Mrs. Walters’ Blog News for the week of October 29 - November 2, 2012
"Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation." Joel 1:3 I pray that each generation would leave a legacy of faith to the next generation!
Dear Parents,
I am looking forward to meeting several grandparents on Friday for Grandparent Day! If I have not yet heard from you letting me know about our family’s plans for this special day, please let me know!
Schedule:
All school Chapel for grades K-8
9:10-9:15 Welcome from Mr. Van Dyk
9:15-10:00 Chapel
10:00-10:20 Coffee with staff
10:20-11:30 Visit any classroom
11:30-12:00 Lunch with grandchildren in the classrooms- or SHC children may be dismissed with their grandparent at this time.
Parent – Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, Nov. 19 and Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 4:00-8:30 pm. Scheduling will be online from Nov. 1-12. Be sure to sign up by 10:00 pm on Nov. 12 as the system will close after that time. Virtual Paragon (the conference system) can be accessed from a link on the ZCS home page at www.zcs.org. The school’s master password will be mailed to you along with general directions. You will be able to use the same username and password that you used in the spring if you asked the system to save your information. Parents new to the system will have an opportunity to set up an account. If you have any questions please contact Barb Rininger at
879-0301.
ZCS will be having full days of school on both Monday and Tuesday; however, SHC parents are welcome to sign up for a conference time during the day on Tuesday, as well as the evening options.
School Picture retakes will be held on November 8. Pictures that were taken earlier will be available for viewing soon, which will give you the opportunity to pursue retakes if you wish.
Friday, November 16- First Grade Thanksgiving Feast- at school with all of the ZCS first grade students. Please let me know if your child is planning to attend.
I am in the process of adding new website links and songs to our SHC Google Site. Each week I will attach this Blog note to the website as well. The link is:
Link: https://sites.google.com/a/zcs.org/university-model-program-mrs-walters/
I will also be adding additional photos from our Writer's Celebration to our site as well!
Upcoming Dates:
November 2- Grandparents Day
November 9- Report Cards will be posted
November 13- Fall Elementary Musical program at Community Reformed Church. Students should arrive at Community no earlier than 6:45 in the gym and find their classroom teacher.
November 19-20- Parent Teacher Conferences- Evenings/ School is in session
November 21-23- Thanksgiving Vacation- No School
You and your families continue to be in my prayers!
Blessings,
Mrs. Walters
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
A few notes for Friday, Oct. 26, 2012
Dear Parents, October 25, 2012
I wanted to let you know that I've loaded the song, "66 Books of the Bible" to the SHC google site - see the "music" tab on the side bar. You'll notice the song is listed in 2 different formats. The top format is one that you can simply "play" and listen, without downloading, which is nice for students to listen to - without adding a lot of downloaded "stuff" to either your family computer, or to their laptop. The second format will require you to download the song, which you may do if you choose.
I will be working to add songs to this page on the google site so students can access music that we sing in class to reinforce/enrich our curriculum!
Also, I sent home a "Time for Kids" election packet for older grades. This is an optional packet of information, to be used as extra credit during these few weeks prior to the election. We will be covering the electoral college in detail and connecting this directly to the actual election. Feel free to use this material as supplemental material. If your child did not receive this packet and you'd like to work on it together with your child, I'll be happy to sent one home, just let me know!
We have had a wonderful week at school together! Thank you to the parents who brought treats and juice boxes to school for our celebration! The kids were excited to "toast" each other before listening to each others' stories! I am so excited to see students' wonderful writing and presentation of their stories today! We had a great celebration this morning and students read their stories using a microphone to everyone in class! i have pictures of each student and I'll be adding those to our blog and/or google site soon! Also, students did an amazing job creating commercials this week - we have a few yet to hear/see on Monday.
We are also working to finalize the science posters- using the laptop application Kidspiration to organize information at a very basic level to introduce the application using curriculum; as well as using a "pencil and paper" type format with posters too. I'm very happy with the dual formats for their work. Next week, we'll introduce another application, "Pages" to create a brochure highlighting details of a region of the U.S.
i have received a few pictures of grandparent's reading from students. They are great! If you haven't yet sent these to school, please do so next week. Feel free to e-mail a picture if that is more convenient. I'd be happy to print it at school. Also, you will notice 4 yellow "Grandparents Day" handouts in your child's red folder- 2 for grandmas and 2 for grandpas. These will be added to your child's spiritual journal. It is not necessary to return to school before Grandparents Day, or whether or not your child will be attending Grandparents Day. We at ZCS, are working to be intentional to foster opportunities to help families leave a legacy of faith to their children and grandchildren. These yellow interview sheets are a wonderful way for grandparents to share their heart for their grandchildren. Feel free to mail it to out-of-town grandparents, asking them to return them when complete so children can bring them back to school. Thank you so much for your help to add this special piece of a faith story for your child!
