Blog Update Monday April 28, 2014

I finally got my hands on this, as promised.  It is the video of Mr. Burgess that Mary Free Bed made.  If you haven’t seen it, you can click on the link, and hopefully it will work for you.

“A Lesson in Faith, Hope and Rehabilitation” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xVSk2-fwf4

We would like to invite all of you to our end-of-year Student Art Show and Open House for Retirees on Tuesday, May 27.

We will be celebrating the retirement of three long-time RCS and GRCS employees:

Mrs. Pat VanderLaan

Ms. Sharon Velthouse

Mr. Mark Worst

Please join us in thanking these three individuals for all they have given to bless our Christian school community through the years.

The event will run from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.  We hope to see you there.

Family Time News

Thank you to Mr. Vermerris and the sixth graders for leading us this morning in Family Time. Thanks especially to the sixth graders for praising God through signing the song How Great is Our God.

Fun Run

Your students will come home today with information about the upcoming Fun Run on Friday, May 16, and how they can raise money for this event.

6th Grade Environmental Classroom news  this Week

May 1 - 5th/6th Environmental Open House

We are planning to host our annual Environmental Open House for interested families at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, May 1st.  This will be an opportunity for prospective students and their families to hear from Ms. Barrett and Mr. VerMerris about what we are planning not only for 6th grade next year but some of the new ideas we have for 5th grade as we expand the Environmental Program from a one-year to a two-year experience.  While current 4th and 5th grade families will want to attend for sure, other interested parents are invited to attend and learn more about the program for coming years.

It's that time of the year again; the 6th grade students are working on presenting poems from Paul Fleischman's book Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices, and they'd love to have a live audience for their final performances.

Please feel welcome to join us...

Friday, May 9th

Worship Center

11:45-12:15

Everyone is invited!!

Scholastic Spring Book Fair will be held during the school day on May 1 and 2 and the evening of May 1 during the Environmental Open House. It will be a 'Buy-one-get-one-free' sale and only available at the school (no online sales). It's a great opportunity for stocking up on summer reading material and supporting our library.

Week at a glance:

Thursday May 1

4TH & 5TH GRADE PARENTS

Environmental Open House at 7:00 P.M.

Friday, May 9th

6th grade studentsn presenting poems f

Worship Center

11:45-12:15

28 school days left!

Thank you for all you do for God’s Kingdom!

Mr. Dave

Blog Update Monday April 21, 2014

I pray you had a blessed Easter!

 Art Show and Open House for Retirees on Tuesday, May 27.

We would like to invite all of you to our end-of-year Student Art Show and Open House for Retirees on Tuesday, May 27.

We will be celebrating the retirement of three long-time RCS and GRCS employees:

Mrs. Pat VanderLaan

Ms. Sharon Velthouse

Mr. Mark Worst

Please join us in thanking these three individuals for all they have given to bless our Christian school community through the years.

The event will run from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.  We hope to see you there.

iXplore week

Thank you to the following nine middle school students who participated in the Communication and Broadcasting iXplore Class:  Austin, Ben, Devin, Emma, Henry, Jorie, Julia, Katie and Quincy.  They are putting together the story of iXplore at Rockford Christian.  The students have been busy writing, interviewing, filming, editing and producing.  They will continue the video-editing process during advisory time this week.  The students and staff in all the different iXplore classes had a wonderful time of learning together as these videos will show.  We will let you know when these are posted to our school YouTube channel.

Severe Weather Policy

Should severe weather occur during school hours, students will not be sent home. If a Tornado Watch occurs, students will remain in school with necessary precautions taken and dismissal at the regular time. Should a Tornado Warning be issued, students will be sent to a designated area within the school and will not leave until the all clear signal is given. After-school activities will be canceled if a Tornado Watch is in effect at the site of the scheduled activity at 3:00 p.m. If a Tornado Watch is in effect at the site of a scheduled evening activity one hour before the beginning of that activity, the activity will be canceled. (Grand Rapids Christian Schools Policy Handbook)

May 1 - 5th/6th Environmental Open House

We are planning to host our annual Environmental Open House for interested families at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, May 1st.  This will be an opportunity for prospective students and their families to hear from Ms. Barrett and Mr. VerMerris about what we are planning not only for 6th grade next year but some of the new ideas we have for 5th grade as we expand the Environmental Program from a one-year to a two-year experience.  While current 4th and 5th grade families will want to attend for sure, other interested parents are invited to attend and learn more about the program for coming years.

