800 Juliana Drive, Woodstock, Ontario

Phone: 519-539-1492

     

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JANUARY 29 SNOW DAY

JANUARY 29 SNOW DAY:  Due to weather and poor road conditions, all buses to WCS are cancelled today and the school is closed

 

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Armor of God

How often do we listen to the lies of the devil? How often does the devil try to distort the truth in our lives? How often do we feel defeated? How often do we remember whose we are? How often do we turn to the truth? How often do we put on the armor of God? 

 

In SONbeams we are learning about the armor of God. Each week we talk about and make a different piece of armor. We sing songs that talk about the armor and how we are to use it against the evil one. That they are to stand strong and don’t believe the lies of the devil. 

 

Paul tells us to put on the armor. That our war is not against flesh and blood but of the spiritual world. More than ever there is a battle for our children. There are more distractions, more gateways to temptations, and more disconnect with each other. It is so important in our world today that we learn and teach our children the truth of who they are (who we are). It is important to learn and teach of the tools/weapons God has given us to stand in truth and fight. 

 

It is exciting to impart such truth to young children. Praying that they will not forget to put on the armor and stand strong!

 

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. …

                                                                                                Victoria Body 

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SNOW DAY!

JAN 23: Due to weather warnings and poor road conditions, all buses to WCS are cancelled today and the school is closed. Enjoy your snow day.

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January 21

The Daily 5

 

You have heard WCS teachers and your children refer to “the Daily 5”. In case you are wondering about features and purposes of this very effective literacy tool, here are some details.

According to their website (thedailycafe.com), the Daily 5 is a “literacy framework that instills behaviors of independence, creates a   classroom of highly engaged readers, writers, and learners, and provides teachers with the time and   structure to meet diverse student needs.”  Because it is a framework, teachers can insert curricular content   for their geographic / educational region (Ontario Ministry of Education & Ontario Christian Schools) and   make it work well.

 Often, when we read such claims, we are sceptical. When it comes to the Daily 5 at WCS, we love it and   support those claims! Read to Self, Work on Writing, Read to Someone, Word Work, and Listen to Reading   are the five tasks that make up the Daily 5 structure. God has gifted humans with words and language and it is wonderful to see students grow in communication skills. Teachers schedule several literacy blocks   throughout the week and students work through a rotation of tasks. These are routine periods during which   students read on their own, practicing old and new skills, but throughout there is focused instruction that   introduces new skills and guides student practice. And there is choice! Students have personal book bins   loaded with print material specifically geared to their reading level. When we host our WCS Education Week open house, or if you wish to make arrangements to come and observe, try to catch your child’s literacy block. Seeing students engaged in Daily 5 literacy work is seeing beautiful teaching and learning happen.

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January

January, the beginning of a new year and many new beginnings, is a great time to reflect and re -evaluate our habits and patterns. Some habits and patterns are difficult to break and change. One of our greatest challenges of parenthood is evaluating our children's uses of technology and being effective guides for them. 
"Everywhere I go, I see some kind of technology. It has transformed society, much like the printing press, radio or TV. However, what makes technology unique is that it's so intertwined in our lives that it's unavoidable. Technology was supposed to make life easier. More information at our fingertips. More shortcuts to simplify daily routines. But as parents, technology often makes our lives more difficult. Apps, video games and social media can become a time drain for our kids. They also create a direct - and sometimes dangerous - portal to our children. Instead of enhancing our kids' lives, technology can isolate them and open them up to cyber-bullying and risky behaviours. The goal of this resource is to encourage you to stop and think about the technology your family uses. It will also help you understand and navigate the pitfalls of today's most popular digital platforms and games. Technology will capture our children's attention. As parents, we need to educate and support them in developing healthy technology habits. God, through His Word, tells us to be attentive, be authentic and pursue unity with one another. That's great advice on how to live-and how to act in our use of technology"
This is an excerpt from Focus on the Family's Parent's Guide to Today's Technology 2018. It is full of questions, answers and conversation starters for your family Co to Focus on the Family Canada website to get your free copy.
Linda Westerveld
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Walk With God in 2019

