite them, and let the office know!

Sr. Girl’s Basketball:  The girls are to connect with Google Classroom for updates and scheduling. We are hoping to go to a Western Mustangs game on January 5th, the Friday before school starts. Our first exhibition game is scheduled for Friday, January 12th at London Christian Elementary School for all who can make it. We will try to leave by 3:15 so we can make it to LCES before 4:00 pm. There will be two games (LCES and Woodstock) which are scheduled to be done at 6:15pm. Rides will be confirmed in the new year.

I.C.S. BIANNUAL GOODS, SERVICES AND TALENT AUCTION - FEBRUARY 3, 2018
We need your DONATIONS!!!!  What can you donate???   Gift baskets, baked goods, house cleaning, babysitting, gift certificates or gourmet dinners.  The sky’s the limit!  Please consider donating an item or service or by making a cash donation.  Simply fill out a Donation Form and drop it off at the school office or, alternatively, send an email to jtvannoord@amtelecom.net.
Here’s an update of the donations received this week:
Themed Classroom Baskets
ICS staff hosting “Dinner at No. 11”, dinner party for 6-8.
Soup of the Month
Games Night with the Dykxhoorns and Zylstras
Principal for a Day
Farmhouse Clock
Wheels of Gouda Cheese
Vannoord Family “Mystery Dinner”
Front Row Seats at Graduation for 2018 and 2019
We will be having a complimentary Lasagna dinner!  Please REGISTER if you are attending dinner by emailing Tammie Vannoord at jtvannoord@amtelecom.net.  You will also be issued your Bidder Number upon registration.

FROM THE CLASSROOMS…

Peanut, Allergy, Food ...Reminder: Due to allergies,  no peanut-based products are allowed at school or on the buses. Additionally, we ask that you limit egg-based items in Kindergarten lunches including boiled eggs and cream salad dressings.

JR / SR KINDERGARTEN - Mrs. Penner (s.penner@immanuelchristianschool.net)
TONIGHT! Both JK and SK will sing Silent Night with grade 1 class. The JK/SK kids will be dismissed to sit with their parents right after their song.
Merry Christmas! I would like wish everyone a safe and joyful Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and His amazing love He has for us. I’ll be missing my kinders and I’ll be looking forward to seeing them in the new year!
GST Auction Classroom Gift Basket: Remember to bring in your $5.00 contribution towards our class Gift Basket for the Auction. Thank you!
Some of the things we are doing in Kindergarten.....
Bible: The Wise Men, (Matthew 2:1-23) The wise men sought Jesus and worshiped him.
SK word of the week: baby, Jesus Letter and sound of the week: Gg (due to the JK day snow days, we will repeat).
We now know: s, a, t, n, i, p, c, k, e, h, r, m, d, o & g.
This month’s math focus:
JK - Exploring numbers 1-20.
SK -We will finish up comparing heavy and light. Begin unit on Capacity: full and empty (How many cups of  water does it take to fill the small bucket compared to the big bucket?)

GRADE 1 and 2 - Ms. Pieters (m.pieters@immanuelchristianschool.net)
Blessed Christmas: May the Lord be very near to you all as you celebrate the gift of God … the birth of Jesus. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son… 1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us...
Storytelling: Thank you for helping your child find just the right story to tell. If you have chosen a story from home please bring the book(s) to school for approval. Please ensure that the story is not a rhyming story. 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. Thank you
GST Auction Classroom Gift Basket: Remember to bring in your $5.00 contribution towards our class Gift Basket for the Auction. Thank you!
Grade 2 Math: What a great time we have had working through our addition and subtraction unit! I would encourage each of you to do some Mathletics over the holidays, working especially on Live Mathletics. This will help you with knowing your math facts more fluently. Continue to practice regrouping as well. (For example: 734- 398)

I love Christmas because Jesus was born. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Jesus is our Saviour and our King. Jesus I love you forever and ever. Preston Bergen

I love Christmas for Jesus’ birth. I love Jesus. The family is happy.
God’s Son
Jesus is God’s son, His only son. Jesus is my Saviour. I love Jesus. God’s grace is powerful. Cameron Bokma

Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room in any houses. An angel came at night to the shepherds to tell them that baby Jesus was getting born. They went to the stable to see baby Jesus. They gave their hearts to Him. Right now I’m going to give my heart to Jesus. I love you Jesus. Jaidyn Dykxhoorn

I love Christmas because Jesus was born. Jesus was born in a stable. Then the Wisemen came with gifts to worship him. Give your heart to Jesus. Alexa Klassen

I love God because he made the snow and me. I love God, and Jesus, and me. Felicity Loewen

I love Jesus’ birthday because he is God’s son.

