Nov. 28, 2022

On Monday, we listed the many blessings we are thankful for and enjoyed a cup of "thanksgiving snacks" with our kindergarten buddies.

On Tuesday, we enjoyed some YUMMY donuts from Bowerman Bakery.

On Tuesday, the students worked in groups to escape a "Math Escape Room". They had 45 minutes to work together to solve over 16 multiplication clues.

The winners!

The disappointed "losers"

"Ms. Snoeyink said we could bring in Christmas stuff!" - In preparation for the Christmas season, the students and I thought it would be fun to each bring in a Christmas decoration from home. This item could be an ornament, lights, a little tree, a snowman sticker...whatever is "extra" at home and will not be missed. I told them they were not allowed to beg about buying something new. It can gladly be something extra from home :)

Classroom Christmas Party - We will have our Christmas Party on Tuesday, Dec. 13th from 1:30-3:00 (with a 15min break for recess). We will NOT be trading presents, but instead playing games and doing some activities. 

Here are my two options....

Choice 1 - I am looking for 2 more parent/grandparent helpers to lead a station for 5 students. I have the games and activities prepared, and just need a helper to lead the station. 

Choice 2 - Some creative parents (2 more parent/grandparent helpers) help create and design three stations/activities for us to do!

If you are available to help and/or plan, please email me and let me know.

Live Nativity - I'm reaching out to see if your 4th grader or your older children would have a desire to be Mary or Joseph in the Critter Barn's Live Nativity.  Mary, owner of the Critter Barn,  is eagerly trying to fill these roles!  Mrs. Bos told her she would help with recruiting!  If you need more info, send Rita Bos an email at rbos@hollandchristian.org!

Mocha and Merch Christmas Open House! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 30 from 4:30 - 8:00. You are invited to The Maroon and White Shop’s First annual Mocha and Merch Christmas Open House!  Come stroll along Main Street at HCHS while sipping provided hot chocolate and coffee, listening to Christmas Carols played by members of the HC Jazz Band and start your Christmas shopping!  We will have the latest HC gear to purchase!  Every purchase directly supports the Special Olympics Unified Sports program at the high school.  It’s an event you won’t want to miss!

Nov. 11

On Tuesday, we spent time in the barn caring for Rosie and Parker.

Wednesday was pretty special too, when we got to meet a PUBLISHED author!

Ribbon Cutting Hootenanny on Thursday afternoon

A Friday Writing Celebration with our other 4th grade friends!  We enjoyed stories, complements, and treats together!

 

 

Our next writing unit will be a persuasive essay - we'll begin planning for that next week.

This coming week is a normal week of school with our normal routines (math and reading minutes, word work test, recorders on Tuesday, etc.), but the following week is the week of Thanksgiving.  We will only have school on Monday and Tuesday that week. That means we will NOT have reading/math homework or a word work test that week. 

In fact, we are planning some special days that week.

- Monday the 21st will be spending some time with our kindergarten buddies.  

- Tuesday we are going to celebrate the conclusion of our Analyzing Characters reading unit with a 4th grade celebration - we will be watching the movie of the book we recently read in our classes, "The Tiger Rising."  We will make this a "comfy day" where students can wear lounge clothes or PJs and bring along a blanket and a pillow OR a stuffed animal (only one - either the pillow or the stuffed animal).  

It will be a fun way to celebrate all we've learned, especially right before we break for a long holiday weekend.

MATH TEST - We are looking at taking a math test over multi-digit multiplication on the Monday or Tuesday of that last week before Thanksgiving.  If you will be gone for any reason please plan ahead to offer your child the opportunity to complete that before the break.  It's really tricky to come back to a test after a LONG break.

THANKSGIVING ACTIVITY: On November 21, each little one will bring in one cup of his/her favorite “dry” snack.  For instance, pretzels, cheese-its, Chex Mix, craisins, marshmallows…  We’ll then join our fourth grade buddies and take time for each of us to place our snack item in a large pot while thanking God abundantly for His goodness.  This beautiful collection will be mixed and scooped up so everyone can enjoy a bit of the goodness that others provided!  Isn’t that life…?  We all bring our beauty and then, added with others, it’s a true gift!  

Nov. 7

What are we learning?

Bible - Learning about the appointing and reign of King Saul

Math - Reviewing the different ways to solve 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication

Reading - Learning specific skills/tricks of how to pay attention to the characters in our book

Writing - Editing our Realistic Fiction stories!

Social Studies - Starting our unit about the history of Michigan!

Author Visit at Hope College - On Wednesday morning, we have the opportunity to listen to author, Matt De La Pena, speak at Hope College. We had a chance to read through his award winning book Last Stop on Market Street. 

HALF DAY - On Friday, the students will be dismissed at 11:30. All HC staff are participating in a faith training at Camp Geneva. 

Library Volunteers: Our wonderful librarian Mary is looking for a few helping hands. She has a few short term and long term library projects that can be worked on either at home or at school. If you have some time, and would like to help, PLEASE let Carla or Laura know in the office. Share in the 

Share in the Farming Fun: We’re so grateful to partner with you in loving your child and providing intentional experiences to grow every aspect of their development: spiritual, emotional, physical and intellectual. Raising animals affords the whole child MANY benefits! Take a peek at this short article which scratches the surface in outlining the benefits for our child. Our staff has been researching and dreaming of innovative ways your child will be impacted by life in our mini-ranch! We’re so grateful to our generous community for supporting this dream and making it a reality! Your child will be trained in caring for our furry friends (we’ll call this doing the barn chores). If your family would like to participate in the barn chores during the evening and weekend, you’re invited to sign up to be a ‘farmer for a week’. I’ll send you our training video but truly this will be a leadership opportunity for your child to teach your family how to care for the animals and keep the chores tended to in the evening and weekend. If you’d like to sign up, the basic need is checking in on the animals on Saturday and even on Sunday to ensure their fed, have clean water and clean bedding. Any evening chores is a bonus! Once we have a rhythm with Rosie and Parker, we’ll add our three egg-laying hens!

If your family would like to sign up to be a farmer for a week we’d love to have you join us! (and, no worries, you will receive a simple training video from me prior to your chores!).

New Kids on our Block! One of the greatest joys of planning learning experiences for our children is witnessing their awe and wonder at the beauty God reveals throughout creation! We can't wait to introduce ranch life to your child's learning experiences this month! On November 10 you're invited to celebrate our HOOTENANNY with us (the corporate world would better know this as a ribbon cutting ceremony) as we thank our community in opening our barn! If the weather cooperates, we'll gather around the barn at 2:30 to kick up some fun and welcome our goats, Rosie and Parker, to their new home! Bring your own lawn chair and join us if you're able!