December 16, 2016

December is flying past us and the kids and I are holding on tight! With swimming lessons, snow days, and extra Christmas activities, these days have a different flow and routine. Yet, I am very proud of this group. They pushed through swimming lessons with no tears or concern and encouraged each other along the way. Together, they worked hard to fill little sandwich baggies with snack mix and decorated brown paper bags with words of encouragement for kids in our community who go home to empty refrigerators and stomachs. We are "all in" this busy season together!

Preparing the snack mix

Field Trip! 

On Wednesday, Dec. 21 we will have the opportunity to go to Frederik Meijer Gardens to see the Nativities and Christmas Trees from around the world! We'll leave school at 8:30am, leave FMG at noon, and then swing by McDonald's for a happy meal on the way home! We will return to school around 1:30pm.

The students will be provided with some activities on the bus. Please do not send any electronics for the bus ride. Thank you!

Christmas Party:

Decorating the delivery baggies!

Christmas is just around the corner and we will be doing a gift exchange at our class party. Our party will be on Friday, December 23rd. Please bring in the present before/on that Friday. 

Present Picking need-to-knows:

- As a South Side rule, we ask parents and students to provide one gift that is valued at $3.00. Please do not bring in an item that was on sale for $3.00. (Hold back the 'dutch' desire to score a good deal :) ) 

- Have your child pick a present for a peer of the same gender

- Wrap the gift

- Label it 'To: Girl, From: Your Name OR 'To: Boy, From: Your Name. 

*If you do not wish to have your child participate in the gift exchange, please let us know. It is not mandatory.* 

Bible Memory

We have a long passage this month--the Christmas Story! We are practicing it daily at school, but please try to review it at home as well. 

Important Dates: 

Dec. 21: Meijer Gardens Field Trip

Dec. 23: Class Christmas Party! 

Dec. 24-Jan 8: Christmas Break 

Listening to Mrs. TenBrink read Apple Trouble

"Do you want to hear my story?"

And just like that another week is done! 

Short Week Changes
We have a short week coming up! As a result, there will be no math homework or spelling words for next week. 
There will be a purple reading slip coming home on Monday (DUE Nov. 28).

Tuesday Turkey Treat
The sign up is FULL! Thank you, parents! Just a reminder to have supplies delivered by Monday morning.

Christmas Party
Christmas is just around the corner and we will be doing a gift exchange at our class party. 

Working on spelling activities together.

Present Picking need to knows:
- As a South Side rule, we ask parents and students to provide one gift that is valued at $3.00. Please do not bring in an item that was on sale for $3.00. (Hold back the 'dutch' desire to score a good deal :) ) 
- Have your child pick a present for a peer of the same gender
- Wrap the gift
- Label it 'To: Girl, From: _NAME_' OR 'To: Boy, From: _NAME_'. 

Our party will be on Friday, December 23rd. Please bring in the present on that Friday.

Poinsettia Sale:

Poinsettia Sale is coming up! The order form came home last week. Orders are DUE Monday the 28! Let me know if you need another copy.

Important Dates:

Nov. 23-25: Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 28: Poinsettia Orders Due

Dec. 5-16: Swimming Lessons

T-shirts and shorts on November 18! Can't believe it!

Writing Letters to our fellow veterans.

I just want to say Thank You!  I appreciate the time you took out of your busy schedules so I could meet and learn more about your child, share what they are doing in school, and work together to make school a success.  Your support means so much and I truly love having your children each and every day!

Spelling:

Words are coming home today. Look for the purple sheet.

Homework:

Look for new homework sheets on Mon. The next slip for the Reading Incentive and reading minutes (orange and purple) are due Mon. Nov. 14.

Turkey Apples:

     We are really getting excited to celebrate God's goodness during the Thanksgiving season this year. We have many fun Thanksgiving Day activities that we will be doing. One craft that we would like to do involves a couple of things that I would love your help for. If you are able to supply any of the following items and bring them to school with your child by the end of next week (Friday, Nov. 18th), that would be great. 

To keep this idea simple and organized, if you are interested, please sign up on here: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0A49AAA828A6FA7-thanksgiving 

Finding the Lord's Prayer in Matthew.

Thank you in advance for all your help!

1. Bag of apples (8 or more)

2. Bag of apples (8 or more)

3. Bag of apples (8 or more)

4. Box of toothpicks

5. Bag of candy corn

6. Bag of candy corn

7. Box of Fruit Loops cereal

8. Box of Fruit Loops cereal

9. Large container of raisins (enough for 2 per child)

10. Bag of gummy bears 

11. Bag of gummy bears

12. Large bag of large marshmallows (enough for 1 per child-19)

Swimming Lessons:

Permission sheets for swimming lessons are coming home today. Please sign and return them by Nov. 16.

Book Fair:

Finding God's 1,000 gifts - We are up to 414.

A Book Fair Flyer is coming home today!  Take some time to visit the Book Fair at Pine Ridge next week Nov. 16-18.

Poinsettia Sale:

Poinsettia Sale is coming up! There is green packet in the Fish Folder with information about the sale. 