Christmas is about Jesus’ birthday. I love because Jesus is our Saviour. Jesus loves me. Brooklyn Rempel

Jesus is the King that God has given. He doesn’t have sin in His heart. Jesus is our Saviour and Jesus is God’s only son. I love Jesus because He loves me. For a present I give Jesus my heart. Claire Schuurman

Christmas was for a little baby. It was baby Jesus. Jesus had a birthday, Christmas. I love Jesus because he is the Son of God. Andrew Siemens

I love Christmas because it is Jesus’ birthday. Jesus saves us from our sin. I can pray for my oma. I am very happy that it is Christmas because it is special. Jesus loves us. Sawyer Sinke

Jesus Getting Born
God is the father. Jesus is the son. God is the Holy Spirit. He is the King of kings, and the Prince of peace. He doesn’t wear armour, he has love to share. He slept in a manger when he was born. He’s the Saviour. The wisemen and the shepherds came to see the baby. The wisemen gave gifts. The animals are lowing but Jesus did no crying. The angels are glad. Mary is glad. The shepherds are glad. The wiseman are glad. Joseph is glad. Everyone is glad even the animals seem glad. Jolene Bierman

Christmas is Jesus’ Birthday!!
Jesus was born in a stable. I love Jesus because he made the world. Christmas is about gifts that are made by your mind. By using your talents to bless others. I can draw a nice picture for others.  Zoe Dalm

Jesus was born on Christmas day. We can pray to Jesus every day. Travis Dykxhoorn

The Story of When Jesus is Born
Christmas is a special time because you celebrate when Jesus was born. I will give him myself. I will worship him. Give him the praise. Give him your heart. That’s a special gift. Jesus the King of kings was born in a manger, not a palace. He is not an earthly king but a Holy King. A special King! Hallelujah praise the Lord! I will praise His Name forever. I feel happy that Jesus came down to earth to be a baby and then he died for our sins! Jesus has no sin in his heart. Jesus is our Saviour and our best friend forever and ever. Jesus can love you very much too. Say that He is your King!
                             Elaina Kroondyk

Christmas is because of Jesus birth. Mary laid Jesus in a manger when he was born. I love Jesus because he first loved us. He never gives-up on us. I will give my heart to Christ Jesus. He can love everybody. Anna Lapadat

The true meaning of Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. Give Jesus your heart. Wyatt Manning

Christmas is about Jesus’ birthday. We can give our hearts to Jesus for a present. Bentley Milmine

Give your heart to Jesus. I love Jesus. God is my Saviour. God loves me. Wyatt Peters

Pray to the Lord! Worship Him!  Love Him! Jesus was born on Christmas day in a stable. His bed was a manger, where cows eat out of. Mary laid him in some hay. Jesus is God’s son. God sent his only son to us, to die on a cross, to save us from our sins.  Audrey VanGurp

GRADES 2 and 3 – Miss Loewen (a.loewen@immanuelchristianschool.net)
Image result for merry christmasMerry Christmas! I would like to thank you for all of your love and support throughout 2017! May God bless each family during this holiday time, as you change pace. May you always remember the reason for this season: Jesus coming to earth to make a way for us to be with the Father.
Storytelling: Many of you have already chosen your stories! The first week of January is a wonderful start to begin working on learning the story. It can be helpful for students to read the story multiple times, focusing on expression and thinking of possible actions they could do. Making picture cards to remember the main events of the story may also be helpful in the beginning stages of memorization. Please come to school with your story when we return to school in January.
Creation Studies: Our Creation Studies final project has been pushed into the new year (Thanks to our snow days!). We will wrap up our flight unit shortly after we get back!
Library: Remember to return your library books for tomorrow.
GST Auction Classroom Gift Basket: Remember to bring in your $5.00 contribution towards our class Gift Basket for the Auction. Thank you!

Grade 3 Math. Have you challenged your child to a multiplication math game - “multiplication war” or “clockwork”? We’ll have a quiz on our multiplication skills from 0 to 9 on Friday.
All about Christmas from Grade 2 and 3
  • “Christmas isn’t about getting presents. It’s one present. Jesus is the present.”Eleanor Saarloos
  • “Christmas is a family tradition. My family does bowls and presents.”Hollis Fehr
  • “I like Christmas break so we can spend time with our family.”Rosemary Voth
  • “I like Christmas break because it lets us spend a lot of time together.”Elizabeth Voth

GRADES 4 and 5 - Ms. Buma (t.buma@immanuelchristianschool.net)
Happy Birthday: We would like to wish Rachel Cameron and Shane Dykxhoorn a very Happy Birthday. Rachel is turning 9 years old on Thursday, Dec. 21, and Shane will be turning 9 years old on Tuesday, January 2. Happy Birthday Rachel, (tomorrow),  and Shane, (early into the new year).  May God richly bless each of you in your new year of life!
Spelling Dictations and Memory Work will resume in January of the new year.
*Memory Work in January will focus on Poetry Recitations, (Grade 4), and Speech Presentations, (Grade 5). Students will receive their Poetry and Speech Preparation envelopes early in the new year when they return to school. Poems in Grade 4 are required to be 16 lines or more. Speeches, on a student’s topic of choice, are required to be from 3 - 5 minutes.
*Poems and Speech Topics  require teacher approval.
French: Updated calendar and more details about upcoming events can be found on the 4/5 Wikispaces, merci!
Library Class: Remember to return your books for tomorrow, and sign out some new ones for your holiday reading.
Battle of the Books: You are making great progress! Keep on reading and returning your books so others can read them!
Accelerated Reader: Students brought home their AR Reports today.
*Secret Pal Gift Share: We are looking forward to our Secret Pal Gift Share tomorrow, Dec. 21.
GST Auction Classroom Gift Basket: If students have not already done so, they are requested to bring in their $5.00 contribution towards our classroom Gift Basket for the Auction early into the new year. Thank you!

