SCCS Home Bulletin
May 4, 2022
FROM DR. B.
It’s Wednesday again, Trailblazers!
We praise God for the gift of rain last weekend. I know that many of you are either working in the field or supporting someone who is. This area’s heartbeat is agriculture. We are so thankful for all who put in the hard work in so many ways. We ask for God’s blessing on this year’s crop and pray for safety during this busy spring season.
Last week, we focused on W = walkthroughs. This week, let’s check out X = eXtra special partnerships (not many words start with X, so I hope you’ll give me some leeway!).
When I think about partnerships, I think about church, home, and community. The church, home, and community, along with the school, form a circle around the student, a circle of support, learning, and growth. One of the core values in the board’s handbook says this: “We joyfully partner with parents, churches, our community, and each other as we share the mission of training God’s children.” It’s that joyful partnership I would like to highlight this week.
We love partnering with the church. With the church, we strive to provide students a solid foundation of faith that they can lean on as they continue to develop a life of discipleship. Our goal is that students would both understand and live a biblical worldview, understanding that God’s Word is true, that He created each student for a specific purpose, and that He calls all of us to a life of service. Along with the church, we strive to help students see that all of life is worship and that we must be ready and willing to share the gospel with others. What an exciting calling!
We love partnering with the home. In fact, I find myself talking and writing often about “parents as partners”. At SCCS, we believe parents are the child’s primary and first teachers. They are your children, and we have the blessing of partnering with you in their education. We want to back up what you teach your children at home, and we take that calling very seriously. We are honored to be working with you, and we want you to be active in what happens at school, demonstrated through parent visits days, invitations to join us for special field trips/activities/lunch, and working with you through various situations that come up. Thank you for choosing SCCS.
We love partnering with the community. Through business partnerships, students stepping out of our building and providing service, Dordt University students working in our classrooms, grandparents volunteering, groups and individuals supporting SCCS through prayer, and more, Christian education can happen. We want to be a school that both partners well with others and that provides valuable and important service to the community as good neighbors. Community partnerships help our students better understand the broader picture of God’s world and their place in it.
SCCS eXtra special partnerships with the home, church, and community. These are important pieces to a child’s whole education, rooted in God’s Word. We can’t say thank you enough for choosing to partner with us. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2021-2022 school year!
With you,
jb
TUITION GRANT SYSTEM
The Tuition Grant System (through FACTS) is now live on our website for the 22/23 school year. Go to https://www.siouxcenterchristian.com/parents/grants.cfm to start the process. Be on the lookout for a Bloomz post and an email explaining the process as well. Applications are due by May 27, 2022. Please connect Kelli Van Roekel (Kvanroekel@siouxcenterchristian.com) if you have any questions.
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
We're celebrating our amazing teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6)!
We are so thankful that our teachers treasure our students and deeply desire to train them to see God's Story in everything, and live that Story as transformed children!
We encourage you to express your appreciation through a note or whatever way you choose!
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
- Please check the online calendar for upcoming events (http://www.siouxcenterchristian.com/calendar.cfm)
- Safety Reminder: If your child walks or rides bike to and from school, please remind them to use caution when crossing streets. If there is a crosswalk, please push the button so that the light activates before crossing. Thanks for helping keep our kids safe!
- The 5-8 Spring Choral Concert will be Monday, May 16, 7:00pm at Centerpoint Church (First Reformed).
- The Pops Concert for 7-8 Band and 6-8 Orchestra will be in the school gym on Thursday, May 19 at 2:15pm. The Jr. Pops Concert for grades 3-5 Orchestra and 5-6 Band will be at 3:15pm, also in the gym. You are welcome to join us for these concerts!
- Storyline Celebration will be held at the BJ Haan Auditorium at Dordt University on Monday, May 23 at 7:00pm.
- Our last day of school will be Wednesday, May 25. We will dismiss at 11:05.
- Join us for our last day chapel in the gym at 8:30am.
- 8th Grade Graduation will be at Centerpoint Church (First Reformed) on Wednesday, May 25 at 7:00pm.
