Winter Wonderland

We finally have our Michigan winter! What you see below has been one of my favorite sights this week. The kids are working on building a hotel in the playground. It's not uncommon to see just a couple of boots sticking out of a hole as the owner is far below digging out a new igloo. At recess time, I usually break a sweat trying to quickly get together all the zippers, tuck the mittens into the sleeves so we don't get cold wrists and make sure that boots are on the right feet. Suddenly the frenzy is over and the empty hallway is quiet. I like watching them play for a few minutes as I cool off at the door :) 

All of this beautiful, white snow is God's poignant reminder of his pure love for us. What was once covered in sin is now as white as freshly fallen snow. It makes me happy to see our children diving head first into this fluffly, new-fallen love from above.

Reading on pajama day...so cozy!

After our blitz of assessments, it's been nice to get back to the routine of learning again.

Thank you to Mrs. VanIngen for coming to read with us on Friday morning and leading a special snowflake craft!

In Bible this week we listened to the story about the Israelites finally being allowed, after years of preparation, to cross the Jordan River into the promised land. We talked about how God's timing is perfect, though not always what we might have in mind. 

It's all things weather in Science. This week lent itself to a relevant experience with wind chill. Next week (hopefully a full week this time!) we'll talk more about temperature, freezing points and cloud cover. 

We'll have our next writing celebration this Wednesday morning. I'm thrilled with the progress the students are showing in their stories. You can look forward to reading a electronic copy of your child's story sent later this week. We've put a special focus this month on how great authors begin their stories. You might want to ask your child why he or she chose to craft his story starter the way he did. Please remember, in order to access the story, you may have to use Chrome or Firefox as a browser. 

We're wrapping up our study of three-dimensional shapes this week in math. Next week we'll dive into projects and experiences with fractions. 

I can hardly talk about our latest SPARK project without a lump forming in my throat. Today, the children wrote a supportive letter to their brother or sister in Christ who just happens to be living at the Mission right now. We packaged dozens of little snack bags with goodies for our friends as well. We ended our week by holding our hands over the handwritten notes and covering our unknown friends in prayer. I told my students a story from the last time I was a teacher. I had a student who lived at the Mission. He had no means to get to school so I used to pick him up each day and we drove together to and from school. One day, we were told that he needed to move to a new location in Chicago. The last time I dropped him off before his move, he sobbed. So did I. We prayed together at the front door. Then, in an effort to give him a tangible reminder of someone who loved him, I took off my watch and put it on him (every 10-year-old boy wants a lady's watch from Target, right?) Many children face such difficulties and they are just as tender and needy as your or my child. It is good for our children to learn that there are many in our community who need more love than they are receiving. THANK YOU for helping your child brighten the face and life, even if only for a day, of one of God's special children in need. Truly, our SPARK program is a gift. God asks us to reach out to the hurting, to hold those in pain and give to those in need. Endeavors like these, at such a tender age, teach children what it means to be a child of God. It's so much more than just talking the talk. Thank you for helping your child walk the walk. 

Upcoming Information:

Your child's report card should have come home today. Please sign and return the empty envelope this report came in so that I can send the next report home in a few months.  

If your child is reading 15 minutes for 5 nights each week, please sign and return the blue reading incentive form on Monday. 

Wednesday, January 30 will be HAT DAY! We'll have a little wacky fun and stay warm at the same time :)

And now for the strange request....our next unit in writing involves the children writing a "how to" paper. Karen VanMeeteren and I would like to attempt to make an ice castle with the students. This means we need buckets...A LOT of buckets! Our pipe dream is that each student might bring a bucket or two or three to school, labeled with their name. We'll fill the buckets with water and place them outdoors to freeze. Once frozen, we'll bring them back into school for a few moments so the outer edge of the ice block thaws just enough to allow the block to slide out of the bucket. Then we'll bring them all back outside and build a castle with our ice blocks and beautiful, white snow. After all of this, students will write a "how to" paper, using transitional words, describing the proper method for making an ice sculpture. If you can spare a bucket or three this week, we'll love to put it to good use. I apologize if I'm asking for too much, but, the bigger the better. Thank you for your support!

You should have received an email message from HC administration this afternoon about the upcoming 40 days of prayer. While most school districts find themselves subjected to constraints from state regulations and national mandates, Holland Christian, by and large free from these constraints, is able to provide children with a unique and exceptional educational experience. Through intentional experiences, discussions and lessons, our children are free to grow deeply in love with God our maker and to explore how this relationship applies to their lives.

