December 21, 2019

Dear parents,

Thank you very much for your wonderful Christmas gift!!! It’s such a blessing and honor for me to teach and work with your kids. I thank you for your appreciation!

Also, I want to thank you for your understanding and pardoning of my wrongs and imperfections throughout these months. And please let me know if there is anyway that I can better my teaching and interaction with your kids. 🙂

I pray that your kids and you will get rested, refreshed, and renewed by our dear Savior during this Christmas break. I also want to ask you to pray for me to have the renewed spiritual-and-physical strength and wisdom from above to love and teach your kids next year. (Your prayers for this class is invaluable!)

Thank you!!!

Below is a thank-you note from Apple Zou Laoshi and lots of fun pictures from this week.

Dear parents,
I want to thank you all for the very heart-warming Christmas gifts. It’s actually my second Christmas in the States and your kindness made this Christmas a special one for me. I enjoy working with your kids and I look forward to spending more time with them in the coming year!!
Chunhua  ( Apple)  ^-^

 

December 16, 2019

Dear parents,

This is such a wonderful time of the year. I pray that we will have a productive, peaceful, and joyful week. 🙂

Announcement:

2nd grade Officer Breuker’s Lesson

On December 16, 2nd graders will meet with Officer Breuker for 30 minutes.

Jingle Jog:

Our class jingle jog is on Monday, Dec. 16th from 11:00 – 11:30 in the gym. Your child should have brought home information. I hope to see many of you jogging with students or cheering them on!

Kids’ Food Basket

On Monday afternoon we will be traveling to Kids’ Food Basket of Holland to volunteer there in whatever capacity they need us.  We collected 39.18 in our class. Thank you for your donation! I have used this money to buy the food items Kids’ Food Basket has requested. We will bring the food to them when we go there.

Attending Parents: Abby Allen, Emilee Lubbers, Cara Wickstra, and Ann Hemmeke, please be at our classroom at 1:30. Thank you!

Classroom Christmas Party:

Thank Abby Allen and Dana Moeller for organizing our classroom Christmas party! It will be from 12:45-2:10 on Friday, Dec. 20.  They have also offered a pizza lunch for every student. So no need to pack your kids lunch that day.

Grand Rapids Lunar New Year

Parents -We have been invited to perform at Grand Rapids Lunar New Year this year and we are going to try something totally unique (no singing this time). Please read the following information included in this form, and please sign up any elementary aged children of yours who are interested in participating.

Tuesday Lunch Helper for December 17: Cara Wickstra

Tuesday Lunch Helper for January 7: Joanna Haveman

Thank you for helping out in the classroom!

Featured Friend:

If your kid is the featured friend for that week, please have him/her bring in pictures on Mondays. They may bring in up to 6 pictures, but please bring in one picture of him/her in the past, one recent picture and one picture of his/her family.

Week of December 16:  Alina Haveman

Week of January 6: Elise Hemmeke

Field Trip Driver Sign-up

Field Trip sign ups for the 2nd/3rd grade will be on a combined sign up genius this year so we can keep better track of drivers. Please see below for the sign-up link.
Thank you for your help!  We could not do this without you!!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f45acaf2aa1fd0-2nd3rd

TerraCycle

Here is a detailed list of everything we accept to TerraCycle at ZCS. Please look it over carefully, as the program changes a bit each year and even during the year.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HGFofovT_xYoLFC0LgxxffbdIG4jDZLW/view?ts=5dd85401

Upcoming events:

December 16 Jingle Jog: Our class jingle jog is on Monday, Dec. 16th from 11:00 – 11:30 in the gym.

December 16: Kids’ Food Basket field trip (1:35-3:15) .

December 17: Middle School Christmas Concert

December 19 All School Chapel – 9:00 a.m.

Dec. 23 – Jan. 3 Christmas Vacation

January 6: Schools is back in session

Curriculum Corner

2nd Grade Math:

Unit 4 Subtract 2-digit numbers

Lesson 3 Addends and Subtraction
1. Find unknown Addends
2. Explore numbers that add to 100
3. Subtract from 100

3rd Grade Math: 

  • Building Fluency with 0-10s
  • Unit 3: Measurement, Time and Graphs.  Lesson 1: Customary Units of Length

Your kids should be practicing math facts at home during the week. The order kids learn them in class are multiples of 5, 2, 10, 9, 3, 4, 1, 0, 6, 8, 7. They can do https://es.xtramath.org/#/home/index Also, there are numerous fun computer games for practicing. I’ve put some on my blog under “Resources”.

Mandarin High Frequency Words to Produce and to recognize:

We will not learn any new words and there will be no test on Friday. We will review words that we have learned so far.

Pinyin:

Able to recognize “c”, “d”, “f”

Grammar:

  • Correct saying of “doing something again” is 再+verb+ 一次, instead of 再一次 + verb
  • 已经 always requires 了 after the verb to express completion.