NEW FACES AT SCCS
Mrs. Tara Dekkers
Ms. Annetta de Jong
Ms. Brianna Miedema
SCHOOL LUNCH UPDATE
There has been a great thing going for about 2 years, but we have been informed that the government will no longer be providing free meals for all students, starting with the 22-23 school year. Our lunch program is currently determining lunch prices for next year and taking into account the rising cost of food. It would be a good idea to start putting money into your school lunch account for next year so that we all can be ready to go at the beginning of the school year. Kelli Van Roekel (kvanroekel@siouxcenterchristian.com) can help with this process. Also, please note that the federal poverty guidelines have been released, and we anticipate more families will qualify for free or reduced meals next year (the income levels have increased as far as qualification standards). We will share more about completing a free and reduced meals application as part of the registration process in August. If you have any questions, please contact Eileen Buiter (ebuiter@siouxcenterchristian.com).
K-8 CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT
LIBRARY BOOKS
This year our SCCS library was a place to Find the BEST Story! The final due date for library books is Friday, May 13. Your child will get a paper notice if they have overdue books. Email jvansoelen@siouxcenterchristian.com if you have questions. Thank you!
POSITION OPENINGS
Sioux Center Christian School invites you to consider the opportunity to work with a dedicated faculty and staff, passionate parents, and fantastic students through the following position openings:
Director of Development (Full-Time)
School Nurse (Part-Time...possible Full-Time)
Head Custodian (Full-Time)
7-8 Bible Teacher (Full-Time)
Paraprofessional (Part- or Full-Time)
- 1:1 para for a student in 5th Grade – full time position
- 1:1 para for a student in TK (Monday through Thursday; full days)
- 1:1 para for a student in 3rd grade-full time position (could be split between two people)
- 1:1 para for a student in 3rd grade – full time position
- TK/4Care Para- Mornings (part-time position)
- Resource Para (full time position)
For more information on these positions and details on how to apply, go to:
https://www.siouxcenterchristian.com/about/employment.cfm
TALES AND TRAILS: Now taking applications for SCCS Tales and Trails summer camp employment. Camp runs every week in June and July and the first week of August. A flexible schedule is possible. Please contact Cheri Horstman if interested. chorstman@siouxcenterchristian.com
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS: We are in need of substitute teachers for this school year. Subs are needed for teachers and paras at all grade levels, kitchen crew and at times a nurse. Please contact the office (sccsoffice@siouxcenterchristian.com) if you are interested in adding your name to the sub list. SCCS will provide all training, and you even get a free lunch when you sub! Qualifications for being a sub include a love of children, the ability to follow teacher lesson plans, flexibility, and a commitment to Christian education. We invite you to join us!
SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITY: Come join the SCCS Summer Cleaning Crew. We are looking for hardworking people (14 or older) to help clean the school this summer. The crew will work from June 1 – Aug 12. Monday – Thursday 8 am – 4 pm and Friday 8 am – 2 pm. Job applications are located on the employment page of the SCCS website. We are flexible with summer sports, mission trips and vacations. Contact Eileen Buiter at 578-8624 with questions.
2ND GRADE TO LAKE PAHOJA
Yesterday our 2nd graders had a fantastic Lake Pahoja Field Experience! Students participated in two different sets of stations. The first stations were dip-netting, a predator/prey game, and a scavenger hunt with a GPS. Some of the kids caught crawfish, snails, snail eggs, water bugs, lots of leaves, and even a rock. The first crawfish was caught and, "I caught a lobster!!" could be heard with lots of shrieks and laughter. Students helped pick up sticks before eating lunch and enjoying the playground. In the afternoon they went to the new nature center and played scavenger hunt bingo, learned about the differences between amphibians and reptiles, and found out more about bees. They were given the opportunity to pet a tiger salamander and a corn snake. They even got to try honey right from the honeycomb! It was a great day discovering more about the amazing plants and animals God has created!
1ST GRADE EXPLORERS
It's Spring and an exciting time of year for our First grade explorers as they learn about God's creative hand in the growth of chicks and ducklings! In March, Farmer Shorty visited school and taught them all they needed to know about hatching eggs. He invited them to his farm to look at where hens lay their eggs and sent them home with some of his eggs to put in their incubators at school. Students watched the eggs every day and patiently waited for that special day when the chicks would break out of their eggs! In early April, the exciting event happened and students were able to hold the chicks and ducklings, name them, plus they observed them and recorded their findings. It is thrilling to discover how God has thought of every detail in all the creatures He has made!
