THE MESSENGER

A Newsletter for Supporters of Immanuel Christian School

Vol. 23 No. 21

February 18, 2011

Message from the Principal – Mr. P. Veenendaal

As the elementary students keep busy reading as much as they can, the regular work continues as well. Now “regular” may mean different things to different people. Some may interpret this as similar to assembly line work. To us it doesn’t mean we have the same routines every day. There are always new and exciting things happening at a school. Someone may be sick and needs a substitute. Some classes go on field trips. Students can’t get to school because of road or weather conditions. A few students need encouragement to keep up with their work. Sometimes we need advice from parents on how to deal with certain issues.

One of the things that is needing some extra time now is the preparation for next school year. Mrs. Toet has updated our ICS enrolment projections and it looks like we may be on a slow but steady climb in numbers for the next 5 years with classes as large as 22 and 28 coming up. What a blessing that God continues to give us His children to nurture for a few years! However, it will mean some extra work for our maintenance committee to make sure we have enough room in the classrooms for those large numbers. It continues to take a concerted effort from all of us to do what is needed here at ICS. Thanks to the many committee and board members, other volunteers, and, of course, all parents, for the support given to us who work here every day.

One of the committees that meets on a regular basis is our Education Advisory Committee (EAC). Right now, it is made up of Mr. Theo Beijes as chairman, Mrs. Jody Bruinsma as secretary, Mrs. Margaret Hoogerijk as liaison to the library committee, Mrs. Joanne Teitsma as liaison to the Music committee, Mrs. Elsje Raap as liaison to the school board. Until this past Monday night, Mr. Will DeWit was the chairman and liaison to the computer committee. Mr. DeWit resigned form his position after he was elected to the school board last fall. You see that everyone is a liaison to another committee. That is because they all work under the umbrella of the EAC in regards to budgeting and day-to-day issues. The EAC board liaison then reports as necessary to the school board.

If you have an old mandate for this committee and compare it with a more recent one, you will find that one large change has occurred. When this committee was known as the Education Committee, it dealt a lot with staff and staffing issues, such as interviewing and making recommendations to the board. That has since been taken over totally by the school board. This committee now deals more with the school program, courses and policies and anything else the board wishes them to work on. These things often are in regard to government requirements. Most recently, the EAC has worked on a Nutrition Policy, revised the EAC mandate, course outlines from teachers, and will soon review new textbooks requested for next year as well as a review of the High School Student Handbook. As you can imagine, there is always something for this committee to work on and we appreciate their support and guidance in a lot of administrative matters. You can see too that with this background, they are also valuable when they make classroom visits together with board members twice every year.

In the previous paragraph I mentioned, “staffing.” That is maybe something that is on your mind in regards to next year. By the end of February we should know which teachers are planning to stay for another year. A little encouragement from parents wouldn’t hurt. We pray that God will guide each one as they contemplate making decisions that will keep them occupied until the summer of 2012.

Students, have a great long weekend. Parents, enjoy having them home for an extra day. Judging by the long-range weather forecast, it just may be the last winter holiday you have together this school year.

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Last week in the "Following the Diaspora" it was Pamela Shpak who was featured in the Article. Pam thank you for taking the time to answer the questions, and participate in this column! It was enjoyable to find out a little more about what you exactly do. All the best in your future career, wherever the road continues for you. Thank you also to all the readers of this column who have been not only reading the messenger, but also bi-weekly putting their minds together and discovering who is featured in the article. Finally, to all current students in ICS, it is hopefully also enjoyed by you all, especially in the senior grades as you are busy contemplating which road to discover with your talents. Keep studying, keep applying yourself, as some have pointed out in this column you never know exactly where the road may turn, and it is best to be prepared.

"What is the point of worrying oneself too much about what one could or could not have done to control the course one's life took? Surely it is enough that the likes of you and I at least try to make our small contribution count for something true and worthy."

-Kazuo Ishiguro, "Remains of the Day".

Next week we will meet another female graduate of Immanuel Christian School who has found herself in a most interesting line of work, and it is only the beginning...