Blessings for a great weekend!
Julie
I wanted to let you know that I've loaded the song, "66 Books of the Bible" to the SHC google site - see the "music" tab on the side bar. You'll notice the song is listed in 2 different formats. The top format is one that you can simply "play" and listen, without downloading, which is nice for students to listen to - without adding a lot of downloaded "stuff" to either your family computer, or to their laptop. The second format will require you to download the song, which you may do if you choose.
I will be working to add songs to this page on the google site so students can access music that we sing in class to reinforce/enrich our curriculum!
Also, I sent home a "Time for Kids" election packet for older grades. This is an optional packet of information, to be used as extra credit during these few weeks prior to the election. We will be covering the electoral college in detail and connecting this directly to the actual election. Feel free to use this material as supplemental material. If your child did not receive this packet and you'd like to work on it together with your child, I'll be happy to sent one home, just let me know!
We have had a wonderful week at school together! Thank you to the parents who brought treats and juice boxes to school for our celebration! The kids were excited to "toast" each other before listening to each others' stories! I am so excited to see students' wonderful writing and presentation of their stories today! We had a great celebration this morning and students read their stories using a microphone to everyone in class! i have pictures of each student and I'll be adding those to our blog and/or google site soon! Also, students did an amazing job creating commercials this week - we have a few yet to hear/see on Monday.
We are also working to finalize the science posters- using the laptop application Kidspiration to organize information at a very basic level to introduce the application using curriculum; as well as using a "pencil and paper" type format with posters too. I'm very happy with the dual formats for their work. Next week, we'll introduce another application, "Pages" to create a brochure highlighting details of a region of the U.S.
i have received a few pictures of grandparent's reading from students. They are great! If you haven't yet sent these to school, please do so next week. Feel free to e-mail a picture if that is more convenient. I'd be happy to print it at school. Also, you will notice 4 yellow "Grandparents Day" handouts in your child's red folder- 2 for grandmas and 2 for grandpas. These will be added to your child's spiritual journal. It is not necessary to return to school before Grandparents Day, or whether or not your child will be attending Grandparents Day. We at ZCS, are working to be intentional to foster opportunities to help families leave a legacy of faith to their children and grandchildren. These yellow interview sheets are a wonderful way for grandparents to share their heart for their grandchildren. Feel free to mail it to out-of-town grandparents, asking them to return them when complete so children can bring them back to school. Thank you so much for your help to add this special piece of a faith story for your child!
Blessings for a great weekend!
Julie
Sunday, October 21, 2012
10.22.12-10.26.12
“These are the commands,
decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to
teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that
you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and
commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so
that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land
flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord,
the God of your ancestors, promised you.
4 Hear,
O Israel: The Lord our God,
the Lord is one. 5 Love
the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These
commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about
them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down
and when you get up. 8 Tie them
as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your
houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy
6:1-9
Dear Parents,
I am passionate about not
only continuing to develop the partnership that we share as we strive toward
academic excellence, but also coming along side you, as parents, to nurture and
equip your children in their faith journey! I consider the Deuteronomy passage to be one that challenges
me personally as a parent, but also as a teacher, to be used by God to foster
spiritual growth and disciplines in my students, your children. I count it a privilege as well as a
great responsibility to share God, his son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit with
your children so that they may “love the Lord THEIR God with all their heart,
soul and strength.”
I hope that your family
enjoyed a wonderful long weekend together! Last week Thursday and Friday, I attended the CEA/MANS
convention in Grand Rapids. The theme for the weekend was
"Celebrating the Past ~ Looking Toward the Future". I was reminded through video testimonials of the generations of students who have been given the gift of a Christian education and the legacy those who have come before our students are leaving for the future generations. I was
also challenged and inspired by great speakers as I attended many sectionals. I am excited to
continue to work to strengthen the use of technology in the SHC program, as this
generation of students will become more and more adept as they use technology
in every facet of their lives!
You and your families
continue to be in my prayers!
Blessings,
Mrs. Walters
Here is the School/Home
Collaborative and ZCS news and notes for the week!
