Dear Families,

It was a really good but full week! Monday Mr. Joustra led us in worship with our elementary friends. Wednesday we decorated gift bags and posters with encouraging drawings and messages for the upcoming Love/Lean walk in Zeeland and worshiped all together in chapel. The pastor at Oakland CRC gave a powerful message on G.R.A.C.E.- God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Friday we had fun reading in our hats and raising awareness for Autism, Down’s Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy by wearing green and blue and crazy socks!

This week in writing I hope to wrap up our unit on mentor authors so we can be ready for our unit on nonfiction after spring break. In Bible I hope to make lots of progress (maybe finish?!) our Easter books!

As we have a short week and lots to look forward to with spring break at the end, I will not be writing another blog post next weekend. As always, please reach out if you have any questions!

Have a great weekend!

Maestra Izenbaard

Important links:

WAAG The WAAG (Week-at-a-Glance) is your one-stop shop for what your child is learning and is updated each week with the big ideas we’ll be covering in each content area.

Hot Lunch Menu: April hot lunch menu

Important Dates:      

• Mar. 31-Apr. 7: Spring Vacation

• Apr. 10: Burn Bright PBIS Launch Assembly 9:15am

• Apr. 14: 3-5 Author Visit

March is reading month! Each week we’ll be celebrating reading in a unique and fun way!

• Wednesday, March 29- Get comfy! Students wear pajamas that day.

Math Game Mania! Between now and April 10, the ZCS teachers challenge all Kindergarten through 5th grade students to grow their math thinking by participating in Math Game Mania! Please look for a handout that came home on March 1 with all the details. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Maria Klompmaker (mklompmaker@zcs.org).

Whitecaps Reading: The flyer for Whitecaps reading went home this week! On the front your student(s) may track their reading. Parents may fill out the information on the back to redeem 2 free tickets. Forms do not need to be returned to school. On the side of the Reading Tracker / Ticket order form, you will see a blue bookmark that is able to be torn off.  This is for the Nine Innings of Prizes.  When your child(ren) attend their free game, they will be able to turn in the bookmark at the Box Office to be entered into the prize drawings.  More information and instructions are listed on the bookmark. Questions? Reach out directly to the Whitecaps office: 616.726.7053 or whitecapsreadingclub@gmail.com Have fun!

Photos:

Dear Families,

On Monday we shared books with our favorite furry friends and some of them even became characters in our realistic fiction writing! We also shared our favorite books and talked about which elements from those books we might be able to include in our own stories. It was fun to get inspiration from our favorite authors! For example, one student is writing a piece that takes place in Yellowstone, the setting of her favorite book, and another student is writing a piece about characters in her graphic novel.

Monday we also got to meet a professional author who created a special character named Gumper. Gumper doesn’t look like other bunnies, but soon learns what makes him unique also allows him to love others well. Her book can be purchased at Amazon or Barnes and Noble if you weren’t able to purchase a copy yet or changed your mind.

Recently I connected with a friend from our church small group about becoming pen pals with her class. She teaches 1st grade Spanish immersion at New Groningen . This week we wrote our first letter to her students! Each child in our class will be paired with one or more students from her class. The kids seemed excited for this opportunity to “meet” a new friend!

in Bible next week we’ll begin talking about Easter. One thing I like about this unit is its focus on our need for Easter by starting with The Fall and a review of Adam and Eve. God had a salvation plan in mind even as he searched for Adam and Eve in the garden, knowing full well they had just eaten the forbidden fruit. I’m looking forward to working through this unit with your children!

Have a great weekend!

Maestra Izenbaard

Important links:

WAAG The WAAG (Week-at-a-Glance) is your one-stop shop for what your child is learning and is updated each week with the big ideas we’ll be covering in each content area.

Hot Lunch Menu: March hot lunch menu

Important Dates:      

• Mar. 17: End of 3rd Marking Period

• Mar. 20: Elementary Worship (2:45 in the media center)

• Mar. 22: Family Groups (9:00am) and All School Chapel (9:30am)

• Mar. 24: ½ Day of School – For teacher grading

• Mar. 31-Apr. 7: Spring Vacation

March is reading month! Each week we’ll be celebrating reading in a unique and fun way!

• Friday, March 17- A day at the park. Students can bring in a blanket to sit/lay on while reading.
• Friday, March 24- Glow in the dark. Students can bring a flashlight to read with.
• Wednesday, March 29- Get comfy! Students wear pajamas that day.

Lice: There have been no reported cases of lice in our class, but there have been several reported cases in the elementary school over the last weeks. Our school nurse, Lindsey, would like to communicate these cleaning and prevention tips: Put all exposed clothing, sheets, pillowcases, towels, coats, hats, and “snuggly stuff” in a hot wash cycle OR hot dryer for 30 minutes. Anything that cannot be washed or dried in hot temperatures should be exposed to freezing temperatures for 24 hours (in the freezer or outside in the winter) or left in drawers and closets for 48 hours. Don’t forget combs, brushes, bows, barrettes or any other item worn in or on the hair, stuffed animals or anything else that has come in contact with the hair. These can be put in a ziplock back or sealed plastic bag for 48 hours.  Lint roll couches, chairs, rugs, seats in car/van, child car seats, and decorative pillows.

Math Game Mania! Between now and April 10, the ZCS teachers challenge all Kindergarten through 5th grade students to grow their math thinking by participating in Math Game Mania! Please look for a handout that came home on March 1 with all the details. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Maria Klompmaker (mklompmaker@zcs.org).