Until then,

David Hutten

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UPDATE ON “I LOVE TO READ MONTH”

Another week of I love to Read Month has gone by. It’s hard to believe there is only one week left. Students have again been busy reading this week and by Thursday there was a feverish push to pack in a few more hours of reading yet. You see, on Monday, Mr. Veenendaal and Mr. den Hollander challenged the students to read 300 hours by the end of the week or their beards would come off. However, by Thursday students still had some ways to go. You’ll have to wait and see if the beards will make it over the weekend…

On Monday of this past week we took the opportunity to look back at the two weeks that were already completed. Students were able to see over 300 pictures of themselves participating in various events from the past months. The action shots from winterfest were especially appreciated. Thank-you to all the parents who attended and helped make this event a success. On the Tuesday, further preparations were underway in the various classrooms to ready themselves for ‘Farmers Market’, which will be happening this coming week. Just peeking in at the Grade 5 class working away in the computer lab, I can see students are learning quite a lot about their classroom topics. On Wednesday our front door to the school got a lot of action as a steady stream of guest readers came through our school. Thank-you to the many enthusiastic parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents and ministers who made this day so enjoyable. The librarians joined the fray on Thursday for Librarians’ choice day. They provided the students with a craft activity as well as some special treats! Thank you Librarians. Strangely enough, the day was also punctuated by the DEAR bell… I wonder who would do that unannounced? Well, it got them ready for another crazy DEAR day on Friday.

This coming week we’ll wrap up the month with a few more activities. Although students will be disappointed to know there is no school on Monday, the rest of the week should be action packed. On Tuesday we’ll shake off the long weekend cobwebs by another DEAR day. Wednesday will be the much anticipated and prepared for ‘Farmer’s Market’ day. Students will visit the various classrooms for approximately 10 minutes in order to be introduced to the different classroom themes. This should be a great opportunity for fun and learning! On Thursday the teachers will switch up classrooms for a little while to share their favourite books with a different class. Finally, on the last day of I love to Read Month we’ll have our Wrap-Up afternoon. We’ll start off with a hot dog lunch (look for opportunities to volunteer for this elsewhere in the Messenger) and then enjoy different activities together for the rest of the afternoon.

Just in case you think we’re winding down though, don’t forget that for every hour the students read, Peak of the Market will donate one pound of vegetables to Winnipeg Harvest! In this way, not only do students get an enjoyable activity in reading a book, but can also show love for their neighbour in doing it! Let’s see us reach the goal of 1000 hours! Come on elementary, you can do it!

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INVITATION:

The grade 7 Class would like to invite the whole student body, staff and parents of ICS to participate in our own pink day, next Thursday, February 24. Wear a shirt, a hat, or a scarf that is pink. This will be in conjunction with our monthly theme and assembly on “kindness” as part of the fruit of the Spirit. God shows us His Kindness and Mercy time and time again. Let us show our thankfulness by showing love and kindness to our neighbour as God has commanded in His Word.

Bullied student tickled pink by schoolmates' T-shirt campaign

Two Nova Scotia students are being praised across North America for the way they turned the tide against the bullies who picked on a fellow student for wearing pink.

The victim —a Grade 9 boy at Central Kings Rural High School in the small community of Cambridge— wore a pink polo shirt on his first day of school.

David Shepherd, left, and Travis Price decided to spread word of their 'sea of pink' campaign on the internet.
(CBC)

Bullies harassed the boy, called him a homosexual for wearing pink and threatened to beat him up, students said. Two Grade 12 students— DavidShepherd and Travis Price—heard the news and decided to take action.

"I just figured enough was enough," said Shepherd.

Theywent to a nearby discount store and bought 50 pink shirts, including tank tops, to wear to school the next day.

'Sea of pink' support

Then the two went online to e-mail classmates to get them on board with their anti-bullying cause that they dubbed a "sea of pink." But a tsunami of support poured in the next day. Not only were dozens of students outfitted with the discount tees, but hundreds of students showed up wearing their own pink clothes, some head-to-toe.

The two Grade 12 students show off the pink shirts they wore to school. (CBC)

When the bullied student, who has never been identified, walked into school to see his fellow students decked out in pink, someof his classmatessaid it was a powerful moment. He may have even blushed a little.

"Definitely it looked like there was a big weight lifted off his shoulders. He went from looking right depressed to being as happy as can be," said Shepherd.

And there's been nary a peep from the bullies since, which Shepherd says just goes to show what a little activism will do.

"If you can get more people against them… to show that we're not going to put up with it and support each other, then they're not as big as a group as they think are," he says.

Thestudents' "sea of pink" campaign did not go unnoticed outside the province.

