Writing 6:  W:  rough draft of essay on favorite book or movie is due


Bible 6:  W:  handout on "Last Four Kings of Judah" is due


JL


P.S.  Don't forget that it's Library Day tomorrow, and the day to sing your memory work (Ps. 115:1)!

Bible 6:  W:  "Assyria's Turn" questions due (I was pleasantly surprised that the class average for today's pop quiz on yesterday's homework was 77%--surprised because more than a half of the students had not finished their homework.)


Spelling 6 and 7:  Th:  crosswords due


JL

P.S.  Don't forget that it's Library Day (don't forget your books) and Hot Dog Day tomorrow!

French 6:  M:  "Super-Papa ou Super-Maman" booklet due


Social Studies 6:  M:  mapping assignment due


Bible 6:  Tu:  "Finding the Book"  questions due


JL

The long awaited Super Speller Study Club is back! 

Each Thursday, students in grade 6 and 7 who wish to practice their spelling skills can meet in Miss Lanting's room (12:30-12:45) for some tips and games.  Then we'll hold the JCS Spelling Bee on Thursday, February 12 which then leads up to the big TRI-SCHOOL COMPETITION on Friday, February 20 in Lynden, Washington!
 
Bible 6:  "Religion in a Blender" question handout is due tomorrow


JL


P.S.  Don't forget your library books tomorrow!
P.S.S.  We'll do a bit more practice of "Super-Papa" before students must read it on Thursday for a pronunciation mark.

Bible 6:  F:  students received a review sheet for Friday's test today


Socials 6 and 7:  M: grade 6 students need to hand in a climograph of Cairo, Egypt (four girls and one boy from grade 7 still need to hand in a climograph that was due today)


JL

Bible 6:  Th:  handout "Immanuel" is due


JL

Memory Work 6:  W:  Ps. 72:1; next W:  Ps. 70:2; end-of-the-month poem:  "Apostrophe"


Memory Work 7:  end-of-the-month poem:  "Apostrophe"


Spelling 6 and 7:  Tu:  students will receive their new words (spelling test is next F)


Readers' Theater 6:   F:  students are trying hard to finish the book


Bible 6:  Tu:  "Joash, Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham, and Ahaz" handout due


French 6:  NO QUIZ ON 'POUVOIR' THIS WEEK, AFTER ALL (students have a lot of tests already)


JL


P.S.  Shop Easy forms are due tomorrow if you need gift cards.


P.S.S.  Skating forms are needed still from Elayna, Joel, Jordan H., Thomas, Taylor, Caleb, Lincoln, Carrie, Laticia, Alison, Abby, Eric, Lorien, Natalie.

Lit. Circles gr. 6 and 7:  There's a lot to read for next week (Tu. for gr. 6 and F. for gr. 7)

Spelling Test Results:  yesterday's spelling test averages (tests were returned yesterday):  85% for grade 6;  90% for grade 7

JL

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR ANNUAL JCS DECLAMATION CONTEST, particularly the grade 5 and 6 students who declaimed for the first time!!

The three finalists were Nicole Bysterveld (1st), Travis Vandeburgt (2nd), and Reuben Louwerse (3rd)!

A big thank you to our three judges:  Mrs. Julia Fennema, Mrs. Jacqui Hoogstra, and Mr. Pieter VanWoudenberg!

JL

A ROUSING APPLAUSE TO ALL OUR BRAVE CONTESTANTS IN THE CLASSROOM DECLAMATION CONTESTS!  

Congratulations to the following grade 6 finalists and runner-up:  Lincoln Louwerse (1st), Lorien Vandergugten (2nd), Taylor Hovius (3rd), and Naomi VanVliet (runner-up).

Congratulations to the following grade 7 finalists and runner-up:  Reuben Louwerse (1st), Nicole Bysterveld (2nd), Travis Vandeburgt (3rd), and Jared de Haan (runner-up).

COME AND SEE THESE VERY FINE DECLAIMERS FOR YOURSELVES AT THE JCS DECLAMATION CONTEST THIS COMING THURSDAY IN THE GYM!  Stay tuned to find out the exact time.

JL

P.S.  In all the excitement, our French requizzes were forgotten....we'll remedy this problem on Monday....

French 6:  requiz NEXT Th:  comique (funny), dynamique (energetic), sérieux (serious, masc.), sérieuse (serious, fem.), sociable (social), tranquille (calm), timide (shy)


French 7:  requiz NEXT Th;  une boulangerie (bakery), une boutique de sport (sports store), un grand magasin (department store), une quincaillerie (hardware store), une boutique de vêtements (clothing store), une boutique d'animaux (pet store), une pharmacie (pharmacy), une librairie (book store), une boutique de musique (music store)


Bible 6:  Th:  "Samaria Falls" handout is due


Memory Work 6:  Ps. 50:8 is actually due for THURSDAY (not Wednesday) due to our field trip tomorrow


JL

Bible 6:  F:  fill in the blanks sheet:  "The Last Kings of Israel"


JL

Bible 6:  Th:  handout on `Jonah` with three drawings and a sentence to explain each

JL

French 6:  Th:  NO quiz tomorrow; we ran out of time!


JL

Library 6 and 7:  W:  Don't forget your library books tomorrow!  (Yes, we are having library.)


Soup Day 6 and 7:  W:  Soup Day tomorrow!


Readers' Theatre 6:  F:  productions of Hammurabi -- in-class enjoyment only and not for guests


JL

Memory Work 6:  W:  Ps. 39:3; next W:  Ps. 49:1; end-of-the-month text:  Amos 9:1-8; no poem to memorize due to the Declamation Contest at the end of the month


Bible 6:  Tu:  "The Day of the Lord" question handout is due; Tu-W:  Hosea; Th-F:  Jonah
Grammar 6 and 7:  W:  quick quiz on adverbs


Spelling Test 6 and 7:  W


Social Studies 6 and 7:  F:  research project is due (grade 6 will have an opportunity to type it on Friday morning; GOOD NEWS:  students will have a chance to show their buddies their projects on Friday; BAD NEWS:  students have a mini-test on Friday (see tomorrow's review sheet)


French 7:  Tu-Th:  work on group projects: "Un Centre Commercial"


French 6:   Th: quiz on prepositions


Writing 6:  F:  autobiographies are due


Reader's Theatre 6:  we'll be practicing for Monday's Remembrance Day Assembly


JL
P.S.  Shop Easy forms went home today.

Grammar 7:  Th:  "Parts of Speech - Adverbs"


JL

SNEAK PREVIEW OF OUR READERS' THEATRE PRODUCTIONS (GR. 6) ON FRIDAY DURING OPEN HOUSE:

 

What He Deserves

A poor farmer gives a very large turnip as a gift to his well-loved king.  The thankful king decides to reward him with a bag of jewels.  As the poor farmer leaves with his bag of jewels, he is met by his rich brother.  The rich brother decides to give the king an even bigger present to see if he will be rewarded with an even bigger bag of jewels.  In the end, the rich brother gets something completely unexpected, but it is WHAT HE DESERVES....

Little Bird in the Tree

A princess needs to find a prince to marry, and her father needs a successor.  Together, they come up with a test to find out who is worthy to be the next king and have the princess’ hand in marriage.  Each contestant man must observe a LITTLE BIRD IN A TREE and tell what he sees.  The king and his daughter will weigh all the answers to see which is most intelligent.  In the end, a quick thinking young man saves the day, but will he also win the princess’ hand in marriage?