6th Grade Environmental Classroom this Week

Wednesday--Adopt-A-Highway Clean-up  Pray for nice weather!!

Friday--Students helping at Frederik Meijer Gardens

Scholastic Spring Book Fair will be held during the school day on May 1 and 2 and the evening of May 1 during the Environmental Open House. It will be a 'Buy-one-get-one-free' sale and only available at the school (no online sales). It's a great opportunity for stocking up on summer reading material and supporting our library.

Tue 4/22/2014

Third Grade (Camp Roger)AM

Tomorrow April 22,

It is a busy and very unusual day.  We have kindergarten screening going on all morning and the 7th graders on a Spanish field trip to Calvin College for a Spanish-language chapel.

Wed 4/23/2014

Camp Roger Preschool AM

Camp: 1st Grade PM

Thu 4/24/2014

Camp: Kindergarten AM

Camp: 2nd Grade PM

Thank you for all you do for God’s Kingdom!

Mr. Dave

Blog Update Monday April 14, 2014

Welcome back from spring break!  I hope you enjoyed your time away from school.  As of right now, we have 38 more days of school until summer break.  It will go by fast -it always does after spring break, so hold on tight!

Third Annual "Zoo Week" for our 4th and 5th Graders

The 4th and 5th graders will spend the entire week after learning at John Ball Zoo and getting to know more about the animals that live there and their habitats in a wonderful hands-on learning opportunity.  This will be the third year that Mrs. Broersma and Ms. Velthouse have worked together with Zoo staff to plan this unique and exciting learning opportunity for our 4th and 5th grade students.

THANKS to Mrs. VanDyke

for putting together another wonderful Spring Program and to all of you who attended to support the kids and enjoy the praises they raised.

THANKS for all of the additional work, time, and energy so many of you put into getting ready for and implementing the “Roots” Theme Week for our K – 5^th students.  They had a GREAT week because of ALL that you did to make it meaningful for them.

THANKS Mrs. Broersma and Mrs. Velthouse

 for planning Zoo Week and to all of the 6^th – 8^th teachers and others who are planning iXplore Week classes for our middle school students.

Family Time NEWS

We DO have our annual Good Friday Family Time at 2:30 on Friday afternoon, April 18.  (Mr. Kuiper and Mr. Burgess are leading it.)

Second Annual "iXplore Week" for our 6th - 8th Graders

Our middle school students are involved in a unique week, as they will be focusing on just one class each morning and then participating in a variety of afternoon activities focused around the theme of worship and better understanding how we worship God through all we do: our relationships, our work, and how we live our lives for Him.  The courses the students may be involved in are related to photography, broadcasting, baseball, fitness, science, novel writing, baking and creating, as well as a few students participating as Zoo Week interns.  It promises to be a great change-of-pace for students and to provide new and unique opportunities for learning.

he following list includes the activities that the middle school students will be involved in:

Think Like a Scientist -- Mr. VerMerris

This class will be having a bake sale this week where all the proceeds will be going to the VanAndel Institute’s Purple Community in researching a cure for cancer.  If  you would like to make a personal contribution, please go to http://purplecommunity.kintera.org/individual/donvermerris    Thank You!!!

Needles, Mixers, and Drills -- Mrs. Zokoe and Mrs. VanEngen

Communication & Broadcasting -- Mrs. Snow and Mrs. Kunnen

Novel Writing -- Mr. Doug Pearson

Creative Photography -- Mrs. Wierenga

Fitness, Faith, and Futures -- Mrs. Van Dyke

April in the D: Baseball and America -- Mr. Burgess

Zoo Week Internships -- Mrs. Broersma & Ms. Velthouse

Afternoons: "Live a Life of Worship"  (organized by Ms. Barrett)

Weds. will be a middle school retreat to Grace Adventure Camp

NO art for grades 4 – 8 this week.