Follow the School/Home
Collaborative program on the new Google site link!
Take a look at the new
Google SHC site, which includes website suggestions which compliment the
curriculum, SHC Weekly newsletters, link to the blog, as well as photos of
students.
Grandparents Day- Friday,
November 2: Grandparents Day is a wonderful time
for both students and grandparents as they celebrate this special day together!
If your child(ren) is/are planning to attend, please let me know
by Friday! Schedule:
All school Chapel for grades K-8
9:10-9:15 Welcome from Mr. Van Dyk
9:15-10:00 Chapel
10:00-10:20 Coffee with staff
10:20-11:30 Visit any classroom
11:30-12:00 Lunch with grandchildren in the classrooms- or SHC children may be dismissed with their grandparent at this time.
All school Chapel for grades K-8
9:10-9:15 Welcome from Mr. Van Dyk
9:15-10:00 Chapel
10:00-10:20 Coffee with staff
10:20-11:30 Visit any classroom
11:30-12:00 Lunch with grandchildren in the classrooms- or SHC children may be dismissed with their grandparent at this time.
Please remember to
bring in pictures of grandparents reading! We would love to display many
pictures of their grandparents reading books, newspapers, Bibles, etc. in their
favorite chair, spot, etc. These can be posed or spontaneous shots, and can be
of various sizes. They may be pictures of only the grandparents reading, or can
include their grandchildren in the picture as well! We will display the pictures either outside our door or
inside our classroom. We are hoping this will not only be a fun thing for
grandparents to see, but will also show our children that enjoyment of reading
is a lifelong pleasure. Please send in your pictures by this week by
Thursday, October 25!
School Picture retakes
will be held on November 8. Pictures that were taken earlier will be available
for viewing soon, which will give you the opportunity to pursue retakes if you
wish.
Parents of 4th-7th Graders: The ZCS Destination Imagination program is about to kick off for the year. Student “try-out” forms are due back on Oct. 24. The success of the program, though, depends on parent coaches. If you are wondering what is involved in being a DI coach, please attend a brief informational meeting with Mr. Joustra in Conference Room 50 on Monday, Oct. 22, at either 2:40 or 3:40.
Book-It! We are wrapping up the October Book It reading goal at the end of the
month. As your child completes the
pizza goal sheet, please send it to school to redeem the Pizza Hut coupon for a
free personal pan pizza! Great job
students!
Field Trips: Stay
up to date with the Google calendar posted on the blog.
Friday, November 16- First Grade Thanksgiving Feast- at school with all of the ZCS first grade
students. Please let me know if
your child is planning to attend.
Parent – Teacher
Conferences will be held on Monday, Nov. 19 and Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 4:00-8:30
pm. Scheduling will be online
from Nov. 1-12. Be sure to sign up by 10:00 pm on Nov. 12 as the system will
close after that time. Virtual Paragon (the conference system) can be accessed
from a link on the ZCS home page at www.zcs.org.
The school’s master password will be mailed to you along with general
directions. You will be able to use the same username and password that you
used in the spring if you asked the system to save your information. Parents
new to the system will have an opportunity to set up an account. If you have
any questions please contact Barb Rininger at
879-0301.
ZCS will be having full days
of school on both Monday and Tuesday; however, SHC parents are welcome to sign
up for a conference time during the day on Tuesday, as well as the evening
options.
Note
ZCS Calendar Date Change: In March, 2013: We will have off from school on Monday, March 4, for Parent/Teacher
Conferences, not Tuesday, March 5. Please make this change on your calendars.
Upcoming Dates:
November 2-
Grandparents Day
November 13- Fall Elementary Musical program at Community Reformed
Church
November 19-20- Parent Teacher Conferences- Evenings/ School is in
session
November 21-23- Thanksgiving Vacation- No School
Have a great week!
Mrs. Walters
Sunday, October 14, 2012
October 15-17, 2012
Mrs. Walters’ Blog News for the week of October
15-18, 2012
“Oh, the depth
of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond
tracing out! Who has known the
mind of the Lord? Or who has been
his counselor? Who has ever given
to God, that God should repay him?
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!
Amen.” Romans 11:33-36
It is my
prayer for each child, that as they continue to grow and learn, they will
be filled with wisdom that comes from God. When I think of the mind of the Lord, I realize that he, our
all-knowing God, has given us the rich gift to fill our minds with thoughts
focused on Him in praise, as well as the privilege of learning and growing! What an awesome God we serve!
Enjoy the short week and your long weekend!