The Traveler’s Lantern

A poor widow works day and night in order to earn money to feed herself and her two children.  Despite the cruelty of the villagers, the widow continues to be kind and gracious to everyone, including a stranger who knocks on her door one dark and stormy night.  He asks her to keep his TRAVELER’S LANTERN burning for him.  He tells her that the lantern uses costly oil and that he will reimburse the costs to her afterwards.  She kindly agrees, but when he doesn’t return for a long time, is her promise more important than feeding her children?  

JL

P.S.  Spelling test results from this past Friday and Monday:  gr. 6:  89%; gr. 7:  84%.

Spelling 6 and 7:  Students received their new words yesterday.  After I look at the spelling test results on Friday (next week), I will reassess the groupings (currently we have three groups of abilities:  blue, purple, and yellow).


Bible 6:  W:  "The Massacre" handouts and "Hazael and Athaliah" handouts due


JL


P.S.  Sorry, I forgot to pass out the Lifetouch photos for those who ordered which we received today.  I will try harder tomorrow.

Memory Work gr. 6:  W:  Hy. 35:4; next W:  Ps. 39:3; end-of-the-month poem:  "Linking Verbs"; end-of-the-month 'text':  Books of the Bible


Memory Work gr. 7:  none; students must know which poem they will study by next Mon. (NOT this Mon.)


Bible 6:  Tu:  "The Disease Spreads to Judah" (2 Kings 11); W:  Amos; Th-F:  Hosea


Writing 7:  drafts using generalization statements


Writing 6:  autobiography


Readers' Theatre 6:  F:  performance! 


French 7:  Th:  performance of "Qui est coupable?"; class avg for Th.'s quiz:  46% (students who had 50% or less need to have it signed for tomorrow, and they will do a requiz on Th.); no quiz this week


French 6:  class avg for Th.'s quiz:  89%; no quiz this week; personality traits


JL


P.S.  ALL students went home with a permission form for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra field trip (Wed., Nov. 19), and the youngest student in each family went home with an information sheet regarding our upcoming Book Week (Nov. 24-27).

Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  spelling test tomorrow!


Readers' Theatre 6:  F:  it's only another practice tomorrow after all


JL

French 6:  Th:  Un graphique


JL

Memory Work 6:  W:  Ps. 32:1; next W:  Hy. 35:4; F:  end-of-the-month 'text':  books of the Bible and end-of-the poem, "Linking Verbs"


Memory Work 7:  F:  "Linking Verbs"


Bible 6:  Tu:  "The Massacre"  (2 Kings 9); W:  "The Disease Spreads to Judah" (2 Kings 11); Th:  "The Day of the Lord"; F:  "Hosea"


Social Studies Research Project:  Beginning Thursday or Friday, students will begin their research project on "The Descendants of Shem"--don't worry, students will be walked through it step by step!


French 6:  Th:  quiz on vocabulary for colours of hair and eyes; oral reading evaluation


French 7:  Tu:  students may take home their requiz (class average increased by eight percent); Th:  quiz on vocabulary for occupations in the service industry


Readers' Theatre 6:  F:  performance


Lit. Circle Test 7:  F:  multiple choice test on Lit. Circle book


Declamation Contest 6 and 7:  M:  know the title of your poem (students will bring home an information sheet tomorrow)


JL


P.S.  Shop Easy forms went home today!
P.S.S.  Students may feel a little nervous tomorrow about a tiny prick they could be receiving--the nurses hope to come at 1:00 p.m..

Memory Work gr. 6:  W:  Ps. 28:4; next W:  Ps. 32:1; end-of-the-month poem:  "Linking Verbs"; end-of-the-month 'text':  Books of the Bible

Memory Work gr. 7:  end-of-the-month poem:  "Linking Verbs"

Social Studies 6 and 7:  F:  group poster project

French 7:  different communities and services in those communities; no quiz this week:  average on last Thursday's multiple choice quiz:  55%;  some students will be REQUIRED to rewrite the quiz, but, ALL students may write a requiz this Thursday

French 6:  hair colour and eye colours (no quiz this week)

Bible 6:  W:  tests will go home for signatures; W:  Miracles; Th:  group presentations of miracles; F:  Salvation From and For Moab (2 Kings 3:1-8)

Social Studies 6 and 7:  F:  group poster presentations on "The Middle East" due

Grammar 6:  Th:  Adverb handouts due

JL

Memory Work grade 6:  W:  Ps. 126:3; next W:  Ps. 28:4; end-of-the-month poem "Linking Verbs"; end-of-the-month 'text':  Books of the Bible

Spelling Test 6 and 7:  students received new spelling words today to be tested next Friday

Bible Test and Unit 6:  W:  test; unit is due

Writing 7:  W:  complaint letter due

French 7:  W:  quiz on preposition combination

French 6:  W:  "At Grandma and Grandpa" colouring due

Socials 6 and 7:  next W:  "Middle East" group project is due

JL

P.S.  Please remember "Walk for Life" permission forms if you haven't already handed them in.
P.S.S.  JCS Shop Easy forms went home today.

FAME, FORTUNE, cash, ipads, trips for two, and much more!!   Students in grades 6 and 7 have more than six new contests they can enter to earn all of these fabulous prizes!!!!Check the hallway outside Miss Lanting's classroom for more details!!!

French quiz results:  grade 6 class average:  66%; grade 7 class average:  98%


Bible 6:  F:  "A Typical Pagan King"


JL

Memory Work 6:  W:  Hy. 76:4; next W:  Ps. 126:3; end-of-the-month "text":  Books of the Bible; end-of-the-month poem:  "Linking Verbs"

Memory Work 7:  end-of-the-month poem:  "Linking Verbs"

Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  no spelling words

French 7:  W:  quiz on vocabulary for services

French 6:  Th:  quiz on vocabulary for friends

Bible 6:  W:  Review Sheet for test next W., I Kings 19 "The Mountain of God; Th:  I Kings 21 "A Typical Pagan King"; F:  2 Kings 2:1-18 "A Double Portion Please"

JL

P.S.  Students are asked to return their order form for pictures by Thurs.  I have one extra class picture; I will give it to whoever asks for it first!

Spelling Tests 6 and 7:  gr. 7 class average was 96% and gr. 6 class average was 86%


Lit. Circles 7:  Tu:  Scout (JB, JD, AB):  ch. 7-9; Scout (TT, MeG, AT, NB):  ch. 5-7; Scout (TW, RJ, MaG):  ch. 10-14; Among the Hidden (Ben, JT, TV, RL):  ch. 11-15; Among the Hidden (KL, MM, LH, FH):  ch. 9-14; DON'T FORGET YOUR EIGHT STICKY NOTES OF INFERENCES


Socials 6 and 7:  W:  deadline for group projects has been postponed to W., Oct. 1


Reader's Theater 6:  Tu:  performances were postponed to Tu., Sept. 30


JL

Bible 6:  Th:  "Rehoboam and Jeroboam's Successors"


JL

Grammar 6:  F:  quotations p. 450 #1-12


Grammar 7:  Th:  "Using Quotation Marks" handout due


Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  spelling tests for the three groups in each class:  purple, yellow, blue


Lit. Circles 7:  T:  read new assigned readings with 8 inferences on sticky notes (usually, most of the groups will have had a chance to discuss the readings with Miss Lanting on Tuesdays)


Writing 6:  Th:  draft of suspense story (it needs to have the four characteristics of a suspense story:  a real danger, building tension, dread or fear in the main character, something important is threatened)


JL


P.S.  Please sign and return Reading Range forms if you have not already done so.

