The chart below reflects the percentage of students who passed the MEAP test with a level of 1 or 2. These results indicate that a majority of the students in all grades tested at St. John’s Day School met or exceeded state standards.

 

MEAP Test	SJLELA	State ELA	SJL Math	State Math	SJL Social Studies	State Social Studies	SJL Science	State Science
Third Grade	100%	79%	100%/	88%
Fourth Grade	70%	78%	100%	85%
Fifth Grade	91%	78%	91%	76%			100%	83%
Sixth Grade	90%	78%	90%	79%	100%	74%
Seventh Grade	90%	76%	100%	64%
Eighth Grade	90%	71%	100%	68%	100%`	74%	100%	75%

 

 

  

PRESCHOOL

The preschoolers have been busy in November learning the names of different shapes. The four year olds made a book so they can take it home and “read” it to their parents. We have spent the month learning about the different foods the Pilgrims and Indians may have eaten at the first Thanksgiving Dinner. The preschoolers made placemats for Thanksgiving Dinner with the new prayer they are learning. They enjoyed their friendship fruit bowl snack. We especially remember all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for, our smiles, our ability to make friends, and the beautiful fall weather we have had. We have loved being able to play outside so often this year. We were happy that Pastor Haupt was able to come in and read to us.

Mrs. Debbie Luytjes

 

KINDERGARTEN

During the month of November, our class learned about the pilgrims’ journey to America and the struggles they faced the first year. We compared their daily lives to ours with chores, games and family life. There were many differences. Each week, our class writes a story. One week, we learned the difference between fiction and nonfiction when we wrote a story about the iguanas. We did a lot of research about iguanas. We found a website that showed a video of iguanas hatching. We loved it. During letter “Jj” week, we tasted three different kinds of juice and graphed which one was our favorite. We also measured the length of things with jelly beans. We thank God every day for our blessings. We are very thankful for our school where we can learn about God each day.

Mrs. Connie Behm

 

FIRST AND SECOND GRADE

In the month of November the first and second graders enjoyed learning about the Pilgrims and Native Americans. They also enjoyed sharing their "feast" of home made bread and butter, and also a "Friendship Fruit Salad" made from various fruits that our friends in the class brought. The children designed their own vests to wear for their party and earned their feathers for their headdresses by keeping their clips in the green behavior zone. We especially thank the parents for supplying the fruit and helping out with the party and Mrs VanDongen for volunteering her time to make the base of our headdresses.

We have been practicing our Advent songs not only for our Advent Service, but also for the Ladies Aid Christmas luncheon where we will be singing. We look forward to singing to the ladies and also for Christmas for the celebration of our Lord Jesus' birth.

May God Bless your Christmas celebration from the first and second graders!

Mrs. Patti Kooi

 

THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE

Hello St. John's! We are working hard. We have just started two new books in our classroom. The third graders are reading Stone Fox, which is about a boy who is trying to save his grandfather’s farm. We have already fallen in love with this book. The fourth graders are reading Snow Treasure, which is a true story about children who save the gold of Norway by sledding it right past the Nazi's. The excitement and danger is already intriguing us. We have already written two research papers and presented them. The students are growing in confidence and knowledge as we continue our writing endeavors. God's blessings on your activities as the snow starts to fall upon us.

Mrs. Bethany Goers

 

FIFTH GRADE

We begin each day with our devotions and then write about our lesson in our journal. The children have learned so much about Jesus’ love and care for them. We have studied many Spanish, English and French explorers. The Lost Colony of Roanoke and Jamestown is next on our journey into the past. We are growing soy beans as part of a science project. Many plants are already past 20 cm in height. Finally, we remember our Veterans-thank you for your faithful service to our country in which freedom is cherished. God Bless America!

Mrs. Debbie Kolberg

 

SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE

In Language Arts, seventh graders have just started a unit on The Giver. It is a futuristic look at a utopian society gone bad. Eighth graders will soon begin reading Flowers for Algernon. We recently completed a unit on horror writings, which included authors Edgar Allen Poe and Orson Wells. Students are focusing on the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Social Studies. We will each do research on one well known person from the Renaissance and create brochures about our topic. Look for them on display in the school hallway soon! Next week we will travel to West Shore Lutheran School to start planning for our Washington DC trip. Topics on hand will be Jamestown and Yorktown. Our classroom recently visited West Michigan Lutheran High School for Science Day which included a bridge building competition, construction and racing of mouse trap cars and Rube Goldberg creations! We had a wonderful day winning several awards and making new friends.

Mrs. Dawn Kohn and Mrs. Tracy Wood

Day School Spring Auction:

Our annual spring auction is set for Friday, April 24, 2009. Our theme will be “Friends, Fellowship & Faith”. Any donations (new or hand crafted) would be greatly appreciated. Please check for summer clearance items that are on sale now. Donations may be dropped off in the school office. Please attach a note with your name if you would like to be acknowledged as the donor.

 

CEF Savings Stamp Program

We welcome Mrs. Janet Montgomery as our new Church Extension Fund Representative. She will be in charge of distributing the stamps and issuing receipts for the student savings program. Kids can purchase 25-cent and one-dollar Savings Stamps which are allowed to accumulate until they can open a $5 Dedicated Savings Account.

Investment envelopes can be given to your child’s teacher and will be picked up each Wednesday. A prize may be selected upon their first deposit!

The “Dedicated Savings” account is currently earning 1.00% for balances up to $99 and 1.51% APY for $100 - $999. Please check the information packets that have been sent home with your child or contact Janet Montgomery at (616) 846-1619 if you have any questions.

 

Proceeds will benefit the 7^th & 8^th grade Washington DC

 

Day School Play Fools Gold – November 22

Props Needed: A rubber chicken, a pair of pants and suit coat large enough for two boys to wear at once (i.e. two legs in one leg opening, two arms in one arm of suit), two lightweight, easily movable table and chair sets for a restaurant scene, and a waitress (diner) costume. If you are willing to loan us any of these items, contact Dawn Kohn at dwkohn@comcast.net.

Fools Gold is a comedy--Ima Fool and Ura Fool try to protect their family's newfound gold from the villains!