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April 2016 header
APRIL 2016 NEWSLETTER - ELEMENTARY

golf ball drop
Join us for the First Annual Golf Ball Drop & Banquet Dinner Fundraiser on Monday, May 23,  at the Aliso Viejo Country Club starting at 5 p.m. This adult-only event will start off with a helicopter dropping hundreds of pre-sold golf balls on the course, and the first ball in the hole wins a cash prize! The fun night will continue with a Silent Auction and Banquet Dinner! 

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for corporate partners and silent auction donors. Please see the attached donation letter below! 
 
Make sure to invite family members, neighbors, friends and community partners to participate!

Please contact Nicholas Ilagan at [email protected], or Ria Martinson at [email protected], for more details.
Get Your Fund-Card Today!
2015 fund card
Purchase your FUND-Card in the school office and help third grade students get to Sacramento next school year!

Each Fund-Card contains numerous coupons for local businesses and includes a back page of reusable coupons good all year long. Fund-Cards expire December 31, 2016. 

Cost: $15.
 
FUND-Cards will be sold in the school office while supplies last.

Thank you for your participation!














Gillmore Fundraiser
Appointments now-August
gillmore nature location
Mike Gillmore will photograph your family, including any sub-groups, at the beach, train station, or beautiful field, for only $40 (this is a $315 value). You'll also receive 1 - 8 x 10 portrait from the pose of your choice. Extra photographs will be available for purchase at that time.

The $40 will be directly donated to third grade students for their Sacramento trip in the spring of 2017. All appointments are made on a first come, first serve basis. Family, friends, and neighbors are invited to participate in this fundraiser as well.

Appointments can be scheduled now through August, at sunset, Monday through Friday.This is limited to the first 50 families who sign up, and it will sell out, so don't wait!

Begins Monday, April 4
2015-16 Student Council
GCS is looking for students, grades 3-6 in the fall, that would like to be actively involved in school leadership for the 2016/17 school year by running for office on the Grace Student Leadership Council. The offices to be filled are as following: President - Grade 6
Vice President - Grade 5 or 6
Secretary - Grades 3-6
 
Timeline:
Friday, April 15: Applications are due to Mrs. George by 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19: Lunch Meeting in Room 203 to discuss speeches and posters. 
Thursday, April 28: Speeches and Posters due at Flag Salute to Mrs. George.
Monday, May 2: Pizza lunch for all candidates.
Tuesday, May 3: Posters may be hung on playground, beginning at 8 a.m.
Wednesday, May 4: Speeches will be given to the student body in the Worship Center at 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, April 5


Riley's Farm


The students will travel to Riley's Farm to reenact several events during the Civil War. Text books will come alive as the students participate in several fun and challenging activities. 
 
Where: Riley's Farm (12261 S. Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, California 92399) 
Departure Time: 8:15 a.m.
Return Time: Approximately 3:15 p.m.
Attire: Friday uniform (bring a jacket)
Pack: Snacks/lunch in a disposable bag
Optional: Money for gift shop 
Parent Entrance Fee: $16.50













1st Grade Field Trip
Tuesday, April 5
incredible edible park



Tue.-Thurs., April 5-8
sacramento capital
Sports for Christ
Tuesdays, April 5 - May 31


give glory to God basketball

GCS is pleased to offer a positive and fun program where students can learn, sweat and have FUN! Join Mr. Wood as he helps aspiring players acquire and perfect the fundamentals of football using the Bible to build interpersonal skills, leadership and confidence. Sports for Christ is for boys and girls in grades K-6. 
  • Learn and perfect various skills related to offense, defense, running routes, passing and more!
  • Play fun games designed to help practice proper skills!
  • Develop interpersonal skills and make new friends! 
  • Understand the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, dedication and exercise!
Time: 2:30-4 p.m.
Cost: $100 (sibling discount)
Location: GCS blacktop and/or grass area.
Provide: Pack a snack to eat before the class begins. 


Wednesday, April 6
Miss Nelson is Missing
Kindergarten and third grade students will travel to the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton to see "Miss Nelson is Missing." In this lively musical comedy back by popular demand, the kids in Room 207 are misbehaving again! The kind and clever Miss Nelson masquerades as the infamous Viola Swamp, a very colorful and nasty substitute, in order to teach her unruly class just what a good and fair teacher she is!

