December Elementary Chapel: Joy and Generosity. This morning the 3rd graders shared this new theme of the month. We sang songs about joy, and some 3rd graders showed us some posters they made about how they can share joy. Other 3rd graders did some plays about generosity stories in the Bible: The Widow’s Offering and The Rich Young Man. We are working this month on finding inner joy in Jesus in all circumstances and in giving what we have so that others can feel God’s love. Can we share God’s joy and be generous to others?
Here are some pictures of First Grade OE Learning place value outside in the tree line!
Thanksgiving Feast: We were able to hold our yearly Family Group Thanksgiving Feast in the gym. We gathered to do some Thanksgiving table activities, along with sharing the yummy feast from hot lunch. Mr. Donkersloot called tables to get their food by asking trivia questions. Following our feast, we had an opportunity to play on the playground together. It was a great time of food and fellowship! Lots to be thankful for!
Thanksgiving Chapel: This morning at our Thanksgiving Chapel, some of the 7th graders shared a skit with us about being thankful. In the skit, we saw that it is so easy to complain, but the Bible teaches us to focus on being grateful for what God has done for us, and in all circumstances. We also heard about an object lesson from a donut – when eating a donut, we don’t focus on “the hole” – the part of the donut that we don’t have, but we focus on the goodness of the rest of the donut itself. Our theme verse reminds us “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Col. 3:17 May we remember to be thankful this season!
Habit of Living: Servant Working through Leaf Raking
As we practice the habit of servant working, learners follow the example of Jesus’ selfless love through kindness, empathy, and compassion to care for others. One of the ways we practice this habit at FCS is by taking time to rake leaves. We rake to care for the school and serve our fellow classes. We rake for community members as an act of kindness to care for others. We rake to care for the Earth and spend time in creation. Our action of raking is a valuable experience that reminds us to follow Jesus’ example of serving others. One second grader was overheard by a teacher saying to another second grader, “Hey! We are being servant workers by raking leaves!”
The 3rd-5th graders walked to the Artsplace to view the origami exhibit. They were awed by the ways to fold paper and the various materials used. Many students were inspired to try their own hand at origami!
Buddy Friday: Making beauty out of brokenness! Today the 1st and 6th grade buddies used broken crayons to make beautiful candles and spent some time together in reading and coloring activities.
THIS WEEK October 31 - November 4, Fremont Christian School hosts the Literati Book Fair! Come and shop books for all ages, including books in both English and Spanish. See the hours for shopping below, or shop online at: https://efairs.literati.com/?school=fremont-christian-school-fremont-mi
Book Fair Hours at FCS Decker Library
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday - 8:45am - 4:00pm
Friday - after the Grandfriend's Day Program
As a part of their social studies unit, the OE Kindergarteners learned how the firefighters are community helpers. They learned about fire safety and the role of a firefighter. The Kindergarteners decided they wanted to serve the firefighters by thanking them with a treat bag. After filling bags, they walked them to the fire station to deliver the thanks. A local firefighter welcomed the Kindergartens by accepting the treats and giving a tour of the fire station. Here’s what Mrs. Arcello said about the trip, “He showed us what a firefighter looks like when he is in all of his gear, and he showed us the inside of one of the fire trucks. Then, Mr. Bull got an emergency call. So, just like that, our field trip had to come to an end, and we scooted out of the way as Mr. Bull had to head to an emergency call. The kindergartners were so excited to watch Mr. Bull speed away in one of the fire trucks. What an exciting way for our field trip to end!"
First Grade Spanish Immersion took a deep dive into Noah’s Bible story. They went to a nearby football field and measured how long and wide the ark would have been. According to their finding, the ark was 510 feet long and 85 feet wide. They were so impressed by seeing how big the ark was and how our amazing God kept his promise of protecting Noah, his family and the animals in the Ark! What a great God!
Our Family Groups talked about Respect today. We looked at what the Bible says about respect. We reviewed how we can respect and honor God, along with respecting others at our school, in our family, and in our community. We should respect authority. We can even respect our environment! Our family groups made respect posters, and we are also looking forward to later today when we can eat lunch together.
Students Equipped to be Exciting Disciples Day 5: Today we had one more special chapel. We were led in praise by some guest musicians named "No Grave Revival", and Mr. DeHaan shared with us about self-worth: how we are special, chosen, beloved and more to God. Some Middle Schoolers shared a dance about “Who you say I am,” and we had a family group circle time talking about lies that try to take away our self-worth, and people who build up our self-worth. It has been a great week, and the Evidence of the Spirit was seen in many ways this week, especially in how all the different pieces came together in so many meaningful ways.