Walk with God in 2019
 
Here we are in a brand new year - with brand new opportunities to learn more about God, about the world, about the people around us, and about ourselves. We have a God who loves us - a God who makes and keeps his promises to us and to the world. We've just come through the celebrations of Christmas - Jesus' birthday - and reminders that all of those prophecies and teachings in the Old Testament Bible really did come true.
What does God have in store for us this year? What will happen this year in our families, in our community, in world events? We can be assured that good things will happen - that we will be blessed. We also know that sad and hurtful things will happen. Our school theme is "Walk with God, Talk with God". The words of 1 Thessalonians 5 remind us: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." In everything, we will keep praising God, encouraging each other, and praying for those in our community - those who know Jesus and those who don't. We will pray that God will also use us to do his work - to love and serve others.
Last year is past, but not forgotten. Take what you learned last year, learn from it, and keep growing in knowledge and in understanding and in wisdom. May God bless you and guide you as you walk with Him and talk with Him in 2019.
 
C. Verbeek, Principal
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Christmas

Christmas time for a musician is the busiest time of the year. Concerts, rehearsals, more singing and more playing from November 1st to December 25th. You get the picture. Sometimes it is easy to get so busy “giving” musically to your community that you lose perspective of what a gift community really is. This December I have had a big STOP put on my musical busyness. Instead of being the giver gifts to our community, I and my family have been given many gifts. Our community has given us help, time, talks, hugs, flowers, food, prayer...lots of prayer. What a wonderful display of God’s gift to us! As we all take a break from school to celebrate Jesus’ birth, I pray you will be givers and receivers of God’s gift of community as well. John and I say “Thank You!” from the bottom of our hearts. Merry Christmas! 
Elizabeth Martin
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A Christmas Tree Blessing



A Christmas Tree Blessing
 
“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. (Psalm 96). "
“'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the forest will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. " 'I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'" - Ezekiel 17:22-24
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. (Psalm 96). 
Source: crosswalk.com
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Our World is Small

Our world is smaller than it has ever been, in the context of seeing different cultures and hearing different languages. I have the privilege of teaching language at WCS, in both French and English. Throughout the year in my classes we are able to study both the language and the culture of different communities in France, Quebec, Ontario and Korea. It is sometimes the most interesting for students to see how communities who live very far away and speak a totally different language, still can have so many similarities to us.
While looking at language learning as a whole, I realize that there a lot more to language than just speech. One can understand what a person is saying through their facial expressions, by seeing their hand gestures, their communication with drawings, pictures and writing. There is even communication through humming familiar songs. By one way or another, bridges can be built to allow communication to happen. It is not always or often perfect, but sometimes the mistakes allow for the best learning and connection to occur.
It is so incredible that people from different places and cultures in the world, who have different walks of life and speak a totally different language can also love and serve the same Lord. The Christmas message that we will be focussing on in our churches this month and at WCS this week; the message that the angels brought to the shepherds outside Bethlehem many years ago, is the same message for believers in all languages and in all parts of the world. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”  “C'est qu'aujourd'hui, dans la ville de David, il vous est né un Sauveur, qui est le Christ, le Seigneur.”
Our Saviour Jesus Christ has come and we wait in hope for when He will come again. This is a message worth communicating in whatever language you experience and can share.
 
R. Sikma
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Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thank-you parents for the prompt and efficient way in which you signed up for PTCs this year! We at WCS are blessed to partner with you in the education of your child(ren). Research shows that students learn more, have higher grades, and have better school attendance when parents are involved in their child's education. That's why attending parent-teacher conferences is so important: it's a great way for parents to become involved and stay involved throughout the school year. By attending conferences, you also send a positive message to your child that school is important. These conferences are intended to by two-way conversations. If you have questions or observations, the conference is a good time to share those with the teacher. Share what you know about your child, their interests and how they spend their time outside of school. You may want to ask your child if there is anything they want you to share with the teacher at the conference. Your information helps the teacher better understand and teach your child. Some classrooms will have conferences in which the student is included. Typically these students will have a portfolio or collection of work which they will share. Students show and discuss their learning - not just the end product, but the learning process with their parents. Be sure to check out the book fair with Usborne and the Christian Book Supplier vendors. Looking forward to seeing you at the PTCs this week! (sources: Mrs. Verbeek, meachamparknia.org & kidshealth.org)
 
C. Verbeek
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