Blessings!
Mrs. Walters
Here is this week’s news
and notes!
Grandparent/Grand-friend
Day- November 2: Please let me know if your child and adults will be
attending the Friday, Nov. 2 activities!
Our SHC classes will have a shortened morning of activities, and will
dismiss at 11:30. Students may
leave with their grand friends, or you may pick them up at that time.
We have received a
challenge to have students bring in pictures of grandparents reading! The plan is to have your children to
bring in pictures of their grandparents reading books,
newspapers, Bibles, etc. in their favorite chair, spot, etc. These can be posed
or spontaneous shots, and can be of various sizes. They may be pictures of only
the grandparents reading, or can include their grandchildren in the picture as
well! We will display the pictures
either outside our door or inside our classroom. We are hoping this will
not only be a fun thing for grandparents to see, but will also show our
children that enjoyment of reading is a lifelong pleasure. Please send in your pictures by
October 25!
Doors will be locked:
For security reasons, Zeeland Christian staff will be locking
all of the exterior doors to our school after 9:00 a.m. except for one door in
the preschool, one door behind school on the south side, which is in the middle
school area by the Walcott Memorial, and one door in the front of school by the
flagpole. Please make a note of this. If you come to school after 9:00, you'll
need to use one of these doors.
Curriculum Notes:
Social
Studies- We are continuing The
Election Process presentations and debate for the “First Cat” or “First Dog” in
the White House. We will be soon
transitioning to the actual 2012 election.
Book-It! Keep up the great work reading for the Book-It incentive! For only 15 minutes of reading per day,
your child can easily win a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut! It is also a great way to encourage a
wonderful love for reading! As
soon as your child completes the Pizza Hut incentive chart, he/she may turn it
in for a coupon for a personal pan pizza!
Note
Date Change: In March, 2013: We will
have off from school on Monday, March 4, for Parent/Teacher Conferences, not
Tuesday, March 5. Please make this change on your calendars.
Upcoming Dates:
October 18-19- CEA Teachers Convention- No School Thursday or
Friday
November 2- Grandparents Day- The SHC classes will meet on Nov.
2 (Fri) for an abbreviated morning schedule to celebrate Grandparents Day!
November 13- Fall Elementary Musical program at Community Reformed
Church
November 19-20- Parent Teacher Conferences- Evenings/ School is in
session
November 21-23- Thanksgiving Vacation
Have a great week!
Blessings,
Mrs. Walters
Sunday, October 7, 2012
October 8-12, 2012
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Mrs. Walters’ Blog News for the week of October
8-12, 2012
“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD
himself, is the Rock eternal.” ~ Isaiah 26:4
One of my favorite
devotional books is Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young. Through this author, God reminds me of
his great love, and his desire that we enjoy a deep, personal relationship with
him. The October 6 message reminds
me again of the theme verse for the School/Home Collaborative program, Proverbs
3:6. I am reminded that
Jesus calls us to follow him wholeheartedly, “with glad anticipation quickening
our pace”.
As the SHC program is now in it's second year, I wait with eager anticipation and look forward to seeing God's plan to grow and shape
the program. Please continue to
pray with me for God’s guidance as we seek to meet the needs of students and
partner closely with you, such supportive parents. We are excited about the amazing potential for growing collaboration
and the resources in technology, which will help students blossom as independent
learners.
Have a great week!
Blessings!
Mrs. Walters
Here is this week’s news
and notes!
Curriculum Notes:
Social
Studies- The Election Process: You
will notice a change in the lesson plan format this week. We are excited to begin a PBL unit on
the election process. We will be
doing this as a whole class using laptops and online resources. We will take a break from the MC3
curriculum, incorporating news about the current election process and learning
more about our government and our role as citizens.
Science- In addition, because the new Science units in both
2nd and 4th grade are similar in topic, we will also be
learning as a whole group, incorporating materials from both the 2nd
and 4th grade curriculum for all students in addition to other
resources.
Field Trips: Stay
up to date with the Google calendar posted on the blog.
First grade students will be
going to the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum this week Friday morning from
8:45-12:30.
Just a reminder: When a
field trip falls on a “school” day, please plan that your child will attend the
event with the students in our class from their grade, as well as students in
the traditional classes. However,
if a trip is planned and it falls on a “home” day, students and parents may
choose whether or not to participate.
Teachers have asked to know if your child is attending the field trip at
least one week prior to the trip for planning and driving purposes. Please e-mail me if your child will be
going on the trip so I can let that classroom teacher know and help arrange
transportation.