Memory Work 6:  W:  Ps. 13:3 (next W:  Hy. 76:4); F:  "Parts of Speech" poem and Rom. 12:1-8


Memory Work 7:  Th:  poem "You Can't Avoid a Verb"


Reader's Theater 6:  F:  perform fable/fairy tale/folk tale


French 6:  W:  presentation of "Un Tableau de ma Famille"


French 7:  quizzes were returned today:  80% class average


Bible 6:  Tu:  drawings of Israel's neighbours on handouts "Israel's Neighbours"; W:  quiz on Israel's neighbours, I Kings 16, 17 "Troubler of Israel"; Th:  I Kings 19 "The Mountain of God"; F:  I Kings 21 "A Typical Pagan King"


Socials 6 and 7:  F:  group projects "The Development of the First Civilization" is due


STAR Reading Tests 6 and 7:  Tu:  please return signed forms with your child's reading range


JL


P.S.  Shop Easy forms went home today

Writing 6:  Th:  plot line


French 6:  Th:  "La Famille d'Annie" handout is due


JL

Bible 6:  W:  crossword "Jeroboam"


Immunization Forms:  The following grade 6 students are urgently requested to hand in their immunization forms tomorrow:  Elayna, Joel, Caleb, Lincoln, Suliman, Rachel, Alison, Eli.


Writing 7:  Th:  first draft of short mystery story with 1) dialogue and 2) short and long sentences is due
Socials 6 and 7:  F:  "Scientific Techniques" handout is due


JL

Spelling 6 and 7:  Tu:  handouts on homophones; we'll start "Words Their Way" tomorrow

Memory Work 6:  W:  Ps. 4:2; next W:  Ps. 13:3; end-of-the-month text:  Rom. 12:1-8; end-of-the-month poem ``Parts of Speech``

Memory Work 7:  end-of-the-month poem:  `You Can`t Avoid a Verb`

Social Studies 6 and 7:  preview:  Tu:  Scientific Techniques in Gathering Information About the Past; Th, F:  Identifying Civilizations

Bible 6:  Tu:  Three Prophets and a King; W, Th.:  A Look at Israel`s Neighbours; F:  Watch Out Behind You!

French 6:  W:  personal pronouns; Th:  quiz on vocabulary for members of a family

French 7:  W:  presentation of a Welcome Sign for each students town or city; Th:  quiz on names of provinces and territories of Canada

JL

P.S.  Grade 6:  please don`t forget the immunization forms for tomorrow!

Lit. Circles 7:  Tu:  read assigned chapters and prepare 8 sticky notes with an inference on each


Bible 6:  Tu:  finish questions, "The Revolution"


JL

P.S.  The immunization forms that went home today are due on Tuesday.

Lit. Circles 7:  Th:  handout "Outline of Setting"; we didn't get around to discussing the readings, but many students had forgotten their novels at home.  We will try again on Thurs.


Bible 6:  W:  "Israel's Golden Age" handout is due


Reading 6:  W:  students should read their assigned true short story beginning


JL

Welcome back!


Memory Work gr. 6: W:  Ps. 2:3; next W:  Ps. 4:2; end-of-the-month poem: "Parts of Speech"; end-of-the-month text:  Rom. 12:1-8


Memory Work gr. 7:  end-of-the-month poem:  "You Can't Avoid a Verb"


Spelling 6 and 7:  We're beginning a new spelling program, "Words Their Way" by Pearson (check out their website, if you wish). 


Bible 6:  Tu:  Israel's Golden Age (with Solomon); W:  The Revolution; Th:  Three Prophets and a King; F:  A Look Around Israel


Social Studies 6 and 7:  We're getting ready to do an archaeological dig on Friday!


French 6:  W:  finish handout, "Je me presente"; W:  review of "etre" and "avoir" verbs; Th:  vocabulary for members of a family


French 7:  W:  finish handout, "Je me presente"; What is a happy home?  Th:  rooms in a home


Lit. Circles 7:  Tu:  first chapter of mystery novel along with four sticky notes with an inference on each


Writing 7:  Tu:  eight-line rhymed poem using idioms


Book Talks and AR tests 6 and 7:  Students are required to do one Book Talk and one AR test each month (except for the months of December, March, and June).  Books for AR tests and Book Talks should be at their level, and books for Book Talks must cover each of the seven genres at least once.  Books read as a class or Lit. Circle can be used to accumulate points but do not fulfill the reading requirements for Book Talks or AR tests.  For Book Talks, students should begin with a quotation from the book and an explanation of why they chose that particular quotation.  They should not give away the ending, though.  Students will be evaluated on Poise, Voice, and Content.


Please don't hesitate to email me or phone me with your questions and/or concerns!


JL

Sweet!!  The following students received some sweet rewards for their hard (but pleasurable!) work in fulfilling the reading requirements this year:

COMPLETION OF THE REQUIRED BOOK TALKS AND AR TESTS:  (grade 6):  Aidan Blom, Jaron Bos, Matthew Gelderman, Roy Janssen, Tyler Whiteley, Jared deHaan; (grade 7):  Levi Aikema, Caleb Bos, Karissa Boeve, Lauren Dykstra, Shauna Hoogstra, Dayna Tams, Michael Thalen, Ashley Tiessen, Lauren Sikma, Chloe VanVliet, Christopher VanWoudenberg, and Rebekah Vandergugten

SPECIAL AWARDS:  grade 6:  Roy Janssen (most Book Talks); Matthew Gelderman (2nd most Book Talks); Jaron Bos and Thomas Thalen (tied for 3rd most Book Talks); Reuben Louwerse (most AR tests); James Thalen (2nd most AR tests); Aidan Blom (3rd most AR tests); grade 7:  Karissa Boeve (most Book Talks); Benjamin Gelderman (2nd most Book Talks); Dayna Tams (3rd most Book Talks); Karrissa Boeve (most AR tests); Colin VanWoudenberg (2nd most AR tests); Kiara Louwerse and Lauren Dykstra (3rd most AR tests)

Bible 6:  students brought home their tests today for signatures (class average 63%)

French 6:  students will enjoy some crepes; if anyone has another hot plate, we would love to borrow it for the morning!

JL

Readers' Theater 6 and 7:  F:  performance


French 6:  M (or possibly Tuesday):  perform plays about food


JL

Spelling 6:  suffix review


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 101:3, 4; F:  Haggai 2:1-9; "The 'H'" (grade 7 students also need to know "The 'H'"for Friday)


Bible 6:  M:  review sheet for Friday's test; Tu:  Jeremiah and Zedekiah; W:  The Seige and the Fall; Th:  The Remnant in Judah; F:  test

Grammar 6 and 7:  grade 6 test average:  63% (thanks for all the signatures today!); grade 7 will take their tests home tomorrow (average 72%)

JL

Memory Work 6:  Tu:  "Homophones"; Th:  Ps. 103:9; next Th:  Ps. 101:3,4; end-of-the-month text:  Haggai 2:1-9; end-of-the-month poem (new):  "The H"


Spelling 6 and 7:  Tu:  "Silent Consonants" handout


Grammar 6 and 7:  Tu:  test (students received their review sheet last week Friday)


Readers' Theater 6:  F:  perform pieces having to do with books


French 6:  Tu:  "La Carnaval" handout due (was assigned last Thursday)


French 7:  Th:  quiz on vocabulary for parts of the body


Vocabulary 6 and 7:  students in grade 7 brought home their tests today (avg:  69%); students in grade 6 will bring their tests home tomorrow (avg. 66%)


Bible 6:  Tu:  "Last Four Kings of Judah" handout is due; Habbakuk; W:  Jeremiah; Th:  Jeremiah's Message; F:  "False Hopes and True Hopes" (Jeremiah 27)


JL


P.S.  A Shop Easy form went home today

French 6:  W:  "Des Crepes, S.V.P.!"


