Have you reenrolled for the 2015/2016 school year yet? It's not too late, however, if you wait until after January 15, you miss out on Priority Enrollment and and locking in at the current 2014/15 tuition rate.

ELEMENTARY PRIORITY ENROLLMENT

Returning Family-Returning Student(s): 2015/2016 priority enrollment, for all returning students and their siblings, will be available November 15, 2014 through January 15, 2015. For returning elementary students and their preschool-age siblings enrolling in our Kindergarten, log into your ParentsWeb portal > Family Information > Enrollment/Reenrollment. Payment of the Registration Fee in full is due when submitting your enrollment packet.

Enrollment with full payment of the Registration Fee, before January 15, will enable returning families to pay the same tuition rate in 2015/2016 as the 2014/2015 grade-level tuition rate. That means no tuition increase; however, Kindergarten moving to 1st Grade would pay the 2014/2015 1st grade rate (*$7,600, rather than the 2015/2016 rate of *$7,800). New students enrolling in Elementary will receive a full refund of the Registration Fee if they are not accepted by the school.

Returning Elementary Family-New Preschool Sibling(s): Siblings, new to preschool, begin the enrollment process through our website, www.gracechristianschools.org. Click Preschool (link) on opening page in enrollment announcement to get started. Follow instructions to submit online application packet. Full payment of the Registration Fee (see table below) is required when submitting your enrollment packet. If you qualify for no Registration Fee because of multiple elementary siblings, contact Chris Elston, in the School Office, at 949-951-8683 Ext.102, prior to submitting your online application. Enrollment must be complete, and the Registration Fee paid in full, to guarantee placement. 2015/2016 Preschool tuition rates are available now. 

 New for the 2015/2016 School Year: We are pleased to announce enrollment available for children as young as 2 years, 6 months (turning 3-years-old by March 1, 2016). Children, younger than 3-years-old, do not have to be fully potty-trained, but actively working on it at home, and must wear "Pull-Ups" to school (no diapers).

This year, the Spring Musical is called iAM, and here's a summary of what it's about:

Kindergarten Preview Night will be on Tuesday, January 13, in Room 112, beginning at 6 p.m. If you have any friends who might be interested, this night is for them! Please invite them to come and hear about our WONDERFUL Kindergarten program and testimonies from families who are currently attending. This will be a great night for any questions they might have. This meeting is an adult-only, informational night. We would love to have them consider Grace Christian Elementary School. If you enroll and also refer a child currently enrolled in Grace Christian Preschool, your referral could earn you $225 toward your tuition next year. If they enroll and come from the community, you could earn $1,000 toward your tuition next year. Spread the news!   

Childcare is provided. Parents MUST RSVP to Kim Wininger no later than Friday, January 9.

Email Kim Wininger   

Mark your calendars and tell your friends about our annual Backstage Pass to Grace Christian Schools on Thursday, January 15, 2015. The elementary school will host this event for our preschool families, and families from the community that are interested in attending our elementary program next year. We will take those interested on a behind-the-scenes tour of our classrooms, and introduce them to our teachers and administration. Our students will also demonstrate some fun activities. 

Guided tours will be from 11-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-1 p.m. Between 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., the families can enjoy a FREE lunch and have fun in the bounce houses! We are looking for parent volunteer to help setup/tear down for this event, cook, supervise the bounce houses, and take families on tours of the campus. If you would be willing to share Grace Christian with others, please contact Kim at 949-951-8683, ext. 101 or by email. Remember, there is no one better than YOU to talk first hand about your "Grace Experience." Watch for more information to come!

Email Kim Wininger   

On Friday, January 16, the 5th and 6th graders will be treated to an in-house field trip: Mummies. Bower's Museum will be sending a docent to present "Mummies." This program will consist of four hands-on components: 

1. A pretend mummification of Bohotep in which students will take turns removing body parts and wrapping the body for burial.
2. A funeral procession; 
3. A burial with the students acting the roles (complete with costumes) of the pharoah's wife and son, Annubis, the High Priest, and Ammit.  
4. Ancient Egyptian religious rituals from The Book of the Dead: the" Act of Purification," the "Opening of the Mouth," and the "Weighing of the Heart." 

Parents are welcome to come watch and take pictures. (The program will begin at 12:15 and last approximately 1 hour 30 min.)

Come out and support the GCS Marathon Club at the Legoland Race on Saturday, January 17. After the race, the Marathon Club students will enjoy a day in Legoland with the tickets they earned for running the race. All are welcome to join them. 

For more information about this event, please visit the website linked below.   

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 19. There is NO SCHOOL on this day in observance of the holiday! 

Kindergarten parents, have you ever wondered what the difference is between private and public schools? Are you concerned about class sizes at public schools? Are you curious what the curriculum will be for your child next year? Our 1st Grade teachers, Mrs Altman and Mrs. Sims, will be answering these questions, as well as any other questions you may have regarding 1st grade at Grace Christian School. 

Students in grades K-4 are invited to join the afterschool dance class and learn the foundations of tap, jazz and hip hop. Students will obtain knowledge in each style of dance, as well as learn a fun dance routine to be performed during the last class of the session. Throughout the course of the session, students will strengthen muscles, improve balance and coordination, and gain confidence. 