Bible:

Unit 5: Abraham

  • Hagar and Ishmael

During our devotion time, we are learning a new song called Silent Night 平安夜. Here is a link to this song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4FDL1eMI_8

Bible Memory

due date: Friday, December 20.

I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

Genesis 17: 7-8

7我要与你,和你世世代代的后裔,坚立我的约,成为永远的约,使我作你和你的后裔的 神。
8我要把你现在寄居的地,就是迦南全地,赐给你和你的后裔,作永远的产业,我也要作他们的 神。”

创世纪17:7-8

Reading:

Students are reading their book-bag book in small groups.

Science:

How to Weatherproof a Building

Investigation Question: Which weatherproofing designs are best suited for our local climate?

2nd Grade Social Studies:

Unit 3: How do Citizens Live Together?

Lesson #4: How is Our Local Government Organized?

Lesson #5: What does our government do?

3rd Grade Social Studies:

We are wrapping up our unit on indigenous people groups. By the end of next week, we hope to compose a short report on our learnings from this unit! We are also going to have one, final spelling test for 2019. Your student should have his/her spelling words; they have copies for studying at home. We have been practicing our words this week by writing sentences and by dividing the consonants and vowels into different colors! Keep helping your students practice their words. (5-10 minutes over breakfast seems to work best for our family!)

It’s been a joy to teach your students … I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Mrs. Van Dyk

December 9, 2019

Dear parents,

We are in the joyful season of Advent, awaiting to celebrate Our Savior’s birth. I hope you and your family are filled with this heavenly joy in this season.

Announcement:

Grand Rapids Lunar New Year

Parents –
We have been invited to perform at Grand Rapids Lunar New Year this year and we are going to try something totally unique (no singing this time). Please read the following information included in this form, and please sign up any elementary aged children of yours who are interested in participating.

3rd Social Studies

Below is a letter from Mrs. Van Dyk.

Greetings 3rd grade parents,
I heard some great questions in the hallways, and I have received a few emails regarding Social Studies and ESS this year. So, I’m going to work towards adding a quick note in Danchao’s newsletter each week. Thanks for checking in, following along, and being curious. If you have ANY questions about our class, please don’t hesitate to send me an email (kvandyk@zcs.org) or give me a call (616) 953-9039.

This past week we continued our unit on Indigenous People in Michigan by reading an article on modern day Indigenous tribes. We began to think about how life has changed for this people group over time. Next week we will be continuing this unit and expanding our conversation reveal any misconceptions we had about this group of people.

Assignments to note:

  • Spelling tests were returned – some students will repeat this past unit, others will receive new words on Monday. Ask your students for their words and you can review them over breakfast a few mornings a week.

  • Next spelling test: Thursday, December 19th

Thanks for your partnership,
Kristi Van Dyk

2nd grade Officer Breuker’s Lesson

On December 9, 2nd graders will meet with Officer Breuker for 30 minutes.

Kids’ Food Basket

We continue to consider and count our blessings this week!  Thanks for the generous donations you have sent in!  Here is a reminder about our final count objects…

Monday: # of Bibles

Tuesday: # of bathrooms

Wednesday: # of phones

Thursday: # of ways to cook food (stove, oven, microwave, toaster, toaster oven, crockpot, electric fry pan, grill, etc.)

Friday: # of T.V.s

Monday = last day to bring in money

Container for art project

Please send in a small box or large yogurt container to take an art project home safely.

Reminders for Tuesday’s musical

— Please send a small flashlight, glow stick, light up key chain, that can hide in pockets until needed.
— Have your child wear the Jingle Bell Beach shirt with casual pants and shoes. (It’s warm on stage!)
— Doors open at 6:00pm. Students should head to the gym no earlier than 6:35pm.
— Program will last around 45 minutes. Parents will collect students from the stage.

Please note that we will be taking busses to Community Reformed Church on Tuesday afternoon to practice for the musical.  We will return to school around 3:00

At the musical on Tuesday Maestra Schrotenboer’s 3rd grade class will be selling jewelry to support Project hope Ministries.  Below is a little more information about his project.

Most of the children living in the Prado Community come from families that recycle for a living.  In South America, recycling consists of searching through garbage to find items that can be reused or sold to a recycling center.  Recyclers often spend 16 or more hours a day at work and make only about $5-$7 US per day. Due to these long hours, the children are often left alone at home to care for siblings, prepare food, and do homework.  Many drop out of school and become involved in dangerous activities.  

Project Hope Ministries (a Christian ministry helping the poor and orphans in the name of Jesus) began the Community Center with the goal of keeping kids involved in meaningful activities and encouraging education as a priority in their lives. The jewelry being sold is made by these Colombian children. 🙂

Tuesday Lunch Helper for December 10: Betsy Shafer

Tuesday Lunch Helper for December 17: Cara Wickstra

Thank you for helping out in the classroom!