Bible 6:  W:  crossword on "Nahum"


JL

Bible 6:  W:  "Finding the Book" question handout


Vocabulary 6 and 7:  W:  crossword


JL


P.S.  Tomorrow is the last time you may sign out a new book from the library!

Memory Work 6:  Th:  Hy. 47:4; next Th:  Ps. 103:9; end-of-the-month text:  Haggai 2:1-9; end-of-the-month poem "Homophones"


Spelling 6 and 7:  review for test on Friday; (grade 6 class average on Thursday's spelling test:  74%)


Church History 6:  tomorrow, tests will go home for parent signatures; the class average was 66%


Bible 6:  Tu:  "Finding the Book"; W:  Nahum;  Th:  Zephaniah;  F:  "The Last King of Judah"


Social Studies 6 and 7:  same as last week
French 6:  W:  "Bonhomme" handout due
French 7:  we are beginning "Au Secours" (no quiz this week)
Readers' Theater 6 and 7:  we continue to practice our pieces
Writing 6 and 7:  grade 6:  working on a first-person perspective piece using voice; grade 7:  working on a suspenseful story
JL
P.S.  A big thank you to all the parents who helped out or cheered us on at the Track and Field event today or on Sports Day on Friday.  Thank you also to Mr. Rekers for all the organizational work he put into the Track and Field event and to Mr. V. for all the work he did to organize Sports Day!  I think I am speaking for all the students (and myself!) when I say that it was very enjoyable!! 

Spelling 6:  Th:  environs, encourage, inane, inoculate, indigenous (spelling average last week for grade 6:  53% and grade 7:  54%)


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 126:3; next Th:  Hy. 47:4; middle-of-next-month text:  Haggai 2:1-9


Church Hist. 6:  Tu:  test; hand in unit


Bible 6:  W:  begin final unit, "Judah is Judged"


Writing 7:  Tu:  suspenseful story is due


Writing 6:  W:  writing from the point of view of a student in a German classroom is due


French 7:  W:  perform oral reading; begin final unit, "Au Secours!" (no quiz this week)


French 6:  W, Th:  practise for oral reading passages "Le Carnaval"  (no quiz this week)


Readers' Theater 6:  M:  perform pieces about ancient China


Social Studies 6 and 7:  budgets, social safety nets


JL


P.S.  Shop Easy Forms and Track and Field permission slips went home today.

Church History 6:  F:  questions on "Marx, Lenin, and Stalin" are due; the test has been postponed to next Tuesday


JL

P.S.  We would like to thank Mrs. Alisa Gelderman for the delicious hotdog lunch today!

Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  bellicose, incorruptible, necessary, alleviates, affinity (both grades have a Spelling Worksheet on "Double Consonants" to finish for Thursday, and grade 7 also has a "Sentence Stretchers" worksheet to finish for Thursday)


Memory Work 6:  Th:   Ps. 68:8; next Th:  Ps. 126:3; end-of-the-month text:  Haggai 2:1-9; end-of-the-month poem:  "Homophones" (we need more time with both "end-of-the-months"!)


Church History 6:  a review sheet went home today for the test on "Missions in China" on FRIDAY


French 7:  W:  using directions to find a place on a map;  Th:  "Do you prefer the big city or the small town?"--no quiz this week (last Wednesday's requiz more than doubled the class average:  68%)


French 6:  W:  the caleche driver of Quebec; Th:  la Carnival


Lit. Circles 6 and 7:  many students were relieved that we ran out of time for Lit. Circles today--please be sure to keep up with the readings!


Book Talks and AR tests:  an updated list has been posted in the hallway--students should be finished at least SEVEN Book Talks and at least SEVEN AR tests by the end of the month of May


Social Studies 6 and 7:  Market and Centrally Planned Economies cont'd


Readers' Theater 7:  Tomorrow (as with most Wednesdays) students will receive another drama to read with expression.  Students should spend more time practicing it aloud, especially if they have weak oral reading skills!




JL


P.S.  Today, students brought home Edu-Pac forms that you may find useful. Youngest students also brought home the latest FVRL magazine for your information.

Star Reading Tests 6 and 7:  Th:  parents are asked to sign the term's new reading range (sorry, they didn't go home yesterday as promised)


Writing 6:  Th:  suspenseful story (first draft) along with three illustrations of the story is due


French 7:  Th:  quiz has been postponed to next Thursday


JL

Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  fusillade, renegade, blockade, cavalcade, lemonade (last week's spelling avg for grade 7:  72%)

Memory Work 6:  Th:  song for Grandparents' Day; next Th:  Hy. 46:2; end-of-the-month poem:  "Homophones"; end-of-the-month text "Haggai 2:1-9

Memory Work 7:  end-of-the-month poem "Homophones"

Church History 6:  syncretism, Matteo Ricci, Robert Morrison, Marx, Lenin, and Stalin

Social Studies:  both groups will work on assignments:  grade 6:  "Nothing to Buy--A Comparison of the Soviet-Era Marketplace with the Present-Day Russian Marketplace" (group assignment), and grade 7:  "Comparative Economic Systems"

French 6:  old and new parts of the city of Quebec

French 7:  extra-curricular activities and clubs in France; last week's quiz avg was 31%, so we will have a requiz on Thursday--students should be able to recognize the basic question beginnings for WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHO, HOW and be able to respond in either English or French

Reading Levels 6 and 7:  Reading levels will go home tomorrow for signatures.

JL

Our very own NICOLE BYSTERVELD, KIARA LOUWERSE, and REUBEN LOUWERSE took the bull by the horns again, this time in front of the largest and final crowd of the competition!  Congratulations for a job very well done!!

Here is a list of the results:
1st:  Torah Vanderveen (CCE) "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome"
2nd:  Nicole Bysterveld (JCS)  "Laughter"
3rd:  Julia Vandriel (CCS) "Stage Fright"
4th:  Will Dykstra (WO)  "Boston Marathon Bombings"

We thank all the judges for their work, but especially the judge from our catchment, Mrs. Linda Bysterveld!

JL

French 7:  F:  The French quiz was ready to go, but our Literature Circles were so interesting, that it slipped my mind!  Let's try again tomorrow!


JL  

CONGRATULATIONS to all the fine speakers we enjoyed today!  After careful deliberation, our judges, MRS. LAUREN BREDENHOF, MRS. WILMA SCHOUTEN, and MRS. DIANA VANDERWOERD came up with the following results:  1st:  Kiara Louwerse, 2nd:  Nicole Bysterveld, and 3rd:  Reuben Louwerse.  We wish them all the best as they prepare for the final competition in Lynden, Washington this Friday!!


Church History 6:  W:  quiz on the 'Three Great Ones"


JL


P.S.  Don't forget to bring your baseball glove tomorrow!