Important Dates:

Nov. 14: Purple Reading Slips and Reading Incentive Slips, Library Books, Blue Take Home Journals

Nov. 16: Swimming Lesson Permission Slips

Nov. 16-18: Book Fair @ Pine Ridge

Nov. 18: Spelling Test

               Turkey Treat Items

Nov. 23-25: Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 28: Poinsettia Orders Due

Dec. 5-16: Swimming Lessons

Happy November! Can you believe we have been in school for over 50 days?!

BUSING CHANGES:

Note the changes for Holland Public Busing:

Monday, Nov 7 - NO Busing

READING INCENTIVE:

The first one is DUE Nov. 7. Each week of November, the kids are asked to read 100 minutes a week (20 minutes a day). If you do the regular reading minutes (purple sheet), you may automatically count it for the pizza reading incentive (orange slip). All records are due on Mondays just like the purple reading slip.

If your child hands in all four reading squares for the month of November, they will receive a personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut.

REPORT CARDS:

Report cards are available online! See the South Side email for information on how to access them.

CONFERENCES:

Conferences are this week! If you need to view your conference time, check the link below. 

Go to:  http://www.virtualparagon.com/hollandchristian/conference/

Password is: gohc

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be the following days:

Monday, Nov. 7 from 3:40-5:40pm

Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 3:40-5:40pm

Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 3:40-5:40pm

Thursday, Nov. 10 from 5:00-7:00pm

We're really looking forward to meeting with you to celebrate the wonderful things your child is doing so far this year! 

BOOK FAIR:

The Book Fair is coming up! This year it will take place at Pine Ridge. Come on out to support reading in our community during the times listed below!

Nov. 16: 10:00-4:00

Nov. 17: 9:00-4:00

Nov. 18: 9:00-4:00

SWIMMING LESSONS:

Our Swimming Lessons at the Holland Aquatic Center will be Dec. 5-16.  The pool provides the suits and towels, all you need to bring is goggles if you want them. Please make sure they are labeled with your last name. Parents will be welcome to come watch any of the days from 8:45-9:30am.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Nov, 7: Purple reading slip due, 1st Reading Incentive slip due

Nov. 7-10: Parent Teacher Conferences 

Nov. 11: Spelling Test, Math Homework due 

Nov. 16-18: Book Fair

Nov. 23-25: No School: Thanksgiving Break 

Dec. 5-16: Swimming Lessons

OCTOBER 28

Thanks to the Rynsburger's, each child was able to pick a pumpkin!

FIELD TRIP:

This field trip is one for the books! We started the morning in Mrs. Hunderman's pole barn. Each group worked with one pumpkin to complete different activities. From weighing to counting seeds, the students worked hard to complete the activities. Mr. Hunderman provided us a yummy lunch and then we headed to the bus. This is where the adventure began. The kids (and adults) practiced flexibility and patience as the bus backed out of a narrow, winding, two track road that was lined by trees. Oh man, was it an adventure and a challenge. We finally arrived at the Grandpa Rynsburger's farm and each kid ran out in the field to grab their very own pumpkin!  I am proud of the kids for how they handled the weather and changes.

BUSING CHANGES

Note the changes for Holland Public Busing:

Monday, Oct 31 - NO PM Busing

Friday, Nov 4 - NO PM Busing

Monday, Nov 7 - NO Busing

READING INCENTIVE:

Today the new reading incentive is coming home. Each week of November, the kids are asked to read 100 minutes a week (20 minutes a day). If you do the regular reading minutes (purple sheet), you may automatically count it for the pizza reading incentive (orange slip). All records are due on Mondays just like the purple reading slip.

If your child hands in all four reading squares for the month of November, they will receive a personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut.

The first one is DUE Nov. 7. 

SPELLING:

Your child's test is coming home today. If your child is struggling with the spelling words, PLEASE talk with me and we can make a plan to help your child be successful with their spelling words.

CONFERENCES:

Counting the seeds

Many of you have signed up, but this is just a reminder for those who have not yet signed up!

Go to:  http://www.virtualparagon.com/hollandchristian/conference/

Password is: gohc

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be the following days:

Monday, Nov. 7 from 3:40-5:40pm

Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 3:40-5:40pm

Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 3:40-5:40pm

Thursday, Nov. 10 from 5:00-7:00pm

Working together to measure the pumpkin!

LUNCH HELPERS

The next couple Wednesday are in need of some helpers. Take a look at the Sign Up and see if any dates work with your calendar. Thanks for your willingness to help!

IMPORTANT DATES:

NOV. 7 (MON): 1st Reading Incentive DUE

OCTOBER 14

Great is Thy Faithfulness! What a special day yesterday was! There are no words to describe the glimpse of heaven that we all received when the children and grandparents together sang, "Oh How I Love Jesus!"Thank you for a great day....I went home thanking God for the love of grandparents. It was very obvious that all these special friends hold big places in the hearts of our students. 

"So I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all"

Don't forget that this upcoming week is a short week due to the CEA convention for teachers. There is no school this coming Thursday or Friday!

Report cards go home next Wednesday, Oct. 19.