Some Christmas Thoughts from Grades 4 & 5
Christmas Acrostic The Christmas Story ~ By: Avery Bergen
By: Connor Mantel Heard long ago
Christ is born Right when Jesus was
Holy
Risen In Bethlehem
Immanuel
Son of God Son of God
Trust Him
Messiah The Saviour, the
Amazing Jesus
Saviour Messiah

Always with us and he
    Love S us.  
No Room For Jesus Christmas
By: Rhodé Dalm By: Ryan Penner
There was no room for him at the INN, Christ our Saviour
and the world was waiting for him.
and his mother was not ready for him to come just yet. Herod, mean king
But then Joseph found a place to stay,
So he made a bed for Mary out of hay. Redeemer, Jesus
So then she could restfully lay,
And while they were there, Immanuel, forever
baby Jesus was born. Saviour, our Saviour .
So the world did not have to wait anymore! Teacher to us

Messiah

     All  perfect

     Son of God

Christmas is Jesus

By: Rachel Cameron
Christmas is Jesus, Christmas is love.
Jesus was born in a stable, Jesus is always able.
Mary and Joseph walked a long way, and finally, they found a place to stay.
The angels appeared to the shepherds and said,
“Glory to God in the highest heavens,”
And then they disappeared!
A big star appeared,
The Wise Men saw the star and followed it,
And then they gave their gifts to Jesus,
and he was blessed.
Christmas is Jesus. Jesus is love.
Merry Christmas, everyone!

GRADES 5 and 6 – Ms. Farrow Jones (k.farrowjones@immanuelchristianschool.net)

Bible: We are starting a new unit from Pentecost to Paul’s conversion. Title pages due at the end of Thursday’s class.
Math 5: Practise exponents on mathletics and online videos such as MathAntics and Khan Academy. We will be learning fractions in the New Year.
Math 6: Singapore TB 47-56 WB 45-49 Ex1,2 Due Thursday. Incomplete work will be sent home to finish.
LA: Spelling corrections due Thursday.
Writing: Students are working on Speeches. All work is linked to Google Classroom that can be accessed during the holidays. Requirements are: 3- 5 min. speech on a topic of choice. Format is designed to make a 4 paragraph essay: Intro/thesis, Paragraph 2, 3 and 4, with conclusion. One minute per paragraph is a good way to plan time. Three minutes is too short since students usually speak faster during presentation.
Reading: AR goals! ¼ of the way !
French: Updated calendar and more details about upcoming events can be found on the 5/6 Wikispaces, merci!
Battle of the Books: You are making great progress! Keep on reading and returning your books so others can read them!
Christmas Celebration and gift exchange Thursday, Dec. 21st. Please don’t forget so everyone can have a gift! Bring a cultural treat or celebration item to share with the class. It is pizza day as well.

GRADES 7 and 8 – Mr. Bierman (p.bierman@immanuelchristianschool.net)
EESS: There is an open house Jan 11th at 7:00pm for those with grade 8 students. The grade 8 students will also have an opportunity to meet with an EESS representative at 9:00am that morning at ICS.
LDCSS: Mr Buma from LDCSS will meet with the Gr 8 students at 9:00am on Jan 15th.
Christmas Banquet:  We will be celebrating our class Christmas banquet tomorrow. Thank you to the parent volunteers.  Speeches/Poems: Grade 7 is required to write a speech (3-5 minutes long) and Grade 8 has the option to write a speech or recite a poem. Come to school in January knowing what you will be presenting.
Art: Watercolour techniques!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbDawbOO8XY
Music: Band instruments need to be at school every Wednesday and Friday.
French: Updated calendar and more details about upcoming events can be found on the 7/8 Wikispaces, merci!
Battle of the Books: You are making great progress! Keep on reading and returning your books so others can read them!
Basketball Tournament Concession.  We’re looking forward to our senior basketball tournament on Tue 30 Jan at LDCSS! In addition to the tournament play, our 7/8 class has the opportunity to run the concession stand. The proceeds from the stand will go to offsetting the costs of our end of the year class trip.  Participation is not mandatory, but is encouraged. The profits will be divided equally among the participants. We’re still looking for a few parent volunteers to head up the concession - without volunteers, we will not be able to direct the profits towards the 7/8 class. Please let Mr Bierman or Mr Cameron know if you can help!