Memory Work grade 6:  Th:  Hy. 30:2; next Th:  Hy. 38:2; new end-of-the-month text:  Haggai 2:1-9; new end-of-the-month poem:  "Homophones"

Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  juggernaut, cummerbund, pangolin, nirvana, bungalow

French 7:  Th:  quiz on answering questions

Social Studies 6 and 7:  centrally planned economies vs. market economies

Church History 6:  "The Three Great Ones":  Lao Tzu (Taoism), Confucius (Confucionism), Buddha (Buddhism)

Readers' Theater 6:  F:  students should be prepared to perform

JL

Lit. Circles 6 and 7:  Tu:  students should have read the required chapters and made 5 sticky notes of connections


French 7:  Tu:  handout, "Combien font..." is due


JL

CONGRATULATIONS to all the students in grades 6 and 7 who did their best in the classroom Speech Contests!  The following students have been promoted to the next level of the contest as contestant or runner-up:  grade 6:  Jaron Bos, Nicole Bysterveld, Roy Janssen, Reuben Louwerse, Travis Vandeburgt and grade 7:  Karissa Boeve, Shauna Hoogstra, Kiara Louwerse, Dayna Tams, and Colin VanWoudenberg.  Remember to come out and support these contestants in our school gym on Tuesday, April 29 at 11:00!

Students received their marks for the Speech Contest yesterday if they were in grade 7, and the grade 6 students will get their marks for the Speech Contest tomorrow.

JL

P.S.  Melissa Gelderman was mistakenly announced as the fifth place winner in the grade 6 Speech Contest, but she actually placed sixth.  Sorry for the mix-up, and thank you for your gracious acceptance of the correction, Melissa!  
P.S.S.  A hearty 'thank you' goes to Miss VanOosten who helped judge the grade 6 Speech Contest!

Memory Work grade 6:  Th:  Hy. 3:2?  (I didn't get an email of the Eaglet and I've misplaced the list!)

Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  clambered, veered, tethered, stalling, belayed (last week's avg:  grade 6:  68%; grade 7:  77%)

Bible 6:  W:  students are asked to return tests with signatures (class avg:  62%)

Church History 6:  Th:  We'll begin a unit on "Mission Work in China"

Social Studies 6/7:  F:  quiz on basic economic terminology: barter, currency, exchange rate, producer, consumer, needs, wants, goods, services

French 7:  asking questions in French (last week's vocab quiz avg:  40%; no quiz this week)

Lit. Circles 6/7:  grade 6: students received their new chapter assignments today (I'm impressed with the dedication the students demonstrate in keeping up with the readings!); grade 7:  students will meet and receive new chapter assignments on Thursday since today was taken up with speeches)

JL

P.S.  THANK YOU, Miss Schuurmans, for taking the time this afternoon to help judge the grade 7 speeches!!

Spelling 6:  Th:  alligator, tortilla, vanilla, peccadillo, medallion

Spelling 7:  Th:  inoculate, environs, indigenous, inane, encourage

Memory Work 6:  Th:  Hy. 3:2; next Th:  Hy. 14:6

Bible 6:  students received a Review Sheet today for the test on Thursday

Socials 6/7:  we begin a new unit on "Economic Systems"

French 6:  students achieved a 56% average on their imperative quiz; no quiz this Thursday because we'll start a new unit on "Le Quebec"

French 7:  Th:  quiz on vocabulary for different stores

Language Arts 6/7:  we've been concentrating on the different characteristics for suspenseful stories

JL

P.S.  Don't forget that Wednesday is Twin/Triplet Day and Thursday is Sloppy Joe Day!
P.S.S.  Don't forget Shop Easy forms tomorrow!

French 6:  F:  in all the busyness of today, the grade 6 French quiz was forgotten (but they will get it tomorrow); the grade 7 class, however, achieved 63% average on their quiz today

Lit. Circles 6:  F:  complete the map of Europe

JL

P.S.  A big 'thank you' goes to the volunteers who accompanied us on our field trip to the Yarrow Waterworks District:  Mrs. Kirsten Blom, Mrs. Angela deHaan, Mrs. Joanne Lieuwen, and Mrs. Irma Thalen!!

French 6/7:  Th:  grade 6:  quiz on the imperative; grade 7:  quiz on different careers


Art 6:  Th:  finish drawing of animal


Socials 6/7:  Th:  please submit permission forms tomorrow if you wish to go on the field trip


JL

Lit. Circles 6/7:  I was impressed to see that all the grade 6 students had read the required chapters today.  Except for Martha and Kaylee's group, all have been assigned new chapters.  I will instruct them tomorrow to find eight places where they felt some connection to the novel (text to self, text to text, text to the world) and mark them with post-it notes.  Grade 7 students were given their new novels today, and they are asked to mark (with post-it notes) five places that are suspenseful.  As usual, Lit. Circles are held on Tuesdays.

JL

P.S.  Permission forms for Thursday's planned field trip went home today.  Please sign and return as soon as possible.
P.S.S.  Don't forget to bring library books tomorrow.

Spelling 6/7:  F:  journey, visibility, fiery, ugliness, raspberry


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Hy. 71:2; next Th:  Hy. 3:2


Literature Circles 6:  Tu:  Someone Named Eva (ch. 1); Snow Treasure [J.D., T.T., J.B.] ch. 1-3; Snow Treasure [A.B., Ma.G., R.L., R.J.] ch. 1-2; Number the Stars [A.T., Me.G., B.S., L.H.] ch. 1-2; Number the Stars [M.M., K.L] ch. 1-2


Bible 6:  Tu:  Joel; W-Th:  Hezekiah; F-M:  review for test on (tentatively) Tuesday


Social Studies 6/7:  wrapping up the "Share the Wealth" unit on Thursday with a field trip (watch for the Permission Form going out tomorrow)


JL

Bible 6:  F:  handout on "Micah"

JL

Bible 6:  W:  "Immanuel" questions; don't forget to bring Bible timelines if they're still at home

Socials 6:  W:  quiz on Water Cycle

French 7:  W:  handouts "La Communaute..."

JL

Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  nonnegotiable, all-inclusive, dissimilar, misinterpret, inaccurate


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Hy. 31B:2; next Th:  Hy. 71:2; (no end-of-the-month texts or poems because of the classroom Speech Contests on Tu., April 22 (gr. 7) and W., April 23)


Bible 6:  We continue to study "The Kings and Prophets in Judah"; Tu:  Immanuel (Isaiah 7); W:  Micah; Th:  Joel; F:  Hezekiah


French 6:  We'll prepare for a quiz on the imperative next week Thursday.


French 7:  Th:  quiz on vocabulary for nine different community services.


Social Studies 6/7:  We'll continue learning about the sustainable use of water.


Language Arts 6/7:  Students will choose from a variety of 'Survival' novels to begin our new unit.


JL


P.S.  Shop Easy forms went home today if you wish to make use of them.

One mother recently asked me for an update on her child's progress on the reading requirements, and I thought more parents may be wondering, so here's the update!  (AR = Accelerated Reading Tests and BT=Book Talks and the number in brackets means how many are still required)

GRADE 6:  A.B. (3 BT), N.B. (4 BT, 1 AR), F.H. (4 BT), L.H. (4 BT, 3 AR), M.M. (4 BT, 2 AR), A.T. (1 BT), T.W. (4 BT), J.D. (1 AR), B.S. (1 BT, 1 AR), T.V. (2 BT, 1 AR), M.G. (2 BT), R.L. (1 BT), K.L. (2 BT, 1 AR), T.T. (1 BT)

GRADE 7:  L.D. (2 BT), E. F. (2 BT, 5 AR), L.H. (3 AR, 2 BT), K.J. (2 BT, 1 AR), K.L. (1 AR, 1 BT), J.S. (2 BT, 5 AR), L.S. (3 BT, 1 AR), Jo.T. (2 BT, 3 AR), Ja.T. (2 BT), Ca.V. (1 BT, 5 AR), Co.V. (1 AR), C.B. (2 AR), B.G. (2 AR), A.V. (1 AR), S.G. (1 BT), S.H. (1 BT), A.T. (1 BT)

Please don't hesitate to phone or email me if you are unsure of which continents still need to be covered for the Book Talks.  There aren't any stipulations for the AR tests except that the books should be in the student's reading range.

