Volume 6, Issue 9 Friday, November 7, 2014 Midland Christian School The Growing Edge NOTA BENE by S.I.T. Coordinator Carianne Robbins ORA ET LABORA Pray that Grandparent’s Day will be a great blessing to our students and their grandparents. Pray for Parent– Parent–Teacher Conferences to provide wonderful communication and feedback between parents and teachers. Praise God that Levi Ellis’s father is steadily recovering, and should be able to leave the hospital and go back to the nursing care center very soon. Pray for efforts to raise $30,000 in new donations to match the DeVos Foundation grant. The effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. —James James 5:16b Inside this issue: Ora Et Labora 1 Nota Bene 1 Parent Teacher Conferences 1 Upcoming Events Dress Code Reminder Meet the Staff Christmas Concert 2 Fall Sports Banquet Santa Parade Lunch Menu November Birthdays 3 Page 1 In everything set an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, and seriousness… --Titus --Titus 2:7 Midland Christian School is undoubtedly a wonderful educational institution. We are dedicated partners with church and family helping to raise up committed Christian men and women. Our graduating seniors are fully equipped to glorify and serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Always seeking Him first, we recognize the need to not only validate our efforts (setting a good example), but push ourselves to the next level of excellence (showing integrity and seriousness). The school board, in conjunction with our interim Headmaster and the administrative team, has begun the process of achieving dual accreditation through Christian Schools International (CSI) and AdvancedED. This exciting endeavor will begin with a little help from all of us who love the school. A School Improvement Team has been formed who will lead the school through an intensive self-study over the next several months. In the next week or two, staff, parents, secondary students and board members will receive an online or hard copy survey to complete. This survey will be completely anonymous and the results will help drive the next phase of the accreditation process. The Self Study, coupled with the surveys, will then serve as a guide to form a Strategic Plan for Midland Christian School. The plan will include areas marked for improvement that will be completed over the next 3 to 5 years. Upon the completion of the Self Study and the Strategic Plan, an accreditation site team from a variety of classical Christian schools will visit the campus. The tentative timing for our site team visit and subsequent accreditation is October 2015. Achieving accreditation will bode well for our school as many colleges and universities recognize the level of excellence that accompanies accreditation. It will be a busy and exciting year and you, the stakeholders, are an integral part of the process. You will be kept up to date with the progress as the School Improvement Team dives in to the Self Study later this month. We appreciate your participation and prayers as we charge ahead! School Improvement Team members are Eric Robyn (Chr.), Carianne Robbins (Coord.), Gary Lyvere, Laura Sweet, Darla Williams, Becky Johnston, Rhonda Sarafolean, and Jim Valkenburg. ParentParent-Teacher Conferences Thursday, November 13th This is a SPECIAL DAY set aside for parents and teachers to conference together. We hope all of our MCS parents will be able to attend. If you cannot attend, please try to communicate with your child’s teachers to set up an alternate appointment during the following week. Thank you! Preschool and Kindergarten (12:00 noon – 6:30pm) Sign up in advance outside the school office for a 15 minute time slot with your child’s homeroom teacher. Teachers will hold conferences and handout report cards in the classrooms. Elementary [1st - 6th] (3:00 – 8:00pm) Sign up in advance outside the school office for a 15 minute time slot with your child’s homeroom teacher. Teachers will hold conferences and handout report cards in the classrooms. Teachers for Art, Music, Latin, and PE will be available in the Gym. Secondary [7th-12th] (4:00 – 8:00pm) Sign up in advance outside the school office for the hour you will come. Secondary teachers will be available in the Gym on a firstfirst-come, firstfirst-served basis. You will pick up your child’s report card when you arrive. Childcare is available in Room 3 until 5:30pm for $4.00/hour for MCS students 3-12 years old. The Growing Edge UPCOMING EVENTS EVENT Grandparent’s Day Parent Teacher Conferences No School Facilities Work Day MCS/MCSA Board Mtg Fall Sports Banquet Santa Parade Thanksgiving Break Picture Make-Up Day St. John’s Lutheran Day Midterm MP2 Varsity BB Tip-Off Tournament Christmas Concert & Love Gift Talent No Talent show INVOLVES Grandparents & Students Parents and Teachers Students and Teachers Facilities Committee