9.17.12

-->Mrs. Walters’ Blog News for the week of September 17, 2012

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
(Psalm 9:1-2)

As we begin a new week, I am reminded of the gift of life that God has given us and praise God for the precious birth of Elise Hope, born last Monday on September 10 to Jeremy and Trisha Iford.  She weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long and Trish said she is doing well!   New big sisters Alaina and Addie in our class were so excited to tell us all about their new sister.  Brother Levi, is happy to now be a big brother too.  We are so excited for your family and we praise God for a strong and healthy baby girl!!  Please join me in praying that Addie and Alaina’s family will have a smooth transition to their growing family! 

I am also reminded this week of God’s plan for each of us, and the gift of life each day that we’ve been given.  Please be in prayer for the VerBeek family, as Lindy, a graduate of ZCS and mother of 3, died Friday morning at the age of 35 after battling cancer. She leaves behind a husband and three children, including twins in our preschool program. Even though they rejoice that she is now with her Lord and Savior, they also have many tough days and years ahead. Our class has been praying for the VerBeek family for the past few weeks.  Please join me, and the ZCS community, in praying for the family, asking God to cover them with his strength, love, and peace.

I pray that God would continue to guide and direct you throughout the week as  you seek to serve him and live a life of worship and praise!

Here are some other details to keep in mind this week:

Google Calendar: There are a few field trips coming up in the next couple of weeks for different grade levels.  I have included a link to a Google calendar on our blog that will enable you to view upcoming SHC field trips, parties, meetings, and other events.  I have added currently scheduled field trips and will continue to update it. 

Field Trips: 

Upcoming Trips:

9/21- 5^th Grade- Civil War Muster (“Home” day)

9/24- 2^nd Grade- Crane’s Orchard and picnic lunch- bring sack lunch

9/26- 3^rd Grade- Van Raalte Farm- Plants on the Move

10/3- 3^rd Grade- Outdoor Discovery Center- Native American Study

If your child is planning to attend one of the trips and it will take place on a home day, teachers have asked to know if your child is attending the field trip at least one week before the trip for planning or driving purposes.  Please e-mail me if your child will be going on the trip and I’ll let that classroom teacher know.  Also, if you haven’t turned in the grade level activity fee, please make a check out to ZCS as soon as possible. 

VIP- Very Important Person!  This year, when your child celebrates his/her birthday, or half-birthday, we will be celebrating the Very Important Person that God has made by having a VIP week, and a special day during that week when your child may share birthday treats.  I will be sending home a note for each child with his/her selected VIP week and ideas for ways your child may want to share more about him/herself!

Online Social Studies website:  There have been a few changes made to the MC3 online Social Studies website for all teachers, as you, and many teachers have found.  It is still possible to access the online curriculum, but it requires a few extra “clicks”.  If you have already sent a flash drive to school, I have copied the curriculum for your child onto the flash drive.  Look for the flash drive in the red SHC folder on Monday.  You will also find directions for copying the flash drive info to your child’s desktop.  This will give you instant access to the lessons and supplemental materials (handouts) without having to download it.

Volunteer Information:  Thank you for your wonderful support and willingness to volunteer in many ways, both at home and at school to help our classroom run efficiently!  I will be contacting you soon with volunteer opportunities and possible days or ways to serve!  You are a blessing!

Book Order: Book order forms for each grade level were sent home at the parent information meeting.  If you would like to place a book order, please send the completed order form (or forms for multiple booklets) with a check made out to Julie Walters (not Scholastic, or ZCS) by Wednesday.   An online order form will soon be available to choose as an option to place future orders, but for now, please send the order form and check/cash to school.

This week’s blog post/newsletter is full of important information.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding any of the details!  My prayer this week is that we will continue to show the characteristic of  “Cheerfulness” in our classroom, as we have been talking about character qualities that Jesus modeled for us and that we want to develop through the work of the Holy Spirit living in us.  Our “Word of the Week” last week was “Cheerfulness” as we reflected on Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine”.  Each month throughout the year, we will reflect on different character qualities of Jesus and how we can model these both at home and in the classroom. 

Have a great week!

Mrs. Walters