Your child may have told you that I was missing from the classroom on Friday afternoon. They were in good hands :) Mrs. Dreyer led the children through meaningful learning experiences while I was gone. With a team of HC teachers, administrators and board members, we are beginning to talk about the bright future at Holland Christian. With your and my prayerful consideration, we are seeking the guidance and wisdom of God in terms of some innovative choices in front of us. One area we would like to make more present is how our children can learn from and make a difference in our community. Part of Holland Christian's mission is that our children would be equip to transform the world for Jesus Christ. This leads me to my point (phew!). We are starting a nice collection of Valentine's cards for children at the Holland Rescue Mission. Right now we have 10 boxes of cards that we have collected. That means there are 10 children, who typically dread Valentine's Day parties at school, who will be able to proudly walk around the classroom delivering "fancy cards" just like their peers. While this doesn't seem exactly like transforming the world for Jesus Christ, it sure is a step in the right direction. These are 10 children who will know and may remember the love and support of their brothers and sisters at Holland Christian. I wish all of our children could take the afternoon to deliver the boxes in person, play some games together and both sets of children could realize they're really not that different from one another. For now, we'll be content with simply sharing our blessings with those in need. Thank you for helping your child affect another's life in the name of Christ. We have until the 25th of January to donate a box of Valentine's Day cards or candies for our collection.

This week and last we've been doing a good deal of both one-on-one and whole-group assessing in preparation for our report cards which will come home next Friday. I SO enjoy seeing the fruits of our labors. Thank you for supporting your child's academic growth at home by helping with homework, practicing spelling words and encouraging daily reading. Confession time: in all that we did this week, I didn't take a picture of anything! Not even Wacky Hair day :) I'm so sorry. I'm the type of mom that packs everything but the kitchen sink when we head for the zoo for all of the just-in-cases, and the camera just sits in the backpack as all the Kodak moments come and go. I'm afraid I'm plagued with the same tendencies as a teacher! Next week I'll post some stellar pictures of weather explorations in the snow.

We have a few important dates coming up:
Monday, January 21--No School. Records Day
Tuesday, January 22--Reading Minute Incentive Blue Form due
Wednesday, January 23--Wacky Wednesday. Pajama Day!!
Thursday, January 24--Homework due
Friday, January 25--Spelling Test and Library Books due. Report Cards home. Valentine collection culminates.

Sharing God's Love

It was so good to see all the children again after the long Christmas break. I was amazed at how long 2 1/2 weeks can feel. Some of our kiddos even grew a bit over break. It's good to have them back, learning, loving and laughing again.

Our SPARK project for the month of January is a great one that children at this age can relate to. Every child likes to receive mail (my kids at home are even thrilled if I hand them some colorful junkmail from time to time :) Valentine's Day offers children the unique opportunity to give mail to their friends and classmates. I still remember taking my decorated bag home and reading through each note as though the words were specially crafted for me. But, for many children, this holiday is painful and exclusive rather than special. While most students in class are able to pass out fancy store-bought cards, some children only have folded over construction paper given from their teacher to offer their classmates. To reach out to these children in need in a very tangible way, our class will be taking a Valentine collection during the month of January. While you're out and about over the next few weeks, would you please consider adding a box or two of simple Valentine cards or candies to your cart for your child to take to school? At the end of the month, we'll package the cards we've collected and make special Valentine candy packages for children who are living at the Holland Rescue Mission. We'll also write letters to these children in need sharing the message of God's love on Valentine's Day and every day throughout the year. While we may not often be made aware, the need in Holland is great. These children are innocent victims of circumstances and are often greatly in need of love. What we deem as small, simple items can really warm and touch their hearts. Please consider helping your child impact the life of another by putting "fancy" Valentine cards in the eager hands of those in need. Please also remember to pray for these precious children of our heavenly Father as well.

You may have seen the familiar reading incentive paper coming home this weekend. We'll be tracking reading minutes for the month of January. Please help your child read independently or to you for 15 minutes, five days each week. Return 1/4 of the paper on the Monday of the following week and we'll have a small prize and pizza coupon waiting at the end of the month. Have I ever mentioned...the studies show, the 10 best ways to improve your reading ability: read, read, read, read, read, read....yeah, you get it. Our readers our making exciting progress. Thank you for supporting them at home!

This Wednesday the 16th of January, South Side will be celebrating Wacky Hair Wednesday. Let's get a little crazy :)

We've started a new unit in Science. Over the next few weeks we'll be gaining a deeper and broader understanding of weather. I'm pretty confident we'll not be the only ones studying this unique weather pattern God has us enjoying. Here are our weather watchers making observations on our first day of study.

In math we'll be recognizing, naming and making three-dimensional shapes. Below the children are identifying the footprint of various three-dimensional shapes. What fun!

Looking ahead, we have a few important dates:

January 14-Reading minute incentive form is due

January 16-Wacky Hair Wednesday

January 21-No School, Records Day

January 25-Report Cards home and Valentine Card packages completed