"It's been totally overwhelming for us. I mean we're just two local boys and I mean we're getting calls from like Alaska and e-mails. It's just phenomenal the support thatwe've gotten from across the globe," said Price.

The school principal, understandably, was flush with pride.

"You're always hearing about the youth of the world and how bad things are. Well, they're not that bad," said Stephen Pearl.

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GENERAL NEWS:

1. Remember: This Friday, February 25, is BOOK CHARACTER DAY! Dress up as your favourite book characters for “I Love to Read” month. This is a spirit day for both the elementary students and the high school students, so we hope to see everyone dress up. (Reminder: no fake or real weapons.)

2. From the Student Cabinet…

  • Greetings all, on behalf of your friendly neighbourhood cabinet members.
  • The second semester has begun and we’ve got some great stuff up our sleeves to keep the second half of the school year exciting! On the 25th of February, we plan to have a spirit day in correspondence with “I Love To Read” month – Book Character Day! So put your thinking caps on now and think up something great! ;)
  • You may remember that a couple months ago we had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Randy Lodder into the school for a presentation about the work of CDIA and their work in Haiti. The presentation was very well done and I think we students could really see the great need there was for help in Haiti. As a result, the student cabinet pledged to have a fundraiser to raise funds in support CDIA to help with their work there. And so, we present the:

TOONIES FOR LOONIES in support of HEARTS FOR HAITI fundraiser!

Here’s how it works: On TOOsday, February TOOOwenty TOO, The Student Cabinet will collect toonies as donations that will be given to support the work of CDIA! But there’s more! Everyone who gives a toonie, will get a LOONIE in return AAAAND a complimentary (and rather delicious and beautiful) heart shaped cookie! (Quite appropriate for February, doncha think?)

Now, keep in mind that your whole toonie will be going to support this fund, and the loonie comes out of the pocket of your student cabinet. Basically what this means is that for every loonie YOU donate, the Student Cabinet donates one too! AND you get a cookie! It’s a win, win, win, situation in which we can share our gifts with those in need!

So mark the date on your calendars (just remember - TOO), and parents, send toonies with your children (as we will be going around to the elementary and high school), and have heart for Haiti by giving your toonies for loonies! (and a cookie :P)

3. BLT News: This week will be a bit of a busier one as we get closer to the date of our mini-performance for the MFIS Dinner. There is a practice on Monday, the 21st from 10am to 1pm for the people involved in one certain piece and then this coming Wednesday is an extra long practice from after school to about 7pm. Thank you to a certain BLT Mom for being willing to supply supper for us! Also at this practice, we will review the set up and take down of the backdrops, lights, sound, etc. And please remember to bring your black clothes. We still need permission slips from a number of members yet so bring your slip to school and put it in the envelope labeled BLT that's in the school office. See you on Wednesday!

4. Second Issue of This Year’s Student Paper coming soon! Talk to A.J., Brenden, or Mr. Dykstra to submit more material. Other writing opportunities:

1. Write or e-mail the media, its ad sponsors, or your MLA or MP.
2.Check or
3.Teen Ink has an online poetry contest.
4.Click on the tag activism or reasons-to-write on
5.Mr. Dykstra has recent news of the latest essay and poetry contests.

REMINDER: If you would like to place an order from the FebruaryScholastic flyers, please return the order forms and cheque (made out to: Scholastic Canada Ltd.) to your child’s teacher on or before Friday, February 25.

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LIBRARY NEWS . . .A true story of a great Dutch merchant sailor and admiral – in our library:Salt in His Blood, by William R. Rang, tells the life story of Michael De Ruyter,from a boyhood spent in one scrape after another,to a career as a sea merchant busy outsmarting pirates, to his post asAdmiral of the Dutch Navy in a time of conflict with the Spanish and the English.

To see other great library items, many with colour cover illustrations, check out the display board in the foyer).

Library hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings, andTuesday afternoons.

Grade 1:

Dylan G.

Cassandra V.

Tyrell V.

Grade 2:

Naomi D.

Abigail N.

Jordan VanderLinde

Julia Wiersema

Grade 4:

Matthew D.

Nathan P.

Grade 5:

Shelby D.

Nathan D.

Rebecca V.

Grade 7:

Kevin D.

Riley R.

Jessica V.

Grade 8:

Mark M.