Book-It! I have noticed many of the students have already begun the Book-It
reading program. For only 15
minutes of reading per day, your child can easily win a free personal pan pizza
from Pizza Hut! It is also a great
way to encourage a wonderful love for reading! As soon as your child completes the Pizza Hut incentive
chart, he/she may turn it in for a coupon for a personal pan pizza!
Note
Date Change: In March, 2013: We will
have off from school on Monday, March 4, for Parent/Teacher Conferences, not
Tuesday, March 5. Please make this change on your calendars.
Upcoming Dates:
October 18-19- CEA Teachers
Convention- No School
November 2- Grandparents
Day- The SHC classes will meet on Nov. 2 (Fri) for an abbreviated morning
schedule to celebrate Grandparents Day!
Have a great week!
Blessings,
Mrs. Walters
Monday, October 1, 2012
October 1-5, 12
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Mrs. Walters’ Blog News for the week of October
1-5, 2012
“The glorious God is the only Ruler,
the King of kings and Lord of lords…God will be honored and his power will last
forever.”
I Timothy 6:15-17
I love to be reminded of
God’s promises for us, his dearly loved children! I pray that you will be touched by His power and His
presence this week, and that you will see God as our amazing Ruler and
King! I am in awe, that even as
our all-powerful King, he deeply desires to have a wonderful relationship with
each one of us. I love the
devotional Jesus Calling, and a
complement devotional Jesus Calling For Kids. In it, author
Sarah Young reminds us that God wants us to come to him…to come, draw near, and
he will give us a quiet place to rest, and that He has the power to take care
of us!
I pray that God will shower
you with His blessings this week as you seek to follow Him, to be in the palm
of His hand, and reach out to others!
Blessings!
Mrs. Walters
Here is the upcoming news
and notes! Also if you are not
receiving the ZCS Blue Note on a weekly basis, please let the office staff
know!
School Pictures- Make up
day is November 8. Pictures that were taken today will be available for
viewing in the next few weeks, which will give you the opportunity to pursue
retakes if you wish.
Field Trips: Stay
up to date with the Google calendar posted on the blog.
Upcoming Trips:
10/3- 3rd Grade-
Outdoor Discovery Center- Native American Study (Wednesday)
10/12- 1st Grade-
Grand Rapids Children museum (Friday- AM)
Just a reminder: When a
field trip falls on a “school” day, please plan that your child will attend the
event with the students in our class from their grade, as well as students in
the traditional classes. However,
if a trip is planned and it falls on a “home” day, students and parents may
choose whether or not to participate.
Teachers have asked to know if your child is attending the field trip at
least one week prior to the trip for planning and driving purposes. Please e-mail me if your child will be
going on the trip so I can let that classroom teacher know and help arrange
transportation.
PBL- Mini-Lesson: Thank you for attending the PBL sharing time today! It was such a joy to watch all of the
students- your kids- interact with you and the other parents, as well as and
grow in their confidence as they shared their learning! Thank you for continuing to show your
support by coming to your child’s learning celebrations!
Book-It! I have noticed many of the students have already begun the Book-It
reading program. For only 15
minutes of reading per day, your child can easily win a free personal pan pizza
from Pizza Hut! It is also a great
way to encourage a wonderful love for reading!
Math
Pentathlon is a fun, after school
program (Tuesday, 2:45-3:45 for middle school students, and 3:45-4:45 for
elementary) that begins October 9 and will run through mid-March. This is a
program for students of all abilities who enjoy playing games and some friendly
competition. Registration is from 9/19 through 9/28, and forms are available in
the office, in classrooms and outside of the Resource Room, in the front
hallway. Please contact Mrs. Patnott (ppatnott@zcs.org)
with any questions.
Online Social Studies
website: If you do not have the MC3 curriculum on your child’s
laptop, please let me know. I
believe that just about everyone has provided a flash drive for the information
and lessons!
Note
Date Change: In March, 2013: We will
have off from school on Monday, March 4, for Parent/Teacher Conferences, not
Tuesday, March 5. Please make this change on your calendars.
Upcoming Dates:
October 6- Pumpkin Parade-
This Saturday!
October 18-19- CEA Teachers
Convention- No School
November 2- Grandparents
Day- The SHC classes will meet on Nov. 2 (Fri) for an abbreviated morning
schedule to celebrate Grandparents Day!
Have a great week!
Blessings,
Mrs. Walters
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