FRIDAY FISH FOLDERS: (There is a lot coming home this week!)

1.  School pictures - School pictures are coming home today in the Friday Folders! Keep a look out for those beauties! 

2. Ps. 23 Bible Memory - A new bible memory for your refrigerator.

3. Book Order -  DUE 10/28 - Look for an orange paper and some new book orders. Check it out as a family!

4. Thank you Letter - The students spent some time this morning writing a "thank you" letters to their grandparents. I sent them home in a envelope. Hope they can make it over the river and through the woods to Grandma's :)

HOMEWORK Folders (Go home Oct. 17)

The folders on Monday will just have...

- Reading slips - Due Oct. 24.

*Due to the short week. there will be no Math homework or spelling for next week.

SPELLING:

Your child's test is coming home today. If your child is struggling with the spelling words, PLEASE talk with me and we can make a plan to help your child be successful with their spelling words. 

FIELD TRIP:

We have a fun, fall PUMPKIN DAY planned! On Wednesday, Oct. 26 we will be head to Mrs. Hunderman's house to do some pumpkin experiments. Her husband will be grilling us some hot dogs for lunch, and then we are going to head to Cameron Rynsburger's Grandparent's Farm where we'll get to do some more pumpkin activities. This will be a fun fall day that ties in nicely with our Science Plant Unit. We are all set for helpers! THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT ARE COMING!

CONFERENCES:

Conference SignUps are live! Please choose the slot that works best for you! I am looking forward to meeting with you!  http://www.virtualparagon.com/hollandchristian/conference/

password is: gohc

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be the following days:

Monday, Nov. 7 from 3:40-5:40pm

Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 3:40-5:40pm

Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 3:40-5:40pm

Thursday, Nov. 10 from 5:00-7:00pm

Snacks Needed:

Mrs. Johnson (Petra's mom) was our story reader today!

Our snack cupboard is getting low and if you are able to help us with that by sending in a box of crackers or pretzels or anything else if would be much appreciated!! Thanks for those that have come in!

VISION AND HEARING TESTING:

We will have hearing and vision testing for our kids on October 25-27. 

PICTURE RETAKE DAY:
School picture retakes will be on October 27 in the morning. If students would like a retake, they must bring back their original packet for a trade in. 

IMPORTANT DATES:

Oct. 20 & 21: CEA Convention - no school

Oct. 26: Fall Field Trip (9:15am-2:30pm, lunch provided)

Oct. 27: Picture retake day

Oct. 28: Book Order Due

OCTOBER 7

Fall is in the air! It's been another busy week of learning and growing together as a classroom community.

Practicing for Grandparent's Day

HOMEWORK FOLDERS:
Your child's Reading slip and Math homework are coming home on Monday (Oct. 10).
- Math homework DUE Friday (Oct. 14).
- Reading slips DUE Monday (Oct. 17).

SPELLING:
Your child's new list is coming home today. We will be working on the sound of long i next week. I will be choosing 10 of the 15 words. Look for an purple sheet with your child's new words.  The test for these words will be Friday the 14th.  If your child is struggling with the spelling words, PLEASE talk with me and I can make a plan to help your child be successful with their spelling words. 

GRANDPARENT'S DAY:

Thursday, October 13th is Grandparent/Grandfriend's Day. Have your special visitors come to our classroom at 10:15. We will have some special activities to do together, and then we will have a K-2 Program down in the gym. Our special time will conclude around 11:30am. 

Exploring the Google Earth App

FIELD TRIP:

We have a fun, fall PUMPKIN DAY planned! On Wednesday, Oct. 26 we will be head to Mrs. Hunderman's house to do some pumpkin experiments. Her husband will be grilling us some hot dogs for lunch, and then we are going to head to Cameron Rynsburger's Grandparent's Farm where we'll get to do some more pumpkin activities. This will be a fun fall day that ties in nicely with our Science Plant Unit. I would like 4 parents to join us if possible. If you're interested please sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a49aaa828a6fa7-pumpkin

CONFERENCES:

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be the following days:

Monday, Nov. 7 from 3:40-5:40pm

Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 3:40-5:40pm

Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 3:40-5:40pm

Thursday, Nov. 10 from 5:00-7:00pm

An email from HC will be sent on MONDAY, Oct. 10 telling you how to sign up and allowing you to pick your time! I'm looking forward to meeting with you to celebrate what your child has been doing so far in 2nd grade as well as finding was we can challenge your child to grow in the upcoming months together. 

Starting our morning by praying for one another.

CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS:

I have added a few lunch times where our classroom needs coverage, INCLUDING THIS COMING TUESDAY. Could you check out the link and add your name if it works for you? I have been blessed by your willingness to help during lunch and library.
Our password to access the links is: maroons

IMPORTANT DATES:

Oct. 10: Reading Slips DUE 

Oct. 13: Grandparent's Day (10:15am-11:30am)

Oct. 14: Spelling Test, Math Homework DUE

Oct. 20 & 21: CEA Convention - no school

Oct. 26: Fall Field Trip (9:15am-2:30pm, lunch provided)