JCS News - May 20, 2020

"And we know that God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

It's almost time to Celebrate!

Parents, you and your kids have been rock stars these last 9 weeks. It's almost time to celebrate the end of the 2019-2020 school year! Please mark your calendars with the list of dates below that apply to your family.

We are doing our very best to celebrate our students while following government guidelines. We thank God daily for the many blessings we have received through this experience, but long for a time when we will be together in community again!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 21 - Pop Can Drive (JCS Bus Loop), 4-7 PM

May 21 - Middle School Materials Pick Up, 6-8 PM

May 22 - Preschool Celebration Car Parade (Baldwin St Parking Lot), 10 AM - 12

May 22 - All School Chapel (Online), 1 PM

May 22 - Due date for enrollment papers for the 2020-2021 school year

May 22 - Due date for teacher request forms for the 2020-2021 school year

May 22 - Last day of the 2019-2020 school year for PK-8 classes

May 26 & 27 - Final Classroom Zoom 'Parties'

May 28 - PK-8 Car Parade (JCS Parking Lot), 6 - 8 PM

May 29 - Due date for JCS Busing sign-up for 2020-2021 school year

June 1 & 2 - Returning items to JCS (JCS Gym), Sign up genius sent out

June 4 - PK-8 Report Cards sent home

June 9 - Kindergarten Graduation (Rain Date: June 11), Evening

June 10 - 8th Grade Graduation (Rain Date: June 12), Evening

June 30 - Due date for JPS Busing requests/changes for 2020-2021 school year

ATHLETICS

JCS is looking for a Middle School Assistant Boys Soccer Coach for Fall 2020. Practices begin in late August and the season will end on October 16. It's a paid position. Please contact Craig Flietstra for more information.

Unity Summer Sports Camp Schedule for Students Age 3 – 12 ^th Grade – Due to the current COVID-19 health situation and Governor Whitmer’s executive orders, we have decided to postpone our 2020 Summer Camps. We will not offer any summer camps the weeks of June 8, 15, and 22. We are hoping to offer a revised summer camp schedule and host camps from June 29 – August 7, and will provide a schedule and link to registration starting June 15. This information will be emailed to parents whose children participated in summer camps last year, and can also be found on our website under the “Camps and Clinics” tab.

Unity Christian Youth Football Registration — Unity Christian High School is excited to begin another season of Youth Football for students entering grades 3 – 8 this coming school year! The program begins for 3rd/4 ^th and 5th/6 ^th grade teams on August 10 at a cost of $60, and 7 ^th and 8 ^th grade teams begin on August 24 at a cost of $80 (plus $20 for all levels if you would like to purchase jersey). Registration is now open for youth football, but we will not be requiring payment until later this summer. Registration can be done online. W e would like registration complete by June 30 if at all possible so we can accurately plan for teams. For full details on the program check here . For questions or further information, please contact youth football director Mark TeSlaa at 616-970-3154.

Middle School Co-Ed Cross Country Team -- UCHS will again sponsor a co-ed middle school cross country team this fall for students in 6 ^th – 8 ^th grades. This program will begin in mid to late August, and typically there are two practices a week and approximately six meets. Look for registration information and more details later this summer, and on Unity’s website under the “More” tab and then “Middle School Sports”. Please feel free to contact Unity’s Athletic Office with any questions you may have or by phone at 669-1820.

Middle School Cross Country Coach Wanted – Unity Christian has an opening for a Co-Ed Middle School Cross Country Coach. We are searching for someone who has a passion for the Lord, enjoys working with middle school students, and can successfully lead these young runners. If you have any interest or know of someone who might have interest, please contact Unity Christian Athletic Director Jeff Engbers or by phone at 616-669 -1820 . Click HERE for an application.

JCS Running Club: This week's bible verse is Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' Students are in their last week of training before what would have been their 5k next week Monday. Finish strong, runners! Photos taken from the 2020 JCS Running Club Facebook page.