MCS/MCSA Boards Athletics Athletics Students and Teachers Students and Staff SJL Students and Parents Students and Teachers Boys Basketball Students Secondary Students DRESS CODE REMINDER Sweatshirts may not be worn in the classroom or hallways during the school day. Sweatshirts include hooded pullovers, zip ups and crew necks. Sweaters with hoods are acceptable. Please also remember that MCS Spiritwear T-shirts and Sweatshirts may be worn on Fridays, Thank you! MEET THE MCS STAFF... Mrs. Jennifer Joseph PrePre-Algebra and Algebra Mrs. Joseph is one of our two new math teachers, and is currently teaching pre-algebra and algebra I. While she graduated from college in 2006, Mrs. Joseph has been tutoring and teaching math since 1998. She has extensive experience as a substitute teacher, both at MCS, and in the public schools. Mrs. Joseph’s three children all attended MCS at some point in their education. She has been married for nearly 34 years, and has 5 grandchildren. In her spare time, Mrs. Joseph enjoys sporting events, camping, photographing and crafts. Many of us see her at special events at her mobile concession stand, where she sells fries and lemonade. Page 2 DATE Nov. 7 Nov. 13 Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Nov. 17 Nov. 18 Nov. 22 Nov. 26-30 Dec. 4 Dec. 4 Dec. 5 Dec. 6 Dec. 18 Dec. 19 DAY/TIME (Fri) 10:30am-12:45pm (Thu) 3/4:00-8:00 pm (Fri) (Sat) 9-11am (Mon) 6:30pm (Tue) 6:00pm (Sat) 8:15AM meet (Wed-Sun) (Thu) 8:30am (Thu) 10am-1:30pm (Fri) (Sat) 9am-4pm (Thu) 7pm (Fri) 1pm LEADER Faculty/Publicity Faculty Admin Andy Cammenga Paul Aultman Bob Sells Bob Sells Admin Office Admin Faculty Bob Sells Monica Hunt Darla Williams PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY CHRISTMAS CONCERT THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18 AT 7PM Please mark your calendar! It is crucial that all children in grades 1-6 are present as each person is important. One of the best parts of being in a choir is working together as we practice and depend on each other. So if someone is missing, it's hard to fill that hole! I know unforseen circumstances happen and I completely understand, but please make every effort to come, hear and see the hard work your children are putting in every week. Dress for the students will be standard concert dress: Black(best) or dark blue(acceptable)pants or skirt White collared shirt for boys White blouse for girls(no "underwear" t-shirts, but dressy, thicker shirts without the banded neckline are acceptable) Polo shirts are fine Boys may add a red tie Girls may add red accents like hair bows, scarves, etc. Hit the racks at the Salvation Army Thrift Store or Goodwill if you need to. Items do not need to be brand new. That's where I shop! If you have questions, please feel free to contact me. I truly enjoy working with your children singing praises to the only One who is worthy of our praise. Soli Deo Gloria, Monica Hunt [email protected] [email protected] The Growing Edge Midland Christian Crusader Fall Banquet Tuesday, November 18, 2014 Fall sports banquet for volleyball and soccer 5:45 pm 6:00 pm 6:20 pm Dinner set up and fellowship (hallway) Dinner (gym) Welcome (Athletic Director, Headmaster) Introductions 2014 MCS Soccer Awards – Coach David Krohn 2014 MCS JV Volleyball Awards – Coach Elisabeth Patten 2014 MCS Varsity Volleyball Awards – Coach Bob Sells Everyone should bring a Main Dish! Volleyball families: bring salads, breads, butter Soccer families: bring desserts Beverages and place settings furnished! nd The Santa Parade is coming!! Mark your calendar for November 22 !!! Midland Christian School will be part of the parade! We will meet at 8:15am at the Midland High School parking lot. Over the next few weeks we are collecting CANDY to pass out; we would like to collect 200 st bags of candy by November 21 . Please drop the candy off in Bob Sells’ office. We are also looking for soccer players, basketball players, drama students, cheerleaders, you name it, to take time out of their Saturday morning, WALK in the parade and bless those who come with some candy and smiles! Please see Carrie Lightstein or Bob Sells to sign up to walk. SCHOOL LUNCH MENU NOVEMBER 1010-13 Mon, 11/10 Chicken Patty: $1.50, with Applesauce and Cookie $2.50 (Order in morning) Tue, 11/11 Hot Lunch: Lunch Hamburger/French Fries/ Fruit/Cookie (Pre-order in office) Wed, 11/12 Pizza By the Slice: $1.25 Pepperoni or Cheese (Order in morning) Thu, 11/13 Hot Lunch: Lunch Sweet and Sour Chicken/ Rice/Veggie/Fruit (Pre-order in office) Fri, 11/7 Page 3 NO SCHOOL NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS Grade Birthdate Student Krohn, Caleb 03 11/01 Hayes, Katherine PK4-5 11/06 Lightstein, Zachariah 06 11/10 Hall, Cullen PK3 11/13 Stout, Allison PK4-5 11/16 Gold, Emily 11 11/16 O'Farrell, Emma 02 11/16 Mr. Jim Valkenburg Coach 11/16 Krohn, Rebecca 12 11/18 LaBean, Harper PK3 11/18