January 7, 2019Walk with God in 2019

Here we are in a brand new year - with brand new opportunities to learn more aboutGod, about the world, about the people around us, and about ourselves. We have a Godwho loves us - a God who makes and keeps his promises to us and to the world. We'vejust come through the celebrations of Christmas - Jesus' birthday - and reminders thatall of those prophecies and teachings in the Old Testament Bible really did come true.

What does God have in store for us this year? What will happen this year in ourfamilies, in our community, in world events? We can be assured that good things willhappen - that we will be blessed. We also know that sad and hurtful things will happen.Our school theme is "Walk with God, Talk with God". The words of 1 Thessalonians 5remind us: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; forthis is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." In everything, we will keep praisingGod, encouraging each other, and praying for those in our community - those whoknow Jesus and those who don't. We will pray that God will also use us to do his work -to love and serve others.

Last year is past, but not forgotten. Take what you learned last year, learn from it,and keep growing in knowledge and in understanding and in wisdom. May God blessyou and guide you as you walk with Him and talk with Him in 2019.

C. Verbeek, Principal

Tuesday - Inyoung C., Gr.3B- Cora B., Gr.7

Thursday - Hayden K., Gr.8

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

Prayer Corner: Prayers of praise for the birth of new babies! We celebrate with families who have had familyadditions in the past months - most recently the VanWyk family! Condolences and prayers go out to the Butlerfamily with the loss in their extended family. Mrs. Westerveld is away from school for several more weeks as herleg/ankle heals. We pray for ongoing healing for students and families in our school that are experiencing thecolds and flu that are circulating now. For those with chronic disease, cancer, and other conditions we pray fordaily strength and hope.

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Remind: Today we received an email from Remind that beginning January 28, 2019 some of our parent communitymay no longer receive texts. Please read a portion of the email below as to what can be done about that:Beginning January 28, 2019, people in your classes who normally get Remind texts will no longer receive yourmessages if they have wireless plans with Rogers, Bell, or their respective subsidiaries.What can you do?To make sure people in your classes continue receiving your messages, encourage them to download the mobileapp or enable email notifications. Our team's also working hard on a solution that allows your classes tocontinue to use Remind by text, and we'll share more details with you before January 28.We will keep you informed about this in a future Parent Link.

Mission to Haiti: I would like to take a minute to introduce you to Ruchama Paul. She isthe new child that our school is sponsoring through Mission to Haiti. She will be turning 4in June. We are very excited to welcome her to our school family and support her with aChristian education (and ministry to her entire family) and nutritious food and health care.

Grade 5 Swimming: Our grade 5 class is going swimming for phys ed! This is an annual unit for our grade 5students, to better acquaint them with water, to build skills in this area, and to promote fitness. We are thankful forour partnership with the Southside Aquatic Center and for access to the City of Woodstock facilities. Swimming willhappen every Monday afternoon for 8 weeks.

Senior Boys Basketball: Signups and tryouts for senior boys basketball have begun! Mr. Hans Strikwerda is ourcoach this year, with Mrs. Verbeek assisting. Boys are beginning to practice during break times and next week wewill add Wednesday practices after school to our schedule. Parents, beginning on Wednesday, January 16 , and forth

subsequent Wednesdays, please pick up your sons at 5 pm after practice. If you have questions, please connect withMrs. Verbeek or Mr. Strikwerda.

MS Read-A-Thon: The WCS fundraising campaign to manage and research Multiple Sclerosis is coming up! Ourkick-off assembly will take place on Thursday, January 17 . By reading and fundraising, students will be helpingth

individuals and families who live with MS. Students can encourage online donations or collect cash and/or chequepledges from sponsors for all the minutes you read. There will be prizes for the various levels of funds you raise!Stay tuned for more details.

Early Dismissal: Please note that MONDAY, January 28 is an early dismissal day. Our school day will finish atth

1:30 pm and students will board the buses at that time and be home 2 hours + 10ish minutes earlier than usual.Teachers will gather for their Professional Learning Communities sessions following student dismissal.

WCS Electives: Electives begin on Wednesday, February 6, and run for five weeks until March 6, 2019 fromapproximately 2:10 to 3:30 for our junior and intermediate students. The Elective Team is finalizing the electivechoices this week and hope that students can begin to select their activities on Thursday. Students will be given anopportunity to select 3 choices from about a dozen activities. Please watch for an email and help students select their3 choices on-line. If you have any questions, please let g.hiemstra@woodstockchristian.ca know.

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Staff Appreciation Volunteers Needed: February 11-15 will be Staff Appreciation Week at WCS. To help showour teachers and staff how much we value them we would like to cover some of their yard duty responsibilities aswell as provide them with a luncheon each day of that week. This year again we are using SignUp.com to organize.Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/KC1LXT WCS Staff Appreciation Week 2019 signup.com

2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on

SignUp.com.Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address,please contact me and I can sign you up manually. Thank you for your help making this a special week for theteachers and staff. If you have any questions please contact Cara Renkema: ccrenkema@hotmail.com, 519-535-8969or message me on Facebook!