ALL SCHOOL REMINDERS

Pop Can Drive! Our last collection day is tomorrow, from 4-7 PM! There is also a cart for your library books (there are still 979 books checked out!) and a lost and found table (FULL of things!). Please take a chance to drop off your books and take a peak at the lost items. Lastly, our staff will have $50 Countryside Gift Cards available for purchase during the Pop Can drive (only a handful left!). Staff will be able to take cash or check.

TRIP - Curbside TRIP pick up is tomorrow, Thursday, May 21 from 4:30-6:00 PM! Pull up to the curb by the office and your order will be delivered to your car. We hope we can offer this at least once a month through the summer as we follow the COVID-19 guidelines. If you have any questions, feel free to email Deanna Benes. As a reminder, we will NOT be able to fulfill any order on Thursday, May 21. ALL ORDERS WERE PRE-ORDERED BY WEDNESDAY, MAY 13. We look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow!

Enrollment packets (PK-8th grade) for the 2020-2021 year were sent out May 4. Please return them to the JCS drop off (locked, wooden storage box in the shed) by THIS FRIDAY, May 22!

Classroom/Teacher Requests - Parents who feel that their child has a special need that is important to the child’s development may submit an online request form after their child has officially enrolled for the upcoming school year, which allows them to provide specific reasons for the request. Parent requests will be considered by the principal and teachers, a follow up phone call may be made by the principal as needed. Parent requests must be submitted by THIS Friday May 22, 2020.

Preschool Enrollment is open! Enrollment forms are now being accepted by email to Karen Deters for our preschool 3's and 4's programs. Some of the classes do fill rather quickly so if there are certain sessions you would like, please enroll soon for the best chance at getting that session!

AT HOME LEARNING with JCS FAMILIES

THANK YOU Parents, students, JCS community! We are days away from packing up the learning materials and starting summer with our families. Thank you for being a community with us, raising Kingdom builders every step of the way. We praise God for you! Let's finish strong! Here are a few things to do as we look forward to summer break!

Return your JCS technology on June 1 or 2

File away those keepsake school papers from 2019-2020

Hug your kids and dance it out for a job WELL DONE!

Other ideas from our JCS community include: Make a list of summer activities to do with the whole family, have a picnic, and make a point to know your neighbors as we are all home so much.

Changes in JCS Staff for 2020-2021

Fond Farewells

JCS is saying goodbye to Marilyn Brower, Rtl Director at JCS for the last 24 years, with classroom teaching at JCS another 3 years prior to this. Marilyn also taught in Florida prior to coming to JCS. We typically honor our retirees at our annual society meeting in May, in addition to an open house on the evening of the Spring Band concert. As we were not able to publicly recognize Marilyn, we welcome you to reach out to her with your warm regards. The JCS staff is sad to say goodbye to such a blessed teacher, director, colleague, and friend. We are wishing you a blessed retirement, Marilyn!

JCS is also losing a loved 4th grade teacher, Ann Talen. Ann has been teaching at JCS for 6 years, and has been a great teacher and mentor to the students at JCS, as well as a friend to JCS co-workers. We celebrate with Ann in her opportunity to teach closer to home at her children's school, but will miss her greatly! You are welcome to send Ann a message as well!

Warm Welcomes

JCS is proud to welcome Lea Oosterheert as our new Rtl Director. Lea graduated from Unity Christian High School and has her teaching degree from Calvin University, with a Masters in Reading and Language Arts from GVSU. Lea's husband, Joe, is the Principal of Lamont Christian School where their 4 children attend. Please feel free to send a warm JCS welcome to Mrs. Oosterheert !

JCS also welcomes Rachel Damstra, our new shared 4th grade classroom teacher. Rachel is a graduate of Holland Christian High School and has her teaching degree from Calvin University. She comes to JCS after teaching for 4 years at Zeeland Christian School. She and her husband, along with their daughter Aliyah, are looking forward to becoming part of the JCS community. Please send a warm JCS welcome to Mrs. Damstra !