January 21-February 1, 2013

January 19, 2013

Dear Parents,

I am writing this note to you to share information pertaining to next week, January 21-25, and the following week, January 28-February 1.

I hope you have a wonderful long weekend and enjoy extra family time on Monday, as there is no school due to teacher training and inservice.  Second semester begins Tuesday, Jan. 22.  

Report cards will be posted to view for SHC students by February 1.  If you need assistance accessing your account, please contact the office for log-in information.

If you have any questions regarding lesson plans, please contact Morgan Gilman, mgilman@zcs.org, or questions regarding the SHC program, contact Jim Heeres, jheeres@zcs.org.  I will not be able to receive e-mail while out of town.  Thank you for your prayers for safety, health, and special family time while I’m on vacation!  We are very blessed to share in my parent’s 50^th anniversary celebration and praise God for their many years of marriage!

Here are a few things to keep in mind in the upcoming couple weeks:

Science: Sign-Up for Science presentation:  We will be wrapping up the study of Matter next week.  Students may sign up to present their project on either Wednesday, 1/29 or Thursday, 1/30.  Please remember that the assignment students will share will be a real-life scenario with a possible problem that needs to be solved and involving a concept from the unit. Using an experiment, demonstration, or activity, in addition to information learned from the unit, prepare a presentation for the class.  We are looking forward to hearing from each other!  After our presentations, we will begin a new study about energy.  See the February and March overview below and the corresponding text book material.

Looking ahead:  Science units of study:

February:  

Grade 2 text book: Unit 10- Energy and Magnets

Grade 4 text book: Unit 9- Energy

Grade 5  text book. Unit 14- Light and Sound

 March:

Grade 2 Text book: Unit 6-  Earth’s Resources

Grade 4 Text book Unit 11- Motion

Grade 5 Text book Unit 7- Natural Resources

Bible Memory:  We will be wrapping up the John 3 passage next on 1/29/ or 1/30 week.  See the blog for assessment details.  

The new memory work passage will be I Peter 5: 6-10:

 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith,because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Magazine Sale:  The magazine sale is in full swing.  If you have booklets to turn in, please bring them to school on Thursday, so we can bring them to Mrs. Schafer by Friday.  There are 2 more turn-in dates for the booklets- this Friday, 1/25 and next week, 2/1.  

SNOW, SNOW, SNOW!!!  It looks like we might get some snow in the next week or so.  Please send your child to school with boots and snowpants, as they will be heading outside for recess.  Students are super excited to use the sleds, and 3^rd-5^th graders are excited to participate in the Winter Olympics when the snow does come!!

I look forward to seeing all of you when I return to school on Jan. 28.  Thank you again for your prayers for a safe and enjoyable trip!  My prayer for you is that, “the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Blessings,

Mrs. Walters

January 14-18 and 22, 2013

January 14-18 and 22, 2013

Dear Parents,

I hope you enjoyed your weekend, and that your family is continuing to remain healthy!

I wanted to let you know, and will be sharing with students on Monday, that I have a very special opportunity next week to celebrate my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary with my family!  My husband, Mike, and I will be traveling with my parents, my two sisters and their husbands for a week-long trip together next week!  I am so excited to be able to spend this time with my parents and family and thankful for this opportunity!  Since there is no school for students on Monday, January 21, I will include next week Tuesday’s home day lesson plans in this week’s blog.  I will also have next week’s lessons posted by the end of the week.  

While I am gone on Wednesday, January 23 and Thursday, January 24, Miss Morgan Gilman will be subbing on Wednesday morning and Thursday all day.  Mrs. Heather Dykhouse (Ty’s mom!) will be subbing on Wednesday afternoon.   Miss Gilman teaches kindergarten at ZCS.  She has subbed in Mr. Heeres’ room earlier this year and beautifully jumped into the curriculum and multi-age classroom dynamics!  I am also very thankful that Mrs. Dykhouse is available to sub as well!  She is excited to help out in our classroom next week!  If you have any SHC questions while I’m gone, please e-mail Mr. Heeres at jheeres@zcs.org.  You may also e-mail Miss Gilman at mgilman@zcs.org if you have any curriculum questions or ones specifically for our class.  

I will be back at school on Monday, January 28 to share all about my trip and hear all about your week!