THANKS, DORDT FOOTBALL PLAYERS!
Last week Thursday, SCCS students were thrilled to have Dordt University Football players join them on the school playground for noon recess! They joined the kids in playing football, basketball, climbing tires, and just plain hanging around (or being hung on to)! Thank you, guys, for taking the time to be community builders and servant workers and living the Defender Way as you MADE THE DAY for many of our students!
4CARE
Sioux Center Christian School offers a play-based, child-care opportunity for 4-years-olds enrolled in preschool called 4Care. If you have a child who will be in preschool next year and are looking for childcare for the other half of their days, this is a great place for your child to enjoy hands-on, child-led, play-based learning at SCCS for the part of their day that preschool is not in session. To learn more about 4Care and to reserve your child’s place, go to https://www.siouxcenterchristian.com/admissions/4care.cfm
TALES AND TRAILS SUMMER CAMP
Registration is OPEN for our Tales and Trails Summer Camp 2022!
This is an educational and fun summer supervision opportunity for kids who are 5-11 years old by June 1, 2022. Information was sent home with every child in 4Care – 4th grade.
https://www.siouxcenterchristian.com/parents/talestrails.cfm
Note: A pool pass is required for camp. You can purchase your membership online or call 712-722-4386 x2
https://apm.activecommunities.com/allseasonscenter/Membership
FOOD SERVICE NEWS
Thanks to everyone who signed up to help with dishwashing! If you would like to help out you can sign up here. If you have questions, contact Carmen Mulder (cmulder@siouxcenterchristian.com).
- You can find the lunch and dishwashing schedule here.
- If you would like to eat lunch with your child, please contact school 24 hours in advance.
OUTLET 75
Outlet 75 is open on Wednesdays from 11am-8pm, Thursdays from 11am-3pm, plus occasional Saturdays from 10am-1pm. All profits from our store benefit every family at SCCS!
Are you willing to fill in any of the open shifts? We’d love to have you come and experience the joy of volunteering at Outlet 75!! If you can help, please connect with Janey Boogerd (712.449.8106 or info@shopoutlet75.com)
https://www.shopoutlet75.com/ /// Facebook @shopoutlet75 /// Instagram @outlet75
STAFF MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Recognize a Sioux Center Christian faculty or staff member who goes ABOVE and BEYOND by nominating him/her for the Sioux Center - Pella Corporation Staff Member of the Month award!
Pella Corporation in Sioux Center offers this monthly award to a teacher or staff member in Sioux Center and the winner receives $500 to impact the learning in their classroom! Printed forms are available by the TRIP office.
https://www.siouxcenterchristian.com/editoruploads/files/SXC_STAFF_OF_THE_MONTH_21-22.pdf
Nominations are due by the 25th of each month. Completed forms may be dropped off at the school office, mailed or dropped off at Pella Corp.
REQUESTED ANNOUNCEMENTS
- The Office Handouts http://www.siouxcenterchristian.com/parents/officehandouts.cfm is the place to check regularly for camp information, registration forms, and more. Currently there is information for:
Western Christian Sports Camps/Baseball/Softball/Basketball
Unity Christian Sports Camps/Strength Training
Dordt University Camps
Northwestern Camps
2022 Summer Driver's Ed
Sioux Center Arts Middle School Classes
Inspiration Hills Summer Camps
- The Sioux Center Public Library is looking for summer reading volunteers (6th grade and up) to help sign children up for the summer reading program. Students may work as many or as little of hours as they choose. Click here for more information. Contact Emily with questions (emily.vanweerdhuizen@siouxcenterlibrary.org).
- Did you know you can turn your Casey's Rewards points into donations to our school? Find SCCS in the rewards section of the Casey's app to start donating today! For more information go to caseys.com/schools.
SCCS
The mission of Sioux Center Christian School is to disciple God’s children by equipping them with a knowledge and understanding of Christ and His creation so that they can obediently serve God and others as they work and play.
Every Student TREASURED, Every Student TRAINED, Every Student TRANSFORMED
Email: sccsoffice@siouxcenterchristian.com
Website: siouxcenterchristian.com
Location: 630 1st Ave. SE, Sioux Center, IA
Phone: 712-722-0777
Facebook: facebook.com/siouxcenterchristian
Twitter: @sccstrailblazer