Featured Friend:

If your kid is the featured friend for that week, please have him/her bring in pictures on Mondays. They may bring in up to 6 pictures, but please bring in one picture of him/her in the past, one recent picture and one picture of his/her family.

Week of December 9: Elda(Abi) Haak

Week of December 16:  Alina Haveman

Field Trip Driver Sign-up

Field Trip sign ups for the 2nd/3rd grade will be on a combined sign up genius this year so we can keep better track of drivers. Please see below for the sign-up link.
Thank you for your help!  We could not do this without you!!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f45acaf2aa1fd0-2nd3rd

TerraCycle

Here is a detailed list of everything we accept to TerraCycle at ZCS. Please look it over carefully, as the program changes a bit each year and even during the year.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HGFofovT_xYoLFC0LgxxffbdIG4jDZLW/view?ts=5dd85401

Upcoming events:

December 10: 3rd/4th grade Christmas Musical @ Community Reformed Church  Please drop off your kids at the church NO EARLIER THAN 6:35p.m.

December 13 No PM Busing

December 16 Jingle Jog: Our class jingle jog is on Monday, Dec. 16th from 11:00 – 11:30 in the gym.

December 16: Kids’ Food Basket field trip (1:35-3:15) .

December 17: Middle School Christmas Concert

December 19 All School Chapel – 9:00 a.m.

Dec. 23 – Jan. 3 Christmas Vacation

Curriculum Corner

2nd Grade Math:

1. Review word problems with addition and subtraction

Unit 4  Explore Quarters
2. Combine different coins to make 25 cents
3. Count by 25s
4. Review dollar and cent notation

3rd Grade Math: Unit 2 Multiplication & Division with 6s,7s,8s and Multiply with Multiplies of 10

  • Multiply and Divide with 7
  • Building Fluency with 0-10s
  • Write First Step Questions for Two Step Problems
  • Make Sense of Two Step Word Problems

Your kids should be practicing math facts at home during the week. The order kids learn them in class are multiples of 5, 2, 10, 9, 3, 4, 1, 0, 6, 8, 7. They can do https://es.xtramath.org/#/home/index Also, there are numerous fun computer games for practicing. I’ve put some on my blog under “Resources”.

Mandarin High Frequency Words to Produce and to recognize:

I see some parents are helping kids practice the flashcard words at home. Thank you very much for doing this. It does help their learning!! THANK YOU!

Students will learn a new set of words this week. I will send out homework sheets on Monday. There will be a test on Friday for words to produce and to recognize.

Here is this week’s quizlet for flashcard words. The last two words are only for 3rd graders. If 2nd graders are interested, go ahead and give it a try. https://quizlet.com/_7j1b0m?x=1qqt&i=2eu679

Please see below to find how to use this quizlet.

How to use the quizlet? Don’t use the flashcards on the top. Instead, go under and go to the “Terms in the set”. For each word, your kid should first say out the pronunciation and think of its meaning by him/herself. Then, click the sound button on the right. It will read the word in Chinese and the English definition. I want to make this available to everyone. So if somehow you cannot access the feature that I’ve mentioned, please let me know.

Pinyin:

Able to recognize “h”, “ao”

Grammar:

  • Adverbs of time that come before the verb refer to an exact time. Adverbs of me that come after the verb refer to an enduring length of time.
  • 已经 always requires 了 after the verb to express completion.

Bible:

Unit 5: Abraham

  • Abram and Sarai in Egypt

During our devotion time, we are learning a new song called Silent Night 平安夜. Here is a link to this song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4FDL1eMI_8

Bible Memory

We will give two more weeks for this Bible Memory. New due date: Friday, December 20.

I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

Genesis 17: 7-8

7我要与你,和你世世代代的后裔,坚立我的约,成为永远的约,使我作你和你的后裔的 神。
8我要把你现在寄居的地,就是迦南全地,赐给你和你的后裔,作永远的产业,我也要作他们的 神。”

创世纪17:7-8

Reading:

I will continue to read aloud Miyanishi’s dinosaur series.

Science:

Students will compare the pattern of severe weather events in Michigan to other states.

2nd Grade Social Studies:

Unit 3: How do Citizens Live Together?

Lesson #3: Why do Communities Need Laws?

Lesson #4: How is Our Local Government Organized?

Reader’s Theatre

Below is the link to the video of last group’s One Potato, Two Potato Reader’s Theater. Group members: Alina Wickstra, Ethan Koeze, Ethan Shafer, Soren Traver, Matthew Moeller, Harmoni Osterink. Ask your child to tell you more about this. They did a great job!

https://www.wevideo.com/view/1531662591

Below are their pictures that go along with the story.

img-Z06144828-0001 img-Z06144839-0001

Below is their group picture.