September 29 Update

Art Prize
We had a great day at ArtPrize on Friday. A special "thanks" to Julie Lawrence and Annie Kendra for coming with and helping out. The students spent the day viewing art throughout downtown. The students also completed an assignment reflecting on the artwork they saw.

Bike-a-thon
Great job to everyone who participated in Bike-a-thon! Mel Solle is looking for pictures from Bike-a-thon to include in they yearbook. Please email her if you have any pictures from Saturday that could be included in the yearbook.


Servant Awards
Servant Awards are given out several times during the year. One student in 6th-8th grade is selected for the reward because of showing a Christ-like attitude at school. We want to encourage our students to be intentional about seeking out ways to serve people around them. Congratulations to the September recipients: Connor Christophel (6th), Sophie Kendra (7th), and Chandler Muller (8th).

Family Time (October 3)
Kevin Ohlman from LIFE International will be coming to share with the middle school students next Monday for Family Time. (www.lifeinternational.com) Kevin will be sharing about what God is doing in LIFE International's ministry around the world. Middle School Family Times take place once or twice a week in the middle school hallway at the same time as elementary students meet in the Worship Center (8:30-9:00 a.m. on Monday mornings). You are always welcome to join us for these worship times.

Language Arts
We are continuing to read pieces of literature dealings with the themes of acceptance, courage, and freedom. The students will read one more short story and then write a paper analyzing the themes in the literature and their own lives. I will outline the specific requirements of the paper sometime next week. The students will have a quiz this Thursday over vocabulary terms from the elements of a story. They know which terms will be included on the quiz based on notes they took earlier this year. Journals are due on Friday. Reading logs are due Tuesday-Friday morning. Please help your children to be accountable for writing proper reflections. Some students are doing a great job reflecting on their reading. Other students could use some encouragement in this area.

Did you know that you can view your child's grades on Net Classroom? I recently updated their reading log grades. If you are wondering if your child has been handing in his or her reading log, check Net Classroom (the assignment is worth 3 points each night-a total of 12 points each week).

Online Computer Policy
Every 7th grade student has use of a netbook laptop at school. If you have questions about this program or school policy concerning laptop usage, please visit the "Student Laptop Program" page on the Grand Rapids Christian Schools website. (http://www.grcs.org/ and then click "schools" "Rockford Christian School" and then "Student Laptop Program")

Miscellaneous

*Dave Worst has a blog and he would like to share the link with you. Please feel free to visit his blog. http://mrdavescorner.blogspot.com/

*If you were not able to attend curriculum night, your child should have brought home a handout that contains important information about the school year from all the 7th grade teachers. Please email me if you need a copy of this.

*A list of choir concert dates was included in yesterday's home bulletin. Please be sure to place these dates on your calendars. Let me know if you did not receive a copy of the dates.

September 20 Update

Wabasis

The students had a great day last Wednesday: playing football, hiking, swimming, playing volleyball, spending time together, getting to know one another better, etc. Thanks again to parents who volunteered to drive.

Curriculum Night

Hope to see everyone tomorrow evening at Curriculum Night. This is a night for parents to meet teachers, be informed about curriculum the students will be learning this year, and hear information about 7th grade. If you are unable to attend, please let me know and I will send a hand-out containing important information covered during the evening home with your child on Wednesday.

Art Prize

This Friday we will be going to visit Art Prize downtown Grand Rapids. We'll be leaving school at 9:15 a.m. and returning at the end of the day. Students need to bring a labeled sack lunch and a drink with them to school that day. We are also in need of 2 parent chaperons for the day. Please let me know if you might be available. We would need you to arrive at school by 9, ride the bus with everyone, and supervise a group of 8 students during the day.

Bike-a-thon
Don't miss the fun at bike-a-thon this weekend. Pledges are due this Wednesday. Students may ride other times as well, but the official ride time is this Saturday. Your child should have brought home information the first week of school about it. Please let me know if you have misplaced your information or have questions. There are many great prizes again this year for students who participate. The bike-a-thon is a wonderful way to get some exercise and support R.C.S.

Miscellaneous
*The students received "The Starting Point Matters" theme t-shirts. They are encouraged to wear these each Monday morning for Family Time.
* Please see the 7th grade Camp Roger dates at the top right section of this blog. Hopefully these dates will be helpful in the future when you fill out hot lunch order forms for your child. Hot lunch is not served to students on days when they go to Camp Roger.
*For 7th grade language arts, the students receive 2 short journal assignments each Monday. These are due by Friday. Thank you for encouraging your child to do his or her best writing on these assignments. While I am looking for thoughtful writing, the students should not need to spend more than 30 minutes or so on journals each week.

September 13 Update

There are quite a few dates to get on your calendars as we begin the year.
*Wednesday, September 15: Wabasis Middle School Mixer. Thank you to everyone for sending $2 to school with your child to cover the cost of lunch that day. We will be gone from 10:15-3:00. Students should bring a modest bathing suit and towel with them if they would like to swim. Everyone should also bring a water bottle. They should wear comfortable clothes and be prepared for a fun day spending time together outside. Thanks to David and Lisa Balk, Lynne Fahlen, Mel Solle, Julie Lawrence, and Jenn Ignatoski for volunteering to come with us!

*Tuesday, September 21: Curriculum Night. 7:00-8:15. I am looking forward to seeing everyone for curriculum night. The 7th grade students have a wonderful opportunity to be instructed by several different teachers this year (Mr. VerMerris for Bible, Mrs. Oren for history, Miss Dahm for science, Mrs. Wilkins or Mrs. VanDyke for math, and I teach language arts). Curriculum night is a great way to hear about what your children will be learning about this school year.

*Friday, September 24: Art Prize. The middle school students will be going downtown to Art Prize venues. Students will need a labeled sack lunch and a drink. This will be an all-day event. We are in need of one or two parents who would like to come along and help chaperon that day. Chaperon responsibilities will include being assigned to a group of students, walking around for the day with them, and encouraging the students to engage in the activities of the day. We will be taking buses and will not need parents to drive. Please let me know if you would like to join us. RCMS students participated in this event last year and it was a wonderful day learning about Art Prize, the artists, and the artwork. We are thankful to be able to participate again this year!

*Saturday, September 25: Bike-a-thon. Students brought home information last Thursday.

*Monday and Tuesday, September 27 & 28: School Pictures

*Friday, October 8: Grandfriends' Day

Other Notes:
*Students in 5th-8th grade will be participating in NWEA testing during the weeks of September 20 and September 27th. The 7th grade students will take the reading portion on Monday, September 27th, language usage on Tuesday, September 28, and math on Wednesday, September 29th. Thank you for encouraging your children to get plenty of rest the night before the assessments, and to eat a good breakfast those mornings. While we don't want students to feel anxious about the assessments, we do want them to take their work seriously and be as prepared as possible. The results from these assessments help us better target needs in individual students.

*Hot lunch order forms went home with students today. Please be sure that they are returned no later than Friday, September 17th.

Please let me know if you have questions or concerns!