JL

Readers' Theater grade 7:  F:  performance

French 6:  F:  quiz on 'to sleep' and 'to move'; finish homework handout "La Famille Leclerc"

JL

P.S.  If you have a grade 6 student, ask him/her for the meaning of "schtroumpf"!

Vocabulary 6 and 7:  Tu:  crossword


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 69:4; first Th. after break:  Hy. 31B:2; end-of-the-month text:  we've extended our deadline for still another week to really embed Daniel 9


JL


P.S.  The Garden Program application deadline is this Thursday.

One other thing...

Literature Circles 6 and 7:  Tu:  students are asked to try their best to finish the novel they are currently reading since we will be starting new novels after the break

JL

Social Studies grade 7:  M:  "Watersheds" assignment

Spelling 6 and 7:  students will receive opportunities throughout the week to practice for their Vocab test on Thursday (as usual, they will have 10 multiple choice questions) starting with a crossword on Monday (only grade 7 had their spelling test yesterday and their average marks increased 14% from last week!)

Speeches 6 and 7:  the sooner you hand it in next week, the sooner it will be marked and returned!

JL

P.S.  Recently I switched telephone companies, and I've discovered that it's impossible for people to reach me because my phones no longer ring.  I'll try to get the problem fixed as soon as possible, and I'm sorry for the inconvenience to everyone who tried to reach me.

P.S.S.  This week was a steep learning curve for me as I tried to prepare for my first turn at hosting two visiting schools who were coming to the Tri-School Spelling Bee.   There were many things that I will do differently next time, but I'm glad that most people I talked to enjoyed the Bee anyhow.  The winner of the Bee came from William of Orange and his name is Ryan Vanderstoep.  Congratulations are well deserved by our seven contestants who gave it their best:  Aidan Blom, Benjamin Gelderman, Steven Gelderman, Kyle Jongs, Dayna Tams, Casey VanderWel, and Tyler Whiteley!

Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 29:3; next Th:  Ps. 69:4; F:  end-of-the-month text Daniel 9:4b-7, 17-18, 19b (we needed one more week)


Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  woebegone, chaperonage, yoga, mauve, testimony (last week's averages:  grade 6:  87%, grade 7:  70%)


French 7:  W:  handout "Aller..."; both grades will have a quiz on Thursday (or Friday if our class trip on Thursday takes too long):    grade 6 will have a multiple choice quiz on 'to sleep' and 'to move' and grade 7 will have one on contractions with the definite article


Speeches 6 and 7:  A few enterprising students have already written their speeches!!  Please try to have them typed, properly accredited, and include a "Works Cited" before handing them in on Monday.


JL


P.S.  Three forms went home today:  1)  "Ready, Steady, Read", 2)  skating forms, and 3)  Shop Easy forms.
P.S.S.  Some students continually neglect to do the reading for Lit. Circles which is every TUESDAY.

Sorry, I didn't post this yesterday....


Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  biscotti, army, supremacy, kanji, nebulosity; last week's averages were grade 7:  85% and grade 6:  80%


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Hy. 64:2 (next Th:  Ps. 29:3); F:  end-of-the-month poem and end-of-the-month text


French 6:  Th:  "Une Description de 15-A et 15-B" handout; grade 7 verb quiz average:  68%; grade 6:  roughly 70%--I forgot to record the marks, but most of the students returned them with signatures--Thank you!


Bible 6:  Th:  handout "Isaiah 6"


Grammar 6 and 7:  last week's grammar test results:  grade 6: 77%; grade 7:  76%


JL

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO TRIED THEIR BEST ON OUR JCS SPELLING BEE TODAY!  And the top three spellers are Benjamin Gelderman (1st), Aidan Blom (2nd), and Casey VanderWel (3rd)!  These three will be awarded with free Scholastic books of their choice!  The other four spellers who are eligible to compete at the Tri-School Spelling Bee are Kyle Jongs (4th), Dayna Tams (4th), Tyler Whiteley (5th), and Nicole Bysterveld (6th)!


Bible 6:  F:  handout "Joash, Amaziah, Azariah (Uzziah), Jotham, and Ahaz"


JL

JCS MIDDLE SCHOOL SPELLING BEE:   Our JCS Spelling Bee will begin at 11:00 this Thursday, February 20, in the JCS gym.  Parents or friends of students in grade 6 and 7 who would like to attend are asked to use their discretion when deciding who to take along.  We would appreciate an audience that is as quiet as possible!  Thank you!

Bible 6:  W:  questions "What Happened in Judah?"


Speeches 6 and 7:  Students are hard at work collecting information about their topic so that they can hand in the outlines next Friday (Feb. 28)


JL


P.S.  Students who have not yet handed in their Jump Rope for Heart envelopes (full or empty) should do so no later than tomorrow!


P.S.S.  We plan to practice Spelling Bees tomorrow to get familiar with the rules before the contest on Thurs.!

Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  fortnight, solemn, knead, wreck, pneumonia (Sorry, the students did not get a spelling test last Friday!)


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 148:4; next Th:  Hy. 64:2; end-of-the-month text:  Daniel 9:4b-7, 17-19b; end-of-the-month poem:  "Pronouns"


Memory Work 7:  end-of-the-month poem "Pronouns"


Church History 6:  tests are going home for signatures tomorrow:  class average was 64%


Bible 6:  we turn now to Judah with "The Kings and Prophets in Judah" (Uzziah, Jotham, Isaiah, Ahaz"


French 6 and 7:  Th:  vocabulary quiz for grade 6 and "aller/venir" quiz for grade 7


JL


P.S.  Shop Easy forms and "Ready, Steady, Read" forms went home today.


P.S.S.  Cupcake Day has been switched to Thursday to give students in grade 6 more time to make the cupcakes!


P.S.S.S.  Don't forget to dress for Cultural Dress Up Day tomorrow!

Grammar 6 and 7:  students in grade 7 received a Review Sheet on Thursday, and the grade 6 students received their Review Sheet on Friday for the test on Tuesday.

Spelling Bee 6 and 7:  Th:  the JCS Middle School students will see who the SEVEN grade 7 contestants will be in the Tri-School Spelling Bee! 

Cupcake Sale:  Tu:  the grade 6 students will be able to whip up their tastiest cupcakes for other people to buy!  (Tuesday is also Cultural Dress-Up Day)

JL

P.S.  Thanks to Mr. Roukema for subbing for me on Friday!

Church History 6:  F:  units are due (don't forget the test tomorrow!)


French 7:  not all the students were able to access the website to practice the 'aller' verb, so here is the link:  http://www.tolearnfrench.com/exercises/exercise-french-2/exercise-french-34820.php
(the quiz on 'aller/venir/ will be next Thursday)


JL
P.S.  The new chapters for Lit. Circles have been posted.   Most students have been keeping up with the weekly reading, although the quality/quantity of the sticky notes is dwindling (students should come with eight sticky notes of questions/connections each week)!

Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  altogether, laser, meteor, narrator, semester


Grammar 6:  W:  "Commas," p. 441#A, B


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 147:1; next Th:  Ps. 148:4; end-of-the-month text:  Daniel 9:4b-7, 17-19b
end-of-the-month poem:  "Pronouns"


Speeches 6 and 7:  A purple information sheet has gone home, custom-made to fit on your refrigerator!  Please keep this list handy for important dates!  First important due date:  choose a topic for Monday!


