PeoriaChristianSchool SEPTEMBER2016

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The Pathfinder Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:104

SEPTEMBER2016

Nurture - Develop - Educate

"Levels of Biblical Integration Part 1 Note: The content and ideas of this article are not my own thoughts, but a synthesis of Dr. Bryan Smith’s Professional Development

via BJU Press Teacher Development Program. The mission or purpose of Peoria Christian School is to nurture each child’s unique potential as an image bearer of God, develop the student’s capacity for the enjoyment of the created world, and to educate the total person. Our vision is personalized learning to develop a Christ-Centered worldview for the Glory of God alone. As our staff, faculty, and board members read through those statements, they came up with some questions that needed to be answered: How does our teaching staff accomplish those statements? What does it mean to be a Christian school? While these questions were being pondered, one of our Christian textbook companies began a new Teacher Professional Development Program and from this set of trainings, we came up with some very clear and purposeful answers to the questions above. As a staff, our school does a great job at nurturing, developing, and educating the total person, but does our staff help develop a Christ-Centered worldview in a consistent manner? The short answer was no. Our entire staff helped develop a Christ-Centered worldview, but we lack in the consistency part: some teachers did it pervasively, some teachers did it occasionally, etc, and because of that, we have made it purposeful to address this question. The purpose of the levels of Biblical integration is to show the degree of connection between the Bible taught in school and the subject being taught. If we have a strong connection that goes beyond simple analogies and comparisons, then we are allowing our students to develop personalized owned strategies to evaluate learning. In fact, our purpose is for our students to practice II Corinthians 10:5. Peoria Christian School desires for all our students to graduate and have the ability to distinguish facts and faith, to question the assumptions of any academic area and then to rebuild that area with premises that originate from a Christian worldview. Or, as Paul wrote, the ability to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” and purpose in our hearts to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. This is our goal. Next month, we will dive into what each level means, how to apply it to the academic classroom, and the importance of practicing all four levels. In Christ, Craig Rapinchuk

The Campbell's program has just ordered a $250 Visa gift card to be used however the school wishes. The program is winding down. Only UPC's with the LFE logo and a point value are eligible. If in doubt, turn in your UPC's/labels anyway and we can sort them. Continue to save boxtops, Country Hearth and Village Hearth bread UPC's, and Tyson Project (the part that says support your school). Have your boxtops, etc to school by September 16th for pickup. You can also put them in the box in the Peoria CRC kitchen. Thanks for all your support!

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September Board Minutes The Peoria Christian School Board met September 5, 2016. The Board sang from Psalter Hymnal 253 and President Jeff Vander Molen read from Philippians 2:1-5 and opened the meeting with prayer. All members were present. Items of business: -Craig reported that for Christmas, we are going to do the second music play, which was approved last year named Christmas Hang-Ups. -Craig reported that current enrollment is 40 full-time students plus 1 part-time band student. -From the Education committee, the Board approved the facilitator/sub list for this year. -From the Education committee, the Board approved the field trip list for this year. -From the Education committee, the Board approved the purchase of Reading Counts. -From the Education committee, the Board approved the cost for Mrs. Ansley to join the Iowa Bandmasters Association. -The Finance committee reported that they are continuing to work on finding an office secretary. -The Finance committee reported that the current cost of educating each student is $7,710.90 -The Athletic committee reported that we have 1 student who will be doing cross-country with Pella Christian Grade School this year. -The Athletic committee reported that we have a volunteer to coach track and they will be contacting parents around the first of the year to see who has interest. -The Building committee reported that most of the work is completed on the list of items required by the fire marshal. -The Building committee reported that they are looking into possible grants/rebates from Mid America to possibly update the school lighting and AC. -From the School Improvement Team, the Board approved using the Mahaska County Emergency Plan created for the school by Mahaska County Emergency Management as the School Crisis Management Plan. -The Board approved the committee list including the creation of the Long Range Planning committee with the same members as the School Improvement Team. -Meeting was adjourned & Glenn Meinders closed with prayer. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Van Der Hart, Secretary

Hot Lunch Request! The hot lunch program is seeking donations of ground beef or ground pork. Extra garden produce is also appreciated. If you are able to make a contribution, please contact Michelle De Haan at nmdehaan@windstream.net or 641-660-7373.

September’s Mystery Staff – Who Am I? -Reading in my free time is a favorite pastime of mine. -I was in color guard in high school, and tossed both flag and rifle. -I enjoy going to amusement parks and riding roller coasters. -Spending time on the beach in South Carolina is my favorite vacation to go on with my family. -When I was in college, I spent my spring breaks teaching at a Navajo mission school in Arizona.

SchoolCircleBoardNotes-Aug25,2016Marla Van Der Hart opened with devotions

1. Members present: Nicki Veenstra, Marla Van Der Hart, Linda Franje, Barb Vande Voort, Suzy Veenstra, Kim Vander Molen, Ruth Vande Voort, Ruth De Bruin, Krista Klassen

2. -Minutes from May 26, 2016 meeting were reviewed 3. -School Circle General Fund starting balance is

$18,460.70. Ending Balance - $16,294.74 4. -Welcome to Ruth DB and Krista K- Thank you to Kim

and Marla for their service 5. -Board requests-None 7. -Kitchen- Painting is complete and kitchen has been

cleaned. 8. -Sub Sandwiches Committee – Marla VDH and Marcia

VG. -Will make the subs on Sept 22nd starting at noon 9. -Tractor Ride – Ruth DB and Pam K committee-Went

well- 26 tractor registrations and served 80 meals at lunch- Profit $2,100

10. -Schwan’s Fundraiser- Earned $357.00 over all for this year- only runs for 6 months and will start again in November.