Whitecaps Reading: The flyer for Whitecaps reading went home this week! On the front your student(s) may track their reading. Parents may fill out the information on the back to redeem 2 free tickets. Forms do not need to be returned to school. On the side of the Reading Tracker / Ticket order form, you will see a blue bookmark that is able to be torn off.  This is for the Nine Innings of Prizes.  When your child(ren) attend their free game, they will be able to turn in the bookmark at the Box Office to be entered into the prize drawings.  More information and instructions are listed on the bookmark. Questions? Reach out directly to the Whitecaps office: 616.726.7053 or whitecapsreadingclub@gmail.com Have fun!

Photos:

Dear parents,

What an unexpected ending to our week- a snow day! I am thankful to spend 1:1 time with each of your children this week and next as I work through the benchmarking assessments. On Tuesday of this week Maestra Solis will be subbing for me while I try to finish these up. If you do not see leveled books coming home with your child, it’s because I am focusing on identifying reading levels and then will begin meeting with reading groups again. I’m excited by the growth I have seen in the assessments I’ve completed so far!

Blessings!

Maestra Izenbaard

Important links:

WAAG The WAAG (Week-at-a-Glance) is your one-stop shop for what your child is learning and is updated each week with the big ideas we’ll be covering in each content area.

Hot Lunch Menu: March hot lunch menu

Important Dates:      

• Mar. 14: Spring Elementary Performance (1st/2nd/5th) – 6:45 p.m. (Community Reformed) Students report at 6:20.

• Mar. 17: End of 3rd Marking Period

• Mar. 20: Elementary Worship (2:45 in the media center)

• Mar. 22: Family Groups (9:00am) and All School Chapel (9:30am)

• Mar. 24: ½ Day of School – For teacher grading

• Mar. 31-Apr. 7: Spring Vacation

March is reading month! Each week we’ll be celebrating reading in a unique and fun way!

• Friday, March 17- A day at the park. Students can bring in a blanket to sit/lay on while reading.
• Friday, March 24- Glow in the dark. Students can bring a flashlight to read with.
• Wednesday, March 29- Get comfy! Students wear pajamas that day.

Lice: There have been no reported cases of lice in our class, but there have been several reported cases in the elementary school over the last weeks. Our school nurse, Lindsey, would like to communicate these cleaning and prevention tips: Put all exposed clothing, sheets, pillowcases, towels, coats, hats, and “snuggly stuff” in a hot wash cycle OR hot dryer for 30 minutes. Anything that cannot be washed or dried in hot temperatures should be exposed to freezing temperatures for 24 hours (in the freezer or outside in the winter) or left in drawers and closets for 48 hours. Don’t forget combs, brushes, bows, barrettes or any other item worn in or on the hair, stuffed animals or anything else that has come in contact with the hair. These can be put in a ziplock back or sealed plastic bag for 48 hours.  Lint roll couches, chairs, rugs, seats in car/van, child car seats, and decorative pillows.

Math Game Mania! Between now and April 10, the ZCS teachers challenge all Kindergarten through 5th grade students to grow their math thinking by participating in Math Game Mania! Please look for a handout that came home on March 1 with all the details. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Maria Klompmaker (mklompmaker@zcs.org).

Whitecaps Reading: The flyer for Whitecaps reading went home this week! On the front your student(s) may track their reading. Parents may fill out the information on the back to redeem 2 free tickets. Forms do not need to be returned to school. On the side of the Reading Tracker / Ticket order form, you will see a blue bookmark that is able to be torn off.  This is for the Nine Innings of Prizes.  When your child(ren) attend their free game, they will be able to turn in the bookmark at the Box Office to be entered into the prize drawings.  More information and instructions are listed on the bookmark. Questions? Reach out directly to the Whitecaps office: 616.726.7053 or whitecapsreadingclub@gmail.com Have fun!

Dear parents,

It is good to be back! Thank you for the notes, flowers, decorations and encouraging words of welcome! I am excited by how much your kids have grown since Charlotte was born in November and I am carefully learning more about where they are at so I can try to best meet their current needs.

Blessings!

Maestra Izenbaard

Important links:

WAAG The WAAG (Week-at-a-Glance) is your one-stop shop for what your child is learning and is updated each week with the big ideas we’ll be covering in each content area.

Hot Lunch Menu: March hot lunch menu

Important Dates:      

• Mar. 14: Spring Elementary Performance (1st/2nd/5th) – 6:45 p.m. (Community Reformed)

• Mar. 17: End of 3rd Marking Period

• Mar. 20: Elementary Worship (2:45 in the media center)

• Mar. 22: Family Groups (9:00am) and All School Chapel (9:30am)

• Mar. 24: ½ Day of School – For teacher grading

• Mar. 31-Apr. 7: Spring Vacation

March is reading month! Each week we’ll be celebrating reading in a unique and fun way!

• Friday, March 10- Read to a furry friend. Students and teachers bring in a stuffed animal.
• Friday, March 17- A day at the park. Students can bring in a blanket to sit/lay on while reading.
• Friday, March 24- Glow in the dark. Students can bring a flashlight to read with.
• Wednesday, March 29- Get comfy! Students wear pajamas that day.

Math Game Mania! Between now and April 10, the ZCS teachers challenge all Kindergarten through 5th grade students to grow their math thinking by participating in Math Game Mania! Please look for a handout that came home on March 1 with all the details. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Maria Klompmaker (mklompmaker@zcs.org).

Whitecaps Reading: The flyer for Whitecaps reading went home this week! On the front your student(s) may track their reading. Parents may fill out the information on the back to redeem 2 free tickets. Forms do not need to be returned to school. On the side of the Reading Tracker / Ticket order form, you will see a blue bookmark that is able to be torn off.  This is for the Nine Innings of Prizes.  When your child(ren) attend their free game, they will be able to turn in the bookmark at the Box Office to be entered into the prize drawings.  More information and instructions are listed on the bookmark. Questions? Reach out directly to the Whitecaps office: 616.726.7053 or whitecapsreadingclub@gmail.com Have fun!