Lower School Newsletter
Monday, December 18, 2017
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, December 19 - All-School Christmas Chapel, 8:15 am
Wednesday, December 20 - Lower School Concert dress rehearsal. Bring instruments.
Thursday, December 21 - Lower School Christmas Concert, K-5th, 6:30pm
Thursday, December 21 - PreK-3 Christmas party (please note date change)
Friday, December 22 - PreK-4 - 5th grade Christmas parties (please note date change)
Friday, December 22 - End of second marking period
December 25-January 5 - Christmas vacation
From the Principal's Desk....
The Christmas season is underway, and our halls are filled with excitement with only one more week of school. Continue to remind your child that excitement for the season is a good thing, however we all still have school work and responsibilities to complete. Our marking period ends on Dec. 22nd. So, they may need a little more encouragement to complete their homework assignments or study for a test.
Christmas has always been a special time of year for me. As I reflect on my childhood, I have many memories of Christmas past-- visiting family and friends, listening to my dad play Al Martino’s Christmas album on our stereo, decorating the Christmas tree, and receiving pajamas every Christmas Eve as a present so we could wear them home and head right to bed before Christmas morning.
Reflecting on these special times and God’s blessings, I cannot stress enough how much God has blessed me with all that I have both in my personal and professional life. My WSCA family is the best blessing of all! It has been a wonderful school year that we have had so far. I am thankful every day that I can come into our classrooms and spend time with our students and staff. It is important to remember during this season we should be thankful and rejoice in our everyday blessings. My days are filled with joy, laughter, and learning. I learn just as much from you, as students and parents. I wish you and your families the joys of Christmas and a New Year filled with love and laughter. See you in 2018!
The Transformed Heart- What Does It Mean to Love God and One Another?
Question and Verse of the Week of December 18th…
Why is the birth of Jesus one of the most important gifts?
Luke 2:11, 13-14 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is the Messiah, the Lord. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Yours in Christ,
Mr. Shirvinski
Lower School Christmas Concert Info
Please note these important details about the concert and invite your family and friends!
When: December 21st, 6:30pm, church auditorium
Student Report Time: 6:00pm
- K-3rd grade to classrooms
- 4th and 5th grade choir to Mrs. Leatherman's room
- Band and Orchestra to the room where they have lessons
Concert Attire:
- Students not in band or orchestra: Sunday best dress clothes, no sneakers, something red or green for Christmas if possible
- No low cuts or exposed shoulders. Dresses/skirts should be to the knee, even if wearing leggings.
- Band and orchestra-Black and white OR all black, optional red scarf for girls and red tie for boys.
Dress Rehearsal:
Wednesday, December 20th, 1:20-2:50 - Don't forget your instruments! Even though it's a dress rehearsal, wear your school uniform. Save your dressy clothes for the concert!
Important Class Party Information
We'd love for any parent who wants to come to the class parties (December 21 and 22) to be able to attend. In order to streamline the process on party days, you will no longer need to sign in when you arrive. Stop in the office and Mrs. VanHart will check off your name that is already on the party helper list. Please use the TimeToSignUp link that was emailed from your class' room parent to sign up to help at the party. If you have questions about the party, please ask your room parent.
Inclement Weather
School closings and delays are posted on the home page of www.westshorechristian.org, via all-school email, facebook, and on local news media: WHP (580 AM), WGAL (Channel 8), WHP (Channel 21), WHTM (Channel 27). Please note that as of right now, we will not be making an all-school phone call, due to problems with our calling service. On delay days, parents transporting students should have them at school by 10:00 a.m. for a two-hour delay. Students and staff should not arrive to school before 9:30. The cafeteria will be closed - please pack a lunch to eat in classrooms.
If you are a bus family, please know that each school district handles snow delays and closing differently. Please refer to the PDF at the bottom of the newsletter. It's ready for you to print your section and put on your fridge as a reminder! Please email lvanhart@westshorechristian.org with any bussing questions.
Recess Information
It is usually colder and windier on our playground than it is at your house, so please make sure your children are dressed warm! Please dress them in coats and gloves for outdoor recess. Students will not be permitted to go outside if they are not wearing a coat. As a general rule, we stay inside if the temperature is below 17 degrees.