Departure Time: 9:30 a.m.
Return Time: Noon
Pack: Snack
Parent Entrance Fee: $5








Thursdays, April 7 - May 26
kids dance
XD Kids will teach an 8-week jazz and broadway after school dance class on Thursdays for students in grades K-6. Students will learn the basic fundamentals of dance while learning dance routines inspired by fun stage musicals. Throughout the session, students will gain strength, improve balance and coordination, and increase confidence. 

Time: 2:30-3:45 p.m. 
Location: Worship Center
Cost: $90 tuition; $15 registration fee. 
Grades: K-6
Pack an afternoon snack.






Friday, April 8


math olympics


ACSI Math Olympics exists to stimulate interest in mathematics, and to recognize the achievements of students in mathematics. Math Olympics consists of a series of tests given to 3rd-8th graders in one of two categories: Computation-fundamental operations; and Reasoning-story problems, patterns, and puzzles. Each school conducts their own 'run-off' following ACSI guidelines, then eligible delegates compete by mail in this district event held in spring. 

Tuesday, April 12
Dane with Mrs. George
Each GCS student receives a "Heart for Jesus" award during the school year where the student's Godly character trait that his/her teacher has specifically observed in the student is recognized. 

Congratulations to the March recipients: Bizzy Buehler - Obedience; Nixon Cruze - Diligence; Genevieve Domines - Creativity; Brayden Durocher - Determination; Ruby Holm - Attentiveness; Brant Hornick - Tenderheartedness; Ethan Jeong - Obedience; Dane Kallenbaugh - Persistence; Luca Kamayev - Diligence; Dean McPeak - Initiative; Honey Melgar - Tenderheartedness; Ava Miller - Faith; Ellie Walters - Initiative

Time: 8:30 a.m. after pledges
Location: Worship Center
Spring Fling
Wednesdays - Begins April 13
Bettwy with students
It's that time again - Join Mrs. Bettwy's 4-week after school Art class, giving students the opportunity to further their artistic talents. This spring, the artist will paint a canvas project, create a clay sculpture, along with other mixed media projects. Spaces fill quickly so don't delay! Let's get creative! 

For: K-4 students
Wednesdays - April 13, 20, 27 & May 4
Time: 2:30-4 p.m.
Location: Art Room 213
Cost: $80 per student (includes supply fee)
Plan to pack your child a snack to eat before class begins.

Thursday, April 14
Parent-Teacher Fellowship
Involvement in the PTF is a great way to get involved in your child's school, and a great opportunity to meet other parents and build relationships. FREE childcare provided. The mission of the PTF is to support GCS by arranging events that build community for Grace families; organizing enrichment activities for students; providing volunteer and financial support for teachers; publicizing school and classroom events, and raising money to support these activities. 
 
If you have any PTF-related questions, please contact Bobbi Nyce.

Time: 7-8 p.m.
Location: Worship Center
Friday, April 15
everyday hero
Do you have a favorite career, hero, athlete, or Bible character you respect? It's your chance to dress up like the one you respect the best!

















Monday-Friday, April 18-22


Staff Appreciation Week
Thursday, April 21
Box Brothers
Wednesday, April 27
griffith observatory
Thursday, April 28
Chili's Logo - full
This month's dine-out is at Chili's Foothill Ranch! For every customer that presents our flyer to their server, Chili's will donate a percentage of the guest's check to our school! 

Dine-out Location: Chili's
Date: Thursday, April 28
Time: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Telephone: 
949-830-6353 

Ana Douglas coordinates our monthly dine-outs. If you have any questions regarding them, please contact her.
 
Tuesday, May 3
food pantry

Mrs. Hendries' 4th grade students will be serving at the Saddleback Food Pantry as a ministry field trip. 
 
Saddleback Church's Food Pantry currently provides food, free of charge, to families and individuals in need. People may receive assistance once every 30 days. They serve over 2,500 people each month and the needs are growing. The Pantry requires over 2,000 volunteer hours each month to process and give out over 70,000 pounds of food! 

Saddleback Food Pantry's Purpose Statement:
Giving People hope, purpose, and food





Tuesday, May 3
tessman
Mrs. Carver's 3rd grade class is scheduled to travel across the galaxy to the Tessmann Planetarium, which is located on the campus of Santa Ana College. If you would like to drive/chaperone, please contact Mrs. Carver. Please note there is a $2 parking charge per car attending.