Learning Support - Mrs. Bulthuis: Happy NewYear! Praying that you all had a great break and thatGod will richly bless your families in 2019. Thank youfor all the thoughtful Christmas wishes and gifts! TheLearning Place was buzzing with activity again today asall the groups resumed. It was great reconnecting withthe students and hearing a few highlights from theirbreak. Now it is time to get back into the routine athome and read every night for a few minutes!Wednesday - Return book bags (grades 1-3)Friday - Math quiz on factors (grade 6)

J.K.1 - Mrs. Westerveld: Welcome to the new year2019. May God bless you all in the coming year!Welcome to Mrs. Meekel who will be teaching for thenext couple of weeks. Happy Birthday to Jacob whocelebrated his 5 birthday last week. Congratulations toth

Ezra who was blessed with a new brother over theholidays. Watch for the January Calendar coming homeon Monday. Have a great week.Wednesday - LibraryThursday - Pizza Day

- Show and share: Free Choice

S.K.1 - Mrs. Poort: Welcome to a new year. Pleaseremind students to bring blankets and indoor shoesback. Could each child please bring in a box ofKleenex. In math we will be exploring patterning.Monday - New years Chapel

- yWednesday - Library

- xThursday - Pizza Lunch

- ch

JK2/SK2 - Miss Body: Welcome back and happy newyear. I hope you had a great break. We will reviewing

our letters and sight words this week. Continue toreview at home as well. Please send in a blanket forquiet time if you have not already. January 2 - Happy Birthday CheyenneWednesday - Library DayThursday - Pizza Day

Grade 1 - Mrs. Schuster: Welcome back to a brandnew year!! I hope and pray that you all had a wonderfuland relaxing holiday and are ready to get back into theswing of things. If you have not yet returned yourDecember reading log, please do so asap. In yourchild's VIP folder you will find our January calendarand reading log. Please check your email tonight forsome important information that's coming up.Monday - Welcome Back Chapel 8:30 am

- See VIP FolderTuesday - LibraryThursday - Pizza Day

- Return Reading FolderFriday - Spelling Test

Grade 2A - Mrs. VanderPloeg: Welcome to 2019!Happy & Blessed New Year to you. We have someexciting activities happening in our class this week.Check your email for an update on what is happening inGrade 2!Monday - New Year Chapel!Tuesday - Phys. EdWednesday - Show&Share: Claire & CameronThursday - Pizza Lunch (NOT Sub lunch)Friday - Phys. Ed

- Spelling Test- Flashlight Friday

Grade 2B/3B - Mrs. Horinga: Welcome back to ourfirst school days of 2019! I pray that you all had a

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restful break and are ready to take up our learning tasksagain. Grade 3 is beginning a novel study of ChocolateFever by Robert Kimmel Smith. This week our spellingwords focus on ge or dge spelling patterns. A list comeshome every Monday on their ring. A January calenderwill be coming home today.Monday - LibraryThursday - Pizza Day (not Subs as on the original

calender)Friday - Spelling test

Grade 3A - Mr. G. Hiemstra: Welcome back, grade3! Thank you for your cards, gifts, and prayers and yourhelp with bringing snacks for our Christmas party inDecember. May God bless us in 2019.Thursday - Memory work: 1 Peter 1:3Friday - Spelling test

Grade 4 - Mrs. VanAndel: Welcome back to schoolgrade 4! I pray that we will all be blessed by God in2019!Monday - Library

- ChapelTuesday - Devotions: LucasWednesday - Devotions: MicahThursday - Devotions: Nicholas

- Pizza lunch- Math test: Patterns

Friday - Devotions: Noah- Spelling test- Memory work: 1 Samuel 3:10

next Mon. - Devotions: Paige- Library: remember books

Grade 5 - Mr. A. Hiemstra: Welcome back andHappy New Year! I hope you had an enjoyable andrestful Christmas Break. A reminder that each Monday,students are to bring their swimsuits and towels. Here isour week at a glance:Monday - Swimming at Southside Aquatic CentreTuesday - Music: bring recorder

- Phys Ed: bring gym clothesThursday - Music: bring recorder

- Phys Ed: bring gym clothesFriday - Math Quiz: study Jump Math workbook,

everything related to Time.- Spelling: Lesson 17 of workbook & test- Memory Work: Joshua 1:9

Grade 6 - Mrs. Hickey: Happy New Year andwelcome to a new week. We will begin a number ofnew units this month. A reminder to sign and send back

the test envelopes EMPTY. It is time to decide on atopic for a speech by Friday.Tuesday - Music (instrument)

- LibraryWednesday - Phys. Ed. (gym strip)Thursday - Music (instrument)

- Pizza lunchFriday - Spelling Test: List 13

- Phys. Ed. (gym strip)

Grade 7 - Mrs. Racicot: Monday - January reading assignment begins -

biographyTuesday - finish geography river system

presentations- Bifocal presentations

Thursday - math quiz: geometry lessons 7-11Friday - math test: geometry lessons 1-11

Grade 8 - Mr. Schaafsma: Welcome back to school!It is good to be back after spending time out of schoolroutines and celebrating the birth of Jesus with familyand friends. Please pray for Grade 8 as we settle in toclassroom routines once again.Monday - New Year Chapel

- Phys. Ed.- French

Tuesday - Music (bring instruments)Wednesday - Phys. Ed. (bring gym clothes)Thursday - Music (bring instruments)

- Pizza Day (not Sub Day as stated inschool calendar)

Friday - Caressant Care Visit

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS: January 7 Back at School!

Chapel @ 8:309 Staff Meeting 7:1510 Pizza Day15 Board Meeting16 Prayer Group 8:3017 MS Readathon Assembly24 Pizza Day28 Map Testing begins

Early Dismissal 1:30Staff PLC 2-5

29 Jr. Basketball Tournament31 Theme Chapel 8:30

JK/SK Information Evening