We Bless you, God!

What an amazing time we had this week learning about Sukkot! And thank you so much for coming to our chapel yesterday to hear all about what we learned! 

This week we talked about the big ideas of PRAYER, WORSHIP, THANKSGIVING, COMMUNITY and HOSPITALITY. I am so grateful for you as our community in all the ways that you not only love your kids but also support me and grow in community with one another. I thought it was really special that we could gather and share lunch together. I am grateful to be in community with all of you! 

(There are TONS more pictures uploaded to our October gallery!)

On Tuesday we painted posters for our Sukkah's- they turned out SO good! Thank you to those of you would could come and help with this! 

Because Sukkot is a harvest festival the meals during this time often consist of many fruits and vegetables. The Food and Service staff at HC kindly prepared snack bags for us that contained food that would traditionally be eaten in Israel! We enjoyed a snack of pita bread and hummus, carrots and even a date in our sukkah. Today we were able to be outdoors and to taste and see the goodness of God while we celebrated this gift of hospitality.

It was so so good to spend focused and intentional time this week praying and pausing to praise and thank God for all that he has done. THANK YOU, GOD!!!

Additional Announcements~

From Parent Board

Parents: we would love to bless our teachers with a meal on the evening of October 16 when they are here for conferences. If you are willing, please sign up to contribute.

Lost and Found

The office is continuing to update our South Side Lost and Found Album as items come into the gray tub in the office. Please check it out to see if any of these items belong to your child. Feel free to email Rachel Steen, to claim your item(s), and we will be sure to get it into your child’s backpack.

Holland Christian Little Maroons Basketball

HC’s K-2, 3-4 and 5-6 Little Maroons Basketball Clinics and 3-4 League is open for registration!  There is information about dates, times and locations in the linked registration.  

https://campscui.active.com/orgs/HollandChristianSchool 

*Check out some community opportunities

These organizations are not affiliated with Holland Christian Schools but have requested the sharing of these community opportunities.

Looking Ahead~

~Monday, October 13- South Side and Pine Ridge Grandparents Day.

~Wednesday, October 15- Bible and outdoor play with first grade forest school

~Tuesday, October 21- Outdoor learning at Wolter's Woods

~October 22-24- No School. CEA Convention for teachers

~Wednesday, October 29- Pumpkin Day. See SIGN UP GENIUS for ways to help. Would anyone be interested in making Pumpkin Playdoh? Plesae send me an email if you are interested! 

~Friday, October 31- Outdoor Learning at Sassafras Ridge

~Thursday, November 6- Scarecrow Day. Please be thinking of how you can dress your child like a scarecrow for a fun day of fall learning. See SIGN UP GENIUS for ways to help.

Fall Glory

Digging Deep into God's Word~

This week we wrapped up our studies of Abraham. We learned that God called Abraham to the father of many nations and that JESUS would someday come from Abraham's family. We are again learning of the promises that God gives to his people and how God always keeps his promises. We have also learned that's God's provision can come in the most unexpected ways! God blessed Abraham and Sarah with their first son when they were 100 and 90 years old! God also provided a ram in the thicket on Mt. Moriah where Abraham showed that he loved God the most when he was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. What a faithful God we serve. 

Sukkot~

Yesterday we began our study of the Jewish festival of Sukkot.  The children learned that each year during this festival, it is a common practice to build a temporary shelter, a Sukkah, in which families may gather to eat meals, offer their thanks to God, or even sleep inside of it.  Sukkahs are a reminder of how the Israelites trusted God for food and shelter when they wandered in the wilderness. We even have our very own Sukkah's outside at South Side! We can see them outside our classroom window. We worked to build our own small lego sukkahs. Next week we will spend lots of time learning outside in our big sukkahs! :) 

Reading Celebration~

Today we celebrated the great progress we have been making as readers. I am so proud of these kids!!! They are learning the routines and are working hard to build their stamina. Reading with blankets and stuffies was a huge hit! I hope that at home you are also seeing some growth in your child as a reader! Starting next week your child will come home with a BAG book. This book will be at their just right reading level. A note will be included with the book that will explain  BAG books a little bit more, but please use this book with your child for their reading minutes!

Ruff Readers come next week! Next week Tuesday we will have our first visit from the West Michigan Therapy Dogs. The kids will LOVE this time reading to the dogs and their owners. I am certain that this is going to be true highlight for the children; these are the kindest and gentlest dogs I know and they LOVE to listen to children read. Please let me know if dogs make your child anxious. I will be sure to work with them to make this a positive experience.

Writing~

During WRITING workshop we have also been working with partners giving suggestions and compliments to each other. What a joy it has been to see the kids celebrating each others successes and so very carefully work together to improve their writing. We have a class FULL of authors and I cannot wait to celebrate all of our hard work in writing very soon! 

Additional Notes~

NEXT MONDAY- Please send in a family picture that we can use to decorate our Sukkah.

NEXT TUESDAY- 1st graders will be painting to make our Sukkah's beautiful- thank you for being willing to help us. We always use washable paint but please wear clothes to school that you don't mind getting a little messy! If you have not signed up and would like to come please see the sign up genius !

NEXT WEDNESDAY- I have rescheduled our trip to forest school. We will be going Wednesday, October 15 instead of next week.

NEXT THURSDAY- Our class leads chapel. Please join us on the North side of the building for chapel. Pack a chair or blanket to sit on. You are also invited to join us for lunch! Pack a picnic lunch for you...or for you and your child...and join us outside for lunch. Kids can get hot lunch if they would like. 

NEXT FRIDAY- Look for an email from the South Side office with directions on how to access your child's online report card.

Grandparents Day-

Looking Ahead~

~Thursday, October 9- OUR CLASS LEADS CHAPEL. 10:40-11:10. You are also invited to pack a picnic lunch and join us for lunch after chapel on this day! We will be sharing about the Jewish festival of Sukkot.~Monday, October 13- South Side and Pine Ridge Grandparents Day.

~Wednesday, October 15- Date change....Bible and outdoor play with first grade forest school

~Tuesday, October 21- Outdoor learning at Wolter's Woods

~October 22-24- No School. CEA Convention for teachers

~Wednesday, October 29- Pumpkin Day. Sign up genius coming soon 

~Thursday, November 6- Scarecrow Day. Please be thinking of how you can dress your child like a scarecrow for a fun day of fall learning. Sign up genius coming!