Church History 6:  a very detailed review sheet was given to the students today for Friday's test


JL

French 6 and 7:  today's vocabulary quiz results were very disappointing (both grades had to memorize nine French words):  average for grade 6:  49%; average  for grade 7:  51%

JL

P.S.  CONGRATULATIONS to Karissa Boeve whose short story was chosen to be published in Northern Horizons by Polar Expressions Publishing!  We hope that she will win the next round of the competition!  (She hasn't been informed of the news yet, but Alice Munroe wasn't told before the media either when she recently won the Nobel Prize for Literature.)

Lit. Circles 6 and 7:  except for a few Old Yeller groups (with whom I will meet tomorrow), the chapter requirements for next Tuesday are posted in the intermediate hallway
Church History 6:  Th:  complete the handout "The Debacle of Munster"
French 7:  Th:  handouts "Les Moyens de Transport" (don't forget about tomorrow's quiz)
JL
P.S.  You will notice that there's a new link '6+1 traits' that you can access to see examples of student writing and reasons for their mark.  On this website, you can also click on 'Rubrics (Scoring Guide)' for a more detailed description of each trait.  I frequently refer to this website to guide my marking.
P.S.S.  Don't forget that tomorrow is the last day to bring in money for Mission Month!

Spelling grade 6 and 7:  F:  blimp, wizard, batter, wombat, acrobat; (last week, I neglected to give a spelling test because of the short week; two weeks ago the class averages were grade 6:  64% and grade 7:  62%)


Memory Work 6 and 7:  end-of-the-month poem:  "Pronouns"


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 137:1; next Th:  Ps. 147:1; end-of-the-month text:  Daniel 9:4b-7, 17-19


Literature Circles 6 and 7:  tomorrow!!!  Don't forget your eight sticky notes!


French 6 and 7:  Th:  vocab quiz  (the grade 6 quiz last week on 'les nombres' resulted in a 71% class average)


Church History 6:  we continue the story of the Anabaptists (Book 2b, ch. 12)


Social Studies 6 and 7:  we are finishing "Sharing the Wealth"


JL


P.S.  Our informal Spelling Club will be studying words derived from Old English and Dutch.

Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 126:1, end-of-the-month text, end-of-the-month poem; next Th:  Ps. 137:1

Spelling 6 and 7:  Th:  delighted, delved, demanding, elucidate, curmudgeon; (I'll publish last week's averages after I mark them!)

French 6 and 7:  last week's quizzes averaged 70% (grade 6) and 82% (grade 7):  students in grade 6 are to get them signed

French 6: W:  homework on "Ch! Ch!  Filez!  Filez!" is due; Th:  grade 6 will have a quiz on numbers 1 to 100

Church History 6:  the Anabaptists of Munster

Writing 6 and 7:  the trait of 'voice'

JL

P.S.  Next Monday, our informal Spelling Bee Study Club will study words derived from Slavic German, and Italian languages and Eponyms.

Literature Circles 6 and 7:  Th:  "Set it Here" handout is due; Tu:  student should read the chapters assigned to each group (as posted in the hall) and be prepared to discuss them with the help of their eight sticky notes

Vocabulary 6:  Th:  "Sentence Stretchers" handout is due

JL 

Spelling grade 6 and 7:  F:  jalapeno, olympiad, narcissistic, jeremiad, gardenia


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 115:1; next Th:  Ps. 126:1; end-of-the-month poem "Misspellings"; end-of-the-month text:  Jeremiah 31:31-34


French 6:  Th:  quiz on vocabulary for rooms in a house


French 7:  Th:  quiz on names of provinces and territories, three different urban communities


Church Hist. 6:  Tu:  notes on the rest of the chapter on John Calvin


Literature Circles 6 and 7:  Tu:  nearly all the students were given their first pick of the four books about animals that we've begun to study; students should come with four sticky notes of questions and/or comments and be prepared to discuss chapter one


Assembly 6:  Th:  be prepared for our full rehearsal of our assembly "Ten Most Popular Animals in the Philippines"


JL


P.S.  Next week Monday, our informal Spelling Bee study club will study words derived from the French language.
P.S.S.  Last week, two new contests were posted for students who like to compete:  a Canada Poster contest, and a short story/creative essay/anecdote contest!

Spelling grade 6 and 7:  F:  ultramarine, airborne, backpack, rhinestone, quarterback; (last week's spelling results:  grade 6 average:  67%; grade 7 average:  61%)


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 91:4; next Th:  Ps. 115:1; end-of-the-month text:  Jeremiah 31:31-34; end-of-the-month poem:  "Misspellings"


Memory Work 7:    end-of-the-month poem:  "Misspellings"


Readers' Theater 7:  W:  performance


Literature Circles 6 and 7:  Tu:  be ready to discuss/evaluate true stories of people who have made a difference


Social Studies 7:  Tu:  roti chart is due (pie chart)


JL


P.S.  We studied Latin-derived words in our Study Club today.  Next week, we'll study Arabic and Slavic words.

AND THE LATEST EXCITEMENT IS....JCS will be hosting the Second Annual Spelling Bee in the valley!  Students received their Study Guide on Friday, and some are already itching to dive into the fray!  To give the students every advantage, I will be setting up an informal study club every Monday at noon; students can drop in if they wish.  Only seven contestants from each school will be registered in the Tri-School Bee (Credo Elementary will not attend).  The students who will represent our school will be selected from the top seven spellers in our JCS Intermediate Competition on Thursday, February 20.  However, if the JCS top spellers forfeit the opportunity to advance to the next level, the opportunity will automatically go to the next best spellers.  Regardless of whether they choose to go on to the next level, the top three JCS spellers will receive gift certificates for Scholastics.  The top speller for the Tri-School Bee will receive a trophy.  Please be aware that the Study Guide does not have a comprehensive list of the words which will be used for the contest; in fact, very few of them actually will be heard in the contest.  The words only serve as examples of the spelling rules that are characteristic of each language.  SET ASIDE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5 (10:00 A.M.), AND COME TO THE TRI-SCHOOL SPELLING BEE IN THE JCS GYM TO CHEER FOR YOUR SCHOOL!

JL

Grammar 6 and 7:  F:  students should complete the suffix handout


French 7:  students should complete the handout on "The Red Balloon"  Don't forget that tomorrow is France Day; dressing up as young French (wo)men would add to our authenticity!

French 6:  quizzes will be returned tomorrow (class avg:  57%); there won't be a requiz this time since the verbs were simply regular -er verbs which they've learned in a previous year, and we will be starting a unit on extra-terrestrials next week


Jean


P.S.  The three students who will be published in Skating Under the Stars are Melissa Gelderman, Shauna Hoogstra, and Kaylee Lieuwen.  Congratulations!!

Poetry Institute of Canada Contest


Some of the students in grade 6 and 7 informed me that they have poems which will be published in the Poetry Institute of Canada's Skating Under the Stars.  If these students do not wish to buy their own copy of the book, they can still take it home for a few days after the free classroom copy arrives.


JL

Happy New Year and Welcome Back to the students!