On Friday, January 23, Mrs. Hendries 4th grade class will be participating in an egg drop experiment, which explores basic concepts such as gravity, force, and acceleration. Students will send their egg off of our second story balcony in the morning after pledges. Everyone is invited to stay and watch this fun, creative experiment!
 

January's dine-out will be held on Thursday, January 22, from 4-8 p.m. at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant, which is located in the Shops at Mission Viejo mall. For every party that presents our GCS/Farrell's flyer to their server, Farrell's will donate 15% of the guest check to our school! 

It's time for the annual GCS Mother/Daugher & Father/Son Bowling Tournament for the 3rd-5th graders and their parents! We guarantee you'll be rolling in the aisles! Trophies will be presented to the top Mother/Daugher and Father/Son teams, whose names will be added to the plaque here in the School Office! Whose name will be added to the plaque this year?! 

Date: Saturday, January 24 
Location: El Toro Lanes  Cost: $10/pair 
Time: 10 a.m. - Noon (Bowling); Noon - 1 p.m. (Lunch & Awards)

Deadline: Purchase your tickets in the School Office by Friday, January 9

The boys and girls often wonder what it will be like in the next grade. On Monday, January 26, the Kindergarten students will participate in an activity, and hear about all the new learning adventures they will experience next school year. This is a fun way for students to find out what it will be like next year, as they move up a grade! Oftentimes, this experience alleviates some anxiety students may be feeling as they grow a little older and wiser and question, what's next year all about?   

 

Academic Chess is excited to start a new session during the month of January! New curriculum and really fun activities are planned! The new chess session starts Wednesday, January 28, and will run for 8 weeks! Continuing and new students in grades K-6 are invited to join in the fun. 

The curriculum is designed to fit the needs of all skill levels. Every chess student will receive an Academic Chess workbook based on their own skill level. For more information, see the information flyer linked below. 

On Friday, January 30, roll out of bed, keep your pajamas on, leave your hair as it is, put on your favorite CRAZY socks, and join the student body in a FUN day! Lots of FUN activities are planned for the students in all the classrooms! Please be sure to send your child(ren) in regular school shoes. Also, send along a jacket to wear if we go outside to play. Good times ahead!  

Yearbook Personal & Business Ads Deadline

Can you win immunity? In this FUN fitness/challenger class, you will be challenged in SURVIVOR and MINUTE TO WIN IT style challenges.  There will be obstacles, relays, strategy, planning, team building, and individual challenges.  Plan to have spontaneous FUN!  Bring a snack and water for each class.

When: Mondays

Dates: 8 weeks - 2/2, 2/9, 2/19, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/23, 3/30

Time:  2:30 - 4 p.m.  (K-6th Grade)                           

Both Kindergarten classes have a field trip planned to Bowers Kidseum, on Wednesday, February 4. This fun field trip will allow the students to experience a hands-on version of the Bowers museum and is geared toward elementary students. There will be several areas filled with multicultural treasures that can be touched and played with, including musical instruments, costumes, toys, games and masks. 

The 1st grade classes are heading to Shipley Nature Center, an 18-acre natural area located in Huntington Beach. Situated within Huntington Central Park, the nature center is not only a sanctuary for the local wildlife, but it is also a haven for the residents and visitors of Orange County.   

It's time for the annual Father/Daughter, Mother/Son Valentine's Social. This PTF-sponsored event will be held for Kindergarten through 2nd grade on Friday, February 6, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Worship Center. This is a great opportunity to spend time with your child, so get dressed up and enjoy a time of dancing, crafts, sweets, and all-around fun! 

Tickets can be purchased in the School Office for $10 per couple (Mother/Son or Father/Daughter), and $5 for each additional student sibling. Please RSVP and purchase your ticket in the School Office by Monday, February 2. There will also be a photo booth so bring your ideas for fun and crazy pictures with your friends and family. We hope to see you there!  

SAVE THE DATE - Saturday, April 25, from 3-7 p.m. will be our 2nd annual carnival-style fundraiser - the Grace Roundup. More detailed information will be up and coming in the February newsletter.

It's official!! Niko is now in the maintenance phase of his treatment! Thank you for your prayers! Although Niko will be taking his medicine and chemo in a pill form for the next 2 years, he is happy about no more shots!

Bracelets & T-Shirts for Niko
Please come by the office and purchase Team Niko bracelets for $5 or a t-shirt for $12. Profits go to the Greco family to help with medical bills and other expenses that may come up. Donations are also accepted!

We are selling the 2014/2015 South County FUND-Card to raise money for school improvements such as a new monument sign at the entrance to Grace! In the past, our fundraising efforts helped purchase: new technology, artificial turf, and the privacy hedge around the perimeter of the Elementary and Preschool Playgrounds. Cards sell for $15 and our school will earn $9 per card sold!

You can purchase as many cards as you like! They make a great holiday thank you gift for people who serve you throughout the year: housekeeper, hair dresser, babysitter, gardener, etc. For business owners - employees and customers appreciate receiving the FUND-Card as well!

Each Card has 32 peel-off coupons; they peel-off and are used once. The cards also includes a continuous use panel, with offers that can be used one time per day until the cards expires on 12-31-2015. 

Go to www.rosscopromotions.com to see a larger image of the card. FUND-Cards will continue to be sold in the school office during the first few weeks of school. Thank you for your participation! 

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