Here are a few additional items to keep in mind this week:

You have received the e-mail note regarding the safety procedures/drills that we will be practicing at ZCS this week.  Please let me know if you did not receive the e-mail note last week and I’ll be glad to send it to you again.  We will be discussing this in class prior to the practice.  

1^st Grade Field Trip:  The next field trip for 1^st grade students is scheduled for this week Thursday, January 17.  Students will be seeing the Grand Rapids Symphony perform Hansel and Gretel in their Lollipops concert at Central Wesleyan Church.  Students will be leaving ZCS about 8:50 and returning at approximately 11:00.  Chaperones are limited 1 per every 5 students, so we are going to plan to have our students ride with the other first grade classes.   

4^th Grade Swimming Lessons- Week 2:  Please remember to send a swimsuit and towel for your child each school day for the next 2 weeks.  Students will board a bus and leave with Mr. Bouman’s 4^th grade class at 8:50 for swimming lessons at the Cityside Middle School’s pool.  They should return by about 10:15.  On Tuesday and Friday during the next 2 weeks, please have your child come to our classroom by 8:40 to go to Mr. Bouman’s room by 8:45.  They may be picked up at our classroom at 10:15.  Thank you for your flexibility with the swimming schedule on your home days of learning!  Please let me know if you have any questions!

LET IT SNOW!!!  As students look forward to snow, we are hopeful to be able to use the +300 sleds that are waiting in the shed at the top of the sledding hill!  When there is enough snow for sledding, please send snow pants, hats, mittens, and boots to school with your child.  These would be good to send even when there is not enough snow to sled, to protect students from the cold temps during recess!  There is no need to send a pair of indoor shoes to school, as students may wear their PE shoes inside. 

Upcoming Dates:

January 17- 1st Grade trip to the G.R. Symphony

January 14-18- 4th Grade swimming lessons

January 21- No School

Have a great week!

Mrs. Walters

January 7-11, 2013

January 7-11, 2013

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”  Luke 2:20

Happy New Year!  I hope that you have been able to enjoy sweet times together as a family and could rest and relax over the holidays!  As we begin this new year, I pray that you will see God’s hand, know his leading, and experience his love in ways that specifically reveal himself to you this year!  

I am looking forward to jumping back into our routine again and hearing all about student’s fun memories and experiences while on vacation!  

Here are a few things to keep in mind this week:

1^st Grade Field Trip:  The next field trip for 1^st grade students is scheduled for Thursday, January 17.  The kids will be seeing the Grand Rapids Symphony perform Hansel and Gretel in their Lollipops concert at Central Wesleyan Church.  Students will be leaving ZCS about 8:50 and returning at approximately 11:00.  Chaperones are limited 1 per every 5 students, so we are going to try to arrange transportation with the other first grade classes.  I’ll let you know if we will need an additional driver for our 3 first grade students. 

4^th Grade Swimming Lessons begin Monday:  Please remember to send a swimsuit and towel for your child each school day for the next 2 weeks.  Students will board a bus and leave with Mr. Bouman’s 4^th grade class on Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 8:50 for swimming lessons at the Cityside Middle School’s pool.  They should return by about 10:15.  On Tuesday and Friday during the next 2 weeks, please have your child come to our classroom by 8:40 sharp to go to Mr. Bouman’s room by 8:45.  They may be picked up at our classroom at 10:15.  On Wednesday and Thursday lessons will be from 10:45 (leave school) to noon.  Students will still swim with Mr. Bouman's class at that time.  Thank you for your flexibility with the swimming schedule on your home days of learning!  Please let me know if you have any questions!

LET IT SNOW!!!  As students look forward to snow, we are hopeful to be able to use the +300 sleds that are waiting in the shed at the top of the sledding hill!  When there is enough snow for sledding, please send snow pants, hats, mittens, and boots to school with your child.  These would be good to send even when there is not enough snow to sled, to protect students from the cold temps during recess!  There is no need to send a pair of indoor shoes to school, as students may wear their PE shoes inside. 

Science:  This week students will begin learning about Changes in Matter as you work at home.  I have added several great website resources on the SHC Google site (see right sidebar link) which will give you additional information and materials for this unit. Be sure to check out the information in this week's lessons which give a general pacing guide and a culminating project guidelines. These nicely compliment the Project Based Learning goals we are working to implement at ZCS!

Want to learn more about Project Based Learning?  See this link:  PBL video

Have a great week!

Mrs. Walters