Spelling grade 6 and 7:  F:  coziness, giddiness, rambunctiousness, grotesqueness, tempestuousness


Memory Work 6 and 7:  end-of-the-month poem:  "Misspellings"


Memory Work 6:  Th:  Ps. 82:2; next Th:  Ps. 91:4; end-of-the-month text:  Jeremiah 31:31-34


French 6:  students received their requiz back today with an average increase of 15%!  (from 57% to 72%); Th:  quiz on 'to prefer'


French 7:  it's too bad that all the French delicacies couldn't be brought to school on the Snow Day; France Day has been rescheduled for this Friday and students must have their lap books ready to show their buddies, but bringing food is optional this time


Bible 6:  W:  please sign the tests the students bring home tomorrow (class average 66%)


Vocab tests:  students brought home vocabulary tests for signatures on the last day before the Christmas break:  grade 6 average:  86%; grade 7 average:  92%


Church History 6:  Tomorrow, we start our unit on 'John Calvin'.


JL

French grade 7:  F:  Some students still seem to have the idea that "la recette" which they are required to prepare for our France Day tomorrow is for the whole class; however, they need only a bring enough for their reading buddy!

French 6:  Th:  finish one side of the handout "Qu'est-ce que tu fais?"

JL

STAR Reading Tests Results:  grade 6 students brought their STAR reading reports home for signatures today, and grade 7 students will take them home for signatures tomorrow.

No Ordinary Day Summary: (chapters 8-15)  Dr. Indra takes Valli to the hospital where she checks her feet and gives her a good meal.  The highlight of the day for Valli was looking through a microscope at her own blood.  Her happiness is shattered, however, when she wakes up the following morning and sees lepers in her dormitory.  She runs away and begins living on the streets again.  Her difficulty in readjusting to homelessness after such promise was held out to her is manifested in her meanness and sadness.  She manages to get into a mall where she steals from a table in the food court and tries to buy a book before getting thrown out.  Finally, she faces the truth that she needs to go back to the hospital.  At the hospital, no one knows what to do with her until Dr. Indra arrives.  She presents Valli with two options:  stay for treatment and respect the lepers or go back to the streets.  She decides to stay.  Her first revelation comes when she really looks at the tea lady (leper) for the first time.  She finds that she is able to look past her missing nose and fingers.  All her tiredness catches up to her, and she spends a lot of time sleeping in her very first bed.  During her waking hours, she wants to learn as much as she can.  She learns about the circulatory system and how to make pie charts.  She is given her first Christmas present and her first hug.  When the book ends, she is about to taste ice cream for the first time. 

JL

Memory Work grade 6:  Th:  Ps. 70:2; Th: (after the break):  Ps. 82:2

Spelling grade 6 and 7:  there aren't any new words (see the reason in the previous blog), but all the students who turned in their crossword today got it back by the end of the day so that they can review already tonight!

French 6:  Th:  requiz on 'jouer/faire' since last Thursday's average was 57%

JL

P.S.  All the students have submitted their skating forms!  PLEASE ALSO SIGN AND RETURN THE PERMISSION FORM FOR THE CLASS REHEARSAL TO THE CHILLIWACK CULTURAL CENTRE T-O-M-O-R-R-O-W!  Thank you!

P.S.S.  Thank you to all the students for the unexpected Werther's candies and gift card to David's Tea!  It wasn't necessary but very sweet all the same!

Bible grade 6:  students received a review sheet for Thursday's test "Israel's Slide to Destruction"

Vocabulary grade 6 and 7:  students received a crossword to review the forty last spelling words for Wednesday's Vocabulary Test (just like last time, there will be ten multiple choice questions)

Spelling grade 6 and 7:  none this week (Friday's class averages on the spelling dictation:  grade 7:  76%; grade 6:  82%)

Students Who Need to Catch Up on the Reading Requirements:  grade 7:  Lauren (1 Book Talk); Elia (1 Book Talk, 3 AR tests); Larissa (1 AR test); Kyle (1 Book Talk, 1 AR test); Kiara (1 AR test); Grant (2 AR tests); Jordan (1 Book Talk, 3 AR tests); Jolene (1 Book Talk, 2 AR tests); Jayden (1 Book Talk); Casey (3 AR tests); Colin (1 AR test); grade 6:  Aidan (3 Book Talks); Nicole (2 Book Talks, 1 AR test); Feben (2 Book Talks); Leanne (2 Book Talks, 2 AR tests); Martha (2 Book Talks); Aaron (1 Book Talk); Tyler (2 Book Talks)

JL

P.S.  Please sign the Parent Report form going home on Monday that shows the Reading Range of your child going into Term 2.

Bible grade 6:  W:  handout "Hosea"

JL

P.S.  Please remember to fill out and return the skating form.

Memory Work grade 6:  this Th:  Ps. 66:1; next Th:  Ps. 70:2 (with all the confusion in the move out of our classroom, we somehow ended up with Ps. 66:1 instead of Ps. 72:1)

Spelling 6 and 7:  F:  penguin, cruiser, quisling, quixotic, biscuit

French 6:  Th:  quiz on conjugations of 'faire/jouer'

French 7:  no quiz this week!

JL

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR EIGHT DECLAIMERS, and especially to our finalists:  Caleb Bos (1st), Reuben Louwerse (2nd), and Nicole Bysterveld (3rd)! 

We would also like to thank Mrs. Heather Byker and Mrs. Erin Timmerman for their hard work in judging the contestants! 

Bible 6:  F:  questions "The Day of the Lord"

JL

Declamation Contest 6 and 7:  Tomorrow's Declamation Contest is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m.  Friends and relatives of the declaimers are welcome to attend!

JL

P.S.  I hope to allow the grade 6 and 7 students to check in library books tomorrow and get new ones!

No Ordinary Day Summary (chapters 5-7):  Valli was trying to sleep in front of a computer store when the sound of police sirens forces her to finish her sleep in the cemetery where it was quieter and no one would notice her blanket and warm jacket and try to steal them.  Many other homeless Indians were also sleeping in the cemetery, taking advantage of the fact that the guard was incapacitated from home-brewed booze.  In the morning, she escapes the cemetery before the guard can wake her up with his long stick.  She spends a pleasant hour chatting with a fortune teller, until she notices that his feet have the tell-tale signs of leprosy.  After fleeing in fear, she realizes that she is hungry, so she goes to a tea-seller who has sometimes given her tea for free.  She nearly doesn't get any because the tea-seller's brother is angry that he is always giving tea to street urchins, but she finally gets her tea.  She enjoys it while talking to some clay statutes of two gods who, she feels, seem to be smiling at her.  However, she is still hungry, so she begins diving in the Ganges River for the coins people throw into it in order to be blessed.  Unfortunately, she can't find any before she gets very tired, and so she steals the coins from a little girl who is momentarily distracted.  Then she disappears under the water before the little girl and her family can figure out where the coins went.  When she gets out of the water, she sees a woman reading a Bible by a cremation pit.  She is a doctor who immediately notices that Valli doesn't realize that she is standing on some hot coals from the pit.  She wants to take Valli with her to the hospital, but Valli is too distrustful to go with her in the taxi, and so the two of them begin the long walk to the hospital.

JL

P.S.  Congratulations to the three students who won the Book Cover contest:  Nicole Bysterveld (1st), Thomas Thalen (2nd), and James Thalen (3rd)! 

Memory Work grade 6:  Th:  Hy. 13:4,5; next Th:  Ps. 72:1

Spelling grade 6 and 7:  F:  wrestle, mistletoe, axle, castle, yokel; last week's averages:  grade 6:  80%; grade 7:  79%

Bible 6:  Tu:  quiz tomorrow on last Thursday`s crossword homework

JL

P.S.  I`ve had a forgetful day today:  I forgot to return grade 7 grammar tests (which I`ll try to remember to do tomorrow), and I forgot the Shop Easy forms (please don`t hesitate to request your order by handwritten note).