Departure Time: 8:30 a.m.
Return Time: Approximately 11:30 p.m., at which time the students will eat lunch back on campus.
Attire: School uniform (bring a jacket)

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs.Carver.

Wed. & Thur., May 4-5
test taking
The 3rd and 5th grade classes will be participating in TerraNova InView Testing May 4-5. TerraNova InView Testing measures the skills and abilities most directly related to academic success. Test results offer an accurate and reliable measure of inductive and deductive reasoning processes. These abilities are crucial for academic success. This valuable measure of quantitative reasoning, not reliant on math questions and free of gender bias, provides insightful information about student skills that are valid predictors of the students' academic success. The test allows you to compare your students' achievement with that of other students the same age, grade and ability and whether your student is achieving to their full potential. The school can use this data to improve individualized instruction, address student strengths and needs. 























Muffins, Moms & Missiles
Thursday, May 5
Kinney
ACSI Speech Meet 
Friday, May 6
Luke
Grace Christian Schools will participate in the annual ACSI Elementary Speech Meet. The Speech Meet is held for students in grades 1-6. Each student may select from a variety of categories, which include, Bible, Fables and Folklore, Poetry, Patriotic Orations and Dramatic Bible Prose. One child, per category, per grade level will be selected by their teacher to represent our school. The younger classes and older classes vary in offered categories.
  
The purpose of the ACSI Speech Meet is to encourage effective speech in an audience situation, and help students develop techniques to speak audibly, articulately, expressively, with poise and confidence.

We're so proud of all of the participants!

First Grade: Brinley Goldman- Poetry;
 Elijah Prince- Bible Verse; 
Second Grade: Olivia Black- Bible verse; 
MJ Ruiz- Poetry; 
Christian Motz- Fable and Folklore; Third Grade: Ava Neeley- Poetry; Savy Bex- Bible Verse; Ella Smith
- Fable and Folklore; 
Fourth Grade: Kailey Ruiz- Poetry;
Spencer DeSena- Bible; 
Ava Terlouw- Fable; Fifth Grade: Grayce Perry- Poetry; 
Andrew Douglas- Patriotic Oration; 
Sixth Grade: Nolan Shinkle- Poetry;

Location: Aliso Viejo Christian School, in Aliso Viejo.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 
Kindergarten Field Trip
Friday, May 6

Ocean Institute


 
Special Instructions: Please pack a snack and drink in a disposable bag
 
The cost of the field trip is $6. The fee will be invoiced to your ParentsWeb account.
Oral Health Forms
Due Friday, May 27
childrens oral health
Attention Kindergarten Parents! Linked below you will find an Oral Health Assessment Form. This form needs to be completed by your child's dentist and returned to the School Office no later than Friday, May 27. This form is required for all students entering 1st grade in private, as well as, public schools. If you have any questions, please contact the School Office at 949-951-8683 Ext. 101.























Summer Camps Info





We have a variety of camps scheduled in the summer! Please visit our Summer Programs page on our website for more information, including dates, times, and cost. The following is a list of the summer camps we will be offering at GCS:

  • Wet N Wild Fitness Camp
  • Mixed Media Art Camp
  • Creative Cooking Camp
  • Science Explorers Camp
  • Kindergarten Boot Camp







Tutoring with Mrs. Carver
Contact to schedule tutoring
lindsey carver
Mrs. Carver, our 3rd grade teacher, will be offering tutoring over the summer. She is a credentialed teacher available to tutor students in grades K-5. Individual or group sessions are available in reading, writing, math, and spelling/phonics. Should there be another area, this can be discussed.   

Summer time is one on the most important periods that affect a student's academic performance in the coming school year. She will be working with students to counter summer learning loss, catch up, review, or get ahead.

Don't let your child fall behind this summer! 

Contact Mrs. Carver to discuss rates and your child's needs.
Activity Workbooks

summer bridge
Parent Resource Library

books
Did you know we have a Parent Resource Library? Please stop by and take advantage of some great parenting and marriage resources (located right next to the School Office). We have a variety of items to choose from including books, cassettes, CDs and videos. You may check out items for 30 days. Please find the index card on the item and fill out the date, your name, and phone number. There is a drop box hanging on the wall that is provided for you to drop in your completed index card. When you return your items, just drop them off in the School Office.







QUICK LINKS
Grace Christian Schools
26052 Trabuco Rd. | Lake Forest | 949.951.8683