If you don’t have plans for Easter this Sunday, come to River Rock Church.  There are two services to choose from - 9:00 A.M. or 10:45 A.M.

Here is what the rest of the year looks like:

Monday, April 28, 6:00 p.

Our Father’s World” Event at Red’s on the River

Thursday, May 1, 7:00 p.m.

 5^th/6^th Environmental Open House

Wednesday, May 7, 3:45 p.m.

RCS Staff Meeting

May 19 – 21, 28

Grade Trip to Mackinac

Monday, May 26

 NO SCHOOL – Memorial Day=

Tuesday, May 27

Art Show & Retirement Open House (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.)

May 28 – 30,

6^th Grade Trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes

June 5, 7:00 p.m.

8^th Grade Graduation

June 6

Final Day of School  (Half Day – Dismissal at Noon)

Thank you for all you do for God’s Kingdom!

Mr. Dave

Blog Update Tuesday April 1, 2014

I hope that you had a great weekend!!!  My internet connection was not cooperating last night, so that’s why my blog is a day late.  Sorry!

Our Father's World

We have been able to work out the details with Reds on the River in downtown Rockford to hold our tuition assistance fundraising event.  We look forward to it!  It will be held on Monday evening, April 28, at 6:00 p.m. Invitations and more information will be coming your way soon.  (Seating is limited at Reds, so please RSVP early.)

Lost & Found

items have been placed on tables in the front lobby. Please take a look to see if any of these items belong to you. Those items left by Spring Break (April 4) will be donated to New 2 You.

Please Remember to Update Your Email Address   

Because more and more school communication is sent via email, it is important that we have your updated email addresses in our system. If you or your spouse change your email address, please notify us at school so that we can make the change, system-wide. Thank you.

Overdue Books

Do your spring cleaning before spring break and look for overdue library books. Please ask your student if they have overdue books and remind them to return the books to the library ASAP. If they have a question about their overdue books or think they have already returned them, please talk to either Mrs. Ruiter or Mrs. McGinnis in the library. Thanks!

Yearbook Reminder

This is the last week to order a yearbook. If you are still interested in ordering a yearbook, they are currently $25.  Order forms are located in the office. Orders are due before Spring Break. Order your yearbook today!

Monday’s Family Time:

Mr. Phil from Camp Roger came to talk about roots this morning for the k-5th grade students.  Ask your student about this Family Time.

Week at a Glance

Theme Week  - This is a special week for the K-5th grade students.  The students are divided into multi-age groups.

The students will be involved in the following activities:

Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots- Mrs. Underwood, Mrs. Faber

Planting

Words are the Roots of a Story - Learning Commons team

Max’s Words, other fun books about words, word games and activities

ENORMOUS Trees and Roots -Mrs. Bardolph

Root Foods in Other Countries -Señora Rose

Exploring roots that are eaten in other countries as well as portion sizes

Root Watercolor Mrs. Burgess

Root Vegetables and Soil - Mrs. Gustafson, Mrs. Decker, Mrs. DeGraaf

Rooted in God’s Word-Mrs. Werdon

Create tree bulletin board with verses as roots

Root Stamping – Mrs. Broersma

Capillary Action – Mrs. Velthouse

Yummy Roots- Mrs. DeGraaf, Mrs. Decker, Mrs.Gufstafson

Tasting roots that are food

The Root of All Math – Mrs. VanDyke, Ms. Sharda, Mrs. DeVries

Math facts in the Computer Lab

When we return from Spring break:

The middle-school students will have a special week.

The 5th graders are going to  the Zoo all week.

3 more days until Spring Break!

Thanks for all you do for God’s Kingdom!

Mr. Dave