Dress Code Reminders
Please make sure your students are following the WSCA dress code. If not, we will ask them to change clothes from the uniform room. If your child is growing, we have plenty of free clothes! Mrs. VanHart will gladly pack a bag for you to try on at home. We will be sending home reminders to students not fully in dress code.
Here are a few reminders:
-If there is a logo on the polo, it needs to be the same color as the shirt.
-Dresses/skirts/jumpers need to be no shorter "just a little above the knee," even while wearing leggings.
-Knit pants do not qualify as uniform pants, even if there are pockets sewn on. Uniform pants should be cotton, Docker's style, pants. If the pants are too tight, we will ask the student to change clothes.
-On Fridays, students may wear jeans with WSCA shirts.
-On dress down days (you might have received a RFE coupon), students may wear jeans or windpants. Girls may not wear tight knit pants/leggings.
-4th and 5th graders have been issued a PE uniform: They should be wearing black WSCA shorts and any WSCA t-shirt. If it's cold, students are welcome to wear leggings underneath their shorts. If you need a new PE uniform, please email jcornetto@westshorechristian.org. She also accepts outgrown ones to reissue to other students!
Compassion Gift Catalog
Compassion International has been fighting child poverty since 1952. A high school student has taken a special interest in this charity and has provided materials to learn more about this ministry and how we can change the life of a child through sponsorship or a one-time gift. If you would like more information, check out their web site at compassion.com/CatalogGift or pick up a flyer from the office.
Giant A+ Rewards
Starting in the month of October, 2017, West Shore Christian Academy – ID#: 20565 has the opportunity to participate in and earn CASH from A+ School Rewards, a great fundraising program run through your local Giant! Last year WSCA raised over $3000.00 though this program but there is limitless potential to what we can earn for our school and all we need to do is register more Giant bonus cards to WSCA!!
PLEASE NOTE:
You DO NOT need to re-register your card if your school selection(s) remains the same as last year.
This does not personally affect your own bonus/gas point etc.
To participate:
- Visit www.giantfoodstores.com and select Savings & Rewards.
- Follow the prompts to create your online account if you do not already have one. You’ll need your 11-digit BONUSCARD® number and the School ID #
To earn points:
- Use your registered BONUSCARD® each time you shop at Giant, and you will earn CASH for our school. You can track the number of points you are earning for our school by checking your grocery receipt.
- At the end of each month, your points are calculated and converted to CASH rewards. These CASH rewards for our school are updated monthly. You can track our progress when you sign in to your online account.
- Our school will receive one CASH awards check at the end of the program.
CATS Prayer Team Update
We have changed the day that we gather as parents in prayer for our school to Tuesday afternoons from 2:00 to 2:45 in the Lower School Conference Room. We pray for staff members, teachers, and students by name and any special requests for that week. If you aren't available on Tuesday afternoons you can get the prayer requests via email each week to commit to pray at home. For more information contact Gretchen Carvella at CatsPrayerTeam@westshorechristian.org . Thanks for lifting our WSCA community before the Lord in prayer!
Here's a link to a prayer calendar which all of us can use to pray each day for our children, our children's friends, their teachers, and all who are in the WSCA family. Just follow the date, no matter which day of the week it falls on each month -
http://www.motherhoodonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/September-Prayer-Calendar1.pdf (Copyright Bob Hostetler (www.bobhostetler.com). Used with the permission of the author. Also available as an iPhone/iPad app in the iTunes app store.)
WSCA Lower School Yearbook Orders
Go to treering.com/validate to purchase your student’s yearbook. Your Lower School passcode is 101495056158615. There is an option to personalize two pages with your student’s favorite photos at NO additional cost. If you start designing the two pages and then decide against completing them, it will automatically revert to a standard yearbook.
Please note, if you have students in both Upper and Lower Schools, you will need a different passcode for the Upper School yearbook. If you have any questions email Yearbook@westshorechristian.org or call 717-737-3550 x134. See the attached PDF (at the bottom of the newsletter) for additional information on how to purchase, customize pages and download app if desired.
West Shore Christian Academy
Email: info@westshorechristian.org
Website: www.westshorechristian.org
Location: 201 West Main Street, Shiremanstown, PA, United States
Phone: 717.737.3550
Facebook: www.facebook.com/westshorechristian
Twitter: @WSCA1