Students Equipped to be Excited Disciples Day 4: How wonderful to hear two more staff members share their stories, and to see the evidence of God at work! Mrs. Bridges shared how God worked in her life growing up, and how she is learning to be BOLD for the Lord. Mrs. Bull talked about how God prepared her to serve in praising God in learning to play the bass guitar. We worshipped in song this morning with some of the members of the Harvest Fremont Worship team - thanks to Pastor Aaron and Kristie for coming today! Many of our students led our praise time with motions today. It was so awesome to hear and see the theme of “Evidence” of how God is working in us and in his people!
Students Equipped to be Excited Disciples Day 3: Today Mr. Donkersloot shared with us about love. We must love God above all, and our neighbors as ourselves. But what about loving those that are hard to love? In our family group circle time today, we talked about times when it is easy to love, and times when it is hard to love. Parents and adults joined in on our circle meetings. We also worshipped together in song with some of our Resonate moms. It is truly inspiring to hear the student’s voices raise up to sing “I am a child of God!” Thursday and Friday's SEED week chapel starts at 8:10. We'd love to have you join us!
Students Equipped to be Excited Disciples Day 2: We were again able to hear a faith story from another one of our staff members, Maestra Dena. She shared about patience, and she told us about some hard things that her husband and she went through, but how God was there and He was enough (Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides). We were also led in motions in our theme song, Evidence, by some of our middle schoolers, and it was theme shirt day! We are looking forward to more staff faith stories, and more local praise leaders leading us in worship over the next few days. Come join us: Wednesday is late start day, and SEED Week chapel starts at 9:00 in our FCS gym!
Students Equipped to be Excited Disciples Day 1: Great morning seeing and celebrating God in our lives. We enjoyed praise and worship with some of our moms from Resonate Church, and a life message share from Mr. Zach VanWyk, along with the older students sharing some faith events in their circles. The younger students had a life story message from Profe Carolina about peace – where true peace comes from (even when your car is stolen!), and a student share from Cole B. about making right choices at school. Great first day, and you are welcome to join us first hour each morning to see and celebrate God at work during our SEED Week! Keep praying for our times together too!
SEED Week is October 10 -14. During SEED Week, we take time each morning to focus on God, in celebration, praise, and learning how He is at work through his Word, his creation, and around us through his people. Parents and grandparents are welcome to come and join us any of the mornings! Just sign in at the office, and come to the gym and grab a seat! Note the times and events on the enclosed sign. PLEASE PRAY for the Spirit to be moving in our lives as we spend time together, focusing on being Students Equipped to be Excited Disciples!
Faith – in today’s chapel, the 5th and 6th graders and teachers led us in a chapel about walking in faith. We had an object lesson of an obstacle course, and even though we feel we can’t see ahead in life (in this case blindfolded), our best friend Jesus is there to walk beside us. The 5th graders also shared readings about the heroes of faith in the Bible and encouraged us to look for examples of faith in God's people.
Kindergarten OE explored where animals go in the rain today and joined a worm rescue squad! We learned why worms come out when it's raining outside.
Teaching for Transformation Core Practices: Transformational Lessons - Inviting the Learner
TfT in Ten Words:
The invitation of a transformational lesson ignites wonder in learners.
Inviting the Learner Feature: Outdoor Education with Mrs. Bull
“I deeply hope you Find God’s Fingerprints dwelling in all of creation. Together, we will worship God by stewarding creation well.”
My storyline for the Outdoor Education students is Stewards Finding God’s Fingerprints. For Kindergarten-2nd graders, I invited learners into the story by igniting a sense of wonder. I showed them a series of pictures with bugs and amazing facts like:
Did you know that some caterpillars have 12 eyes!
Praying mantises have only one ear, and it’s located on its belly!
Periodical cicadas emerge from underground once every 13-17 years!
Next we thought as a group, who decided that caterpillars would have 12 eyes? Who put one ear on the stomach of a praying mantis? Who taught the cicada to live underground for 13 years?! God did! God created the biggest things like stars and the moon, and teeny tiny details like the ear of a praying mantis. He even created each and every detail of you. The Bible tells us that we are “wonderfully made!” (Psalm 139:14)
I like to imagine God taking a piece of clay or playdough and molding every detail of creation. And left behind are his fingerprints. We can Find God’s Fingerprints in creation when we stop to look at all the details. “I deeply hope you find God’s fingerprints dwelling in all of creation. Together, we will worship God by stewarding creation well.”
After our invitation, we got busy discovering the details of God’s creation through bug catching! We learned how to use tools for proper observation and shared how we could find God’s fingerprints in even the smallest detail of a bug!