11. -Bazaar Update- Nov 4th – Co-Chairs Lisa Ver Meer and Heidi Van Wyk

i. Supper Committee – Suzy Veenstra, j. Bake Sale – Barb Vande Voort k. Decorations – Heidi Van Wyk l. Coffee Time – Lyn Veenstra m. Child Care - 12. -All the audits have been completed 13. -New Officers- President – Nicki Veenstra o. Secretary – Suzy Veenstra p. Treasure – Ruth VV – Linda F is going to be back-up 14. -Other Items- Suzy is checking on a Papa Murphy’s Pizza

Fundraiser. 15. -Next Meeting – Date/Time: Oct 13th at 7

-Devotions: Ruth Vande Voort

PeoriaChristianSchool SEPTEMBER2016

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¡Una Nueva Aula para Español y Música! This year the Spanish and Music classes have been blessed with a “new” classroom! In the past, Spanish and Music have been on a “cart” and moved to each grade level classroom for these special classes. However, it became burdensome and time consuming for the teachers. We were not only moving our carts from room to room, but also all the shared curriculum. The most time-consuming piece became disconnecting and reconnecting to the technology pieces present--and different--in each classroom. Therefore, it was decided to convert the library into a more usable classroom space. Through a grant from the

Mahaska County Community Foundation, we were able to stock the present library with tables, chairs, and a white board more conducive to learning both Spanish and Music. This has not only freed up space and time for both the Spanish and Music teachers, but also allows the grade level teachers free time in their classrooms to organize, plan and decorate without disrupting the learning of students. This has been a huge blessing for everyone involved! Come visit us and see the changes anytime in the Library/Spanish/Music classroom!

Music: I am excited to have 6 members in our beginning band this year! So far we have been working on learning the first 3 notes on their instruments, learning how to care for their instruments, and reviewing musical notation. Our goal is to have a song ready for the Christmas program! Soli Deo Gloria, Mrs. Ansley

This month in Kindergarten we will be studying God's miracle: the Monarch butterfly. We have received a few monarch caterpillars that we will watch go through the life cycle and transform into the amazing butterfly. The students enjoy the daily recording in their butterfly journals, noting how long life as a caterpillar is and how long it will be in its chrysalis. We are so excited to

observe the change that God designed! --Mrs. Veenstra 3rd/4th: In science, we are studying God's creation, focusing on

insects, spiders, and plants. We have discovered that some of the ideas we have about science are not true according to the Bible, so we need to change our thinking. In Bible, we are learning about how the Old Testament was written and will be spending some time on the first eight books of the Bible. Miss Taft

We have had a great start in First/Second grade this year! First grade enjoys having their own desk and Second grade likes being the "helpers" in our room. When we have a difficult lesson in Bible, history or science, they are more than ready to use their experience to help a first grade friend! Mrs. Van Wyk

In f i f th and sixth grade Bible class, we are working through a book called The House of Israel. We're starting with studying the setting of God's story. We will soon be reading about the stories of the ancient world. In literature, we are enjoying learning about sea navigation in the late 1700's by reading Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. In seventh and eighth grade science, we are beginning our study of Life Science. We started by reviewing what difference our worldview makes on conclusions about science. Next, we will begin our study of cell structure and cell activity. Mrs. Fynaardt

In 5th/6th grade science, we will be finishing up our first unit on volcanoes and earthquakes before moving on to weathering and erosion. This year in 7th/8th grade history, we are studying our American republic, beginning with the discovery of a new world and moving into the thirteen colonies. For literature, we have been enjoying Elizabeth George Speare's The Bronze Bow. Miss Kraayenbrink

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September September 12 TRIP Orders Due

September 13 School Picture Day

September 15 Mrs. Boot’s Visit

September 19 Ed Committee Meeting

September 22 Make & Pick-up Sub Sandwich Orders

September 23 Chapel, 8:30 a.m. Everyone Welcome!

September 23 Pella Historical Village K-8th

September 26 TRIP Orders Due

September 28 12:15 Dismissal, Teacher In-Service

September 29 Ride Bikes at Red Rock K-8th

October October 3 Board Meeting

October 6 Living History Farm K-8th

October 10 TRIP Orders Due

October 13 Mrs. Boot’s Visit

October 14 1:15 Dismissal; End of 1st Quarter

October 14 Chapel, 8:30 a.m. Every Welcome!

October 17 Field Trip to Ames 3rd-4th

October 17 Ed Committee Meeting

October 19 12:15 Dismissal; Teacher In-Service

October 20-21 No School; Teacher In-Service

October 24 Report Cards Go Home & TRIP Orders Due

October 26 PCHS Musical K-8th

October 27 11:30 Dismissal; PTC

October 28 No School; PTC

Peoria Christian School Annual Bazaar Friday, November 4, 2016

Please plan to join us as we… “Taste and See that the Lord is good.”

Psalm 34:8a This year’s ICE CREAM theme is going to be SWEET! Please be thinking of ways you can help

and what you can donate to help make this fundraiser a success. As in past years, each classroom will have a special “homemade” type donation to add to the

auction. In addition to that, each classroom will also have a themed basket to auction off. Parents will be asked to send one or two items to help fill the basket. Once the teachers and

students have their theme picked out there will be more details to come! If you have any questions, please contact Heidi Van Wyk or Lisa Ver Meer.

Library News

Stepping Stones

Bookstore in Grinnell

and Marshalltown are

collecting used Christian

and family friendly

books (adult and

children). With each

book collected the

school will receive $1

toward a purchase of

new books in their store.

Any books that you have

to donate please bring

to the school office. This

is an ongoing project, so

bring your books

anytime!